saint george for england-第1节

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Saint　George　for　England

by　G。　A。　Henty






PREFACE


MY　DEAR　LADS；

You　may　be　told　perhaps　that　there　is　no　good　to　be　obtained　from　tales　of　fighting　and　bloodshed；　…　that　there　is　no　moral　to　be　drawn　from　such　histories。　Believe　it　not。　　War　has　its　lessons　as　well　as　Peace。　You　will　learn　from　tales　like　this　that　determination　and　enthusiasm　can　accomplish　marvels；　that　true　courage　is　generally　accompanied　by　magnanimity　and　gentleness；　and　that　if　not　in　itself　the　very　highest　of　virtues；　it　is　the　parent　of　almost　all　the　others；　since　but　few　of　them　can　be　practised　without　it。　The　courage　of　our　forefathers　has　created　the　greatest　empire　in　the　world　around　a　small　and　in　itself　insignificant　island；　if　this　empire　is　ever　lost；　it　will　be　by　the　cowardice　of　their　descendants。

At　no　period　of　her　history　did　England　stand　so　high　in　the　eyes　of　Europe　as　in　the　time　whose　events　are　recorded　in　this　volume。　A　chivalrous　king　and　an　even　more　chivalrous　prince　had　infected　the　whole　people　with　their　martial　spirit；　and　the　result　was　that　their　armies　were　for　a　time　invincible；　and　the　most　astonishing　successes　were　gained　against　numbers　which　would　appear　overwhelming。　　The　victories　of　Cressy　and　Poitiers　may　be　to　some　extent　accounted　for　by　superior　generalship　and　discipline　on　the　part　of　the　conquerors；　but　this　will　not　account　for　the　great　naval　victory　over　the　Spanish　fleet　off　the　coast　of　Sussex；　a　victory　even　more　surprising　and　won　against　greater　odds　than　was　that　gained　in　the　same　waters　centuries　later　over　the　Spanish　Armada。　The　historical　facts　of　the　story　are　all　drawn　from　Froissart　and　other　contemporary　historians；　as　collated　and　compared　by　Mr。　　James　in　his　carefully　written　history。　They　may　therefore　be　relied　upon　as　accurate　in　every　important　particular。

Yours　sincerely；

G。　A。　HENTY。









CHAPTER　I：　A　WAYFARER


It　was　a　bitterly　cold　night　in　the　month　of　November；　1330。　The　rain　was　pouring　heavily；　when　a　woman；　with　child　in　her　arms；　entered　the　little　village　of　Southwark。　　She　had　evidently　come　from　a　distance；　for　her　dress　was　travel…stained　and　muddy。　She　tottered　rather　than　walked；　and　when；　upon　her　arrival　at　the　gateway　on　the　southern　side　of　London　Bridge；　she　found　that　the　hour　was　past　and　the　gates　closed　for　the　night；　she　leant　against　the　wall　with　a　faint　groan　of　exhaustion　and　disappointment。

After　remaining；　as　if　in　doubt；　for　some　time；　she　feebly　made　her　way　into　the　village。　Here　were　many　houses　of　entertainment；　for　travelers　like　herself　often　arrived　too　late　to　enter　the　gates；　and　had　to　abide　outside　for　the　night。　　Moreover；　house　rent　was　dear　within　the　walls　of　the　crowded　city；　and　many；　whose　business　brought　them　to　town；　found　it　cheaper　to　take　up　their　abode　in　the　quiet　hostels　of　Southwark　rather　than　to　stay　in　the　more　expensive　inns　within　the　walls。　The　lights　came　out　brightly　from　many　of　the　casements；　with　sounds　of　boisterous　songs　and　laughter。　　The　woman　passed　these　without　a　pause。　Presently　she　stopped　before　a　cottage；　from　which　a　feeble　light　alone　showed　that　it　was　tenanted。

She　knocked　at　the　door。　It　was　opened　by　a　pleasant…faced　man　of　some　thirty　years　old。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。

〃I　am　a　wayfarer；〃　the　woman　answered　feebly。　〃Canst　take　me　and　my　child　in　for　the　night？〃

〃You　have　made　a　mistake；〃　the　man　said；　〃this　is　no　inn。　Further　up　the　road　there　are　plenty　of　places　where　you　can　find　such　accommodation　as　you　lack。〃

〃I　have　passed　them；〃　the　woman　said；　〃but　all　seemed　full　of　roisterers。　I　am　wet　and　weary；　and　my　strength　is　nigh　spent。　I　can　pay　thee；　good　fellow；　and　I　pray　you　as　a　Christian　to　let　me　come　in　and　sleep　before　your　fire　for　the　night。　When　the　gates　are　open　in　the　morning　I　will　go；　for　I　have　a　friend　within　the　city　who　will；　methinks；　receive　me。

The　tone　of　voice；　and　the　addressing　of　himself　as　good　fellow；　at　once　convinced　the　man　that　the　woman　before　him　was　no　common　wayfarer。

〃Come　in；〃　he　said；　〃Geoffrey　Ward　is　not　a　man　to　shut　his　doors　in　a　woman's　face　on　a　night　like　this；　nor　does　he　need　payment　for　such　small　hospitality。　　Come　hither；　Madge！〃　he　shouted；　and　at　his　voice　a　woman　came　down　from　the　upper　chamber。　〃Sister；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　a　wayfarer　who　needs　shelter　for　the　night；　she　is　wet　and　weary。　　Do　you　take　her　up　to　your　room　and　lend　her　some　dry　clothing；　then　make　her　a　cup　of　warm　posset；　which　she　needs　sorely。　I　will　fetch　an　armful　of　fresh　rushes　from　the　shed　and　strew　them　here：　I　will　sleep　in　the　smithy。　Quick；　girl；〃　he　said　sharply；　〃she　is　fainting　with　cold　and　fatigue。〃　And　as　he　spoke　he　caught　the　woman　as　she　was　about　to　fall；　and　laid　her　gently　on　the　ground。　〃She　is　of　better　station　than　she　seems；〃　he　said　to　his　sister；　〃like　enough　some　poor　lady　whose　husband　has　taken　part　in　the　troubles；　but　that　is　no　business　of　ours。　Quick；　Madge；　and　get　these　wet　things　off　her；　she　is　soaked　to　the　skin。　I　will　go　round　to　the　Green　Dragon　and　will　fetch　a　cup　of　warm　cordial；　which　I　warrant　me　will　put　fresh　life　into　her。〃

So　saying；　he　took　down　his　flat　cap　from　its　peg　on　the　wall　and　went　out；　while　his　sister　at　once　proceeded　to　remove　the　drenched　garments　and　to　rub　the　cold　hands　of　the　guest　until　she　recovered　consciousness。　When　Geoffrey　Ward　returned；　the　woman　was　sitting　in　a　settle　by　the　fireside；　dressed　in　a　warm　woolen　garment　belonging　to　his　sister。

Madge　had　thrown　fresh　wood　on　the　fire；　which　was　blazing　brightly　now。　The　woman　drank　the　steaming　beverage　which　her　host　brought　with　him。　The　colour　came　faintly　again　into　her　cheeks。

〃I　thank　you；　indeed；〃　she　said；　〃for　your　kindness。　　Had　you　not　taken　me　in　I　think　I　would　have　died　at　your　door；　for　indeed　I　could　go　no　further；　and　though　I　hold　not　to　life；　yet　would　I　fain　live　until　I　have　delivered　my　boy　into　the　hands　of　those　who　will　be　kind　to　him；　and　this　will；　I　trust；　be　tomorrow。〃

〃Say　nought　about　it；〃　Geoffrey　answered；　〃Madge　and　I　are　right　glad　to　have　been　of　service　to　you。　It　would　be　a　poor　world　indeed　if　one　could　not　give　a　corner　of　one's　fireside　to　a　fellow…creature　on　such　a　night　as　this；　especially　when　that　fellow　creature　is　a　woman　with　a　child。　Poor　little　chap！　　He　looks　right　well　and　sturdy；　and　seems　to　have　taken　no　ill　from　his　journey。〃

〃Truly；　he　is　well　and　sturdy；〃　the　mother　said；　looking　at　him　proudly；　〃indeed　I　have　been　almost　wishing　today　that　he　were　lighter　by　a　few　pounds；　for　in　truth　I　am　not　used　to　carry　him　far；　and　his　weight　has　sorely　tried　me。　　His　name　is　Walter；　and　I　trust；〃　she　added；　looking　at　the　powerful　figure　of　her　host；　〃that　he　will　grow　up　as　straight　and　as　stalwart　as　yourself。〃　The　child；　who　was　about　three　years　old；　was　indeed　an　exceedingly　fine　little　fellow；　as　he　sat；　in　one　scanty　garment；　in　his　mother's　lap；　gazing　with　round　eyes　at　the　blazing　fire；　and　the　smith　thought　how　pretty　a　picture　the　child　and　mother　made。　She　was　a　fair；　gentle…looking　girl　some　two…and…twenty　years　old；　and　it　was　easy　enough　to　see　now　from　her　delicate　features　and　soft　shapely　hands　that　she　had　never　been　accustomed　to　toil。

〃And　now；〃　the　smith　said；　〃I　will　e'en　say　good　night。　　The　hour　is　late；　and　I　shall　be　having　the　watch　coming　along　to　know　why　I　keep　a　fire　so　long　after　the　curfew。　　Should　you　be　a　stranger　in　the　city；　I　will　gladly　act　as　your　guide　in　the　morning　to　the　friends　whom　you　seek；　that　is；　should　they　be　known　to　me；　but　if　not；　we　shall　doubtless　find　them　without　difficulty。〃

So　saying；　the　smith　retired　to　his　bed　of　rushes　in　the　smithy；　and　soon　afterwards　the　tired　visitor；　with　her　baby；　lay　down　on　the　rushes　in　front　of　the　fire；　for　in　those　days　none　of　the　working　or　artisan　class　used　beds；　which　were　not　indeed；　for　centuries　afterwards；　in　usage　by　the　common　people。

In　the　morning　Geoffrey　Ward　found　that　his　guest　desired　to　find　one　Giles　Fletcher；　a　maker　of　bows。

〃I　know　him　well；〃　the　smith　said。　〃There　are　many　who　do　a　larger　business；　and　hold　their　heads　higher；　but　Giles　Fletcher　is　well　esteemed　as　a　good　workman；　whose　wares　can　be　depended　upon。　It　is　often　said　of　him　that　did　he　take　less　pains　he　would　thrive　more；　but　he　handles　each　bow　that　he　makes　as　if　he　loved　it；　and　finishes　and　polishes　each　with　his　own　hand。　Therefore　he　doeth　not　so　much　trade　as　those　who　are　less　particular　with　their　wares；　for　he　hath　to　charge　a　high　price　to　be　able　to　live。　But　none　who　have　ever　bought　his　bows　have　regretted　the　silver　which　they　cost。　Many　and　many　a　gross　of　arrowheads　have　I　sold　him；　and　he　is　well…nigh　as　particular　in　their　make　as　he　is　over　the　spring　and　temper　of　his　own　bows。　　Many　a　friendly　wrangle　have　I　had　with　him　over　their　weight　and　finish；　and　it　is　not　many　who　find　fault　with　my　handiwork；　though　I　say　it　myself；　and　now；　madam；　I　am　at　your　service。〃

During　the　night　the　wayfarer's　clothes　had　been　dried。　　The　cloak　was　of　rough　quality；　such　as　might　have　been　used　by　a　peasant　woman；　but　the　rest；　though　of　sombre　colour；　were　of　good　material　and　fashion。　Seeing　that