sir nigel-第45节

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Beauchamp　and　Lord　Neville　were　assembled　at　the　back　of　his
chair；　with　Lord　Percy　and　Lord　Mowbray　at　either　side。　　The
little　group　blazed　with　golden　chains　and　jeweled　chaplets；　flame
colored　paltocks　and　purple　tunics。

Of　a　sudden　the　King　said　something　over　his　shoulder　to　Sir
William　de　Pakyngton　the　herald；　who　advanced　and　stood　by　the
royal　chair。　　He　was　a　tall　and　noble…featured　man；　with　long
grizzled　beard　which　rippled　down　to　the　gold…linked　belt　girdling
his　many…colored　tabard。　　On　his　head　he　had　placed　the　heraldic
barret…cap　which　bespoke　his　dignity；　and　he　slowly　raised　his
white　wand　high　in　the　air；　while　a　great　hush　fell　upon　the　hall。

〃My　lords　of　England；〃　said　he；　〃knight　bannerets；　knights；
squires；　and　all　others　here　present　of　gentle　birth　and
coat…armor；　know　that　your　dread　and　sovereign　lord；　Edward；　King
of　England　and　of　France；　bids　me　give　you　greeting　and　commands
you　to　come　hither　that　he　may　have　speech　with　you。〃

In　an　instant　the　tables　were　deserted　and　the　whole　company　had
clustered　in　front　of　the　King's　chair。　　Those　who　had　sat　on
either　side　of　him　crowded　inward　so　that　his　tall　dark　figure
upreared　itself　amid　the　dense　circle　of　his　guests。

With　a　flush　upon　his　olive　cheeks　and　with　pride　smoldering　in
his　dark　eyes；　he　looked　round　him　at　the　eager　faces　of　the　men
who　had　been　his　comrades　from　Sluys　and　Cadsand　to　Crecy　and
Calais。　　They　caught　fire　from　that　warlike　gleam　in　his　masterful
gaze；　and　a　sudden　wild；　fierce　shout　pealed　up　to　the　vaulted
ceiling；　a　soldierly　thanks　for　what　was　passed　and　a　promise　for
what　was　to　come。　　The　King's　teeth　gleamed　in　a　quick　smile；　and
his　large　white　hand　played　with　the　jeweled　dagger　in　his　belt。

〃By　the　splendor　of　God！〃　said　he　in　a　loud　clear　voice；　〃I　have
little　doubt　that　you　will　rejoice　with　me　this　night；　for　such
tidings　have　come　to　my　ears　as　may　well　bring　joy　to　everyone　of
you。　　You　know　well　that　our　ships　have　suffered　great　scathe　from
the　Spaniards；　who　for　many　years　have　slain　without　grace　or　ruth
all　of　my　people　who　have　fallen　into　their　cruel　hands。　　Of　late
they　have　sent　their　ships　into　Flanders；　and　thirty　great　cogs
and　galleys　lie　now　at　Sluys　well…filled　with　archers　and
men…at…arms　and　ready　in　all　ways　for　battle。　　I　have　it　to…day
from　a　sure　hand　that；　having　taken　their　merchandise　aboard；
these　ships　will　sail　upon　the　next　Sunday　and　will　make　their　way
through　our　Narrow　Sea。　　We　have　for　a　great　time　been
long…suffering　to　these　people；　for　which　they　have　done　us　many
contraries　and　despites；　growing　ever　more　arrogant　as　we　grow
more　patient。　　It　is　in　my　mind　therefore　that　we　hie　us　to…morrow
to　Winchelsea；　where　we　have　twenty　ships；　and　make　ready　to　sally
out　upon　them　as　they　pass。　　May　God　and　Saint　George　defend　the
right！〃

A　second　shout；　far　louder　and　fiercer　than　the　first；　came　like　a
thunderclap　after　the　King's　words。　　It　was　the　bay　of　a　fierce
pack　to　their　trusted　huntsman。

Edward　laughed　again　as　he　looked　round　at　the　gleaming　eyes；　the
waving　arms　and　the　flushed　joyful　faces　of　his　liegemen。　　〃Who
hath　fought　against　these　Spaniards？〃　he　asked。　　〃　Is　there　anyone
here　who　can　tell　us　what　manner　of　men　they　be？〃

A　dozen　hands　went　up　into　the　air；　but　the　King　turned　to　the
Earl　of　Suffolk　at　his　elbow。

〃You　have　fought　them；　Thomas？〃　said　he。

〃Yes；　sire；　I　was　in　the　great　sea…fight　eight　years　ago　at　the
Island　of　Guernsey；　when　Lord　Lewis　of　Spain　held　the　sea　against
the　Earl　of　Pembroke。〃

〃How　found　you　them；　Thomas？〃

〃Very　excellent　people；　sire；　and　no　man　could　ask　for　better。　　On
every　ship　they　have　a　hundred　crossbowmen　of　Genoa；　the　best　in
the　world；　and　their　spearmen　also　are　very　hardy　men。　　They　would
throw　great　cantles　of　iron　from　the　tops　of　the　masts；　and　many
of　our　people　met　their　death　through　it。　　If　we　can　bar　their　way
in　the　Narrow　Sea；　then　there　will　be　much　hope　of　honor　for　all
of　us。〃

〃Your　words　are　very　welcome；　Thomas；〃　said　the　King；　〃and　I　make
no　doubt　that　they　will　show　themselves　to　be　very　worthy　of　what
we　prepare　for　them。　　To　you　I　give　a　ship；　that　you　may　have　the
handling　of　it。　　You　also；　my　dear　son；　shall　have　a　ship；　that
evermore　honor　may　be　thine。〃

〃I　thank　you；　my　fair　and　sweet　father；〃　said　the　Prince；　with　joy
flushing　his　handsome　boyish　face。

〃The　leading　ship　shall　be　mine。　　But　you　shall　have　one；　Walter
Manny；　and　you；　Stafford；　and　you；　Arundel；　and　you；　Audley；　and
you；　Sir　Thomas　Holland；　and　you；　Brocas；　and　you；　Berkeley；　and
you；　Reginald。　　The　rest　shall　be　awarded　at　Winchelsea；　whither
we　sail　to…morrow。　　Nay；　John；　why　do　you　pluck　so　at　my　sleeve？〃

Chandos　was　leaning　forward；　with　an　anxious　face。　　〃Surely；　my
honored　lord；　I　have　not　served　you　so　long　and　so　faithfully　that
you　should　forget　me　now。　　Is　there　then　no　ship　for　me？〃

The　King　smiled；　but　shook　his　head。　　〃Nay；　John；　have　I　not　given
you　two　hundred　archers　and　a　hundred　men…at…arms　to　take　with　you
into　Brittany？　　I　trust　that　your　ships　will　be　lying　in　Saint
Malo　Bay　ere　the　Spaniards　are　abreast　of　Winchelsea。　　What　more
would　you　have；　old　war…dog？　　Wouldst　be　in　two　battles　at　once？〃

〃I　would　be　at　your　side；　my　liege；　when　the　lion　banner　is　in　the
wind　once　more。　　I　have　ever　been　there。　　Why　should　you　cast　me
now？　　I　ask　little；　dear　lord　…　a　galley；　a　balinger；　even　a
pinnace；　so　that　I　may　only　be　there。〃

〃Nay；　John；　you　shall　come。　　I　cannot　find　it　in　my　heart　to　say
you　nay。　　I　will　find　you　place　in　my　own　ship；　that　you　may
indeed　be　by　my　side。〃

Chandos　stooped　and　kissed　the　King's　hand。　　〃My　Squire？〃　he
asked。

The　King's　brows　knotted　into　a　frown。　　〃Nay；　let　him　go　to
Brittany　with　the　others；〃　said　he　harshly。　　〃I　wonder；　John；　that
you　should　bring　back　to　my　memory　this　youth　whose　pertness　is
too　fresh　that　I　should　forget　it。　　But　some　one　must　go　to
Brittany　in　your　stead；　for　the　matter　presses　and　our　people　are
hard　put　to　it　to　hold　their　own。〃　　He　cast　his　eyes　over　the
assembly；　and　they　rested　upon　the　stern　features　of　Sir　Robert
Knolles。

〃Sir　Robert；〃　he　said；　〃though　you　are　young　in　years　you　are
already　old　in　war；　and　I　have　heard　that　you　are　as　prudent　in
council　as　you　are　valiant　in　the　field。　　To　you　I　commit　the
charge　of　this　venture　to　Brittany　in　place　of　Sir　John　Chandos；
who　will　follow　thither　when　our　work　has　been　done　upon　the
waters。　　Three　ships　lie　in　Calais　port　and　three　hundred　men　are
ready　to　your　hand。　　Sir　John　will　tell　you　what　our　mind　is　in
the　matter。　　And　now；　my　friends　and　good　comrades；　you　will　haste
you　each　to　his　own　quarters；　and　you　will　make　swiftly　such
preparations　as　are　needful；　for；　as　God　is　my　aid；　I　will　sail
with　you　to　Winchelsea　to…morrow！〃

Beckoning　to　Chandos；　Manny　and　a　few　of　his　chosen　leaders；　the
King　led　them　away　to　an　inner　chamber；　where　they　might　discuss
the　plans　for　the　future。　　At　the　same　time　the　assembly　broke　up；
the　knights　in　silence　and　dignity；　the　squires　in　mirth　and
noise；　but　all　joyful　at　heart　for　the　thought　of　the　great　days
which　lay　before　them。




XVII。　　THE　SPANIARDS　ON　THE　SEA


Day　had　not　yet　dawned　when　Nigel　was　in　the　chamber　of　Chandos
preparing　him　for　his　departure　and　listening　to　the　last　cheery
words　of　advice　and　direction　from　his　noble　master。　　That　same
morning；　before　the　sun　was　half…way　up　the　heaven；　the　King's
great　nef　Philippa；　bearing　within　it　the　most　of　those　present　at
his　banquet　the　night　before；　set　its　huge　sail；　adorned　with　the
lions　and　the　lilies；　and　turned　its　brazen　beak　for　England。
Behind　it　went　five　smaller　cogs　crammed　with　squires；　archers　and
men…at…arms。

Nigel　and　his　companions　lined　the　ramparts　of　the　castle　and
waved　their　caps　as　the　bluff；　burly　vessels；　with　drums　beating
and　trumpets　clanging；　a　hundred　knightly　pennons　streaming　from
their　decks　and　the　red　cross　of　England　over　all；　rolled　slowly
out　to　the　open　sea。　　Then　when　they　had　watched　them　until　they
were　hull　down　they　turned；　with　hearts　heavy　at　being　left
behind；　to　make　ready　for　their　own　more　distant　venture。

It　took　them　four　days　of　hard　work　ere　their　preparations　were
complete；　for　many　were　the　needs　of　a　small　force　sailing　to　a
strange　country。　　Three　ships　had　been　left　to　them；　the　cog
Thomas　of　Romney；　the　Grace　Dieu　of　Hythe；　and　the　Basilisk　of
Southampton；　into　each　of　which　one　hundred　men　were　stowed；
besides　the　thirty　seamen　who　formed　the　crew。　　In　the　hold　were
forty　horses；　amongst　them　Pommers；　much　wearied　by　his　long
idleness；　and　homesick　for　the　slopes　of　Surrey　where　his　great
limbs　might　find　the　work　he　craved。　　Then　the　food　and　the　water；
the　bow…staves　and　the　sheaves　of　arrows；　the　horseshoes；　the
nails；　the　hammers；　the　knives；　the　axes；　the　ropes；　the　vats　of
hay；　the　green　fodder　and　a　score　of　other　things　were　packed
aboard。　　Always　by　the　side　of　the　ships　stood　the　stern　young
knight　Sir　Robert；　checking；　testing；　watching　and　controlling；
saying　little；　for　he　was　a　man　of　few　words；　but　with　his　eyes；
his　hands；　and　if　need　be