saint george for england-第51章
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who piled the breach； and the many who lay in the castle…yard spoke for themselves of the valour with which the castle had been defended。 As the keep was gutted by fire； and the man could tell us nought of what had happened after he bad been stricken down at the breach； we knew not whether you and your brave garrison had perished in the flames。 We saw the penthouse beneath which they had laboured to cut through the wall； but the work had ceased before the holes were large enough for entry； and we hoped that you might have seen that further resistance was in vain； and have made terms for your lives； indeed we heard from the country people that certain prisoners had been taken to Amiens。 I rested one day at Pres； and the next rode back here； and forthwith despatched a herald to the Count of Evreux at Amiens asking for news of the garrison； but now he has returned with word that twenty… four men…at…arms and fifty…eight archers are prisoners in the count's hands； and that he is ready to exchange them against an equal number of French prisoners； but that you； with a man…at…arms； were in the keeping of Sir Phillip of Holbeaut； with whom I must treat for your ransom。 And now tell me how it is that I see you here。 Has your captor； confiding in your knightly word to send him the sum agreed upon； allowed you to return？ Tell me the sum and my treasurer shall tomorrow pay it over to a herald； who shall carry it to Holbeaut。〃
〃Thanks； your Royal Highness； for your generosity；〃 Walter replied； 〃but there is no ransom to be paid。〃
And he then proceeded to narrate the incidents of his captivity at Holbeaut and his escape from the castle。 His narration was frequently interrupted by exclamations of surprise and indignation from the prince and knights present。
〃Well； this well…nigh passes all belief；〃 the prince exclaimed when he had concluded。 〃It is an outrage upon all laws of chivalry and honour。 What could have induced this caitiff knight； instead of treating you with courtesy and honour until your ransom arrived； to lodge you in a foul dungeon； where； had you not made your escape； your death would have been brought about that very night by the rising water？ Could it be； think you； that his brain is distraught by some loss or injury which may have befallen him at our hands during the war and worked him up to a blind passion of hatred against all Englishmen？〃
〃I think not that； your Royal Highness；〃 Walter replied。 〃His manner was cool and deliberate； and altogether free from any signs of madness。 Moreover； it would seem that he had specially marked me down beforehand； since； as I have told you； he had bargained with the Count of Evreux for the possession of my person should I escape with life at the capture of the castle。 It seems rather as if he must have had some private enmity against me； although what the cause may be I cannot imagine； seeing that I have never； to my knowledge； before met him； and have only heard his name by common report。
〃Whatever be the cause；〃 the prince said； 〃we will have satisfaction for it； and I will beg the king； my father； to write at once to Phillip of Valois protesting against the treatment that you have received； and denouncing Sir Phillip of Holbeaut as a base and dishonoured knight； whom； should he fall into our hands； we will commit at once to the hangman。
Upon the following day Walter was called before the king； and related to him in full the incidents of the siege and of his captivity and escape； and the same day King Edward sent off a letter to Phillip of Valois denouncing Sir Phillip Holbeaut as a dishonoured knight； and threatening retaliation upon the French prisoners in his hands。
A fortnight later an answer was received from the King of France saying that he had inquired into the matter； and had sent a seneschal； who had questioned Sir Phillip Holbeaut and some of the men…at…arms in the castle； and that he found that King Edward had been grossly imposed upon by a fictitious tale。 Sir Walter Somers had； he found； been treated with all knightly courtesy； and believing him to be an honourable knight and true to his word； but slight watch had been kept over him。 He had basely taken advantage of this trust； and with the man…at…arms with him had escaped from the castle in order to avoid payment of his ransom； and had now invented these gross and wicked charges against Sir Phillip Holbeaut as a cloak to his own dishonour。
Walter was furious when he heard the contents of this letter； and the king and Black Prince were no less indignant。 Although they doubted him not for a moment； Walter begged that Ralph might be brought before them and examined strictly as to what had taken place； in order that they might see that his statements tallied exactly with those he had made。
When this had been done Walter obtained permission from the king to despatch a cartel to Sir Phillip de Holbeaut denouncing him as a perjured and dishonoured knight and challenging him to meet him in mortal conflict at any time and place that he might name。 At the same time the king despatched a letter to Phillip of Valois saying that the statements of the French knight and followers were wholly untrue； and begging that a time might be appointed for the meeting of the two knights in the lists。
To this King Phillip replied that he had ordered all private quarrels in France to be laid aside during the progress of the war； and that so long as an English foot remained upon French soil he would give no countenance to his knights throwing away the lives which they owed to France； in private broils。
〃You must wait； Sir Walter； you see；〃 the king said； 〃until you may perchance meet him in the field of battle。 In the mean time； to show how lightly I esteem the foul charge brought against you； and how much I hold and honour the bravery which you showed in defending the castle which my son the prince entrusted to you； as well as upon other occasions； I hereby promote you to the rank of knight…banneret。〃
Events now passed slowly before Calais。 Queen Philippa and many of her ladies crossed the Channel and joined her husband； and these added much to the gaiety of the life in camp。 The garrison at Calais was； it was known； in the sorest straits for the want of food； and at last the news came that the King of France； with a huge army of 200；000 men； was moving to its relief。 They had gathered at Hesdin； at which rendezvous the king had arrived in the early part of April； but it was not until the 27th of July that the whole army was collected； and marching by slow steps advanced towards the English position。
King Edward had taken every precaution to guard all the approaches to the city。 The ground was in most places too soft and sandy to admit of the construction of defensive works； but the fleet was drawn up close inshore to cover the line of sand…hills by the sea with arrows and war machines； while the passages of the marshes； which extended for a considerable distance round the town； were guarded by the Earl of Lancaster and a body of chosen troops； while the other approaches to the city were covered by the English camp。
The French reconnoitering parties found no way open to attack the English unless under grievous disadvantages。 The Cardinals of Tusculum； St。 John； and St。 Paul endeavoured to negotiate terms of peace； and commissioners on both sides met。 The terms offered by Phillip were； however； by no means so favourable as Edward； after his own victorious operations and those of his armies in Brittany and Guienne； had a right to expect and the negotiations were broken off。
The following day the French king sent in a message to Edward saying that he had examined the ground in every direction in order to advance and give battle； but had found no means of doing so。 He therefore summoned the king to come forth from the marshy ground in which he was encamped and to fight in the open plain； and he offered to send four French knights； who； with four English of the same rank； should choose a fair plain in the neighbourhood； according to the usages of chivalry。 Edward had little over 30；000 men with him； but the same evening that Phillip's challenge was received a body of 17；000 Flemings and English； detached from a
