saint george for england-第26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！


as　he　holds　you　in　high　favour；　both　from　his　knowledge　of　you　and　from　my　report；　you　will；　I　know；　lack　nothing　when　you　are　once　fairly　embarked　in　his　service；　but　it　is　needful　that　when　you　first　join　you　should　be　provided　with　many　suits　of　courtly　raiment；　of　cloth　of　gold　and　silk；　which　were　not　needed　while　you　were　in　the　service　of　a　simple　knight　like　myself；　but　which　must　be　worn　by　a　companion　of　the　heir　of　England。〃

Walter　had　hoped　that　Sir　James　Carnegie　would　have　accompanied　the　forces　of　either　the　Earls　of　Northampton　or　Derby；　but　he　found　that　he　had　attached　himself　to　the　royal　army。

Ralph　of　course　followed　Walter's　fortunes；　and　was　now　brilliant　in　the　appointments　of　the　Prince　of　Wales's　chosen　bodyguard　of　men…at…arms。

The　councils　of　all　the　great　towns　of　Flanders　assembled　at　Sluys；　and　for　several　days　great　festivities　were　held。　Then　a　great　assembly　was　held；　and　Van　Artevelde　rose　and　addressed　his　countrymen。　He　set　forth　to　them　the　virtues　of　the　Prince　of　Wales；　whose　courtesy　and　bearing　had　so　captivated　them；　he　pointed　out　the　obligations　which　Flanders　was　under　towards　King　Edward；　and　the　advantages　which　would　arise　from　a　nearer　connection　with　England。　With　this　he　contrasted　the　weakness　of　their　count；　the　many　ills　which　his　adherence　to　France　had　brought　upon　the　country；　and　the　danger　which　menaced　them　should　his　power　be　ever　renewed。　He　then　boldly　proposed　to　them　that　they　should　at　once　cast　off　their　allegiance　to　the　count　and　bestow　the　vacant　coronet　upon　the　Prince　of　Wales；　who；　as　Duke　of　Flanders；　would　undertake　the　defence　and　government　of　the　country　with　the　aid　of　a　Flemish　council。　This　wholly　unexpected　proposition　took　the　Flemish　burghers　by　surprise。　Artevelde　had　calculated　upon　his　eloquence　and　influence　carrying　them　away；　but　his　power　had　diminished；　and　many　of　his　hearers　had　already　been　gained　to　the　cause　of　France。　The　burgher　councils　had　for　a　long　time　had　absolute　power　in　their　own　towns；　and　the　prospect　of　a　powerful　prince　at　their　head　foredoomed　a　curtailment　of　those　powers。　When　Artevelde　ceased；　therefore；　instead　of　the　enthusiastic　shouts　with　which　he　hoped　his　oration　would　be　greeted；　a　confused　murmur　arose。　At　last　several　got　up　and　said　that；　greatly　attached　as　they　were　to　the　king；　much　as　they　admired　the　noble　young　prince　proposed　for　their　acceptance；　they　felt　themselves　unable　to　give　an　answer　upon　an　affair　of　such　moment　without　consulting　their　fellow　countrymen　and　learning　their　opinions。　They　therefore　promised　that　they　would　return　on　a　certain　day　and　give　a　decided　answer。

The　Flemish　burghers　then　took　their　leave。　Van　Artevelde；　after　a　consultation　with　the　king；　started　at　once　to　use　his　influence　among　the　various　towns。

After　leaving　the　king　he　bade　adieu　to　the　Prince　of　Wales。　〃Would　you　like；〃　the　young　prince　said；　〃that　one　of　my　esquires　should　ride　with　you？　His　presence　might　show　the　people　how　entirely　I　am　with　you；　and　should　you　have　tidings　to　send　me　he　could　ride　hither　with　them。　I　have　one　with　me　who　is　prudent　and　wise；　and　who　possesses　all　the　confidence　of　that　wise　and　valiant　knight；　Sir　Walter　de　Manny。〃

〃I　will　gladly　take　him；　your　royal　highness；〃　Van　Artevelde　said；　〃and　hope　to　despatch　him　to　you　very　shortly　with　the　news　that　the　great　towns　of　Flanders　all　gladly　receive　you　as　their　lord。〃

In　a　few　minutes　Walter　had　mounted　his　horse；　accompanied　by　Ralph；　and；　joining　Van　Artevelde；　rode　to　Bruges。　Here　and　at　Ypres　Van　Artevelde's　efforts　were　crowned　with　success。　His　eloquence　carried　away　the　people　with　him；　and　both　these　cities　agreed　to　accept　the　Prince　of　Wales　as　their　lord；　but　the　hardest　task　yet　remained。　　Ghent　was　the　largest　and　most　powerful　of　the　Flemish　towns；　and　here　his　enemies　were　in　the　ascendant。　Gerard　Denis　and　the　weavers　had　been　stirring　up　the　people　against　him。　All　kinds　of　accusations　had　been　spread；　and　he　was　accused　of　robbing　and　selling　his　country。　The　news　of　the　hostile　feeling　of　the　population　reached　Van　Artevelde；　and　he　despatched　Walter　with　the　request　to　the　king　for　a　force　of　five　hundred　English　soldiers　as　a　guard　against　his　enemies。

Had　Artevelde　asked　for　a　large　force；　Edward　would　have　disembarked　his　army　and　marched　at　their　head　into　Ghent。　As　the　rest　of　the　country　was　already　won；　there　can　be　little　doubt　that　this　step　would　at　once　have　silenced　all　opposition；　and　would　have　annexed　Flanders　to　the　British　crown。　Van　Artevelde；　however；　believed　himself　to　be　stronger　than　he　really　was；　and　thought　with　a　small　party　of　soldiers　he　could　seize　his　principal　opponents；　and　that　the　people　would　then　rally　round　him。

Upon　the　arrival　of　the　five　hundred　men　he　started　for　Ghent；　but　as　he　feared　that　the　gates　would　be　shut　if　he　presented　himself　with　an　armed　force；　he　left　the　soldiers　in　concealment　a　short　distance　from　the　town　and　entered　it；　accompanied　only　by　his　usual　suite。　At　his　invitation；　however；　Walter；　followed　of　course　by　Ralph；　rode　beside　him。　No　sooner　was　he　within　the　gates　than　Van　Artevelde　saw　how　strong　was　the　popular　feeling　against　him。　He　had　been　accustomed　to　be　received　with　bows　of　reverence；　now　men　turned　aside　as　he　approached；　or　scowled　at　him　from　their　doors。

〃Methinks；　sir；〃　Walter　said；　〃that　it　would　be　wiser　did　we　ride　back；　and；　joining　the　soldiers；　enter　at　their　head；　or　as　that　number　would　be　scarce　sufficient　should　so　large　a　town　rise　in　tumult；　to　send　to　King　Edward　for　a　larger　force　and　await　their　coming。　Even　should　they　shut　the　gates；　we　can　reduce　the　town；　and　as　all　the　rest　of　Flanders　is　with　you；　surely　a　short　delay　will　not　matter。〃

〃You　know　not　these　Flemings　as　well　as　I　do；〃　Van　Artevelde　replied；　〃they　are　surly　dogs；　but　they　always　listen　to　my　voice；　and　are　ready　enough　to　do　my　bidding。　When　I　once　speak　to　them　you　will　see　how　they　will　smooth　their　backs　and　do　as　I　ask　them。〃

Walter　said　no　more；　but　as　he　saw　everywhere　lowering　brows　from　window　and　doorway　as　they　rode　through　the　streets　he　had　doubts　whether　the　power　of　Van　Artevelde's　eloquence　would　have　the　magical　potency　he　had　expected　from　it。

When　the　party　arrived　at　the　splendid　dwelling　of　the　great　demagogue；　messengers　were　instantly　sent　out　to　all　his　friends　and　retainers。　A　hundred　and　forty　persons　soon　assembled；　and　while　Van　Artevelde　was　debating　with　them　as　to　the　best　steps　to　be　taken；　Walter　opened　the　casement　and　looked　out　into　the　street。　It　was　already　crowded　with　the　people；　whose　silent　and　quiet　demeanor　seemed　to　bode　no　good。　Arms　were　freely　displayed　among　them；　and　Walter　saw　men　passing　to　and　fro　evidently　giving　instructions。

〃I　am　sorry　to　disturb　you；　Master　Artevelde；〃　he　said；　returning　to　the　room　where　the　council　was　being　held；　〃but　methinks　that　it　would　wise　to　bar　the　doors　and　windows；　and　to　put　yourself　in　a　posture　of　defence；　for　a　great　crowd　is　gathering　without；　for　the　most　part　armed；　and　as　it　seems　to　me　with　evil　intentions。〃

A　glance　from　the　windows　confirmed　Walter's　statements；　and　the　doors　and　windows　were　speedily　barricaded。　Before　many　minutes　had　elapsed　the　tolling　of　bells　in　all　parts　of　the　town　was　heard；　and　down　the　different　streets　leading　towards　the　building　large　bodies　of　armed　men　were　seen　making　their　way。

〃I　had　rather　have　to　do　with　a　whole　French　army；　Master　Walter；〃　Ralph　said；　as　he　stood　beside　him　at　an　upper　window　looking　down　upon　the　crowd；　〃than　with　these　citizens　of　Ghent。　Look　at　those　men　with　bloody　axes　and　stained　clothes。　Doubtless　those　are　the　skinners　and　butchers。　Didst　ever　see　such　a　ferocious　band　of　savages？　　Listen　to　their　shouts。　Death　to　Van　Artevelde！　　Down　with　the　English　alliance！　I　thought　our　case　was　a　bad　one　when　the　French　poured　over　the　walls　into　Vannes　but　methinks　it　is　a　hundred　times　worse　now。

〃We　got　out　of　that　scrape；　Ralph；　and　I　hope　we　shall　get　out　of　this；　but；　as　you　say；　the　prospect　is　black　enough。　　See；　the　butchers　are　hammering　at　the　door　with　their　pole…axes。　Let　us　go　down　and　aid　in　the　defence。〃

〃I　am　ready；〃　Ralph　said；　〃but　I　shall　fight　with　a　lighter　heart　if　you　could　fix　upon　some　plan　for　us　to　adopt　when　the　rabble　break　in。　That　they　will　do　so　I　regard　as　certain；　seeing　that　the　house　is　not　built　for　purposes　of　defence；　but　has　numerous　broad　windows　on　the　ground…floor　by　which　assuredly　they　will　burst　their　way　in。

〃Wait　a　moment　then；　Ralph；　let　us　run　up　to　the　top　storey　and　see　if　there　be　any　means　of　escape　along　the　roofs。〃

The　house　stood　detached　from　the　others；　but　on　one　side　was　separated　from　that　next　to　it　only　by　a　narrow　lane；　and　as　the　upper　stories　projected　beyond　those　below；　the　windows　were　but　six　feet　distant　from　those　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　way。

〃See；〃　Water　said；　〃there　is　a　casement　in　the　room　to　our　left　there　which　is　open；　let　us　see　if　it　is　tenanted。〃

Going　into　the　next　room　they　went　to　the　window　and　opened　it。　It　exactly　faced　the　casement　opposite；　and　so　far　as　they　could　see　the　room　was　unoccupied。

〃It　were　easy　to　put　a　plank　across；〃　Ralph　said。

〃We　must　not　do　that；〃　Walter　answered。　〃The　mob　are　thick　in　the　lane　below　…　what　a　roar　comes　up　from　their　voices！　…　and　a　plank　would　be　surely　seen；　and　we　should　be　killed　there　as　well　as　here。　No；　we　must　get　on　to　the　sill　and　spring　across；　the　distance　is　not　great；　and　the　jump　would　be　nothing　were　it　not　that　the　casements　are　so　low。　　It　must　be　done　as　lightly　and　quickly　as　possible；　and　we　may　not　then　be　seen　from　below。　　Now　leave　the　door　open　that　we　may　make　no　mistake　as　to　the　room；　and　come　along；　for　by　the　sound　the　fight　is　hot　below。〃

Running　down　the　stairs　Walter　and　Ralph　joined　in　the　defence。　Those　in　the　house　knew　that　they　would　meet　with　no　mercy　from　the　infuriated　crowd；　and　each　fought　with　the　bravery　of　despair。　Although　there　were　many　windows　to　be　defended；　and　at　each　the　mob　attacked　desperately；　the　assaults　were　all　repulsed。　Many　indeed　of　the　defenders　were　struck　down　by　the　pikes　and　pole…　axes；　but　for　a　time　they　beat　back　the　assailants　whenever　they　attempted　to　enter。　The　noise　was　prodigious。　The　alarm…bells　of　the　town　were　all　ringing　and　the　shouts　of　the　combatants　were　drowned　in　the　hoarse　roar　of　the　surging　crowd　without。

Seeing　that　however　valiant　was　the　defence　the　assailants　must　in　the　end　prevail；　and　feeling　sure　that　his　enemies　would　have　closed　the　city　gates　and　thus　prevented　the　English　without　from　coming　to　his　assistance；　Van　Artevelde　ascended　to　an　upper　storey　and　attempted　to　address　the　crowd。　His　voice　was　drowned　in　the　roar。　In　vain　he　gesticulated　and　made　motions　imploring　them　to　hear　him；　but　all　was　useless；　and　the　courage　of　the　demagogue　deserted　him　and　he　burst　into　tears　at　the　prospect　of　death。　Then　he　determined　to　try　and　make　his　escape　to　the　sanctuary　of　a　church　close　by；　and　was　descending　the　stairs　when　a　mighty　crash　below；　the　clashing　of　steel；　shouts；　and　cries；　told　that　the　mob　had　swept　away　one　of　the　barricades　and　were　pouring　into　the　house。

〃Make　for　the　stair；〃　Walter