CHAPTER XIII
Heroes, approach! Atrides thus aloud, Stand forth distinguish'd from the circling crowd, Ye who by skill or manly force may claim, Your rivals to surpass and merit fame. This cow, worth twenty oxen, is decreed, For him who farthest sends the winged reed. --Iliad
The name of Ivanhoe was no sooner pronounced than it flew from mouthto mouth, with all the celerity with which eagerness could convey andcuriosity receive it. It was not long ere it reached the circle of thePrince, whose brow darkened as he heard the news. Looking around him,however, with an air of scorn, My Lords, said he, and especially you,Sir Prior, what think ye of the doctrine the learned tell us, concerninginnate attractions and antipathies? Methinks that I felt the presenceof my brother's minion, even when I least guessed whom yonder suit ofarmour enclosed.
Front-de-Boeuf must prepare to restore his fief of Ivanhoe, said DeBracy, who, having discharged his part honourably in the tournament, hadlaid his shield and helmet aside, and again mingled with the Prince'sretinue.
Ay, answered Waldemar Fitzurse, this gallant is likely to reclaimthe castle and manor which Richard assigned to him, and which yourHighness's generosity has since given to Front-de-Boeuf.
Front-de-Boeuf, replied John, is a man more willing to swallow threemanors such as Ivanhoe, than to disgorge one of them. For the rest,sirs, I hope none here will deny my right to confer the fiefs of thecrown upon the faithful followers who are around me, and ready toperform the usual military service, in the room of those who havewandered to foreign Countries, and can neither render homage nor servicewhen called upon.
The audience were too much interested in the question not to pronouncethe Prince's assumed right altogether indubitable. A generousPrince!--a most noble Lord, who thus takes upon himself the task ofrewarding his faithful followers!
Such were the words which burst from the train, expectants all ofthem of similar grants at the expense of King Richard's followers andfavourites, if indeed they had not as yet received such. Prior Aymeralso assented to the general proposition, observing, however, That theblessed Jerusalem could not indeed be termed a foreign country. Shewas 'communis mater'--the mother of all Christians. But he saw not,he declared, how the Knight of Ivanhoe could plead any advantage fromthis, since he (the Prior) was assured that the crusaders, underRichard, had never proceeded much farther than Askalon, which, as allthe world knew, was a town of the Philistines, and entitled to none ofthe privileges of the Holy City.
Waldemar, whose curiosity had led him towards the place where Ivanhoehad fallen to the ground, now returned. The gallant, said he,is likely to give your Highness little disturbance, and to leaveFront-de-Boeuf in the quiet possession of his gains--he is severelywounded.
Whatever becomes of him, said Prince John, he is victor of the day;and were he tenfold our enemy, or the devoted friend of our brother,which is perhaps the same, his wounds must be looked to--our ownphysician shall attend him.
A stern smile curled the Prince's lip as he spoke. Waldemar Fitzursehastened to reply, that Ivanhoe was already removed from the lists, andin the custody of his friends.
I was somewhat afflicted, he said, to see the grief of the Queen ofLove and Beauty, whose sovereignty of a day this event has changed intomourning. I am not a man to be moved by a woman's lament for her lover,but this same Lady Rowena suppressed her sorrow with such dignity ofmanner, that it could only be discovered by her folded hands, and hertearless eye, which trembled as it remained fixed on the lifeless formbefore her.
Who is this Lady Rowena, said Prince John, of whom we have heard somuch?
A Saxon heiress of large possessions, replied the Prior Aymer; a roseof loveliness, and a jewel of wealth; the fairest among a thousand, abundle of myrrh, and a cluster of camphire.
We shall cheer her sorrows, said Prince John, and amend her blood, bywedding her to a Norman. She seems a minor, and must therefore be at ourroyal disposal in marriage.--How sayst thou, De Bracy? What thinkst thouof gaining fair lands and livings, by wedding a Saxon, after the fashionof the followers of the Conqueror?
If the lands are to my liking, my lord, answered De Bracy, it will behard to displease me with a bride; and deeply will I hold myself boundto your highness for a good deed, which will fulfil all promises made infavour of your servant and vassal.
We will not forget it, said Prince John; and that we may instantly goto work, command our seneschal presently to order the attendance of theLady Rowena and her company--that is, the rude churl her guardian, andthe Saxon ox whom the Black Knight struck down in the tournament, uponthis evening's banquet.--De Bigot, he added to his seneschal, thouwilt word this our second summons so courteously, as to gratify thepride of these Saxons, and make it impossible for them again to refuse;although, by the bones of Becket, courtesy to them is casting pearlsbefore swine.
Prince John had proceeded thus far, and was about to give the signal forretiring from the lists, when a small billet was put into his hand.
From whence? said Prince John, looking at the person by whom it wasdelivered.
From foreign parts, my lord, but from whence I know not replied hisattendant. A Frenchman brought it hither, who said, he had ridden nightand day to put it into the hands of your highness.
The Prince looked narrowly at the superscription, and then at theseal, placed so as to secure the flex-silk with which the billet wassurrounded, and which bore the impression of three fleurs-de-lis.John then opened the billet with apparent agitation, which visibly andgreatly increased when he had perused the contents, which were expressedin these words:
Take heed to yourself for the Devil is unchained!
The Prince turned as pale as death, looked first on the earth, andthen up to heaven, like a man who has received news that sentence ofexecution has been passed upon him. Recovering from the first effects ofhis surprise, he took Waldemar Fitzurse and De Bracy aside, and putthe billet into their hands successively. It means, he added, in afaltering voice, that my brother Richard has obtained his freedom.
This may be a false alarm, or a forged letter, said De Bracy.
It is France's own hand and seal, replied Prince John.
It is time, then, said Fitzurse, to draw our party to a head, eitherat York, or some other centrical place. A few days later, and it will beindeed too late. Your highness must break short this present mummery.
The yeomen and commons, said De Bracy, must not be dismisseddiscontented, for lack of their share in the sports.
The day, said Waldemar, is not yet very far spent--let the archersshoot a few rounds at the target, and the prize be adjudged. This willbe an abundant fulfilment of the Prince's promises, so far as this herdof Saxon serfs is concerned.
I thank thee, Waldemar, said the Prince; thou remindest me, too, thatI have a debt to pay to that insolent peasant who yesterday insulted ourperson. Our banquet also shall go forward to-night as we proposed. Werethis my last hour of power, it should be an hour sacred to revenge andto pleasure--let new cares come with to-morrow's new day.
The sound of the trumpets soon recalled those spectators who had alreadybegun to leave the field; and proclamation was made that Prince John,suddenly called by high and peremptory public duties, held himselfobliged to discontinue the entertainments of to-morrow's festival:Nevertheless, that, unwilling so many good yeoman should depart withouta trial of skill, he was pleased to appoint them, before leaving theground, presently to execute the competition of archery intended forthe morrow. To the best archer a prize was to be awarded, being abugle-horn, mounted with silver, and a silken baldric richly ornamentedwith a medallion of St Hubert, the patron of silvan sport.
More than thirty yeomen at first presented themselves as competitors,several of whom were rangers and under-keepers in the royal forests ofNeedwood and Charnwood. When, however, the archers understood with whomthey were to be matched, upwards of twenty withdrew themselves from thecontest, unwilling to encounter the dishonour of almost certain defeat.For in those days the skill of each celebrated marksman was as wellknown for many miles round him, as the qualities of a horse trained atNewmarket are familiar to those who frequent that well-known meeting.
The diminished list of competitors for silvan fame still amounted toeight. Prince John stepped from his royal seat to view more nearly thepersons of these chosen yeomen, several of whom wore the royal livery.Having satisfied his curiosity by this investigation, he looked for theobject of his resentment, whom he observed standing on the same spot,and with the same composed countenance which he had exhibited upon thepreceding day.
Fellow, said Prince John, I guessed by thy insolent babble that thouwert no true lover of the longbow, and I see thou darest not adventurethy skill among such merry-men as stand yonder.
Under favour, sir, replied the yeoman, I have another reason forrefraining to shoot, besides the fearing discomfiture and disgrace.
And what is thy other reason? said Prince John, who, for some causewhich perhaps he could not himself have explained, felt a painfulcuriosity respecting this individual.
Because, replied the woodsman, I know not if these yeomen and I areused to shoot at the same marks; and because, moreover, I know not howyour Grace might relish the winning of a third prize by one who hasunwittingly fallen under your displeasure.
Prince John coloured as he put the question, What is thy name, yeoman?
Locksley, answered the yeoman.
Then, Locksley, said Prince John, thou shalt shoot in thy turn, whenthese yeomen have displayed their skill. If thou carriest the prize,I will add to it twenty nobles; but if thou losest it, thou shaltbe stript of thy Lincoln green, and scourged out of the lists withbowstrings, for a wordy and insolent braggart.
And how if I refuse to shoot on such a wager? said the yeoman.--YourGrace's power, supported, as it is, by so many men-at-arms, may indeedeasily strip and scourge me, but cannot compel me to bend or to draw mybow.
If thou refusest my fair proffer, said the Prince, the Provost of thelists shall cut thy bowstring, break thy bow and arrows, and expel theefrom the presence as a faint-hearted craven.
This is no fair chance you put on me, proud Prince, said the yeoman,to compel me to peril myself against the best archers of Leicester AndStaffordshire, under the penalty of infamy if they should overshoot me.Nevertheless, I will obey your pleasure.
Look to him close, men-at-arms, said Prince John, his heart issinking; I am jealous lest he attempt to escape the trial.--And do you,good fellows, shoot boldly round; a buck and a butt of wine are readyfor your refreshment in yonder tent, when the prize is won.
A target was placed at the upper end of the southern avenue which ledto the lists. The contending archers took their station in turn, at thebottom of the southern access, the distance between that station and themark allowing full distance for what was called a shot at rovers. Thearchers, having previously determined by lot their order of precedence,were to shoot each three shafts in succession. The sports were regulatedby an officer of inferior rank, termed the Provost of the Games; for thehigh rank of the marshals of the lists would have been held degraded,had they condescended to superintend the sports of the yeomanry.
One by one the archers, stepping forward, delivered their shaftsyeomanlike and bravely. Of twenty-four arrows, shot in succession,ten were fixed in the target, and the others ranged so near it, that,considering the distance of the mark, it was accounted good archery. Ofthe ten shafts which hit the target, two within the inner ring were shotby Hubert, a forester in the service of Malvoisin, who was accordinglypronounced victorious.
Now, Locksley, said Prince John to the bold yeoman, with a bittersmile, wilt thou try conclusions with Hubert, or wilt thou yield upbow, baldric, and quiver, to the Provost of the sports?
Sith it be no better, said Locksley, I am content to try my fortune;on condition that when I have shot two shafts at yonder mark ofHubert's, he shall be bound to shoot one at that which I shall propose.
That is but fair, answered Prince John, and it shall not be refusedthee.--If thou dost beat this braggart, Hubert, I will fill the buglewith silver-pennies for thee.
A man can do but his best, answered Hubert; but my grandsire drew agood long bow at Hastings, and I trust not to dishonour his memory.
The former target was now removed, and a fresh one of the same sizeplaced in its room. Hubert, who, as victor in the first trial of skill,had the right to shoot first, took his aim with great deliberation,long measuring the distance with his eye, while he held in his hand hisbended bow, with the arrow placed on the string. At length he made astep forward, and raising the bow at the full stretch of his left arm,till the centre or grasping-place was nigh level with his face, hedrew his bowstring to his ear. The arrow whistled through the air, andlighted within the inner ring of the target, but not exactly in thecentre.
You have not allowed for the wind, Hubert, said his antagonist,bending his bow, or that had been a better shot.
So saying, and without showing the least anxiety to pause upon hisaim, Locksley stept to the appointed station, and shot his arrow ascarelessly in appearance as if he had not even looked at the mark. Hewas speaking almost at the instant that the shaft left the bowstring,yet it alighted in the target two inches nearer to the white spot whichmarked the centre than that of Hubert.
By the light of heaven! said Prince John to Hubert, an thou sufferthat runagate knave to overcome thee, thou art worthy of the gallows!
Hubert had but one set speech for all occasions. An your highnesswere to hang me, he said, a man can but do his best. Nevertheless, mygrandsire drew a good bow--
The foul fiend on thy grandsire and all his generation! interruptedJohn, shoot, knave, and shoot thy best, or it shall be the worse forthee!
Thus exhorted, Hubert resumed his place, and not neglecting thecaution which he had received from his adversary, he made the necessaryallowance for a very light air of wind, which had just arisen, andshot so successfully that his arrow alighted in the very centre of thetarget.
A Hubert! a Hubert! shouted the populace, more interested in a knownperson than in a stranger. In the clout!--in the clout!--a Hubert forever!
Thou canst not mend that shot, Locksley, said the Prince, with aninsulting smile.
I will notch his shaft for him, however, replied Locksley.
And letting fly his arrow with a little more precaution than before, itlighted right upon that of his competitor, which it split to shivers.The people who stood around were so astonished at his wonderfuldexterity, that they could not even give vent to their surprise in theirusual clamour. This must be the devil, and no man of flesh and blood,whispered the yeomen to each other; such archery was never seen since abow was first bent in Britain.
And now, said Locksley, I will crave your Grace's permission to plantsuch a mark as is used in the North Country; and welcome every braveyeoman who shall try a shot at it to win a smile from the bonny lass heloves best.
He then turned to leave the lists. Let your guards attend me, he said,if you please--I go but to cut a rod from the next willow-bush.
Prince John made a signal that some attendants should follow him incase of his escape: but the cry of Shame! shame! which burst from themultitude, induced him to alter his ungenerous purpose.
Locksley returned almost instantly with a willow wand about six feet inlength, perfectly straight, and rather thicker than a man's thumb. Hebegan to peel this with great composure, observing at the same time,that to ask a good woodsman to shoot at a target so broad as hadhitherto been used, was to put shame upon his skill. For his own part,he said, and in the land where he was bred, men would as soon take fortheir mark King Arthur's round-table, which held sixty knights aroundit. A child of seven years old, he said, might hit yonder target witha headless shaft; but, added he, walking deliberately to the other endof the lists, and sticking the willow wand upright in the ground, hethat hits that rod at five-score yards, I call him an archer fit to bearboth bow and quiver before a king, an it were the stout King Richardhimself.
My grandsire, said Hubert, drew a good bow at the battle of Hastings,and never shot at such a mark in his life--and neither will I. If thisyeoman can cleave that rod, I give him the bucklers--or rather, I yieldto the devil that is in his jerkin, and not to any human skill; a mancan but do his best, and I will not shoot where I am sure to miss. Imight as well shoot at the edge of our parson's whittle, or at a wheatstraw, or at a sunbeam, as at a twinkling white streak which I canhardly see.
Cowardly dog! said Prince John.--Sirrah Locksley, do thou shoot; but,if thou hittest such a mark, I will say thou art the first man everdid so. However it be, thou shalt not crow over us with a mere show ofsuperior skill.
I will do my best, as Hubert says, answered Locksley; no man can domore.
So saying, he again bent his bow, but on the present occasion lookedwith attention to his weapon, and changed the string, which he thoughtwas no longer truly round, having been a little frayed by the two formershots. He then took his aim with some deliberation, and the multitudeawaited the event in breathless silence. The archer vindicated theiropinion of his skill: his arrow split the willow rod against which itwas aimed. A jubilee of acclamations followed; and even Prince John, inadmiration of Locksley's skill, lost for an instant his dislike to hisperson. These twenty nobles, he said, which, with the bugle, thouhast fairly won, are thine own; we will make them fifty, if thou wilttake livery and service with us as a yeoman of our body guard, and benear to our person. For never did so strong a hand bend a bow, or sotrue an eye direct a shaft.
Pardon me, noble Prince, said Locksley; but I have vowed, that ifever I take service, it should be with your royal brother King Richard.These twenty nobles I leave to Hubert, who has this day drawn as bravea bow as his grandsire did at Hastings. Had his modesty not refused thetrial, he would have hit the wand as well I.
Hubert shook his head as he received with reluctance the bounty of thestranger, and Locksley, anxious to escape further observation, mixedwith the crowd, and was seen no more.
The victorious archer would not perhaps have escaped John's attentionso easily, had not that Prince had other subjects of anxious and moreimportant meditation pressing upon his mind at that instant. He calledupon his chamberlain as he gave the signal for retiring from the lists,and commanded him instantly to gallop to Ashby, and seek out Isaac theJew. Tell the dog, he said, to send me, before sun-down, two thousandcrowns. He knows the security; but thou mayst show him this ring for atoken. The rest of the money must be paid at York within six days. Ifhe neglects, I will have the unbelieving villain's head. Look that thoupass him not on the way; for the circumcised slave was displaying hisstolen finery amongst us.
So saying, the Prince resumed his horse, and returned to Ashby, thewhole crowd breaking up and dispersing upon his retreat.