"Tell me,what tidings of him?"Barthelemy Barrette asked me,on the day after that unbought feast at Royaulieu.
He was sitting in the noonday sun on the bridge of Compiegne,and strange it was to see the place so battered yet so peaceful after five months of war.The Oise sliding by and rippling on the piers was not more quiet than this bridge of many battles,yet black in places with dried-up blood of men slain."Tidings can I find none,"I answered."He who saw the cordelier last was on guard in the boulevard during the great charge.He marked Brother Thomas level his couleuvrine now and again,as we ran for the bastille,and cried out to him to aim higher,for that the ball would go amongst us.""You were his target,I make no doubt,"said Barthelemy,"but by reason of the throng he had no certain aim.""After we broke into the bastille,I can find no man who has set eyes on him,"and I cursed the cordelier for very rage.
"He is well away,if he stays away:you and I need scarce any longer pray for eyes in the backs of our heads.But what make we next?""I have but one thought,"I said:"to pluck the Maid out of the hands of the English,for now men say that she is sold to them by Jean of Luxembourg.They mean to take her to Arras,and so by Crotoy at the mouth of Seine,and across Normandy to Rouen.Save her France must,for the honour of France.""My mind is the same,"he said,and fell into a muse."Hence the straight road,and the shortest,"he said at last,"is by Beauvais on to Rouen,where she will lie in chains,"and drawing his dagger he scratched lines on the bridge parapet with its point."Here is Compiegne;there,far to the west,is the sea,and here is Rouen.
That straight line,"which he scratched,"goes to Rouen from Compiegne.Here,midway,is Beauvais,whereof we spoke,which town we hold.But there,between us and Beauvais,is Clermont,held by Crevecoeur for the Burgundians,and here,midway between Beauvais and Rouen,is Gournay,where Kyriel and the Lord Huntingdon lie with a great force of English.Do you comprehend?We must first take Clermont ere we can ride to rescue the Maid at Rouen!""The King should help us,"I said."For what is the army that has delivered Compiegne but a set of private bands,under this gentleman's flag or that,some with Boussac,some with Xaintrailles,some with a dozen others,and victuals are hard to come by.""Ay,many a peaceful man sits by the fire and tells how great captains should have done this,and marched there,never thinking that men fight on their bellies.And the King should help us,and march with D'Alencon through Normandy from the south,while our companies take Clermont if we may,and drive back the English and Burgundians.But you know the King,and men say that the Archbishop of Reims openly declares that the Maid is rightly punished for her pride.He has set up a mad shepherd-boy to take her place,Heaven help him!who can fight as well as that stone can swim,"and he dropped a loose stone over the bridge into the water.
"Whoever stays at home,we take the field,"I said;"let us seek counsel of Xaintrailles."We rose and went to the Jacobins,where Xaintrailles was lodged,and there found him at his dejeuner.
He was a tall young knight,straight as a lance,lean as a greyhound;for all his days his sword had won his meat;and he was hardy,keen,and bright,with eyes of steel in a scarred face,and his brow was already worn bald with the helmet.When he walked his legs somewhat straggled apart,by reason of his much riding.
Xaintrailles received us in the best manner,we telling him that we had ridden with the Maid,that I was of her own household,and that to save her we were willing to go far,and well knew that under no banner could we be so forward as under his.
"I would all my company were as honest as I take you twain to be,"he said,"and I gladly receive you under my colours with any men you can bring.""Messire,I have a handful of horse of the Maid's company,"said Barthelemy,hardily;"but when do we march,for to-day is better than to-morrow.""As soon as may be,"said the knight;"the Marechal de Boussac leads us against Clermont.That town we cannot leave behind us when we set forth from Beauvais.But,with these great bombards,which we have won from the Burgundians,we may have reason of Clermont,and then,"clapping his hands together,and looking up,"then for Rouen!
We shall burst the cage and free the bird,God willing!"He stood like one in prayer,crossing himself,and our hearts turned to him in loyalty.
"If but the King will send a force to join hands with La Hire in Louviers,the English shall have news of you,Messire!"I made bold to say.
"Ay,if!"quoth Xaintrailles,and his face grew darker,"but we must make good speedy for the midwinter draws nigh."Therewith we left him,and,in few days,were marching on Clermont,dragging with long trains of horses the great bombards of the Burgundians.
To our summons Messire de Crevecoeur answered knightly,that Clermont he would hold till death or rescue,so we set to battering his house about his ears.But,alas!after four days a sentinel of ours saw,too late,an English knight with nine men slip through the vines,under cover of darkness,and win a postern gate in the town wall.Soon we heard a joy-fire of guns within Clermont town,and foreboded the worst.At midnight came a peasant to Xaintrailles,with tidings that a rescue was riding to Clermont,and next morning it was boots and saddles and away,so hastily that we left behind us the great bombards of the Burgundians.On this they made much mirth;but they laugh best who laugh last,as shall he seen.
And the cause of our going was that the Earl of Huntingdon had ridden out of Gournay,in Normandy,with a great force of English,to deliver Clermont.Against foes within the town and foes without the town the captains judged that we were of no avail.So we departed,heavy at heart.Now the companies scattered,and Barthelemy and I,sorry enough,rode behind Xaintrailles,due north to Guermigny,whence we threatened Amiens.