Red Eve
Page 23
Well nigh a year had gone, for once again the sun shone in the brazenAugust heavens. Calais had fallen at last. Only that day six of hernoblest citizens had come forth, bearing the keys of the fortress, cladin white shirts, with ropes about their necks, and been rescued frominstant death at the hands of the headsman by the prayer of QueenPhilippa.
In his tent sat Hugh de Cressi, who, after so much war and hardship,looked older than his years, perhaps because of a red scar acrossthe forehead, which he had come by during the siege. With him was hisfather, Master de Cressi, who had sailed across from Dunwich with acargo of provisions, whereof, if the truth were known, he had made nosmall profit. For they were sold, every pound of them, before they leftthe ship's hold, though it is true the money remained to be collected.
"You say that Eve is well, my father?"
"Aye, well enough, son. Never saw I woman better or more beautiful,though she wears but a sad face. I asked her if she would not sail withme and visit you. But she answered: 'Nay, how can I who am another man'swife? Sir Hugh, your son, should have killed the wolf and let the poorswan go. When the wolf is dead, then, perchance, I will visit him. But,meanwhile, say to him that Red Eve's heart is where it always was, andthat, like all Dunwich, she joys greatly in his fame and is honoured inhis honour.' Moreover, to Grey Dick here, she sends many messages, anda present of wines and spiced foods for his stomach and of six scorearrows made after his own pattern for his quiver."
"But for me no gift, father?" said Hugh.
"Nothing, son, save her love, which she said was enough. Also, in allthis press of business and in my joy at finding you safe I had almostforgotten it, there is a letter from the holy Father, Sir Andrew. I haveit somewhere in my pouch amid the bills of exchange," and he began tohunt through the parchments which he carried in a bag within his robe.
At length the letter was found. It ran thus:
To Sir Hugh de Cressi, knight, my beloved godson:
With what rejoicings I and another have heard of your knightly deedsthrough the letters that you have sent to us and from the mouths ofwounded soldiers returned from the war, your honoured father will tellyou. I thank God for them, and pray Him that this may find you unhurtand growing ever in glory.
My son, I have no good news for you. The Pope at Avignon, having studiedthe matter, (if indeed it ever reached his own ears) writes by one ofhis secretaries to say that he will not dissolve the alleged marriagebetween the Count of Noyon and the lady Eve of Clavering until theparties have appeared before him and set out their cause to his face.Therefore Eve cannot come to you, nor must you come to her while deNoyon lives, unless the mind of his Holiness can be changed. ShouldFrance become more quiet, so that English folk can travel there insafety, perchance Eve and I will journey to Avignon to lay her plaintbefore the Holy Father. But as yet this seems scarcely possible.Moreover, I trust that the traitor, Acour, may meet his end in this wayor in that, and so save us the necessity. For, as you know, such casestake long to try, and the cost of them is great. Moreover, at the Courtof Avignon the cause of one of our country must indeed be good just nowwhen the other party to it is of the blood of France.
Soon I hope to write to you again, who at present have no more to say,save that notwithstanding my years I am well and strong, and would thatI sat with you before the walls of Calais. God's blessing and mine be onyou, and to Richard the archer, greetings. Dunwich has heard how heshot the foul-tongued Frenchman before the great battle closed, and thetownsfolk lit a bonfire on the walls and feasted all the archers in hishonour.
Andrew Arnold.
"I have found another letter," said Master de Cressi, when Hugh hadfinished reading, "which I remember Sir Andrew charged me to give to youalso," and he handed him a paper addressed in a large, childish hand.
Hugh broke its silk eagerly, for he knew that writing.
"Hugh," it began simply, "Clement the Pope will not void my falsemarriage unless I appear before him, and this as yet I cannot do becauseof the French wars. Moreover, he sets the curse of the Church upon meand any man with whom I shall dare to re-marry until this be done. Formyself I would defy the Church, but not for you or for children thatmight come to us. Moreover, the holy father, Sir Andrew, forbids it,saying that God will right all in His season and that we must not makeHim wroth. Therefore, Hugh, lover you are, but husband you may notbe while de Noyon lives or until the Pope gives his dispensation ofdivorce, which latter may be long in winning, for the knave de Noyonhas been whispering in his ear. Hugh, this is my counsel: Get you to theKing again and crave his leave to follow de Noyon, for if once you twaincan come face to face I know well how the fray will end. Then, whenhe is dead, return to one who waits for you through this world and thenext.
"Hugh, I am proud of your great deeds. No longer can they mock you as'the merchant's son,' Sir Hugh. God be with you, as are my prayers andlove.
"Eve Clavering."
"I forgot to tell you that Sir Andrew is disturbed in heart. He looksinto a crystal which he says he brought with him from the East, andswears he sees strange sights there, pictures of woe such as have notbeen since the beginning of the world. Of this woe he preaches to thefolk of Dunwich, warning them of judgment to come, and they listenaffrighted because they know him to be a holy man who has a gift fromGod. Yet he says that you and I, Eve, need fear nothing. May it be so,Hugh.--E."
Now when he had thought awhile and hidden up Eve's letter, Hugh turnedto his father and asked him what were these sermons that Sir Andrewpreached.
"I heard but one of them, son," answered Master de Cressi, "though therehave been three. By the Holy Mother! it frightened me so much that Ineeded no more of that medicine. Nor, to tell truth, when I got homeagain could I remember all he said, save that it was of some frightfulill which comes upon the world from the East and will leave itdesolate."
"And what think folk of such talk, father?"
"Indeed, son, they know not what to think. Most say that he is mad;others say that he is inspired of God. Yet others declare that he is awizard and that his familiar brings him tidings from Cathay, where oncehe dwelt, or perchance, from hell itself. These went to the bishop, whosummoned Sir Andrew and was closeted with him for three hours. Afterwardhe called in the complainers and bade them cease their scandal ofwizardry, since he was sure that what the holy Father said came fromabove and not from below. He added that they would do well to mend theirlives and prepare to render their account, as for his part he shouldalso, since the air was thick with doom. Then he gave his benediction tothe old knight and turned away weeping, and since that hour none talkof wizardry but all of judgment. Men in Dunwich who have quarrelled fromboyhood, forgive each other and sing psalms instead of swearing oaths,and I have been paid debts that have been owing to me for years, allbecause of these sermons."
"An awesome tale, truly," said Hugh. "Yet like this bishop I believethat what Sir Andrew says will come to pass, for I know well that he isnot as other men are."
That night, by special leave, Hugh waited on the King, and with him GreyDick, who was ever his shadow.
"What is it now, Sir Hugh de Cressi?" asked Edward.
"Sire, after the great battle, nigh upon a year ago, you told me thatI must serve you till Calais fell. I have served as best I couldand Calais has fallen. Now I ask your leave to go seek my enemy--andyours--Sir Edmund Acour, Count de Noyon."
"Then you must go far, Sir Hugh, for I have tidings that this rogue whowas not ashamed to wear another man's armour, and so save himselffrom your sword, is away to Italy this six months gone, where, as theSeigneur de Cattrina, he has estates near Venice. But tell me how thingsstand. Doubtless that Red Eve of yours--strangely enough I thoughtof her at Crecy when the sky grew so wondrous at nightfall--is at thebottom of them."
"That is so, Sire," and he told him all the tale.
"A strange case truly, Sir Hugh," said the King when he had heard itout. "I'll write to Clement for you both, but I doubt me whether youand your Eve will get justice from him, being
English. England andEnglishmen find little favour at Avignon just now, and mayhap Philiphas already written on behalf of de Noyon. At the best His Holiness willshear you close and keep you waiting while he weighs the wool. No, RedEve is right: this is a knot soonest severed by the sword. If you shouldfind him, de Noyon could scarce refuse to meet you, for you shall fighthim as the champion of our cause as well as of your own. He's at Venice,for our Envoy there reported it to me, trying to raise a fresh force ofarchers for the French.
"You have leave to go, Sir Hugh, who deserve much more, having servedus well," went on the King. "We'll give you letters to Sir GeoffreyCarleon, who represents us there, and through him to the Doge. Farewellto you, Sir Hugh de Cressi, and to you, Captain Richard the Archer.When all this game is played, return and make report to us of youradventures, and of how de Noyon died. The Queen will love to hear thetale, and your nuptials and Red Eve's shall be celebrated at Westminsterin our presence, for you have earned no less. Master Secretary, get yourtools, I will dictate the letters. After they are signed to-morrow, seethem into the hands of Sir Hugh, with others that I will give him forsafe carriage, for alas I have creditors at Venice. Make out an openpatent also to show that he and this captain travel as our messengers,charging all that do us service to forward them upon their journey."