CHAPTER XXII.
_IN ARMS._
"Fair Mistress Alys, we have come to say farewell." The Constable'sdaughter, with her banner in her hands, was waiting for this farewellvisit from Amalric de Montfort. All knew now that the red flame of warwas about to leap forth and devour the land. The King, having scornfullyrefused all overtures, was already marching upon Northampton, whither somany Oxford students had fled. The Earl of Leicester was in theneighbourhood of London, where Amalric was about to join him; and withhim was to march an eager, gallant little band, which included a numberof his comrades in this city, and in particular Leofric Wyvill, who forthe nonce was acting as his esquire and personal attendant.
The thought of regular study had become impossible even to a studiousmind like Leofric's. Confusion reigned at Oxford, and for the time beingthe students had dispersed in all directions. Masters and pupils hadalike caught the infection of excitement. Doubtless the city wouldreturn to its normal conditions in time, and the scholars would flockback in great numbers during the course of the ensuing months; but forthe immediate present nothing was talked of but the approaching appealto arms, and books were laid aside for the sword, which was the weaponthat must decide this next crisis of the country's history.
Since the King's scornful rejection of the Barons' moderate request, allthoughts of peace had been abandoned. Amalric had got together his eagerlittle band, and now he had come, with a few picked comrades beside him,to say farewell to Mistress Alys, and to receive at her fair hands thesilken banner that she and Linda had spent so many long hours in workingfor him, with his father's coat of arms.
By this time the friends and followers of Amalric had come to regardAlys as his plighted lady-love, albeit in reality no troth-plight hadpassed between them. It was scarce the right time for profferinglove-suits, but yet the Constable and his wife could not be ignorant ofthe fact that young Lord Amalric had set his affections upon theirdaughter.
She stood now beside her parents, with the silken banner in her hands,her fair face flushed, her heart beating rather fast, for she had neverbefore taken so public a part as she was to-day called upon to do in thepresentation of the banner; and remembering some words spoken to her byLinda not many days before, she wondered whether indeed this act in anyway committed her to a step which she had never seriously contemplated,and did not desire to contemplate.
But maidens in those days had little choice of action. She had beenbidden by her parents to appear in the great hall and give the LordAmalric the banner. Now she was holding it out towards him, a blush onher cheek, a bright light in her eyes; and perhaps it was only Linda,out of all those standing by, who noted how the timid glance of thegirl's eyes went past the gay and gallant figure of Amalric and restedupon the graceful form of Leofric, who in his shining armour, and withhis bared head from which the golden locks floated in a soft cloud,looked the very image of some pious knight going forth upon a sacredquest, not in search of gain to himself, but for love of the good cause.
And this was indeed the feeling which actuated Leofric. He had smallexpectation of any personal advantage from this war. Probably he wouldhave gained more of that by remaining in Oxford and continuing hisstudies there, for he was more of the student than the soldier bynature. But he was convinced of the righteousness of the cause on whichthe Barons were embarked. He had imbibed the teachings of theFranciscans, and believed that duty and love of his country demandedthis sacrifice and effort. True, he was sufficiently imbued with martialardour at this moment to go forth proudly and eagerly; but the guidingmotive was love for his fellows and for his country, as distinguishedfrom personal ambition.
The same could not, perhaps, be said so entirely for Amalric. If thiswar ended in a victory for the Barons, his father would be the greatestman in the kingdom, and his sons must of necessity become men ofimportance, if not of wealth. Already he was treated with greaterdeference and respect than he had ever been. It was natural that hisheart should swell with pride and joy at thought of the coming struggle;for with the country so entirely with them, how could they think offailure?
It was a pretty sight to see the gallant youth come forward and take thebanner from the hands of Alys, kissing those fair hands at the sametime, and vowing that the very sight and touch of that banner would actas a talisman and charm.
Alys spoke a few low-toned words of encouragement and hope which she hadconned over beforehand; then the banner was laid before Brother Angelus,who was there for the purpose, and he was asked to bless it ere it wentforth to do its appointed work.
The friar performed this office very reverently, and gave the banneronce more into Amalric's hands, charging him to be a true and faithfulservant to his heavenly as well as to his earthly father; to show mercyand kindness to his foes in the hour of triumph; to look for help toGod, and not to man; to avoid all haughtiness of spirit in the time ofprosperity, and lack of faith if adversity should come; always toremember the poor, and seek to mitigate by every means possible theinevitable horrors of war: this was the duty of the soldier who lovedthe Lord as well as the cause. The prayers of all good men would followand aid those whose hearts were pure and their hands vowed to therighteous work.
Whilst this charge was being given in one part of the hall, taking upthe attention of the spectators, Alys had watched her opportunity, andhad drawn Leofric towards her by a little gesture of the hand. It wasnatural that she should wish to say farewell to her brother's friend,and one in whose company she herself had passed so many happy hours.None noted anything strange in the action, and few heeded it.
"Thou art going to the war, Leofric?" she asked, in a voice whichfaltered a little in spite of herself.
"Yes, truly am I, fair Mistress Alys. I love not war, and yet methinks Icannot keep away. The Lord Amalric is my friend, and he and his haveshown me great kindness; besides this, I have at heart the cause of thepeople. Methinks I would fain strike a blow against the iniquitouspretensions of the Pope, and the tyranny of false sycophants, who turnhis Majesty's heart from his own loyal subjects."
"But thou wilt come back?" said the maiden, with the sparkle of tears inher eyes.
"I trow yes," he answered earnestly. "I shall ever look upon this cityas my home. If I come safe through what lies before us next, I willreturn when the sword is laid down, as pray Heaven it soon may be."
"I pray so indeed," answered Alys earnestly; "I shall pray for thysafety night and day."
For a moment their eyes met, and a flush arose in the cheek of both.They stood thus for several seconds, as though no words would come toeither.
Alys first recovered herself, and unwinding a scarf of crimson silkwhich she wore about her waist, she lightly threw it over Leofric'sshoulder, saying softly,--
"Wear it as thy sword-belt, and forget me not."
The moment was past. Like one awakening from a dream, Leofric followedthe rest from the hall into the courtyard, where their horses werestanding. He knotted the scarf across his shining breastplate, and gaveone long look at Alys as he passed from the hall. But although she cameout to see them all mount and ride away, he did not even seek to catchher eye or to exchange a word with her again. His heart was in a strangeglow. He felt like a knight who has received a token from one almost toosacred and high above him to be dreamed of as lady-love; yet in thestrength of that token he felt that he could work prodigies of valour.What could he not do for her sweet sake? And yet the idea of askinganything in return never entered his head. Was it not enough that shehad shown to him, the poor student and bachelor, that she regarded himwith interest, and thought of him as of a friend?
Away rode the cavalcade in the bright sunshine of the early spring, thecitizens cheering them to the echo, the friars pausing to bless them andtheir crusade, their own hearts full of joy and the anticipation ofcoming triumph.
The King had marched to Northampton, as has already been said, thereforeto take a northerly route would be unsafe for the little band. Amalricbelieved his father to be in or near Londo
n, and anyhow the metropoliswas known to be favourable to the cause of the Barons. He had thereforemade up his mind to proceed thither, and all through the hours of thedaylight the little band of horsemen trotted briskly on their way,receiving warm greetings from the inhabitants of the towns and villagesthrough which they passed, and becoming more and more confident as tothe feeling of the nation, at least in these regions.
They avoided the road which would take them near Windsor, for there theyfeared the power of the King was still in the ascendant. They kept amore northerly course, and by the time the daylight waned foundthemselves close to Watford, where they resolved to encamp for thenight. As they approached the place, they were aware of a considerableexcitement going on; and when they rode into the streets with the bannerof the De Montforts floating before them, the people crowded round themin great excitement, clamouring to know the news.
"They say the war has broken out! They say the people have attacked theKing's brother's house at Isleworth, and devastated everything. TheTemple is broken open, and the money carried off. The Jews have beenpillaged, and their houses burnt. The bell of St. Paul's was ringing allyesterday. They say great things are being done in the city!"
Amalric knew nothing of this; but it sounded like the beginning of war,and he eagerly asked for news of his father.
At the moment none could tell him more than that the Earl was in London,and that this insurrection had been made in his favour. Amalric wouldfain have pushed on through the night to join him, but was restrained bythe unfitness of their horses for a longer journey. The inhabitants ofthe little place received them most hospitably; and whilst they were yetat supper after their long day's travel, a messenger came bursting infull of exciting news.
"The Earl is at St. Albans! The news has just come! He is on his way torelieve Northampton, which has sent to him for help against the King. Herests there to-night, and on the morrow he resumes his march. God bewith him in his undertakings; for we were sick to death of the exactionsof foreigners and the taxes of the Pope. 'Let us break their bandsasunder, and cast away their cords from us.'"
A great cheer went round, and was taken up by those without. Now indeeddid it seem like the longed-for liberation, when an army was in pursuitof the tyrannical monarch to defeat him, and rescue a besieged city.Amalric could scarce sleep at night for excitement, and early next dayhe was astir, visiting his own charger himself, and assuring himselfthat a night's rest had put the gallant creature in trim for his day'swork.
All the place was astir. Recruits had joined the little band. The spiritof enthusiasm and enterprise was working mightily; the consciousness ofthe near presence of the Earl acted like new wine on the spirits of themen.
The ride from Watford to St. Albans was but short, and soon after nineo'clock the little band approached the city Walls. The same air ofexcitement and animation pervaded that locality, and as soon asAmalric's banner was seen, the people rushed out and gave him eager andjoyous welcome. Leaving the bulk of his followers drawn up in thestreet, and taking with him only Leofric and a couple of others, Amalricwent straight to the quarters of his father. All the place was full ofsoldiers, the clang of arms was heard everywhere, and the tale of theuprising of the citizens of London in their hero's favour was passingfrom mouth to mouth in the crowd. Amalric was received with shouts ofwelcome when it was known that he was indeed a son of their chief andidol. The cheering brought De Montfort out from his house, and it wastouching to see the eager greeting betwixt father and son.
Amalric was off his horse in a moment, and had bent his knee to hisfather; whilst the Earl's eagle face softened at sight of his youngestson, and he embraced him tenderly, with many tokens of welcome andgreeting.
A few words served to explain the mutual position of father and son. TheEarl was glad of any reinforcements of trained men at this juncture, andspoke very courteously to Amalric's gallant little Oxford contingentwhen he rode up at his son's side. Already preparations were afoot forthe moving on towards Northampton, and De Montfort explained to Amalricthat the younger Simon was there, conducting the defence, and had sentan urgent summons to his father to march quickly thither to his relief.
"Simon is rash," said the Earl gravely: "he has courage, but lacksdiscretion. I shall not rest till I am there myself. I would that Icould be in a score of places at once!"
It would not be possible to reach Northampton till the morrow; but thearmy was being marshalled into array for the start, when suddenly therecame dashing into the town a mud-bespattered messenger, riding a horsethat looked ready to drop, and Amalric suddenly cried out in alarm,--
"My lord father--see! it is my brother Guy!"
Guy de Montfort it was. He had outstripped all his followers in hiseagerness when he knew that his father was at hand. His horse reeled inhis tracks, and fell panting and exhausted in the streets the moment histask was done; whilst the rider, weary and worn as he was, flung himselfupon his father with an eager demonstration of joy, albeit he was thebearer of evil tidings.
"The city is lost to us! Northampton is in the King's hands! It is allthe treachery of the foreign foe!" and there and then in the ears of theindignant people he poured out his tale--how the Prior of the monasteryof St. Andrew, just outside the walls, had undermined the wall, and solet in a party of the King's soldiers, whilst an attack had been feignedat the opposite end of the town. It was no lack of gallantry on the partof the besieged; for so well had they defended the walls, and inparticular so great had been the damage done to the assailants throughthe slings, the bows, and the catapults of the Oxford clerks, who foughtunder an independent banner of their own, that the King had vowed hewould slay every man of them once he got into the city; so that thesehad had to fly helter-skelter when the news came that the town had beentaken by strategy, and that the King's troops were already within.
"And thy brother Simon?" asked De Montfort, who listened silently tothis tale, without breaking into the lamentations which filled the airfrom those who stood round.
"Alack, he is a prisoner in the King's hands!" answered Guy--"a fate Inarrowly escaped myself. For we ordered a sortie as a last hope, andSimon's horse, terrified by the noise and confusion, becameunmanageable, and carried him whether he would or no into the camp ofour foes. I was riding after him to seek to aid him, when I wassurrounded and carried off, not by enemies, but by friends. The Oxfordclerks having got wind of the King's special wrath against them, wereflying from the city ere they should be taken, and seeing me in peril,they dashed round and bore me away with them. I could scarce thank themat the time; but methinks it is little I could do for Simon, and libertywith the power to fight is sweet."
Great dismay and anger reigned in the ranks of De Montfort's soldiers atthe news of this disastrous event; but the Earl himself reminded hisfollowers that it was but the fortune of war. They could not look forunqualified success in any campaign, but must take the evil with thegood, not being over-elated by the one, nor unduly cast down by theother.
But the news brought by his son changed the tactics of the Earl. Tomarch upon Northampton would now be useless. He was in some ways glad tobe spared that task, and to carry out his former plans of securingRochester, which had fallen into the hands of the Earl of Warenne andsome other nobles, and was now holding out for the King.
But before the army started forth on this counter-march, the heart ofLeofric was gladdened and lightened by the sudden appearance of hiscomrades Jack Dugdale and Gilbert Barbeck, who had been amongst thatband of Oxford clerks who had made their way to Northampton, and hadnarrowly escaped falling into the hands of the enraged monarch.
Now they came riding after Guy de Montfort in straggling fashion, wearyand worn with their rapid flight, but full of hope and courage, andeager to join forces with the great Earl, to whose cause they were boundbody and soul. It was a gladsome meeting between the comrades, and theEarl himself gave cordial welcome to the gallant little band, and evenpostponed his march for a few hours, to give them time to rest andrefresh thems
elves, and to obtain fresh horses from the friendlycitizens.
"Now, this is like adventure!" cried eager Jack, as they rode forth atlast, a gallant company, he and Leofric side by side, to their owninfinite content. "I tell thee, good comrade, I have tasted war, and Ilike the flavour of it mightily. I hewed down with my good sword threefellows who came spurring after us, and from the walls I slew a goodlynumber. Yes, the King himself stormed at the havoc we clerks of Oxfordwrought amongst his followers. I tell thee, Leofric, if he did putslight upon us, we have revenged that slight in baths of blood!"
From his talk, merry Jack seemed almost to have turned into abloodthirsty soldier; yet he was the good-natured, kindly comrade as ofold to those who came across him. He became a favourite with all duringthat quick march, and even the grave Earl was seen to smile sometimes,either at some of the youth's sallies, or at the mirth they provoked.For Amalric would have him in his company, enlisting him as an esquire,second only to Leofric; so that De Montfort could not but notice himfrom time to time, and once he called upon him for his account of thefight on the walls of Northampton.
But Jack was destined to distinguish himself in another way ere manydays had passed. He was burning with zeal in the cause of the Barons,and intensely eager to avenge the slight put upon that cause by thestratagem of Northampton.
"If they outwitted us once, surely we may outwit them here," heremarked, as he looked at the solid walls of the city of Rochester, andwondered how they were to be captured.
He took counsel with one or two bold spirits, Leofric amongst thenumber, and presently the vague idea which had suggested itself grewinto a definite plan.
Amalric himself led the youth into the presence of his father to tellthe thing he had conceived, and Jack spoke out boldly, being a strangerto fear.
"Sir," he said, "I have been used to the water all my days, andyestere'en I took a boat and dropped down with the tide into the city.There is a bridge in the heart of it, and I thought how that if, whilstwe wait without the walls, we should send a fire-ship up the river'smouth with the tide, and fire it against the bridge, it would soaffright and disturb the city, drawing all attention to the centre ofthe town, that our brave soldiers at the gates could soon force anentrance, even as at Northampton the false attack drew off the attentionof us all from that spot where the false foreign Prior had underminedthe wall. If a base foreign traitor can outwit honest Englishmen, surelyit is a game we can pay them back!"
The Earl turned over the idea many times, and it found favour in hissight. A small fire-ship could be easily made ready, and the ruse mightprove successful.
"And how shall we know that the ship will come to anchor by the bridgeand fire there?" he asked thoughtfully.
"Sir," answered Jack boldly, "if you will accord your graciouspermission, I will guide it thither myself, and having fired it willdive off, and secrete myself somewhere amongst the shipping until thetide turn and I can swim away. Or perchance my comrade, Leofric, willaccompany me in a small boat, and take me aboard when my task is done."
The idea took hold upon the mind of De Montfort, and with great dispatchand secrecy the fire-ship was prepared. The strong walls of Rochesterhardly invited assault unless there were some counter-distraction withinthe city to render such assault less perilous to those without.
The warlike Earl was daily weakening the walls by the resolute actionof his engines. He had machines almost unknown as yet in England, andgave the besieged little rest night or day. But for all that the solidwalls still defied him, and the idea of assault was too perilous evenfor the courage of the fearless De Montfort. He must not risk a secondrepulse, lest the spirit of his soldiers should give way. He must notattempt anything till success was assured.
But Jack's stratagem was destined to prove a complete success.Accompanied only by Leofric, in a light boat towed behind, the boldyoung soldier guided his phantom craft up the mouth of the river upon adark, moonless night. By this time he had learned the river by heart,and had no difficulty in quietly grounding the vessel against thebridge. Then silently setting light to her fiery contents, he slippedoverboard to Leofric, and the two cast off, and rowed with muffled oarsto the appointed landing-place, where their friends awaited them.
Long before they reached it the whole sky was in a glow, and they evencaught glimpses of hurrying throngs of people, all hastening to thescene of the conflagration. That the whole town was in an uproar ofconfusion they could tell even from a long distance. And Jack sang aloudand cheered lustily in the joy and triumph of his heart.
But a greater triumph was in store for the comrades when they finallyreached shore, and were brought by their companions into the lines oncemore.
The stratagem had been completely successful; the people had all rusheddown to the scene of the fire, even the soldiers quitting their posts toassist. De Montfort, with a picked body of men, had made a grand assaultwhere the walls near to the gate had become greatly weakened. Wall andgate had alike given way with a crash, and the besieging army hadstreamed in in triumph. Rochester had fallen into the hands of theBarons!