The Boy Knight: A Tale of the Crusades Read online

  CHAPTER XII.

  THE ACCOLADE.

  It was now a year since they had left England, and Cuthbert had muchgrown and widened out in the interval, and had never neglected anopportunity of practicing with arms; and the earl was well aware that heshould obtain as efficient assistance from him in time of need as hecould desire.

  This was the first time that Cuthbert, and indeed the great proportionof those present in the Christian host, had seen the enemy in force, andthey eagerly watched the vast array. It was picturesque in the extreme,with a variety and brightness of color rivaling that of the Christianhost. In banners and pennons the latter made a braver show; but thefloating robes of the infidel showed a far brighter mass of color thanthe steel armor of the Christians.

  Here were people drawn from widely separated parts of Saladin'sdominions. Here were Nubians from the Nile, tall and powerful men, jetblack in skin, with lines of red and white paint on their faces, givinga ghastly and wild appearance to them. On their shoulders were skins oflions and other wild animals. They carried short bows, and heavy clubsstudded with iron. By them were the Bedouin cavalry, light, sinewy men,brown as berries, with white turbans and garments. Near these were thecavalry from Syria and the plains of Assyria--wild horsemen withsemi-barbarous armor and scarlet trappings. Here were the solid lines ofthe Egyptian infantry, steady troops, upon whom Saladin much relied.Here were other tribes, gathered from afar, each distinguished by itsown particular marks. In silence did this vast array view awhile thesolid mass of the Christians. Suddenly a strange din of discordant musicfrom thousands of musical instruments--conches and horns, cymbals anddrums, arose in wild confusion. Shouts of defiance in a dozen tonguesand from two hundred thousand throats rose wild and shrill upon the air,while clear above all the din were heard the strange vibratory cries ofthe warriors from the Egyptian highlands.

  "One would think," said Cnut grimly to Cuthbert, "that the infidelsimagine we are a flock of antelopes to be frightened by an outcry. Theywould do far better to save their wind for future use. They will wantit, methinks, when we get fairly among them. Who would have thought thata number of men, heathen and infidel though they be, could have made sofoul an outcry?"

  Cuthbert laughed.

  "Every one fights according to his own method, Cnut; and I am not surethat there is not some thing to be said for this outcry, for it isreally so wild and fearful that it makes my blood almost curdle in myveins; and were it not that I know the proved valor of our knights andfootmen, I should feel shaken by this terrible introduction to thefight."

  "I heed it no more," said Cnut, "than the outcry of wild fowl, when onecomes upon them suddenly on a lake in winter. It means no more thanthat; and I reckon that they are trying to encourage themselves fully asmuch as to frighten us. However, we shall soon see. If they can fight aswell as they can scream, they certainly will get no answering shoutsfrom us. The English bulldog fights silently, and bite as hard as hewill, you will hear little beyond a low growl. Now, my men," he said,turning to his archers, "methinks the heathen are about to begin inearnest. Keep steady; do not fire until you are sure that they arewithin range. Draw your bows well to your ears, and straightly andsteadily let fly. Never heed the outcry or the rush, keep steady to thelast moment. There is shelter behind you, and fierce as the attack maybe, you can find a sure refuge behind the line of the knights."

  Cnut with his archers formed part of the line outside the array ofEnglish knights, and the arrows of the English bowmen fell fast as bandsof the Bedouin horse circled round them in the endeavor to draw theChristians on to the attack. For some time Saladin persisted in thesetactics. With his immense superiority of force he reckoned that if theChristian chivalry would but charge him, the victory of Tiberias wouldbe repeated. Hemmed in by numbers, borne down by the weight of armor andthe effects of the blazing sun, the knights would succumb as much tofatigue as to the force of their foes. King Richard's orders, however,were well obeyed, and at last the Moslem chief, urged by the entreatiesof his leading emirs, who felt ashamed that so large a force shouldhesitate to attack one so vastly inferior in numbers, determined upontaking the initiative, and forming his troops in a semicircle round theChristian army, launched his horsemen to the attack. The instant theycame within range a cloud of arrows from the English archers fell amongthem, but the speed at which the desert horses covered the groundrendered it impossible for the archers to discharge more than one or twoshafts before the enemy were upon them. Quickly as they now slipped backand sought refuge under the lances of the knights, many of them wereunable to get back in time, and were cut down by the Saracens. The restcrept between the horses or under their bellies into the rear, and thereprepared to sally out again as soon as the enemy retired. The Christianknights sat like a wall of steel upon their horses, their lances wereleveled, and brave as the Bedouin horsemen were, they felt to break thismassive line was impossible. The front line, however, charged well up tothe points of the lances, against which they hewed with their sharpscimiters, frequently severing the steel top from the ashpole, and thenbreaking through and engaging in hand-to-hand conflict with the knights.Behind the latter sat their squires, with extra spears and arms ready tohand to their masters; and in close combat, the heavy maces with theirspike ends were weapons before which the light-clad horsemen went downlike reeds before a storm.

  Hour after hour the Arab horsemen persisted in their attack, sufferingheavily, but determined to conquer if possible. Then Saladin suddenlyordered a retreat, and at seeing their enemy fly, the impetuosity of theCrusaders at last broke out. With a shout they dashed after the foe.King Richard, knowing that his followers had already shown a patiencefar beyond what he could have expected, now headed the onslaught,performing prodigies of valor with his single arm, and riding from pointto point to see that all was well.

  The early resistance of the infidel host was comparatively slight. Theheavy mass of the Christian cavalry, with their leveled lances, sweptthrough the ranks of the light horsemen, and trampled them down likegrass beneath their feet; but every moment the resistance became morestubborn.

  Saladin, knowing the Christians would sooner or later assume theoffensive, had gathered his troops line in line behind the front ranks,and as the force of the Crusaders' charge abated, so did the number offoes in their front multiply. Not only this, but upon either side chosenbands swept down, and ere long the Christians were brought to a stand,and all were fighting hand to hand with their enemies. The lances werethrown away now, and with ax and mace each fought for himself.

  The Earl of Evesham was one of a group of knights whom King Richard hadthat day ordered to keep close to his person, and around this group thefight raged most furiously.

  Saladin, aware of the extreme personal valor and warlike qualities ofKing Richard, set the greatest value upon his death or capture, and hadordered a large number of his best troops to devote their wholeattention to attacking the King of England.

  The royal standard carried behind the king was a guide to theironslaught, and great as was the strength and valor of King Richard, hewith difficulty was able to keep at bay the hosts that swept around him.

  Now that the lance had been abandoned for battle-ax, Cuthbert was ableto take an active part in the struggle, his duties consisting mainly inguarding the rear of his master, and preventing his being overthrown byany sudden attack on the flank or from behind.

  King Richard was bent not only on defending himself from the attacks ofhis foes, but on directing the general course of the battle; and fromtime to time he burst, with his own trusty knights, through the ring offoes, and rode from point to point of the field, calling the knightstogether, exhorting them to steadiness, and restoring the fight whereits fortunes seemed doubtful. At one time the impetuosity of the kingled him into extreme danger. He had burst through the enemy surroundinghim, and these, by order of their captain, allowed him to pass throughtheir ranks, and then threw themselves together in his rear, to cut himoff from the knights who rode behind. The maneuver
was successful. Therush of horsemen fairly carried away the Christian knights, and one ortwo alone were able to make their way through.

  Amid the wild confusion that raged, where each man was fighting for hisown life, and but little view of what was passing could be obtainedthrough the barred visor, the fact that the king was separated from themwas known to but few. Sir Walter himself was engaged fiercely in ahand-to-hand fight with four Bedouins who surrounded him, when Cuthbertshouted:

  "The king, Sir Walter! the king! He is cut off and surrounded! Forheaven's sake ride to him. See! the royal standard is down."

  With a shout the earl turned, brained one of his foes with a sweep ofhis heavy ax, and, followed by Cuthbert, dashed to the assistance of theking. The weight of his horse and armor cleft through the crowd, and ina brief space he penetrated to the side of King Richard, who was borneupon by a host of foes. Just as they reached them a Bedouin who had beenstruck from his horse crawled beneath the noble charger of King Richard,and drove his scimiter deep into its bowels. The animal reared high inits sudden pain, and then fell on the ground, carrying the king, who wasunable to disengage himself quickly enough.

  WITH A SHOUT THE EARL TURNED, FOLLOWED BY CUTHBERT, ANDDASHED TO THE ASSISTANCE OF THE KING.]

  In an instant the Earl of Evesham had leaped from his horse and with hisbroad triangular shield extended, sought to cover him from the press ofenemies. Cuthbert imitated his lord, and strove to defend the latterfrom attacks from the rear. For a moment or two the sweep of the earl'sheavy ax and Cuthbert's circling sword kept back the foe, but this couldnot last. King Richard in vain strove to extricate his leg from beneathhis fallen steed. Cuthbert saw at a glance that the horse still lived,and with a sudden slash of his sword he struck it on the hind quarter.Goaded by the pain the noble animal made a last effort to rise, but onlyto fall back dead. The momentary action was, however, sufficient forKing Richard, who drew his leg from under it, and with his heavybattle-ax in hand, rose with a shout, and stood by the side of the earl.

  In vain did the Bedouins strive to cut down and overpower the twochampions; in vain did they urge their horses to ride over them. Witheach sweep of his ax the king either dismounted a foe or clove in thehead of his steed, and a wall of slain around them testified to thetremendous power of their arms. Still, even such warriors as these couldnot long sustain the conflict. The earl had already received severaldesperate wounds, and the king himself was bleeding from some severegashes with the keen-edged scimiters. Cuthbert was already down, when ashout of "St. George!" was heard, and a body of English knights clovethrough the throng of Saracens and reached the side of King Richard.Close behind these in a mass pressed the British footmen with bill andpike, the enemy giving way foot by foot before their steady discipline.

  The king was soon on horseback again, and rallying his troops on, ledthem for one more great and final charge upon the enemy.

  The effect was irresistible. Appalled by the slaughter which they hadsuffered, and by the tremendous strength and energy of the Christianknights, the Saracens broke and fled; and the last reserves of Saladingave way as the king, shouting his war-cry of "God help the holysepulcher!" fell upon them. Once, indeed, the battle still seemeddoubtful, for a fresh band of the enemy at that moment arrived andjoined in the fray. The Crusaders were now, however, inspired with suchcourage and confidence that they readily obeyed the king's war-cry,gathered in a firm body, and hurled themselves upon this new foe. Thenthe Saracens finally turned and fled, and the Christian victory wascomplete.

  It was one of the features of this war that however thorough thevictories of the Christians, the Saracens very speedily recovered fromtheir effects. A Christian defeat was crushing and entire; the knightsdied as they stood, and defeat meant annihilation. Upon the other hand,the Saracens and Bedouins, when they felt that their efforts to win thebattle were unsuccessful, felt no shame or humiliation in scatteringlike sheep. On their fleet horses and in their light attire they couldeasily distance the Christians, who never, indeed, dreamed of pursuingthem. The day after the fight the enemy would collect again under theirchiefs, and be as ready as before to renew their harassing warfare.

  On his return from the field the king assembled many of his principalknights and leaders, and summoned the Earl of Evesham, with the messagethat he was to bring his esquire with him. When they reached the tentthe king said:

  "My lords, as some of you may be aware, I have this day had a narrowescape from death. Separated from you in the battle, and attended onlyby my standard-bearer, I was surrounded by the Saracens. I shoulddoubtless have cleft my way through the infidel dogs, but a foul peasantstabbed my charger from below, and the poor brute fell with me. Mystandard-bearer was killed, and in another moment my nephew Arthur wouldhave been your king, had it not been that my good lord here, attended bythis brave lad, appeared. I have seen a good deal of fighting, but neverdid I see a braver stand than they made above my body. The Earl ofEvesham, as you all know, is one of my bravest knights, and to him I cansimply say, 'Thanks; King Richard does not forget a benefit like this.'But such aid as I might well look for from so stout a knight as the Earlof Evesham I could hardly have expected on the part of a mere boy likethis. It is not the first time that I have been under a debt ofgratitude to him; for it was his watchfulness and bravery which savedQueen Berengaria from being carried off by the French in Sicily. Ideemed him too young then for the order of knighthood--although, indeed,bravery has no age; still for a private benefit, and that performedagainst allies, in name at least, I did not wish so far to fly in theface of usage as to make him a knight. I promised him then, however,that the first time he distinguished himself against the infidel heshould win his spurs. I think that you will agree with me, my lords,that he has done so. Not only did he stand over me, and with greatbravery defend Sir Walter from attacks from behind, but his ready witsaved me when even his sword and that of Sir Walter would have failed todo so. Penned down under poor Robin I was powerless to move until ouryoung esquire, in an interval of slashing at his assailants, found timeto give a sharp blow together with a shout to Robin. The poor beasttried to rise, and the movement, short as it was, enabled me to draw myleg from under him, and then with my mace I was enabled to make a standuntil you arrived at my side. I think, my lords, that you will agreewith me that Cuthbert, the son of Sir William de Lance, is fit for thehonor of knighthood."

  A general chorus of approval arose from the assembly, and the king,bidding Cuthbert kneel before him, drew his sword and laid it across hisshoulders, dubbing him Sir Cuthbert de Lance. When he had risen thegreat barons of England pressed round to shake his hand, and Cuthbert,who was a modest young fellow, felt almost ashamed at the honors whichwere bestowed upon him. The usual ceremonies and penances which youngknights had to undergo before admission into the body--and which inthose days were extremely punctilious, and indeed severe, consisting,among other things, in fasting, in watching the armor at night, inseclusion and religious services--were omitted when the accolade wasbestowed for bravery in the field.

  The king ordered his armorer at once to make for Cuthbert a suit of thefinest armor, and authorized him to carry on his shield a sword raisinga royal crown from the ground, in token of the deed for which the honorof knighthood had been bestowed upon him.

  Upon his return to the earl's camp the news of his new dignity spread atonce among the followers of Sir Walter, and many and hearty were thecheers that went up from the throats of the Saxon foresters, led byCnut. These humble friends were indeed delighted at his success, forthey felt that to him they owed very much; and his kindness of mannerand the gayety of heart which he had shown during the hardships they hadundergone since their start had greatly endeared him to them.

  Cuthbert was now to take rank among the knights who followed the bannerof the earl. A tent was erected for him, an esquire assigned to him, andthe lad as he entered his new abode felt almost bewildered at thechange which had taken place in one short day--that he, at the age ofsixteen, should have earn
ed the honor of knighthood, and the approval ofthe King of England, expressed before all the great barons of the realm,was indeed an honor such as he could never have hoped for; and thethought of what his mother would say should the news reach her in herquiet Saxon home brought the tears into his eyes. He had not gonethrough the usual religious ceremonies, but he knelt in his tent alone,and prayed that he might be made worthy of the honors bestowed upon him;that he might fulfill the duties of a Christian knight fearlessly andhonorably; that his sword might never be raised but for the right; thathe might devote himself to the protection of the oppressed, and thehonor of God; that his heart might be kept from evil; and that he mightcarry through life unstained his new escutcheon.

  If the English had thought that their victory would have gained themimmunity from the Saracen attacks they were speedily undeceived. Thehost, indeed, which had barred their way had broken up; but itsfragments were around them, and the harassing attacks began again with aviolence and persistency even greater than before. The Crusaders,indeed, occupied only the ground upon which they stood. It was death toventure one hundred yards from the camp unless in a strong body; and thesmallest efforts to bring in food from the country round were instantlymet and repelled. Only in very strong bodies could the knights venturefrom camp even to forage for their horses, and the fatigues andsufferings of all were in no way relieved by the great victory ofAzotus.