The Fall Of The Grand Sarrasin written by William J. Ferrar
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William J. Ferrar >> The Fall Of The Grand Sarrasin
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I had listened sadly enough to the story of my father's fall, and its
recital grieved me.
"And has my lord vicomte seen my father since? Has he inquired of me?" I
asked.
"Nay, I must tell thee no more," she said. "Maybe I have told thee too
much already."
"At least, tell me of my mother," said I.
"Poor child," said she, "thou hast never known mother's love! Thy mother
was most fair and gentle, and indeed thine eyes and smile are hers."
"Of what race came she, lady?"
"Child," said she, sadly, "I will not tell thee that to-day. Know only
her name was of the noblest."
Thus, in the chamber of the vicomtesse, that afternoon I learned
something of the secrets that I had wondered over in my boyhood. Sadly I
kissed her hand, when I knew she would tell me no more, and thanked her
courteously for her tender words.
"Indeed," said she, "I long to number thee soon among mine own sons,
when thou leavest the monks thy tutors."
"And I," said I, right gallantly, "will strive to be worthy of honours
so high, of a race so noble."
Now, next morning we rode forth gaily, on our last stage, as we hoped,
to Valognes, and a company of grooms and men-at-arms rode with us, such
as beseemed my uncle's rank. And for many miles we rode along the
western bank of the river Douve, that runs by my uncle's castle, but at
length the stream took a great bend to the west, and we had to cross
within some twelve miles of Valognes.
Here was a stout timber bridge on four piers, over which our road ran;
and it was on the west side of the bridge that my lord stayed, it being
a convenient place to send fit messengers to my lord duke to tell of our
approach. Therefore a courtly gentleman of my lord's retinue--by name De
Norrey--with a groom were sent forward in advance.
Their horses' hoofs clattered on the wooden way as they sped forth. But
lo! great was our wonder and terror to see a sore disaster befall them
there in the midst of the passage over the stream. We saw suddenly the
road give way beneath them, as though it were clean sawn asunder, and
both horsemen in a moment cast down suddenly into the stream below.
Then, too, we heard a loud thunder of the beams falling, and there was a
great mass of woodwork in the river, that dammed up for a while the
flood.
The gentleman, the vicomte's envoy, was alas! killed, thrown headlong by
his horse against a pier ere he struck the water. The groom that rode
with him marvellously escaped death, but was sore wounded by his fall.
"What villain hath done this?" cried the vicomte, in hot anger. "With my
men will I scour the land till I track him."
"Ah, my lord vicomte," I said, "this is the work of Maugher, that I saw
lurking in Coutances. And I grieve that thy good Sieur de Norrey should
thus die by a stroke that was aimed at me."
"If it be as thou sayest," said my uncle, "this venomous man, kinsman
though he be of the duke himself, shall no longer trouble men."
Then, with all sadness, the body of De Norrey was recovered and borne
back to St Sauveur, and we, riding down the stream a mile or more to
where there was a safe ford, crossed safely, and riding sorrowfully and
warily, though we were so near to the duke's presence, came presently in
sight of Valognes.
CHAPTER XVI.
How at length I was brought before _William, Conquestor Invictissimus_,
of all soldiers the greatest, and most invincible of dukes. Of the
manner he received my mission, and of the expedition of _Samson
d'Anville_.
And now, children of my house here in England, I bid you con eagerly
what I write in these next leaves, for, if God will, I will record how I
first met, in that land of the Cotentin, him who was my star of glory
while he lived, being indeed the greatest prince of our day, and, as I
think, as great a soldier as any that ever lived of our race or of any
other. And, following his conquering arms, we came to this haven in our
own fair country, as ye know.
My uncle had with great ease overcome, as a high noble may, all
obstacles in our path; and assuring all who questioned, that indeed we
came on business that could not wait, he won his way in an hour where I
alone might have wasted days, such walls of state there are around the
great ones of the earth.
But with a smile and a good word to one, a meaning whisper of secret
import to another, a high hand and a proud look to a third, he passed
through all barriers with me at his heels; and at length we were led by
a high noble through sundry gates into a broad level mead, all green and
close-shaven by the scythe, where many targets stood, and amid a bevy of
noble gentlemen Duke William himself saw to the training of his archers.
Now it was easy, even in that noble throng, to see who was the duke and
master of the company, not by rich apparel or device of royalty, but by
simple glory of manhood. He stood well above the tallest there, gentle
or simple. His great bulk had not yet hid his fair proportions, though
in girth and weight he outstripped the rest. On a strong neck like a
broad column his full round head rested, and frank and straight his
wide-open eyes gazed forth on men, masterful and proud.
Here was a man that hid not his passion or his feeling--one that could
hide naught. Afterwards the very force of mastery and passion left their
impress on William's face, but when I first saw him there, in the full
glory of a man's honour and strength, I gave him my boyhood's worship,
for that I knew he was a king of men.
He was busy with his archers, and minded not our approach.
"Blind dolt!" he cried. "Such a flight would harm none! See here!" He
drew the great wooden bow he carried right back to the breast, and the
arrow sped sharp and clean from the twanging cord, and hit the mark
plain in the middle with a mighty force. "Now--hard and straight!" he
said, as the archer essayed his shot again. Then seeing us approach,
"Vicomte, good morrow."
"My lord duke," said mine uncle, "with pain I disturb thee; but thou
wilt agree that our matter would not wait."
"Then tell it quickly," said William.
"My lord of Bee sends forth my nephew with this letter," said the
Vicomte.
"Then let him ope and read it."
With a great awe I read Lanfranc's sage words to the duke. Careless and
moody he stood when I began with his high titles, but he let me read.
But he awoke as he heard of the Sarrasin, and hot anger filled his face.
I read on steady and slow till I came to the name of Maugher, and at
that there was a very storm in his eyes.
"Give me the letter!" said he; and he snatched it, gazed an instant on
it, and ground it the next moment into the sod with his iron heel.
He raged up and down in a passion, heedless of us and of his archers.
Then he recovered himself.
"And the monks are shut in by the Moors?" he said to me.
"My lord duke," I said, "they and all thy loyal people of Guernsey are
near starving, and this vile Moor calls himself lord and master of the
Norman seas."
"Does he?" said William. "Tell me more of Maugher."
"He speeds on the treachery. His devils are seen in the Sarrasin's
castle. He hath twice sought my life on my way to thee. I have seen by
our abbot's grace treacherous letters of his to King Henry, that your
highness wots of. And yesterday I saw him at Coutances in disguise."
"At Coutances?" said the duke, near as I feared another blast of anger.
And then, turning to a burly lord hard by, that I guessed soon, not from
his bearing, but from Duke William's words, was his brother and
councillor, Odo of Bayeux, he said, "Here, my lord, what thinkest thou
of these letters?"
He gave him to read the parchment that I picked up from the turf. Odo
read it slowly.
"It would seem," said he, "that this Sarrasin is grander than we
thought."
"At this juncture he is dangerous," said William.
"Maugher is the danger," said Odo.
"Shall we strike at once?" said William.
"'Tis but a week's work," said Odo, "and it would seem by one stroke you
will clear the seas for years."
He turned to me and inquired very exactly all that I knew of the
strength of the pirates by sea and land, of the building and position of
the Chateau du Grand Sarrasin, of the Vale Castle, and the defence of
it by the monks and islanders.
He learned (for how could I keep back even my own doings, so peremptory
he was?) of my being taken captive, and bursting into a huge laughter at
the tale of my escape, swore I was a wondrous fellow for my years. Then,
as he had a map in his mind of all that I knew, he turned and said to
the Vicomte--
"'Tis a brave boy, this thy nephew. Tell me, whose son is he?"
At this the Vicomte hesitated a moment, and I coloured and looked down.
"He is the son," he said at length, "of my younger brother, who this
fourteen years has been reckoned unworthy of his place among knights."
The duke looked on me again, and I met his gaze.
"See, then, lad," said he, "that thou redeem thy father's good name! And
now for thy mission hither. It is my will to do all that thou askest up
to thy desires--yea, and beyond thy desires. This pirate-swarm have
massed themselves together, and lo! I will sever their many heads at one
blow, and they shall know rightly who is lord and master of the Norman
seas and isles. I will bring all my ships----"
He was proceeding, when Odo plucked him by the arm, and, whispering in
his ear, as I thought, dissuaded him from coming in person. He frowned
and chafed, but at last gave way, and after further words, called to
him a little man of wondrous heavy build, yet muscular withal, that
stood among the greatest of his lords.
"Hither, Samson d'Anville," said he; "here is brave work for thee, that
I was near taking for mine own. Thou shalt be admiral and captain of an
expedition that I send with all speed to sweep out with all force the
pirates that infest our Norman seas. In great pride they are gathered in
Guernsey to defy my power. Take men, take ships, all that thou wilt
need, and delay not thy journey, for certain monks and islanders are
hard set with famine. See me again to-morrow. Vicomte, good youth,
farewell."
So Duke William returned to his archers.
* * * * *
We had but just left the duke's presence, and were even considering
whether I should return with mine uncle to St. Sauveur or tarry there at
Valognes, if I could find a lodging, when none other than Samson
d'Anville, that had been placed in command of the expedition, came after
us, and would have me to be his guest until, all preparations having
been made in a week's time, we should sail from Barfleur.
"Come now, little soldier," said he, "and we on this expedition will be
true brothers-in-arms."
With that he wound his arm into mine, and I noted that, though he called
me "little soldier," I was almost a head taller than he.
So at his bidding, for he would take no denial, I took a hearty and
reverent leave of the vicomte, who assured me that when this matter were
over he would welcome me in his retinue for the French war, and linked
arm-in-arm with Samson, returned to the camp.
Now I had time to see more closely what manner of man this d'Anville
was. I have said he was short and stout, but I should have said that in
so small a frame one seldom saw such activity and strength. Like some
pollard oak, he seemed all knotted with muscle and vigour. He went
bearded and wore his hair unshaven, and thus amid those Norman lords,
shorn back and front, he looked wild and unkempt.
But the merry easy smile that lived in his black eyes was enough to show
me that, though a great warrior, and terrible in battle, he would be a
sweet comrade in time of peace. This was that Samson d'Anville that so
swiftly broke down the arrogance of Geoffroy, and for this and other
noble deeds was given that estate hard by the Vale, which his sons hold
yet.
And so it came to pass that within a week of my arriving, by great good
luck and marvellous dispatch in preparation, the order was given that we
should sail for Guernsey.
CHAPTER XVII.
Of the journey of our ships to relieve the Brethren of the Vale, and how
we fought a great battle with the _Moors_ outside the _Bay of
L'Ancresse_.
As I remember, children, our armament made an exceeding fair show as we
sailed with a fair wind out of Barfleur Harbour, and great joy I had
that such good fortune had attended my embassage to our great governor.
And indeed, though I remember not exactly after these many years the
number of the ships, I think there were at least five score, and in each
ship close on five-and-thirty men-at-arms, besides the sailors who had
the management of the sailing. Duke William, when thus aroused, did not
things by halves. And as we rounded Pointe de Barfleur, and saw on the
one side Cape de la Hague looming through the morning air, our fleet
rode in a fair line forward, making a semicircle as they sat gaily on
the sparkling waves.
And in the ship that was at the northern horn of this great bow was
Samson, and I by his favour with him, and the man on the look-out in
this great ship, that was called _Le Saint Michel_, saw more clearly
than any other of the mariners of what lay ahead. Now, _Le Saint Michel_
was the ship Duke William loved, and indeed it was both stout and
strong, and made for swiftness rather than great burthen. And being the
favourite ship of the duke, it was gloriously dight with gold and
colour, so that it looked right noble as the sun glinted on its golden
vanes, and lit up the splendour of its close-woven sails of crimson,
whereon two lions were curiously blazoned. And before upon the prow, as
it cleaved the waves, sat St. Michael with wings outspread, white as the
gulls that circled around our fleet, as though he were indeed bearing us
forward with good hope upon our journey.
"Look you!" said Samson, shading his eyes with his hand as he leant with
his arm on the gunwale; "we take our track neatly betwixt Auremen and
the Hague, and in so fair a day as this have no fear to run close by
yonder cursed Casquettes, where many a good ship hath met its doom. Dost
thou see them yet?"
"Yea," I said. "There, like a rough, jagged set of teeth, they spring
yonder from the calm waves and a long track they make where thou seest
the foam on either side."
"Then we will have no risk of our good men," said Samson, presently.
"Port helm, man, and keep a clear mile from yonder hungry rocks."
Soon the north coast of Guernsey hove in sight, and earnestly I gazed
forth for signs of any pirate ships that might intend to do battle with
us on the sea. And, indeed, it was well to look, for around from the
Grand Havre as we approached swept a great straight column of their
low-decked, lean, swift-sailing vessels, and we seemed to see another
such column lying-to behind.
"See you them?" I hastily cried to Samson.
"Ay, it means battle," said he.
But this good soldier, well used to fighting by sea, as well as by land,
was even now as cool and undismayed as though he but went about his
proper work.
Samson gave his orders with words sharp and few. And indeed it seemed
that all was arranged for us to meet such a defence of the coast by our
foes. For, like living beings, our great ships sailed swiftly into two
lines, strong and steady, with our vessel at the end of the second rank.
And all this was done without disorder or confusion, as men-at-arms will
form square on parade, and still we rode on the while, and Samson stood
watching the pirates' fleet that lay now in a long line in front of
L'Ancresse Bay awaiting our attack, as was meet for them to do.
The wind sprang up now, I remember, from the east, and I heard Samson
say in a glad tone----
"Thank Heaven for this breeze! It will prove the very messenger of
victory from God."
"Ay, in good truth," I said. "See, even now before we attack them, they
drift, though they would stay steady."
We were now well past Les Casquettes, and I could see clear the great
rocky headland of the Guet, and others as high and deadly, that I
remember not the names of, loom sharp and clear behind the pirates'
fleet.
The good breeze bore us on, and it was evident that, without feint or
device of any kind, we should face our foes fairly, and do battle
hand-to-hand with the pirates chiefly by boarding their craft.
And I was glad at this, for I had no fear of the result of the day's
fight if William's trained men-at-arms, suppled by a hundred battles,
met their foes face to face on a few square feet of wood. The pirates,
in their self-deceiving folly, that led them to a swift doom, had the
like thought of their own prowess, and indeed they had need be proud of
their wild fighting, being men who so fought as caring not for life or
escape.
The ships of our front rank sailed swiftly down on their foe, and each
crashed heavily into a pirate vessel. And with the loud crack of wood
against wood, and shattered prows, and rocking masts, uprose over the
clear water the hideous din of battle. High above all the cry of "Rou,"
and the shouting "Dieu aide," "God and St. Michael," "Duke William and
St. George." Then the wild diabolic cries from the Moors in their harsh
ugly tongue, "Le Grand Sarrasin," or "Le Grand Geoffroy," echoing among
their uncouth war-cries.
I cannot tell what happened that first part of the fight; but I saw a
confused sight of our men with a strong rush of might, their bright
swords gleaming o'er their heads, leaping into this vessel or that, and
blazing with the onrush of their attack upon the Moors, that met them
with mad ferocity. There was a scene on each deck in which I could
distinguish not which way the matter went, except that the war-cries of
our men sounded ever more triumphant. Two vessels at the least were so
disabled by the shock that they drifted away southward on the jagged
rocks with their crews still in them. I know not whether the rogues in
them were saved or lost.
The men of _La Belle Mathilde_, straight in front of us, had good
success, for already, ere we came into action, they had cleared the deck
of the vessel they had attacked, and leaving it to drift away were about
to run down its neighbour, into whose side some of the crew had climbed,
having leapt into the water from the battle with the Normans. We cast
our eyes along the fighting-line and saw the like going on; and then
came up their second line, in two curves, east and west, to their
friends' assistance. Now, this was our signal to ride forward and engage
them. So we swept round to keep them off on either side, and ere I knew
what was afoot there ran a great tremble through the ship, and a crack
like thunder sent my heart into my mouth, and in a moment I saw the
Moors hacking eagerly at the wrists of our soldiers, that clung lustily
to the rigging of their craft, that was called _La Reine d'enfer_.
With a shout that rang like a great trumpet, our little Samson had his
foot in a moment on the gunwale. "Stick on lads, tight!" he cried, as
with half a score of whom I was one, he landed on the pirate's deck.
Three of them rushed at each of us, and well it was we had good hauberks
and good blades, for "slash, slash" came down on us the strokes from
either hand. But swift in our tail came a score more of our Normans,
some of the readiest and stoutest of Samson's own men that followed his
standard, and like lions zealous for his honour, and eagles careful for
his life, they fought their way to their little leader's side, who was
well-nigh bested, contending with three or more, who knew his place and
station and attacked him at all points. But the rush of the boarding
party swept all our foes before us, and in a short space the remnant of
them, now far below our numbers, collected by the stern of the ship in a
thick mass. It was no light matter to dislodge them, thrice we essayed
it, and thrice from their sharp blades we recoiled. And, indeed, I could
not but honour these men now engaged so hopelessly in their last
conflict, and never crying out for quarter--nay, even stricken down on
the deck still crawling with bent and broken sword, to slash once more
at us, if it were but at our hose of mail.
In the hot fray we recked not of our moorings, and we saw already we had
lost hold of _Le Saint Michel_ and drifted some yards astern, and a
great shock of the ship showed us we were broadside on with another of
their ships, _L'Aiglon_. Now we were soon involved in sore danger, for
the pirates on board this latter, lost no time in coming up to their
friends' assistance, and like a crew of black kites they swept over the
side, with curved cutlasses brandished in their hands. I know not how it
would have chanced had not _La Blanche Nef_ boarded their ship, and
attacking them in the rear, swept through them to our relief. So they
were between two attacks, and enough of us were left to engage in our
last deadly hand-to-hand struggle with the pirates in the stern. I
followed a great Norman soldier that led this last attack, and closing
with a sinewy Moor that strove cunningly to slap my sword from my grasp
with an upsweep, we were ere long rolling on the deck amid the dead and
the slippery streams of blood, each guarding the other's sword-hand from
his breast; and since the Moor was a strong villain of full man's
strength, I was in evil case. For with me, thus striving on the deck,
the swing and rush of my youthful strength availed me naught against his
tempered muscles, that seemed pressing my arms back with a grasp of
iron. Yea, I was as near cold steel in my heart as ever in my life,
when suddenly I felt his grasp tighten and then grow loose, and a sharp
blade that had already been run through his back, came out below the
breast-bone, and gave my arm a graze that drew blood.
"God, save you, good lad!" rang out Samson's voice, and I knew that he
had found time in his control of the whole battle to think of me--and in
good season, for I have small doubt that, though the point of his sword
grazed my arm, yet it saved my life.
When I arose up, the ships that were named _L'Aiglon_ and _La Reine
d'enfer_ were both cleared of the Moors, and our men were steering the
shattered vessel as well as could be done towards _Le Saint Michel_,
which we presently boarded, letting the pirate ship with a hole in its
bottom run away towards La Jaonneuse, a rock on the north-west that
broke her up.
Now I saw that the victory in this sharp sea-battle was already won. For
to right and left the second line, or those vessels that still remained,
had retired, and were bearing away southward. Some five or six of the
first line, that we afterwards overhauled had run aground for safety in
L'Ancresse Bay; and the remnant, about twenty ships in all, drifted with
shattered and broken masts and rigging on to the rocks, on which some
lay foundered already.
So it was with a cheery voice I sang out to Samson d'Anville--
"Lo! the way lies open to the Vale."
And he pointing to the stiff dead bodies floating in the water, and
wiping his sword-blade carefully, cried back--
"So die all pirates, and enemies of the duke in the Norman Seas!"
CHAPTER XVIII.
The story of the relief of _Vale Castle_.
Now, by the ending of our battle before L'Ancresse Bay, the sun was
setting, and for fear of some attack on us as we disembarked, Samson
d'Anville thought it better that, though well in sight of Vale Castle,
that already had lit beacons of joy upon its towers, we should drop
anchor for the night in L'Ancresse Bay.
This we did, and there was much business in our fleet in the repairing
of the damage of the fight. When the tale was made up, but forty
men-at-arms had been lost with some sixty more who had sore damage, and
two of our ships were so disabled that we left them to float upon the
rocks.
From the prow, where I lay down to sleep, I thought of the joy in the
hearts of our brethren and the abbot, and "Oh, Brother Hugo!" I thought,
"now, by God's grace, have I well-nigh fulfilled the task thou gavest
me;" and then sleep drew my eyelids tight, and with no alarm of sea or
enemy, I slept until the morning.
Now, the day that followed has ever been the brightest and the gladdest
of my memories as I have trodden the path of my life. For on that day by
Samson's side I entered Vale gate in very sooth the deliverer of my
friends.
I remember not in what manner that goodly army was disembarked, but well
I know, through the long space it took, my heart burned to be away. But
all was done in the due order of war, for Samson greatly feared an
ambush of the Sarrasins in rocky spaces betwixt us and the Castle. And
good companies of men were left in a little camp, hastily thrown up by
the shore, lest there should be a mishap upon our march.
But at length the men-at-arms were drawn up in order of march, and every
man sent forward gave word that no sign of Sarrasin could be seen in the
Vale. So, steadily, with the great standard of the two lions unrolled,
we marched across the common, and soon the great mass of Vale Castle, on
its seat of rock, towered up before us, and along the rampart we saw
gathered the defenders, like saints of heaven, welcoming us as we came.
And the women, so long pent up with anxious minds therein, waved their
light kerchiefs, and wept for very joy at the sound of the soldier's
tramp shaking the plain. And along the wall, as at a set signal, when we
passed the black ruin of the old cloister and church, uprose the deep
sound of men's singing, and we heard the goodly round Latin tongue roll
its heavy cadence o'er our heads--"Magnificat anima mea Dominum"--ay,
magnificat of praise and glory, as greeting this deliverance wrought by
the most Holy One, and the downfall of Satan's power. And ever, when
they sing that hymn of blessed Mary, I seem again to be a-marching with
all the triumph of a noble lad in the successful doings of his first
great enterprise over the wind-swept grass of the Vale up to the Castle
gate--marching with a great army, that knows naught of sin and guile,
full-stedfast and full-faithful through all its sunny ranks.
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