CHAPTER XV.
_PRINCE EDWARD._
The Demoiselle was right. The tall and kingly-looking youth now stridingup the great hall of Kenilworth, greeting first his uncle the Earl andthen the Countess his aunt, was none other than the King's eldestson--that Prince Edward who was to play so great a part in the historyof the English nation.
At that time he was a youth of some two-and-twenty summers, and had longbeen held to have arrived at man's estate. He was becoming a power inthe kingdom, and was developing an aptitude for government whichsometimes delighted and sometimes alarmed his father. He was nofavourite with his father's foreign flatterers, and was an ally of thosewho upheld the gradually moulding constitution and the liberties of thepeople. He had subscribed willingly to the Provisions of Oxford, and hadremonstrated hotly with his father when the latter resolved to ignorehis oath, and later on to obtain absolution from it.
Prince Edward at that time had practically embraced the cause of theBarons, although taking no public action against his father. Henry, indismay, had sent him to Gascony; but the move had not been a happy one,for it had thrown him into the society of the young De Montforts, hiscousins, who were also there, and had increased his intimacy with thatdread man their father. His appearance at Kenilworth at this juncturewas startling to all, for he was believed by the Earl and his family tobe still in Gascony, and they had not the smallest premonition of thisvisit.
But the Prince had been at Kenilworth before, and was fond of the fineold place and of the life led by its inhabitants. It was nothing verywonderful for him to come hither, though the manner of his arrivalto-day was somewhat startling.
Standing upon the dais, and looking round upon the assembled companywith his keen, fearless gaze, the Prince motioned to the guests to beseated.
"I come hither, as it seems, in a good time, my friends," he said, hisface, naturally stern of aspect, softening to a slight smile; "for I seehere to-day many gathered together to whom I have a word to speak. Ihave come from France in part for that very purpose; and I am glad thatnot only do I find here my noble Uncle of Leicester, but others who arebound together with him in a cause that is dear to the heart of thisnation. He has himself but lately addressed you. Methinks I can guessfull well what he has said. In sooth, I heard the final words of hisspeech through yon open window as I rode into the court."
The Prince paused for a moment, his eyes sweeping round the hall, andresting upon several faces there with a curious, searching expression.The knights and nobles were still as death, hanging upon the words ofthe Prince. After a brief pause he spoke again, very clearly andtrenchantly, and in tones that all might hear.
"My lords and gentlemen," he said, "I am not come at this moment toEngland to enter into the dispute which is ever waging between the King,my father, and those of his subjects who form the so-called Barons'party. I have come, by my father's desire, to quell the troubles inWales, and thither am I bound. I have, however, made this deflection inmy line of march that I might have speech with mine uncle before I gothither, and I am well pleased that what I have to say should be said inthe hearing of this goodly company of his adherents."
The Prince paused for a moment and then took up his discourse.
"All men here assembled know right well that I have the welfare of thisnation deeply at heart. All know that I have been a friend to thefriends of liberty, and that I have even opposed the King, my father,when I have thought him wrong. I have observed my oath as sacred, evento mine own hurt. I have sought in all things to do the right. If I havefailed, my youth and ignorance have been in fault, not my will. Have anyhere present aught to bring to my charge?"
The answer to this strange challenge was a ringing cheer. Prince Edwardwas always beloved by those who knew him personally, whilst hisdauntless courage and his high sense of honour had brought him intoesteem with all men. Every person present regarded him with admirationand respect, and all were proud to know that he was with them at heart,however small a share he had taken in the dispute.
"I thank you, my friends," said the Prince, as the cheers died away."And now, having done me thus much honour, I will ask you to havepatience whilst I speak a few more words. It is said by some, it isfeared by more, that ere the kingdom sees peace and stability onceagain, the sword will be unsheathed, and Englishman will meet Englishmanupon a field of battle. I pray God that this may not be. War with aforeign foe is a glorious thing, provided the cause be just; with thoseof our own race and name it is a horror and a disgrace! But such thingshave been before, and they may be again. I stand before you this day,whilst the realm is still at peace and before that peace has beenbroken, to say a thing in your ears from which I shall not go back whenthe day for action comes. You know that I love liberty and hateoppression. You know that I honour and respect the men of the realm whohave made so bold a stand for liberty. I have been one with them--I havetheir cause at heart still. But listen again. I am the King's son. He ismy father; I owe him filial love and obedience. If his subjects take uparms against him, thus breaking their oath of allegiance, I, his son,repudiate my own oath sworn at Oxford, and I fly to his side to help himwith all the power that I have. At such a moment as that, if it come(which God forbid), it could not be that I should stand by an idlespectator. I must and I will join myself to one side or the other; andhere I tell all ye assembled that no power on earth shall induce me totake up arms against my father and my King. The moment danger ofpersonal violence menaces him, I, his son, fly to his side, and in hiscause I fight to the last drop of my blood!"
The Prince stood perfectly still for several seconds after he had spokenthese words, his head slightly thrown back, his eyes full of fire.
Dead silence reigned in the hall. Not a man there but felt the power ofthe challenge thus thrown down, and a sense of reverence for the royalyouth who had uttered it. But to many the words seemed those of evilomen, for these men were bound heart and soul to the cause of theBarons, and they had begun to count upon Prince Edward as their ally,and even to whisper sometimes between themselves as to the possibilityof setting him upon the throne in his father's place.
The minute after the Prince had spoken these words his face changed. Akindlier, softer look came into it, and turning towards his uncle andaunt with a courteous mien, he said in an altogether different tone,--
"And now a truce to these vexed questions of state. Let us forget allbut that we are closely akin, and bound together by cords of love.--Why,Amalric, thou hast grown marvellously since I saw thee last, and artlike enough a notable scholar by now.--Guy, I have a pair of rarecoursing dogs for thee, with which we will hunt together in Kenilworthforests ere I move towards the Welsh marshes. I must needs wait awhilefor my forces to reach me.--Thou wilt give me house room at Kenilworthmeantime, wilt thou not, fair aunt?"
The Prince was a great favourite at Kenilworth--that was patent to all.The Earl of Leicester was eager to do all honour to his young kinsman,despite the bold challenge thrown down by him on his arrival.
The best rooms in the castle were put at his disposal; he was made muchof alike by uncle, aunt, and cousins. The little Demoiselle showed himmarked favour, and was ever to be seen riding beside him, or showing himthrough the gay gardens, dancing a measure with him in the hall aftersupper, or playing some game in one of the many long galleries.
The Prince was the most congenial of companions, and seemed to enjoy thefree life of Kenilworth not a little. After the departure of the bulk ofthe guests whom the Earl had brought with him, the life within thosemassive walls partook of a free and family character very pleasant toall concerned. Sir Humphrey was pressed to remain, but he was almost theonly guest not immediately connected with Kenilworth; and Alys wasdelighted to stay in this stately place, and cement her friendship withthe little Demoiselle, who had taken so great a liking for her.
The Demoiselle was, however, considerably taken up with her cousinPrince Edward, and Alys was often left to the companionship of theCountess. That lady was availing herself ju
st now of Leofric's presencein the Castle to have some of the writings of authors past and presentread aloud to her, as she sat at her embroidery or tapestry frame; andAlys seemed to delight in being present at these readings, and takingher part in the discussion which often arose.
The Lady Eleanora was a woman of much culture and insight, although shewas not fond of the trouble of reading for herself. She was alsofamiliar with the Latin tongue, and was seldom obliged to interrupt theyoung scholar, or ask him to translate the passages read. Notunfrequently Amalric was one of those who sat in the pleasant oriel roomand listened and discussed, although the sharp eyes of the Demoiselle,who flitted all over the Castle like a veritable sprite, detectedanother reason for his love of study.
"Thy sweet eyes, methinks, are the book that Amalric loves best toread," she said to Alys one day, as the twain sought the room theyshared together. "My cousin Edward marvels that he comes not a-huntingin the forest with the rest; but I know what it is that keeps him thuswithin the walls of home."
Alys coloured crimson, and put her hand to the lips of the laughingmaid.
"Nay, nay, thou must not speak so. I am but the daughter of a humbleknight. Thy brother is a King's nephew and the son of a notable noble.Such thoughts would never come to him. It is not well to speak sorecklessly."
But the Demoiselle only laughed, and skipped round her friend.
"I can see what I can see!" she answered merrily; and as she looked intothe face of Alys, through her long, dark lashes, she wondered what hadbrought there that look of sudden pain and bewilderment. Surely she musthave known ere this that she was the light of Amalric's eyes!
However, she spoke no more upon the subject, only saying in her heart,--
"I wonder if she does think more of the gentle, chivalrous Leofric thanof the knightly Amalric! It might be so. One may never read the heart ofa maid, as I have often heard say. But I fear me that her sire would besore displeased at such a thing. Methinks he has noted Amalric's amorousregards, and is well pleased thereat."
It was not altogether strange that the Demoiselle should have shrewdnotions of her own on these points, for marriages in those days wereoften arranged between mere children, and her own hand might at any timebe solicited in wedlock. Association with her seniors had ripened herpowers of observation somewhat rapidly, and she had come to have acertain belief in her own shrewdness. Moreover, her cousin Edward hadasked her about Amalric and his indifference to sport, and that had sether sharp eyes to work to some purpose.
The Prince himself, however, was very well disposed towards learning,and often engaged Leofric and Amalric in conversation, asking withinterest of the student life of Oxford, and professing himself wellpleased with the scholarship of his cousin.
He was much interested also in the stories of the strange life there,and was greatly entertained by what he heard. He declared that if he hadnot been born a prince, he would be an Oxford scholar; and the tale ofHugh's kidnapping and escape was listened to with the keenest attention.
The Prince, however, had not come on a mere visit of pleasure, andalthough he was detained longer than he had expected by the delay of hisforces to muster at the appointed place, he spent much time closetedwith the Earl, talking over the situation in Wales, and making plans forthe subjugation of the unruly sons of the mountains and marshes, whowere for ever causing trouble in the west.
Nevertheless he was too fond of the pleasures of the chase not to takeadvantage of the forests of Kenilworth, and when news was brought, justbefore his departure, that a marvellously large wild boar had beensighted in the forest, he must needs go forth for one last expedition,to strive to slay that monster of the woods.
The young De Montforts were ardent sportsmen, as the household rolltestifies, entries being made for the feeding of six-and-thirty dogsbelonging to Lord Guy, and again for forty-six belonging to Lord Guy andLord Henry. Entries also occur for the keep of their horses when stabledat Kenilworth.
So as soon as the Prince expressed his wish for one more grand hunt inthe forest, preparations were at once commenced, and the Demoisellerushed eagerly to her mother to obtain permission to accompany the hunt.
"Prithee let me go, sweet mother! I do so long to see the great fierceboar which has escaped the huntsmen these many years. Old Ralph says hehas known him ranging the woods longer than any other of his kind; buthe is so artful and so strong that he has ever eluded chase before. Nowthey think they have so managed that he cannot escape them. I would bethere to see; and my cousin Edward has said that I shall not be in theirway, and that he will take care of me."
The Countess smiled as she smoothed the child's hair; but she came of afearless race herself, and desired that her daughter should be fearlessalso.
"Thy cousin Edward will forget all when he sees the fierce creature faceto face; but if thy brother Amalric will ride at thy side and take careof thee, I will let thee go."
Amalric eagerly assented, looking the while towards Alys, and then hesaid to his sister,--
"But thou must ask thy friend and playmate to ride forth with thee tosee the sight. Methinks Mistress Alys scarce knows what a hunt in ourforest is like."
"Oh, she will come, I doubt not," answered the Demoiselle gaily; "andLeofric shall come too, and ride with us, so that we may be wellescorted even if our servants be all lured away in the ardour of thechase, as is ofttimes the way."
All this was speedily settled. The orders went forth for the huntsmen tomake a cordon round a certain part of the forest, enclosing the lairwherein the great beast had been known to secrete himself for many dayspast. It was to be their business to see that he did not break bounds,and escape to the more distant portions of the forest; whilst thePrince, at the head of his hunting-party, was to follow and track himdown, and seek at last to slay him.
It was like to be an exciting day's sport; for the fierce old boar was awily customer and a tough one, and he would probably give no smalltrouble to dogs and men alike.
This, however, only added to the ardour of the chase, and it was withfeelings of elation and excitement that the party rode forth from thegates of Kenilworth on that bright summer's morning, long before the dewwas off the grass--dogs baying, horses prancing, riders exchanging gaysallies as they took the road to the forest under the direction of thehead huntsman.
For the moment the Demoiselle rode ahead with the Prince her cousin,Lords Henry and Guy being of the group. A little behind them wasAmalric, keeping close at Alys's bridle rein; whilst Leofric rode at hisside, enjoying the exhilaration of the fresh morning air and theexcitements of the gay scene.
He knew the country in the immediate vicinity of Kenilworth pretty wellby this time; but he had not often penetrated deeply into the foresttracks, and to-day he was greatly impressed by the grandeur of thestately woodland trees and the beauty of the long glades of grass andbracken, where deer browsed or scampered off at their approach, andsmall game scuttled away in hot haste at sound of the horses' feet.
But though several tempting quarries crossed its path, the hunt turnedneither to right nor left, but pursued its way along a narrow trackwhich seemed to lead to the very heart of the forest.
They were now approaching the region where the boar was known to belurking, and the dogs began to whimper and show signs of uneasiness. OldRalph, an aged huntsman who had lost an arm, but whose sagacity andfidelity were always to be depended upon, here rode up, and told thePrince that the boar was in a thicket not far away. Then he coaxed theDemoiselle and her companion to separate for a time from the rest of theparty, and put themselves under his protection; and he promised themthat if they would but obey and follow him, he would place them wherethey should see the end of the hunt, without peril to themselves orembarrassment to the huntsmen.
The child was rather loth to accede to this, but Prince Edward advisedher to do so; and finally, whilst the rest of the party rode onwardwarily towards the thicket, the two girls, together with Amalric,Leofric, and Ralph, pursued a different and circuitous path,
being onlymade aware by the baying of the dogs and the shouts of their men thatthe quarry had been found, and that the chase had begun.
"We shall miss it all! we shall miss it all!" cried the Demoisellepetulantly; but old Ralph assured her to the contrary.
"Bide a bit, my little lady, bide a bit, and you shall see the best ofthe sport yet. Think you, fair ladies and brave gentlemen, that yon oldbrute will be slain in half an hour? Nay, but the chase will be long andsore, and many a good dog will get his death-wound ere the savagecreature falls to rise no more. Pray Heaven no hurt come to the braveyoung Prince; for men have been done to death ere this by savage boarsof the forest. Yet methinks he has stout heart and cunning hand, and ascore of good riders to come to his aid."
The Demoiselle might pout and fret in impatience, but there was nothingfor it but to follow old Ralph, who could guide his horse cleverlyenough with his left hand, though helpless now to draw bow or wage warwith any fierce denizen of the wood. But he had strung to his saddle asteel-pointed spear of wonderful sharpness and temper, and several timeshe excited the admiration of his companions by the skill with which hethrew it, and brought to the ground some small beast against which hehad launched it.
Talking with old Ralph and hearing his woodland stories made time passfast, and the Demoiselle was quite coaxed from her fit of ill-temper eresudden sounds broke upon their ears telling them that they wereapproaching to the hunt or the hunt to them once more.
"It is as I thought!" cried old Ralph, in some excitement.
"They have brought him to bay in the elves' hollow! I knew he would takethem there at the last. Now come quickly this way, my little lady, andyou shall see what you shall see."
They cantered their horses up the brow of a wooded knoll, and all in amoment the scene of the hunt broke upon their eyes. The hunt indeed! forthere was the fierce old boar down in the shallow pool, with the rockbehind him, and five dogs, dead or dying, lying on the banks or in theblood-stained water. He was there, and a handful of huntsmen in a ringround him; but of these one was wounded, several more were weary. Itlooked indeed as though the monster of the woods were getting the betterof his adversaries.
But with a sudden shout as of triumph the Prince came charging down thehillside. He sprang from his horse and seized his spear, and before anyone could hold him back he had sprung into the water, and was facing thefurious creature, who looked ready and able to tear him in pieces withhis gleaming tusks.
"Nay, but that is madness!" cried old Ralph; "the Prince will lose hislife!" Others, it seemed, were of the same opinion; for there was aforward dash amongst the group around, some seeking to withhold thePrince, others to plunge their weapons in the body of the boar. A sceneof wild confusion ensued, in which more than one sharp cry of humansuffering rang out; and Amalric, unable to contain himself longer,rushed down to join the fray, crying out in his dread,--
"The Prince! the Prince! have a care for the Prince! Pray Heaven he benot wounded!"
The face of old Ralph was white, and working with emotion,--
"Would that I had the strength of my good right arm!" he cried; "thenwould I give the monster his quietus."
"How?" asked Leofric, shaking with excitement. "Tell me, and give me thygood spear; I trow I could wield it well!"
It seemed time indeed that something should be done, for the furiouscreature was goring and fighting like a mad thing, and one blow fromthose terrible tusks might mean death to man or dog. The Demoiselle hadcovered her face, and was shrieking with fear; whilst Alys, white andwild-eyed, felt as though turned into stone.
Eagerly did old Ralph talk to Leofric, giving him the pointed spear andfilling his ears with directions and cautions. Thus fortified didLeofric creep quietly down the little bluff on which they were standing,fetching a circuit, and approaching to the scene of the fray from behindthe rock, against which the boar had planted himself. With snake-likemovement did he work himself upon the rock, the sound of his approachbeing lost in the hideous din of the fight; then suddenly springing tohis feet, he drove the sharp-headed spear into the shoulder of thesavage monster, who turned suddenly upon his new assailant with animpulse of awful and ungovernable fury, and in making a furious lunge athim with his bloody tusks, fell helplessly into the crimson water andexpired without a groan.
"By the arm of St. James," cried Henry de Montfort, using a favouriteexpression of his father's, "that was well and bravely done!"
Next moment Leofric felt his hand taken by that of the Prince, who saidin a low voice,--
"Leofric Wyvill! methinks that thou hast saved the life of the King'sson this day. Thou shalt not find him ungrateful if the occasion when hecan serve thee shall arise."