sir nigel-第58部分

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that　Sir　Robert　Knolles　and　others　have　joined　you；　and　we　are
heavy…hearted　to　think　that　the　orders　of　our　Kings　should　debar
us　from　attempting　a　venture。〃　　He　and　his　squire　sat　down　at　the
places　set　for　them；　and　filling　their　glasses　drank　to　the
company。

〃What　you　say　is　true；　Robert；〃　said　Bambro'；　〃and　before　you　came
we　were　discussing　the　matter　among　ourselves　and　grieving　that　it
should　be　so。　　When　heard　you　of　the　truce？〃

〃Yester…evening　a　messenger　rode　from　Nantes。〃

〃Our　news　came　to…night　from　Hennebon。　　The　King's　own　seal　was　on
the　order。　　So　I　fear　that　for　a　year　at　least　you　will　bide　at
Josselin　and　we　at　Ploermel；　and　kill　time　as　we　may。　　Perchance
we　may　hunt　the　wolf　together　in　the　great　forest；　or　fly　our
hawks　on　the　banks　of　the　Duc。〃

〃Doubtless　we　shall　do　all　this；　Richard；〃　said　Beaumanoir；　〃but
by　Saint　Cadoc　it　is　in　my　mind　that　with　good…will　upon　both
sides　we　may　please　ourselves　and　yet　stand　excused　before　our
Kings。〃

Knights　and　squires　leaned　forward　in　their　chairs；　their　eager
eyes；　fixed　upon　him。　　He　broke　into　a　gap…toothed　smile　as　he
looked　round　at　the　circle；　the　wizened　seneschal；　the　blond
giant；　Nigel's　fresh　young　face；　the　grim　features　of　Knolles；　and
the　yellow　hawk…like　Calverly；　all　burning　with　the　same　desire。

〃I　see　that　I　need　not　doubt　the　good…will；〃　said　he；　〃and　of　that
I　was　very　certain　before　I　came　upon　this　errand。　　Bethink　you
then　that　this　order　applies　to　war　but　not　to　challenges；
spear…runnings；　knightly　exchanges　or　the　like。　　King　Edward　is
too　good　a　knight；　and　so　is　King　John；　that　either　of　them　should
stand　in　the　way　of　a　gentleman　who　desires　to　advance　himself　or
to　venture　his　body　for　the　exaltation　of　his　lady。　　Is　this　not
so？〃

A　murmur　of　eager　assent　rose　from　the　table。

〃If　you　as　the　garrison　of　Ploermel　march　upon　the　garrison　of
Josselin；　then　it　is　very　plain　that　we　have　broken　the　truce　and
upon　our　heads　be　it。　　But　if　there　be　a　private　bickering　betwixt
me；　for　example；　and　this　young　squire　whose　eyes　show　that　he　is
very　eager　for　honor；　and　if　thereafter　others　on　each　side　join
in　and　fight　upon　the　quarrel；　it　is　in　no　sense　war；　but　rather
our　own　private　business　which　no　king　can　alter。〃

〃Indeed；　Robert；〃　said　Bambro'；　〃　all　that　you　say　is　very　good
and　fair。〃

Beaumanoir　leaned　forward　toward　Nigel；　his　brimming　glass　in　his
hand。　　〃Your　name；　squire？〃　said　he。

〃My　name　is　Nigel　Loring。〃

〃I　see　that　you　are　young　and　eager；　so　I　choose　you　as　I　would
fain　have　been　chosen　when　I　was　of　your　age。〃

〃I　thank　you；　fair　sir；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃It　is　great　honor　that　one
so　famous　as　yourself　should　condescend　to　do　some　small　deed　upon
me。〃

〃But　we　must　have　cause　for　quarrel；　Nigel。　　Now　here　I　drink　to
the　ladies　of　Brittany；　who　of　all　ladies　upon　this　earth　are　the
most　fair　and　the　most　virtuous；　so　that　the　least　worthy…amongst
them　is　far　above　the　best　of　England。　　What　say　you　to　that；
young　sir？〃

Nigel　dipped　his　finger　in　his　glass　and　leaning　over　he　placed
its　wet　impress　on　the　Breton's　hand。　　〃This　in　your　face！〃　said
he。

Beaumanoir　swept　off　the　red　drop　of　moisture　and　smiled　his
approval。　　〃It　could　not　have　been　better　done；〃　said　he。　　〃Why
spoil　my　velvet　paltock　as　many　a　hot…headed　fool　would　have　done。
It　is　in　my　mind；　young　sir；　that　you　will　go　far。　　And　now；　who
follows　up　this　quarrel？〃

A　growl　ran　round　the　table。

Beaumanoir　ran　his　eye　round　and　shook　his　head。　　〃Alas！〃　said　he；
〃there　are　but　twenty　of　you　here；　and　I　have　thirty　at　Josselin
who　are　so　eager　to　advance　themselves　that　if　I　return　without
hope　for　all　of　them　there　will　be　sore　hearts　amongst　them。　　I
pray　you；　Richard；　since　we　have　been　at　these　pains　to　arrange
matters；　that　you　in　turn　will　do　what　you　may。　　Can　you　not　find
ten　more　men？〃

〃But　not　of　gentle　blood。〃

〃Nay；　it　matters　not；　if　they　will　only　fight。〃

〃Of　that　there　can　be　no　doubt；　for　the　castle　is　full　of　archers
and　men…at…arms　who　would　gladly　play　a　part　in　the　matter。〃

〃Then　choose　ten；〃　said　Beaumanoir。

But　for　the　first　time　the　wolf…like　squire　opened　his　thin　lips。
〃Surely；　my　lord；　you　will　not　allow　archers；〃　said　he。

〃I　fear　not　any　man。〃

〃Nay；　fair　sir；　consider　that　this　is　a　trial　of　weapons　betwixt
us　where　man　faces　man。　　You　have　seen　these　English　archers；　and
you　know　how　fast　and　bow　strong　are　their　shafts。　　Bethink　you
that　if　ten　of　them　were　against　us　it　is　likely　that　half　of　us
would　be　down　before　ever　we　came　to　handstrokes。〃

〃By　Saint　Cadoc；　William；　I　think　that　you　are　right；〃　cried　the
Breton。　　〃If　we　are　to　have　such　a　fight　as　will　remain　in　the
memories　of　men；　you　will　bring　no　archers　and　we　no　crossbows。
Let　it　be　steel　upon　steel。　　How　say　you　then？〃

〃Surely　we　can　bring　ten　men…at…arms　to　make　up　the　thirty　that
you　desire；　Robert。　　It　is　agreed　then　that　we　fight　on　no　quarrel
of　England　and　France；　but　over　this　matter　of　the　ladies　in　which
you　and　Squire　Loring　have　fallen　out。　　And　now　the　time？〃

〃At　once。〃

〃Surely　at　once；　or　perchance　a　second　messenger　may　come　and　this
also　be　forbidden。　　We　will　be　ready　with　to…morrow's　sunrise。〃

〃Nay；　a　day　later；〃　cried　the　Breton　Squire。　　〃Bethink　you；　my
lord；　that　the　three　lances　of　Radenac　would　take　time　to　come
over。〃

〃They　are　not　of　our　garrison；　and　they　shall　not　have　a　place。〃

〃But；　fair　sir；　of　all　the　lances　of　Brittany　…　〃

〃Nay；　William；　I　will　not　have　it　an　hour　later。　　Tomorrow　it
shall　be；　Richard。〃

〃And　where？〃

〃I　marked　a　fitting　place　even　as　I　rode　here　this　evening。　　If
you　cross　the　river　and　take　the　bridle…path　through　the　fields
which　leads　to　Josselin　you　come　midway　upon　a　mighty　oak　standing
at　the　corner　of　a　fair　and　level　meadow。　　There　let　us　meet　at
midday　to…morrow。〃

〃Agreed！〃　cried　Bambro'。　　〃But　I　pray　you　not　to　rise；　Robert！
The　night　is　still　young　and　the　spices　and　hippocras　will　soon　be
served。　　Bide　with　us；　I　pray　you；　for　if　you　would　fain　hear　the
latest　songs　from　England；　these　gentlemen　have　doubtless　brought
them。　　To　some　of　us　perchance　it　is　the　last　night；　so　we　would
make　it　a　full　one。〃

But　the　gallant　Breton　shook　his　head。　　〃It　may　indeed　be　the　last
night　for　many；〃　said　he；　〃and　it　is　but　right　that　my　comrades
should　know　it。　　I　have　no　need　of　monk　or　friar；　for　I　cannot
think　that　harm　will　ever　come　beyond　the　grave　to　one　who　has
borne　himself　as　a　knight　should；　but　others　have　other　thoughts
upon　these　matters　and　would　fain　have　time　for　prayer　and
penitence。　　Adieu；　fair　sirs；　and　I　drink　a　last　glass　to　a　happy
meeting　at　the　midway　oak。〃




XXIII。　　HOW　THIRTY　OF　JOSSELIN　ENCOUNTERED　THIRTY　OF　PLOERMEL


All　night　the　Castle　of　Ploermel　rang　with　warlike　preparations；
for　the　smiths　were　hammering　and　filing　and　riveting；　preparing
the　armor　for　the　champions。　　In　the　stable　yard　hostlers　were
testing　and　grooming　the　great　war…horses；　whilst　in　the　chapel
knights　and　squires　were　easing　their　souls　at　the　knees　of　old
Father　Benedict。

Down　in　the　courtyard；　meanwhile；　the　men…at…arms　had　been
assembled；　and　the　volunteers　weeded　out　until　the　best　men　had
been　selected。　　Black　Simon　had　obtained　a　place；　and　great　was
the　joy　which　shone　upon　his　grim　visage。　　With　him　were　chosen
young　Nicholas　Dagsworth；　a　gentleman　adventurer　who　was　nephew　to
the　famous　Sir　Thomas；　Walter　the　German；　Hulbitee　…　a　huge
peasant　whose　massive　frame　gave　promise　which　his　sluggish　spirit
failed　to　fulfil　…　John　Alcock；　Robin　Adey　and　Raoul　Provost。
These　with　three　others　made　up　the　required　thirty。　　Great　was
the　grumbling　and　evil　the　talk　amongst　the　archers　when　it　was
learned　that　none　of　them　were　to　be　included；　but　the　bow　had
been　forbidden　on　either　side。　　It　is　true　that　many　of　them　were
expert　fighters　both　with　ax　and　with　sword；　but　they　were　unused
to　carry　heavy　armor；　and　a　half…armed　man　would　have　short　shrift
in　such　a　hand…to…hand　struggle　as　lay　before　them。

It　was　two　hours　after　tierce；　or　one　hour　before　noon；　on　the
fourth　Wednesday　of　Lent　in　the　year　of　Christ　1351　that　the　men
of　Ploermel　rode　forth　from　their　castle…gate　and　crossed　the
bridge　of　the　Due。　　In　front　was　Bambro'　with　his　Squire　Croquart；
the　latter　on　a　great　roan　horse　bearing　the　banner　of　Ploermel；
which　was　a　black　rampant　lion　holding　a　blue　flag　upon　a　field　of
ermine。　　Behind　him　came　Robert　Knolles　and　Nigel　Loring；　with　an
attendant　at　their　side；　who　carried　the　pennon　of　the　black
raven。　　Then　rode　Sir　Thomas　Percy　with　his　blue　lion　flaunting
above　him；　and　Sir　Hugh　Calverly；　whose　banner　bore　a　silver　owl；
followed　by　the　massive　Belford　who　carried　a　huge　iron　club；
weighing　sixty　pounds；　upon　his　saddlebow；　and　Sir　Thomas　Walton
the　knight　of　Surrey。　　Behind　them　were　four　brave　Anglo…Bretons；
Perrot　de　Commelain；　Le　Gaillart；　d'Aspremont　and　d'Ardaine；　who
fought　against　their　own　countrymen　because　they　were　partisans　of
the　Countess　of　Montfort。　　Her　engrailed　silver　cross　upon　a　blue
field　was　carried　at　their　head。　　In　the　rear　were　five　German　or
Hainault　mercenaries；　the　tall　Hulbitee；　and　the　men…at…arms。
Altogether　of　these　combatants　twenty　were　of　English　birth；　four
were　Breton　and　six　were　of　German　blood。

So；　with　glitter　of　armor　and　flaunting　of　pennons；　their
warhorses　tossing　and　pawing；　the　champions　rode　down　to　the
midway　oak。　　Behind　them　streamed　hundreds　of　archers　and　men…
at…arms　whose　weapons　had　been　wisely　taken　from　them　lest　a
general　battle　should　ensue。　　With　them　also　went　the　townsfolk；
men　and　women；　together　with　wine…sellers；　provisions　merchants；
armorers；　grooms　and　heralds；　with　surgeons　to　tend　the　wounded
and　priests　to　shrive　the　dying。　　The　path　was　blocked　by　this
throng；　but　all　over　the　face　of　the　country　horsemen　and　footmen；
gentle　and　simple；　men　and　women；　could　be　seen　speeding　their　way
to　the　scene　of　the　encounter。

The　journey　was　not　a　long　one；　for　presently；　as　they　threaded
their　way　through　the　fields；　there　appeared　before　them　a　great
gray　oak　which　spread　its　gnarled　leafless　branches　over　the