saint george for england-第13章

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ty；　and　you；　as　second；　will　of　course　be　captain　under　me。　Now　I　want　to　explain　to　you　exactly　what　I　propose　to　do；　and　to　arrange　with　you　as　to　your　share　in　the　business。〃

The　young　smith　listened　attentively　to　Walter's　explanation；　and；　when　he　had　done；　exclaimed　admiringly：　　〃Why；　Walter；　you　seem　to　be　made　for　a　general。　　How　did　it　all　come　to　you；　lad？　I　should　never　have　thought　of　such　a　scheme。〃

〃I　talked　it　over　with　my　master；〃　Walter　said；　〃and　the　idea　is　his　as　much　as　mine。　I　wonder　if　it　will　do。〃

〃It　is　sure　to　do；〃　the　smith　said　enthusiastically。　〃The　castle　is　as　good　as　taken。〃

The　next　day　all　London　poured　out　to　the　scene　of　the　sports；　and　the　greatest　admiration　and　wonder　were　expressed　at　the　castle；　which　had　risen；　as　if　by　magic；　in　the　night。　It　was　built　at　one　end　of　the　lists；　which　had　been　purposely　placed　in　a　hollow；　so　that　a　great　number　of　people　besides　those　in　the　pavilions　could　obtain　a　view　from　the　surrounding　slopes。　The　castle　was　substantially　built　of　heavy　timber　painted　gray；　and　looked　at　a　little　distance　as　if　constructed　of　stone。　A　flag　floated　from　the　central　tower；　and　the　building　looked　so　formidable　that　the　general　opinion　was　freely　expressed　that　the　task　of　the　assailants；　whoever　they　might　be　…　for　at　present　this　was　unknown　…　was　quite　impossible。　At　ten　o'clock　the　king　and　his　court　arrived。　　After　they　had　taken　their　places　the　two　bands；　headed　by　their　leaders；　advanced　from　the　lower　end　of　the　lists；　and　drew　up　in　front　of　the　royal　pavilion。　　The　leaders　took　their　places　in　front。　Behind　them　stood　ten　chosen　followers；　all　of　whom；　as　well　as　their　chiefs；　were　encased　in　full　armour。　　Behind；　on　one　side；　were　100　apprentices；　on　the　other　100　esquires；　all　attired　as　men…at…arms。　The　court　party　were　led　by　Clarence　Aylmer；　son　of　the　Earl　of　Pembroke。　His　companions　were　all　young　men　of　noble　family；　aspirants　for　the　order　of　knighthood。　They　were；　for　the　most　part；　somewhat　older　than　the　apprentices；　but　as　the　latter　consisted　chiefly　of　young　men　nearly　out　of　their　term　the　difference　was　not　great。　　Walter's　armour　was　a　suit　which　the　armourer　had　constructed　a　year　previously　for　a　young　knight　who　had　died　before　the　armour　could　be　delivered。　Walter　had　wondered　more　than　once　why　Geoffrey　did　not　endeavour　to　sell　it　elsewhere；　for；　although　not　so　decorated　and　inlaid　as　many　of　the　suits　of　Milan　armour；　it　was　constructed　of　the　finest　steel；　and　the　armourer　had　bestowed　special　care　upon　its　manufacture；　as　the　young　knight's　father　had　long　been　one　of　his　best　customers。　Early　that　morning　Geoffrey　had　brought　it　to　his　room　and　had　told　him　to　wear　it　instead　of　that　lent　by　the　city。

〃But　I　fear　it　will　get　injured；〃　Walter　had　urged。　〃I　shall　not　spare　myself；　you　know；　Geoffrey；　and　the　blows　will　be　hard　ones。

〃The　more　need　for　good　armour；　Walter。　These　city　suits　are　made　for　show　rather　than　use。　You　may　be　sure　that　young　Pembroke　and　his　band　will　fight　their　hardest　rather　than　suffer　defeat　at　the　hands　of　those　whom　they　consider　a　band　of　city　varlets。〃

Before　issuing　from　the　tent　where　he　and　his　companions　had　put　on　their　mail　Walter　carefully　fastened　in　the　front　of　his　helmet　a　tiny　gold　bracelet。　Upon　taking　their　places　before　the　pavilion　the　king　ordered　the　two　leaders　to　advance；　and　addressed　them　and　the　multitude　in　the　following　words：

〃Brave　leaders；　and　you；　my　people；　I　have　contrived　the　pastime　today　that　I　may　show　you　on　a　mimic　scale　the　deeds　which　my　brave　soldiers　are　called　upon　to　perform　in　France。　It　is　more　specially　suited　for　the　combatants　of　today；　since　one　party　have　had　but　small　opportunity　of　acquiring　skill　on　horseback。　　Moreover；　I　wish　to　teach　the　lesson　that　fighting　on　foot　is　as　honourable　as　fighting　on　horseback；　for　it　has　now　been　proved；　and　sometimes　to　our　cost；　in　Scotland；　that　footmen　can　repulse　even　the　bravest　chivalry。　Today　each　party　will　fight　his　best。　Remember　that；　even　in　the　heat　of　conflict；　matters　must　not　be　carried　to　an　extreme。　Those　cut　off　from　their　friends　will　be　accounted　prisoners；　as　will　those　who；　being　overpowered；　throw　down　their　arms。　Any　wounded　on　either　side　will　not　be　accounted　as　prisoners；　but　may　retire　with　honour　from　the　field。　You；〃　he　said；　looking　at　Walter；　〃as　the　conqueror　of　yesterday；　have　the　choice　of　either　the　attack　or　defence；　but　I　should　advise　you　to　take　the　latter；　seeing　it　is　easier　to　defend　a　fortress　than　to　assault　it。　Many　of　your　opponents　have　already　gained　credit　in　real　warfare；　while　you　and　your　following　are　new　to　it。　Therefore；　in　order　to　place　the　defence　on　fair　terms　with　the　assault；　I　have　ordered　that　both　sides　shall　be　equal　in　numbers。〃

〃If　your　liege　will　permit　me；〃　Walter　said　bowing；　〃I　would　fain　take　the　assault。　Methinks　that；　with　my　following；　I　could　do　better　thus　than　in　defence。〃

The　king　looked　somewhat　displeased。

〃As　you　will；〃　he　said　coldly；　〃but　I　fear　this　will　somewhat　mar　the　effect　of　the　spectacle　seeing　that　you　will　have　no　chance　whatever　against　an　equal　force；　more　accustomed　to　war　than　your　party；　and　occupying　so　superior　a　position。　However；〃　he　went　on；　seeing　that　Walter　made　no　sign　of　changing　his　mind；　〃as　you　have　chosen；　so　be　it；　and　now　it　is　for　you　to　choose　the　lady　who　shall　be　queen　of　the　tourney　and　shall　deliver　the　prizes　to　the　victors。　　Look　round　you；　there　are　many　fair　faces；　and　it　is　for　you　to　choose　among　them。〃

Smiles　passed　between　many　of　the　courtly　dames　and　ladies　at　the　choice　that　was　to　be　made　among　them　by　the　apprentice　lad；　and　they　thought　that　he　would　be　sorely　puzzled　at　such　a　duty。　Walter；　however；　did　not　hesitate　an　instant。　　He　ran　his　eye　over　the　crowd　of　ladies　in　the　royal　gallery；　and　soon　saw　the　object　of　his　search。

〃Since　I　have　your　majesty's　permission；〃　he　said；　〃I　choose；　as　queen　of　the　tournament；　Mistress　Edith　Vernon。〃

There　was　a　movement　of　surprise　and　a　general　smile。　　Perhaps　to　all　who　thought　that　they　had　a　chance　of　being　chosen　the　selection　was　a　relief；　as　none　could　be　jealous　of　the　pretty　child；　who；　at　the　king's　order；　made　her　way　forward　to　the　front；　and　took　her　seat　in　a　chair　placed　between　the　king　and　queen。　The　girl　coloured　brightly；　but　she　had　heard　so　much　of　tourneys　and　jousts　that　she　knew　what　was　her　duty。　She　had　been　sitting　far　back　on　the　previous　day；　and　the　apprentice；　when　brought　up　before　the　king；　was　too　far　below　for　her　to　see　his　features。　She　now　recognized　him。

〃Sir　Knights；〃　she　said　in　a　loud；　clear；　childish　voice；　〃you　will　both　do　your　duty　today　and　show　yourselves　worthy　cavaliers。　Methinks　that；　as　queen　of　the　tourney；　I　should　be　neutral　between　you；　but　as　one　of　you　carries　my　gage　in　his　helm；　my　good　wishes　must　needs　go　with　him；　but　bright　eyes　will　be　fixed　on　you　both；　and　may　well　stir　you　to　deeds　of　valour。〃

So　saying；　she　resumed　her　seat　with　a　pretty　air　of　dignity。

〃Why；　sweetheart；〃　the　king　said；　〃how　is　it　that　this　'prentice　lad　knows　your　name；　and　how　is　it　that　he　wears　your　gage；　for　I　know　that　the　young　Pembroke　wears　the　glove　of　the　Earl　of　Surrey's　daughter？〃

〃He　saved　my　life；　sir；　mine　and　my　mother's；〃　the　child　said；　〃and　I　told　him　he　should　be　my　true　knight；　and　gave　him　my　bracelet；　which　you　see　he　wears　in　his　helm。〃

〃I　recall　somewhat　of　the　story；〃　the　king　said；　〃and　will　question　my　Lady　Vernon　further　anon；　but　see；　the　combatants　are　filing　off　to　their　places。〃

With　flags　flying　and　trumpets　blowing　young　Pembroke　led　his　forces　into　the　castle。　Each　of　his　ten　knights　was　followed　by　an　esquire　bearing　his　banner；　and　each　had　ten　men…at…arms　under　his　immediate　order。　Two　of　them；　with　twenty　men；　remained　in　the　outwork　beyond　the　drawbridge。　The　rest　took　their　station　on　the　walls；　and　towers；　where　a　platform　had　been　erected；　running　along　three　feet　below　the　battlements。　The　real　men…at…arms　with　the　machines　of　war　now　advanced；　and　for　a　time　worked　the　machines；　which　made　pretence　at　casting　great　stones　and　missiles　at　the　walls。　The　assailants　then　moved　forward　and；　unslinging　their　bows；　opened　a　heavy　fire　of　arrows　at　the　defenders；　who；　in　turn；　replied　with　arrows　and　cross…bows。

〃The　'prentices　shoot　well；〃　the　king　said；　〃by　our　lady；　it　would　be　hot　work　for　the　defenders　were　the　shafts　but　pointed！　Even　as　it　is　the　knocks　must　be　no　child's　play；　for　the　arrows；　although　not　pointed；　are　all　tipped　with　iron；　without　which；　indeed；　straight　shooting　would　be　impossible。〃

The　return　fire　from　the　walls　was　feeble；　and　the　king　said；　laughing；　〃So　far　your　knight；　fair　mistress；　has　it　all　his　own　way。　I　did　not　reckon　sufficiently　upon　the　superiority　of　shooting　of　the　London　lads；　and；　indeed；　I　know　not　that　I　ought　not　in　fairness　to　order　some　of　the　defenders　off　the　walls；　seeing；　that　in　warfare；　their　numbers　would　be　rapidly　thinned。　See；　the　assailants　are　moving　up　to　the　two　towers　under　shelter　of　the　fire　of　the　archers。〃

By　this　time　Aylmer；　seeing　that　his　followers　could　make　no　effectual　reply　to　the　arrow　fire；　had　ordered　all；　save　the　leaders　in　full　armour；　to　lie　down　behind　the　parapet。　The　assailants　now　gathered　thickly　round　each　tower；　as　if　they　intended　to　attempt　to　cross　by　the　bridges；　which　could　be　let　down　from　an　opening　in　the　tower　level　with　the　top　of　the　wall；　while　archers　upon　the　summit　shot　fast　and　thick　among　the　defenders　who　were　gathering　to　oppose　them。

〃If　the　young　Pembroke　is　wise；〃　the　king　said；　〃he　will　make　a　strong　sally　now　and　fall　upon　one　or　other　of　the　parties。〃

As　he　spoke　there　was　a　sudden　movement　on　the　part　of　the　assailants；　who；　leaving　the　foot　of　the　towers；　made　a　rush　at　the　outwork　in　the　centre。　The　instant　they　arrived　they　fell　to　work　with　axes　upon　the　palisades。　Many　were　struck　down　by　the　blows　dealt　them　by　the　defenders；　but　others　caught　up　the　axes　and　in　less　than　a　minute　several　of　the　palisades　were　cut　down　and　the　assailants　poured　in。　　The　defenders　fought　gallantly；　but　they　were　overpowered　by　numbers。　Some　were　struck　down；　others　taken　prisoners　by　main　force；　and　the　rest　driven　across　the　drawbridge；　just　as　the　gates　were　opened　and　Pembroke；　at　the　head　of　the　defenders；　swarmed　out　to　their　assistance。

There　was　a　desperate　fight　on　the　bridge；　and　it　was　well　that　the　armour　was　stout；　and　the　arms　that　wielded　the　weapons　had　not　yet　attained　their　full　strength。　Several　were　knocked　off　the　bridge　into　the　moat；　and　these　were；　by　the　rules；　obliged　at　once　to　retire　and　take　no　further　part　in　the　contest。　　Walter　and　Ralph　the　smith；　fought　in　front　of　their　men；　and　hard　as　Pembroke　and　his　followers　struggled；　they　could　not　drive　them　back　a　foot。　The　court　party　were　galled　by　the　heavy　fire　of　arrows　kept　up　by　the　apprentices　along　the　side　of　the　moat；　and　finding　all　his　efforts　to　regain　the　earth…work　useless；　Pembroke　withdrew　his　forces　into　the　castle；　and　in　spite　of　the　efforts　of　the　besiegers　managed　to　close　the　gates　in　their　faces。　The　assailants；　however；　succeeded　in　severing　the　chains　of　the　drawbridge　before　it　could　be　raised。