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〃By these ten finger…bones！ I am right glad that I came to the
war； and no man could ask for a more goodly life；〃 said he。 〃I
have a present here for every girl in Tilford； and my father need
never fear the frown of the sacrist of Waverley again。 But how of
you； Squire Loring？ It standeth not aright that we should gather
the harvest whilst you； who sowed it； go forth empty…handed。
Come； gentle sir； take these things that I have gathered； and I
will go back and find more。〃
But Nigel smiled and shook his head。 〃You have gained what your
heart desired； and perchance I have done so also；〃 said he。
An instant later Knolles strode up to him with outstretched hand。
〃I ask your pardon； Nigel；〃 said he。 〃I have spoken too hotly in
my wrath。〃
〃Nay； fair sir； I was at fault。〃
〃If we stand here now within this castle； it is to you that I owe
it。 The King shall know of it； and Chandos also。 Can I do aught
else； Nigel； to prove to you the high esteem in which I hold you？〃
The Squire flushed with pleasure。 〃Do you send a messenger home
to England； fair sir； with news of these doings？〃
〃Surely； I must do so。 But do not tell me； Nigel； that you would
be that messenger。 Ask me some other favor； for indeed I cannot
let you go。〃
〃Now God forbid！〃 cried Nigel。 〃By Saint Paul！ I would not be so
caitiff and so thrall as to leave you； when some small deed might
still be done。 But I would fain send a message by your
messenger。〃
〃To whom？〃
〃It is to the Lady Mary； daughter of old Sir John Buttesthorn who
dwells near Guildford。〃
〃But you will write the message； Nigel。 Such greetings as a
cavalier sends to his lady…love should be under seal。〃
〃Nay； he can carry my message by word of mouth。〃
〃Then I shall tell him for he goes this morning。 What message；
then； shall he say to the lady？〃
〃He will give her my very humble greeting； and he will say to her
that for the second time Saint Catharine has been our friend。〃
XXII。 HOW ROBERT OF BEAUMANOIR CAME TO PLOERMEL
Sir Robert Knolles and his men passed onward that day； looking
back many a time to see the two dark columns of smoke； one thicker
and one more slender； which arose from the castle and from the
fort of La Brohiniere。 There was not an archer nor a man…at…arms
who did not bear a great bundle of spoil upon his back； and
Knolles frowned darkly as he looked upon them。 Gladly would he
hove thrown it all down by the roadside； but he had tried such
matters before； and he knew that it was as safe to tear a
half…gnawed bone from a bear as their blood…won plunder from such
men as these。 In any case it was but two days' march to Ploermel；
where he hoped to bring his journey to an end。
That night they camped at Mauron； where a small English and Breton
garrison held the castle。 Right glad were the bowmen to see some
of their own countrymen once more； and they spent the night over
wine and dice； a crowd of Breton girls assisting； so that next
morning their bundles were much lighter； and most of the plunder
of La Brohiniere was left with the men and women of Mauron。 Next
day their march lay with a fair sluggish river upon their right；
and a great rolling forest upon their left which covered the whole
country。 At last toward evening the towers of Ploermel rose
before them and they saw against a darkening sky the Red Cross of
England waving in the wind。 So blue was the river Duc which
skirted the road； and so green its banks； that they might indeed
have been back beside their own homely streams； the Oxford Thames
or the Midland Trent； but ever as the darkness deepened there came
in wild gusts the howling of wolves from the forest to remind them
that they were in a land of war。 So busy had men been for many
years in hunting one another that the beasts of the chase had
grown to a monstrous degree； until the streets of the towns were
no longer safe from the wild inroads of the fierce creatures； the
wolves and the bears； who swarmed around them。
It was nightfall when the little army entered the outer gate of
the Castle of Ploermel and encamped in the broad Bailey yard。
Ploermel was at that time the center of British power in Mid…
Brittany； as Hennebon was in the West； and it was held by a
garrison of five hundred men under an old soldier； Richard of
Bambro''； a rugged Northumbrian； trained in that great school of
warriors； the border wars。 He who had ridden the marches of the
most troubled frontier in Europe； and served his time against the
Liddlesdale and Nithsdale raiders was hardened for a life in the
field。
Of late； however； Bambro' had been unable to undertake any
enterprise； for his reinforcements had failed him； and amid his
following he had but three English knights and seventy men。 The
rest were a mixed crew of Bretons； Hainaulters and a few German
mercenary soldiers； brave men individually； as those of that stock
have ever been； but lacking interest in the cause； and bound
together by no common tie of blood or tradition。
On the other hand； the surrounding castles； and especially that of
Josselin； were held by strong forces of enthusiastic Bretons；
inflamed by a common patriotism； and full of warlike ardor。
Robert of Beaumanoir； the fierce seneschal of the house of Rohan；
pushed constant forays and excursions against Ploermel so that
town and castle were both in daily dread of being surrounded and
besieged。 Several small parties of the English faction had been
cut off and slain to a man； and so straitened were the others that
it was difficult for them to gather provisions from the country
round。
Such was the state of Bambro's garrison when on that March evening
Knolles and his men streamed into the bailey…yard of his Castle。
In the glare of the torches at the inner gate Bambro' was waiting
to receive them； a dry； hard； wizened man； small and fierce； with
beady black eyes and quick furtive ways。
Beside him； a strange contrast； stood his Squire； Croquart； a
German； whose name and fame as a man…at…arms were widespread；
though like Robert Knolles himself he had begun as a humble page。
He was a very tall man； with an enormous spread of shoulders； and
a pair of huge hands with which he could crack a horse…shoe。 He
was slow and lethargic； save in moments of excitement； and his
calm blond face； his dreamy blue eyes and his long fair hair gave
him so gentle an appearance that none save those who had seen him
in his berserk mood； raging； an iron giant； in the forefront of
the battle； could ever guess how terrible a warrior he might be。
Little knight and huge squire stood together under the arch of the
donjon and gave welcome to the newcomers； whilst a swarm of
soldiers crowded round to embrace their comrades and to lead them
off where they might feed and make merry together。
Supper had been set in the hall of Ploermel wherein the knights
and squires assembled。 Bambro' and Croquart were there with Sir
Hugh Calverly； an old friend of Knolles and a fellow…townsman； for
both were men of Chester。 Sir Hugh was a middle…sized flaxen man；
with hard gray eyes and fierce large…nosed face sliced across with
the scar of a sword…cut。 There too were Geoffrey D'Ardaine； a
young Breton seigneur； Sir Thomas Belford； a burly thick…set
Midland Englishman； Sir Thomas Walton； whose surcoat of scarlet
martlets showed that he was of the Surrey Waltons； James Marshall
and John Russell； young English squires； and the two brothers；
Richard and Hugh Le Galliard； who were of Gascon blood。 Besides
these were several squires； unknown to fame； and of the
new…comers； Sir Robert Knolles； Sir Thomas Percy； Nigel Loring and
two other squires； Allington and Parsons。 These were the company
who gathered in the torch…light round the table of the Seneschal
of Ploermel； and kept high revel with joyous hearts because they
thought that much honor and noble deeds lay before them。
But one sad face there was at the board； and that belonged to him
at the head of it。 Sir Robert Bambro' sat with his chin leaning
upon his hand and his eyes downcast upon the cloth； whilst all
round him rose the merry clatter of voices； everyone planning some
fresh enterprise which might now be attempted。 Sir Robert Knolles
was for an immediate advance upon Josselin。 Calverly thought that
a raid might be made into the South where the main French power
lay。 Others spoke of an attack upon Vannes。
To all these eager opinions Bambro'' listened in a moody silence；
which he broke at last by a fierce execration which drew a hushed
attention from the company。 〃Say no more； fair sirs；〃 he cried；
〃for indeed your words are like so many stabs in my heart。 All
this and more we might indeed have done。 But of a truth you are
too late。〃
〃Too late？'〃 cried Knolles。 〃What mean you； Richard？〃
〃Alas； that I should have to say it； but you and all these fair
soldiers might be back in England once more for all the profit
that I am like to have from your coming。 Saw you a rider on a
white horse ere you reached the Castle？〃
〃Nay； I saw him not？〃
〃He came by the western road from Hennebon。 Would that he had
broken his neck ere he came here。 Not an hour ago he left his