Belt and spur : stories of the knights of the middle ages from the old chronicles

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BELT AND SPUR.

Belt and Spur

^tonc0 of t!)e linigljt^ of tlje ^m\z ^ffe0
from tlje ©Id C^romcleis

WitJi Sixteen Illuminations

' The heraudes left hir priking up and doun.
Now ringen trompes loud and clarioun.
Ther is no more to say, but est and west
In gon the spares sadly in the rest ;
In goth the sharpe spore into the side.
Ther see men who can juste, and who can ride.
Ther shiveren shaftes upon sheldes thicke ;
He feleth thurgh the herte-spone the pricke.
Up springen speres twenty foot on highte ;
Out gon the swerdes as the silver brighte."

Chaucer. The Knightes Tale.

FOURTH THOUSAND.

NEW YORK:
SCRIBNER AND WELFORD

MDCCCLXXXIV

All Rights Reset-ved.

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2007 with funding from -
Microsoft Corporation

http://www.archive.org/details/beltspurstoriesoOOseel

^'^ Of NEW yowr

CONTENTS.

PAGE

I. Plow Duke William and his Knights
Landed in England i

Ti. The Battle of the Standard . , . n

III. King William the Lion .... 23

//oTU the ycnmg King Henry went away to the King of
France^ and how the Breton Barons rebelled against

their King 23

How King William raised an army and entered North-
umberla7id ....... 27

How the Earl of Leicester came into E^igland . . 34
How King William of Scotla?td came again into Eng-
land 3^

How King William was taken Priso7ier . . .45

How the tidi7igs were brought to King Henry ^ . .49

IV. Richard Cceur de Lion .... 54

How Saladin took the Holy City, and how Ki?tg Richard
set out 071 a Crusade ....-• 54
. Of the taki7tg of the City of Messi7ta, a7id the C077ii7tg of

the Pri7icess Bere7igaria . . . • • 5°

Of the co7ni7ig of Richard to Cyprtis . . . .61

Of the 77iar7-iage of Richard a7id Bere7igaria, and the

conquest of Cyprus ^3

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Of the coming of Richard to Ac7-e^ and the taking of the
city 67

Of the departure of the King of France, and of the

march of the an?iy ...... 70

Of the battle of Arsur, and the wonderful victory of the
Christians . . . . . . -73

How William de Pratclles gave himself up for the King,

and of the deeds of the Earl of Leicester . . 76

Of the rebuilding of Ascalon, and the discord among the

Christians . . . . . . -79

How the Marquis Conrad was chosen King, and how

he was slain by two young men . . . .82

How King Richaj'd took Darum and prepared to go

up to Jerusalein . . . . . . -85

How Saladin came against Joppa, and of the admir-
able deeds of King Richard . . . . -90

Hnu King Richard made peace with Saladin for three
years, and set forth to return into his own land . 94

FULK FITZWaRINE 97

Ho7ii Guarin of Metz wo 71 the love of Melette of the

White Tower ....... 97

How Fulk Fitz Wari?te saved the life of Sir foce de

Dynan . . . . . . . . ico

How Fulk FitzWarine lost Whittiiigton . . .103

How Fulk the yoimger ange?'ed Prince John, and how

he, when he became king, refused Fulk justice . 1 04

How Sir Fulk and his brothers hid in the woods, and^

the Ki7ig appointed a hundred knights to take them 107
How Sir Fulk married Dame Maude de Cans, and

slew a Kfiight named Sir Piers de Bruville . . \ii

How Sir Fulk went to the Prince of Wales . .116

CONTENTS. vii

PAGE

Of Sir Aiidulf de Bracy and John de Rampaig7ie , 119

Hozf Sir Fulk and his brothets li'ent over the sea to

the King of Fratice . . . . . .122

HoTU Sir Fulk took King John prisojicr in the forest of

Windsor . . . . . . . .125

How Sir William FiisWarine was rescued . .129

How the King made peace with Sir Fulk and gave him

back his lands^ and how Sir Fulk died and was

buried ........ 131

VI. Prince Edward at the last Crusade . 134

VII. The Siege of Caerlaverock . . .145

VI n. The Bold Deeds of the Knights of

Scotland 152

IX. Sea-fights 165

X. The Black Prince at Poitiers . . 171

XL The Jousts of St. Inghelberth . . 181

Of the Enterprise of the three Knights . . . i8t

Of the First Day 1 80

Of the Second Day I93

Of the Third Day I95

Of the Fourth Day 197

XII. The Last Deeds of Sir Harry Hotspur 202

Of Owen Glendower and the Earl Douglas . . 202

Of Henry Percy and Shrewsbury Field . . . 209

XIII, King Henry the Fifth in France . 220

Of the Siege of Harfeur 220

How the King inarched through the land . .226

Vlll CONTENTS.

PAGE

Of the Battle of Agiticourt 229

Of the entry of the Ki7ig into London . , , 233

XIV. The Siege of Rouen . . . . 23S

XV. Jacques de Lalain, Knight of the

Fleece of Gold 26a

How Sir facqties challetigcd fames Douglas . . 260-

Of the Lists of Stirling 264

Of an English Squire who came to Bruges to fight

with Sir facqties . . . . , .271

xvL Of the coming of Queen Margaret

OF AnjOU 117

xviL The Act of Arms between the Lord
Scales and the Bastard of Bur-
gundy 284

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

A GRANT OF LANDS FROM THE KING . . Frontispiece
THE NORMAN KNIGHTS LANDING IN ENGL.^ND. . 8

PITCHING THE CAMP

RICHARD C(EUR DE LION IN BATTLE .

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION AND THE EMPEROI
CYPRUS

RIDINCi TO THE TOURNAMENT .
WILLIAM FITZWARINE WOUNDED

SEA-FIGHT

HOW PEACE WAS PROCLAIMED .

THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH

THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY .

SAYING MASS .

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN .

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY

TILTING WITH THE SPEAR

LORD SCALES AND THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY

OF

32
56

62
98
128

168
180
186
214
230
242
272
282
256

PREFACE,

The following stories of battles and tournaments
have been drawn from the pages of the old chroni-
cles, and are told as the chronicler tells them ;
sometimes in an abridged and condensed form, but
as far as possible, in the spirit and style of the
original.

The story of Coeur de Lion's Crusade is taken
from the ' Itinerary of Richard the First,' by Geoffrey
Vinsauf The deeds of the Scottish Knights in the
icign of Edward the Third are related by Jean Le
Bel, the chronicler whose work was so largely
borrowed by Froissart. The Jousts of St. Inghel-
bcrth are described by Froissart himself It is
Henry the Fifth's chaplain who tells of his sove-
reign's achievements in France ; and Chastelain, the
Burgundian chronicler, who gives us the story of
the tournaments at Stirling and at Bruges, in which
Sir Jacques de Lalain bore a part.

Several of the other stories are taken from rhym-
ing chronicles or historical poems. The account of

XU PREFACE.

the preparations for the conquest of England is drawn
from the poem of the Norman, Robert Wace, whose
father was an eye-witness of the events ; and the
story of WilHam the Lion from Fantosme's ' Chro-
nicle of Henry the Second.' The Battle of Poitiers
is told as Chandos Herald relates it in his rhyming
* Life of the Black Prince;' and the Siege of Rouen
is from the old English poem by John Page. The
romance of Fulk FitzWarine, if less strictly history
than the other tales, seems to have been founded
on fact, and being probably nearly contemporary,
gives at least a picture of the times.

The illustrations are mainly adapted from illumi-
nated manuscripts in the British Museum.

E. L. S.

BELT AND SPUR.

CHAPTER I.

HOW DUKE WILLIAxM AND HIS KNIGHTS LANDED
IN ENGLAND.

Now Duke William was in his park at Rouen, and in
his hands he held a bow ready strung, for he was
going hunting, and many knights and squires with
him. And behold, there came to the gate a mes-
senger from England ; and he went straight to the
Duke and drew him aside, and told him secretly how
King Edward's life had come to an end, and Harold
had been made king in his stead. And when the Duke
had heard the tidings, and understood all that was
come to pass, those that looked upon him perceived
that he was greatly enraged, for he forsook the chase,
and went in silence, speaking no word to any man,
clasping and unclasping his cloak, neither dared any
man speak to him ; but he crossed over the Seine in
a boat, and went to his hall, and sat down on a
bench ; and he covered his face with his mantle, and
leant down his head, and there he abode, turning

B

2 NO IV DUKE WILLIAM AND HIS KNIGHTS

about restlessly for one hour after another in gloomy
thought. And none dared speak a word to him, but
they spake to one another, saying, * What ails the
Duke ? Why bears he such a mien ?' Then there
came in his seneschal riding from the park, and he
went through the hall humming a song, and passed
by the Duke ; and there came many to him, asking
him wherefore the Duke did so. And he answered
them, ' You will hear the tidings soon, but be not in
haste, for it is sure to leak out in time.' Then the
Duke raised himself, and the seneschal came to him
and said, * Why conceal your tidings, sire, for if we
know it not now, we shall hear it soon, and you will
gain nothing by hiding it, nor lose by telling it ;
and though you may take great pains to hide it, all the
town knows it ? For they go about the city, little and
great, saying that King Edward has passed away,
and Harold is become kins:, and has received the
kingdom.'

' That is it that troubles me,' said the Duke. ' I
grieve because Edward is dead, and that Harold has
done me wrong ; for he has taken my kingdom
who was bound to me by oath and promise.'

To these words answered FitzOsbern the bold,
' Sir, tarry not, but make ready with speed to avenge
yourself on Harold, who has been disloyal to you ; for
if you lack not courage, there will be left no land to
Harold. Summon all whom you may summon, cross
the sea and seize his lands ; for no brave man should
begin a matter and not carry it on to the end.'

Then William sent messengers to Harold to call

LANDED IN ENGLAND.

upon him to keep the oath that he had sworn ; but
Harold replied in scorn that he would not marry his
daughter, nor give up his land to him. And William
sent to him his defiance ; but Harold answered, that
he feared him not, and he drove all the Normans out
of the land, with their wives and children, for King
Edward had given them lands and castles, but Harold
chased them out of the country ; neither would he let
one remain. And at Christmas he took the crown,
but it would have been well for himself and his land if
he had not been crowned, since for the kingdom he per-
jured himself, and his reign lasted but a short space.

Then Duke William called together his barons,
and told them all his will, and how Harold had
wronged him, and that he would cross the sea and
revenge himself; but without their aid he could not
gather men enough, nor a large navy, therefore he
would know of each one of them how many men and
ships he would bring. And they prr.yed for leave to
take counsel together, and the Duke granted their
request. And their deliberations lasted long, for
many complained that their burdens were heavy, and
some said that they would bring ships and cross the
sea with the Duke, and others said they would not
go, for they were in debt and poor. Thus some
would and some would not, and there was great con-
tention between them.

Then FitzOsbern came to them and said, ' Where-
fore dispute you, sirs? Ye should not fail your
natural lord when he goes seeking honour. Ye owe
him service for your fiefs, and where ye owe service

4 HOW DUKE WILLIAM AND HIS KNIGHTS

ye should serve with all your power. Ask not delay,
nor wait until he prays you ; but go before, and offer
him more than you can do. Let him not lament that
his enterprise^ failed for your remissness.'

But they answered, * Sir, we fear the sea, and we
owe no service across the sea. Speak for us, we pray
you, and answer in our stead. Say what you will,
and we will abide by your words.'

'Will ye all leave yourselves to me.?' he said.
And each one answered, ' Yes. Let us go to the
Duke, and you shall speak for us.'

And .FitzOsbern turned himself about and went
before them to the Duke, and spoke for them, and he
said, *Sir, no lord has such men as you have, and who
will do so much for their lord's honour, and you
ought to love and keep them well. For you they say
they would be drowned in the sea or thrown into the
fire. You may trust them well, for they have served
you long and followed you at great cost. And if
they have done well, they will do better ; for they will
pass the sea with you, and will double their service.
For he who should bring twenty knights will gladly
bring forty, and he who should serve you with thirty
will bring sixty, and he from whom one hundred is
due will willingly bring two hundred. And I, in
loving loyalty, will bring in my lord's business sixty
ships, well arrayed and laden with fighting men.'

But the barons marvelled at him, and murmured
aloud at the words that he spake and the promises
he made, for which they had given him no warrant.
And many contradicted him, and there arose a noise

LANDED IN ENGLAND.

and loud disturbance among them ; for they feared
that if they doubled their service it would become a
custom, and be turned into a feudal right. And the
noise and outcry became so great that a man could
not hear what his fellow said. Then the Duke went
aside, for the noise displeased him, and sent for the
barons one by one, and spoke to each one of the
greatness of the enterprise, and that if they would
double their service, and do freely more than their
due, it should be well for them, and that he would
never make it a custom, nor require of them any
service more than was the usage of the country, and
such as their ancestors had paid to their lord. Then
each one said he would do it, and he told how many
ships he could bring, and the Duke had them all
written down in brief. Bishop Odo, his brother,
brought him forty ships, and the Bishop of Le Mans
prepared thirty, with their mariners and pilots. And
the Duke prayed his neighbours of Brittany, Anjou,
and Maine, Ponthieu, and Boulogne, to aid him in
this business; and he promised them lands if England
were conquered, and rich gifts and large pay. Thus
from all sides came soldiers to him.

Then he showed the matter to his lord the King
of France, and he sought him at St. Germer, and
found him there ; and he said that if he would aid
him, so that by his aid he won his right, he would
hold England from him and serve him for it. But
the King answered that he would not aid him, neither
with his will should he pass the sea ; for the French
prayed him not to aid him, saying he was too strong

6 HOW DUKE WILLIAM AND HIS KNIGHTS

already, and that if he let him add riches from over
the sea to his lands of Normandy and all his good
knights, there would never be peace. 'And when
England shall be conquered,' said they, ' you will
hear no more of his service. He pays little service
now, but then it will be less. The more he has, the
less he will do.'

So the Duke took leave of the King, and came
away in a rage, saying, * Sir, I go to do the best I
can, and if God will that I gain my right you shall
see me no more but for evil. And if I fail, and the
English can defend themselves, my children shall
inherit my lands, and thou shalt not conquer them.
Living or dead, I fear no menace.'

Then he prayed to the Count of Flanders, as his
friend and brother-in-law, to come and aid him ; and
the Count answered that he would know first how
much he should have of England, and what part it
would be. And to that the Duke answered that he
would take counsel of his barons, and send him
answer by letter. But when he came home he did a
thing such as was never done before ; for he took a
little piece of parchment on which was neither writing
nor letter, and he sealed it up, all blank as it was, and
wrote outside that he would give him as much of
England as was written within. And he gave it to a
servant who had been long with him, and he brought
it to the Count. And the Count broke the seal and
spread open the parchment, and looked within ; but
when he found nothing, he showed it to the mes-
senger. And the servant answered courteously,

LANDED IN ENGLAND.

* There is nothing within : nothing will you have.'
I know not what the Count answered, but the servant
took his leave.

Then the Duke sent to Rome clerks that were
skilled in speech, and they told the Pope how Harold
had sworn falsely, and that Duke William promised
that if he conquered England he would hold it of
St. Peter. And the Pope sent him a standard and a
very precious ring, and underneath the stone there
was, it is said, a hair of St. Peter's. And about that
time there appeared a great star shining in the south
with very long rays, such a star as is seen when a
kingdom is about to have a new king. I have spoken
with many men who saw it, and those who are
cunning in the stars call it a comet.

Then the Duke called together carpenters and
shipbuilders, and in all the ports of Normandy there
was sawing of planks and carrying of wood, spreading
of sails and setting up of masts, with great labour and
industry. Thus all the summer long and through the
month of August they made ready the fleet and as-
sembled the men ; for there was no knight in all the
land, nor any good sergeant, nor archer, nor any pea-
sant of good courage of age to fight whom the Duke
did not summon to go with him to England.

When the ships were ready they were anchored in
the Somme at St. Valery, and there came men to
the Duke from many parts. There came Hamon,
the Viscount of Thouars, a man of great power, and
served by many ; and Alan Fergant, who had great
lands in Brittany ; and Bertran FitzPeleit, and the

8 I/OJV DUKE WILLIAM AND HIS KNIGHTS

Lord of Dinan, and Raoul of Gael. And there came
many a Breton from many a castle, and they of Bre-
cheliant, of which the Bretons tell that there is a
forest there, great and large, and much famed in
Brittany, where the fountain of Berenton rises. There
in times of great heat the hunters go, and, filling
their horns with the water, pour it out on the rock,
and then it rains all around the forest, I know not
why. And there, too, fairies may be seen, if the Bretons
speak the truth, and many other marvels ; and it is
wild with great plenty of large stags, but the peasant
has forsaken it. There I went once seeking marvels,
and I saw the forest and the land, and sought for
marvels, but found none ; a fool I went, and a fool
returned.

And as the renown of the Duke went abroad there
came to him soldiers one by one, or two by two, and
the Duke kept them with him, and promised them
much. And some asked for lands in England, and
others pay and large gifts. But I will not write down
what barons, knights, and soldiers, the Duke had in
his company, but I have heard my father say (I re-
member it well, though I was but a boy) that there
were seven hundred ships save four when they left
St. Valery — ships, and boats, and little skiffs. But I
found it written (I know not the truth) that there
were three thousand ships carrying sails and masts.

And at St. Vafery they tarried long for a favour-
able wind, and the barons grew weary with waiting ;
and they prayed those of the convent to bring out to
the camp the shrine of St. Valery, and they came to

LANDED IN ENGLAND.

it and prayed that they might cross the sea, and they
offered money till all the holy body was covered with
it, and the same day there sprang up a favourable
wind. Then the Duke put a lantern on the mast of
his ship, that the other ships might see it and keep
their course near, and an ensign of gilded copper on
the top, and at the head of the ship, which mariners
call the prow, there was a child made of copper
holding a bow and arrow, and he had his face toward
England, and seemed about to shoot.

Thus the ships came to a port, and they all arrived
together and anchored together, and they ran them
together on the beach, and together they all disem-
barked. And it was near Hastings, and the ships lay
side by side. And the good sailors, and sergeants,
and esquires sprang out, and cast the anchors, and
fastened the ships with ropes ; and they brought out
their shields and saddles, and led forth the horses.
The archers were the first to come to land, every one
with his bow bent and his quiver and arrows by his
side, all shaven and dressed in short tunics, ready for
battle, and of good courage ; and they searched all
the beach, but no armed man could they find. When
they were issued forth, then came the knights in
armour, with helmet laced and shield on neck, and
together they came to the sand and mounted their
war-horses ; and they had their swords at their sides,
and rode with lances raised. The barons had their
standards and the knights their pennons. After them
came the carpenters, with their axes in their hands
and their tools hanging by their side. And when

10 HOW DUKE WILLIAM AND HIS KNIGHTS

they came to the archers and to the knights they
took counsel together, and brought wood from the
ships and fastened it together with bolts and bars,
and before the evening was well come they had made
themselves a strong fort. And they lighted fires and
cooked food, and the Duke and his barons and
knights sat down to eat ; and they all ate and drank
plentifully, and rejoiced that they were come to land.

Now before the Duke was departed from the
Somme there came to him a clerk learned in astro-
nomy and necromancy, and he esteemed himself a
seer, and foretold many things. And he had foretold
to the Duke that he would pass the sea safely, and
accomplish his design without fighting, for Harold
would agree to hold the land of the Duke, and to
become his liegeman, and that he would return in
safety. He divined well about the passage, but
about the battle he lied. And when the Duke had
passed over, and was arrived safely, he remembered
the seer, and asked for him. And one of his sailors
answered that he was missing, and that it was said he
had been drowned by the way. * Then,' said the
Duke, * his knowledge was not great ; he could not
prophesy truly of me who knew not his own fate. If
he knew the truth of everything, he would have fore-
seen his death. He is a fool who would fix the end
of another and knows not his own time, but takes
care for others and forgets himself.'

When the Duke came forth of his ship he fell on
his hands to the ground, and there rose a great cry,
for all said it was an evil sign ; but he cried aloud,

LANDED IN ENGLAND.

• Lords, I have seized the land with my two hands,
ixx\A will never yield it. All is ours.' Then a man
ran to land and laid his hand upon a cottage, and
took a handful of the thatch, and returned to the
Duke. ' Sir,' said he, ' take seizin of the land ; yours
is the land without doubt.'

Then the Duke commanded the mariners to draw
all the ships to land, and pierce holes in them, and
break them to pieces, for they should never return by
the wa}' the}' had come.

12

CHAPTER 11.

THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD.

In the year of our Lord 1138, King Stephen being
occupied in the south country, the King of the Scots
gathered together an innumerable host, not of those
only who owned his rule, but also not a few from the
islands and from the Orkneys. With great ferocity
and audacity he entered into the land of England,
purposing either to subdue to his authority all the
north of England, or to devastate it with fire and
sword.

But the Archbishop Thurstan and Walter Espec
roused the leaders beyond the Humber, and they,
coming together, covenanted to resist him with force
Therefore they assembled an army, few, indeed, in
numbers, but strong in arms and valiant men, and,
gathering together in a wide field near Allerton with
the royal ensign, which is commonly called the
Standard, waited to receive the enemy. For Thur-
stan, the archbishop, had sent his edict throughout
his whole diocese, commanding that all who could go
to war should gather hastily to the leaders to defend
the Church of Christ against the barbarian host, and
that from e^ery parish they should come, led by the

THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD. 13

priests with the cross and the holy ensigns. In the
southern army among the leaders there was William,
Earl of Albemarle, young but valiant, and well exer-
cised in arms, having with him many soldiers, and
being not less excellent in military astuteness than in
courage. And there was Walter de Ghent, in extreme
old age, a gentle and good man, himself leading his
Flemings and Normans, and encouraging the people
much b}' his wisdom and the weight of his words.
Neither was Gilbert de Lacy slow to come ; and he,
having lived long in exile in King Henry's time, had
grown used to toil and hardship, and in this time of
necessity remained unmoved. And Robert de Bruce,
though he was in friendship with the King of the
Scots, failed not the people in this extremity, but
came to this place with his young son Adam and a
company of brave youths. And so fervently were all
men moved to resist the Scots that there came Roger
de Mowbray, who was but a lad, to be with the army,
though it would have been more proper for him at his
aL^e to have remained at home. And with him as-

o

scmblcd all the men of his lands with such zeal and
devotion that neither in wisdom, courage, nor numbers,
did they seem inferior to the rest, so that the little
age of their lord seemed no loss to any of the army.

And there was Walter Espec, an old man and full
of days, acute in mind, prudent in counsel, modest in
peace, wary in war, ever loyal to the King and faithful
to his friends. He was a man of great stature, with
mighty limbs and thick black hair and beard, and a
voice like a trumpet, and he was great and ready in

THE BA TTLE OF THE STANDARD.

speech. He came of noble race, and was noble in
deeds of Christian piety.

Then he, being held in honour by the whole army
on account of his age»and wisdom, ascending the ma-
chine which was constructed round the royal ensign,
encouraged the dejected and animated the eager.
' Hear me, oh, brave men !' he said, ' for I have lived
long and seen many wars and changes of time. I see
many of you wavering and hesitating, fearing greatly
that our little company will be swallowed up by the
great host of the Scots ; but victory depends not on
multitudes, but on strength and a good cause. There-
fore, considering what a cause, what a necessity brings
us here to fight against such enemies, I stand intrepid,
as secure of victory as of battle. Why should we
despair of victory when victory has, as it were, been
given in fief to our race by the Highest? Did not
our ancestors, in small numbers, invade a large part
of Gaul, erasing even the name ? Did not our fathers
and we, in short space, subdue this island, which cost
the victorious Julius many years of hard fighting ?
We have seen with our own eyes the King of France
and all his army turn their backs, and the greatest
leaders of his kingdom led captive. Who subdued
Apulia, Sicily, and Calabria? Did not both the
emperors flee before the Normans almost on the
same day and hour, one fighting against the father
and the other against the son ? And who would not
rather laugh than fear at having to fight with half-
naked Scots } These are they who yielded without
resistance when William, conqueror of English and

THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD. 15

Scots, advanced to Abernethy? What are their
spears that they should terrify us so greatly? Of
fragile wood and blunt iron, they break in piercing,
and are scarce strong enough for one thrust. Save for
a stick, the Scots are unarmed. And shall we fear
numbers ? The greater the numbers the greater the
glory of conquest. And for what a cause do we
fight ! None will deny us the right of fighting for
our country, for our wives and children, and for our
Church in such extreme peril. Remember what be-
fell beyond the Tyne, and hope for nothing better if
the Scots conquer. I will not speak of the slaughter
and rapine, such as no history related of the cruellest
tyrants. No order, no age, no sex, were spared.
Noble boys and girls were carried away captive, and
little children borne on the points of spears by the
men of Galloway, churches entered and polluted.
You have to fight not with men, but with beasts, who
know no humanity nor piety, whom Heaven abhors
and the earth abominates, and who would have been
swallowed up by the earth, or struck down by light-
ning, or drowned in the sea, but that they are reserved
for you to conquer. Then let us join battle with as-
sured minds, for ours is the just cause ; our hands are
stronger, necessity, glory urge us. Divine aid will be
ours, and all the heavenly host will fight for us.'
Then he turned him to the Earl of Albemarle, and
taking him by the hand, ' I swear,' said he, ' this day
to conquer the Scots, or fall by the hands of the
Scots.'

And all the leaders bound themselves by a like

1 6 THE BA TTLE OF THE STANDARD.

VOW. And that all hope of flight should be entirely
taken away, they dismounted to fight on foot, and all
the horses were removed to a distance, for they desired
either to conquer or die.

In the meanwhile the King of the Scots, having
assembled his earls and the chief leaders of his king-
dom, began to hold counsel with them ; and some
advised that armed men and bowmen should go
before the army, so that armed men might be op-
posed to armed men, soldiers to soldiers, and bowmen
to bowmen. But to that the mefi of Galloway replied,
that it was their right to hold the front rank and first
attack the enemy, animating the rest of the host by
their valour. But others thought it perilous thus to
make the first attack with unarmed men, for if not
sustaining the force of the battle, the first line should
take to flight, the hearts of the strong would melt.
Nevertheless the men of Galloway demanded that
their right should be conceded to them. * What
fearest thou, O King ? and why art thou so greatly
terrified at those coats of mail } Our sides are iron,
our breasts brass, our minds are free from fear, and
our feet have never known flight, nor our backs a
wound. We bore away the victory from the armed
men at Cliderhou, and this day will we overthrow the
spearmen.'

But perceiving that the King leaned to the counsel
of the soldiers, Malis, Earl of Strathearn, cried out in
anger, ' Wilt thou, O King, yield to the will of the
Gauls ? but I swear that no man in armour shall this
day precede me in the battle.' At which words the

THE BATTLE 01^ THE STANDARD. ly

young Alan de Percy, a strong man and well proved
in military matters, restraining his anger with diffi-
culty, turned him to the Earl and said, ' Thou hast
spoken words this day which thou wilt not be able to
make good.' Then the King, bidding them both be
silent, lest a tumult should have arisen from the alter-
cation, yielded to the will of the men of Galloway.

The second line being given to the King's son, he
set the soldiers and bowmen in array with great skill,
the Cumbrians and men of Teviotdale being joined
with them. And the youth was handsome in person
and proper in demeanour, of so great humility that
he seemed inferior to all, of so great authority that he
was feared by all, gentle and affable, so that he was
beloved by all ; decorous in manners, sober in speech,
honest in all things, devout, apt to speak, benevolent
to the poor, firm against evil-doers, a monk among
kings and a king among monks. He was also of such
valour that there was none like him in attack or in
sustaining an attack, swift in pursuit, fierce in re-
pelling, slow in flight. There was joined with him
Eustace Fitzjohn, one of the great leaders of England
who had been familiar with the late King Henry, a
man of great prudence and counsel in secular matters,
who had forsaken the king of the English because an
accusation having been brought against him con-
cerning some castles that Henry had given him he
was compelled to restore them, on which account he
joined the enemy to take his revenge.

In the third line were the men of Lothian and the
Isles, and the Highlanders. The King retained in his

c

THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD.

own line the Scots and the men of Moray, and
Enghsh and French knights to guard his person.
Such was the array of the northern army.

The little company of the southerners was ordered
with great skill in one body. For, the most valiant
men-at-arms being placed in front, there were mixed
with them lancers and bowmen, who, protected by
the armed men, might securely and fiercely meet the
enemy's attack ; and the elder leaders assembled
round the standard, that they might thence command
the army. Then shields were joined to shield side
to side, lances with pennons unfurled were raised, the
coats-of-mail glittered in the sun, and the priests,
clad in their sacred white garments, went round the
army with crosses and relics of saints, strengthening
and animating the men with their exhortations.

Then Robert de Bruce, a man of great age and of
great deeds, grave in manners and of rare speech,
whose words were with weight, who, while he was by
oath one of the King of England's men, had in youth
joined the King of the Scots, and been admitted to
familiar friendship with him, — he, therefore, a man of
military experience and well known in such matters,
seeing the peril which hung over the King, moved by
his ancient friendship, went, with the leave of the
confederate leaders, to the King, that he might dis-
suade him from war, or persuade him to wage it more
lawfully. When, therefore, he was come to the King,
he spake thus, saying, *I come, O King, to give thee
good counsel, useful to thy kingdom and to thy
posterity; for he is wise who looks not only to the

19

THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD.

beginning, but to the results of deeds. Against whom
dost thou fight this day ? Is it not against the
EngHsh and the Normans? And have they not often
aided thee? Nay, wilt thou be safe from the Scots
without their aid ? With whose aid did thy brother
Duncan, son of Donald, overcome his enemies ?
Who restored thy brother Edgar to his kingdom ?
Thou thyself obtainedst the portion of land which
thy dying brother left thee from thy brother Alex-
ander through our terror. And remember how but
the year past there came to thy aid against thine
enemy Malcolm, gladly and swiftly, Walter Espec,
and other English leaders, and overcame him and
delivered him into thjne hand; and, in truth, the Scots
hate us because we have served and aided thee. For-
bear then, O King, for thine own sake, and for thy
kingdom's sake, and, above all, for the sake of thy
noble young son. Why dost thou join in the sins of
wicked men, at whose hands will be required the
slaughter of babes and women, and the sacrilege of
holy things ; against whom the blood, not of one
Abel, but of innumerable innocent victims, cries from
the ground ? Declare thou that these deeds are done
against thy will. For there is opposed to thee no
contemptible army, but one as much superior to thine
in arms and good soldiers as it is inferior to thine in
numbers. And thou knowest, O King, the courage
of despair. If thou conquer, we die certainly: we, and
our little ones, and our wives ; and our priests will be
murdered at the altar. But we are resolved to con-
quer or to die gloriously ; and none of us doubts of

20 THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD.

victory. Therefore, I mourn, I weep, because for my
dear lord, my friend, my old companion, in whose
friendship I have grown old, whose generous munifi-
cence I have known, with whom I played in boyhood,
and in whose dangers I have shared, there remains
nothing but death or a shameful flight.'

He ceased, his voice choked with tears and grief;
and the King was moved to tears and instantly would
have made peace. But William, the King's nephew,
a man strong of will and bent on war, came between
them, and with great fury accusing Robert of treason,
moved the King from his purpose. Robert, therefore,
delaying no longer, according to the manner of his
country, renounced the faith by which he was bound
to the King, and returned to his men — not without
grief.

Then, straightway, the northern army advanced
with lances raised, and with the shrill blast of clarion
and trumpets and the clash of arms, the heavens and
the earth trembled, and mountain and hill resounded.

In the meantime, Radulph, Bishop of the Ork-
neys, whom Archbishop Thurstan had sent to them,
standing on a high place, gave absolution to the
people, who, beating their breasts and lifting up their
hands, prayed to Heaven for aid; and absolution being
pronounced, the Bishop blessed them solemnly. And
the people cried aloud, * Amen ! amen ! '

Then the men of Galloway, uttering after their
manner yells and horrible cries, ran upon the southern
army with such fury that they forced the spearmen to
give way ; but they, being supported by the soldiers,

THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD. 21

soon recovered their courage, and the lances of the
Scots proving of delusive brittleness, they drew their
swords and sought to fight hand to hand. But the
southerners poured upon them a dense rain of arrows,
and assailed them with such a ceaseless shower of
missiles in their breasts and faces, that they retarded
their attack. Nevertheless, the men of Galloway,
bristling with arrows as the hedgehog with its spines,
brandishing their swords, fell in blind fury upon their
enemies, striking vain blows upon the empty air.
Then, suddenly overcome by a panic of fear, they
dissolved into flight ; when the King's noble young
son, coming up with his company, with lion-like fury
broke the southern lines like cobweb, and cutting
down all who opposed, swept beyond the royal
standard, supposing himself to be followed by the
rest of the army, and that he might make it impos-
sible for the enemy to escape, he attacked the place
where the horses were stationed, dispersed them and
drove them away for a space of two miles. Terrified
by the force of this attack, the unarmed men began
to give way ; but a certain wise man, holding up the
head of a man that had been slain, cried out that the
King was slain ; and thus they were encouraged and
stood firm.

Then the men of Galloway, being unable to stand
longer before the shower of arrows and the swords of
the soldiers, turned to flee, two of their leaders, Ulric
and Donald, being slain. And the men of Lothian,
scarce waiting for the first attack, melted away.
Thereupon the King and the leaders, leaping from

22 THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD.

their horses, advanced upon the enemy. But the
Scots, panic-struck at the flight of the others, began
to drop away from the royal troop, until, in a short
time, there were but few left round the King. Then
the army of the English advanced upon them, and
the King himself, and all his men, would have been
taken or slain, if his soldiers, having vainly implored
him to flee, had not lifted him upon his horse and
compelled him to retire. And those who were flee-
ing, seeing the royal ensign, which being a dragon
was easily recognised, and perceiving that the King
had not fallen, returned to him and formed a body to
oppose those who were pursuing.

In the meantime, that flower of youth and glory
of chivalry — the King's son — looking behind him,
saw ^-^imself with but few men in the midst of the
enemy. Then, turning him to one of his companions,
he said, smiling, ' We have done what we could, and
certainly we have overcome as many as ourselves, and
it is a sign of a great mind not to be broken in
adverse fortune, and when we cannot overcome by
strength to do so by prudence. Therefore, let us
divide one from another, and join ourselves to the
enemy, as if we were pursuing with them, that so we
may pass them by, and get as soon as possible to my
father, whom I see yielding to necessity.' This said,
spurring his horse he passed through the midst of his
enemies, and having issued beyond, slackened his
horse's speed. Then he, with his knights, throwing
away their heavy armour, came to a poor cottage,
and, calling out the peasant, he took off his princely

THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD. 23

chain, and casting it at the man's feet, said, 'Take
what is a burden to me, but may help you in your
need.'

And the King, having put a distance between
himself and his enemies, gathered a company and set
them again in array, hoping to capture some who
were pursuing, that thus he might deter others from
attacking ; and he came to Carlisle, and there, being
in safety himself, he awaited his son in great fear for
two days, but the third day he received him safe and
sound.

And the English leaders pursuing far, took
prisoners and killed great numbers, both of the Scots
and the men of Galloway ; and all the EngHsh
leaders returned safe and uninjured, and gathering
round Walter Espec, whom they venerated as their
captain and father, gave great thanks to Almighty
God for such an unhoped-for victory.

tHAPTER III.

KING WILLIAM THE LION.

How the young King Henry zvent away to the King
of France, and how the Breton barons rebelled
against their King.

The King of England called his barons together,
and caused his son to be crowned king, and made
the King of Albany and all his barons do homage
to him, saying, — ' God curse all who would part you,
or break the love between you. Stand by my son,
and aid him against all the world, saving my
seigniory.'

But between him and his son there grew up a
deadly hatred, which cost many a gentle knight his
life, for when he could not have his will, because of
his father, he went away secretly, and passed over
the Loire, and would tarry neither for meat and
drink till he came to St. Denis, and recounted all
to the King of France. Then there was held a
great assembly, and Philip of Flanders and Matthew
of Boulogne were summoned ; and the Count of
Flanders encouraged the King to go to war with
the King of England. And Count Thibault rose

KING WILLIAM THE LION.

25

from his scat and said, ' Gentle King of St Denis,
I am your liegeman by faith and homage, and am
ready to serve you for forty days ; and I will do to
King Henry such damage as shall not be restored
all his life, nor shall he rest until he have given back
his heritage to the young King, his son,*

And the King and his barons agreed, and they
sent messengers to defy King Henry ; and the host
of France was summoned in the month of April,
at Easter. King Henry rode against them with ten
thousand Brabancons, and many a gentle knight of
Anjou and Gascony.

The host of France that Louis led was great, for
the son took great pains to destroy his father, and
trusted to lead him vanquished and a prisoner to
St. Denis ; but the King, his father, vowed that he
should see many a banner, and many a costly horse,
and gaily painted shield, and many a bold joust
fought out, ere he would yield himself recreant and
conquered. But the lord of England was heavy at
heart, because his son, whom he nourished in child-
hood, made war upon him ; yet would he rather die
than give his son the power while he could wield
sword or lance. And he went against Louis, the
mighty King of France, and Count Philip, and his
brother, the valiant knight Matthew. And God
aided the father that day, and Count Matthew of
Boulogne received a mortal wound, and the blood
ran down to his gilt spurs, and his brother sorrowed
greatly, and swore that his wrath against King Henry
should never be appeased.

26 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

And with the French and Flemings opposed to
King Henry rode the Earl of Leicester and all his
three sons, and the lord of Tancarville at the head
of a hundred knights. But, by my troth, I know
not why his vassals demeaned them so towards him,
for he was the most honourable and victorious king
that had ever reigned in any land since the time
of Moses, excepting only the King Charles, with
Oliver and Roland, and the twelve companions.

Then rode Count Philip through the land of
Normandy, wasting it by wood and plain ; and the
barons of Brittany submitted to the young King's
command, which when King Henry heard, he was
much grieved. ' Lords,' said he to his knights,
* nothing in my life has vexed me so sore ; I am
mad with rage that the barons of Brittany should
have gone against me, and joined those who hate
me to the death, King Louis of France and my
eldest son, who would disinherit me. I am not
yet so old that I should lose my lands because of
my great age. But Raoul of Fougeres has rebelled
against me, and Earl Hugh of Chester has joined
with him ; but for no cost of gold will I fail to
follow them to their fortresses, and against such
enemies craft is better than war.'

Then his knights hastened, and leaving the palace
seized their arms, clad themselves in hauberks and
breastplates, and laced on their helmets, and took
up their Viennese shields. And King Henry, as he
rode out of the town at the head of his knights in
array, cried, ' It will be evil for the traitors to meet

KLVG WILLIAM THE LION. 27

US in the fields!' Then his men rode to Dol in
Brittany.

And the men in the castle looked out, and saw-
William de Humet coming with the banner, and the
Brabangons behind ; and they went to Sir Raoul and
cried, ' See the host of Normandy which is coming
upon us ! Normans are good conquerors, as we
hear in every tale. The young king has betrayed
us. How can we defend ourselves ?'

And Sir Raoul replied, 'He who has good counsel
let him speak. But let us not be dishonoured, nor
the land ravaged. The castle is not strong, let us
issue forth and assail them.' So they came out to
the plain and joined battle with William de Humet
and his company. There was no knight of name
who did not break a lance, but each one who would
joust found his match, and the Breton barons were
driven back into their fortresses. No mangonel nor
engine for stones would have helped them, but the
w^ar which they had begun cost them dear. For a
messenger on a black horse rode to King Henry
at Rouen, and when he heard of the discomfiture of
his enemies he came with haste to Dol. And his
coming sent fear into his enemies, and for lack of
victual they rendered them up into his power.

' My lords,' said King Henry, ' my son takes rent
by force from all my fiefs, and it does not seem right
to me that it should be paid to him. They of
Flanders are against me. Aid me, lords, to guard
my rights. Earl Hugh of Chester take along with
you. As for Raoul of Fougeres, I let him go free

28 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

in his lands, if he will give me his faith ; but if he
ever rebel against me again he shall hold in Brittany
neither fief nor heritage. Now, lords, to horse ; my
son is in battle array. Let us go and pay him his
rent with our swords and sharp darts.' And his
knights were glad, and rejoiced at his words, but
the Earl of Chester mourned, fearing never to be
loosed from prison.

How King William raised an army, and entered
NortJiu m berla nd.

Then King Louis wrote a letter, and sealed it
with a ring, and called before him the messengers
of the young king ; and they having received the
letter, traversed the salt sea, passed forests and plains,
and came to Scotland ; and finding the King, pre-
sented the writing to him, on the part of the young
King Henry ; and in the letter was written, —

'To the King of Scotland, William the Good, King
Henry the younger sends you love, and bids you remember
him who is your lord. I marvel much that so rich a king,
and a man of thy valour, with such force of men, gives me
no aid in warring against my father. I will give thee the
lands that thy ancestors held, the lands beyond Tyne. I
know no better under the heavens; and Carlisle will I
give, that none may be able to oppose thee in Westmore-
land, if thou wilt aid me against those who hold my lands.'

Then the King of Scotland had great searchings
of heart when he heard how the young king claimed
his homage against all people, and how he would
give him the lands that all the kings of Scotland had

KING WILLIAM THE LION.

29

held, for he owed homage to the old king, the father,
also, and true allegiance ; neither were it right that
he should destroy his land.

Then he called together his parliament, and told
them of the letter of the young king, and he said,
' I will send messengers to the father in Normandy,
that he give me back the part of my inheritance,
Northumberland, which he withholds from me ; and
if he refuse to give it me, I owe him no longer either
faith or friendship.'

To that answered the Earl Duncan, ' The old
king is reasonable, seek not occasion to do him
outrage. Fair words are better than menaces. He
who holds not so, seeks his own death and con-
fusion. If he give you your rights you will serve
him as his liegeman.'

Thus spake Earl Duncan wisely, and the counsel
pleased the King and his barons ; and the messen-
gers departed, and spurred their horses, and rode
with slack reins over the great paved roads. And
they came to Normandy, and found the old King
Henry, and gave him the letters of the King of
Scotland. And Friar William Dolepene said to the
King, * I am a messenger from the King of Scot-
land, your kinsman, who should be dear to you.
Within a month he will come to you with a thousand
armed knights, and thirty thousand unarmed men,
against your enemies ; neither will he ask of you a
penny, so you will grant him his rights, and chiefly
Northumberland ; but if you will not, but will dis-
inherit him, he gives you back your homage.'

30 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

When the King heard this demand, he made
answer to the messenger, ' Say to the King of
Scotland I fear nothing from the war that I have
with my son, neither do I fear the King of France
and his men, nor the Count of Flanders. I will
make them lament the war they have begun. But
say to his brother David, my kinsman, that he come
to me with all the men he has, and I will give him
lands, and all that he desires.'

So the messengers departed from Normandy,
and traversed England, and came into Albany; and
there was none that harmed them from Dover to
Orkney, but soon will there be such tales of war as
shall make many weep.

' God save thee, sir King of Scotland ! I am re-
turned from the King of England. Much he marvels
at you. He held you for a wise man, and no child
in age,, and you demand his land as your inheritance,
as if he were a bird in a cage. He is no fugitive nor
outlaw, but the King of England ; nor will he give
you increase of land.'

And when the hot-blooded young knights heard
that, they swore great oaths, and said, ' If you do
not make war on this king, who shames you so, you
are not worthy to hold land nor lordship, but should
serve the son of Matilda.'

But there was not there Ingelram, the Bishop,
neither did Earl Waltheof counsel war — he knew
well it was folly ; but the King, led away by foolish
men, answered him in anger, ' Your cowardice will
not prevent the war. You have treasure enough

KING WILLIAM THE LIOX. 31

— defend your lands ; but if you will not give aid,
you shall not have of the spoil the value of a clove of
garlic' But the Earl answered, ' I am your liegeman,
and so were my kinsmen. But trust not in strangers,
for if you prosper they will gain ; but if you lose they
cannot suffer. Nevertheless, I will not fail you while
I live.'

Then the King sent messengers to Flanders to
the )-oung King Henry, to promise him aid, and to
pray him to send to him Flemings with ships. And
they departed and came to l^erwick, and entered into
barges, and hoisted their sails, and went on the high
sea ; for they cared not to coast along England, for
those who were friends were now become their mortal
enemies. And they found their lord with King Louis
of France and Count Philip. And Count Philip gave
counsel and said, ' Pledge your faith to the King of
Scotland, and bid him make war on your enemies,
and waste their land with fire and destroy it utterly.
Within fifteen days we will give him aid from
Flanders.' And King Louis agreed, and the mes-
sengers returned to their own land.

And every man encouraged his neighbour, and
said, * Let us go and take the Castle of Wark in
England.' And all boasted of the victory that was
promised them. And the King of Scotland as-
sembled his army, and there came men from Ross
and Moray, and the Earl of Angus came with three
thousand Scots ; and there were assembled such a
multitude of naked men as had not been seen for
many ages.

32 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

So King William came to Wark in England,
which was a castle in the marches, and he sent to
the constable to know if he w^ould hold it or yield it
up. Now the constable was Roger de Stuteville, no
lover of treason, but he saw that his force was not
enough to stand against the host of Scotland, and he
lamented with tears the fallen power of his King.
Then, in his wisdom, he came before the King of
Scotland, and prayed for forty days' space, that he
might send sealed letters across sea or go himself
and tell his lord that all his people were given up to
destruction. And King William, seeing his great
sadness, granted his request. And the wise knight
went himself to England and prayed for succour, and
within the term appointed he led back such a host
that he gave full leave to the King of Scotland to
attack him.

So the King William said to his knights, ' Let us go
through Northumberland ; there is none to oppose us,
for the Bishop of Durham tells me by letters that he
wishes to be at peace. Let us go to Alnwick, and if
William de Vesci will yield up his father's castle I
will let him go without loss of limb.' So they came
to Atnwick, but William de Vesci being prepared to
defend it, they made no long stay, but departed and
came to Warkworth. Roger Fitz-Richard had it in
ward, but it was weak, and he could not hold it. But
he was Lord of New Castle on Tyne, and would make
no peace with the King of Scotland. And the King
came against him with his armed men and his naked
tribes ; but the barons loved their lord, and held it

KING WILLIAM THE LION.

better to die or lose their heritage than suffer shame.
Then the King William saw well that he could not
conquer New Castle by storm ; but his counsellors
said, ' Be not downcast, but let the host be ready
early in the morning, and let us go to Carlisle and
conquer it. When Robert de Vaux sees so many
shields and Poitevin helmets he will wish himself a
bishop.' But King William answered, ' May I be for
ever put to shame if I make terms with Odonel, for
as long as Castle Prudhoe stands we shall never have
peace in Scotland.' And he bade them pitch his
tents before it ; but his barons refused to aid him,
saying, * Carlisle is the hardest to secure of all your
rights. Go, then, and conquer the chief place ; lay
siege to it, and make your host swear not to depart
from it until it has been set on fire and the walls
pulled down with pickaxes and Robert de Vaux
hanging on a high gallows. He cannot long resist
you.' And to this counsel the King agreed.

So on the morrow, when day appeared, the
trumpets sounded, and King William and all his
barons and his host set out on their march. Now the
King of Scotland understood how to make war on
his enemies and to do them hurt and damage, but he
turned too much to new counsels, and cherished
strangers, holding them dear, but his own people he
loved not.

And having set his men in array, he assaulted
the walls. Great was the noise of clanging iron
and clashing steel ; scarce a helmet or hauberk was
left whole. That day those within showed them-

D

34 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

selves knights, and left many strewed round the walls
with no leisure to rise. But they must aid them-
selves and hold their barbican, and fight for it ; and
they had no need of cowards, for the assault at the
gates was fierce.

Then there came in haste to the King a mes-
senger— a canon he was, and knew the language ; and
the King was in his pavilion, and with him his
chamberlains and his friends, while the warriors stood
around. And he told them how he had seen armed
men and knights who were prepared to assail him
before the sun rose. ' And De Lucy will be with
them before midnight, and many come with him.
Listen to good counsel, and go for safety to
Roxburgh, for if you delay, evil will be the song
that is sung of you.' But the King answered
in anger, swearing by St. Andrew, *We are safe
enough here, and will not refuse to give battle, for
a brave man must fight for his rights. My an-
cestors held this land, and I will not yield a foot
of it while I live.'

But his men gave him better counsel, and prayed
him to leave the siege. And he yielded, and none
drew rein till they came to Roxburgh. And they
rode by night as those in haste ere any assault had
been made, or they had suffered damage.

How tJie Earl of Leicester came into England.

Thus Sir Richard de Lucy, with the' English host,
rode secure through the wasted and ruined country,

KING WILLIAM THE LION. 35

for whereas Northumberland had been fruitful and its
people honoured, now there was great famine — all
was destro\-ed. And he cursed the war, and thought
in his heart that he would have revenge. But there
came to him a messenger bearing tidings that the
Earl of Leicester was come into the land, having
joined with the Flemings and the French to sub-
due England.

Then Sir Richard de Lucy sought to make peace
with the King of Scotland, but there was gone out
from his host Sir Humphrey de Bohun and the
barons of Northumberland, and had set on fire Ber-
wick and all the lands around. But Sir Richard, in
his wisdom, made a truce with the King of Scotland
for Northumberland until the summer.

Now Earl Robert of Leicester was come into
Suffolk and many Flemish gentlemen with him, and
all gave way before him until he came to Dunwich.
And Earl Hugh Bigod sent messengers to the men of
Dunwich that they should join the Earl, but they
would not assent. Then the Earl of Leicester swore
he would not leave a man of them alive, and set up
the gallows to put them in fear, and armed his men
in haste to assail the town. But the burghers ran to
their defences, and each one knew his business, shoot-
ing with bows Oi throwing darts, and the maidens
and women carried stones to throw from the pali-
sades. So the men of Dunwich defended themselves,'
and showed themselves such brave men that Earl
Robert had to leave with shame.

Then at dawn of day he said to his constables,

KING WILLIAM THE LION.

' Bid the men mount their horses, for I will go to
Norwich.' As for those who would know the truth
how Norwich was taken, I was not in the country
when it was besieged ; but a traitor of Lorraine be-
trayed it, and so it was taken by surprise. There is
710 country worth Norfolk from here to Montpellier,
no better knights nor merrier dames, except the city
of London, to which there is no peer. Ah, gentle
King of England, what love you owe to London and
her barons ! for they never failed their rightful lord,
but were always first in his business. But there came
messengers enough from Flanders across the sea, pro-
mising them great honours. And your son sent them
letters promising to love and cherish them all the
days of his life, and give them great things if they
would give him aid ; but they would not.

The Earl of Leicester went on wasting the land
of Norfolk, having with him Flemings by hundreds
and thousands ; and Earl Hugh Bigod aiding him
in everything. Then the Earl Ferrars sent him
letters, bidding him ride through the land. 'The
King of Scotland, a-nd David his brother, and Sir
Roger de Mowbray, will go to war to succour you. If
you can ride to Leicester before Easter, you will be
able to go as far as the Tower of London.'

And the Earl asked counsel of his knights ; and
his wife answered him, * Will you fear to ride because
of Humphrey de Bohun and the Earl of Arundel? The
English are good boasters, but they know not how to
fight; they are better at drinking and guzzling. The
Earl of Gloucester is to be feared ; but he has your

KING WILLIAM THE LION. 37

sister to wife, and for all the wealth of France would
commit no outrage on you.'

' Dame,' said the Earl, * I must take your counsel
for the love I bear you.' And Sir Hugh du Chastcl
gave like counsel. And the Flemings were glad, and
cried aloud, 'We came not into this land to sojourn,
but to destroy the old King Henry, and get his wool!*
For most of them were weavers and not knights, and
came to get spoil : and the lands of St. Edmund's
were rich.

The Earl of Leicester was a man of great powder,
but too young and childish was the courage that
made him go through England robbing and destroy-
ing, with his wife armed and bearing shield and lance.
But the lands of St. Edmund's had knights of great
power, who armed in haste. There was Walter Fitz-
Robert, and the Earl of Arundel, and Sir Humphrey
de Bohun. And the Earl of Leicester saw the armed
men approaching, and cried to Sir Hugh du Chastel,
' Let us go no further, but give battle here ; see the
helmets and the hauberks shining in the sun. Bear
yourselves as knights, and woe be to the man who
flees first!'

Then was Walter Fitz-Robert the first to attack,
and fell upon the Flemings fiercely ; but they w^ere
more than he by hundreds and by thousands, and
they drove him back w^ith his men. And he cried to
the Earl for aid, and he came on fiercely w^ith a great
oath ; and Roger Bigod also, nor was Hugh de Cressi
wanting. Robert Fitz-Bernard made great slaughter
of the strangers, and they gathered little wool that

KING WILLIAM THE LLON.

day ; but the crows and buzzards came down upon
their dead bodies. Better would have been for them
to have stayed in Flanders.

The Earl of Leicester and Sir Hugh du Chastel
were helpless in the crowd. My lady the Countess
met with a ditch, in which she was nearly drowned ;
and lost her rings in the mud. They will never be
found again, I trow. She desired drowning rather
than life; but Simon de Vahille raised her up, saying,
' Lady, come with me ; so goes the fortune of war —
now gaining, and now losing ! ' And Earl Robert
was dismayed, and turned pale when he saw his wife
taken, and his companions killed by hundreds and by
thousands. And Sir Humphrey de Bohun and the
Earl of Arundel took him and Hugh du Chastel,
and the villagers of the country came destroying
the Flemings with forks and flails ; as the knights
knocked them down, the peasants slew them, throw-
ing them into the ditches by forties and fifties, and
hundreds and thousands.

Thus Earl Robert was discomfited, and England
made more secure ; but the Flemings' lot was hard.

Hoiv King William of Scotland came again into
England.

Then, in May, when the grass was growing green,
came David of Scotland into the land, a gentle
knight, who hurt not priest, nor robbed church nor
abbey ; but the King of Scotland had given him
Lennox and Huntingdon to be his man, to fight
against King Henry. And he came with helmets and

KING WILLIAM THE LION. 39

hauberks, and many fine shields ; and the Earl of
Leicester's men sent to him and prayed him to come
to their castle. And he came, and won him honour
and renown.

After Easter, the King of Scotland returned to
waste Northumberland, and Roger de Stuteville had
strengthened Wark ; so the King by night arrayed
many knights and sent them to Bamborough Castle,
and they did marvellous damage, for the people were
asleep in their beds. And they came to the town of
Belford and assailed it, and scattered themselves over
the country, seizing the sheep and burning the towns,
and binding and dragging away the peasants, while
the women fled miserably to the minster. And they
returned to Berwick with great spoil of cattle and
horses, fine cows and sheep and lambs, and cloth and
jewels.

So the King summoned all the knights of his
land, for he would lay siege to Wark ; because he had
with him Flemings and archers, and good machines
for throwing stones, and slingers and cross-bowmen.
But Roger was not dismayed, and he had more than
twenty knights with him, the best that ever lord had,
and he had strengthened his house.

Then, on a ^Monday morning, the Flemings began
the assault, and with marvellous boldness came within
the ditches, and they fought hand to hand, all mingled
together ; shields and bucklers breaking, pennons
waving, the wounded Flemings turning back from
the portcullis, or borne away never to cry 'Arras !'
again. The assault lasted long, and Roger encour-

40 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

aged his men and exhorted them, saying, * Shoot not
your arrows too often, for they are without, and rich
in arms ; but we are shut up here, so spare your
arms, but when you see the time, defend yourselves
hke knights!'

Then the King, seeing that nothing was gained,
bade them bring near the great engine for casting
stones to break down the gate. But, behold the first
stone that was cast fell backwards, and brought to
the ground one of their own knicrhts, that, but for his
armour, he would never have returned home. Then
the King, full of rage and fury, would have set fire to
the castle, but the wind was contrary ; so, having
watched all night, at dawn of day he made his earls
and barons assemble, and said, 'Gentle knights, let us
leave this siege, for we can do nothing, and have
gained great loss ; burn down your huts and fold up
your tents, and let all the host return to Roxburgh.'

And when Sir Roger heard the noise of their
departure, and saw them going away towards Rox-
burgh, he said to his men, ' Rail not at them, nor cry,
nor shout ; but let us praise God our Father, that He
has delivered our lives from such a proud host.' So
there were no reproaches, nor insults, but songs and
glad rejoicings ; for none were slain or wounded
within the castle. But the King was sore at heart,
and swore a great oath that he would not give up the
war, though he should lose his kingdom.

Then came Roger de Mowbray to the King,
having left his castles in the care of his two eldest
sons, and prayed the King to come against royal

KING WILLIAM THE LIOJ\. 4!

Carlisle, and with him Sir Adam de Port, and they
were the best knights in the world. And the King
was glad, and went with all his host against fair Car-
lisle, the strong city. And they came where they
could see it in its beauty, with the walls and turrets
shining in the sun. And there was trembling in the
city; but Robert de Vaux encouraged them.

And the King sent Roger, and Adam, and Walter
de Berkeley to the town to Sir Robert de Vaux, say-
ing, ' Yield up to me the castle, for there is none to
succour thee ; and if thou wilt not thou shalt lose thy
head, and th}' children shall die, and all thy friends
and kinsmen will I exile.' So the\- came to Sir Robert,
and he leant on a battlement, clad in a hauberk with
a sharp sword in his hand ; and the messengers
summoned him to gi\x' up the castle to the King of
Scotland as the rightful lord. But Sir Robert an-
swered, ' We care not for threats nor promises ; but
let the King go to King Henry and complain that I
hold the castle against him, and if my lord is angry
with me, send me his message. Or give me respite
till I cross the sea and tell my lord King Henry. If
he will not, I will die here, before I surrender my
lord's castle.'

So the messengers returned and told the King;
and he went away and came to Appleby, where there
was no guard, and took it ; for the constable Gos-
patrick, son of Horm, an old Englishman, soon cried
mercy. At that the King was much rejoiced, and
swore great threats against our lord, Henry Fitz-
Matilda. So they put constables and guards in the

42 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

castle, and made great rejoicings. And they went
thence to Brough and besieged it on all sides, and the
first day they took the portcullis, and those within
withdrew to the tower. Then they set fire to it, but
when the defenders saw that, they surrendered to the
King. But one knight was but that day newly come,
and when his companions rendered themselves up, he
went back to the tower and took two shields and held
the battlements long ; and he threw three javelins,
and with each he killed a Scot. And when they
failed him he threw all he could find upon them,
confounding them all, and shouting, 'You are all con-
quered ! ' But when the fire burnt his shield he was
forced to surrender. So Brough was taken ; at which
Robert de Vaux was somewhat dismayed. And he
sent a messenger to Richard de Lucy ; but de Lucy
encouraged him, saying, that within fifteen days he
would have news of the King.

Now the Bishop of Winchester, at the prayer of
de Lucy, had gone over the sea and came to King
Henry, and said to him, ' Richard de Lucy and the
other barons who hold to you salute you by me ; but
hear the truth, — there are not ten who hold to you in
right loyalty.'

Then said the King, 'What is Richard de Lucy
doing then ? Is he on my side V

'Yes, sire, truly; he would rather let himself be
bound with cords than fail you.'

' And the Earl of Arundel, — is he with me, or
making war against me ?'

' Sire, he is ever foremost in all your affairs.'

KING WILLIAM THE LION. 43

'And Humphrey de Bohun, — is he fighting my

enemies?'

' Sire, he is one of the most loyal to you.'

' De Stuteville, does he still hold his castle?'

' Sire, De Stutevilles are never traitors.'

' And the Bishop elect of Lincoln, can he not fight

against his enemies ?'

* Sire, he is truly your friend, and has knights and
good soldiers enough ?'

* Thomas Fitz-Bernard and his brother, — do they
go with Richard de Lucy ?'

' In truth, sire, if it please you, they are your good
friends, and Roger Bigod, who never failed you,'

' ])Ut tell me truly of my land in the north ; has
not Roger de Stuteville come to terms ?'

' A thousand men would die, sire, an evil death
before Roger would do you wrong !'

* Ralph de Glanville, — is he at Richmond,* and Sir
Robert de Vaux ? What do those two barons ?'

Then the messenger heaved a deep sigh, and the
King asked again, ' Wherefore sigh you ? Is Robert
de Vaux a traitor ? Has he given up Carlisle?'

* Nay, he holds it nobly, like a gentle baron ; but
it is right to tell you of his danger. The King of
Scotland came riding by Carlisle the other day, and
with great threats demanded that Sir Robert de
Vaux should give up the castle to him, covenanting
to give him great gifts ; but if he refused, he would
starve them all, little and great.'

'By my faith!' said the King, 'here is a good
covenant. " In little time God works," as the beg-

44 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

gar says. What did the Scot do ? did he besiege
Carlisle?'

' Nay, sire, if it please you, but he took Appleby
and the Castle of Brough.'

* How !' said the King, ' is Appleby taken ?'

' Yes, sire, in truth, and all the country round ;
and it has greatly rejoiced your mortal enemies.
Sire, I am come from Robert de Vaux, for he can get
neither wine nor corn ; nor can he get aid from Rich-
mond. If he is not succoured quickly, all will be
famished, and Northumberland will be altogether
wasted, and Odonel de Umfraville disinherited, and
New Castle upon Tyne overwhelmed, and William de
Vesci lose his lands ; for the Scots, like evil spirits,
overrun everything.'

Then said the King with tears and deep sighs,
' Nay, that would be an evil thing. But what does
the Bishop of Durham ?'

* He is agreed with King William.'

'Saint Thomas guard my kingdom!' said the
King. * But tell me, what of the barons of my city
of London V

' They are the most loyal people of your kingdom.
There is none in the town of age to bear arms that is
not very well armed. But Gilbert de Montfichet has
fortified his castle, and says that the Clares are allied
with him.'

'Then God guard my barons of London!' said
the King. * But go back. Sir Bishop, to your country.
If God give me health, you shall have me in London
within fifteen days, and I will take vengeance on all

KING WILLIAM THE LION. 45

my enemies.' And he summoned his people to meet
him at Rouen.

So the Bishop returned, and Richard de Lucy
came to ask news of the King. ' Sir,' said the Bishop,
* he is a king of worth indeed, and fears neither
Flemings nor the King of St. Denis ; you will see
him here in fifteen days.' Then Richard de Lucy
was glad, and sent to bid Robert de Vaux not to
fear, for he would have succour from the King ; and
Robert rejoiced greatly.

IIou Kiiig IViiliciJJi zuas taken prisoner.

Then the same day came the King of Scotland
before the town and demanded that Carlisle city and
tower should be given up, or he would take it by
force. To that answered Robert de Vaux, * Set me a
time, — name me a day ; and if the King, my lord,
does not succour me, I will render up the castle.'
And said King William, * You will have no succour ;
I have no fear of that.' And he went to the Odonel's
castle, wishing to surprise him ; but the castle was
newly fortified and he had good men and strong ;
but his people, knowing the great hatred that the
King of Scotland bore him, made him go out of his
castle. So, with a heavy heart, he departed. And
the host of Scotland, Flemings, and Borderers, came
and assailed the castle with great noise and shouting,
but those within defended themselves bravely.

But Odonel rode on his hairy bay to seek for suc-
cour, and he wandered about night and day on his

46 KIiYG WILLIAM THE LION.

good brown horse till he had got together four hun-
dred valiant knights, with shining helmets, to succour
Prudhoe with their sharp swords. And the siege
lasted three days, as I know ; and Odonel's good men
within defended themselves so well, that their enemies
gained not of the castle the worth of a silver penny ;
but the fields were destroyed and the gardens
trampled by these evil men ; and when they could
do no more, it came into their minds to bark the
apple-trees.

Then King William, perceiving there was no more
to be done, said to his counsellors, ' Let us go to Aln-
wick and leave this. We will let our Scots waste the
sea-coast, and woe be to them if they leave house or
minster standing; and the men of Galloway shall go
another way and kill the men in Odonel's lands ; and
we will go and besiege Alnwick, and the land shall be
destroyed.' So on Friday morning the trumpets
sounded and the host departed ; and he came to
Alnwick, and the Scots wasted and burnt all the
land, and the church of St. Laurence was violated
and three hundred men killed.

But Odonel rode with his proud companions,
William de Stuteville and Ralph de Glanville, Sir
Bernard de Baliol and William de Vesci. The Arch-
bishop of York sent sixty knights of his retinue.
And he came to New Castle upon Tyne at dead of
night, and he heard news of the King of Albany that
he was at Alnwick with few men, for the Scots were
spread over the country, burning and wasting. Then
the knights took counsel together, whether they

KING WILLIAM THE LION.

47

should attack hirn ; and Odonel said, ' Shame be to
him who refuses ! I will be first, for he has done me
great harm. If he wait for us to attack him, he will
be discomfited.' And Bernard de Baliol said, ' Who
has not boldness enough deserves neither honour nor
lands.' And Ralph de Glanville, * Let us be wise and
send a spy to see how many they be, and we will
come after.'

So Odonel called his men, and they came by night
to Alnwick ; and the knights of the King of Scotland
said to him, * Northumberland is yours, whoever
may laugh or weep.' But he answered, ' Let us
wait for our host, and then assault the castle.' And
because of the heat he took off his helmet and sat
down to cat, and his servants brought him food there
before the castle. But our knights were hidden by a
mist, and their spy came to them, and related to them
what he had seen. * Then seize your arms ! ' cried
Ralph de Glanville, ' and fear nothing ; ' and they
mounted their horses in haste, and took their arms.
The King was brave, daring, and bold, and he stood
unarmed before Alnwick.

I tell the tale as one who was there, for I saw it
myself And one raised the war-cry of * Vesci,' and
'Glanville knights,' and 'Baliol' others, and Odonel
and de Stutcville raised their cries. But the King,
undismayed, armed himself in haste, and mounted
a fleet horse, and rode to the fight. And he brought
the first to the ground, and made a fierce assault ;
but one rushed upon him, and with a lance pierced
through his horse, and the King and his horse fell

48 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

to the ground, and the horse fell upon him, so that he
could not rise, but lay unable to help himself and his
men ; and the battle was strong and fierce on both
sides. Great slaughter was made of the Flemings,
and many will never cry 'Arras!' more. But the
King lay beneath his horse, and thus I, with my own
eyes, saw him taken, as he surrendered to Ralph de
Glanville, and all his bravest knights were taken.
But our knights, loving not the Flemings, slew them
all. So the King gave himself up to Ralph, for
what else could he do ? And Ralph was glad, for
he saw that the war was at an end, and England
would have peace. And he took off his armour and
mounted him up on a palfrey, and led him away
to New Castle upon Tyne.

Now the battle was fought well on both sides.
Sir Roger de Mowbray and Sir Adam de Port fled
away in haste, for all were their enemies, and if they
were taken there would be no safety for them. Sir
Alan de Lanceles defended himself as long as he
could. He was very old, and had not jousted for
thirty years ; but he was taken, and will have to pay
great ransom, for he was very rich. And William
de Mortimer did well that day, going through the
ranks like a wild boar. He met Sir Berr»ard de
Baliol, and bore him down and his horse, and made
him yield. And Raoul le Rus did well ; but more
than a hundred assailed him, so no marvel he sur-
rendered, but he will pay dearly for this war. And
Richard Maluvel took and gave great blows, fearing
none while he was on horseback, for he had a good

KING WILLIAM THE LION. 49

horse, and he did as much as thirteen men ; but he
lost his horse, for it was wounded, and fell, and
numbers came upon him crying, 'Surrender, quickly!'
So he was forced to yield in bitterness of soul. But
it would be too long t6 tell you of all who were
taken, for there were near a hundred whom William
de Vesci put to ransom, besides the prisoners of
Bernard de Baliol, Walter de Bolebec, Odonel, and
the others.

But it was no marvel they were discomfited, for
there lay at St. Laurence the bodies of those whom
the Scotch had murdered ; and they had wounded
and ill-treated more than a thousand, that there was
weeping, and mourning, and tears. For that sin
King William was that day discomfited. Sc he was
lodged that night at New Castle, and the next day
Ralph de Glanville took him and brought him to
Richmond, where he should sojourn till King Henry
made known his pleasure.

Hoiv the tidings zuere brought to King Henry.

Now the King was come by this time to England,
and came to St. Thomas at Canterbury, and confessed
himself a sinner and repentant, and took his penance.
Then he departed and came to London ; for he had
great desire to see his city and his good people.
But his heart was heavy for the Scotch war. But
when they heard in London of his coming, each one
attired himself in his richest garments, apparelling
himself in rich cloth of silk, and every one had an

E

50 KING WILLIAM THE LIOH,

ambling palfrey, and issued forth of the city. Sir
Henry le Blunt was the first to kiss the King's hand ;
but you might have gone a league while the King
was receiving his barons. And he thanked them
much, saying, they were very loyal men.

' Sire,' said Gervaise Suplest, ' let be ; may the day
never come when any can call the Londoners traitors!
They would rather have their limbs cut off than com-
mit treason.'

' Certainly/ said the King, ' they have a right to
boast ; and I will requite them, if they have any need
of me.'

So they conveyed the King to Westminster, and
rejoiced at the coming of their lord, and gave him
presents, and did him honour. Yet he was sad still,
because of the King of Scotland and Sir Roger de
Mowbray, who were destroying his lands. But before
the right time for going to bed came, there came to
him glad tidings. Now, he was entered into his
chamber, and was suffering much — for he had not
eaten nor drunk for three days of the week, nor slept
with his eyes shut, but had travelled day and night.
So he was leaning on his elbow, and slumbering a
little, while a servant rubbed his feet. And all was
silent : there was no noise, nor any one speaking, nor
harp nor viol sounding, when a messenger came to
the door and called softly.

Then the chamberlain said, ' Who is there ? '

' I am a messenger, friend. Sir Ralph de Glan-
ville has sent me to speak to the King of a great
matter.'

KING WILLIAM THE LION. 51

And the chamberlain said, * Leave the matter till
to-morrow.'

* By my faith ! ' said the messenger, ' but I must
speak to him at once. My lord is sad at heart ; let
me enter, good chamberlain ! '

But the chamberlain said, * I dare not do it. The
King is asleep.'

But at those words the King awoke, and heard
some one crying at the door, * Open ! open ! '

* Who is that ? ' said the King.

'Sire,' answered the chamberlain, 'it is a messenger
from the north. I know him well. He is Ralph do
Glanvillc's man ; Bricn is his name.'

' By my faith ! ' said the King, ' he wants aid. Let
him come in.'

So the messenger entered and saluted the King,
saying, 'God save you, Sir King ! You first, and then
your friends.'

' Brien,' said the King, ' what news do you bring }
Has the King of Scotland entered Richmond, taken
New Castle upon Tyne ? Odonel de Umfraville is
taken or driven out, and all my barons chased out of
their lands? Tell me the truth. They have served me
badly, if I do not avenge them.'

' Sire,' said the messenger, ' listen to me a little.
Your barons in the north are good men enough, and
my lord sends you by me love and greeting, and rtiy
lady too ; and he says by me that you need not bestir
yourself, for the King of Scotland is taken and all his
barons.'

Then said King Henry, 'Are you speaking truth?'

52 KING WILLIAM THE LION.

' Yea, sire, truly ; by the morning you will know
it. For the Archbishop of York will send you two
private messengers ; but I came first, knowing the
truth. I have not slept for four days past, nor eaten
nor drunk, and I am very famished. I pray you give
me a reward.'

And the King replied, 'You need not doubt of
that. If you have spoken truly, you shall be rich
enough. But tell me the truth: Is the King of Scot-
land taken ?'

'On my faith, sire, yea! Hang me by a rope,
burn me at a stake, if I am not proved true before
midday to-morrow!'

'Then God be praised!' said the King; 'and
St. Thomas the Martyr, and all the saints ! '

So the messenger went to his lodging, and had
plenty to eat and drink. And the King was so glad
at heart, that he went to his knights and woke them
all, saying, 'Barons, awake! I have that to tell you
will make you glad. The King of Scotland is taken ;
they tell me it is true tidings.'

And his knights answered, 'Now God be thanked,
the war is finished, and your kingdom at peace!'

The next day, before noon, came one named
Roger from the Archbishop of York ; and the King
was glad when he saw they both said the same. And
he took a little stick and gave it to Brien, that he
should have ten liveries of his land for the labour he
had had.

Then he sent messengers to David, brother of the
King of Scotland ; and he was at Leicester, like a

KING WILLIAM THE LION. 53

bold vassal. And the King sent him word that the
game was played out, that there was nothing for him
but to yield and come to his mercy. And David
knew no better counsel than to give up the castle and
come to the King. Eight days were enough for all
this ; and the King had peace, and his enemies were
taken.

But the news came that Rouen is besieged ; so he
tarried no longer, but passed the sea, taking David
with him. And Bricn returned to his lord, and told
his lord how the King would have him bring the
King of Scotland with haste to Southampton. And
the King Henry tarried at Southampton for a good
wind, and Sir Ralph de Glanville made haste to
come, leading with him the King of Scotland, sad at
heart. But when they came thither. King Henry was
in Normandy ; but he had left command that he
should cross in haste, and he tarried not.

Now the King came to Rouen at dawn of day ;
and by vespers peace was established, and the war
was finished.

54

CHAPTER IV.

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

How Saladin took the Holy City, and how King
Richard set out on a Crusade.

Now about the year ii 87, it came to pass that the
Christians in the land of Syria were, for their evil
deeds, given over into the hand of Saladin, who had
before made himself Sultan of Egypt and Damascus.
He captured Acre, Berytus, and Sidon ; and took
prisoner Guy, king of Jerusalem, and advanced upon
the Holy City itself. It soon fell into his hands, and
all who could not ransom themselves were made
slaves. But when the tidings of these calamities
were brought by the Archbishop of Tyre into Europe,
many were moved with compassion, and determined
upon vengeance. And first of all Richard, earl of
Poitou, assumed the cross ; and after him his father,
Henry II., king of England, and Philip, king of
France, and great numbers of nobles and knights.

But before King Henry could set out on his
journey to the Holy Land, he fell sick and died ; and
Earl Richard returned to England to be crowned

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 55

king. He was a man tall of stature, with auburn
hair, a commanding carriage, and limbs strong and
well made for fighting, and long arms that were un-
equalled in wielding the sword. And he made haste
to set his kingdom in order, and to collect material
for the war, and passed over into France. He bade
his ships sail round Spain and tarry for him at
Messina, and with his chosen troops he marched to
Vezelai, where he had appointed to meet King Philip.

When the two armies came together, they were
so numerous that the hills were covered with the
tents and pavilions, and it seemed as if a new city
had arisen, bright with gay pennons and standards.
There the two kings made a treaty, and swore to
keep the peace towards one another ; and the two
armies set forward, and marched by Lyons to the sea
in good fellowship and brotherly kindness.

King Philip had hired Genoese ships to carry him
and his men to Messina ; and he sailed in them,
having engaged to tarry at Messina for the coming of
King Richard. The English army rested at Mar-
seilles three weeks, and then took ship and sailed
between the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, and
passed the burning mountains called Vulcano and
Strango, and came to the city of Messina, where the
ships of King Richard waited for them.

Now the king of the country, whose name was
William, had lately died ; and he had married King
Richard's sister, but they had no children, and the
kingdom had passed to Tancred. But the people of
the country, who were commonly called Griffons,

RICHARD CCFUR DE LIOK.

being many oi tliem of Saracen blood, made them-
selves hostile to the men in our ships while they
waited for King Richard, calling them dogs, and
other e\*il names, and insulting them often, and even
killing some of them as they had opportunity-.

\Vhen King Richard's coming was kno\\Ti, all the
people ran out to see him, for his fame was spread
abroad ; and the sea was covered with his galleys,
glittering with arms and standards, and the prows of
the galleys were painted each with its own sign,
while the King himself was seen standing on a part of
a ship higher and more gaily painted than the rest.
And thus, with the pealing of trumpets and clarions,
he came to land, and rode amid his own men and a
crowd of the wondering people to his hostel.

Of t/u- taking of tlu City of Messina, and the coming
of tJie Princess Bcrengaria.

But the disputes between the pilgrims and the
natives of the z\Xx grew hotter day by day, and when
blood was shed in these quarrels, the two kings con-
sulted with the governor of the cit}* how peace should
be maintained between them. But while they were
in conference, there came messengers in great haste
to the King Richard, saWng that the people had at-
tacked and were slaying his men. Then the King,
mounting his horse in haste, rode out to stop the
quarrel ; but when he reached the place, the Lom-
bards, mad with rage, railed upon him with loud
cries. Then he drew his sword and attacked them.

RICHARD CCT' UR DE LION. 57

and though he had but twenty men with him, they
fled before him hke sheep before the wolf and ran
into their city and shut the gates. Some of them
went to King PhiHp, and prayed him to come to
their aid ; and there are those who say he avowed
himself more ready to help them than to fight for
the King of England's men, to whom he was bound
by oath.

Then King Richard, when he saw the gates shut
against him, made a fierce assault upon the cit}', and
they defended themselves with stones and darts
from the walls, so that many of our men were slain.
]^ut the King, observing a postern neglected by
the citizens, ordered an attack to be made upon
it ; and the gate was broken down, and thus the
whole army entered the city. Great spoil fell into
the hands of the victors, and many of the citizens
were slain, but King Richard stopped the slaughter.
Then when King Philip saw the standard of the King
Richard on the walls of the city, he was moved with
envy, and hated Richard in his heart. And he sent
to him and bade him take down his standard and
raise in its place the standard of France. To this
Richard, angered, returned no answer ; but his coun-
sellors, fearing a breach between the kings, besought
him to yield, and the standards of both the kings
were raised on the walls.

King Philip sought also to inflame the mind of
Tancred against Richard ; but he, fearing the ill-will
of so great a man, made peace and an alliance with
him, and they met at the city of Fatina, midway be-

58 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

tween Palermo and Messina, and swore to keep faith
with one another.

Then, it being now Christmastide, King Richard
gave a great feast, and sent out a crier to invite all
who would come. And with all respect he sent to
the King of France ; and he came with a great
number of the nobles. The feast was held in the
castle of Mategriffon, which the King had constructed
to hold the city in awe, and was celebrated with
great splendour. The dishes and platters were all of
gold and silver, curiously wrought with the chisel and
ornamented with precious stones. And when the
feast was over, he sent the most beautiful cups to the
King of France, and bade him choose which he
would have ; and to the nobles also he gave gifts
according to their rank.

When the winter was past. King Philip made
ready his ships, and set sail for the Holy Land ; but
King Richard stayed yet in Sicily. For tidings were
brought him that his mother. Queen Eleanor, was
coming to him, and with her was the noble daughter
of the King of Navarre, whose name was Berengaria.
For when Richard was yet Earl of Poitou, he
had seen her and loved her, and the King, her father,
sent her to him now, that he might marry her be-
fore he crossed the sea. So King Richard went out
to meet them, and brought them with great joy to
Messina.

Then King Richard made ready his ships to
follow the King of France, and gave the care of them
to Robert de Torneham. And the Princess Beren-

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

59

garia, with his sister, the widowed Queen of Sicily,
he put on board a ship called a dromon. These are
heavy ships and slow in sailing, but stronger and
firmer than the galleys.

Then the great fleet put to sea with a fair breeze,
and some rowing, and some sailing, passed out of
the port of Messina ; the dromons in the rear, and
the galleys going slowly that they might keep with
them. But our voyage was beset with perils and
difficulties ; for first the wind dropped so that we
could not proceed, and then it rose against us and
raged so furiously that the ships would not obey
the pilots, but were driven hither and thither through
the boiling sea. But while all the others were
overcome with fear and distressed with grievous
sickness, the King unmoved bade them not despair,
and as he had the best sailors on board his ship,
he caused them to light a great wax taper, and
hoist it in a lantern on the mast, that the other ships
might see it and follow him, as a hen gathers her
chickens. And when the storm was over we came to
Crete, and waited to collect the ships ; but there
were five-and-twenty that came not, at which the
King was greatly moved.

Then, when the wind was favourable, we sailed
away ; but it rose again, and drove us upon the
island of Rhodes, where we tarried certain days, and
then went on our way. The royal ship being always
first, the King perceived a very large ship called a
buss bearing down, returning from Jerusalem, and
those in the ship brought him tidings that the King

6o RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

of France was landed at Acre, and with all diligence
was directing the siege.

Then King Richard hasted on his journey, but
the wind being contrary, he could not make way,
and the ship in which the two queens were was the
first to reach Cyprus ; but they dropped anchor
outside the port, and feared to land. For there
reigned now in that land a wicked tyrant who had
usurped the name of emperor, of whom it was re-
ported that he was in league and alliance with
Saladin, and that in sign thereof they had drunk each
other's blood. Then the storm still continuing to
rage, three of the King's ships were broken to pieces
on the shore, and many of those on board were
drowned, among whom was the King's signet-bearer.
His body being washed on shore, the signet was
found and brought afterwards to the army for sale.
Those who escaped and swam to shore, as well as
all who ventured to land, were seized by the Griffons
and stripped of their arms ; neither would they allow
them to return to their ships. But when the pilgrims
saw that their lives were in danger they contrived
to meet together in a body to fight their way back
to the ships. They had no arms except three
bows ; but one of them named Roger de Hardecurt
found a horse, and rode down all who opposed him,
and William du Bois shot arrows upon them unceas-
ingly, and so they advanced towards the shore. And
the soldiers on board, seeing their danger, came in
haste to their aid, and brought them in safety to
the ships.

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 6i

Of the coming of Richard to Cyprus.

The same day the Emperor came into the city of
Limasol, and sought by craft and guile to allure the
queens to land, sending them presents of bread and
meat and the famed wine of Cyprus. They, fearing
to offend him, gave their promise to come to land the
next day, and, very solicitous for the safety of the
fleet, of which they knew nothing, sat gazing out to
sea, taking sad counsel with one another, when, be-
hold ! in the distance appeared two black things like
crows ; and as they came nearer they perceived that
they were ships, and behind came another and an-
other, until, to their great joy, King Richard, with all
his fleet, appeared in sight.

Then, when King Richard had anchored in the
port, it was told him how some of his ships had been
broken, and how his men had been stripped and
plundered by the Griffons. Being much angered,
therefore, he sent two knights to the Emperor to
demand restitution and satisfaction. But he scorned
to yield any satisfaction to a king, and answered only
with contempt and insult. So the King cried aloud,
'To arms!' and, with his men, sprang into the boats
and rowed to seize the port. Then the Griffons
blocked up the entrance with old galleys, and casks,
and piles of old wood, to obstruct their landing ; and
the Emperor and his army took up their position on
the shore. They made a brave show, with costly
arms and rich, bright garments, and fine horses and
mules, eager for battle. As our men approached they

62 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

were assailed by slingers and archers from five galleys
by the shore. But our men, unmoved, attacked the
galleys and took them, and from them poured a
shower of arrows on those who held the landing-
place. The Griffons gave way a little space, but
gaining higher ground, returned the arrows upon our
men ; and King Richard, seeing that his men durst
not leave their boats, sprang himself into the water
and ran boldly at the Griffons. His men, encouraged,
followed him without delay, and fell with such force
on the enemy that they gave way and fled. Then
the King, finding a horse, mounted it and rode after
the Emperor, crying to him to turn and meet him in
single combat ; • but he turned not, and fled away.

Thus the King took the city of Limasol,and brought
the queens to land, and rested until his horses could
be brought from the ships. But the Emperor halted
within two leagues, and when morning came he re-
turned, and, with his army, took up his stand on a
hill overlooking us. And a certain clerk, dismayed
at the sight of so great a host, said to King Richard,
' My lord the King, in good truth it would be wisest
to avoid meeting so great a multitude.' ' My lord
clerk,' answered the King, ' keep to your Scriptures,
and leave arms to us, and keep out of the crowd.'
Then, with no more than fifty men, perceiving that
the enemy hesitated, he rode upon them, and broke
their line and dispersed them, and they fled in
great dismay. He fell also upon the Emperor, and
struck him from his horse, but he mounted an-
other, and made haste to escape. And the enemy

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

fled, and were overwhelmed by their pursuers, and
the field was heaped with the slain. And the Em-
peror's banner was taken, and his tent, with all his
silver and gold, and splendid raiment, and a great
booty of horses and cattle and choice wine.

Then the King made a proclamation that all who
would have peace might come to him in safety, and
many forsook the Emperor, so that he fled for safety
to a fort called Nicosia.

Of the Marriage of RicJiard and Bcrcngaria and the
Conquest of Cyprus.

Now about this time there came into the port
three galleys, bringing King Guy of Jerusalem and
his followers ; and he had come to ask the help of
King Richard against King Philip of France, who
wished to depose him and make the Marquis Conrad
king in his place. And King Richard received him
kindly, and gave him great gifts.

Being now established in safety at Limasol, King
Richard celebrated with great splendour his marriage
with Berengaria, daughter of the King of Navarre,
and there were present at the ceremony the Arch-
bishop and the Bishop of Evreux, and a great con-
course of nobles.

Then the Masters of the Hospitalers of Jerusalem
brought about a meeting between the victorious king
and the Emperor of Cyprus. The Emperor desired
much to have peace, because for his cruelty his people
hated him, and he feared to trust them. They met

64 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

together in a plain near Limasol, and the King rode
to the place on a Spanish horse of such beauty that
no painter could have designed one more perfect in
form. The King was clothed in a garment of rose
colour, ornamented with rows of crescents of solid
silv^er, and on his head a scarlet hat with beasts and
birds worked in gold upon it. His saddle was of
bright colour, spangled with gold, and behind were
two golden lions with their mouths open about to
attack one another. He wore golden spurs and a
sword of proved metal with a golden hilt, and he
rode like a noble soldier, so that all who saw him
wondered at him.

Thus the King and the Emperor met and made
peace, and the Emperor agreed to give up his castles
into the hands of the King, and to send with him five
hundred knights to fight for Jerusalem ; and the
King engaged to give back the castles if the Emperor
kept faith. Moreover, the Emperor agreed to pay
five hundred marks to those whom he had plundered.
So they kissed one another and swore peace and
friendship, and the King returned to Limasol, and
sent to the Emperor the pavilion that he captured in
the battle. But a knight named Pain de Caiffa went
to the Emperor and falsely told him that King
Richard purposed to seize him and throw him in
chains. Therefore, moved with fear, he fled by night
to his city of Famagusta. Thus the war broke out
again, for the King pursued him in his galleys, and
his army marched against him, being led by King
Guy. The Emperor hid in the woods, and when the

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. (^^

King, having landed at Famagusta, marched upon
Nicosia, he laid an ambush for him, and attacked
him suddenly with seven hundred Greeks, shooting
poisoned arrows at the King. Then King Richard,
urging his horse, bore down upon him with his spear ;
but tlie Emperor fled away, and, being mounted on
a horse unmatched for speed, escaped. The people
of Nicosia opened their gates to the King, and he
received them into his favour ; but all who fell
into the Emperor's hands were tortured and cruelly
mutilated.

King Guy took two of the Emperor's castles, and
the Emperor's daughter and all his treasure fell into
his hands. So when the Emperor knew that his
people hated him, and that his forts were taken, and
his daughter, whom he loved tenderly, was a captive,
he came and fell down at King Richard's feet and
submitted himself to him ; only he prayed him that
he would not put him in iron chains. And the King,
moved with pity, raised him up, and made him sit
beside him, and gave him silver chains instead of iron
ones, and brought his daughter to him.

Thus King Richard conquered Cyprus in fifteen
days, and obtained great spoil of gold, and silver, and
precious cloths. And to King Guy he committed the
custody of the Emperor, and his little daughter he
gave to the Queen that she might bring her up. And
having appointed trusty men to transmit to him corn
and meat, he took ship and sailed with all his fleet
and the two queens for the Holy Land.

And as they came near the land, and were now

65 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

off Sidon, there appeared in sight a great ship filled
with Saracens going to aid their countrymen in Acre.
Then the King sent Peter des Barres, captain of one
of his galleys, to ask who they were, and they answered
that they belonged to the King of France. So the King
came near to the ship, and it was of great size and
strongly made, with three tall masts, and painted with
red and yellow lines ; but he saw no Christian stan-
dard, and he doubted in himself who they were. So
he sent others again to ask whence they came, and
they answered they were Genoese bound for Tyre.
Then the sailors were assured that they were Saracens,
and at the King's command a galley rowed after them
quickly ; and when the Saracens saw that they did
not salute them, they began to throw darts at them.
So the King bade attack the ship ; but as our men
rowed round it, it seemed so high, and strong, and
well defended, that they feared to begin. But the
King, chiding their cowardice, urged them to the at-
tack, and some of them sprang into the water and
bound the rudder with cords to stop the ship, and,
climbing up the cables, leapt on board. The Turks
met them bravely, cutting off their hands as they
clung to the ship and flinging them back into the
sea.

The fight lasted long ; the Turks were driven back
to the prow, but new defenders came from within the
ship, and the Christians were forced back into their
galleys. Then the King bade them row the galleys
against the ship's side and strike it with their iron
beaks, and thus they pierced the ship's sides and it

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 67

began to fill. Thirty-five of the Turks, who were men
of consequence or of skill in handling machines, the
King saved alive, but the rest were killed, or perished
in the water.

Of the coming of Richard to Acre, a7id the taking
of the City.

Then the King, after this victory, sailed on till he
came in sight of Acre. And there, round the walls,
lay the great army of the besiegers, from every
Christian land under heaven ; and beyond it might
be seen, dispersed upon the hills and in the valleys
and plains, the brightly coloured tents of the Turkish
army. There was the pavilion of Saladin himself,
and of his brother Saphadin, and of Kahadin, the
mainstay of Paganism. It was the Saturday in the
Pentecost week that King Richard landed at Acre,
and the earth shook with the exultant shouts of the
Christians. The day was kept as a festival, and far
into the night was heard the sound of the trumpets
and pipes and the songs of the rejoicing soldiers
while the darkness was dispersed by the glare ot
torches till the Turks thought the valley was on fire.
But the Turks were much cast down and dejected.

But after a few days the King fell sick, and his
sickness was so sore that he could not go out to fight,
though he busied himself with preparation of machines
of war. The King of France then, not willing to wait
till King Richard should be recovered, on the Monday
after the Feast of Saint John the Baptist bade make

68 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

a great assault on the city. Then the Turks within
made a great clamour and beat platters and timbrels
to call upon Saladin to come to their aid. And his
men fell upon us and fought so fiercely that the pil-
grims were forced to give up the attack on the city to
defend themselves ; and those in the city threw Greek
fire on the machines of the King of France and
destroyed them. Then the King Philip fell sick from
vexation and confusion.

And when he was recovered, he made new ma-
chines, and one there was which he called ' Bad neigh-
bour.' And the Turks had one which they called
' Bad kinsman,' and which often broke Bad neighbour ;
but the King built it again, and with it he broke down
part of the wall and shook the tower Maledictum. And
the other leaders had also machines which did much
harm to the Turks; and there was one petraria called
the 'Petraria of God,' for a priest stood by it preaching
and gathering money to work it. King Richard had
two which were worked unceasingly ; and he con-
structed others to shoot at great distances, — one called
' Berefrcd,' covered with hides, and so strong that it
could not be broken or burnt. From one of his
engines he shot into the city a great stone which he
had brought from Messina, which killed twelve men
with its blow. And besides the engines for throwing
stones, the King of France had made one for scaling
the walls, which was called the ' Cat,' because it crept
up the walls and held on to it ; and a cercleia, which
was a shelter of hides under which he could sit and
shoot at the city ; but the Turks burnt the cat and

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 69

the ccrcleia with Greek fire. King Richard caused
himself to be carried in a silken bed and laid under a
cerclcia that thence he might shoot from his arbalest
and encourage his men, and he promised them rewards
for every stone they should displace from the wall.
And many men fell by his arbalest, and among them
a Turk who was dressed in the armour of a Christian
whom he had slain.

Then the Turks, finding that their walls were
shaken by undermining and by the blows of the ma-
chines, and many of their men slain in the assaults,
sent two of their leaders to treat, offering to give up
the city if they might leave it with all their arms and
goods. King Philip gave his assent, but King Richard
would not agree, after so long a siege, to win back a
deserted city. Then many of the Turks in their fear
escaped from the beleaguered city, and coming to the
Christians, besought baptism that they might thus
escape from destruction.

But Saladin, perceiving that it would be vain to
hope that the city could hold out longer, consented
that they should make peace on what terms they
could. Then the chief men in the city went to the
Christian kings and offered to give up the city, and
the Holy Cross, and two hundred and fifty captives if
they might depart from the city in their shirts only,
leaving behind them all their arms and goods and
paying for their ransom 200,000 Saracen talents ; and
to these terms the kings gave consent. So, having
given up their noblest men as hostages, and having
bound themselves by an oath to deliver the Holy

70 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

Cross and the captives within a month's space, they
departed out of the city ; and our men marvelled
much to witness their composed countenances, un-
subdued by adversity and the loss of all their goods.

And when the Turks were all departed out of the
city, the Christians marched into it with shouts of joy
and triumph and songs of praise, and the kings set
up their banners on the walls and divided the city
between them, — King Philip had the palace of the
Templars, and King Richard the royal palace, into
which the queens entered with their handmaids.

Of the depart2ire of the King of France and the
marcJi of the army.

Then arose great discord between the kings touch-
ing King Guy and the Marquis, for King Philip wished
to give all to the Marquis. And the quarrel grew hot
between them ; but by the princes' mediation, it was
agreed that the Marquis should have the government
ci Tyre and should become king when King Guy
should die ; and it was further agreed that if the
Marquis should die while King Richard were in that
land, the crown should be left to him to dispose of as
he should see best. Thus peace was made between
them.-' But King Philip determined to return to his own
land, saying he was sick ; and though his men mur-
mured sore and pleaded with him to remain, he
embarked in a galley that he had begged of King
Richard, and sailed away on St. Peter's Day, having
sworn to do no harm nor damage to the men or lands

RICHARD C(EUR DE LION.

of the King of England while he was absent in the
Holy Land.

King Richard tarried at Acre repairing the walls,
and waiting until Saladin should fulfil his covenant
and send back the Cross and the captives, but when
the time was now passed, and he saw that the un-
believers would not keep to their promises, he com-
manded that the hostages should be put to death,
and that the army should make ready to go to Asca-
lon. But the Marquis withdrew himself to Tyre, and
would no longer stay with the army. And as our
army began to move out of the camp they were
attacked by the Turks, and the Count of Hungary
and King Richard's Marshal, Hugh of Poitou, were
carried away prisoners, though the King fought hard
to save them. But the Turks, not being oppressed
with heavy armour, rode more swiftly than the
Christians could, and, like flies, fled away when the
King attacked them, but returned as soon as he
stopped.

On the feast of St. Bartholomew the army, having
passed out of the city, was drawn up on the sea-
shore. The King led the vanguard and the Normans
guarded the Standard. It was like the «iast of a ship,
bound with iron and fixed on four wheels, with the
banner of the King floating on the top. The French,
led by the Duke of Burgundy, were in the rear. Thus
the army marched along the sea-shore, the Turks
watching from the heights. And as the Christians
came to a narrow way and were in confusion, the
Saracens attacked them suddenly and a fierce fight

72 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

began. One of the Bishop of SaHsbury's men, by
name Everard, had his right hand cut off by a Turk,
but, without changing countenance, he seized his
sword with his left hand and closed with the enemies
that were pressing on him. Then King Richard
riding to the spot drove off the Turks and made
them flee to the mountains.

Now on this march the Christians were sore
troubled by a venomous animal called Tarrentes,
which by night stung them much, and the place which
was stung swelled greatly and was filled with pain.
But observing the matter, it was perceived that the
Tarrentes feared greatly loud noises, and by beating
together their basons and platters and other instru-
ments the pilgrims drove them away.

Thus they marched till they came to Caesarea,
constantly fearing the attacks of the Turks, and suf-
fering much from heat and weariness, so that many
fell dead by the way. And each night ere they lay
down to rest, one cried aloud in the midst of the
camp, ' Help for the Holy Sepulchre !' and they all,
with many tears, holding up their hands to heaven,
cried, * Help for the Holy Sepulchre !'

Then the pilgrims, leaving Csesarea, came to
the Dead River and passed on to the Salt River,
and the Turks kept near and shot darts and arrows
upon them as thick as hail. King Richard was
wounded in the side by a dart, and the horses died
fast. From the Salt River they came to the forest of
Arsur, and by the river there waited for them the
army of the Turks innumerable.

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 73

Of the Battle of Arsur and the wonder fid victory
of the Christians.

King Richard marshalled his army, the Templars
being in the first rank, the men of Brittany and
Anjou next after them, then the men of Poitou, under
King Guy, and the Normans and the English with
the Standard, and, last of all, a chosen body of Hos-
pitallers. And so closely were they ordered that an
apple could not have fallen among them without
touching man or horse. King Richard and the Duke
of Burgundy, with some chosen men, rode up and
down to watch the Turks.

About nine o'clock in the morning a great multi-
tude of Turks, in number about 10,000, came upon
the Christians in a furious assault, throwing darts and
arrows and shouting horribly. Among them were
men very black in colour, and also the Saracens who
live in the desert, called Bedouins, very rapid in their
movements and carrying bows and arrows and a round
shield. Behind them came the squadrons of the
Turks with ensigns on their lances. There seemed to
be more than 20,000 of them, and they came like
lightning, raising a cloud of dust, so that they dark-
ened all the heavens ; and they had trumpets and
horns, cymbals and gongs, making a horrible, dis-
cordant clamour. They came upon us from the side
of the sea and from the side of the land, and they
seemed to cover all the ground for a distance of two
miles.

74 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

The pilgrims, hemmed in on all sides, marched on
in a compact body, while the Turks assailed them
before and behind, repelling their attacks as well as
they were able without leaving the body. They suf-
fered greatly from the heat and from the pressure, for
they were scarce able to breathe ; and the Hos-
pitallers, being in the rear, could not return the blows,
but marched on, bearing the blows of the Turks,
which fell on their armour as on an anvil. But the
Christians' courage did not fail, and the Turks cried
aloud that ' they were made of iron.'

At last the Hospitallers were unable to endure
patiently any longer, and the Marshal and another
knight, named Baldwin de Carreo, broke from the
ranks and rode at the enemy, crying to St. George
for aid. They were followed by all the Hospitallers,
so that the rear was soon in the front of the army.
Then the Count of Champagne and Jacques d'Avennes
Count Robert of Dreux and the Bishop of Beauvais,
his brother, and many others, charged fiercely upon the
Saracens. The Turks gave way before them, and the
ground was strewn with the slain. The King, burst-
ing through the Hospitallers, cut out a path for him-
self among the enemy, mowing them down as a
reaper does the corn.

Thus the Turks were overcome and dispersed,
and their army turned into a crowd of fugitives,
but when our men ceased from the pursuit they
gathered together again, and more than 20,000,
armed with heavy maces, began the battle again.
They were led by a kinsman of Saladin, named Taki-

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 75

eddin, a bitter hater of the Christians, and he had
with him more than 700 chosen men of valour of
the body-guard of Saladin, bearing yellow banners.
They fell upon a body of the Christians before they
had fallen into their ranks round the Standard, and
overwhelming them with their numbers grievously
distressed them. But a brave knight, named William
des Barres, with his men, attacked the Turks, and
King Richard seeing their dangerous position mounted
a bay Cyprian horse and rode into their midst and
drove all before him.

The enemy fled away, and the Christians, gather-
ing round the Standard, marched forward till they
came to Arsur. There they pitched their tents, but
ere the camp was formed a large body of Turks fell
upon the rearguard. But King Richard, hearing
the cry of his men, ran hastily to the place with
only fifteen of his followers, crying with a mighty
voice, ' O God, help us and the Holy Sepulchre !' At
which his men hasted to follow him, and drove away
the Turks, pursuing them to the walls of Arsur and
cutting down many as they fled. And of those who
fell on that day there were found on the field of
battle the bodies of thirty-two Turks, whom, from
the splendour of their armour, the Christians thought
to be mighty chiefs, besides many lesser captains.
Of the Christians fell but few, but there died there
the great captain Jacques d'Avennes, who, having
fallen from his horse, was surrounded by the Turks
and overcome. And the Christians, mourning greatly
for his fall, sent a company of Hospitallers and

76 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

Templars the next day to seek for his body, and they
found it covered with wounds, and around lay the
bodies of fifteen Turks whom he had slain ere he
died. Then they bore him back to Arsur, and buried
him there with great weeping, and wailing, and
lamentation.

The great battle of Arsur spread dismay in the
hearts of the Turks, and the name of Melech Ric
was feared throughout the land. Then Saladin gave
command to pull down the walls of the fortresses, lest
King Richard should take them and make himself
strong in them. And when the Christians were come
to the city of Joppa, lo ! the city was destroyed, that
they could find no lodging there, and they encamped
in an olive-garden without the town, and refreshed
themselves with the figs and grapes and pomegran-
ates and citrons that grew in the land.

How William de Pratelles gave himself tip for the King ^
and of the deeds of the Earl of Leicester.

Then tidings came that the Turks were pulling
down the walls of Ascalon, and King Richard coun-
selled to march at once thither and save it. But the
French wished rather to rebuild Joppa, and their
counsel prevailed. But while they tarried there the
Christians gave themselves to sloth and ease.

About this time it happened that King Richard,
having ridden to take his pastime in hawking, and
having with him but few of his men, being wearied
with his sport, lay down and fell asleep. And while

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 77

he slept there came suddenly upon him a company,
hoping to make him prisoner. The King awakened
by the noise threw himself on his horse, and his at-
tendants following him, drove off the assailants, but
they in fleeing drew him to a spot where lay other
Turks hidden. The King being surrounded by them
fought bravely and defended himself well, but there
were so many of them that he would have fallen into
their hands, had not one of his knights, named William
de Pratelles, cried out that he was the Melech, and the
Turks hearing his words seized him and carried him
away prisoner. Thus the King had time to escape,
and when he came to the town he found his soldiers
coming out to his help, for they had heard of his
danger. Then he returned and pursued the Turks,
hoping to set free William de Pratelles, but they were
got awa}'. Then the soldiers prayed the King not to
endanger his life any more. Nevertheless he was
ever the first to attack and the last to retreat.

Then the King, with a part of the army, went to
rebuild the forts of Plans and Maen, which the Turks
had destroyed. And it fell out one day that they had
gone out to gather fodder for their horses, and while
the esquires were busy gathering it, the Templars
kept guard over them. Then there fell suddenly
upon them a company of 4000 horsemen, which when
they saw they dismounted, and standing back to
back, defended themselves as well as they could.
And when three of them were fallen, there came to
their aid Andrew de Chamgui and fifteen knights ;
but the Turks continued to attack them. Then the

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

King, hearing the noise, sent to their help the Count
de Saint Paul and the Earl of Leicester, and seizing
his arms followed them. Then the Earl of Leicester
came and saved two whom they had taken prisoners,
and distinguished himself by his bravery. But when
the King reached the place, the battle was still raging,
for the enemy was so many in number ; and some of
his men, seeing the strength of the enemy, counselled
him to save himself, and not attempt to rescue his
men. But the King, growing red with anger, an-
swered, ' What ! Shall I send my men on to fight,
promising to come and help them, and then leave
them in the battle ? I should not be worthy of the
name of a king.' And without another word he
spurred his horse and fell with such force into the
thickest ranks of the Turks, that he broke their array
and rode through them, cutting down on all sides,
and returning dispersed them all ; and, among many
others, a great admiral, named Aralchais, fell by his
hand. And the whole company fled, and the Christians
returned with some prisoners to the camp.

When the castles were now about to be finished,
King Richard sent ambassadors to Saladin to demand
that the land of Syria should be given up, and that
the kingdom of Babylon should pay tribute. Saladin,
being crafty, would not refuse the King's demand,
but deluded him with promises, and sent his brother
Saphadin to him with rich gifts. And there arose a
murmuring among the Christians that King Richard
was friendly to the Gentiles. But when the King
saw that the promises of Saphadin were vain, he

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

79

would no longer listen to him, but fought more
bravely than before to wipe out the reproaches that
were brought against him.

The Earl of Leicester, attacking a large company
of Turks with but few men, made them flee before
him ; but three of his knights, pursuing them with too
great boldness, were taken prisoners, which when the
Earl perceived, he rode to their aid. He had driven
them over a river, when 500 fresh Turks came up and
surrounded him. Many of his knights were wounded,
and he himself was thrown off his horse and nearly
drowned in the river. But two of his knights suc-
coured him; and one of them, named Robert of New-
bur>', gave him his own horse. Though they fought
as long as they could, the numbers were so great that
they could defend themselves no longer ; but holding
by the necks of their horses, and bearing silently the
rain of blows, were led away prisoners. But aid was
near. Andrew de Chamgui and other knights came
spurring to the spot, and the fortune of battle turned
against the Turks. The Earl fought fiercely. Two
horses were killed under him. Never did so small a
man perform such great deeds ; and at last victory
stayed with him.

Of tJic rebuilding of Ascaloii, and tJie discord among
the Christians.

The castle being now repaired, the army of the
Christians was commanded to leave the plains and to
march to the foot of the mountains, that they might

8o RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

be ready to go up to Jerusalem. And Saladin, being
aware of it, went himself to Jerusalem, giving com-
mand to his army to occupy the mountains ; and
there fell upon the Christians a storm of rain and hail,
which blew down the tents and did great damage to
the food, spoiling the biscuits and bacon. Many of
the horses also were drowned in the flood, and the
armour and coats-of-mail became so rusty that it
needed much labour to make them bright again.
Many, also, of the pilgrims fell sick. But so great
was their joy at the hope of seeing Jerusalem, that
they bore their sufferings with cheerfulness, and
eagerly desired to continue the march. Neither
would the sick be left behind, but caused themselves
to be borne in litters ; and some of them fell into the
enemies' hands, and were martyred without mercy.

But the Templars and Hospitallers, and the wise
men, prayed King Richard not to march yet to Jeru-
salem, for they feared that the siege would be long,
and the army in the mountains would do them hurt.
Neither if the city were captured had they men with
whom to garrison it, for all longed sore to return
home. They counselled rather to defer the siege of
Jerusalem until the walls of Ascalon should be rebuilt.
And when it was known that their counsel had pre-
vailed, the pilgrims grieved sore, and cried out curses on
those evil counsellors ; and it seemed now impossible
to bear the sufferings from the rain and want of food,
which a little before had seemed so light. Many of
them left the army, especially of the French, going to
Acre or Joppa, or joining the Marquis at Tyre.

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

But King Richard, with his nephew the Count
Henry of Champagne, and the rest of the army,
marched in great suffering and distress to Ascalon ;
and Saladin, hearing that the Christians had returned
to the sea-shore, sent his army to their homes. And
the King, by entreaties and persuasion, drew back to
the camp those who had forsaken it ; and they began
to rebuild the city of Ascalon. All worked together,
side by side ; princes and nobles carried the stones,
and clerks and la}-men, knights and retainers, built
together. The King himself was active in the work,
building with his own hands, and encouraging his
men, and giving mone}' to those who were in need.

At that time the King, going one day to recon-
noitre the fort of Darum, came suddenly upon a body
of Turks who were taking Christian captives for sale.
And when they saw the King's banner they fled in
dismay, and got them safe into the fort, leaving the
captives without ; and the King came and set. them
free. There were twelve thousand men who were thus
saved by the King from slavery.

But the discord waxed strong in the Christian
camp ; and the Duke of Burgundy went away and
came to Acre. And he found the city in disorder,
for the party of King Guy was fighting with the
party of the Marquis. Then the Marquis sailed in
his galley to Acre, hoping to take possession of
the city, but his adversaries sent and prayed to
King Richard to come to their aid. The Marquis
in haste returned to Tyre, and King Richard quieted
and appeased the people. And when he could not

G

82 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

prevail upon the Marquis to be at peace with him,
and help in the war with Saladin, he took counsel
with the leaders in the army, and adjudged him to
have lost all right to his kingdom. But the French
joined with the Marquis, and seven hundred soldiers
left the camp at Ascalon and marched away from
\he camp.

While the King tarried at Acre, there came to
rnim the son of Saphadin, that the King might make
^ him a knight ; and on Palm Sunday, with great
magnificence, the King girded him with the belt, of
knighthood.

Then the King, having celebrated the feast of
Easter at Ascalon. with great feasting and rejoicing,
and the city being rebuilt, went out to reconnoitre
Gaza. But Saladin assembled his army and prepared
for war ; and he was greatly encouraged because of
the departure of the French, and trusted soon to
recover Acre and Tyre.

How the Marquis Conrad was chosen King, and how
he was slain by two young meji.

But before the war was begun again there landed
in the country the Prior of Hereford, and he came
with evil tidings to King Richard. For Earl John,
the King's brother, had driven out of England the
King's Chancellor, and the others whom the King
had appointed to govern in his absence, and had
seized the King's revenues, and made the nobles
swear allegiance to him. Then the King assembling

^

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. S3

the leaders of the army told them of the tidings, and
that he must return to his own land, but would
leave three hundred knights and two thousand foot-
soldiers, to fight at his cost. And they prayed him,
before he left the country, to appoint a new king,
that they might be no longer divided, but should
follow one leader; and they entreated on their bended
knee that the Marquis might be made king, for that
he could better defend the kingdom than another.
And the King listened to their request, though the
Marquis was his enemy, and indeed a traitor, for at
that time he was secretly plotting to make peace
with Saladin, as it was fully known afterwards.

And the chief men in the army went to T\Te to
bring the Marquis with honour, and he was filled with
joy at his election, and made great preparation to
celebrate his coronation worthily. But it fell out
that as he was returning from a feast, merry and
cheerful, there ran upon him suddenly two young
men, assassins, with kni\cs in their hands, and stabbed
him to the heart. And one of them, before he was
put to death, being questioned, confessed that he had
been sent by the Old Man of Musse to assassinate
the Marquis, whom he judged worthy of death. For
the Old Man brought up in his palace many noble
boys, and taught them many things, that when they
were grown up he might send them whither he woul^,
that they might do his will. And when he would
that a great man should die he gave them a poniard,
sharp and long, and bade them go murder him for
remission of their sins.

/

84 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

Thus the Marquis died, before he was crowned
king, amid great lamentation, having given command
to his wife not to give up the city of Tyre to any-
one but King Richard. But there came to Tyre at
that time Count Henry of Champagne, nephew of
King Richard, who was one of those whom he had
sent to fetch the Marquis, and when the people saw
him they cried out that he should be their king ;
and when they entreated him, he replied that he
would do nothing without the consent of King
Richard. Then messengers were sent to apprise the
King of these things : how the Marquis was slain,
and how the people had chosen Count Henry king.
And when the King heard of the death of the
Marquis, he was silent a long time, being astonished
at his sudden and violent end, but the election of
Count Henry pleased him much. So Count Henry
was made king, and married the widow of the Mar-
quis, who was the heiress of the kingdom, and having
taken possession of his forts and castles, made haste
to come to the aid of King Richard in the war. But
when King Richard remembered King Guy, he
had compassion on him, and he made him ruler
of Cyprus.

Now while the King Richard still tarried, waiting
for the King Henry, he rode out every day to attack
the Turks, and he killed many with his own hand and
took many captive. And it happened one day, as he
was riding along the road, there came out a wild boar
and stood in his way. He was of immense size, and
terrible to behold, and he was foaming at the mouth

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. %r

with rage. His bristles stood up, and he seemed
about to attack. Then the King attacked him with
his spear, and drove it into his side, but it broke with
his weight, and, mad with rage, he rushed at the
King. The King had not time to get out of his way,
so he spurred his horse and leaped clear over him ;
only the trappings of the horse were torn by the
boar's tusks, and as he leapt he struck the boar on
the head and stunned it, and then, wheeling round
quickly, put it to death.

Hoiv King Richard captured Daruiii and prepared to
go lip to Jerusalcui.

Then there came again messengers to the King
from England, and some prayed him much to stay
and accomplish his pilgrimage which he had vowed,
and some besought him to return home. And while
he doubted in his mind whether to tarry or to return.
King Henry and the French prepared to march from
Acre to besiege the fort of Darum. Then King
Richard, leaving men to guard Ascalon, hastened
with his own soldiers to Darum ; and when the Turks
saw such a small company they scorned them, and
challenged them to come and fight with them. But
the engines having arrived in the ship, were dis-
jointed, and the King and his nobles carried them on
their own shoulders from the shore, and, putting
them together, set men to work them, and one of
them the King managed himself, and by his com-
mand they threw stones at the city day and night.

86 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

Now Damm was v^ery strongly built, with seven-
teen towers, one of which was stronger and higher
than the others ; and while the engines cast stones at
the walls the King caused a mine to be made under
the towers, and the slingers shot so well that none
dared show themselves on the walls to do injury to
the Christians. Then a tower fell down with a
horrible noise, and the Christians rushed into the
fort, slaughtering all the Turks who fell into their
hands. Those who escaped fled for safety into the
principal tower. Then the Christians set up their
standards on the wall and threw down the banners of
the Turks. But those who had fled to the tower,
seeing that there was no succour for them, came out
and gave themselves up to King Richard ; and thus
the fort of Darum was taken in four days, before the
French could get to the place. And when King
Henry was come King Richard gave it to him as the
Arst-fruits of his kingdom.

And there came again a messenger from England
named John de Alencon, and told the King how his
brother Earl John was disturbing all the land of
England. But the leaders of the Christian army —
French, Norman, English, Poitevin, and Angevin —
met together and bound themselves to go up to
Jerusalem. And the King was much disturbed, and
could not rest for care and anxiety ; but while he
doubted in his mind what to do a chaplain from
Poitou, by name William, came to him as he sat in
his tent troubled and perplexed, and prayed him
with tears to remember all the great things he had

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 87

done, and not now to sully his great name by for-
saking the army at this time. And the King listened
to him, and caused it to be proclaimed throughout
the camp that he would not leave the Holy Land
before Easter, And the soldiers rejoiced greatly,
and, with great gladness, prepared to march up to
Jerusalem.

And they came to Hebron, and were beset by
swarms of little insects like sparks of fire, which
troubled them much ; for their sting was venomous,
and the faces and hands of the pilgrims were swollen
and so discoloured that they looked like lepers, and
they were forced to cover themselves with veils, and
in another place two men were bitten by serpents
and died. But the men were full of courage, and
counted their troubles but light, so that they might
go up to Jerusalem, and the rich helped the poor, and
gave them horses to ride on.

And they came to Betenoble, and tarried there for
King Henry, who had gone to assemble the slothful
who stayed behind at Acre. And while they dwelt
there King Richard rode out to seek some Turks who
were lying in ambush in the mountains, and he found
them at the fountain of Emmaus, and put them to
flight, killing twenty of them, and capturing the
herald of Saladin and some horses, and camels, and
mules. And as he was pursuing them he looked up,
and beheld the city of Jerusalem.

But while the King was gone out of the camp
there came down upon the French tents a company
of two hundred Turks ; and when the French, with

S3 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

the Templars and Hospitallers, went out to fight
them, they would not fight on the plain, but rode up
into the mountain. And the Christians pursued
them, and one Robert de Bruges, an Hospitaller,
rode into the ranks of the Turks all alone and ran
his lance through the body of a Turk that it came
out at his back. But he transgressed the rule of his
order. Then the battle went on, and the French,
wearied, began to give way, but the Count of Perche
and the Bishop of Salisbury came quickly to their
aid.

And there came from Joppa a caravan with pro-
visions for the army under the care of Ferric of
Vienna, and Baldwin de Carron, and Clarenbald de
Mont Chablon ; but on its way the people dispersed,
and some of them tarried behind. Then there came
upon them, not far from Ramleh, a company of
Turkish horse, and a fierce fight began. Baldwin de
Carron fought bravely and his companions. He was
twice thrown from his horse, and mounted again ;
but Clarenbald forsook him and fled, and some of his
men were slain. Then a third time he was brought
to the ground and beaten with clubs till the blood
flowed fast, and his sword was blunted and broken,
and a knight who came to his aid was thrown down
and mangled ; and they would all have perished had
not the Earl of Leicester come with great speed to
their aid. And thus the Turks were driven off, and
the wounded carried to the camp.

Then the people cried out to be led to Jerusalem,
but King Richard and the leaders took counsel to-

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 89

gcther, fearing the hazard was too great. And twenty
men were chosen — French and Syrians, and Templars
and Hospitallers ; and the matter was laid before
them. And tidings were brought to the King that
there were caravans coming with great riches from
Babylon. And King Richard, with a thousand men,
and the Duke of Burgundy, with five hundred soldiers
well armed, set out by night, and, marching by the
light of the moon, came to the place. But Saladin
was told by a spy of the King's setting forth, and he
sent two thousand horsemen, with some foot-soldiers,
to defend the cara\an. Then the King, being led by
his spies, came in sight at dawn of day, but they
made haste to escape. So he fell upon them in two
companies, and they could not stand before him, but
fled before him like hares before the hounds, and left
the caravan in their hands. And the King, mounted
on a tall horse, riding first, pursued them far over the
mountains ; but some of them, turning aside, returned
by another way and attacked our men, and thus the
battle began again; but the Turks were slain in great
numbers, and the ground was strewn with the dead.
And when the battle was over the soldiers had great
trouble in gathering together the camels and drome-
daries, for they fled with great speed before the
horses; but at last about four thousand seven hundred
camels were taken, and mules and asses without
number, besides a quantity of gold and silver, rich
spices, silk clothes, and costly garments, with coats-of-
mail, and arms and weapons, and a great store of
tents and provisions of c;!l kinds. Then they returned

90 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

with their spoil to the camp, and King Richard, imi-
tating the great King David, gave an equal share to the
soldiers who had stayed in the camp. Thus they were
provided with great store of beasts of burden ; but
some of the young camels they killed, and roasting the
flesh with lard, found it white meat and pleasant eating.
And the twenty counsellors dissuaded the King
from going up to the siege of Jerusalem, for they said
the summer was come, and there was great scarcity
of water, for the Turks had blocked up the cisterns.
But the people were filled with anger, and the French
separated themselves from the army, and insulted
King Richard, and the Duke of Burgundy wrote a
scoffing song upon him. And thus disputing and
quarrelling, the camp was broken up, and they re-
turned to Joppa. Then King Richard destroyed the
fort of Darum and strengthened the walls of Ascalon.
And the army returned to Acre.

How Saladin came against 7 ppay ajid of the admirable
deeds of King Richard.

But Saladin, filled with joy at the departure of
the King and his army, assembled all whom he could
gather together, and he had twenty thousand horse-
soldiers, and foot-soldiers innumerable. And they
came down like locusts, and assaulted the town o[
Joppa. And the assault was so fierce that one of the
gates was broken open, and the Turks entered the
town, but the Christians fled into the fortress. And
after they had defended the tower for a whole day the

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 91

patriarch prayed Saladin to grant them a respite until
the next day, and that then, if they did not receive
assistance, they would give up the tower and pay a
ransom for their lives. And to this he agreed, and
took the patriarch and other chief men and bound
them in chains as hostages.

But the people of Joppa had sent to King Richard
for help, and when he heard of their danger he came
with all the speed he could b\' ship to Joppa, but a
contrary wind delayed him. Then the people, de-
spairing of help, began to come out of the town, but
as they came out and paid the money the Turks cut
off their heads. Thus seven of them had died when
the King's ships came sailing into the harbour.

Then the Turks came to the water and covered all
the shore, and' prepared to hinder the King from
landing. But when the King perceived that he was
yet in time to save the lives of some, he sprang into
the water, and, with his men after him, gained the land,
driving the enemy v/ith shots from an arbalest, and
then, drawing his sword, he cleared a path for himself,
and forced a way into the city, which he entered first,
and found three thousand Turks spoiling the tower.
Then the Christians in the tower, when they saw the
King, issued forth, and the town was filled with the
dead bodies of the Turks. And Saladin, when he
heard of the King's coming, left off to besiege the
place, and the King began to repair the walls.

But in the Turkish army some evil men, called
IMenelones and Cordivi, being filled with shame that so
small an armv, without horses, should have put them

92 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

to flight, and driven them forth from Joppa, made
an agreement together that they would seize King
Richard in his tent and bring him prisoner to Saladin.
Therefore they armed themselves, and stealing forth
by night came by the light of the moon to the camp
while all lay asleep. Then the Cordivi said to the
Menelones, ' Go in to the camp on foot, and take the
King, while we remain here on horseback to hinder
his escape.' But the Menelones answered, ' Nay, we
are of higher rank than you, neither will we serve on
foot ; go ye in on foot, and we will tarry here.' Thus
they tarried disputing until the dawn of day appeared,
and a certain Genoese coming out of the camp early
in the morning perceived the enemy and cried aloud,
' To arms ! to arms !' The King, awakening, put on
his coat of mail in haste and summoned his men, and
they, catching up what armour and clothes they
could, ran together. There were but ten knights be-
sides the King, and some of their horses were unused
to arms, but the King ordered the rest of the army
skilfully, and the soldiers prepared to meet the fierce
attack of the assailing Turks by kneeling with the
right knee on the ground, covering themselves with
their shields while their lances grasped in their hands
rested with one end on the ground, and pointed their
iron heads at the enemy. And between every two
of these armed men the King placed an arbalester to
annoy the enemy, and behind him waited another to
load his arbalest. Thus the King ordered all as the
short time allowed, and encouraged his men.

Then the enemy fell upon them in seven companies,

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 93

each having about one thousand horsemen. But they
could not break through, for the Christians remained
unmoved, and their lances were a wall unto them.
And as the Turks fell back from the attack the cross-
bowmen shot upon them, killing many of them. But
many times the Turks rode against them like a whirl-
wind, and were forced to turn aside. Then the King,
perceiving this, rode upon them with his knights, and
broke through them, overthrowing them right and
left, and not drawing rein till they had ridden quite
through the Turkish arm\-. The Earl of Leicester
was flung from his horse, but the King came to his
rescue, and helped him to remount. Sir Ralph de
Mauleon was also seized and made prisoner, but the
King spurred his horse and came upon the Turks who
had hold of him, and forced them to }'ield him up.
Where the fight was fiercest there rode the King, and
the Turks fell beneath his flashing sword.

In the hottest of the battle there rode to the King
a Turk, bringing with him two noble horses as a gift
from the great Saphadin, Saladin's brother, for he
knew that the King had sore need of horses, and he
was a worth}' foe.

Then the galley-men, fearing for their Hves, left
the battle, and took refuge in their boats, and the
Turks thought to seize the town while the army was
fighting in the field. But the King, taking with him
but two knights and two cross-bowmen, entered the
town, and dispersed the Turks who had entered, and
set sentinels to guard it, and then, hasting to the
galleys, gathered together the men, and, encouraging

94 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION,

them with his words, brought them back to the
fight. And as he led them to the field he fell upon
the enemy so fiercely that he cut his way all alone
into the midst of the ranks, and they gave way before
them. But they closed around him, and he was left
alone, and at that sight our men feared greatly. But
alone, in the midst of his enemies, he remained un-
moved, and all as they approached him were cut down
like corn before the sickle. And there rode against
him a great admiral, distinguished above the rest by
his rich caparisons, and with bold arrogance essayed
to attack him, but the King, with one blow of his
sword, cut off his head, and shoulder, and right arm.
Then the Turks fled in terror at the sight, and the
King returned to his men, and lo! the King was stuck
all over with javelins, like the spines of a hedgehog,
and the trappings of his horse with arrows. The
battle lasted that day from the rising to the setting
sun, but the Turks returned to Saladin, and he
mocked his men, and asked them where was Melech
Ric, whom they had promised to bring him. But one
of them answered, ' There is no knight on earth like
Melech Ric, nay, nor ever was, from the beginning of
the world.'

How the King fell sick, and how he made peace with
Saladin for three years, and set forth to return into
his ozvn land.

But after the battle the King fell sick, and desired
to go to Acre to be cured of his sickness, and he

RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. 95

prayed the French, and the Templars, and the Hos-
pitallers, to defend Ascalon and Joppa, but they all
forsook him, and would give him no aid. Then the
King, despairing of recovery, sought to negotiate a
truce with Saladin. And he prayed Saphadin to
mediate between them. And Saphadin, who honoured
the King greatly, wrought with zeal on his behalf, and
peace was made between them. And these were the
terms of the peace : that Ascalon should be destroyed
and not rebuilt for three years, and that the Christians
should have Joppa and should go up to Jerusalem to
the Holy Sepulchre without let or hindrance. And
this peace should last for three }'cars, until Richard,
having returned to his own land, should have gathered
a new army, and should come again to conquer the
Hoi}' Land. Then the King, remembering how the
French had forsaken him, prayed Saladin not to give
leave to any to visit the Holy Sepulchre except they
came with letters from himself or Count Henry.
Then the French, much disturbed in mind, returned
to their own country, but as soon as they were de-
parted King Richard caused it to be proclaimed that
whoever wished might go up to the Sepulchre of our
Lord.

Then the people made ready and went up in three
companies to Jerusalem. And the first company was
led by Andrew de Chamgui, and the second by Ralph
Teissun, and the third by Hubert Walter, bishop of
Salisbury, and Saladin received the bishop with great
honour, and bade him make request for what he would
and he would grant it. And he prayed for leave to

q6 RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

place two Latin priests in Jerusalem, two at Beth-
lehem, and two at Nazareth, and the Sultan gave
consent.

Then the pilgrims returned to Acre, and, taking
ship, set sail for their own lands. But many perished
by sickness or by shipwreck, and never returned to
their homes.

Then the King prepared his ship, but before he de-
parted he redeemed from captivity the brave William
de Pratelles, who had given himself up for the King,
and^he gave in exchange for him ten noble Turks.
And as the King departed the people lamented aloud,
and blessed and praised the King, crying, ' Who will
now defend thee, O Jerusalem, when King Richard is
departed ?' And all night the ship sailed by the light
of the stars ; and as morning dawned the King looked
back towards the land and prayed aloud, saying, ' O
Holy Land, I commend thee to God, and if in His
mercy He grant me life, I hope to come yet again,
and in His good pleasure to succour thee.' So spake
he, not knowing the troubles and sorrows that awaited
him.

97

CHAPTER V.

FULK FITZWARIXE.

How Guar in of II let z zjoii the love of Mclette of the
WJiitc Tower.

Now in the days when Owen Gwynned was Prince of
Wales all the marches from Chester to Mount Gilbert
lay waste and desolate, so cruelly did he ravage all
the country round his land. The King of England,
therefore, being wise, gave the lands of the marches to
the most valiant knights in his army, that they should
defend the march to their own profit and to the
honour of their lord the King. Alberbury, with all
the honour appertaining to it, he gave to a knight
born in Lorraine, in the city of I\Ictz, who was greatly
renowned for his strength, beauty, and courtesy. His
banner was of vermilion samite, with two gold pea-
cocks. And the White Land, with its forests and
chace, he gave to Payn Peverel, who died soon after
in his castle in the Peak, and William Peverel, his
sister's son, became his heir. He conquered much
land, and built himself a tower, which he named the
White Tower, and the town which is built round it is
still called Whittington.

ir

98 FULK FITZWARINE.

Now William had two fair nieces, Eleyne, the
elder, and Melette, the younger, and he married
Eleyne to Fitz-Alan, and gave her at her marriage all
the land of Morlas. But Melette was most beautiful^
and many desired her in marriage, but no one could
please her, for she said, * There is no knight in the
world whom I will marry for his riches and his lands,,
but he must be handsome, courteous, and accom-
plished, and the most valiant knight in Christendom.'
So William made a proclamation in many lands and
many cities that all knights who were ready to joust
for love should come to Castle Peverel, in the Peak,
at the feast of St. ]\Iichael, and that the knight who
should conquer should win the love of Melette of the
White Tower, and become lordofWhittington and all
its honours.

Now the brave Guarin of Metz had neither wife
nor child, and he sent to John, duke of Little Britain,
and prayed his aid and help in this matter ; and the
Duke had ten sons, the most valiant knights in all
Little Britain, — Roger, the eldest, Howel, Audwyn,
Urien, Thebaud, Bertrem, Amys, Gwychard, Gyrard,
and Guy. So the Duke sent his ten sons and a hun-
dred knights, well mounted and richly apparelled to
his cousin Guarin of Metz. And there came to the
tournament Eneas, the son of the King of Scotland,
with the Earl of Moray, and the Bruces, Dunbars,
Umfravilles, and two hundred knights, and Owen,
Prince of Wales, with two hundred shields, and the
Duke of Burgundy with three hundred ; Ydromor,
son of the King of Galloway, came with one hundred

. .■■ I "■. ,.;. P',;" — ".'11',' «iwi

FULK FITZIVARIXE. 99

and fifty knights ; and the knights of England were
numbered at three hundred.

Guarin dc ]\Ietz and his company lodged in tents
in the forest near, and they were clothed in red samite,
and their horses were cov^ered with cloths that reached
to the ground. Guarin himself, that he might be
known from the others, had a crest of gold. Then
sounded the drums, and trumpets, and Saracen horns,
until the valleys re-echoed, and the tournament began.

]\Iany a hard blow was given and many a knight
thrown from his horse. The damsel, with other ladies,
was in a tower watching the knights to see how each
one bore himself; but the first day Guarin and his
company were found to be the best and the most
xaliant, and among them Guarin was the most praised.
When night came, Guarin and his company went
back to their tents in the forest, and none of the other
knights knew who they were. And the next day
Guarin came to the jousts with a crest of green ivy
out of the forest, like an unknown adventurer ; and
the Duke of Burgundy rushed upon him and struck
him a great blow with his lance, but Guarin flung him
from his horse, and a second, and a third. Then
Melette of the White Tower sent him her glove and
bade him fight for her. And he returned to the forest
and put on his red armour, and came back with his
companions and held the field against all comers ;
and he was declared the victor, and was adjudged
the prize and ]\Ielette of the White Tower. So they
sent for the bishop of the country, and he married
them. And William Peverel gave a great feast ; and

100 FULK FITZWARINE.

when it was over, Guarin took his wife and went to
Whittington. And the ten brothers and their knights
prepared to return to Little Britain ; but the youngest
son, Guy, stayed behind in England, and he was called
Guy L'Estrange \ and from him are descended the
great lords of that name.

Guarin de Metz held Whittington and defended it
against the Welshmen. And he had a little son,
named Fulk ; and when he was seven years old he
was sent to a famous knight, Joce de Dynan, to be
taught the manners of chivalry.

How Fidk Fitz Warine saved the life of
Sir Joce de Dynan.

Now when Fulk was eighteen years old, tall and
strong, Sir Joce went up to his tower early in the
morning, and saw the fields covered with knights
and squires, and among them he saw the banner of
his great enemy. Sir Walter Lacy. So he bade his
knights arm and mount their horses, and go down
and guard the bridge ; and they held it until Sir Joce
came with five hundred men — knights and servants,
and the citizens of the town of Dynan — with his ban-
ners, argent with three lions passant in azure, crowned
with gold. He forced the bridge, and Lacy was dis-
comfited and lost his banner and fled. But Joce de
Dynan knew Walter de Lacy by his arms and saw
him fleeing alone, so he put spurs to his horse and
overtook Lacy in the wood near Bromfield, and called

FULK FITZWARIXE. loi

to him to turn. And when Lacy saw that Sir Joce
was alone, he turned, and they fought long and many
hard blows were given and taken. Joce struck Lacy
through the shield and wounded his left arm, and
would have taken him prisoner, but Sir Godard de
Bruce and two knights came up to his aid and as-
saulted Sir Joce on all sides, but he defended himself
like a lion.

Now Sir Joce's wife and his two daughters had
climbed up into the tower to see the fight and to pray
to God to guard their lord ; and when they saw him
so surrounded with enemies, they set up a great cry,
and Fulk FitzWarine heard them (for Sir Joce had
left him in the castle, being still but a youth), and
he came to them and asked Hawyse the younger
daughter what ailed her that she cried so.^ 'Hold your
tongue!' she said, 'you are little like your bold father,
for you are a coward and always will be. Do you not
see that my lord, who has nourished and cherished
you, is in peril of death for lack of help, and you walk
up and down in safety and do nothing to aid him ?'
Upon that he turned red with anger, and going from
the tower in haste, clad himself in an old rusty hau-
berk that he found, and took a great Danish axe ;
then he went to the stable and found there a cart-
horse, and mounting it went out by the postern and
came to the field just as his lord had been plucked
from off his horse and was about to be killed. But
with a blow of his axe he cut in two the backbone of
Godard de Bruce, who had hold of his lord, and helped
him to remount ; then he turned to Sir Andrew de

102 FULK FITZ IV A RINE .

Preez, and struck him such a blow on his helmet that
he split his head down to his teeth. And when Sir
Arnold de Lys found he could not escape, he sur-
rendered to Sir Joce, and Lacy was taken also.

As they returned to the castle, Sir Joce turned to
him and said, 'Friend burgess, you are very brave and
strong, and if you had not been here I should have
been killed.' Then the boy answered, ' Sir, I am no
burgess. Do you not know me? I am Fulk, your
foster child !' 'Fair son,' quoth he, 'blessed be the
day I took you home ! a man never loses what he
does for a brave man.'

So Sir Walter de Lacy and Sir Arnold de Lys
were led prisoners to the castle ; but in a short space,
by the falsehood of a servant, they escaped and got
safely away.

And Fulk, who was called Fulk the Brown, be-
cause he had so dark a skin, was married to Hawyse,
and Sir Joce made him heir of half his land.

But Sir Walter de Lacy pondered how he might
be revenged ; and though the lords of England made
him and Sir Joce swear to live in peace, he gathered
many men together from Ireland and other places,
and came upon Sir Joce's castle of Dynan, when Sir
Joce and Fulk were away, and by treachery obtained
entrance into it ; and they burnt the town and made
a great slaughter of the people, young and old, and
set up his banner on the Pendover Tower.

Now when the news came to Sir Joce, he gathered
together an army of seven thousand men, and he, and
Sir Guarin, and Fulk the Brown, came and laid siege

FUL A' FITZ n 'A RIXE. 1 03

to the castle ; but it was strong and the siege lasted
long, and Sir Guarin fell ill. So he returned to
Alberbury with only one squire, and there he died.
Fulk the Brown, when his father was dead, went to
Alberbury and took homage of his people, and then
returned to Sir Joce.

Hozo Fulk FitzWavinc lost WJiittiiigion.

Sir Walter de Lacy, fearing that the war would go
against him, sent to the Prince of Wales for aid, and
he came with an army of twenty thousand Welsh,
Scotch, and Irish, burning the towns and plundering
the people. Sir Joce and Fulk, though they fought
like lions, were overcome, and Sir Joce was wounded
and taken prisoner. When Fulk saw him led away,
he was mad with anger, but he was sore wounded
himself and could not help, so he made his escape
from the battle ; but his enemies seized his lands and
took his constable prisoner.

Now at that time King IIenr\- was sojourning at
Gloucester, and Fulk, all wounded as he was, made
his way to him, and told him all that had befallen
him. i\nd the King was ver\- furicnis and swore he
would be avenged on all such malefactors. He
showed himself also gracious to Fulk, and had his
Avounds healed, and sent for his mother, IMelette, and
his wife, Hawyse, and they dwelt in the Queen's
chambers. And at this time a little son was born to
him, and his name also was called Fulk.

Then the King sent a letter to Sir Walter de Lacy

104 FULK FITZWARINE.

and commanded him, as he valued life and limb, to
deliver up Sir Joce whom he held in prison wrong-
fully ; and Sir Walter was afraid, and entreated Sir
Joce and his knights honourably, and set them free.
So he came to the King, and he promised him law
and right ; and then he went to Lambourne, and
soon after died and was buried there.

And the King made Fulk constable of his army,
and bade him take men and drive the Welshmen out
of the march, for Jervard Droyndoun, the prince, had
driven out all the barons, and had taken the march
from Chester to Worcester. Sir Fulk fought a battle
with him at Hereford, and won the field ; but the
war lasted for four years, until, at the request of the
King of France, a love-day was set between the King
and Jervard the prince, and they made accord. And
the Prince gave up the lands that he had conquered,
but for no money would he yield Whittington ; so
King Henry gave to Sir Fulk instead Alveston and
the honours appertaining to it, and Whittington was
given to Roger de Powis. Thus Sir Fulk was disin-
herited of W^hittington, and Sir Walter de Lacy holds
wrongfully the castle of Dynan ; but the town was
rebuilt and named Ludlow.

Hoiv Fulk the Younger angered Prince John, and hozu
he J zi'hen he became king, refused Fidk justice.

Sir Fulk and Hawyse lived with the King many
years, and they had five sons, — Fulk, William, Philip
the Red, John, and Alan. King Henry had four sons.

FULK FITZ n 'ARIXE. 1 05

— Henry, Richard Coeur de Lion, Geoffrey, who was
Count of Little Britain, and John, who was all his life
wicked, and quarrelsome, and envious. Young Fulk
was brought up with the King's four sons, and was
much loved by all of them except John, with whom
he quarrelled often. And it happened one day that
John and Fulk were all alone in a room, playing at
chess. John took the chess-board and struck Fulk a
great blow. I'\ilk, finding himself hurt, raised his
foot and gave John such a kick in his stomach that
his head flew against the wall, and he fell down and
fainted. Fulk was much afraid, ])ut he was glad that
there was no one else in the room, and he rubbed
John's cars and recovered him from his faint. The
Prince went to the King and made a great complaint,
but the King only answered,' Hold your tongue! you
are always quarrelling. If Fulk did anything to you,
you certainly deserved it.' And he sent for his master
and bade him give him a good beating for complaining.
But John kept his anger in his heart, and could never
forgive Fulk.

And when King Henry was dead, Fulk the Brown,
F^itzWarinc, found favour with King Richard, and he
made all his sons knights. Then young Fulk and his
brothers went over the seas and travelled in many
lands, and whenever they heard of tournament or
jousts, they went to the place and won everywhere
honour and fame. But Fulk the Brown fell sick and
died, and King Richard sent letters to young Fulk to
come back to England and receive his lands. And
when King Richard went to the Holy Land he gave

1 06 FULK FITZ WA NINE.

the march into the care of Sir Fulk, and Sir Fulk was
in high honour all the days of Richard.

But when King Richard was dead, John was
crowned king ; and he came to visit the march, and
sojourned at Castle Baldwin, which is now called
Montgomery. And when Moris, the son of Roger de
Powis, Lord of Whittington, heard that the King was
there, he sent him a fine horse and a white gerfalcon.
And the King made him of his council, and Keeper of
the ]\Iarch. Then Moris prayed the King to confirm
to him the honour of Whittington. The King knew
well that it belonged rightfully to Sir Fulk, but he
remembered the blow that Fulk had given him, so he
gave the land to Moris and sealed the writing with
his seal. And Moris promised to give him a hundred
pounds of silver.

But a knight went and told Fulk what the King
had done ; and he and his four brothers came to the
King and prayed that he would give them their lands,
and they would pay him a hundred pounds. But the
King answered, that he would hold to his word to Sir
Moris, whoever might be offended. Then Sir Moris
said to Sir Fulk, ' Sir Knight, you are a fool if you
challenge my lands. If you say you have a right to
Whittington, you lie ; and I would prove it on your
body, if we were not in the King's presence ! ' Upon
that. Sir William, Fulk's brother, without another
word, rushed forward and struck Sir Moris a blow in
his face with his fist. But the knights around inter-
fered, and no more harm was done.

Then Sir Fulk turned to the King and said, ' Sir

Fl 'LK FITZ M \A RIXE. 107

King, you are my liege lord, and I am bound to you
by fealty, as long as I am in your service, and hold
my lands from you, and you ought to maintain my
right ; but you fail me in right and in common law.
And it is no good king who denies to his tenant the
law in his court ; and, therefore, I give )'ou back my
homacje.' And he turned and went awav.

Then he and his brothers, and his cousin Baldwin
de Hodnet, armed themselves ; and when they were
about half a league from the town, there came after
them fifteen knights well armed, and commanded
them to return, saying that the}* had promised to
bring the King their heads. 'Fair sirs,' said Sir Fulk,
* you were fools to promise to give what }'ou cannot
get.' And they fought together; and four of the King's
knights were killed, and all the others grievously
wounded, except one who took to flight. And became
and told the King ; and when the King saw how his
knights werewounded he swore he would revenge them.

Sir Fulk went to Alberbur}-, and told his mother,
Dame Ilawyse, what had happened. And she gave
him treasure ; and he and his brothers went over the
seas to Little Britain and sojourned there. But King
John took all his lands, and did great injur}' to all his
people.

IIoikJ Sir Fulk and his hrotJiers hid in the zuoods, and
hozu the King appointed a hundred knigJits to take
them.

Then, after a time, Sir Fulk and his brothers, and
his cousins Baldwin de Hodnet and Aldulf de Bracy.

1 08 FULK FITZ WARINE.

came back secretly to England. And they travelled
at night, and by day hid themselves in the woods.
But when they came to Alberbury, the people told
them that their mother was dead ; and Sir Fulk was
much grieved, and prayed piteously for her soul.

And he and his people went to a forest called
Babbing, near Whittington, to spy Moris Fitz- Roger.
But a servant of Sir Moris saw them and told his
master. Then Sir Moris armed himself and took his
shield, which was green, with two boars or, the bor-
dure was silver, with fleurs-de-lys in azure. And he had
with him thirty men, well mounted, and five hundred
on foot. But when Fulk saw him, he came out of the
forest in haste, and a fierce fight began. And many
were killed, and Sir Moris was wounded in the
shoulder. At last Sir Moris fled towards the castle,
and Fulk pursued him, and aimed a blow at his
helmet, but it fell on the crupper of his horse ; and
Sir Fulk himself was wounded in the leg by an arrow
from the castle. So Sir Moris escaped into the
castle, and sent word to the King that Sir Fulk was
returned to England.

Then the King appointed a hundred knights to
go with their men through the land of England, and
bring Sir Fulk to him alive or dead ; and the King
promised them great rewards of lands and money.
So the knights rode about England; but when they
heard he was in a place, they rode another way, for
some of them loved him much, and others feared him
for his strength and boldness.

Sir Fulk and his company came to the Forest of

FULK FITZWARINL. IC9

Bradcnc ; and there came by ten merchants with rich
cloths, furs, and gloves for the King and Queen of
England, and there were with them twenty-four
soldiers to guard the King's treasure. When Fulk
saw them, he sent his brother John to them to de-
mand who they were and whence they came. But
one of them demanded fiercely who he was that he
should ask such a question. Then John asked them
if they would come quietly to speak to his lord, for if
they would not, he would make them. Upon that,
one of the soldiers struck him a blow with his sword ;
but John felled him to the ground. Then Sir Fulk
and his men came up and assailed the merchants.
They defended themselves vigorously, but at last they
were taken and carried into the forest. Then they
told Sir Fulk that they were the King's merchants ;
at which Sir Fulk was very glad. And he said,
* Master Merchants, if you lose these goods who will
suffer loss } Tell me truly.'

*Sir,' they answered; * if we lose them by our
cowardice or carelessness, we should suffer ; but if we
lose them by peril of sea or force of men, the loss
would be the King's.'

When Sir Fulk heard chat, he made them measure
off the rich cloth and furs on his lance ; and clothed
all those that were with him, little and great, and
ever}' one had good measure. When evening was
come, and the merchants had supped, he sent them
away, and bade them carry to the King Fulk Fitz-
Warine's salutations, and his thanks for his good
cloths. Now Sir Fulk, all the time he was outlawed,

FULK FITZWARINE.

never did harm to any one but the King and his
knights.

And when the King heard from the merchants
and soldiers what had happened to them, he was mad
with rage. And he sent a proclamation through his
kingdom that whosoever would bring him Fulk, alive or
dead, he would give him a thousand pounds of silver
and all the lands that belonged to Fulk in England.

Then Fulk went into the forest of Kent, and,
leaving his knights in the forest, went riding alone on
the highroad ; and he met a messenger coming along
singing, with a chaplet of red roses on his head. And
Sir Fulk asked to give him the chaplet, and he would
pay him double what it was worth. But the man
answered, ' Sir, he must be very niggardly of his goods
who will not give a chaplet of roses to a knight.' So
he gave the chaplet to Fulk, and Sir Fulk gave him
twenty sous for it.

Now the man knew him well, for he had often
seen him ; and he came to Canterbury, and met there
the hundred knights who had sought Fulk through
England. And he asked them what they would give
him if he led them to the place where he was. And
they promised so much that he told them how he had
met him and given him the chaplet. Then the hun-
dred knights summoned all the knights, and squires,
and soldiers, and raised the country, and besieged the
forest ; and they sent people to start the game, as if
they had been hunting, and people with horns to tell
them when Sir Fulk and his companions came out of
the forest.

FULK FITZWARINE.

And when Sir Fulk heard the sound of a bugle he
divined what had happened, and he, and his brothers,
and cousins, and all his men, mounted and issued
from the forest ; and they came upon the hundred
knights, and charged them, and killed some of them,
and passed through them. But when he saw that
behind them were knights, and squires, and burgesses,
and people without number, he knew that he was not
able to fight them all, and they returned to the forest;
but John was wounded in the head. The people
pursued them a long way, but at last they escaped;
and, leaving their horses behind them, fled on foot to
an abbey that was near. The porter seeing them ran
to lock the gates; but Alan, who was very tall, leaped
over the walls, and seizing the porter, took the keys
from him, and let the others in.

Then Fulk put on the habit of an old monk, and
took a great stick in his hand and went out, and
made them shut the gate after him. He went, lean-
ing on his staff and limping as if he were very lame.
And the knights, and the soldiers, and a great crowd
of people, overtook him.

And a knight cried to him, ' CJld monk ! have you
seen any armed knights pass this way?'

* Yes, sir, and may they be punished for the evil
they have done ! '

* Why ? What have they done to you ? '

* Sir,' he said, ' I am old and infirm, and can no
longer help myself; and there came seven on horses,
and fifteen on foot, and because I could not clear the
road quickly, they made their horses ride over me.'

FULK FITZIVARINE.

' You shall be soon avenged,' said he. And they
rode on in haste to overtake Fulk, and were soon a
league from the abbey.

After they were gone, came Sir Girard de Malfee
and his companions, well mounted on costly horses,
for they had come from abroad. And Sir Girard
looked on him and said, mockingly,' Here is a fine
fat monk, big enough to hold two gallons ! ' Now
Fulk's brothers were watching inside the gate. And
Fulk, without a word, raised his stick and struck Sir
Girard behind the ear and he fell to the ground
stunned. And Fulk's brothers, rushing out of the
gate, took all the knights prisoners, and bound them
in the porter's lodge, and took their armour and their
horses, and never ceased riding till they came to
Huggeford. And there they stayed till John was
healed of his wound.

How Sir Fulk married Davie Maude de Caus, and
sleiv a knight named Sir Piers de Bruville.

Now while they were there, there came to them
a messenger, who had been seeking them a long
time, with salutations from Hubert, archbishop of
Canterbury, who prayed him to come in haste to
speak with him. So Sir Fulk and his men returned
to the forest near Canterbury ; and he and his brother
William disguised themselves as merchants, and came
to the Archbishop, and he said to them, ' Fair sons,
you are very welcome. You know that Sir Theobald
Butler, my brother, had married Dame Maude de

FVLK FITZIVARIXE, 1 1 ^

Caus, a very rich lady, and the most beautiful in
England. And now that he is dead, King John is
trying to seize her and carry her away ; and I have
sent for you, Sir Fulk, to pray you to take her to
wife.' And Sir Fulk saw her, and knew that she was
fair and good, and had in Ireland many castles and
lands, and with the assent of his brother William he
was married to Dame Maude de Caus ; and he stayed
there two days, and then leaving his wife in the care
of the Archbishop, he returned to the wood, and told
his companions ; and they asked him where the fine
castle was to which he would take his wife, and made
great game of him.

Now there was living in the marches of Scotland
a knight nanicd Robert Fitz-Sampson, who was rich,
and would often receive Sir Fulk and give him lodg
ing. And his wife, Dame Amable, was a very cour-
teous lady. And in the same country was a knight,
Piers de Bruville, who used to assemble the wild
youths and ribald people and kill and rob the mer-
chants and others. And he gave out that he was
Fulk FitzWarine ; so that Fulk and his companions
had much blame for things that they had not done.
Now Fulk, who could never stay long in one place,
came by night to the house of Sir Robert Fitz-
Sampson. And he made his companions wait out-
side, but seeing a great light, he went boldly into the
hall, and Sir Piers de Bruville and his knights were
sitting at supper. But Sir Robert Fitz-Sampson and
his good lady and his servants were lying on the
ground bound. Sir Piers and his knights wore masks,

I

1 14 FVLK FITZ WARINE.

but those who served him bent the knee to him and
called him Sir Fulk. And the lady cried piteously,
* Ha ! Sir Fulk, I have never done you any harm, but
have always loved you.' Then Sir Fulk, when he
heard that, could be silent no longer, but, all alone as
he was, stepped forward, with his sword drawn in his
hand, and swearing that if any one dared to move he
would cut him into little pieces, demanded which of
them called himself Fulk. ' Sir,' said Piers, ' I am a
knight, and am called Fulk.' ' Then, Sir Fulk,' he
answered, 'get up at once and bind all your com-
panions, or you shall be the first to lose your head.'
And Piers, terrified at the menace, rose and unbound
the lords, lady, and all the servants of the house, and
bound his companions. Then Sir Fulk made him
cut off all their heads, and when that was done he
himself cut off the head of Sir Piers, saying, ' I will
pay you that you have deserved for bringing upon
me the charge of robbery.'

Then Sir Fulk left the marches of Scotland, and
returned to a forest near Alberbury ; for though he
was so bold, he was too wise to remain long in one
place, for the King's people were ever in pursuit of
him, and sometimes, to deceive them, he would have
his horses shod with their shoes reversed. One of
Sir Fulk's men was a clever minstrel and juggler, and
his name was John de Rampaigne ; and Sir Fulk
sent him to Whittington to spy upon Moris P^'tz-
Roger. So he took a certain herb, and crushed it,
and put it in his mouth, and his face began to swell,
and became so discoloured that his companions even

FUL K FITZ WARINE. 1 1 5

hardly knew him. Then he dressed himself in poor
clothes, and took his box of juggler's tools and a
great stick, and went to Whittington, and told the
porter he was a juggler. Then the porter took him
in to Sir Moris Fitz-Roger, and Moris asked him of
what country he was. And he answered that he was
born in the march of Scotland. Then Sir i\Ioris asked
what news he brought ; and he answered that he had
none, except that Sir Fulk FitzWarinc had been killed
while robbing the house of Sir Robert Fitz-Sampson.

' Ls that true ?' cried Sir Moris.

'Certainly,' he replied; 'all the people of the
country say so.'

* Minstrel,' answered he, 'for your news I will give
you this cup of fine silver.'

So the minstrel took the cup and gave him many
thanks.

Now John was an ugly, clumsy fellow, and the
household servants mocked him, and pulled his hair,
and treated him roughly. But he, enraged, struck
one of them on the head with his stick, and knocked
out his brains. Then Sir Moris swore that, but for
the news he had brought, he would have had his head
cut off. So the juggler made haste to escape ; and he
returned to Sir Fulk, and told him that he had heard
say in the house that Sir Moris and his fifteen knights
and attendants were going the next day to the castle
of Shrewsbury, for he was keeper of the march.

Then Sir Fulk was glad, and the next morning
he and his companions armed themselves and rode
out of the forest. And Sir ]\Ioris and his knights

1 1 6 FULK FITZ WA RINE.

came riding on the way to Shrewsbury, and he looked
towards the pass of Nesse ; and he saw coming a
man with a shield quartered with gules and indented
argent, and by the arms he knew it was Fulk. ' Now
know I,' said Sir Moris, ' that jugglers are liars, for
there is Fulk.' But Moris and his companions were
bold knights, and they attacked Sir Fulk and his
men, calling them thiev^es, and crying that their heads
should be on the high tower of Shrewsbury before the
evening. But Sir Fulk and his men defended them-
selves well, and Sir Moris and his fifteen knights and
his companions were slain ; so Sir Fulk had so many
fewer enemies.

Hozv Sir Fulk went to the Prince of Wales.

Then Sir Fulk passed ov^er to Rhuddlan to Sir
Lewis, Prince of Wales, for the Prince had been
brought up with Sir Fulk at King Henry's court.
And the Prince received him gladly, and asked him
how he and the King were accorded. ' Not at all,
sir,' answered Fulk. ' I cannot have peace for any-
thing, and therefore I have come to you.' ' Certainly,'
said the Prince, ' I will give you my peace. The
King of England will have peace neither with you,
nor me, nor any one else.' So Sir Fulk thanked
him ; and then he told him that Sir Moris Fitz-Roger
was dead, for he had killed him. Now Sir Moris was
the Prince's cousin, and he was much enraged, and
said if he had not given him his peace he would have
had him drawn and hanged. But the Princess Joan

FULK FITZWARINE, it;

came and made accord between them, and they kissed
each other.

Prince Lewis ordered Sir Fulk to march against
his enemy Gwenwynwyn, and to ravage his land ; but
Sir Fulk knew that it was the Prince who was to
blame, and he reasoned with him, and the Prince
listened to him, and made peace with Gwenwynwyn.

Then news came to King John at \\'inchestcr that
Sir Fulk had killed Sir Moris, and was now living
with Prince Lewis, who had married Joan of Fng-
land. lie became very pensive, and fell into a long
silence. Then he said, * I la, St. Mary ! I am King of
England, Duke of Anjou and Normandy, and Lord
of all Ireland, and \-et I cannot find any one who will
avenge me of the damage and shame that Fulk has
done me. But I will not fail to avenge myself of the
Prince.' So he summoned to Shrewsbury all his
earls and barons and knights.

And Prince Lewis was warned that the King was
preparing for war, and he called Sir Fulk and tokl
him. Then Sir Fulk assembled an army of thirty
thousand men at Castle Balaham in Pentlyn, and
Gwenwynwyn and his men came too. Sir Fulk was
skilful in war, and knew all the passes by which King
John could enter. And there was a v^ery narrow pass
called the Ford of Gymele, shut in by woods and
marshes, so that it could only be traversed by the
high-road. Then Fulk and Gwenwynwyn dug a
deep and wide ditch across the highway, and filled it
with water, and made a palisade behind it. The
ditch may still be seen.

H8 FULK FITZWARINE,

So King John and his army came to the place
and found ten thousand knights guarding the passage.
But Fulk and his companions, with Gwenwynwyn
and several other knights, had crossed by a secret
path, and were on the same side as the King. And a
fierce skirmish began, Fulk and his men fighting like
lions, and killing many of the King's knights, and
being often dismounted themselves. But Gwenwyn-
wyn was sore wounded in the head ; so Fulk and his
men returned by the secret path and defended the
ditch, and the fight lasted, with great loss to the
King, until evening, when he returned to Shrewsbury.

Then the Prince gave back to Sir Fulk his in-
heritance of Whittington, and the knight was very
glad, and had it repaired. And he gave a great
feast because he had a new entry into his land, and
there came to him seven hundred knights from Wales
and many others. But the King sent against him Sir
Henry de Audley and Sir John Lestrange, whose
castle had been destroyed by Prince Lewis ; and they
came with ten thousand knights, killing all they met,
both men and women, and robbing the country. So
Sir Fulk and his friends went out to meet them.
And when Sir John saw Sir Fulk he spurred his
horse and charged Sir Fulk with his lance so fiercely
that it flew into little pieces. But Sir Fulk struck
Sir John through his helmet, so that he kept the
mark in his face all his life, and he fell flat on the
ground. But he was a valiant man, and sprang to
his feet, and cried aloud, 'Now, lords, all at Fulk!'
And Fulk answered proudly/ Right! and Fulk at all!*

FULK FITZ \VA RINE. 1 19

And the battle grew fierce, and Sir Fulk and his
men killed many knights, but Alan and Philip Fitz-
Warine were wounded. And when Sir Fulk saw
that, in his rage he pushed into the thick of the fight.
But he had but seven hundred knights, and the others
were ten thousand and more ; so he was forced to
return to Whittington. Sir Audulf de Bracy was dis-
mounted, and, though he defended himself bravely,
he was at last taken and led prisoner to Shrewsbury.
Sir Henry and Sir John were proud of their prize,
and they brought him to the King, who swore that
he would have him drawn and hanged, because he
was a traitor and a thief But to that Sir Audulf
replied that he was no traitor, nor any of his lineage.

Of Sir Audulf de Bracy and John dc Ranipaigiic.

Now Sir Fulk was at Whittington with his bro-
thers and other wounded knights, but when he heard
that Sir Audulf could not be found he made great
lamentation. Then came John de Rampaigne and
said, ' Leave this lamentation ; if God please, I will
bring you good news of him to-morrow.' Now he
was skilled in the tabor and harp, and he dressed
himself richly, as if he had been a baron. And he
dyed his hair and all his body as black as jet, so that
there was nothing white about his body but his teeth.
And he hung a tabor round his neck, and mounted a
fine palfrey, and rode through the town of Shrews-
bury to the gate of the castle. And he came to the
King, and knelt before him, and saluted him. The

FULK FITZWARINE.

King asked him whence he came. * Sir,' he an-
swered/ I am an Ethiopian minstrel, born in Ethiopia.'

' Then,' said the King, ' are all the people of your
land of your colour ?'

' Yea, my lord ; both man and woman.'

' And what do they say of me in those strange
lands V

' Sir,' he answered, * you are the most renowned
king in all Christendom ; and because of your renown
have I come to see you.'

' Welcome, fair sir,' answered the King.

Then John said he was more renowned for wicked-
ness than goodness, but that the King did not hear.

So that day John showed his minstrelsy, and
played before the King on his tabor and other instru-
ments. And when the King was gone to bed Sir
Henry de Audley sent for the black minstrel, and
brought him to his chamber ; and he played before
him. And when Sir Henry had drunk well, he said to
his servant, ' Go and fetch Sir Audulf de Bracy, whom
the King will have killed to-morrow. Let him have
a good night before his death.' So he was brought
into the room, and they talked and played. Then
John began a song that Sir Audulf used to sing, and
he raised his head and looked him in the face, and,
with great trouble, recognised him.

Then Sir Henry called for wine, and John was very
serviceable, and sprang to his feet, and handed the cup
before any one else could reach it. But John put a
powder in the cup, and no one saw him, for he was a
good juggler, and all who drank became sleepy. And

FULK FITZWARIXE.

when they were all asleep John took one of the King's
fools, and put him between the two knights who were
to guard Sir Audulf Then Sir Audulf and John took
all the linen and towels in the room, and escaped by
a window, and went away to Whittington, which was
twelve leagues from Shrewsbury. And when Fulk
rose early in the morning, for he could sleep little, he
looked towards Shrewsbury and saw Sir Audulf and
John coming. He ran to them and kissed them, and
Sir Audulf told them of John's doings, and how they
had escaped.

Now when the King heard that Sir Fulk had
married Dame Maude de Caus, he did great damage
to the Archbishop and the lady, and she took refuge
in the minster. There she bore a little daughter, and
the Archbishop baptized her Ilawyse. She became
afterwards lady of Wem. Then Fulk and his com-
panions came by night to Cantcrbur\', and tcjok his
wife to Muggeford, and afterwards she dwelt secretly
at Alberbury. And when she found she was not safe
there she fled to the church of Our Lady at Shrews-
bur}-, and there she bore another daughter, who was
baptized Joan, and who was afterwards married to Sir
Henry de Pembridge. Afterwards Dame Maude had
a son, who was born on a mountain in Wales, and was
baptized by the name of John in a stream which
comes out of the Maiden's Spring. But when the
child was confirmed by the Bishop he was named Fulk.

Now when the King saw he could not prevail
against Fulk, he wrote a letter to Prince Lewis, and
said he would give him all the lands that his ancestors

FULK FITZWARINE.

had ever taken if he would give him up the body of
Fulk. But it was told Fulk what the King had said,
and he sent away Dame Maude secretly to the care
of the Bishop of Canterbury. And he and his bro-
thers armed themselves and went to Prince Lewis,
and told him he had had a letter and had not showed
it to them. The Prince prayed him to stay, for he
had not thought to betray him, but Fulk answered,
* Sir, I believe you well, but I will no longer stay.' So
he took leave of him, and they travelled night and
day and came to Dover and took ship, and arrived at
Whitsand.

How Sir Fulk and his brotJiers went over the sea to
the King of Finance.

Then they came to Paris, and King Philip was
gone to the fields to watch his knights jousting. And
when the Frenchmen saw the English knights stand
by, one of them, Sir Druz de Montbener, sent to chal-
lenge Sir Fulk to joust with him. And Sir Fulk and
his knights armed themselves and mounted their
horses, and John de Rampaigne struck the tabor at
the entry of the lists until the hills and valleys re-
sounded and the horses danced with glee. When the
King saw Sir Fulk in arms, he said to Sir Druz de
Montbener, ' Think well what you do, for I perceive
well this English knight is very valiant' * Sire,' he
answered, 'there is not a knight on earth whom I
dare not encounter on horse or on foot, body to body.'
So Sir Fulk and Sir Druz spurred their horses, and

FULK FITZWARINE. 123

met, and Sir Fulk's lance pierced through the shield,
and the good hauberk, to his shoulder, and then flew
to pieces, and Sir Druz fell to the ground. And Sir
Fulk took Sir Druz's horse, and led it away, but he
sent it back as a present to Sir Druz. Then came a
French knight to avenge Sir Druz, and pierced Sir
Fulk's shield, but Sir Fulk struck him on the helmet
so that he left his saddle, whether he would or not.

Then the King rode up to Sir Fulk and bade him
welcome, and prayed him to stay with him. And
Fulk won everywhere much praise, and was ever the
first where boldness, chivalry, prowess, or goodness,
were to be found. So he dwelt with the King of
France, but he told him not who he was, but called
himself Amis du Bois. But when the King of Eng-
land heard that Sir Fulk was dwelling with the King
of France, he sent to pray the King that he would
send away his mortal enemy, Fulk FitzWarine. Then
the King of France replied that he had no such knight
in his retinue. But Fulk came to the King and prayed
for leave to depart. Then the King understood that
he was Fulk FitzWarine, and he said, * Stay with me,
and I will give you richer lands than you ever had in
England.'

' But,' answered Fulk, ' he is not worthy to receive
lands by gift that cannot hold those that came to him
by heritage.'

So he took leave of him, and came to the sea, and
saw the ships afloat, and the weather was fine. And
he called a sailor to him who seemed hardy and bold,
and said, ' Is that ship yours?'

124 FULK FITZWARINE.

* Yes, sir/ answered he.

'What is your name ?' and he said, * Mador, of the
Mount of Russia, where I was born.'

* Mador,' said Fulk, ' do you know your business
well, and can you take people by sea into various
regions ? ' and he answered, ' There is no land in
Christendom which I do not know well.'

'Truly,' said Fulk, 'you have a perilous trade.
Tell me by what death did your father die V

Mador answered, ' He was drowned at sea.'

' And your grandfather V

' He, too.'

'And your great-grandfather V

' In the same way, and all my relations that I
know of, to the fourth degree.'

' Then,' said Fulk, ' you are foolhardy to dare to
go to sea.'

' Why, sir,' he answered, ' everyone dies the death
to which he is destined ; and, tell me, where did your
father die?'

' In his bed, certainly.'

' And your grandfather and your great-grand-
father?'

' In the same way, all of our lineage, that I know of,
have died in their beds.'

' Then,' said Mador, ' I marvel greatly that you
dare ever go to bed.'

Fulk then prayed Mador to prepare a ship at his
expense, so a ship was made in a forest near the sea,
with all the cordage that appertained to it, and pre-
pared and victualled richly. Then Fulk and his bro-

FULK FITZ WARINE. 1 2 5

thers put to sea, and ran along the coast of England.
And a well-armed ship approached them, and a knight
called to Mador and asked whose ship it was, and he
answered that it was his.

* Nay,' said the knight, ' on the sail are the arms
of Fulk FitzWarine, and he is on board, and this day
I will deliver him to King John.'

But Mador, who was a bold sailor, let his ship sail,
and it struck the other ship in the middle, and the sea
rushed in. But ere the ship foundered many a blow
was struck, and Fulk and his men captured great spoil.

Fulk coasted England a whole year, injuring none
but the King, and then he sailed away and visited
many lands — Gothland, Norway, Denmark, Orkney,
Ireland, and Scandinavia, and saw strange things and
had many perilous ad\-cntures, and fought with many
monsters and wild beasts.

How Sir Fulk took King John prisoner in tJie forest
of Windsor.

Afterwards they sailed back to England, and
landed at Dover, and they heard that King John was
at Windsor. So they started for Windsor, travelling
by night and resting in the woods by day, and they
came to the forest of Windsor. And they heard the
sound of horns, and knew that the King was going
hunting. Then Fulk swore a great oath that nothing
should stop him from avenging himself on the King,
who wrongfully and by force had disinherited him,
and he made his companions stay behind, and went

126 FULK FITZWARINE.

out alone. And as he went he met an old charcoal-
burner, carrying a sieve in his hand, and he had on
black clothes fit for a charcoal-burner. Then Fulk
prayed him to give him his clothes and his sieve, and
he bought them for ten besants, and he sent the
charcoal-burner away, and bade him tell no man.
Then he dressed himself in the clothes and set himself
to arrange the fire with a great iron fork. And while
he was thus busy, there came by the King and three
knights, all on foot. When Fulk saw the King he
threw away his fork, and threw himself humbly on his
knees, and the excellent breeding and carriage of the
charcoal-burner caused great merriment to the King
and his knights.

' Master villain,' said the King, ' have you seen any
stag or doe pass this way ?'

* Yes, my lord ; a little while ago.*

* What sort of beast did you see ?'

' One with long horns, my lord ; and I could lead
you to the place.'

' On, then, master villain, and we will follow.'

' Sir,' said the charcoal-burner, * may I take my
fork with me, for it would be a great loss to me if it
W3re taken V

So the King gave him leave, and Fulk took the
great iron fork with him, and led the King into
another part of the forest. Then he said, ' If it will
please you, my lord, to wait here, I will go and drive
the beast this way.' But he went quickly to his com-
panions, and they all rushed out upon the King and
seized him.

FULK FITZ WAR LYE. 127

Then said Sir Fulk, ' Now, Sir King-, I have you
in my power, and will judge you as you would judge
me if you had taken me.'

But the King, trembling for fear, cried him mercy,
and promised he would give him back all his heritage,
and all that he had taken from him, and would grant
him his peace and love all his life. So Fulk made
him pledge his faith before his knights and then let
him go.

But the King returned to his palace and assembled
his knights, and told them how Fulk had treated him,
but that, as he had made him swear by force, he would
not keep his oath, but bade them arm quickly, and go
take those felons in the park. Then Sir James of
Normandy, a cousin of the King's, begged to have the
advanced guard, * For all these English,' he said, * arc
cousins of Sir Fulk, and traitors to the King, and will
not take him.'

Then answered Randolf, Earl of Chester, ' Saving
the honour of the King, not yours, )'ou lie, for we are
no traitors, though all the great men and the King
himself are cousins of Sir Fulk.' And he would have
struck him with his fist if the earl-marshal had not
been there. Then Sir James of Normandy and his fif-
teen knights armed themselves in white armour, and
mounted their white horses, and rode out in haste.

But Sir Fulk heard of these doings, for John de
Rampaigne had spied out the matter, and he and his
men went out to meet them, and killed many of them,
and took Sir James prisoner. Then they armed them-
selves in the Normans' white armour, and mounted

128 FULK FITZ WARINE.

their white horses, for their own horses were tired, and
they armed Sir James in Sir Fulk's armour, and bound
his mouth so that he could not speak, and put his hel-
met on his head, and rode to the King. And they pre-
sented Sir James prisoner to the King, saying they
had taken Sir Fulk, but they must ride away quickly
and pursue the other FitzWarines. So the King dis-
mounted from his horse, and gave it to Sir Fulk, and
they rode away into the wood and washed and bound
their wounds, for William was sore wounded, and they
feared he would die.

Then the King commanded them to hang Sir
Fulk ; but when they took off his helmet, they found
it was not Sir Fulk, but Sir James of Normandy.
And when the King perceived that he had been de-
ceived, he, with his earls and barons, followed the trace
of the horses' feet and came to the place where Sir
Fulk was making lamentation over his wounded
brother. Then William begged that his brother
would cut off his head and not let him fall into the
hands of his enemies ; but Fulk would not. And
Randolf, Earl of Chester, came first to the spot, and
sending back his men, went forward by himself and
prayed Sir Fulk to yield himself to the King, and he
would answer for him for life and limb. But Sir Fulk
would not consent, but bade him go back to the King
and do his duty in fighting against him ; only he
prayed him when his brother was dead, to care for his
burial. Then Randolf returned to his men, and Fulk
stayed weeping and praying by his brother.

Then the attack was made, and the Earl of Chester

FULK FITZ WARINE. 1 29

fought bravely, and Fulk and his men defended them-
selves well. But a knight came behind Sir Fulk and
wounded him in the side and thought to have killed
him. And Fulk turned, and holding his sword in both
hands, struck him a blow on his left shoulder and cut
down to his heart, so he fell dead ; but the blood
poured from Fulk's wound, and he fell fainting on his
horse's neck, and his sword dropped from his hand.
Then the brothers lamented sore, and his brother
John sprang up behind him on his horse and held him
up, and they all made haste to flee. The King and
his men pursued, but could not overtake them. They
fled all that night, and the next morning came to
the sea and to Mador with the ship. Then Fulk
awoke and asked where he was ; and they made him
a bed in the ship, and John de Rampaigne dressed
his wounds.

Hoiu Sir William FitzWarinc ivas rescued.

After the battle was over the Earl of Chester
found William FitzWarine nigh death, and had him
carried to an abbey to be doctored. But the matter
was told the King, and he was much enraged against
Earl Randolf, and commanded that William should
be brought in a litter to Windsor and thrown into a
deep dungeon. And the ship sailed away to Spain,
and Fulk's wound healed ; and they went to the land
of Barbary, and made themselves famous everywhere
by their prowess and knightly deeds.

Then they returned to England laden with riches

K

130 FULK FITZIVARINE.

that the King of Barbary had given them. And
they desired much to learn whether their brother
WiUiam was in hfe or no. So John de Rampaigne
disguised himself as a merchant, and came to London,
and lodged in the house of the Mayor. Then he gave
many fair gifts to the household, and won favour with
the Mayor, and prayed him to obtain leave from the
King for his ship to come to shore. And he spoke
ever in corrupt Latin, but the Mayor understood him
well. And he brought him to the King at West-
minster, and the King asked him who he was and
whence he came. ' Sir,' said he, * I am a Greek mer-
chant, and have been in Babylon, Alexandria, and
Lidia the Greater, and my ship is laden with rich
cloths, pearls, and horses, and other valuable things.'
So the King gave him leave to bring his ship to
shore, and he commanded him to stay and eat ; so
the Mayor and the merchant ate together before the
King. While they were eating there cam.e in two
sergeants-at-mace, and brought in a tall knight with
a long, black beard, and made him sit down in the
hall, and brought him food. Then the merchant
asked the Mayor who he was, and he told him his
name was William FitzWarine ; and he recounted to
him the doings of him and his brothers. Then John
was very glad to see he was still in life ; and he went
back to Sir Fulk and told him of his brother, and
they brought the ship as near the city as they could.

The next day the merchant brought a white pal-
frey, the like of which could not be found in the
kingdom, and presented it to King John. And he

FULK FITZWARIXE.

gave so larc^cly to all that he became much beloved,
and could do at court whatever he pleased.

Then one day he and his companions armed them
selves, and then put on their mariners' gowns, and
came thus to Westminster ; and as they entered they
met William FitzW^arine going with his guard to-
wards the prison. And they fell suddenly on his
guard, and carried him away by force to their boat,
which was floatini^ near. The guard called for help ;
but the merchants defended themselves well, and
escaped to their ship and sailed away.

lloij the King made peace with Sir Fulk and gave
Jiiui back his lands, and hoiu Sir Fulk died and
icas buried.

And the)' came to Little ] Britain, and sta}-ed v/ith
their cousins there for half-a-year. But Fulk longed
ever to be in England. So he returned, and they
went to the New Forest ; and as they wandered there
the\- encountered the King pursuing a wild boar.
And they seized him and six of his knights, and
carried him away to their galley. There they had
many words ; but at last the King agreed to pardon
them, and to give them back all their heritage, and
that their peace should be cried through all England.
And he left his six knights with them as hostages.

Then he went to Westminster and summoned all
his earls, and barons, and clergy, and told them that
he had granted his peace to Fulk FitzWarine, his
brothers, and adherents, and had given them their

132 - FULK FITZWARINE,

heritage ; and he commanded that they should be
honourably received throughout the realm. When
the Archbishop Hubert heard that, he was glad, and
he sent letters to Fulk, and to the Earl of Gloucester,
and Earl Randolf, and to Hugh, earl-marshal, to
come to him at Canterbury ; and when they were
come they agreed that Fulk and his brothers should
go at once to the King. So Fulk and his brothers,
with the three earls, put on as rich attire as they
could, and rode through London to the King at
Westminster, and knelt before him, and yielded them«
selves to him. And the King received them gra-
ciously, and they dwelt with him a whole month.
Then Fulk went and dwelt with the Earl Marshal,
and he gave him Ashdown and Wantage ; and Fulk
made at Wantage a fair and a market town.

Then he took leave of the Earl Marshal and went
to the Earl of Chester, who was arming his men to
defend his rights in Ireland ; and Fulk went with
him and fought for him, and the Earl subdued all his
lands.

So Fulk came back to Whittington, and Dame
Maude and his children rejoiced greatly to see him.
And he returned with great riches, and gave largely
to his soldiers and friends, and maintained himself in
great honour. And he was very hospitable, and
turned the high-road through his hall at Alveston,
that none might pass without meat and lodging.
Then he bethought himself of all the blood that he
had shed, and in remission of his sins he founded a
priory near Alberbury, in a wood on the river Severn.

FUL K FITZ I i \4 RIXF.

And not long after, Dame Maude de Caus, his wife,
died, and was buried in this priory.

Then a good while after she was dead Fulk
married a noble, sweet lady, Dame Clarice de Auber-
ville, and they had man\' fair children.

And it came to pass one night that Fulk lay
thinking of his youth and repenting of his sins, and
he saw in the chamber a mar\'cllousl)- bright light,
and heard a voice like thunder saying. * Vassal, God
has granted thee penance, for it is better here than
elsewhere.' And his wife woke and saw the light,
and hid lier face for fear. And when the light was
iTone Fulk was found blind, and he remained blind all
the rest of his days.

And Dame Clarice died, and was buried at the
New Abbey ; and Fulk lived but a }-ear longer, and
died at Whittington, and was buried at New Abbey
with c:reat honour.

CHAPTER VI.

PRINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE.

Now when the barons had been brought to submit to
the King's mercy, and peace had been proclaimed
throughout the kingdom, it came to pass that the
Christians were stirred up against the Saracens, who
long time had held possession of the sanctuary of the
Lord ; and by the diligence of Clement, the Roman
pontiff, great numbers of Christian people assembled,
and the most powerful princes took the holy sign.
Among them was Edward, the King's son, and he set
forth in the summer of the year 1270. Then about
the feast of St. Michael he came to Aigue-mortes,
which lies about eighteen leagues to the west of Mar-
seilles, and there he took ship, and, sailing with a
favourable wind, came on the tenth day to Tunis,
where he was received with great joy by the Christian
kings whom he found there — by Philip, of France,
who had become king by the death of his father, St.
Louis, not long before, by Charles, king of Sicily, and
by the two kings of Navarre and Aragon. All these
kings were assembled from zeal for God and Christ's
people, and to them now came Edward for himself

PK/XCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE. 135

and his father and Hcnr>% the son of the King of Ger-
man}-, in the stead of his father. Now this Henry, on
returninc^ to his father, was slain at Viterbo in the
chapel while he was hearing mass, by Guy de ]\Iont-
fort and Count Rufus, whose daughter Guy had
married, in revenge for the death of Earl Simon.

And when Edward inquired of the kings con-
cerning matters, they replied, ' The prince of this city
and the surrounding country is bound to pay tribute
every year to the King of Sicily, and because for seven
}'ears and more he had ceased to pay it we came upon
him. But he, knowing that he ought justly to pay the
tribute, has already satisfied our demands both for
past and future times.'

To which he answered, ' What ! my good lords,
this manner of dealing becomes us not ; we have as-
sumed the sign of the Lord to go against the enemies
of the Cross of Christ, and not to make agreements
with them. Be it far from us ! for the way is open and
the land smooth and plain before us, that we may go
up to the holy city, Jerusalem.'

But they answered, ' We have already concluded a
peace, and it is not lawful for us to break it, but let us
return into Sicily, and when the winter is past we can
sail for Acre.'

And this counsel displeased him, neither would he
give assent to the peace, nor take any part of the un-
lawful money, but held himself aloof from their royal
feasts. But they, remaining fixed in their determina-
tion, when the wind blew, entered their ships. And
there remained on the shore more than two hundred

136 PRINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE.

men, having no ships to sail in, crying out for fear of
the death that they must shortly suffer if they were
left behind. Then Edward, moved by their tears,
though the others cared not for them, went to the
shore with a boat, and making room in his several
ships, sent them all before him, coming himself with
the last ; so they set sail and departed.

And on the seventh day they came to the kingdom
of Sicily, opposite the city of Trapani, and on the
day before the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, about
noon, they anchored in the high sea, more than a mile
from shore, for they had large ships, each having two
sails, and they were overloaded ; and there came out to
meet them from the port of the city many boats, which
going backwards and forwards two or three times,
carried to land the kings, and princes, and most of the
soldiers, but few of the horses and almost none of the
arms. Then towards evening the sea began to rise,
and there was a great tempest, so that the ships, being
dashed one against another, were broken, and there
were lost more than a hundred and twenty, with the
horses, and arms, and many men, and the unlawful
treasure perished, and was swallowed up in the deep
sea; but all the ships of Edward, in number about
thirteen, were unharmed by the tempest, nor did a
man of them perish, for the Lord saved them because
he would not consent to their evil counsel.

Then, when the morning was come, and the kings
came to the shore, and saw the bodies of the drowned
men and the horses without number, they mourned, for
■out of so many ships and one thousand five hundred

PRINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE. 137

sailors, besides the common people, there remained
none but the sailors of one ship, and that fell out in
this way. There was in that ship a good countess,
who, seeing the peril and fearing it justly, inquired of
the sailors whether they could be saved if they tried
to reach the shore. And they answered, ' What was
the good ? if the men were saved and the ship itself
were lost.' And she answered, ' Care not for the
ship, for if the lives are saved I will give you
double the price of the ship.' So, raising two sails,
the}- ran the ship far on to the land with such
force that it remained fixed, but the sailors, know-
ing that it was to be paid for twice over, they saved
all the people, to the joy of all. Thus the kings
came back to their lands, and their horses and arms
were swallowed up, but Edward wintered there in
his ships, which the Almighty had preserv^ed.

About the middle of Lent, renewing his proposed
journey, Edward went up into his ship, and by Easter,
in fifteen days, came to Acre with a thousand chosen
men ; and he remained there for a whole month to
refresh his men and horses, and to learn the secrets of
the land. After the month, many of the Christians,
to the number of seven thousand, went forthwith him
as far as twenty leagues from Acre, and they took
Nazareth, and killed all whom they found there. But,
returning to Acre, the enemy followed them close to
cut off all whom they could in narrow and enclosed
places ; which when they saw, they turned back upon
them and drove them to flight, killing some of them.,,

About the feast of the Nativity of St. John the

138 PRINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE.

Baptist, Edward, hearing that the Saracens were
gathered together at Kakehowe, which was distant a
short space from Acre, he went forth, and attacking
them at daybreak, slew of them about a thousand
men, the rest taking flight rapidly ; and he carried
away much spoil. Thence he went to the Pilgrims'
Castle, which is situated on the sea, and remained
there with the Christians that night, returning the
next day to Acre.

In the meantime the King of Jerusalem sent to
the great men of Cyprus that they should come with
all speed ; but they would not. But when Edward
sent to them, praying them to come at his request,
forthwith they came with many soldiers, saying that
they owed him obedience, because his ancestors had
formerly ruled their lands, and they ought always
to be faithful to the kings of England. So the
Christians being encouraged, they went forth three
times from the feast of St. Peter ad Vincula to
St. George, and having killed some, and finding no
more to oppose them, they returned joyfully to their
place again. Thus the fame of Edward grew great
among the enemies of the Cross of Christ, and they
feared him greatly, and took counsel together if haply
they might destroy him secretly.

Then that great prince, the Emir of Joppa, sent
letters to him feigning craftily that he wished to be-
come a Christian, and that he could draw many to
him, if they would be held in honour by him and the
other Christians. And the thing pleased Edward,
and he urged him to accomplish his purpose ; and

PKINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE. 139

thus a second, and third, and fourth time he sent the
same lad concerning this matter. But he was a mes
senger brought up by the Old Man of the Mountain,
who neither dreaded death nor feared God. And
when he came the fifth time, the servants of Edward
having seen that he had neither knife nor arms
in his hands or girdle, brought him into Edward's
chamber; and he, bowing low, delivered to him letters
from his lord, as he was wont to do. Now it was
the Thursday in the (Ktave of Pentecost, and about
the ]K)Ur of \'cs[)crs, and on account of the heat
I'Alwcird was sitting on his bed in his tunic only, with
liis head uncovered ; and when the letters were read,
it appeared that on the Saturday of the same week
his lord would come to perform his promise. And
the words pleased lulward, and they talked long con-
cerning it. And the young man, bowing down before
lulward, replied to his (juestions man\- times. Then
putting his hand into his girdle, as if he would bring
out secret letters, he drew out suddenly a poisoned
knife, and struck at luiward as he la}'. The prince,
raising his hand to ward off the blow, was wounded
deeply in the arm ; but seeing him about to strike
again, he threw him with such force that he fell to the
ground, then seizing his hand he drew from it the
knife, so violently that he wounded himself in the
forehead, and plunged it into the assassin's side and
killed him. And his servants, who had been at a
distance, running up found him dead on the ground.
One of them — it was his harper — seizing his stool,
struck him on the head and knocked out his brains ;

I4C PRINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE.

but Edward chid him for striking a dead man. And
the evil tidings spread in the palace, and from the
palace to the people, and they were much distressed.
And the IMaster of the Templars, running to him in
haste, gave him a precious draught to drink, lest the
poison should spread in his body and harm him,
saying reproachfully, ' Did I not warn thee of the
treachery of this people ? But,' he added, 'take com-
fort and fear not, for thou wilt not die from this
poison.'

And his surgeons were called, and they dressed his
wounds ; but after a few days, seeing the flesh turning
black, they began to speak one to another in low
whispers ; and there was no gladness among his
servants.

Then he, perceiving this, said to them, ' Why talk
you low.^ Can you not heal me? Fear not ; but
tell me.'

And one o{ them, an Englishman, answered, 'Thou
canst be healed; but thou must suffer much.'

And he said, ' If I suffer, canst thou certainly pro-
mise me health ? '

And he answered, ' I will promise it certainly, on
pain of death.'

So he answered, 'I commit myself to thee; and do
what thou wilt.'

And he said, ' Are there any of thy captains in
whom thou trustest .'* '

And the Prince named several of those standing
round ; for there were many of his chief men standing
round with his wife.

FRINGE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE. 141

Then said the physician to the two whom he first
named — Lord Edmund and Sir John de Vesci —
* Love you your lord ? '

And they answered, ' Surely ! '

And he said, ' Then take away his wife, and let
not her lord see her until I give you leave.'

And they bore her away, weeping and lamenting ;
and they said. ' Suffer us, lady, for it is better that
thou shouldest weep tears, than that all the land of
England should weep.'

Then the surgeon cut away all the black flesh of
his arm ; and said, ' Take comfort, for I promise thee,
that within fifteen days thou shalt go forth and mount
thy horse.'

And what he had promised came to pass, and
every one marvelled.

And when it was told to the great Sultan that
Edward had survived, he would scarce give credit to
it ; and he sent to him three of his princes to excuse
him, calling his gods to witness that it had not been
done with his knowledge. And they fell flat on the
ground before Edward, and worshipped him. But
Edward said to them in English, * You worship me,
but love me not ; ' but they understood not his words,
for they spoke with him by an interpreter. But he
entertained them honourably, and after two days dis-
missed them in peace.

Then after a time there came mediators to bring
about a truce ; and they agreed to a truce for ten
years, ten weeks, and ten days. So the Christians
returned each one to his place. And the truce was

142 PRINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE.

made after Edward had been in Acre a year and a
half. And about the Feast of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin, he went up into his ship to return.
And he came after seven weeks into Sicily to Tra-
pani, and thence making his way by Palestrina,
through Apulia, he came to Rome ; where he was
honourably received by Pope Gregory.

And when he came into France, and the fame of
his glory spread among the people, many envied him,
and chiefly the valiant Count of Chalons. So he
sent to him, and prayed him that he would come and
joust with him in his land. And he, not wishing to
diminish his glory, though he might have excused
himself because of his pilgrimage, yet would not, but
willingly agreed ; and it was proclaimed publicly that
Edward, with his pilgrims, would hold a tournament
against all comers. So they came together out of all
those parts, on foot and on horse; and many con-
spired together to spoil the English, selling before-
hand their horses and arms, and drinking their
Lebanon wine. And Edward also sent into England
for certain of his great men ; and there came to him
earls and barons, till there were with Edward almost
a thousand armed knights, and many foot-soldiers.
But on the other side there were twice as many, both
men and horses. And they coming together, the
foot-soldiers began to spoil and rob ; and our men
resisted them with slings and bows and killed many,
and drove the rest to the gates of the city ; and many
also fled to the water, and were drowned.
; Then the Count, with fifty chosen knights, came

PRINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE. 143

to Edward's troop and joined battle with him ; anc/
they fought together for a long space with swords,
for they were both vaHant men. And when the
Count saw that he could not prevail with the sword,
he threw his arms round the neck of Edward and
enclosed him tightly. Then Edward said, * Dost thou
think to have my horse?' and he answered, 'I will
have thee and thy horse too.' Then Edward, moved
to anger, raised himself up and struck his horse so that
it rushed forward, and the other, clinging round his
neck, was dragged from his horse, and he flung him
to the ground, so that for a long time he lay senseless ;
and Edward, astonished, gave him air to refresh him.
And seeing their wickedness, and that they had
already killed many of his men, and that they were
fighting not as in a tournament but as in a battle, he
said to his men, ' Let your eye spare no man, but do
to them as they do to you.' So many met their deaths,
and on all sides they raged with their swords. And
the foot-soldiers returning from the slaughter of the
others, when they saw many of their own men fallen,
they entered boldly the battle of the horsemen, and
stabbed the horses and cut the girths of many, so
that their riders fell to the ground. Then Edward
v/ent to the Count, whom his men had lifted up and
set on his horse, and he, being belaboured with blows,
would have surrendered, but Edward at first would
not accept it, but seeing his lack of courage, he bade
him yield himself to a simple knight ; and the rest
fled, and many were left dead in that place.

When our men had thus obtained the victory and

144 PRINCE EDWARD AT THE LAST CRUSADE.

Edward thought himself secure, it was told him that
his men would be killed, as they entered the city, by
the citizens. Then he sent for the mayor and chief
citizens and bade them seize and punish the offenders,
or else the next day he would set fire to the city and
raze it to the ground. So they placed guards in all
parts of the city and left Edward in peace. Thus
much blood was shed at this meeting, whence the
name of it was changed and it was called commonly,
not the ' Tournament,' but the ' Little War of Chalons.'
Then Edward went to Paris and was honourably
received by the King of the French. And after some
days he went into Gascony, and remained there until
he heard of the death of his father.

A GRAN'T OF LANDS FROM THE KING.

145

CHAPTER VII.

THE SIEGE OF CAERLAVEROCK.

In the year of c^racc one thousand three hundred, on
St. John's Day, King Edward was at Carlisle, holding
a great court, and he gave command that in short
space all his men should array themselves and go
with him against their enemies the Scots. Before the
day set came, all the host that had been summoned
was ready, and the King, with a great train, set out
immediately against the Scots. They were mounted
on horses of great value, and, to guard against sur-
prise, weW and heavily armed. There was unfurled
many a banner and bright pennon set on a lance, and
there was many a richly embroidered caparison of silk
^r satin. A long way off might be heard the neighing
of the horses, and hills and valleys were covered with
sumpter-horses and waggons bearing the victuals and
the tents and pavilions. The days were fine and
long, and the army marched by easy stages in four
divisions. The first was led by the good Earl of
Lincoln, and his banner was of saffron silk with a
purple lion rampant. He was followed by many
brave knights and barons, and with him rode the

L

146 THE SIEGE OF CAERLA VEROCK.

Constable, the Earl of Hereford, a young man rich
and personable. They led the van with caution, and
rested not at night until they had searched well all
dangerous passes. With them rode the marshals and
the harbingers, to assign the places for lodging and
encamping.

The second squadron was under the command of
the Earl of Warren, who knew well how to lead noble
and honourable men. His banner was of gold and
azure chequered.

At a little distance came the third body, led by
King Edward himself, king of England and Scotland,
Lord of Ireland, Prince of Wales, and Duke of
Aquitaine ; and on his banner were three leopards of
gold on red courant, proud and fierce, signifying how
the King showed himself to his enemies, for his bite
was not to be scorned, yet to those who sought his
mercy and favour he was ever douce and debonair.
His men were well ordered and arrayed, and by him
rode his nephew, John of Brittany, who hsCd left his
father's house and served King Edward faithfully
from his childhood. There rode many a baron and
knight of noble birth and renowned for famous deeds,
and their banners waving in the wind showed their
name and degree.

Then followed the fourth squadron, with Prince
Edward, the King's son, at its head. He was young
in arms, for he was but seventeen years of age, but
handsome in person, and well grown, and desirous to
try his strength. He rode marvellously well, and he
bore the arms of the King with a blue label. And

THE SIEGE OF CAERLAVEROCK. 147

the King had given to him as guides and instructors
the noble Roger de Mortimer, and John de St. John,
and WilHam le Latimer, who were well experienced
in war and very valiant men. With him rode also
his cousins, Thomas and Henry of Lancaster. There
also were the followers of the noble Bishop of Dur-
ham, the most valiant of the clergy of the kingdom,
and, in truth, of Christendom. He was a wise man
and could speak well, temperate and just, without
pride or covetousness. Yet he knew well how to
maintain his rights, and rode in the King's wars with
a noble following, well and costly arrayed. But, I
know not why, he could not himself ride to Scotland,
but sent of his men to help the King one hundred
and sixty men-at-arms. His banner he entrusted to
John de Hastings, whom he trusted and loved well.

The highroads to the castle of Caerlaverock were
all in the hands of the English, but it will not be
taken by check with a rook, for it was so strong that
it never feared a siege, and it was furnished with-
men, engines, and victuals. In shape it was like a
shield, for it had only three sides in circuit, and in
each angle there was a tower. One was double, very
high, very long, and very wide ; and below was the
gate, with a drawbridge, well made, and strong, and
well defended. There were good walls and good
ditches full of water, and I think I never saw any
castle more fairly situated, for on the west could be
seen the Irish Sea, and on the north a fair plain sur-
rounded by an arm of the sea, so that no one can
approach it on two sides v/ithout danger from the

148 THE SIEGE OF CAERE A VEROCK,

sea. On the south also the danger is not slight, for
there are many places — woods, morasses, and ditches
— into which the sea has entered, where it meets the
river. It was necessary, therefore, for the army to
reach it from the east, where the hills rise.

Then the King summoned his troops to take up
their quarters in three companies. The valley was
gay with gold and silver and every bright and plea-
sant colour. As soon as we were drawn up, and the
marshals had allotted to us our places, there rose at
once, without aid of carpenters or masons, houses of
white or coloured cloth ; the pins were driven into
the ground, the cords were stretched. Many a great
tree was felled to build huts, and leaves, grass, and
flowers were gathered to strew inside. Thus our
people took up their position, and those within the
castle began to guess that they had never been in
such peril before.

Then came our ships to land with the engines and
victuals, and immediately the footmen marched to the
attack. Stones, arrows, and quarrels began to fly, and
those within did their work so well that in a little
space many lay dead before the walls and others
wounded and maimed.

When the men-at-arms saw the wounds of the
foot-soldiers they rushed to the assault in furious
haste. But the defenders threw stones on their heads^
crushing helmets, and shields, and targets, and
shouting with loud cries when they saw the evil they
did them. There first was the good Bertram de
Montbouchier and Gerard de Gondronville. The

THE SIEGE OF CAERLAVEROCK. 149

first was a Breton and the second a Lorrainer, and
after him came Fitz-]\Iarmaduke, with a choice fol-
lowing,^ of brave men. There were Robert de Wil-
loughb}' and Robert de Hamsart, Henr}- de Graham,
and Thomas de Richmont, and they came on like
men mad with rat^e and fury, and made their way up
to the brink of the ditch. Then Richmont rushed on
to the bridge, and demanded entrance, but they re-
plied to him with great sharp stones. Willoughby,
who followed him, received one in the breast, the
w^orst of which his shield ought to have borne, but he
disdained to use it. Fitz-Marmadukc .stood firm as a
rock, and Hamsart and Richmont drove back the
stones with their shields as if they were at play.

Then came up to their aid a bod}' of the King's
followers, and also some of the Prince's men, with
many a newly-painted shield and burnished helm.
There I saw Ralph de Gorges, a new-dubbed knight,
thrown to the ground by the force of the stones, but
he would not deign to retire. Robert de Tony and
Richard de Rokeley wrought much damage to the
men on the walls, and made them oft retire ; and
Adam de la Ford undermined the wall as well as he
could while the stones were flying as thick as rain.
The Baron of Wigton and Kirkbride received many a
heavy stone, but Kirkbride held before him his white
shield with a green cross, and assailed the gate with
blows like a smith with his hammer. Nevertheless,
they were so bruised and weary with the blows of
huge stones and the wounds of arrows and quarrels,
that thev were forced to retire.

I50 THE SIEGE OF CAERLAVEROCK.

But as soon as they were departed, ClifYbrd, pur-
posing that those within should have no repose, dis-
played his banner, and with him was Bartholomew de
Badlesmere and John de Cromwell, who assailed the
castle with stones till he was out of breath. Neither
did the people of the chastelaine give them any rest ;
and little was left of the shield of Cromwell for him to
carry from the field, so was it battered and crushed
with the force of the stones.

After them came La Warde and John de Gray,
and renewed the attack, but those within were waiting
for them, and bent their bows and crossbov/s, and let
fly upon them from their espringales. Then came up
the men of my lord of Brittany, fierce as mountain-
lions, and made a more furious assault than any who
had gone before them, and my lord of Hastings' men,
when John de Creting nearly lost his horse. Knight
after knight came and showed his valour, and as one
grew weary, another, fresh and stout, took his place.

But though the assault was so fierce and constant,
those within made no offer of surrender, but defended
themselves all that day, and all the night, and the
next day, until tierce. Much mischief did them
Brother Robert, who threw stones into the castle from
a robinet unceasingly from dawn till night. He set
up on the other side three still larger engines, and
ceaselessly men bent them, loaded them with stones,
and discharged them ; and wherever they struck they
shivered everything, nothing could resist their blows.
Still the defenders yielded not, till one was wounded
to death, and the roof was crushed in by the stones.

THE SIEGE OF CAERLA VEROCK. 151

and there was nothing to shelter them from the
missiles.

Then they saw they could hold out no longer, and
they hung out a flag, but he who held it was shot by
an arrow through the hand into his face. So they
cried out to cease, for they would yield to the King and
come out to him. Then the marshals and the con-
stable stopped the assault, and the defenders came out.
And, behold, there were but sixty men, at which we
marvelled greatly. And they were taken and brought
under guard to the King, and he gave them their lives,
and bade them give to each one a new gown.

So the castle was taken, and the King set up his
banner, and the banners of St. Edmond, St. George,
and St. Edward, and those of Segrave and Hereford,
and the lord of Clifford, to whom the castle was given.
And the King made his preparations, and went on his
way through Galloway.

J52

CHAPTER VIII.

THE BOLD DEEDS OF THE KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND.

When the young King, Edward III., had done jus-
tice on Sir Roger de Mortimer, and had shut up the
Queen, his mother, in prison, he took new counsellors
from among the wisest and best-trusted in all his
land, and governed well and maintained his kingdom
in peace through good counsel, and often held jousts,
tournaments, and assemblies of ladies, and gained
great favour in all his kingdom and great renown in
all lands.

Thus he bore himself nobly while the truce lasted
between him and the kingdom of Scotland. When
the truce was at an end, and he was informed that the
young King David had seized his city of Berwick,
which belonged of right to his kingdom, and which
the good King, Edward I., had always held quietly
and in peace, and the young King's own father after
him a long time, and that the kingdom of Scotland
was held from him in fief, and that King David, his
sister's husband, had not done him homage, he sent
messengers to the young King David, and to his
council, making request that he would desist from his

KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND. 153

good city of Berwick, for that it was his rightful heri-
tage and had always belonged to his predecessors, the
Kings of England, and that he would come to do
homage for the kingdom of Scotland. And about this
time it fell out that IMcssire Robert d'Artois, who was
hated by the King of France, and had been driven out
of France, and even out of Flanders and Brabant,
came to England secretly, in disguise of a merchant,
and came to the King and made himself known to him,
for he was near akin to him, and he showed him how
he was hated by the King of France, so that he could
not find an}' land, lord, or countr\- that would or dared
support him, and, therefore, he was fled to him, who
was of his lineage, and who would help him. And
the noble King Edward was moved with great pit}'
when he heard his complaints and his sufferings, and
said that, though all the world should fail him, he
would never fail him. And he made him of his
council, and assigned him the county of Richmond
for his maintenance, w^hich had belonged to his pre-
decessors, but the King held it from default of homage.
And the King of Scotland having answered by his
messengers that he would hold the town of Berwick,
and would not yield it up, nor do homage for his
kingdom, King Edward summoned a Parliament, and
they gave him counsel that he should make preparation
to enter the kingdom of Scotland, and regain the
good city of Berwick. And when he heard their
counsel he rejoiced greatly, and prayed them to meet
him on a day assigned, each one arrayed according to
his estate, at the New Castle upon Tync. The day

154 KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND.

having come, the noble King Edward came to the
New Castle, and waited for three days for the host to
assemble. On the fourth day he departed, and went
towards Scotland and towards Berwick. So he came
into Scotland, and burnt and wasted all the plain
country of Scotland, as far as Aberdeen, and took the
largest towns, fortified with good ditches and pali-
sades, and several castles, in which he put garrisons,
for the young King David did not show himself in the
plain. It is true that certain barons, lords, and other
good men-at-arms, of which there were many in the
country of Scotland, came often to skirmish with the
army, and often there were great adventures and deeds
of arms, v/ith great prowess, on both sides, by which
Walter de Manny acquired great fame and high fa-
vour with the King and all in the land, and was made
knight bycommandment of the King, being the onewho
most exposed himself And the knights who came to
skirmish with the English hid themselves in the wild
country, and among marshes and great forests, where
no one could follow them, but they followed the
English so closely that almost every day there was
fighting. And Sir Walter de Manny was always the
most renowned, together with William de Montacute,
who was a strong knight and brave, and he lost an
eye at one of these jousts, and gained so great favour
with the King that he made him Earl of Salisbury.

When this noble King Edward had thus wasted
the plain country of Scotland at his pleasure, he re-
turned to Berwick, which was well garrisoned and
provided with valiant men-at-arms. Thus he could

KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND. 155

not win it as soon as he would, but tarried there a long
time with all his host before he could get it, for those
within maintained themselves well and loyally, so that
there was many a deed of prowess done on one sidi^
and on the other. Those valiant men-at-arms also
v.-ho held the forests and marshes made many great
and bold assaults on the army by day and night, when
they thought themselves most at peace, so that there
were much loss and gain c . one side and the other ;
and often these valiant men of Scotland went to fight
those who were coming to the army, and the news of
their deeds ceased not day nor night, and they cap-
tured the provisions that were being brought to the
King. The greatest of them was the Earl of Moray,
and, next after him. Sir William Douglas, the nephew
of that valiant man who was killed in Granada as he
was bearing the heart of King Robert of Scotland to
the Holy Sepulchre. Of the rest I know not the
names.

While King Edward lay before Berwick, the re-
nown of him was carried into France, and many
young knights and squires, who desired to bear arms
and to adventure themselves, that they might come to
honour, set out to go into those parts to. serve the
noble King of England, whose renown waxed greater
from day to day. The young Count Jean de Namur,
with Messire Guy and Alessire Philippe, his two bro-
thers, were thus desirous to go into those parts to see
this young King of England and his state and that of
the King of Scotland, and principally to see Messire
Robert d'Artois, their uncle, for they knew that he

156 KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND.

was in the company of this King Edward. So they
arrayed a fine company of men-at-arms, according to
that which appertained to their degree, to make the
journey. When they were ordered, furnished, and
ready, they departed, and came to England, and asked
the way to the place where the King was. And they
showed them the way to London, and from London
to York, and from York to Durham, and from Durham
to the New Castle on the river of Tyne.

When they were come to the New Castle they
rested themselves, and provided themselves with all
that they might want in the host. While they tarried
there, there came knights and squires from England,
going to the host ; at which these young lords were
much rejoiced, and companied with them, that they
might go more securely. There were also a great
company of merchants, taking great provision to the
host, and waiting for the company of men-of-arms.
So it fell out, that the first night these young lords of
Namur, and these knights and squires of England,
and these merchants, lodged all together in an
ancient town, which was called in the time of the
Round Table of King Arthur, the Maidens' Castle.
Very poorly were they lodged that night, and they
passed it in great fear ; for they found there none but
poor women and little children who had nothing — for
all the men of that country had lost all their goods,
living in fear of the English, and the Scots also. So
these lords, and their company, not being secure, that
night they kept watch ; and they sent out men to
watch, that none might come to hurt them, and

KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND. 157

passed all the night in repairing and fortifying the
walls, which were broken down and full of holes.
But at break of day there came the young Earl of
Moray, and Sir William Douglas, and many other
knights and squires of Scotland, who, by their spies,
knew well of the coming of these knights, and their
doin^rs. When those who were in the field heard the
noise, they ran to the town, crying, ' To arms ! to
arms ! the enemy is coming ! ' All came together at
once, for they expected nothing else, and assembled
where they could do most harm all together. When
the day was come, they saw the Scots mounting the
hill with a very great noise ; and they defended
themselves valiantly. But their defence would have
availed them little, if the young Earl of Moray had
not aided in saving the young lords uf Namur ; for
the number of the Scots increased, and they assailed
them behind and before, and on all sides ; and they
would have shown them no mercy, if they could have
got them into their power. But when the Earl of
Moray and Sir William Douglas saw the evil that
would befall these young lords, they sprang to the
front, and called upon them to render themselves up,
for that if they waited till the foot-soldiers came upon
them, they would not escape.

When these young lords heard that, and saw that
their defence would not avail them, they listened to
counsel, and yielded to these two lords ; who took
great pains to save their lives, and those of some of
their companions. But few of the English could they
save, for the footmen were already upon them and

KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND.

hewed them down ; so that they were all killed, or but
few escaped.

Thus these young lords could not achieve their en-
terprise, nor see the King", nor his host, nor their uncle;
but were led prisoners into wild Scotland. And these
lords of Scotland carried away all the provision that
the English were conducting to the host before Ber-
wick ; which angered the gentle King Edward and
all his host much, when they heard of the adventure,
but they could not then amend it. I have never been
able to know whether these lords of Namur were kept
in prison, nor how long, nor if they were delivered ; so
I will leave them, and return to King Edward.

The noble King Edward dwelt a long time before
the fair city of Berwick, for he would not leave it ;
and he assailed it many times. But there were
within such good men-at-arms, that these assaults
hurt them little, and they would never have rendered
up the town if they had had enough victuals ; but
when victuals are lacking, one cannot hold out long,
and it is better to bend than to break. This noble
king would never leave the siege until he had his
will ; and he held the field so long, that the victuals
failed in the town, and they could devise no way by
which any could come to them from any part. So
they endured much distress, and at last, when they
could do no 'more, they yielded to the noble king
after much parleying and treating, which would be
too long to tell. And the King received them to
mercy, their lives and goods being saved; and entered
very nobly into the city wdth great feasting, and tar-

KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND. 159

ried there as long as he would. When he had dis-
missed his men, and sent bac4c into their own country
those whom he could spare ; he put great garrisons
and provisions in those castles which he had captured
from the King of Scotland, in order to guard what he
had conquered, placing still larger within and about
the city of BerAvick, for all were to yield obedience to
it. And then he departed and returned into England,
and held great feasts and courts, where the barons
and lords of the country assembled, and gave great
feasts, tournaments, jousts, and assemblies of ladies,
by which he gained great favour with all; for all said
he was a second King Arthur. And the men-at-arms
and the garrisons which were left in Berwick, and the
other strong towns, and castles, and fortresses, did
well his commands, so that nothing was lost for a
long time. But they had often to do with those lords
who maintained themselves in the wild parts of Scot-
land and in the other castles, so that there were often
skirmishes and pursuit.

Now you have heard how this gentle King of
England conquered all Scotland, as far as the great
forest which they call Jedburgh, where the savage Scots
maintained themselves, because the forest is so per-
plexing and so full of great marshes, that none dare
enter it unless he knows well the roads. And the
young King David and his wife came into France to
the King Philip with but few followers, for they were
poor. And the King received them, and entertained
them well. And Sir William Dou";las — sister's son of

i6o KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND.

that Other Sir William who died in Spain, — the young
Earl of Moray, Earl Patrick, Simon Eraser, and Alex-
ander Ramsay, were still captains of the wild Scots,
and maintained themselves in these wild forests both
summer and winter for the space of seven years and
more, like very valiant warriors, and waged continual
war on the fortresses held by the King Edward,
meeting with many great adventures which it would
be too long to recount.

Now it happened that at the time that King
Edward was beyond the sea fighting in France, King
Philip sent men into' Scotland, who came to the city
of St. John, and prayed these lords to bestir them-
selves and raise great war against the kingdom of
England; for that he would undertake that King
Edward should be away, and should leave them in
peace. Also he would aid them with men-at-arms
and money.

Therefore it happened that while Tournay was
being besieged, these lords of Scotland prepared, at
the request of King Philip, to make war on the
English. When they had assembled men enough,
they departed from the forest of Jedburgh and went
through Scotland — reconquering the fortresses as
many as they could — past the good city of Berwick
and across the river of Tyne, and entered the country
of Northumberland, which once was itself a kingdom.
There they found fat cattle in great numbers, and
wasted all the land and burnt it as far as the city of
Durham, and beyond ; and then, turning to another
road, they went burning and wasting the land, so that

KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND. i6i

the King's country was greatly devastated by this
inroad of four days. And then they returned into
Scotland and reconquered their fortresses, except the
city of Berwick and three other strong castles, of
which one was called Roxburgh, another Stirling,
and the third Edinburgh, which was the strongest,
and was situated on a high rock which was seen in all
the country round ; and the ascent was so steep that
a man could scarce climb it without resting two or
three times, and a horse could only bear half a load.
It was the castle which did most harm to the Scots,
and the governor was a valiant knight named Sir
Walter de Limosin. But this castle was taken dar-
ingly and with great subtilty, and all those in it put
to death, as I will tell }'ou.

When King Edward heard that these lords of
Scotland were in his kingdom he was much enraged,
and leaving France, he came quickly to London and
took counsel what he should do. And he sent through
all his kingdom and summoned his men to meet him
at York at the end of a month, to go to destroy the
remnant of the kingdom of Scotland. This was in
the year of grace 1340, about All Saints' Day.

Now while they were assembling at York, the good
knight, Sir William Douglas, bethought him of a great
and perilous deed, and he discovered it to some of his
companions, — to Earl Patrick, and to Simon Eraser
(who had brought up the young King David), and to
Alexander Ramsay, who all took part in this perilous
deed. They took with them two hundred of the wild
Scots to lay an ambush, as you shall hear. These

M

l62 KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND.

four lords, who were all rulers of the Scots and knew
each other's minds, went to sea with all their com-
pany, and with great provisions of oats, and white
flour, and charcoal, and they came to a port about
four leagues from this strong castle called Edin-
burgh, which hurt them more than the others. When
they had arrived, they issued forth by night and took
with them fifteen or eighteen of their companions
whom they could best trust. And they put on poor,
ragged coats, like poor merchants, and laded twelve
little horses with twelve sacks of oats, flour, and char-
coal, and left the rest in a ruined abbey at the foot of
the mountain. When day broke, these merchants,
who were armed beneath their poor garments, took
the road and climbed the mountain ; and when they
were half way. Sir William Douglas and Simon
Fraser went before, making the others follow gently.
And they came to the porter and told him that with
great fear they had brought corn, oats, flour and char-
coal, and that if there was any wanted in the castle
they would sell it cheap. The porter answered that
they needed it much, but that it was so early that he
could not awake the lords, but that if they would
bring up their provisions he would open the first gate
of the barriers. They heard this gladly, and made
the others come, and entered the first gate. And Sir
WilJiam Douglas saw that the porter had the keys of
the great gate of the castle, and asked him which of
them opened the little gate of it. Then they threw
down their sacks in this first gate on the threshold,
so that it could not be. shut, and seized the oorter and

KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND.

killed him so quietly that not a word was said, and
took the keys. And they opened the gate of the
castle, and Sir William blew his horn, and he and his
companions threw off their poor clothes and threw
down the sacks of charcoal in the gateway so that it
could not be shut. When his other companions who
were in ambush near the castle heard the horn, they
climbed the mountain as fast as they could. The
watch, who was asleep, heard the sound of the horn
and awoke, and saw armed men climbing the hill, then
he began to blow his horn and to cry, ' Treason !
treason !' Then the Governor and the others awoke
and armed themselves, and came to the gate and
thought to shut it, but they could not, for William
and his fifteen companions defended it. Then' began
a great fight between them, for those in the castle
sought to save their lives, and the others to achieve
their bold enterprise. And when those in the castle
saw the ambush coming, they were much dismayed,
and with all their power they sought to defend their
castle ; but at last, though they killed and wounded
many, Sir William Douglas gained the castle and
killed all within without mercy. And they tarried
there that day, and ordained castellans and all the
officers to keep the castle, and put a great garrison in
it, and then returned joyful and glad to their com-
panions in the forest of Jedburgh.

Thus this strong castle was taken by force and
subtilty. When Sir William and his companions
were returned to their men in the forest, there came
to them the news that the noble King Edward was

1 64 KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND.

returned into England, and that he was assembling
so many men that they could not stand against them.
So they took counsel together what they should do, for
they were but a few and badly arrayed, for they had
warred long — for the space of seven years — and had
rested and fed hardly, and they had no news of the
King, their lord. So they were all wearied, and they
agreed to send a bishop and an abbot to King Ed-
ward to pray for a truce. And the messengers found
the King in the city of York, and he had with him
six thousand men on horseback — knights and squires,
and full sixty thousand on foot, to destroy all the
remnant of Scotland. When the messengers saw
that, they spoke and treated so that there was granted
them a truce of a month on condition that they should
send to King David of Scotland and require that
within two months he should come to resist the power
of England ; and if he did not come, the said knights
should give themselves up to King Edward. So the
truce was granted, and messengers sent to France ;
and the Scots returned into Scotland.

165

CHAPTER IX.

SEA-FIGHTS.

Now the Kinc; of France held the lands of the King
of England in Gascony, and the King Edward sent
messengers to the King of France, praying him to
yield them to him, for that they were his inheritance,
and he had paid homage to the King of France for
them. But he gave them a short answer. And about
that time the Bishop of Glasgow came out of France
with great provision of arms, horses, silver and gold,
which the King of France had provided for the aid of
the Scots in their war, and the worth of them was
fifteen thousand pounds. But he was taken on the
sea by Sir John Ros, and carried into the port of
Sandwich, and soon after the bishop died of grief.
And not long after the Normans entered into Ports-
mouth in great strength, and set on fire the whole
town, and killed many of the English, and took
whatever they could find, and then without delay
w^ent away. For they entered under the arms of
England, and so deceived the people of the town ;
but, yet, certain English came upon them and killed
many of them in the retreat.

1 66 SEA-FIGHTS.

And the next year, when the King of France
heard how alliance had been made between the
Emperor and King Edward, he assembled a great
number of men, and gathered together no small
fleet to attack the lands of England with great
daring, and they did what evil they could without
pity by land and sea. And they landed at South-
ampton, and killed all they could find, and lay hands
on everything, hanging some of the noblest of the
town in their own houses, and gave the whole town
to the flames ; but some of the people coming to the
help of the town, they went on board of their ships
and escaped to the high sea. But that year Edward,
duke of Cornwall, the son of the King, held a par-
liament in London, whereat was ordained that they
should keep guard in five ports with sixty ships full
of armed men. The Earl of Huntingdon, Constable
of England, was made Warden of Suffolk, and Lord
Robert de Morley Warden of Norfolk. And that
year the winter was severe and beyond measure long.
Then, about Easter came the Normans with twelve
galleys and eight spynaces, with about four thousand
men, and they came to Southampton ; and when they
saw the boldness of the English, prepared and ready
for defence, they did not dare to set foot on English
land, but went out to sea lest the English should
follow them. But the English offered to let them
come on shore to refresh themselves for two days,
if they would agree after the two days to fight
together, ten against ten, or twenty against twenty,
or in any other way that they might agree to.

SEA- pre FITS. 167

But they would not, but went away without doing
anything.

Then, in the year 1339, about the feast of the
Trinity, there came enemies to the port of Hastings
and burnt a great part of the town, and on St. James'
day came the French in great strength to the port
of Sandwich, and they had thirty-two galle)'s, and
twenty large ships, and fifteen smaller ones, but they
did not dare to land on account of the English being
prepared, but turned away to the port of Rye, and
did much e\il there. But the English came upon
them on the sea, and the French took to flight, and
the English pursued them to Boulogne de Notre
Dame, and set on fire a great part of the town, and
hanged twelve of the ships' captains, and returned to
England with the captured ships. About the same
time Robert de Morley, the Admiral, sailed to Nor-
mandy with his ships, and with the ships of the
Cinque-ports, and they burnt many towns, Ryes and
other ports : and also burnt the fleet of the Normans,
about eighty ships. After that all the galleys from the
coasts of France, with the rest of the ships, assembled
at Sluys, in Flanders, and before the Flemings there
they took an oath, with a solemn vow, that they
would not return home until they had taken a
hundred ships of the English, and set on fire five
hundred towns in England ; but by the disposal of
God their vain imaginings came to nought. For the
Saturday after the feast of St. Michael they took
their way on the high seas, and a tempest coming
upon them, they fell into extreme peril, and many of

t68 sea-fights.

their ships being lost, and the greater part of the men
drowned, the rest returned to the land of Flanders.

After this the King of France considered within
himself how he might hinder and impede the King
Edward, and prevent him returning, as he proposed,
into the land of Flanders. So he assembled a very
large and noble fleet of ships, such as cannot be seen
in these degenerate days, and filled them with armed
men and cross-bowmen, and they came to Flanders to
the port of Sluys, that they might take King Edward
coming to his queen, then dwelling in Ghent. Then
King Philip of France sent to the Pope, and certified
him that King Edward would not cross the sea, but
that either he would be killed or captured. And he
stirred up the Scots to rise and make war in England,
and sent into Flanders about thirty thousand armed
men, and forty thousand foot-soldiers, nobly arrayed,
to destroy the islands of Flanders, because the nobles
of Flanders had sworn faith to King Edward. But
the Flemings sent to the King of England that he
should come to them quickly with aid, or it would be
necessary for them to yield to King Philip, and the
Count of Flanders and Queen Philippa with her
children would be taken.

Then King Edward, understanding the purpose
of the King of France, made his fleet assemble with
all speed to carry him over into Flanders, and put
to sea, having with him Henry de Burghersh, bishop
of Lincoln, a man of nobility, wise in counsel, of
rare boldness, and great strength, and well known
for his retinue of strong men. And there came also

SEA-FIGHTS. 169

Henry, the noble young Earl of Derby, afterwards
the first Duke of Lancaster, and the Earl of North-
ampton, the Earl of Gloucester, the Earl of Hunt-
ingdon, and many of the great men of the kingdom.
And thus, on the vigil of St. John the Baptist, about
the third hour, that is, on Friday, King Edward
and his ships came to the coasts of Flanders near
Blanckenburg, and there they saw all the ships of the
navy of France lying in the port of Sluys. Then
King Edward sent Lord Reginald dc Cobham, Sir
John de Cundy, and Sir Stephen de Laburkin, to
explore and reconnoitre the fleet in its array ; and
they, riding along the land, came so near to it that
they could see well the apparelling of it, and they
saw about nineteen ships greater and more excellent
than they had ever seen before ; one of which, for its
excellence, was named the Christopher. And they
saw besides two hundred ships of war in the water
near the land, arrayed in three lines, with other
smaller boats and barges. The next day, that is to
say, St. John the Baptist's day, the fleet came out of
the port of Sluys at Grongue, disposed in order as
has been described. And King Edward, seizing the
favourable opportunity, that same day, at the ninth
hour, sailed with his ships towards them through thye
d6ep sea, not fearing either their ferocity nor the
superiority of their numbers. And the battle began
and was fought bravely and fiercely ; but the Lord
gave the victory to King Edward, so that the
French were overthrown, and they fled in great
ships called St. Denis and St. George, with Sir Hugh

170 SEA-FIGHTS.

Ouiriel, who was their chief captain, and Nicholas
Bychet, who the same day was made knight and
killed with Sir Hugh. And it is said that there fell
of the French and their allies, our enemies, about
twenty-five thousand men. And in the middle of
the night following twenty-three ships and barges of
the Norman fleet escaped from us and were not
taken. But King Edward landed in Flanders, and
with the Flemings and his whole army went to the
town of Tournay and laid great siege to it.

171

CHAPTER X.

THE BLACK PRINXE AT POITIERS.

Now there came from the cnuntr}- of Gascon}' the
valiant and preux Cautal de Buch, and he, being
great in renown and much loved by all, was received
with great joy and much feasting; and he told the
King that man)' valiant knights in Gascon)' were
faithful to his cause, and had fought with much toil
and pain for his honour, only they had no chief of his
blood to lead them, but that if the King would send
one of his sons they would be much emboldened.
Then the King assembled his parliament, and all
agreed to send the Prince into Gascony, for that he
was held in so much honour. And with him should go
the noble Earl of Warwick, and the Earl of Salisbury,
and Ufford, earl of Suffolk, and the Earls of Oxford
and Stafford, and bold Sir Bertram de Burghersh,
Sir John de Montague, and Lord Lc Despenser,
Sir Walter Mann)-, the good Reginald de Cobham,
who had been present at many an assault, and there,
too, were Chandos and Audley. And they were all
ordered to assemble at Plymouth in their ships men-
at-arms, and archers, and a great store of victuals ;

THE BLACK PRINCE AT POITIERS.

and in two months the Prince took leave of the King
his father, and the Queen his mother, and his brothers
and sisters, and, amidst much weeping and lamenta-
tion, bade them adieu and went on his way. And
he rode night and day till he came to Plymouth, and
bade them carry on board the ships the victuals and
the armour, hauberks, helmets, lances, shields, bows
and arrows ; and the horses also were put on board.
Then he, with all his noble knights, the very flower
of chivalry, put to sea and sailed till they came to
Bordeaux. The noble barons of that country, little
and great, came out to meet him — the Prince d'Albret,
the Lord of Montferrat, and, in truth, all the barons
of Gascony. And the Prince stayed in Bordeaux
until all his array were disembarked and his horses
refreshed. Then he took the field with more than
six thousand fighting-men, and rode towards Tou-
louse, taking Carcassonne, Beziers, and Narbonne,
subduing all before him, and wasting the land, and
in winter returned in triumph to Bordeaux, and his
troops took up their quarters in the castle. The Earl
of Warwick lodged at La Role, and Salisbury near
by at St. Foy, and Suffolk with his men at St. Emil-
lion. Chandos and Audley, with the loyal Captal,
lodged in the fields, and had oft to fight to hold their
ground. And they held the land between Cahors
and Agen, and took the Port Ste. Marie, and thus,
riding up the river, attacked Perigueux, and lodged
there a great part of the winter.

When the summer was come the Prince assembled
his forces and marched upon Saintonge, and he took

THE BLACK PRINCE AT POITIERS. i-ji

the tower of Romorantin by assault, and took prisoner
the Sire de Boucicault and the Lord de Craon, and
many others. More than two hundred were taken,
men of renown ; and he rode on through the land
as far as Tours.

Then King John was greatly moved, and assembled
all his forces, and no duke nor baron sta}-ed behind.
There came to the meeting-place of Chartres more
than ten thousand men, and without delay they set
forward towards Tours. And when the Prince heard
of them he took the road towards Poitiers. On Satur-
day they were attacked by the Count de Joigny and
the Count d'Antoire ; but the PVenchmen were all
taken or slain. King John and the Prince marched
to meet each other, and pitched their tents so near
one another that they watered their horses in the
same river.

Then there came the Cardinal Perigord and prayed
the King's leave to ride to the Prince and see if he
would not make peace, that the blood of so many
men might not be shed. And the King answered,
* Cardinal, we are very willing you should ride to the
Prince ; but understand well, we will agree to nothing
but that he gives up all the castles and land that
he has seized since he came from England, and con-
sents to abandon the quarrel altogether.'

So the Cardinal rode to the Prince's army, and
implored him to have pity on the lives of men and
listen to the terms of peace. And the Prince answered
that his quarrel was just and good, and that his father.
King Edward, was the rightful heir of P^rance, of

174 THE BLACK PRINCE AT POITIERS,

which Philip of Valois had been crowned king ; but
that he would not hinder the making of peace if it
could be effected. 'But,' said he, 'I can do nothing in
this matter without the King, my father, further than
to agree to a truce and arrange for treating of peace.'

And the Cardinal returned to the King, and the
King assembled the barons of both sides, and laid
the matter before them. And there was the Count
of Tancarville, archbishop of Sens, De Thalrus,
Chargny, Boucicault, and Clermont ; and on the
English side the Earls of Warwick and Suffolk, Sir
Bertram de Burghersh, Audley, and Chandos. What
was counselled I know not, but they could not be
accorded. And when they were about to depart one
from the other. Sir Geoffroy de Chargny said, ' Since
we cannot make peace, let a hundred be chosen from
each side, and let them fight together. And the
hundred that is discomfited let all that army be
coynted discomfited, and leave the quarrel and depart
from the field. It will be better thus than that so
many be killed.' And to that the Earl of Warwick
replied, ' Sir, what would you gain by that "i You
know well that you have four times as many men-at-
arms as we have, and we are on your land. Here is
the field, and a fit place. Let every one do his best,
for I will agree to no other way ; and may God up-
hold the right!'

So they returned each man to his army, and on
both sides it was said that the Cardinal had betrayed
them ; but he departed grieving, and rode to Poitiers.

Then the King of France put his army in array.

THE BLACK PRINCE AT POITIERS.

fearing that the Prince would escape him. And he
called the Marshal de Clermont, and d'Audenham,
and the noble chieftain, the Duke of Athens, and
gave them the command of the vanguard, with three
thousand men and two thousand servants, with swords
and lances and two thousand arbalesters, and bade
them show no mercy to the English. Then he called
his son, the Duke of Normandy, and said to him,
' Fair son, you will be King of France after me,
therefore lead the second division, and the Duke of
Bourbon you shall have as companion, and the Lord
of St. Venant and the good Tristan de Magnelers
will carry your banner. Cry, '* For John !" and spare
no Englishman, small nor great. Put them all to
death, that none of them may ever dare to cross the
sea again.'

So the army of the Dauphin was put in array,
with banners and pennons resplendent with purple,
gules and ermine unfurled to the wind, and the
trumpets and drums sounded till the earth rang
again. And it took up its place on one side ; four
thousand of them there were, and many a good knight
among them.

The rear-guard he gave to the Duke of Orleans,
his brother, with three thousand fighting-men, and
bade him 'show no mercy to the English, but put
them all to death, for they have done us much harm
and burnt and destroyed our land.'

And when the noble King John had arrayed his
forces he went to the fourth division, and three of his
sons were with hirn, and the Dukes of Anjou and

176 THE BLACK PRINCE AT POITIERS.

Berry, and Philippe le Hardi, who was very young,
and Jacques de Bourbon, and many more than I
can name, for there were twenty - three banners.
And there were four thousand armed horses, all
knights of the best escutcheons, led by Guichard
d'Angle, and the Lord d'Aubigny, and Eustace de
Ribaumont.

And on the other side the Prince put his men in
array, but if he could he would have avoided a battle.
Then he called the Earl of Warwick to him and
said, * Sir, since we must fight, I pray you take the
vanguard, and with you shall be the noble Lord de
Pomiers, and all his brothers, who are valiant and bold.
Pass the road and protect our baggage, I will ride after
you with all my knights, and support you, and the
Earl of Salisbury will follow you with the rear-guard.'
So they passed the night with little rest, for there was
constant skirmishing. When morning came the brave
Prince sent for Sir Eustace d'Abrichecourt and the
Lord of Courton, who was as brave as a lion, and
bade them go reconnoitre the French army. Then
each mounted his horse, but they rode too near, and
were both of them taken, at which the Prince was
much grieved.

Then a great noise arose, and the Prince left his
quarters and mounted his horse ; but he hoped still
to avoid a battle. But the French cried aloud to their
King that the English fled, and that they would
escape. And they mounted and began to advance ;
and the Marechal d'Audenham cried, * We shall lose
them all if we do not fall upon them at once;' but

THE BLA CK PRINCE A T POITIERS. 1 77

tlic ^larcchal dc Clermont answered, ' Na\-, brother,
you make too much haste, — the Kngh'sh flee not ;
rather will they soon be here.' ' If you linc^er thus,'
said d'Audenham, 'we shall lose them all.' Then Cler-
mont answered in anger, ' Marechal,you are too bold ;
but by Saint Denis, I will be so far in front of you
this day that the point of your lance shall not reach
my horse's saddle!' Thus in anger they rode on,
and the battle was joined, and each side began to
assail the other. The Prince had giv^en the rear-
guard to the ICarl of Salisbur\', but he was that day
the first engaged, for the marshals came down uj^on
him in fury ; and when he saw the battle turning his
wa\', he cried aloud, ' .\d\-ance, sirs ; since wc who were
the last are now become the first ; let us do as shall
win us honour.' And they approved themse!\es well ;
but it was a marvelloush- hard fight, and man\' a man
met his end. The archers drew their arrows to the
head, and never did arrows fly more straight. The\-
were posted on each side of the road b\' the side of
the men-at-arms. Then came pricking the preux
chevalier. Sir Guichard d'Angle, right into the mclce,
and the ]\Iarechal Clermont, and Eustace de Ribau-
mont, and the Lord d'Aubigny ; but the Earl of
Salisbury and his companions, brave as lions, discom-
fited the marshals and their armed knights before the
vanguard could turn to help them, for they were on
the other side of the road. And there they joined,
and in one company fell upon the Dauphin ; and so
fierce was the attack that the Ercnch, disma}-cd,
began to give ground and to turn their backs and

178 THE BLACK PRINCE AT POITIERS.

mount their horses. Then rose a shout of ' Guienne
Saint George !' and the Dauphin turned and fled, and
his men gave way, and many were killed and taken.

But while the English were pursuing, the King of
France advanced upon them with a great force, but
the Prince, putting his trust in Heaven, cried, ' Ad-
vance, banners ! and let every man think of his
honour!' and by his side were the two brave knights,
Chandos and Audley. And as the fight began,
Audley prayed the Prince humbly, and said, ' Sir, I
have made a vow that when I shall see the banner of
the King of France, I will be the first to charge. I
pray you give me leave, for it is high time.' And the
Prince answered, ' James, have your will.' And Sir
James, without delay, rode forward a spear's length
before the others and fell fiercely on the enemy. But
the others were not slow to follow with lowered
lances, and bravely fought Chandos, Warwick, and
Le Despenser, Montagu, Sir Ralph de Cobham, good
Bertram de Burghersh ; and in another part, Lord
Salisbury and Lord Oxford, and the Gascon captain
Captal. Many a marvellous blow was given and
many a man fell, and the fight lasted long ; but
again and again sounded the voice of the Prince,
'Advance, sirs! win this place as we value life and
honour!' And at last the victory turned to him,
and his enemies gave way and fled ; and King John,
fighting bravely with his knights round him, was
taken, and Philip his son, and many a high banneret
whose name I cannot tell, but there were a good
sixty of them ; and of others, more than a thou-

THE BLACK PRINCE AT POITIERS. 179

sand. Of those who died, were the Duke of Bourbon,
and the noble Duke of Athens, the Marechal Cler-
mont, and many others ; more than three thousand lay-
dead. And the English rejoiced, shouting * Guienne
Saint George !' And this battle was fought in the
year one thousand three hundred and fift}'-six, on the
nineteenth day of September.

Then to the noble Prince, prcux chevalier in word
and deed, was brought King John ; and the Prince
entertained him well, and to honour him more, himself
aided him to disarm. That night the Prince lodged
on the field, in a little ixavilion among the dead, with
his men round him ; but little anyone slept. And
the next morning they set out on the road to Bor-
deaux with their prisoners. And when they reached
Bordeaux, all the people came out to meet them with
processions and crosses, chanting orisons, and the
women and girls, young and old : there was mar-
vellous great joy. There the Prince remained all the
winter ; and he sent a messenger to the King, his
father, and the Queen, his mother, with news of his
doings, and prayed that vessels might be sent in
which the King of France might be conveyed to
England.

When the news reached the King, he rejoiced
greatly, and, joining his hands, thanked God ; and the
Queen also thanked God that she had a son so brave :
and the vessels were sent to Bourdeaux. The Prince
made no long delay, but put on board all his array,
and the King and the other prisoners, and sailed
to England. When the King heard that they had

I So THE BLACK PRINCE AT POITIERS.

landed, he summoned his barons to go and meet
them, and went himself with more than twenty earls
and conveyed the Prince to London. Never was such
joy seen before. There was the great King, and the
Queen his wife, and his mother, and many a lady and
fair damsel ; and there was dancing, and feasting, and
jousting, as in the days of King Arthur.

And King Edward collected a large army and
crossed over to France, and rode through Artois,
Picardy, Champagne, and Burgundy, and came before
Paris and drew up in battle array, but they fought not,
for peace was made and the two kingdoms were ac-
corded. King John was delivered from prison and
Guienne given up to the noble Prince. And this
peace was made in the year one thousand three hun-
dred and sixty, in the sweet month of May, when the
nightingale sings and birds are no longer sad. And
the two kings met at Calais, with the Prince and all
the chivalry of England and France, and there they
swore on the Book and on the Holy Sacrament that
they would keep the peace without falsehood and with-
out any renewing of the war. So the King of France
returned to his kingdom, and the noble King Edward
and the Prince, with great joy to England.

^v-

i8i

CHArTER XI.

THE JOUSTS OF SAINT IN'GIIELBERTH.

Of the Enterprise of tJic three Knights.

There were tnree valiant kniL^hts of L^rancc, to wit,
Sir Boucicault the Younger, Sir RcL;nault dc Roye,
and the Lord de Saint-?}-, who undertook to be under
arms during the summer, on the frontier of Calais, to
meet all comers, knights or esquires, being foreigners,
during the term of thirty days, and to joust with
whomsoever would, with blunted lances or otherwise.

Now since the enterprise of the three knights
seemed to the King of France and to everyone some-
what presumptuous, he showed them how it would be
for the best to write the terms of it on a sheet of paper
that the King and his council might see and consider
it ; and if anything out of order should appear in it,
they would cancel or amend it, for the King and his
council would allow nothing to be done that was
unreasonable.

To this demand the three knights answered and
said, ' What you say is right, ^nd we w^ill do it will-
ingly.' So they took a clerk, and ink, and paper,

i82 THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH.

and shut themselves into a room, and the clerk wrote
the terms of their challenge : —

' For the great desire that we have to see and to have
the acquaintance of noble gentlemen, knights and esquires,
strangers, of the kingdom of France, and of other more distant
kingdoms, we intend to be at Saint Inghelberth, the twentieth
day of May coming, and to be there thirty days together;
and each day excepting the Fridays, we will be ready to ride
five courses with any knight or esquire, being gentlemen and
strangers, from whatever country, who choose to come, with
a sharp or blunt lance, as he pleases, or with both. Our
shields will be to be found on the outside of our tents,
painted with our arms, — that is to say, our shields of war
and our shields of peace.

' And whoever will joust, let him come or send the day
before to touch with a wand whichever he may choose ; and
if he touch the shield of war, the next day he shall have the
joust of war ; and if he touch the shield of peace, he shall
have the joust of peace. And it is agreed that whoever will
touch or send to touch, shall tell or shall have told their names
to the persons to whom we shall commit the care of our
shields. And all the foreign knights or esquires who wish to
joust shall bring with them each a noble friend, and we will
do the same on our part, and these shall take order for
everything that is to be done.

* And we pray all noble knights and esquires who may
come, that they will not think or imagine that we do this
thing from pride, hatred, or ill-will, but only in order to see
them, and to have their noble company and acquaintance,
which is what we desire with all our hearts.

' And none of our shields shall be covered with steel or
iron, any more than those belonging to those with whom we
shall joust; and no other advantage, fraud, or deceit, shall be

THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH. 183

used, except such as may be allowed by those to whom thf
care of the jousts is committed by both parties.

' And that all noble gentlemen, knights and esquires^
who may take knowledge of this thing, may hold it as true
and authentic, we have sealed these letters with the seals
bearing our arms.

' Given at Montpellier, the twentieth day of November,
in the year of grace, thirteen hundred and eighty-nine.'

And underneath was written : —

' Regnault de Roye,
* boucicault,
*Saint-Py.'

The King of France was greatly pleased' with this
high and courageous enterprise of the three knights.
But before he would consent that the thing should
take place, the work was very well examined and
considered, lest any wrong should be understood by
it. And it seemed to some that were called to the
council that the thing was not reasonable, in that the
place was so near to Calais, and that the English
might take it for arrogance and presumption ; which
it was needful to consider well, for a truce for three
years had been made and sworn to between France
and England, so that nothing was to be allowed
which might bring about dissension between the two
kingdoms. The council were more than a day in
considering this matter, and they knew not what to
do, and would have broken it off, for those who were-
wise said that it was not good to consent to all the
proposals of the young knights, and that as much evil
as good might come of it. Nevertheless the King,

I $4 THE JOUSTS OF ST. JNGHELBERTH.

who was young, inclined to the side of his knights,
and said, ' Let them do their emprise ; they are
young and of high courage, and have sworn and v^owed
before the ladies of Montpellier ; it is our will that
the thing begin and be carried out according to their
loyal power.'

When they saw the King's inclination no one ven-
tured to contradict or withstand him, at which all the
knights rejoiced, and it was agreed that it should
take place according to the form and manner written
and sealed by the three knights. The King sent for
these to his chamber, and said to them, ' Boucicault,
Regnault, and you, Saint-Py, see that you defend the
honour of yourselves and of the kingdom well in this
matter, and spare nothing in maintaining your rank
and state, for we will be answerable for you up to
ten thousand francs.' Then the three knelt before the
King, and returned him many thanks.

Then the three knights took great pains to accom-
plish their desire and fulfil their promise ; for they
notified and published it everywhere, especially in the
kingdom of England, where it was heard gladly, and
by it many knights and esquires were pricked to the
heart. The younger of them, who longed to distin-
guish themselves, pondered much what they should
do in the matter. Some among them said that great
blame and reproach would be theirs if, the place being
so near Calais, they did not cross the sea and see and
fight with these knights. I will name those w4io
chiefly held this language. First, Sir John Holland,
earl of Huntingdon, the brother of the King of

THE JOUSTS OF ST. IKGHELBERTH. 185

England, and Sir Peter Courtenay, besides Sir John
Drayton, Sir John Walworth, Sir John Russel, and
many other, more than a hundred in all, who said,
* Let us arrange to go across to Calais, for these
knights of France have ordered this game only that
they may see and know us. Certainly they have
done well and they are good companions. Let us
not fail them.'

The thing was made so public in England that
those who had no desire themselves to fight declared
they would be there on the appointed da\' to look on.
So these and those who would fight sent ov^er their
arms and their horses and equipage before them ;
then when the day itself drew near they crossed the
sea. Sir John Holland was the first to go, and more
than sixty knights and squires with him, and he came
to Calais and lodged there.

At the beginning of the fair month of Ma\- the
three young knights of France were prepared and
read}'. They came first to Boulogne-sur-Mer, and
tarried there some days, and then departed and came
to the Abbey of St. Inghelberth. Being there, they
heard what plenty of knights and squires had come
out of England and were now at Calais. At this
they rejoiced much, and to hurry on the work and in
order to warn the English, they sent to have three
vermilion -coloured pavilions, very fine and rich,
pitched on the plain between St. Inghelberth and
Calais ; and at the entrance of each pavilion in front
were hung two shields bearing the arms of the
knights — the shield of peace and the shield of war.

iS6 THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH.

Of the First Day.

Now, on the 2 1st day of May, as had been pro-
claimed, the three knights were ready, with their
horses, ordered and saddled as the joust required ;
and the knights and squires, desirous of tilting or of
seeing the combat, came out of Calais and rode to
the place, where they drew up on one side. The
place of the tournament was large and wide and
smooth, and well grassed. Sir John Holland was the
first to begin, and he sent a squire to touch the war-
shield of Sir Boucicault. Then Sir Boucicault came
out of his pavilion, ready armed, and mounted his
horse, and took his shield and a good lance, strong
and well made ; then the two took up their distances,
and when they had well eyed one another, they spurred
and came, without sparing themselves, with great
force against one another, and the spear of Sir Bouci-
cault pierced the Earl of Huntingdon's shield, and
the point ran along his arm, but without wounding
him. Then the knights passed on and stopped in
their positions. This course was much praised. In
the second they struck one another slightly, but did
each other no harm ; and in the third the horses
refused the course.

The Earl of Huntingdon, who was heated and
would fain go on with the joust, came back to his
place, expecting that Sir Boucicault would take up
his lance. But this he did not do, and signified that
he would do nothing more that day with the Earl.

THE JOUSTS OF ST. IXGHELBERTH. 1S7

When the Earl saw that, he sent his squire to touch
the war-shield of the Lord de Saint-Py, and he, who
never refused, came from his tent, and mounted and
took his shield and lance ; and when the Earl saw
that he was ready for the tilt, he spurred his horse
with right good will, as did Saint-Py, couching their
lances. But as they met the horses crossed, and in
this crossing the Earl was unhelmed.

So he returned to his men and put on his helmet,
and grasping his lance and the Lord de Saint-Py his,
they met full, striking their shields with great force,
so that they would both have been unhorsed if they
had not kept their saddles by clasping the horses
firmly with their legs ; so they returned to their places
and refreshed themselves a little, taking breath and
cooling themselves. Sir John Holland, who had a
great love of arms, took his lance again ; and when the
Lord de Saint-Py saw him coming, he did not refuse,
but met him as well as he could. The two knights
encountered one another so that the linces rang on
the steel helmets, and the red sparks flew, and the
Lord de Saint-Py was unhelmed.

This course was greatl>^praised, and both P^rench
and English said that the three knights had tilted
well, neither sparing nor doing themselves damage.
The Earl of Huntingdon desired to run yet another
course for the love of his lady, but it was refused him.
So Sir John left the lists to make room for another,
for he had run his courses well, and gained much
honour from all sides.

Then advanced a gentle English knight, who was

1 88 THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH.

called the Earl Marshal, and he sent to touch the war-
shield of Sir Regnault de Roye ; and this being
done, Sir Regnault came out of his pavilion, fully
armed, and mounted his horse, which was standing
ready. They hung his shield round his neck and
buckled it, and he took his lance. The knights
spurred their horses with great violence, but they
failed in the first course because the horses swerved,
at which they were greatly enraged. In the second
Sir Regnault was struck and his own lance was broken.
In the third they struck each other on the helmets
with such force that fire flew from them, and the Earl
Marshal was unhelmed. He returned to his place
and did no more that day, for he had done enough.
Then came forward Sir Thomas Lord Clifford, a
valiant knight and cousin to Sir John Chandos, who
was so famous and brave a knight; he sent to touch
the war-shield of Sir Boucicault. The two knights
came on with prodigious force, and struck each other
on the helmets till the sparks flew, but the lances did
not break nor the knights lose their stirrups, but
passed on and stopped to take their places for the
second course with gre^ good-will. They spurred
their horses and met without sparing one another.
Sir Boucicault broke his lance and was unhelmed,
but did not lose his seat. Sir Thomas Clifford pre-
pared to tilt again with Boucicault, but Boucicault did
not put on his helmet.

Then Sir Thomas resolved to tilt with another,
and sent to touch the shield of the Lord de Saint- Py,
who came at once out of his tent and mounted and

THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH. 189

took shield and lance, and prepared to joust. They
met with great force, and Sir Thomas broke his
lance into three splinters on the shield of Saint-
Py, who struck him on the helmet and unhelmed
him, and then passed on. The Lord Clifford re-
turned to his people and did nothing more that
day, for they said he had borne himself well and
honourabh'.

After this a gentle knight of England, named Sir
Henry dc Beaumont, sent to touch the shield of Sir
Boucicault, who was ready to answer, ha\-ing just
tilted with Sir Thomas, Lord Clifford; The two
spurred with great force ; but Sir Henry did not use
his lance well, and struck Sir Boucicault sideways,
while Boucicault struck full in the middle of his
shield and bore him to the ground, and passed on.
The knight rose, and was helped by his people to
remount. Then the Lord de Saint-Py came forward,
and they tilted two courses very courteously, without
any damage to either.

Sir Peter Courtenay, who had a great desire to
run six courses, sent to touch all the three shields of
war, which caused great astonishment ; and he was
asked what he meant by it. He answered, that it
was his pleasure to run two courses with each of the
three French knights, if no mischief should happen to
him meanwhile ; and he prayed them to grant him
them, which they did.

Sir Regnault de Roye came forward the first ; but
this first course failed, for the horses retuheu it, \\hich
filled them with rage. So they returned to their

190 THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH.

places, and spurred again carrying their lances
straight, so that this second course did not fail. Sir
Regnault unhelmed the English knight, and his two
courses being run he returned to his place. Sir Peter
Courtenay being re-armed, met the Lord de Saint-Py
full gallop, each breaking his lance against his adver-
sary's helmet. They received fresh ones, and in the
second course the Lord de Saint-Py struck Sir Peter
sideways, owing to his horse swerving a little. Sir
Peter unhelmed him, and then passed slowly on to
his place.

Then Sir Boucicault came forward, and Sir Peter
met him. They met with such a rude shock that the
horses stood stock-still in mid-career ; but no damage
followed. They unhelmed one another in the second
course. The six courses being thus run. Sir Peter asked
as a favour that he might run one more with any
of the three knights who might choose; but this was
refused, and he was told that he had done enough for
that day.

Another English knight came forward named Sir
John Walworth, fully armed, and sent his squire to
touch the war-shield of Sir Regnault de Roye. The
knight was ready to reply to the summons, and both
advanced full gallop, hitting each other on the helmet
very sore ; yet neither was unhelmed, nor were the
lances broken. The second course was spoilt through
the swerving of the horses, which greatly vexed them.
The third lance they broke in the very centre of their
shields. The fourth course was run without anything
being done; but the fifth was only too well employed,

THE /OUSTS OF ST INGHELBERTH. 191

for they unhclmcd one another, and then each re-
turned to his own party.

Sir John Russel, a very expert and vaHant EngUsh
knight, well known in divers countries, was the next.
He sent to touch the Lord de Saint-Py's shield, who
was already armed and on horseback. They met
with such force with the lances against each other's
shield that the horses were stopped short in mid-
career. They were not long in returning to their
places and beginning the second course, which was
spoilt however, for just as they should ha\'e met, the
horses swerved and refused the encounter, so that
they failed of their stroke. In the third course they
struck each other with such force on the visors that
both were unhelmed. The English knight returned
to his men and tilted no more that day.

Thereupon, a }'oung English knight of very high
courage, named Sir Peter Sherburn, sent to touch the
war-shield of Sir Boucicault. The knight was ready .
and mounted, leaning on his spear and waiting for an
adventure. So when he saw that he was challenged
to joust, he couched his lance and looked to see
what his adversary would do, and seeing that he was
handling his horse, he began to rouse his own. Then
spurring and couching their lances, they hoped to
meet fair, but were disappointed by the swerving of
their horses. They returned to their places deter-
mined to manage them better ; and the next course
was so well performed that they hit each full in the
visor. Sir Boucicault broke his lance, and the English
kniirht used his with such force that he unhelmed Sir

* 192 THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH.

Boucicault so violently that the blood gushed from
his nose. Then Sir Boucicault returned to his pa-
vilion, for it was near upon vespers. But SirPeter
Sherburn would not cease till he had completed his
courses ; so he sent to touch the war-shield of Saint-
Py, who was ready to answer. They spurred their
horses as straight towards each other as they could
and struck one another on the helmets ; but the lances
slipped and they passed on without hurt. Those who
were watching said that if the lances had been pointed
lower, so that they had struck on the shields, one or
both must have been borne to the earth. In the next
course they met, striking each other so full upon the
shields that both lances flew into three pieces, and the
Lord de Saint-Py made the Englishman lose his
stirrups and fall on the earth. He rose at once and
was aided by his people to retire to his side. The
Lord de Saint-Py returned to his place, viewing the
English array, and showing that he was ready to tiit
again, either with the knight whom he had just over-
thrown, or with any other ; but none came forward,
for it was time to cease for the day and to retire to
their inns.

The PZnglish, therefore, assembled and returned
at a good pace to Calais, where they revelled that
night and talked amongst themselves of the feats that
had been done. The P>ench returned also to Saint
Inghelberth ; and if the English talked of the things
that had fallen out that day, you may believe that the
French did the same.

THE JO US TS OF ST. JNGHELBER TIL 1 93

Of the Second Day.

The Tuesday, after mass and a morning draught,
all those who wished to see the jousts, with those
who were to tilt, came out of Calais and rode together
in a company, with great order, to the place of arms ;
and when they were come, the French were ready to
receive them, as was right. The day was bright and
clear, and warm enough. The English drew up in
order and armed those who were to joust.

After many courses had been well and bravely
performed without accident, there stepped forward a
young knight named Sir Godfrey Seton, known as a
good tilter and showing it by his manner of riding
and carrying his lance. He sent a squire to touch
the war-shield of Sir Regnault de Roye, who readily
answered. The two knights spurred at the same
moment as straight as arrows, and met, striking each
other such blows on their shields that though the
lances did not break by reason of their toughness, yet
they remained fixed in the shields, and by dint of
hard pushing the horses were stopped, and the knights
returned to their places without losing their lances,
but carrying them fairly before them, and then laying
them in fest. Then spurring their horses again,
which were good ones, young and strong, they met
again, but not straight, by the fault of the horses, not
of the knights themselves, and in passing they lost
their lances. Those standing by picked them up and
gave them to them, and as soon as they had received

O

194! THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH.

them they couched them and returned to the encounter,
for they were heated and would not spare themselves.
The English knight struck Sir Regnault a heavy blow
on the upper part of his helmet, but did not hurt him ;
and in return Sir Regnault, who was at that time one
of the strongest and toughest tilters in France, being
smitten with love for a gay and beautiful young lady,
which was a great help to him in all his affairs, gave
him a blow on the shield so severe that it pierced it
and his arm as well. The lance was broken and the
butt end fell to the ground, the upper end remaining
fixed in the shield and the steel in the arm. For all
this the knight finished his course very handsomely,
and returned to his place. His companions came to
him, and the splinter and steel were drawn out, and
the blood staunched and the wound bound up. Sir
Regnault returned to his place, and remained leaning
on a spear which was given him. He was much
praised by his own party, nor did the English say any
harm of him, although his adversary had been hurt;
for such is the fortune of arms — to one good, to another
evil ; and certainly they tilted without sparing one
another.

Then, after several English knights had run their
courses with honour, there came forward a young
knight named Thomalin Messidon, well armed and
in good disposition for fighting, and challenged Sir
Boucicault, who was ready. In the first course they,
struck one another on the helms, and passed on without
any accident or damage. They returned to their places, ,
and spurred again to the charge, and in this course

THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH. 195

they met, striking one another with great violence on
the shields. The spear of Sir Thomalin broke into
splinters, but Sir Boucicault's blow was so strong that
he carried his opponent to the ground over the tail of
his horse. Those on his side came and lifted him up
and led him away, and he tilted no more that day.

The tilting went on till it grew late and near
the time for vespers, and then the English drew
together as they had done before, and returned in a
company to Calais, and the French to St. Inghel-
berth.

You must know, although I have made no mention
of it as yet, that King Charles of France greatly
desired to see these jousts, for at that time he was
very lively and loved much to see new things. It
was told me that he was present from the first to the
last, but in disguise, so that no man knew it save the
Lord de Garencieres, who came with him and was
also disguised, and the two returned each day to
Marquise.

Of the Third Day.

So Tuesday passed, and Wednesday came, and it
was a very fine day, like the preceding one. The
English mounted again on horseback after mass and
the morning draught, and came out of Calais in great
order, and rode along the road of Sangate till they
came to the place where the French were rejoiced to
receive them.

As soon as the English were come they lost no
time, and a squire named John Savage, a good tilter.

196 THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH.

squire of the body to the Earl of Huntingdon, sent to
touch the shield of Sir Regnault. They met with
ereat violence, strikincr one another full on the middle
of the shield so forcibly that both would have fallen
to the ground if the shields had not given way. This
was a first and perilous course, though the tilters
received no hurt, for the lances passed through the
targets and slipped off the side armour breaking
about a foot from the shaft, and the upper end
remaining in the shield, and the knights held the
shafts before them while they finished the course.
Those who saw doubted not that they were severely
hurt, and each side surrounded their champion. But
when they found they were not touched they were
greatly rejoiced, and told them they had done enough
for that day. But this did not satisfy John Savage,
and he said that he had not crossed the sea to break
but one single lance. These words were carried to
Sir Regnault de Roye, who answered, ' He is right,
and he ought to be gratified, either by me or by my
companions.'

Therefore they returned to their places and ob-
tained fresh spears and shields. Then spurring, as
they drew near they lowered their spears and endea-
voured to meet fairly, but could not, for their horses
swerved. So the second course failed, to their great
rage. Then having received their lances, which they
had dropped, they placed them in rest, and in the
third career they struck each other full on the visors
of the helmets, so that in passing they were unhelmed.
It was a fine course, and won great praise. Then the

THE JOUSTS OF ST. IXGHELBERTH. 197

English came and told John Savage that he had done
very well, and it was now time for him to make way
for others. To this he agreed, and laid aside lance
and shield, and dismounted from his charger, taking
instead a hackney, which he mounted to see the rest
of the jousts.

Then after two more Englishmen had run their
courses with the French knights with honour, and a
third had been overthrown in tilting with the Lord de
Saint-Py, there came forward Sir John Arundel, who
was a good knight and renowned both in tilting,
dancing, and singing, and who was \-t)ung and full of
courage, and sent to challenge the knight, Sir Reg-
nault de Rove. They spurred against one another
with good will, and gave great blows, but neither fell,
though they lost their lances. In the second course
they struck full upon the helms, so that the sparks
flew, but no damage was done. In the third the
horses swerved and they dropped their lances. The
fourth blow struck the helmets, but neither was un-
helmed ; and the fifth the shields, breaking both the
spears, and still without damage to the knights. So
the tilting went on that day as before, and in the
evening they separated again.

Of tJic Fourth Day,

And on the morning of Thursday the English
looked to see who amongst them there were who had
yet to do the feats of arms for which they had come
over the sea, and they agreed that such should be

198 THE JO US TS OF ST. INGHELBER TH.

satisfied, as was fitting. Therefore they mounted
again and returned to Saint Inghelberth, where they
found the French knights ready and waiting in their
pavilions. Many fine courses were run ; and at length
a knight of Bohemia, of the retinue of the Queen
of England, whom they called Herr Hans, sent to
challenge Sir Boucicault. They spurred with great
good will, but failed to meet fairly, owing to the ill
conduct of the Bohemian, who, out of the line of
tilting, struck Sir Boucicault on the helmet and con-
tinued his course. He was greatly blamed, and the
English saw that he had forfeited both arms and horse
if the French insisted on it. They held a long con-
versation about this, but at last the French pardoned
him, the better to please the English. Herr Hans
begged as a favour that he might be allowed to run
one course more. They asked him, ' With whom ?'
He sent to say, ' Sir Regnault de Roye.' The knight,
who had done nothing yet that day, replied that he
w^as willing. They met, striking in the centre of the
shields, and Sir Regnault, who was one of the best
and strongest tilters of his time, struck him in such a
manner that he flew clean out of his stirrups and fell
so heavily on the earth that they thought he was
dead. Herr Hans was raised by his people and
carried away. The English were well pleased that it
had so happened because of the uncourteous manner
in which he had run his first course, and you may be
sure he had no wish to do any more that day.

After other English squires had run their courses,
there came forward another, — a fine man, tall and

THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH. 199

Straight, sitting his horse well, fully armed for tilting.
His name was Jacquemin Scrope. He sent to touch
the shield of the Lord de Saint-Py. They laid lance
in rest and came against one another with great good-
will ; but the first blow missed, for their horses crossed,
which angered them greatly ; and they returned to
their positions, and without delay spurring their horses,
lowering their lances, met again and struck one
another a blow so hard on the helmet that sparks flew
out. They passed on, for the lances did not remain
fixed but flew into shivers. They received fresh
lances and met again with great violence, striking
each the other's shield with great force. The lance
of Jacquemin was broken, but Saint-Py used his well,
for he struck the squire so hard that he threw him
from his saddle. He did no more that day, being
raised from the ground by his people.

After two more English squires had run their
courses with Sir Boucicault and the Lord de Saint-
Py, the jousts ceased for that day, nor did any more
advance from that party.

Then the Earl of Huntingdon, the Earl Marshal,
the Lord Clifford, and all the other knights who
had jousted during these four days, came to the
French knights and gave them great thanks for
the pastime, saying to them, 'All the knights and
squires who desired to joust have done so. Now,
therefore, we take leave of you, for we return to
Calais, and from thence to England. We know
Well that whosoever wishes to tilt with you will find
you here throughout the thirty days, according to

;20O THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH.

the tenor of your proclamation. When we be come
to England, we certify you, we will tell all such as
shall meet and speak with us on this matter and pray
them that they come to see you.'

' We thank you greatly,' replied the three knights,
* they shall be gladly welcome, and shall be delivered
of their vow, as you have been. And withal, we return
you hearty thanks for the courtesy you have done us.'

Thus peaceably and gently did the English depart
from St. Inghelberth and return to Calais. They stayed
there not long, — on Saturday, in the morning, they
went on board the passage-boats. The wind was fair,
and before noon they came to Dover. Then they
came from the vessels and came into the town, each
going to his inn. Thus they passed the Saturday and
Sunday, till mass was over, at Dover, and rested
themselves and their horses ; but they lay on Sunday
at Rochester, coming the next day to London. There
.they took leave of one another and returned each to
his home. IMeanwhilc, the knights of France re-
mained at their posts at St. Inghelberth.

You shall know, as I said above, that when the
English had bidden the French knights farewell, the
King of France and the Lord de Garencieres, who had
•been there disguised and had witnessed the feats of
arms, left, and lay that night at Marquise, and the
next day they returned to France and never ceased
riding till they came to Cray, on the river Oise, where
the Queen held her court at that time. Few knew
•where the King had been, save his most trusty body-
.servant.

THE JOUSTS OF ST. INGHELBERTH. 201

After that company of English of whom I have
told you had returned into England, I could never
hear that any other came out of that country to
joust at St. Inghelberth. Nevertheless the three
knights above named remained at that place for the
full thirty days and more, and then returned at their
ease each to his home, after that they had gone to sec
the King of France, the Duke of Touraine, and the
lords at Paris, who made them good cheer, as was
right, for they had borne themselves valiantly and
had well maintained the honour of the realm of
France.

202

CHAPTER XII.

THE LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR.
Of Ozven Glendoiver and the Earl Douglas.

Now it came to pass that the Welsh, taking advan-
tage of the King's absence, rose in rebellion, having
as their leader a certain Owen Glcndower. He had
been first apprenticed to the law at Westminster, and
then became esquire to the late king; and had fought
with honour, but a quarrel having arisen between him
and Lord Reginald Grey de Ruthyn, on account of
lands which he claimed as his inheritance, on grounds
of little weight, he took up arms, first against Lord
Grey, wasting his lands with fire and sword, so that
many perished cruelly. Which when the King heard
he marched straightway against the disturber of the
peace of the country, and having collected a multi-
tude of armed men and archers, invaded Wales. But
the Welsh with their leader retreating to Mount
Snowden, escaped the threatened vengeance. So the
King, having burnt the country and put to death all
whom fate brought within reach of his sword, returned
with little spoil of horses and cattle into England.

LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARR Y HOTSRUR. 203

And in the month of March there appeared in the
north-west a comet, shooting out terrible flames to a
great height, turning at last towards the north, where
it ceased to be seen, signifying, as it was thought, that
much blood would be shed in those parts where it
appeared, that is, Wales and Northumberland.

And, again, Owen Glendower, with a band of
Welshmen, ravaged the country, carrying some away
captive and putting others to a cruel death. And he
wasted the lands of Lord Reginald Grey, who was at
that time dwelling in his castle of Ruthyn, and he,
hearing of his coming, v/ent out against him with few
men, hoping to be able to capture him. But it fell
not out as he hoped, for when they fought together
Lord de Grey was taken, and many of his men killed.
And this disaster increased the pride of the Welsh,
and made their madness greater, as will be seen.
Then Owen Glendower challenged the men of Here-
ford to battle, and they went out to meet him, under
Edmund Mortimer, the most valiant of those parts,
fearing nothing but the flight of the Cambrians. But
alas! by treachery those who hastened to conquer were
unexpectedly overthrown, and more than eleven hun-
dred of our men were killed and Edmund Mortimer
was taken, and with him some knights and armed men
and servants, whose names I know not. And such
deeds were perpetrated as were unheard of in any age,
neither would they suffer the bodies of the dead to be
buried v\-ithout a heavy fine and ransom. There are
those who say that Edmund Mortimer was captured
by agreement and premeditated treason, and this

204 LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARR V HOTSPUR.

opinion the infamous intercourse of Edmund with
Owen afterwards greatly confirmed.

Then the King of England, about the Feast of
the Assumption, having gathered troops, entered
Wales, giv^ing one army to his son the Prince and
another to the Earl of Arundel, having with him a
third, so that entering secretly they might enclose
Owen Glendower and his confederates with less chance
of escape. But so much din of arms availed nothing,
for the Welsh hid in new hiding-places ; and the
King suffered much, it was supposed from magical
devices, and also the army which he led ; for from the
day in which he entered the borders of Cambria to
that on which he left the place, the air was never
serene, but day and night rain, mixed with snow and
hail, so afflicted the army that they could not endure
the excessive cold. And on the vigil of the Nativity
of the Blessed Virgin, when the King had fixed his
tent in a pleasant meadow, where from the nature of
the place they feared nothing, but hoped for quiet re-
pose, suddenly, in the first watch of the night, there
came down such an abundance of water that the Eng-
lish were nearly overwhelmed by it. There came also
such a tempest of wind that it tore and blew down
the tent of the King himself, and threw down the
King's lance, driving it into the armour of the King
with such force that it would have been the King's
last night if he had not slept armed. Nor did those
English, who were used of old to war, remember to
have been ever so much vexed and exposed to peril,
in any expedition that they had seen, without human

LAST DEEDS. OF SIk HARRY HOTSPUR. 205

agency. Whence many are of opinion, if it is lawful to
believe it, that these evil arts were devised by the
Minor Friars, who were said to favour the Welsh
party. But far be it from men of such a holy pro-
fession to hold familiar intercourse with devils, and
bring upon their glory a stain never to be wiped off.
Nevertheless the King, forced by necessity, returned
to his burnt lands, sad at these disasters.

Then, at the same time, the haughty Scots, grow-
ing bold during the absence of the King in Wales,
and thinking none were left in the country to stop
their course, with a numerous army in great array
under Earl Douglas, entered the eastern part of
Northumberland. But being warned of their coming,
the Earl of Northumberland secretly collected an
army, and he permitted the Scots to enter and rage
in their usual way, hoping, as it fell out, to stop the
way as they returned, and force them either to give
battle or take to flight. Nor did this stratagem fail,
for when the Scots learned that those whom they least
expected to see, the Earl and Henry Percy, his son,
and the Earl of Dunbar (who not long before leaving
the Scots had sworn faith to England), were in arms
against them, they made haste to retreat. For they
had supposed all these to have been gone into Wales,
carrying aid to the King. So they turned their
bridles towards their own land, labouring to reach
roads which lead to Scotland before the Earl. But
the Earl and his men, riding all the night, came to
the place by which they must pass, and with his army
gathered in the valley waited for their coming. The

2o6 LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR.

morning having come, the Scots, thinking that the
Earl had been left behind, rode on with all speed lest
the English should overtake them. But avoiding
Scylla they fell into Charybdis, for they found those
whom they thought to have escaped in well-ordered
array before them. They were forced to stand and
prepare for battle, so they chose a hill near the place.
And our men, therefore, seeing them take possession
of the hill, occupied the other hill themseU^es, and
the valley separated them. It was a fair sight to see ;
on this side the English excellently armed, with their
archers, and on that the Scots, with their bowmen,
trusting in their armour, which being like silver re-
flected back the rays of the sun. Now there were
returning from an expedition a troop of five hundred
bowmen, who had gone out that night seeking vic-
tuals, and seeing the two armies with their standards
unfurled on the two hills, they themselves being
suddenly between them, they sent out a certain num-
ber of their archers, who shot at the Scots and pro-
voked them to descend. Then there came out some
of the Scots, and the archers retired before them, but
our men coming up, the Scotch archers were forced
to turn their backs. But their courage did not fail
them, and they essayed to shoot upon our men, till
the raining tempest of our arrows put them to flight.
Then Earl Douglas, seeing his men flee, determined
to show them that he was not deserting the battle,
so he, with a company of knights, trusting in the
strength of their armour, lowered their lances and
descended impetuously to attack the archers. But

LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR. 2Qn

when the boivmen saw him they went backward,
shooting their arrows more thickly, and the arrows
penetrated the armour everywhere, and pierced the
helmets and the swords, and spht the lances. And
Douglas himself was wounded in five places, in spite
of his strong and sumptuous armour. Then the rest
of the Scots who had not descended from the mountain
turned round and prepared to flee, but all who fell
into the hands of the archers were captured or slain,
and among them Earl Douglas was taken. And
some fleeing with great speed came to the river of
Tweed, and not knowing the fords were by the
strength of the current carried away and drowned, to
the number of five hundred, as it is asserted. But
God be praised for all, for He gave us the victory, not
by the leaders and captains, but through the poor and
the servants, neither was there a lord, nor a knight, nor
an armed man, who moved a foot against the Scots,
but they were overthrown by the archers, as I have
said.

Now the young Edmund Mortimer, who had
been captured by Owen Glendower, either from
weariness of captivity, or fear of death, or some
other cause unknown, declared himself for Owen
against the King of England, and contracted a
marriage, unworthy of his noble race, with Owen's
daughter. It is said that at the birth of Glendower
there occurred fearful and prodigious things, for in
the morning his father's horses were found standing
in their stable deep in blood, which many thought
to forebode evil things.

2o8 LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARR Y HOTSPUR.

And Lord Reginald de Grey, by payment of a
ransom of ten thousand marks, was set free.

Then the following summer, near the towns of
Bedford and Biggleswade, there were seen frequently
in the morning and at midday monsters coming out
of the woods, of various colours, in the appearance of
men-of-war, fighting together and beginning a hard
battle. But though they could be seen at a distance,
they could not be found on approaching the place.
And this fantastical apparition deceived many, so
that they went to look.

And the Earl of Northumberland, with his son,
making an expedition into Scotland, devastated the
country, carrying away captives and spoil with no
resistance. But when he was returned, a rumour
went through all England that the Scots were
prepared for war at the feast of St. Peter ad
Vincula. For the Earl had laid siege to a certain
castle in the expedition, and when he attacked it
vehemently, the besieged, it is said, prayed for a
truce until that feast, on which day, if the Scots
did not give battle, or if he won the victory, they
would give up the castle to him. At this rumour
all the youth of England, and the nobility of the
kingdom, and the King himself, bestirred themselves,
hoping to be present at the battle. But the Earl
showed the King that it was not a work that needed
his presence, but that he should remain quiet and
barons gather together. But while many made ready
for this business, it was shown to be naught but an
idle fancy.

LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR. 203

Of Henry Percy and SJireivsbury Field,

About that time Lord Henry Percy the younger,
whom fortune had greatly favoured hitherto in deeds
of war, in the esteem of the common people, and in
temporal things, suddenly, with many confederates,
declared himself against the King of England, and
gathered an army near Shrewsbury, hoping, it is sup-
posed, for the aid of Owen Glendower and Edmund
Mortimer, and the archers and men-at-arms of Chester
and Wales. Lord Thomas Percy, his uncle, earl of
Worcester (whom the King had made guardian and
governor of his eldest son, the Prince of Wales),
secretly encouraged him, and gave him assistance by
withdrawing his treasure from London and from the
house of the Prince. And he himself joined his
nephew Henry with what men he could bring. And
they, to excuse themselves for their conspiracy, wrote
letters to diverse leaders and people of the kingdom,
asserting that their purpose was not against the alle-
giance and fidelity that they owed to the King, neither
had they assembled the army for any other end but
for the security of their persons, and that they might
reform the public abuses. And they wrote also that
the taxes, given to the King for the safe-keeping of
the kingdom, were not put to the right uses, but
devoured and consumed uselessly; on which account
they felt themselves bound, for the good of the
country, to assemble men, that they might provide
a remedy for the evil.

P

210 LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR.

Many then praised their insolence and extolled
the faith which they pretended to the country. But
the King knew their falseness, and, with a troubled
mind, he considered how he could satisfy the people
and confound their devices. So he wrote letters,
saying that he wondered greatly that, when the Earl
of Northumberland and his son Henry had received
the greatest part of the sums conceded for keeping
the Marches of Scotland, as he could evidently show,
they should find cause for so much complaint and
manifest detraction. He wrote, moreover, that he
knew that the Earl of Northumberland and his son
Henry, and the Earl of Worcester also, had certified
to many by letters that, on account of the evil in-
formation and secret accusations of their rivals, the
King was so much moved against them that they
dared not come into his presence. Therefore he
wrote to the Earl and Henry, that if they would they
might come to him safely and depart in safety, with-
out deceit or peril. But Hotspur would listen to no
reason, nor stop to think, and, despising the royal
lenity, armed himself for rebellion, and hastened to
Shrewsbury. Then the King, when he perceived the
determined malice of the youth (for his father did not
leave the borders of his lands), determined imme-
diately to encounter Henry and his uncle. Lord
Thomas Percy, earl of Worcester, before they could
raise an army against him.

Then their party caused it to be published through
the kingdom that King Richard was still alive and
was among them, and that they made war in his

LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARR Y HOTSPUR. cir

name against King Hcnr\' ; and if any desired to sec
him they should come in arms to them, and that in
the castle of Chester they would certainly find the
King. By this crafty proclamation they moved the
minds of many to waver, not knowing to which party
they might safely adhere ; for King Richard had
power over many in those times, especially over those
who had been familiar with him, and had received
from him fiefs or other gifts.

Then King Henry, being bold of mind and prompt
in action, assembled all whom he could and betook
himself to the place where the rebels Henry and the
Earl were known to be. The Earl of Dunbar, a Scot,
urged him not to delay, for he said, ' If thou waitcst
in London, or near London, his forces will grow daily
in the remote counties, and then it will be necessary
to yield to them whatever the\- may, I say not sup-
plicate, but command.' And v.-hcn the King urged
that he had not sufficient troops, ' Care not for num-
bers,' he answered, ' but advance cautiously against
them, and then you will be able to see with your own
eyes who love you from their hearts and who arc
feigning.' And the King did as the Scot advised, and
came unexpectedly to the place where the rebels v/ere
revelling. When Henry Percy saw his standard he
was astonished above measure, for he thought him to
have tarried at the town of Burton-upon-Trent, wait-
ing the comincT of his counsellors ; and therefore, be-
cause he had no suspicion of the coming of the King,
he had laid siege to the town of Shrewsbury, demand-
ing that they should give him entrance that he might

212 LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARR V HOTSPUR,

refresh himself and provide victuals for his army.
But the coming of the King was very advantageous
for the men of Shrewsbury, for when he saw the
standard of the King, Henry immediately left off
troubling the citizens, saying to his men, ' Comrades
and fellow-soldiers, we must give up this enterprise
and turn our arms against those who are coming
with the King. You see the King's standard, there-
fore be v.'ise men ; for this day will either advance
us all if you determine to remain with me, or we
shall meet our ruin.'

Then all those who were with Henry, to the
number of fourteen thousand chosen men, agreed with
one voice that they would stand by him. And they
chose the ground very convenient for them ; for it
was necessary for the King's army, if they wished to
join battle, to advance over ground sown with peas ;
and they bound together and entangled the peas, so
that they were like snares to those who advanced.
And when Henry saw that they were without doubt
about to fight, and that the sword he loved best was
missing, he sought it everywhere : and they told him
that it was in the little town behind, commonly called
Berwick. And at that word he turned pale, so that
those standing by marvelled ; then, drawing a deep
sigh, he said to his servant, ' I perceive that my
plough is at its last furrow, for it was prophesied to
me when I was yet in my own country that I should
without doubt die at Berwick. But, alas ! the name
deceived me.' Then he ordered the battle wisely, pro-
mising his followers an end of their troubles that day.

LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR. 213

if they survived, and riches, and a glorious future, ant)
a name for ever.

And of the nobles who followed him to that place
there were his uncle, Lord Thomas Percy, earl of
Worcester, who was never before in all his life suspected
of perfidy, and who alone among the English, who are
known abroad for their fickleness, obtained praise for
faithfulness, so that the kings of France and Spain
trusted his word more than any writing ; and Earl
Douglas, the Scot, had followed him, who had been
captured in the battle of Homildon Hill, and he was
a very warlike man and equalled by few for courage,
prudence, or fortitude. .\nd the Lord Kinderton,
and Sir Hugh Browne, and also Sir Richard Vernon,
were there, with ten other barons.

Then the King, perceiving the order uf the army
opposed to him, and chiefly the archers gathered to-
gether, cn-dcred his own army with the alacrity that
became him ; and committing part to his eldest son
the Prince, retained another part under his own com-
mand. The front of the King's battle was given to
the Earl of Stafford, a man of great honour, who was
that day made Constable of the Kingdom. And when
each army was opposed to the other and waiting the
signal for battle, the Abbot of Shrewsbury and the
Clerk of the Privy Seal went to Henry on the part of
the King, offering him peace if he would desist from
his undertaking, demanding to know his grievances
and those of them that were with him, which they
promised on the part of the King should be redressed,
if he would refer them to arbitration. If he would

214 LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR.

secretly explain them to the King, they prayed him
to send one whom he could trust to go with them to
the King and lay his wishes before him, who, God
willing, would bring him back good tidings.

Henry, somewhat moved by these persuasions,
sent his uncle. Lord Thomas Percy, to the King, that
he should explain to him the cause of the trouble and
demand redress. And some say that the King agreed
to all the matters, but that Lord Thomas, when he
returned to his nephew, perverted the business, bring-
ing back a contrary answer, and exasperating the
young man and urging him to battle against his will.
With such embassies much of the day passed away,
and it was told the King that the rebels delayed the
negotiations only that their allies might come up on
the next Monday and strengthen them. And it was
Saturday when these things were done. Then the
Earl of Dunbar urged him to delay no longer, but to
give the signal for battle.

From the other side, as soon as the messengers
had reached their own camp, Henry's archers began
to shoot their arrows — and better men could not be
found in the county of Chester — and many of the
King's men fell by them ; and there was made such a
slaughter that four thousand of the King's army took
to flight, thinking. that, without doubt, the King was
shot. Then the leader of the rebels and the Earl
Douglas, than whom none were found bolder, de-
spising the arrows of the King's archers and the body
of armed men, turned their arms towards one per-
son alonC' — to wit, the King — esteeming him worth

LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARR Y HOTSPUR. 215

ten thousand, seeking him with lances lowered and
drawn swords. But the Earl of Dunbar, perceiving
their purpose, drew the King away, lest his pursuers
should find out where he was ; which change of place
was very fortunate for the King, for his standard-
bearer was overthrown and his standard thrown down
and torn, and those who were round it killed, among
whom were the brave young Earl of Stafford and Sir
Walter Blunt.

In the meantime many fell in both armies, shot by
chance arrows, which flew as thick as hail ; and the
Prince, now for the first time in battle, was wounded
in the face by an arrow : but though he was but a
youth, he quailed not, but making light of the
wound, encouraged the army to stand firm. And
the men committed to him were the first to reach the
enemy's lines, and they penetrated them and passed
through them, overthrowing all who opposed, so that
they were shut in between the Prince's men and the
squadron of the King. And the enemy were in doubt,
not knowing whether they were fighting against the
King's men or their own companions.

At this time of confusion their leader, Henry
Percy, fell slain, by whose hand is not known, his men
not knowing of his fall, but supposing him either to
have taken the King or to have killed him. There-
fore, to encourage themselves, they cried ■ again and
again, * Henry Percy, king ! ' which the King hearing,
that they might not fight longer, because of their vain
hopes, desiring to prevent more bloodshed, cried as
loud as he could, * Henry Percy is dead! ' And when

2-16 LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR.

they heard that, even those who were fighting most
earnestly, began to draw off, and to see their only
hope in flight. And the King's men gaining courage,
there were slain a great part of the knights of the
county of Chester, to the number, it is said, of two
hundred. And there fell besides of foot-soldiers and
servants a great number, I know not how many ; and
Earl Douglas was taken. But if the rest of the rebels
had imitated his courage and constancy, there is no
doubt that an incurable wound would have been made
in the kingdom of England. Thus, twice in that year
fighting against the English, he found fortune adverse;
for in the first battle he lost an eye and was taken
'^prisoner, and in the second he was grievously wounded
and again made prisoner. And the Earl of Wor-
cester, Thomas Percy, was also taken prisoner ; and
he, it was said, was the stirrer-up of all the evil, and
the cause of the disaster. And Sir Richard Vernon
was captured, and the Lord Kinderton, both noble
and powerful men.

•On the King's side there fell the Earl of Stafibrd,
Sir John Clifton, Sir Walter Blunt, Sir B. Gousile, and
many more. And this Sir B. Gousile, who had that
day been made a knight, was not slain in battle, but
fell by the treachery of one of his own household, as
he was retiring from the battle wounded in the side.
For as he threw himself down under a hedge, seeming
about to draw his last breath, there came one of his
household, to whom he had shown much love. He
had fled at the beginning of the battle, but returned,
-^hen the. battle was over, that in the evening he

LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR. 217

might spoil the dead, as the manner is of such people.
And, alone, he came to the place where his lord was
lying, and he knew him by his arms. And when he
was come, he asked his lord how he was. And he, as
well as he was able, answered, that he was alive, but
much w^eighed down. ' I am suffocated by ni\'
armour ; take off my breastplate and arms, that I
may reviv^e.' Therefore, when the breastplate was
removed, he gave him a ring to carry to his wife, and
told him that he had sixty marks in a box, which he
commanded him to keep for him if he lived, but that
if he died he might take them for his own use. But
what would a traitor do who had deserted his master?
The coward in battle drove his knife into his master's
uncovered breast, and held him till he saw that he
was quite dead. Then he took his collar, and rings,
and jewels, and all the marks of his nobility, and the
money, and went away, leaving his master's naked
body lying under the hedge. But a certain soldier saw
and heard it all; for he was escaped from the field of
battle, crawling on his hands and knees to the same
hedge, being revived by the fresh air, for he was him-
self wounded and overpowered by the weight of his
armour. So he afterwards made known the wicked-
ness of the ruffian, telling it all to his mistress when
he recovered. She was the Duchess of Norfolk,
widow of the Duke, Lord Thomas Mowbray, who
died in exile. And the villain being found by the
things he had stolen, suffered the due penalty of his
deeds.

Of the common people who died on the King's side

2i8 LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR.

the number was not given, but of the wounded there
were three thousand, of whom the greater part died
afterwards. This battle was fought on Saturday, the
vigil of St. Mary Magdalene, in the afternoon, and
those who were there say that there was never a
fiercer, for there were many on both sides fighting so
steadfastly that when night came they did not know
whose was the victory, and they lay mingled together
weary, wounded, and bleeding.

The next day the King commanded the bodies of
the dead to be buried ; and when he saw the body
of Henry Percy it is said he wept, protesting he was
grieved by his death, And as there were many who
would not believe him dead, he ordered that his body
should be exposed that all might see him. Then
many sent mediators to the King to plead with him ;
and Thomas Percy, earl of Worcester, when he saw
the body of his nephew, shed abundance of tears,
saying he cared not what fortune might do for him.
The following Monday, by judicial sentence, he was
beheaded, although the King, it is said, wished to
spare his life, but he had much enraged the King's
friends ; and with him were beheaded Lord Kinderton
and Sir Richard Vernon.

Then the Earl of Northumberland, with a strong
force, hastening to his son, or, as some say, to the
King to make peace, heard that the Earl of West-
moreland and Robert Waterton had assembled a
great army to oppose him if he advanced further ;
and he turned rein and came to Newcastle upon
Tyne, and the citizens, seeing the army following

LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR. 219

him, closed the gates against him. But he prayed
for entrance to rest there that night, and the citizens
repHed that he might enter with his family, but on no
account with an army ; and the Earl, accepting the
conditions, entered the town, and stayed there that
night and the next day with few companions, but the
army, being excluded, either from desire of vengeance
or fear of their master the Earl being betrayed, came
to the walls and tried to enter the town by force.
But it availed them nothing, for they were repulsed
by the archers and wounded. Then the Earl satis-
fied them as well as he could, and, excusing himself
to the citizens, went away, and when he heard of his
son's death he dismissed his army and retired with
his family to his own castle of Warkworth.

And the King came to York to meet the Earl in
battle if he would not submit and send away his
army, and when he heard of his coming he sent letters
to him, and the Earl came to him with few attendants
on the morrow after Saint Lawrence ; but he was
received neither with joy nor kindness as he was wont
to be, but as a suppliant seeking favour ; and in few
words the King promised him life and honourable
treatment, but he gave him not his liberty, but kept
him under guard until the time appointed.

220

CHAPTER XIII.

KING HENRY V. IN FRANCE.

Of the Siege of Harficiir.

Our intrepid and magnanimous Prince having set
the kingdom of England in order, went on board his
ship the Trinity, between Southampton and Ports-
mouth, and gav^e command that the sail should be
hoisted that all the ships might assemble ; and when
they were all gathered together, in number about
fifteen hundred, he set sail with a favourable wind :
and when they had passed the Isle of Wight there
came some swans and swam in the midst of the ships,
and all said it was a happy omen. Then the next
day, about the hour of noon, they entered the river of
Seine, which flows from Paris to the sea by Rouen
and Harfleur, and they cast anchor at a place called
Chefde Caux, about three miles from Harfleur. But
the King forbade any to land that night. Then the
next morning, before daybreak, Sir John Holland,
earl of Huntingdon, went with certain horsemen to
reconnoitre the place, and afterwards, when the morn-
ing dawned and the sun shone clear, the King, with

KIXG HENR Y V. LV FRAN'CE. 22t

the chief part of his army, came to land in little boats
and skiffs, and took up their position on a little hill
near Harfleur, having on one side a wood going down
to the river of Seine, and on the other farms and
orchards. The shore, being covered with rough
stones, was perilous for landing, and the enemy had
made in one part a deep ditch, and fortified it with
mud walls up to the marsh, which is very dangerous,
but they left it now undefended, although with but
few men they might have opposed many thousands.

Then the King caused it to be proclaimed in the
camp that none, under pain of death, should set fire
to any building, nor injure or destroy any church or
sacred place ; neither should they lay hands on any
priest or woman ; and, dividing his army into three
parts, he moved against the town, appearing on the
hill over against it, for on the other side he could not
approach it on account of the tide and the stream
flowing through the valley. For the town is situated
at the end of a valley at the mouth of the Seine, and
the sea at high tide rises to the town. A stream of
fresh water fills the deep and wide ditches outside
the walls to the bank of the river, which enters under
the walls by a Watergate and two arches, which the
inhabitants can open and close at their pleasure.
And the town was surrounded by walls with high
towers, and it had three gates, before each of which
the enemy had erected a defence called a barbican,
with great trees bound strongly together as high
nearly as the walls of the town. It was built round
in form, and had many chinks and crevices through

222 KING HENRY V. IN FRANCE.

which they could shoot upon us with arrows and darts,
or with their tubes, which we in Enghsh call ' gunnys.'
All round about was deep water, two lances' length
in breadth at the narrowest part, with a little bridge
that they could draw up and down at will.

Ships could come up into the middle of the town,
and the harbour had walls with two fine towers at the
entrance, armed and fortified ; but the enemy had
planted stakes in the water at the entrance to hinder
our ships from coming in. And the town had many
fine buildings and one parish church.

And the army, having taken up its position before
the town in the fields and orchards, the King gave
care to the providing of victuals for man and beast,
and for guarding the camp from attack. But the
other side of the town being left open, the next day
the Lord de Gaucort entered the town with three hun-
dred lances, being sent to aid the defence. Therefore
the King sent Thomas, duke of Clarence, with part of
the army, to press the siege on that side ; but the
march was difficult and dangerous, for the tow^n had
broken down the bridges and caused the stream to
flood the valley, that it was wider than the Thames
at London. And on his w^ay he captured great store
of guns and powder, with crossbows and arrows,
which were being carried to the towm from the city of
Rouen. And in the morning he took up his position
on the hill on the other side, and the stream being
guarded by boats and the entrance from the sea by
the King's ships, the siege was ordered all round the
town.

KING HENRY V. IN FRANCE.

Then the King sent to offer peace to the besieged,
if they would open the gates to him and give up the
town to him, the rightful Duke of Normandy. But
they refusing to obey, the King set up his engines
before the town, and built over them edifices of vrood
and iron, that the soldiers might be shielded from the
missiles of the enemy, while they shot stones from the
guns with ignited powder. And he directed his
strongest attack against the barbican before the chief
gate, battering it with stones and digging mines be-
neath it, until in a few days it was in great part
broken down. But the enemy did us what damage
they could with their guns and crossbows, and as the
walls and towers were broken by day, they heaped up
in the breach b}' night logs and tubs filled with earth,
and heaped up sand and stones. And they built up
mounds of thick clay, into which the stones from the
guns should sink, doing little harm. And they had
vessels full of quick-lime and boiling oil to pour upon
the heads of our men if they should approach too
near.

The King began to construct great mines to un-
dermine the walls, but being begun in sight of the
enemy they frustrated them by counter-mines, and
the fagots that were brought to fill up the ditches
they set on fire and burnt.

And at this time there fell sick the Lord Richard
Courtenay, bishop of Norwich, who was much beloved
by the King, and in short space he died, the King
himself closing his eyes, and sending his body to
England to be buried at Westminster. The same

22 4 . KING HENRY V. IN FRANCE.

day the enemy making a sortie did much damage to
our men. But on the morrow the Earl of Hunt-
ingdon with his men set the barbican on fire, and
took it.

Then the King caused it to be proclaimed by
trumpet through the camp that all should prepare to
storm the city and mount the walls, and that the next
morning all the soldiers and the sailors from the ships
should be in the places assigned to them by their
captains. And that night he assailed the town more
fiercely with stones from the guns, that the besieged
might not have sleep or rest.

But the enemy, fearing the assault and despairing
of succour, sent to pray for a truce, promising to give
up the town if they were not rescued by the French
King or the Dauphin before the first hour after
noon of the Sunday following. And to this the
King agreed. And the Bishop of Bangor, with all
the King's chaplains, marching in procession in their
hoods, carried the host to a place under the walls,
and there they swore to the covenant ; and twenty-
three hostages were given up to the King, and a
soldier sent" to the French King. And the same day
there died that noble soldier, the Lord Michael Pole,
earl of Suffolk.

Then when within the time appointed there came
none from the French King, nor from the Dauphin,
to succour the city, the King, clad in gold and
splendid raiment, being seated on his throne in a pa-
vilion on the hill, his nobles and his captains standing
by, and Sir Gilbert Umfraville on his right, bearing

KING HENRY V. IN FRANCE. 225

on a spear the crowned helmet of the King, the Lord
de Gaucourt, with all who had sworn to the treaty,
came before him and yielded up the keys of the citv
to him ; and he received him graciously, and brought
him and those that were with him, and the hostages,
into his tent, and entertained them magnificently with
what dainties he had.

And the banners of St. George and the King
being set on the gates, the King made Thomas
Beaufort, earl of Dorset, captain of the town
And the Lord de Gaucourt, with the knights and
nobles, were suffered to depart, having taken an
oath to surrender themselv^es at Cakiis at the feast
of Saint ]\Iartin. And the poor, with the women
and children, were sent away to go where they
would in France, being conducted by a body of
armed men that they might not suffer harm at the
hands of freebooters.

Then King Henry sent a herald to th.e Dauphin,
challenging him to make an end of the quarrel be-
tween them by single combat. But having tarried at
Harfleur the set time, and the Dauphin not replying,
he put captains and soldiers in the town and made
ready to march to Calais. But many of his men
being sick, he permitted them to return to England ;
and great numbers having died by the sickness, be-
sides those which had fallen by the sword, there re-
mained with him but nine hundred spearmen and five
thousand archers.

226 KING HENR V V. IN FRANCE.

How the King marched through the Land.

Then, having given command to his men to carry
with them victuals for eight days, he set forth. And
leaving the town of Monstre de Villiers on our right,
we came on the Friday to the town of Arques, three
miles from Dieppe, and they shot stones at us ; but
the King made a treaty with them, and they gave us
free passage through the town and bread and wine.
And the next day we came to Eu and passed it on
our left hand ; and some of the French army having
assembled, fell upon us, but we drove them away.
And the prisoners reported that the French army
would fall upon us at the river of Somme. On the
morrow (Sunday) we came to the town of Abbeville ;
and the advanced guard brought word to us that the
bridges were broken down and the French army was
gathered together on the other bank. Then we turned
and marched up the river-bank to another crossing ;
but there also the causeways were broken, and the
F'rench assembled in great numbers. Then we feared
greatly that our victuals would be consumed, and that
the enemy would fall upon us when we were weak and
faint for want of food ; and thus, with many lamenta-
tions and prayers for deliverance, we went on our way
towards the head of the river, leaving on one side the
city of Amiens. And we came to a village of the
Duke of Burgundy's, named Boves, and having par-
leyed with them, they gave us bread and wine to
redeem their town and vineyards from being burnt.

KING HENR V V. IN FRANCE. 227

And passing Corbie, the French came out and at-
tacked us ; but we made them fly, having captured two
of them and killed others.

There was brought to the King at this time a
soldier of the English army, who had stolen from a
church a pix of copper gilt, thinking it to be gold,
and by command of the King at the next village he
was hanged.

Then the report being spread that the enemy
would come with many horsemen to break through
the line of the archers, the King gave command that
each archer should carry with him a strong stake
six feet in length, sharp at each end, that thus if the
enemy attacked them they might drive the stake
into the ground with one point inclined tuwards the
enemy.

And when we came to Ncsle. tidings were brought
to the Kin^r that there was a ford over the river about
a league distant, and coming to the spot we found
two places where the water was little higher than to
a horse's belly, but the approach to tliem was by long
causeways, and the French had broken them in the
middle, so that it was difficult to ride even in single file.
Then Sir John Cornwall and Sir Gilbert Umfraville
were sent across with their pennons and a body of
spearmen and archers to guard the passage. And
the King gave command to fill the breaches with
fagots of wood and straw, so that three might ride
abreast. Then he sent the baggage over by one ford
and the soldiers by the other, standing himself at the
entrance, lest the men in their eagerness should cause

228 KING HENRY V. IN FRANCE.

confusion. Thus the passage was made. But before
a hundred of our men were over the French appeared
in sight, and some horsemen rode hastily to the
attack, but being repelled by the advanced guard,
and seeing that a large part had by this time crossed
and taken up a good position, they turned and rode
away.

Now we began to cross about an hour after noon
and the whole army had attained the other side in
safety an hour before night, and we rejoiced greatly,
trusting that the French would not now attack us.
But the next day the Duke of Orleans and the Duke
of Bourbon sent three heralds to bring the King word
that they would fight with him before he came to
Calais. Upon which the King, encouraging his men,
prepared for battle the next day. But meeting with
no resistance we came to the walled town of Peronne,
and some French horsemen issued forth to attack us,
but perceiving us to be ready they fled back to the
town. And as we went on our way we beheld the
road trodden by the French army, and it was as if
there were many thousands gone before us. And we
of the people, I speak not of the mighty ones, fearing
the battle to be imminent, raised our eyes and hearts
to heaven, crying aloud to God to have mercy on us,
and in His great pity save us from the power of the
French. And we went on and came to the river of
Swords, and hearing that the enemy were on the
other side we made haste to cross, and coming to the
top of a hill we beheld before us in the valley the
French army, in three companies, who halted about

KING HENRY V. IN FRANCE. 229

a mile from us, and filled the whole plain like an
innumerable multitude of locusts.

Of the Battle of Agincourt.

Then our King immediately set us in array, cheer-
ing and encouraging his men with great intrepidity
and graciousness, and all who had not done so before
made their confession. And I heard a certain Sir
Walter Hungerford lamenting in the King's presence
that they had not another ten thousand of good Eng-
lish archers. But the King turning to him said, 'Thou
speakest foolishly, for by the God of heaven, in Whose
grace I trust, and in Whom I have a firm hope of
victory, I would not have one more. Dost thou not
believe that the Almighty with these few can over-
come the pride of the French 1 '

Then the enemy, having considered us awhile,
drew off to a field beyond a wood which lay on the
left hand, on the road to Calais. Upon that the King
advanced and followed them, but when the sun began
to decline the French prepared to take up their posi-
tion for the night in the orchards. And when dark-
ness settled down upon us we could hear them calling
to one another; but our King commanded us to keep
silence, threatening if a gentleman should offend to
take away his horse and harness, and if a servant that
he should lose his left ear. And thus in silence we
turned aside to a village, and took up our abode in
some miserable houses and the gardens and orchards.
And rain fell in abundance all that night. But the

KING HENRY V. IN FRANCE,

enemy perceiving our silence thought that we pur-
posed to flee, and lighted fires, with strong guards to
intercept us ; and it is reported that they thought
themselves -so secure of us that they played at dice
for our King and his nobles.

Then on the morrow, being the Feast of SS. Cris-
pin and Crispinian, the 25th day of October, at break
of day, the French formed in battle array, and took
up their position in the field of Agincourt, through
which went our road to Calais. Their vanguard was
of footmen of their noblest and best, showing a forest
of lances and shining helmets, and on each side was a
company of horsemen to break the line of our archers.
All the remainder, the rearguard and the wings, were
on horseback, an innumerable multitude.

King Henry having heard mass, set his army in
order, making but one line of battle, his vanguard,
under the Duke of York, forming the right wing, and
the rearguard, under the Lord de Camoys, the left,
with a body of archers between them, the stakes
being fixed in the ground to defend them from the
horsemen.

But when the King saw that the French delayed
to attack, and that the two armies had been face to
face for many hours, he prepared to advance. And
he gave command to carry the baggage to the rear,
where were the priests praying earnestly for the King
and his men. But as soon as the battle began the
French plunderers fell upon them and carried away
the sword and crown and many other precious things.

Then the King, crying to Heaven for aid, moved

SAYING MASS

KiyC HEXR V V. IN FRANCE.

towards the enemy, and I, sitting- on horseback with
the other priests in the rear, remembering- what the
Church at that time was reading, said in my heart,
* Remember us, O Lord ! Our enemies are gathered
together, glorying in their might. Shatter their
strength and disperse them, that they may know that
there is none other that fighteth for us, but only
Thou, O God.'

And the two armies meeting, the French horse-
men began to assail our archers ; but by the rain of
arrows they were compelled to give way, and fled to
the rear. And the enemy's cross-bowmen, who were
behind the armed men after the first hasty discharge,
in which they wounded very few, also gave way and
retreated. Then the French nobles, who \\erc ad-
vancing in one body, either from fear of the arrows or
hoping thus to prosper better, divided themselves
into three bodies, and attacked in the three places
where the standards were seen. And their attack
w^as so fierce that they forced back our men almost a
spear's length, at which we, fighting a priestly war-
fare, fell on our faces in bitterness of spirit, crying on
God to remember us. And our men quickly re-
covered their strength, and the battle raged fiercely.
And when their arrows were exhausted, catching up
the stakes and the swords and lances which lay
around them, the archers attacked and dispersed the
enemy. Nor had the oldest men ever seen the
English so daring and intrepid ; but on the French
fell a panic of fear, and some of the noblest of them
surrendered more than ten times, but there was no

KING HENR Y V. IN FRANCE.

leisure to make prisoners, and they were all cut down,
and the multitude, coming on with undisciplined
violence, fell down on the dead bodies before them,
and were slaughtered as they lay. And where our
standards were the dead lay heaped to the height of a
man. Then, when the rest had taken flight, our men
separated the living from the dead, proposing to keep
them for ransom. But there rose a cry that the enemy's
horsemen had gathered together again, and were com-
ing upon our wearied men. Then all the prisoners
were put to death without mercy, excepting the Dukes
of Orleans and Bourbon and a very few others. But
the enemy gave way at the King's approach, and left
to us the bloody field, with their waggons and victuals,
and stores of lances, arrows, and bolts.

And when the force of the enemy had been dis-
persed, and the battle was finished, we returned
victorious through the heaps of slain. We could not
refrain from grief and tears at the sight of so many
soldiers, valiant and renowned when God was with
them, who had sought their deaths at our hands.
And if the sight awakened pity and compunction in
us strangers, how much greater was the weeping and
mourning of the people of the land ! And truly I
think there is no heart of flesh nor of stone that could
have seen without tears the cruel deaths and bitter
wounds of so many Christians.

And there fell of them the Dukes of Brabant,
Bar, and Alengon, five earls, and more than ninety
barons, a thousand five hundred knights, and between
four and five thousand other nobles. And there were

KING IIENR V r. /jV FRAA'CE.

taken, besides the Dukes of Orleans and Bourbon,
the Earls of Richemont, Vendome, and Eu, with the
Lord Boucicault, marshal of France, and a few others.
But great was the joy and wonder of our men when
they found that of our men had fallen but nine or
ten with the noble Duke of York, and the young Lord
Michael, earl of Suffolk. And Duke Humphrey of
Gloucester, the King's brother, receiving as he gave
to others, was grievously wounded in the King's com-
pany, but after his coming to Calais he recovered.

Then, after the battle was over, the King, having
rested that night in the same spot as he did the night
before, set out on his way to Calais, and he came to
the place on the day after the Feast of St. Simon and
St. Jude; and the Saturday after Martinmas the Lord
de Gaucourt and the other captives of Harfleur
having come to him, he returned into England and
came to the port of Dover.

Of the Entry of the King into Londoii.

And having rested there one day, he took his way
by Canterbury to his manor of Eltham, proposing tc
enter his City of London on the following Saturday ;
and the citizens made great preparations to receive
him worthily. And when the day was come they
went out to Blackheath to meet him, the Mayor and
twenty-three aldermen in scarlet, and the rest in red
garments with red and white hoods. In all there
were about twenty thousand horses, and they bore
the siq-ns of their several crafts. And about the tenth

234 I<^ING HENRY V. IN FRANCE.

hour the King came to them ; and when they had
given thanks to God for his victory, and had con-
gratulated him, they led the way back to the City,
followed by the King with a small company.

And when they were come to the bridge, on the
tower at the entrance was a great statue, bearing, like
a champion, a great axe in his right hand and the
keys of the city in his left ; and on his left hand
stood the statue of a woman clad in scarlet ; and
around were the royal banners, and the trumpets
and clarions sounded, and beneath was written,
' Civitas Regis justiticB.' Then, as they passed
along, they saw on each side a little tower, painted
to look like marble and green jasper ; and on one
was an antelope with the royal sceptre in his right
foot and the arms round his neck, and on the other
a lion erect, bearing in his right claws the royal
standard unfurled. Over the road was another
tower, and beneath a splendid pavilion was a statue
of St. George with a laurel -wreath studded with
pearls, and on his right hung his helmet, and on his
left his shield. And in a house near were a great
number of boys dressed in white, like angels with glit-
tering wings, who sang with sweet voices to the sound
of organs the English canticle : —

' Deo gratias Anglia redde pro victoria !
Our King went forth to Normandy,
With grace and might of chivalry ;
The God for him wrought marvellously,
Wherefore England may call and cry,
Deo gratias, &:c.

KING HENR Y V. IN FRANCE.

235

He set a siege, the sooth for to say,
To Harfleur town, with royal array ;
The town he won, and made a fray
That France shall rue till doomsday !
Deo gratias, (Sea

Then went our King with all his host
Through France, for all the French boast
He spared for dread of least nor most,

Till he come to Agincourt coast.

Deo gratias, (S:c.

Then, forsooth, that knight comely,
In Agincourt field he fought manly;
Through grace of God most mighty,
He had both the field and the victory.
Deo gratias, &c.

Their dukes and earls, lord and baron,
Were take and slain, and that well soon ;
And some were led into London,
With joy, and mirth, and great renown !
Deo gratias, »S:c.

Now, gracious God, He save our King,
His people, and all his well willing ;
Give him good life, and good endings
That we with mirth may safely sing,

Deo gratias, &c'

Then they came to the tower of the conduit at
Cornhill, and it was decked with crimson cloth like
a tent, and on it were the arms of St. George, St.
Edmund, and St. Edward, with the arms of England ;
and beneath were written the words, 'Because the
king hopeth in the Lord, and in the mercy of the Most

236 KING HENRY V. IN FRANCE.

High, he shall not be moved.' And as the King
passed by there came out of the tent a company of
prophets, hoary with age, clad in gold, and with hoods
of crimson and gold ; and they set free a number of
sparrows and little birds, who flew about the King,
some resting on his breast and shoulders. And the
prophets, bowing down before the King, began to
sing the psalm, * Sing unto the Lord a new song.
Hallelujah.'

And as they rode to the entrance of the street of
Chepe there were men wearing the names of the
twelve apostles, and of the twelve kings of England,
martyrs, and confessors, who chanted melodious songs
as the King passed by. And they sent him wafers of
bread and wine from the conduit, that they might
receive him as Melchisedek received Abraham when
he returned from the slaughter of the kings.

When they came to the cross of Chepe, the cross
could not be seen, for there was built round it a fair
castle, with columns and arches covering the street,
under which the people rode. And on it was built a
place convenient for seeing, covered with tapestry; and
into it came from the castle a company of fair maidens,
clad in white, singing, as they did of old to David
returning from the slaughter of Goliath, with timbrel
and dance ; and they sang, ' Welcome, Henry the
Fifth, king of England and of France,' while from
the top to the bottom of the castle were to be seen
innumerable little boys like angels, dressed in white,
casting down upon our King coins of gold and boughs
of laurel, while they sang Te Deiim laudamtis.

A'/XG IIEXRY V. IN FRANCE. 237

Then, as they passed round to St. Paul's, there
were a number of Httle pavihons, and in each pavilion,
like a statue, stood a fair maiden, with cups of gold in
their hands ; and as the King passed by they blew
out of their cups leaves of gold upon his head. And
above was a canopy like the sky, with clouds ingeni-
ously wrought, and above an archangel in bright gold,
and beneath the image of the sun, sending forth
bright rays, with angels singing around. And there
was written upon it, ' Deo gratias ! '

Moreover, the crowd in the streets was so great
that the horsemen could scarce ride through them,
and from every window and crevice were people
gazing ; and there were all the most noble ladies and
honourable men in the kingdom gathered together,
gaily clad in cloth of gold and crimson and bright
apparel. And the King, clad in purple, without pride
or arrogance, rode gravely, with few attendants,
through the praises of the people, the dukes and
earls, his prisoners, following him. And it might be
seen, from his grave demeanour, that he gave the
praise to God alone. Thus he came to the church of
St. Paul's, and there offered, and thence passed to his
palace of Westminster.

238

CHAPTER XIV.

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

As men have made romances of the sieges and
battles and great deeds that have been done in old
time, so now I have taken upon me to tell how our liege
King Harry the Fifth laid siege, with great array, to
the rich city of Rouen, and ended it according to his
will. There hath been no greater siege since Troy
and Jerusalem were taken. And I may tell it better
than another, for I lay there with my liege, and I
took right good notice of everything, as far as I was
able.

Now, after Pont de I'Arche was won, and the
passage of the Seine was forced, the noble lord, the
Duke of Exeter, was sent by our King to Rouen, and
heralds with him, to the city, to see if they would
yield, and also to reconnoitre the ground round about
the city, and see how they might best lay siege to it,
if they would not obey our liege. And when that re-
nowned duke came before the town he displayed his
banners and sent heralds to the city, and warned
them, upon pain of death, that they must not with-
stand our King in his right, but must deliver up the

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN. 239-

city. Also he did them to wit how the King- would
go no further till he had it ; but before he went from
the place, by God's grace he would win it. To this
the Frenchmen gave no answer, but bade them go
their way, and signed to us that we should stay no
longer. Their guns burst forth upon us fiercely and
pitilessly, and out came knights on horseback in
bright armour keen for battle ; and the Duke mus-
tered his men again, and many were taken and slain.
When this was done, without delay he rode back to
Pont de I'Arche, and told the King of the city, and
how it stood.

And now I will tell you of a right cursed deed
that the Frenchmen did there before our King came
to them, for all the suburbs of that fair town, the
churches and houses, they pulled down, for they came
out by the gate of St. Hilary and pulled down a
parish church — St. Hilary it was called, for the gate
was named after it ; and by the Caux gate they pulled
down the church of St. Andrew, and an abbey of
St. Gervais ; and at the gate of the Bridge they threw
down a church of our sweet Lady, and another of the
meek maid St. Katherinc and St. Saviour. St.
Matthew's they pulled down, leaving neither stick nor
stone standing, and a fine church of St. Michel at
Martinville, and another of St. Paul a little way off.
The hedges 01 their gardens and their trees they
carried home, and burnt the bushes and briers, and
made it as bare as my hand. But the gay city was
well prepared for defence, and the walls were strong
;^4 the ditches deep and defensible. The dyke that

240 THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

was along outside the wall was deep and full wide.
The trench was made with a deep descent to defend
the ditch, so that no one could come near without
danger of death, for no one who fell into the trench
could get out again unharmed ; and all along the
ditch there were pitfalls, and every pitfall was a spear
in height, so that no man should be able to stand to
fight in them, and so they might know that there
were no enemies about them. From the pitfalls up
to the wall was a great height. Also it was as full of
caltrops as a net is of meshes, and within the town
before the wall it was counterwalled with earth so
thick and broad that a cart might go along it. This
they ordered that the guns might do them no mischief,
and they had besides many other contrivances. The
city had but five gates, but there were many a score
of towers about it, and between each tower there was
but the space of six rods, and in every tower lay three
guns to shoot diverse ways ; and in the wall between
each tower all round that fair city there was laid low
a strong ' fowler,' with the earth for it to throw ; and
between every tower were eight small guns to shoot
often, and at every ward was set an engine or else a
trebuchet, and at some wards there were set more.
St. Hilary was one of those. Thus they made their
preparation for huge and strong defence.

The Friday before Lammas Day King Harry came
before the proud city in rich array, and took up his
lodging beside it. On the Saturday he assigned to
the chieftains their places round the city, and on
Monday he caused it to be proclaimed that every maij

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN: 241

should take up his position. At the east end of the
city, in a house of the Chartreux, was lodged the
King with many lords. At the end, to the west, the
Duke of Clarence took up his position before an
abbey that had been pulled down and sore injured
near to the gate of Caux. There he kept in the
Frenchmen with great power, and won worship and
great honour.

At the other side Exeter, that bold knight, lay
at the gate Beauvicine, where, as the Frenchmen
came out every day, he beat them back manfully,
and won him worship, as he was wont. Between
him and Clarence lay the Earl Marshal, next the
castle gate, and kept it both early and late ; and
next him, when he came from Domfront, lodged
Talbot and Lord Harington, and when he was dead
Sir William of Harington took his retinue. The Earl
of Ormond, with a fair train of knights, lay next by
Clarence , and that comely knight, Cornwall, was with
Clarence always, and many other knights whom I
cannot number. Between Exeter and the King lay
the Lords Ros and Willoughby, and with them Lord
Fitz-Hugh, who was held to be a good and true
knight, and Sir William Porter before the gate of
St. Hilary, where the war was fiercest, and ever as they
came out of the gate he drove them in again with
might and main, and won great worship and praise.
And until St. Katherine's was yielded up, the bold
Earl of IMontaigne lay between the town and the
abbey, and did much mischief to the Frenchmen.
The Earl of Salisbury lay on the other side, and also

R

242 THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

a comely knight, Sir John de Gray. On Mount
St. Michel he lay between the abbey and the town,
and Sir Philip Leche between the abbey and the
Seine, and kept ward under the hill. Carew% that
bold baron, kept ward by the water with a worthy
squire, Janyco, above him. On the other side of the
Seine lay Huntingdon, warring manfully and winning
much worship ; and with him lay Nevill and Umfra-
ville and Sir Richard Arundel, and the Lord Ferrars
at the gate of the bridge, winning worship every
day.

Our King had a great chain made, and fastened by
strong piles across the river below the bridge, so that
no ships should pass that way ; and over the chain he
made a bridge, that both man and horse might cross
hastily, if need were. And when Warwick was come
from Domfront to the King, our liege commanded him
to go to Caudebec and lay siege to it. But when he
came before the town they began to treat at once, and
a composition was granted that they should do as
Rouen did, and sealed with this condition, that our
ships should pass the Seine with their freight without
let or hindrance. So our ships passed up and cast
anchor full near to Rouen, as thick in the Seine as
they might stand ; and so it was besieged by land
and water. And when Warwick had ended that he
rode to Rouen and took up his lodging between St.
Katherine's and the King, until by God's grace the
abbey was yielded ; and then he lay before the gate
of Martinville, where the war was fierce, and manfully
repelled their sorties. And when Gloucester was

f^^ft Qit^^ t^> ^»m teA\k KXAvii l^^y^i

»^A .-< A Pit . Li

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN. 243

come from the siege of Cherbourg he lodged before
the gate St. Hilary, dreading no peril of stones or
quarrels, but lay much nearer the enemy than any
other lord by forty roods and more. The Earl of
Suffolk and Abergavenny, that comely knight, lay with
Gloucester.

Now the Prior of Kilmainham was by this time
come to the mouth of the Seine, and landed at Har-
fleur with fifteen hundred fighting men. They were
well arrayed for the w^ar, after the fashion of their
country. He hied to the siege full fast, and was
welcomed by our liege. But a rumour was spread
that the French King, with the Burgundians, would
come down by the open plain upon the north side of
our host, so the King assigned the Prior and his men
to lodge by the wood and keep the highway ; and
they lodged under the wood and made good their
watch and ordinance. Three leagues outside the
army was his charge, and the knight gave speedy
assent and prepared to receive the first brunt of the
attack. Thus our siege was set all round that fair
city.

And now I will tell you of the captains of the city.
Monsieur Guy le Bouteiller was the chief captain both
of the castle and the town, a man of great renown ;
Monsieur de Termagon was captain of the Gate of
Caux, and Monsieur de Roche of the Gate of Beau-
vicine, with Monsieur Antony for his lieutenant ;
Henri de Chauffour was captain of the Gate of the
Bridge of Seine ; John de Matryvers of the Gate of
the Castle, and iMonsieur Peneux of the Gate St.

244 THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

Hilary, and' the Bastard of Thian at the Gate of
Martinville. Graunde Jakes was captain of all the
sorties and skirmishes without the city. Each of
these captains had five thousand men and more to
lead ; but of the commonalty there were many thou-
sand men arrayed beside. When our siege first began,
those within the city were numbered at four hundred
thousand men, women, and children, — a proud store
of people for a king to lay siege to. And they were as
proud men as ever I saw, skilled in many points of
war, and bold in deed, both on foot and horseback.
And when they would make an attack they did not
come out in one party, but at two gates, or at three, or
at all at once suddenly, and at each place there would
be ten thousand, royally arrayed, and ready, and
daring. It was very pleasant to lead them, but to
encounter them was terrible, for much of the war
came from the wall, and I never saw greater injury
done by. shot of guns and quarrels. And when they
came out and made an affray there would be shot
from at least a hundred guns in the space of an hour,
and the quarrels in a little space no tongue could
number. And other times they would ride out into
the field with shield and spear. Then our King had
a ditch made and set full of sharp-pointed stakes,
with a prickly hedge all round the city. Sir Robert
Bapthorp was comptroller under our King, and he
arranged the hedge and ditch. And afterwards
they would come out on foot, for on horse it was
no longer possible. Our men met them ever on
water or land ; but many of our men were slain

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN. 245

by running too near the walls, and nothing but
God's grace could bring them back alive from the
thick rain of shot and quarrels, trebuchets, espringales,
and other engines, which wrought our men much
harm, — especially to Gloucester, for he was lodged
so near.

Tidings came again and again that the Bur-
gundians were coming to rescue them, which made
the bells ring out full shrill in the city ; but they
rang not at all after the siege was set until it was
taken. But when the tidings reached us that they
were close upon us our King said, * Now, fellows, let
every one be merry, for wc shall have some fighting
soon.' But the news came that they were gone back
to Paris. Then again, within a few days, it was said
they were at Ponthoise, and that there were of them
four hundred thousand fighting men following the
Duke ; upon which our King commanded it to be
proclaimed that every man should lie down in his
armour, and outside the camp was made a great
ditch, in which were fixed stakes and sharp pikes to
wound the horses, and guns were carried and fixed
ready to receive an attack. All this work was over-
looked by the corhptroller ; a worthy knight he was,
and a busy. Then came tidings they were within
twenty miles, and on Thursday it was said they
would certainly come on P'riday, and the story
reached the city. Thereupon our King bade the
Earl of Huntingdon try a stratagem. He prepared
a company armed with bows, marshalled with their
backs to the town, and out of the wood came another

246 THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

company with banners bearing the Burgundian arms ;
and the two companies fought together, and they
cried for succour from the town to come out to them,
but they durst not, for they feared it was a trick, and
that they would be slain.

But the war went on with sorties and assaults,
and the city waited for help from Burgundy until it
drew towards Christmas, and bread and drink began
to fail in the city. They had nothing but water and
vinegar to drink ; the bread was nearly gone, and
meat, save horseflesh, they had none. They ate also
cats and dogs, and rats and mice ; and a quarter of
a horse, fat or lean, was worth one hundred shillings,
and a horse's head half a pound. A dog sold for ten
shillings, and a cat for two nobles, while a rat cost
forty pence and a mouse sixpence, though there
were but few left in any house. A piece of bread,
half as big as the hand, was worth a franc of that
country, and it was made neither of wheat-meal nor
oats, but of bran ; leeks and onions sold at a shilling,
and glad was a man to get them ; an ^^^ at nine-
pence, and an apple at tenpence. And in the market
might be found many a careful heart, not bent on
making good bargains, but sad for lack of food,
and driven to eat roots and bark and any grass they
could find. Then they began to die in that rich city,
and they died so fast every day that they were left
unburied. Now where once had been pride and joy,
with feasting and song, could be heard sorrow and
sore weeping, hunger and wailing. Love and kind-
ness fled away ; children would give nothing to their

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN. 2An

mothers, and mothers hid the bread from their
children and ate it in secret : so did hunger prove
stronger than love.

Still they made a brave show on the walls, that
our men might not find out their state ; and though
many of them stole out of the town, and when they
were taken by our watch told us of their misery, we
did not believe them, because the defence was still
so stout. But in a little space, out of every gate they
drove hundreds of poor people. It was a pitiful sight
to see women with their children in their arms and
old men, making a doleful waiHng, and on their
knees crying to us, ' Have mercy on us, ye English
men !' Our men gave them some of their bread, and
we did tliem no harm, but made them go back again
to the ditch, lest they should see the secrets of our
watch. Many said they had as lief be slain as go
back to the cit\', and there rose up from them a
loud murmur of curses, deep and bitter, against
their own nation ; and in truth it was full great a
sin, for many died there of cold, it being now
Christmas time. But on Christmas Day our King
sent into Rouen his heralds in rich array, and bade
them proclaim to all within the city, and without,
that because of the high feast he would provide
with meat and drink all that lacked victuals, and
give them safe - conduct to come and go. They
answered lightly, 'Gramercy!' as if they set little
price by it ; and to the poor people whom they had
put out, they would scarce grant leave that two
priests and three servants should bring them food,

24S THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

and swore, ' If any more came to their help they
should be shot.'

The poor people were set all in a row, and the
priests came and brought them meat. They ate and
drank full fair, and as they sat eating so they talked
among themselves. ' The Englishman is tender of
heart,' they said ; * for see this excellent King whom
we have been withstanding, and would never obey nor
do homage to him, and yet he hath more compassion
on us than our own countrymen ; and therefore, Lord
Jesus, full of mercy, grant him grace to win his
right.'

But when they had eaten and gone their way the
truce was at an end, and war took his way. Watch
and ward was kept close to keep them in day and
night. But hunger broke the hard stone wall, and the
captains of the city, the mayor, burgesses, and yeo-
manry, took counsel together to treat. And on the
night of New-year's Eve from every gate a knight
called, but no man heard save on Huntingdon's side,
at the gate of the Bridge of Seine. A knight asked
them what they would have, and they answered,

* We would have a knight of our lineage, or else some
baron.' ' Forsooth,' he said, ' I am a knight ;' and then
they asked what his name was. * My name,' he said,

* is Umfraville.' Then they thanked God, ' for ye are
come of the old blood of Normandy, help us now
with your worthy King.' He answered, * What is
your will ?' They said, ' We have been at every gate,
and have called many times ; first for the excellent
Lord Clarence, then for the good Lord Gloucester.

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN, 249

Often we called, and waited long ; and then to the
gate where Exeter lies, but there was none that would
hear us. And for Warwick we called more than three
times, and for the Earl Marshal. And now help us,
and pray all these lords, for God's sake, Who made
heaven and earth, and all things, and because they
are dukes of great dignity and chieftains of chivalry,
they will pray for us to the King, that we may find
him gracious. And we beg that we may go to your
King ourselves, and beseech him for his knighthood
and his princeliness (for he is an emperor, a royal
king, and a conqueror), that he would grant us life
and his great grace ; and that, notwithstanding our
offence, twelve of us may come into his presence, for
we will tell him that will give him great pleasure.'
Quoth Umfravillc, * I will assent.' And he went
unto the Duke of Clarence and told him all the
matter. And he answered that with right good
will he would speak for them to the King ; for
he was a commendable prince, manful while war
did last and merciful when it was over. We find
few such lords now. He lacked nothing a lord
should have.

And Umfraville took his leave and went forth on
his message to Gloucester and the Duke of Exeter,
and they thanked God and said they would help to
make a good end of it. And Umfraville went to
the earls and the lords, and they all said the same
to him. God of His great grace show mercy to
these chieftains of chivalry, who so soon fell in
charity.

THE SIEGE OF ROUEX

Then, on New-year's Day in the morning, Sir
Gilbert Umfraville came to the King, and told
him all the matter, and prayed for the city. And
the King, of his own will and by good advice, granted
the city her will, and said, ' Let twelve of them
come to me.' And for the King thus showed them
mercy when they had so greatly grieved him, and
lost him many of his people, and put him to so
great cost, he proved himself a right merciful prince
and God's own child, for he did good in return for
evil.

And when the King had granted, as I have told,
* ^ly liege,' said Umfraville, * when shall it be ?' ' To-
morrow,' said the King, * let me see them.' So Um-
fraville took his leav^e and went to the city, and when
he was come to the gate he found the estates of the
city gathered together thereat ; to whom he said, * I
have been with our King, and he has granted your
request. To-morrow betimes twelve of you shall go
to him, and I will counsel you how ye shall do, for I
wot that to-morrow ye shall see the royallest prince of
Christendom. Ye never spake with such a prince ere
now, nor so soon will again. Think well before ye
speak, lest your words be too long ; speak but few
words and set them well, for a word out of place may
bring you all into a bad case. So say nothing with-
out good advice.' They thanked him courteously for
his good counsel, and he said adieu, and went his
way.

This was Sunday and New-year's Day ; and the
next day at prime, Sir Gilbert Umfraville, with some

THE SIE GE OF RO UEN. 1 5 1

of the King's squires, and some yeomen of the crown,
went to St. Hilary's Gate. And there came out to
them twelve men — four knights, four clerks, and four
burgesses, wise men, all clothed in black. And when
they came to the house of the Chartreux, the King
was at mass, and they waited within the house of the
Chartreux until mass was over. Then the King-
came forth as he had kneeled in his closet, with so
high a look and lordly a cheer, and so solemn and
grave a semblance, that all men rejoiced to sec him.
And when the Frenchmen saw him they fell upon
their knee, and with meek language held out to him a
writing. The King bade Exeter take it, and turned
somewhat towards them. In it they besought him,
for God's sake, Who made heaven and earth, and
all things cast and west, and north and south,
that he would let them speak to him by word of
mouth.

The King bade them * Say on ; ' and they were
glad, and said, * We beseech you, for His love Who
died on Good Friday, and for His mother dear, listen
to us now for charity. Have pity on the poor people
who lie in the ditches, and die for lack of bread, and
give them leave to go hence.*

The King stood still with grave countenance,
and neither did laugh nor smile, but with a lordly
presence, neither too mild nor too strange, and gave
answer to them. ' Into the ditch of the city I put
them not, and that ye know. They were not put
there at my ordinance ; neither will I suffer them
to pass my lines. And as to you, ye know right

252 THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

well ye have kept me from my own city, which
is my heritage, when ye should have been my true
liegemen.'

And they answered and said, *As for this city,
which we defend, we have a charge from our sovereign
liege to keep it from assault, and we are his liegemen,
born and sworn to him ; and we have also had a
strong charge from the Duke of Burgundy: but if ye
will grant us our lives and time, that some of us may
go and tell our King of our misery, and excuse us
of our faith, we will yield up our city, and many of
us will become your liegemen.'

To this the King answered, 'Know well, I will not
go without my city ; and as touching your French
liege, he knows, and the Duke of Burgundy too, that
I am besieging you ; for all the while I have been
here messengers have gone between us, and if they
like to meet me, they know well they can find me
here. And neither for friend nor foe will I go hence
without my right. Therefore to send such a message
to them now would be no news to them and super-
fluous for us. There is no need ; I will send no such
message.'

So when the King had given this answer, they
spake no more of that matter ; but a knight said it
would be fair to win Rouen.

' Rouen,' said the King, ' is my own land, and I
will have it whoever withstands me ; and those within
shall be rewarded as they deserve.'

At that word they were afraid, and a clerk began
to speak. ' My Sovereign Lord, it is written in

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN. 253

history how that two chieftains had set a day, and
were met with their armies, and were arrayed in
the field ready for battle. But the weaker party
brought to the bigger bread and wine, in token
that they should show mercy and pity ; and now
we bring you bread and wine — even the fair city
of Rouen.'

'Rouen,' said the King, *is my heritage ; and from
this time I counsel you to do so that ye may find
favour; and I grant you now a truce, and if ye will, ye
may have grace.'

Then they said, ' Sir, for charity, what will ye do
for our poor people who are lying in the ditches and
dying like swine ? Have some pity upon them, and
let them go home.'

To which the King answered, * I will take advice
thereof, and as God shall put it into my heart so will
I have pity upon them.' And with that he said
adieu, and went his way.

Then these Frenchmen went back to the city with
Sir Gilbert Umfraville, and as they went they talked
of our noble King. ' In our judgment,' they said, ' he
is the wisest of all earthly kings. By his princely
carriage, his beauty, and his lordly person ; by his
great discretion and humanity (for he asks nothing
but what is right, and is merciful even in war), he is
a worth)' conqueror. He should be held in great
honour, for well we wot God loveth him ! ' Thus the
Frenchmen went talking of our King on their way to
Rouen, and there they took leave of Umfraville, and
returned into the city.

254 THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

On the next day, early, the King commanded two
tents to be pitched in Gloucester's trench, one for the
English and the other for the French, so that they
might keep dry, however great the storms were. And
as soon as the pavilions were ready they began to
treat with all their might — the wise Earl Warwick
and the true Earl Salisbury, with Lord Fitz-Hugh,
and the King's steward Hungerford, with others
whom I cannot name ; and from that city came
twelve Frenchmen that were counted discreet. It
was a solemn sight to behold — the rich in their array
and the people on the walls. The King's heralds
and pursuivants in coats -of- arms, — the flower of
France, the beast of England, and the castle and
tower of Portugal, and the coats-of-arms of each lord
in his degree, the gold of them shining as the sun fell
on them, while full near was a sight of sorrow and
pain. For the poor people that had been put out had
scarce a clout on their backs to keep them from the
weather, and all that time the rain fell much. There
you might see a child of two or three years going
about begging his bread, for both father and mother
lay dead. The water stood all about, and they lay on
the ground crying for food: some starved to death,
some mere skin and bone ; here a woman holding in
her arms a child cold and dead, and there a living
babe in a dead woman's lap. And between two dead
men you might have found one alive ; and they had
died silently, without noise or cry, as if they fell
asleep, so that he knew not of it. These were sights
of difference — one of joy and one of suffering, as if

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN. 255

heaven and earth had parted, one for weal and the
other for woe.

But let us leave these people and talk of the treaty.
We asked much and they offered little ; so, though
they treated for a fortnight, they could not agree, and
they broke up and the tents were pulled down. But
the Frenchmen bethought themselves that they had
wrought to themselves ill, and as they took their leave
they prayed our lords, ' For the love of God continue
the truce till midnight !' And the English lords as-
sented, and went their way to the King, and told him
how the matter stood.

But in the town it was soon heard how the treaty
was broken off, and the poor people rose against the
rich, and came upon them with shouts and clamours.
* Ye false churls ! ye murderers and man-killers ! will
ye have no regard to us, who are suffering here, and
dying every day ? Ye will have to answer before that
Judge Who suffered on Calvary, and bought us with
His precious blood. If ye would submit to our liege
lord he would soon raise the siege. But for your
goods, and your pomp, and your pride, ye will not
yield to our King, but would rather we should perish
by hunger. But if ye withstand we will kill you, and
he shall come into his right' To this they answered
cunningly, * that it was but a feint, that they might
make the King ask for less money.' Then they
assembled all the city, and every man agreed that
there was no way but two — to deliver up the city or
to die.

So they went to the gate of St. Hilary, and

256 THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

called aloud, and a knight named Sir John Robsart
answered them, and they said, *We beseech you, for
charity and the honour of chivalry, that ye will
speak for us to the Duke of Gloucester, that he
may pray the King to let us treat again. We will
yield us to his will, our persons and our possessions.'
Then the Duke went in haste to the King, and the
King granted their request.

Now the Archbishop of Canterbury lay at St.
Katherine's, and he went to the King and besought
him to give him leave to go to the city and speak with
the clergy of it, to bring about a peace. And the
King granted him leave, and the pavilions were
pitched again in the trench, and the Archbishop set
up his between. They treated for four days by day
and night, by the light of candles and bright torches,
and, by God's grace, they made an end. And, when
all was concluded the French prayed that, to save
their honour, they might have eight days' grace in
which they might send to the French King and the
Duke of Burgundy, and tell them how they stood. It
was a point of chivalry, and the King granted it
willingly. Now the treaty was that, in eight days, if
no rescue came, they should deliver up the city and
all the burgesses to be English subjects, and pay to
our King 50,000/. ; and, moreover, they should under-
take to make a castle for our King on the Seine in three
half-years' time. And they were to have their fran-
chise as in old time, and no man might sell within the
city but the citizens who dwelt there ; and every one
in the town who was born a Norman and would not be

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN. 257

sworn an Englishman, should be given to the King
to punish. And all the soldiers were to lose their
goods and lay down their armour, and go out of
the town in their doublets, but the King gave eveiy
man a gown.

Graunde Jakes was sent to beg for the rescue, and
he was glad of the message, and came back no more
to Rouen. But he sent a messenger to bid them
make an end, for there was no rescue for them that he
wot of So on Thursday, the eighth day, on the feast
of St. Wolston, our King sat in royal state in the
house of the Chartreux to receive as conqueror the
keys of the city. Monsieur Guy le Botellier, with the
burgesses of the city, brought the keys to the King,
and besought leave to be his liegemen. Our sovereign
King commanded the keys to be given to the Duke of
Exeter, and made him captain of the city, and charged
him to enter in his name and take possession. And
the Duke, without delay, took horse and rode forth to
the gate that he had lain before so long. With him
went many a worthy man, and there was neighing of
many a steed and waving of many a banner. And
when the gate was opened the trumpeters blew a
blast, and the pipes and clarions sounded, and as they
entered they shouted with a mighty noise, ' Saint
George! Saint George! Our King's right!' The
French people were gathered in thousands to see
them, and cried them welcome. But, to tell the truth,
that people were a pitiful sight ; many of them were
nothing but very skin and bone, with hollow eyes and
sharp visages, but just able to breathe, in colour wan

S

258 THE SIEGE OF ROUEN.

as lead. In every street lay some dead men, and
hundreds crying for bread. For long after they died
as fast as they could be carried away.

The Duke of Exeter rode first to the castle, and
then all through the length and breadth of the city,
and set up rich banners in all parts. On the Gate
of St. Hilar}^ he set a banner of the Trinity ; at
the Gate of Caux a banner of Our Lady ; and at
the Gate of Martinville a banner of St. George.
On the castle he set up the arms of France and
England.

On Friday, in the morning, came our King into
the city, and all the bishops in their robes ; and
seven abbots with their crosses, with a procession of
regulars and seculars with forty-two crosses, came out
to meet him, and gave him holy water, and blessed
him as he passed. He entered by the wide gate of
Caux without pride, without pipe, or blast of trumpet,
thanking God Almighty in his heart ; and all the
people cried, ' Welcome to our lord ! Welcome to
thine own right!' And with that they cried, 'Nowell!'
He rode on a black horse clothed in black damask,
with a breastplate of gold, and pendants behind him
so long that they hung down on either side to the
ground. And those who had never seen him before
knew by his look which was he. To the minster he
went, and there lighted off his horse. His chaplains
met him at the door, and went before him, singing, in
response, ' Quis est magnus domhmsV — 'Who is so
great a god as our God V And after he had heard
mass and made his offerings he went to the castle.

THE SIEGE OF ROUEN. 259

which is a palace of great beauty. There he took up
his lodging in great state and splendoun And into
the town came fast to the people bread and wine, and
fish and flesh. So our gracious liege lord made an
end of this great siege.

260

CHAPTER XV.

JACQUES DE LALAIN, KNIGHT OF THE FLEECE
OF GOLD.

Hoiv he challenged James Douglas.

Now the good knight Jacques de Lalain, who was
continually thinking how to attain to the height of
prowess and great renown, labouring with all his
might to raise and glorify the house of which he
came, and knowing that idleness is the mother of all
vice and the destroyer of virtue, thought within him-
self to send one to the kingdom of Scotland, to carry
a letter to James Douglas. In this were contained, as
I understand, the articles which Sir Jacques de Lalain
was accustomed to send unto all places where he
thought to do some deed of arms. Nevertheless,
whatever enterprise he would undertake, it was
always with the knowledge and permission of his
sovereign lord, the Duke of Burgundy, to whom he
went and told what it was his intention to do. Now
when Duke Philip had heard and well understood
the wishes of the young knight, and had seen the
letter which he had caused to be written, in order that

JACQUES DE LALAIN. 261

it might be sent into Scotland, he was very glad, and
said, * God's grace be with you. I see that you desire
earnestly the glory and honours of noblesse and
worthy renown. Be certain that I will aid you in
all your affairs, and go on boldly with what you have
undertaken.' Jacques de Lalain thanked the Duke
humbly, and showed him the letters which it was his
mind to send into Scotland.

There were present his two uncles — to wit, the
Lord of Crequy, and Simon de Lalain, lord of
IMontigny, and many other knights and squires, who
praised the letter, saying it was well written. So it
was delivered to Charolcis herald, who, having re-
ceived a charge as to what he was to do from Jacques
de Lalain, by the leave of the Duke departed and
came to Dunkirk, where he took ship, and, with a
good wind, in a few days he came to Scotland.
There, setting foot on land, he inquired and asked
where he should find James Douglas, and he was
told by some who knew that he was in a little
town where there is a castle named Edin. There
he found Earl Douglas, and James his brother. So
he saluted the Earl, and gave the letters to James,
which were from his lord, Jacques de Lalain,

When James Douglas saw the Charolois herald
present the letters to him, he was greatly astonished,
desiring to know what was contained in them. He
broke the seal and opened them, and read them at
length and the articles contained in them. Having
read them, James showed them to Earl Douglas and
the other barons and knights who were present.

262 JACQUES DE L ALAIN,

These having read them, they replied and said to
Charolois that he was very welcome, and prayed him
to have patience, and that he should soon have an
answer.

Then James went before the King, who gave him
leave and license to do this deed of arms in the
manner which was contained in the articles. There-
upon he caused a letter of reply to be drawn up
and written, which, being done and sealed with his
sign manual, was delivered to Charolois herald, who,
when he had taken his leave, with great diligence
departed and took ship in a merchant vessel which
came to Sluys, where the Duke then was, and with
him Jacques de Lalain and his two uncles, the Lord
de Crequy and the Lord de Montigny.

When Charolois entered the Duke's court there
were many knights and squires desirous to hear his
news. The herald went up at once to the Duke's
chamber, where at this hour he found the Duke, who
had just dined. He saluted him humbly, and then
presented his letters to Sir Jacques, who opened them.
After they had been read and commented upon, those
present began to converse, and it was concluded, by
the will and with the leave of the Duke of Burgundy,
that Sir Jacques de Lalain should pass over into
Scotland to do his deed of arms, which thing he
desired above all other.

Whereupon he prepared and arranged everything
very honourably, so that no fault could be found with
anything. And when he was fully prepared he came
to Sluys in Flanders, and took leave of the Duke.

KNIGHT OF THE FLEECE OF GOLD. 263

Then he went on board his ship, which was well
ordered and furnished with wines and all kinds of
victuals, as was fitting. You may be sure he was
honourably accompanied by a large number of
knights and squires, among whom were his uncle,
the Lord of Montigny, and a noble squire, a native
of the marches of Bretagne, named Hen-e de
Meriadecq, squire of the stables to the Duke of
Burgundy. These went, not wishing to fight ; never-
theless, they did not leave behind them their armour
nor weapons, by reason of adventures which they
might meet with on the way. They were all richly
apparelled, and provided with silver plate and other
precious things.

All being ready, about the month of December
Jr.cques de Lalain and those of his company left
Sluys, and sailed till they came to the kingdom
of Scotland, and to the town of Edinburgh, where
at that time were the friends of James Douglas.

Now when Jacques de Lalain and his company
were come to Scotland, the Scots of James Douglas's
party came to meet him, and there was much talking
and many words, for they wished to know why and
for what cause De Lalain had sent the challenge to
James Douglas ; and they were sharp in their
questions, and from their manner seemed not very
well pleased. But they received for answer that it
was not out of hatred, envy, nor any ill-will whatever,
but only to do him the greatest honour that Sir
Jacques de Lalain had it in his power to show ; for
that the greatness of his birth, together with the

264 JACQUES DE L ALAIN,

high renown for valour that was in him, made
Jacques de Lalain desire his acquaintance more
than that of any other knight or lord o^ the realms
of Scotland. Then the Scots of James's party were
content.

Now when Sir Jacques de Lalain and James
Douglas had spoken together at length of this
matter, they agreed to choose each of them two
companions, men of birth and of renown. Sir
Jacques chose his uncle Simon de Lalain, lord of
Montigny, and Herve de Meriadecq, and James
Douglas took to accompany him two noble and
puissant lords, the Lord de Halkett and another
whose name was also James Douglas, both known
as valiant knights.

Of the Lists of Sthding.

The thing being thus concluded, the King of
Scotland agreed to be their judge, and fixed the day
and place. So the lists were set up at Stirling,
and thither the six repaired, to be ready on the
appointed day. . They were very honourably received
by the King, and after the due revels the King
appointed the strangers two well-renowned knights,
to be with them and aid them with counsel, as is
the custom. *

When the day came, the King mounted his throne.
Jacques de Lalain, Simon his uncle, and Herve de
Meriadecq, entered the lists, all three unarmed, Sir
Jacques and his uncle v/earing long robes of black

KNIGHT OF THE FLEECE OF GOLD. 265

velvet furred with marten, and Meriadecq clad in a
short robe of black satin furred also with marten,
Their harness was borne after them in two chests,
covered with the arms of Jacques d.(i Lalain richly-
embroidered : they were accompanied by the noble
friends who had come with them ; and so the three
came together to their pavilion and entered in.
Then they went to make their reverence to the
King-, and afterwards returned to their pavilion,
where they found their harness ready spread out.
There they armed themselves at their ease, and had
plenty of time, for their adversaries were more than
three hours before they came. Then James Douglas,
the Lord de Halkett, and James Douglas, arrived,
and came to the entrance of the lists, very nobly-
accompanied by the Earl of Douglas, and many-
other lords and knights and their followers, to the
number of between four and five thousand men, it
is said.

Then the three champions, armed and clad \\\
their coats-of-arms, dismounted and came into ly?eil
pavilion, and all three together went to make theit
reverence to the King of Scotland, requesting of him
that he would give them the order of knighthood,
which thing he liberally granted them. So he de-
scended from his place and made all three knights.
Then they entered their pavilion and the King
returned to his place. Sir Jacques de Lalain and
his companions beheld from their pavilion the three
knights returning from the King, each of them clad
in his coat-of-arms. They knew them by their arms,

266 JACQUES DE L ALAIN,

and they agreed together that Sir Jacques should
fight with Sir James Douglas, Meriadecq with the
Lord de Halkett, who was thought to be the
strongest, and Simon de Lalain should have to do
with the other James Douglas. The challenge was
to fight with lance, axe, sword, and dagger, a oittrance,
or at the pleasure of the King ; but at the request of
the Scots the cast of the lance was forbidden, for
they trusted much in their lances. Therefore they
agreed together, the uncle, nephew, and Meriadecq,
that when they came together against their enemies
they would throw away their lances and fight with
their axes. According to the rules of the combat,
each one might aid his companion, nevertheless
Sir Jacques de Lalain said to Meriadecq, * I believe
you will be the first to be rid of your man, yet I
pray you, whatever you may see happen to me, that
you will neither aid nor succour me in any manner
whatever, but that you will leave me to such fortune,
good or bad, as it shall please God to send me.' So
said they all, and agreed together to do.

So were the three champions arrayed and ready
to issue forth from their pavilion, only waiting for the
proclamations and ordinances which it is customary
to make on a closed field. Very soon these were pub-
lished duly at the four corners of the lists, the pro-
hibitions being made on the part of the King of
Scotland thrice, with sound of trumpets ; after which
the Lalains and Meriadecq, fully armed and clad in
their coats-of-arms, came forth, Jacques de Lalain
between his uncle Simon and Meriadecq.

KNIGHT OF THE FLEECE OF GOLD. 267

Thereupon the Scots came forth on their side,
armed in like manner, Sir James Douglas between
his companions. And thus, full haughtily and with
proud step, they advanced towards each other, which
was a fine thing and pleasant to behold. And as they
drew near, seeing that the Lord de Halkett was
against Simon de Lalain, Meriadecq would have
crossed before Jacques de Lalain in order that he
might fight with him, but Simon cried aloud, * Let each
man remain as he is ! ' So they drew on in this order
to fight. And the Lalains and Meriadecq threw their
lances behind them, as they had agreed to do, and
took their axes and began to fight and rain great
blows on the Scots, who defended themselves with
their lances.

Sir James Douglas fought with his lance, but soon
lost hold of it, and seized his axe and fought a little
with that, but not long, for Sir Jacques made him lose
that also, as he made him lose his lance. Sir James,
being very angry and troubled to see himself thus
disarmed of his lance and of his axe, suddenly seized
his dagger and thought to strike at Sir Jacques in the
face (for he fought without a visor and with his face
uncovered), but Jacques, seeing him approach him
thus, struck at him with his left hand and made him
retire. Nevertheless, Sir James did all he could to
strike him on the face. Then Sir Jacques threw away
his axe and with his left hand caught Sir James and
held him so fast that he could not approach him, and
with his right hand he drew his sword, which was a
straight blade, and took it near the point, thinking to

268 JACQUES DE L ALA IN,

use it as a dagger, for he had lost his own and knew
not how : some said that those who ought to have
given it him had not done so. And as he thought
thus to use his sword as a dagger and to wound Sir
James in the hand in which he held his banner, the
blade slipped out of his hand and he was left without
arms. And when he saw himself thus disarmed, he
quickly and suddenly seized Sir James by both
hands, and by strength of arm forced him back-
wards till he was in front of the King of Scotland,
and then twice lifted him off the ground, hoping to
overthrow him and put him much out of breath;
for Sir James fought with the visor closed, and
Lalain had no visor, therefore he could breathe
freely : but with Sir James it was not so, as was
well seen when the King, having thrown down the
baton, his visor was raised.

We have told how Sir Simon de Lalain met the
Lord de Halkett, and how the Lord de Halkett began
to fight with his lance, in which he trusted much ; but
he had it not long, for Sir Simon, who was a skilful
knight, strong, and bold, and very expert in arms,
soon made him lose it : then they took their axes and
struck one another with mighty blows, for they were
both tall men, strong in body and limb, and, to look
at, knights for worthy deeds ; and they showed it that
day. The Lord de Halkett was of great strength, and
showed it in the heavy blows he heaped upon Sir
Simon de Lalain ; but Sir Simon knew how to re-
ceive them on his axe, and to give in return great and
horrible blows when he saw his time : for they were

KNIGHT OF THE FLEECE OF GOLD. 269

both well-tempered knights, well instructed in the
manner of attack.

So they fought a great space, and very valiantly.
But after a while the Lord de Halkett, combating
with too great haste and ardour, began to grow weary
and lose his breath. Then Sir Simon, who was cooler
and more wary, seeing that his time was come, began
to rouse himself and to strike with edge and point ;
and he pressed so hard upon the Lord de Halkett
that he made him give way and recoil the whole
length of the lists. And if the battle had lasted
longer, the Lord de Halkett, as every one could see,
would have had the worst of it ; but the King
stopped it.

Now we must speak of the valiant Breton esquire,
Herve de Meriadecq, who that day met and fought
with Sir James Douglas, close cousin to the Earl
Douglas, and he was a very gentle knight, strong and
skilful. The Scotch knight lowered his lance and
thought to strike Meriadecq in the face, but he missed
and his lance pierced the sleeve of the coat-of-arms
on the left shoulder, and leaning his weight on the
blow, the lance slipped on the arm and Meriadecq
came within reach of him, and with a blow of his axe
struck him on the cheek of the bassinet, and bore him
to the ground with his face downward, stunned.
When Meriadecq saw his adversary on the ground,
as it was allowed to help his companions, he looked
round, intending to go to their aid if need was ; but
Sir James Douglas, who was quick and expert, was
already on his knees to rise again. So he returned

270 JACQUES DE LALAIN,

to him, and taking his axe in both hands with the
staff of it struck him down again, and he lay stretched
on the ground, so that he was in his power if he
had wished to destroy him, and he might have done
it, for his arms were a otUrance ; but though he saw
him on the ground twice he would not touch him,
which was nobly done and should be counted to his
honour. Then again Meriadecq went to the aid of
his companions, who had no need of him ; and Sir
James Douglas rose quickly to his feet, axe in hand,
and Meriadecq returned and they fought together
again, and were fighting still when the King threw
down his baton.

But you should know that the gentle squire Meria-
decq was one of the strongest and best combatants
that could be found, and all the time that they fought
together after Sir James rose up again, was greatly to
his honour, and he gave him many great blows and
drove him backwards at his pleasure.

So the King threw down his baton, and the guards
who were appointed for that purpose took the six
champions, and led them to the King of Scotland, and
he said that they had all done well and valiantly, and
that he held that the arms were accomplished, and it
was his will they should be friends together. So
each one returned to his lodging. And some days
after the King feasted them, and gave them great
gifts, for which they returned him thanks. Then Sir
Jacques de Lalain and his uncle Sir Simon, and
Meriadecq, and those who had come with them, took
leave of the King, and departed.

KNIGHT OF THE FLEECE OF GOLD. 271

Of an English Squire zuho came to Bruges to fight
zvith Jacqiies de La lain.

And they took ship and came to London in
England, but Herve de Meriadecq took his way
through the kingdom of Scotland, and traversed the
whole land of England until he came to London,
where Sir Jacques de Lalain and his uncle, the Lord
of Montigny, had arrived. Now Sir Jacques de La-
lain had sent Charolois herald to the King Henry of
England, to ask for a safe-conduct for him and his
company, and to pray for leave to perform his enter-
prise at the court of the King of England and in his
kingdom. Then Sir Jacques, Sir Simon his uncle,
and Herve de Meriadecq, were in England and in
London a long space, but few came to them, neither
would the King of England give leave to any of his
kingdom to meet Sir Jacques and his companions.
So when they saw how poorly they were received,
they left London, and put to sea at the port of
Gravesend, and the wind being favourable, they came
in short time to the port of Sluys, in Flanders, where
they tarried a space to refresh themselves. Then
they set forth and came to the town of Brussels,
where was the Duke Philip of Burgundy, who re-
ceived them gladly, and made them good cheer, as
was their due. And they recounted to him their ad-
ventures, and all the princes, counts, barons, knights,
and squires, did them honour, and also the Duchess,
and all the ladies and damsels of her company.

272 JACQUES DE L ALA IN,

Then, after the feasts were over, came news to the
court of the Duke that there was departed from the
kingdom of England a native of that land, by name
Thomas, who was coming to the encounter of Sir
Jacques de Lalain. The Duke, and the barons of his
court, and Sir Jacques de Lalain himself, were much
rejoiced when they heard that this English squire had
signified his will to accomplish his arms before the
Duke according to the manner written in the chapter
of arms of Sir James ; that is to say, that each one
should be armed with such armour as he is wont to
wear in the lists, and should fight with axe and
sword until one of them should be borne to the
ground.

So the English squire came to the town of Bruges,
and dismounted at the lodging that they had pre-
pared for him. And Sir Jacques de Lalain, glad at
heart, and desiring to do such things that he should
be remembered in after times for his high and vir-
tuous deeds, and that all noble knights should take
him for an example, prayed leave of the Duke to ac-
complish his arms against the English squire. And
the Duke granted his request, and promised himseli
to be the judge, and assigned them a day, and caused
the lists to be prepared.

When the day assigned arrived the two champions
prepared to accomplish their arms, and Sir Jacques
de Lalain was the first to enter the lists. Then the
Duke, nobly accompanied, mounted the seat which
had been prepared for him, and near by were the
Duchess of Cleves, the Countess of Etampes, and

KNIGHT OF THE FLEECE OF GOLD. 273

many other great ladies, and in all the galleries and
at the windows of the houses round were many
strangers. Then soon after, Sir Jacques de Lalain,
knowing the Duke to be come, entered the lists, ac-
companied by knights and squires of the Duke's
court, and others with them, and his two uncles, the
Lord of Crequy and the Lord of Montigny, called
Sir Simon dc Lalain. And Sir Jacques passed before
the Duke's scat, and made his reverence to him and
to the ladies who were there, and passed to his
pavilion to arm himself Soon after entered the
English squire, who likewise passed to do his rever-
ence, and then entered his pavilion, he and his men,
accompanied b\' two knights whom the Duke had ap-
pointed to counsel him, as had been the custom of
long time. When they were armed and read}', and
ordinances of the lists were made, and the guards
appointed to keep the field, the champions were
visited, and they called in question the axe of the
English champion, because it was not such as men
were wont to bear in the lists ; for this axe was made
with a blade and a hammer, and a long and broad
dagger in front. Sir Jacques de Lalain, by some
men of consequence, remonstrated with tlie English-
man, but he would not for anything give it up, or take
one like that of Sir Jacques de Lalain. Then it was
told to the Duke, their judge, and he called a council
upon it, and it seemed to all of them that the English
squire ought to fight with an axe like that of Lalain,
but the Englishman prayed urgently that his axe
might be left him. When Sir Jacques de Lalain saw

T

274 JACQUES DE L ALA IN,

that the EngHshman prayed so earnestly that he
might fight with the axe that he had brought
from his land of England, as he said, Sir Jacques,
who was courteous and dcbonnair above all men,
granted his request ; but evil came of it, as you
shall hear.

So when they were agreed and the proclamations
had been made, Sir Jacques de Lalain came forth of
his pavilion, which was rich and fine, and adorned with
thirty-two banners of the arms of the lords from
whom he was descended by his father and by his
mother, which was a fine thing to see, and he was
fully armed and clad in his coat-of-arms, with his
sallet on his head without gorget or bever, his axe in
his hand as his only weapon. Then the Englishman
likewise came out of his pavilion, armed in full ar-
mour, wearing a great bassinet, with bever and visor
closed, clad in his coat-of-arms, his axe in his hand,
and girt with a sword ; and, eyeing one another, they
began to approach, and, beginning to fight, came in
front of the Duke's gallery.

Sir Jacques de Lalain, being armed at his ease,
and free to get his breath, began to shower great
blows on the head of the Englishman, and struck him
so often that he made him retire at his pleasure. And
to say the truth, the Englishman was doing nothing
but consider how host to receive the blows, when
Dame Fortune turned against Sir Jacques, for, in
giving a blow, he himself struck the point of his ad-
versary's axe, and it touched him between the arm-
defences and the gauntlet, and the veins and sinews

KNIGHT OF THE FLEECE OF GOLD. 275

were cut through, for the axe of the Englishman was
marvellously large and sharp.

When Sir Lalain saw himself thus wounded, being
strong of will and of high courage, he thought to go
on fighting with his axe, but his hand failed him.
Then he put the end of his axe under his left arm
and fought with the right hand, but could do little
thus. Then he haughtily flung his axe on the ground,
and quickly seizing the Englishman by the bassinet
with his one hand and his left arm, he dragged him
to the ground with such force that he fell face down-
wards with his visor in the sand, so that with a very
little knife Sir Jacques could have killed him if he
would, but he would not. Then the judge threw
down his baton and the guards came in haste to the
Englishman, who was still K'ing on the ground, and
they raised him up and led him to the Duke, where
was Sir Jacques, and he said to them, ' Your arms arc
accomplished, embrace one another, and be brothers
and friends.' And they did so, and each one returned
to his hostel.

The same day the Duke of Burgundy made a
great feast for the English squire, but Sir Jacques de
Lalain could not be there for the wound in his arm,
which gave him great pain and trouble.

Now by the chapter of arms it was ordained that
if Sir Jacques brought to the ground any knight or
esquire, the said knight or esquire should be bound
to send his gauntlet by an officer of arms wherever
he was ordered, but the Englishman replied that he
was not bound, for that he was not fallen with all his

276 JACQUES DE L ALA IN.

body to the ground. He said it was very true that
his head, and his hands, and legs, were on the
ground, but that his body was not, for he supported
himself by his hands.

Then Sir Jacques prayed the Duke, who was their
judge, that he would decide the question ; and it was
put before the council, where were assembled the
greater part of the notable strangers who had seen
the arms, — Germans, Spaniards, Scots, Italians, and
others. And it was judged that the English squire
had fallen with all his body, and the Duke made
known to the Englishman the sentence of the council,
and he answered that he was ready to do his devoir.
But when Sir Jacques saw that the Englishman was
judged to have fallen, out of his nobleness and
courtesy he acquitted the Englishman of his devoir
of sending his gauntlet. And he sent to him a very
fine and rich diamond, and afterwards he sent him
many other gifts, as a fine horse and suit of armour,
for which he thanked him much. And the English
squire sojourned in the town of Bruges the space of
eight days, and vv^as feasted by the court of the Duke
and Duchess of Burgundy; and then, having thanked
them very humbly, he took his leave and returned to
the kingdom of England.

277

CHAPTER XVI.

OF THE COMING OF MARGARET OF ANJOU, AND OF
THE JOUSTS IN THE TIME OF THE TRUCE.

After the truce was made between the kings of
France and Enc^land and their kingdoms, the French
and the EngHsh began to have very great intercourse
and communication with one another, especially be-
tween the merchants and people of divers trades ;
and also the farmers set themselves to work hard,
hoping that by means of this truce a general peace
would follow between the uncle and nephew. And,
indeed, the truce came at the right time for the
English, and for the good cities and fortresses which
they held in the duchy of Normandy, for they were
in great danger, and were much straitened for want
of many kinds of food and other merchandise, espe-
cially corn and wine. And in order to furnish them-
selves, they went in great numbers by land and by
water, as well from Rouen as from other towns
and fortresses, and even from the open country, to
Paris and elsewhere, where they bought great abund-
ance of wine, wheat, barley, and other things which
were necessary to them ; which goods were then to be

278 OF THE COMING OF

had cheap enough in the kingdom of France, and
brought them back into their own territory wherever
it seemed good to them. And likewise the French
went into the duchy of Normandy at their pleasure,
to seek and buy whatever they wished and could find
there. This commerce went on long and peaceably
enough between them, as well on one side as the
other.

And at this time, that is to say in the year 1445,
by the consent and authority of Charles, king of
France, was made the marriage between the King
Henry of England, his nephew, and the daughter of
the King of Sicily, who was named Margaret, and
who was niece to the Queen of France. To make
and negotiate these treaties there were employed on
the part of the King of England my Lord William
de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, Master Adam Moleyns,
keeper of the Privy Seal, with other knights and
lawyers and persons of good estate. These, when
they had finished the treaty for which they had come,
retired from Tours, where it had been conducted, and
went to Rouen, and thence to England, to appear
before their king, to whom they related, in the pre-
sence of his council, the state and success of their
embassy.

They were very glad of that w^hich they had done,
for by means of this alliance they expected to have in
France good and powerful friends, especially to help
them to attain to a final peace with the King of
France, such as might be for their advantage. The
ambassadors had agreed with the King of Sicily upon

JIL4 A' GJ RE T OF ANJO U. 279

a day when they should return to him, and when he
should deliver his daughter over to them at the town of
Rouen ; and this day they kept as they had promised.
And to receive her, King Henry sent to Rouen many
lords and ladies richly and splendidly dressed — the
Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk, Sir John Talbot,
the Marquis of Salisbury, Lord Clifton, and many
lords and knights and squires of great estate. As to
the ladies, there were the Countess of Suffolk, Lady
Talbot, Lady Salisbury, and others in great numbers.
There were also covered carriages and many hack-
neys, in so rich trappings that few had seen the like
come from the realm of England, especially as they
entered Rouen, when there may have been as many
as fifteen hundred horses, or thereabouts. And in
this company there were four hundred archers for the
household of the Queen, all dressed alike in gray, and
after them came the esquires and the officers ; and
besides these there were two hundred archers of the
body-guard of the King of England, wearing his
colours and livery, all richly dressed and wearing on
their sleeves a crown of gold. After the knights of
the Queen's household came six pages mounted on
six hackneys, richly dressed in robes and hoods of
black loaded with jewels of silver-gilt. These were
all sons of knights. And the first page led in his
right hand a hackney, which the King of England
sent to the Queen his wife, with a saddle and trap-
pings all of fine gold ; and the trappings of the other
horses were all of silver-gilt. After these came the
chariot sent by the King, which was the most richly

28o OF THE COMING OF

ornamented that had come out of England for a long
time, for it was covered with a very rich cloth of gold
and bore the arms of France and England. This
chariot was drawn by six white horses of great price,
and was painted within and without with divers
colours. In it were the Countess of Suffolk and the
Ladies Talbot and Salisbury ; and the Countess was
in great state, as the Queen would be on her wedding-
day. The other ladies followed the chariot according
to their rank, mounted on hackneys.

Near the chariot on one side was the Duke of
York, and on the other Sir John Talbot, bearing
themselves as if the Queen had been in it. The Earl
of Suffolk rode on horseback before the chariot, re-
presenting the person of the King of England ; and
after him came thirty-six horses and hackneys with
scarlet housings, bearing his coat-of-arms. After the
chariot there were also five horses richly adorned, of
which two were covered with scarlet velvet and gold,
sewn on the inside with gold roses, and the others
with crimson damask. And after all these came still
another rich chariot, in which were the younger Lady
Talbot and other ladies, who were all appointed to go
to receive the new Queen of England.

So they entered in this fine and honourable
order into the city of Rouen, where much honour
was paid them and many diversions given them,
both by day and night. Then, certain days after,
when the Queen had been received by the aforesaid
lords and ladies, they set off together," and went to
England, where they were received with great

MARGARET OF AXJOU. 2S1

honour, and where there were new rejoicings and
fresh pastimes.

During this time, while the truce between the
French and English lasted, and the lords and gentle-
men had not much occupation in war, the King of
France and the other great lords began to give great
jousts and ether diversions of great expense, in order
to keep their men in practice of arms, and also to
pass the time more joyously. Amongst others, the
Kings of France and of Sicily, at the prayer and by
the counsel of the knights and squires around them,
allowed many of different kinds to take place in the
town of Saumur. In these amusements it seems as if
they would follow the rules which formerly the knights
of the Table Round are said to have kept, made by
the high and mighty prince, the King Arthur. For
it was announced by the heralds in several places
that there were a certain number of knights and
gentlemen who were disposed to hold a passage of
arms against all comers, the place being named ; in
which place were lions, tigers, unicorns, and other
like beasts. There were also many other challenges
and declarations, very honourable and very haughty.
In truth, many feats of arms were performed, and
notable assemblies and joyous diversions took place ;
but by bad luck, on one of these days there was killed
by the blow of a lance a gentle knight, a follower of
the King of Sicily, named Auvregnas Champion, at
which accident all the company was much troubled.
Besides, in several of the encounters many were sorely
wounded. For this reason the kings and lords began

282 OF THE COMING OF

to grow weaned, and abandoned the rest of the under-
takings.

But besides these there were held great jousts
before the King of France and his princes at Tours,
which jousts were arranged, composed, and ordered
by a notable and renowned esquire of the King's
household, named Louis de Reuil, to meet with an
English esquire named Chalon. They were to joust
with one another a certain number of courses accord-
ing to the conditions. Now when the day fixed
came, they appeared on the field very well dressed
and equipped; and especially Louis de Beuil, who
came in great triumph and pomp, accompanied by
several great lords, and bringing with him several
horses richly dight, and bearing his arms. When
they had made their reverence to the King, and all
was ready, they ran against one another with great
pride and force, several times, and broke their lances;
and both of them so well performed their duty that
the King was quite content that they should have
retired and done no more at that time.

Nevertheless, Louis de Beuil would not consent,
and required very earnestly of the King and of his
opponent that the feat of arms between them should
be finished ; which was at length granted him.
Thereupon they ran one more course, in which the
Englishman struck Louis with his lance through and
through below his arm, at the joint of his armour,
where he had no crescent or gusset ; with which blow
he was so grievously wounded that he very shortly
after died.

MARGARET OF ANJOU. 283

This mishap gave great displeasure and sorrow to
the King and to all the nobles who were there, as
w^ell as to the ladies and damsels, and not without
reason ; for, according to the report of those who
knew him well, he was one of the most renowned
esquires of his party for many and divers good
qualities. But since fortune would have it so, the
King and his lords paid great honour to Chalon, and
assured him against danger to his person. Then,
after he had received sundry gifts, he left that place
with a safe-conduct, and returned to the country
whence he had come, in great sorrow at this adven-
ture which had so unfortui:ately turned to such great
mischance.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE ACT OF ARMS BETWEEN THE LORD SCALES
AND THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY.

TJbe Acts of the full honourable and knightly Anns
done between the right noble lord, Sir Anthony
Wodeville, Lord Scales, a?id of New sells, brother
to tJie most high and excellent Princess, the Queen
of England and of France ajid Lady of Lreland,
Challenger, and Sir Aitthony the Bastard of
Burgundy, Earl of Roche, and Lord of Bever and
Beveresse, Defender, before the most Christian
and victorious Prince Edzvard the LV., king of
England and France and Lord of Lreland, on tJie
nth and I2th days of June, in Smithfield.

The Wednesday next before the solemn feast of
Easter, a goodly adventure fell to the noble knight
Sir Anthony Wodeville, for, departing from high
mass, he betook himself to the presence of his
sovereign lady and sister, the Queen of England.
And as he was speaking to her on his knees, his cap
taken off as his duty was, all the ladies of her court

LORD SCALES AND THE BASTARD OF BURGUND V. 2S5

came about, and ere he was aware they tied about
his right leg a collar of gold garnished with precious
stones, made all of one letter, which in truth was
very nigh his heart, and to the collar was tied a
noble Flower of Souvenance enamelled. And as he
rose all abashed to go to thank them for the great
honour they did to him, in his cap, which he had let
fall, he found a letter on fine parchment bound with
a thread of gold. Thereupon he went forth to the
King, his sovereign lord, to tell him his adventure, and
to pray his leave to consent to the will of the ladies.
Then the King, breaking the thread of gold, found
written within as followcth : —

' For the increase of knighthood and recommen-
dation of nobility, and to obey and please my fair
lady, I, Anthony Wodeville, Knight, Lord of Scales
and of Xewsells, Englishman, this 17th da)^ of April,
1465, have received by the ladies the gift of a rich
collar of gold, and thereto hanging a noble souven-
aunce, which souvenaunce I have taken for emprise,
with leave of my sovereign lord the King, to furnish
and perform the arms following : —

' I shall be bounden to appear in the noble city
of London at the day and hour ordained before the
King, against a noble without reproach, who will
present himself against me. We shall meet on
horseback armed each after his pleasure, with no
unfair advantage, and shall run one course with
spears. And we shall take sharp swords and shall
fight together. I shall furnish the swords and spears,
and my fellow shall have the choice.

286 LORD SCALES AND

' The second arms shall be done on foot at the
time ordained, and we shall be armed with spears,
axes, and daggers, and we shall have but one cast
of the spear, and shall fight with the other weapons
until such time as one of us be borne down or
disarmed.'

Then the noble Sir Anthony Wodeville prayed
leave of the King to send to the renowned knight,
Sir Antony of Burgundy, that he might come to
England and accomplish the arms. And the King,
many noble lords standing by, willingly agreed.
And he gave command to Chester herald to go
forth, clad in the arms of the noble Lord of Scales,
and to bear the Flower of Souvenance across the
seas to the Knight of Burgundy.

Then the last day of April, Chester entered the
town of Brussels, and sent a pursuivant from his
lodging unto the Lord Bastard of Burgundy, showing
him that he was come out of England with a letter
from the Lord Scales. My lord of Burgundy sent
two heralds and two pursuivants, who brought him
to the Duke's lodging. Then Chester presented his
letter, saying, ' Right noble Count, my right honour-
able lord, Anthony Wodeville, Lord Scales, brother
unto the high and mighty princess, the Queen of
England and France, recommendeth him to you,
and sendeth you this letter.' And the noble lord
answered, ' It shall be read, and ye shall be answered
as shall content you.' And he went in haste to the
Lord of Charolois, and showed him the letter, and
they went together to the Duke.

THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY. 287

And the morrow after, the first day of May, all the
heralds and pursuivants in the court of Burgund}-
went to Chester's lodging, and brought him to the
presence of the Duke on horseback. Then Chester
prayed leav^e to do his errand, and the Duke having
given him license, the herald went into another
chamber, and put upon him the coat-of-arms of Lord
Scales, and bearing on high the emprise in a kerchief,
the emprise being fastened in the uppermost border,
and covered with the lowest border of the kerchief, he
returned into his presence, and making three obeisances
as he approached, let fall the lowest border of the ker-
chief, and stood before the Prince. Then the Duke
gave commandment to a lord, a brother of the
Golden Fleece, to read the letter of the Lord Scales,
the herald holding the emprise on high. And after it
was read the Lord Bastard of Burgundy went to the
Duke, and asked license to touch the emprise and to
accomplish the arms. And thus, coming to the em-
prise, he said to the herald Chester, ' I pray you
recommend me to the Lord Scales, my brother, and
thank him right highly for the honour that he doeth
to me, and by the license of my Prince I take upon
me to touch the emprise ; ' and with that touching he
made a reverent obeisance. Then the Lord Bastard,
taking the one part of the kerchief, and Charolois the
other, they covered it worthil}', and Chester bore away
the emprise so touched, and placed it in a chamber
apart.

Then Chester tarried there nine days, being
worthily entertained with ancient kings of arms and

288 LORD SCAL.'^.S AND

no^le heralds, and on the tenth day the Lord Bastard
sent him a letter to my Lord Scales. And he sent by
his herald Burgundy to the herald Chester the rich
gown furred with sables, which he wore at the
touching of the emprise, and his doublet of black
velvet and the slits of the doublet-sleeves were
clasped with clasps of gold and forty guelders. Then
Chester took the gifts and arrayed him in the same,
and came to court, and gave thanks reverently, and
took his leave, and departed, being accompanied for a
league out of the town of Brussels by the heralds of
the court.

And he returned, and he came to the King at
Greenwich on the 23rd of May, and showed to him
of his voyage, and how the Lord Antony of Bur-
gundy had touched the emprise. And he bore it
to the Lord Scales, and fastened it upon a collar of
gold.

Therefore, on Friday, the 29th day of May of the
year 1467, the Bastard of Burgundy, with many noble
lords, to the number of four hundred, in four carvels,
richly apparelled with all manner of habiliments of war,
pennons, banners, and streamers, came before Graves-
end, about the hour of four in the afternoon, where
Garter King-of-Arms had waited for him the space
of three weeks. And as soon as he came in sight
Garter took and apparelled a barge, and went out
two miles to meet him. And he cast anchor before
the town that night, and the morning after he set
sail towards London. Then a mile or two ere
he came to Greenwich there came out to receive

THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY, 2S9

him at Blackwall the Earl of Worcester, constable of
England, with many lords and knights, and aldermen,
and rich commoners of the City of London, in seven
barges and a galley, richly arrayed in cloth of
gold and arras. And he conveyed him forth to
London, and when he cast anchor a little beneath
St. Katherine's he received him into his barges, and
they landed at Billingsgate. And from thence he
was conveyed on horseback by the Constable and
the lords through Cornhill and Chcpe, and by
St. Paul's of London to the Bishop of Salisbury's
place in Fleet Street, which had been prepared for
him by order of the King, and richly apparelled with
arras and cloth of gold ; and the Bishop's place at
Chelsea, two miles distant, was ordained for him to
try his arms.

The Tuesday next after, the second day of June,
the King came riding from Kingston-upon-Thames
through London, and there went out to meet him
two miles out of town many dukes, earls, and
knights, and the mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs of the
City, and kings-of-arms, and heralds, and pursuivants,
with the sound of clarions, trumpets, and shawms.
The Constable bore the baston on the right hand and
the Earl Marshal on the left, the Lord Scales bearing
the King's sword in the midst. And without the
town the King was met by a procession of the four
orders, and priests, and other religious persons, and
the bishops received him at St. Paul's, and led him
in procession to the high altar, where he offered.
And then he took his horse and rode through Fleet

U

290 LORD SCALES AND

Street, where the Bastard and his fellowship beheld
the Kincr. And the Lord Scales turned his horse
suddenly and perceived him, which was the first sight
and knowledge personally between them. And thence
the King went to Westminster.

The same day the Bastard presented himself
before the King, desiring the day of battle to
be prefixed. Then the King commanded the
Sheriffs of London to make barriers in Smith-
field, and by the advice of the Constable they
were made fourscore and ten yards in length and
fourscore in breadth.

And on the Friday came the Lord Scales, in a
barge richly apparelled, from Greenwich, where he
had tarried long and many a day abiding the coming
of the Bastard, and at St. Katherine's, beside the
Tower of London, he was received by the Constable
and Marshal and the Treasurer of England, with
many other lords and knights, and he passed through
London on horseback, in a long gown of rich cloth of
gold tissue, an herald and a pursuivant bearing his
coats-of-arms before him, unto the Bishop of Ely's
place in Holborn.

And there was held a chapter at St. Paul's to
consider of doubts and ambiguities in the challenge to
the Lord Scales, and it was agreed that they should
not hurt the horses, but that if the case fell so that
a horse were hurt they should be free to take another ;
neither should they charge with an horse that was
terrible to smite or to bite.

Then the Constable commanded the mayor, and

THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY. 291

the mayor commanded the sheriffs, to make the Hsts,
and the field was environed with posts seven feet
and a half above the ground and three feet in the
ground, and between each post bars three inches
and a half thick and five inches broad ; and the
field was sufficiently sanded. Then the Lord Scales
took his horse and came with nobles, and squires,
and minstrels, to the cast side of the field, and
lodged there that night.

The Thursday, the said eleventh day prefixed, the
Constable and Marshal provided for the keeping of
the field, and they set at every other post a man-at-
arms, and at every corner a king-of-arms crowned
and an herald, and Garter King -of- Arms and the
herald were set on the right hand of the stair of the
King's place. And they ordained four men on horse-
back for the parting of them if the case should so
require.

And the field being so arrayed, and the King
sitting in his place, with many noble lords about him,
and great numbers of nobility and commons assem-
bled about the field, Sir Antony Wodeville, the Lord
Scales and Newsclls, on horseback, in armour, with
nine followers richly attired, came to the bars. Before
him were borne two helmets, the one by the high and
mighty prince the Duke of Clarence, the King's
eldest brother, and the other by the Earl of Arundel ;
the Earl of Kent, Lord Harry of Buckingham, Lord
Herbert, and Lord Stafford, bearing each one of the
weapons, that is to say, the two spears and the twcx
swords.

292 LORD SCALES AND

Then the Constable and the Marshal coming to
the bars, asked the cause of his coming. The Lord
Scales answered and said, he came to accomplish the
arms. Then the King commanded him to enter the
field, and he came before the King and did him re-
verence, and retired to his pavilion. And his own
horse was trapped in white cloth of gold, with a cross
of St. George of crimson velvet, bordered with a
fringe of gold half a foot long. The second horse
had trappings of tawny velvet, with many great bells.
The third was trapped in russet damask to the foot,
and the fourth in purple damask, bordered with blue
cloth of gold. The fifth horse was trapped to the
foot in blue velvet, with plaits of crimson satin and a
border of' green velvet and gold. The sixth horse
had trappings of crimson cloth of gold furred with
sable. The seventh was trapped in green damask to
the foot, bordered with russet cloth of gold half a foot
broad. The eighth horse had demi-trappings of tawny
damask, and the ninth long trappings of ermine,
bordered with crimson velvet with tassels of gold.
And on every horse rode a page richly attired in
mantles of green velvet, embroidered with goldsmiths*
work.

And his pavilion was of double blue satin, em-
broidered with his letters and his motto, and bearing
eight banners.

Then there came to the barrier the Bastard on
horseback, with seven followers richly attired, and his
own horse was harnessed in a rich, goodly fashion of
crimson, with silver bells, every other one being gilt.

THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY. 293

The second horse was led before him by four knights,
and it was covered with trappings bearing his arms.
The third horse, following him, had trappings of
ermine to the foot, with the reins of fine sable. The
fourth horse was covered with cuirbouly (leather), and
over it a rich cloth of gold. The fifth had trappings
of crimson velvet to the foot, bearing a device of eyes
full of tears wrought in gold. The sixth horse was
covered to the foot in purple cloth of silver, and the
seventh was trapped in green velvet. The eighth
horse was trapped in fine sables down to the foot,
with the reins of ermine. And his pages were
arrayed in gowns of violet colour, with goldsmiths'
work.

And he demanded entrance from the porters, and
by the King's license came into the field, the Duke of
Suffolk bearing his helmet before him, and accom-
panied by many noblemen. And he came before the
King and said, * Right high, right mighty, and right
excellent prince, I am come hither before your pre-
sence as my judge to accomplish the act of arms.'
And the King gave him leave and license.

Then he departed to his place and put on his
helmet. And the swords and spears being brought
before the King, he delivered them to the Bastard to
have the choice. And when he had chosen, pro-
clamation was made at the four corners of the field
that no man should approach the lists, or make any
noise or shout, or in any manner aid or trouble the
noble knights who were to do their arms within the
lists.

^94 LORD SCALES AND

Then the Constable commanded an herald to cry,
' Laissez-aller ! ' And they ran a course courageously,
seeking one another, and both were unhit. Then the
Lord Scales threw away his spear, his bever, and the
armour of his arms ; and the Bastard laid aside his
also. But the Lord Scales was sooner ready, and he
sought the Bastard and assailed him with a thrust in
the neck ; and the Bastard struck him an edge-stroke
on his helmet. But the Bastard's horse, having armour
on his head, struck against the Lord Scales' saddle,
and with the blow the Bastard and the horse went to
the ground.

Then the Lord Scales, seeing him down, turned
about and held up his sword ; and seeing he could
not rise, rode straight to the King, and alighted, and
bade them take the trapper from the horse, showing
that his horse had no armour on his head.

Then the King commanded to take up the Bas-
tard ; and he came before the King. And whereas
it was agreed that if any horse failed, it should be
lawful for his master to have another, it was de-
manded whether he so willed, but he answered that he
willed it not. So the King commanded and they
went to their lodging.

The morrow after the King came to the field, and
Lord Scales, armed all save his bassinet, came to the
gate, his horse trapped to the foot in crimson velvety
with his arms embroidered. And there followed him
eight coursers in harness of one suit, and upon them
eight pages in rich habiliments, the Duke of Clarence
bearing his bassinet, and the other lords bearing the

THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY. 295

weapons — two casting-spears, two axes, and two
daggers. The Constable demanding the cause of
his coming, he answered as before, and the King
gave him license to enter the field. Then having
alighted and done his due reverence before the
King, he resorted to his pavilion, his banner
being held by Clarencicux King- of- Arms before
his tent.

And the Bastard came riding to the bars, worship-
fully accompanied by many lords, and with the King's
license entered the field ; and having done his due
reverence resorted to his pavilion, being clad in a
long gown of blue velvet. And his pavilion was
of white and purple damask, the valance of green
velvet being embroidered with his motto, ' NulP no
cy frctc'

Then the weapons being presented to the King,
he commanded the casting-spears to be laid aside,
saying that, inasmuch as it was but an act of pleasure,
he would have none such mischievous weapons used
before him, but of the daggers and the axes the
Bastard should have the choice.

And proclamation having been made as before
the Constable visited the Lord Scales in his tent, and
found him ready ; and then he went to the Lord
Bastard in his tent. And the King commanded them
to cry, ' Laisscz-aller !' And right as the King-of-
Arms made the cry the Lord Scales opened his
pavilion, and at the second '' Laisscz-aller!^ entered
the field, and stood and gave token that he was ready
with hand, and foot, and axe; inasmuch as he laid his

296 LORD SCALES AND

axe Upon his shoulder, and often changed it from
hand to hand. And then they advanced, and right
before the King assailed each other in such wise that
the Lord Scales, with the point of his axe, struck
through one of the ribs of the Bastard's plate-armour,
as the Bastard showed him after the field. And so
they fought together, the Lord Scales with the head
of his axe before, and the other with the small end,
and smote many great and strong strokes, till at the
last the Lord Scales struck him in the side of the
visor of his bassinet. Then the King, perceiving the
perilous blow, cast his staff, and with high voice cried,
' Whoo ! ' Notwithstanding, in the parting of them,
there were given two or three great strokes, and one
of the men-at-arms' staves was broken between them,
and they, so parted, were brought up before the
King's grace.

The Lord Scales fought with his visor open,
which was thought jeopard ous ; the Lord Bastard
fought closed. And so they were brought up
before the King. He commanded them each to
take the other by the hands, and to love each other
as brothers in arms ; which they did. And there
they gave each other as courteous, goodly, and
friendly language as could be, and went together
into the midst of the field. And then every man
departed to his lodging.

As for the King of England and the Queen,
they had prepared a supper in the Mercers' Hall,
and I saw there sixty or eighty ladies of such

THK hOKD SCAJ.KS i<, THE BASTARD OK BURGUNDY

THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY. 297

noble houses that the least of them was the
daughter of a baron ; and the supper was great
and plentiful, and the Bastard and his people
feasted gaily.

And the next day Sir Jean de Chassa, and a
Gascon squire named Louis de Bretelles, a servant
of the Lord Scales, did arms on foot, and accom-
plished the arms without much injury. And the
next day they did arms on horseback, in which
Jean de Chassa won great honour, and was ac-
counted a good runner with the lance. And the
day after Sir Philippe Bouton did arms against a
squire of the King's. This squire was a Gascon
named Thomas de la Lande, and he was a fine
jouster and a good man. But there arose a ques-
tion between them, for those who attended Messire
Philippe Bouton said that the accoutrements of
Thomas de la Lande were too advantageous. Then
the King's people went to sec, and found it was
true, at which the King was not pleased. How-
ever, they agreed to finish their arms, and each
one to do the best he could, and so the arms
were accomplished. Then the Bastard prayed the
ladies to dine with him on Sunday, and chiefly the
Queen and her sisters, and he made great pre-
paration. But at that time the news came to the
Bastard that the Duke of Burgundy was dead ;
and he mourned greatly when he heard of the
death of his father, and all the nobility who were
with him. So their pleasures were all turned to
weeping and tears. And the Bastard took leave

298 LORD SCALES AND THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY.

of the King of England, of the Queen, and of the
ladies, very sadly. And his preparations were all
lost, for he withdrew his proposal of the feast, and
returned to Bruges.

London : Printed by SmAKaEWATs & Sons. Tower Street, St. Martin's Lane.