saint george for england-第2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！



〃This　is　the　shop；〃　he　said；　〃and　there　is　Giles　Fletcher　himself　trying　the　spring　and　pull　of　one　of　his　bows。　Here　I　will　leave　you；　and　will　one　of　these　days　return　to　inquire　if　your　health　has　taken　ought　of　harm　by　the　rough　buffeting　of　the　storm　of　yester…even。〃

So　saying　he　handed　the　child　to　its　mother；　and　with　a　wave　of　the　hand　took　his　leave；　not　waiting　to　listen　to　the　renewed　thanks　which　his　late　guest　endeavoured　to　give　him。

The　shop　was　open　in　front；　a　projecting　penthouse　sheltered　it　from　the　weather；　two　or　three　bows　lay　upon　a　wide　shelf　in　front；　and　several　large　sheaves　of　arrows　tied　together　stood　by　the　wall。　A　powerful　man　of　some　forty　years　old　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　shop　with　a　bent　bow　in　his　arm；　taking　aim　at　a　spot　in　the　wall。　Through　an　open　door　three　men　could　be　seen　in　an　inner　workshop　cutting　and　shaping　the　wood　for　bows。　The　bowyer　looked　round　as　his　visitor　entered　the　shop；　and　then；　with　a　sudden　exclamation；　lowered　the　bow。

〃Hush；　Giles！〃　the　lady　exclaimed；　〃it　is　I；　but　name　no　names；　it　were　best　that　none　knew　me　here。〃

The　craftsman　closed　the　door　of　communication　into　the　inner　room。　〃My　Lady　Alice；〃　he　exclaimed　in　a　low　tone；　〃you　here；　and　in　such　a　guise？〃

〃Surely　it　is　I；〃　the　lady　sighed；　〃although　sometimes　I　am　well…nigh　inclined　to　ask　myself　whether　it　be　truly　I　or　not；　or　whether　this　be　not　all　a　dreadful　dream。〃

〃I　had　heard　but　vaguely　of　your　troubles；〃　Giles　Fletcher　said；　〃but　hoped　that　the　rumours　were　false。　Ever　since　the　Duke　of　Kent　was　executed　the　air　has　been　full　of　rumours。　Then　came　news　of　the　killing　of　Mortimer　and　of　the　imprisonment　of　the　king's　mother；　and　it　was　said　that　many　who　were　thought　to　be　of　her　party　had　been　attacked　and　slain；　and　I　heard　…〃　and　there　he　stopped。

〃You　heard　rightly；　good　Giles；　it　is　all　true。　A　week　after　the　slaying　of　Mortimer　a　band　of　knights　and　men…at…arms　arrived　at　our　castle　and　demanded　admittance　in　the　king's　name。　Sir　Roland　refused；　for　he　had　news　that　many　were　taking　up　arms；　but　it　was　useless。　The　castle　was　attacked；　and　after　three　days'　fighting；　was　taken。　Roland　was　killed；　and　I　was　cast　out　with　my　child。　Afterwards　they　repented　that　they　had　let　me　go；　and　searched　far　and　wide　for　me；　but　I　was　hidden　in　the　cottage　of　a　woodcutter。　　They　were　too　busy　in　hunting　down　others　whom　they　proclaimed　to　be　enemies　of　the　king；　as　they　had　wrongfully　said　of　Roland；　who　had　but　done　his　duty　faithfully　to　Queen　Isabella；　and　was　assuredly　no　enemy　of　her　son；　although　he　might　well　be　opposed　to　the　weak　and　indolent　king；　his　father。　However；　when　the　search　relaxed　I　borrowed　the　cloak　of　the　good　man's　wife　and　set　out　for　London；　whither　I　have　traveled　on　foot；　believing　that　you　and　Bertha　would　take　me　in　and　shelter　me　in　my　great　need。〃

〃Aye；　that　will　we　willingly；〃　Giles　said。　〃Was　not　Bertha　your　nurse　？　and　to　whom　should　you　come　if　not　to　her？　　But　will　it　please　you　to　mount　the　stairs；　for　Bertha　will　not　forgive　me　if　I　keep　you　talking　down　here。　What　a　joy　it　will　be　to　her　to　see　you　again！〃

So　saying；　Giles　led　the　way　to　the　apartment　above。　　There　was　a　scream　of　surprise　and　joy　from　his　wife；　and　then　Giles　quietly　withdrew　downstairs　again；　leaving　the　women　to　cry　in　each　other's　arms。

A　few　days　later　Geoffrey　Ward　entered　the　shop　of　Giles　Fletcher。

〃I　have　brought　you　twenty　score　of　arrowheads；　Master　Giles；〃　he　said。　〃They　have　been　longer　in　hand　than　is　usual　with　me；　but　I　have　been　pressed。　And　how　goes　it　with　the　lady　whom　I　brought　to　your　door　last　week？〃

〃But　sadly；　Master　Ward；　very　sadly；　as　I　told　you　when　I　came　across　to　thank　you　again　in　her　name　and　my　own　for　your　kindness　to　her。　She　was　but　in　poor　plight　after　her　journey；　poor　thing；　she　was　little　accustomed　to　such　wet　and　hardship；　and　doubtless　they　took　all　the　more　effect　because　she　was　low　in　spirit　and　weakened　with　much　grieving。　That　night　she　was　taken　with　a　sort　of　fever；　hot　and　cold　by　turns；　and　at　times　off　her　head。　Since　then　she　has　lain　in　a　high　fever　and　does　not　know　even　my　wife；　her　thoughts　ever　go　back　to　the　storming　of　the　castle；　and　she　cries　aloud　and　begs　them　to　spare　her　lord's　life。　It　is　pitiful　to　hear　her。　The　leech　gives　but　small　hope　for　her　life；　and　in　troth；　Master　Ward；　methinks　that　God　would　deal　most　gently　with　her　were　He　to　take　her。　Her　heart　is　already　in　her　husband's　grave；　for　she　was　ever　of　a　most　loving　and　faithful　nature。　Here　there　would　be　little　comfort　for　her　…　she　would　fret　that　her　boy　would　never　inherit　the　lands　of　his　father；　and　although　she　knows　well　enough　that　she　would　be　always　welcome　here；　and　that　Bertha　would　serve　her　as　gladly　and　faithfully　as　ever　she　did　when　she　was　her　nurse；　yet　she　could　not　but　greatly　feel　the　change。　　She　was　tenderly　brought　up；　being；　as　I　told　you　last　week；　the　only　daughter　of　Sir　Harold　Broome。　Her　brother；　who　but　a　year　ago　became　lord　of　Broomecastle　at　the　death　of　his　father；　was　one　of　the　queen's　men；　and　it　was　he；　I　believe；　who　brought　Sir　Roland　Somers　to　that　side。　He　was　slain　on　the　same　night　as　Mortimer；　and　his　lands；　like　those　of　Sir　Roland；　have　been　seized　by　the　crown。　The　child　upstairs　is　by　right　heir　to　both　estates；　seeing　that　his　uncle　died　unmarried。　They　will　doubtless　be　conferred　upon　those　who　have　aided　the　young　king　in　freeing　himself　from　his　mother's　domination；　for　which；　indeed；　although　I　lament　that　Lady　Alice　should　have　suffered　so　sorely　in　the　doing　of　it；　I　blame　him　not　at　all。　He　is　a　noble　prince　and　will　make　us　a　great　king；　and　the　doings　of　his　mother　have　been　a　shame　to　us　all。　However；　I　meddle　not　in　politics。　If　the　poor　lady　dies；　as　methinks　is　well…nigh　certain；　Bertha　and　I　will　bring　up　the　boy　as　our　own。　I　have　talked　it　over　with　my　wife；　and　so　far　she　and　I　are　not　of　one　mind。　I　think　it　will　be　best　to　keep　him　in　ignorance　of　his　birth　and　lineage；　since　the　knowledge　cannot　benefit　him；　and　will　but　render　him　discontented　with　his　lot　and　make　him　disinclined　to　take　to　my　calling；　in　which　he　might　otherwise　earn　a　living　and　rise　to　be　a　respected　citizen。　But　Bertha　hath　notions。　You　have　not　taken　a　wife　to　yourself；　Master　Geoffrey；　or　you　would　know　that　women　oft　have　fancies　which　wander　widely　from　hard　facts；　and　she　says　she　would　have　him　brought　up　as　a　man…at…arms；　so　that　he　may　do　valiant　deeds；　and　win　back　some　day　the　title　and　honour　of　his　family。〃

Geoffrey　Ward　laughed。　〃Trust　a　woman　for　being　romantic；〃　he　said。　〃However；　Master　Fletcher；　you　need　not　for　the　present　trouble　about　the　child's　calling；　even　should　its　mother　die。　At　any　rate；　whether　he　follows　your　trade；　or　whether　the　blood　in　his　veins　leads　him　to　take　to　martial　deeds；　the　knowledge　of　arms　may　well　be　of　use　to　him；　and　I　promise　you　that　such　skill　as　I　have　I　will　teach　him　when　he　grows　old　enough　to　wield　sword　and　battle…axe。　As　you　know　I　may；　without　boasting；　say　that　he　could　scarce　have　a　better　master；　seeing　that　I　have　for　three　years　carried　away　the　prize　for　the　best　sword…　player　at　the　sports。　Methinks　the　boy　will　grow　up　into　a　strong　and　stalwart　man；　for　he　is　truly　a　splendid　lad。　As　to　archery；　he　need　not　go　far　to　learn　it；　since　your　apprentice；　Will　Parker；　last　year　won　the　prize　as　the　best　marksman　in　the　city　bounds。　　Trust　me；　if　his　tastes　lie　that　way　we　will　between　us　turn　him　out　a　rare　man…at…arms。　But　I　must　stand　gossiping　no　longer；　the　rumours　that　we　are　likely　ere　long　to　have　war　with　France；　have　rarely　bettered　my　trade。　Since　the　wars　in　Scotland　men's　arms　have　rusted　somewhat；　and　my　two　men　are　hard　at　work　mending　armour　and　fitting　swords　to　hilts；　and　forging　pike…heads。　You　see　I　am　a　citizen　though　I　dwell　outside　the　bounds；　because　house　rent　is　cheaper　and　I　get　my　charcoal　without　paying　the　city　dues。　So　I　can　work　somewhat　lower　than　those　in　the　walls；　and　I　have　good　custom　from　many　in　Kent；　who　know　that　my　arms　are　of　as　good　temper　as　those　turned　out　by　any　craftsman　in　the　city。〃

Giles　Fletcher's　anticipations　as　to　the　result　of　his　guest's　illness　turned　out　to　be　well　founded。　The　fever　abated；　but　left　her　prostrate　in　strength。　　For　a　few　weeks　she　lingered；　but　she　seemed　to　have　little　hold　of　life；　and　to　care　not　whether　she　lived　or　died。　So；　gradually　she　faded　away。

〃I　know　you　will　take　care　of　my　boy　as　if　he　were　your　own；　Bertha；〃　she　said　one　day；　〃and　you　and　your　husband　will　be　far　better　protectors　for　him　than　I　should　have　been　had　I　lived。　Teach　him　to　be　honest　and　true。　It　were　better；　methinks；　that　he　grew　up　thinking　you　his　father　and　mother；　for　otherwise　he　may　grow　discontented　with　his　lot；　but　this　I　leave　with　you；　and　you　must　speak　or　keep　silent　according　as　you　see　his　disposition　and　mind。　If　he　is　content　to　settle　down　to　a　peaceful　life　here；　say　nought　to　him　which　would　unsettle　his　mind；　but　if　Walter　turn　out　to　have　an　adventurous　disposition；　then　tell　him　as　much　as　you　think　fit　of　his　history；　not　encouraging　him　to　hope　to　recover　his　father's　lands　and　mine；　for　that　can　never　be；　seeing　that　before　that　time　can　come　they　would　have　been　enjoyed　for　many　years　by　others；　but　that　he　may　learn　to　bear　himself　bravely　and　gently　as　becomes　one　of　good　blood。〃

A　few　days　later　Lady　Alice　breathed　her　last；　and　at　her　own　request　was　buried　quietly　and　without　pomp；　as　if　she　had　been　a　child　of　the　bowman；　a　plain　stone；　with　the　name　〃Dame　Alice　Somers〃；　marking　the　grave。

The　boy　grew　and　throve　until　at　fourteen　years　old　there　was　no　stronger　or　sturdier　lad　of　his　age　within　the　city　bounds。　Giles　had　caused　him　to　be　taught　to　read　and　write；　accomplishments　which　were　common　among　the　citizens；　although　they　were　until　long　afterwards　rare　among　the　warlike　barons。　The　greater　part　of　his　time；　however；　was　spent　in　sports　with　lads　of　his　own　age　in　Moorfields　beyond　the　walls。　The　war　with　France　was　now　raging；　and；　as　was　natural；　the　boys　in　their　games　imitated　the　doings　of　their　elders；　and　mimic　battles；　ofttimes　growing　into　earnest；　were　fought　between　the　lads　of　the　different　wards。　　Walter　Fletcher；　as　he　was　known　among　his　play…fellows；　had　by　his　strength　and　courage　won　for　himself　the　proud　position　of　captain　of　the　boys　of　the　ward　of　Aldgate。

Geoffrey　Ward　had　kept　his　word；　and　had　already　begun　to　give　the　lad　lessons　in　the　use　of　arms。　When　not　engaged　otherwise　Walter　would；　almost　every　afternoon；　cross　London　Bridge　and　would　spend　hours　in　the　armourer's　forge。　　Geoffrey's　business　had　grown；　for　the　war　had　caused　a　great　demand　for　arms；　and　he　had　now　six　men　working　in　the　forge。　As　soon　as　the　boy　could　handle　a　light　tool　Geoffrey　allowed　him　to　work；　and　although　not　able　to　wield　the　heavy　sledge　Walter　was　able　to　do　much　of　the　finer　work。　Geoffrey　encouraged　him　in　this；　as；　in　the　first　place；　the　use　of　the　tools　greatly　strengthened　the　boy's　muscles；　and　gave　him　an　acquaintance　with　arms。　Moreover；　Geoffrey　was　still　a　bachelor；　and　he　thought　that　the　boy；　whom　he　as　well　as　Giles　had　come　to　love　as　a　son；　might；　should　he　not　take　up　the　trade　of　war；　pr