Saint George for England

n-at-arms, and archers, for the Orwell. Walter was mounted, as were the other squires and men-at

ustain and encourage him the hopes that Lady Vernon had given him, of regaining some day the patrimony of his father. It was a satisfaction to him that he was as well born as those who surrounded him, and his purse was well lined as any in the company. Although he had spent the largess which had been bestowed upo

knighthood, and sons of the smaller gentry. Many were there from pure love of a life of excitement and adventure, others in fulfilment of the feudal tenure by which all land was then held, each noble and landowner being obliged to furnish so many knights, squires, men-at-arms, and ar

ach squire 12 deniers or 1 sol, each knight 2 sols, each knight banneret 4 sols. 20 sols went to the pound, and although the exact value of money in those days relative to that which it bears at the present

ter sailed also carried several of his knights there was not room for all his young esquires, and Walter and the three other juniors were told off into another ship. She was a smaller vessel than mo

small one," the knigh

mall though she be, I warrant you she will be one of the first to arrive at Hennebon, and the sooner the better say I, since I am but paid by the trip, and wo

ail," Sir John Powis said, "seeing

If they happen to be slow ones so much the worse for those on board; if they happen to be fast ones so much the better, seeing that those they carry will ar

y Sir Walter. The scene was a very gay one. The banners of the nobles and knights floated from the lofty poops, and the sun shone on bright armour and steel weapons. Walter, who had never seen the sea before, was deligh

of this quarrel in which we are going to fight? I know that we are going in

three sons, John, Guy, and Peter. John and Peter left no issue. Guy, who is also dead, left a daughter, Joan. By his second wife, Jolande de Dieux, Duke Arthur had one son, John, Count of Montford. Thus it happened, that when Duke John died, his half-brother, the Count of Montford, and Joan, daughter of his second brother Guy, were all that survived of the family. These were the rival claimants for the vacant dukedom. In England we have but one law of succession, which rules throu

one of themselves rather than by Charles of Blois, nephew of the French king. Directly Duke John was dead the Count of Montford claimed the inheritance. Assuming the title of duke he rode to Nantes, where the citizens did him homage, and then proceeded to Limoges with a large train of men-at-arms, and there took possession of the immense treasures which the late duke had accumulated in the course of a long and tranquil reign. With these sinews of war at his command he turned to Nantes, where he had left his wife the countess, who was a sister of the Count of Flanders. He immediately invited the nobility of Brittany to a grand banquet, but only one knight of any renown presented himself at the feast, the rest all holding aloof. With the wealth of which he had possessed himself he levied large forces and took the field. He first

that Phillip had already obtained news of his journey to England. His manner convinced De Montford that it was unsafe to remain in Paris, and he secretly made his escape. Fifteen days afterwards the peers gave judgment in favour of Charles of Bl

wn and castle in a state of defence. He himself, confiding in the affection of th

ontford, who attributed to him the evil result of the sortie. The result was that a large number of the citizens whose friends had been captured by the French conspired to deliver up the place to Charles of Blois, and Henry de Leon also entered into private negotiations with the Duke of Normandy. De Montford, finding that he could rely neither upon the citizens nor the soldiers, surrendered to the duke on condition that his life was spared.

red heart at Rennes she traveled from garrison to garrison throughout the province, and filled all with vigour and resolution. Feeling, however, the hopelessness of her struggle against all France, she despatched Sir Almeric de Clisson, who had lately joined her party, t

t Timothy Martin, and though with plenty of sea-room the Kitty makes not much ado about a storm more or less, it's a very different thing

t was going on. Then the storm abated, and they staggered out from their cabin. The sea was still high, but the sun shone br

leet?" Walter exclai

ors pretended he saw the lights of recall on the admiral's ship; but I was too busy to look tha

is that ahead

shall be in the port of Hennebon; as to the others,

ing themselves. Late in the afternoon the ship dropped anchor off the castle of Hennebon, and Sir John Powis and his following were conveyed in th

men at your orders. Our horses will be landed the first thing in

ennes, towards which the army of the Duke of Normandy is already advancing. The ga

n foot, Sir John Powis set out for Rennes. They arrived there, but just in time, for the assailants were closing round the city. They were received

points far distant. Covered by the fire of the French crossbowmen, the Spaniards and Germans came on to the assault, carrying ladders, with which they strove to climb the walls, but the defenders plied them so vigorously with quarrels from their cross-bows and flights of arrows that they frequently desisted before reaching the walls. When they pushed on, and strove to ascend, their luck was no be

aliantly, were soon wearied of the strife, and of the hardships it entailed upon them. The siege had continued but a short time when they began to murmur loudly. The force under the command of the governor was but a small one, and it would have been impossible for him to resist the will of the whole population. For a time his exhortations and entreaties were attended with success, and the burghers returned t

We could not keep down the inhabitants for an hour; and were we to try to do so, the

seized and thrown into prison by the burghers, and that a deputation of citizens had already

a strong guard of burghers had been placed at the door of the apartments occupied by him and the esquire

oudal, Sir John Powis, and the troops under them should be permitted to pass through the French lines and go whithersoever they would. These terms were accepted. At mid-day the gover

en eagerly looking for the arrival of Sir Walter Manny with his army to their relief. Once past the French

in was in a hurry to get back to his tradings with the Flemings. Had he not been so

They were the first bearers of the news of the surrender of Rennes, and the countess was filled with consternation a

you have brought, will well-nigh outnumber the burghers; and we need have no fear of such faintheartedness as that which has give

he men to fight till the last, and bade the women and girls cut short their dresses so that they could the better climb the steps to the top of the walls, and that one and all should carry up stones, chalk, and baskets of lime to be cast down upon the assailants. Animated by her

would rather have thought from their cheerful and animated countenances that they were preparing f

with the rest, buckled on their armour. The citizens gathered on the walls to hurl

I ride about, and may bear my messages for me. He will not be idle, nor will he escape his share of the dan

son of a good knight, and himself brave and prudent beyond his y

a comparatively easy task to capture so small a place as Hennebon, a

s said. "I will mount to one of the watch-

ned a heavy fire upon the walls, which was answered by the shafts of the little party of English bowmen. These did much execution, for the English archers shot far harder and straighter than those of France,

ss of the assailants, who were striving to plant their ladders, crushing many in their fall; "but you are not

ded, and that if a body of horse could make a circuit and fall upon it, the camp

the countess exclaimed, "and

ed to take them from those in her own stables. Walter was mounted on one of the best of the count's chargers. Immediately the force was collected, the gate was opened and the countess rode forth at their head. Making a considerable detour, the party rode without being observed into the rear of the French camp. Here only a few servants and horse-b

said; "we will ride to Auray at full speed

as at the head of the party which had destroyed the camp, instantly mounted, and with a large number of horsemen set off in hot pursuit. A few of the coun

ng the siege. Spies were sent from Auray, and these reported that the new camp was established on the site of the old one, and that the

rom the town. The strictest silence was observed. On nearing the town all were directed to dismount, to tear up the horse-cloths, and to muffle the feet of their horses. Then the journey was resumed, and so careless was the watch kept by the French that they passed through the sentries unobserved, and reached in safety the gate from which they had issued. As they neared it they were challenged from the walls, and a shout of joy was heard when Walter rep