Produced by Martin Robb
WON BY THE SWORD
A STORY OF THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR
By G.A. Henty
PREFACE.
MY DEAR LADS,
In my preface to the Lion of the North I expressed a hope that I mightsome day be able to continue the history of the Thirty Years' War. Thedeaths of Gustavus and his great rival Wallenstein and the crushingdefeat of the Swedes and their allies at the battle of Nordlingenbrought the first period of that war to a close. Hostilities, indeed,never ceased, but the Swedes no longer played the leading part on theProtestant side that they had hitherto occupied. Oxenstiern, the greatchancellor of Sweden, saw that the only hope of eventual success lay inengaging France in the struggle, and he and the Duke of Weimar wentto Paris and pointed out to Richelieu that unless France intervened,Austria must become the master of all Germany, and as the ally of Spainwould have it in her power to completely dominate France. Richelieuperceived the opportunity, made a treaty with the Swedes and Weimar, andengaged to grant large subsidies to the former, and to send an army tocooperate with the latter. Then began the second period of this long andterrible struggle, France now taking the place that Sweden had hithertooccupied, and bearing the brunt of the conflict. She emerged triumphantwith her territories largely increased, while Austria was crushed andhumiliated, and Spain was dethroned from her position as the dominatingpower of Europe. The success of France was greatly due to the fact thather armies were led by two of the greatest military geniuses of alltimes, viz., Conde and Turenne, men of very different types, but equallygreat as commanders, and equally at the time of which we are speakingdevoted to the cause of France. Both were men of extraordinary personalcourage, and although one was as prudent and careful of the lives of histroops as the other was impetuous and careless at what cost he won hisvictories, they worked together with a harmony that could have hardlybeen expected among men so differently constituted. Although, inthe subsequent wars of the Fronde they took different sides, theirfriendship, except during a short period of alienation, was nevershaken, and their admiration for each other's genius never abated.
Yours sincerely,
G.A. HENTY
CHAPTER I: A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE
A mounted officer, followed by two orderlies, was proceeding at a brisktrot from Paris to St. Denis, in October, 1639, when he came upon alarge party of boys, who, armed with sticks, were advancing in somethinglike military order against a wall on the top of a low hill.
"What are you doing?" he asked the lad who appeared to be the leader.
"We are playing at war, sir. We are advancing against the fortress of LaMotte. This is the regiment of Turenne."
"And who are you at other times?" the officer asked with a smile.
"My name is Hector Campbell, sir."
"Then you are not French?"
"No, sir; my father was an officer in the Scotch regiment. He was killedat the siege of La Rochelle."
"And who is taking care of you?"
"I live with Angus MacIntosh. He was a sergeant in my father's company.He was badly wounded at La Rochelle, and not being fit for furtherservice, he took a cabaret near the barracks. The officers are verykind. They allow him a sum for taking care of me. Of course I am oftenin barracks, and have learned the drill, and I have heard and read aboutbattles and sieges, so I am chosen to command."
"And so you know something of the battles in which Turenne was engaged?"
"I think I know about them all, sir, both in Holland and on the Rhine,and have seen plans of the battles. Of course this is not at all likeLa Motte, which was on the top of a high rock, so that when Turenne wasordered to attack with his regiment after the general's son had failed,he had to pass not only through a heavy fire, but through the hugestones that the enemy hurled down. It was grand; and he did well atall the other sieges. Then, again, there was Saverne. See how hefought there, and stormed the place when even the Swedes, who are goodsoldiers, had failed. I think he is going to be the greatest of ourcaptains."
"Turenne is only a learner in the art of war," the other said gravely.
"I think he has learnt more than any of the rest," the boy said boldly;"and all the soldiers love him more than any of the other generals, forhe takes such care of them, and does not treat them as if they were dirtunder his feet, only meant to obey orders, and go and get killed whentold."
"You have heard him very much over praised," the officer said quietly."I think that he does his best; but he is a young man yet, not olderthan I am. His advance has been due to fortune rather than to his ownmerits."
"I don't think so," the boy said sturdily. "Do you think that he wouldbe a lieutenant general at twenty-eight, and that all the soldiers wouldspeak of him as they do, if it were only fortune? Look how he capturedLandrecies and Solre, and drove the Austrians back from Maubeurge, andaided the Duke of Weimar to thrash them at Weilenweir, and stormed themain fort of Breisach! He has been successful in all his enterprises,and now it is said he is to command in Italy, where things have beengoing on badly. The cardinal would not have chosen him had he notconsidered that no one could do better than he."
The officer laughed. "Well, young sir, I see that you are so wellacquainted with the sieges and battles of our time that I cannot arguewith you."
"I did not mean that, sir," the boy said in some confusion. "I was onlysaying what our soldiers think, and it is natural that I, being only aboy, should make him my hero, for he went to the wars when he was a yearyounger than I am, and at fourteen carried a musket as a volunteerunder Maurice of Nassau, and for five years he was in all the battles inHolland, and raised the first battery that opened on Bois-le-duc."
"And do you receive no pension as the son of an officer killed inbattle?"
"No, sir. When the living soldiers often have to go months without theirpay, the sons of dead ones can hardly expect to be thought of. But Idon't care; in two years I shall be old enough to enlist, and I shall goto the frontier and join Hepburn's Scottish brigade, who are now, theysay, in the French service."
"They are fine soldiers--none better," the officer said. "But why doesnot the colonel of your father's regiment ask for a commission for you?"
"The regiment is not in favour with the cardinal," the boy replied witha smile. "They are too Protestant for his eminence, and the colonel isnot a man to ask favours if he is likely to be refused."
"Well," the officer said, "it is clear to me that you are a lad ofspirit, and that you have done your best to prepare yourself for yourprofession as a soldier by studying military history, and I think ithard that, as the son of an officer who died in battle for France,France should have done nothing for you. I have some little influencemyself. What is the name of this cabaret that Sergeant MacIntosh keeps?"
"The Scottish Soldier, sir. It is near the gate of the barracks of St.Denis."
"Do not go out tomorrow afternoon. I will have a talk with him, andmaybe I can be of some assistance to you."
So saying, he touched his horse's flank with his heel and rode on, whilethe boys continued their play. The next afternoon the lad remained athome, to the surprise of the sergeant.
"What keeps you in today, Hector? It is rare indeed that you are indoorsin the afternoon."
"An officer came along while we were playing," the lad said, "andasked me some questions. I told him who I was. He said that he had someinfluence, and might be able to assist me."
"What sort of assistance?" the sergeant grumbled. "He must haveinfluence indeed if he can get you a pension."
"I don't think it was that," the boy said. "I said that I should like toenlist as a volunteer."
> The sergeant laughed. "Well, they do take volunteers as young as youare, Hector, but they must be cadets of a noble family. You will have towait another couple of years before they will enlist you, much less takeyou as a volunteer."
There were a good many Scottish soldiers sitting in the room, when anofficer rode up to the door and dismounted.
"It is a general officer," one of the men said, looking out of thewindow, and as the door opened and the officer entered, all stood up andsaluted.
"Sit down, men," he said. "I am not here to disturb you, but to have atalk with Sergeant MacIntosh. Have you a room, sergeant, where we canspeak privately?"
"Yes, general," the sergeant said, saluting again, and led the way intoa little room generally devoted to the use of noncommissioned officers.The officer caught Hector's eye, and beckoned to him to follow.
"Do you know me, sergeant?"
"Yes, general, you are Viscount Turenne."
Hector gave an involuntary exclamation of horror at the thought of thefreedom with which he had the day before discoursed with this famouscommander. Military officers at that time did not wear any set uniforms,and indeed there was very considerable latitude among the soldiers, andit was only because he was followed by two attendants that the boy hadtaken him to be an officer, probably a young captain. The quietness ofhis dress had not even led him to believe that he belonged to a noblefamily.
"This lad tells me that he is the son of Captain Campbell of theScottish regiment?"
"That is so, general."
"And also that you were a sergeant in his father's company, and havesince taken care of him."
"I have done the best I could for him, general; but indeed the officersof the regiment allow me quite as much as the lad's food costs."
"He seems to be a careful student of military history, sergeant?"
"That he is, sir. I don't think there has been a battle, or even askirmish, in the past ten years which he cannot tell you the ins andouts of. He will sit here for hours as quiet as a mouse when somesoldiers from the wars come in, and sometimes he gets books lent himwith the plans of battles and sieges, and when he is not doing that heis in the barrack yard watching the men drill. I believe he knows allthe words of command as well as any captain in the Scottish regiment. Asto handling his musket, I have taught him that myself, and the use ofa sword, too, since he was ten years old, and the men of his father'scompany have taken pleasure in teaching the lad all they knew in thatway."
"He reminds me of my own boyhood," the general said. "I like his looks,and it seems to me that he has the making of a good officer. All theofficers of the regiment are men of good Scottish families, and as suchcan serve in any capacity. I have often need of a young officer who cancarry my messages on a field of battle, and can be trusted to understandtheir import and deliver them faithfully. Now, Campbell," he said,turning to the lad, who was standing with flushed face and eyes beamingwith delight and gratitude, "I will give you the choice. I will eitherappoint you a volunteer for a year, in which time, if your conduct issatisfactory, I will name you lieutenant, or I will take you directlyinto my own household. My object in either case would be to produce anofficer likely to be useful to his Majesty.
"I should certainly not have adopted that course had it not been thatyou appear already to have learned the duties of a soldier, and tobe acquainted with the ordinary drill and with the necessities of asoldier's life. If you enter my household you will find it no child'splay, certainly no life of ease and comfort. I do not spare myself, nordo I spare the officers immediately under me. In a regiment you wouldlearn better, perhaps, the duties of a regimental officer, but with meyou will have more opportunities of learning the art of war, and of someday becoming a distinguished officer, always supposing that you arenot shot down in battle or die of fatigue and hardship. Which do youchoose?"
"Oh, sir, how can I thank you for your goodness? There is nothing in theworld that I should like so much as to be in your service."
"So be it," the general said. "I shall obtain an appointment for you aslieutenant attached to my household. At first, you will simply have tocarry messages for me; but when I have learnt more of your character Ishall employ you as one that I can trust.
"Sergeant, here is a purse, use the contents in furnishing the lad withclothes suitable for his position, and let him call on me in three daysat the hotel of the Duc de Bouillon, where I am staying.
"Can you ride?" he asked suddenly.
"Yes, sir."
"I will see to the matter of a horse for you. I shall be leaving at theend of a week to join the army in Italy. And remember always, lad," headded with a smile, "that I am still but a learner in the art of war."
So saying he nodded kindly to him and the sergeant, went out, returnedthe salute of the soldiers, mounted his horse, which his orderly washolding for him, and rode off.
"Well, well," said the sergeant, who with Hector had followed him out,"the like of this I never saw before: to think that the Viscount ofTurenne should visit the cabaret of a soldier, and should have deignedto offer you a position in his household! I can scarce believe that Iam not dreaming. How did it all come about, and how have you thus gainedhis favour?"
"I am ashamed to say, sergeant, that I gained it by my presumption; nowthat I know who he was, I may say by my insolence. A party of us werehaving a mimic battle. We were acting as the regiment of Turenne at thestorming of La Motte. I was in command, and so acting as Turenne, whena gentleman, who, by his appearance and age, and by the fact that twotroopers rode behind him, I took to be a captain in the army, came upand questioned me as to what we were doing. I told him, then he talkedabout Turenne. I said I thought he was our greatest general. He, thatTurenne was only a learner in the art of war. I upheld him, and spokeof the battles and sieges in which he had taken part. Then he asked meabout myself, and I told him my birth and bringing up, and he said hemight be of assistance to me, and would call here and see you."
"Well, well, it almost passes belief, Hector, that a boy like you shouldhave dared to enter into an argument with an officer, even if only, asyou believed, a captain. And to think that this has come of it, insteadof his having laid his whip across your back, as you deserved. Yourfortune is made, lad, that is, if you behave yourself. Turenne is agreat soldier; and more than that, from what I have heard he is loved byhis men more than any other general, and they will do anything forhim. His regiment here, though he was but nineteen when he obtainedhis command, was admitted to be one of the best drilled and the bestdisciplined of any in the service.
"He saw to everything himself, spent his whole time in drilling themas if he had been only a lieutenant with nothing but his sword for hisfortune, instead of a great noble. When he was with de la Valetteand Weimar, and the army had to fall back and were well nigh starved,Turenne sold his plate and his carriages to buy food for the men. He hadhis own baggage thrown out of the wagons to make room for those whowere too weak to march; and on one occasion gave up his own horse to asoldier who was sinking from fatigue and hunger, and himself marched onfoot. He always leads his troops in battle, and wherever he goes theywill follow. He was right in saying that he does not spare himself. Thesoldiers believe that he does without any sleep when on a campaign, forhe is for ever going round seeing that everything is in order, that theoutposts are properly placed and vigilant, and that the soldiers havefood, and such comfort as can be obtained. Now let us go in and tell mycomrades of your good fortune. There is not a man in the regiment whowill not be glad to hear of it. I will go across with you myself to thecolonel's lodging."
"But please, sergeant, do not say a word about my folly; only say thatthe general, coming across a party of us playing at war, questioned me,and finding that I was the son of a Scottish officer who had been killedat La Rochelle, and that I had worked hard at getting up the historyof the wars, and longed much to go into the army, had promised to comeround the next day, and said that he might be able to aid me."
"I understand, lad. Yes, i
t is better that your foolishness should notbe known."
The colonel was greatly pleased when he heard of what had happened.
"I had intended myself to have asked for a commission for you when youwere a couple of years older," he said to Hector, "but I was by no meanssure of getting it, for the cardinal is not partial to the regiment.Turenne, however, stands high in his favour--in spite of the fact thathis brother, the Duc de Bouillon, has left Richelieu's party, and isregarded by him as an enemy--so we may be sure that your commission willbe at once signed. You must sup with me and the officers of the regimenttonight. There is not one who will not rejoice that your father's sonhas met with such good fortune, for assuredly you could not have enteredthe army under better auspices.
"It is just like Turenne to have thus come forward to assist the son ofa brave soldier killed in action. As a rule, I am sorry to say that theofficers of our army concern themselves but little with the affairsof the soldiers under their command. Of course in our regiment it isdifferent, as we have many gentlemen of well known Scottish familiesserving in the ranks, and most of the others are our own clansmen,or come from our dales. We all cling together as countrymen amongstrangers, though indeed we can hardly regard them as strangers, seeingthat Scotland and France have ever been allies, and that our Queen Marywas a French princess. And now that Scotland has given kings to England,and English troops fought side by side with the French under Henry ofNavarre against the Spaniards and Guises, and, although not in strictalliance, are alike enemies of the Spaniards, we can scarce feelourselves as strangers here. Besides, is not a French princess wife ofKing Charles?
"I do not say that either England or France has altogether forgotten thelong wars between them, but that is a very old story now, and as longas Spain threatens to extend her power over all Europe, so long are welikely to remain good friends. If the power of Spain is once broken, oldquarrels may break out again, but I trust that that will not be in mytime, for assuredly the regiment, although willing to fight against allother enemies of France, would refuse to march against our countrymen.Now, Sergeant MacIntosh, I know that you must be anxious to get back toyour inn. You will have a busy time this afternoon unless I am greatlymistaken. Leave Campbell with me.
"In the first place, it will be as well that he should not be downthere, for the fun is likely to get fast and furious. There is not aman in the regiment who knew his father but will be drinking the lad'shealth, and it were better that he should go tomorrow through thebarracks and shake their hands, than that he should be among them there.You can tell them that I have taken the boy off, so that they may notthink that he stayed away on his own account. We will see him fittedout. It is a matter that touches the honour of the regiment that theson of our old comrade should make a fair show in the household of theviscount."
"The general has left me a purse for that purpose, colonel."
"It was a kindly thought, but let the lad start with it in his pocket.It is our duty to see that he has everything befitting his father'sson."
As soon as the sergeant left, the colonel said, "Now, Campbell, do yougo into the anteroom. I shall be ready to go out with you in half anhour."
Orderlies were then despatched to the various officers' lodgings, and ina few minutes they assembled. The colonel told them what had happened,and said that in his opinion it concerned the honour of the regiment tosee that their comrade's son was properly equipped.
All those who had known Captain Campbell were greatly pleased with thenews, and there was not a dissenting voice when the colonel proposedthat there should be a general subscription of two days' pay. Hehimself, however, and Captain Campbell's friends, gave a much largeramount, and the total was amply sufficient for the equipment of a youngman of good family joining the army. Hector was then called in andinformed of what had taken place, and heartily congratulated by theofficers. He was greatly affected by their kindness and the proof of theestimation in which his father had been held.
"We had always intended to do this," the colonel said, "when the timecame for your entering the army, for we felt that it would indeed bea discredit to the regiment were you to go into the world without theequipment that a Scottish gentleman should have. Now, Captain Mackenzieand Captain Home, I will ask you to act as furnishers. You know whatis required for a young officer on the staff of a general like ViscountTurenne, who would be called upon to accompany him to court, and mustdo him no discredit; besides which, he must of course have clothes fora campaign. He will not need arms, for I have kept for him his father'ssword and pistols. See that the tailors undertake to get his clothesready quickly, for he is to accompany Turenne to Italy in four or fivedays. One suit at least must be finished in two days, for on the thirdhe is to wait upon Turenne, who is staying at the hotel of the Duc deBouillon, and he may possibly be presented to the cardinal."
The dress of a French gentleman in the reign of Louis XIII differed butslightly from that worn at the same time by the cavaliers of CharlesI. It consisted of a loose cloak of cloth, silk, satin, or velvet,according to the occasion and the wealth of the wearer. It generallyhung loosely on the shoulders, but two or three of the top buttons weresometimes fastened; the sleeves were loose and open from the elbow.Sometimes the cloak was richly embroidered. Over it fell a collar ofrich lace, with Vandyke border. Beneath it was worn a short tightlyfitted doublet embroidered in front, with puffed sleeves, and with abelt or sash round the waist. The breeches were very full, reaching tothe knee. For walking or riding, loose high boots turned down at the topand trimmed with lace or frillings joined the breeches; while in courtdress, silk stockings and shoes with rosettes were worn. The swords hungfrom a richly embroidered baldrick going over the right shoulder.
Officers of the different regiments were distinguished by the colour oftheir sashes, which was the only point of regimental uniformity. When ona campaign doublets were usually worn of thick buff leather; armour wasstill used, but was far less cumbrous than it had been, consistingfor the most part solely of shoulder pieces and cuirass, with platescovering the upper part of the arm, thick buff leather gauntlets beingconsidered sufficient protection below the elbow. Four suits wereordered for Hector: one for court, another for general use when in Parisor other large towns, the third for travelling and when in attendancewith the general, the fourth for actual service in the field.
Almost as expensive as the suits were the shirts, with their deep lacecollars and ruffle; while for service in the field half a dozen plainshirts were purchased. The headdress on ordinary occasions was a broadbeaver hat with plumes, and in the field a close fitting helmet withcheek pieces. Visors had been almost entirely given up. On the third dayHector presented himself at the appointed hour at the hotel of the Ducde Bouillon. He was dressed in the second best of his costumes, andwore for the first time his father's sword. In the hall were numbers ofsoldiers and lackeys. One of the latter came up to him.
"I am here to see the Viscount Turenne by appointment," he said.
The lackey led the way to a large chamber, where several officers andgentlemen were waiting. Here Hector gave his name to a chamberlain, whotook it into another apartment. He waited for half an hour, and observedthat while the officers, one by one, were taken into the room where thelackey had carried his name, the nobles and gentlemen, who weremuch more numerous, were shown into another, which was evidently theprincipal reception room. He guessed at once that it was here that theDuc de Bouillon was receiving visitors, while his brother was engaged ingiving interviews to officers, who perhaps desired appointments in hisarmy, or in arranging details of stores, arms, and ammunition requiredfor its use. At last his turn came; and on his name being called, hefollowed the usher into a small apartment, where Turenne was sitting ata table covered with letters. The general looked at him critically.
"You make a very good figure," he said, "and better, I can tell you,than I did at your age, for I was but weakly, while you are well grownand strong. Among your other exercises you have not neglected the use ofyour sw
ord. I could tell that as soon as my eyes fell upon you."
"No, general, I have practised for two or three hours a day since I wasten years old, and I think that almost every soldier in the regimenthas been my instructor in turn, and the maitre-d'armes of the regimenthimself gave me lessons twice a week."
"I have managed your business for you," the viscount said. "I saw thecardinal yesterday and asked for a commission for you. He simply askedfor what regiment, and I said that at present I intended to keep youabout my own person, as I thought you would make a good officer andwould some day do me credit. He was busy at the time, so he simplysigned an appointment as a lieutenant and gave it to me to fill in yourname. I asked if I should bring you to his levee tomorrow, but he said,'There is no occasion, viscount, we have both plenty on our hands;neither you nor I can waste time on young lieutenants. You can presenthim to me when you return from the war.' You know the cardinal by sight,I suppose?"
"Yes, general, I have seen him many times."
"He is a great man," Turenne said thoughtfully, rather as if speaking tohimself than to Hector; "the greatest that France has ever known--he isthe soul of France. It is well, indeed, that we have at present a kingwho recognizes how great a man he is, and is wise enough to know thatalthough he himself is somewhat overshadowed, France is made greater andstronger and his own reign more glorious by his genius." Then he brokeoff with a smile. "I was talking to myself rather than to you. I shallride to St. Denis at two o'clock today; be here at that time. I willorder the horse, that I have purchased for you, to be brought roundhere."
Hector was about to express his gratitude, but the general at oncestopped him. "I need no thanks," he said. "I perceived in the ardourwith which you have studied military matters that you would make a goodofficer, and you remind me of my own boyhood. I always like to helpforward officers who I see ready, not only to do their actual businessbut to go beyond it, in order to acquire knowledge, and I doubt not thatI shall find this in you. But you must remember, lad, that you are nowno longer a civilian, but a soldier, that you must be not only obedientbut respectful to those above you in rank, that discretion as well ascourage is necessary for success, that you must be thoughtful forthe comfort of the soldiers, ready to expose your life in battleto encourage them, and also to set them an example of endurance,cheerfulness, and good spirits in times of hardship and distress.Remember that, to the soldier, there is no such thing as party; hefights for France and for France only, and should hold himself alooffrom even the smallest expression of opinion on political matters. Then,at two o'clock."
Hector bowed deeply and left the room. When he returned to the hotelat two o'clock, six grooms were standing with the horses before theentrance; he waited outside until the viscount, followed by fourofficers, came out.
"Oh, here you are, lieutenant!" he said, as his eye fell on Hector; "Iwas afraid that punctuality was not among your virtues. Gentlemen, thisis Lieutenant Hector Campbell, son of a brave officer of the Scottishregiment who fell at La Rochelle; he is, for the present, attached tomy household, and will ride with us for Italy the day after tomorrow.Campbell, this gentleman is Colonel d'Estampes, who is the head ofmy staff; this Major Mutton, who will have the control of all mattersconnected with the artillery; these are Messieurs de Lisle and Emile deChavigny, who are my aides-de-camp. Now, gentlemen, let us mount."
As the Scottish regiment was a mounted one, Hector had had ampleopportunities to learn to ride well, and he now fell in with the twoaides-de-camp, who were both young men of eighteen or nineteen years ofage, members of good families, and together they followed the ViscountTurenne, who rode on ahead with the two staff officers. While theywere making their way through the narrow streets of Paris they rode butslowly, but as soon as they passed through the gates they went on at abrisk pace.
"You are fortunate," de Lisle said, "in having obtained a commission soyoung, although I do not say that there are not many of similar age inthe army."
"I am fortunate indeed," Hector replied, "fortunate beyond anythingthat I could have believed possible, thanks to the goodness of ViscountTurenne."
"You could not enter the army under better patronage," de Chavigny said."We have both served under him for two years on the Rhine, and had webeen his brothers he could not have been more kind; but the work, mafoi, was tremendous. The soldiers may well say that the general issleepless. Happily he does not expect us to go altogether without rest.Frequently he is away all night by himself in the saddle, sometimeshe takes one or other of us with him, but at any rate we get a night'ssleep by turns. Much as he has to worry him--what with the ignoranceof some and the carelessness of others--I have never seen him out oftemper; but then a reproof, however mildly spoken, by him, is moredreaded than a volley of abuse from any other general. He was telling usbefore he came out that you are already well up in drill, and in the useof arms."
"Yes; I have been brought up, I may say, in the Scottish regiment, andafter my father's death the officers and men were all very kind to me,and I learnt my drill both as a soldier and an officer, to fence, usemy pistols, and ride. The officers lent me books on military history andtactics."
"The viscount said you were wonderfully well read in such matters," deLisle said. "I own that beyond the campaigns that I have taken part in Ihave a very vague idea of such things. My time before I joined was takenup with learning the use of arms, equitation, and certain dry studiesunder an abbe. I wish now that instead of Latin I had learned somethingof military history; it seems to me that when one is intended for thearmy it is a good deal more important than Latin or theology."
"I fancy, de Lisle," his companion said laughing, "that from what I knowof you your objection was not so much to the course of study as to studyaltogether. I know that that was my case."
"Well, perhaps so; still, I might as well have been whipped intolearning something useful, instead of something that, so far as I cansee, will never be of any value whatever. Were you born over here,lieutenant?"
"No, I was born in Scotland; but my father, who was a younger son, sawno chance of making his way by his sword at home. It was certain thatJames would never go to war, and as there was no regular army, thereseemed no opening for a penniless cadet in England or Scotland, so hecame over here and obtained a commission, and as soon as he did so sentfor my mother and myself. She died two years later; he kept me with him.When he went on service I was left in the charge of a Huguenot family,and it was well that it was so, for otherwise I might have grown upunable to read or write. The last time that I saw him was before he rodeto La Rochelle. After his death I was adopted by the regiment, for thegood people I was with left Paris to join their friends in the south.Had it been otherwise I should have stayed with them. The good man wouldprobably have brought me up to be, like himself, a minister, and I amafraid I should have made a very poor one."
The two young men laughed. "Just at present," de Lisle said, "the tworeligions get on quietly together. The cardinal, churchman as he is,knows that if France is to be great religious enmities must cease, andthat the wars of the last reign cost tens of thousands of lives, anddrove great numbers of men to take refuge in Holland or England, to thebenefit of those countries and our loss. Still, his successor, whoeverhe may be, may think more of party and less of France, and in that caseyou might have found your vocation of a Huguenot minister as full ofdanger as that of a soldier."
"It would have been much worse," Hector said, "for it would not havebeen a question of fighting, but of being massacred. I know nothing ofeither religious disputes or of politics. In the regiment these thingswere never talked about, either among the men or the officers; all werefor the king. But at the same time, as it seemed to them that it was thecardinal who had stopped the persecution of the Huguenots, and who hadnow gone to war with the Austrians to prevent the Protestant princesof Germany being altogether subjugated by the Imperialists, they feltgrateful to him; for of course Scotchmen are all on the side of theprinces, and nigh half the army of Gustavus Adolphus was
composed of mycountrymen."
"I do not suppose," Chavigny laughed, "that the cardinal would havecared very much for the destruction of all the Protestant princesof Germany, had it not been that their ruin would make Austria moreformidable than ever. As long as Gustavus lived and the Swedes were ableto hold their own against the Imperialists, France troubled herselfin no way in the matter; but when the Swedes were finally routedat Nordlingen, and it seemed that the Imperialists would triumpheverywhere--for most of the Protestant princes were leaving theConfederacy and trying to make the best terms they could forthemselves--Richelieu stepped in; and now we see France, which for thepast hundred years has been trying to stamp out Protestantism, unitingwith Protestant Holland and Sweden to uphold the Protestant princes ofGermany, and this under the direction of a cardinal of the Church ofRome. And here are we riding behind a Huguenot general, who perhaps morethan any other possesses the cardinal's confidence."
"It seems strange," de Lisle said, "but it is assuredly good policy.While fighting Austria we are fighting Spain, for Austria and Spain arebut two branches of one empire. Spain is our eternal enemy. True, she isnot as formidable as she was. Henry of Navarre's triumph over the Guiseshalf emancipated us from her influence. The English destroyed hernaval power. Holland well nigh exhausted her treasury, and brought suchdiscredit on her arms as she had never before suffered. Still, she andAustria combined dominate Europe, and it is on her account that we havetaken the place of the Swedes and continued this war that has raged forso many years."