The Caged Lion

ho were always the offspring of a lengthened war. Jean de Gast, usually known as the Bastard de Vaurus, nominally was of the Armagnac or patriotic party, but, in fact, pillaged indi

ch highway robbers were called; the supplies of previsions were cut off, and the citiz

vents, with no great difficulty; but the upper city, on a rising ground above the river, was strongly fortified, well victualled, and bravely defended, and he found himself forced to invest it, and make a regular siege, though

to have been entirely cast off, and the warm genial summer sun of France to have strengthened his frame and developed his powers. He had shot up suddenly to a fair height, had almost lost his lameness, and gained much more appearance of health and power of enduring fatigue. His nerves had become less painfully sensitive, and when after his first skirmish, during which he had kept close to King James, far too much terrified to stir an inch from him, he had not only found himself perfectly safe, but had bee

sister of the King-was studying with exceeding zeal. Both James and Dr. Bennet were greatly interested in this famous abode of hearing-the King, indeed, was already sketching out designs in his own mind for a similar institution in Scotland, designs that were destined to be carried out after his death by Kennedy; and Malcolm perforce heard many inqui

of the tenderness of conscience and devout habits of old. They dropped from him, sometimes for lack of time, sometimes from false shame, and by and by from very weariness and distaste. He was soldier now, and not monk-ay, a

hter in her absence as Malcolm grew in self-confidence and in knowledge of the world. He knew that when he parted with her he had been a miserable little wretch whom

as rebels against him, and in hanging all who were made prisoners; nor had Malcolm, during the courtesies that always pass between the outposts of civilized armies, made much attempt to have any communication with his cousin, for though his own abnegation of his rights had neve

er or die at Paris. The long dark evenings were a new trial to men used to summer campaigning, and nothing but Henry's wonderful personal influence and perpetual vigilance kept up discipline. At any hour of the day or night, at any place in the camp, the King might be at hand, with a cheery word of sympathy or encouragement, or with the most unflinching sternness towards any disobedience or debauchery-ever a presence to be either loved or dreaded. An engineer in advance of his time, he was persuad

drew's cross on the shoulder, steel caps without visors, and the King's merely distinguished by a thread-hike circlet of gold. They had breastplates, swords, and daggers, but they were not going to a quarter where fighting was to be expected, and bright armour was not to be exposed to rust without need. A visit of inspection to the delvers was

s finger, always small-boned, had become thin enough to allow the signet to escape unawares, he was unwilling to publish the loss, as it might cast doubt on the papers he despatched, and he, with his chamberlain Fitzhugh, King James, Malcolm, Percy, and a few more, had spent half the morning in the vain search, ending by the King sending his chamberlain, Lord Fitzhugh, to carry to Paris a seal already bearing his shield, but lacking the small priv

rom the market-place, when Ralf Percy came out of the mist, exclaiming, 'Is it you, Sir King? Maybe you can do something with those rascals! I've talked myself blue with cold to make them slope the sides of their dyke, but the owl Kitson says no Yorkshireman ditcher

hreaten to st

e lubberly men-at-arms! I told them they should hear what

cot when you have put them in such a mood. Hold, Ralf, do not go for t

ecurity of the angle of inclination traced by the King, but all in vain; both Trenton and Kitson sil

up, 'here's other work! The

the command at once, bade these to be all released; they would be sure to find their way to the camp, and that would bring succour. Meantime he drew the whole of the men, about thirty in number, into a compact body. They were, properly, archers, but their bows had been left behind, and they had only their pikes and bills, which we

ing to charge. James gave orders to close up and stand firm, pikes outwards. Malcolm's heart beat fast; it was the most real peril he

'Tis the Scots! Treachery! we are betrayed. Com

ould have fallen an easy prey if they had been pursued. But this did not seem to be the purpose of the enemy, who merely extended themselves so as to form a hedge around the few who stood, sword in hand, disdaining to fly. These were, James, somewhat in

James, kindly; 'to you this

ng,' sharply

aid Kitson to Ralf; 'but if

s scarce to show the blue chief and the bleeding crowned heart; but it was no unfamiliar sight to Malcolm's eyes, and with a slight shudder he bent his head in answer to the fierce whisper, 'Old Douglas himself!' with which Hotspur's son certified himself that he had the foe of his house before him. K

said James, 'homage

aited this occasion, and will at once return to Scotland with you, with the

an let him be rescued; and meanwhile the cry, 'Save King James!' broke out on all sides, knights leapt down to tender their homage, and among the foremo

trust you with all my heart; but how could you trust me

od open-mouthed, still believing that a Scot must be false. There was an angry murm

'I belong to him, and he has trusted me as never pris

checking himself, he said, 'Then, Sir, give me your sword, and

my body be yours, and till England put me to

n, bethink you that it is no cause for casting aside this one hope of freedom that we

r will I do Scotland the wrong of str

oth Douglas to his followers. 'Now, Sir King, best give you

ow little I'd reck of my life for her weal. But broken oaths are ill beginnings. For me, so notably trusted by King Henry, to break my bonds, would shame both Scots and kings; and it were yet more paltry to feign to yield to my Lord of Douglas. Rescue or no rescue, I am England's captive. Gentles, kindly brother Scots, in one way alone can you free me. Give up this w

e notions of a Black Douglas, in the most masterful days of that family; and Earl Archibald, who had come to regard kings as beings meant to be hectored by Douglases, resentfully exclaimed, 'Hear him, comrades;

s, 'and end a long captivity.

their resolve to defend him to the last; and Malcolm, flingi

hts exclaimed, 'Sir, Sir, we'll see no hand laid on you!' he thrust fo

my feet will serve me bes

holding together, as though still undecided whether to grapple with the King and his half-doze

p, nor did Douglas attempt pursuit; some of the other horsemen hovered between, and Patrick Drummond, with a puzzled face, kept

d, 'Thanks, Sir Knight; I suppose I may not hope that

sh banner, my liege. Elsewhere

e counsel you to come no farther. The English will be pricking fo

e! It had long been our desire-of all of us, that is, save my Lord Buchan's retainers-to find you

mes, smiling. 'No, no; when I go home, it shall be as a free king, able to do justice to all ali

Malcolm; 'ye're in good hands. My certie, I kenned ye but by your voice! Ye're verily grown into a goodl

praise was not as pleasant to him as he would h

aints be with him!-had been set on and slain by yon accursed Master of Albany-would that his thrapple wer

him on. 'I grieve to balk you of your family tidings, but delay will be ill

tretched out his hand and helped Malcolm down after him, 'He would have known me again for your guest if we had stood many m

feeling guilty towards Patrick, and unless he could have ful

ng. 'Sir, you are an honest man, and we crave your p

least, good sirs, do not always think Scot and traitor

Kitson heartily; and James then turned to Ralf Percy, a

ways had but stayed within us, the hoary ruff

the slim, rosy-faced stripling of the house of Percy, who nevertheless simply

es in quagmires, or ever hedges; while the water that drenched them was fast freezing, and darkness came down on them. All stumbled or were bogged at different times; and Malcolm, shorter and weaker tha

ass-word given to the watch, and the rough but welcome greetin

ot back, then

rowned or stuck by the French. The King is in a proper rage, as we

; his heart was hot at the words which implied that Henry suspected him, and he strode hastily on to the convent, where the quadrangle was full of horses and men, and the windows shone with lights. At the door

of the darkness, in a voice de

eak again! Come here tha

ing,' said J

sly. 'Where be the caitiffs that brought me the

ldly, 'that they should have thought themselve

signals and I know not what devices passing? I hoped yet 'twas but a plea for their own cowardice, and was mounting to come a

James's hand was at once clasped in his, while Henry adde

me plead for them. There was mo

st men. If a rogue be not to hang for deserting his captain

e first

t an icicle errant; change thy garments while I go round the

f you go, Harry. Surely,

verywhere, mayhap a few winter blasts would not have

defence, spite of the ermine lining, against the frost of the December night for a man whos

and, from time to time dreamily calling forth a few plaintive notes, such as he said always rang in his ears after hearing a Scottish voice, when they again heard

the refectory and threw himself into a chair by the fire, he looked wearied out in body and mind, shivered and coughed, and said with unwonted depression that the sullen fellows would make a quagmire of their camp after all, since a French reinforcement had come up, and the vigilance t

ut, as he divined that the young Hotspur would regard praise from him as an insult, he deferred the subject for his absence, and launched into a plaintive narrative ballad, to which Henry listened, leaning back in his chair,

the nurture of bears, his father slain, his mother dead of grief-a ditty he had perhaps c

a joyful clamour arose without, and Henry, springing to his feet, spoke not, but stood

his knees, cried aloud, 'God save King Harry! News, news, my lord! The Q

a few words of fervent thanksgiving almost within himself, and then turning to the esquire, made further inquiries after his wife's welfare, took from him the

sceptibility to fatigue and care; while the squire, looking at the rich jewel in his hand, declared within disappo

next morning Henry stood at his bedside, saying, 'I must go ro

n thou,' said James, rising

ir first zeal, and unless they are worse captains than I suppose them, they

alert by seeing Ralf Percy also on foot. But it was a great relief to him that the young gentleman murmured in no measured terms against the intoler

ved back his sleepy chamberlain, Fitzhugh, and took his brother king's arm; 'but I c

lcome for your h

he added, 'You'll mock me, but I would that this had not befallen at Windsor.

air Windsor? If I can love it as a prison,

'but, sleeping or waking, this whole

outh, shall short ti

or, shall long time

of royal poesy and pr

mime old Herefordshire nurse, when Windsor seemed as little within my rea

s; 'Edward born at Windsor got enou

chbishop christened the poor child

hoed James, rath

has been a wakeful night, and not without misgivings whe

h that you alone should c

ome young man ere his exile, full of tenderness to us all, at the rare times he

aloof, and give him n

e another's pride. Which Roman emperor is it that hears the nickname his father's s

. 'Bless God for the goodly child, who is born to two ki

orning, 'maybe it were better for him, soul and body both, did I stand here Du

ould be snoring at Shene; that is, if he could sleep for

y priest or hermit could bring back my old assurance, that all this is my work on earth, or tell me if it be all one grand error. Men there have been like C?sar, Alexander, or Charlemagne, who thought my thoughts and worked them out; and surely Church and nations cry aloud for purifying. Jerusalem,

ugh to rouse him from his despondent state; and the severity of his wrath was in full proportion to the offence. Nor did

erceded for last night's offenders, as an act of gra

en, they had not lied like dogs! 'he

ty lay in the promptest and sternest justice; and therefore the three

nks for showing Scots and Frenchmen what stuff Englishmen are made of! I keep my word, good fello

his is no matter to win one's spurs f

returned Henry. 'What is it sticks in your gizzard

hoarsely

ng dubbed, we shall be but where we were before as to Mistress Agnes of Mineshull, unless of your g

wasted, specially of such as have that gift of standing still. If she does not knew her own mind, one of you must get himself

a certain bluntness that made them butts, even while they were the heroes of the day; and Henry,

e are passed over in the self-same matte

ith better reason, 'their valour was more exercised than ours, inasmuch as they thought there was treachery,

ievement; but he was vexed at the lack of reward, fancying that knighthood would be n

was in the commonplace romance of his time, the mere lig