sir nigel-第54章
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with an azure cloud…flecked sky above their heads； and such a
scene beneath it as each of them would carry in his memory while
memory remained。
They were in mid…channel。 The white and green coasts of Picardy
and of Kent lay clear upon either side of them。 The wide channel
stretched in front； deepening from the light blue beneath their
prow to purple on the far sky…line。 Behind them was that thick
bank of cloud from which they had just burst。 It lay like a gray
wall from east to west； and through it were breaking the high
shadowy forms of the ships of Spain。 Four of them had already
emerged； their red bodies； gilded sides and painted sails shining
gloriously in the evening sun。 Every instant a fresh golden spot
grew out of the fog； which blazed like a star for an instant； and
then surged forward to show itself as the brazen beak of the great
red vessel which bore it。 Looking back； the whole bank of cloud
was broken by the widespread line of noble ships which were
bursting through it。 The Basilisk lay a mile or more in front of
them and two miles clear of their wing。 Five miles farther off；
in the direction of the French coast； two other small ships were
running down Channel。 A cry of joy from Robert Knolles and a
hearty prayer of gratitude to the saints from the old shipman
hailed them as their missing comrades； the cog Thomas and the
Grace Dieu。
But fair as was the view of their lost friends； and wondrous the
appearance of the Spanish ships； it was not on those that the eyes
of the men of the Basilisk were chiefly bent。 A greater sight lay
before them…a sight which brought them clustering to the
forecastle with eager eyes and pointing fingers。 The English
fleet was coming forth from the Winchelsea Coast。 Already before
the fog lifted a fast galleass had brought the news down Channel
that the Spanish were on the sea； and the King's fleet was under
way。 Now their long array of sails； gay with the coats and colors
of the towns which had furnished them； lay bright against the
Kentish coast from Dungeness Point to Rye。 Nine and twenty ships
were there from Southampton； Shoreham； Winchelsea； Hastings； Rye；
Hythe； Romney； Folkestone； Deal； Dover and Sandwich。 With their
great sails slued round to catch the wind they ran out； whilst the
Spanish； like the gallant foes that they have ever been； turned
their heads landward to meet them。 With flaunting banners and
painted sails； blaring trumpets and clashing cymbals； the two
glittering fleets； dipping and rising on the long Channel swell；
drew slowly together。
King Edward had been lying all day in his great ship the Philippa；
a mile out from the Camber Sands； waiting for the coming of the
Spaniards。 Above the huge sail which bore the royal arms flew the
red cross of England。 Along the bulwarks were shown the shields
of forty knights； the flower of English chivalry； and as many
pennons floated from the deck。 The high ends of the ship
glittered with the weapons of the men…at…arms； and the waist was
crammed with the archers。 From time to time a crash of nakers and
blare of trumpets burst from the royal ship； and was answered by
her great neighbors； the Lion on which the Black Prince flew his
flag； the Christopher with the Earl of Suffolk； the Salle du Roi
of Robert of Namur； and the Grace Marie of Sir Thomas Holland。
Farther off lay the White Swan； bearing the arms of Mowbray； the
Palmer of Deal； flying the Black Head of Audley； and the Kentish
man under the Lord Beauchamp。 The rest lay； anchored but ready；
at the mouth of Winchelsea Creek。
The King sat upon a keg in the fore part of his ship； with little
John of Richmond； who was no more than a schoolboy； perched upon
his knee。 Edward was clad in the black velvet jacket which was
his favorite garb； and wore a small brown…beaver hat with a white
plume at the side。 A rich cloak of fur turned up with miniver
drooped from his shoulders。 Behind him were a score of his
knights； brilliant in silks and sarcenets； some seated on an
upturned boat and some swinging their legs from the bulwark。
In front stood John Chandos in a party…colored jupon； one foot
raised upon the anchor…stock； picking at the strings of his guitar
and singing a song which he had learned at Marienburg when last he
helped the Teutonic knights against the heathen。 The King； his
knights； and even the archers in the waist below them； laughed at
the merry lilt and joined lustily in the chorus； while the men of
the neighboring ships leaned over the side to hearken to the deep
chant rolling over the waters。
But there came a sudden interruption to the song。 A sharp； harsh
shout came down from the lookout stationed in the circular top at
the end of the mast。 〃I spy a sail…two sails！〃 he cried。
John Bunce the King's shipman shaded his eyes and stared at the
long fog…bank which shrouded the northern channel。 Chandos； with
his fingers over the strings of his guitar； the King； the knights；
all gazed in the same direction。 Two small dark shapes had burst
forth； and then after some minutes a third。
〃Surely they are the Spaniards？〃 said the King。
〃Nay； sire；〃 the seaman answered； 〃the Spaniards are greater ships
and are painted red。 I know not what these may be。〃
〃But I could hazard a guess！〃 cried Chandos。 〃Surely they are the
three ships with my own men on their way to Brittany。〃
〃You have hit it； John；〃 said the King。 〃But look； I pray you！
What in the name of the Virgin is that？〃
Four brilliant stars of flashing light had shone out from
different points of the cloud…bank。 The neat instant as many tall
ships had swooped forth into the sunshine。 A fierce shout rang
from the King's ship； and was taken up all down the line； until
the whole coast from Dungeness to Winchelsea echoed the warlike
greeting。 The King sprang up with a joyous face。
〃The game is afoot； my friends！〃 said he。 〃Dress； John！ Dress；
Walter！ Quick all of you！ Squires； bring the harness！ Let each
tend to himself； for the time is short。〃
A strange sight it was to see these forty nobles tearing off their
clothes and littering the deck with velvets and satins； whilst the
squire of each； as busy as an ostler before a race； stooped and
pulled and strained and riveted； fastening the bassinets； the
legpieces； the front and the back plates； until the silken
courtier had become the man of steel。 When their work was
finished； there stood a stern group of warriors where the light
dandies had sung and jested round Sir John's guitar。 Below in
orderly silence the archers were mustering under their officers
and taking their allotted stations。 A dozen had swarmed up to
their hazardous post in the little tower in the tops。
〃Bring wine； Nicholas！〃 cried the King。 〃Gentlemen； ere you close
your visors I pray you to take a last rouse with me。 You will be
dry enough； I promise you； before your lips are free once more。
To what shall we drink； John？〃
〃To the men of Spain；〃 said Chandos； his sharp face peering like a
gaunt bird through the gap in his helmet。 〃May their hearts be
stout and their spirits high this day！〃
〃Well said； John！〃 cried the King； and the knights laughed
joyously as they drank。 〃Now； fair sirs； let each to his post！ I
am warden here on the forecastle。 Do you； John； take charge of
the afterguard。 Walter； James； William； Fitzallan； Goldesborough；
Reginald … you will stay with me！ John； you may pick whom you
will and the others will bide with the archers。 Now bear straight
at the center； master…shipman。 Ere yonder sun sets we will bring
a red ship back as a gift to our ladies； or never look upon a
lady's face again。〃
The art of sailing into a wind had not yet been invented； nor was
there any fore…and…aft canvas； save for small headsails with which
a vessel could be turned。 Hence the English fleet had to take a
long slant down channel to meet their enemies； but as the
Spaniards coming before the wind were equally anxious to engage
there was the less delay。 With stately pomp and dignity； the two
great fleets approached。
It chanced that one fine carack had outstripped its consorts and
came sweeping along； all red and go
