saint george for england-第17章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ore each horse archer received an equivalent to 6s。 a day； each squire 12s。； each knight 24s。； and each knight banneret 48s。 per day。
Upon their arrival at the Orwell； where many troops from other parts had been gathered； the expedition at once embarked on board the numerous ships which had been collected。 As that in which Sir Walter sailed also carried several of his knights there was not room for all his young esquires； and Walter and the three other juniors were told off into another ship。 She was a smaller vessel than most of those which composed the expedition； and only carried twelve men…at…arms and as many archers； together with the four young squires； and a knight； Sir John Powis； who was in command of the whole。
〃Your craft is but a small one；〃 the knight said to the captain。
〃She is small； but she is fast；〃 the latter answered。 〃She would sail round and round the best part of the fleet。 I had her built according to my own fancy。 Small though she be； I warrant you she will be one of the first to arrive at Hennebon； and the sooner the better say I； since I am but paid by the trip； and would fain be back again at my regular work。 It pays better carrying merchants' goods between London and Holland than taking his majesty's troops over to France。〃
〃Your speed will not be of much avail；〃 Sir John Powis said； 〃seeing that the fleet will keep together。〃
〃Yes； I know that is the order；〃 the captain answered； 〃but accidents happen sometimes； you know〃 … and his eye twinkled。 〃Vessels get separated from fleets。 If they happen to be slow ones so much the worse for those on board； if they happen to be fast ones so much the better； seeing that those they carry will arrive long before their comrades； and may be enabled to gain credit and renown while the others are whistling for a wind in mid…ocean。 However； we shall see。
The next morning the fleet sailed from the Orwell。 It contained 620 men…at…arms； among whom were many of the noblest and bravest of the country； and 6000 picked archers in the pay of the king。 The whole were commanded by Sir Walter。 The scene was a very gay one。 The banners of the nobles and knights floated from the lofty poops； and the sun shone on bright armour and steel weapons。 Walter； who had never seen the sea before； was delighted。 The wind was fair； and the vessels glided smoothly along over the sea。 At evening the knight and his four young companions gathered in the little cabin； for it was in the first week in March； and the night was cold。
〃Will you please tell me； Sir John；〃 Walter said to the knight； 〃the merits of this quarrel in which we are going to fight？ I know that we are going in aid of the Countess of Montford； but why she is in a sore strait I know not。〃
〃The matter is a mixed one； Walter； and it requires a herald to tell you all the subtleties of it。 John III； Duke of Brittany； was present with his liege lord； Phillip of Valois； in the last war with England； on the border of the low country。 When the English retired from before Tournay Phillip dismissed his nobles。 The Duke of Burgundy was taken ill； and died at Caen； in Normandy； on the 30th of April； 1341。 Arthur II； his father； had been twice married。 By his first wife he had three sons； John； Guy； and Peter。 John and Peter left no issue。 Guy； who is also dead； left a daughter； Joan。 By his second wife； Jolande de Dieux； Duke Arthur had one son； John； Count of Montford。 Thus it happened； that when Duke John died； his half…brother； the Count of Montford； and Joan； daughter of his second brother Guy； were all that survived of the family。 These were the rival claimants for the vacant dukedom。 In England we have but one law of succession； which rules through the whole land。 In France it is different。 There the law of succession depends entirely upon the custom of the county； dukedom； or lordship； which is further affected both by the form of grant by which the territory was conveyed to its first feudal possessors and by the mode in which the province had been acquired by the kings of France。 This is important； as upon these circumstances alone it depended whether the son or the granddaughter of Arthur II should inherit the dukedom。
〃Joan claimed the duchy as the daughter of the elder brother。 The Salic law of France； which barred females from the right of succession； and in virtue of which Philip of Valois succeeded to the throne instead of King Edward； certainly did not obtain in Brittany。 Duke John regarded Joan as his heiress； and married her to Charles of Blois； nephew of the King of France； thus strengthening her in her position； and he also induced the provincial parliament of Brittany to acknowledge her husband as his successor in the dukedom。 Altogether it would seem that right is upon Joan's side； but； on the other hand； the Count of Montford is the son of Jolande； a great heiress in Brittany。 He is an active and energetic noble。 The Bretons love not too close a connection with France； and assuredly prefer to be ruled by a duke whom they regard as one of themselves rather than by Charles of Blois； nephew of the French king。 Directly Duke John was dead the Count of Montford claimed the inheritance。 Assuming the title of duke he rode to Nantes； where the citizens did him homage； and then proceeded to Limoges with a large train of men…at…arms； and there took possession of the immense treasures which the late duke had accumulated in the course of a long and tranquil reign。 With these sinews of war at his command he turned to Nantes； where he had left his wife the countess； who was a sister of the Count of Flanders。 He immediately invited the nobility of Brittany to a grand banquet； but only one knight of any renown presented himself at the feast； the rest all holding aloof。 With the wealth of which he had possessed himself he levied large forces and took the field。 He first marched against Brest； where the garrison； commanded by Walter de Clisson； refused to acknowledge him。 After three days' hard fighting the place was taken。 Rennes was next besieged； and presently surrendered。 Other towns fell into his hands； and so far as Brittany was concerned all opposition； except in one or two fortresses； ceased。 In the meanwhile Charles of Blois sought assistance from his uncle the King of France； the Count de Montford； therefore； crossed to England and besought the aid of King Edward； and did homage to him as King of France。 Edward； on his part； promised to assist him。 The fact that Phillip was sure to espouse the opposite side was in itself sufficient to decide him； besides which； the dukes of Brittany have always been in a special way connected with England and bear the English title of Earls of Richmond。
〃Believing that his journey； which had been a secret one； was unknown to the King of France； De Montford went boldly to Paris； where he had been summoned by the king to an assembly of peers called to decide upon the succession。 He found； however； that Phillip had already obtained news of his journey to England。 His manner convinced De Montford that it was unsafe to remain in Paris； and he secretly made his escape。 Fifteen days afterwards the peers gave judgment in favour of Charles of Blois。 The Dukes of Normandy； Burgundy； and Bourbon； the Counts of Alencon； Eu； and Guisnes； and many other French nobles； prepared to lead an army into the field to support Charles； and the king added a body of 3000 Genoese mercenaries in his pay。
〃Knowing the storm that was preparing to break upon him； De Montford put every town and castle in a state of defence。 He himself； confiding in the affection of the inhabitants of Nantes； remained in that city； while his wife repaired to Rennes。
〃The Duke of Normandy advanced from Angiers with an army of 5000 men…at…arms and a numerous infantry； and after capturing the castle of Chantoceaux marched to Nantes and laid siege to the city。 A sortie was made by the besieged； led by Henry de Leon； but； being attacked by the whole of the French army； they were driven back into the town； a great many of the citizens being killed。 A warm altercation took place between Henry de Leon and De Montford； who attributed to him the evil result of the sortie。 The result was that a large number of the citizens whose friends had been captured by the French conspired to deliver up the place to Charles of Blois； and Henry de Leon also entered into private negotiations with the Duke of Normandy。 De Montford； finding that he could rely neither upon the citizens nor the soldiers； surrendered to the duke on condition that his life was spared。 He was sent to Paris； where he still remains a prisoner。 Winter was coming on； and after putting Nantes in a fresh state of defence and leaving Charles of Blois there； the Duke of Normandy dismissed his forces； engaging them to reassemble in the spring。 Had he pushed on at once he would have experienced no resistance； so great was the panic which the surrender of Nantes and the capture of De Montford had caused among the latter's partisans。
〃In Rennes； especially； the deepest despondency was felt。 The countess； however； showed the greatest courage and firmness。 Showing herself； with her infant in her arms； she appealed to the citizens； and by her courageous bearing inspired them with new hopes。 Having restored heart at Rennes she traveled from garrison to garrison throughout the province； and filled all with vigour and resolution。 Feeling； however； the hopelessness of her struggle against all France； she despatched Sir Almeric de Clisson； who had lately joined her party； to England； to ask the aid which the king had promised。 He arrived a month since； and； as you see； our brave king has not been long in despatching us to her aid； and now； youngsters； to bed； for methinks that the sea is rougher than it was and that the wind is getting up。〃
〃Aye； that is it；〃 the captain； who heard the knight's closing words； exclaimed。 〃We are in for a storm； and a heavy one； or my name is not Timothy Martin； and though with plenty of sea…room the Kitty makes not much ado about a storm more or less； it's a very different thing in the middle of a fleet of lubberly craft； which may run one down at any time。 I shall edge out of them as soon as I can； you may be sure。
Before morning a serious gale was blowing； and for the next three or four days Walter and his companions knew nothing of what was going on。 Then the storm abated； and they staggered out from their cabin。 The sea was still high； but the sun shone brightly overhead。 In front of them the land was visible。 They looked round； but to their astonishment not a sail was in sight。
〃Why； where is the fleet？〃 Walter exclaimed in astonishment。
〃Snug in the Thames； I reckon；〃 the captain said。 〃Soon after the storm came on one of the sailors pretended he saw the lights of recall on the admiral's ship； but I was too busy to look that way； I had enough to do to look after the safety of the ship。 Anyhow； I saw no more of them。〃
〃And what land is that ahead？〃 Walter asked。
〃That is Brittany； young sir； and before nightfall we shall be in the port of Hennebon； as to the others； it may be days and it may be weeks before they arrive。
The lads were not sorry at the chance which had taken them to their destination before their compan
