The White Company Read online

  CHAPTER XVIII. HOW SIR NIGEL LORING PUT A PATCH UPON HIS EYE.

  It was on the morning of Friday, the eight-and-twentieth day ofNovember, two days before the feast of St. Andrew, that the cog and hertwo prisoners, after a weary tacking up the Gironde and the Garonne,dropped anchor at last in front of the noble city of Bordeaux. Withwonder and admiration, Alleyne, leaning over the bulwarks, gazed at theforest of masts, the swarm of boats darting hither and thither on thebosom of the broad curving stream, and the gray crescent-shaped citywhich stretched with many a tower and minaret along the western shore.Never had he in his quiet life seen so great a town, nor was there inthe whole of England, save London alone, one which might match it insize or in wealth. Here came the merchandise of all the fair countrieswhich are watered by the Garonne and the Dordogne--the cloths of thesouth, the skins of Guienne, the wines of the Medoc--to be borne away toHull, Exeter, Dartmouth, Bristol or Chester, in exchange for the woolsand woolfels of England. Here too dwelt those famous smelters andwelders who had made the Bordeaux steel the most trusty upon earth, andcould give a temper to lance or to sword which might mean dear life toits owner. Alleyne could see the smoke of their forges reeking up in theclear morning air. The storm had died down now to a gentle breeze, whichwafted to his ears the long-drawn stirring bugle-calls which soundedfrom the ancient ramparts.

  "Hola, mon petit!" said Aylward, coming up to where he stood. "Thou arta squire now, and like enough to win the golden spurs, while I am stillthe master-bowman, and master-bowman I shall bide. I dare scarce wagmy tongue so freely with you as when we tramped together past WilverleyChase, else I might be your guide now, for indeed I know every house inBordeaux as a friar knows the beads on his rosary."

  "Nay, Aylward," said Alleyne, laying his hand upon the sleeve of hiscompanion's frayed jerkin, "you cannot think me so thrall as to throwaside an old friend because I have had some small share of good fortune.I take it unkind that you should have thought such evil of me."

  "Nay, mon gar. 'Twas but a flight shot to see if the wind blew steady,though I were a rogue to doubt it."

  "Why, had I not met you, Aylward, at the Lynhurst inn, who can say whereI had now been! Certes, I had not gone to Twynham Castle, nor becomesquire to Sir Nigel, nor met----" He paused abruptly and flushed to hishair, but the bowman was too busy with his own thoughts to notice hisyoung companion's embarrassment.

  "It was a good hostel, that of the 'Pied Merlin,'" he remarked. "By myten finger bones! when I hang bow on nail and change my brigandine for atunic, I might do worse than take over the dame and her business."

  "I thought," said Alleyne, "that you were betrothed to some one atChristchurch."

  "To three," Aylward answered moodily, "to three. I fear I may not goback to Christchurch. I might chance to see hotter service in Hampshirethan I have ever done in Gascony. But mark you now yonder lofty turretin the centre, which stands back from the river and hath a broad bannerupon the summit. See the rising sun flashes full upon it and sparkleson the golden lions. 'Tis the royal banner of England, crossed by theprince's label. There he dwells in the Abbey of St. Andrew, where hehath kept his court these years back. Beside it is the minster of thesame saint, who hath the town under his very special care."

  "And how of yon gray turret on the left?"

  "'Tis the fane of St. Michael, as that upon the right is of St. Remi.There, too, above the poop of yonder nief, you see the towers of SaintCroix and of Pey Berland. Mark also the mighty ramparts which arepierced by the three water-gates, and sixteen others to the landwardside."

  "And how is it, good Aylward, that there comes so much music from thetown? I seem to hear a hundred trumpets, all calling in chorus."

  "It would be strange else, seeing that all the great lords of Englandand of Gascony are within the walls, and each would have his trumpeterblow as loud as his neighbor, lest it might be thought that his dignityhad been abated. Ma foi! they make as much louster as a Scotch army,where every man fills himself with girdle-cakes, and sits up all nightto blow upon the toodle-pipe. See all along the banks how the pageswater the horses, and there beyond the town how they gallop them overthe plain! For every horse you see a belted knight hath herbergage inthe town, for, as I learn, the men-at-arms and archers have already goneforward to Dax."

  "I trust, Aylward," said Sir Nigel, coming upon deck, "that the men areready for the land. Go tell them that the boats will be for them withinthe hour."

  The archer raised his hand in salute, and hastened forward. In themeantime Sir Oliver had followed his brother knight, and the two pacedthe poop together, Sir Nigel in his plum-colored velvet suit with flatcap of the same, adorned in front with the Lady Loring's glove and girtround with a curling ostrich feather. The lusty knight, on the otherhand, was clad in the very latest mode, with cote-hardie, doublet,pourpoint, court-pie, and paltock of olive-green, picked out withpink and jagged at the edges. A red chaperon or cap, with long hangingcornette, sat daintily on the back of his black-curled head, while hisgold-hued shoes were twisted up _a la poulaine_, as though the toeswere shooting forth a tendril which might hope in time to entwine itselfaround his massive leg.

  "Once more, Sir Oliver," said Sir Nigel, looking shorewards withsparkling eyes, "do we find ourselves at the gate of honor, the doorwhich hath so often led us to all that is knightly and worthy. Thereflies the prince's banner, and it would be well that we haste ashore andpay our obeisance to him. The boats already swarm from the bank."

  "There is a goodly hostel near the west gate, which is famed for thestewing of spiced pullets," remarked Sir Oliver. "We might take the edgeof our hunger off ere we seek the prince, for though his tables aregay with damask and silver he is no trencherman himself, and hath nosympathy for those who are his betters."

  "His betters!"

  "His betters before the tranchoir, lad. Sniff not treason where none ismeant. I have seen him smile in his quiet way because I had looked forthe fourth time towards the carving squire. And indeed to watchhim dallying with a little gobbet of bread, or sipping his cup ofthrice-watered wine, is enough to make a man feel shame at his ownhunger. Yet war and glory, my good friend, though well enough in theirway, will not serve to tighten such a belt as clasps my waist."

  "How read you that coat which hangs over yonder galley, Alleyne?" askedSir Nigel.

  "Argent, a bend vert between cotises dancette gules."

  "It is a northern coat. I have seen it in the train of the Percies. Fromthe shields, there is not one of these vessels which hath not knight orbaron aboard. I would mine eyes were better. How read you this upon theleft?"

  "Argent and azure, a barry wavy of six."

  "Ha, it is the sign of the Wiltshire Stourtons! And there beyond I seethe red and silver of the Worsleys of Apuldercombe, who like myself areof Hampshire lineage. Close behind us is the moline cross of the gallantWilliam Molyneux, and beside it the bloody chevrons of the NorforkWoodhouses, with the amulets of the Musgraves of Westmoreland. By St.Paul! it would be a very strange thing if so noble a company were togather without some notable deed of arms arising from it. And here isour boat, Sir Oliver, so it seems best to me that we should go to theabbey with our squires, leaving Master Hawtayne to have his own way inthe unloading."

  The horses both of knights and squires were speedily lowered into abroad lighter, and reached the shore almost as soon as their masters.Sir Nigel bent his knee devoutly as he put foot on land, and taking asmall black patch from his bosom he bound it tightly over his left eye.

  "May the blessed George and the memory of my sweet lady-love raise highmy heart!" quoth he. "And as a token I vow that I will not take thispatch from my eye until I have seen something of this country of Spain,and done such a small deed as it lies in me to do. And this I swear uponthe cross of my sword and upon the glove of my lady."

  "In truth, you take me back twenty years, Nigel," quoth Sir Oliver, asthey mounted and rode slowly through the water-gate. "After Cadsand,I deem that the French thought that we were an army of the
blind, forthere was scarce a man who had not closed an eye for the greater loveand honor of his lady. Yet it goes hard with you that you should darkenone side, when with both open you can scarce tell a horse from a mule.In truth, friend, I think that you step over the line of reason in thismatter."

  "Sir Oliver Buttesthorn," said the little knight shortly, "I would haveyou to understand that, blind as I am, I can yet see the path of honorvery clearly, and that that is the road upon which I do not craveanother man's guidance."

  "By my soul," said Sir Oliver, "you are as tart as verjuice thismorning! If you are bent upon a quarrel with me I must leave you to yourhumor and drop into the 'Tete d'Or' here, for I marked a varlet passthe door who bare a smoking dish, which had, methought, a most excellentsmell."

  "Nenny, nenny," cried his comrade, laying his hand upon his knee; "wehave known each other over long to fall out, Oliver, like two raw pagesat their first epreuves. You must come with me first to the prince, andthen back to the hostel; though sure I am that it would grieve his heartthat any gentle cavalier should turn from his board to a common tavern.But is not that my Lord Delewar who waves to us? Ha! my fair lord, Godand Our Lady be with you! And there is Sir Robert Cheney. Good-morrow,Robert! I am right glad to see you."

  The two knights walked their horses abreast, while Alleyne and Ford,with John Norbury, who was squire to Sir Oliver, kept some paces behindthem, a spear's-length in front of Black Simon and of the Winchesterguidon-bearer. Norbury, a lean, silent man, had been to those partsbefore, and sat his horse with a rigid neck; but the two young squiresgazed eagerly to right or left, and plucked each other's sleeves to callattention to the many strange things on every side of them.

  "See to the brave stalls!" cried Alleyne. "See to the noble armor setforth, and the costly taffeta--and oh, Ford, see to where the scrivenersits with the pigments and the ink-horns, and the rolls of sheepskin aswhite as the Beaulieu napery! Saw man ever the like before?"

  "Nay, man, there are finer stalls in Cheapside," answered Ford, whosefather had taken him to London on occasion of one of the Smithfieldjoustings. "I have seen a silversmith's booth there which would serve tobuy either side of this street. But mark these houses, Alleyne, how theythrust forth upon the top. And see to the coats-of-arms at every window,and banner or pensil on the roof."

  "And the churches!" cried Alleyne. "The Priory at Christchurch was anoble pile, but it was cold and bare, methinks, by one of these, withtheir frettings, and their carvings, and their traceries, as though somegreat ivy-plant of stone had curled and wantoned over the walls."

  "And hark to the speech of the folk!" said Ford. "Was ever such ahissing and clacking? I wonder that they have not wit to learn Englishnow that they have come under the English crown. By Richard of Hampole!there are fair faces amongst them. See the wench with the brown whimple!Out on you, Alleyne, that you would rather gaze upon dead stone than onliving flesh!"

  It was little wonder that the richness and ornament, not only of churchand of stall, but of every private house as well, should have impresseditself upon the young squires. The town was now at the height of itsfortunes. Besides its trade and its armorers, other causes had combinedto pour wealth into it. War, which had wrought evil upon so many faircities around, had brought nought but good to this one. As her Frenchsisters decayed she increased, for here, from north, and from east,and from south, came the plunder to be sold and the ransom money to bespent. Through all her sixteen landward gates there had set for manyyears a double tide of empty-handed soldiers hurrying Francewards, andof enriched and laden bands who brought their spoils home. The prince'scourt, too, with its swarm of noble barons and wealthy knights, many ofwhom, in imitation of their master, had brought their ladies and theirchildren from England, all helped to swell the coffers of the burghers.Now, with this fresh influx of noblemen and cavaliers, food and lodgingwere scarce to be had, and the prince was hurrying forward his forces toDax in Gascony to relieve the overcrowding of his capital.

  In front of the minster and abbey of St. Andrew's was a large squarecrowded with priests, soldiers, women, friars, and burghers, who made ittheir common centre for sight-seeing and gossip. Amid the knot of noisyand gesticulating townsfolk, many small parties of mounted knights andsquires threaded their way towards the prince's quarters, where thehuge iron-clamped doors were thrown back to show that he held audiencewithin. Two-score archers stood about the gateway, and beat back fromtime to time with their bow-staves the inquisitive and chattering crowdwho swarmed round the portal. Two knights in full armor, with lancesraised and closed visors, sat their horses on either side, while in thecentre, with two pages to tend upon him, there stood a noble-faced manin flowing purple gown, who pricked off upon a sheet of parchment thestyle and title of each applicant, marshalling them in their due order,and giving to each the place and facility which his rank demanded. Hislong white beard and searching eyes imparted to him an air of masterfuldignity, which was increased by his tabardlike vesture and the heraldicbarret cap with triple plume which bespoke his office.

  "It is Sir William de Pakington, the prince's own herald and scrivener,"whispered Sir Nigel, as they pulled up amid the line of knights whowaited admission. "Ill fares it with the man who would venture todeceive him. He hath by rote the name of every knight of France or ofEngland; and all the tree of his family, with his kinships, coat-armor,marriages, augmentations, abatements, and I know not what beside. Wemay leave our horses here with the varlets, and push forward with oursquires."

  Following Sir Nigel's counsel, they pressed on upon foot until they wereclose to the prince's secretary, who was in high debate with a young andfoppish knight, who was bent upon making his way past him.

  "Mackworth!" said the king-at-arms. "It is in my mind, young sir, thatyou have not been presented before."

  "Nay, it is but a day since I set foot in Bordeaux, but I feared lestthe prince should think it strange that I had not waited upon him."

  "The prince hath other things to think upon," quoth Sir William dePakington; "but if you be a Mackworth you must be a Mackworth ofNormanton, and indeed I see now that your coat is sable and ermine."

  "I am a Mackworth of Normanton," the other answered, with someuneasiness of manner.

  "Then you must be Sir Stephen Mackworth, for I learn that when oldSir Guy died he came in for the arms and the name, the war-cry and theprofit."

  "Sir Stephen is my elder brother, and I am Arthur, the second son," saidthe youth.

  "In sooth and in sooth!" cried the king-at-arms with scornful eyes. "Andpray, sir second son, where is the cadency mark which should mark yourrank. Dare you to wear your brother's coat without the crescent whichshould stamp you as his cadet. Away to your lodgings, and come notnigh the prince until the armorer hath placed the true charge upon yourshield." As the youth withdrew in confusion, Sir William's keen eyesingled out the five red roses from amid the overlapping shields andcloud of pennons which faced him.

  "Ha!" he cried, "there are charges here which are above counterfeit.The roses of Loring and the boar's head of Buttesthorn may stand backin peace, but by my faith! they are not to be held back in war. Welcome,Sir Oliver, Sir Nigel! Chandos will be glad to his very heart-roots whenhe sees you. This way, my fair sirs. Your squires are doubtless worthythe fame of their masters. Down this passage, Sir Oliver! Edricson! Ha!one of the old strain of Hampshire Edricsons, I doubt not. And Ford,they are of a south Saxon stock, and of good repute. There are Norburysin Cheshire and in Wiltshire, and also, as I have heard, upon theborders. So, my fair sirs, and I shall see that you are shortlyadmitted."

  He had finished his professional commentary by flinging open a foldingdoor, and ushering the party into a broad hall, which was filled witha great number of people who were waiting, like themselves, for anaudience. The room was very spacious, lighted on one side by threearched and mullioned windows, while opposite was a huge fireplace inwhich a pile of faggots was blazing merrily. Many of the company hadcrowded round the flames, for the weather was bitterly
cold; but thetwo knights seated themselves upon a bancal, with their squires standingbehind them. Looking down the room, Alleyne marked that both floor andceiling were of the richest oak, the latter spanned by twelve archingbeams, which were adorned at either end by the lilies and the lions ofthe royal arms. On the further side was a small door, on each side ofwhich stood men-at-arms. From time to time an elderly man in black withrounded shoulders and a long white wand in his hand came softly forthfrom this inner room, and beckoned to one or other of the company, whodoffed cap and followed him.

  The two knights were deep in talk, when Alleyne became aware of aremarkable individual who was walking round the room in their direction.As he passed each knot of cavaliers every head turned to look afterhim, and it was evident, from the bows and respectful salutations onall sides, that the interest which he excited was not due merely to hisstrange personal appearance. He was tall and straight as a lance, thoughof a great age, for his hair, which curled from under his velvet cap ofmaintenance, was as white as the new-fallen snow. Yet, from the swing ofhis stride and the spring of his step, it was clear that he had not yetlost the fire and activity of his youth. His fierce hawk-like face wasclean shaven like that of a priest, save for a long thin wisp of whitemoustache which drooped down half way to his shoulder. That he hadbeen handsome might be easily judged from his high aquiline nose andclear-cut chin; but his features had been so distorted by the seams andscars of old wounds, and by the loss of one eye which had been tornfrom the socket, that there was little left to remind one of the dashingyoung knight who had been fifty years ago the fairest as well as theboldest of the English chivalry. Yet what knight was there in that hallof St. Andrew's who would not have gladly laid down youth, beauty, andall that he possessed to win the fame of this man? For who could benamed with Chandos, the stainless knight, the wise councillor, thevaliant warrior, the hero of Crecy, of Winchelsea, of Poictiers, ofAuray, and of as many other battles as there were years to his life?

  "Ha, my little heart of gold!" he cried, darting forward suddenly andthrowing his arms round Sir Nigel. "I heard that you were here and havebeen seeking you."

  "My fair and dear lord," said the knight, returning the warrior'sembrace, "I have indeed come back to you, for where else shall I go thatI may learn to be a gentle and a hardy knight?"

  "By my troth!" said Chandos with a smile, "it is very fitting that weshould be companions, Nigel, for since you have tied up one of youreyes, and I have had the mischance to lose one of mine, we have but apair between us. Ah, Sir Oliver! you were on the blind side of me and Isaw you not. A wise woman hath made prophecy that this blind side willone day be the death of me. We shall go in to the prince anon; but intruth he hath much upon his hands, for what with Pedro, and the King ofMajorca, and the King of Navarre, who is no two days of the same mind,and the Gascon barons who are all chaffering for terms like so manyhucksters, he hath an uneasy part to play. But how left you the LadyLoring?"

  "She was well, my fair lord, and sent her service and greetings to you."

  "I am ever her knight and slave. And your journey, I trust that it waspleasant?"

  "As heart could wish. We had sight of two rover galleys, and even cameto have some slight bickering with them."

  "Ever in luck's way, Nigel!" quoth Sir John. "We must hear the taleanon. But I deem it best that ye should leave your squires and come withme, for, howsoe'er pressed the prince may be, I am very sure that hewould be loth to keep two old comrades-in-arms upon the further side ofthe door. Follow close behind me, and I will forestall old Sir William,though I can scarce promise to roll forth your style and rank as ishis wont." So saying, he led the way to the inner chamber, the twocompanions treading close at his heels, and nodding to right and left asthey caught sight of familiar faces among the crowd.