Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / April 14, 1907, edition 1 / Page 20
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,' v rote Nlgvl in a .1 take the eyes of i t."th been a most i the fourih sennight . : ;ne of our own peo- most worthy persons , which ended, by the jr Lady, in so fine a nan living earn call, to i occasion, Much honor the Sieur de Beauma- ) ly on Almaln named i whom I hop to have when I am hale again, . jst excellent person and advance himself : or to r from a vow. For my ped, with Godde's help, it third small deed which e free to haste to your t things have gone awry 1 I early metwith such as of so small comfort to that mr heart is heavy 1 In sooth I feel that I r rather than gained It. lain since the Feast of nd here I am like still can move no limb, save J; but grieve not, sweet nt Catharine hath been ice In so short a time I h ventures as the Red 6 intaking of IheReav . It needs hut one more kerly when I am hale t will not be long ere I rill then, If my eyes may n you, my heart at least y feet" .' ' te from his sick room In of Ploermel late In the t yet another summer had j his ; crushed head had l his wasted Mmbs had strength one more. With lieard of the breaking of -id of the fight "at Mauron r Robert Knollea and Sir ley crushed the rising rittany a fight in which 30 champions of Josselin id.' Then, when with re :th and high hopes In his -.t forth to search for the quart who proclaimed. - ready : night or day to an with any. weapon, it find that In trying the 4 new horae the German st Into a ditch and had neck. In the same ditch chance of soon accom- t deed which should free ? -vow. ? a true once more over lom, and mankind was var, so that; only in far here tie Teutonic knights less battle with the Ll athen, could he hope to t's desire. But money and fame were needed ere a a upon the northern cru- years were yet to jass uld look rrom the battle rienberg on the water of rlaff, or should endure the ie hot plate, when bound Woden stone of Memel s chafed his burning soul . trie long seasons of gar ; Brittany, broken only by the chateau of , the lather sen he carried to the Lord the news of how his son like a gallant gentleman -ateway of La Brohlnlere. , when at last, when all H-nlgh dead In his heart, one glorious July morn rought a horseman bear - to the Castle of Vannes, isel now i was seneschal. It iut few words, short and call of a war-trumpets It who wrote. He needed t his lde, for his pennon breeze once more. He was k. The Prince was starting Bergerac, whence he would reat raid Into France. It end without a battle. They, -ord of their coming, and "Tench King had promised reat pans to receive them, asten at once. If the army hen let, him follow after ed. - Chandos ihad -three s, but would gladly see his ?. again, for he had heard m since he parted, and ich he might not hava-ex-hear of his father' son. he letter which made the n shine , brighter and the -em of a still fairer blue happy morning In Vannes. veary way from Vannes to Coastwise ships are hard winds tolow north when all would fain be speeding 11 month has pawed from . n Nigel received his tetter stood upon the quay-side onne amid the stacked bar con win and helped to iersdown tha ganr-Planks. rd himself , had a worse : the sea than the great yel and he whinnied with Joy t his muzzzlo Into his mast retched hand, and stamped : hoof upon the good firm . . Beside him, slapping his aider in encouragement, was rare form of Black Simon f-malned ever under Nigel's - :.. vard, where was he? Alas! cfore ha and tbft whole of ipany of archers had been y on the King service , and since he could not -ire knew not whether he f dead. Simon, Indeed, had i ct him from wandering h time that he was alive 1 newly married, but as ' no case was a fair maid, ?r a dark, while in the i a French widow, it was - the truth. ' - ar-ry had been gone of it came daily i, ; .. . t U news as all men 'frr through the landward relied one constant stream irlns down the L! bourne ring the booty of South- !s town was full of foot rone but mounted men u by th Prince. With I l.orgin'jreyet.fllejr watch : ct the tra'.n of plunder? ,. hijh with rich fur- . velvets, t?.peetrl, carv ' : metals, which had i many a lordly home or t? e wf-aHhy Bour- Gui'nne end Gaecorv, furnb'ieJ ir.any of the most valiant soldiers un der the island f.asr. o poora country fig England could not afford to keep a great force overseas, and so must needs have lost the war with France through want of power to uphold the struggle. The feudal system enabled an army to be drawn rapidly together with small expense, but at tha end of a tew weeks it dispersed aain as swiftly, and only by a well-filled money-chest could It be held s together. There was no such chest in England, ajid the King was forever at his wits' end how to keep his men in the field. But Guiennu and Gascony were full of knights and squires who wero al ways ready to assemble from their Isolated castles for a raid Into France, and these with the addition of those English cavaliers who fought for hon or, and a few thousand of the formi dable archers, hired for four pence a day, made an army with which a 6hort campaign could be carried on. Such were the materials of the Prince's force, sc me 8,000 strong, who were now riding in a great circle through Southern France, leaving a broad wale of blackened and ruined country be hind them. But France, even with her- south western corner in English hands, was still a very warlike power, far rich er and more populous than her rival. Slngl provinces were so great that they were stronger than many a king dam. Normandy in the north. Burgun dy in th feast, Brittany in the west and Languedoc in the south were each capable of fitting out a great army of their own. Therefore the brave and spirited John, watching from Paris this Insolent raid into his dominions, sent messengers in hot haste to .all these great feudatories as well as to Lorraine,: Picardy, Auvergne, Hal nault, Vermandois, Champagne and to the German mercenaries over his east ern order, bidding all of them to ride hard, with bloody spur, day and night, until they should gather to a head at Chartres. , , . There a great army had assembled early in September, whilst the Prince, a'l unaconscious of its presence sack ed towns and besieged castles from Bourns- to Issodun. nasslnsr Romo- rautin.iand so onward to Yierzon and io iours. from weeic to week were merry skirmishes at harriers, brisk as saults of fortresses in which much honor was won, knightly meeting: with detached parties of Frenchmen and occasional epear-runnlntrl where noble champions deigned to venture their persons. Houses, too, were to be plundered, while wine and women were in plenty. Never had either knights or archers had so roleasant and profitable an excursion, so that it was with nigh heart and much, hope or pleasant days at Bordeaux with their pockets full of money that tha army turned south from Loire and be gan to retrace Its steps to the seaboard city. . But now its pleasant and martial promenade changed suddenly "to very serious work of war. As th Prince movea south he found that all sun piles had been cleared away from in front of him and that there was neither fodder for the horses nor food ior me men. two hundred wasrons laden with spoil rolled at the head of, the army, but the starving soldiers would soon have gladly changed it all for as many loads of bread and' of meat. The light troops of the French had preceded them and burned or de stroyed everything that could be of use. Now also for the first .time tha Prince and his men became aware that a great army was movinu unon the eastern side of them, streaming south ward i nthe hd'pe of cutting off their retreat to the sea. The sky glowed with JhelrfJrea at night, and. the au- j tumn sun twinkled, and gleamed from one end of the horizon to tha other upon the steel caps and flashing wea pons of a mighty host. Anxious to secure his plunder, and conscious that the levies of France were far superior in number to his own force, the Prince redoubled his attempts to escape; . but his horses were exhausted and his starving men were hardly to be kept in order. A few more days would unfit them for battlfti Therefore,; when he found near the village, of Maupertuls a position in which a small force mlsrht have a chance to Hold lta own. he -ava ud the attempt to outmatch his pursuers, and he turned at bay, like a hunted ooar, ail tusks and eyes of flame. vvnust thes.i hish events had been in progress, Nigel with Black Simon and four other men-at-arma from Bordeaux, was hastening northward to Join the army. As far as Bergerac they were in friendly land, but thence onward they rode over a blackened landscape with many a roofless house, Its two bare " gable-enda sticking up warda "Knolles" miter" as it was af terward called when Sir Robert work ed his stern will upon the country. For three days they rode northward. seeing many small parties of French In all directions, but too eager to reach the army to ease their march in tne searcn oi aaventures. Then at las.t after passing Lusig nan they began to come In touch with English foragers, mounted bowmen for the. most part, who were endeav oring to collect supplies either for the army or for themselves. From them Nlgcl'learned that the Prince," with Chandos ever aJUhkr side, was hasten ing soutn and mignt e met within a short day's march. A he still advanc ed these English stragglers became more and more numerous, until at Jat he overtook a considerable column of aMier moving in tho samo dlrec tion as his own party. These were men whose horses had failed them and who had therefore been left be hind on the advance, font were now hastening to be in time for the im pending battle. A crowd of peasant girls accompanied them upon their march; and a whole train of laden mules were led beside them. Nigel and his little troop of men-at-arms were riding past the archers when Black glmon with a sudden ex clamation touched his leader upon the arm, v.: : ? ,. ; "See yonder, fair sir," he cried, with gleaming eyes, "there where the was trel walks with the great fardel upon his back! Who is ha who marches be hind him?" Nigel looked, and was aware of a stunted peasant who bore upon his rounded back an enormous bundle very much larger than himself. Be hind f. him walked a burly broad rhu'flere'l P rrherr whose -stained 'Jw l-'t end I ' rrd h?p! " ru'e to- What not ovf.r their shoulders to a score of ad mirers 'behind them. "Aylward!" cried NUcl, spurring forward. The archer turned his bronzj face, Ktared for an instant with wild eyes, and then, dropping .his two ladles, who were instantly carried ott by his comrades, he rushed to seize tha hand which his young master held down to him. "Now, by my hilt. Squire Nigel, this is the fairest sight of my life time!" he cried. "And you, old leather-face! Nay. Simon, I would put my arms round your dried herring of a body, if I could but rcach 'ou- Her? is Po'mmers too, and I read In his eye that he knows me well and is ready to put his teeth Into me a3 when he stood In my father's stall." It was like a whiff, of the heather perfumed breezes of Hankley to see his1 homely face once more. Nigel laughed with sheer Joy as he looked at him. - . "It .was an ill day when the King's service called you from -my side," said he, "and by Saint Paul r I am right glad to set eyes upon you once more! I see well that you are in no wise altered, but the same Aylward that I have ever known. But who is this varlet with the great bundle wha waits upon your movements?" . "It is no less than a feather-bed, fair sir, which he bears, upon his back, for I - would fain bring It- toTilford, and yet it is overlarge for me when I take my place with my fellows In the ranks. But indeed this war has been a most excellent one, and I have al ready sent half wagon load of my gear back: to Bordeaux to await my home coming. Yet I have my fears when I think of all the - rascal foot-archera who are' waiting there, for some folk have no grace or honesty In their souls, and cannot keep their hands from that which belongs to another. But It I may throw my leg over yonder spare horse I will come with you, fair sir, for indeed it would be Joy to my heart to know that I was riding under your banner once again." So Aylward, having given Instruc tions to the bearer of his feather-bed, rode away in spite of shrill protests from hla French companions, ' who SDeedllv consoled themselves with those -of his comrades who- seemed to- Churchman can read a - line of battle have most to give. Nigel's party was soon-clear of the column of archers and riding hard In the direction of the Prince's army. They passed by a nar row and winding track,- through the great wood of Noualllc, and found be fore them a marshy( valley down which ran a sluggish stream. Along its farth er bank hundreds of horses were be- ! 'iou, ;. . 1 . . ' from 1 . r.-.; r.. '. v.,.-; i t . )i of 1.1.3 r ' r v.i 1 1. c- !',::. !,. mains' of the roysi ti-r,t was torn violently aside and IMward n: hed out. He was without his ernxor and clad In a cober suit of black, but the hijh dignity or hla bearing and the impe riou3 anger which flushed his face proclaimed the leader and the Prince. At his heels was a little white-haired ecclesiastic in a flowing gown of scar let sendal, expostulating and arguing In a torrent of words. "Not another word, my Lord Cardi nal." cried the angry Prince. 'I have listened ro you overlong. and by God's dignity! that which you sty is neith er good nor fair in my ears. Hark you, John, I would have your counsel. What think you is the message which my" Lord-Cardinal of Perlgord haa carried from the King of France? He says that of his clemency he will let my army pass back to Bordeaux If we will restore to him all that we nave taken, remit all ransoms, and surren der mv-ownTTMamon with that of a hundred noblea-of. Es enne to ibe held as prisoners. think you, John?" Chandos' smiled. "Things are done In that fashion." said he. , "But my Lord Chandos," cried the Cardinal, "I have made it clear to the Prince that indeed it Is a scandal to all Christendom and a cause of mocking to the heathen, that two great sons of .the Church should turn their swords thus upon each other." "Then bid the' King of France to keep clear of us," said the Prince. "Fair son, you are aware that' you are in the heart of his country and that It etandeth not aright that he should suffer you to go forth as you came. You have but a small army, 8,000 bowmwi and 5,000 men-at-arms at the most, who 6eem In evil case for want of food and rest. The King has 30,000 men at his back, of which 20, 000 are expert men-at-arms. It is fit ting therefore that you make such terms as you may, lest worse befall." . "Give my greetings to the King of Franeeand-teH-him that. England will never pay ransom for me. But it seems to me, my Lord Cardinal, that you have our numbers and condition very ready upon your tongue, and I would fain know how the eye of a V i I .. y p IX it . 4i ? " . i so easily. I have seen that these knights of your household have walk ed freely to and fro within, our camp, and I much fear that when I welcom-. ed you as envoys I have In truth given my protection to eples. How say you, my Lord Cardinal?" "Fair Prince, I know not how you can find it In your heart or conscience tS ranj toitrj toarliW preparation Ing watered, and beyond was a dense block of wagons. Through these the comrades passed, and then topped a small mound from which the whole Strange scene lay spread before them. Down the valley the slow ' stream meandered ' with marshy meadows on either side.. A .mile Or two lowr a huge drove of horses were to be seen assembled upon the bank. They wre the steeds of the French cavalry, and the blue haze of a hundred fires showed where King John's men were camping. In front of the mound upon which they stood the English line was drawn, but there were few fires, for indeed, save their horses, there was little for them to cook. Their right rested upon the rivet1, and their array stretched across a mile of ground until tho left was in Kuch .with '.a tangled forest which guarded it from flank attack. In front was a long thick hedge and much broken ground, with a single deeply rutted country roa"d cutting through it in the middle". Un der the hedge and along the whole front of the position lay . swarms of archers upon the grass, the greater number slumbering peaceful with sprawling ltmbs in the warm rays of the September sun. Behind were the various knights, and from end to end flew the banners and pennons marked with the devices of the chivalry of England and Guienne. With a glow in his heart Nigel saw those badges of famous captains and leaders and 'knew that now at least he also might show his coat-armor In auch' noble company. There was the flag of Jean Grallly, tha Captal de Buch, five silver shells on a black cross, which marked the presence -of the most famous soldier of Gascony, while beside It' waved the red Hon of the noble Knight of Halnault, Sir, Eustace d Ambretlcourt. These two coats Nigel knew, as did every warrior in Europe, but a dense grove of pennoned lances surrounded them, bearing charges which were strange to hlro,, from which ; he understood that these belonged to the Guienne division of the army, Farther down the line the famous English ensigns floated on . the wind, the scarlet and gold-f Warwick, the "nUver-i'tar-of Oxford, the r l '-Tn cross of Suffolk, to say Buch evil words," "There is this red-headed nephew of thine, Robert de Duras. See where he stands yonder, counting and pry Ing. Hark hither, young sir! I have been saying to your uncle the Cardinal that It is In my mind that you and your comrades have carried news of our dispositions, to the French King. How say you?" . The ' knight turned pale and sank his eyes. "My lord," he murmured, "It may be that I have answered some questions." , . - 1 - -.. "And how will such answers accord with your honor, seeing that we have trusted you since you came In the train of the Cardinal?"- 1 "My lord. It is true that I am in the train of the Cardinal, and yet I am liege man of King John and a knight of France, so I pray you to assuage your wrath against me." The Prince ground his teeth and his piercing . eyes blazed - u pon the youth. "By my father's soul! I can scarce forbear to strike you to the earth! But this I promise you, that if you show that sign of the Red Griffin In the field and If you be taken alive In to-morrow's battle, your head shall most assuredly be shorn from your shoulders." . "Fair son, Indeed you spo,ak wildly, cried the Cardinal. "I pledge you my word that neither my nephew Robert nor any of my train will take part In the battle. And now I leave you, sire, and may God assotl your soul, for In deed In all this world no men stand In greater peril than you and those who are around you, and I rede you that you spend the night In such ghostly exercises nsmay best prepare you for that which may befall." So saying the Cardinal bowed, and with" his household walking behind him set off for the Bpot where they, had 'eft their horses, Whence they'rode to the neighboring abbey. The angry Prince turned upon his heel and entered his. tent once more. whilst Chandos, glancing round, held out; a warm welcoming hand to Nl gel.' " t I have heard much of your noble deeds," said he. "Already your name rises aira 'fuire ""errant." V stood ' no riiyhtr, nor so hlsh, at your asro." 1 " - 1 ' 1 ' '- i-" " r-vl r should I win honor If it he not under your banner." , :i , Truly. Nieel. inn hsivA rnm nt a. cannot see how we can leave this spot without a great battle which will live in men's minds forever. In all our fights In France I cannot call to mind any in which they have been so strong or we so weak as now, so that there will be the more honor to be gained. I would that we had 2.000 more arch ers. But I doubt not that we shall give them much troubleere-theyidrlve ns out from amidst these hedges. Have you seen the French?" o "Nay, fair sir, I have ibut this mo ment arrived." . "I was about to, ride forth myself to coast their army and observe their countenance, so come with me ere the night fall, and we 6halt see what we can of their order and dispositions." There was a truce betwixt tha two forces for the day, on account of the ill-advised and useless unterposltlon of the Cardinal of Perlgord. Hence when Chandos' and Nigel had pushed their horses through the Iqng hedge which fronted the position they found that many small parties of the knights of either army were riding up . and down on the plain-outside. The great er number of these groups were French, since it waa very necessary for them to know as much as possible of the English defenses; and many of their scouts had ridden up to within 100 yards of the hedge, where. they were sternly ordered back by the pickets of archers on guard. Through these scattered knots of horsemen Chandos rode, and aa many of them were old antagonists it was "Ha, John!" on the one slde.'and ''Ha, Raoul!" "Ha, Nicholas!" "Ha, Gulch- ard!" upon the other, as they brushed past them. Only one cavalier greeted them amlsg, a large, ; red-faced man, the Lord Clermont, who by some strange chance bore upon his surcoat a blue virgin standing amid golden. sunbeams, which was the very device which Chandos had donned for the day. The fiery Frenchman dashed across their path and drew hlsteteed back on to its haunches. "How long is it, my Lord Chandos," said he hotly, "since you have taken it upon yourself to wear my arms?' Chandos smiled, "It la surely you who have mine," said he, "since this surcoat was worked for me by the good nuns of Windsor a -long v year ago." "If it were not for the truce," said Clermont, "I would soon show you that you have no right to wear it." "Look for It then in the battle to morrow, and I also will look for yours," Chandos answered. "There we can very honorably settle the matter." But the Frenchman was choleric and hard to appease. "You English can Invent nothing," said he, "and you take, for your own whatever you see handsome belonging to others." So, grumbling andf umingrhe1 Todenpon his way, while Chandos, laughing gay ly, spurred onward across the plain.' The immediate front of the English Jlne was shrouded with scattered trees and bushes which hid the enemy; but when they had cleared these a! fair view of the great French army lay before them. In the centre of the huge camp wras a long and high pavilion of red silk, with the silver lilies of the King at one end. of it, and the golden orlfiamme, the battle-flag of- old France, at the other. Like the reeds of a pool from side to side of the broad array, and dwindling away as as far as their eyes could see, were , the banners and pennons of high ba-! rons and famous knights, but above them flew the ducal -standards which showed that the feudal muster of & the warlike provinces of France was in the field before them. - .v With a kindling eye Chandos look ed across at the proud , ensigns of Normandy, of Burgundy, of Auvergne, of Champagne, of Vermandois, and of Berry, flaunting and gleaming, in the rays of the singing sun. Riding slow ly down the line he marked, with at tentive gaze the camp of the cross bowmen, the muster of the German mercenaries, the numbers of the foot soldiers, tire arms of every proud vas sal or vavasor which might give some guide as to the power of each division. From win to wing and round the flanks he went, keeping ever within crossbow shot of the , army, and then at last having noted all things in his rhlnd he turned his horse's head ana rode slowly back, heavy with thought, to the English lines. . . ' CHAPTEHl XXV. I low the King of France Held Counsel at jnaupmuiss The morning of , Sunday, the 1 9th of September, in the year of our. Lord 1356, , was cold and fine. A haze which rose from the marshy val ley of Mulsson covered both camps and set the starving Englishmen shiver ing, but It cleared slowly away as the sun rose. In the red silken pavilion of the French King the same which had been viewed by Nigel and Chan dos the evening before a BOlemn mass was held by the bishops of Cha lons, who prayed for those who were about to die, with little thought In his mind that his own last hour was so near at hand. Then, when communion had been taken by the King end his four young sons the altar was cleared away, and a great red-covered table placed , lengthwise down J the tent, round which John might assemble his council and determine how best he should proceed. With the silken roof, rich tapestries of Arras round the walls and Eastern rugs beneath the feet, his palace cQuld furnish' no fair er chamber. KirT John, who pat t:ron the cano- most noble bearing. It did not need the blue cloak sewed with silver lilies to mark him as the King. Though his ret-hatr beenoTtriil8amwa already widespread over an HiUrope as a kindly gentleman and a fearless soldier a fit leader for a chivalrous nation. His elder son, the Duke of Normandy, still hardly more than a boy, stood beside him, his hand upon the King's shoulder, and John half turned from time to time to fondle him. On the right, at the same high dais, was the King's younger brother, the Dnke of Orleans, a pale heavy featured man, with a languid manner and intolerant eyes. On the left was the Duke of Bourbon, sad-faced and absorbed, with that gentle melan choly in his eyes and bearing wnicn comes often with the premonition of death. All these were in their armor, save only for their helmets, which lay upon the board before them. Below, grouped around the long red table, was ah assembly of the most famous warriors in Europe. " At the end nearest the iKng was the veteran soldier the Duke of Athens, son of a banished father, and now high con stable of France. On one side of him sat the red-faced and cholerlo Lord Clermont, with the same blue Virgin in golden rays upon the surcoat which had caused his quarrel with Chandos the night before On. the other wa$ a noble-featured . srlzzly-halred soldier, Arnold d'Andreghen, who shared with Clermont the honor of being marshal of France. Next to them- sat Lord James of Bourbon, a brave warrior who was afterwards Blaln by the White Company at Brlgnals, and beside him a little group of German noblemen, including the Earl of Salzburg and the Earl of Nassau, who had ridden over the frontier with their formida ble mercenaries at the bidding of the French King. The ridged armer and the hanging nasals of their bassinets were enough in themselves to tell every soldier that they were from be yond the Rhine. At the other side of the table were a line of proud ana war-like lords, Fiennes, Chatlllon, Nesle, de Landas, de Beaujeu, with the fierce knight errant de Chargny, he who had planned the surprise of Ca lais, and Eustace de Rlbeaumont, who had upon the same occasion won the prize of valor from the hands of Ed ward o fEngland. Such was the chiefs to whom the King now turned for as sistance and advice. "You have already heart, my friends," said he, "that the Prince of Wales has made no answer to the pro posal which we sent by the Lord Car dinal of Perlgord. Certes this Is as It should be, and though I have' obeyed the call of Holy Church I had no fears to so excellent a Prince as Ed ward of England would refuse to meet us in battle. I am not of opinion that we Bhould fall upon them at once, lest perchance theardlnal's cross should again come betwixt our swords -and our enemies." A buzz of joyful assent arose from the meeting, and even from the at tendant men-at-arms who guarded the door. When it had died away the Duke of Orleans rose In his place be side the King. "Sire." said he, "you speak as we would have you do, and I for one am of- opinion that the Cardinal of Fen gord has been an ill friend of France, for why should we bargain for a part when we have but to hold out our hand in order to grasp the whole? What need Is there for words? Let us spring to horse forthwith and ride over this handful or marauders wno have dared to lay waste your fair do minions. If one of them go hence save &a our prisoners we are the more to blame." By Saint Denis!" l eald the King, smiling, "if words could slay - you would have had them all upon their backs ere ever we left Chartres. You are new to war, but when you have had experience of a stricken field or two you would know that things must be done wjth forethought and in or der or tney may go awry, in our father's time we sprang to horse and spurred upon, these English at Ci-ecy and elsewhere as you advise, but we had little profit from It, and now we are grown wiser. How say ybu, Sieur de Rlbeaumont? You have coasted coasted their lines and observed their countenance. Would you ride down upon them, as my brother has advis ed, or howwould you order the mat ter?" -- - : ' De Rlbeaumont, a tall dark -eyed handsome man, paused ere he answer ed. "Sire," he said at last, "I have in deed ridden along their front and down their flanks, in company with Lord Landas and Lord de Beaujeu who are here at your council to wit ness to what I say. Indeed, sire. It is In my mind that though the English are few in number yet tney are in such a position amongst these hedges and vines that-you would be well-ad vised if you were to leave them alone. for they have no food and must re treat, so that you will -be able to fol low them and to fight them to better advantage." . - A murmur of disapproval rose from the company, and the Lord Clermont, marshal o fthe army, sprang to his feet, his face red with anger. ."Eustace, Eustace," said he, 'I bear in mind the days when you were of great heart and high enterprise, but since King Edward gave you yonder chaplet of pearls you have ever been backward against tha English!" "My Lord Clermont," said de RI beaumont sternlvV "it is not forme to brawl at die King's council and in the face of the enemy, but we will go further Into this matter at some other timer Meanwhile, the Klngr has asked me for my advice and I have given it es best I r-1-M." thelr number? I know not whe-js should dwell afterwards, for I r very sure that we should dwell af t aywardsrotsi'veTy-'Surehat-r?' snouia De asnamea, to riae deck Fans, or to look our ladies in . eyes again." , v ,. .v "Indeed. Eustace, you have dd wen to say what is in your mto eaid the King; "but I have aire said that we shall Join battle i morning, so that there is no . ro here for further talk. But I wo fain have heard from you how would be wisest and best that Ipe tack them?' , I will advise you. sire, to the I of my power. Upon their right'Y river wun marsnes arouna it, a upon their left a -great wood, so t we can advance only upon the cenj Along their front is a thick heJ and behind it I saw the green Jerl of their archers, as thick as the see by the river, It is broken by one ri where only four horsemen could abreast, which lead's through the sltion. It is clear then that tf we to drive them back we must cross great hedge, and I am very sufe the horses will not face it with' a eiurui oi arrows Dealing irom hind it. Therefore, It is my con that we fight upon foot, a the I llsh did at Crecy, for Indeed w i find that our horses - will be tr hindrance than help to us this d, "The same thought waa fn my i the veteran marshal. "At Crecy bravest had to turn their backs, what can a man do with a h which is mad with pain and fear we advance upon fo t we are our masters, na ir we Biop me snani ours." V" "The counsel is good." Bald Duke of Athens, turning his shr wizened face to the King; "but, thing only I would add to It strength of these people lies in t archers, and if we could throw t into disorder, were it only fo a t time, we should win the hedge: they will shoot so strongly that must lose many me before we n it, for Indeed we have learned thai armor will keep out their shafts vl they are close." v; i M Your words, fair sir! are V. good find wise." said the King. I pray you te tell us how you M throw these archers into dlsordeif "I would choose S0O horsemen, thp best and most forward in army. With these I would ride urf narrow road, and so turn to right left, falling upon the archers be the hedge. It may be that the would suffer sorely, but what are among so great a host, If a road be cleared for their companions'? I would say a word to that, i cried the German Count of Na "I have come here with my com to venture our persons in your t rel; but we claim the right toj in our own. fashion, . and we count it dishonor to .dismount it our steeds Out of fear of the art of the English, Therefore, with permission, we will ride to the f( as the Duke of Athens has adl and clear a path for the rest of : "This may not be!" cried the Clermont ; angrily, "It I would strange Indeed if Frenchmen . not befound to clear aipath lfo army of the King of France. would think to hear you.-:, talk, Lord iCount, that your hardlhopd greater than our own, but by our I T", n a n n J ..... I , , . - . f Autmuauur you will learn 'U, nightfall that it Ms not so. It i me, who am a marshal of Franc lead these 800, since it Is an hono venture." "And I claim the same right f d same reason, eaid Arnold of A ghen. -.---"-w-; -rv The German Count struck fhe, with his mailed fist. "Do what like!", said he. "But this only promise you, inai neuner i no, of my German riders will i d from our 'horses so long as the able to carry us. for in our coun is only people of no consequent fight upon their feet "; U ' ' The Lord Clermont was leanlri grily forward with - some v hot when King John Intervened, "EnF enough!" he said. "It is for y give your opinions, and for me i you what you will do; Lord Cler and von. Arnold, von will choos of the bravest cavaliers in trie I and you will endeavor to break archers.- As to you and your GerJ my Lord Nassau, you will pi upon horseback, since you de&. and you will follow the marshal support them " aa best you niay' rest of the army -will advance foot, in three other divisions U ranged j yours, Charles," and hi ted his son, the Duke of Norn affectionately upon the hand ; Philip," he glanced at the 'Dul Orleans; "and the main battle i Is my own. To you, Geoffrey de O ny, I itrust' the orlfiamme thf But who Is this knight and wh he desire?" ' ... r ' t J A young knight, ruddy-bearj tall, a red griffin upon his 6i. had appeared in the opening j tent. His flushed face arid dish dress showed that he had , cof haste, "Sire," said he, "I am 1 de Duras, of the household ,;o Cardlnal de Perlgord. I have ta yesterday all that I have lean the English camp. This morning again admitted to it, and I hav their wagons moving to v th they are in flight for Bordearf - " 'Fore God, I knew it!" 'cl Duke of Orleans in. a voice oi Whilst we have been talkln; have slipped through our- tinge ; I not warn you?" ' "Be silent, rhilip!" said th ."Hut -'-'ii f 'v, r "
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 14, 1907, edition 1
20
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