saint george for england-第31部分

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a　light　heart。〃



CHAPTER　XII：　JACOB　VAN　ARTEVELDE


King　Edward　found　no　difficulty　in　awakening　the　war　spirit　of　England　anew；　for　the　King　of　France；　in　an　act　of　infamous　treachery；　in　despite　of　the　solemn　terms　of　the　treaty；　excited　against　himself　the　indignation　not　only　of　England　but　of　all　Europe。　Oliver　de　Clisson；　with　fourteen　other　nobles　of　Brittany　and　Normandy；　were　arrested　by　his　order；　taken　to　Paris；　and　without　form　of　trial　there　decapitated。　This　act　of　treachery　and　injustice　aroused　disgust　and　shame　among　the　French　nobles；　and　murmurs　and　discontent　spread　throughout　the　whole　country。

In　Brittany　numbers　of　the　nobles　fell　off　from　the　cause　of　Charles　of　Blois；　and　King　Edward　hastened　his　preparations　to　avenge　the　butchery　of　the　adherents　of　the　house　of　Montford。　Phillip；　however；　in　defiance　of　the　murmurs　of　his　own　subjects；　of　the　indignant　remonstrances　of　Edward；　and　even　those　of　the　pope；　who　was　devoted　to　his　cause；　continued　the　course　he　had　begun；　and　a　number　of　other　nobles　were　seized　and　executed。　　Godfrey　of　Harcourt　alone；　warned　by　the　fate　of　his　companions；　refused　to　obey　the　summons　of　the　king　to　repair　to　Paris；　and　fled　to　Brabant。　His　property　in　France　was　at　once　seized　by　Phillip；　and　Godfrey；　finding　that　the　Duke　of　Brabant　would　be　unable　to　shield　him　from　Phillip's　vengeance；　fled　to　the　English　court；　and　did　homage　to　Edward。

On　the　24th　of　April；　1345；　Edward　determined　no　longer　to　allow　Phillip　to　continue　to　benefit　by　his　constant　violations　of　the　truce；　and　accordingly　sent　a　defiance　to　the　King　of　France。

De　Montford；　who　had　just　succeeded　in　escaping　from　his　prison　in　Paris；　arrived　at　this　moment　in　England；　and　shortly　afterwards　set　sail　with　a　small　army　under　the　command　of　the　Earl　of　Northampton　for　Britanny；　while　the　Earl　of　Derby　took　his　departure　with　a　larger　force　for　the　defence　of　Guienne。

King　Edward　set　about　raising　a　large　army；　which　he　determined　to　lead　himself；　but　before　passing　over　to　France　he　desired　to　strengthen　his　hold　of　Flanders。　　The　constant　intrigues　of　Phillip　there　had　exercised　a　great　effect。　The　count　of　that　country　was　already　strongly　in　his　interest；　and　it　was　only　the　influence　of　Jacob　van　Artevelde　which　maintained　the　alliance　with　England。　　This　man　had；　by　his　talent　and　energy；　gained　an　immense　influence　over　his　countrymen；　but　his　commanding　position　and　ability　had　naturally　excited　the　envy　and　hatred　of　many　of　his　fellow　citizens；　among　whom　was　the　dean　of　the　weavers　of　Ghent；　one　Gerard　Denis。　The　weavers　were　the　most　powerful　body　in　this　city；　and　had　always　been　noted　for　their　turbulence　and　faction；　and　on　a　Monday　in　the　month　of　May；　1345；　a　great　battle　took　place　in　the　market…place　between　them　and　the　fullers；　of　whom　1500　were　slain。　This　victory　of　the　weavers　strengthened　the　power　of　the　party　hostile　to　Artevelde　and　the　English　connection；　and　the　former　saw　that　unless　he　could　induce　his　countrymen　to　take　some　irretrievable　step　in　favour　of　England　they　would　ultimately　fall　back　into　the　arms　of　France。　Accordingly　he　invited　Edward　to　pass　over　with　a　strong　force　into　Flanders；　where　he　would　persuade　the　Flemings　to　make　the　Prince　of　Wales　their　duke。　King　Edward　at　once　accepted　the　offer；　and　sailing　from　Sandwich　on　the　3d　of　July　arrived　in　safety　at　Sluys。　His　intention　had　been　kept　a　profound　secret；　and　his　arrival　created　the　greatest　surprise　throughout　Flanders。　　He　did　not　disembark；　but　received　on　board　a　ship　with　great　honour　and　magnificence　the　burgomasters　of　the　various　towns　who　appeared　to　welcome　him。　The　king　had　brought　with　him　the　Prince　of　Wales；　now　fifteen　years　old；　who　wore　a　suit　of　black　armour；　and　was　therefore　called　〃the　Black　Prince。〃

Walter　Somers　was　on　board　the　royal　vessel。　The　Prince　of　Wales　had　not　forgotten　the　promise　which　he　had　six　years　before　made　to　him；　and　had　asked　Sir　Walter　Manny　to　allow　him　to　follow　under　his　banner。

〃You　are　taking　my　most　trusty　squire　from　me；　Prince；〃　the　knight　said；　〃for　although　I　have　many　brave　young　fellows　in　my　following；　there　is　not　one　whom　I　value　so　much　as　Walter　Somers。　It　is　but　fair；　however；　that　you　should　have　him；　since　you　told　me　when　I　first　took　him　that　he　was　to　follow　your　banner　when　you　were　old　enough　to　go　to　the　wars。　You　can　rely　upon　him　implicitly。　He　cares　not　for　the　gaieties　of　which　most　young　men　of　his　age　think　so　much。　He　is　ever　ready　for　duty；　and　he　possesses　a　wisdom　and　sagacity　which　will　some　day　make　him　a　great　leader。〃

Walter　was　sorry　to　leave　his　patron；　but　the　step　was　of　course　a　great　advancement；　and　excited　no　little　envy　among　his　companions；　for　among　the　young　esquires　of　the　Prince　of　Wales　were　the　sons　of　many　of　the　noblest　families　of　England。

Sir　Walter　presented　him　on　leaving　with　a　heavy　purse。　　〃Your　expenses　will　be　large；〃　he　said；　〃among　so　many　young　gallants；　and　you　must　do　credit　to　me　as　well　as　to　yourself。　　The　young　prince　is　generous　to　a　fault；　and　as　he　holds　you　in　high　favour；　both　from　his　knowledge　of　you　and　from　my　report；　you　will；　I　know；　lack　nothing　when　you　are　once　fairly　embarked　in　his　service；　but　it　is　needful　that　when　you　first　join　you　should　be　provided　with　many　suits　of　courtly　raiment；　of　cloth　of　gold　and　silk；　which　were　not　needed　while　you　were　in　the　service　of　a　simple　knight　like　myself；　but　which　must　be　worn　by　a　companion　of　the　heir　of　England。〃

Walter　had　hoped　that　Sir　James　Carnegie　would　have　accompanied　the　forces　of　either　the　Earls　of　Northampton　or　Derby；　but　he　found　that　he　had　attached　himself　to　the　royal　army。

Ralph　of　course　followed　Walter's　fortunes；　and　was　now　brilliant　in　the　appointments　of　the　Prince　of　Wales's　chosen　bodyguard　of　men…at…arms。

The　councils　of　all　the　great　towns　of　Flanders　assembled　at　Sluys；　and　for　several　days　great　festivities　were　held。　Then　a　great　assembly　was　held；　and　Van　Artevelde　rose　and　addressed　his　countrymen。　He　set　forth　to　them　the　virtues　of　the　Prince　of　Wales；　whose　courtesy　and　bearing　had　so　captivated　them；　he　pointed　out　the　obligations　which　Flanders　was　under　towards　King　Edward；　and　the　advantages　which　would　arise　from　a　nearer　connection　with　England。　With　this　he　contrasted　the　weakness　of　their　count；　the　many　ills　which　his　adherence　to　France　had　brought　upon　the　country；　and　the　danger　which　menaced　them　should　his　power　be　ever　renewed。　He　then　boldly　proposed　to　them　that　they　should　at　once　cast　off　their　allegiance　to　the　count　and　bestow　the　vacant　coronet　upon　the　Prince　of　Wales；　who；　as　Duke　of　Flanders；　would　undertake　the　defence　and　government　of　the　country　with　the　aid　of　a　Flemish　council。　This　wholly　unexpected　proposition　took　the　Flemish　burghers　by　surprise。　Artevelde　had　calculated　upon　his　eloquence　and　influence　carrying　them　away；　but　his　power　had　diminished；　and　many　of　his　hearers　had　already　been　gained　to　the　cause　of　France。　The　burgher　councils　had　for　a　long　time　had　absolute　power　in　their　own　towns；　and　the　prospect　of　a　powerful　prince　at　their　head　foredoomed　a　curtailment　of　those　powers。　When　Artevelde　ceased；　therefore；　instead　of　the　enthusiastic　shouts　with　which　he　hoped　his　oration　would　be　greeted；　a　confused　murmur　arose。　At　last　several　got　up　and　said　that；　greatly　attached　as　they　were　to　the　king；　much　as　they　admired　the　noble　young　prince　proposed　for　their　acceptance；　they　felt　themselves　unable　to　give　an　answer　upon　an　affair　of　such　moment　without　consulting　their　fellow　countrymen　and　learning　their　opinions。　They　therefore　promised　that　they　would　return　on　a　certain　day　and　give　a　decided　answer。

The　Flemish　burghers　then　took　their　leave。　Van　Artevelde；　after　a　consultation　with　the　king；　started　at　once　to　use　his　influence　among　the　various　towns。

After　leaving　the　king　he　bade　adieu　to　the　Prince　of　Wales。　〃Would　you　like；〃　the　young　prince　said；　〃that　one　of　my　esquires　should　ride　with　you？　His　presence　might　show　the　people　how　entirely　I　am　with　you；　and　should　you　have　tidings　to　send　me　he　could　ride　hither　with　them。　I　have　one　with　me　who　is　prudent　and　wise；　and　who　possesses　all　the　confidence　of　that　wise　and　valiant　knight；　Sir　Walter　de　Manny。〃

〃I　will　gladly　take　him；　your　royal　highness；〃　Van　Artevelde　said；　〃and　hope　to　despatch　him　to　you　very　shortly　with　the　news　that　the　great　towns　of　Flanders　all　gladly　receive　you　as　their　lord。〃

In　a　few　minutes　Walter　had　mounted　his　horse；　accompanied　by　Ralph；　and；　joining　Van　Artevelde；　rode　to　Bruges。　Here　and　at　Ypres　Van　Artevelde's　efforts　were　crowned　with　success。　His　eloquence　carried　away　the　people　with　him；　and　both　these　cities　agreed　to　accept　the　Prince　of　Wales　as　their　lord；　but　the　hardest　task　yet　remained。　　Ghent　was　the　largest　and　most　powerful　of　the　Flemish　towns；　and　here　his　enemies　were　in　the　ascendant。　Gerard　Denis　and　the　weavers　had　been　stirring　up　the　people　against　him。　All　kinds　of　accusations　had　been　spread；　and　he　was　accused　of　robbing　and　selling　his　country。　The　news　of　the　hostile　feeling　of　the　population　reached　Van　Artevelde；　and　he　despatched　Walter　with　the　request　to　the