Boy Crusaders: A Story of the Days of Louis IX. Page 7

  CHAPTER VI.

  EMBARKING FOR THE EAST.

  IT was Saturday; and the sun shone brightly on pool and stream, and evenlighted up the dingy corners of walled cities, as the Earl of Marchproceeded on foot from the castle to the port of Berwick, and embarkedwith his knights and kinsmen.

  The event created much excitement in the town. In fact, though theprinces and nobles of Europe were weary of enterprises that had ruinedso many great houses, the people still thought of the crusades withinterest, and talked of them with enthusiasm. The very name of Palestineexercised a magical influence on the European Christians of thatgeneration. At the mention of the Holy Land, their imagination conjuredup the most picturesque scenery; Saracenic castles stored with gold andjewels; cities the names of which were recorded in the sacred book whichthe poorest knew by picture; and they listened earnestly as palmer orpilgrim told of Sharon with its roses without thorns; Lebanon with itscedars and vines; and Carmel with its solitary convent, and its summitcovered with thyme, and haunted by the eagle and the boar, till theirfancy pictured 'a land flowing with milk and honey,' by repairing towhich sinners could secure pardon without penance in this world, andhappiness without purgatory in the next.

  It is not wonderful that, when such sentiments prevailed, theembarkation of a great noble for the Holy Land should have excited muchinterest; and, as Guy Muschamp and Walter Espec took their way from thecastle to the port, crowded with ships, and passed warehouses storedwith merchandise, the Red Hall of the Flemings resounding with the noiseof artificers, the wealthy religious houses which kept alive the flameof ancient learning, and dispensed befitting charities, the streetspresented a motley assemblage of seafaring men, monks, warriors, andsoldiers; the wives and daughters of the burghers, all in holidayattire, crowded the housetops or gazed from the windows and balconies;and the burghers themselves, leaving their booths and warehouses,flocked to the port to gossip with each other, and to witness thedeparture of the armed pilgrims.

  'Oh, good Walter,' exclaimed Guy Muschamp, whose spirit rose with theexcitement, 'is not this a stirring scene? By St. John of Beverley, whatrich armour! what gallant ships! what stately churches! And yet I wouldwager my basinet to a prentice's flat cap that it is not, for a moment,to be compared to Acre.'

  'I deem that it can hardly be,' replied Walter, calmly; 'and, in truth,I am in no mood to look upon life with joyous emotions. But, brave Guy,I am pleased to see you pleased; albeit, I own frankly that I should bemore than human did I not somewhat envy you your gaiety.'

  'Be gay, good Walter.'

  Walter shook his head.

  'Vain would be the effort,' he replied, sadly; 'I can only pray to Godand Holy Katherine to grant that I may return with a lighter heart.'

  'As for me,' continued Guy, 'I am ever gay--gay as the lark; gay in themorning, gay at eve. It is my nature so to be. My mother is aFrenchwoman--a kinswoman of the Lord of Joinville--and scarce knows whatsadness is. I inherit her spirit; and I doubt not that, if I am slain bythe Saracens, I shall die laughing.'

  With this conversation they reached the quay, just as Earl Patrick wasstepping on board his ship, the 'Hilda,' which, if less graceful andelegant than the vessels of modern times, was imposing to look upon.Adorned with painting and gilding, it had armorial bearings and badgesembroidered on various parts; banners of gay and brilliant coloursfloated from the masts; and the sails of azure and purple shone withwork of gold. Armour glittered on deck; and martial music was notwanting to give variety to the display.

  Meanwhile, amidst the bustle and shouts of the crew, the ports of thevessel were opened to allow the horses of the armed pilgrims to enter;and, as the ports were under water when the vessel was at sea, they werecaulked and stopped up as close as a tun of wine. This operation over,and all the adventurers embarked, the skipper raised his hand forsilence.

  'My men, is your work done?' cried he to his people in the prow; 'areyou ready?'

  'Yes, in truth, we are ready,' answered the seamen.

  And now, the priests who accompanied Earl Patrick having embarked, thecaptain made them mount to the castle of the ship, and chant psalms inpraise of God, and to pray that He might be pleased to grant aprosperous voyage; and they, having ascended, sang the beautiful hymn of'Veni, Creator' from beginning to end. While the priests sang, themariners set their sails, and the skipper ordered them to haul up theanchor; and instantly a breeze filled the sails, and the ships movedslowly but proudly away from the shore.