CHAPTER XVIII
IVRY.
The day after the capture of Breda Sir Francis Vere sent for LionelVickars to his quarters. Prince Maurice and several of his principalofficers were there, and the prince thanked him warmly for the share hehad taken in the capture of the town.
"Captain Heraugiere has told me," he said, "that the invention of thescheme that has ended so well is due as much to you as to him, that youaccompanied him on the reconnoitring expedition and shared in thedangers of the party in the barge. I trust Sir Francis Vere willappoint you to the first ensigncy vacant in his companies, but shouldthere be likely to be any delay in this I will gladly give you acommission in one of my own regiments."
"I have forestalled your wish, prince," Sir Francis said, "and havethis morning given orders that his appointment shall be made out asensign in one of my companies, but at present I do not intend him tojoin. I have been ordered by the queen to send further aid to help theKing of France against the League. I have already despatched severalcompanies to Brittany, and will now send two others. I would that myduties permitted me personally to take part in the enterprise, for thebattle of the Netherlands is at present being fought on the soil ofFrance; but this is impossible. Several of my friends, however,volunteers and others, will journey with the two companies, beingdesirous of fighting under the banner of Henry of Navarre. Sir RalphPimpernel, who is married to a French Huguenot lady and has connectionsat the French court, will lead them. I have spoken to him this morning,and he will gladly allow my young friend here to accompany him, I thinkthat it is the highest reward I can give him, to afford him thus anopportunity of seeing stirring service; for I doubt not that in a veryshort time a great battle will be fought. We know that Alva has senteighteen hundred of the best cavalry of Flanders to aid the League, andhe is sure to have given orders that they are to be back again as soonas possible. How do you like the prospect, Lionel?"
Lionel warmly expressed his thanks to Sir Francis Vere for hiskindness, and said that nothing could delight him more than to takepart in such an enterprise.
"I must do something at any rate to prove my gratitude for your sharein the capture of this city," Prince Maurice said; "and will send youpresently two of the best horses of those we have found in thegovernor's stables, together with arms and armour suitable to your rankas an officer of Sir Francis Vere."
Upon the following morning a party of ten knights and gentlemen,including Lionel Vickars, rode to Bergen-op-Zoom. The two companies,which were drawn from the garrison of that town, had embarked theevening before in ships that had come from England to transport them toFrance. Sir Ralph Pimpernel and his party at once went on board, and assoon as their horses were embarked the sails were hoisted. Four days'voyage took them to the mouth of the Seine, and they landed at Honfleuron the south bank of the river. There was a large number of ships inport, for the Protestant princes of Germany were, as well as England,sending aid to Henry of Navarre, and numbers of gentlemen andvolunteers were flocking to his banners.
For the moment Henry IV. represented in the eyes of Europe theProtestant cause. He was supported by the Huguenots of France and bysome of the Catholic noblemen and gentry. Against him were arrayed thegreater portion of the Catholic nobles, the whole faction of the Guisesand the Holy League, supported by Philip of Spain.
The party from Holland disembarked at mid-day on the 9th of March.Hearing rumours that a battle was expected very shortly to take place,Sir Ralph Pimpernel started at once with his mounted party for Dreux,which town was being besieged by Henry, leaving the two companies offoot to press on at their best speed behind him. The distance to beridden was about sixty miles, and late at night on the 10th they rodeinto a village eight miles from Dreux. Here they heard that the Duke ofMayenne, who commanded the force of the League, was approaching theSeine at Mantes with an army of ten thousand foot and four thousandhorse.
"We must mount at daybreak, gentlemen," Sir Ralph Pimpernel said, "orthe forces of the League will get between us and the king. It isevident that we have but just arrived in time, and it is well we didnot wait for our foot-men."
The next morning they mounted early and rode on to the royal camp nearDreux. Here Sir Ralph Pimpernel found Marshal Biron, a relation of hiswife, who at once took him to the king.
"You have just arrived in time, Sir Ralph," the king said when MarshalBiron introduced him, "for to-morrow, or at latest the day after, weare likely to try our strength with Mayenne. You will find many of yourcompatriots here. I can offer you but poor hospitality at present, buthope to entertain you rarely some day when the good city of Paris opensits gates to us."
"Thanks, sire," Sir Ralph replied; "but we have come to fight and notto feast."
"I think I can promise you plenty of that at any rate," the king said."You have ten gentlemen with you, I hear, and also that there are twocompanies of foot from Holland now on their way up from Honfleur."
"They landed at noon the day before yesterday, sire, and will probablybe up to-morrow."
"They will be heartily welcome, Sir Ralph. Since Parma has sent solarge a force to help Mayenne it is but right that Holland, which isrelieved of the presence of these troops, should lend me a helpinghand."
Quarters were found for the party in a village near the camp; for theforce was badly provided with tents, the king's resources being at avery low ebb; he maintained the war, indeed, chiefly by the loans hereceived from England and Germany. The next day several bodies oftroops were seen approaching the camp. A quarter of an hour later thetrumpets blew; officers rode about, ordering the tents to be levelledand the troops to prepare to march. A messenger from Marshal Biron rodeat full speed into the village, where many of the volunteers fromEngland and Germany, besides the party of Sir Ralph Pimpernel, werelodged.
"The marshal bids me tell you, gentlemen, that the army moves at once.Marshal D'Aumont has fallen back from Ivry; Mayenne is advancing. Thesiege will be abandoned at present, and we march towards Nonancourt,where we shall give battle to-morrow if Mayenne is disposed for it."
The camps were struck and the waggons loaded, and the army marched toSt. Andre, a village situated on an elevated plain commanding a view ofall the approaches from the country between the Seine and Eure.
"This is a fine field for a battle," Sir Ralph said, as the troopshalted on the ground indicated by the camp-marshals. "It is splendidground for cavalry to act, and it is upon them the brunt of thefighting will fall We are a little stronger in foot; for severalcompanies from Honfleur, our own among them, have come up this morning,and I hear we muster twelve thousand, which is a thousand more thanthey say Mayenne has with him. But then he has four thousand cavalry toour three thousand; and Parma's regiments of Spaniards, Walloons, andItalian veterans are far superior troops to Henry's bands of riders,who are mostly Huguenot noblemen and gentlemen, with their armedretainers, tough and hardy men to fight, as they have shown themselveson many a field, but without any of the discipline of Parma's troopers.
"If Parma himself commanded yonder army I should not feel confident ofthe result; but Mayenne, though a skilful general, is slow andcautious, while Henry of Navarre is full of fire and energy, and bravealmost to rashness. We are to muster under the command of the kinghimself. He will have eight hundred horse, formed into six squadrons,behind him, and upon these will, I fancy, come the chief shock of thebattle. He will be covered on each side by the English and Swissinfantry; in all four thousand strong.
"Marshal Biron will be on the right with five troops of horse and fourregiments of French infantry; while on the left will be the troops ofD'Aumont, Montpensier, Biron the younger, D'Angouleme, and De Givry,supported in all by two regiments of French infantry, one of Swiss, andone of German. The marshal showed us the plan of battle last night inhis tent. It is well balanced and devised."
It was late in the evening before the whole of the force had reachedthe position and the tents were erected. One of these had been placedat the disposal of Sir Ralph's party. Sir Ralph and f
our of hiscompanions had been followed by their mounted squires, and thesecollected firewood, and supplied the horses with forage from the sacksthey carried slung from their saddles, while the knights and gentlementhemselves polished up their arms and armour, so as to make as brave ashow as possible in the ranks of the king's cavalry.
When they had eaten their supper Lionel Vickars strolled through thecamp, and was amused at the contrast presented by the various groups.The troops of cavalry of the French nobles were gaily attired; thetents of the officers large and commodious, with rich hangings andappointments. The sound of light-hearted laughter came from the groupsround the camp-fires, squires and pages moved about thickly, and it wasevident that comfort, and indeed luxury, were considered by thecommanders as essential even upon a campaign. The encampments of theGerman, Swiss, and English infantry were of far humbler design. Thetents of the officers were few in number, and of the simplest form andmake. A considerable portion of the English infantry had been drawnfrom Holland, for the little army there was still the only body oftrained troops at Elizabeth's disposal.
The Swiss and Germans were for the most part mercenaries. Some had beenraised at the expense of the Protestant princes, others were paid fromthe sums supplied from England. The great proportion of the men werehardy veterans who had fought under many banners, and cared but littlefor the cause in which they were fighting, provided they obtained theirpay regularly and that the rations were abundant and of good quality.
The French infantry regiments contained men influenced by a variety ofmotives. Some were professional soldiers who had fought in many a fieldduring the long wars that had for so many years agitated France, otherswere the retainers of the nobles who had thrown in their cause withHenry, while others again were Huguenot peasants who were fighting, notfor pay, but in the cause of their religion.
The cavalry were for the most part composed of men of good family,relations, connections, or the superior vassals of the nobles whocommanded or officered them. The king's own squadrons were chieflycomposed of Huguenot gentlemen and their mounted retainers; but withthese rode many foreign volunteers like Sir Ralph Pimpernel's party,attracted to Henry's banner either from a desire to aid the Protestantcause or to gain military knowledge and fame under so brave and able amonarch, or simply from the love of excitement and military ardour.
The camp of this main body of cavalry or "battalia," as the body onwhom the commander of our army chiefly relied for victory was called,was comparatively still and silent. The Huguenot gentlemen, after thelong years of persecution to which those of their religion had beenexposed, were for the most part poor. Their appointments were simple,and they fought for conscience' sake, and went into battle with thestern enthusiasm that afterwards animated Cromwell's Ironsides.
It was not long before the camp quieted down; for the march had been along one, and they would be on their feet by daybreak The king himself,attended by Marshals D'Aumont and Biron, had gone through the wholeextent of the camp, seen that all was in order, that the troops hadeverywhere received their rations, and that the officers wereacquainted with the orders for the morrow. He stayed a short time inthe camp of each regiment and troop, saying a few words ofencouragement to the soldiers, and laughing and joking with theofficers. He paused a short time and chatted with Sir Ralph Pimpernel,who, at his request, introduced each of his companions to him.
Lionel looked with interest and admiration at the man who was regardedas the champion of Protestantism against Popery, and who combined inhimself a remarkable mixture of qualities seldom found existing in oneperson. He was brave to excess and apparently reckless in action, andyet astute, prudent, and calculating in council. With a manner frank,open, and winning, he was yet able to match the craftiest of opponentsat their own weapons of scheming and duplicity. The idol of theHuguenots of France, he was ready to purchase the crown of France atthe price of accepting the Catholic doctrines, for he saw that it washopeless for him in the long run to maintain himself against thehostility of almost all the great nobles of France, backed by the greatproportion of the people and aided by the pope and the Catholic powers,so long as he remained a Protestant. But this change of creed wasscarcely even foreseen by those who followed him, and it was theapparent hopelessness of his cause, and the gallantry with which hemaintained it, that attracted the admiration of Europe.
Henry's capital was at the time garrisoned by the troops of the popeand Spain. The great nobles of France, who had long maintained a sortof semi-independence of the crown, were all against him, and werecalculating on founding independent kingdoms. He himself wasexcommunicated. The League were masters of almost the whole of France,and were well supplied with funds by the pope and the Catholic powers,while Henry was entirely dependent for money upon what he could borrowfrom Queen Elizabeth and the States of Holland. But no one who listenedto the merry laugh of the king as he chatted with the little group ofEnglish gentlemen would have thought that he was engaged in a desperateand well-nigh hopeless struggle, and that the following day was to be adecisive one as to his future fortunes.
"Well, gentlemen," he said as he turned his horse to ride away, "I mustask you to lie down as soon as possible. As long as the officers areawake and talking the men cannot sleep; and I want all to have a goodnight's rest. The enemy's camp is close at hand, and the battle is sureto take place at early dawn."
As the same orders were given everywhere, the camp was quiet early, andbefore daylight the troops were called under arms and ranged in theorder appointed for them to fight in.
The army of the League was astir in equally good time. In its centrewas the battalia, composed of six hundred splendid cavalry, allnoblemen of France, supported by a column of three hundred Swiss andtwo thousand French infantry. On the left were six hundred Frenchcuirassiers and the eighteen hundred troops of Parma, commanded byCount Egmont. They were supported by six regiments of French andLorrainers, and two thousand Germans. The right wing was composed ofthree regiments of Spanish lancers, two troops of Germans, four hundredcuirassiers, and four regiments of infantry.
When the sun rose and lighted up the contending armies, the differencebetween their appearance was very marked. That of the League was gaywith the gilded armour, waving plumes, and silken scarfs of the Frenchnobles, whose banners fluttered brightly in the air, while the Walloonsand Flemish rivalled their French comrades in the splendour of theirappointments. In the opposite ranks there was neither gaiety nor show.The Huguenot nobles and gentlemen, who had for so many years beenfighting for life and religion, were clad in armour dinted in a hundredbattle-fields; and while the nobles of the League were confident ofvictory, and loud in demanding to be led against the foe, Henry ofNavarre and his soldiers were kneeling, praying to the God of battlesto enable them to bear themselves well in the coming fight. Henry ofNavarre wore in his helmet a snow-white plume, which he ordered histroops to keep in view, and to follow wherever they should see itwaving, in case his banner went down.
Artillery still played but a small part in battles on the field, andthere were but twelve pieces on the ground, equally divided between thetwo armies. These opened the battle, and Count Egmont, whose cavalryhad suffered from the fire of the Huguenot cannon, ordered a charge,and the splendid cavalry of Parma swept down upon the right wing ofHenry. The cavalry under Marshal Biron were unable to withstand theshock and were swept before them, and Egmont rode on right up to theguns and sabred the artillerymen. Almost at the same moment the Germanriders under Eric of Brunswick, the Spanish and French lancers, chargeddown upon the centre of the Royal Army. The rout of the right wingshook the cavalry in the centre. They wavered, and the infantry ontheir flanks fell back, but the king and his officers rode among them,shouting and entreating them to stand firm. The ground in their frontwas soft and checked the impetuosity of the charge of the Leaguers, andby the time they reached the ranks of the Huguenots they were brokenand disordered, and could make no impression whatever upon them.
As soon as the charge was repulsed, Henry s
et his troops in motion, andthe battalia charged down upon the disordered cavalry of the League.The lancers and cuirassiers were borne down by the impetuosity of thecharge, and Marshal Biron, rallying his troops, followed the king'swhite plume into the heart of the battle. Egmont brought up the cavalryof Flanders to the scene, and was charging at their head when he felldead with a musket-ball through the heart. Brunswick went down in thefight, and the shattered German and Walloon horse were completelyoverthrown and cut to pieces by the furious charges of the Huguenotcavalry.
At one time the victorious onset was checked by the disappearance ofthe king's snow-white plumes, and a report ran through the army thatthe king was killed. They wavered irresolutely. The enemy, regainingcourage from the cessation of their attacks, were again advancing, whenthe king reappeared bareheaded and covered with dust and blood, butentirely unhurt. He addressed a few cheerful words to his soldiers, andagain led a charge. It was irresistible; the enemy broke and fled inthe wildest confusion hotly pursued by the royalist cavalry, while theinfantry of the League, who had so far taken no part whatever in thebattle, were seized with a panic, threw away their arms, and soughtrefuge in the woods in their rear.
Thus the battle was decided only by the cavalry, the infantry taking nopart in the fight on either side. Eight hundred of the Leaguers eitherfell on the battle-field or were drowned in crossing the river in theirrear. The loss of the royalists was but one-fourth that number. Had theking pushed forward upon Paris immediately after the battle, the citywould probably have surrendered without a blow; and the Huguenotleaders urged this course upon him. Biron and the other Catholics,however, argued that it was better to undertake a regular siege, andthe king yielded to this advice, although the bolder course would havebeen far more in accordance with his own disposition.
He was probably influenced by a variety of motives. In the first placehis Swiss mercenaries were in a mutinous condition, and refused toadvance a single foot unless they received their arrears of pay, andthis Henry, whose chests were entirely empty, had no means ofproviding. In the second place he was at the time secretly innegotiation with the pope for his conversion, and may have feared togive so heavy a blow to the Catholic cause as would have been effectedby the capture of Paris following closely after the victory of Ivry. Atany rate he determined upon a regular siege. Moving forward he seizedthe towns of Lagny on the Marne, and Corbeil on the Seine, thusentirely cutting off the food supply of Paris.
Lionel Vickars had borne his part in the charges of the Huguenotcavalry, but as the company to which he belonged was in the rear of thebattalia, he had no personal encounters with the enemy.
After the advance towards Paris the duties of the cavalry consistedentirely in scouting the country, sweeping in provisions for their ownarmy, and preventing supplies from entering Paris. No siege operationswere undertaken, the king relying upon famine alone to reduce the city.Its population at the time the siege commenced was estimated at400,000, and the supply of provisions to be sufficient for a month. Itwas calculated therefore that before the League could bring up anotherarmy to its relief, it must fall by famine.
But no allowance had been made for the religious enthusiasm anddevotion to the cause of the League that animated the population ofParis. Its governor, the Duke of Nemours, brother of Mayenne, aided bythe three Spanish delegates, the Cardinal Gaetano, and by an army ofpriests and monks, sustained the spirits of the population; and thoughthe people starved by thousands, the city resisted until towards theend of August. In that month the army of the League, united with twelvethousand foot and three thousand horse from the Netherlands under Parmahimself, advanced to its assistance; while Maurice of Holland, with asmall body of Dutch troops and reinforcements from England, hadstrengthened the army of the king.
The numbers of the two armies were not unequal. Many of the Frenchnobles had rallied round Henry after his victory, and of his cavalryfour thousand were nobles and their retainers who served at their ownexpense, and were eager for a battle. Parma himself had doubts as tothe result of the conflict. He could rely upon the troops he himselfhad brought, but had no confidence in those of the League; and whenHenry sent him a formal challenge to a general engagement, Parmareplied that it was his custom to refuse a combat when a refusal seemedadvantageous for himself, and to offer battle whenever it suited hispurpose to fight.
For seven days the two armies, each some twenty-five thousand strong,lay within a mile or two of each other. Then the splendid cavalry ofParma moved out in order of battle, with banners flying, and thepennons of the lances fluttering in the wind. The king was delightedwhen he saw that the enemy were at last advancing to the fight. He puthis troops at once under arms, but waited until the plan of the enemy'sbattle developed itself before making his dispositions. But while theimposing array of cavalry was attracting the king's attention, Parmamoved off with the main body of his army, threw a division across theriver on a pontoon bridge, and attacked Lagny on both sides.
When Lagny was first occupied some of Sir Ralph Pimpernel's party wereappointed to take up their quarters there, half a company of theEnglish, who had come with them from Holland, were also stationed inthe town, the garrison being altogether 1200 strong. Lionel's horse hadreceived a bullet wound at Ivry, and although it carried him for thenext day or two, it was evident that it needed rest and attention, andwould be unfit to carry his rider for some time. Lionel had no likingfor the work of driving off the cattle of the unfortunate landownersand peasants, however necessary it might be to keep the army suppliedwith food, and was glad of the excuse that his wounded horse affordedhim for remaining quietly in the town when his comrades rode out withthe troop of cavalry stationed there.
It happened that the officer in command of the little body of Englishinfantry was taken ill with fever, and Sir Ralph Pimpernel requestedLionel to take his place. This he was glad to do, as he was more athome at infantry work than with cavalry. The time went slowly, butLionel, who had comfortable quarters in the house of a citizen, did notfind it long. The burgher's family consisted of his wife and twodaughters, and these congratulated themselves greatly upon having anofficer quartered upon them who not only acted as a protection to themagainst the insolence of the rough soldiery, but was courteous andpleasant in his manner, and tried in every way to show that he regardedhimself as a guest and not a master.
After the first week's stay he requested that instead of having hismeals served to him in a room apart he might take them with the family.The girls were about Lionel's age, and after the first constraint woreoff he became great friends with them; and although at first he haddifficulty in making himself understood, he rapidly picked up a littleFrench, the girls acting as his teachers.
"What do you English do here?" the eldest of them asked him when sixweeks after his arrival they were able to converse fairly in a mixtureof French and Spanish. "Why do you not leave us French people to fightout our quarrels by ourselves?"
"I should put it the other way," Lionel laughed. "Why don't you Frenchpeople fight out your quarrels among yourselves instead of calling inforeigners to help you? It is because the Guises and the League havecalled in the Spaniards to fight on the Catholic side that the Englishand Dutch have come to help the Huguenots. We are fighting the battleof our own religion here, not the battle of Henry of Navarre."
"I hate these wars of religion," the girl said. "Why can we not allworship in our own way?"
"Ah, that is what we Protestants want to know, Mademoiselle Claire;that is just what your people won't allow. Did you not massacre theProtestants In France on the eve of St. Bartholomew? and have not theSpaniards been for the last twenty years trying to stamp out with fireand sword the new religion in the Low Countries? We only want to beleft alone."
"But your queen of England kills the Catholics."
"Not at all," Lionel said warmly; "that is only one of the stories theyspread to excuse their own doings. It is true that Catholics in Englandhave been put to death, and so have people of the sect that callthems
elves Anabaptists; but this has been because they had been engagedin plots against the queen, and not because of their religion. TheCatholics of England for the most part joined as heartily as theProtestants in the preparations for the defence of England in the timeof the Armada. For my part, I cannot understand why people shouldquarrel with each other because they worship God in different ways."
"It is all very bad, I am sure," the girl said; "France has been tornto pieces by these religious wars for years and years. It is dreadfulto think what they must be suffering in Paris now."
"Then why don't they open their gates to King Henry instead of starvingthemselves at the orders of the legate of the pope and the agent ofPhilip of Spain? I could understand if there was another French princewhom they wanted as king instead of Henry of Navarre. We fought foryears in England as to whether we would have a king from the house ofYork or the house of Lancaster, but when it comes to choosing between aking of your own race and a king named for you by Philip of Spain, Ican't understand it."
"Never mind, Master Vickars. You know what you are fighting for, don'tyou?"
"I do; I am fighting here to aid Holland. Parma is bringing all histroops to aid the Guises here, and while they are away the Dutch willtake town after town, and will make themselves so strong that whenParma goes back he will find the nut harder than ever to crack."
"How long will Paris hold out, think you, Master Vickars? They say thatprovisions are well-nigh spent."
"Judging from the way in which the Dutch towns held on for weeks andweeks after, as it seemed, all supplies were exhausted, I should saythat if the people of Paris are as ready to suffer rather than yield aswere the Dutch burghers, they may hold on for a long time yet It iscertain that no provisions can come to them as long as we holdpossession of this town, and so block the river."
"But if the armies of Parma and the League come they may drive youaway, Master Vickars."
"It is quite possible, mademoiselle; we do not pretend to beinvincible, but I think there will be some tough fighting first."
As the weeks went on Lionel Vickars came to be on very intimate termswith the family. The two maid-servants shared in the general liking forthe young officer. He gave no more trouble than if he were one of thefamily, and on one or two occasions when disturbances were caused bythe ill-conduct of the miscellaneous bands which constituted thegarrison, he brought his half company of English soldiers at once intothe house, and by his resolute attitude prevented the marauders fromentering.
When Parma's army approached Sir Ralph Pimpernel with the cavalryjoined the king, but Lionel shared in the disappointment felt by allthe infantry of the garrison of Lagny that they could take no share inthe great battle that was expected. Their excitement rose high whilethe armies lay watching each other. From the position of the town downby the river neither army was visible from its walls, and they onlylearned when occasional messengers rode in how matters were going on.
One morning Lionel was awoke by a loud knocking at his door. "What isit?" he shouted, as he sat up in bed.
"It is I--Timothy Short, Master Vickars. The sergeant has sent me towake you in all haste. The Spaniards have stolen a march upon us. Theyhave thrown a bridge across the river somewhere in the night, and mostall their army stands between us and the king, while a division arepreparing to besiege the town on the other side." Lionel was hastilythrowing on his clothes and arming himself while the man was speaking.
"Tell the sergeant," he said, "to get the men under arms. I will bewith him in a few minutes."
When Lionel went out he found that the household was already astir.
"Go not out fasting," his host said. "Take a cup of wine and some foodbefore you start. You may be some time before you get an opportunity ofeating again if what they say is true."
"Thank you heartily," Lionel replied as he sat down to the table, onwhich some food had already been placed; "it is always better to fightfull than fasting."
"Hark you!" the bourgeois said in his ear; "if things go badly with youmake your way here. I have a snug hiding-place, and I shall take refugethere with my family if the Spaniards capture the town. I have heard oftheir doings in Holland, and that when they capture a town they spareneither age nor sex, and slay Catholics as well as Protestants;therefore I shall take refuge till matters have quieted down and orderis restored. I shall set to work at once to carry my valuables there,and a goodly store of provisions. My warehouseman will remain in chargeabove. He is faithful and can be trusted, and he will tell theSpaniards that I am a good Catholic, and lead them to believe that Ifled with my family before the Huguenots entered the town."
"Thank you greatly," Lionel replied; "should the need arise I will takeadvantage of your kind offer. But it should not do so. We have twelvehundred men here, and half that number of citizens have kept theSpaniards at bay for months before towns no stronger than this inHolland. We ought to be able to defend ourselves here for weeks, andthe king will assuredly come to our relief in two or three days at theoutside."
Upon Lionel sallying out he found the utmost confusion and disorderreigning. The commandant was hurriedly assigning to the variouscompanies composing the garrison their places upon the walls. Many ofthe soldiers were exclaiming that they had been betrayed, and that itwere best to make terms with the Spaniards at once. The differencebetween the air of quiet resolution that marked the conduct of thepeople and troops at Sluys and the excitement manifested here struckLionel unpleasantly. The citizens all remained in their houses, afraidlest the exultation they felt at the prospect of deliverance would beso marked as to enrage the soldiery. Lionel's own company was standingquietly and in good order in the market-place, and as soon as hereceived orders as to the point that he should occupy on the wallsLionel marched them away.
In half an hour the Spanish batteries, which had been erected duringthe night, opened fire upon several points of the walls. The town wasill provided with artillery, and the answer was feeble, and beforeevening several breaches had been effected, two of the gates blown in,and the Spaniards advanced to the assault. Lionel and his company, withone composed of Huguenot gentlemen and their retainers and another ofGermans, defended the gate at which they were posted with greatbravery, and succeeded in repulsing the attacks of the Spaniards timeafter time. The latter pressed forward in heavy column, only to recoilbroken and shattered from the archway, which was filled high with theirdead. The defenders had just succeeded in repulsing the last of theseattacks, when some soldiers ran by shouting "All is lost, the Spaniardshave entered the town at three points!"
The German company at once disbanded and scattered. The Huguenot noblesaid to Lionel: "I fear that the news is true; listen to the shouts andcries in the town behind us. I will march with my men and see if thereis any chance of beating back the Spaniards; if not it were best to laydown our arms and ask for quarter. Will you try to hold this gate untilI return?"
"I will do so," Lionel said; "but I have only about thirty men left,and if the Spaniards come on again we cannot hope to repulse them."
"If I am not back in ten minutes it will be because all is lost," theHuguenot said; "and you had then best save yourself as you can."
But long before the ten minutes passed crowds of fugitives ran past,and Lionel learned that great numbers of the enemy had entered, andthat they were refusing quarter and slaying all they met.
"It is useless to stay here longer to be massacred," he said to hismen. "I should advise you to take refuge in the churches, leaving yourarms behind you as you enter. It is evident that further resistance isuseless, and would only cost us our lives. The Spaniards are twenty toone, and it is evident that all hope of resistance is at an end." Themen were only too glad to accept the advice, and, throwing down theirarms, hurried away. Lionel sheathed his sword, and with the greatestdifficulty made his way through the scene of wild confusion to thehouse where he had lodged. The doors of most of the houses were fastclosed, and the inhabitants wore hurling down missiles of all kindsfrom the upper windo
ws upon their late masters. The triumphant shoutsof the Spaniards rose loud in the air, mingled with despairing criesand the crack of firearms. Lionel had several narrow escapes from themissiles thrown from the windows and roofs, but reached the house ofthe merchant safely. The door was half opened.
"Thanks be to heaven that you have come. I had well-nigh given you up,and in another minute should have closed the door. The women are allbelow, but I waited until the last minute for you."
Barring the door Lionel's host led the way downstairs into a greatcellar, which served as a warehouse, and extended under the wholehouse. He made his way through the boxes and bales to the darkestcorner of the great cellar. Here he pulled up a flag and showed anothernarrow stair, at the bottom of which a torch was burning. BiddingLionel descend he followed him, lowered the flag behind him, and thenled the way along a narrow passage, at the end of which was a door.Opening it Lionel found himself in an arched chamber. Two torches wereburning, and the merchant's wife and daughters and the two femaledomestics were assembled. There was a general exclamation of gladnessas Lionel entered.
"We have been greatly alarmed," the mercer's wife said, "lest youshould not be able to gain the house, Master Vickars; for we heard thatthe Spaniards are broken in at several points."
"It was fortunately at the other end of the town to that at which I wasstationed," Lionel said; "and I was just in time. You have a grandhiding-place here. It looks like the crypt of a church."
"That is just what it is," the mercer said. "It was the church of amonastery that stood here a hundred years ago. The monks then movedinto a grander place in Paris, and the monastery and church whichadjoined our house were pulled down and houses erected upon the site.My grandfather, knowing of the existence of the crypt, thought that itmight afford a rare hiding-place in case of danger, and had the passagedriven from his cellar into it. Its existence could never be suspected;for as our cellar extends over the whole of our house, as can easily beseen, none would suspect that there was a hiding-place without ourwalls. There are three or four chambers as large as this. One of themis stored with all my choicest silks and velvets, another will serve asa chamber for you and me. I have enough provisions for a couple ofmonths, and even should they burn the house down we are safe enoughhere."