CHAPTER XII: JACOB VAN ARTEVELDE
King Edward found no difficulty in awakening the war spirit of Englandanew, for the King of France, in an act of infamous treachery, indespite of the solemn terms of the treaty, excited against himself theindignation not only of England but of all Europe. Oliver de Clisson,with fourteen other nobles of Brittany and Normandy, were arrested byhis order, taken to Paris, and without form of trial there decapitated.This act of treachery and injustice aroused disgust and shame among theFrench nobles, and murmurs and discontent spread throughout the wholecountry.
In Brittany numbers of the nobles fell off from the cause of Charles ofBlois, and King Edward hastened his preparations to avenge the butcheryof the adherents of the house of Montford. Phillip, however, in defianceof the murmurs of his own subjects, of the indignant remonstrancesof Edward, and even those of the pope, who was devoted to his cause,continued the course he had begun, and a number of other nobles wereseized and executed. Godfrey of Harcourt alone, warned by the fate ofhis companions, refused to obey the summons of the king to repair toParis, and fled to Brabant. His property in France was at once seized byPhillip; and Godfrey, finding that the Duke of Brabant would be unableto shield him from Phillip's vengeance, fled to the English court, anddid homage to Edward.
On the 24th of April, 1345, Edward determined no longer to allow Phillipto continue to benefit by his constant violations of the truce, andaccordingly sent a defiance to the King of France.
De Montford, who had just succeeded in escaping from his prison inParis, arrived at this moment in England, and shortly afterwards setsail with a small army under the command of the Earl of Northampton forBritanny, while the Earl of Derby took his departure with a larger forcefor the defence of Guienne.
King Edward set about raising a large army, which he determined to leadhimself, but before passing over to France he desired to strengthen hishold of Flanders. The constant intrigues of Phillip there had exerciseda great effect. The count of that country was already strongly in hisinterest, and it was only the influence of Jacob van Artevelde whichmaintained the alliance with England. This man had, by his talentand energy, gained an immense influence over his countrymen; but hiscommanding position and ability had naturally excited the envy andhatred of many of his fellow citizens, among whom was the dean of theweavers of Ghent, one Gerard Denis. The weavers were the most powerfulbody in this city, and had always been noted for their turbulence andfaction; and on a Monday in the month of May, 1345, a great battle tookplace in the market-place between them and the fullers, of whom 1500were slain. This victory of the weavers strengthened the power of theparty hostile to Artevelde and the English connection; and theformer saw that unless he could induce his countrymen to take someirretrievable step in favour of England they would ultimately fall backinto the arms of France. Accordingly he invited Edward to pass over witha strong force into Flanders, where he would persuade the Flemings tomake the Prince of Wales their duke. King Edward at once accepted theoffer, and sailing from Sandwich on the 3d of July arrived in safety atSluys. His intention had been kept a profound secret, and his arrivalcreated the greatest surprise throughout Flanders. He did not disembark,but received on board a ship with great honour and magnificence theburgomasters of the various towns who appeared to welcome him. The kinghad brought with him the Prince of Wales, now fifteen years old,who wore a suit of black armour, and was therefore called "the BlackPrince."
Walter Somers was on board the royal vessel. The Prince of Wales had notforgotten the promise which he had six years before made to him, and hadasked Sir Walter Manny to allow him to follow under his banner.
"You are taking my most trusty squire from me, Prince," the knight said;"for although I have many brave young fellows in my following, there isnot one whom I value so much as Walter Somers. It is but fair, however,that you should have him, since you told me when I first took him thathe was to follow your banner when you were old enough to go to the wars.You can rely upon him implicitly. He cares not for the gaieties of whichmost young men of his age think so much. He is ever ready for duty, andhe possesses a wisdom and sagacity which will some day make him a greatleader."
Walter was sorry to leave his patron, but the step was of course a greatadvancement, and excited no little envy among his companions, for amongthe young esquires of the Prince of Wales were the sons of many of thenoblest families of England.
Sir Walter presented him on leaving with a heavy purse. "Your expenseswill be large," he said, "among so many young gallants, and you must docredit to me as well as to yourself. The young prince is generous to afault, and as he holds you in high favour, both from his knowledge ofyou and from my report, you will, I know, lack nothing when you are oncefairly embarked in his service; but it is needful that when you firstjoin you should be provided with many suits of courtly raiment, of clothof gold and silk, which were not needed while you were in the serviceof a simple knight like myself, but which must be worn by a companion ofthe heir of England."
Walter had hoped that Sir James Carnegie would have accompanied theforces of either the Earls of Northampton or Derby, but he found that hehad attached himself to the royal army.
Ralph of course followed Walter's fortunes, and was now brilliant in theappointments of the Prince of Wales's chosen bodyguard of men-at-arms.
The councils of all the great towns of Flanders assembled at Sluys, andfor several days great festivities were held. Then a great assembly washeld, and Van Artevelde rose and addressed his countrymen. He set forthto them the virtues of the Prince of Wales, whose courtesy and bearinghad so captivated them; he pointed out the obligations which Flanderswas under towards King Edward, and the advantages which would arise froma nearer connection with England. With this he contrasted the weaknessof their count, the many ills which his adherence to France had broughtupon the country, and the danger which menaced them should his power beever renewed. He then boldly proposed to them that they should at oncecast off their allegiance to the count and bestow the vacant coronetupon the Prince of Wales, who, as Duke of Flanders, would undertake thedefence and government of the country with the aid of a Flemishcouncil. This wholly unexpected proposition took the Flemish burghersby surprise. Artevelde had calculated upon his eloquence and influencecarrying them away, but his power had diminished, and many of hishearers had already been gained to the cause of France. The burghercouncils had for a long time had absolute power in their own towns, andthe prospect of a powerful prince at their head foredoomed a curtailmentof those powers. When Artevelde ceased, therefore, instead of theenthusiastic shouts with which he hoped his oration would be greeted,a confused murmur arose. At last several got up and said that, greatlyattached as they were to the king, much as they admired the noble youngprince proposed for their acceptance, they felt themselves unable togive an answer upon an affair of such moment without consulting theirfellow countrymen and learning their opinions. They therefore promisedthat they would return on a certain day and give a decided answer.
The Flemish burghers then took their leave. Van Artevelde, after aconsultation with the king, started at once to use his influence amongthe various towns.
After leaving the king he bade adieu to the Prince of Wales. "Would youlike," the young prince said, "that one of my esquires should ride withyou? His presence might show the people how entirely I am with you; andshould you have tidings to send me he could ride hither with them. Ihave one with me who is prudent and wise, and who possesses all theconfidence of that wise and valiant knight, Sir Walter de Manny."
"I will gladly take him, your royal highness," Van Artevelde said, "andhope to despatch him to you very shortly with the news that the greattowns of Flanders all gladly receive you as their lord."
In a few minutes Walter had mounted his horse, accompanied by Ralph,and, joining Van Artevelde, rode to Bruges. Here and at Ypres VanArtevelde's efforts were crowned with success. His eloquence carriedaway the people with him, and both these cities agreed to accept thePrince of Wales as t
heir lord; but the hardest task yet remained. Ghentwas the largest and most powerful of the Flemish towns, and here hisenemies were in the ascendant. Gerard Denis and the weavers had beenstirring up the people against him. All kinds of accusations had beenspread, and he was accused of robbing and selling his country. The newsof the hostile feeling of the population reached Van Artevelde, andhe despatched Walter with the request to the king for a force of fivehundred English soldiers as a guard against his enemies.
Had Artevelde asked for a large force, Edward would have disembarked hisarmy and marched at their head into Ghent. As the rest of the countrywas already won, there can be little doubt that this step would at oncehave silenced all opposition, and would have annexed Flanders to theBritish crown. Van Artevelde, however, believed himself to be strongerthan he really was, and thought with a small party of soldiers he couldseize his principal opponents, and that the people would then rallyround him.
Upon the arrival of the five hundred men he started for Ghent; but ashe feared that the gates would be shut if he presented himself with anarmed force, he left the soldiers in concealment a short distance fromthe town and entered it, accompanied only by his usual suite. At hisinvitation, however, Walter, followed of course by Ralph, rode besidehim. No sooner was he within the gates than Van Artevelde saw howstrong was the popular feeling against him. He had been accustomed to bereceived with bows of reverence; now men turned aside as he approached,or scowled at him from their doors.
"Methinks, sir," Walter said, "that it would be wiser did we ride back,and, joining the soldiers, enter at their head, or as that number wouldbe scarce sufficient should so large a town rise in tumult, to send toKing Edward for a larger force and await their coming. Even should theyshut the gates, we can reduce the town, and as all the rest of Flandersis with you, surely a short delay will not matter."
"You know not these Flemings as well as I do," Van Artevelde replied;"they are surly dogs, but they always listen to my voice, and are readyenough to do my bidding. When I once speak to them you will see how theywill smooth their backs and do as I ask them."
Walter said no more, but as he saw everywhere lowering brows from windowand doorway as they rode through the streets he had doubts whether thepower of Van Artevelde's eloquence would have the magical potency he hadexpected from it.
When the party arrived at the splendid dwelling of the great demagogue,messengers were instantly sent out to all his friends and retainers. Ahundred and forty persons soon assembled, and while Van Artevelde wasdebating with them as to the best steps to be taken, Walter opened thecasement and looked out into the street. It was already crowded withthe people, whose silent and quiet demeanor seemed to bode no good. Armswere freely displayed among them, and Walter saw men passing to and froevidently giving instructions.
"I am sorry to disturb you, Master Artevelde," he said, returning to theroom where the council was being held, "but methinks that it wouldwise to bar the doors and windows, and to put yourself in a postureof defence, for a great crowd is gathering without, for the most partarmed, and as it seems to me with evil intentions."
A glance from the windows confirmed Walter's statements, and the doorsand windows were speedily barricaded. Before many minutes had elapsedthe tolling of bells in all parts of the town was heard, and down thedifferent streets leading towards the building large bodies of armed menwere seen making their way.
"I had rather have to do with a whole French army, Master Walter," Ralphsaid, as he stood beside him at an upper window looking down upon thecrowd, "than with these citizens of Ghent. Look at those men with bloodyaxes and stained clothes. Doubtless those are the skinners and butchers.Didst ever see such a ferocious band of savages? Listen to their shouts.Death to Van Artevelde! Down with the English alliance! I thought ourcase was a bad one when the French poured over the walls into Vannes butmethinks it is a hundred times worse now.
"We got out of that scrape, Ralph, and I hope we shall get out of this,but, as you say, the prospect is black enough. See, the butchers arehammering at the door with their pole-axes. Let us go down and aid inthe defence."
"I am ready," Ralph said, "but I shall fight with a lighter heart if youcould fix upon some plan for us to adopt when the rabble break in. Thatthey will do so I regard as certain, seeing that the house is notbuilt for purposes of defence, but has numerous broad windows on theground-floor by which assuredly they will burst their way in.
"Wait a moment then, Ralph; let us run up to the top storey and see ifthere be any means of escape along the roofs."
The house stood detached from the others, but on one side was separatedfrom that next to it only by a narrow lane, and as the upper storiesprojected beyond those below, the windows were but six feet distant fromthose on the opposite side of the way.
"See," Water said, "there is a casement in the room to our left therewhich is open; let us see if it is tenanted."
Going into the next room they went to the window and opened it. Itexactly faced the casement opposite, and so far as they could see theroom was unoccupied.
"It were easy to put a plank across," Ralph said.
"We must not do that," Walter answered. "The mob are thick in the lanebelow--what a roar comes up from their voices!--and a plank would besurely seen, and we should be killed there as well as here. No, we mustget on to the sill and spring across; the distance is not great, and thejump would be nothing were it not that the casements are so low. It mustbe done as lightly and quickly as possible, and we may not then be seenfrom below. Now leave the door open that we may make no mistake as tothe room, and come along, for by the sound the fight is hot below."
Running down the stairs Walter and Ralph joined in the defence. Thosein the house knew that they would meet with no mercy from the infuriatedcrowd, and each fought with the bravery of despair. Although there weremany windows to be defended, and at each the mob attacked desperately,the assaults were all repulsed. Many indeed of the defenders were struckdown by the pikes and pole-axes, but for a time they beat back theassailants whenever they attempted to enter. The noise was prodigious.The alarm-bells of the town were all ringing and the shouts of thecombatants were drowned in the hoarse roar of the surging crowd without.
Seeing that however valiant was the defence the assailants must in theend prevail, and feeling sure that his enemies would have closed thecity gates and thus prevented the English without from coming to hisassistance, Van Artevelde ascended to an upper storey and attemptedto address the crowd. His voice was drowned in the roar. In vain hegesticulated and made motions imploring them to hear him, but all wasuseless, and the courage of the demagogue deserted him and he burst intotears at the prospect of death. Then he determined to try and make hisescape to the sanctuary of a church close by, and was descending thestairs when a mighty crash below, the clashing of steel, shouts, andcries, told that the mob had swept away one of the barricades and werepouring into the house.
"Make for the stair," Walter shouted, "and defend yourselves there." Butthe majority of the defenders, bewildered by the inrush of the enemy,terrified at their ferocious aspect and terrible axes, had no thoughtof continuing the resistance. A few, getting into corners, resisteddesperately to the end; others threw down their arms and dropping ontheir knees cried for mercy, but all were ruthlessly slaughtered.
Keeping close together Walter and Ralph fought their way to the footof the stairs, and closely pursued by a band of the skinners headed byGerard Denis, ran up. Upon the first landing stood a man paralysed withterror. On seeing him a cry of ferocious triumph rose from the mob.As nothing could be done to aid him Walter and his follower rushed bywithout stopping. There was a pause in the pursuit, and glancing downfrom the upper gallery Walter saw Van Artevelde in the hands of the mob,each struggling to take possession of him; then a man armed with a greataxe pushed his way among them, and swinging it over his head struck VanArtevelde dead to the floor. His slayer was Gerard Denis himself.
Followed by Ralph, Walter sprang through the open door
into the chamberthey had marked, and closed the door behind them. Then Walter, saying,"I will go first, Ralph, I can help you in should you miss your spring,"mounted on the sill of the casement. Short as was the distance the leapwas extremely difficult, for neither casement was more than three feethigh. Walter was therefore obliged to stoop low and to hurl himself headforwards across the gulf. He succeeded in the attempt, shooting clearthrough the casement on to the floor beyond. Instantly he picked himselfup and went to Ralph's assistance. The latter, taller and more bulky,had greater difficulty in the task, and only his shoulder arrivedthrough the window. Walter seized him, and aided him at once to scramblein, and they closed the casement behind them.
"It was well we took off our armour, Ralph; its pattern would have beenrecognized in an instant."
Walter had thrown off his helmet as he bounded up the stairs, and bothhe and his companion had rid themselves of their heavy armour.
"I would give a good deal," he said, "for two bourgeois jerkins,even were they as foul as those of the skinners. This is a woman'sapartment," he added, looking round, "and nothing here will cover my sixfeet of height, to say nothing of your four inches extra. Let us peepinto some of the other rooms. This is, doubtless, the house of someperson of importance, and in the upper floor we may find some clothes ofservants or retainers."
They were not long in their search. The next room was a large one, andcontained a number of pallet beds, and hanging from pegs on wallswere jerkins, mantles, and other garments, evidently belonging tothe retainers of the house. Walter and Ralph were not long intransmogrifying their appearance, and had soon the air of tworespectable serving-men in a Flemish household.
"But how are we to descend?" Ralph asked. "We can hardly hope to walkdown the stairs and make our escape without being seen, especially asthe doors will all be barred and bolted, seeing the tumult which israging outside."
"It all depends whether our means of escape are suspected," Walterreplied, "I should scarce think that they would be. The attention ofour pursuers was wholly taken up by Van Artevelde, and some minutes musthave passed before they followed us. No doubt they will search everyplace in the house, and all within it will by this time have beenslaughtered. But they will scarce organize any special search for us.All will be fully occupied with the exciting events which have takenplace, and as the casement by which we entered is closed it is scarcelylikely to occur to any one that we have escaped by that means. I willlisten first if the house is quiet. If so, we will descend and takerefuge in some room below, where there is a better chance of concealmentthan here. Put the pieces of armour into that closet so that they maynot catch the eye of any who may happen to come hither. The day isalready closing. In half an hour it will be nightfall. Then we will tryand make our way out."
Listening at the top of the stairs they could hear voices below; but asthe gallery was quiet and deserted they made their way a floor lower,and seeing an open door entered it. Walter looked from the window.
"There is a back-yard below," he said, "with a door opening upon anarrow lane. We are now upon the second storey, and but some twenty-fivefeet above the ground. We will not risk going down through the house,which could scarce be accomplished without detection, but will at oncetear up into strips the coverings of the bed, and I will make a rope bywhich we may slip down into the courtyard as soon as it is dark. We musthope that none will come up before that time; but, indeed, all will beso full of the news of the events which have happened that it is scarcelikely that any will come above at present."
The linen sheets and coverings were soon cut up and knotted together ina rope. By the time that this was finished the darkness was closing in,and after waiting patiently for a few minutes they lowered the rope andslid down into the yard. Quietly they undid the bolts of the gate andissued into the lane. The mantles were provided with hoods, as few ofthe lower class of Flemings wore any other head-covering.
Drawing these hoods well over their heads so as to shade their faces thetwo sallied out from the lane. They were soon in one of the principalstreets, which was crowded with people. Bands of weavers, butchers,skinners, and others were parading the streets shouting and singing inhonour of their victory and of the downfall and death of him whom theyhad but a few days before regarded as the mainstay of Flanders. Many ofthe better class of burghers stood in groups in the streets and talkedin low and rather frightened voices of the consequences which the deedof blood would bring upon the city. On the one hand Edward might marchupon it with his army to avenge the murder of his ally. Upon the otherhand they were now committed to France. Their former ruler would return,and all the imposts and burdens against which they had rebelled wouldagain be laid upon the city.
"What shall we do now?" Ralph asked, "for assuredly there will be noissue by the gates."
"We must possess ourselves of a length of rope if possible, and make ourescape over the wall. How to get one I know not, for the shops are allclosed, and even were it not so I could not venture in to purchase any,for my speech would betray us at once. Let us separate, and each seewhether he can find what we want. We will meet again at the entranceto this church in an hour's time. One or other of us may find what weseek."
Walter searched in vain. Wherever he saw the door of a yard open hepeered in, but in no case could he see any signs of rope. At the end ofthe hour he returned to their rendezvous. Ralph was already there.
"I have found nothing, Ralph. Have you had better fortune?"
"That have I, Master Walter, and was back nigh an hour since. Scarce hadI left you when in a back street I came upon a quiet hostelry, and inthe courtyard were standing half a dozen teams of cattle. Doubtlesstheir owners had brought hay or corn into the city, and when the tumultarose and the gates were closed found themselves unable to escape. Themasters were all drinking within, so without more ado I cut off theropes which served as traces for the oxen, and have them wound round mybody under my mantle. There must be twenty yards at least, and aseach rope is strong enough to hold double our weight there will be nodifficulty in lowering ourselves from the walls."
"You have done well indeed, Ralph," Walter said. "Let us make our waythither at once. Everyone is so excited in the city, that, as yet, therewill be but few guards upon the wall. The sooner, therefore, that weattempt to make our escape the better."