A Monk of Fife

by Various

  CHAPTER VIII--OF CERTAIN QUARRELS THAT CAME ON THE HANDS OF NORMAN LESLIE

  Belike I had dropped asleep, outwearied with what had befallen me, mindand body, but I started up suddenly at the sound of a dagger-hilt smittenagainst the main door of the house, and a voice crying, "Open, in thename of the Dauphin." They had come in quest of me, and when I heardthem, it was as if a hand had given my heart a squeeze, and for a momentmy breath seemed to be stopped. This past, I heard the old serving-womanfumbling with the bolts, and peering from behind the curtain of mycasement, I saw that the ways were dark, and the narrow street was lit upwith flaring torches, the lights wavering in the wind. I stepped to thewide ingle, thinking to creep into the secret hiding-hole. But to whatavail? It might have served my turn if my escape alive from the moat hadonly been guessed, but now my master must have told all the story, andthe men-at-arms must be assured that I was within. Thinking thus, Istood at pause, when a whisper came, as if from within the ingle--

  "Unbar the door, and hide not."

  It must be Elliot's voice, speaking through some tube contrived in theingle of the dwelling-room below or otherwise. Glad at heart to thinkthat she took thought of me, I unbarred the door, and threw myself into achair before the fire, trying to look like one unconcerned. The boltswere now drawn below; I heard voices, rather Scots than French, to mysense. Then the step of one man climbed up the stair, heavily, and withthe tap of a staff keeping tune to it. It was my master. His face waspale, and falling into a chair, he wiped the sweat from his brow."Unhappy man that I am!" he said, "I have lost my apprentice."

  I gulped something down in my throat ere I could say, "Then it is death?"

  "Nay," he said, and smiled. "But gliff for gliff, {16} you put a fear onme this day, and now we are even."

  "Yet I scarce need a cup of wine for my recovery, master," I said,filling him a beaker from the flagon on the table, which he drainedgladly, being sore wearied, so steep was the way to the castle, and hardfor a lame man. My heart was as light as a leaf on a tree, and thebitterness of shameful death seemed gone by.

  "I have lost my prentice another way," he said, setting down the cup onthe table. "I had much a do to see Kennedy, for he was at the dice withother lords. At length, deeming there was no time to waste, I sent inthe bonny Book of Hours, praying him to hear me for a moment on a weightymatter. That brought him to my side; he leaped at the book like a troutat a fly, and took me to his own chamber. There I told him your story.When it came to the wench in the King's laundry, and Robin Lindsay, andyou clad in girl's gear, and kissed in the guard-room, he struck hand onthigh and laughed aloud.

  "Then I deemed your cause as good as three parts won, and he could nothold in, but led me to a chamber where were many lords, dicing anddrinking: Tremouille, Ogilvie, the Bishop of Orleans--that holy man, whohas come to ask for aid from the King,--La Hire, Xaintrailles, and I knownot whom. There I must tell all the chronicle again; and some said this,and some that, and Tremouille mocks, that the Maid uttered her prophecyto no other end but to make you fulfil it, and slay her enemy for thesake of her 'beaux yeux.' The others would hear nothing of this, and,indeed, though I am no gull, I wot that Tremouille is wrong here, andover cunning; he trusts neither man nor woman. Howsoever it be, he wentwith the story to the King, who is keen to hear any new thing. And, tobe short, the end of it is this: that you have your free pardon, on theseterms, namely, that you have two score of masses said for the dead man,and yourself take service under Sir Hugh Kennedy, that the King may notlose a man-at-arms."

  Never, sure, came gladder tidings to any man than these to me. An hourago the rope seemed tight about my neck; one day past, and I was but aprentice to the mean craft of painting and limning, arts good for a monk,or a manant, but, save for pleasure, not to be melled or meddled with bya man of gentle blood. And now I was to wear arms, and that in the bestof causes, under the best of captains, one of my own country--a lord inAyrshire.

  "Ay, even so," my master said, marking the joy in my face, "you are rightglad to leave us--a lass and a lameter. {17} Well, well, such is youth,and eld is soon forgotten."

  I fell on my knees at his feet, and kissed his hands, and I believe thatI wept.

  "Sir," I said, "you have been to me as a father, and more than it hasbeen my fortune to find my own father. Never would I leave you with mywill, and for the gentle demoiselle, your daughter--" But here Istinted, since in sooth I knew not well what words to say.

  "Ay, we shall both miss you betimes; but courage, man! After all, thisnew life beseems you best, and, mark me, a lass thinks none the worse ofa lad because he wears not the prentice's hodden grey, but a Scotsarcher's green, white, and red, and Charles for badge on breast andsleeve, and a sword by his side. And as for the bonny Book ofHours--'Master,' I said with shame, 'was that my ransom?'

  "Kennedy would have come near my price, and strove to make me take thegold. But what is bred in the bone will out; I am a gentleman born, nota huckster, and the book I gave him freely. May it profit the goodknight in his devotions! But now, come, they are weary waiting for us;the hour waxes late, and Elliot, I trow, is long abed. You must begoneto the castle."

  In the stairs, and about the door, some ten of Sir Hugh's men werewaiting, all countrymen of my own, and the noise they made and theirspeech were pleasant to me. They gave me welcome with shouts andlaughter, and clasped my hands: "for him that called us wine-sacks, youhave given him water to his wine, and the frog for his butler," theysaid, making a jest of life and death. But my own heart for the noncewas heavy enough again, I longing to take farewell of Elliot, which mightnot be, nor might she face that wild company. Howbeit, thinking it goodto have a friend at court, I made occasion to put in the hand of the oldserving-woman all of such small coins as I had won in my life servile,deeming myself well quit of such ill-gotten gear. And thereafter, withgreat mirth and noise, they set forth to climb the hill towards thecastle, where I was led, through many a windy passage, to the chamber ofSir Hugh Kennedy. There were torches lit, and the knight, abroad-shouldered, fair-haired man, with a stern, flushed face, wasturning over and gazing at his new Book of Hours, like a child busy witha fresh toy. He laid the book down when we entered, and the senior ofthe two archers who accompanied me told him that I was he who had beensummoned.

  "Your name?" he asked; and I gave it.

  "You are of gentle blood?" And I answering "Yes," he replied, "Then seethat you are ready to shed it for the King. Your life that was justlyforfeit, is now, by his Royal mercy, returned to you, to be spent in hisservice. Rutherford and Douglas, go take him to quarters, and see thatto-morrow he is clad as beseems a man of my command. Now good night toyou--but stay! You, Norman Leslie, you will have quarrels on your hand.Wait not for them, but go to meet them, if they are with the French men-at-arms, and in quarrel see that you be swift and deadly. For thetownsfolk, no brawling, marauding, or haling about of honest wenches.Here we are strangers, and my men must be respected."

  He bowed his head: his words had been curt, no grace or kindness had heshown me of countenance. I felt in my heart that to him I was but a pawnin the game of battle. Now I seemed as far off as ever I was from myfoolish dream of winning my spurs; nay, perchance never had I sunk lowerin my own conceit. Till this hour I had been, as it were, the hinge onwhich my share of the world turned, and now I was no more than a wheel inthe carriage of a couleuvrine, an unconsidered cog in the machine of war.I was to be lost in a multitude, every one as good as myself, or better;and when I had thought of taking service, I had not foreseen the mannerof it and the nature of the soldier's trade. My head, that I had carriedhigh, somewhat drooped, as I saluted, imitating my companions, and wewheeled forth of the room.

  "Hugh has taken the pride out of you, lad, or my name is not RandalRutherford," said the Border man who had guided me. "Faith, he has akeen tongue and a short way with him, but there are worse commanders. Andnow you must to your quarters, for the hour is late and the guard-roomshu
t."

  He led me to our common sleeping-place, where, among many snoring men-at-arms in a great bare hall, a pallet was laid for me, and my flesh creptas I remembered how this was the couch of him whom I had slain. Howbeit,being well weary, despite the strangeness of the place, after brieforisons I slept sound till a trumpet called us in the morning.

  Concerning the strangeness of this waking, to me who had been gentlynurtured, and the rough life, and profane words which I must hear (not,indeed, that they had been wholly banished from our wild days at St.Andrews), it is needless that I should tell. Seeing that I was comeamong rude neighbours, I even made shift to fall back, in semblance, onsuch manners as I had used among the students before I left Scotland,though many perils, and the fear wherein I stood of Brother Thomas, andthe company of the maid Elliot, had caused me half to forget myswaggering ways. So, may God forgive me! I swore roundly; I made as if Ideemed lightly of that Frenchman's death, and, in brief, I so bore methat, ere noon (when I behoved to go into Chinon with Randal Rutherford,and there provide me with the rich apparel of our company), I had threegood quarrels on my hand.

  First, there was the man-at-arms who had kissed me in the guard-room. He,in a "bourde" and mockery, making pretence that he would repeat hisinsult, got that which was owing him, and with interest, for indeed hecould see out of neither of his squint eyes when I had dealt with him.And for this cause perforce, if he needed more proof of my manhood thanthe weight of my fist, he must tarry for the demonstration which hedesired.

  Then there was Robin Lindsay, and at his wrath I make no marvel, for thetale of how he came late to tryst, and at second-hand (with many suchrude and wanton additions as soldiers use to make), was noised abroad allover the castle. His quarrel was no matter for fisticuffs; so, beingattired in helmet, vambrace rere-brace, gauntlets, and greaves out of thearmoury, where many such suits were stored, I met him in a certain quietcourt behind the castle, where quarrels were usually voided. And now mypractice of the sword at home and the lessons of our smith came handilyto my need. After much clashing of steel and smiting out of sparks, Ichanced, by an art known to me, to strike his sword out of his hand.Then, having him at an avail, I threw down my own blade, and so plainlytold him the plain truth, and how to his mistress I owed my life, which Iwould rather lose now at his hand than hear her honour blamed, that heforgave me, and we embraced as friends. Neither was this jest anew castup against either of us, men fearing to laugh, as we say, with the wrongside of their mouths.

  After this friendly bout at point and edge, Robin and Randal Rutherford,being off duty, must needs carry me to the Tennis Court, where Tremouilleand the King were playing two young lords, and that for such a stake aswould have helped to arm a hundred men for the aid of Orleans. It waspretty to see the ball fly about basted from the walls, and the playersbounding and striking; and, little as I understood the game, so eager wasI over the sport, that a gentleman within the "dedans" touched me twiceon the shoulder before I was aware of him.

  "I would have a word with you, sir, if your grace can spare me theleisure."

  "May it not be spoken here?" I asked, for I was sorry to lose thespectacle of the tennis, which was new to me, and is a pastime whereinFrance beats the world. Pity it is that many players should so curse andblaspheme God and His saints!

  "My business," replied the stranger, "is of a kind that will hardlyendure waiting."

  With that I rose and followed him out into the open courtyard, muchmarvelling what might be toward.

  "You are that young gentleman," said my man, "for a gentleman I take youto be, from your aspect and common report, who yesterday were the deathof Gilles de Puiseux?"

  "Sir, to my sorrow, and not by my will, I am he, and but now I was goingforth to have certain masses said for his soul's welfare": which wastrue, Randal Rutherford having filled my purse against pay-day.

  "I thank you, sir, for your courtesy, and perchance may have occasion todo the like gentle service for you. Gilles de Puiseux was of my bloodand kin; he has none other to take up his feud for him in this place, andnow your quickness of comprehension will tell you that the businesswherewith I permit myself to break your leisure will brook no tarrying.Let me say that I take it not upon me to defend the words of my cousin,who insulted a woman, and, as I believe, a messenger from the blessedSaints that love France."

  I looked at him in some amazement. He was a young man of about my ownyears, delicately and richly clad in furs, silks, and velvets, a greatgold chain hanging in loops about his neck, a gold brooch with an ancientRoman medal in his cap. But the most notable thing in him was his thickgolden hair, whence La Hire had named him "Capdorat," because he was soblond, and right keen in war, and hardy beyond others. And here he waschallenging me, who stood before him in a prentice's hodden grey!

  "Sir," I said, "I could wish you a better quarrel, but not more courtesy.Many a gentleman seeing me such as I am, would bid me send, ere hecrossed swords with me, to my own country for my bor-brief, {18} which Icame away in too great haste to carry with me. Nay, I was but now to setforth and buy me a sword and other accoutrements; natheless, from thearmoury here they may equip me with sword and body armour."

  "Of body-armour take no thought," he answered, "for this quarrel is of akind that must needs be voided in our smocks"; he meaning that it was "aoutrance," till one of us fell.

  Verily, now I saw that this was not to be a matter of striking sparksfrom steel, as Robin and I had done, but of life and death.

  "I shall be the more speedily at your service," I made answer; and as Ispoke Randal and Robin came forth from the "dedans," the sport beingover. They joined me, and I told them in few words my new business, myadversary tarrying, cap in hand, till I had spoken, and then proclaiminghimself Aymar de Puiseux, a gentleman of Dauphine, as indeed my friendsknew.

  "I shall wait on you, with your leave, at the isle in the river, where itis of custom, opposite the booths of the gold-workers," quoth he, "aboutthe hour of noon"; and so, saluting us, he went, as he said, to providehimself with friends.

  "Blood of Judas!" quoth Robin, who swore terribly in his speech, "youhave your hands full, young Norman. He is but now crept out of the rankof pages, but when the French and English pages fought a valliance oflate, under Orleans, none won more praise than he, who was captain of theFrench party."

  "He played a good sword?" I asked.

  "He threw a good stone! Man, it was a stone bicker, and they had lids ofbaskets for targes."

  "And he challenges me to the field," I said hotly, "By St. Andrew! Iwill cuff his ears and send him back to the other boys."

  "Norman, my lad, when were you in a stone bicker last?" quoth Randal; andI hung my head, for it was not yet six months gone since the sailors andwe students were stoning each other in North Street.

  "Yet he does play a very good sword, and is cunning of fence, for yourcomfort," said Randal. So I hummed the old lilt of the Leslies, whence,they say, comes our name--

  Between the less lea and the mair, He slew the knight and left him there;--

  for I deemed it well to show a good face. Moreover, I had some conceitof myself as a swordsman, and Randal was laughing like a foolbody at mycountenance.

  "Faith, you will make a spoon or spoil a horn, and--let me have my laughout--you bid well for an archer," said Randal; and Robin counselling meto play the same prank on the French lad's sword as late I had done onhis own, they took each of them an arm of mine, and so we swaggered downthe steep ways into Chinon.

  First I would go to the tailor and the cordwainer, and be fitted for mynew splendours as an archer of the guard.

  They both laughed at me again, for, said they very cheerfully, "You maynever live to wear these fine feathers."

  But Randal making the reflection that, if I fell, there would be none topay the shopmaster, they both shouted with delight in the street, so thatpassers-by turned and marvelled at them. Clearly I saw that to go tofight a duel is one thing, and to go and look on is ano
ther, and muchmore gay, for my heart had no desire of all this merriment. Rather wouldI have recommended my case to the saints, and chiefly to St. Andrew, forwhose cause and honour I was about to put my life in jeopardy. Butshame, and the fear of seeming fearful, drove me to jest with theothers--such risks of dying unconfessed are run by sinful men!

  Howbeit, they helped me to choose cloth of the best colour and fashion,laughing the more because I, being short of stature and slim, the tailor,if I fell, might well find none among the archers to purchase that forwhich, belike, I should have no need.

  "We must even enlist the Pucelle in our guard, for she might wear thisapparel," quoth Randal.

  Thus boisterously they bore themselves, but more gravely at theswordsmith's, where we picked out a good cut-and-thrust blade, wellbalanced, that came readily to my hand. Then, I with sword at side, likea gentleman, we made to the river, passing my master's booth, where Ilooked wistfully at the windows for a blink of Elliot, but saw none thatI knew, only, from an open casement, the little jackanapes mopped andmowed at me in friendly fashion. Hard by the booth was a little pier,and we took boat, and so landed on the island, where were waiting for usmy adversary and two other gentlemen. Having saluted each other, wepassed to a smooth grassy spot, surrounded on all sides by tall poplartrees. Here in places daffodils were dancing in the wind; but otherwherethe sward was much trampled down, and in two or three spots were blackpatches that wellnigh turned my courage, for I was not yet used to thesight of men's blood, here often shed for little cause.

  The friends of us twain adversaries, for enemies we could scarce becalled, chose out a smooth spot with a fair light, the sun being veiled,and when we had stripped to our smocks, we drew and fell to work. He wasvery quick and light in his movements, bounding nimbly to this side orthat, but I, using a hanging guard, in our common Scots manner, didsomewhat perplex him, to whom the fashion was new. One or two scratcheswe dealt each other, but, for all that, I could see we were well matched,and neither closed, as men rarely do in such a combat, till they arewroth with hurts and their blood warm. Now I gashed his thigh, but notdeeply, and with that, as I deemed, his temper fired, for he made a fullsweep at my leg above the knee. This I have always reckoned a fool'sstroke, as leaving the upper part of the body unguarded, and avoidingwith my right leg, I drove down with all my force at his head. But, evenas I struck, came a flash and the sudden deadness of a deep wound, for hehad but feinted, and then, avoiding me so that I touched him not, hedrove his point into my breast. Between the force of my own blow andthis stab I fell forward on my face, and thence rolled over on my back,catching at my breast with my hands, as though to stop the blood, but, insooth, not well knowing what I did.

  He had thrown down his sword, and now was kneeling by my side.

  "I take you to witness," he said, "that this has befallen to my greatsorrow, and had I been where this gentleman was yesterday, and heard mycousin blaspheme, I would myself have drawn on him, but--" And here, asI later heard, he fainted from loss of blood, my sword having cut a greatvein; and I likewise lost sense and knowledge. Nor did I know more tillthey lifted me and laid me on a litter of poplar boughs, having stanchedmy wound as best they might. In the boat, as they ferried us across theriver, I believe that I fainted again; and so, "between home and hell,"as the saying is, I lay on my litter and was carried along the streetbeside the water. Folk gathered around us as we went. I heard theirvoices as in a dream, when lo! there sounded a voice that I knew rightwell, for Elliot was asking of the people "who was hurt?" At thishearing I hove myself up on my elbow, beckoning with my other hand; and Iopened my mouth to speak, but, in place of words, came only a wave ofblood that sickened me, and I seemed to be dreaming, in my bed, of Elliotand her jackanapes; and then feet were trampling, and at length I waslaid down, and so seemed to fall most blessedly asleep, with a littlehand in mine, and rarely peaceful and happy in my heart, though whereforeI knew not. After many days of tossing on the waves of the world, it wasas if I had been brought into the haven where I would be. Of what waspassing I knew or I remember nothing. Later I heard that a good priesthad been brought to my bedside, and perchance there was made some suchconfession as the Church, in her mercy, accepts from sinful men in suchcase as mine. But I had no thought of life or death, purgatory orparadise; only, if paradise be rest among those we love, such rest for anunknown while, and such sense of blissful companionship, were mine. Butwhether it was well to pass through and beyond this scarce sensible joy,or whether that peace will ever again be mine and unending, I leave withhumility to them in whose hands are Christian souls.