CHAPTERII
THELADYBLANCHE
SoIwent,withasoreheart,forIrememberedthatwhenmyfatherandbrothersweredrowned,althoughIwasthenbutalittleone,mymotherhadforeseenit,andIfearedmuchlestitmightbethusinherowncasealso。Ilovedmymother。Shewasasternwoman,itwastrue,withlittlesoftnessabouther,whichIthinkcamewithherblood,butshehadahighheart,andoh！herlastwordswerenoble。YetthroughitallIwaspleased,asanyyoungmanwouldhavebeen,withthegiftofthewonderfulswordwhichoncehadbeenthatofThorgrimmer,thesea—
rover,whosebloodraninmybodyagainstwhichitlay,andIhopedthatthisdayImighthavechancetouseitworthilyasThorgrimmerdidinforgottenbattles。Havingimagination,Iwonderedalsowhethertheswordknewthatafteritslongsleepithadcomeforthagaintodrinkthebloodoffoes。
AlsoIwaspleasedwithanotherthing,namely,thatmymotherhadtoldmethatIshouldlivemylifeandnotdiethatdaybythehandofFrenchmen;andthatinmylifeIshouldfindlove,ofwhichtotelltruthalreadyIknewalittleofahumblesort,forIwasacomelyyouth,andwomendidnotrunawayfromme,oriftheydid,soontheystopped。Iwantedtolivemylife,Iwantedtoseegreatadventuresandtowingreatlove。Theonlypartofthebusinesswhichwasnottomytastewasthatcommandofmymother's,thatIshouldgotoLondontositinagoldsmith'sshop。Still,IhadheardthattherewasmuchtobeseeninLondon,andatleastitwouldbedifferentfromHastings。
Thestreetoutsideourdoorswascrowdedwithfolk,someofthemenmakingtheirwaytothemarket—place,aboutwhomhungwomenandchildrenweeping;others,oldpeople,wivesandgirlsandlittleonesfleeingfromthetown。Ifoundthetwosailormenwhohadbeenwithmeontheboat,waitingforme。TheywerebrawnyfellowsnamedJackGrievesandWilliamBull,whohadbeeninourservicesincemychildhood,goodfishermenandfightersboth;indeedoneofthem,WilliamBull,hadservedintheFrenchwars。
"Weknewthatyouwerecoming,Master,sowebidedhereforyou,"saidWilliam,whohavingoncebeenanarcherwasarmedwithabowandashortsword,whereasJackhadonlyanaxe,alsoaknifesuchasweusedonthesmacksforcleaningfish。
Inodded,andwewentontothemarket—placeandjoinedthethrongofmen,avastnumberofthem,whoweregatheredtheretodefendHastingsandtheirhomes。Norwerewetoosoon,fortheFrenchshipswerealreadybeachingwithinafewyardsoftheshoreoronit,theirdraughtbeingbutsmall,whilethesailorsandmen—at—armswerepushingoffinsmallboatsorwadingtothestrand。
Therewasgreatconfusioninthemarket—place,forasiscommoninEngland,nopreparationhadbeenmadeagainstattackthoughsuchwasalwaystobefeared。
Thebailiffranaboutshoutingorders,asdidothers,butproperofficerswerelacking,sothatintheendmenactedasthefancytookthem。SomewentdowntowardsthebeachandshotwitharrowsattheFrenchmen。Otherstookrefugeinhouses,othersstoodirresolute,waiting,knowingnotwhichwaytoturn。IandmytwomenwerewiththosewhowentontothebeachwhereIloosedsomearrowsfrommybigblackbow,andsawamanfallbeforeoneofthem。
Butwecoulddolittleornothing,fortheseFrenchmenweretrainedsoldiersunderpropercommand。Theyformedthemselvesintocompaniesandadvanced,andweweredrivenback。IstoppedaslongasIdared,anddrawingthesword,Wave—Flame,foughtwithaFrenchmanwhowasinadvanceoftheothers。Whatismore,makingagreatblowathisheadwhichImissed,Istruckhimonthearmandcutitoff,forIsawitfalltotheground。ThenothersrushedupatmeandIfledtosavemylife。
SomehowIfoundmyselfbeingpressedupthesteepCastleHillwithanumberofHastingsfolk,followedbytheFrench。WereachedtheCastleandgotintoit,buttheoldportculliswouldnotclose,andinsundryplacesthewallswerebrokendown。Herewefoundanumberofwomenwhohadclimbedforrefuge,thinkingthattheplacewouldbesafe。Amongthesewasabeautifulandhigh—bornmaidenwhomIknewbysight。HerfatherwasSirRobertAleyswho,Ibelieve,wasthentheWardenoftheCastleofPevensey,andshewasnamedtheladyBlanche。Once,indeed,Ihadspokenwithheronanoccasiontoolongtotell。Thenherlargeblueeyes,whichsheknewwellhowtouse,hadleftmewithaswimminghead,forshewasveryfairandverysweetandgracious,withamostsoftvoice,andquiteunlikeanyotherwomanIhadeverseen,nordidsheseematallproud。Soonherfather,anoldknight,whohadnonameforgentlenessinthecountryside,butwassaidtobeagreatloverofgold,hadcomeupandsweptheraway,askingherwhatshedid,talkingwithacommonfishingchurl。Thishadhappenedsomemonthsbefore。
Well,thereIfoundherintheCastle,aloneitseemed,andknowingmeagain,whichIthoughtstrange,sherantome,prayingmetoprotecther。More,shebegantotellmesomelongtale,towhichIhadnottimetolisten,ofhowshehadcometoHastingswithherfather,SirRobert,andayounglordnamedDeleroy,who,Iunderstood,wassomekinsmanofhers,andsleptthere。How,too,shehadbeenseparatedfromtheminthethrongwhentheywereattemptingtoreturntoPevenseywhichherfathermustgotoguard,becauseherhorsewasfrightenedandranaway,andofhowfinallymentookherbythearmandbroughthertothiscastle,sayingthatitwasthesafestplace。
"Thenhereyoumustbide,LadyBlanche,"Ianswered,cuttinghershort。"ClingtomeandIwillsaveyouifIcan,evenifitcostsmemylife。"
Certainlyshedidclingtomeforalltherestofthatterribleday,aswillbeseen。
FromthisheightwesawHastingsbeginningtoburn,fortheFrenchmenhadfiredthetowninsundryplaces,andbeingbuiltofwood,itburntfuriously。Alsowesawandheardhorriblescenesandsoundsofrapine,suchaschanceinthisChristianworldofourswhereasavagefoefindspeacefulfolkofanotherraceathismercy。Inthehousespeoplewereburnt;inthestreetstheywerebeingmurdered,orworse。Yes,evenchildrenweremurdered,forafterwardsIsawthebodiesofsomeofthem。
AwhilelaterthroughthewreathsofsmokeweperceivedcompaniesoftheFrenchadvancingtoattacktheCastle。Theremayhavebeenthreehundredoftheminall,andwedidnotcountmorethanfiftymen,someofusill—armed,togetherwithamobofagedpeopleandmanywomenandchildren。WhathadbecomeoftheothermenIdonotknow,butordershadbeenshoutedfromallquarters,andsomehadgonethiswayandsomethat。Some,too,Ithink,hadfled,lackingleaders。
TheFrenchhavingclimbedthehill,begantoattackourill—fencedgateways,bringingupbeamsoftimbertoforcethemin。Thoseofuswhohadbowsshotsomeofthem,though,theirarmourbeinggood,forthemostpartthearrowsglanced。Butfewhadbows。Moreover,wheneverweshowedourselvestheypouredsucharainofquarrelsandothershaftsuponusthatwecouldnotfaceit,lackingmailaswedid,andanumberofuswerekilledorwounded。Atlasttheyforcedtheeasternmostgatewhichwastheweakest,andgotinthereandoveraplaceinthewallwereitwasbroken。Wefoughtthemaswellaswecould;myselfIcutdowntwowiththesword,Wave—Flame,hewingrightthroughthehelmofone,forthesteelofthatswordwasgood。Here,too,JackGrieveswaskilledbymysidebyapikethrust,anddiedcallingtometofightonforoldEnglandandHastingstown;afterwhichhesaidsomethingaboutbeerandbreathedhislast。
TheendofitwasthatthosewhowereleftweredrivenoutoftheCastletogetherwiththewomenandchildren,themurderingFrenchkillingeverymanwhofellwoundedwherehelay,andtryingtomakeprisoneranywomentheythoughtyoungandfairenough。EspeciallydidtheyseektocapturetheladyBlanchebecausetheysawthatshewasbeautifulandofhighstation。Butbygoodfortunemorethanaughtelse,Isavedherfromthisfate。
AsitchancedwewereamongthelasttoleavetheCastle,whence,totellthetruth,Iwasloathtogo,forbynowmybloodwasup,andwithafewothersfoughttillIwasdrivenout。IprayedtheladyBlanchetorunforwardwiththeotherwomen。Butshewouldnot,answeringthatshetrustednooneelse,butwouldstaytodiewithme,asthoughthatwouldhelpeitherofus。
ThusitcameaboutthatatallFrenchknightwhohadsethiseyesonher,outclimbedhisfellowsupontheslopeofthehill,fortheywerewearyandgatheringtore—form,andcatchingherroundthemiddle,strovetodragheraway。Ifellonhimandwefought。HehadfinearmourandashieldwhileIhadnone,butIheldthelongswordwhileheonlywieldedabattle—axe。Iknewthatifhecouldgetinablowwiththatbattle—axe,Iwassped,sincethebull'shideofmyjerkinwouldneverstandagainstit。Thereforeitwasmybusinesstokeepoutofhisreach。This,beingyoungandactive,forthemostpartImadeshifttodo,especiallyashecouldnotmoveveryquicklyinhismail。
TheendofitwasthatIcuthimonthearmthroughajointinhisharness,whereonherushedatme,swearingFrenchoaths。
Ileaptononesideandashepassed,smotewithallmystrength。Theblowfellbetweenneckandshoulder,frombehindasitwere,andsuchwasthetemperofthatswordnamedWave—Flamethatitshorethroughhismaildeepintothefleshbeneath,tothebackboneasIbelieve。Atleasthewentdowninaheap——Iremembertherattleofhisarmourashefell,andtherelaystill。Thenwefledondownthesteeppath,I
holdingthebloodyswordwithonehandandLadyBlanchewiththeother,whileshethankedmewithhereyes。
Atlengthwewereinthetownagain,runningupmyownstreet。Oneithersideofusthehousesburned,andbehinduscameanotherbodyoftheFrench。Thereekgotintooureyesandwestumbledoverdeadorfaintingpeople。
LookingtotheleftIcaughtsightoftheelmtreeofwhichIhavespoken,thatgrewinfrontofourdoor,andsawthatthehousebehinditwasburning。Yes,andIsawmore,forattheatticwindow,whichwasopen,theflamesmakinganarchroundher,satmymother。
Moreover,shewassingingforIheardhervoiceandthewildwordsshesang,thoughthiswasastrangethingforawomantodointhehourofsuchadeath。Further,shesawandknewme,forshewavedherhandstome,thenpointedtowardsthesea,why,Ididnotguessatthetime。I
stopped,purposingtotrytorescueherthoughthefrontofthehousewasflaming,andtheattemptmusthaveendedinmydeath。Butatthatmomenttherooffellin,causingthefiretospoutupwardsandoutwards。ThiswasthelastthatIsawofmymother,thoughafterwardswefoundherbodyandgaveitburialwiththoseofmanyothervictims。
Therewasnotimetostay,fortheconqueringFrenchwerepouringupthestreetbehindus,shootingastheycameandmurderinganylaggardswhomtheycouldcatch。OnwewentupthesteepslopeoftheMinnesRock。Iwouldhavefledonintotheopencountry,buttheladyBlanchehadnostrengthleft。Twiceshesanktotheground,strickenwithterrorandweariness,andeachtimeprayedmenottoleaveher;norindeeddidIwishtodoso。TheendofitwasthatWilliamBullandI
betweenushalfcarriedherwithmuchtoiltothecaveofwhichIhadspokentomymother。Thetaskwasheavyandslow,sincealwayswemustscrambleoversheerground。Whatismore,apartyoftheFrench,seeingourplight,followedus。Perhapssomeofthemguessedwhotheladywas,forthereweremanyspiesinHastingswhomighthavetoldthem,anddesiredtocaptureandholdhertoransom。
Attheleasttheycameonafterusandafewothers,womenallofthem,whohadjoinedourcompany,beingunabletotravelfurther,ortrustingtoWilliamBullandmyselftoprotectthem。
Wereachedthecave,andthrustingthewomenalongit,WilliamandI
stoodinthemouthandwaited。Hehadnobowandallmyarrowsweregonesavethree,butoftheseI,whowasnotedformyarchery,determinedtomakethebestuseIcould。SoIdrewthemout,andhavingstrungthebow,satdowntogetmybreath。OncametheFrench,shoutingandjabberingatustotheeffectthattheywouldcutourthroatsandcarryoff/labelledame/tobetheirsport。
"Sheshallbemine！"yelledabigfellowwithaflattenednoseandawidemouthwhowasaheadoftheothers,andnotmorethanfiftyyardsaway。
Irose,andprayingmypatron,goodSt。HubertafterwhomIwasnamedbecauseIfirstsawlightuponhisday,the23rdofNovember,togivemeskill,Idrewthegreatbowtomyear,aimed,andloosed。NordidSt。Hubert,aloveroffineshooting,failmeinmyneed,forthatarrowrushedoutandfounditshomeinthebigmouthoftheFrenchman,throughwhichitpassed,pinninghisfoultonguetohisneckbone。
Downhewent,andcheeredbythesightIrefittedandloosedatthenext。Him,too,thearrowcaught,sothathefellalmostontheother。
Isetthethirdandlastarrowonthestringandwaitedaspace。
Behindthesetwowasasquat,broadman,aknightIsuppose,forheworearmour,andhadashieldwithacockpaintedonit。Thisman,frightenedbythefateofhiscompanions,yetnotmindedtogiveuptheventureforthoseinrearofhimurgedhimon,benthimselfalmostdouble,andholdingtheshieldoverhishelmwhichwasclosed,soastoprotecthisheadandbody,cameonatagoodpace。
Iwaitedtillhewaswithinfive—and—twentyyardsorso,hopingthattheroughnessofthegroundwouldcausehimtostumbleandtheshieldtoshiftsothatIcouldgetachanceathimbehindit。ButIdidnot,soatlast,againprayingtoSt。Hubert,Idrewthebigbowtillthestringtouchedmyear,andletdrive。Theshaft,pointedwithtemperedsteel,strucktheshieldfullinthecentre,andbyHeaven,piercedit,aye,andthemailbehind,aye,andthefleshitcovered,sothathe,too,gothisdeath。
"Agreatshot,Master,"saidWilliam,"thatnootherbowinHastingscouldhavesped。"
"Notsoill,"Ianswered,"butitismylast。Nowwemustfightaswecanwithswordandaxeuntilwebesped。"
Williamnodded,andthewomeninthecavebegantowailwhileI
unstrungmybowandsetitinitscase,fromhabitIthink,seeingthatIneverhopedtolookuponitagain。
JustthenfromtheFrenchshipsintheharbourtherecameagreatblaringoftrumpetsgivingsomealarm,andtheFrenchmenofasudden,ceasingfromtheirattack,turnedandrantowardstheshore。IsteppedoutofthecavewithWilliamandlooked。Thereonthesea,drawingnearfromtheeastbeforeagoodwind,Isawships,andsaw,too,thatfromtheirmastsflewthepennonsofEngland,forthegoldenleopardsgleamedinthesun。
"Itisourfleet,William,"Isaid,"cometotalkwiththeseFrench。"
"ThenIwouldthatithadcomesooner,"answeredWilliam。"Still,betternowthannotatall。"
Thuswerewesaved,throughHamodeOffyngton,theAbbotofBattleAbbey,orsoIwastoldafterwards,whocollectedaforcebylandandseaanddroveofftheFrenchaftertheyhadravagedtheIsleofWight,attackedWinchelsea,andburnedthegreaterpartofHastings。Soitcameaboutthatintheendthesepiratestooklittlebenefitbytheirwickedness,sincetheylostsundryshipswithallonboard,andothersleftinsuchhastethattheirpeopleremainedonshorewheretheywereslainbythemobthatgatheredassoonasitwasseenthattheyweredeserted,helpedbyacompanyoftheAbbot'smenwhohadmarchedfromBattle。ButwithallthisIhadnothingtodowhonowthatthefightwasover,feltweakasachildandcouldthinkoflittlesavethatI
hadseenmymotherburning。
Presently,however,thathappenedwhichwokemefrommygriefandcausedmybloodwhichhadgrownsluggishtorunagain。ForwhensheknewthatshewassafetheladyBlanchecameoutofthecaveandaddressedmeasIstoodthereleaningagainsttherockwiththeredswordWave—Flameinmyhand,asIhaddrawnittomakereadyforthelastfighttothedeath。Allsortsofsweetnamesshecalledme——ahero,herdeliverer,andIknownotwhatbesides。
Intheend,asImadenoanswer,beingdazed,alsohurtbyanaxeblowonthebreastwhichIhadnotfeltbefore,dealtbythatFrenchmanwhomIslewneartheCastle,shedidmore。Throwingherarmsaboutmeshekissedmethrice,oneithercheekandonthelips,doubtlessbecauseshewasoverwrought,andinherthankfulnessforgothermaidenlyreserve,thoughasWilliamBullsaidafterwards,thisforgetfulnessdidnotcausehertokisshimwhohadalsohelpedherupthehill。
Thosekisseswerelikewinetome,foritisstrangehow,ifweloveher,bythedecreeofNaturethetouchofabeautifulwoman'slips,feltforthefirsttime,affectsusinouryouth。Whateverelseweforget,thatwealwaysremember,howeverfalsethoselipsafterwardsbeproved。Forthenthewaxissoftandthediesinksdeep,sodeepthatnoafter—heatscanmeltitsstampandnofrettingwearitoutwhilewelivebeneaththesun。
Nowmyyoungbloodbeingawakened,Iwasmindedtoreturnthosekisses,andbegantodosowithaJew'sinterest,whenIheardaroughvoiceswearingmanystrangeoaths,andheardalsotheotherwomenwhohadshelteredwithusinthecavebegintotitter,forthemomentforgettingalltheirprivatewoes,asthoseoftheirsexwilldowhenthereiskissinginthewind。
"God'sblood！"saidtheroughvoice,"whoisthisthathandlesmydaughterasthoughtheyhadbeenbutanhourwed？Takethoselipsofyoursfromher,fellow,orI'llcutthemfromyourchops。"
Ilookedroundastonished,toseeSirRobertAleysmountedonagreyhorse,andfollowedbyacompanyofmen—at—armswhoappearedtobeunderthecommandofawell—favoured,dark—eyedyoungcaptainwithlonghair,anddressedmorewondrouslythananymanIhadeverseenbefore。HadheputonJoseph'scoatoverhismail,hecouldnothavewornmorecolours,andInotedthatthetoesofhisshoescurledupsohighthatIwonderedhoweverheworkedthemthroughhisstirrups,andwhatwouldhappentohimifbychancehewereunhorsed。
BeingtakenabackImadenoanswer,butWilliamBull,who,ifaroughfellow,hadatongueinhisheadandareadywit,spokeupforme。
"Ifyouwanttoknow,"hesaidinhisSussexdrawl,"I'lltellyouwhoheis,SirRobertAleys。Heismyworshipfulmaster,HubertofHastings,ship—owner,householder,andtraderofthistown。Oratleasthewasthesethings,butnowitseemsthathisshipsandhouseareburntandhismotherwiththem;alsothattherewillbenotradeinHastingsformanyaday。"
"Mayhap,"answeredSirRobert,addingotheroaths,"butwhydoeshebussmydaughter？"
"Perchancebecausehemustgiveasgoodashegot,whichisalawamonghonestmerchants,nobleSirRobert。Orperchancebecausehehasabetterrighttobussherthananymanalive,seeingthatbutforhim,bynowshewouldbebutstinkingclay,oraFrenchman'sleman。"
Herethefineyoungcaptaincutin,saying,"Whateverelsethisworshipfultradermayneed,hedoesnotlackatrumpeter。"
"Thatisso,myLordDeleroy,"repliedWilliam,unmoved,"forwhenI
findagoodsongIliketosingit。Gonowandlookatthosethreemenwholieyonderontheslope,andseewhetherthearrowsinthembearmymaster'smark。GoalsoandlookupontheCastlehillandfindaknightwithhisheadwell—nighhewnfromhisshoulders,andseewhetheryonderswordfitsintothecut。Aye,andatothersthatI
couldtellyouof,slain,everyoneofthem,tosavethisfairlady。
Aye,goyouwhosegarmentsaresofineandunstained,andthencomebackandtalkoftrumpeters。"
"Pish！"saidmyLordDeleroywithashrugofhisshoulders,"aladywhoisover—wroughtandhangstosomecommonfellow,likeonewhokissesthefeetofawoodensaintthatshethinkshassavedherfromcalamity！"
AtthesewordsI,whohadbeenlisteninglikeamaninadream,awoke,asitwere,fortheystungme。Moreover,IhadheardthatthisfineDeleroywasoneofthosewhoowedhisplaceandranktotheKing'sfavour,ashedidhishighname,being,itwasreported,bybirthbutaprince'sbastardsprungfromsomerelativeofSirRobertwhomthereforehecalledcousin。
"Sir,"Isaid,"youknowbestwhetherIammorecommonthanyouare。
Letthatbe。AtleastIholdinmyhandtheswordofonewhobegatmyforefatherhundredsofyearsago,acertainThorgrimmerwhowasgreatinhistime。NowIhavehadmyfilloffightingto—day,andyou,doubtlessthroughnofaultofyourown,havehadnone;youalsoarecladinmailandI,acommonfellow,havenone。DeignthentodescendfromthathorseandtakeaturnwithmethoughIbetired,andthusprovemycommonnessuponmybody。Ofyournobilitydothis,seeingthatafterallweareofoneflesh。"
Now,stunginhisturn,hemadeasthoughhewoulddowhatIprayed,whenforthefirsttime,afterglancingatherfatherwhosatstill——
puzzled,itwouldseem——theladyBlanchespoke。
"Benotmad,Cousin,"shesaid。"Itellyouthatthisgentlemanhassavedmylifeandhonour,twiceatleastto—day。Isitwonderful,then,ifIthankedhiminthebestfashionthatawomancan,andthusbroughtyourinsultsonhim？"
Hehesitated,thoughoneofhiscurled—upshoeswasoutofthestirrup,whensuddenlySirRobertbrokeininhisbigvoice,saying:
"God'struth,Cousin,Ithinkthatyouwilldowelltoleavethisyoungcockalone,sinceIlikenotthelookofthatredspurofhis,"
andheglancedattheswordWave—Flame。"Thoughhebeweary,hemayhaveakickortwoinhimyet。"
Thenheturnedtomeandadded:
"Sir,youhavefoughtwell;manyamanhasearnedknighthoodforless,andifafairmaidthankedyouinherownfashion,youarenottoblame。I,herfather,alsothankyouandwishyouallgoodfortunetillwemeetagain。Farewell。Daughter,makeshifttosharethishorsewithme,andletusawayoutofthisstrickentowntoPevensey,whereperchanceitwillpleasethoseFrenchtocallto—morrow。"
Aminutelatertheyweregone,andInotedwithapangthatastheywenttheladyBlanche,havingwavedhergood—byetome,talkedfasttohercousinDeleroyandthatheheldherhandtosteadyheruponherfather'shorse。
CHAPTERIII
HUBERTCOMESTOLONDON
WhentheladyBlanchewasoutofsight,followedbythewomenwhohadshelteredwithusinthecave,WilliamandIwenttoastreamweknewofnotfarawayanddrankourfill。ThenwewalkedtothethreewhomI
hadshotwithmybigbow,hopingtoregainthearrows,forIhadnoneleft。This,however,couldnotbedonethoughallthemenweredead,foroneoftheshafts,thelast,wasbroken,andtheothertwoweresofixedinfleshandbonethatonlyasurgeon'ssawwouldloosethem。
Soweleftthemwheretheywere,andbeforethemenwereburiedmanycametomarvelatthesight,thinkingitawonderfulthingthatI
shouldhavekilledthesethreewiththreearrows,andthatanybowwhicharmmightbendcouldhavedriventhelastofthemthroughanironshieldandabreastplatebehindit。
Thisarmour,Ishouldtell,Williamtookforhimself,sinceitwasofhissize。Alsoonthemorrow,returningtotheCastleHill,IstrippedtheknightwhomIhadslainwiththesword,Wave—Flame,ofhissplendidMilanmail,whereofthe/plastron/,orbreast—plate,wasinlaidwithgold,havingoverita/camail/ofchaintocoverthejoints,throughwhichmygoodswordhadshornintohisneck。Thecognizanceonhisshieldstrangelyenoughwasthreebarbedarrows,butwhatwasthenameoftheknightwhoboreitIneverlearned。Thismail,whichmusthavecostagreatsum,theBailiffofHastingsgrantedmetokeep,sinceIhadslainitswearerandbornemyselfwellinthefight。Moreover,Itookthethreearrowsformyowncognizance,thoughintruthIhadnorighttoany,beinginthosedaysbutatrader。（LittledidIknowthenhowwellthismailwastoservemeintheafteryears。）
Bynownightwascomingon,andaswecouldseefromthecavemouththatthepartofHastingswhichliestowardsthevillageofSt。
Leonardsseemedtohaveescapedthefire,thitherwardwewentbythebeachtoavoidtheheatandfallingtimbersintheburningtown。Onourwaywemetothersandfromthemheardallthathadbefallen。ItwouldseemthattheFrenchlossinlifewasheavierthanourown,sincemanyofthemwerecutoffwhentheytriedtoflytotheirships,andsomeofthesecouldnotbefloatedfromthebeachorwererammedandsunkwithallaboardbytheEnglishvessels。ButthedamagedonetoHastingswasasmuchascouldscarcelybemadegoodinageneration,forthemostofitwasburntorburning。Alsomany,likemyownmother,hadperishedinthefire,beingsickoragedorinchildbed,orforthisreasonandthatforgottenandunabletomove。
Indeedonthebeachwerehundredsoffolkindespair,norwasitonlythewomenandchildrenwhoweptthatevening。
Formypart,withWilliamIwentbeyondtheburningtothehouseofacertainoldpriestwhowasmyconfessor,andthefriendofmyfatherbeforeme,andtherewefoundfoodandslept,hereturningthankstoGodformyescapeandofferingmeconsolationforthelossofmymotherandgoods。
Irestedbutillthatnight,asthosedowhoareover—weary。Moreover,thishadbeenmyfirsttasteofbattle,andagainandagainIsawthosemenfallingbeforemyswordandarrows。VeryproudwasItohaveslainthem,wickedravishersastheywere,andverygladthatfrommyboyhoodIhadpractisedmyselfwithswordandbowtillIcouldfencewithany,andwasperhapsthemostskilledmarksmaninHastings,havingwonthesilverarrowatthebuttsatthelastmeeting,andfromarchersofallages。Yetthesightoftheirdeathshauntedmewhorememberedhowwelltheirfatemighthavebeenmyown,hadtheygotinthefirstshotorblow。
Wherehadtheygoneto,Iwondered？Tothepriest'sHeavenorHell？
Weretheynowtellingtheirsinstosomehard—facedangelwhilehecheckedthecountfromhisbook,remindingthemofmanythattheyhadforgotten？OrweretheyfastasleepforeverandeverasashrewdthinkerwhomIknewhadtoldmesecretlyhewassurewouldbethefateofallofus,whateverthepriestsmightteachandbelieve。AndwherewasmymotherwhomIhadlovedandwholovedmewell,althoughoutwardlyshewassosternawoman,mymotherwhomIhadseenburnedalive,singingassheburned？Oh！itwasavileworld,anditseemedstrangethatGodshouldcausemenandwomentobebornthattheymightcometosuchcruelends。YetwhowerewetoquestionHisdecreesofwhichweknewneitherthebeginningnorthefinish？