登陆注册
5395500000036

第36章 OFF TO THE WARS(1)

Two days later Walter started with Sir Walter Manny, with a large number of knights, squires, men-at-arms, and archers, for the Orwell.Walter was mounted, as were the other squires and men-at-arms, and indeed many of the archers.Ralph Smith, in the attire of a man-at-arms, rode behind.

Walter was in the highest spirits.A brilliant career was open to him under the most favourable circumstances; he had already distinguished himself, and had gained the attention of the highest personages in the realm, his immediate lord was one of the bravest and most chivalrous knights in Europe, and he had to sustain and encourage him the hopes that Lady Vernon had given him, of regaining some day the patrimony of his father.It was a satisfaction to him that he was as well born as those who surrounded him, and his purse was well lined as any in the company.Although he had spent the largess which had been bestowed upon him at the tournament in procuring clothes fitted for his rank, he was yet abundantly supplied with money, for both Geoffrey Ward and Giles Fletcher, having no children of their own and being both well-to-do men, had insisted upon his accepting a sum which would enable him to make a good appearance with the best.

A large number of squires followed the banner of Sir Walter Manny.The records of the time show that the barons were generally accompanied in the field by almost as many squires as men-at-arms.The former were men of good family, sons of knights and nobles, aspirants for the honour of knighthood, and sons of the smaller gentry.Many were there from pure love of a life of excitement and adventure, others in fulfilment of the feudal tenure by which all land was then held, each noble and landowner being obliged to furnish so many knights, squires, men-at-arms, and archers, in accordance with the size of his holding.The squires fought in the field in the front rank of the men-at-arms, save those who, like Walter, were attached to the person of their leader, and who in the field fought behind him or bore his orders to the companies under his banner.

In the field all drew pay, and it may be interesting in the present day to know what were the rates for which our forefathers risked their lives.They were as follows: each horse archer received 6 deniers, each squire 12deniers or 1 sol, each knight 2 sols, each knight banneret 4 sols.20 sols went to the pound, and although the exact value of money in those days relative to that which it bears at the present time is doubtful, it may be placed at twelve times the present value.Therefore each horse archer received an equivalent to 6s.a day, each squire 12s., each knight 24s., and each knight banneret 48s.per day.

Upon their arrival at the Orwell, where many troops from other parts had been gathered, the expedition at once embarked on board the numerous ships which had been collected.As that in which Sir Walter sailed also carried several of his knights there was not room for all his young esquires, and Walter and the three other juniors were told off into another ship.She was a smaller vessel than most of those which composed the expedition, and only carried twelve men-at-arms and as many archers, together with the four young squires, and a knight, Sir John Powis, who was in command of the whole.

"Your craft is but a small one," the knight said to the captain.

"She is small, but she is fast," the latter answered."She would sail round and round the best part of the fleet.I had her built according to my own fancy.Small though she be, I warrant you she will be one of the first to arrive at Hennebon, and the sooner the better say I, since I am but paid by the trip, and would fain be back again at my regular work.It pays better carrying merchants' goods between London and Holland than taking his majesty's troops over to France.""Your speed will not be of much avail," Sir John Powis said, "seeing that the fleet will keep together.""Yes, I know that is the order," the captain answered; "but accidents happen sometimes, you know" - and his eye twinkled."Vessels get separated from fleets.If they happen to be slow ones so much the worse for those on board; if they happen to be fast ones so much the better, seeing that those they carry will arrive long before their comrades, and may be enabled to gain credit and renown while the others are whistling for a wind in mid-ocean.However, we shall see.

The next morning the fleet sailed from the Orwell.It contained 620men-at-arms, among whom were many of the noblest and bravest of the country, and 6000 picked archers in the pay of the king.The whole were commanded by Sir Walter.The scene was a very gay one.The banners of the nobles and knights floated from the lofty poops, and the sun shone on bright armour and steel weapons.Walter, who had never seen the sea before, was delighted.The wind was fair, and the vessels glided smoothly along over the sea.At evening the knight and his four young companions gathered in the little cabin, for it was in the first week in March, and the night was cold.

"Will you please tell me, Sir John," Walter said to the knight, "the merits of this quarrel in which we are going to fight? I know that we are going in aid of the Countess of Montford; but why she is in a sore strait I know not.""The matter is a mixed one, Walter, and it requires a herald to tell you all the subtleties of it.John III, Duke of Brittany, was present with his liege lord, Phillip of Valois, in the last war with England, on the border of the low country.When the English retired from before Tournay Phillip dismissed his nobles.The Duke of Burgundy was taken ill, and died at Caen, in Normandy, on the 30th of April, 1341.Arthur II, his father, had been twice married.By his first wife he had three sons, John, Guy, and Peter.

John and Peter left no issue.Guy, who is also dead, left a daughter, Joan.

同类推荐
  • 苕溪渔隐词话

    苕溪渔隐词话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE SNOW IMAGE

    THE SNOW IMAGE

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天瑞

    天瑞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 冬官考工记

    冬官考工记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 建中靖国续灯录

    建中靖国续灯录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 崩溃

    崩溃

    菲茨杰拉德撰写的一系列自我剖析、自我反省的散文。1936年分为三篇发表在二、三、四月刊的《时尚先生》(Esquire)上。开篇即写道:Of course all life is a process of breaking down.弗朗西斯·斯科特·基?菲茨杰拉德(1896年9月24日—1940年12月21日),美国小说家、爵士时代的“桂冠诗人”,被誉为20世纪最伟大的作家之一,代表作为《了不起的盖茨比》。他共创作了四部长篇小说及一百六十多篇短篇小说,作品主要探讨青春、绝望与时代等主题。
  • 俄式

    俄式

    钟王,安放在克里姆林宫的伊万大帝钟楼旁,重202吨,高6.14米,1733—1735年铸造,还来不及从浇铸坑里抬出来就发生了火灾,由于冷热不均、急骤变化,钟上掉下一块11.5吨的铁块,使这个世界上最大的钟形成了一个巨大的豁口。2000年仲秋一日,我和科斯佳走在圣彼得堡涅瓦大街上,科斯佳指着一段街区说:“你看,这些建筑非常欧化,我很喜欢。”莫非俄罗斯不是欧洲国家?科斯佳,男,24岁,莫斯科人,家住绿线地铁南终点站附近,毕业于莫斯科大学法律系民法专业,现为俄国家远东研究所研究生。
  • 给力的青春

    给力的青春

    帝国中,霸道总裁慕艺泽兼顶级黑客T0家里竟然有个影后老婆,回忆两个人相遇,相识,相爱的故事
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 重生之家族财阀

    重生之家族财阀

    重生回到大学时代的袁方国,一贫如洗,一无所有,幸运的是,他站在了改革开放南风的风口上,面对高高卷起的南海浪,袁方国与自己的兄弟姐妹们张开双臂,迎接着风浪的挑战……他暗暗发誓定下了一个目标,我的人生小目标不是赚一个亿,而是让我想要帮助的人轻轻松松赚一个亿。推荐一下小弟的新书《国民艺术家》,希望大家多多支持(本书慢热,主角涉猎全球,请阅读时保持耐心,已有两百万字作品,人品保证,放心收看、收藏)
  • The Zeppelin's Passenger

    The Zeppelin's Passenger

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 星球上唯一的女人

    星球上唯一的女人

    她原本只是一个平凡的高中生,却莫名穿越到一个人类已经失去生育能力的星球。身为唯一一个有着孕育能力的女性,她所要的只是活下去和拥有一份平凡人的生活和爱情。但仅仅只是这样简单的愿望在这个星球上也难以实现。身份特殊的她会怎样获得她所想要的生活?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 考古质疑

    考古质疑

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 王者一日游

    王者一日游

    【2018王者荣耀文学大赛·征文参赛作品】睡醒觉的张强按平时时间起床洗涮,穿上外套准备上班的他推开大门。“哇草,我,我穿越了……”看着门处穿着古代衣装服饰,人来人往的大街上张强在风中凌乱……