saint george for england-第25部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

d　the　approach　of　the　great　French　army。

Four　days　after　the　French　had　arrived　before　Hennebon　they　were　joined　by　Don　Louis；　who　had　been　severely　wounded　in　the　fight　near　Quimperle；　and　had　lain　for　six　weeks　at　Rennes。　Sixteen　great　engines　at　once　began　to　cast　stones　against　the　walls；　but　Sir　Walter　caused　sandbags　to　be　lowered；　and　so　protected　the　walls　from　the　attack　that　little　damage　was　done。　The　garrison　confident　in　their　powers　to　resist；　taunted　the　assailants　from　the　walls；　and　specially　enraged　the　Spaniards　and　Don　Louis　by　allusions　to　the　defeat　at　Quimperle。

So　furious　did　the　Spanish　prince　become　that　he　took　a　step　unprecedented　in　those　days　of　chivalry。　He　one　morning　entered　the　tent　of　Charles　of　Blois；　where　a　number　of　French　nobles　were　gathered；　and　demanded　a　boon　in　requital　of　all　his　services。　Charles　at　once　assented；　when；　to　his　surprise　and　horror；　Prince　Louis　demanded　that　two　English　knights；　Sir　John　Butler　and　Sir　Hubert　Frisnoy；　who　had　been　captured　in　the　course　of　the　campaign　and　were　kept　prisoners　at　Faouet；　should　be　delivered　to　him　to　be　executed。　〃These　English；〃　he　said；　〃have　pursued；　discomforted；　and　wounded　me；　and　have　killed　the　nephew　whom　I　loved　so　well；　and　as　I　have　none　other　mode　of　vengeance　I　will　cut　off　their　heads　before　their　companions　who　lie　within　those　walls。〃

Charles　of　Blois　and　his　nobles　were　struck　with　amazement　and　horror　at　the　demand；　and　used　every　means　in　their　power　to　turn　the　savage　prince　from　his　purpose；　but　in　vain。　They　pointed　out　to　him　that　his　name　would　be　dishonoured　in　all　countries　where　the　laws　of　chivalry　prevailed　by　such　a　deed；　and　besought　him　to　choose　some　other　boon。　Don　Louis　refused　to　yield；　and　Charles　of　Blois；　finding　no　alternative　between　breaking　his　promise　and　delivering　his　prisoners；　at　last　agreed　to　his　request。

The　prisoners　were　sent　for；　and　were　informed　by　Don　Louis　himself　of　their　approaching　end。　At　first　they　could　not　believe　that　he　was　in　earnest；　for　such　a　proceeding　was　so　utterly　opposed　to　the　spirit　of　the　times　that　it　seemed　impossible　to　them。　Finding　that　he　was　in　earnest　they　warned　him　of　the　eternal　stain　which　such　a　deed　would　bring　upon　his　name。　The　Spaniard；　however；　was　unmoved　either　by　their　words　or　by　the　entreaties　of　the　French　nobles　but　told　them　that　he　would　give　them　a　few　hours　to　prepare　for　death；　and　that　they　should　be　executed　in　sight　of　the　walls　after　the　usual　dinner　hour　of　the　army。

In　those　days　sieges　were　not　conducted　in　the　strict　manner　in　which　they　are　at　present；　and　non…combatants　passed　without　difficulty　to　and　fro　between　town　and　camp。　　The　news；　therefore；　of　what　was　intended　speedily　reached　the　garrison；　whom　it　filled　with　indignation　and　horror。　A　council　was　immediately　called；　and　Sir　Walter　Manny　proposed　a　plan；　which　was　instantly　adopted。

Without　loss　of　time　Almeric　de　Clisson　issued　forth　from　the　great　gate　of　Hennebon；　accompanied　by　300　men…at…arms　and　1000　archers。　The　latter　took　post　at　once　along　the　edge　of　the　ditches。　The　men…at…arms　rode　straight　for　the　enemy's　camp；　which　was　undefended；　the　whole　army　being　within　their　tents　at　dinner。　Dashing　into　their　midst　the　English　and　Breton　men…at…arms　began　to　overthrow　the　tents　and　spear　all　that　were　in　them。　Not　knowing　the　extent　of　the　danger　or　the　smallness　of　the　attacking　force；　the　French　knights　sprang　up　from　table；　mounted；　and　rode　to　encounter　the　assailants。

For　some　time　these　maintained　their　ground　against　all　assaults　until；　finding　that　the　whole　army　was　upon　them；　Almeric　de　Clisson　gave　order　for　his　troop　to　retire　slowly　upon　the　town。　Fighting　every　step　of　the　ground　and　resisting　obstinately　the　repeated　onslaught　of　the　French；　Clisson　approached　the　gate。　　Here　he　was　joined　by　the　archers；　who　with　bent　bows　prepared　to　resist　the　advance　of　the　French。　As　it　appeared　that　the　garrison　were　prepared　to　give　battle　outside　the　walls；　the　whole　French　army　prepared　to　move　against　them。

In　the　meantime　Sir　Walter　Manny；　with　100　men…at…arms　and　500　horse　archers；　issued　by　a　sally…port　on　the　other　side　of　the　town；　and　with　all　speed　rode　round　to　the　rear　of　the　French　camp。　There　he　found　none　to　oppose　him　save　servants　and　camp…followers；　and　making　his　way　straight　to　the　tent　of　Charles　of　Blois；　where　the　two　knights　were　confined；　he　soon　freed　them　from　their　bonds。　They　were　mounted　without　wasting　a　moment's　time　upon　two　spare　horses；　and　turning　again　the　whole　party　rode　back　towards　Hennebon；　and　had　reached　the　postern　gate　before　the　fugitives　from　the　camp　reached　the　French　commanders　and　told　them　what　had　happened。

Seeing　that　he　was　now　too　late；　because　of　De　Clisson's　sortie；　Charles　of　Blois　recalled　his　army　from　the　attack；　in　which　he　could　only　have　suffered　heavily　from　the　arrows　of　the　archers　and　the　missiles　from　the　walls。　The　same　day；　he　learned　from　some　prisoners　captured　in　the　sortie；　of　the　undiminished　spirit　of　the　garrison；　and　that　Hennebon　was　amply　supplied　with　provisions　brought　by　sea。　His　own　army　was　becoming　straitened　by　the　scarcity　of　supplies　in　the　country　round；　he　therefore　determined　at　once　to　raise　the　siege；　and　to　besiege　some　place　where　he　would　encounter　less　serious　resistance。

Accordingly；　next　morning　he　drew　off　his　army　and　marched　to　Carhaix。

Shortly　afterwards　the　news　came　that　the　Earl　of　Northampton　and　Robert　of　Artois；　with　their　force；　had　sailed；　and　Don　Louis；　with　the　Genoese　and　other　Italian　mercenaries；　started　to　intercept　them　with　a　large　fleet。　The　fleets　met　off　the　island　of　Guernsey；　and　a　severe　engagement　took　place；　which　lasted　till　night。　During　the　darkness　a　tremendous　storm　burst　upon　them　and　the　combatants　separated。　The　English　succeeded　in　making　their　way　to　Brittany　and　landed　near　Vannes。　The　Spaniards　captured　four　small　ships　which　had　been　separated　in　the　storm　from　their　consorts；　but　did　not　succeed　in　regaining　the　coast　of　Brittany；　being　driven　south　by　the　storm　as　far　as　Spain。　　The　Earl　of　Northampton　at　once　laid　siege　to　Vannes；　and　Sir　Walter　Manny　moved　with　every　man　that　could　be　spared　from　Hennebon　to　assist　him。

As　it　was　certain　that　the　French　army　would　press　forward　with　all　speed　to　relieve　the　town；　it　was　decided　to　lose　no　time　in　battering　the　walls；　but　to　attempt　to　carry　it　at　once　by　assault。　The　walls；　however；　were　so　strong　that　there　seemed　little　prospect　of　success　attending　such　an　attempt；　and　a　plan　was　therefore　determined　upon　by　which　the　enemy　might　be　thrown　off　their　guard。　The　assault　commenced　at　three　points　in　the　early　morning　and　was　continued　all　day。　No　great　vigour；　however；　was　shown　in　these　attempts　which　were　repulsed　at　all　points。

At　nightfall　the　assailants　drew　off　to　their　camp；　and　Oliver　de　Clisson；　who　commanded　the　town；　suffered　his　weary　troops　to　quit　the　walls　and　to　seek　for　refreshment　and　repose。　The　assailants；　however；　did　not　disarm；　but　after　a　sufficient　time　had　elapsed　to　allow　the　garrison　to　lay　aside　their　armour　two　strong　parties　attacked　the　principal　gates　of　the　town；　while　Sir　Walter　Manny　and　the　Earl　of　Oxford　moved　round　to　the　opposite　side　with　ladders　for　an　escalade。　The　plan　was　successful。　The　garrison；　snatching　up　their　arms；　hurried　to　repel　their　attack　upon　the　gates；　every　man　hastening　in　that　direction。　Sir　Walter　Manny　with　his　party　were　therefore　enabled　to　mount　the　walls　unobserved　and　make　their　way　into　the　town；　here　they　fell　upon　the　defenders　in　the　rear；　and　the　sudden　onslaught　spread　confusion　and　terror　among　them。　The　parties　at　the　gates　forced　their　way　in　and　joined　their　friends；　and　the　whole　of　the　garrison　were　killed　or　taken　prisoners；　save　a　few；　including　Oliver　Clisson；　who　made　their　escape　by　sally…ports。　Robert　of　Artois；　with　the　Earl　of　Stafford；　was　left　with　a　garrison　to　hold　the　town。　　The　Earl　of　Salisbury；　with　four　thousand　men；　proceeded　to　lay　siege　to　Rennes；　and　Sir　Walter　Manny　hastened　back　to　Hennebon。

Some　of　Sir　Walter's　men　formed　part　of　the　garrison　of　Vannes；　and　among　these　was　Sir　John　Powis　with　a　hundred　men…at…arms。

The　knight　had　been　so　pleased　with　Walter's　coolness　and　courage　at　the　siege　at　Hennebon　that　he　requested　Sir　Walter　to　leave　him　with　him　at　Vannes。　〃It　is　possible；〃　he　said　to　Walter；　〃that　we　may　have　fighting　here。　Methinks　that　Sir　Walter　would　have　done　better　to　leave　a　stronger　force。　The　town　is　a　large　one；　and　the　inhabitants　ill…disposed　towards　us。　Oliver　Clisson　and　the　French　nobles　will　feel　their　honour　wounded　at　the　way　in　which　we　outwitted　them；　and　will　likely　enough　make　an　effort　to　regain　the　town。　However；　Rennes　and　Hennebon　are　not　far　away；　and　we　may　look　for　speedy　aid　from　the　Earl　of　Salisbury　and　Sir　Walter　should　occasion　arise。〃

Sir　John's　previsions　were　speedily　verified。　Oliver　Clisson　and　his　friends　were　determined　to　wipe　out　their　defeat；　and　scattered　through　the　country　raising　volunteers　from　among　the　soldiery　in　all　the　neighbouring　towns　and　castles；　and　a　month　after　Vannes　was　taken　they　suddenly　appeared　before　the　town　with　an　army　of　12；000