Betram de Drumont

Front matter

■ I ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ I ■ I I I WORKS BY THE AUTHOR. STORIES FROM OLD HISTORY. Sonnenschein and Co. THE SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND.* Sonnenschein AND CO. BERTRAM DE DRUMONT. Kegan Paul, Trench, AND CO. KINGSCOTE STORIES. Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. KINGSCOTE ESSAYS AND POEMS. Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. KINDERGARTEN SONGS OF THE SEASONS (12), Music Publishing Company, 54, Great Marlborough Street, and Myers and Co., Berners Street. * Appended to ' A First History of the English People,' by Amy Baker, 4 vols. See Advertisement at the end. BY THE LATE ELLA BAKER, AUTHOR OF STORIES FROM OLD HISTORY,' 'ESSAYS AND POEMS," 'KINGSCOTE STORIES, 'THE SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND,' ETC. Truly — ' a sweet and holy soul, Hath tints that never fly ; While flowers decay, and seasons roll, It cannot die.' Herbert. LONDON : KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, & CO. 1, PATERNOSTER SQUARE. 1888. MEMORIAL

Preface

. Ella Baker, who died 14th July, 1888, from the sting of a bee, which brought on sudden syncope thirty-three hours after, was born at Kensington 29th May, 1859. On the 10th July, 18G0, her father, Thomas Baker, of the Inner Temple, removed to Kingscote, Wokingham, where the rest of her life was spent, with the few exceptions of seven short visits, of about a week each, to friends in London, Brighton, and Ilminster ; and one stay of three months in the latter place. She had not a Collegiate education ; circumstances detailed in her father's autobiography account for this.* Hers was strictly a home training, mainly under the guidance of her sister Amy, author of 'A First History of the English People,'f which work the younger sister assisted to embellish, by selecting the hundred mottoes to the heads of chapters.^ These were furnished without an effort, during a few days, whilst pursuing her usual domestic avocations.

Her memory, indeed, was truly wonderful, and greatly con tributed to her extraordinary conversational powers ; for when at her ease (she was very modest and retiring, seldom entering what is called 'society'), no subject could be started without bringing some most apt quotation from Ella's lips. She had mastered (self-taught) French, * 'A Battling Life chiefly in the Civil Service.' Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. f Swan Sonnenschein and Co. J 'The poetical extracts which stand as mottoes at the head of chapters,' writes a reviewer, ' are as apt and delightful as those of Sir Walter Scott himself.' MEMORIAL

PREFACE.

. VIII German, and Italian. Altogether she was highly intel lectual, with a fine taste, and poetic imagination. One instance of memory, when about thirteen years old, may be mentioned : repeating to a cousin, who had challenged her, the whole of ' The Lady of the Lake,' it was observed that many words were substituted for others in the original ; but in every instance both the rhythm and the meaning were correct. It was, therefore, in no sense a parrot recitation. She never put herself forward. It is believed that not a single composition of hers intended for publication exists, but was done upon request — like ' The Sovereigns of England,' appended to her sister's history ; ' Kinder garten Songs of the Seasons,' and ' Stories from Old History' (all written at Amy's desire). It is much to be doubted whether she would voluntarily have published any of her writings.

In truth her quiet unselfish life seemed almost solely devoted to attendance on her excel lent mother ; yet, if Ella had any ambition, it was to do something towards improving and elevating the literary taste of the age, more especially as regards reading matter for young persons. For the benefit of these, the following posthumous pro ductions are published by a proud but sorrowing father. T. B. September, 1888. N.B. — The year in which the piece was written is affixed to each. A MEDIÆVAL TALE. (1885.)

Chapter I

All was bustle and preparation in the household of the Baron de Drumont ; and as the early rays of the April sun shone down upon the castle court, they were reflected from the burnished steel of helmets and bucklers, swords and battle-axes. The air was filled with the clashing of arms, the neighing of horses, and the shouts of men ; while pages and men-at-arms hurried hither and thither executing commissions. In the midst of all the tumult, mounted on his bright bay charger, sat the Baron himself — calm, erect, motionless, with his keen, quick eyes taking note of all that passed ; watching, observing, ordering, with brief, decided tones, the arrangements of the cavalcade which was forming. Right before the gates of the castle there ran a narrow river : on one' side of that river lay Normandy ; on the other, France ; and great was the joy of every youth in the company at the prospect of passing the narrow boundary, and seeing life upon a wider stage in France.

Were they not to march under the banner of Philip Augustus against his English enemies, and had n<,t every heart in that castle leaped with exultation, when the dominion of Normandy was wrested from the hands of the usurping tyrant John, and transferred to the King of France ? Raymond, Baron de Drumont, though by no means a handsome, scarcely even a well-looking man, presented, as he sat there in the full light of the sun's rays, an appearance by no means out of keeping with the rank and consequence he enjoyed ; at least, in the eyes of his followers. The flood of light which illuminated his countenance showed, indeed, that there was scarcely a good feature in his face ; but it also served to bring out and intensify the expression of command and dignity which the habits of a life-time had stamped upon it.

The prin cipal defect in his figure, its want of stature, was less apparent on horseback ; and his manner, though prompt and decisive, was singularly free from restlessness. Occasionally be inclined his head to speak to one of his squires, who stood at his rein — a man of middle age, grizzled, and weather-beaten, but tall and upright as a pine. This man's countenance was so scarred and seamed by the accidents of war, as almost to suggest the idea that he had been actually hewn in pieces, and the fragments reunited by the surgeon's art. Beside him stood the only child of the Baron, a boy of about eight years, in whose fair complexion and flaxen hair, unlike his father's, the type of his Scandinavian ancestors seemed to be revived, unless it indicated a nearer mixture of Saxon blood. The child clapped his hands and shouted with delight at the gallant show, and then clamoured to be taken before his father, and sit upon his horse.

At a sign from the Baron, the grim retainer lifted him up, and gave him to his father, who received the boy in his arms, fondly caressing and taking leave of him, and said as he restored him : ' Here is a charge, Stephen Runet, more precious by far than that of all my lands and vassals.' ' In that, as in all else, my lord,' replied Stephen quietly, ' you will find a faithful steward.' The train at last formed in order and rode out of the court, while those who remained behind stood in knots gazing after their comrades ; and now that the bustle BERTKAM DE DRUMONT. 3 was over, feeling it dull and heartless work to be left to the routine of daily life, and the guarding of the castle ; while others went to reap all the glory of the wars. Little Bertram de Drumont clambered as well as he could up the wall which surrounded the court, in order to hold the horsemen in sight, and waved with all his might a tiny white flag which he had found ; and the Baron, turning back his head, smiled at this last glimpse of the child, with his face turned up towards the sky, and the little flag flourished proudly in the breeze ; and he waved his hand in answer.

Then the party crossed over the river, and was soon lost to sight. All that day Bertram was strangely excited by the martial sight he had witnessed. He strutted about with his head full of battles and marches, of waving plumes and neighing chargers ; he lingered around the suits of his father's armour, which had been left scattered about at his hasty departure, trying to lift the heavy swords and lances, and finally burying his little head in a great helmet, which dropped below his chin. Then he collected all the little boys of the place, who served as his play fellows, and forming them into opposing armies, played at battles all the morning. At last, arming them with their bows and arrows, he led them across the narrow river into France, wading through the water though it reached to his knees ; and there, as proud as any paladin, he planted his miniature banner.

Then in a sudden, wild freak of adventure, the boys scampered off further into the country like restive colts. Stephen's watchful eye noted this in the midst of bis other cares, and his brow darkened. Briefly he commanded a young squire who had been left with him, aud who chanced to be exercising his horse hard by, to ride after and bring them back. It was the work of a moment for the active 3'oung man ; and on overtaking the little troop, he caught up the young baron in his arms, set him before himself upon the horse, and instantly cantered back again ; leaving the rest to follow, which they were not slow to do. 'I see, sir,' remarked the young man, looking down, not without some pride of approval, into the bold face of his 1—2 little charge, ' that your father, the Baron, must take you in his company when next he rides to the wars, for you seem to have small taste for keeping garrison.' ' And so he will ; he promised it.

I begged hard to go with him now, but he would not suffer me.' The youth laughed, but resolved to keep a more watch ful eye upon the boy, who was his own more particular charge. There were those who wondered not a little why the Baron had entrusted the guardianship of all he possessed, and the still more important trust of his young son, to one of his own retainers, a man, too, of mean origin ; for Stephen Runet was no sapling from a noble stem, looking with impatience to the honours of knighthood ; but owed his position in the castle solely to the favour of his lord, whose foster-brother he had been. On the other hand, the Baron de Drumont might have found many a more fitting steward, it was said, among his own noble friends or relatives, who had all sworn over their cups that they would stand to him through all chances, and would aid him at need with sword or with counsel.

But the Baron knew well that treachery sometimes lay hidden under velvet doublets ; and that vows spoken over the wine-flask melted away as heads grew clearer. His own mind was fair and honest, and he felt that he could not see deeply enough into the true ends and characters of his associates. He therefore resolved to place the trust in hands which had never yet failed him ; and went upon his march secure that he should find all well upon his return, or, should he never return, that all would yet be well. Bertram had little regard for Stephen. His grim visage and curt manner repelled the child, of whom, moreover, he took little notice. He took all due measures for his safety, and never permitted him to ride abroad unless well attended ; but that done, the old squire left him entirely in the charge of his usual attendants, while his own attention was engrossed by the other important interests which had been committed to his care.

Chapter II

It happened one day that Bertram had ridden to the outskirts of a forest which lay at no great distance from his father's castle, when he saw a large crowd of children of all ages and conditions, a few hundred yards before him. They had the appearance of listening with great attention to an address delivered by some person who was not then to be distinguished ; and Bertram gazed till his curiosity was strongly excited. ' Let us go,' he said, looking eagerly to the young squire who rode at his rein ; ' pray let us see what this can be, Philip.' Philip, not at all unwilling, rode forward to a con venient place on the outskirts of the assembly ; the few men who accompanied him followed, and there they all stood silent spectators of the most extraordinary scene they had ever witnessed. Standing upon a hillock in the centre was a boy of from twelve to fourteen years of age, with shaggy hair falling over his temples, a pale spiritual face and large dark eyes, that seemed to glow and burn with intense fervour, and yet had a kind of wild glitter, which betrayed an unbridled enthusiasm.

With hands now outstretched before him, now pointing upwards, or joined as though in passionate supplication, he stood exhorting, preaching, imploring, it would seem in tones which appeared as though they proceeded from some miraculous power, so deep, so thrilling, so penetrating were they. The vast mass of children who stood around him, pressing closely one on another in their eagerness, devoured every word that fell from his lips with a kindling excitement that promised almost to match his own. Some, especially among the girls, shed tears ; others, as he rose into a strain of triumphant prophecy, clapped their hands and shouted till their voices penetrated far into the forest ; some who were too young to understand, stood gazing with round wondering eyes, but yet with flushed cheeks and quick-coming breath. ' It is for us,' spoke the young orator — ' for us that this glorious triumph is destined ; it is for us alone to enter into the city of the Lord.

Has it not been made manifest ? Have not the vast armies of warriors, nobles, and knights, who so many times have gone forth in their pomp and their pride— have they not been scattered and undone as though pursued by the vengeance of Heaven ? It is for the innocent hands of children that the glorious work is reserved, for in the Book of Life it is written : " Except ye become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." ' Do you fear the toils and dangers of the way ? Divine strength shall uphold our feebleness, and shall give us strength for the conflict, with savage men and raging elements, which must be our portion before we plant the cross upon the walls of Jerusalem ; and rescue from the hands of profane unbelievers the sepulchre of Christ.' This was the substance of the discourse which met the astonished ears of Philip de Tourville, as he stood among the crowd of listeners on that sunny day ; though it was expressed in words of such burning ardour, as kindled Bertram's cheeks and eyes with an answering enthusiasm. ' Let me go, Philip,' he cried at last, trying to snatch away his bridle from the firm hand of his conductor. ' I will join with them ; I will follow him to Jerusalem, to the world's end.

Ah! I shall carry a lance like my father, but I will not wait till I am as tall.' Bewildered as he was, and perhaps not altogether free from the influence of the contagious excitement which surrounded him, the young squire yet threw his arm round Bertram, holding him close, and firmly refusing to allow him to dismount. As they listened further, however, to the inflammatory utterances of the young preacher, Bertram's struggles and demands to be set at liberty became still more violent ; while even the resolution of his guardian almost wavered, and he began to wonder whether he was doing right in withholding the boy from so pious and glorious an enterprise as was here proposed to him, and whether it might not be sinful presumption to doubt that Divine assistance might be accorded to these children for the attainment of such an end.

Just at this BERTEAM DE DRUMONT. 7 moment however — and in that moment probably lay the child's salvation — a little group of horsemen was seen slowly winding round the outskirts of the crowd. It was soon apparent that they were of the household of the Baron do Drumont, and among them was Stephen Runet himself, whose affairs had fortunately led him past that spot on this occasion. He, like the others, had been induced to pause for a few moments, that he might understand the strange scene ; but as soon as he perceived that Bertram was enchained among the listeners, he dashed forward instantly, and began rating De Tourville with all the force of a by no means unpractised voice. 'Art thou mad,' he said, 'to keep my young lord here listening to the distempered ravings of a dreaming peasant boy ?

He rides abroad for the pleasure of the chase, and that he may be perfected in all those knightly exercises beseeming his condition ; not to mingle with a disordered rabble such as this. Away to the castle with him straight ; and thou wilt find better employ for him, I doubt not, than hearkening to these mad and foolish fancies. Truly, Sieur de Tourville, you are finely to be trusted with the child !' The young man coloured with some displeasure ; for though to a certain extent under the authority of Stephen Runet, he by no means forgot the distinctions of birth between them, and was inclined to resent any freedom of language. He made no reply, however, and it was Bertram who spoke : ' I will not go to the castle,' he said in a positive tone. ' I will march to Palestine, and help to win the city of Jerusalem, which all the kings and princes have been fighting for so long.' ' Truly, my fair boy,' replied Stephen, smiling, though he was both vexed and alarmed, ' that would be a glorious enterprise.

And then they should make you King of Jerusalem belike, and you would wear a golden crown. But will you be content to turn your back on this fair Normandy, and never see your noble father more ? What will he say, think you, when he shall return from the war and find no son to meet him ?' ' My father would be well content that I should follow the path of fame and honour in which he is ever urging me to tread. Philip has told me many a time how he marched to the Holy Land in a gallant army with the Kings of England and France ; and now I will go in this company and follow in his steps.' 'By the hand of the brave De Drumont, then,' replied Stephen in his most resolved tones, ' you go not with my good-will ! And you, boys and young maidens, you were best leave this fooling, and begone home to your mothers.

Is it where our own noble King Philip Augustus and the lion-hearted Richard have failed, think you, that it is for you to bear away the prize ? Go, I say, each one to your homes, and learn what is belonging to the state of child hood.' The attention of the gathering had been diverted by the altercation as it proceeded, and the deep harsh tones of Stephen's voice exerted to its full power now arrested all ears. The preacher fixed his penetrating glance full upon him, and replied with a dignity of bearing which might have become a bishop or a prince : 'Mock not at my mission,' he said ; 'we shall fight not in our own strength, but by virtue of a commission from on High. If our arms are feeble, they shall be strengthened ; if our counsels are blind, they shall be enlightened from above. Therefore it is that we fear no perils by the way ; for he whom the Lord has chosen to fulfil His purposes, He will sustain therein.

Seek not, then, to hold back one single arm from this holy work, for you fight against the appointments of Heaven.' Thus did the peasant boy assert his high claims, and Stephen could not answer him. It came home to him then, what he had scarcely realized before, that frantic as their scheme might be — and none knew better than he how frantic it was — these children were in earnest, that they would really do this thing that they purposed. The crowd cast angry eyes upon the stranger who had come to interrupt their dream and treat their leader with con tempt. Stephen Runet was dumb ; his habits of life had trained him to act, to command, but had left him totally without power to sway the minds of others, and had con ferred upon him nothing of that gift of persuasion which this boy appeared to possess in so fatal a degree.

He was anxious, too, to remove Bertram from this dangerous atmosphere, for he was becoming alarmed on his account. The boy, indeed, was not a likely subject for that species of "hysterical excitement which pervaded so many in the crowd ; but his self-will and reckless, daring disposition placed him in almost equal danger. Stephen, then, seized Bertram's bridle, and, turning the horses' heads home wards in spite of his passionate entreaties, kept up as rapid a pace as he could venture until they reached the castle gates. Arrived there, he took the child by the hand, and, closely followed by Philip de Tourville, went in search of the venerable priest, whose counsel he thought might be of use on such a matter. 'Good father,' he said abruptly, breaking in upon the old man's transcription of a pious manuscript which he was laboriously engrossing on vellum, ' I come to beg of you that you will clear my young lord's brains from some idle fancies which have found place there touching the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre, which, as you well know, is a matter too weighty for them.

These are things that belong rather to you than to me.' Father Paul laid aside his pen with something like a sigh, and then looked with astonishment upon the flushed and tearful countenance of Bertram, who stood regarding the old squire with looks of defiance. ' What is this that troubles you, my child ?' he said gently, laying a hand on the boy's shoulder. ' It is because I wished to join them to go to Jerusalem and fight in the crusade,' panted Bertram, 'and he will not suffer me. He says, because we are children, we are too weak. But we shall be strong ! You have told me — have you not, dear father ? — that all is possible with the Lord to aid.' Stephen here interposed with a more lucid explanation; and Father Paul fell into a muse, while his long thin fingers toyed among Bertram's flaxen curls. 'I have heard something of this,' he said at length, ' that the children flock in crowds to the banner of the Cross, even as it was with their forefathers in the days of St. Peter the Hermit.' ' They will never carry their zeal beyond France,' said Stephen, all his incredulity returning when no longer under the influence of the stirring scene. ' There are perils enough by the way, to scare them back like rabbits into their burrows.' The priest shook his head.

He was better acquainted with the constitution of the human mind, and the immense power which spiritual excitement possesses of swaying its emotions. ' Doubt it not,' he said, ' these little ones will go on their way as fearlessly as the noble princes and cavaliers in former days ; and may the shield of Heaven be over them according to their great trust ! My son, I know not whether it may not be vain presumption on our part to doubt of it, or to seek to restrain the pious ardour of their pure hearts ; for has it not been said, " Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven"? and may not those words bear a prophecy ?' ' Father,' answered Stephen, with an air at once of deference and a blunt firmness, ' I am no clerk, nor do I meddle with that which touches me not ; and little do I know, saving of those things that concern my duty to my lord.

But it would sort ill with that duty, methiuks, if, when my lord should ask of me, " Where is my son that I left in thy wardship ?" I must make him reply, " He hath gone to Jerusalem in the train of a shepherd-lad, who came preaching a new crusade, but when and how he will return, I know not." The Baron on his return may send him to Jerusalem if he will, or to whatever place may seem to him fit ; but for me, safe as I received him, so will I deliver him up. You will not tell me that I err in this ?' ' The saints forbid !' replied the good priest, with a little reluctance. ' The just steward is faithful to his trust.' This worthy man, simple and trustful as a child, and whose time had been spent much more in religious contemplation, than in intercourse with the world, cherished a secret hope of the success of this band of youthful crusaders ; aud his heart sympathized with little Bertram's wish. 'And so say I,' said Philip de Tourville ; 'yet, pity it is to crush the first upspringing of knightly spirit in the mind of the boy.

I could find it in my heart to grieve for him. It is a gallant and a holy errand on which they go, and how know we, as the father has said, that it may not be crowned with glory ?' The young squire was not yet free from the influence of the scene of excitement he had just witnessed, which had taken a strong hold on his young and ardent mind. Stephen saw that the romantic chivalry of the younger man, and the pious enthusiasm of the elder, might render them less efficient and watchful guardians than he had looked for, and he therefore determined to rely on him self alone to protect Bertram from the perils which he now saw hung over him. 'I will go,' said Bertram. 'Dear Philip, I know you will help me,' he added, seizing his arm coaxingly. 1 By my faith, not I,' replied the young man, laughing. ' It is Messire Stephen there who is your guardian and tutor, and in his own judgment he must deal with you.

Nay, sir, it is no such mighty matter neither ; why, it went hard with me when the Baron, your father, willed it that I should stay with you in place of riding against the English ; but did that make me weep like a damsel for a lost linnet ? Come, you will never be a knightly cavalier if you cry when you are crossed, like a wilful child.' ' They shall not go without me,' persisted Bertram, with a stamp and a gesture of the hand, which reminded Stephen of the Baron when in anger. ' It is a holy errand — the father has said it, Philip has said it, and I will not be withheld. I am the son of the Baron de Drumont, and this is my father's castle, and none of you has the right to gainsay my word.' The poor child, trembling with overwrought excite ment, looked round to note the effect of his declaration ; but when he saw that De Tourville only laughed to see how well he had caught the tones of authority, while Stephen half suppressed a grim smile, he threw himself on the floor in a paroxysm of tears.

Stephen raised him gently enough, and said, anticipating a remonstrance from Father Paul : ' You are not lord in this castle yet, my boy, and you should not wish to hasten that day ; it may come too soon for us all. Father, I would that you could tell me somewhat of this great gathering. To me it seems like an elfish dream more than sober verity.' Father Paul told all that he knew of how the children were drawn away from their homes to follow this new preacher ; and how parents found all prayers and restraints in vain, against the wild fervour which seemed to have taken possession of their hearts ; and Stephen drank in all with an attentive ear. From that hour Stephen never left his charge by day or night. If Bertram rode, he was always by his bridle — he was beside him through all the various pursuits of the day, he slept across his threshold at night.

Once or twice the boy attempted to break away in the course of a ride ; or to run across unnoticed if the drawbridge chanced to be lowered ; but the vigilance of his guardian was not to be cheated so easily. Meantime, they had constant tidings of the progress of the children's army ; and these could not always be kept from Bertram's ears, when they had always the effect of fanning the flame of his enthusiasm. But his storming, or his tears, produced no more outward effect upon Stephen, than on the castle walls themselves.