Chapter 2: An Important Decision.
One day in June, 1567, Gaspard Vaillant and his wife went up toFletcher's farm.
"I have come up to have a serious talk with you, John, aboutPhilip. You see, in a few months he will be sixteen. He is alreadytaller than I am. Rene and Gustave both tell me that they havetaught him all they know with sword and dagger; and both have beenstout men-at-arms in their time, and assure me that the lad couldhold his own against any young French noble of his own age, andagainst not a few men. It is time that we came to some conclusionabout his future."
Gaspard Vaillant makes a proposal.]
"I have thought of it much, Gaspard. Lying here so helpless, mythoughts do naturally turn to him. The boy has grown almost beyondmy power of understanding. Sometimes, when I hear him laughing andjesting with the men, or with some of his school friends whom hebrings up here, it seems to me that I see myself again in him; andthat he is a merry young fellow, full of life and fun, and able tohold his own at singlestick, or to foot it round the maypole withany lad in Kent of his age. Then again, when he is talking with hismother, or giving directions in her name to the French labourers, Isee a different lad, altogether: grave and quiet, with a gentle,courteous way, fit for a young noble ten years his senior. I don'tknow but that between us, Gaspard, we have made a mess of it; andthat it might have been better for him to have grown up altogetheras I was, with no thought or care save the management of his farm,with a liking for sport and fun, when such came in his way."
"Not at all, not at all," Gaspard Vaillant broke in hastily, "wehave made a fine man of him, John; and it seems to me that hepossesses the best qualities of both our races. He is frank andhearty, full of life and spirits when, as you say, occasion offers;giving his whole heart either to work or play, with plenty ofdetermination, and what you English call backbone. There is, infact, a solid English foundation to his character. Then from ourside he has gained the gravity of demeanour that belongs to usHuguenots; with the courtesy of manner, the carriage and bearing ofa young Frenchman of good blood. Above all, John, he is a soberChristian, strong in the reformed faith, and with a burning hatredagainst its persecutors, be they French or Spanish.
"Well then, being what he is, what is to be done with him? In thefirst place, are you bent upon his remaining here? I think that,with his qualities and disposition, it would be well that for awhile he had a wider scope. Lucie has managed the farm for the lastfifteen years, and can well continue to do so for another ten, ifGod should spare her; and my own opinion is that, for that time, hemight be left to try his strength, and to devote to the good causethe talents God has given him, and the skill and training that hehas acquired through us; and that it would be for his good to makethe acquaintance of his French kinsfolk, and to see something ofthe world."
"I know that is Lucie's wish, also, Gaspard; and I have frequentlyturned the matter over in my mind, and have concluded that, shouldit be your wish also, it would be well for me to throw noobjections in the way. I shall miss the boy sorely; but young birdscannot be kept always in the nest, and I think that the lad hassuch good stuff in him that it were a pity to keep him shut uphere."
"Now, John," his brother-in-law went on, "although I may never havesaid quite as much before, I have said enough for you to know whatmy intentions are. God has not been pleased to bestow children uponus; and Philip is our nearest relation, and stands to us almost inthe light of a son. God has blest my work for the last twentyyears, and though I have done, I hope, fully my share towardsassisting my countrymen in distress, putting by always one-third ofmy income for that purpose, I am a rich man. The factory has grownlarger and larger; not because we desired greater gains, but that Imight give employment to more and more of my countrymen. Since thedeath of Lequoc, twelve years ago, it has been entirely in my handsand, living quietly as we have done, a greater portion of theprofits have been laid by every year; therefore, putting out ofaccount the money that my good sister has laid by, Philip willstart in life not ill equipped.
"I know that the lad has said nothing of any wishes he mayentertain--at his age it would not be becoming for him to do so,until his elders speak--but of late, when we have read to himletters from our friends in France, or when he has listened to thetales of those freshly arrived from their ruined homes, I havenoted that his colour rose; that his fingers tightened, as if on asword; and could see how passionately he was longing to join thosewho were struggling against their cruel oppressors. Not lessinterested has he been in the noble struggle that the Dutch aremaking against the Spaniards; a struggle in which many of ourexiled countrymen are sharing.
"One of his mother's cousins, the Count de La Noue, is, as youknow, prominent among the Huguenot leaders; and others of ourrelatives are ranged on the same side. At present there is a truce,but both parties feel that it is a hollow one; nevertheless itoffers a good opportunity for him to visit his mother's family.Whether there is any prospect of our ever recovering the landswhich were confiscated on our flight is uncertain. Should theHuguenots ever maintain their ground, and win freedom of worship inFrance, it may be that the confiscated estates will in many casesbe restored; as to that, however, I am perfectly indifferent. WereI a younger man, I should close my factory, return to France, andbear my share in the defence of the faith. As it is, I should liketo send Philip over as my substitute.
"It would, at any rate, be well that he should make theacquaintance of his kinsfolk in France; although even I should notwish that he should cease to regard England as his native countryand home. Hundreds of young men, many no older than himself, are inHolland fighting against the persecutors; and risking their lives,though having no kinship with the Dutch, impelled simply by theirlove of the faith and their hatred of persecution.
"I have lately, John, though the matter has been kept quiet,purchased the farms of Blunt and Mardyke, your neighbours on eitherhand. Both are nearly twice the size of your own. I have arrangedwith the men that, for the present, they shall continue to workthem as my tenants, as they were before the tenants of Sir JamesHolford; who, having wasted his money at court, has been forced tosell a portion of his estates. Thus, some day Phil will come intopossession of land which will place him in a good position, and Iam prepared to add to it considerably. Sir James Holford stillgambles away his possessions; and I have explained, to his notary,my willingness to extend my purchases at any time, should he desireto sell. I should at once commence the building of a comfortablemansion, but it is scarce worth while to do so; for it is probablethat, before many years, Sir James may be driven to part with hisHall, as well as his land. In the meantime I am ready to providePhilip with an income which will enable him to take his place withcredit among our kinsfolk, and to raise a company of some fifty mento follow him in the field, should Conde and the Huguenots again bedriven to struggle against the Guises.
"What do you think?"
"I think, in the first place, that Lucie and I should be indeedgrateful to you, Gaspard, for your generous offer. As to his goingto France, that I must talk over with his mother; whose wishes inthis, as in all respects, are paramount with me. But I may say atonce that, lying here as I do, thinking of the horrible crueltiesand oppressions to which men and women are subjected for thefaith's sake in France and Holland, I feel that we, who are happilyable to worship in peace and quiet, ought to hesitate at nosacrifice on their behalf; and moreover, seeing that, owing to myaffliction, he owes what he is rather to his mother and you than tome, I think your wish that he should make the acquaintance of hiskinsfolk in France is a natural one. I have no wish for the lad tobecome a courtier, English or French; nor that he should, asEnglishmen have done before now in foreign armies, gain greathonour and reputation; but if it is his wish to fight on behalf ofthe persecuted people of God, whether in France or in Holland, hewill do so with my heartiest goodwill; and if he die, he could notdie in a more glorious cause.
"Let us talk of other matters now, Gaspard. This is one that needsthought before more words are spoken."
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Two days later, John Fletcher had a long talk with Phil. The latterwas delighted when he heard the project, which was greatly inaccord with both sides of his character. As an English lad, helooked forward eagerly to adventure and peril; as French and of thereformed religion, he was rejoiced at the thought of fighting withthe Huguenots against their persecutors, and of serving under themen with whose names and reputations he was so familiar.
"I do not know your uncle's plans for you, as yet, Phil," hisfather said. "He went not into such matters, leaving these to betalked over after it had been settled whether his offer should beaccepted or not. He purposes well by you, and regards you as hisheir. He has already bought Blunt and Mardyke's farms, and purposesto buy other parts of the estates of Sir James Holford, as they mayslip through the knight's fingers at the gambling table. Therefore,in time, you will become a person of standing in the county; andalthough I care little for these things now, Phil, yet I shouldlike you to be somewhat more than a mere squire; and if you servefor a while under such great captains as Coligny and Conde, it willgive you reputation and weight.
"Your good uncle and his friends think little of such matters, butI own that I am not uninfluenced by them. Coligny, for example, isa man whom all honour; and that honour is not altogether because heis leader of the reformed faith, but because he is a great soldier.I do not think that honour and reputation are to be despised.Doubtless the first thing of all is that a man should be a goodChristian. But that will in no way prevent him from being a greatman; nay, it will add to his greatness.
"You have noble kinsfolk in France, to some of whom your uncle willdoubtless commit you; and it may be that you will have opportunitiesof distinguishing yourself. Should such occur, I am sure you willavail yourself of them, as one should do who comes of good stock onboth sides; for although we Fletchers have been but yeomen, fromgeneration to generation, we have been ever ready to take and giveour share of hard blows when they were going; and there have beenfew battles fought, since William the Norman came over, that aFletcher has not fought in the English ranks; whether in France, inScotland, or in our own troubles.
"Therefore it seems to me but natural that, for many reasons, youshould desire at your age to take part in the fighting; as anEnglishman, because Englishmen fought six years ago under thebanner of Conde; as a Protestant, on behalf of our persecutedbrethren; as a Frenchman by your mother's side, because you havekinsfolk engaged, and because it is the Pope and Philip of Spain,as well as the Guises, who are, in fact, battling to stamp outFrench liberty.
"Of one thing I am sure, my boy--you will disgrace neither anhonest English name, nor the French blood in your veins, nor yourprofession as a Christian and a Protestant. There are Englishmengaining credit on the Spanish Main, under Drake and Hawkins; thereare Englishmen fighting manfully by the side of the Dutch; thereare others in the armies of the Protestant princes of Germany; andin none of these matters are they so deeply concerned as you are inthe affairs of France and religion.
"I shall miss you, of course, Philip, and that sorely; but I havelong seen that this would probably be the upshot of your trainingand, since I can myself take no share in adventure, beyond thewalls of this house, I shall feel that I am living again in you.But, lad, never forget that you are English. You are PhilipFletcher, come of an old Kentish stock; and though you may beliving with French kinsfolk and friends, always keep uppermost thefact that you are an Englishman who sympathizes with France, andnot a Frenchman with some English blood in your veins. I have givenyou up greatly to your French relations here; but if you win creditand honour, I would have it won by my son, Philip Fletcher, born inEngland of an English father, and who will one day be a gentlemanand landowner in the county of Kent."
"I sha'n't forget that, father," Philip said earnestly. "I havenever regarded myself as in any way French; although speaking thetongue as well as English, and being so much among my mother'sfriends. But living here with you, where our people have lived somany years; hearing from you the tales from our history; seeingthese English fields around me; and being at an English school,among English boys, I have ever felt that I am English, though inno way regretting the Huguenot blood that I inherit from my mother.Believe me, that if I fight in France it will be as an Englishmanwho has drawn his sword in the quarrel, and rather as one who hatesoppression and cruelty than because I have French kinsmen engagedin it."
"That is well, Philip. You may be away for some years, but I trustthat, on your return, you will find me sitting here to welcome youback. A creaking wheel lasts long. I have everything to make mylife happy and peaceful--the best of wives, a well-ordered farm,and no thought or care as to my worldly affairs--and since it hasbeen God's will that such should be my life, my interest will bewholly centred in you; and I hope to see your children playinground me or, for ought I know, your grandchildren, for we are along-lived race.
"And now, Philip, you had best go down and see your uncle, andthank him for his good intentions towards you. Tell him that Iwholly agree with his plans, and that if he and your aunt will comeup this evening, we will enter farther into them."
That evening John Fletcher learned that it was the intention ofGaspard that his wife should accompany Philip.
"Marie yearns to see her people again," he said, "and the presentis a good time for her to do so; for when the war once breaks outagain, none can say how long it will last or how it will terminate.Her sister and Lucie's, the Countess de Laville, has, as you know,frequently written urgently for Marie to go over and pay her avisit. Hitherto I have never been able to bring myself to spareher, but I feel that this is so good an opportunity that I must lether go for a few weeks.
"Philip could not be introduced under better auspices. He willescort Marie to his aunt's, remain there with her, and then see heron board ship again at La Rochelle; after which, doubtless, he willremain at his aunt's, and when the struggle begins will ride withhis cousin Francois. I have hesitated whether I should go, also.But in the first place, my business would get on but badly withoutme; in the second, although Marie might travel safely enough, Imight be arrested were I recognized as one who had left the kingdomcontrary to the edicts; and lastly, I never was on very good termswith her family.
"Emilie, in marrying the Count de Laville, made a match somewhatabove her own rank; for the Lavilles were a wealthier and morepowerful family than that of Charles de Moulins, her father. On theother hand, I was, although of good birth, yet inferior inconsideration to De Moulins, although my lands were broader thanhis. Consequently we saw little of Emilie, after our marriage.Therefore my being with Marie would, in no way, increase the warmthof the welcome that she and Philip will receive. I may say that theestrangement was, perhaps, more my fault than that of the Lavilles.I chose to fancy there was a coolness on their part, which probablyexisted only in my imagination. Moreover, shortly after my marriagethe religious troubles grew serious; and we were all too muchabsorbed in our own perils, and those of our poorer neighbours, tothink of travelling about, or of having family gatherings.
"At any rate, I feel that Philip could not enter into life morefavourably than as cousin of Francois de Laville; who is but twoyears or so his senior, and who will, his mother wrote to Marie,ride behind that gallant gentleman, Francois de la Noue, if the warbreaks out again. I am glad to feel confident that Philip will inno way bring discredit upon his relations.
"I shall at once order clothes for him, suitable for the occasion. Theywill be such as will befit an English gentleman; good in material butsober in colour, for the Huguenots eschew bright hues. I will takehis measure, and send up to a friend in London for a helmet, breast,and back pieces, together with offensive arms, sword, dagger, andpistols. I have already written to correspondents, at Southamptonand Plymouth, for news as to the sailing of a ship bound for La Rochelle.There he had better take four men into his service, for in these days itis by no means safe to ride through France unattended; especially whenone is of the reformed religion. The roads abound with disbandedso
ldiers and robbers, while in the villages a fanatic might, at any time,bring on a religious tumult. I have many correspondents at La Rochelle,and will write to one asking him to select four stout fellows, who showedtheir courage in the last war, and can be relied on for good and faithfulservice. I will also get him to buy horses, and make all arrangementsfor the journey.
"Marie will write to her sister. Lucie, perhaps, had better writeunder the same cover; for although she can remember but little ofEmilie, seeing that she was fully six years her junior, it would benatural that she should take the opportunity to correspond withher.
"In one respect, Phil," he went on, turning to his nephew, "youwill find yourself at some disadvantage, perhaps, among youngFrenchmen. You can ride well, and I think can sit a horse with anyof them; but of the menage, that is to say, the purely ornamentalmanagement of a horse, in which they are most carefully instructed,you know nothing. It is one of the tricks of fashion, of whichplain men like myself know but little; and though I have often madeinquiries, I have found no one who could instruct you. However,these delicacies are rather for courtly displays than for the roughwork of war; though it must be owned that, in single combat betweentwo swordsmen, he who has the most perfect control over his horse,and can make the animal wheel or turn, press upon his opponent, orgive way by a mere touch of his leg or hand, possesses aconsiderable advantage over the man who is unversed in suchmatters. I hope you will not feel the want of it, and at any rate,it has not been my fault that you have had no opportunity ofacquiring the art.
"The tendency is more and more to fight on foot. The duel has takenthe place of the combat in the lists, and the pikeman counts for asmuch in the winning of a battle as the mounted man. You taught usthat at Cressy and Agincourt; but we have been slow to learn thelesson, which was brought home to you in your battles with theScots, and in your own civil struggles. It is the bow and the pikethat have made the English soldier famous; while in France, wherethe feudal system still prevails, horsemen still form a largeproportion of our armies; and the jousting lists, and the exerciseof the menage, still occupy a large share in the training andamusements of the young men of noble families."
Six weeks later, Philip Fletcher landed at La Rochelle, with hisaunt and her French serving maid. When the ship came into port, theclerk of a trader there came on board at once and, on the part ofhis employer, begged Madame Vaillant and her son to take up theirabode at his house; he having been warned of their coming by hisvalued correspondent, Monsieur Vaillant. A porter was engaged tocarry up their luggage to the house, whither the clerk at onceconducted them.
From his having lived so long among the Huguenot colony, the scenewas less strange to Philip than it would have been to most Englishlads. La Rochelle was a strongly Protestant city, and thesober-coloured costumes of the people differed but little fromthose to which he was accustomed in the streets of Canterbury. Hehimself and his aunt attracted no attention, whatever, frompassersby; her costume being exactly similar to those worn by thewives of merchants, while Philip would have passed anywhere as ayoung Huguenot gentleman, in his doublet of dark puce cloth,slashed with gray, his trunks of the same colour, and long grayhose.
"A proper-looking young gentleman," a market woman said to herdaughter, as he passed. "Another two or three years, and he willmake a rare defender of the faith. He must be from Normandy, withhis fair complexion and light eyes. There are not many of the truefaith in the north."
They were met by the merchant at the door of his house.
"I am glad indeed to see you again, Madame Vaillant," he said. "It issome twenty years, now, since you and your good husband and your sisterhid here, for three days, before we could smuggle you on board a ship.Ah! Those were bad times; though there have been worse since. But sinceour people showed that they did not intend, any longer, to be slaughteredunresistingly, things have gone better here, at least; and for the lastfour years the slaughterings and murders have ceased.
"You are but little changed, madame, since I saw you last."
"I have lived a quiet and happy life, my good Monsieur Bertram;free from all strife and care, save for anxiety about our peoplehere. Why cannot Catholics and Protestants live quietly side byside here, as they do in England?"
"We should ask nothing better, madame."
At this moment, a girl came hurrying down the stairs.
"This is my daughter Jean, madame.
"Why were you not down before, Jean?" he asked sharply. "I told youto place Suzette at the casement, to warn you when our visitorswere in sight, so that you should, as was proper, be at the door tomeet them. I suppose, instead of that, you had the maid arrangingyour headgear, or some such worldly folly."
The girl coloured hotly, for her father had hit upon the truth.
"Young people will be young people, Monsieur Bertram," MadameVaillant said, smiling, "and my husband and I are not of those whothink that it is necessary to carry a prim face, and to attireone's self in ugly garments, as a proof of religion. Youth is thetime for mirth and happiness, and nature teaches a maiden what isbecoming to her; why then should we blame her for setting off thecharms God has given her to their best advantage?"
By this time they had reached the upper storey, and the merchant'sdaughter hastened to relieve Madame Vaillant of her wraps.
"This is my nephew, of whom my husband wrote to you," the lattersaid to the merchant, when Philip entered the room--he havinglingered at the door to pay the porters, and to see that theluggage, which had come up close behind them, was stored.
"He looks active and strong, madame. He has the figure of a fineswordsman."
"He has been well taught, and will do no discredit to our race,Monsieur Bertram. His father is a strong and powerful man, even foran Englishman; and though Philip does not follow his figure, he hassomething of his strength."
"They are wondrous strong, these Englishmen," the trader said. "Ihave seen, among their sailors, men who are taller by a head thanmost of us here, and who look strong enough to take a bull by thehorns and hold him. But had it not been for your nephew's fair hairand gray eyes, his complexion, and the smile on his lips--we havealmost forgotten how to smile, in France--I should hardly havetaken him for an Englishman."
"There is nothing extraordinary in that, Monsieur Bertram, when hismother is French, and he has lived greatly in the society of myhusband and myself, and among the Huguenot colony at Canterbury."
"Have you succeeded in getting the horses and the four men for us,Monsieur Bertram?" Philip asked.
"Yes, everything is in readiness for your departure tomorrow.Madame will, I suppose, ride behind you upon a pillion; and hermaid behind one of the troopers.
"I have, in accordance with Monsieur Vaillant's instructions,bought a horse, which I think you will be pleased with; for Guisehimself might ride upon it, without feeling that he was illmounted. I was fortunate in lighting on such an animal. It was theproperty of a young noble, who rode hither from Navarre and wassailing for England. I imagine he bore despatches from the queen toher majesty of England. He had been set upon by robbers on the way.They took everything he possessed, and held him prisoner, doubtlessmeaning to get a ransom for him; but he managed to slip off whilethey slept, and to mount his horse, with which he easily left thevarlets behind, although they chased him for some distance. So whenhe came here, he offered to sell his horse to obtain an outfit andmoney for his voyage; and the landlord of the inn, who is a friendof mine, knowing that I had been inquiring for a good animal,brought him to me, and we soon struck a bargain."
"It was hard on him to lose his horse in that fashion," Philipsaid; "and I am sorry for it, though I may be the gainer thereby."
"He did not seem to mind much," the merchant said. "Horses are goodand abundant in Navarre, and when I said I did not like to takeadvantage of his strait, he only laughed and said he had three orfour others as good at home. He did say, though, that he would liketo know if it was to be in good hands. I assured him that on thatground he need not fear; for th
at I had bought it for a younggentleman, nearly related to the Countess de Laville. He said thatwas well, and seemed glad, indeed, that it was not to be ridden byone of the brigands into whose hands he fell."
"And the men. Are they trustworthy fellows?"
"They are stout men-at-arms. They are Gascons all, and rode behindColigny in the war, and according to their own account performedwonders; but as Gascons are given to boasting, I paid not much heedto that. However, they were recommended to me by a friend, a largewine grower, for whom they have been working for the last twoyears. He says they are honest and industrious, and they areleaving him only because they are anxious for a change and, deemingthat troubles were again approaching, wanted to enter the serviceof some Huguenot lord who would be likely to take the field. He waslamenting the fact to me, when I said that it seemed to me theywere just the men I was in search of; and I accordingly saw them,and engaged them on the understanding that, at the end of a month,you should be free to discharge them if you were not satisfied withthem; and that equally they could leave your service, if they didnot find it suit.
"They have arms, of course, and such armour as they need; and Ihave bought four serviceable horses for their use, together with ahorse to carry your baggage, but which will serve for your bodyservant.
"I have not found a man for that office. I knew of no one whowould, as I thought, suit you; and in such a business it seemed tome better that you should wait, and choose for yourself, for in thematter of servants everyone has his fancies. Some like a silentknave, while others prefer a merry one. Some like a tall properfellow, who can fight if needs be; others a staid man, who will dohis duty and hold his tongue, who can cook a good dinner and grooma horse well. It is certain you will never find all virtuescombined. One man may be all that you wish, but he is a liar;another helps himself; a third is too fond of the bottle. In thismatter, then, I did not care to take the responsibility, but haveleft it for you to choose for yourself."
"I shall be more likely to make a mistake than you will, MonsieurBertram," Philip said with a laugh.
"Perhaps so, but then it will be your own mistake; and a man chafesless, at the shortcomings of one whom he has chosen himself, thanat those of one who has, as it were, been forced upon him."
"Well, there will be no hurry in that matter," Philip said. "I canget on well enough without a servant, for a time. Up to thepresent, I have certainly never given a thought as to what kind ofman I should want as a servant; and I should like time to thinkover a matter which is, from what you say, so important."
"Assuredly it is important, young sir. If you should take thefield, you will find that your comfort greatly depends upon it. Asharp, active knave, who will ferret out good quarters for you,turn you out a good meal from anything he can get hold of, bringyour horse up well groomed in the morning, and your armour brightlypolished; who will not lie to you overmuch, or rob you overmuch,and who will only get drunk at times when you can spare hisservices. Ah! He would be a treasure to you. But assuredly such aman is not to be found every day."
"And of course," Marie put in, "in addition to what you have said,Monsieur Bertram, it would be necessary that he should be one ofour religion, and fervent and strong in the faith."
"My dear lady, I was mentioning possibilities," the trader said."It is of course advisable that he should be a Huguenot, it iscertainly essential that he should not be a Papist; but beyond thiswe need not inquire too closely. You cannot expect the virtues ofan archbishop, and the capacity of a horse boy. If he can find aman embracing the qualities of both, by all means let your sonengage him; but as he will require him to be a good cook, and agood groom, and he will not require religious instruction from him,the former points are those on which I should advise him to laymost stress.
"And now, Madame Vaillant, will you let me lead you into the nextroom where, as my daughter has for some time been trying to make meunderstand, a meal is ready? And I doubt not that you are alsoready; for truly those who travel by sea are seldom able to enjoyfood, save when they are much accustomed to voyaging. Though theytell me that, after a time, even those with the most delicatestomachs recover their appetites, and are able to enjoy the roughfare they get on board a ship."
After the meal was over, the merchant took Philip to the stables,where the new purchases had been put up. The men were not there,but the ostler brought out Philip's horse, with which he wasdelighted.
"He will not tire under his double load," the merchant said; "andwith only your weight upon him, a foeman would be well mounted,indeed, to overtake you."
"I would rather that you put it, Monsieur Bertram, that a foemanneeds be well mounted to escape me."
"Well, I hope it will be that way," his host replied, smiling. "Butin fighting such as we have here, there are constant changes. Theparty that is pursued one day is the pursuer a week later; and ofthe two, you know, speed is of much more importance in flight thanin pursuit. If you cannot overtake a foe, well, he gets away, andyou may have better fortune next time; but if you can't get awayfrom a foe, the chances are you may never have another opportunityof doing so."
"Perhaps you are right. In fact, now I think of it, I am sure youare; though I hope it will not often happen that we shall have todepend for safety on the speed of our horses. At any rate, I amdelighted with him, Monsieur Bertram; and I thank you greatly forprocuring so fine an animal for me. If the four men turn out to beas good, of their kind, as the horse, I shall be well set up,indeed."
Early the next morning the four men came round to the merchant's,and Philip went down with him into the entry hall where they were.He was well satisfied with their appearance. They were stoutfellows, from twenty-six to thirty years old. All were soberlydressed, and wore steel caps and breast pieces, and carried longswords by their sides. In spite of the serious expression of theirfaces, Philip saw that all were in high, if restrained, spirits atagain taking service.
"This is your employer, the Sieur Philip Fletcher. I have warrantedthat he shall find you good and true men, and I hope you will dojustice to my recommendation."
"We will do our best," Roger, the eldest of the party, said. "Weare all right glad to be moving again. It is not as if we had beenbred on the soil here, and a man never takes to a strange place asto one he was born in."
"You are Gascons, Maitre Bertram tells me," Philip said.
"Yes, sir. We were driven out from there ten years ago, when thetroubles were at their worst. Our fathers were both killed, and wetravelled with our mothers and sisters by night, through thecountry, till we got to La Rochelle."
"You say both your fathers. How are you related to each other?"
"Jacques and I are brothers," Roger said, touching the youngest ofthe party on his shoulder. "Eustace and Henri are brothers, and areour cousins. Their father and ours were brothers. When the troublesbroke out, we four took service with the Count de Luc, and followedhim throughout the war. When it was over we came back here. Ourmothers had married again. Some of our sisters had taken husbands,too. Others were in service. Therefore we remained here rather thanreturn to Gascony, where our friends and relations had all beeneither killed or dispersed.
"We were lucky in getting employment together, but were right gladwhen we heard that there was an opening again for service. For thelast two years we have been looking forward to it; for as everyonesees, it cannot be long before the matter must be fought out again.And in truth, we have been wearying for the time to come; for afterhaving had a year of fighting, one does not settle down readily totilling the soil.
"You will find that you can rely on us, sir, for faithful service.We all bore a good reputation as stout fighters and, during thetime we were in harness before, we none of us got into trouble forbeing overfond of the wine pots."
"I think you will suit me very well," Philip said, "and I hope thatmy service will suit you. Although an Englishman by birth and name,my family have suffered persecution here as yours have done, and Iam as warmly affected to the Huguenot cause as yourselves
. If thereis danger you will not find me lacking in leading you, and so faras I can I shall try to make my service a comfortable one, and tolook after your welfare.
"We shall be ready to start in half an hour, therefore have thehorses round at the door in that time. One of the pillions is to beplaced on my own horse. You had better put the other for the maidbehind your saddle, Roger; you being, I take it, the oldest of yourparty, had better take charge of her."
The men saluted and went out.
"I like their looks much," Philip said to the merchant. "Stoutfellows and cheerful, I should say. Like my aunt, I don't see whywe should carry long faces, Monsieur Bertram, because we havereformed our religion; and I believe that a light heart and goodspirits will stand wear and tear better than a sad visage."
The four men were no less pleased with their new employer.
"That is a lad after my own heart," Roger said, as they went out."Quick and alert, pleasant of face; and yet, I will be bound, noteasily turned from what he has set his mind to. He bears himselfwell, and I doubt not can use his weapons. I don't know what stockhe comes from, on this side, but I warrant it is a good one.
"He will make a good master, lads. I think that, as he says, hewill be thoughtful as to our comforts, and be pleasant and cheerfulwith us; but mind you, he will expect the work to be done, and youwill find that there is no trifling with him."