saint george for england-第21部分

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nt；　as　upon　these　circumstances　alone　it　depended　whether　the　son　or　the　granddaughter　of　Arthur　II　should　inherit　the　dukedom。

〃Joan　claimed　the　duchy　as　the　daughter　of　the　elder　brother。　　The　Salic　law　of　France；　which　barred　females　from　the　right　of　succession；　and　in　virtue　of　which　Philip　of　Valois　succeeded　to　the　throne　instead　of　King　Edward；　certainly　did　not　obtain　in　Brittany。　Duke　John　regarded　Joan　as　his　heiress；　and　married　her　to　Charles　of　Blois；　nephew　of　the　King　of　France；　thus　strengthening　her　in　her　position；　and　he　also　induced　the　provincial　parliament　of　Brittany　to　acknowledge　her　husband　as　his　successor　in　the　dukedom。　　Altogether　it　would　seem　that　right　is　upon　Joan's　side；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　the　Count　of　Montford　is　the　son　of　Jolande；　a　great　heiress　in　Brittany。　He　is　an　active　and　energetic　noble。　The　Bretons　love　not　too　close　a　connection　with　France；　and　assuredly　prefer　to　be　ruled　by　a　duke　whom　they　regard　as　one　of　themselves　rather　than　by　Charles　of　Blois；　nephew　of　the　French　king。　　Directly　Duke　John　was　dead　the　Count　of　Montford　claimed　the　inheritance。　　Assuming　the　title　of　duke　he　rode　to　Nantes；　where　the　citizens　did　him　homage；　and　then　proceeded　to　Limoges　with　a　large　train　of　men…at…arms；　and　there　took　possession　of　the　immense　treasures　which　the　late　duke　had　accumulated　in　the　course　of　a　long　and　tranquil　reign。　With　these　sinews　of　war　at　his　command　he　turned　to　Nantes；　where　he　had　left　his　wife　the　countess；　who　was　a　sister　of　the　Count　of　Flanders。　He　immediately　invited　the　nobility　of　Brittany　to　a　grand　banquet；　but　only　one　knight　of　any　renown　presented　himself　at　the　feast；　the　rest　all　holding　aloof。　With　the　wealth　of　which　he　had　possessed　himself　he　levied　large　forces　and　took　the　field。　He　first　marched　against　Brest；　where　the　garrison；　commanded　by　Walter　de　Clisson；　refused　to　acknowledge　him。　After　three　days'　hard　fighting　the　place　was　taken。　Rennes　was　next　besieged；　and　presently　surrendered。　Other　towns　fell　into　his　hands；　and　so　far　as　Brittany　was　concerned　all　opposition；　except　in　one　or　two　fortresses；　ceased。　In　the　meanwhile　Charles　of　Blois　sought　assistance　from　his　uncle　the　King　of　France；　the　Count　de　Montford；　therefore；　crossed　to　England　and　besought　the　aid　of　King　Edward；　and　did　homage　to　him　as　King　of　France。　Edward；　on　his　part；　promised　to　assist　him。　　The　fact　that　Phillip　was　sure　to　espouse　the　opposite　side　was　in　itself　sufficient　to　decide　him；　besides　which；　the　dukes　of　Brittany　have　always　been　in　a　special　way　connected　with　England　and　bear　the　English　title　of　Earls　of　Richmond。

〃Believing　that　his　journey；　which　had　been　a　secret　one；　was　unknown　to　the　King　of　France；　De　Montford　went　boldly　to　Paris；　where　he　had　been　summoned　by　the　king　to　an　assembly　of　peers　called　to　decide　upon　the　succession。　He　found；　however；　that　Phillip　had　already　obtained　news　of　his　journey　to　England。　His　manner　convinced　De　Montford　that　it　was　unsafe　to　remain　in　Paris；　and　he　secretly　made　his　escape。　Fifteen　days　afterwards　the　peers　gave　judgment　in　favour　of　Charles　of　Blois。　The　Dukes　of　Normandy；　Burgundy；　and　Bourbon；　the　Counts　of　Alencon；　Eu；　and　Guisnes；　and　many　other　French　nobles；　prepared　to　lead　an　army　into　the　field　to　support　Charles；　and　the　king　added　a　body　of　3000　Genoese　mercenaries　in　his　pay。

〃Knowing　the　storm　that　was　preparing　to　break　upon　him；　De　Montford　put　every　town　and　castle　in　a　state　of　defence。　He　himself；　confiding　in　the　affection　of　the　inhabitants　of　Nantes；　remained　in　that　city；　while　his　wife　repaired　to　Rennes。

〃The　Duke　of　Normandy　advanced　from　Angiers　with　an　army　of　5000　men…at…arms　and　a　numerous　infantry；　and　after　capturing　the　castle　of　Chantoceaux　marched　to　Nantes　and　laid　siege　to　the　city。　A　sortie　was　made　by　the　besieged；　led　by　Henry　de　Leon；　but；　being　attacked　by　the　whole　of　the　French　army；　they　were　driven　back　into　the　town；　a　great　many　of　the　citizens　being　killed。　A　warm　altercation　took　place　between　Henry　de　Leon　and　De　Montford；　who　attributed　to　him　the　evil　result　of　the　sortie。　The　result　was　that　a　large　number　of　the　citizens　whose　friends　had　been　captured　by　the　French　conspired　to　deliver　up　the　place　to　Charles　of　Blois；　and　Henry　de　Leon　also　entered　into　private　negotiations　with　the　Duke　of　Normandy。　De　Montford；　finding　that　he　could　rely　neither　upon　the　citizens　nor　the　soldiers；　surrendered　to　the　duke　on　condition　that　his　life　was　spared。　He　was　sent　to　Paris；　where　he　still　remains　a　prisoner。　Winter　was　coming　on；　and　after　putting　Nantes　in　a　fresh　state　of　defence　and　leaving　Charles　of　Blois　there；　the　Duke　of　Normandy　dismissed　his　forces；　engaging　them　to　reassemble　in　the　spring。　Had　he　pushed　on　at　once　he　would　have　experienced　no　resistance；　so　great　was　the　panic　which　the　surrender　of　Nantes　and　the　capture　of　De　Montford　had　caused　among　the　latter's　partisans。

〃In　Rennes；　especially；　the　deepest　despondency　was　felt。　The　countess；　however；　showed　the　greatest　courage　and　firmness。　Showing　herself；　with　her　infant　in　her　arms；　she　appealed　to　the　citizens；　and　by　her　courageous　bearing　inspired　them　with　new　hopes。　Having　restored　heart　at　Rennes　she　traveled　from　garrison　to　garrison　throughout　the　province；　and　filled　all　with　vigour　and　resolution。　　Feeling；　however；　the　hopelessness　of　her　struggle　against　all　France；　she　despatched　Sir　Almeric　de　Clisson；　who　had　lately　joined　her　party；　to　England；　to　ask　the　aid　which　the　king　had　promised。　He　arrived　a　month　since；　and；　as　you　see；　our　brave　king　has　not　been　long　in　despatching　us　to　her　aid；　and　now；　youngsters；　to　bed；　for　methinks　that　the　sea　is　rougher　than　it　was　and　that　the　wind　is　getting　up。〃

〃Aye；　that　is　it；〃　the　captain；　who　heard　the　knight's　closing　words；　exclaimed。　　〃We　are　in　for　a　storm；　and　a　heavy　one；　or　my　name　is　not　Timothy　Martin；　and　though　with　plenty　of　sea…room　the　Kitty　makes　not　much　ado　about　a　storm　more　or　less；　it's　a　very　different　thing　in　the　middle　of　a　fleet　of　lubberly　craft；　which　may　run　one　down　at　any　time。　I　shall　edge　out　of　them　as　soon　as　I　can；　you　may　be　sure。

Before　morning　a　serious　gale　was　blowing；　and　for　the　next　three　or　four　days　Walter　and　his　companions　knew　nothing　of　what　was　going　on。　Then　the　storm　abated；　and　they　staggered　out　from　their　cabin。　The　sea　was　still　high；　but　the　sun　shone　brightly　overhead。　In　front　of　them　the　land　was　visible。　They　looked　round；　but　to　their　astonishment　not　a　sail　was　in　sight。

〃Why；　where　is　the　fleet？〃　Walter　exclaimed　in　astonishment。

〃Snug　in　the　Thames；　I　reckon；〃　the　captain　said。　〃Soon　after　the　storm　came　on　one　of　the　sailors　pretended　he　saw　the　lights　of　recall　on　the　admiral's　ship；　but　I　was　too　busy　to　look　that　way；　I　had　enough　to　do　to　look　after　the　safety　of　the　ship。　Anyhow；　I　saw　no　more　of　them。〃

〃And　what　land　is　that　ahead？〃　Walter　asked。

〃That　is　Brittany；　young　sir；　and　before　nightfall　we　shall　be　in　the　port　of　Hennebon；　as　to　the　others；　it　may　be　days　and　it　may　be　weeks　before　they　arrive。

The　lads　were　not　sorry　at　the　chance　which　had　taken　them　to　their　destination　before　their　companions　and　had　given　them　a　chance　of　distinguishing　themselves。　Late　in　the　afternoon　the　ship　dropped　anchor　off　the　castle　of　Hennebon；　and　Sir　John　Powis　and　his　following　were　conveyed　in　the　ship's　boats　to　shore。　The　countess　received　them　most　graciously；　and　was　delighted　at　the　news　that　so　strong　a　force　was　on　its　way　to　her　aid。

〃In　the　absence　of　Sir　Walter　Manny；　madam；　I　place　myself　and　my　men　at　your　orders。　Our　horses　will　be　landed　the　first　thing　in　the　morning；　and　we　will　then　ride　whithersoever　you　may　bid　us。〃

〃Thanks；　Sir　John；〃　the　countess　replied。　〃In　that　case　I　would　that　you　ride　by　Rennes；　towards　which　the　army　of　the　Duke　of　Normandy　is　already　advancing。　The　garrison　there　is　commanded　by　Sir　William　of　Caddoudal；　a　good　and　valiant　knight。〃

The　horses　were　landed　on　the　following　morning；　and　accompanied　by　the　four　young　squires　and　the　men…at…arms；　and　followed　by　the　twenty　archers　on　foot；　Sir　John　Powis　set　out　for　Rennes。　They　arrived　there；　but　just　in　time；　for　the　assailants　were　closing　round　the　city。　They　were　received　with　the　greatest　cordiality　by　the　governor；　who　assigned　apartments　to　Sir　John　and　the　squires；　and　lodged　the　men…at…arms　and　archers　near　them。


In　a　day　or　two　the　whole　of　the　French　army　came　up；　and　the　siege　commenced。　　Sir　John　Powis；　at　his　own　request；　was　posted　with　his　men　for　the　defence　of　a　portion　of　the　wall　which　was　especially　open　to　the　assaults　of　the　enemy。　　These　soon　commenced　in　earnest；　and　the　Genoese　and　Spanish　mercenaries　endeavoured　to　carry　the　place　by　assault。　Sometimes　one　point　would　be　attacked；　at　others　points　far　distant。　Covered　by　the　fire　of　the　French　crossbowmen；　the　Spaniards　and　Germans　came　on　to　the　assault；　carrying　ladders；　with　which　they　strove　to　climb　the　walls；　but　the　defenders　plied　them　so　vigorously　with　quarrels　from　their　cross…bows　and　flights　of　arrows　that　they　frequently　desisted　before　reaching　the　walls。　When　they　pushed　on；　and　strove　to　ascend；　their　luck　was　no　bet