by Walter Scott
CHAPTER VIII.
I humbly thank your Highness, And am right glad to catch this good occasion Most thoroughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff And corn shall fly asunder. _King Henry VIII._
Colvin, the English officer, to whom the Duke of Burgundy, withsplendid pay and appointments, committed the charge of his artillery,was owner of the tent assigned for the Englishman's lodging, andreceived the Earl of Oxford with the respect due to his rank, and tothe Duke's especial orders upon that subject. He had been himself afollower of the Lancaster faction, and of course was well disposedtowards one of the very few men of distinction whom he had knownpersonally, and who had constantly adhered to that family through thetrain of misfortunes by which they seemed to be totally overwhelmed. Arepast, of which his son had already partaken, was offered to the Earlby Colvin, who omitted not to recommend, by precept and example, thegood wine of Burgundy, from which the sovereign of the province washimself obliged to refrain.
"His Grace shows command of passion in that," said Colvin. "For, soothto speak, and only conversing betwixt friends, his temper grows tooheadlong to bear the spur which a cup of cordial beverage gives to theblood, and he, therefore, wisely restricts himself to such liquid asmay cool rather than inflame his natural fire of disposition."
"I can perceive as much," said the Lancastrian noble. "When I firstknew the noble Duke, who was then Earl of Charolois, his temper,though always sufficiently fiery, was calmness to the impetuositywhich he now displays on the smallest contradiction. Such is thecourse of an uninterrupted flow of prosperity. He has ascended, by hisown courage and the advantage of circumstances, from the doubtfulplace of a feudatory and tributary prince, to rank with the mostpowerful sovereigns in Europe, and to assume independent majesty. ButI trust the noble starts of generosity which atoned for his wilful andwayward temper are not more few than formerly?"
"I have good right to say that they are not," replied the soldier offortune, who understood generosity in the restricted sense ofliberality. "The Duke is a noble and open-handed master."
"I trust his bounty is conferred on men who are as faithful and steadyin their service as you, Colvin, have ever been. But I see a change inyour army. I know the banners of most of the old houses inBurgundy--How is it that I observe so few of them in the Duke's camp?I see flags, and pennons, and pennoncelles; but even to me, who havebeen so many years acquainted with the nobility both of France andFlanders, their bearings are unknown."
"My noble Lord of Oxford," answered the officer, "it ill becomes a manwho lives on the Duke's pay to censure his conduct; but his Highnesshath of late trusted too much, as it seems to me, to the hired arms offoreign levies, and too little to his own native subjects andretainers. He holds it better to take into his pay large bands ofGerman and Italian mercenary soldiers, than to repose confidence inthe knights and squires who are bound to him by allegiance and feudalfaith. He uses the aid of his own subjects but as the means ofproducing him sums of money, which he bestows on his hired troops. TheGermans are honest knaves enough while regularly paid; but Heavenpreserve me from the Duke's Italian bands, and that Campo-basso theirleader, who waits but the highest price to sell his Highness like asheep for the shambles!"
"Think you so ill of him?" demanded the Earl.
"So very ill indeed, that I believe," replied Colvin, "there is nosort of treachery which the heart can devise, or the arm perpetrate,that hath not ready reception in his breast, and prompt execution athis hand. It is painful, my lord, for an honest Englishman like me toserve in an army where such traitors have command. But what can I do,unless I could once more find me a soldier's occupation in my nativecountry? I often hope it will please merciful Heaven again to awakenthose brave civil wars in my own dear England, where all was fairfighting, and treason was unheard of."
Lord Oxford gave his host to understand, that there was a possibilitythat his pious wish of living and dying in his own country, and in thepractice of his profession, was not to be despaired of. Meantime herequested of him, that early on the next morning he would procure hima pass and an escort for his son, whom he was compelled to despatchforthwith to Nancy, the residence of King Rene.
"What!" said Colvin, "is my young Lord of Oxford to take a degree inthe Court of Love? for no other business is listened to at King Rene'scapital, save love and poetry."
"I am not ambitious of such distinction for him, my good host,"answered Oxford; "but Queen Margaret is with her father, and it is butfitting that the youth should kiss her hand."
"Enough spoken," said the veteran Lancastrian. "I trust, though winteris fast approaching, the Red Rose may bloom in spring."
He then ushered the Earl of Oxford to the partition of the tent whichhe was to occupy, in which there was a couch for Arthur also--theirhost, as Colvin might be termed, assuring them that, with peep of day,horses and faithful attendants should be ready to speed the youth onhis journey to Nancy.
"And now, Arthur," said his father, "we must part once more. I daregive thee, in this land of danger, no written communication to mymistress, Queen Margaret; but say to her, that I have found the Dukeof Burgundy wedded to his own views of interest, but not averse tocombine them with hers. Say, that I have little doubt that he willgrant us the required aid, but not without the expected resignation inhis favour by herself and King Rene. Say, I would never haverecommended such a sacrifice for the precarious chance of overthrowingthe House of York, but that I am satisfied that France and Burgundyare hanging like vultures over Provence, and that the one or other, orboth princes, are ready, on her father's demise, to pounce on suchpossessions as they have reluctantly spared to him during his life.An accommodation with Burgundy may therefore, on the one hand, insurehis active co-operation in the attempt on England; and, on the other,if our high-spirited princess complies not with the Duke's request,the justice of her cause will give no additional security to herhereditary claims on her father's dominions. Bid Queen Margaret,therefore, unless she should have changed her views, obtain KingRene's formal deed of cession, conveying his estates to the Duke ofBurgundy, with her Majesty's consent. The necessary provisions to theKing and to herself may be filled up at her Grace's pleasure, or theymay be left blank. I can trust to the Duke's generosity to their beingsuitably arranged. All that I fear is, that Charles may embroilhimself"----
"In some silly exploit, necessary for his own honour and the safety ofhis dominions," answered a voice behind the lining of the tent; "and,by doing so, attend to his own affairs more than to ours? Ha, SirEarl?"
At the same time the curtain was drawn aside, and a person entered, inwhom, though clothed with the jerkin and bonnet of a private soldierof the Walloon guard, Oxford instantly recognised the Duke ofBurgundy's harsh features and fierce eyes, as they sparkled from underthe fur and feather with which the cap was ornamented.
Arthur, who knew not the Prince's person, started at the intrusion,and laid his hand on his dagger; but his father made a signal whichstayed his hand, and he gazed with wonder on the solemn respect withwhich the Earl received the intrusive soldier. The first word informedhim of the cause.
"If this masking be done in proof of my faith, noble Duke, permit meto say it is superfluous."
"Nay, Oxford," answered the Duke, "I was a courteous spy; for I ceasedto play the eavesdropper, at the very moment when I had reason toexpect you were about to say something to anger me."
"As I am a true Knight, my Lord Duke, if you had remained behind thearras, you would only have heard the same truths which I am ready totell in your Grace's presence, though it may have chanced they mighthave been more bluntly expressed."
"Well, speak them then, in whatever phrase thou wilt--they lie intheir throats that say Charles of Burgundy was ever offended by advicefrom a well-meaning friend."
"I would then have said," replied the English Earl, "that all whichMargaret of Anjou had to apprehend, was that the Duke of Burgundy,when buckling on his armour to win Provence for
himself, and to affordto her his powerful assistance to assert her rights in England, waslikely to be withdrawn from such high objects by an imprudently eagerdesire to avenge himself of imaginary affronts, offered to him, as hesupposed, by certain confederacies of Alpine mountaineers, over whomit is impossible to gain any important advantage, or acquirereputation, while, on the contrary, there is a risk of losing both.These men dwell amongst rocks and deserts which are almostinaccessible, and subsist in a manner so rude, that the poorest ofyour subjects would starve if subjected to such diet. They are formedby nature to be the garrison of the mountain-fortresses in which shehas placed them;--for Heaven's sake meddle not with them, but followforth your own nobler and more important objects, without stirring anest of hornets, which, once in motion, may sting you into madness."
The Duke had promised patience, and endeavoured to keep his word; butthe swoln muscles of his face, and his flashing eyes, showed howpainful to him it was to suppress his resentment.
"You are misinformed, my lord," he said; "these men are not theinoffensive herdsmen and peasants you are pleased to suppose them. Ifthey were, I might afford to despise them. But, flushed with somevictories over the sluggish Austrians, they have shaken off allreverence for authority, assume airs of independence, form leagues,make inroads, storm towns, doom and execute men of noble birth attheir pleasure.--Thou art dull, and look'st as if thou dost notapprehend me. To rouse thy English blood, and make thee sympathisewith my feelings to these mountaineers, know that these Swiss are veryScots to my dominions in their neighbourhood; poor, proud, ferocious;easily offended, because they gain by war; ill to be appeased, becausethey nourish deep revenge; ever ready to seize the moment ofadvantage, and attack a neighbour when he is engaged in other affairs.The same unquiet, perfidious, and inveterate enemies that the Scotsare to England, are the Swiss to Burgundy and to my allies. What sayyou? Can I undertake anything of consequence till I have crushed thepride of such a people? It will be but a few days' work. I will graspthe mountain-hedgehog, prickles and all, with my steel-gauntlet."
"Your Grace will then have shorter work with them," replied thedisguised nobleman, "than our English Kings have had with Scotland.The wars there have lasted so long, and proved so bloody, that wisemen regret we ever began them."
"Nay," said the Duke, "I will not dishonour the Scots by comparingthem in all respects to these mountain-churls of the Cantons. TheScots have blood and gentry among them, and we have seen many examplesof both; these Swiss are a mere brood of peasants, and the fewgentlemen of birth they can boast must hide their distinction in thedress and manners of clowns. They will, I think, scarce stand againsta charge of Hainaulters."
"Not if the Hainaulters find ground to ride upon. But"----
"Nay, to silence your scruples," said the Duke, interrupting him,"know, that these people encourage, by their countenance and aid, theformation of the most dangerous conspiracies in my dominions. Lookhere--I told you that my officer, Sir Archibald de Hagenbach, wasmurdered when the town of Brisach was treacherously taken by theseharmless Switzers of yours. And here is a scroll of parchment, whichannounces that my servant was murdered by doom of the Vehme-gericht, aband of secret assassins, whom I will not permit to meet in any partof my dominions. Oh, could I but catch them above ground as they arefound lurking below, they should know what the life of a nobleman isworth! Then, look at the insolence of their attestation."
The scroll bore, with the day and date adjected, that judgment hadbeen done on Archibald de Hagenbach, for tyranny, violence, andoppression, by order of the Holy Vehme, and that it was executed bytheir officials, who were responsible for the same to their tribunalalone. It was countersigned in red ink, with the badges of the SecretSociety, a coil of ropes and a drawn dagger.
"This document I found stuck to my toilette with a knife," said theDuke; "another trick by which they give mystery to their murderousjugglery."
The thought of what he had undergone in John Mengs's house, andreflections upon the extent and omnipresence of these SecretAssociations, struck even the brave Englishman with an involuntaryshudder.
"For the sake of every saint in heaven," he said, "forbear, my lord,to speak of these tremendous societies, whose creatures are above,beneath, and around us. No man is secure of his life, however guarded,if it be sought by a man who is careless of his own. You aresurrounded by Germans, Italians, and other strangers--How many amongstthese may be bound by the secret ties which withdraw men from everyother social bond, to unite them together in one inextricable thoughsecret compact? Beware, noble Prince, of the situation on which yourthrone is placed, though it still exhibits all the splendour of power,and all the solidity of foundation that belongs to so august astructure. I--the friend of thy house--were it with my dyingbreath--must needs tell thee, that the Swiss hang like an avalancheover thy head; and the Secret Associations work beneath thee like thefirst throes of the coming earthquake. Provoke not the contest, andthe snow will rest undisturbed on the mountain-side--the agitation ofthe subterranean vapours will be hushed to rest; but a single word ofdefiance, or one flash of indignant scorn, may call their terrors intoinstant action."
"You speak," said the Duke, "with more awe of a pack of naked churls,and a band of midnight assassins, than I have seen you show for realdanger. Yet I will not scorn your counsel--I will hear the Swissenvoys patiently, and I will not, if I can help it, show the contemptwith which I cannot but regard their pretensions to treat asindependent states. On the Secret Associations I will be silent, tilltime gives me the means of acting in combination with the Emperor, theDiet, and the Princes of the Empire, that they may be driven from alltheir burrows at once.--Ha, Sir Earl, said I well?"
"It is well thought, my lord, but it may be unhappily spoken. You arein a position where one word overheard by a traitor might producedeath and ruin."
"I keep no traitors about me," said Charles. "If I thought there weresuch in my camp, I would rather die by them at once, than live inperpetual terror and suspicion."
"Your Highness's ancient followers and servants," said the Earl,"speak unfavourably of the Count of Campo-basso, who holds so high arank in your confidence."
"Ay," replied the Duke, with composure, "it is easy to decry the mostfaithful servant in a court by the unanimous hatred of all the others.I warrant me your bull-headed countryman, Colvin, has been railingagainst the Count like the rest of them, for Campo-basso sees nothingamiss in any department but he reports it to me without fear orfavour. And then his opinions are cast so much in the same mould withmy own, that I can hardly get him to enlarge upon what he bestunderstands, if it seems in any respect different from my sentiments.Add to this, a noble person, grace, gaiety, skill in the exercises ofwar, and in the courtly arts of peace--such is Campo-basso; and, beingsuch, is he not a gem for a prince's cabinet?"
"The very materials out of which a favourite is formed," answered theEarl of Oxford, "but something less adapted for making a faithfulcounsellor."
"Why, thou mistrustful fool," said the Duke, "must I tell thee thevery inmost secret respecting this man, Campo-basso, and will nothingshort of it stay these imaginary suspicions which thy new trade of anitinerant merchant hath led thee to entertain so rashly?"
"If your Highness honours me with your confidence," said the Earl ofOxford, "I can only say that my fidelity shall deserve it."
"Know, then, thou misbelieving mortal, that my good friend andbrother, Louis of France, sent me private information through no lessa person than his famous barber, Oliver le Diable, that Campo-bassohad for a certain sum offered to put my person into his hands, aliveor dead.--You start?"
"I do indeed--recollecting your Highness's practice of riding outlightly armed, and with a very small attendance, to reconnoitre theground and visit the outposts, and therefore how easily such atreacherous device might be carried into execution."
"Pshaw!" answered the Duke.--"Thou seest the danger as if it werereal, whereas nothing can be more certain than that, if my cousin ofFrance had ever
received such an offer, he would have been the lastperson to have put me on my guard against the attempt. No--he knowsthe value I set on Campo-basso's services, and forged the accusationto deprive me of them."
"And yet, my lord," replied the English Earl, "your Highness, by mycounsel, will not unnecessarily or impatiently fling aside your armourof proof, or ride without the escort of some score of your trustyWalloons."
"Tush, man, thou wouldst make a carbonado of a fever-stirred wretchlike myself, betwixt the bright iron and the burning sun. But I willbe cautious though I jest thus--and you, young man, may assure mycousin, Margaret of Anjou, that I will consider her affairs as my own.And remember, youth, that the secrets of princes are fatal gifts, ifhe to whom they are imparted blaze them abroad; but if duly treasuredup, they enrich the bearer. And thou shalt have cause to say so, ifthou canst bring back with thee from Aix the deed of resignation ofwhich thy father hath spoken.--Good-night--good-night!"
He left the apartment.
"You have just seen," said the Earl of Oxford to his son, "a sketch ofthis extraordinary prince, by his own pencil. It is easy to excite hisambition or thirst of power, but well-nigh impossible to limit him tothe just measures by which it is most likely to be gratified. He isever like the young archer, startled from his mark by some swallowcrossing his eye, even careless as he draws the string. Nowirregularly and offensively suspicious--now unreservedly lavish of hisconfidence--not long since the enemy of the line of Lancaster, and theally of her deadly foe--now its last and only stay and hope. God mendall!--It is a weary thing to look on the game and see how it might bewon, while we are debarred by the caprice of others from the power ofplaying it according to our own skill. How much must depend on thedecision of Duke Charles upon the morrow, and how little do I possessthe power of influencing him, either for his own safety or ouradvantage! Good-night, my son, and let us trust events to Him whoalone can control them."
