saint george for england-第7章

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none　concerned　in　the　affair。

The　justice　who　had　headed　the　attack　on　the　hut　then　gave　his　evidence　as　to　that　affair；　the　armourer　also　relating　the　incidents　of　the　conflict。


〃The　prisoners　will　be　committed　for　trial；〃　the　justice　said。　〃At　present　there　is　no　actual　proof　that　any　of　them　were　concerned　in　this　murderous　outrage　beyond　the　fact　that　they　were　taken　in　the　place　where　it　was　planned。　The　suspicion　is　strong　that　some　at　least　were　engaged　in　it。　Upon　the　persons　of　all　of　them　were　valuable　daggers；　chains；　and　other　ornaments；　which　could　not　have　been　come　by　honestly；　and　I　doubt　not　that　they　form　part　of　the　gang　which　has　so　long　been　a　terror　to　peaceful　travelers　alike　by　the　road　and　river；　and　it　may　be　that　some　who　have　been　robbed　will　be　able　to　identify　the　articles　taken　upon　them。　　They　are　committed　for　trial：　firstly；　as　having　been　concerned　in　the　attack　upon　Dame　Alice　Vernon；　secondly；　as　being　notorious　ill…livers　and　robbers；　thirdly；　as　having　resisted　lawful　arrest　by　the　king's　officers。　The　greatest　criminal　in　the　affair　is　not　at　present　before　me；　but　it　may　be　that　from　such　information　as　Dame　Vernon　may　be　able　to　furnish；　and　from　such　confessions　as　justice　will　be　able　to　wring　from　the　prisoners；　he　will　at　the　trial　stand　beside　his　fellows。〃

Walter　returned　to　town　with　his　companions。　On　reaching　the　armourer's　they　found　a　retainer　of　the　Earl　of　Talbot　awaiting　them；　with　the　message　that　the　Lady　Alice　Vernon　wished　the　attendance　of　Walter　Fletcher；　whose　name　she　had　learned　from　the　Lord　Mayor　as　that　of　the　lad　to　whom　she　and　her　daughter　owed　their　lives；　at　noon　on　the　following　day；　at　the　residence　of　the　Earl　of　Talbot。

〃That　is　the　worst　of　an　adventure；〃　Walter　said　crossly；　after　the　retainer　had　departed。　〃One　can't　have　a　bit　of　excitement　without　being　sent　for；　and　thanked；　and　stared　at。　I　would　rather　fight　the　best　swordsman　in　the　city　than　have　to　go　down　to　the　mansion　of　Earl　Talbot　with　my　cap　in　my　hand。〃

Geoffrey　laughed。　〃You　must　indeed　have　your　cap　in　your　hand；　Walter；　but　you　need　not　bear　yourself　in　that　spirit。　The　'prentice　of　a　London　citizen　may　have　just　as　much　honest　pride　and　independence　as　the　proudest　earl　at　Westminster；　but　carry　not　independence　too　far。　　Remember　that　if　you　yourself　had　received　a　great　service　you　would　be　hurt　if　the　donor　refused　to　receive　your　thanks；　and　it　would　be　churlish　indeed　were　you　to　put　on　sullen　looks；　or　to　refuse　to　accept　any　present　which　the　lady　whose　life　you　have　saved　may　make　you。　It　is　strange；　indeed；　that　it　should　be　Dame　Vernon；　whose　husband；　Sir　Jasper　Vernon；　received　the　fiefs　of　Westerham　and　Hyde。〃

〃Why　should　it　be　curious　that　it　is　she？〃　Walter　asked。

〃Oh！〃　Geoffrey　said；　rather　confusedly。　〃I　was　not　thinking　…　that　is　…　I　mean　that　it　is　curious　because　Bertha　Fletcher　was　for　years　a　dependant　on　the　family　of　Sir　Roland　Somers；　who　was　killed　in　the　troubles　when　the　king　took　the　reins　of　government　in　his　hands；　and　his　lands；　being　forfeit；　were　given　to　Sir　Jasper　Vernon；　who　aided　the　king　in　that　affair。〃

〃I　wish　you　would　tell　me　about　that；〃　Walter　said。　〃How　was　it　that　there　was　any　trouble　as　to　King　Edward　having　kingly　authority？〃

〃It　happened　in　this　way；〃　Geoffrey　said。　〃King　Edward　II；　his　father；　was　a　weak　prince；　governed　wholly　by　favourites；　and　unable　to　hold　in　check　the　turbulent　barons。　　His　queen；　Isabella　of　France；　sister　of　the　French　king；　a　haughty　and　ambitious　woman；　determined　to　snatch　the　reins　of　power　from　the　indolent　hands　of　her　husband；　and　after　a　visit　to　her　brother　she　returned　with　an　army　from　Hainault　in　order　to　dethrone　him。　She　was　accompanied　by　her　eldest　son；　and　after　a　short　struggle　the　king　was　dethroned。　He　had　but　few　friends；　and　men　thought　that　under　the　young　Edward；　who　had　already　given　promise　of　virtue　and　wisdom；　some　order　might　be　introduced　into　the　realm。　He　was　crowned　Edward　III；　thus；　at　the　early　age　of　fifteen；　usurping　the　throne　of　his　father。　The　real　power；　however；　remained　with　Isabella；　who　was　president　of　the　council　of　regency；　and　who；　in　her　turn；　was　governed　by　her　favourite　Mortimer。　England　soon　found　that　the　change　which　had　been　made　was　far　from　beneficial。　The　government　was　by　turns　weak　and　oppressive。　The　employment　of　foreign　troops　was　regarded　with　the　greatest　hostility　by　the　people；　and　the　insolence　of　Mortimer　alienated　the　great　barons。　Finally；　the　murder　of　the　dethroned　king　excited　throughout　the　kingdom　a　feeling　of　horror　and　loathing　against　the　queen。

〃All　this　feeling；　however；　was　confined　to　her；　Edward；　who　was　but　a　puppet　in　her　hands；　being　regarded　with　affection　and　pity。　Soon　after　his　succession　the　young　king　was　married　to　our　queen；　Philippa　of　Hainault；　who　is　as　good　as　she　is　beautiful；　and　who　is　loved　from　one　end　of　the　kingdom　to　the　other。　I　can　tell　you；　the　city　was　a　sight　to　see　when　she　entered　with　the　king。　Such　pageants　and　rejoicing　were　never　known。　They　were　so　young；　he　not　yet　sixteen；　and　she　but　fourteen；　and　yet　to　bear　on　their　shoulders　the　weight　of　the　state。　A　braver　looking　lad　and　a　fairer　girl　mine　eyes　never　looked　on。　It　was　soon　after　this　that　the　events　arose　which　led　to　the　war　with　France；　but　this　is　too　long　a　tale　for　me　to　tell　you　now。　The　Prince　of　Wales　was　born　on　the　15th　of　June；　1330；　two　years　after　the　royal　marriage。

〃So　far　the　king　had　acquiesced　quietly　in　the　authority　of　his　mother；　but　he　now　paid　a　visit　to　France；　and　doubtless　the　barons　around　him　there　took　advantage　of　his　absence　from　her　tutelage　to　shake　her　influence　over　his　mind；　and　at　the　same　time　a　rising　took　place　at　home　against　her　authority。　This　was　suppressed；　and　the　Earl　of　Kent；　the　king's　uncle；　was　arrested　and　executed　by　Isabella。　This　act　of　severity　against　his　uncle；　no　doubt；　hastened　the　prince's　determination　to　shake　off　the　authority　of　his　haughty　mother　and　to　assume　the　reins　of　government　himself。　The　matter；　however；　was　not　easy　to　accomplish。　Mortimer　having　the　whole　of　the　royal　revenue　at　his　disposal；　had　attached　to　himself　by　ties　of　interest　a　large　number　of　barons；　and　had　in　his　pay　nearly　two　hundred　knights　and　a　large　body　of　men…at…arms。　Thus　it　was　no　easy　matter　to　arrest　him。　It　was　determined　that　the　deed　should　be　done　at　the　meeting　of　the　parliament　at　Nottingham。　Here　Mortimer　appeared　with　Isabella　in　royal　pomp。　They　took　their　abode　at　the　castle；　while　the　king　and　other　members　of　the　royal　family　were　obliged　to　content　themselves　with　an　inferior　place　of　residence。

〃The　gates　of　the　castle　were　locked　at　sunset；　and　the　keys　brought　by　the　constable；　Sir　William　Eland；　and　handed　to　the　queen　herself。　This　knight　was　a　loyal　and　gallant　gentleman；　and　regarded　Mortimer　with　no　affection；　and　when　he　received　the　king's　commands　to　assist　the　barons　charged　to　arrest　him　he　at　once　agreed　to　do　so。　He　was　aware　of　the　existence　of　a　subterranean　communication　leading　from　the　interior　of　the　castle　to　the　outer　country；　and　by　this；　on　the　night　of　the　19th　of　October；　1330；　he　led　nine　resolute　knights　…　the　Lords　Montague；　Suffolk；　Stafford；　Molins；　and　Clinton；　with　three　brothers　of　the　name　of　Bohun；　and　Sir　John　Nevil　…　into　the　heart　of　the　castle。　　Mortimer　was　found　surrounded　by　a　number　of　his　friends。　　On　the　sudden　entry　of　the　knights　known　to　be　hostile　to　Mortimer　his　friends　drew　their　swords；　and　a　short　but　desperate　fight　took　place。　Many　were　wounded；　and　Sir　Hugh　Turpleton　and　Richard　Monmouth　were　slain。　　Mortimer　was　carried　to　London；　and　was　tried　and　condemned　by　parliament；　and　executed　for　felony　and　treason。　Several　of　his　followers　were　executed；　and　others　were　attacked　in　their　strongholds　and　killed；　among　these　was　Sir　Roland　Somers。

〃Queen　Isabella　was　confined　in　Castle　Risings　where　she　still　remains　a　prisoner。　Such；　Walter；　were　the　troubles　which　occurred　when　King　Edward　first　took　up　the　reins　of　power　in　this　realm；　and　now；　let's　to　supper；　for　I　can　tell　you　that　my　walk　to　Kingston　has　given　me　a　marvellous　appetite。　We　have　three　or　four　hours'　work　yet　before　we　go　to　bed；　for　that　Milan　harness　was　promised　for　the　morrow；　and　the　repairs　are　too　delicate　for　me　to　entrust　it　to　the　men。　It　is　good　to　assist　the　law；　but　this　work　of　attending　as　a　witness　makes　a　grievous　break　in　the　time　of　a　busy　man。　　It　is　a　pity；　Walter；　that　your　mind　is　so　set　on　soldiering；　for　you　would　have　made　a　marvellous　good　craftsman。　However；　I　reckon　that　after　you　have　seen　a　few　years　of　fighting　in　France；　and　have　got　some　of　your　wild　blood　let　out；　you　will　be　glad　enough　to　settle　down　here　with　me；　as　you　know；　our　profits　are　good；　and　work　plentiful；　and　did　I　choose　I　might　hold　mine　head　higher　than　I　do　among　the　citizens；　and　you；　if　you　join　me；　may　well　aspire　to　a　place　in　the　common　council；　aye；　and　even　to　an　alderman's　gown；　in　which　case　I　may　yet　be　addressing　you　the　very　worshipful　my　Lord　Mayor。〃

〃Pooh！〃　Walter　laughed；　〃a　fig　for　your　lord　Mayors！　I　would　a　thousand　times　rather　be　a　simple　squire　in　the　following　of　our　young　prince。〃



CHAPTER　IV：　A　KNIGHT'S　CHAIN


The　following　morning　Walter　put　on　the　sober　russet　dress　which　he　wore　on　Sundays　and　holidays；　for　gay　colours　were　not　allowed　to　the　apprentices；　and　set　out　for　Westminster。　Although　he　endeavoured　to　assume　an　air　of　carelessness　and　ease　as　he　approached　the　dwelling　of　Earl　Talbot；　he　was　very　far　from　feeling　comfortable；　and　wished　in　his　heart　that　his　master　had　accompanied　him　on　his　errand。　Half　a　dozen　men…at…arms　were　standing　on　the　steps　of　the　mansion；　who　looked　with　haughty　surprise　at　the　young　apprentice。

〃Dame　Alice　Vernon　has　sent　to　express　her　desire　to　have　speech　with　me；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃and　I　would　fain　know　if　she　can　receive　me。〃

〃Here；　Dikon；〃　one　of　the　men　cried　to　another　within　the　hall。　〃This　is　the　lad　you　were　sent　to　fetch　yesterday。　I　wondered　much　who　the　city　apprentice　was；　who　with　such　an　assured　air；　marched　up　to　the　door；　but　if　what　thou　sayest　be　true；　that　he　saved　the　life　of　Dame　Vernon　and　her　little　daughter；　he　must　be　a　brave　lad；　and　would　be　more　in　place　among　men　and　soldiers　than　in　serving　wares　behind　the　counter　of　a　fat　city　tradesman。

〃I　serve　behind　no　counter；〃　Walter　said　indignantly。　　〃I　am　an　armourer；　and　mayhap　can　use　arms　as　well　as　make　them。〃

There　was　a　laugh　among　the　men　at　the　boy's　sturdy　self…assertion；　and　then　the　man　named　Dikon　said：　　〃Come　along；　lad。　I　will　take　you　to　Dame　Vernon　at　once。　　She　is　expecting　you；　and；　my　faith；　it　would　not　be　safe　to　leave　you　standing　here　long；　for　I　see　you　would　shortly　be　engaged　in　splitting　the　weasands　of　my　comrades。〃

There　was　another　roar　of　laughter　from　the　men；　and　Walter；　somewhat　abashed；　followed　his　conductor　into　the　house。　Leading　him　through　the　hall　and　along　several　corridors；　whose　spaciousness　and　splendour　quite　overpowered　the　young　apprentice；　he　handed　him　over　to　a　waiting　woman；　who　ushered　him　into　an　apartment　where　Dame　Vernon　was　reclining　on　a　couch。　Her　little　daughter　was　sitting　upon　a　low　stool　be