The Caged Lion

as on the fields outside, and the deadly blight of famine on all within, that a hag

enants, should be given up to him to suffer condign punishment. The warriors who had shut themselves up to hold out the place by honourable warfare for the Dauphin must

more time changed his army from the feudal gathering of English country gentlemen and yeomen to mercenary bands of men-at-arms, the mere greedy, rapacious, and insubordinate became their temper. Well knowing the greatness of the peril, and that the very best of his captains had scarcely the will, if they had the power, to restrain the license that

e his hand to be kissed by the mayor; and then, with grave inexorable air, like a statue of steel, watched as the freebooter Vaurus and his two chief companions were led down with their hands tied, halters round their necks, and priests at their

n mass of thanksgiving; but experience had taught him that his devotions were the very opportunity of his men's rapine: he had therefore arranged that as soo

the chief door, and there dismounted in an i

ss; 'if you have a fancy for being smothered in the minster, I have none. We shall never be

were demanding quarters, which the citizens unwillingly gave. A refusal or expostulation against a rough entry led to violence; and ever as the two youths walked farther f

mense press, and a frightful din of shouts and imprecatio

alled Percy. 'Keep th

s have barred their door. There's a lot of cowardly Armagnacs hid

's the rogue at the windows. Out on the fellows! Burn down the

e concealed Armagnacs, or perhaps more truly were carried away by the vehemence around them

d Ralf. 'Open, in th

e two youths, evidently of high rank, said in a trembling voice, 'Alas! alas! Si

lm, turning round; 'on

oath he has hoards of gold laid up for Vaurus, and ten

at, stood among the foremost, making so much noise themselves between thundering and reviling, and calling out, 'Where are the Armagnacs? Down with the traitors!' tha

ere, Sir,' said Percy, in

e, Fitzhugh, see those villains back to the camp. Let their arms be given

ashed soldiers slunk away from the terrible light of h

swift-footed Achilles, but the winter had told upon him, and the haste with which he had rushed to the rescue left him breathless

ith terror, but at the same time felt a keen sense of injury in being thus treated as a pl

re impressively, 'what is to become of honour and mercy if su

ey said traitors were hid

of last night you should have known better; but you are all alike in frenzy for a sack.

out Malcolm, goaded with hot resentment, but start

said King Henry, in

ate relief in bread, wine, and doctors. The gay, good-natured, thoughtless lad no mere harboured malice for the chastisement than if his tutor had caught him idling; but things went deeper with Malcolm. True, he had undergone many a brutal jest and cruel practical joke from h

tering his quarters; 'did you miss me in

'I pray your license to depart and carry

ay to treat an insult

judges men to be on

done you wrong,

e like his hound; and I will not eat another morsel of hi

w. You were with young Hotspur and the rest that set on the poor townsmen, and Harry made smal

e Armagnacs hid in the house, a

ed all, on no plea whatever, to break into a house, but, if the old tale of trea

m any other king in Christendom, still less when he threatens me t

alcolm, I had not thought you such a fule body! Under a captain's banner, what can be d

that the King did not take his part,

o hide in a convent from an ill world, flying off from his king a

be free from

expect him to be tender to this nicety of yours! Malcolm, as your prince and guardian, I forbid this folly, and

he Lady Esclairmonde and all-if they he

r-do-weel, if you go off to that camp of routiers, trying to prop a

it, and the thought was an absolute relief; for in effect the parting from James, and joining the party opposed to Esclairmonde's friends, would have bee

ve done as much without prejudice to your honour. Why, you silly loon, d'ye thin

'Then, Sir, if you assure me that I can do so wit

n more graciously spoken, my good

eld his tongue for a little while, but presently ex

should, it would only seem to him the

the Bishop of Thérouenne was more likely to think H

ecome statesmen. He was a great admirer of Henry's genius, and, as the chief French prelate who was heartily on the English side, enjoyed a much greater prominence than he could have done at either the French or Burgundian Court. He and his brother of St. Pol were Esclairmonde's

his fair niece from the convent at Dijon, where she had been educated, lest the Cistercians should become possessed of her lands. He had one scheme for her marriage; but his brother, the Count, had wished to give her to his own second son, who was almost an infant; and the Duke of Burgundy had designs on her for h

onseigneur de Thérouenne to hear James's designs; and when the King further added, that he would be willing to let the claims on the Hainault part of her estates be purchased by the Count de St. Pol, and those in Flanders by the Duke of Bu

y from such chances as these to Patrick Drummond and the opposite camp; and yet there were times when Malcolm felt as if he should get rid of a load on his heart

g, and might not desert him, and it was not unpleasa

, 'I have found my signet. It was left in the finger of my Spanish glove, which I had n

Henry, and crept out of hearing of him, while James was saying, 'You had best destroy one

But, Master Scot, you shall not smash the English shield so easily. This one hangs too loose to be

have grievously hurt that springald of mine. His norther

young monk, to expect to r

od has come on him with a rush, and borne him

f all had we not caught you young! Well, what am I do for this sprig of royalty? Say I struck unaw

ol his ill blood, and remove the sense o

there was more shame in th

whereas I hear that both you and my fiery hot Percy verily credited the cry that prisoners were hid in that house, let me warn you that never was place yielded on composition but some villain got up the shout, and hundreds of fools followed it, till the

eans taken back again, while the condescension was such as could not be rejected, and thus speciously took away his excuse for brooding over his wrath. His hand lay so unwillingly in that strong hearty cl

lear up, and asked of Malcolm whether he wer

st be, Sir,'

he frank amends King Harry hath done this day: nay, I doubt whether even he could so have done, were i

e and sullenness, and almost something of the license, of the Scot. The camp had not proved the school of chivalry that James, in his inexperience, had imagined it must be under Henry, and the tedium and wretchedness of the siege had greatly added to its necessary evils by promoting a reckless temper and willingness to snatch at any enjoyment without heed to consequences. Close attendance on the kings had indeed prevented either Malcolm or Percy fr

should follow the Queen to France. And this it was almost certain she must do, since she was entirely dependent up