saint george for england-第25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！


youth　whose　interference　had　thwarted　his　plans；　and　whose　report　to　his　kinswoman　had　turned　her　mind　against　him。　He；　at　any　rate；　should　be　put　out　of　the　way　at　the　first　opportunity；　and　thus　the　only　witness　against　himself　be　removed；　for　Lady　Vernon's　own　unsupported　story　would　be　merely　her　word　against　his；　and　could　be　treated　as　the　malicious　fiction　of　an　angry　woman。

The　following　day　Dame　Vernon　sent　for　Walter；　and　informed　him　exactly　what　had　taken　place。

〃Between　Sir　James　and　me；〃　she　said；　〃there　is；　you　see；　a　truce。　We　are　enemies；　but；　we　agree　to　lay　aside　our　arms　for　the　time。　But；　Walter；　you　must　be　on　your　guard。

You　know　as　well　as　I　do　how　dangerous　this　man　is；　and　how　good　a　cause　he　has　to　hate　you。　I　would　not　have　divulged　your　name　had　I　not　known　that　the　frequency　of　your　visits　here　and　the　encouragement　which　I　openly　give　you　as　the　future　suitor　of　my　daughter；　would　be　sure　to　come　to　his　ears；　and　he　would　speedily　discover　that　it　was　you　who　saved　our　lives　on　the　Thames　and　gave　your　testimony　before　the　justices　as　to　the　conversation　in　the　hut　on　the　marshes。　　Thus　I　forestalled　what　he　would　in　a　few　days　have　learnt。〃

〃I　fear　him　not；　lady；〃　Walter　said　calmly。　〃I　can　hold　mine　own；　I　hope；　against　him　in　arms；　and　having　the　patronage　and　friendship　of　Sir　Walter　Manny　I　am　above　any　petty　malice。　Nevertheless　I　will　hold　myself　on　my　guard。　　I　will；　so　far　as　possible；　avoid　any　snare　which　he　may；　as　'tis　not　unlikely；　set　for　my　life；　and　will；　so　far　as　I　honourably　can；　avoid　any　quarrel　with　which　he　may　seek　to　saddle　me。

A　few　days　later　Walter　again　met　Sir　James　Carnegie　in　the　king's　anteroom；　and　saw　at　once；　by　the　fixed　look　of　hate　with　which　he　had　regarded　him；　that　he　had　already　satisfied　himself　of　his　identity。　He　returned　the　knight's　stare　with　a　cold　look　of　contempt。　The　knight　moved　towards　him；　and　in　a　low　tone　said；　〃Beware；　young　sir；　I　have　a　heavy　reckoning　against　you；　and　James　Carnegie　never　forgets　debts　of　that　kind！〃

〃I　am　warned；　Sir　James；〃　Walter　said　calmly；　but　in　the　same　low　tone；　〃and；　believe　me；　I　hold　but　very　lightly　the　threats　of　one　who　does　not　succeed　even　when　he　conspires　against　the　lives　of　women　and　children。〃

Sir　James　started　as　if　he　had　been　struck。　Then；　with　a　great　effort　he　recovered　his　composure；　and；　repeating　the　word　〃Beware！〃　walked　across　to　the　other　side　of　the　chamber。　The　next　day　Walter　went　down　the　river　and　had　a　talk　with　his　friend　Geoffrey。

〃You　must　beware；　lad；〃　the　armourer　said　when　he　told　him　of　the　return　of　Sir　James　Carnegie　and　the　conversation　which　had　taken　place　between　them。　　〃This　man　is　capable　of　anything；　and　careth　not　where　he　chooseth　his　instruments。　　The　man　of　the　hut　at　Lambeth　has　never　been　caught　since　his　escape　from　Richmond　Jail　…　thanks；　doubtless；　to　the　gold　of　his　employer　…　and；　for　aught　we　know；　may　still　be　lurking　in　the　marshes　there；　or　in　the　purlieus　of　the　city。　He　will　have　a　grudge　against　you　as　well　as　his　employer；　and　in　him　Sir　James　would　find　a　ready　instrument。　He　is　no　doubt　connected；　as　before；　with　a　gang　of　water　pirates　and　robbers；　and　it　is　not　one　sword　alone　that　you　would　have　to　encounter。　I　think　not　that　you　are　in　danger　just　at　present；　for　he　would　know　that；　in　case　of　your　murder；　the　suspicions　of　Dame　Vernon　and　of　any　others　who　may　know　the　motive　which　he　has　in　getting　rid　of　you　would　be　excited；　and　he　might　be　accused　of　having　had　a　share　in　your　death。　Still；　it　would　be　so　hard　to　prove　aught　against　him；　that　he　may　be　ready　to　run　the　risk　in　order　to　rid　himself　of　you。　Look　here；　Walter。　What　think　you　of　this？〃　and　the　smith　drew　out　from　a　coffer　a　shirt　of　mail　of　finer　work　than　Walter　had　ever　before　seen。

〃Aye；　lad；　I　knew　you　would　be　pleased；〃　he　said　in　answer　to　Walter's　exclamation　at　the　fineness　of　the　workmanship。　　〃I　bought　this　a　month　ago　from　a　Jew　merchant　who　had　recently　come　from　Italy。　How　he　got　it　I　know　not；　but　I　doubt　if　it　were　honestly；　or　he　would　have　demanded　a　higher　price　than　I　paid　him。　He　told　me　that　it　was　made　by　the　first　armourer　in　Milan；　and　was　constructed　especially　for　a　cardinal　of　the　church；　who　had　made　many　enemies　by　his　evil　deeds　and　could　not　sleep　for　fear　of　assassination。　At　his　death　it　came　as　the　Jew　said；　into　his　possession。　I　suppose　some　rascally　attendant　took　it　as　a　perquisite；　and；　knowing　not　of　its　value；　sold　it　for　a　few　ducats　to　the　Jew。　　However；　it　is　of　the　finest　workmanship。　It　is；　as　you　see；　double；　and　each　link　is　made　of　steel　so　tough　that　no　dagger　or　sword…point　will　pierce　it。　I　put　it　on　a　block　and　tried　the　metal　myself；　and　broke　one　of　my　best　daggers　on　it　without　a　single　link　giving。　Take　it；　lad。　You　are　welcome　to　it。　I　bought　it　with　a　special　eye　to　you；　thinking　that　you　might　wear　it　under　your　armour　in　battle　without　greatly　adding　to　the　weight；　but　for　such　dangers　as　threaten　you　now　it　is　invaluable。　It　is　so　light　and　soft　that　none　will　dream　that　you　have　it　under　your　doublet；　and　I　warrant　me　it　will　hold　you　safe　against　the　daggers　of　Sir　James's　ruffians。

Walter　did　not　like　taking　a　gift　so　valuable；　for　his　apprenticeship　as　an　armourer　had　taught　him　the　extreme　rarity　and　costliness　of　so　fine　a　piece　of　work。　Geoffrey；　however；　would　not　hear　of　his　refusal；　and　insisted　on　his　then　and　there　taking　off　his　doublet　and　putting　it　on。　It　fitted　closely　to　the　body；　descending　just　below　the　hips；　and　coming　well　up　on　the　neck；　while　the　arms　extended　to　the　wrists。

〃There！〃　the　smith　said　with　delight。　〃Now　you　are　safe　against　sword　or　dagger；　save　for　a　sweeping　blow　at　the　head；　and　that　your　sword　can　be　trusted　to　guard。　Never　take　it　off；　Walter；　save　when　you　sleep；　and　except　when　in　your　own　bed；　at　Sir　Walter　Manny's；　I　should　advise　you　to　wear　it　even　at　night。　　The　weight　is　nothing；　and　it　will　not　incommode　you。　So　long　as　this　caitiff　knight　lives；　your　life　will　not　be　safe。　When　he　is　dead　you　may　hang　up　the　shirt　of　mail　with　a　light　heart。〃



CHAPTER　XII：　JACOB　VAN　ARTEVELDE


King　Edward　found　no　difficulty　in　awakening　the　war　spirit　of　England　anew；　for　the　King　of　France；　in　an　act　of　infamous　treachery；　in　despite　of　the　solemn　terms　of　the　treaty；　excited　against　himself　the　indignation　not　only　of　England　but　of　all　Europe。　Oliver　de　Clisson；　with　fourteen　other　nobles　of　Brittany　and　Normandy；　were　arrested　by　his　order；　taken　to　Paris；　and　without　form　of　trial　there　decapitated。　This　act　of　treachery　and　injustice　aroused　disgust　and　shame　among　the　French　nobles；　and　murmurs　and　discontent　spread　throughout　the　whole　country。

In　Brittany　numbers　of　the　nobles　fell　off　from　the　cause　of　Charles　of　Blois；　and　King　Edward　hastened　his　preparations　to　avenge　the　butchery　of　the　adherents　of　the　house　of　Montford。　Phillip；　however；　in　defiance　of　the　murmurs　of　his　own　subjects；　of　the　indignant　remonstrances　of　Edward；　and　even　those　of　the　pope；　who　was　devoted　to　his　cause；　continued　the　course　he　had　begun；　and　a　number　of　other　nobles　were　seized　and　executed。　　Godfrey　of　Harcourt　alone；　warned　by　the　fate　of　his　companions；　refused　to　obey　the　summons　of　the　king　to　repair　to　Paris；　and　fled　to　Brabant。　His　property　in　France　was　at　once　seized　by　Phillip；　and　Godfrey；　finding　that　the　Duke　of　Brabant　would　be　unable　to　shield　him　from　Phillip's　vengeance；　fled　to　the　English　court；　and　did　homage　to　Edward。

On　the　24th　of　April；　1345；　Edward　determined　no　longer　to　allow　Phillip　to　continue　to　benefit　by　his　constant　violations　of　the　truce；　and　accordingly　sent　a　defiance　to　the　King　of　France。

De　Montford；　who　had　just　succeeded　in　escaping　from　his　prison　in　Paris；　arrived　at　this　moment　in　England；　and　shortly　afterwards　set　sail　with　a　small　army　under　the　command　of　the　Earl　of　Northampton　for　Britanny；　while　the　Earl　of　Derby　took　his　departure　with　a　larger　force　for　the　defence　of　Guienne。

King　Edward　set　about　raising　a　large　army；　which　he　determined　to　lead　himself；　but　before　passing　over　to　France　he　desired　to　strengthen　his　hold　of　Flanders。　　The　constant　intrigues　of　Phillip　there　had　exercised　a　great　effect。　The　count　of　that　country　was　already　strongly　in　his　interest；　and　it　was　only　the　influence　of　Jacob　van　Artevelde　which　maintained　the　alliance　with　England。　　This　man　had；　by　his　talent　and　energy；　gained　an　immense　influence　over　his　countrymen；　but　his　commanding　position　and　ability　had　naturally　excited　the　envy　and　hatred　of　many　of　his　fellow　citizens；　among　whom　was　the　dean　of　the　weavers　of　Ghent；　one　Gerard　Denis。　The　weavers　were　the　most　powerful　body　in　this　city；　and　had　always　been　noted　for　their　turbulence　and　faction；　and　on　a　Monday　in　the　month　of　May；　1345；　a　great　battle　took　place　in　the　market…place　between　them　and　the　fullers；　of　whom　1500　were　slain。　This　victory　of　the　weavers　strengthened　the　power　of　the　party　hostile　to　Artevelde　and　the　English　connection；　and　the　former　saw　that　unless　he　could　induce　his　countrymen　to　take　some　irretrievable　step　in　favour　of　England　they　would　ultimately　fall　back　into　the　arms　of　France。　Accordingly　he　invited　Edward　to　pass　over　with　a　strong　force　into　Flanders；　where　he　would　persuade　the　Flemings　to　make　the　Prince　of　Wales　their　duke。　King　Edward　at　once　accepted　the　offer；　and　sailing　from　Sandwich　on　the　3d　of　July　arrived　in　safety　at　Sluys。　His　intention　had　been　kept　a　profound　secret；　and　his　arrival　created　the　greatest　surprise　throughout　Flanders。　　He　did　not　disembark；　but　received　on　board　a　ship　with　great　honour　and　magnificence　the　burgomasters　of　the　various　towns　who　appeared　to　welcome　him。　The　king　had　brought　with　him　the　Prince　of　Wales；　now　fifteen　years　old；　who　wore　a　suit　of　black　armour；　and　was　therefore　called　〃the　Black　Prince。〃

Walter　Somers　was　on　board　the　royal　vessel。　The　Prince　of　Wales　had　not　forgotten　the　promise　which　he　had　six　years　before　made　to　him；　and　had　asked　Sir　Walter　Manny　to　allow　him　to　follow　under　his　banner。

〃You　are　taking　my　most　trusty　squire　from　me；　Prince；〃　the　knight　said；　〃for　although　I　have　many　brave　young　fellows　in　my　following；　there　is　not　one　whom　I　value　so　much　as　Walter　Somers。　It　is　but　fair；　however；　that　you　should　have　him；　since　you　told　me　when　I　first　took　him　that　he　was　to　follow　your　banner　when　you　were　old　enough　to　go　to　the　wars。　You　can　rely　upon　him　implicitly。　He　cares　not　for　the　gaieties　of　which　most　young　men　of　his　age　think　so　much。　He　is　ever　ready　for　duty；　and　he　possesses　a　wisdom　and　sagacity　which　will　some　day　make　him　a　great　leader。〃

Walter　was　sorry　to　leave　his　patron；　but　the　step　was　of　course　a　great　advancement；　and　excited　no　little　envy　among　his　companions；　for　among　the　young　esquires　of　the　Prince　of　Wales　were　the　sons　of　many　of　the　noblest　families　of　England。

Sir　Walter　presented　him　on　leaving　with　a　heavy　purse。　　〃Your　expenses　will　be　large；〃　he　said；　〃among　so　many　young　gallants；　and　you　must　do　credit　to　me　as　well　as　to　yourself。　　The　young　prince　is　generous　to　a　fault；　and　as　he　holds　you　in　high　favour；　both　from　his　knowledge　of　you　and　from　my　report；　you　will；　I　know；