_Castruccio in England._
Castruccio spent several days with his friend at Venice. Guinigi and
Atawel were constantly together, and Castruccio was thrown to a great
degree into the society of the Venetian nobles. Having been for a year
the constant companion of Guinigi, the contrast between him and these
men struck him forcibly. The mind of the philosophical exile was fraught
with a natural wisdom, a freedom from prejudice, and a boldness of
thought, that suited the enthusiasm, while it corrected the narrow views
of Castruccio. But these nobles were full of party spirit, and a never
resting desire, to aggrandize first themselves, and secondly their
native town, in opposition to the rest of the world. They were to
themselves the centre of the universe, and men and nations rose and set
only for them. As Galileo was persecuted for saying that the earth moved
attendant on the sun, thus demonstrating the relative insignificance of
our globe; so they would have pursued with excessive hatred any one who
should have pointed out to them their true station in relation to their
fellow-creatures. They were in no danger of hearing such disagreeable
truths from Guinigi: he was content not to be deceived himself by the
false shadows thrown from society; but with that amenity which was his
characteristic, he adapted his counsels to the ideas of others, and
allowed those whom he could not hope to new mould, to sleep in their
pleasant dreams.
Castruccio was presented to the doge, and partook of all the brilliant
amusements of Venice. But at length the time arrived, when he was to
depart with sir Ethelbert Atawel, and Guinigi to return to his farm
among the hills. It was a sorrowful event for Atawel and Castruccio to
separate from this kind and valued friend. Before he departed, Guinigi
talked long with Castruccio, and vehemently urged him, when he should
arrive in England, that he would put himself entirely under the guidance
of Atawel. "You will be," he said, "in a strange country, with unknown
manners and customs; so that without a guide you would find it difficult
to steer a right course among them. My dear Castruccio, God only knows
what your future fortunes will be; but your father intrusted you to my
care, and I feel the most earnest anxiety that you should enter life
under good auspices, and enjoy, at least with untarnished pleasure, the
years of youthful hope. Be towards Atawel as you ever have been to me;
the natural ingenuousness of your character will discover to you the
medium, which combines the graceful submission of youth, with that
independence that is the dearest birthright of man. Atawel is gentle and
unassuming; you must seek his counsels; for his best wisdom will be
bestowed upon you, when you shew a desire to consult it."
They separated: Atawel and Castruccio departed with a few attendants
towards Milan on their road to England.
Castruccio now found himself with a companion, different from him to
whom he had just bade an affectionate farewell. Atawel was more a man of
the world than Guinigi; nor did he possess his genius and surpassing
excellence. Entering into the common road of life, he was
notwithstanding able to regulate his conduct by just principles, and to
recommend himself by a sound judgement and a steady courage; but he was
unable to strike into new paths, and become an adventurer in life and
morals as Guinigi had been. He had great sensibility and warm
affections; and various misfortunes in life had turned a constitutional
gravity into melancholy. Yet he unveiled his spirit for a while from the
clouds that obscured it, and entered with interest into the views and
expectations of Castruccio.
They conversed together concerning his cousin Alderigo, who was a rich
merchant in London, and who by his respectability and talents had
acquired influence even among the nobles of England. Alderigo had been
known and loved by Edward I: for in those days kings did not disdain to
seek friends among those classes of society from which ordinary
etiquette would have excluded them. The merchant however had withdrawn
from all communication with the court, since the accession of Edward of
Caernarvon; for the childish amusements of this monarch ill accorded
with the dispositions of one who had been the friend of his manly
father. When the barons of England remonstrated with Edward, and
insisted on the exile of Piers Gavaston, Alderigo had however come
forward to persuade the king to this necessary concession.
Atawel also was an enemy of Gavaston; and, as he sketched the political
state of England to his young companion, he painted with indignation the
change from the spirited counsels of the late sovereign, to the puerile
amusements and weak inaction of his son. He described Gavaston as a man
expert in feats of bodily activity, but destitute of judgement and manly
enterprise. He said that he was vain-glorious, rapacious, and profuse.
Insolent to his superiors and equals, tyrannical to his inferiors, he
deigned to use the arts of courtesy to the king alone: even the queen
failed in obtaining from him the respect due to her sex and dignity. He
had been raised to rank and wealth by the royal favour; but he conducted
himself with an arrogance, that would not have been tolerated in the
first noble of the land. He was not content to overcome his adversary in
the field of honour; but he endeavoured to add to his shame by sarcasm
and ridicule. The barons exerted their utmost power for his destruction;
Edward yielded to force; but on the first favourable opportunity he
recalled his friend, who, untaught by adversity, again irritated his
rivals to that hostility in which he was sure to be worsted.
The animated picture which Atawel drew of the discontent and turbulence
of the English barons, although it would have excited terror in these
quiet times, delighted Castruccio, as affording a hope of having now
found a fitting stage on which he might commence his active career. The
loss of Scotland to England, and the inaction of the king and his
favourite, easily induced him to sympathize in the indignation of
Atawel; and he readily believed, that the insolence of the upstart and
unworthy Gavaston demanded and justified the most rigorous measures to
ensure his expulsion from the kingdom.
Castruccio was now eighteen years of age. His converse with Guinigi had
indued him with a manliness of thought and a firmness of judgement
beyond his years; at the same time that the vivacity of his temper often
made him appear rash, and the gaiety of his disposition led him to seek
with ardour the common diversions of his age. He was bred as a young
esquire in all those accomplishments which were deemed essential to a
gentleman, and was expert in feats of horsemanship and arms, in the
dance, and in other exercises peculiar to his country. His countenance,
which was uncommonly beautiful, expressed frankness, benevolence and
confidence; when animated, his eyes shone with fire; when silent, there
was a deep seriousness in his expression, that commanded attention,
combined at the same time with a modesty and grace which prepossessed
every one in his favour. His slight, but active form never moved without
displaying some new elegance of person; and his voice, whose modulated
accents stole on the ear like sweetest music, forced the hearer to love
him; his laugh, like that of a child, heartfelt and joyous, was entirely
distinct from the sneer of contempt, or the arrogance of superiority. He
had read little; but he had conversed with those who had studied deeply,
so that his conversation and manners were imbued with that refinement
and superior sweetness, which are peculiar to those who unite the
cultivation of the mind to exterior accomplishments. Gay, ambitious and
beloved, there was little pride, and no insolence in his nature: nor
could he endure either to be the object of arrogance, or to perceive it
exercised over others.
Such was Castruccio, when in the beginning of the year 1309 he landed on
the English shores. Gavaston had just been expelled by a confederacy of
the nobles, who for a while had assumed the royal power into their own
hands. But, instead of having been poorly exiled according to the wish
of the barons, his royal master had invested him with the Lieutenancy of
Ireland, where he signalized himself by his victories over the rebels.
Edward however could not be happy in the absence of his favourite, but,
melancholy and irresolute, watched for a fitting opportunity, when the
hatred of his nobles should in some degree be softened, to recall him.
Alderigo received his young cousin with the warmest affection, and
shewed every disposition to aid by his wealth and influence, in placing
him in such a situation as might gratify his ambition. Atawel introduced
him at court; and, if the haughty barons of England viewed with a
supercilious smile the youthful beauty and accomplishments of the
stranger, Edward was pleased to behold one, who by his foreign air, and
the refinement of his manners, recalled the memory of his exiled
favourite. He distinguished Castruccio among the crowd; and the youth,
dazzled perhaps by royal favour, easily altered his prepossessions in
favour of the barons, into love and pity for their oppressed sovereign.
At balls and tournaments Castruccio shone among the throng. He was yet
too youthful to enter into manual contests with the English lords; but
the management of his horse, his graceful person, his skill in the
dance, and other light games endeared him to Edward, who was incapable
of sympathizing in the ruder exercises in which his barons were so
jealous of their pre-eminence.
Atawel and Alderigo viewed the favour which Castruccio enjoyed with the
king, with fearful eyes: they dreaded the jealousy of the nobles; but
happily this passion was not excited on the present occasion. On the
contrary they were rather pleased, that the king should be amused by the
company of one, whose youth and precarious situation withheld him from
entering into the lists of rivalry with them. The Italian Castruccio,
dependent on the bounty of a merchant of his own country, no conqueror
at the tournament, neither thwarting, nor understanding their several
plans of aggrandisement, was past over with a scornful smile, which the
youth, regarding himself as a sufferer in common with their injured
king, did not receive as a degradation. But deeper feelings of sympathy
now gave him other sentiments.
Edward's favourite recreation was the game of tennis; in which, it being
common in Italy under the name of _la Palla_, Castruccio excelled. One
day after having amused themselves at this exercise in one of the royal
gardens, Edward feeling fatigued gave up the game, and leaning on
Castruccio's arm, strolled with him down one of the shady allies. And
here for the first time he opened his heart to his new friend: he
described Gavaston as the most amiable and the most accomplished knight
of the times: he dwelt with touching earnestness on his own attachment
to him, and his forced separation; tears started into his eyes as he
spoke of the desolate state of his heart, deprived of the company of his
first, his only and his dearest friend; and his cheeks glowed with
indignation, as he mentioned the arrogance of his nobles, and the state
of slavery to which he was reduced.
Castruccio was deeply moved; and the natural feeling of pity, with which
he was inspired at the spectacle of the slavery of one, who it was
presumed had a divine right to command, was augmented by the idea that
he had been found a worthy deposit for the overflowings of the royal
sorrows. He offered his services with earnestness, and Edward gladly
accepted his proffers. "Yes, my dear friend," he cried, "the
accomplishment of my fondest wishes shall devolve upon you. You shall be
my saviour; the saviour of my honour, and the cause of the only
happiness I can enjoy on earth, the return of my beloved Piers."
Edward then disclosed to Castruccio the various expedients he had used,
to pacify his nobles, and to obtain the re-establishment of his friend.
He acknowledged that he had just received from the Pope a dispensation
of Gavaston's oath never again to set foot in England; and a faithful
messenger was only necessary, to carry this intelligence to his friend,
and bid him instantly return; so that the barons, taken unawares, should
not have time to plot new disturbances, before the king should be able
to defy their worst, secure of the life and the society of his
favourite. "That task shall devolve on you, my dear Castruccio," said
he; "and I shall be indebted to you for the happiness of again embracing
him to whom I have bound myself by the ties of an eternal friendship.
Frame a plausible excuse for quitting England, and hasten to Dublin,
where Piers impatiently waits a messenger from me; that you may not be
exposed to the slightest risk from the suspicion of the nobles, I will
give you no letter: but this ring, as was agreed upon between myself and
my friend, will obtain for its bearer his full confidence and
friendship."
Castruccio took leave of the monarch, and hastened to the house of
Alderigo, full of pride, hope, and joy. He had now indeed entered upon
life, and as he hoped, with the best auspices: he had become the chosen
confident of a king, and his secret messenger; he readily believed that
prudence, and prudence should not fail him, would cause his rise to the
highest dignities. His feelings were not entirely selfish; for he deeply
pitied Edward, and was sincerely happy in serving him: but to pity and
serve a king, was a state of being full of pleasure. In accordance with
the prudent plan he had marked out for himself, he remained at the house
of his kinsman during several days, secluded from his courtly friends,
and absenting himself entirely from the palace. On occasion of the
arrival of a few letters from France, he informed Atawel and Alderigo,
that it was absolutely necessary for him to undertake a journey to that
country. As he alleged the most frivolous causes as the motive of this
determination, his friends easily perceived that he was endeavouring to
mislead them by a false pretext. The Italian, after having in vain
endeavoured to win his confidence, contented himself with recommending
prudence and caution: Atawel spoke more seriously, and bade the youth
beware, before he mixed with the intrigues of a foreign court, in which
if he were once detected, he had neither friends nor connections to
extricate him from the rage of his powerful adversaries. And then again
he intreated Castruccio to consider the justice of the cause in the
service of which he enlisted himself, and what would be the probable
consequences, if through his means Edward were to establish a
correspondence with his favourite. The young man listened with seeming
deference, but allowed no word to escape him, that might countenance the
idea that his journey was influenced by any except private
considerations.
He departed from London, as if on his way to France; then suddenly
changing his route, he traversed the kingdom, and crossing from Bristol
to Cork, hastened to Dublin, and carried to Gavaston the welcome command
of the king to return immediately to England; the ring that he bore from
Edward, was an immediate passport to the friendship of the illustrious
exile.
Piers Gavaston was still in the flower of his age. If he were not
handsome, yet the expression of his features was manly and interesting;
he was graceful in person, and strong of muscle, though agile of limb:
he was courteous in general society, though a certain haughtiness was
diffused over his whole manner, which forbade any more familiar feeling
than that of admiration. Among his friends this air of superiority
yielded to the most winning kindness and affability of demeanour, which,
being ever a mark of distinguished affection, did not fail to bind them
to him by an additional tie of gratitude. He spoke several languages
with great fluency; he rivalled the most graceful knights of France, and
far surpassed the English in all chivalrous accomplishments. The
consciousness of power with which his dexterity inspired him, generated
an independence and frankness of action, which would have rendered him
amiable to all, had it not been tainted by vanity and presumption. He
was magnificent in his attire, fond of parade, and proud of his dazzling
fortunes, all heavy sins among his English enemies. He paid great
attention, and made much shew of love to Castruccio, whom if princely
affability had before moved, the gracious treatment of Gavaston made a
complete conquest of him.
They returned together to England. Edward had arrived at Chester, that
he might behold his friend a few days the sooner; and he flew to his
arms with the affectionate transports with which a child might welcome
the return of its absent mother.
A strict friendship was established between Gavaston and Castruccio.
Piers had not learned moderation from adversity; his wealth and luxury
were increased, and with these his vanity and insufferable presumption.
Atawel in vain endeavoured to win Castruccio from his society; but, if
the deportment of Gavaston was arrogant towards the English lords, it
was so much the more affable and insinuating towards Castruccio. The
king also loved the Italian; and, not examining the merits of the case,
he allowed himself to be entirely led away by the personal attachment
that he bore to Edward and Piers.
Gavaston had wealth and rank; and, although he was considered an
upstart, yet the possession of these gave him a consequence in the eyes
of the nobles, of which Castruccio was wholly divested. They looked on
the latter as one may regard a stinging insect, whose insignificance is
not to compound for his annoyance. They endured the insolence of
Gavaston with the sullenness of men who look into the future for
revenge; but they bore the far slighter pain which Castruccio inflicted
upon them, with the impatience one feels at an injury, however slight,
for which we are by no means prepared. And, if Castruccio himself
manifested few symptoms of insolence, yet he was supported by that of
Gavaston; and they felt that, though for the present they could not
injure the favourite personally, yet they might wound him through his
Italian friend. This latter also was not unfrequently provoked beyond
his usual courtesy by the pride and taunts of his enemies; and, if ever
he dared reply, or when Gavaston replied for him, the nobles felt a rage
they could ill smother at what they deemed so despicable an offender.
The indications of mischief which had before slightly manifested
themselves, broke out one day with a violence that suddenly terminated
Castruccio's visit to England.
He accompanied the king, who went with a train of the first nobility on
a hawking party, to Chelsea. The exercise excited Castruccio's blood,
and inspired him with an exaltation of spirits which might have
exhausted itself in gaiety alone, had not a quarrel, that arose between
him and one of the nobles, urged him to a fury he could ill control. The
contention began concerning the comparative flight of their birds; and,
healed as they were by personal animosity, it became loud and bitter.
Edward in vain endeavoured to appease them; but when, seconded by his
friends, the English nobleman established his triumph in the contest,
Castruccio replied by a sarcasm which so irritated his antagonist, that
no longer restraining his indignation, he darted forward, and struck
Castruccio. The fiery youth, crying in Italian, "By blood, and not by
words, are blows to be avenged!"--drew his stiletto, and plunged it into
the bosom of his adversary. A hundred swords immediately flashed in the
air; Edward threw himself before his friend to protect him: Gavaston,
Atawel and others who loved him, hastily withdrew him from the crowd,
made him mount his horse, and without a moment's delay they rode to the
river's side below the Tower, where they fortunately found a vessel on
the point of sailing for Holland. Without waiting to see his other
friends, without going to the house of Alderigo for money or equipment,
they hurried him on board the vessel, which immediately got under weigh,
and dropt down with a favourable wind towards the Nore.
The barons, burning with revenge, had sent archers to the house of
Alderigo, who, not finding Castruccio, seized upon his kinsman, and
threw him into prison. A law then existed in England, that if a
foreigner killed a native and escaped, those with whom he resided became
amenable for the murder. Alderigo was therefore in the most imminent
peril; but Edward, as the last act of friendship that he could bestow
upon Castruccio, saved the life and fortune of his kinsman. And thus,
after a year's residence in this island, did the youth bring to a
disastrous conclusion all the hopes and expectations which had led him
thither.