A MONK OF FIFE
A Romance of the Days of Jeanne D'Arc - Joan of Arc
by Andrew Lang
CHAPTER VIII
OF CERTAIN QUARRELS THAT CAME ON THE HANDS OF NORMAN
LESLIE
Belike I had dropped asleep, outwearied with what had befallen me,
mind and body, but I started up suddenly at the sound of a dagger-
hilt smitten against the main door of the house, and a voice crying,
"Open, in the name of the Dauphin." They had come in quest of me,
and when I heard them, it was as if a hand had given my heart a
squeeze, and for a moment my breath seemed to be stopped. This
past, I heard the old serving-woman fumbling with the bolts, and
peering from behind the curtain of my casement, I saw that the ways
were dark, and the narrow street was lit up with flaring torches,
the lights wavering in the wind. I stepped to the wide ingle,
thinking to creep into the secret hiding-hole. But to what avail?
It might have served my turn if my escape alive from the moat had
only been guessed, but now my master must have told all the story,
and the men-at-arms must be assured that I was within. Thinking
thus, I stood at pause, when a whisper came, as if from within the
ingle -
"Unbar the door, and hide not."
It must be Elliot's voice, speaking through some tube contrived in
the ingle of the dwelling-room below or otherwise. Glad at heart to
think that she took thought of me, I unbarred the door, and threw
myself into a chair before the fire, trying to look like one
unconcerned. The bolts were now drawn below; I heard voices, rather
Scots than French, to my sense. Then the step of one man climbed up
the stair, heavily, and with the tap of a staff keeping tune to it.
It was my master. His face was pale, and falling into a chair, he
wiped the sweat from his brow. "Unhappy man that I am!" he said, "I
have lost my apprentice."
I gulped something down in my throat ere I could say, "Then it is
death?"
"Nay," he said, and smiled. "But gliff for gliff, {16} you put a
fear on me this day, and now we are even."
"Yet I scarce need a cup of wine for my recovery, master," I said,
filling him a beaker from the flagon on the table, which he drained
gladly, being sore wearied, so steep was the way to the castle, and
hard for a lame man. My heart was as light as a leaf on a tree, and
the bitterness of shameful death seemed gone by.
"I have lost my prentice another way," he said, setting down the cup
on the table. "I had much a do to see Kennedy, for he was at the
dice with other lords. At length, deeming there was no time to
waste, I sent in the bonny Book of Hours, praying him to hear me for
a moment on a weighty matter. That brought him to my side; he
leaped at the book like a trout at a fly, and took me to his own
chamber. There I told him your story. When it came to the wench in
the King's laundry, and Robin Lindsay, and you clad in girl's gear,
and kissed in the guard-room, he struck hand on thigh and laughed
aloud.
Then I deemed your cause as good as three parts won, and he could
not hold in, but led me to a chamber where were many lords, dicing
and drinking: Tremouille, Ogilvie, the Bishop of Orleans--that holy
man, who has come to ask for aid from the King,--La Hire,
Xaintrailles, and I know not whom. There I must tell all the
chronicle again; and some said this, and some that, and Tremouille
mocks, that the Maid uttered her prophecy to no other end but to
make you fulfil it, and slay her enemy for the sake of her "beaux
yeux." The others would hear nothing of this, and, indeed, though I
am no gull, I wot that Tremouille is wrong here, and over cunning;
he trusts neither man nor woman. Howsoever it be, he went with the
story to the King, who is keen to hear any new thing. And, to be
short, the end of it is this: that you have your free pardon, on
these terms, namely, that you have two score of masses said for the
dead man, and yourself take service under Sir Hugh Kennedy, that the
King may not lose a man-at-arms."
Never, sure, came gladder tidings to any man than these to me. An
hour ago the rope seemed tight about my neck; one day past, and I
was but a prentice to the mean craft of painting and limning, arts
good for a monk, or a manant, but, save for pleasure, not to be
melled or meddled with by a man of gentle blood. And now I was to
wear arms, and that in the best of causes, under the best of
captains, one of my own country--a lord in Ayrshire.
"Ay, even so," my master said, marking the joy in my face, "you are
right glad to leave us--a lass and a lameter. {17} Well, well, such
is youth, and eld is soon forgotten."
I fell on my knees at his feet, and kissed his hands, and I believe
that I wept.
"Sir," I said, "you have been to me as a father, and more than it
has been my fortune to find my own father. Never would I leave you
with my will, and for the gentle demoiselle, your daughter--" But
here I stinted, since in sooth I knew not well what words to say.
"Ay, we shall both miss you betimes; but courage, man! After all,
this new life beseems you best, and, mark me, a lass thinks none the
worse of a lad because he wears not the prentice's hodden grey, but
a Scots archer's green, white, and red, and Charles for badge on
breast and sleeve, and a sword by his side. And as for the bonny
Book of Hours--"Master," I said with shame, "was that my ransom?"
"Kennedy would have come near my price, and strove to make me take
the gold. But what is bred in the bone will out; I am a gentleman
born, not a huckster, and the book I gave him freely. May it profit
the good knight in his devotions! But now, come, they are weary
waiting for us; the hour waxes late, and Elliot, I trow, is long
abed. You must begone to the castle."
In the stairs, and about the door, some ten of Sir Hugh's men were
waiting, all countrymen of my own, and the noise they made and their
speech were pleasant to me. They gave me welcome with shouts and
laughter, and clasped my hands: "for him that called us wine-sacks,
you have given him water to his wine, and the frog for his butler,"
they said, making a jest of life and death. But my own heart for
the nonce was heavy enough again, I longing to take farewell of
Elliot, which might not be, nor might she face that wild company.
Howbeit, thinking it good to have a friend at court, I made occasion
to put in the hand of the old serving-woman all of such small coins
as I had won in my life servile, deeming myself well quit of such
ill-gotten gear. And thereafter, with great mirth and noise, they
set forth to climb the hill towards the castle, where I was led,
through many a windy passage, to the chamber of Sir Hugh Kennedy.
There were torches lit, and the knight, a broad-shouldered, fair-
haired man, with a stern, flushed face, was turning over and gazing
at his new Book of Hours, like a child busy with a fresh toy. He
laid the book down when we entered, and the senior of the two
archers who accompanied me told him that I was he who had been
summoned.
"Your name?" he asked; and I gave it.
"You are of gentle blood?" And I answering "Yes," he replied, "Then
see that you are ready to shed it for the King. Your life that was
justly forfeit, is now, by his Royal mercy, returned to you, to be
spent in his service. Rutherford and Douglas, go take him to
quarters, and see that to-morrow he is clad as beseems a man of my
command. Now good night to you--but stay! You, Norman Leslie, you
will have quarrels on your hand. Wait not for them, but go to meet
them, if they are with the French men-at-arms, and in quarrel see
that you be swift and deadly. For the townsfolk, no brawling,
marauding, or haling about of honest wenches. Here we are
strangers, and my men must be respected."
He bowed his head: his words had been curt, no grace or kindness
had he shown me of countenance. I felt in my heart that to him I
was but a pawn in the game of battle. Now I seemed as far off as
ever I was from my foolish dream of winning my spurs; nay, perchance
never had I sunk lower in my own conceit. Till this hour I had
been, as it were, the hinge on which my share of the world turned,
and now I was no more than a wheel in the carriage of a couleuvrine,
an unconsidered cog in the machine of war. I was to be lost in a
multitude, every one as good as myself, or better; and when I had
thought of taking service, I had not foreseen the manner of it and
the nature of the soldier's trade. My head, that I had carried
high, somewhat drooped, as I saluted, imitating my companions, and
we wheeled forth of the room.
"Hugh has taken the pride out of you, lad, or my name is not Randal
Rutherford," said the Border man who had guided me. "Faith, he has
a keen tongue and a short way with him, but there are worse
commanders. And now you must to your quarters, for the hour is late
and the guard-room shut."
He led me to our common sleeping-place, where, among many snoring
men-at-arms in a great bare hall, a pallet was laid for me, and my
flesh crept as I remembered how this was the couch of him whom I had
slain. Howbeit, being well weary, despite the strangeness of the
place, after brief orisons I slept sound till a trumpet called us in
the morning.
Concerning the strangeness of this waking, to me who had been gently
nurtured, and the rough life, and profane words which I must hear
(not, indeed, that they had been wholly banished from our wild days
at St. Andrews), it is needless that I should tell. Seeing that I
was come among rude neighbours, I even made shift to fall back, in
semblance, on such manners as I had used among the students before I
left Scotland, though many perils, and the fear wherein I stood of
Brother Thomas, and the company of the maid Elliot, had caused me
half to forget my swaggering ways. So, may God forgive me! I swore
roundly; I made as if I deemed lightly of that Frenchman's death,
and, in brief, I so bore me that, ere noon (when I behoved to go
into Chinon with Randal Rutherford, and there provide me with the
rich apparel of our company), I had three good quarrels on my hand.
First, there was the man-at-arms who had kissed me in the guard-
room. He, in a "bourde" and mockery, making pretence that he would
repeat his insult, got that which was owing him, and with interest,
for indeed he could see out of neither of his squint eyes when I had
dealt with him. And for this cause perforce, if he needed more
proof of my manhood than the weight of my fist, he must tarry for
the demonstration which he desired.
Then there was Robin Lindsay, and at his wrath I make no marvel, for
the tale of how he came late to tryst, and at second-hand (with many
such rude and wanton additions as soldiers use to make), was noised
abroad all over the castle. His quarrel was no matter for
fisticuffs; so, being attired in helmet, vambrace rerebrace,
gauntlets, and greaves out of the armoury, where many such suits
were stored, I met him in a certain quiet court behind the castle,
where quarrels were usually voided. And now my practice of the
sword at home and the lessons of our smith came handily to my need.
After much clashing of steel and smiting out of sparks, I chanced,
by an art known to me, to strike his sword out of his hand. Then,
having him at an avail, I threw down my own blade, and so plainly
told him the plain truth, and how to his mistress I owed my life,
which I would rather lose now at his hand than hear her honour
blamed, that he forgave me, and we embraced as friends. Neither was
this jest anew cast up against either of us, men fearing to laugh,
as we say, with the wrong side of their mouths.
After this friendly bout at point and edge, Robin and Randal
Rutherford, being off duty, must needs carry me to the Tennis Court,
where Tremouille and the King were playing two young lords, and that
for such a stake as would have helped to arm a hundred men for the
aid of Orleans. It was pretty to see the ball fly about basted from
the walls, and the players bounding and striking; and, little as I
understood the game, so eager was I over the sport, that a gentleman
within the "dedans" touched me twice on the shoulder before I was
aware of him.
"I would have a word with you, sir, if your grace can spare me the
leisure."
"May it not be spoken here?" I asked, for I was sorry to lose the
spectacle of the tennis, which was new to me, and is a pastime
wherein France beats the world. Pity it is that many players should
so curse and blaspheme God and His saints!
"My business," replied the stranger, "is of a kind that will hardly
endure waiting."
With that I rose and followed him out into the open courtyard, much
marvelling what might be toward.
"You are that young gentleman," said my man, "for a gentleman I take
you to be, from your aspect and common report, who yesterday were
the death of Gilles de Puiseux?"
"Sir, to my sorrow, and not by my will, I am he, and but now I was
going forth to have certain masses said for his soul's welfare":
which was true, Randal Rutherford having filled my purse against
pay-day.
"I thank you, sir, for your courtesy, and perchance may have
occasion to do the like gentle service for you. Gilles de Puiseux
was of my blood and kin; he has none other to take up his feud for
him in this place, and now your quickness of comprehension will tell
you that the business wherewith I permit myself to break your
leisure will brook no tarrying. Let me say that I take it not upon
me to defend the words of my cousin, who insulted a woman, and, as I
believe, a messenger from the blessed Saints that love France."
I looked at him in some amazement. He was a young man of about my
own years, delicately and richly clad in furs, silks, and velvets, a
great gold chain hanging in loops about his neck, a gold brooch with
an ancient Roman medal in his cap. But the most notable thing in
him was his thick golden hair, whence La Hire had named him
"Capdorat," because he was so blond, and right keen in war, and
hardy beyond others. And here he was challenging me, who stood
before him in a prentice's hodden grey!
"Sir," I said, "I could wish you a better quarrel, but not more
courtesy. Many a gentleman seeing me such as I am, would bid me
send, ere he crossed swords with me, to my own country for my bor-
brief, {18} which I came away in too great haste to carry with me.
Nay, I was but now to set forth and buy me a sword and other
accoutrements; natheless, from the armoury here they may equip me
with sword and body armour."
"Of body-armour take no thought," he answered, "for this quarrel is
of a kind that must needs be voided in our smocks"; he meaning that
it was "e outrance," till one of us fell.
Verily, now I saw that this was not to be a matter of striking
sparks from steel, as Robin and I had done, but of life and death.
"I shall be the more speedily at your service," I made answer; and
as I spoke Randal and Robin came forth from the "dedans," the sport
being over. They joined me, and I told them in few words my new
business, my adversary tarrying, cap in hand, till I had spoken, and
then proclaiming himself Aymar de Puiseux, a gentleman of Dauphine,
as indeed my friends knew.
"I shall wait on you, with your leave, at the isle in the river,
where it is of custom, opposite the booths of the gold-workers,"
quoth he, "about the hour of noon"; and so, saluting us, he went, as
he said, to provide himself with friends.
"Blood of Judas!" quoth Robin, who swore terribly in his speech,
"you have your hands full, young Norman. He is but now crept out of
the rank of pages, but when the French and English pages fought a
valliance of late, under Orleans, none won more praise than he, who
was captain of the French party."
"He played a good sword?" I asked.
"He threw a good stone! Man, it was a stone bicker, and they had
lids of baskets for targes."
"And he challenges me to the field," I said hotly, "By St. Andrew!
I will cuff his ears and send him back to the other boys."
"Norman, my lad, when were you in a stone bicker last?" quoth
Randal; and I hung my head, for it was not yet six months gone since
the sailors and we students were stoning each other in North Street.
"Yet he does play a very good sword, and is cunning of fence, for
your comfort," said Randal. So I hummed the old lilt of the
Leslies, whence, they say, comes our name -
Between the less lea and the mair,
He slew the knight and left him there; -
for I deemed it well to show a good face. Moreover, I had some
conceit of myself as a swordsman, and Randal was laughing like a
foolbody at my countenance.
"Faith, you will make a spoon or spoil a horn, and--let me have my
laugh out--you bid well for an archer," said Randal; and Robin
counselling me to play the same prank on the French lad's sword as
late I had done on his own, they took each of them an arm of mine,
and so we swaggered down the steep ways into Chinon.
First I would go to the tailor and the cordwainer, and be fitted for
my new splendours as an archer of the guard.
They both laughed at me again, for, said they very cheerfully, "You
may never live to wear these fine feathers."
But Randal making the reflection that, if I fell, there would be
none to pay the shopmaster, they both shouted with delight in the
street, so that passers-by turned and marvelled at them. Clearly I
saw that to go to fight a duel is one thing, and to go and look on
is another, and much more gay, for my heart had no desire of all
this merriment. Rather would I have recommended my case to the
saints, and chiefly to St. Andrew, for whose cause and honour I was
about to put my life in jeopardy. But shame, and the fear of
seeming fearful, drove me to jest with the others--such risks of
dying unconfessed are run by sinful men!
Howbeit, they helped me to choose cloth of the best colour and
fashion, laughing the more because I, being short of stature and
slim, the tailor, if I fell, might well find none among the archers
to purchase that for which, belike, I should have no need.
"We must even enlist the Pucelle in our guard, for she might wear
this apparel," quoth Randal.
Thus boisterously they bore themselves, but more gravely at the
swordsmith's, where we picked out a good cut-and-thrust blade, well
balanced, that came readily to my hand. Then, I with sword at side,
like a gentleman, we made to the river, passing my master's booth,
where I looked wistfully at the windows for a blink of Elliot, but
saw none that I knew, only, from an open casement, the little
jackanapes mopped and mowed at me in friendly fashion. Hard by the
booth was a little pier, and we took boat, and so landed on the
island, where were waiting for us my adversary and two other
gentlemen. Having saluted each other, we passed to a smooth grassy
spot, surrounded on all sides by tall poplar trees. Here in places
daffodils were dancing in the wind; but otherwhere the sward was
much trampled down, and in two or three spots were black patches
that wellnigh turned my courage, for I was not yet used to the sight
of men's blood, here often shed for little cause.
The friends of us twain adversaries, for enemies we could scarce be
called, chose out a smooth spot with a fair light, the sun being
veiled, and when we had stripped to our smocks, we drew and fell to
work. He was very quick and light in his movements, bounding nimbly
to this side or that, but I, using a hanging guard, in our common
Scots manner, did somewhat perplex him, to whom the fashion was new.
One or two scratches we dealt each other, but, for all that, I could
see we were well matched, and neither closed, as men rarely do in
such a combat, till they are wroth with hurts and their blood warm.
Now I gashed his thigh, but not deeply, and with that, as I deemed,
his temper fired, for he made a full sweep at my leg above the knee.
This I have always reckoned a fool's stroke, as leaving the upper
part of the body unguarded, and avoiding with my right leg, I drove
down with all my force at his head. But, even as I struck, came a
flash and the sudden deadness of a deep wound, for he had but
feinted, and then, avoiding me so that I touched him not, he drove
his point into my breast. Between the force of my own blow and this
stab I fell forward on my face, and thence rolled over on my back,
catching at my breast with my hands, as though to stop the blood,
but, in sooth, not well knowing what I did.
He had thrown down his sword, and now was kneeling by my side.
"I take you to witness," he said, "that this has befallen to my
great sorrow, and had I been where this gentleman was yesterday, and
heard my cousin blaspheme, I would myself have drawn on him, but--"
And here, as I later heard, he fainted from loss of blood, my sword
having cut a great vein; and I likewise lost sense and knowledge.
Nor did I know more till they lifted me and laid me on a litter of
poplar boughs, having stanched my wound as best they might. In the
boat, as they ferried us across the river, I believe that I fainted
again; and so, "between home and hell," as the saying is, I lay on
my litter and was carried along the street beside the water. Folk
gathered around us as we went. I heard their voices as in a dream,
when lo! there sounded a voice that I knew right well, for Elliot
was asking of the people "who was hurt?" At this hearing I hove
myself up on my elbow, beckoning with my other hand; and I opened my
mouth to speak, but, in place of words, came only a wave of blood
that sickened me, and I seemed to be dreaming, in my bed, of Elliot
and her jackanapes; and then feet were trampling, and at length I
was laid down, and so seemed to fall most blessedly asleep, with a
little hand in mine, and rarely peaceful and happy in my heart,
though wherefore I knew not. After many days of tossing on the
waves of the world, it was as if I had been brought into the haven
where I would be. Of what was passing I knew or I remember nothing.
Later I heard that a good priest had been brought to my bedside, and
perchance there was made some such confession as the Church, in her
mercy, accepts from sinful men in such case as mine. But I had no
thought of life or death, purgatory or paradise; only, if paradise
be rest among those we love, such rest for an unknown while, and
such sense of blissful companionship, were mine. But whether it was
well to pass through and beyond this scarce sensible joy, or whether
that peace will ever again be mine and unending, I leave with
humility to them in whose hands are Christian souls.
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