whole of her wealth in the service. She was beautiful speedily arrive, the Bishop's exhortations would prove, and young, and her appearance had a strong effect-nay, must prove, successful. upon the stalwart men who had fought so bravely for her husband. She spoke passionately and eloquently, and when, with tearful eyes, she presented her young child to them and said, "Look at my little child here, he shall be his father's restorer, and shall do you much service," they all swore to win the duchy for her, or perish in the attempt. She went through Brittany, from town to town, making similar addresses, and every where the people flocked to her standard. She sent over to England to hurry the promised aid, and then took up her quarters in Hennebon, the strongest castle in Brittany; it stood upon the coast, the sea washing close up to its walls. Here she was soon besieged by Charles of Blois, with a large army; but she animated her people by donning the steel casque, the hauberk and sword, rode through the town, and encouraged them by her example; and when arrows were flying in showers, she would mix with those who were exposed to them, and by her gallant harangues would stimulate them to defy anything. When sorties were made, she headed them, and then the bands who { followed, composed of young men principally, were resistless, cutting their opposers to pieces, and always retiring with signal success crowning their efforts. Right gallantly did they hold out against Charles of Blois, who possessed an army sufficient to have overwhelmed the little town and its inhabitants, if he could have got admission. But at last provisions began to grow scarce, there was no sign of an appearance of succour from Eugland, the daily skirmishes, which were desperate, were thinning the little band, and there was an enemy in the camp, in the shape of the Bishop of Leon, who, having a nephew named Sir Hervé de Léon, one who had proved a villanous traitor to John de Montfort, and was now with Lord Charles of Blois, essayed to make the people render up the city to the French, not failing to give an exaggerated view of the horrors of starvation if they persisted in holding out, and the dreadful consequences which would ensue if their enemies proved successful and carried the town by storm. Day after day did she visit the highest ramparts of the castle, and stretch her eyes seaward along the whole line of the horizon in vain expectation of seeing the fleet containing the troops Edward had promised to send her; but save a straggling fishing boat here and there, nought met her eye, and she visited the walls with a heavy heart, but with an appearance of cheerfulness, to endeavour to cheer up those who were famishing for want, but whose courage and devotion in her behalf had never yet flagged. The old Bishop worked on like an old mole, still speaking fair, but doing his best to undermine the people's faith and steadiness. He sneaked out of the town, held a conference with his nephew, Sir Hervé de Léon, and promised him admission to the town, telling him he had gained many of the lords over to his side, which was no farther true than-as in all governments and peerages there always has been, and most likely will be, while governments continue as they are nowa number of croaking old women, who, not having any courage themselves, are ready to undergo auy degradation rather than hazard their life or property for the public good. There were a few of this class in Hennebon, and the Bishop made a boast of them, as being the voice of the people, and representing their feelings and wishes. The Countess got inkling of this treachery, and she immediately summoned all the people, and begged of them, for the love of God, not to desert her; that the succours would surely arrive; that she was certain they had only been delayed by some unforeseen circumstances, for the English, when once they had passed their word, never broke it, and the promises of Edward to her had been most sacred. She asked only for three days, and then, if the succours did not arrive, she would yield up the town, and, with her infant, if Charles of Blois shewed her so much mercy, retire to the interior of the country to die. The best and bravest Land in the castle formed round her, and elevating their bright swords in the air, vowed to fight for her to the last in spite of aught; the rest consented to wait the three days, and even then For some time his appeals and exhortations were acknowledged their hearts were so devoted to the fair fruitless; the gallant townsmen, unheeding his croak-young Countess, that if there was a possibility to still ings, still fought desperately and nobly; even the longer hold out, they would not capitulate. The women and maidens, influenced by the intrepidity of bishop croaked away most unmercifully, arguing and the young Countess, lent their aid to their brothers, protesting against further delay, and in the midst of fathers, and relations, and appeared upon the walls his oratory, a few of the sturdiest warriors, who did discharging pots of quick lime, and other missiles, not understand surrendering while they had life, against the foe. At this period the Countess headed a unceremoniously interrupted him, and handing him gallant sortie against the French camp, which she burned out of the Countess' presence, showed him into the and destroyed, while the French were attacking the streets, at the same time bidding him be thankful for barriers of the town. In returning she was chased, his sacred habit, vowing that it alone saved his and prevented entering Hennebon for five days, but life. That day passed away, the second followed, and at last she returned with five hundred men instead of still no arrival of the English. Sir Hervé de Léon three, and galloping boldly between the French army advanced upon the city with a large troop, expecting and the ramparts, entered Hennebon at sunrise by a to have the gates open to receive him, the bishop, his private postern, which was opened for her without uncle, having promised him as much. The Countess the French being able to prevent her. was eaten up with despair; she fancied the people, worn out with famine, were preparing to open the gates to receive them; the band in the meantime were preparing to resist to the last-perish rather than surrender; she thought the hour had arrived to show the destruction of her hopes, and she wept bitterly. The constant whining anticipations of evil, which the Bishop of Léon took every opportunity of pouring into the ears of the people, as the protraction of the siege made the provisions grow frightfully scarce, made the noble-hearted Countess fear that the people would capitulate, and ruin for ever all prospects she had of keeping the Duchy for her infant son. Not that she had from the behaviour of the people any right or cause to think so, but she could not see the pale, wan faces of the gallant fellows, the thin and wasted forms of the females around her, without having a dismal foreboding, that if succour did not In the impulsiveness of her despair, she once more sought the topmost walls; she stood alone, stretching her eyes achingly seaward, straining them to see some sign for the aid which was now of such vital importance to her. But no, the horizon line was without a speck upon it: she fell upon her knees, and in utter "My bold squire thinks no feat of arms, however daring and hazardous, impossible of accomplishment; and, I confess, 'I am somewhat of his opinion. I know all my men are, and would, small as is their number, attempt the capture of the kingdom of France if I led them on, aye, and would lay their bones there rather than retreat one step if I still advanced." "I have often heard it said you English fear nothing' but your God and a dishonourable action-that you are fast friends and terrible foes." hopelessness prayed to the Virgin for help, and then she grew more calm, but it was almost the calmness { of madness: there sat she for two long hours, wearying her eyes with gazing in the direction which the English ships should come, A strong wind arose, and as it blew on that height fiercely in her face, she knew it was fair for their approach, and she continued her prayers for their arrival, when suddenly, like silent spectres, she saw little dim specks in the horizon -first one, then a second, a third, and a fourth. She gazed breathlessly, put her hand to her heart to pro- "I have not the honour to be English born, lady," vent its violent beating-for it seemed as though it replied Sir Walter Manny. "I should be proud to would burst from its resting place. She waited long be a native of the land where bravery and honour are and eagerly to be quite certain her eyes deceived her cherished, and meanness and all despicable acts are not, but she saw the horizon crowding with them, scorned. But it is the country of my adoption; I fight and oh, joy! the wind increased and blew them swiftly for it, I live for it, and will die for it, and so please towards her; she breathed a fervent prayer of thank-heaven, will lay my bones there." fulness to the Virgin, and almost screaming with delight, she descended the tower, sought her followers, and acquainted them with the glad tidings, crying out with the greatest enthusiasm "I see the succours I have so long expected and wished for, coming." "And having won the love of an English maiden, will wed there," said the Countess, with a laugh. Sir Walter looked for a moment confused, and Wat turned away his head; but the knight recovered himself, and said— nothing under heaven but dishonour can accomplish; and for her as well as for you, sweet Countess, will I take yon engine." "I will not deny loving an English maiden-I do The people all rushed to the ramparts and windows love one truly, with pure thought and high devotion, of the castle, and saw a large fleet of ships crowding but her heart is not for me-'twas won by one of her every stitch of canvass they could set, and with a brisk own land ere I saw her, and her memory, her vision, wind bearing down to Hennebon; they gave tremen- like a bright angel shedding a glory round my undous cheers, and then rushing back to the walls, sullied sword, is the mistress for whom I essay for answered Sir Hervé Léon's polite invitation to open glory, whom I wear in my heart of hearts, and for the gates with a shower of arrows so thick and well-whose dear sake I will do all that a knight fearful of delivered, that, as Froissart says, "he was much vexed at it" even the old croaking lords who had sided with the old bishop told him, "that they were not now inclined to follow his advice;" and the same warriors who had removed him from the Countess' presence, took him under their guidance, and marched him out of the town altogether, informing him, for his satisfaction, that if he had not been a bishop that they would have hung him from the walls for the French to shoot at. He professed himself rather dissatisfied with them, and told them he would come no more among them, and they requested him to fully understand that they would take care he shouldn't. In the meantime, the English ships, which had been delayed by contrary winds, crowded all sail for fear they should be too late. Burying their vessels under such a press of sail as almost to put their heads under water, they made the spray fly in sheets before their prows, and then seemed as though they should be too late "to be in the fun." With the brisk wind they had they were not long in making the run to Hennebon; and anchoring beneath the walls, lost no time in pouring forth their troops, as well as a very large store of provisions, which arrived as seasonably as themselves. What glad hearts were there when it was known that the "pride of chivalry," Sir Walter { Manny, and his irresistible followers, had come to their aid! the people were wild with delight, and the fair young countess received them with every demonstration of respect and gladness. Trumpets were blown, music played, flags raised everywhere, and no longer was there any thought of surrendering. The French, on the contrary, were eaten up with vexation; they furnished an enormous battering engine, which they plied vigorously all that night and the next day. After Sir Walter and his followers had dined with the Countess, Wat Tyler entered, and told him the engine was doing considerable damage, and he thought it would be no very difficult matter to capture it; the Countess fixed her beautiful eyes upon him { admiringly, and praised his valour for counselling such advice, but did not think it possible to be accomplished. Sir Walter laughed, and said— "I will not fail you in your first expedition," exclaimed Sir Yves de Tresiquidi, a stout knight of Brittany, who had performed many gallant achievements in the fair Countess's cause. "Nor I," cried the Lord of Landreman, also strenuous supporter of the noble lady's. a "Then, if you please, we will arm and sally forth. at once," exclaimed Sir Walter; and then turning to Wat, he said, "see that Leowulf, and a hundred of the best men, my own particulars, are ready immediately." "They are ready; I bade them arm as I came hither," replied Wat. "I knew you would not miss such a pleasant adventure." "You were right, Wat," cried Sir Walter. "Now, as our friend Leowulf would say, 'we will shew them some right down English play.' When you are quite ready, noble sirs," he added, turning to the two nobles who had already spoken, "we will depart." "We are at your service now," was the reply of Sir Yves de Tresiquidi. "Our followers are always under arms during this siege, and a word is enough to make them go anywhere where glory is to be gained." "I am glad to hear it," said Sir Walter joyously; "and, fair Countess, if we do not break yon engine to pieces ere we return, you will see no more of-at least Walter Manny, or his followers." "Noble knight!" replied the Countess, her bright: eyes flashing with animation at his words, "you make {iny heart bound to hear you. I am proud that my poor person should have such brilliant chevaliers as supporters, and would that I knew how I could shew you the high estimation in which I hold your services; I would most joyously give the token, were it in my power." "I can speak for the Englishmen, fair lady," said Wat suddenly, and with enthusiasm. "A smile upon your beautiful face, a gentle glance from your bright: eyes, kind words from your soft lips, and with the remembrance of your being a woman, they will think themselves well rewarded for shedding their best blood in your service." "You are poetical and romantic,"_exclaimed the Countess, with a pleasant smile. "I perceive that your countrymen, to their other qualifications, have that of gallantry to add." "Aye," in all senses of the word," said Sir Walter, unaccompanied by any frivolity." "Well," observed the Countess, laughing, and a blusk mantling her beautiful face as she spoke, "not only will I give the smile, the gentle glance, and kind words, but a kiss to each if they prove successful, and will commence with you, Sir Squire. And I hope," she added, playfully, "that the last boon will { not destroy the value of the first." "On the contrary-enhance it," exclaimed Sir Walter, gleefully. "And I beg that I may be next to my fortunate squire." 66 Certainly, if you wish it," said the Countess. She was about to say something further, when a loud crash was heard, accompanied by a great shout, and a retainer appeared to say, that the French were making considerable havoc with their battering engine. He said that the people who were on the walls to oppose its effects prayed for assistance, or they feared that they should be unable to prevent the French making a breach. "So we will, my bonny Michael," exclaimed Sir Walter, enthusiastically; "may I never be embraced by my mistress and dear friend, if I enter castle or fortress before I have unhorsed one of these gallopers. How say you, my Lord of Landreman, and bold Sir Yves de Tresiquidi, will you follow?" "To the death!" they both cried, and as he couched his spear and turned the head of his bonny horse, Tricksy, to meet the foe, they followed his example, and with a loud hurrah, advanced upon them at full gallop. They met; the shock was tremendous; "many legs were made to kick the air," says Froissart. The fight soon grew desperate, for the soldiery kept arriving from the French camp, and the English dis dained to give ground, until the number against them was four times their own. Then they commenced s slow retreat, and disputed every inch of ground until they reached the fosse that surrounded the castle, and then a band of townsmen who had witnessed their gallant actions from the walls, sallied forth and joined them. Their united attack was tremendous; they ranged themselves along the fosse, and led on by Wat Tyler, whom Sir Walter had sent to head them, to give him a good opportunity of signalising himself, they assaulted the French with such impetuosity, that they bore all before them. Wat Tyler, for the first time a leader, determined not to do wrong to the confidence Sir Walter had placed in him; he flew here and there, dauntless as a lion, making all opposition to him fruitless, cheering on his followers with a loud voice, rich with animation and enthusiasm, and they following, doing deeds, excited by his example, which would before have appeared to them incredible. Michael followed him like a shadow, going where he went, fighting where he fought, cheering as he cheered, and laughing death in the face as fearlessly as the bravest of the brave. Sir Walter instantly took leave of the Countess, and, accompanied by Wat and the two Bretons, he departed to assault and gain possession of the engine. He was joined by Leowulf, a hundred archers, and fifty men of his own followers; while Sir Yves de Tresiquidi and the Lord of Landreman brought to the conflict two hundred archers and a hundred menat-arms. They quitted the town by a private gate, and silently made for the machine, which was attended by four hundred archers and nearly three hundred men-at-arms. As soon as Sir Walter and Leowulf remained with Sir Walter, plied his sword his people drew nigh, he ordered the archers to shoot, with the same vigour and dexterity as ever, seconding and they obeyed him with their usuaal alacrity, dis-Sir Walter most ably, and making the French wonder charging their arrows with such extraordinary speed from what giant's loins so terrible and invincible a and precision, that the French were unable to with-being had sprung. At length they gave ground everystand it, and gave ground; then, with the well-known { cry of "A Manny! a Manny! St. George for England! a Manny: a Manny!" Sir Walter, followed by Wat Tyler, Michael, and Leowulf, supported by the Bretons, fell upon those who surrounded the machine, and after a desperate fight they all fled-the machine was overturned and broken to pieces: the French rallied and returned, were repulsed and again fled; they were closely followed to their tents, which were speedily overturned and set fire to, before a sufficient number of the French army could get in motion to prevent them. When they had done all the damage they could, and perceived there were two or three thousand men preparing to attack them, they retreated, but at a very slow pace. A number of knights and horsemen galloped after them, and got in advance of their men, indicating their intention of making mince-meat of the English and Bretons; they uttered loud shouts and hootings, but to their annoyance the English did not increase their speed, slackened it rather, and let them come up with them at a round pace. As they came galloping on, sure of good support from those who followed, Sir Walter laughed, and turning to Wat, said— "Don't you think, Wat, we could stop the career of a few of these coming brawlers?" where, a retreat was sounded, and they retired precipitately to their camps. They were pursued for some distance, and numbers of them cut down; but Sir Walter having followed them as far as he could without venturing into the arms of the whole army, ordered the return, and they were all soon once more in the town of Hennebon, having covered themselves with glory. As they reached the castle, the young Countess came forth to meet them; she had seen from the castle the whole of the conflict, and her heart glowed at the brilliant feats achieved in her service; so when she came before them she thanked them almost with tears in her eyes, her heart was so full. Sir Walter, to change the subject, for her emotion was evident to all, said, laughingly "You have kept your promise in all but one thing; you have given us the smile, the gentle glance, and kind words, but we have not had the kiss." The Countess blushed up to the eyes, but the next moment she threw up her head proudly, and with eyes sparkling with the brilliancy of diamonds, exclaimed, "Ye have kept your words with me nobly, and shame be upon me and mine if I forfeit my promise in one point; you will not take my 'haviour as unwomanly or unbeseeming what is due to modesty, but as the earnest tribute of thanks a full heart pays ye. Stand forth, Sir Squire," she added, address"Hurrah!" cried Michael, let us have a rap ating Wat; "proud may Sir Walter be in having you them." "Aye," replied Wat," and send them back as fast as they came-perhaps faster." 't for a follower and friend; proud must be the mother Lord who bore you; proud are my people to have had you turned to Redon: they stayed here a night, and embarked the next morning for Hennebon. Adverse winds, however, drove them into a port near Dinant, where they landed, and marched through the country all day, until towards evening they reached a handsome castle named Roche Perion; and then Sir Walter, the love of adventure so strong within him, could not pass it, fatigued as he was, without trying to subdue it, and mentioned his wishes to his followers. They replied they would follow him to death, and at once commenced the assault: it was very severe, and two knights, named Sir William Boteler of Warrington, and Sir Matthew Trelawney, were, with others, severely wounded, and carried to a neighbouring field. At this time, the brother of the Governor of Roche Perion, captain of a fort near at hand, called Faonet, hearing the noise of the attack, came to his assistance, and encountered the wounded knights and squires, whom he immediately made prisoners and carried off to Faonet; two or three, who were bearing the wounded, brought intelligence of this to Sir Walter; he immediately called off his men from the attack, and at the top of their speed made after the Captain of Fort Faonet, but he succeeded in reaching his castle before them. They attacked it fiercely, although they were terribly fatigued, but night came on, there was no moon, and it was pitch dark; they were therefore compelled to wait until morning. In the meanwhile, however, the Governor of Roche Perion went to Dinant, roused the governor, who then raised six thousand men, A spy informed Sir Walter of this, and be communicated the intelligence to his followers, telling them, if they would support him, he would fight while he had a drop of blood in his veins, rather than retire without rescuing the prisoners; but as there seemed little prospect of their beating more than twice their number, and after that conquering the fort, they strongly advised him to retire, and gave their advice with such arguments that he gave in to them, and they marched forward, took a castle called Goy la Forêt in their way, and then returned to Hennebon, where they were received with the greatest acclamations. Lord Charles of Blois was in a terrible rage when Lord Lewis appeared before him with two hundred men, the remnant of six thousand he had left with him, and he vowed he would subdue Hennebon, and make the Countess of Montfort repent ever having taken arms against him. The Countess had intelligence of his intention, and took care to have, under the superintendence of Sir Walter Manny, the town well provisioned for a longer time than Charles of Blois would like to stay before it-a strong reinforcement of men also, and a large quantity of military stores. When the town was again besieged, and skirmishes were frequent, the French still had the worst of it; numbers of engines were made for casting stones, but they were overthrown, taken, and destroyed, and the men of Hennebon would, when the French, repulsed with terrific slaughter, retired from frequent contests, call to them in a sneering manner, "Go your way, and seek your friends who are sleeping on the plains of Quimperló!" One division was headed by Sir Walter Manny, the second by Wat Tyler, and the third by Sir Amauri de Clisson, seconded by Sir Yves de Tresiquidi, the Lord of Landreman, the governor of Guingamp, and various other bold knights; it was Wat Tyler's fate to first fall in with the foe. Lord Lewis having heard of Sir Walter's arrival, was retreating with his whole army; but seeing the division headed by Wat, perceiving it was not a third the number of his own, and being unable to retreat, he attacked our hero and his little division. For two hours they gallantly withstood the whole brunt of Lord Lewis's attack; several times the Bretons would have retreated, the numbers against them were so overwhelming, but Wat rallied them again and kept them to their duty; just, however, when it was impossible longer to resist the superiority of numbers the French possessed, Sir Walter Manny with his division arrived, and, with his men fresh, set upon the foe with tremendous vigour. Almost immediately after his arrival, the third division came up, and Lord Lewis was everywhere defeated. The slaughter was fearful; out of six thousand men which Lord Lewis had with him, three hundred only escaped, and a favourite nephew of his, named Alphonso, was slain. With much difficulty he got on board a lique or small craft, and got off unprevented; Sir Walter Manny followed as quickly as he was able, and chased him to Redon, and from there on towards Rennes, which Lord Lewis succeeded in gaining; and then the knight, with the English and Bretons, re-lowers, to attempt their rescue. There were hun * Froissart. One day a spy brought intelligence that Sir John Boteler and Sir Matthew Trelawney had been brought from Faonet to Lord Charles' camp, and, to gratify the spite of Lord Lewis of Spain, in revenge for the death of his nephew Alphonso, they were to be put to death. Sir Walter Manny vowed they should not perish without a bold effort to save them, and stated his intention, with his own immediate fol dreds of the Bretons who volunteered to accom. |