Chapter 18: A Visit Home.
While Coligny had been accomplishing his wonderful march roundFrance, La Noue, who had been exchanged for Strozzi, had betakenhimself to La Rochelle. He forced the Catholics, who were stilllanguidly blockading that place, to fall back; defeated them nearLucon, and recaptured Fontenay, Niort, the Isle of Oleron, Brouage,and Saintes. At Fontenay, however, the brave Huguenot leader hadhis left arm broken, and was obliged to have it amputated.
Negotiations were now being carried on in earnest. Charles theNinth was weary of a war that impoverished the state, diminishedhis revenues, and forced him to rely upon the Guises, whom hefeared and disliked. Over and over again, he had been assured thatthe war was practically at an end, and the Huguenots crushed; butas often, fresh armies rose. The cities that had been taken with somuch difficulty had again fallen into their hands, and Paris itselfwas menaced.
The princes of Germany wrote, begging him to make peace; andalthough the terms fell far short of what the Huguenots hoped anddesired, the concessions were large and, could they have dependedupon the good faith of the court, their lives would have at leastbeen tolerable. A complete amnesty was granted, and a royal commandissued that the Protestants were to be exposed to neither insultsnor recriminations, and were to be at liberty to profess theirfaith openly.
Freedom of worship was, however, restricted within very smallproportions. The nobles of high rank were permitted to name aplace, belonging to them, where religious services could beperformed. As long as they or their families were present, theseservices could be attended by all persons in their jurisdiction.Other nobles were allowed to have services, but only for theirfamilies and friends, not exceeding twelve in number. Twenty-fourtowns were named, two in each of the principal provinces, in whichProtestant services were allowed; the privilege being extended toall the towns of which the Huguenots had possession, at thesignature of the truce.
All property, honours, and offices were restored, and judicialdecisions against their holders annulled. The four towns, LaRochelle, Montauban, Cognac, and La Charite were, for two years, toremain in the hands of the Huguenots, to serve as places of refuge.The edict, in which the king promulgated the terms of peace, statedthe conditions to be perpetual and irrevocable.
The Huguenots had the more hope that the peace would be preserved,since Montmorency, who was an opponent of the Guises, and had donehis best to bring about peace, was high in favour with the king;and indeed, held the chief power in France.
There can be little doubt that, at the time, the king was inearnest. He ordered the parliament of Paris to annul a declarationthey had made, declaring the Cardinal Chatillon, the Admiral'sbrother, deprived of his bishopric; and as it hesitated, he orderedits president to bring the records to him, and with his own handtore out the pages upon which the proceedings were entered.
The priests, throughout France, threw every obstacle in the way ofthe recognition of the edict; and in several places there werepopular disturbances, and wholesale massacres. Paris, as usual, setthe example of turbulence and bigotry.
As soon as the peace was concluded, Philip prepared to return for awhile to England. In the three years which had elapsed since heleft home, he had greatly changed. He had been a lad of sixteenwhen he landed in France. He was now a tall, powerful young fellow.Although still scarcely beyond the age of boyhood, he had acquiredthe bearing and manners of a man. He stood high in the confidenceof Coligny, and the other Huguenot leaders; was a special favouritewith the young Prince of Navarre, and his cousin Conde; and hadreceived the honour of knighthood, at the hands of one of thegreatest captains of his age.
"You had better stay, Philip," his cousin urged. "You may be surethat this peace will be as hollow as those which preceded it. Therewill never be a lasting one until we have taken Paris, and taughtthe bloodthirsty mob there that it is not only women and childrenwho profess the reformed religion, but men who have swords in theirhands and can use them."
"If the troubles break out again, I shall hasten back, Francois;indeed, I think that in any case I shall return for a while, erelong. I do not see what I could do at home. My good uncle Gaspardhas been purchasing land for me, but I am too young to play thecountry gentleman."
"Nonsense, Philip. There have been plenty of young nobles in ourranks who, if your seniors in years, look no older than you do, andare greatly your inferiors in strength. They are feudal lords ontheir estates, and none deem them too young."
"Because they have always been feudal nobles, Francois. I go backto a place where I was, but three years ago, a boy at school. Mycomrades there are scarcely grown out of boyhood. It will seem tothem ridiculous that I should return Sir Philip Fletcher; and wereI to set up as a country squire, they would laugh in my face. UntilI am at least of age, I should not dream of this; and five-and-twentywould indeed be quite time for me to settle down there.
"Here it is altogether different. I was introduced as your cousin,and as a son of one of noble French family; and to our friends hereit is no more remarkable that I should ride behind Coligny, andtalk with the princes of Navarre and Conde, than that you should doso. But at home it would be different; and I am sure that my fatherand mother, my uncle and aunt will agree with me that it is best Ishould not settle down, yet. Therefore I propose, in any case, toreturn soon.
"I agree with you there will be troubles again here, before long.If not, there is likely enough to be war with Spain, for they sayPhilip is furious at toleration having been granted to theHuguenots; and in that case there will be opportunities for us, andit will be much pleasanter fighting against Spaniards than againstFrenchmen.
"If there are neither fresh troubles here, nor war with Spain, Ishall go and join the Dutch in their struggle against theSpaniards. Prince Louis of Nassau told me that he would willinglyhave me to ride behind him; and the Prince of Orange, to whom theAdmiral presented me, also spoke very kindly. They, like you, arefighting for the reformed faith and freedom of worship and, cruelas are the persecutions you have suffered in France, they are asnothing to the wholesale massacres by Alva."
"In that case, Philip, I will not try to detain you; but at anyrate, wait a few months before you take service in Holland, and payus another visit before you decide upon doing so."
Philip journeyed quietly across the north of France, and tookpassage to Dover for himself and his horses. Pierre accompaniedhim, taking it so greatly to heart, when he spoke of leaving him,behind that Philip consented to keep him; feeling, indeed, greatlyloath to part from one who had, for three years, served him sowell. The two men-at-arms were transferred to Francois' troop, bothbeing promised that, if Philip rode to the wars again in France,they and their comrades now at Laville should accompany him.
From Dover Philip rode to Canterbury. He saw in the streets hepassed through many faces he knew, among them some of his formerschoolfellows; and he wondered to himself that these were so littlechanged, while he was so altered that none recognized, in thehandsomely dressed young cavalier, the lad they had known; althoughseveral stopped to look at, and remark on, the splendid horsesridden by the gentleman and his attendant.
He drew rein in front of Gaspard Vaillant's large establishmentand, dismounting, gave his reins to Pierre and entered. He passedstraight through the shop into the merchant's counting house.
Gaspard Vaillant gets a surprise.]
Gaspard looked up in surprise, at the entry of a gentlemanunannounced; looked hard at his visitor, and then uttered his nameand, rushing forward, embraced him warmly.
"I can hardly believe it is you," he exclaimed, holding Philip atarm's length and gazing up in his face. "Why, you have grown averitable giant; and as fine a man as your father was, when I firstknew him; and you have returned Sir Philip, too. I don't know thatI was ever so pleased as when you sent me the news. I gave aholiday to all the workmen, and we had a great fete.
"But of course, you cannot stop now. You will be wanting to go upto your father and mother. Run upstairs and embrace Marie. We willnot keep
you at present, but in an hour we will be up with you."
In a minute or two Philip ran down again.
"Pardieu, but you are well mounted, Philip," the merchant said, ashe sprang into the saddle. "These are the two horses, I suppose,you told us about in your letters.
"And is this Pierre, who saved your life when you were captured atAgen?"
"And a good many other times, uncle, by always managing to get holdof a fat pullet when we were pretty near starving. I was alwaysafraid that, sooner or later, I should lose him; and that I shouldfind him, some morning or other, dangling from a tree to which theprovost marshal had strung him up."
"Then I shall see you in an hour."
And Philip galloped off to the farm.
The delight of Philip's parents, as he rode up to the house, wasgreat indeed. Philip saw, before he had been at home an hour, thatthey were animated by somewhat different feelings. His mother wasfull of gratitude, at his preservation through many dangers; andwas glad that he had been able to do some service to her persecutedco-religionists--the fact that he had won great personal credit,and had received the honour of knighthood at the hands of Colignyhimself, weighed as nothing in her eyes. It was otherwise with hisfather. He was very proud that his boy had turned out a worthydescendant of the fighting Kentish stock; and that he had shown, inhalf-a-dozen fights against heavy odds, a courage as staunch asthat which his forefathers had exhibited at Cressy, Poitiers, andAgincourt.
"Good blood tells, my boy," he said; "and you must have shown thema rare sample of what an Englishman can do, before they knightedyou. I would rather you had won it in an English battle, but alladmit that there is no more capable chief in Europe than theHuguenot Admiral. Certainly there are no English commanders of fameor repute to compare with him; though if we ever get to blows withthe Spanish, we shall soon find men, I warrant me, who will matchthe best of them.
"There was a deal of talk in Canterbury, I can tell you, when thenews came home; and many refugees who came through the towndeclared that they had heard your name among those of the nobleswho rode with the Admiral, and the brave La Noue. Indeed, there aretwo families settled here who fled from Niort, and these have toldhow you and your cousin saved them from the Catholics.
"I warrant you they have told the tale often enough since they havecome here; and it has made quite a stir in Canterbury, and there isnot a week passes without some of your old school friends, who usedto come up here with you, running up to ask the last news of you,and to hear your letters read; and it has been a pleasure to me toread them, lad, and to see how they opened their eyes when theyheard that the Queen of Navarre and her son had given you presents,and that you often rode with the young prince, and his cousinConde.
"You have changed, Philip, mightily; not in your face, for I seebut little alteration there, but in your manner and air. The boysdid not seem to understand how you, whom they looked on as one ofthemselves, could be riding to battle with nobles and talking withprinces; but I think they will understand better, when they seeyou. You look almost too fine for such simple people as we are,Philip; though I do not say your clothes are not of sombre hues, asmight be expected from one fighting in the Huguenot ranks."
"I am sure, father," Philip laughed, "there is nothing fine aboutme. I have gained knighthood, it is true; but a poorer knight neversat in saddle, seeing that I have neither a square yard of land nora penny piece of my own, owing everything to the kindness of mygood uncle, and yourself."
"I must go out tomorrow morning, Philip, and look at those horsesof yours. They must be rare beasts, from what you say of them."
"That are they, father. Methinks I like the one I bought atRochelle even better than that which the Queen of Navarre bestowedupon me; but I grieved sorely over the death of Victor, the horseFrancois gave me. I was riding him at the fight of Moncontour, andhe was shot through the head with a ball from a German arquebus."
Pierre had, as soon as they arrived, been welcomed and made much ofby Philip's mother; and was speedily seated in the post of honourin the kitchen, where he astonished the French servants with talesof his master's adventures, with many surprising additions whichhad but slight basis of fact.
Gaspard Vaillant and his wife thought that Philip's parents wouldlike to have him, for a time, to themselves; and did not come upfor two or three hours after he had arrived.
"You will admit, John, that my plan has acted rarely," the merchantsaid, when he was seated; "and that, as I prophesied, it has made aman of him. What would he have been, if he had stayed here?"
"He would, I hope, brother Gaspard," Lucie said gravely, "have beenwhat he is now--a gentleman."
"No doubt, Lucie. He promised as much as that, before he went; buthe is more than that now. He has been the companion of nobles, andhas held his own with them; and if he should go to court, now, hewould do honour to your family and his, though he rubbed shoulderswith the best of them.
"And now, what are you thinking of doing next, Philip? You willhardly care to settle down among us here, after such a life as youhave led for the last three years."
Philip repeated the views he had expressed to Francois de Laville,and his plans were warmly approved by his uncle and father; thoughhis mother folded her hands, and shook her head sadly.
"The lad is right, Lucie," the merchant said.
"He is lord now of the Holford estates--for the deeds are completedand signed, Philip, making them over to you. But I agree heartilywith your feeling that you are too young, yet, to assume theirmastership. I have a good steward there looking after things,seeing that all goes well, and that the house is kept in order. Butit is best, as you say, that a few years should pass before you goto reside there. We need not settle, for a time, whether you shallreturn to France, or go to see service with those sturdy Dutchmenagainst the Spaniards. But I should say that it is best you shouldgo where you have already made a name, and gained many friends.
"There is no saying, yet, how matters will go there. Charles is buta puppet in the hands of Catherine de Medici; and with the pope,and Philip of Spain, and the Guises always pushing her on, she willin time persuade the king, who at present earnestly wishes forpeace, to take fresh measures against the Huguenots. She is neverhappy unless she is scheming, and you will see she will not be longbefore she begins to make trouble, again."
The news spread quickly through Canterbury that Philip Fletcher hadreturned, and the next day many of his old friends came up to seehim. At first they were a little awed by the change that had comeover him, and one or two of them even addressed him as Sir Philip.But the shout of laughter, with which he received this well-meantrespect, showed them that he was their old schoolfellow still; andsoon set them at their ease with him.
"We didn't think, Philip," one of them said, "when you used to takethe lead in our fights with the boys of the town, that you would beso soon fighting in earnest, in France; and that in three years youwould have gained knighthood."
"I did not think so myself, Archer. You used to call me Frenchie,you know; but I did not think, at the time, that I was likely everto see France. I should like to have had my old band behind me, insome of the fights we had there. I warrant you would have given ashard knocks as you got, and would have held your own there, as wellas you did many a time in the fights in the Cloisters.
"Let us go and lie down under the shade of that tree, there. Itused to be our favourite bank, you know, in hot weather; and youshall ask as many questions as you like, and I will answer as bestI can."
"And be sure, Philip, to bring all your friends in to supper," JohnFletcher said. "I warrant your mother will find plenty for them toeat. She never used to have any difficulty about that, in the oldtimes; and I don't suppose their appetites are sharper, now, thanthey were then."
Philip spent six months at home. A few days after his return manyof the country gentry, who had not known John Fletcher, called onPhilip, as one who had achieved a reputation that did honour to thecounty--for every detail of the Huguenot struggle ha
d been closelyfollowed, in England; and more than one report had been broughtover, by emigres, of the bravery of a young Englishman who was heldin marked consideration by Admiral Coligny, and had won a name forhimself, even among the nobles and gentlemen who rode with thatdashing officer De La Noue, whose fame was second only to that ofthe Admiral. Walsingham, the English ambassador at Paris, had heardof him from La Noue himself, when he was a prisoner there; andmentioned him in one of his despatches, saying that it was thisgentleman who had been chosen, by Coligny, to carry importantdespatches both to the Queen of Navarre and the Duc de Deux-Ponts,and had succeeded admirably in both these perilous missions; andthat he had received knighthood, at the hands of the Admiral, forthe valour with which he had covered the retreat at the battle ofJarnac.
Philip was, at first, disposed to meet these advances coldly.
"They have not recognized you or my mother, father, as being oftheir own rank."
"Nor have we been, Philip. I am but a petty landowner, while it isalready known that you are the owner of a considerable estate; andhave gained consideration and credit, and as a knight have right toprecedence over many of them. If you had intended to settle inFrance, you could do as you like as to accepting their courtesies;but as it is, it is as well that you should make the acquaintanceof those with whom you will naturally associate, when you take upyour residence on the estate your uncle has bought for you.
"Had your mother and I a grievance against them, it might bedifferent; but we have none. We Fletchers have been yeomen here formany generations. In our own rank, we esteem ourselves as good asthe best; but we never thought of pushing ourselves out of our ownstation, and in the ordinary course of things you would have livedand died as your fathers have done. The change has come about,first through my marrying a French wife of noble blood, though withbut a small share of this world's goods; secondly through hersister's husband making a large fortune in trade, and adopting youas his heir; and thirdly, through your going out to your mother'srelations, and distinguishing yourself in the war. Thus you standin an altogether different position to that which I held.
"You are a man with an estate. You are noble, on your mother'sside. You are a knight, and have gained the approval of greatcaptains and princes. Therefore it is only meet and right that youshould take your place among the gentry; and it would be not onlychurlish to refuse to accept their civilities now, but altogetherin opposition to the course which your uncle planned for you."
Philip therefore accepted the civilities offered to him, and wasinvited to entertainments at many of the great houses in that partof the county; where, indeed, he was made a good deal of--his finefigure, the ease and courtesy of his bearing, and the reputation hehad gained for bravery, rendering him a general favourite.
At the end of six months he received a letter from his cousin,urging him to return.
"Spring has now begun, Philip. At present things are going onquietly, and the king seems determined that the peace shall bekept. The Constable Montmorency is still very high in favour, andthe Guises are sulking on their estates. The Huguenot nobles areall well received at court, where they go in numbers, to pay theirrespect to the king and to assure him of their devotion. I havebeen there with my mother, and the king was mightily civil, andcongratulated me on having been knighted by Coligny. We werepresent at his majesty's marriage with the daughter of the Emperorof Germany. The show was a very fine one, and everything pleasant.
"There is a report that, in order to put an end to all furthertroubles, and to bind both parties in friendship, the king hasproposed a marriage between his sister Marguerite and Henry ofNavarre. We all trust that it will take place, for it will indeedbe a grand thing for us of the reformed faith.
"It is rumoured that Queen Jeanne is by no means eager for thematch, fearing that Henry, once at Paris, will abandon the simplecustoms in which he has been brought up; and may even be led away,by the influence of Marguerite and the court, to abandon his faith.Her first fear, I think, is likely enough to be realized; for itseems to me that he has been brought up somewhat too strictly, andbeing, I am sure, naturally fond of pleasure, he is likely enoughto share in the gaieties of the court of Paris. As to her otherfear, I cannot think there is foundation for it. Henry is certainlyambitious and very politic, and he has talked often and freely withme, when we have been alone together. He has spoken, once or twice,of his chances of succeeding to the throne of France. They are notgreat, seeing that three lives stand between it and him and, nowthat the king has married, they are more remote than before. Stillthere is the chance; and he once said to me:
"'One thing seems to me to be certain, Francois: supposing Charlesof Valois and his two brothers died without leaving heirs, Francewould not accept a Huguenot king. There would be the Guises, andthe priests, and the papacy, and Spain all thrown in the scaleagainst him.'
"'That is likely enough, prince,' I said; 'and methinks your lotwould be preferable, as King of Navarre, to that of King of France.However, happily there is no reason for supposing that the king andhis two brothers will die without heirs.'
"He did not speak for some time, but sat there thinking. You knowthe way he has. Methinks, Philip, that when he comes to man'sestate, and is King of Navarre, the Guises will find in him a verydifferent opponent to deal with than the leaders of the Huguenotshave been so far.
"The Admiral is so honest and loyal and truthful, himself, that heis ill fitted to match the subtlety of the queen mother, or thedeceit and falsehood of the Guises. The Queen of Navarre is aheroine and a saint but, although a wise woman, she is no match forintriguers. Conde was a gallant soldier, but he hated politics.
"Henry of Navarre will be an opponent of another sort. When I firstknew him, I thought him the frankest and simplest of young princes;and that is what most think him, still. But I am sure he is muchmore than that. Having been about his person for months, and beingthe youngest of his companions--most of whom were stern, earnestHuguenot nobles--he was a great deal with me, and talked with me ashe did not with the others. It seems to me that he has twocharacters: the one what he seems to be--light hearted, merry,straightforward, and outspoken; the other thoughtful, astute,ambitious, and politic, studying men closely, and adapting himselfto their moods.
"I don't pretend to understand him at all--he is altogether beyondme; but I am sure he will be a great leader, some day. I think youwould understand him better than I should, and I know he thinks so,too. Of course, you had your own duties all through the campaign,and saw but little of him; but more than once he said:
"'I wish I had your English cousin with me. I like you much,Laville; but your cousin is more like myself, and I should learnmuch of him. You are brave and merry and good-tempered, and so ishe; but he has a longer head than you have,'--which I know is quitetrue--'you would be quite content to spend your life at court,Francois; where you would make a good figure, and would take thingsas they come. He would not. If he did not like things he wouldintrigue, he would look below the surface, he would join a party,he would be capable of waiting, biding his time. I am onlyseventeen, Francois; but it is of all things the most important fora prince to learn to read men, and to study their characters, and Iam getting on.
"'Your cousin is not ambitious. He would never conspire for his ownadvantage, but he would be an invaluable minister and adviser, to aprince in difficulties. The Admiral meant well, but he was wrong inrefusing to let me have Philip Fletcher. When I am my own master Iwill have him, if I can catch him; but I do not suppose that Ishall, because of that very fault of not being ambitious. He hasmade his own plans, and is bent, as he told me, on returning toEngland; and nothing that I can offer him will, I am sure, alterhis determination. But it is a pity, a great pity.'
"By all this you see, Philip, that those who think the Prince ofNavarre merely a merry, careless young fellow, who is likely torule his little kingdom in patriarchal fashion; and to troublehimself with nothing outside, so long as his subjects are contentedand allowed to worship in their own way
, are likely to findthemselves sorely mistaken. However, if you come over soon, youwill be able to judge for yourself.
"The Queen of Navarre saw a great deal of the countess, my mother,when they were at La Rochelle together; and has invited her to payher a visit at Bearn, and the prince has requested me to accompanyher. Of course if you come over you will go with us, and will besure of a hearty welcome from Henry. We shall have some goodhunting, and there is no court grandeur, and certainly no morestate than we have at our chateau. In fact, my good mother is amuch more important personage, there, than is Jeanne of Navarre atBearn."
This letter hastened Philip's departure. The prospect of hunting inthe mountains of Navarre was a pleasant one. He liked the youngprince; and had, in the short time he had been his companion,perceived that there was much more in him than appeared on thesurface; and that, beside his frank bonhomie manner, there was afund of shrewdness and common sense. Moreover, without beingambitious, it is pleasant for a young man to know that one, who maysome day be a great prince, has conceived a good opinion of him.
He took Francois' letter down to his uncle Gaspard, and readportions of it to him. Gaspard sat thoughtful, for some time, afterhe had finished.
"It is new to me," he said at last. "I believed the general reportthat Henry of Navarre was a frank, careless young fellow, fond ofthe chase, and, like his mother, averse to all court ceremony;likely enough to make a good soldier, but without ambition, andwithout marked talent. If what Francois says is true--and it seemsthat you are inclined to agree with him--it may make a greatdifference in the future of France. The misfortune of theHuguenots, hitherto, has been that they have been ready to fallinto any trap that the court of France might set for them and, onthe strength of a few hollow promises, to throw away all theadvantages they had gained by their efforts and courage, in spiteof their experience that those promises were always broken, as soonas they laid down their arms.
"In such an unequal contest they must always be worsted and, honestand straightforward themselves, they are no match for men who haveneither truth nor conscience. If they had but a leader as politicand astute as the queen mother and the Guises, they might possiblygain their ends. If Henry of Navarre turns out a wise and politicprince, ready to match his foes with their own weapons, he may winfor the Huguenots what they will never gain with their own swords.
"But mind you, they will hardly thank him for it. My wife and yourmother would be horrified were I to say that, as a Catholic, Henryof Navarre would be able to do vastly more, to heal the long opensore and to secure freedom of worship for the Huguenots, than heever could do as a Huguenot. Indeed, I quite agree with what hesays, that as a Huguenot he can never hold the throne of France."
Philip uttered an exclamation of indignation.
"You cannot think, uncle, that he will ever change his religion?"
"I know nothing about him, beyond what you and your cousin say,Philip. There are Huguenots, and Huguenots. There are men who woulddie at the stake, rather than give up one iota of their faith.There are men who think that the Reformed faith is better and purerthan the Catholic, but who nevertheless would be willing to makeconsiderable concessions, in the interest of peace. You mustremember that, when princes and princesses marry, they generallyembrace the faith of their husbands; and when, lately, QueenElizabeth was talking of marrying the Prince of Anjou, she made itone of the conditions that he should turn Protestant, and thedemand was not considered to be insurmountable. It may be that thetime will come when Henry of Navarre may consider the throne ofFrance, freedom of worship, and a general peace, cheaply purchasedat the cost of attending mass. If he does so, doubtless theHuguenots would be grieved and indignant; but so far as they areconcerned, it would be the best thing. But of course, we are onlytalking now of what he might do, should nought but his religionstand between him and the throne of France. As King of Navarre,simply, his interest would be all the other way, and he woulddoubtless remain a staunch Huguenot.
"Of course, Philip, I am speaking without knowing this youngprince. I am simply arguing as to what an astute and politic man,in his position, not over earnest as to matters of faith, would belikely to do."
Three days later, Philip rode to London with Pierre and embarkedfor La Rochelle. His uncle had amply supplied him with funds, buthis father insisted upon his taking a handsome sum from him.
"Although you did not require much money before, Philip--andGaspard told me that you did not draw, from his agent at LaRochelle, a third of the sum he had placed for you in his hands--itwill be different now. You had no expenses before, save the pay ofyour men, and the cost of their food and your own; but in time ofpeace there are many expenses, and I would not that you should be,in any way, short of money. You can place the greater portion of itin the hands of Maitre Bertram, and draw it as you require. At anyrate, it is better in your hands than lying in that chest in thecorner. Your mother and I have no need for it, and it would takeaway half her pleasure in her work, were the earnings not usedpartly for your advantage."
The ship made a quick run to La Rochelle, and the next morningPhilip rode for Laville. He had not been there since the battle ofMoncontour; and although he knew that it had been burnt by theRoyalists, shortly afterwards, it gave him a shock to see, as herode through the gate, how great a change had taken place. Thecentral portion had been repaired, but the walls were stillblackened with smoke. The wings stood empty and roofless, and theample stables, storehouses, and buildings for the retainers haddisappeared.
His aunt received him with great kindness, and Francois wasdelighted to see him again.
"Yes, it is a change, Philip," the countess said, as she saw hiseyes glancing round the apartment. "However, I have grownaccustomed to it, and scarce notice it now. Fortunately I haveample means for rebuilding the chateau, for I have led a quiet lifefor some years; and as the count my husband, being a Huguenot, wasnot near the court from the time the troubles began, our revenueshave for a long time been accumulating; and much of it has beensent to my sister's husband, and has been invested by him inEngland. There Francois agrees with me that it should remain.
"There is at present peace here, but who can say how long it willlast? One thing is certain, that should war break out again, itwill centre round La Rochelle; and I might be once more forced toleave the chateau at the mercy of the Royalists. It would, then, befolly to spend a crown upon doing more than is sufficient for ournecessities. We only keep such retainers as are absolutelynecessary for our service. There are but eight horses in thestables, the rest are all out on the farms and, should the troublesrecommence, we shall soon find riders for them."
"You have just arrived in time, Philip," Francois said presently,"for we start at the end of this week for Bearn and, although youcould have followed us, I am right glad that you have arrived intime to ride with us. All your men are still here."
"I saw Eustace and Henri, as I rode in," Philip said.
"The other two work in the garden. Of course, their days forfighting are over. They could doubtless strike a blow in defence ofthe chateau, but they have not recovered sufficiently from theirwounds ever to ride as men-at-arms again. However, two will sufficefor your needs, at present.
"I shall take four of my own men, for the country is still far fromsafe for travelling. Many of the disbanded soldiers have turnedrobbers and, although the royal governors hunt down and string upmany, they are still so numerous that travellers from one town toanother always journey in strong parties, for protection.
"How did Pierre get on, in England?"
"He was glad to return here again, Francois; although he got onwell enough, as our house servants are French, as are also many ofthose on the farm, and he became quite a favourite with every one.But he is of a restless nature, and grew tired of idleness."
Three days later, the party set out from Laville. The countess rodeon horseback, and her female attendant en croupe behind one of thetroopers. They journeyed by easy stages, stopping sometimes athostelries in the towns, b
ut more often at chateaux belonging togentlemen known to the countess or her son. They several times cameupon groups of rough-looking men; but the two gentlemen, theirservants, and the six fully-armed retainers were a force tooformidable to be meddled with, and they arrived safely at Bearn.
The royal abode was a modest building, far less stately than wasLaville, before its ruin. It stood a short distance out of thetown, where they had left the men-at-arms, with instructions tofind lodgings for themselves and their horses. As they arrived atthe entrance, Prince Henri himself ran down the steps, in a dressas plain as that which would be worn by an ordinary citizen.
"Welcome to Bearn," he said. "It is a modest palace, countess; andI am a much less important person, here, than when I was supposedto be commanding our army."
He assisted her to alight, and then rang a bell. A man came roundfrom the back of the house, and took the horse from Pierre, who washolding it; while Henri entered the house with the countess. Aminute later, he ran out from the house again.
"Now that I have handed over the countess to my mother, I can speakto you both," he said heartily. "I am pleased to see you, Francois,and you too, Monsieur Philip."
"My cousin insisted on my coming with him, prince, and assured methat you would not be displeased at the liberty. But of course, Iintend to quarter myself in the town."
"You will do no such thing," the prince said. "We are poor inBearn, as poor as church mice; but not so poor that we cannotentertain a friend. Your bedroom is prepared for you."
Philip looked surprised.
"You don't suppose," the prince said, laughing, "that people cancome and go, in this kingdom of ours, without being noticed. We areweak, and for that very reason we must be on our guard. Half thepeople who come here come for a purpose. They come from the king,or from Philip of Spain, or from the Guises, and most of them meanmischief of some sort. So you see, we like to know beforehand and,unless they ride very fast, we are sure to get twenty-four hours'notice before they arrive.
"Then, you see, if we want a little more time, a horse may cast itsshoe, or some of the baggage may be missing, or perhaps animportant paper somehow gets mislaid. It is curious how often thesethings happen. Then, when they arrive here they find that I have,as usual, gone off for a fortnight's hunting among the mountains;and that, perhaps, my mother has started for Nerac.
"We heard yesterday morning that you had crossed the frontier, andthat the countess had with her her son, and a big young Englishman,whose identity I had no difficulty in guessing."
"And we met with no misfortunes by the way, prince," Francois said,smiling.
"No," the prince laughed, "these things do not happen always."
They had so far stood on the steps, chatting. The two servants hadfollowed the lackey, with their own and their masters' horses. Theprince led the way indoors, and they were heartily welcomed by thequeen, who kept no more state at Bearn than would be observed byany petty nobleman in France.
On the following day, the two friends started with the prince forthe mountains; and were away for three weeks, during which timethey hunted the wild boar, killed several wolves, and shot five orsix wild goats. They were attended only by two or three huntsmen,and their three personal servants. They slept sometimes in the hutsof shepherds, or charcoal burners; sometimes in the forest, inspite of the cold, which was often severe.
"What do you say about this marriage which is being arranged forme?" the prince asked suddenly, one night, as they were sitting bya huge fire in the forest.
"It ought to be a great thing for the Reformed religion, if it isagreeable to your highness," Francois said cautiously.
"A politic answer, Monsieur de Laville.
"What say you, Philip?"
"It is a matter too deep for me to venture an opinion," Philipsaid. "There is doubtless much to be said, on both sides. Forexample--you are a fisherman, prince?"
"Only moderately so, Philip; but what has that to do with it?"
"I would say, sir, that when a fisherman hooks an exceedingly largefish, it is just possible that, instead of landing it, the fish maypull him into the water."
The prince laughed.
"You have hit it exactly, Monsieur Philip. That is just the way Ilook at it. Marguerite of Valois is, indeed, a very big fishcompared with the Prince of Bearn; and it is not only she who wouldpull, but there are others, and even bigger fish, who would pullwith her. My good mother has fears that, if I once tasted thegaieties of the court of France, I should be ruined, body and soul.
"Now I have rather an inclination for the said gaieties, and thatprospect does not terrify me as it does her. But there are thingswhich alarm me, more than gaieties. There is the king who, exceptwhen he occasionally gets into a rage, and takes his own course, isbut a tool in the hands of Catharine de Medici. There is Anjou, whomade a jest of the dead body of my uncle Conde. There are Lorraineand the Guises, there are the priests, and there is the turbulentmob of Paris. It seems to me that, instead of being the fisherman,I should be like a very small fish, enclosed in a very strong net."
And he looked thoughtfully into the fire.
"The king is, at present, with us; but his plighted word is worthnothing."
"But once married," Francois said, "you would have the princess onyour side, and being then brother-in-law to the king, you would besafe from attack."
"The king has no great love for his own brothers," Henri said; "butI am not supposing that even Charles would lay hands on me, afterinviting me to his court to marry his sister. He would not ventureupon that, before the eyes of all Europe. It is the strain and thepressure that I fear. A girl who is sent to a nunnery, however muchshe may hate becoming a nun, can no more escape than a fly from themeshes of a spider. I doubt not that it seems, to all the Huguenotsof France, that for me to marry Marguerite of Valois would be morethan a great victory won for their cause; but I have my doubts.However, in a matter like this I am not a free agent.
"The Huguenot lords are all delighted at the prospect. My mother isstill undecided. You see, I am practically as much in a net, here,as I shall be at Paris, if this marriage is made. I am rather gladthe decision does not rest with me. I shall simply go with thestream; some day, perhaps, I shall be strong enough to swim againstit. I hope that, at any rate, if I ride to Paris to marryMarguerite of Valois, you will both accompany me."