CHAPTER XLIV.
In a wide, open field, by the side of the Trent, were erected the listsfor a battle at _outrance_. All the usual preparations had beenmade--there was a pavilion for the king to keep his state; there weregalleries for the ladies; there were tents for the challenger and thechallenged; and there were numerous other booths, for the shelter andrefreshment of any who might come from far to witness one of the mostsolemn acts of chivalry.
Before the hour of eleven, a great multitude had assembled, and everymoment the crowd was increasing; for rumours of strange kinds had notonly spread through Nottingham, during the early morning, but had foundtheir way to all the country around about, and every one was eager tosee with his own eyes how the whole would end. In all parts of thefield men might be seen, each inquiring what the other knew, and, forthe most part, each acknowledging his own ignorance of the exact stateof the case; although here, as everywhere else, persons were to befound, who pretended to know a great deal of subjects with which theywere utterly unacquainted. All that seemed certain was, that the gatesof the castle had been shut since the morning, and nobody had beensuffered to issue forth, but one or two servants of the King and thePrince, who, after delivering some brief message in the city, hadreturned immediately, answering no questions, and affording, evenaccidentally, no information.
Two or three people reported, indeed, that a body of some ten or twelvemen had entered the castle, coming from the side of Pontefract. Theywore no armour, and did not seem soldiers, and, by the appearance oftheir dress and horses, it was judged that they had travelled allnight. Numerous other rumours, indeed, circulated round the lists, andthe opinion was generally gaining ground that there would be no combatat all, when this supposition was at once done away by the appearanceof heralds and pursuivants on the ground, examining it scrupulously, toascertain that all was clear and fair, without pitfall, trap for thehorse's foot, molehill, or inequality, which could give an undueadvantage to one or other of the combatants.
Shortly after, these officers were followed by several of the King'spages and attendants, who first busied themselves in putting thepavilion prepared for him into neat and proper order, and then stoodtalking in the front, making great men of themselves, and fancying thatthey might be mistaken for some of the royal family.
The blast of a trumpet was then heard at a short distance, and, comingat a quick pace, a body of men-at-arms appeared, and took up theirstation, in military array, at either end of the lists, keepingon the outside of the barriers. A pause of some five minutesensued, and the people, watching and commenting upon all thearrangements, congratulated themselves on the certainty of seeing twofellow-creatures engage in mortal conflict, and began to speculate uponwhich would be the victor. Many there present, merely guided by fancyor report, decided upon the chances of the field without ever havingseen either of the two competitors. But there were many of the tenantryof Lindwell, and peasantry from the neighbourhood of the Earl ofAshby's castle, who, of course, maintained the honour of their lord,and asserted that he would win the field from any knight in Europe. Itwas remarked, however, that even their boldest statements regardingtheir young lord's prowess were coupled with an expression of theirconviction that, "howsoever that might be, they were sure enough theyoung Lord of Monthermer had never killed the old Earl. Why should he?"
Hugh de Monthermer, indeed, was not without his partisans amongst thepeople, for he was well known in that part of the country; and a verygeneral feeling that he was both innocent and injured raised up in hisfavour that generous spirit which is almost always found, thoughstrangely mingled with prejudices and passions, in the bosom of anEnglishman.
About half-past eleven, a number of yeomen, dressed in their holidayclothes, mingled with the crowd. They were without bows, but each hadhis six arrows at his side, and his short sword and buckler. Each, too,had many acquaintances amongst the crowd; and, with others, to whomthey did not actually speak, a gay glance of recognition and familiarnod were interchanged as they made their way up to the lists.
"What! Miller," said one of the farmers, as a yeoman in the gay greenpassed him; "why have you brought your arrows with you? There are nobutts here!"
"There are butts everywhere, Winken," replied the person addressed.
"But you have no bow," rejoined the countryman.
"Bows wont be wanted, if we need them," answered the yeoman, and passedon.
Scarcely was this conversation concluded, when, slowly riding down fromthe side of Nottingham, was seen a gallant train of gentlemen, and manya fair lady, too, it must be confessed, notwithstanding the bloodynature of the scene about to be performed.
"The King!--the King!" shouted many voices; "the King and the Prince!God bless Prince Edward!"
But few added the monarch's name to the benediction. All that Henryheard, however, was the shout of gratulation; and fancying himselfpopular, he bowed gracefully to the people, and rode on to the entranceof the pavilion prepared for him, which was soon filled with the lordsand ladies of his court.
To the surprise of most there present, the Princess Eleanor was seenupon the King's right hand, and many were the comments made upon herappearing, for the first time, to witness a judicial combat.
In the meanwhile, Prince Edward, followed by several heralds in theirbrilliant tabards, and accompanied by two knights unarmed, rode on tothe other end of the lists and entered the field. He himself wasclothed in a shining hauberk of steel rings, with a hood of the same,but with his _chapel de fer_, shield, and lance, borne by esquires onfoot. His face was thus completely seen, and it was gay and smiling.His princely carriage--his commanding height--his management of thestrong fiery horse that bore him--his frank and noble expression ofcountenance--all had their effect upon the hearts of the people around;and loud and reiterated shouts of gratulation rent the sky as he rodealong the lists.
After he had spoken for a few minutes with the heralds and pursuivants,Edward turned to one of the knights who had accompanied him, saying,"Go to the Earl of Ashby's tent, and tell him, he is too weak to fightin this day's field.--The yeoman who first drank of the cup is dead,you say?"
"He died very shortly after, my lord," replied the knight, "havingscarce time to make confession, and to acknowledge that, when SirRichard had left the Earl's lodging, he went into the chamber, andfinding the cup well-nigh full of wine, drank it off."
"It must have been a subtle poison, indeed," rejoined the Prince;"Gadsden tells me it cost him all his skill to save the Earl. But go tohim, and say that he is too weak. If he will withdraw the charge,well--if not, let him put off the combat for a week. No dishonour shallfollow in either case."
The knight rode away, and Edward, turning to the other who hadaccompanied him, demanded--"They have not found him yet?"
"No, my lord," replied the other; "every place was searched in vain.There lay the dead body in the room above. It is that of a man calledDighton. I knew his face at once, having seen him often with Ellerby,and other such scurvy cattle, hanging about London and Westminster."
"Sir John has got a short answer," said the Prince, as looking towardsa tent at the western corner of the lists he saw the knight he had sentaway remounting his horse to return. "I have seldom seen a man soobstinate."
In two minutes the messenger was by the Prince's side again.
"He will not bear of it, my lord," exclaimed the knight as he rode up;"he declares that men, indeed, would call him coward now, if for a fewhours' sickness he should shirk the conflict."
"Well, then, it must go on," replied the Prince, looking down; "he mayfind himself mistaken yet. Go to the other tent, and speak With SirJohn Hardy; see what he says."
While the knight was absent, the Prince rode round the lists, andapproached the spot where Henry and Eleanor were seated. He spoke a fewwords to each; but as he was about to turn away, Eleanor, whose lookdisplayed some small anxiety, bent her head forward and asked, in a lowvoice, "Are you quite sure, dear lord?"
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bsp; "I think so," answered the Prince; "but yet I see no one appears. Itwill never be too late, however, to interpose myself.--The letter saidthey would be here before the time.--Ha! here comes the challenger!"
At the moment that he spoke his eyes were fixed upon the tent orpavilion of the young Earl of Ashby, from which was seen to issue fortha figure clothed in a complete suit of armour--consisting of thehauberk, or shirt of mail, the chausses of mail, and the casque ofsteel, with a crest and a moving visor, or avantaille of bars. He woreno pourpoint over his armour; and the only thing that distinguished himfrom the ordinary man at arms were the poylins, or joints of steelplates at the knees and arms of the hauberk, which were the firstapproximation to the plate armour which soon after came into use.
All eyes were turned in that direction, as well as those of the Prince;and every one remarked, that the young Earl leaned, as he walked fromthe entrance of the tent to his horse's side, upon the arm of Sir HarryGrey, who appeared in the field as his godfather. And as the rumour hadbecome by this time general, that an attempt had been made to poisonhim on the preceding night, a loud murmur ran amongst the peopleof--"He's not fit! he's not fit!--Don't let him fight!"
But Alured de Ashby put his foot into the stirrup, and mounted hishorse with apparent difficulty, but then sat firm and upright in thesaddle.
"Well, beast," he cried, patting the charger's neck, "thou canst bearthe arms that weary me." And moving onward to the other end of thelists, his attendants following with his lance and shield, he salutedthe King and Princess as he passed, and bowed his head lowly to thePrince.
"This is mere madness, my good lord," said Edward, riding up to hisside; "I really feel that, as judge of the field, I cannot let this goon."
"I must do my devoir, fair sir," answered Alured de Ashby. "I amneither craven nor recreant; and here I stand in arms to defend myhonour."
Edward was about to reply; but, at that moment, the knight he had sentto the other pavilion approached at a quick pace, and whisperedsomething in the Prince's ear.
"That they are ready for the field!" said Edward, in a tone ofamazement. "What may this mean?--well, let the heralds makeproclamation, then; and we will part the sun and wind."
At a sign from the Prince's truncheon, or warder, the trumpet soundedaloud, and a herald, spurring forward his horse, proclaimed that allpersons were to quit the field but the knight challenger and hisrespondent, the heralds, and officers of arms, the judge of the combat,and his esquires.
A momentary bustle and much confusion took place, for a number ofpersons, upon one pretence or another, were at this time within thelists. But all was soon clear, and Alured de Ashby being placed in thespot adjudged by the heralds to the challenger, braced on his shield,and took his lance in his hand, bearing it perpendicular with the steelin the air, and the other end resting on his foot. An esquire unarmedstood on each side, with two pages behind; and the field being clear,Sir Harry Grey placed a purse of gold in the hands of the principalherald, saying, "That for the good knight's casque."
The herald bowed his head, replying, "Largesse! noble sir. Is thecombat both of lance and sword?"
"That matters not," said Sir Harry Grey; "he pays for the lance, andthe lance covers the sword."
The herald then spurred forward some twenty steps, followed by hispursuivants, and after a loud flourish of the trumpets, proclaimed thatthere stood Alured, Earl of Ashby, ready to do battle against Hugh ofMonthermer, Lord of Amesbury, on certain charges brought by him,Alured, against the said Hugh, having first made oath, according to thelaw of arms, that his quarrel was just and righteous, and was ready towager his body on God's decision. "Now, if the said Hugh ofMonthermer," continued the herald, "will maintain that the said chargeis false and groundless, and venture his body in that behalf, let himappear before the third sound of the trumpet, or if not, let himsurrender himself into the hands of our Lord the King, to be dealt withaccording to his demerits!--Oyez! oyez! oyez! Let no man, on pain offorfeiture of life or limb, according to the pleasure of the King, giveany comfort or encouragement to either the said Alured, Earl of Ashby,or Hugh, Lord of Monthermer, by sign, word, or cry; and let God defendthe right!--Sound trumpets!"
A long loud call of the trumpet succeeded, and all looks turned towardsthe other pavilion, before which appeared two horses fully caparisoned,the banner of the house of Monthermer, and several pages andattendants. The pavilions themselves, it must be remarked, wereencircled with rails, joining those of the lists, but separated fromthe actual field of combat by a small movable barricade. Behind thetent, on which every one was now looking, and at the side of itfarthest from the royal scaffolding, a good deal of bustle andconfusion seemed to be taking place; and the space of time allottedafter the first call of the trumpet passed away without any oneappearing to answer the challenge.
"Sound again!" cried the herald, and again the blast of the trumpet washeard, upon which the hangings of the tent were almost immediatelydrawn back, and Hugh de Monthermer, armed, but bare headed, advancedtowards the barrier.
"This is not right," murmured the Prince, when first his eyes fell uponhim; but the next instant he saw more. On the right hand of Hugh wasSir John Hardy, and on the left his uncle, the old Earl of Monthermer.Two esquires bore the knight's lance and shield, a page between themcarried his helmet; and in this guise the whole party advanced on foottowards the barrier, which was raised to give them admission into thelists. But close behind them came four men, bearing on their shoulderssomething like a bier, covered with a little tilt and curtains formedof some light cloth. A party of yeomen followed, guarding two men, whowalked between them, with their arms tied. Their hoods were turnedback, exposing the whole head and face; and, as they advanced, thefirst of the two prisoners rolled his eyes fiercely round, with a looklike that of a maniac; while the second bent his gaze steadfastly uponthe ground, and never gave a glance on either side.
"Ha! What is this?" exclaimed Alured de Ashby. "What means allthis?--Ah! I see now!--'Tis Richard they have got--and the dead body inthe bier, most like.--My lord, I guess the rest!"
"And so do I," said Edward; "let us ride on and see."
Both spurred forward quickly at the same moment, and reached the spotbefore the royal pavilion, just as Hugh de Monthermer paused therealso.
"Now, Hugh, now," cried the Prince; "What is all this? But first, mygood lord," he continued, extending his hand to the old Earl, "welcomeback to your duty, and to England. My lord the King, may not your sonpromise this gentleman grace and pardon?"
It is probable that at any other time Henry would not have yieldedwithout much entreaty; but at this moment he was too eager forexplanations to hesitate, and bowing his head, he replied, "Well, be itso.--What now?"
"My lord," said Hugh, "I come before your grace to prove my innocenceas may seem fit unto your grace to order, either in arms, according tothe challenge given, or by still better proof, if so you will."
"None can be better, sir," answered the King; "God's own decision mustsurely be more just than that of men."
"Well, sire," replied Hugh de Monthermer, with a smile; "be it as yourgrace pleases. Alured," he continued, holding out his hand, "if I needsmust fight with you, I must; but you will be compelled to seek someother cause than your good father's death. Of that, at least, I aminnocent, whatever I be guilty of.--Here is a witness cannot lie.--Drawback the curtains.--Will you believe himself?"
Alured de Ashby, already pale, turned for an instant paler still, butit seemed as if the blood had but withdrawn itself into the fountain ofthe heart to gush forth again, purified, renewed, invigorated. For amoment he was as white as the ashes of an extinguished fire, but thenext his cheek glowed, his eyes sparkled, and springing from his horse,with a light bound, as if all sickness were departed, he cast himselfupon his knees beside the litter, in which, lying on a soft bed, butpartly raised upon his arm, appeared the old Earl of Ashby. The sondewed the father's hand with his tears; then starting up and castinghis arms round Hugh de Monther
mer, he pressed him to his mailed breast,exclaiming, "I have injured you!--forgive me, my good brother!"
Hugh wrung his hand, and said, "This is all joyful, Alured; but thereis something painful still behind. There stand the murderers!--theassassin and his tool! My lord the King, into your hands I give them,to be dealt with as in your high judgment you shall deem expedient. Theone makes full confession of his crime, the other has not the daring todeny it; and indeed, it would be useless so to do; for, as the veryconsequences of our sins prove often by God's will their punishments, apoor unhappy girl, whom he seduced from virtue and her peaceful home,overheard in his house the foul conspiracy for murdering this goodearl, and charging the crime on me. She told it to those she thoughtmight best prevent it, who came not in time to stop the deed, but soonenough to find the Earl, and staunch the bleeding of his wounds, beforelife was extinct. She is now ready, though her heart is broke, to givesuch evidence as leaves no doubt of these men's guilt, even if theystill denied it."
"Oh, villain!" said Alured de Ashby, gazing on his cousin, who stilllooked fiercely from under his frowning brows upon him, "Oh, villain!To bring such a stain upon our house!"
"Hush, Alured, hush!" said the old Earl, "I will beseech my lord theKing to pardon him."
"Ay, pardon me! pardon me!" cried Richard do Ashby, darting forward."King, I saved your son from bondage--I gave him means of flight!--Butfor me there had been no Evesham--But for me De Montfort had stillruled--but for me you had both been prisoners at this hour."
"What say you, Edward?" asked the King.
"I beseech you, my lord, pardon him, pardon him," exclaimed Mortimerand Pembroke, in a breath.
"My lord, I dare not speak," said Edward, "for though justice calls forthe death of the blackest villain I ever did yet know, gratitude tiesmy tongue. I must not speak."
"Untie his hands," cried the King, after a moment's pause. "We give himlife, but banish him the realm for ever. If in ten days he be foundwithin the seas, let him be put to death!"
"Thanks! my lord, thanks!" exclaimed Richard de Ashby, while the yeomenunwillingly loosed his arms from the cords.
As soon as he was free, he passed his cousin and Hugh de Monthermer, asif to cut straight across the lists; but when he had taken two or threesteps, he turned and shook his clenched fist at them, crying, "Cursesupon ye both!--but the time for vengeance may yet come!--I have notdone with you!"
Even while he spoke there was a little movement amongst the crowdbeyond the barriers; and as he turned again to pursue his way, a loud,clear, powerful voice, which was heard echoing over the whole field,exclaimed, in the English tongue, "This for the heart of the murderoustraitor, Richard de Ashby!--Whom kings spare, commons send tojudgment!"
None saw the man from whom the voice proceeded; but, the moment after,there came a sharp sound, like the twang of bowstring, the whistle of ashaft through the air, and then a dull stroke, such as an arrow makeswhen it hits a target.
A shrill scream, like that of a wounded seabird, burst from the lips ofRichard de Ashby, and casting up his arms in the air, as if in theeffort to clutch at something for support, he fell back upon the grass.
Several persons ran up; but he was dead! The arrow had gone through andthrough his heart; and between the peacock feathers, that winged it onits way, was found written, "Robin Hood."
Almost at the same moment a tall, stout yeoman was seen to mount awhite horse, at the other side of the lists, and ride away from thefield. He proceeded, at no very quick pace, and, as he went, he hummedlightly to some old, long-forgotten air,
"And this is the end of Robin Lythe And his knave Gandelyne."
THE END.
Forest Days: A Romance of Old Times Page 44