saint george for england-第48章

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s。　The　great　army　moved　through　Arragon；　whose　king　in　every　way　facilitated　their　progress。　　As　they　entered　Castile　the　whole　people　declared　in　favour　of　Henry；　and　Pedro；　deserted　by　all；　fled　to　Bordeaux　and　besought　aid　from　the　Prince　of　Wales。

Between　Pedro　and　the　English　court　a　firm　alliance　had　existed　from　the　time　when　the　former　so　nearly　married　the　Princess　Joan；　and　immediately　the　king　heard　of　the　expedition　against　him　he　issued　orders　that　no　English　knights　should　take　part　in　it。　The　order；　however；　came　too　late。　The　English　knights　had　already　marched　into　Spain　with　Du　Guesclin。　As　for　the　English　who　formed　no　inconsiderable　portion　of　the　great　companies；　they　had　already　declined　to　obey　the　king；　when；　at　the　insistence　of　the　pope　and　the　King　of　France；　he　had　ordered　them　to　disband。

On　Pedro's　arrival　at　Bordeaux　with　his　three　daughters　and　his　son；　they　were　kindly　received　by　the　Black　Prince；　courtesy　and　kindness　to　those　in　misfortune　being　among　the　leading　characteristics　of　his　nature。　Pedro；　cruel　and　ruthless　as　he　was；　was　a　man　of　great　eloquence　and　insinuating　manners；　and　giving　his　own　version　of　affairs；　he　completely　won　over　the　prince；　who　felt　himself；　moreover；　bound　in　some　degree　to　support　him；　inasmuch　as　he；　an　ally　of　England；　had　been　dethroned　by　an　army　composed　partly　of　English。　Pedro　made　the　most　magnificent　promises　to　the　prince　in　return　for　his　aid；　ceding　him　the　whole　of　the　province　of　Biscay；　and　agreeing　to　pay　the　British　troops　engaged　in　his　service　when　he　regained　his　throne；　the　Black　Prince　engaging　to　pay　them　in　the　meantime。

King　Edward　aided　his　son　by　raising　an　army　in　England；　which　sailed　for　Bordeaux　under　the　command　of　the　prince's　brother；　John　of　Gaunt；　Duke　of　Lancaster。　Walter　formed　part　of　this　expedition。　The　king　had　issued　his　writs　to　him　and　other　barons　of　the　southern　counties；　and　the　Black　Prince　had　himself　written　to　ask　him　to　join　him；　in　memory　of　their　former　deeds　of　arms　together。

As　it　was　now　some　years　since　he　had　taken　the　field；　Walter　did　not　hesitate；　but　with　thirty　retainers；　headed　by　Ralph；　joined　the　army　of　John　of　Gaunt。

The　Black　Prince's　first　step　was　to　endeavour　to　recall　the　Englishmen　of　the　free　companies；　estimated　to　amount　to　at　least　30；000　men。　The　news　that　he　was　taking　up　arms　and　would　himself　command　the　army　caused　Calverley　and　the　whole　of　the　other　English　knights　to　return　at　once；　and　10；000　of　the　English　men…　at…arms　with　the　great　companies　also　left　Don　Henry　and　marched　to　Aquitaine。　　The　road　led　through　the　territory　of　the　King　of　Navarre；　and　the　Black　Prince　advanced　56；000　florins　of　gold　to　pay　this　grasping　and　treacherous　king　for　the　right　of　passage　of　the　army。

By　Christmas；　1366；　the　preparations　were　complete；　but　the　severity　of　the　weather　delayed　the　advance　for　some　weeks。　Fresh　difficulties　were　encountered　with　Charles　the　Bad；　of　Navarre；　who；　having　obtained　the　price　for　the　passage；　had　now　opened　negotiations　with　Don　Henry；　and　the　governors　of　the　frontier　towns　refused　to　allow　Sir　Hugh　Calverley　and　the　free　companies；　who　formed　the　advance；　to　pass。　These　were　not；　however；　the　men　to　stand　on　ceremony；　and　without　hesitation　they　attacked　and　captured　the　towns；　when　the　King　of　Navarre　at　once　apologized　for　his　officers；　and　renewed　his　engagements。　As；　however；　the　Black　Prince　had　received　intelligence　that　he　had　formed　a　plan　for　attacking　the　English　as　they　passed　through　the　terrible　pass　of　Roncesvalles；　he　compelled　him　to　accompany　the　army。　The　invitation　was　couched　in　language　which　was　friendly；　but　would　yet　admit　of　no　denial。

On　the　17th　of　February　the　English　army；　30；000　strong；　reached　the　pass。　It　marched　in　three　divisions；　the　first　commanded　by　the　Duke　of　Lancaster　and　Lord　Chandos；　the　second　by　the　Black　Prince；　the　third　by　the　King　of　Majorca　and　the　Count　of　Armaguac。　The　divisions　crossed　over　on　different　days；　for　the　pass　was　encumbered　by　snow　and　the　obstacles　were　immense。　Upon　the　day　when　the　prince's　division　were　passing　a　storm　burst　upon　them；　and　it　was　with　the　greatest　difficulty　that　they　succeeded　in　crossing。　On　the　20th　of　February；　however；　all　arrived　safe　on　the　other　side　of　the　Pyrenees。　Du　Guesclin；　who；　seeing　the　storm　which　was　approaching　from　Aquitaine；　had　returned　to　France　and　levied　a　French　army；　was　nigh　at　hand；　and　kept　within　a　few　miles　of　the　English　army　as　it　advanced；　avoiding　an　engagement　until　the　arrival　of　Don　Henry；　who　was　marching　to　join　him　with　the　great　companies　and　60；000　Spanish　troops。

Du　Guesclin　kept　up　secret　communications　with　the　King　of　Navarre；　who　was　still　forced　to　accompany　the　English　army。　The　latter　accordingly　went　out　from　the　camp　under　pretence　of　hunting　and　was　captured　by　a　detachment　of　French　troops。

On　the　1st　of　April；　the　Spanish　army　having　joined　the　French；　the　Black　Prince　sent　letters　to　Don　Henry；　urging　him　in　mild　but　dignified　language　to　return　to　obedience；　and　to　resign　the　throne　he　had　usurped；　offering　at　the　same　time　to　act　as　mediator　between　him　and　his　brother；　and　to　do　all　in　his　power　to　remove　differences　and　abuses。　　Henry；　confident　in　his　strength；　replied　haughtily　and　prepared　for　battle。

The　forces　were　extremely　unequal。　The　Black　Prince　had　under　him　30；000　men；　while　under　Don　Henry　were　3000　men…at…arms　on　mail…clad　horses；　20；000　men…at…　arms　on　horses　not　so　protected；　6000　light　cavalry；　10；000　crossbow…men；　and　60；000　foot　armed　with　spear　and　sword。

The　night　before　the　battle　the　Black　Prince　lodged　in　the　little　village　of　Navarretta；　which　had　been　deserted　by　its　inhabitants。　Walter　had　been　his　close　companion　since　he　started；　and　occupied　the　same　lodging　with　him　in　the　village。

〃This　reminds　me；〃　the　prince　said；　〃of　the　day　before　Cressy。　They　outnumber　us　by　more　than　three　to　one。

〃There　were　greater　odds　still；〃　Walter　replied；　〃at　Poitiers；　and　I　doubt　not　that　we　shall　make　as　good　an　example　of　them。〃

〃They　are　more　doughty　adversaries；〃　the　prince　replied。　〃There　are　nigh　20；000　English　in　their　ranks　…　all　veterans　in　war　…　and　they　are　led　by　Du　Guesclin；　who　is　a　host　in　himself。〃

〃Their　very　numbers　will　be　a　hindrance　to　them；〃　Walter　replied　cheerfully；　〃and　never　did　I　see　a　better　army　than　that　which　you　have　under　you。　I　would　we　were　fighting　for　a　better　man；　for　Don　Pedro　is　to　my　mind　treacherous　as　well　as　cruel。　He　promises　fairly；　but　I　doubt　if　when　he　has　gained　his　end　he　will　keep　his　promises。　He　speaks　fairly　and　smoothly；　but　his　deeds　are　at　variance　with　his　words。〃

〃It　may　be；　my　lord；〃　the　prince　replied；　〃that　I　am　somewhat　of　your　opinion；　and　that　I　regret　I　so　quickly　committed　myself　to　his　cause。　However；　he　was　my　father's　ally；　and　having　fulfilled　all　his　engagements　had　a　right　to　demand　our　assistance。　I　am　a　bad　hand；　Walter；　at　saying　no　to　those　who　beseech　me。〃

〃It　is　so；　Sir　Prince；〃　Walter　said　bluntly。　〃Would　that　your　heart　had　been　a　less　generous　one；　for　your　nobleness　of　disposition　is　ever　involving　you　in　debts　which　hamper　you　sorely；　and　cause　more　trouble　to　you　than　all　your　enemies！〃

〃That　is　true　enough；〃　the　Black　Prince　said　with　a　sigh。　　〃Since　I　was　a　boy　I　have　ever　been　harassed　with　creditors；　and　though　all　Aquitaine　is　mine；　I　verily　believe　that　there　is　not　a　man　in　my　father's　dominions　who　is　so　harassed　and　straitened　for　money　as　I。〃

〃And　yet；〃　Walter　said；　smiling；　〃no　sooner　do　you　get　it　than　you　give　it　away。〃

〃Ah！〃　the　prince　laughed；　〃I　cannot　deny　it。　It　is　so　much　pleasanter　to　give　than　to　pay；　that　I　can　never　find　heart　to　balk　myself。　I　am　ever　surrounded　by　suitors。　Some　have　lost　estates　in　my　cause；　others　have　rendered　brilliant　services　in　the　field；　some　have　burdened　themselves　with　debts　to　put　their　retainers　in　arms　…　all　have　pleased　to　urge；　and　for　the　life　of　me　I　cannot　say　them　nay。　I　trust；　though；〃　he　added　more　seriously；　〃that　Don　Pedro　will　fulfil　his　promises　to　pay　my　army。　I　have　bound　myself　to　my　soldiers　for　their　wages；　besides　advancing　large　sums　to　Pedro；　and　if　he　keeps　not　his　engagements　I　shall　indeed　be　in　a　sore　strait。〃

〃There　is　one　thing；〃　Walter　said；　〃if　he　fail　to　keep　his　promises；　we　will　not　fail　to　oblige　him　to　do　so。　If　we　win　a　kingdom　for　him；　we　can　snatch　it　from　him　again。〃

〃We　have　not　won　it　yet；〃　the　prince　said。

〃We　will　do　so　tomorrow；〃　Walter　rejoined　confidently。　　〃I　hope　the　fortunes　of　the　day　may　bring　me　face　to　face　with　Du　Guesclin。　I　am　thrice　as　strong　as　when　I　fought　at　Cressy；　and　I　should　like　to　try　my　hand　against　this　doughty　champion。〃

The　next　morning　the　two　armies　prepared　for　battle；　the　Black　Prince　dividing　his　army　as　before。　The　divisions　were　commanded　as　in　the　passage　of　the　Pyrenees；　and　each　numbered　10；000　men。

Don　Henry　had　also　divided　his　force　in　three　parts。　In　the　first　division；　commanded　by　Du　Guesclin；　were　4000　veteran　French　knights　and　men…at…arms　with　8000　foot…soldiers；　the　second　was　led　by　the　prince's　brother；　Don　Tillo；　with　16；000　horse；　while　he　himself　commanded　the　third；　in　which　were　a　multitude　of　soldiers；　making　up　the　gross　total　of　100；000　men。

As　on　the　night　preceding　the　battle　of　Poitiers；　the　English　army　had　lain　down　supperless。　Soon　after　midnight　the　trumpets　sounded；　and　the　troops　soon　moved　forward。　　At　sunrise　the　prince　and　his　forces　reached　the　summit　of　a　little　hill；　whence　was　visible　the　approaching　host　of　Spain。　The　first　division；　under　the　Duke　of　Lancaster　and　Lord　Chandos；　immediately　quickened　its　pace　and　charged　the　division　of　Du　Guesclin；　which　received　it　with　great　steadiness；　and　a　desperate　conflict　ensued。　The　Black　Prince　charged　the　division　of　Don　Tillo；　which　gave　way　at　the　first　attack；　and　its　commander；　with　2000　horse；　at　once　fled。　The　remainder　of　the　division　resisted　for　some　time；　but　was　unable　to　withstand　the　steady　advance　of　the　English；　who　without　much　difficulty　dispersed　and　scattered　it　from　the　field。　The　King　of　Majorca　now　joined　his　division　with　that　of　the　Black　Prince；　and　the　two　advanced　against　the　great　division　led　by　Don　Henry。

The　Spanish　slingers　opened　upon　the　advancing　force　and　for　a　time　annoyed　them　greatly；　but　when　the　English　archers　arrived　within　bow…shot　and　opened　fire　they　speedily　dispersed　the　slingers；　and　the　men…at…arms　on　both　sides　advanced　to　the　attack。　The　conflict　was　long　and　desperate；　and　both　sides　fought　with　great　gallantry　and　determination。　Don　Pedro　…　who；　although　vicious　and　cruel；　was　brave　…　fought　in　the　ranks　as　a　common　soldier；　frequently　cutting　his　way　into　the　midst　of　the　Spaniards；　and　shouting　to　Don　Henry　to　cross　swords　with　him。　Henry　on　his　part　fought　with　great　valour；　although；　as　he　had　the　burden　of　command　upon　him；　he　was　less　able　to　distinguish　himself　by　acts　of　personal　prowess。　Though　fighting　in　the　thickest　of　the　press；　he　never　lost　his　grasp　of　the　general　purpose　of　the　battle。　Three　times；　when　his　troops　wavered　before　the　assaults　of　the　Black　Prince　and　his　knights；　he　rallied　them　and　renewed　the　fight。

While　this　battle　was　raging；　a　not　less　obst