Saint George for England

G >> G. A. Henty >> Saint George for England

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The knights and ladies then started for Paris. On nearing the city they
found that it was threatened by the forces of the Dauphin. Marcel had
strongly fortified the town, and with his ally, the infamous King of
Navarre, bade defiance to the royal power. However, the excesses of the
demagogue had aroused against him the feeling of all the better class of
the inhabitants. The King of Navarre, who was ready at all times to break
his oath and betray his companions, marched his army out of the town and
took up a position outside the walls. He then secretly negotiated peace
with the Duke of Normandy, by which he agreed to yield to their fate Marcel
and twelve of the most obnoxious burghers, while at the same time he
persuaded Marcel that he was still attached to his interest. Marcel,
however, was able to bid higher than the Duke of Normandy, and he entered
into a new treaty with the treacherous king, by which he stipulated to
deliver the city into his hands during the night. Everyone within the
walls, except the partisans of Marcel, upon whose doors a mark was to be
placed, were to be put to death indiscriminately, and the King of Navarre
was to be proclaimed King of France.

Fortunately Pepin des Essarts and John de Charny, two loyal knights who
were in Paris, obtained information of the plan a few minutes before the
time appointed for its execution. Arming themselves instantly, and
collecting a few followers, they rushed to the houses of the chief
conspirators, but found them empty, Marcel and his companions having
already gone to the gates. Passing by the hotel-de-ville, the knights
entered, snatched down the royal banner which was kept there, and unfurling
it mounted their horses and rode through the streets, calling all men to
arms. They reached the Port St. Antoine just at the moment when Marcel was
in the act of opening it in order to give admission to the Navarrese. When
he heard the shouts he tried with his friends to make his way into the
bastille, but his retreat was intercepted, and a severe and bloody struggle
took place between the two parties. Stephen Marcel, however, was himself
slain by Sir John de Charny, and almost all his principal companions fell
with him. The inhabitants then threw open their gates and the Duke of
Normandy entered.

Walter Somers had, with his companions, joined the army of the duke, and
placed his sword at his disposal; but when the French prince entered Paris
without the necessity of fighting, he took leave of him, and with the
Captal returned to England. Rare, indeed, were the jewels which Walter
brought home to his wife, for the three hundred noble ladies rescued at
Meaux from dishonour and death had insisted upon bestowing tokens of their
regard and gratitude upon the rescuers, and as many of them belonged to the
richest as well as the noblest families in France the presents which Walter
thus received from the grateful ladies were of immense value.

He was welcomed by the king and Prince of Wales with great honour, for the
battle at Meaux had excited the admiration and astonishment of all Europe.
The Jacquerie was considered as a common danger in all civilized countries;
for if successful it might have spread far beyond the boundaries of France,
and constituted a danger to chivalry, and indeed to society universally.

Thus King Edward gave the highest marks of his satisfaction to the Captal
and Walter, added considerable grants of land to the estates of the latter,
and raised him to the dignity of Baron Somers of Westerham.

It has always been a matter of wonder that King Edward did not take
advantage of the utter state of confusion and anarchy which prevailed in
France to complete his conquest of that country, which there is no
reasonable doubt he could have effected with ease. Civil war and strife
prevailed throughout France; famine devastated it; and without leaders or
concord, dispirited and impoverished by defeat, France could have offered
no resistance to such an army as England could have placed in the field.
The only probable supposition is that at heart he doubted whether the
acquisition of the crown of France was really desirable, or whether it
could be permanently maintained should it be gained. To the monarch of a
country prosperous, flourishing, and contented, the object of admiration
throughout Europe, the union with distracted and divided France could be of
no benefit. Of military glory he had gained enough to content any man, and
some of the richest provinces of France were already his. Therefore it may
well be believed that, feeling secure very many years must elapse before
France could again become dangerous, he was well content to let matters
continue as they were.

King John still remained a prisoner in his hands, for the princes and
nobles of France were too much engaged in broils and civil wars to think of
raising the money for his ransom, and Languedoc was the only province of
France which made any effort whatever towards so doing. War still raged
between the Dauphin and the King of Navarre.

At the conclusion of the two years' truce Edward, with the most splendidly-
equipped army which had ever left England, marched through the length and
breadth of France. Nowhere did he meet with any resistance in the field.
He marched under the walls of Paris, but took no steps to lay siege to that
city, which would have fallen an easy prey to his army had he chosen to
capture it. That he did not do so is another proof that he had no desire
to add France to the possessions of the English crown. At length, by the
efforts of the pope, a peace was agreed upon, by which France yielded all
Aquitaine and the town of Calais to England as an absolute possession, and
not as a fief of the crown of France; while the English king surrendered
all his captures in Normandy and Brittany and abandoned his claim to the
crown of France. With great efforts the French raised a portion of the
ransom demanded for the king, and John returned to France after four years
of captivity.

At the commencement of 1363 Edward the Black Prince was named Prince of
Aquitaine, and that province was bestowed upon him as a gift by the king,
subject only to liege homage and an annual tribute of one ounce of gold.
The prince took with him to his new possessions many of the knights and
nobles who had served with him, and offered to Walter a high post in the
government of the province if he would accompany him. This Walter begged to
be excused from doing. Two girls had now been added to his family, and he
was unwilling to leave his happy home unless the needs of war called him to
the prince's side. He therefore remained quietly at home.

When King John returned to France, four of the French princes of the
blood-royal had been given as hostages for the fulfilment of the treaty of
Bretigny. They were permitted to reside at Calais, and were at liberty to
move about as they would, and even to absent themselves from the town for
three days at a time whensoever they might choose. The Duke of Anjou, the
king's second son, basely took advantage of this liberty to escape, in
direct violation of his oath. The other hostages followed his example.

King John, himself the soul of honour, was intensely mortified at this
breach of faith on the part of his sons, and after calling together the
states-general at Amiens to obtain the subsidies necessary for paying the
remaining portion of his ransom, he himself, with a train of two hundred
officers and their followers, crossed to England to make excuses to Edward
for the treachery of the princes. Some historians represent the visit as a
voluntary returning into captivity; but this was not so. The English king
had accepted the hostages in his place, and was responsible for their
safe-keeping, and had no claim upon the French monarch because they had
taken advantage of the excess of confidence with which they had been
treated. That the coming of the French king was not in any way regarded as
a return into captivity is shown by the fact that he was before starting
furnished by Edward with letters of safe-conduct, by which his secure and
unobstructed return to his own country was expressly stipulated, and he was
received by Edward as an honoured guest and friend, and his coming was
regarded as an honour and an occasion for festivity by all England.

At the same time that John was in London the King of Cyprus, the King of
Denmark, and the King of Scotland were also there, and the meeting of four
monarchs in London was the occasion of extraordinary festivities and
rejoicing, the king and his royal guests being several times entertained at
sumptuous banquets by the lord-mayor, the ex-mayor Henry Pickard, and
several of the aldermen.

Six weeks after John's arrival in London he was seized with illness at the
palace of the Savoy, and died on the 8th of April, 1364. The Dauphin,
Charles, now succeeded him as Charles V, and the war between the houses of
Navarre and Valois was carried on with greater fury than ever. The armies
of Navarre were commanded by the Captal de Buch, who was a distant relation
of the king; while those of Charles were headed by the Marechal de
Boucicault and Bertrand du Guesclin, one of the most gallant of the French
knights. A great battle was fought near Cocherel. Contrary to the orders
of the Captal, his army, which consisted principally of adventurers,
descended from the strong position he had chosen, and gave battle in the
plain. They were completely defeated, and the Captal himself taken
prisoner.

In Brittany John of Montford and Charles of Blois had renewed their
struggle, and King Charles, seeing the danger of Brittany falling into the
hands of De Montford, who was a close ally of England, interfered in favour
of Charles of Blois, and sent Du Guesclin to his assistance.

This was a breach of the treaty of Bretigny, and De Montford at once sent
to the Black Prince for assistance. The Prince did not treat the conduct
of Charles as a breach of the treaty, and took no part himself in the war,
but permitted Sir John Chandos, who was a personal friend of De Montford,
to go to his aid. De Montford's army, after the arrival of Chandos with 200
spears, amounted to but 1600 men-at-arms and from 800 to 900 archers, while
Charles of Blois had 4000 men-at-arms and a proportionate number of
infantry. De Montford tried to negotiate. He offered to divide the dukedom,
and to agree that in case he died childless it should revert to the family
of Charles. Charles, however, refused all terms, even to grant his
adversary's request to put off the battle until the morrow, so as to avoid
violating the Sabbath; and having given orders that all prisoners taken in
the battle should be hung, he advanced upon De Montford.

Both forces were divided in four bodies. The first on De Montford's side
was commanded by Sir Robert Knolles, the second by Oliver de Clisson, the
third by Chandos and De Montford, the fourth by Sir Hugh de Calverley. Du
Guesclin led the front division of Charles's army, the Counts of Auxerre
and Joigny the second, Charles himself the third, and the Lords of Roye and
Rieux the reserve. The ducal arms of Brittany were displayed on both
sides.

By slow degrees the two armies closed with each other in deadly strife.
Both parties had dismounted and fought on foot with lances shortened to
five feet. Du Guesclin and his division attacked that of Knolles. Auxerre
fell upon De Clisson, while the divisions of the two rival princes closed
with each other. After desperate fighting numbers prevailed. De Montford
was driven back, but Calverley advanced to his aid, fell upon the rear of
the French, threw them into disorder, and then having rallied De Montford's
men, retired to his former position in readiness to give succour again
where it might be needed.

In the meantime Clisson had been engaged in a desperate struggle with the
Count of Auxerre, but was obtaining no advantage. Clisson himself had
received the blow of a battle-axe which had dashed in the vizor of his
helmet and blinded for ever one of his eyes. He was still leading his men,
but the enemies' superior numbers were pressing him back, when Chandos, the
instant the assistance of Calverley had relieved De Montford's division,
perceiving his danger, drew off a few men-at-arms, and with them fell upon
the rear of the Count of Auxerre, and dashing all who opposed him to the
ground with his battle-axe, cleft his way to the very centre of the enemy.
Pressed by De Clisson in front and broken by the sudden attack of Chandos
in the rear, the French division gave way in every direction. Auxerre was
desperately wounded, and he and Joigny both taken prisoners.

Chandos then returned to De Montford, who had gallantly followed up the
advantage gained by the confusion into which Charles's division had been
thrown by the attack of Calverley. Charles was routed; he himself struck
down and slain by an English soldier, and the division defeated with great
slaughter. De Montford's whole force now gathered round Du Guesclin's
division, which now alone remained, and after fighting gallantly until all
hope was gone, the brave French knight and his companions yielded
themselves as prisoners.

The battle of Auray terminated the struggle between the houses of Blois and
Montford. More than 1000 French men-at-arms died on the field, among whom
were many of the noblest in Brittany. Two counts, 27 lords, and 1500
men-at-arms were made prisoners. De Montford now took possession of the
whole of Brittany, and at the suggestion of King Edward himself did homage
to Charles V for the duchy, which he afterwards ruled with wisdom.

CHAPTER XXII: VICTORY AND DEATH

While the Black Prince was with difficulty governing his province of
Aquitaine, where the mutual jealousies of the English and native officers
caused continual difficulties, King Edward turned all his attention to
advancing the prosperity of England. He fostered trade, commerce, and
learning, was a munificent patron of the two universities, and established
such order and regularity in his kingdom that England was the admiration of
all Europe. Far different was the state of France. The cessation of the
wars with England and the subsequent disbandment of troops had thrown upon
their own resources great numbers of men who had been so long engaged in
fighting that they had no other trade to turn to. The conclusion of the
struggle in Brittany after the battle of Auray and the death of Charles of
Blois still further added to the number, and these men gathered in bands,
some of which were headed by men of knightly rank, and scattered through
France plundering the country and extracting heavy sums from the towns.

These "great companies," as they were called, exceeded 50,000 men in
number, and as almost all were trained soldiers they set the king and his
nobles at defiance, and were virtually masters of France. The most tempting
offers were made to them to lay down their arms, and the pope sent legates
threatening excommunication, but the great companies laughed alike at
promises and threats. At last a way of deliverance opened to France.
Pedro, named the Cruel, of Castile, had alienated his people by his
cruelty, and had defeated and driven into exile his half-brother, Henry of
Trastamare, who headed an insurrection against him. Pedro put to death
numbers of the nobles of Castile, despoiled the King of Arragon, who had
given aid to his brother, plundered and insulted the clergy, and allied
himself with the Moors.

His quarrel with the clergy was the cause of his ruin. The pope summoned
him to appear before him at Avignon to answer to the crimes laid to his
charge. Pedro refused to attend, and the pope at once excommunicated him.
The King of Arragon and Henry of Trastamare were then summoned to Avignon,
and a treaty of alliance was concluded between them, and the pope declared
the throne of Castile vacant owing to the excommunication of Pedro, and
appointed Henry to it.

These measures would have troubled Pedro little had it not been that France
groaned under the great companies, and the French king and the pontiff at
once entered into negotiations with them to support Henry in his war
against his brother. It was necessary that a leader in whom the companies
should have confidence should be chosen, and Du Guesclin, still a prisoner
of Chandos, who had captured him at Auray, was selected, and the pope, the
King of France, and Don Henry, paid between them the 100,000 francs
demanded for his ransom. Du Guesclin on his release negotiated with the
leaders of the great companies, and as the pope and king promised them
large gratuities they agreed to march upon Spain. They were joined by a
great number of French knights and men-at-arms.

The expedition was under the nominal command of John of Bourbon, but the
real guidance was in the hands of Du Guesclin. As the army marched past
Avignon they worked upon the terrors of the pope until he paid them 200,000
francs in gold. France was filled with joy at the prospect of a riddance
of the free companies which had so long been a prey upon them. They were,
too, eager to avenge upon the cruel King of Spain the murder of his queen,
who was a princess of France. The same feeling animated the people of
Aquitaine, and Calverley, D'Ambrecicourt, Sir Walter Hewitt, Sir John
Devereux, Sir John Neville, and several other distinguished knights, with a
large train of men-at-arms, joined the adventurers. The great army moved
through Arragon, whose king in every way facilitated their progress. As
they entered Castile the whole people declared in favour of Henry, and
Pedro, deserted by all, fled to Bordeaux and besought aid from the Prince
of Wales.

Between Pedro and the English court a firm alliance had existed from the
time when the former so nearly married the Princess Joan, and immediately
the king heard of the expedition against him he issued orders that no
English knights should take part in it. The order, however, came too late.
The English knights had already marched into Spain with Du Guesclin. As for
the English who formed no inconsiderable portion of the great companies,
they had already declined to obey the king, when, at the insistence of the
pope and the King of France, he had ordered them to disband.

On Pedro's arrival at Bordeaux with his three daughters and his son, they
were kindly received by the Black Prince, courtesy and kindness to those in
misfortune being among the leading characteristics of his nature. Pedro,
cruel and ruthless as he was, was a man of great eloquence and insinuating
manners, and giving his own version of affairs, he completely won over the
prince, who felt himself, moreover, bound in some degree to support him,
inasmuch as he, an ally of England, had been dethroned by an army composed
partly of English. Pedro made the most magnificent promises to the prince
in return for his aid, ceding him the whole of the province of Biscay, and
agreeing to pay the British troops engaged in his service when he regained
his throne, the Black Prince engaging to pay them in the meantime.

King Edward aided his son by raising an army in England, which sailed for
Bordeaux under the command of the prince's brother, John of Gaunt, Duke of
Lancaster. Walter formed part of this expedition. The king had issued his
writs to him and other barons of the southern counties, and the Black
Prince had himself written to ask him to join him, in memory of their
former deeds of arms together.

As it was now some years since he had taken the field, Walter did not
hesitate, but with thirty retainers, headed by Ralph, joined the army of
John of Gaunt.

The Black Prince's first step was to endeavour to recall the Englishmen of
the free companies, estimated to amount to at least 30,000 men. The news
that he was taking up arms and would himself command the army caused
Calverley and the whole of the other English knights to return at once, and
10,000 of the English men- at-arms with the great companies also left Don
Henry and marched to Aquitaine. The road led through the territory of the
King of Navarre, and the Black Prince advanced 56,000 florins of gold to
pay this grasping and treacherous king for the right of passage of the
army.

By Christmas, 1366, the preparations were complete, but the severity of the
weather delayed the advance for some weeks. Fresh difficulties were
encountered with Charles the Bad, of Navarre, who, having obtained the
price for the passage, had now opened negotiations with Don Henry, and the
governors of the frontier towns refused to allow Sir Hugh Calverley and the
free companies, who formed the advance, to pass. These were not, however,
the men to stand on ceremony, and without hesitation they attacked and
captured the towns, when the King of Navarre at once apologized for his
officers, and renewed his engagements. As, however, the Black Prince had
received intelligence that he had formed a plan for attacking the English
as they passed through the terrible pass of Roncesvalles, he compelled him
to accompany the army. The invitation was couched in language which was
friendly, but would yet admit of no denial.

On the 17th of February the English army, 30,000 strong, reached the pass.
It marched in three divisions, the first commanded by the Duke of Lancaster
and Lord Chandos, the second by the Black Prince, the third by the King of
Majorca and the Count of Armaguac. The divisions crossed over on different
days, for the pass was encumbered by snow and the obstacles were immense.
Upon the day when the prince's division were passing a storm burst upon
them, and it was with the greatest difficulty that they succeeded in
crossing. On the 20th of February, however, all arrived safe on the other
side of the Pyrenees. Du Guesclin, who, seeing the storm which was
approaching from Aquitaine, had returned to France and levied a French
army, was nigh at hand, and kept within a few miles of the English army as
it advanced, avoiding an engagement until the arrival of Don Henry, who was
marching to join him with the great companies and 60,000 Spanish troops.

Du Guesclin kept up secret communications with the King of Navarre, who was
still forced to accompany the English army. The latter accordingly went out
from the camp under pretence of hunting and was captured by a detachment of
French troops.

On the 1st of April, the Spanish army having joined the French, the Black
Prince sent letters to Don Henry, urging him in mild but dignified language
to return to obedience, and to resign the throne he had usurped, offering
at the same time to act as mediator between him and his brother, and to do
all in his power to remove differences and abuses. Henry, confident in his
strength, replied haughtily and prepared for battle.

The forces were extremely unequal. The Black Prince had under him 30,000
men; while under Don Henry were 3000 men-at-arms on mail-clad horses,
20,000 men-at- arms on horses not so protected, 6000 light cavalry, 10,000
crossbow-men, and 60,000 foot armed with spear and sword.

The night before the battle the Black Prince lodged in the little village
of Navarretta, which had been deserted by its inhabitants. Walter had been
his close companion since he started, and occupied the same lodging with
him in the village.

"This reminds me," the prince said, "of the day before Cressy. They
outnumber us by more than three to one.

"There were greater odds still," Walter replied, "at Poitiers, and I doubt
not that we shall make as good an example of them."

"They are more doughty adversaries," the prince replied. "There are nigh
20,000 English in their ranks - all veterans in war - and they are led by
Du Guesclin, who is a host in himself."

"Their very numbers will be a hindrance to them," Walter replied
cheerfully; "and never did I see a better army than that which you have
under you. I would we were fighting for a better man, for Don Pedro is to
my mind treacherous as well as cruel. He promises fairly, but I doubt if
when he has gained his end he will keep his promises. He speaks fairly and
smoothly, but his deeds are at variance with his words."

"It may be, my lord," the prince replied, "that I am somewhat of your
opinion, and that I regret I so quickly committed myself to his cause.
However, he was my father's ally, and having fulfilled all his engagements
had a right to demand our assistance. I am a bad hand, Walter, at saying no
to those who beseech me."

"It is so, Sir Prince," Walter said bluntly. "Would that your heart had
been a less generous one, for your nobleness of disposition is ever
involving you in debts which hamper you sorely, and cause more trouble to
you than all your enemies!"

"That is true enough," the Black Prince said with a sigh. "Since I was a
boy I have ever been harassed with creditors; and though all Aquitaine is
mine, I verily believe that there is not a man in my father's dominions who
is so harassed and straitened for money as I."

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