One day in June, 1567, Gaspard Vaillant and his wife went up to
Fletcher's farm.
"I have come up to have a serious talk with you, John, about
Philip. You see, in a few months he will be sixteen. He is already
taller than I am. Rene and Gustave both tell me that they have
taught him all they know with sword and dagger; and both have been
stout men-at-arms in their time, and assure me that the lad could
hold his own against any young French noble of his own age, and
against not a few men. It is time that we came to some conclusion
about his future."
[Illustration: Gaspard Vaillant makes a proposal.]
"I have thought of it much, Gaspard. Lying here so helpless, my
thoughts do naturally turn to him. The boy has grown almost beyond
my power of understanding. Sometimes, when I hear him laughing and
jesting with the men, or with some of his school friends whom he
brings up here, it seems to me that I see myself again in him; and
that he is a merry young fellow, full of life and fun, and able to
hold his own at singlestick, or to foot it round the maypole with
any lad in Kent of his age. Then again, when he is talking with his
mother, or giving directions in her name to the French labourers, I
see a different lad, altogether: grave and quiet, with a gentle,
courteous way, fit for a young noble ten years his senior. I don't
know but that between us, Gaspard, we have made a mess of it; and
that it might have been better for him to have grown up altogether
as I was, with no thought or care save the management of his farm,
with a liking for sport and fun, when such came in his way."
"Not at all, not at all," Gaspard Vaillant broke in hastily, "we
have made a fine man of him, John; and it seems to me that he
possesses the best qualities of both our races. He is frank and
hearty, full of life and spirits when, as you say, occasion offers;
giving his whole heart either to work or play, with plenty of
determination, and what you English call backbone. There is, in
fact, a solid English foundation to his character. Then from our
side he has gained the gravity of demeanour that belongs to us
Huguenots; with the courtesy of manner, the carriage and bearing of
a young Frenchman of good blood. Above all, John, he is a sober
Christian, strong in the reformed faith, and with a burning hatred
against its persecutors, be they French or Spanish.
"Well then, being what he is, what is to be done with him? In the
first place, are you bent upon his remaining here? I think that,
with his qualities and disposition, it would be well that for a
while he had a wider scope. Lucie has managed the farm for the last
fifteen years, and can well continue to do so for another ten, if
God should spare her; and my own opinion is that, for that time, he
might be left to try his strength, and to devote to the good cause
the talents God has given him, and the skill and training that he
has acquired through us; and that it would be for his good to make
the acquaintance of his French kinsfolk, and to see something of
the world."
"I know that is Lucie's wish, also, Gaspard; and I have frequently
turned the matter over in my mind, and have concluded that, should
it be your wish also, it would be well for me to throw no
objections in the way. I shall miss the boy sorely; but young birds
cannot be kept always in the nest, and I think that the lad has
such good stuff in him that it were a pity to keep him shut up
here."
"Now, John," his brother-in-law went on, "although I may never have
said quite as much before, I have said enough for you to know what
my intentions are. God has not been pleased to bestow children upon
us; and Philip is our nearest relation, and stands to us almost in
the light of a son. God has blest my work for the last twenty
years, and though I have done, I hope, fully my share towards
assisting my countrymen in distress, putting by always one-third of
my income for that purpose, I am a rich man. The factory has grown
larger and larger; not because we desired greater gains, but that I
might give employment to more and more of my countrymen. Since the
death of Lequoc, twelve years ago, it has been entirely in my hands
and, living quietly as we have done, a greater portion of the
profits have been laid by every year; therefore, putting out of
account the money that my good sister has laid by, Philip will
start in life not ill equipped.
"I know that the lad has said nothing of any wishes he may
entertain--at his age it would not be becoming for him to do so,
until his elders speak--but of late, when we have read to him
letters from our friends in France, or when he has listened to the
tales of those freshly arrived from their ruined homes, I have
noted that his colour rose; that his fingers tightened, as if on a
sword; and could see how passionately he was longing to join those
who were struggling against their cruel oppressors. Not less
interested has he been in the noble struggle that the Dutch are
making against the Spaniards; a struggle in which many of our
exiled countrymen are sharing.
"One of his mother's cousins, the Count de La Noue, is, as you
know, prominent among the Huguenot leaders; and others of our
relatives are ranged on the same side. At present there is a truce,
but both parties feel that it is a hollow one; nevertheless it
offers a good opportunity for him to visit his mother's family.
Whether there is any prospect of our ever recovering the lands
which were confiscated on our flight is uncertain. Should the
Huguenots ever maintain their ground, and win freedom of worship in
France, it may be that the confiscated estates will in many cases
be restored; as to that, however, I am perfectly indifferent. Were
I a younger man, I should close my factory, return to France, and
bear my share in the defence of the faith. As it is, I should like
to send Philip over as my substitute.
"It would, at any rate, be well that he should make the
acquaintance of his kinsfolk in France; although even I should not
wish that he should cease to regard England as his native country
and home. Hundreds of young men, many no older than himself, are in
Holland fighting against the persecutors; and risking their lives,
though having no kinship with the Dutch, impelled simply by their
love of the faith and their hatred of persecution.
"I have lately, John, though the matter has been kept quiet,
purchased the farms of Blunt and Mardyke, your neighbours on either
hand. Both are nearly twice the size of your own. I have arranged
with the men that, for the present, they shall continue to work
them as my tenants, as they were before the tenants of Sir James
Holford; who, having wasted his money at court, has been forced to
sell a portion of his estates. Thus, some day Phil will come into
possession of land which will place him in a good position, and I
am prepared to add to it considerably. Sir James Holford still
gambles away his possessions; and I have explained, to his notary,
my willingness to extend my purchases at any time, should he desire
to sell. I should at once commence the building of a comfortable
mansion, but it is scarce worth while to do so; for it is probable
that, before many years, Sir James may be driven to part with his
Hall, as well as his land. In the meantime I am ready to provide
Philip with an income which will enable him to take his place with
credit among our kinsfolk, and to raise a company of some fifty men
to follow him in the field, should Conde and the Huguenots again be
driven to struggle against the Guises.
"What do you think?"
"I think, in the first place, that Lucie and I should be indeed
grateful to you, Gaspard, for your generous offer. As to his going
to France, that I must talk over with his mother; whose wishes in
this, as in all respects, are paramount with me. But I may say at
once that, lying here as I do, thinking of the horrible cruelties
and oppressions to which men and women are subjected for the
faith's sake in France and Holland, I feel that we, who are happily
able to worship in peace and quiet, ought to hesitate at no
sacrifice on their behalf; and moreover, seeing that, owing to my
affliction, he owes what he is rather to his mother and you than to
me, I think your wish that he should make the acquaintance of his
kinsfolk in France is a natural one. I have no wish for the lad to
become a courtier, English or French; nor that he should, as
Englishmen have done before now in foreign armies, gain great
honour and reputation; but if it is his wish to fight on behalf of
the persecuted people of God, whether in France or in Holland, he
will do so with my heartiest goodwill; and if he die, he could not
die in a more glorious cause.
"Let us talk of other matters now, Gaspard. This is one that needs
thought before more words are spoken."
Two days later, John Fletcher had a long talk with Phil. The latter
was delighted when he heard the project, which was greatly in
accord with both sides of his character. As an English lad, he
looked forward eagerly to adventure and peril; as French and of the
reformed religion, he was rejoiced at the thought of fighting with
the Huguenots against their persecutors, and of serving under the
men with whose names and reputations he was so familiar.
"I do not know your uncle's plans for you, as yet, Phil," his
father said. "He went not into such matters, leaving these to be
talked over after it had been settled whether his offer should be
accepted or not. He purposes well by you, and regards you as his
heir. He has already bought Blunt and Mardyke's farms, and purposes
to buy other parts of the estates of Sir James Holford, as they may
slip through the knight's fingers at the gambling table. Therefore,
in time, you will become a person of standing in the county; and
although I care little for these things now, Phil, yet I should
like you to be somewhat more than a mere squire; and if you serve
for a while under such great captains as Coligny and Conde, it will
give you reputation and weight.
"Your good uncle and his friends think little of such matters, but
I own that I am not uninfluenced by them. Coligny, for example, is
a man whom all honour; and that honour is not altogether because he
is leader of the reformed faith, but because he is a great soldier.
I do not think that honour and reputation are to be despised.
Doubtless the first thing of all is that a man should be a good
Christian. But that will in no way prevent him from being a great
man; nay, it will add to his greatness.
"You have noble kinsfolk in France, to some of whom your uncle will
doubtless commit you; and it may be that you will have opportunities
of distinguishing yourself. Should such occur, I am sure you will
avail yourself of them, as one should do who comes of good stock on
both sides; for although we Fletchers have been but yeomen, from
generation to generation, we have been ever ready to take and give
our share of hard blows when they were going; and there have been
few battles fought, since William the Norman came over, that a
Fletcher has not fought in the English ranks; whether in France, in
Scotland, or in our own troubles.
"Therefore it seems to me but natural that, for many reasons, you
should desire at your age to take part in the fighting; as an
Englishman, because Englishmen fought six years ago under the
banner of Conde; as a Protestant, on behalf of our persecuted
brethren; as a Frenchman by your mother's side, because you have
kinsfolk engaged, and because it is the Pope and Philip of Spain,
as well as the Guises, who are, in fact, battling to stamp out
French liberty.
"Of one thing I am sure, my boy--you will disgrace neither an
honest English name, nor the French blood in your veins, nor your
profession as a Christian and a Protestant. There are Englishmen
gaining credit on the Spanish Main, under Drake and Hawkins; there
are Englishmen fighting manfully by the side of the Dutch; there
are others in the armies of the Protestant princes of Germany; and
in none of these matters are they so deeply concerned as you are in
the affairs of France and religion.
"I shall miss you, of course, Philip, and that sorely; but I have
long seen that this would probably be the upshot of your training
and, since I can myself take no share in adventure, beyond the
walls of this house, I shall feel that I am living again in you.
But, lad, never forget that you are English. You are Philip
Fletcher, come of an old Kentish stock; and though you may be
living with French kinsfolk and friends, always keep uppermost the
fact that you are an Englishman who sympathizes with France, and
not a Frenchman with some English blood in your veins. I have given
you up greatly to your French relations here; but if you win credit
and honour, I would have it won by my son, Philip Fletcher, born in
England of an English father, and who will one day be a gentleman
and landowner in the county of Kent."
"I sha'n't forget that, father," Philip said earnestly. "I have
never regarded myself as in any way French; although speaking the
tongue as well as English, and being so much among my mother's
friends. But living here with you, where our people have lived so
many years; hearing from you the tales from our history; seeing
these English fields around me; and being at an English school,
among English boys, I have ever felt that I am English, though in
no way regretting the Huguenot blood that I inherit from my mother.
Believe me, that if I fight in France it will be as an Englishman
who has drawn his sword in the quarrel, and rather as one who hates
oppression and cruelty than because I have French kinsmen engaged
in it."
"That is well, Philip. You may be away for some years, but I trust
that, on your return, you will find me sitting here to welcome you
back. A creaking wheel lasts long. I have everything to make my
life happy and peaceful--the best of wives, a well-ordered farm,
and no thought or care as to my worldly affairs--and since it has
been God's will that such should be my life, my interest will be
wholly centred in you; and I hope to see your children playing
round me or, for ought I know, your grandchildren, for we are a
long-lived race.
"And now, Philip, you had best go down and see your uncle, and
thank him for his good intentions towards you. Tell him that I
wholly agree with his plans, and that if he and your aunt will come
up this evening, we will enter farther into them."
That evening John Fletcher learned that it was the intention of
Gaspard that his wife should accompany Philip.
"Marie yearns to see her people again," he said, "and the present
is a good time for her to do so; for when the war once breaks out
again, none can say how long it will last or how it will terminate.
Her sister and Lucie's, the Countess de Laville, has, as you know,
frequently written urgently for Marie to go over and pay her a
visit. Hitherto I have never been able to bring myself to spare
her, but I feel that this is so good an opportunity that I must let
her go for a few weeks.
"Philip could not be introduced under better auspices. He will
escort Marie to his aunt's, remain there with her, and then see her
on board ship again at La Rochelle; after which, doubtless, he will
remain at his aunt's, and when the struggle begins will ride with
his cousin Francois. I have hesitated whether I should go, also.
But in the first place, my business would get on but badly without
me; in the second, although Marie might travel safely enough, I
might be arrested were I recognized as one who had left the kingdom
contrary to the edicts; and lastly, I never was on very good terms
with her family.
"Emilie, in marrying the Count de Laville, made a match somewhat
above her own rank; for the Lavilles were a wealthier and more
powerful family than that of Charles de Moulins, her father. On the
other hand, I was, although of good birth, yet inferior in
consideration to De Moulins, although my lands were broader than
his. Consequently we saw little of Emilie, after our marriage.
Therefore my being with Marie would, in no way, increase the warmth
of the welcome that she and Philip will receive. I may say that the
estrangement was, perhaps, more my fault than that of the Lavilles.
I chose to fancy there was a coolness on their part, which probably
existed only in my imagination. Moreover, shortly after my marriage
the religious troubles grew serious; and we were all too much
absorbed in our own perils, and those of our poorer neighbours, to
think of travelling about, or of having family gatherings.
"At any rate, I feel that Philip could not enter into life more
favourably than as cousin of Francois de Laville; who is but two
years or so his senior, and who will, his mother wrote to Marie,
ride behind that gallant gentleman, Francois de la Noue, if the war
breaks out again. I am glad to feel confident that Philip will in
no way bring discredit upon his relations.
"I shall at once order clothes for him, suitable for the occasion. They
will be such as will befit an English gentleman; good in material but
sober in colour, for the Huguenots eschew bright hues. I will take
his measure, and send up to a friend in London for a helmet, breast,
and back pieces, together with offensive arms, sword, dagger, and
pistols. I have already written to correspondents, at Southampton
and Plymouth, for news as to the sailing of a ship bound for La Rochelle.
There he had better take four men into his service, for in these days it
is by no means safe to ride through France unattended; especially when
one is of the reformed religion. The roads abound with disbanded
soldiers and robbers, while in the villages a fanatic might, at any time,
bring on a religious tumult. I have many correspondents at La Rochelle,
and will write to one asking him to select four stout fellows, who showed
their courage in the last war, and can be relied on for good and faithful
service. I will also get him to buy horses, and make all arrangements
for the journey.
"Marie will write to her sister. Lucie, perhaps, had better write
under the same cover; for although she can remember but little of
Emilie, seeing that she was fully six years her junior, it would be
natural that she should take the opportunity to correspond with
her.
"In one respect, Phil," he went on, turning to his nephew, "you
will find yourself at some disadvantage, perhaps, among young
Frenchmen. You can ride well, and I think can sit a horse with any
of them; but of the menage, that is to say, the purely ornamental
management of a horse, in which they are most carefully instructed,
you know nothing. It is one of the tricks of fashion, of which
plain men like myself know but little; and though I have often made
inquiries, I have found no one who could instruct you. However,
these delicacies are rather for courtly displays than for the rough
work of war; though it must be owned that, in single combat between
two swordsmen, he who has the most perfect control over his horse,
and can make the animal wheel or turn, press upon his opponent, or
give way by a mere touch of his leg or hand, possesses a
considerable advantage over the man who is unversed in such
matters. I hope you will not feel the want of it, and at any rate,
it has not been my fault that you have had no opportunity of
acquiring the art.
"The tendency is more and more to fight on foot. The duel has taken
the place of the combat in the lists, and the pikeman counts for as
much in the winning of a battle as the mounted man. You taught us
that at Cressy and Agincourt; but we have been slow to learn the
lesson, which was brought home to you in your battles with the
Scots, and in your own civil struggles. It is the bow and the pike
that have made the English soldier famous; while in France, where
the feudal system still prevails, horsemen still form a large
proportion of our armies; and the jousting lists, and the exercise
of the menage, still occupy a large share in the training and
amusements of the young men of noble families."
Six weeks later, Philip Fletcher landed at La Rochelle, with his
aunt and her French serving maid. When the ship came into port, the
clerk of a trader there came on board at once and, on the part of
his employer, begged Madame Vaillant and her son to take up their
abode at his house; he having been warned of their coming by his
valued correspondent, Monsieur Vaillant. A porter was engaged to
carry up their luggage to the house, whither the clerk at once
conducted them.
From his having lived so long among the Huguenot colony, the scene
was less strange to Philip than it would have been to most English
lads. La Rochelle was a strongly Protestant city, and the
sober-coloured costumes of the people differed but little from
those to which he was accustomed in the streets of Canterbury. He
himself and his aunt attracted no attention, whatever, from
passersby; her costume being exactly similar to those worn by the
wives of merchants, while Philip would have passed anywhere as a
young Huguenot gentleman, in his doublet of dark puce cloth,
slashed with gray, his trunks of the same colour, and long gray
hose.
"A proper-looking young gentleman," a market woman said to her
daughter, as he passed. "Another two or three years, and he will
make a rare defender of the faith. He must be from Normandy, with
his fair complexion and light eyes. There are not many of the true
faith in the north."
They were met by the merchant at the door of his house.
"I am glad indeed to see you again, Madame Vaillant," he said. "It is
some twenty years, now, since you and your good husband and your sister
hid here, for three days, before we could smuggle you on board a ship.
Ah! Those were bad times; though there have been worse since. But since
our people showed that they did not intend, any longer, to be slaughtered
unresistingly, things have gone better here, at least; and for the last
four years the slaughterings and murders have ceased.
"You are but little changed, madame, since I saw you last."
"I have lived a quiet and happy life, my good Monsieur Bertram;
free from all strife and care, save for anxiety about our people
here. Why cannot Catholics and Protestants live quietly side by
side here, as they do in England?"
"We should ask nothing better, madame."
At this moment, a girl came hurrying down the stairs.
"This is my daughter Jean, madame.
"Why were you not down before, Jean?" he asked sharply. "I told you
to place Suzette at the casement, to warn you when our visitors
were in sight, so that you should, as was proper, be at the door to
meet them. I suppose, instead of that, you had the maid arranging
your headgear, or some such worldly folly."
The girl coloured hotly, for her father had hit upon the truth.
"Young people will be young people, Monsieur Bertram," Madame
Vaillant said, smiling, "and my husband and I are not of those who
think that it is necessary to carry a prim face, and to attire
one's self in ugly garments, as a proof of religion. Youth is the
time for mirth and happiness, and nature teaches a maiden what is
becoming to her; why then should we blame her for setting off the
charms God has given her to their best advantage?"
By this time they had reached the upper storey, and the merchant's
daughter hastened to relieve Madame Vaillant of her wraps.
"This is my nephew, of whom my husband wrote to you," the latter
said to the merchant, when Philip entered the room--he having
lingered at the door to pay the porters, and to see that the
luggage, which had come up close behind them, was stored.
"He looks active and strong, madame. He has the figure of a fine
swordsman."
"He has been well taught, and will do no discredit to our race,
Monsieur Bertram. His father is a strong and powerful man, even for
an Englishman; and though Philip does not follow his figure, he has
something of his strength."
"They are wondrous strong, these Englishmen," the trader said. "I
have seen, among their sailors, men who are taller by a head than
most of us here, and who look strong enough to take a bull by the
horns and hold him. But had it not been for your nephew's fair hair
and gray eyes, his complexion, and the smile on his lips--we have
almost forgotten how to smile, in France--I should hardly have
taken him for an Englishman."
"There is nothing extraordinary in that, Monsieur Bertram, when his
mother is French, and he has lived greatly in the society of my
husband and myself, and among the Huguenot colony at Canterbury."
"Have you succeeded in getting the horses and the four men for us,
Monsieur Bertram?" Philip asked.
"Yes, everything is in readiness for your departure tomorrow.
Madame will, I suppose, ride behind you upon a pillion; and her
maid behind one of the troopers.
"I have, in accordance with Monsieur Vaillant's instructions,
bought a horse, which I think you will be pleased with; for Guise
himself might ride upon it, without feeling that he was ill
mounted. I was fortunate in lighting on such an animal. It was the
property of a young noble, who rode hither from Navarre and was
sailing for England. I imagine he bore despatches from the queen to
her majesty of England. He had been set upon by robbers on the way.
They took everything he possessed, and held him prisoner, doubtless
meaning to get a ransom for him; but he managed to slip off while
they slept, and to mount his horse, with which he easily left the
varlets behind, although they chased him for some distance. So when
he came here, he offered to sell his horse to obtain an outfit and
money for his voyage; and the landlord of the inn, who is a friend
of mine, knowing that I had been inquiring for a good animal,
brought him to me, and we soon struck a bargain."
"It was hard on him to lose his horse in that fashion," Philip
said; "and I am sorry for it, though I may be the gainer thereby."
"He did not seem to mind much," the merchant said. "Horses are good
and abundant in Navarre, and when I said I did not like to take
advantage of his strait, he only laughed and said he had three or
four others as good at home. He did say, though, that he would like
to know if it was to be in good hands. I assured him that on that
ground he need not fear; for that I had bought it for a young
gentleman, nearly related to the Countess de Laville. He said that
was well, and seemed glad, indeed, that it was not to be ridden by
one of the brigands into whose hands he fell."
"And the men. Are they trustworthy fellows?"
"They are stout men-at-arms. They are Gascons all, and rode behind
Coligny in the war, and according to their own account performed
wonders; but as Gascons are given to boasting, I paid not much heed
to that. However, they were recommended to me by a friend, a large
wine grower, for whom they have been working for the last two
years. He says they are honest and industrious, and they are
leaving him only because they are anxious for a change and, deeming
that troubles were again approaching, wanted to enter the service
of some Huguenot lord who would be likely to take the field. He was
lamenting the fact to me, when I said that it seemed to me they
were just the men I was in search of; and I accordingly saw them,
and engaged them on the understanding that, at the end of a month,
you should be free to discharge them if you were not satisfied with
them; and that equally they could leave your service, if they did
not find it suit.
"They have arms, of course, and such armour as they need; and I
have bought four serviceable horses for their use, together with a
horse to carry your baggage, but which will serve for your body
servant.
"I have not found a man for that office. I knew of no one who
would, as I thought, suit you; and in such a business it seemed to
me better that you should wait, and choose for yourself, for in the
matter of servants everyone has his fancies. Some like a silent
knave, while others prefer a merry one. Some like a tall proper
fellow, who can fight if needs be; others a staid man, who will do
his duty and hold his tongue, who can cook a good dinner and groom
a horse well. It is certain you will never find all virtues
combined. One man may be all that you wish, but he is a liar;
another helps himself; a third is too fond of the bottle. In this
matter, then, I did not care to take the responsibility, but have
left it for you to choose for yourself."
"I shall be more likely to make a mistake than you will, Monsieur
Bertram," Philip said with a laugh.
"Perhaps so, but then it will be your own mistake; and a man chafes
less, at the shortcomings of one whom he has chosen himself, than
at those of one who has, as it were, been forced upon him."
"Well, there will be no hurry in that matter," Philip said. "I can
get on well enough without a servant, for a time. Up to the
present, I have certainly never given a thought as to what kind of
man I should want as a servant; and I should like time to think
over a matter which is, from what you say, so important."
"Assuredly it is important, young sir. If you should take the
field, you will find that your comfort greatly depends upon it. A
sharp, active knave, who will ferret out good quarters for you,
turn you out a good meal from anything he can get hold of, bring
your horse up well groomed in the morning, and your armour brightly
polished; who will not lie to you overmuch, or rob you overmuch,
and who will only get drunk at times when you can spare his
services. Ah! He would be a treasure to you. But assuredly such a
man is not to be found every day."
"And of course," Marie put in, "in addition to what you have said,
Monsieur Bertram, it would be necessary that he should be one of
our religion, and fervent and strong in the faith."
"My dear lady, I was mentioning possibilities," the trader said.
"It is of course advisable that he should be a Huguenot, it is
certainly essential that he should not be a Papist; but beyond this
we need not inquire too closely. You cannot expect the virtues of
an archbishop, and the capacity of a horse boy. If he can find a
man embracing the qualities of both, by all means let your son
engage him; but as he will require him to be a good cook, and a
good groom, and he will not require religious instruction from him,
the former points are those on which I should advise him to lay
most stress.
"And now, Madame Vaillant, will you let me lead you into the next
room where, as my daughter has for some time been trying to make me
understand, a meal is ready? And I doubt not that you are also
ready; for truly those who travel by sea are seldom able to enjoy
food, save when they are much accustomed to voyaging. Though they
tell me that, after a time, even those with the most delicate
stomachs recover their appetites, and are able to enjoy the rough
fare they get on board a ship."
After the meal was over, the merchant took Philip to the stables,
where the new purchases had been put up. The men were not there,
but the ostler brought out Philip's horse, with which he was
delighted.
"He will not tire under his double load," the merchant said; "and
with only your weight upon him, a foeman would be well mounted,
indeed, to overtake you."
"I would rather that you put it, Monsieur Bertram, that a foeman
needs be well mounted to escape me."
"Well, I hope it will be that way," his host replied, smiling. "But
in fighting such as we have here, there are constant changes. The
party that is pursued one day is the pursuer a week later; and of
the two, you know, speed is of much more importance in flight than
in pursuit. If you cannot overtake a foe, well, he gets away, and
you may have better fortune next time; but if you can't get away
from a foe, the chances are you may never have another opportunity
of doing so."
"Perhaps you are right. In fact, now I think of it, I am sure you
are; though I hope it will not often happen that we shall have to
depend for safety on the speed of our horses. At any rate, I am
delighted with him, Monsieur Bertram; and I thank you greatly for
procuring so fine an animal for me. If the four men turn out to be
as good, of their kind, as the horse, I shall be well set up,
indeed."
Early the next morning the four men came round to the merchant's,
and Philip went down with him into the entry hall where they were.
He was well satisfied with their appearance. They were stout
fellows, from twenty-six to thirty years old. All were soberly
dressed, and wore steel caps and breast pieces, and carried long
swords by their sides. In spite of the serious expression of their
faces, Philip saw that all were in high, if restrained, spirits at
again taking service.
"This is your employer, the Sieur Philip Fletcher. I have warranted
that he shall find you good and true men, and I hope you will do
justice to my recommendation."
"We will do our best," Roger, the eldest of the party, said. "We
are all right glad to be moving again. It is not as if we had been
bred on the soil here, and a man never takes to a strange place as
to one he was born in."
"You are Gascons, Maitre Bertram tells me," Philip said.
"Yes, sir. We were driven out from there ten years ago, when the
troubles were at their worst. Our fathers were both killed, and we
travelled with our mothers and sisters by night, through the
country, till we got to La Rochelle."
"You say both your fathers. How are you related to each other?"
"Jacques and I are brothers," Roger said, touching the youngest of
the party on his shoulder. "Eustace and Henri are brothers, and are
our cousins. Their father and ours were brothers. When the troubles
broke out, we four took service with the Count de Luc, and followed
him throughout the war. When it was over we came back here. Our
mothers had married again. Some of our sisters had taken husbands,
too. Others were in service. Therefore we remained here rather than
return to Gascony, where our friends and relations had all been
either killed or dispersed.
"We were lucky in getting employment together, but were right glad
when we heard that there was an opening again for service. For the
last two years we have been looking forward to it; for as everyone
sees, it cannot be long before the matter must be fought out again.
And in truth, we have been wearying for the time to come; for after
having had a year of fighting, one does not settle down readily to
tilling the soil.
"You will find that you can rely on us, sir, for faithful service.
We all bore a good reputation as stout fighters and, during the
time we were in harness before, we none of us got into trouble for
being overfond of the wine pots."
"I think you will suit me very well," Philip said, "and I hope that
my service will suit you. Although an Englishman by birth and name,
my family have suffered persecution here as yours have done, and I
am as warmly affected to the Huguenot cause as yourselves. If there
is danger you will not find me lacking in leading you, and so far
as I can I shall try to make my service a comfortable one, and to
look after your welfare.
"We shall be ready to start in half an hour, therefore have the
horses round at the door in that time. One of the pillions is to be
placed on my own horse. You had better put the other for the maid
behind your saddle, Roger; you being, I take it, the oldest of your
party, had better take charge of her."
The men saluted and went out.
"I like their looks much," Philip said to the merchant. "Stout
fellows and cheerful, I should say. Like my aunt, I don't see why
we should carry long faces, Monsieur Bertram, because we have
reformed our religion; and I believe that a light heart and good
spirits will stand wear and tear better than a sad visage."
The four men were no less pleased with their new employer.
"That is a lad after my own heart," Roger said, as they went out.
"Quick and alert, pleasant of face; and yet, I will be bound, not
easily turned from what he has set his mind to. He bears himself
well, and I doubt not can use his weapons. I don't know what stock
he comes from, on this side, but I warrant it is a good one.
"He will make a good master, lads. I think that, as he says, he
will be thoughtful as to our comforts, and be pleasant and cheerful
with us; but mind you, he will expect the work to be done, and you
will find that there is no trifling with him."