Forest Days: A Romance of Old Times
could not discover what it was.
"'Tis a dog," said Tom Blawket, who was in the first rank behind his
leader.
"Or a wolf," remarked another man near.
"'Tis more like a bear," observed a third, "and it goes like a bear."
"Pooh! you are always thinking of the Holy Land," rejoined Blawket; "we
have no bears here but bears upon two legs."
At that moment Hugh spurred on his horse, and raising his voice,
shouted aloud, "Tangel, Tangel, is that you?"
The dwarf started upon his feet, for he was creeping along with
wonderful swiftness upon his hands and knees; and, turning round at the
well known sound of the young lord's call, he darted towards him with
various wild and extravagant gestures.
"They are here," he cried--"they are here; Robin and Ralph and all, and
right glad will they be to see you, for we have had a sore time of it
these last four days. They thought it was the Prince's army again, and
sent me out of the wood to discover."
"Right glad shall we be to meet them, too," replied Hugh; "for though
we are strong enough, I trust, and shall soon be stronger, yet a
reinforcement of seven or eight hundred gallant men can never come
amiss."
"Not so many as that, good knight--not so many as that!" cried the
dwarf. "Some of the Yorkshire churls were afraid to come by the road we
took, and went round by Stafford--the rascals that Leighton raised, and
Shergold of the bower. Thus there are but Robin and Ralph Harland, and
two hundred and fifty barely counted; but they are good men and true,
who will send you an arrow through the key-hole of Mumbury church-door,
or beat the sheriff's constable into the shape of a horseshoe."
"They shall be welcome--they shall be welcome!" said Hugh; "and as for
the others, the man who has ever felt a doubt or fear in a good cause,
had better not bring his faint heart to spread the mildew through a
gallant army."
When the young knight, however, met his yeoman friends, under the first
trees of the little wood, he found the bearing of bold Robin Hood
somewhat more serious than it was wont to be.
"What is the matter, Robin?" he asked, after they had greeted each
other kindly.
"I know not, my lord," replied the forester; "but wild rumours have
reached us in the course of the day, of a battle fought and De Montfort
routed."
Hugh de Monthermer laughed. "Nay, Robin," he said, "from that little
hill you may see even now the last troops of the great Earl's gallant
force marching into Evesham without a plume shorn from a crest, without
banner torn, or a surcoat rent."
"That is good news, my lord," answered Robin Hood, "that is good news."
But still he looked grave, and added, "the tidings came from the
Warwick side, and I love not such rumours, whether they show what men
fear, or what men hope."
"From the Warwick side!" said Hugh, musing in turn. "My Lord of
Leicester must hear this. Come, Robin--come, Ralph, let us quickly on
to Evesham. My uncle's men keep good quarters for me and mine, and I
will share them with you for to-night. Have you no horses?"
"No, my lord," replied Ralph; "we have marched with our people afoot.
I have here a hundred good spears, and Robin some seven score archers.
If you go on with your mounted men, we will soon follow, now that we
know there are friends before us. For the last four days we have slept
in the fields and woods; for the marchings and countermarchings of
Prince Edward have more than once brought us nearly into a net. Go
on--go on, my lord, and we will follow you."
Hugh de Monthermer did not hesitate to do so; for he was well aware
that at such a critical moment the least intelligence might be of
importance to De Montfort. The moment he reached Evesham he left his
men under the command of one of the principal followers of his house,
and proceeded through the thronged confusion of the streets to seek the
head-quarters of the Earl of Leicester. He found him at the abbey
surrounded by a number of officers, and leading the King, with every
appearance of deference and profound respect, to the apartment which
had been prepared for him. This being done, and the usual measures
having been taken to guard against the monarch's escape, the Earl
turned to go back to the refectory.
The moment his eye fell upon Hugh, De Montfort beckoned him to follow;
and, in the large dining hall of the monks, called him into one of the
deep windows, saying, "You have some news for me, I see. What is it?"
Hugh related to him his meeting with their friends, and mentioned the
rumours they had heard, which brought a sudden gloom on De Montfort's
brow.
"Ah!" he exclaimed; "from Warwick did he say the news had come?"
"From the side of Warwick, my lord," replied Hugh.
"By St. James, that were bad tidings, if true!" continued the Earl;
"but it cannot be! I had letters from my son, last night. No, no; all
is well. He had watched for Edward," he said, "but the Prince had not
come.--Thanks, thanks, my young friend!--these good yeomen arrive most
seasonably. See that they be well lodged and fed. Take care of your own
people too; for, although the King told your uncle just now that he
looked upon him as the worst enemy he had, I regard him as one of the
best subjects in the land. So good night for the present, we must be
early in the saddle to-morrow."
CHAPTER XXII.
It was about one o'clock on the 4th of August, 1265, when Simon de
Montfort--having the King upon his right hand, with Lord le Despenser,
the high justiciary, on the monarch's right, the Earl of Monthermer and
Lord Ralph Basset, on his own left, and some four or five and twenty
knights and gentlemen following close upon his steps--rode out from the
highway leading from Evesham to Alcester, upon that ever renowned
plain, where the truncheon of power was to be wrested from his grasp
for ever.
The country was for the most part open, but there was a little wood and
some rising ground to the right, a rivulet running along across the
patch of common land which the road now traversed, and a cultivated
field with its hedgerow on the left. About a quarter of a mile from the
point at which the highway issued from between the banks, was a stone
post, marking the spot where three roads, coming down from some slight
hills in front, met and united in the one along which De Montfort had
marched from Evesham. For nearly the same distance beyond, these roads
might be seen crossing the common, and then, plunging amongst woods and
hedges, they ascended the gentle slope opposite.
The day was not so fine as the preceding one; clouds were gathering in
the sky; the air was heavy and oppressive; the horses either languid or
impatient, and everything announced that the sun would go down in
storms. A small advanced guard had been sent forward to reconnoitre the
country in front, and, the head of the column of the army was about a
hundred yards behind the general and his companions; but no detachment
had been on this, as on the preceding day, thrown out to examine the
fields to the left of the line of march.
De Montfort's brow was calm and serene; he hoped, ere many hours were
over, to unite his forces to those of his eldest son, and then, turning
upon his enemy, to terminate the contest at a blow. Ere he had reached
the stone at the crossing of the roads, however, three or four
horsemen, at headlong speed, came down from the rising ground in front,
and in a moment after the whole advance-guard were seen in full
retreat.
"What is this?" asked De Montfort, spurring on his horse to meet the
first of the men-at-arms who was approaching. "What news bring you in
such haste?"
"My lord, there is a mighty power coming down upon you," cried the man;
"we saw them from the edge of the slope beyond--full twenty thousand
men."
"Did you see their banners?" demanded De Montfort.
"No," answered the Messenger; "there were banners in plenty, but I
marked not what they were."
"You are speedily alarmed," said the Earl, in a cold tone. "Hugh de
Monthermer," he proceeded, speaking to the young Lord, who was close
behind, "gallop up that hill there to the right, and bring us word what
your keen eyes can see. I will ride on to the other slope, and judge
for myself."
Hugh was away in a moment, and De Montfort continued, turning in the
saddle--"My kind friend, Monthermer--my good Lord Ralph--I beseech you,
array the men as they issue forth from between the banks. These that
are coming must be the forces of my son from Kenilworth, but it is as
well to be prepared. My Lord le Despenser, I leave you to entertain his
Majesty--I will be back directly. Some of you gentlemen follow me;" and
spurring on at full speed, he crossed the little rivulet, and ascended
the first slope of the ground beyond.
He there paused, for some minutes, watching attentively the country
before him, through which, upon the left-hand road, was advancing a
large body of men, under numerous banners. At length, he seemed
satisfied, turned his horse, and rode back at an easy canter to the
spot where the old Earl of Monthermer and Lord Ralph Basset were
arraying the spearmen, archers, and crossbowmen, who had by this time
come forth upon the common, while the men-at-arms were only beginning
to appear, taking up a position behind the infantry.
"It is as well," said De Montfort, speaking, as they returned, to one
of the gentlemen who had followed him--"it is as well to put them in
array, for we shall halt here for an hour, while the men refresh
themselves. You saw those banners?"
"Yes, my lord," replied the knight; "I marked that of your son, and
that of the Earl of Oxford."
"We will give them a cheer when they come up," continued De Montfort;
and he rode on to the Earl of Monthermer, saying--"It is my son,
Monthermer; I see his banner, and Oxford's likewise. But here comes
your nephew. Who is this he is driving down before him, at the point of
the lance? A crossbowman, it seems."
"My lord--my lord!" cried Hugh de Monthermer, as he came up--"prepare
for instant battle. Prince Edward's army is within a mile, and Mortimer
is coming up on the right-hand road!"
"What! to the right?" exclaimed De Montfort. "How came he there?--Well,
let them come! they will meet more than they expected. My son is on the
left. Advance our wing, my good Lord of Monthermer, that we may join
with him more easily."
"My lord, you are deceived," said Hugh, eagerly; "the banners you have
seen are not your son's."
"But----" cried De Montfort.
"Speak, sirrah!" exclaimed Hugh, turning sternly to the crossbowman,
whom he had driven down before him; "speak, and let the Earl hear the
truth. Such bitter tidings should only come from the lips of an enemy.
Speak, I say. My lord, this is one of Gloucester's archers; he will
tell you more."
"Let him, then," said the Earl. "Who are these, marching against me,
sirrah?"
"Prince Edward, Roger Mortimer, and Gilbert de Clare," replied the man.
"Your son, my lord--kill me if you will, but it is the truth--your son
was surprised in his bed, at Kenilworth, his army routed and dispersed,
thirteen barons displaying their own banners were taken, and as many
more were slain. The banners you have seen were captured by the Prince,
and are hung out but to deceive you."
"And my son?" asked De Montfort, gazing earnestly in the man's face.
"What of my son?"
"He escaped, my lord," replied the archer, "he escaped, and threw
himself into the castle."
"Take him to the rear," said De Montfort. "Lo! where they come! A
mighty power, indeed!! How orderly--how firm!--The boy learnt that from
me. Now, God have mercy on our souls--for our bodies are Prince
Edward's!"
He added the latter words in a lower voice, but so as to be distinctly