saint george for england-第21章

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In　the　meantime　Sir　Walter　Manny；　with　100　men…at…arms　and　500　horse　archers；　issued　by　a　sally…port　on　the　other　side　of　the　town；　and　with　all　speed　rode　round　to　the　rear　of　the　French　camp。　There　he　found　none　to　oppose　him　save　servants　and　camp…followers；　and　making　his　way　straight　to　the　tent　of　Charles　of　Blois；　where　the　two　knights　were　confined；　he　soon　freed　them　from　their　bonds。　They　were　mounted　without　wasting　a　moment's　time　upon　two　spare　horses；　and　turning　again　the　whole　party　rode　back　towards　Hennebon；　and　had　reached　the　postern　gate　before　the　fugitives　from　the　camp　reached　the　French　commanders　and　told　them　what　had　happened。

Seeing　that　he　was　now　too　late；　because　of　De　Clisson's　sortie；　Charles　of　Blois　recalled　his　army　from　the　attack；　in　which　he　could　only　have　suffered　heavily　from　the　arrows　of　the　archers　and　the　missiles　from　the　walls。　The　same　day；　he　learned　from　some　prisoners　captured　in　the　sortie；　of　the　undiminished　spirit　of　the　garrison；　and　that　Hennebon　was　amply　supplied　with　provisions　brought　by　sea。　His　own　army　was　becoming　straitened　by　the　scarcity　of　supplies　in　the　country　round；　he　therefore　determined　at　once　to　raise　the　siege；　and　to　besiege　some　place　where　he　would　encounter　less　serious　resistance。

Accordingly；　next　morning　he　drew　off　his　army　and　marched　to　Carhaix。

Shortly　afterwards　the　news　came　that　the　Earl　of　Northampton　and　Robert　of　Artois；　with　their　force；　had　sailed；　and　Don　Louis；　with　the　Genoese　and　other　Italian　mercenaries；　started　to　intercept　them　with　a　large　fleet。　The　fleets　met　off　the　island　of　Guernsey；　and　a　severe　engagement　took　place；　which　lasted　till　night。　During　the　darkness　a　tremendous　storm　burst　upon　them　and　the　combatants　separated。　The　English　succeeded　in　making　their　way　to　Brittany　and　landed　near　Vannes。　The　Spaniards　captured　four　small　ships　which　had　been　separated　in　the　storm　from　their　consorts；　but　did　not　succeed　in　regaining　the　coast　of　Brittany；　being　driven　south　by　the　storm　as　far　as　Spain。　　The　Earl　of　Northampton　at　once　laid　siege　to　Vannes；　and　Sir　Walter　Manny　moved　with　every　man　that　could　be　spared　from　Hennebon　to　assist　him。

As　it　was　certain　that　the　French　army　would　press　forward　with　all　speed　to　relieve　the　town；　it　was　decided　to　lose　no　time　in　battering　the　walls；　but　to　attempt　to　carry　it　at　once　by　assault。　The　walls；　however；　were　so　strong　that　there　seemed　little　prospect　of　success　attending　such　an　attempt；　and　a　plan　was　therefore　determined　upon　by　which　the　enemy　might　be　thrown　off　their　guard。　The　assault　commenced　at　three　points　in　the　early　morning　and　was　continued　all　day。　No　great　vigour；　however；　was　shown　in　these　attempts　which　were　repulsed　at　all　points。

At　nightfall　the　assailants　drew　off　to　their　camp；　and　Oliver　de　Clisson；　who　commanded　the　town；　suffered　his　weary　troops　to　quit　the　walls　and　to　seek　for　refreshment　and　repose。　The　assailants；　however；　did　not　disarm；　but　after　a　sufficient　time　had　elapsed　to　allow　the　garrison　to　lay　aside　their　armour　two　strong　parties　attacked　the　principal　gates　of　the　town；　while　Sir　Walter　Manny　and　the　Earl　of　Oxford　moved　round　to　the　opposite　side　with　ladders　for　an　escalade。　The　plan　was　successful。　The　garrison；　snatching　up　their　arms；　hurried　to　repel　their　attack　upon　the　gates；　every　man　hastening　in　that　direction。　Sir　Walter　Manny　with　his　party　were　therefore　enabled　to　mount　the　walls　unobserved　and　make　their　way　into　the　town；　here　they　fell　upon　the　defenders　in　the　rear；　and　the　sudden　onslaught　spread　confusion　and　terror　among　them。　The　parties　at　the　gates　forced　their　way　in　and　joined　their　friends；　and　the　whole　of　the　garrison　were　killed　or　taken　prisoners；　save　a　few；　including　Oliver　Clisson；　who　made　their　escape　by　sally…ports。　Robert　of　Artois；　with　the　Earl　of　Stafford；　was　left　with　a　garrison　to　hold　the　town。　　The　Earl　of　Salisbury；　with　four　thousand　men；　proceeded　to　lay　siege　to　Rennes；　and　Sir　Walter　Manny　hastened　back　to　Hennebon。

Some　of　Sir　Walter's　men　formed　part　of　the　garrison　of　Vannes；　and　among　these　was　Sir　John　Powis　with　a　hundred　men…at…arms。

The　knight　had　been　so　pleased　with　Walter's　coolness　and　courage　at　the　siege　at　Hennebon　that　he　requested　Sir　Walter　to　leave　him　with　him　at　Vannes。　〃It　is　possible；〃　he　said　to　Walter；　〃that　we　may　have　fighting　here。　Methinks　that　Sir　Walter　would　have　done　better　to　leave　a　stronger　force。　The　town　is　a　large　one；　and　the　inhabitants　ill…disposed　towards　us。　Oliver　Clisson　and　the　French　nobles　will　feel　their　honour　wounded　at　the　way　in　which　we　outwitted　them；　and　will　likely　enough　make　an　effort　to　regain　the　town。　However；　Rennes　and　Hennebon　are　not　far　away；　and　we　may　look　for　speedy　aid　from　the　Earl　of　Salisbury　and　Sir　Walter　should　occasion　arise。〃

Sir　John's　previsions　were　speedily　verified。　Oliver　Clisson　and　his　friends　were　determined　to　wipe　out　their　defeat；　and　scattered　through　the　country　raising　volunteers　from　among　the　soldiery　in　all　the　neighbouring　towns　and　castles；　and　a　month　after　Vannes　was　taken　they　suddenly　appeared　before　the　town　with　an　army　of　12；000　men；　commanded　by　Beaumanoir；　marshal　of　Bretagne　for　Charles　of　Blois。　The　same　reasons　which　had　induced　the　Earl　of　Northampton　to　decide　upon　a　speedy　assault　instead　of　the　slow　process　of　breaching　the　walls；　actuated　the　French　in　pursuing　the　same　course；　and；　divided　into　a　number　of　storming　parties；　the　army　advanced　at　once　to　the　assault　on　the　walls。　The　little　garrison　prepared　for　the　defence。

〃The　outlook　is　bad；　Walter；〃　Sir　John　Powis　said。　　〃These　men　approach　with　an　air　of　resolution　which　shows　that　they　are　bent　upon　success。　They　outnumber　us　by　twelve　to　one；　and　it　is　likely　enough　that　the　citizens　may　rise　and　attack　us　in　the　rear。　They　have　been　ordered　to　bring　the　stones　for　the　machines　to　the　walls；　but　no　one　has　laid　his　hand　to　the　work。　We　must　do　our　duty　as　brave　men；　my　lad；　but　I　doubt　me　if　yonder　is　not　the　last　sun　which　we　shall　see。　Furious　as　the　French　are　at　our　recent　success　here　you　may　be　sure　that　little　quarter　will　given。〃



CHAPTER　X：　A　PLACE　OF　REFUGE



The　French；　excited　to　the　utmost　by　the　exhortations　of　their　commanders；　and　by　their　desire　to　wipe　out　the　disgrace　of　the　easy　capture　of　Vannes　by　the　English；　advanced　with　ardour　to　the　assault；　and　officers　and　men　vied　with　each　other　in　the　valour　which　they　displayed。　In　vain　did　the　garrison　shower　arrows　and　cross…bow　bolts　among　them；　and　pour　down　burning　oil　and　quicklime　upon　them　as　they　thronged　at　the　foot　of　the　wall。　In　vain　were　the　ladders；　time　after　time；　hurled　back　loaded　with　men　upon　the　mass　below。　The　efforts　of　the　men…at…arms　to　scale　the　defences　were　seconded　by　their　archers　and　crossbow…men；　who　shot　such　a　storm　of　bolts　that　great　numbers　of　the　defenders　were　killed。　The　assault　was　made　at　a　score　of　different　points；　and　the　garrison　was　too　weak　to　defend　all　with　success。　Sir　John　Powis　and　his　party　repulsed　over　and　over　again　the　efforts　of　the　assailants　against　that　part　of　the　wall　entrusted　to　them；　but　at　other　points　the　French　gained　a　footing；　and　swarming　up　rushed　along　the　walls；　slaying　all　whom　they　encountered。

〃All　is　lost；〃　Sir　John　exclaimed；　〃let　us　fall　back　to　the　castle　and　die　fighting　there。〃

Descending　from　the　wall　the　party　made　their　way　through　the　streets。　The　French　were　already　in　the　town；　every　house　was　closed　and　barred；　and　from　the　upper　windows　the　burghers　hurled　down　stones　and　bricks　upon　the　fugitives；　while　parties　of　the　French　soldiers　fell　upon　them　fiercely。　Many　threw　down　their　arms　and　cried　for　quarter；　but　were　instantly　slain。



For　a　while　the　streets　were　a　scene　of　wild　confusion；　here　and　there　little　knots　of　Englishmen　stood　together　and　defended　themselves　until　the　last；　others　ran　through　the　streets　chased　by　their　exulting　foes；　some　tried　in　vain　to　gain　shelter　in　the　houses。　Sir　John　Powis's　band　was　soon　broken　and　scattered；　and　their　leader　slain　by　a　heavy　stone　from　a　housetop。　Walter　fought　his　way　blindly　forward　towards　the　castle　although　he　well　knew　that　no　refuge　would　be　found　there。　Ralph　Smith　kept　close　beside　him；　levelling　many　of　his　assailants　with　the　tremendous　blows　of　a　huge　mace。　Somehow；　Walter　hardly　knew　how；　they　made　their　way　through　their　assailants　and　dashed　in　at　the　castle　gate。　　A　crowd　of　their　assailants　were　close　upon　their　heels。　　Walter　glanced　round；　dashing　across　the　courtyard　he　ran　through　some　passages　into　an　inner　yard；　in　which；　as　he　knew；　was　the　well。　The　bucket　hung　at　the　windlass。

〃Catch　hold；　Ralph！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃there　is　just　a　chance；　and　we　may　as　well　be　drowned　as　killed。〃　They　grasped　the　rope　and　jumped　off。　The　bucket　began　to　descend　with　frightful　velocity。　Faster　and　faster　it　went　and　yet　it　seemed　a　long　time　before　they　plunged　into　the　water；　which　was　nigh　a　hundred　feet　below　the　surface。　Fortunately　the　rope　was　considerably　longer　than　was　necessary；　and　they　sank　many　feet　into　the　water；　still　retaining　their　hold。　　Then　clinging　to　the　rope　they　hauled　themselves　to　the　surface。

〃We　cannot　hold　on　here　five　minutes；〃　Ralph　exclaimed；　〃my　armour　is　dragging　me　down。〃

〃We　will　soon　get　rid　of　that；〃　Walter　said。

〃There　go　our　helmets；　now　I　will　hold　on　with　one　hand　and　help　you　to　unbuckle　your　breast　and　back　pieces；　you　do　the　same　for　me。〃

With　great　efforts　they　managed　to　rid　themselves　of　their　armour；　and　then　held　on　with　ease　to　the　rope。　They　hauled　the　bucket　to　the　surface　and　tied　a　knot　in　the　slack　of　the　rope；　so　that　the　bucket　hung　four　feet　below　the　level　of　the　water。　Putting　their　feet　in　this；　they　were　able　to　stand　with　their　heads　above　the　surface　without　difficulty。

〃This　is　a　nice　fix；〃　Ralph　exclaimed。　〃I　think　it　would　have　been　just　as　well　to　have　been　killed　at　once。　They　are　sure　to　find　us　here；　and　if　they　don't　we　shall　die　of　cold　before　tomorrow　morning。〃

〃I　don't　think　they　will　find　us；〃　Walter　said　cheerfully。　　〃When　they　have　searched　the　castle　thoroughly　it　may　occur　to　some　of　them　that　we　have　jumped　down　the　well；　but　it　will　be　no　particular　business　of　anyone　to　look　for　us；　and　they　will　all　be　too　anxious　to　get　at　the　wine　butts　to　trouble　their　heads　about　the　matter；　besides；　it　must　be　a　heavy　job　to　wind　up　this　bucket；　and　it　is　not　likely　there　will　be　such　urgent　need　of　water　that　anyone　will　undertake　the　task。〃

〃But　we　are　no　better　off　if　they　don't；〃　Ralph　remarked；　〃for　we　must　die　here　if　we　are　not　hauled　out。　I　suppose　you　don't　intend　to　try　and　climb　that　rope。　　I　might　do　twenty　feet　or　so　on　a　pinch；　but　I　could　no　more　get　up　to　the　top　there　than　I　could　fly。〃

〃We　must　think　it　over；〃　Walter　rejoined；　〃where　there　is　a　will　there　is　a　way；　you　know。　We　will　take　it　by　turns　to　watch　that　little　patch　of　light　overhead；　if　we　see　anyone　looking　down　we　must　leave　the　bucket　and　swim　to　the　side　without　making　the　least　noise。　They　may　give　a　few　turns　of　the　windlass　to　see　if　anyone　has　hold　of　the　rope　below；　be　sure　you　do　not　make　the　slightest　splashing　or　noise；　for　the　sound　would　be　heard