by John Bowling
CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE JOUST, SAXON AND NORMAN.
"The age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded."--Burke.
The time had now come about on which De Montfort had promised hisdaughter to Vigneau. As was the wont invariably of the Normans, theceremony must be preceded by the usual festivities, the most marked ofwhich was the tournament, or feat of arms. During the reign of our lateking Edward, this was one of the things in which the idle and dissoluteNorman nobility who came over in swarms spent their time. To my verygreat sorrow and disappointment, the Saxon nobility copied only tooslavishly this vain and foolish propensity, many of the Saxons beingquite a match for the most skilful of the Normans. For some weeks beforethe marriage festivities were to begin, messengers had been sent out tothe various Norman encampments situate within a reasonable distance; andmany knights were expected to take part in the joust. The place whichwas selected for this spectacle was near to the castle, and well adaptedfor the humbler people, who never failed to gather in considerablenumbers. The tournament would take place in a considerable hollow, withgreen hillsides and dense copses around, where a multitude might witnessthe wondrous pageantry and the struggle for the honours of the day. Thecentral arena, where the knights were to contend, was a spaciousenclosure, railed round to the height of about four feet, having twomeans of entrance and exit, one at each side, directly opposite eachother, the one used as an entrance solely. There knights, squires,marshals, judges, etc., were to enter in all the panoply of war andglittering accoutrements. The other opening was used exclusively forpurposes of exit. Here discomfited knights, disabled horses, and otherswho wished to retire might emerge. To the right of the main entrance wasa raised platform, covered with rich tapestry, and capable of seatingsome fifty persons. Upon this platform was a dais, or raised centralplatform of small dimensions, on which the throne, an elegantlyupholstered chair, was placed, and designed for the occupation of the"Queen of Beauty." The crowd were kept waiting considerably after theappointed time, in anticipation of an expected knight from over the sea;from whom a messenger had been sent, announcing his intention of takingpart in this knightly fray. Eventually, however, Count de Montfort, amida flourish of trumpets, issued from the gates of the castle, with hisdaughter leaning upon his arm, followed by two of her maids and aformidable retinue of invited guests, amongst whom was the AbbotVigneau, and one or two other ecclesiastics, and a number of Normanguests. De Montfort escorted his daughter to the throne, and Jeannetteoccupied a seat to the right of her. Most fascinatingly lovely was Aliceas she sat in the place of honour, with the victor's chaplet by herside. Pale, nervous, and anxious, but a veritable queen withal shelooked--her lustrous dark eyes, and masses of dark wavy hair flowing ingraceful undulations over her shoulders, and down to her girdle; herhead crowned with a coronet of beautiful flowers, and one solitary gemin the centre. All eyes were upon her. Men of gentle blood marvelled ather surpassing loveliness. Norman men-at-arms and Saxon churls turneddazed and dreamy eyes towards her, with a persistent gaze as offascination. Most of those present, whether gentle or simple, knew wellthe manner of man her betrothed was; for Vigneau was notorious in thecamp and the cot for his gross villainy; and most knew, or surmised,that to-morrow's nuptial tie would be to her a most hateful tie, and amost unhappy union.
Jeannette sat close to her mistress; but no dark cloud frowned ominouslyover her as over her mistress. Volatile and mercurial to a degree, shenever courted trouble, or recognised his unwelcome visage until it wasthrust upon her; though, like most natures of a like temperament, whenonce fairly cornered, as we have seen, the collapse was pitiable andcomplete. There, however, she sat, perfectly self-possessed, with anirrepressible flutter of expectation in her heart and unfalteringconfidence in her star, which was the wonderful and valorous Wulfhere,whom that day she should see companying with knights and men of renown.There was more than a wonted animation in her eye, and the roses on hercheek had taken a deeper and a rosier tint. All agog with the pleasingpromptings of her fluttering little heart, she ran her eyes along theranks of the common people who lined the enclosure, or stood together ingroups, discussing the merits of the combatants who were to take part,and the spectacle which every one looked forward to with such zest. ButSaxon and Norman alike of inferior station were to her contemptible; andas her eyes fell upon Paul Lazaire, who with despondent gaze looked ather, she could not restrain a saucy and coquettish smirk of laughter,which Paul, who thought she never looked half so lovely before, put afavourable construction upon, and was greatly comforted.
"Jeannette," said Alice, turning to her anxiously, "I fear the day willbe disastrous, and the Saxon knight will be discovered. That would bemost fearful; I don't think I could survive it."
"Don't be alarmed, my lady; I am not in the least. Wulfhere and the Earlwill be a match for them all, I'm sure."
"But, Jeannette, what could a single knight do, contending with so manyfoes?"
"One knight truly would not do much; but you forget, my lady, that he issure to be accompanied by his valiant squire."
"But a solitary esquire would not be of much use. If the Earl bediscovered, he would be surrounded and cut to pieces."
"Never fear, my lady, you will see Wulfhere will protect him. He'll soonmake an end of a score of this beer-drinking crew."
"Really, Jeannette," said Alice, smiling in spite of herself, "you havea good deal of faith in this Wulfhere."
"Why should I not? He is as pretty a man, and just as valiant as hisleader, and I never intend to halt for want of faith, or starve for wantof hope. Besides, don't you know there has been given to me an_omen_?--and I have noticed that they always come true if you have faithin them."
"Oh, indeed! Pray, what is the _omen_ you have had, Jeannette?"
"Well, last night when I went to bed it was not quite dark, and I have alittle window in my room which overlooks a certain spot in the woodwhich I shall not tell you about, for it is my _tryste_."
"Your _tryste_, Jeannette? I am afraid you will never cease yourcoquetry and foolishness. But your _omen_, Jeannette?"
"Well, I was telling you. It was not dark when I went to bed, so I satdown in front of this window which faces the place where the Saxon and Imeet."
"_The Saxon_, Jeannette?"
"Yes, my lady, the Saxon Wulfhere. Well, in front of the window I toldmy beads for a full hour or more."
"Told your beads, Jeannette I Why, was that to Wulfhere, or to ourBlessed Lady?"
"To our Lady, of course, though I was thinking about Wulfhere. But Isaid my _aves_ and _paters_ to our Blessed Lady most dutifully. Then,when I went to bed, I put my beads under my pillow as usual, and I soonfell asleep. Then I dreamed such a strange and wonderful dream. I dreamtthat I was walking through the woods all alone, when I was startled by ahorrid, howling noise behind me, and, turning round, I beheld a numberof fierce wolves pursuing me. I ran for my life, but they ran fasterthan I did, and just as the first one was about to grasp me with itsfearful teeth, who should come to my rescue but Wulfhere. I sprang intohis arms, and just as he clasped me safely the wolves all turned tailand ran off into the wood as though they had been whipped, for they ranas fast as they could scamper, and howled fearfully. Then I saw therewas a holy man with Wulfhere, with whitened beard, and bearing acrucifix with our Blessed Lord thereon. This holy man took my rosaryfrom my hand, and he placed it around my neck. Then he took my hand andjoined it with Wulfhere's. After this, Wulfhere kissed me and placed aring on my finger, and I was his wife. Then the holy man placed hishands on us as we kneeled before him, and he gave us his blessing. But,wonderful to tell, in the morning when I awoke, I knew it had all takenplace as I dreamed; for I found the rosary was indeed around my neck,though I am almost certain I put it under my pillow the night before. Ialso felt most distinctly Wulfhere's kiss upon my cheek; and, when Ilooked in the glass, sure enough there was a little rosy spot aroundthis little dimple on my cheek where he kissed me."
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Jeannette's invaluable optimism and unflagging hopefulness, thoughsimple almost to the verge of childishness, did much to fortify Alicefor the trying ordeal before her. In spite of her anxiety, she laughedoutright at the recital of Jeannette's dream. Presently, at the sound ofthe trumpet the castle gates were again thrown open, and forth issued agaily dressed cavalcade; heralds, marshals, judges, leading the way, andfollowed by eight or ten knights armed _cap-a-pie_, each one beingattended by his esquire. Alice scrutinised closely each knight as theyseverally filed past her, and dipped the point of their lances insalutation.
"The Saxon is not here. Some accident, I fear, has happened," shetremulously whispered to Jeannette.
"Don't agitate yourself, my lady; they will not fail us. Wulfhere said Ishould see his face this day; but I was to be careful not to show myrecognition of him, or I should probably betray them."
Now the scene presented an animated appearance, as the knights and theiresquires ranged themselves on opposite sides of the enclosure, whilstthe heralds, marshals, and judges rode between the ranks, examining thepoints of each combatant's lance, to see that each one was blunt, andsuch as was allowed by the laws of the tourney.
Meanwhile, Norman soldiers crowd round the enclosure, whilst here andthere groups of Saxons are wedged amongst them. Some half-dozen Saxonchurls have been stood together on the outskirts of the crowd for sometime, engaged in eager conversation. A careful observer would perceivethat, despite their cowed and woe-begone appearance, they have somecommon purpose in view. They each of them carry a quarter staff,--not aformidable weapon, it is true; but no formidable weapon would bepermitted them. At one end of those staves they have deftly insertedstout steel goads, which no casual observer would detect. I was firstattracted to this group, in particular, by having observed them obeycertain signals given by their leader. But my eyes turned on alloccasions naturally and sympathetically to the Saxon portion of thecrowd; and the result of my diligent scrutiny of this little band wasquickened by my discovery of the fact that the leader was none otherthan Badger. Presently they divide themselves into couples and taketheir stand equidistant from each other, along with the spectators wholine the enclosure. Soon, by dint of pushing and wriggling, they forcetheir way close to the railings' side.
Now, at a signal the trumpet again sounds, and a marshal rides into thecentre of the arena, and reads the proclamation and rules of thetourney. Just at that moment, however, a piercing blast from a horn inthe distance makes the greenwood ring again. Immediately from the leafybower there emerges a knight tall of stature, and mail-clad from head tofoot. On his shield he bears a device of the rising sun on a field vert,and as the rays of the midday sun smite upon his helmet andbreast-plate, the refulgence thereof is as of molten gold. He rode ahandsome charger, whose trappings and housings were richly embroideredand resplendent with many strange devices. In close attendance rode hissquire, bearing his lance and shield; he also was of brawny and athleticbuild, like his master. He had on a helmet with harness of link mail.His face and hands, which were uncovered, seemed deeply tanned, asthough they had been subjected to long exposure in some sunny clime.Behind the knight and his esquire there rode a couple of men-at-arms,bronzed and brown as the squire.
It was soon buzzed about amidst the crowd that this was the foreignknight for whose advent the tourney had been delayed a full hour. Theknight and his squire were admitted into the enclosure at once; but thecouple of men-at-arms stood without. There was a brief consultation withthe stewards in the Norman tongue, and the explanations were evidentlysatisfactory, for the knight rode on. And as he passed the dais, wheresat the Queen of Beauty, he dipped the point of his lance and bowed low.
The crimson flood mounted to Alice's face and neck, as she, with greatnervousness, acknowledged the salute. This momentary flush, followed by,if possible, a still deeper pallor and greater agitation, did not escapethe notice of our Abbot, who turned keen and scrutinising glances, firston the knight, and then on Alice. He was suspicions as usual. Could itbe possible that there was some love entanglement between these twowhich boded evil to his brother the Baron? Hitherto, none had appearedin the lists, saving knights who would probably be easily overthrown byVigneau. Though this was but a joust of courtesy, yet the ignominy ofbeing unhorsed, he knew, would exasperate his brother into desperation.This knight of commanding stature, and of warlike appearance and renown,introduced an element of grave uncertainty into the day's contest. Therewas, further, the gravest suspicion that this stranger knight wasimported on purpose to frustrate his brother's union with Alice, a unionwhich, he knew, was cordially detested by both father and daughter. TheBaron also, suspicious by disposition, with lowering brow glared uponthe stranger from behind his visor, and hated him at sight.
Not that he feared being overthrown, for his self-confidence wasunlimited. His great weight and personal strength and skill had bornehim to victory in many a famous joust in times past, and he wascontemptuous of any rival he might chance to meet. But a knight young,handsome, and well-appointed as this stranger, might yet, with DeMontfort's connivance, wrest the prize from his grasp. He swore a deepoath under his breath, and grasped his lance with a keener clutch.Clearly he meant mischief.
The preliminaries being now over, the knights wheeled into line andfaced each other, ready for the signal to charge, their squires being inclose attendance behind. Vigneau and the stranger knight foundthemselves opposed by antagonists much smaller in stature, andindifferently horsed. The trumpeter stood at the head of the lists,bugle in hand, ready to sound the onset at a signal from De Montfort.Excitement was visibly expressed in every countenance, the clamour ofvoices having given place to a hushed suspense, which was painful andsickening to Alice; though she saw that Vigneau and the "Knight of theSun" would not antagonise each other in the first shock. Now the trumpetsends forth a shrill blast, and on the instant spurs are driven intoeach charger's side, and, with a snort of pain, they dash across thesward. There is a loud shock, and a confused and struggling mass of menand horses. Vigneau had thrown the whole weight and strength of himselfand a powerful horse upon a feeble opponent, and both man and horserolled over together before him. Then, with a contemptuous oath, hewheeled again to his place, utterly regardless of his fallen antagonist,whose horse had kicked him severely in its plunges to regain its feet.The "Knight of the Sun," on the other hand, rode steadily at hisopponent, and seemed rather to push him over the horse's croup than tostrike him with unmeasured force. Immediately, also, he sprang to theground and chivalrously assisted the fallen knight to rise, exclaiming,as he did so,--
"None the worse, I trust, Sir Knight?"
"Only my pride hurt a little," was the reply; "but it was gallantly doneand by a worthier knight, so I yield my steed and wish you furthersuccess; which you will have, I trow, whether I wish it or not, or I amno judge of your mettle."
"Take your horse, Sir Knight, I have no need of him, for there is abetter in the lists, I perceive," said the stranger.
"You have my hearty wishes in the winning of it, if they will do you anygood. Just a word in your ear, nevertheless," said he, drawing close tothe "Knight of the Sun," and uttering in an undertone, whilst heprofessed to be adjusting his sword-belt, "You are a stranger, SirKnight, but I have known Vigneau a round dozen years at least, so let mewarn you. Beware your man, and doubly so if you throw him. His uglycarcase is charged with venom from head to foot, and no treacherousvillainy will be too mean, in order to compass his revenge."
"Thanks for your good wishes, and I will not neglect your advice; but ifhe be wise, he will look to himself or he will rue it."
At the blast of the bugle, the knights who had proved victorious wheeledinto line again; one pair had failed to unhorse each other; butevidently they were not consumed with a desire to try further theirprowess in the mimic war, for both of them retired from the fray. Sothere were but four knights called upon to take part in the nextencounter and brave again the fortunes of war. The stranger knight wasnow brought side b
y side with Vigneau, who surveyed him from head tofoot, then turned sneeringly away, growling to himself, "If length oflimb counted for anything, why, then, he would be formidable enough."
At the signal calling for the _ready_, each lance was laid in rest, andeach knight braced himself afresh. Springing again at the call to thecharge, the turf flew from the horses' hoofs, and the shock, in morethan one instance, was enough to throw the horses on their haunches. The"Knight of the Sun" and Vigneau were again victorious; but the latterhad met a doughtier opponent than he had bargained for, for he hadreceived a vigorous and well-aimed blow at the pit of his stomach,discomposing most unpleasantly its contents, and causing his head toswim with sickly qualms. He recovered his balance quickly, however, muchmore quickly than he recovered from the fury of his temper; for, as hefaced about to meet the "Knight of the Sun," he poured out a volley offierce oaths at Pierre, who was too slow in his attentions to him. Thetall squire of the stranger dismounted and ran his eyes over thetrappings of his master's steed, tightening a girth here and there, andwhispering to his master as he did so, "He is strong and heavy; it werebetter policy to dodge his blow, I think, for he is unmistakably clumsyand slow."
"That is the very thing I have been turning over in my mind, and I thinkI will try it. Hand me a shorter lance, will you?"
The squire immediately reached him a lance shorter by some feet; and thebugle sounded again for the ready amid breathless silence. The wholescene floated dimly before the sickened gaze of Alice, who was but halfconscious of what was passing in the lists; though she realised withpainful vividness that Vigneau and the stranger were now opposed to eachother. Jeannette put her arm around her mistress and held a small silverflask of rich scents to her nose, whispering gently to her,--
"Courage, lady! all goes well, never fear. The stranger will be thevictor."
Now the combatants brace themselves for the final charge and forvictory. The "Knight of the Sun" grasps his short lance with sinews ofiron, whilst his gaze is intent upon the weapon of his antagonist. Thesignal is given, and the chargers bound like an avalanche across theintervening space. There is a quick swerve of the stranger's body, andVigneau's lance passes like a flash over the mailed arm of the knight, aclear miss. Righting himself as deftly as he had swerved, and withoutpermitting the point of his lance to deviate one iota from its mark, heclosed in a deadly shock with the bulky Norman. The lance he held was soshort that they seemed almost to rush into each other's arms; but thepoint was direct for his antagonist's chest. Vigneau, with an oath atthe failure of his stroke, let go his lance, and aimed a blow with hisclenched fist at his antagonist; but his act of blind fury was utterlyfutile and vain; with unerring aim the stranger struck him full on hissteel breast-plate. There was a loud crash of tearing girths, andVigneau rolled ignominiously to the ground amid a motley heap of horses,harness, and trappings.
Alice's head dropped on Jeannette's shoulder as she faintly asked,"Who's victor, Jeannette?"
"The stranger, lady; courage, courage! Vigneau is ignominiouslyoverthrown."
"Thank God!" she ejaculated feebly, and her eyes closed ininsensibility.
All eyes were now turned with a strange fascination towards the twoantagonists, for Vigneau sprang to his feet, drew his broadsword, andbrandishing it in the air like a demon, shouted "_Joute a l'outrance!_Come on, varlet! it is to the death!"
The Abbot rushed into the arena, vainly endeavouring to restrain theblind fury of his brother; but with an oath the Baron threw him off, andrushed at his antagonist, who by this time had dismounted and stood onhis guard. Fiercely exasperated, Vigneau rained blow upon blow, with thefury of a madman, whilst the stranger contented himself with coollyparrying or receiving on his shield the frantic blows of his assailant.The volcano-like rage of Vigneau quickly expended itself uselessly; soonlimp, and spent, and utterly blown, he aimed a last blow with greatlydiminished force. The stranger received it on his shield, whilst withconcentrated energy he sprang upon Vigneau; his broadsword divided theair like lightning, and descended on the nape of Vigneau's neck, cuttingclean through his armour, and well-nigh severing his head from his body.Vigneau threw up his arms wildly in the air as he dropped into hisbrother's arms, and shrieked frantically in his death agony, "_TheSaxon! 'Tis the Saxon!_"
The cry acted like magic upon the whole multitude. Men sprang into thearena shouting madly to each other they knew not what. Horses reared andsnorted, and plunged in dire confusion. The ruse also so consummatelyplanned by Badger, in case of any hitch or exposure, was vigorouslyacted out. On the instant he and his comrades leaped into the arena, anddeftly dodged in and out amongst the horses, and vigorously appliedtheir goads to their flanks and sides, increasing the disorder andconfusion a hundredfold.
Meantime, whilst the vengeful and sanguinary combat between thechampions had been going on, the stranger's squire had seized the reinsof Vigneau's charger as the spoil of the victor; but Pierre sprang athim in fierce resistance, and immediately the two squires also becameengaged in a passage of arms as fiercely and as determinedly as theirmasters. Promptly Badger gave Wulfhere a vigorous push, which separatedthe pair. Then in a low tone, but unmistakably in earnest, he said,"Zounds, man! what are you doing? and where are your eyes? Can you notsee there is not a moment to lose? Do you not see the Norman hasdetected your master? Fly, man, quick! or you're a dead man, and Oswaldalso."
Wulfhere, thus suddenly awakened to the peril of the situation, promptlytook Badger's advice and vaulted into his saddle. But his blood was up,and as he did so, he turned to Pierre, and said,--
"I'll take care we meet again, villain, never fear. Then we will seewhether aught will save thee from the fate which has befallen thymaster, and which has been dogging thy heels this many a day."
Oswald, the stranger knight, also by this time fully comprehended theperil of the situation, and that if they would save their lives flightwas their only resource. So promptly he sprang into the saddle, andimmediately made for the gate, followed by Wulfhere. The two men-at-armswithout the arena had been watching the movements of Oswald and Wulfherewith feverish anxiety, irresolute whether to rush in to effect a rescueor not. But no sooner did they see them make for the entrance than theypushed their horses amid the spectators, and vigorously plying the flatsof their swords upon the shoulders of the churls who thronged and chokedthe way, they quickly cleared a passage; whilst Badger and his partycontinued to maintain a state of dire confusion in the enclosure. Assoon as the entrance was passed the safety of the Saxons was assured,and at once falling into the rear of their leader, they dashed acrossthe plain, and were lost in the woods ere any one comprehended forcertain what strange things had happened.
Then the Abbot Vigneau strode up to De Montfort, the veins of his neckstanding out with rage and his face livid with passion, and he hoarselyshouted,--
"I arraign thee traitor to thy king! and I will have thy head for thistreacherous act! I tell thee if thou hast successfully conspired tomurder my brother, I myself hold the letters thou wouldest give thyright hand to possess! I will use them to the full, nor rest till thouhast atoned with thy blood for thy treachery!"
Meantime, the scene which followed baffled description. The assembledcompany could not comprehend the charges made by Vigneau, and werebewildered at the tragic ending of what was designed for a day'sfestivities.
The condition of Alice was pitiable in the extreme. With returningconsciousness she had seen the fiendish attitude of the Abbot as hefronted her father. She had heard the wild threats of vengeance, and adim sense of uttermost calamity, hanging over her and her father, senther back again into a swoon. I roused Jeannette and her companion fromthe state of helplessness into which they seemed to have relapsed, and,under my directions, Alice was carried to her room and laid upon hercouch, whilst such restoratives as were at hand were applied tostimulate the laggard consciousness, which seemed as though it wouldnever return.