Falstaff

by Robert Nye

  It was the latter evil, rather than the former marvel – if it is proper to speak in these terms about things which must remain speculations of mere vision – that caused me to fall out of the oak tree.

  When I looked up from where I had fallen, the moon had ridden behind a cloud.

  I stood up.

  I dusted myself down.

  I put on my hat.

  And then I saw the white roe-deer coming towards me.

  Unlike Talbot, I did not leap into a hunting stance. But I dare to say that I was more astonished than Talbot had been, and had more cause for dismay, since I saw more than Talbot had seen – or more than he would ever after admit to being possible, when I brought the subject up very tentatively with him years later.

  I saw a white roe-deer with the face of Joan of Arc.

  Some of the French historians say that I ran.

  That is untrue.

  I turned round, and I walked.

  But I walked fast, and I took my men with me, and I got them out of that place alive.

  Joan did not pursue us. Heaven knows why. (It probably does, yes, madam, I mean it.)

  Talbot was ransomed.

  He reported me for cowardice to the Duke of Bedford.

  I was deprived of my Garter.

  I asked for a private audience with the Duke, and was granted it. At that audience I told him the story which I have now told you, and which I have told no other living soul. John, Duke of Bedford, was a block of a fellow, a bit of an ox, a slow mover and a slow thinker, not at all like the other brothers in that family of princes, as I’ve had occasion to remark more than once in these memorials. But he was no fool and no Lollard, and he knew me well enough to know that I was not lying to save my skin.

  ‘Do you think the woman is a witch?’ he said, when I had finished.

  ‘I wish I could think that,’ I said. ‘Sometimes I do. And when I do I can think that God will still allow England’s right to France, and our cause to prosper.’

  ‘And when you don’t?’ Bedford pursued.

  ‘Then I think she might be something else.’

  ‘A saint? Surely not! Surely you don’t think she can be a saint?’

  ‘I think that for a moment she was the light itself,’ I said flatly, ‘and after that a deer. A white roe-deer.’

  Bedford insisted that she must be a witch. But in the circumstances he was prepared to give me back my Garter. Talbot never understood why. And when I vaguely hinted at a certain peculiarity in what I had seen coming towards me under that oak tree, his blank incomprehension made it clear that he would never understand even if I tried to explain it to him.

  So I did not try.

  Reader, if you doubt my story, reflect on the fact that after my secret interview with the Duke of Bedford history will tell you that I was fully restored to his confidence, and enjoyed his unmitigated favour.

  Yet to this day – St Crispin’s Day – there are those who believe the French version.

  I am not surprised. A soldier learns that his enemy’s version of events will readily find believers at home, since men who do not fight are always ready to find fault with the actions of those who fight for them. Cowardice is a mighty quickener of tongues.

  A man learns slowly from what he sees.

  Talbot saw a white stag, at Patay.

  I saw a white roe-deer with the face of a girl, at Patay.

  I see now that I saw also in that white roe-deer with the face of a girl, at Patay, the subsequent inevitability of the fall of France, and the end of our English dominion.

  Joan of Arc. Joan the Puzzle. The Church in her wisdom will know in the end whether the woman was truly a devil or truly a saint.

  For myself, Worcester, for myself?

  I wished the deer no harm.

  I wished the white creature no harm.

  That’s why I turned and walked away.

  Chapter Ninety-Eight

  The Last Will & Testament of Sir John Fastolf*

  Feast of St Simon and St Jude

  In the name and the worship of the holy blessedful Trinity (in the year) of our Lord Jesu Christ 1459, and in the thirty-eighth year of (our sovereign King) of England and of France, Harry VI, the 28th day of the month (of) October, being the Feast of SS. Simon and Jude, apostles and martyrs, I, John Fastolf, of Caister, by Great Yarmouth, of the county of (Norfolk), Knight, being in good remembrance, albeit I am sickly and through age enfeeb(led), bringing to mind and often revolving in my soul how this world is tra … … … and how, amongst all ea(r)thly things that are present or to come, there is nothing in this unstable world so certain to creatures of mankind as is departing out of this world by death, the soul from the wretched body; and nothing earthly so uncertain as the hour and time of our death – Therefore I, willing and desiring that of such goods of worldly substance, movable and unmovable, that God of his bounteous grace has sent me in my life to dispose and occupy, that they be disposed as it may be thought best for the health of my soul and to the pleasure of God, and also for the relief, succour, and help of the souls that I am most obliged and bound to purvey and do … … … for, as the soul of John Fastolf, my father, Dame Mary, daughter of Nicholas … … … my mother, and the soul of Dame Milicent, my wife, the daughter of (Sir Robert) Tibetot, Knight, and for the souls of other of my … … … kinsfolk and special friends here underwritten – I ordain and … … … this my last will in form and manner following:–

  First, I will and ordain that, if it please our sovereign lord King Harry VI, or his heir Kings, for the long continued service by me in the days of the strength and health of my body, to him and to (the noble) King Harry IV and Harry V, his progenitors, and to his (noble) uncles John Duke of Bedford, Thomas Duke of Clarence, while they were in the wars of our said sovereign Lord and his (noble) progenitors foresaid, in France and Normandy as in countries and other places, considering my many great labours, pains, and perils in the said service of our sovereign Lord and his (noble) progenitors foresaid, and his plenteous grace without any other; … … … of my executors named in my testament, or else for a reasonable sum of (money) which our said sovereign Lord owes me, or in some other wise, or by any other means, so as my executors therein shall accord with our said sovereign Lord and his council, or with his heir Kings and their council, to licence and grant to them that be fieffed to my use in my own lordship’s manors, lands, tenements, rents, services, with their appurtenances, or to their assignees after the effect and form of the law, by the advice of my executor, to ordain, found, and establish, within the great mansion or dwelling place late by me newly edified and moated in the town of Caister, by Great Yarmouth, in the county of Norfolk, which mansion or dwelling place goes commonly by the name of Caister Castle, a college of a priory of six religious persons, monks of the order of St Benedict, and a prior, and to immortise and grant to the said prior and six religious persons, or to their successors, the foresaid mansion or dwelling place, with all the appurtenances and other sufficient and clear lifehood of the foresaid lordships, manors, lands, and tenements, rent, and services, with their appurtenances, for the sustenance of the said prior and six religious persons and their successors, and for their other charges and reparations, and for the maintenance of seven poor men in the said college in perpetuity, by the advice and discretion of my executors (herein under named) and that then the foresaid fiefees or their assignees if they … … … grants of others having interest in this to be halved lawfully as requisite, and they shall make, found, and establish, in the said college, with the said prior and six religious men, ever to endure, for to pray for my soul and for the souls of my father and my mother, and for all my kinsfolk and good doers, and for the souls of the blessed memory (of the) Kings foresaid, Harry IV and Harry V, and the said (noble) Dukes, and for the good estate and prosperity of our sovereign Lord during his lifetime, and after for his soul, and for all Christian souls, therefore to sing and say daily divine service and prayers in perpetuity; and to be of the
orders, profession, obedience, and governance of the Order of St Benedict, and of the same order and profession as are the monks of St Benedict’s at St Benet Hulme, in the county of Norfolk, and shall be established by the good advice of my executors. And to that prior, and to those six religious men, and to their successors, I bequeath the foresaid mansion and dwelling place, with the appurte (nances), … … … sufficient, sure, and clear livelihood of the foresaid lordships (and) manors … … … rents, services, with their appurtenances in Caister foresaid, and in all other places … … … all for the sustenance (of the) said prior and six religious men and their successors, their servants, and the (said) seven poor men. And for the charges and reparations foresaid, to the yearly value of £200 (Two Hundred Pounds) sterling over all charges, to have and to hold to the foresaid religious men and to their successors for ever, (provided always that the said prior and religious men and their successors be bounden and compellable sufficiently in law by the discretion of my said executor), to sustain the foresaid seven poor men continually, sufficiently, and conveniently in all things within the said college for ever, and to pray for the souls aforesaid.

  (It)em, I will and ordain that all and singular lordships, manors, lands, and tenements, rent(s), and services, and their appurtenances, in which any person or persons are fieffed or have estate and possession to my use, in whatsoever counties or towns the said lordships, manors, lands, and tenements, rents, and services are within the realm of England; and that all the foresaid and singular lordships, manors, tenements, rents, and services, with their appurtenances, in which any person or persons are entitled to my use by the law, shall be sold by my said (and sole) executor (Stephen Scrope), except manors, lands, and tenements, rents, and services, with their appurtenances, as shall be required for the said college (if the foundation thereof take effect). And that the money of the sale or sales coming be disposed by my said executor (Stephen Scrope) in the execution of this my last will and testament, and in other deeds of alms as my said executor (Stephen Scrope) by (his) discretion shall seem best to please God for the health of my soul and for the souls foresaid. (And that should the foundation of the said college not be established, nor the said college founded, then all aforementioned lordships, lands, and tenements, rents, and services, with their appurtenances, be assigned to my stepson Stephen Scrope, and to his heirs, to be sold by him, or by his heirs, and all moneys thereof coming be his, or theirs) … … … and in other deeds of mercy, pity, and alms as shall seem best to my said (sole) executor (Stephen Scrope) for the souls aforesaid and the souls underwritten.

  Item, forasmuch as it is said that divers persons of divers descent pretend … … … at this day to be next inheritor(s) to me after my decease, where … … … know that no creature has title or right to inherit any … … … lands and tenements, rents, and services that ever I had, or any person or persons … … … have to my use. Therefore I will and ordain that no person nor persons as … … … me for no doubtful or obscure matters contained in this my present will, nor for none other, shall take any manner of advantage, benefit, or profit by any manner, means, or ways, of any manors, lordships, lands, tenements, rents, services, goods, or chattels that were mine at any time.

  Item, I will and ordain and grant that my executors (before named), shall have the declaration and interpretation of all and singular articles, sentences, clauses, and words in this my last will and testament, in which articles, sentences, clauses, and words should any doubt or doubts, darkness or diversity of understanding befall or happen to be found, then shall no person or persons by reason of such articles, sentences, clauses, or words have or take any profit or advantage otherwise than after the manner and form of declaration and interpretation of my said executors.

  Item, I will, ordain, and command that all debts owing by me (after due examination) be fully paid to the creditors; and also that all wrongs, trespasses, offences, and griefs by me done or committed, if any be, that any manner of person has been hindered or damaged wrongfully, if any such be that can sufficiently (and lawfully) be proved and known, I will first before all other things that my executors do make amends, restitution, and satisfaction to those persons or to their executors by me damaged and hindered as conscience and good faith requires.

  Item, I will and ordain that in every town in which I have lordships, manors, lands, and tenements that the poor people of the tenure of the said town have two years to gather in reward … … … the tenth part of one yearly value and revenues of the said lordships, manors, lands, tenements, and rents, half to be given to … … … parish churches for works, ornaments, and other things necessary to the said churches, and half to be given amongst the said poor people that are tenants of the said lordships, manors, lands, and tenements … … … (but so to be disposed after the discretion of my executor before named) … … … after my will approved, and my debts paid.

  Item, I will and ordain that the prior of the priory of the parish church of Yarmouth for the time being, and his successors, observe and keep yearly and perpetually to endure an anniversary in the said parish church for to pray for the soul of my father, John Fastolf, Squire, that lies buried there in the said church, with placebo and dirige and Mass, noting the vigil and day of his obit, with the number of priests and clerks according in such a cause; and to sustain the keeping of the said anniversary, I will that by the advice of my executors (before named) that lands or teneme … … … to the yearly value of … … … (20 shillings) … … … sure to the said priory or parish church, only to sustain and bear … … … and charges of the perpetual keeping and sustaining of the said anniversary.

  Item, I will and ordain that if I have any relics of Saints, also such ornaments for the church, that I have left as vestments, garments of silk or velvet, or robes, and my gowns, that parcel of them be given to the said monastery church of Saint Benet Hulme, where I shall be buried, to remain for ornament of the chapel there by me late edified; and also part of them to be distributed amongst the parish churches that are in such towns where I have any lordships, manors, lands, tenements, and rents, provided that a reasonable and competent part of the said relics and ornaments be kept and given to the said college to be made at Caister, and this to be done by the advice of my executors (before named).

  Item, I will and ordain that such of my consanguinity and kindred which are poor, and have but little substance to live by … … … having consideration to those that be nearest of my kin and of … … … Also of her good disposition to God-ward and to me always my dear niece … … … other of my friends … … … that a consideration be had and given to the relief and preferment of … … … for his good, true, and long service done to me.

  Item, I will and ordain that the holy place, the monastery and abbey of our Lady’s church of Langley, in the diocese of Norwich, for my soul to be more specially recommended, and also to keep and sustain, one day in the year, my anniversary solemnly, by note the dirige and Mass of requiem for ever to endure for the health of my soul and for the soul of Dame Milicent, my wife, (the daughter of Sir Robert Tibetot, Knight), which was of the consanguinity and kin of the founders of the said monastery, and she owing a singular affection and love of devotion to the prayers of that place, that the Abbot and his convent have a reward and a remuneration of my (moveable) goods (at the discretion of my executor before named).

  Item, I will and ordain that (by the advice of my executor before named) provision and ordinance be made that the obit and anniversary may be yearly in perpetuity kept with placebo and dirige and Mass of Requiem for the soul of Dame Mary, my mother, in the church of Attleburgh … … … (at the discretion of my executor, my well-loved stepson and good-doer Stephen Scrope).

  Item, I will that a convenient stone of marble and a flat figure, after the fashion of an armed man, be made and graven in the said stone in Latin in memorial of my father, John Fastolf, Squire, to be laid upon his tomb in the chapel of St Nicholas, in the parish church of Yarmouth, and w
ith my escutcheon of arms, and his, and our ancestry, with a scripture about the stone making mention the day and year of his obit.

  Item, I will that in similar wise a marble stone of a convenient … … … made to be laid upon the tomb of Dame Mary, my mother, in the … … … founded in the parish church of Attleburgh, and that a figure … … … of a gentlewoman with her mantle, with a scripture made of Latin in on … … … escutcheons of arms of her several husbands, as the escutcheon of Thomas Mortimer, Knight, (John) Fastolf, Squire … … … and of John Farewell … … … and the day and year of her obit to be written about.

  Item, I will and ordain that the executors of John Wells, alderman of London, who had great goods of mine in his governing while I was latterly in the countries of France and Normandy, and never returned to me open declaration to whose hands my reservoirs had been given, or to which servants of mine the said goods were delivered particularly, and for that cause as well as for the discharge of the said John Wells’s soul, his executors and attorneys may offer (to my above named executor) a full declaring of my said goods according to the truth and their conscience.

  Item, to be provided, if it be thought commodiously that it may be done (by my executor), that a chantry may be founded in the church of St Botolph’s, by Bishopsgate, in London, to pray for my soul and for one unnamed soul continually.

  Item, my breviary to be buried with me.

  Item, the prior and six religious men of my college established to pray by name with dirige and placebo and Mass of Requiem one day of the year in any year, in perpetuity, for the souls of certain friends and companions of my youth and age, and of my time in England as in France and Normandy, to wit – the oblate Duncan, Bardolph, Nym, my ancient Pistol, Peter Peto, Robert Shallow, Robin my page, mine hostess Nell (Helen) Quickly of the Boar’s Head tavern in Eastcheap, and … … … Doll (Dorothy) Tearsheet.