Chapter 5 Chapter 5 The Spear Guard

Mouthful of strange incantations, with beards like leopards, Even in the mouth of the cannon, To seek bubble fame. "As Wish" Quentin.Darwilt went down the stairs to the room where he had breakfasted.The knight who awaited him was none other than (according to Louis XI) a member of the King's Guard who had been entrusted (according to Louis XI) with the direct protection of the King's safety and thus the fate of France. Charles the Sixth had established what is known as the Scotch Archers for a purpose beyond the reasons usually held for forming foreign mercenary guards.With the country torn apart, and more than half of the French territories that belonged to him taken from him, and the loyalty of the nobles who recognized him constantly wavering, it would be a mistake to entrust his personal safety to them, yes. A very unsafe approach.The Scottish nation is a traditional enemy of England, and thus a natural ally of France through the ages.They are poor, brave, and loyal. With overpopulation, their country is certainly not short of men.No country in Europe, therefore, exported more and more daring adventurers than Scotland.They consider themselves noble birth, which makes them more entitled to approach the sovereign than other soldiers.And the small number of them makes it impossible for them to commit rebellion.

On the other hand, many kings of France also made it one of their strategies to win the favor of this elite foreign army.The method is to grant them honorable privileges and generous military pay.Most of them spent their military pay in military style to maintain the perception of their high status.Each of them was a gentleman in rank and honour.They served the king and considered themselves noble, so that all France thought they were important.Their weapons, equipment, and mounts are gorgeous, and each is qualified to equip a retinue, a servant, a page boy, and two horses, one of which is called a sword soldier because he wears a big sword to kill An enemy who was thrown to the ground in a fight with its master.With so few retinues, and a corresponding set of horses and chariots, the archer of the Scotch Guard was a prominent figure.Since the vacancies in the Guards were generally filled by men in training as pagemen or servants, sons of some of the most prestigious Scotch houses were frequently sent to serve as pageboys or servants, awaiting promotion. Chance.

Sword soldiers and their companions are not considered nobles, nor can they be promoted to nobles. They are all recruited from people of humble origin.But because they are well paid and well equipped, it is not difficult for the master to choose a strong and brave man from among the wandering Scots to fill this role. Ludvik.Leslie was also known as Le Balafrey; a name well known in France and which we will refer to frequently below.The man was well over six feet tall, strong in build, but plain in appearance.A ghastly large scar began on the forehead just barely touching the right eye, but exposed the cheekbone; it ran almost to the tip of the ear, revealing a deep gash.The slit is sometimes dark red or purple, sometimes blue, and sometimes almost black, but whether it is excited or calm, whether it is flushed with joy, or darkened by the wind and sun, the color and complexion of the scar Always out of harmony, always looking scary and hideous, which made his face even uglier.His clothes and weapons are elegant.He wore a Scottish national cap with a tuft of feathers on top, and a silver Madonna as a brooch.These brooches had been decided upon by the king in a fit of superstitious piety after he had consecrated the guard's swords to the Virgin.He went even further, as some say, and even issued a commission to the Virgin, appointing her as Commander-in-Chief of the Guard.The archer's gauntlets, armor, and gloves are all of the finest steel, and are intricately inlaid with silver for decoration.His chainmail or plated shirt shone like hoarfrost on fern or heather in a winter morning.He was clad in a blue velvet tunic of blue velvet, open at the sides like a heraldic toga, and in the middle of the front and back was a great cross of St. Andrew, embroidered in silver.He wears armored stockings and steel boots to protect his knees and legs, a broadsword (called God's Forgiveness) hangs on his right side, and an ornate ribbon for a sword hangs on his left shoulder.But for the sake of convenience, he now held the heavy weapon in his hand, as the rules of the Guard forbade it to be set aside.

Although Quentin.Darwilt, like the Scottish youth of his day, was taught how to look at weapons and equipment, but he still felt that the man who came to see him was the most handsome and well-armed warrior he had ever seen.The man greeted him.It turned out that he was his mother's brother, known as Ludwik the Scarred or Le Balafrey.Seeing the ferocious expression on his face, Quentin couldn't help but tremble.The Samurai came up to welcome his nephew to France by rubbing his rough beard first on the left cheek and then on the right cheek, and asked him what news he had brought from Scotland.

There is no good news, dear uncle.Still, I'm glad you recognized me so quickly, said young Davelt. Boy, if I met you on the Landes sands of Porto like a crane walking on stilts, I'd recognize you Scottish farmers used stilts to cross the sandy land called the Landies.).Sit down, sit down If there's any sad news to hear, we've got wine to help us with our sorrows.Hey!Old skimping my good lord, bring us your best wine. Just as Swiss with a French accent is as familiar in modern Parisian restaurants, so is the famous Scots with a French accent in the inns around Plessy.The owner of the store quickly followed the order with panic caused by fear, and immediately acted obediently.He set a bottle of champagne in front of them.The elder took a long gulp, while the nephew only took a sip, thanking his uncle for his kindness and regretting that he had already had a drink this morning and could not drink more.

My good nephew, if these words come from your sister, it is the best excuse.If you want to grow a beard and be a soldier, you've got to keep tabs on wine cans, Le Barafrey said.All right, all right, open the mailbag you brought from Scotland and tell me about Gran︱Hurajin, how is my sister? Dear uncle, she is dead.Quentin said sadly. died!Uncle said loudly, with more surprise than regret in her voice, you know, she is five years younger than me.And now I am in the prime of life.died!Simply impossible.I've never been ill, except for drinking and merriment with merry brethren, and having a headache when I'm enjoying two or three days' holidays, and my poor sister is dead!Good nephew, is your father remarried?

Before the young man could answer, he had already detected the answer from his astonished expression: what!No?I was going to curse Alan.Darwilt was a man who couldn't live without a wife.He liked to keep the house tidy and to look at pretty women.He is still relatively strict in life. These are the benefits that marriage brings to him.I am not so much interested in these comforts now.I can look at a beautiful woman without thinking about the sanctity of marriage, and besides, I'm not holy enough to think about it. Alas, dear uncle, my mother was made a widow after the Ogilvies harassed Gran-Hurajin.My father, two uncles, my two older brothers and seven relatives were killed in defense of the castle, along with the harper, the day laborer and six others.Now there is not a single smoking furnace and complete wall-stone in the whole of Gran-Hurajin.

St. Andrew's Cross!Le Barafrey said, this is really harassment and violation!Yes, these Ogilvies have been Glen︱Hurajin's unlucky neighbors But what an unfortunate coincidence, and the fate of the war The good nephew of the fate of the war, when did this misfortune happen?He took a sip of his wine and shook his head very seriously.The nephew replied that his family suffered disaster on St. Jude's Day the year before last (Note: October 28. One of the twelve apostles of St. Jude Jesus.). You see, said the warrior, I'll say it's just a coincidence, that's the day me and twenty comrades stormed off and took Rochester from Amaury and Bradfer.Castle of the Loire.Bradfell is the leader of the Free Spearmen, you must have heard of this man.I killed him on the threshold of his house, and took enough gold to strike a beautiful chain of gold.You know, this gold chain used to be twice as long as it is now, which reminds me that I have to take off a section of the gold chain to perform a sacred mission.Andrew, come on Andrew!

His horse, Andrew, came in.On the whole he was dressed like the archers, except that his hands and feet were unarmored, while his body armor was crudely made, his hat was unfeathered, and his tunic was of serge or common cloth instead of rich. of velvet.Le Barafrey unfastened the gold necklace from his neck, and with his strong teeth he bit off a piece four inches long from one end, and said to the servant: "Listen, Andrew, take this To the friar at St. Martin's my friend Father Boniface blesses him well on my behalf, especially since the last time we parted in the middle of the night he wouldn't even say God bless you You told my old man, say My brother and sister and several other members of my family are dead, and I beg him to say Mass for their souls for the value of this gold necklace, and to perform other necessities on credit that will save them from the torments of Purgatory. ceremony.You see, since they're decent people who don't belong to a cult, they're probably out of hell by now, so it only takes a small amount of money to keep them safe.If that is the case, then you will especially remind him that I wish the excess gold to be cursed as best the Church can on the Ogilvy clan called Angus County.Do you understand, Andrew?

The horse bent his head. Be careful not to let this golden necklace get into the hotel before it falls into the monk's hands.If so, you'll have a taste of saddle girths and belts until you're like St. Bartholomew Massacre of French Catholics against Protestant Huguenots on Tholomius' Day.) Wait a minute for the flesh and blood. I see you staring at the jug, and I have to take a few sips before I let you go. Then he poured him a glass of wine.After Ma Bian drank it all in one gulp, he went out to carry out his master's orders. Now, good nephew, tell your personal story in that unfortunate incident.

I beat and punched among the older and stronger men until we were all knocked down by them.As a result, I was seriously injured, Dawilt said. Your injury is no worse than the one I suffered ten years ago.Le Barafrey said, Look here, nephew, he said, running his fingers over the scarlet scar on his face that an Ogilvy knife would never leave so deep. They hacked hard enough, Quentin said sadly, but in the end they were too tired. When they found that I was still breathing, my mother begged hard, and they spared my life.A learned Friar, Aberbrodick, who happened to be a guest at my house, was lucky enough not to be killed in the battle.He was allowed to bandage my wound and finally moved me to a safe place.But it was also because my mother made a vow to him, promising that I would become a monk in the future. Be a monk!exclaimed my uncle, St. Andrew!I have never encountered such a thing.Since I was a child, no one has ever thought of making me a monk, but it is interesting to think about it.You have to admit, if I hadn't never learned to read and write, never could stand singing hymns and wearing their clothes like crazy beggars Madonna forgive me (saying and crossing himself)!Also their fasts are not to my liking, or I'd be as good a friar as my boy from St. Martin's.But I don't know why, no one has ever recommended this job to me. So, my good nephew, you were going to be a monk. Why? Because this family of my father is either buried in a monastery or in a tomb.Quentin said deeply. I understand, when the uncle said, I understand.These cunning villains are so cunning!But they can also be deceived.You see, good nephew, I remember Father Robert Salter taking his vows as a monk.Later he escaped from the monastery and became the leader of the Free Comrades.He has a mistress, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and three children who are equally beautiful. Good nephew, the monks are unbelievable. Can't believe them. They can turn into soldiers completely unexpectedly, or when Father, you continue to tell your story. I have nothing more to say, said Davelt, but only to add that I was persuaded to dress as a novice, considering that my poor mother was more or less a guarantor of mine, Obeyed the monastic rules and even learned to read and write. Read and write, exclaimed Le Balafrey in amazement, for he is a man who regards any knowledge beyond his own sphere as miraculous, you say you can write and you can read!I can't believe I've never heard of the Darwilts, or the Leslie's, writing their names.I can take responsibility for one of them saying that I can't write it like I can't fly.For St.Louis' sake, what do you say they taught you? It was difficult at first, Darwilt said, but it became easy once you got used to it.I was weak from injuries and bleeding, and I was eager to please my savior, Father Peter, so it was easy for me to conform.After a few months of this melancholy affair, my good mother died, and I was fully recovered, so I told my benefactor, the vice-principal of the monastery, that I would not take the vows of a monk.An understanding was reached between us: since I was not born to be a monk, I should be sent to the world to pursue my career.To keep the Ogilvies from taking the vice-principal's wrath, I had to feign flight when I left, and I even took one of the priest's vultures with me to add to the show.But I did go through formal procedures to leave, as evidenced by the priest's signature and seal. That's right, that's good.Said the uncle, Our king doesn't care much if you steal anything else, but he is afraid of anything that breaks the rules of the monastery.Dare I say, you don't have a lot of money with you to cover your expenses, do you? I have but a few pieces of silver, said the young man, good uncle, I can only tell you the truth. . Oops!Le Balafrey replied that it was difficult.In today's dangerous world, it is not safe to hide money.I also never save my paychecks, but I always wear (and I suggest you follow my example) a gold necklace, bracelet or choker for adornment, and can whip out a chain or two or a spare if necessary. To sell the gemstones in order to need a good nephew in an emergency, you may ask: How did I get such things? (He swings his necklace triumphantly.) These necklaces do not grow on every grove, nor do they grow in the fields like the daffodils whose stems are used for knights' collars by children.But what's the point?You can also get them like I did by serving the good King of France.If you want to get rich and risk your life, you can always make a lot of money with the king. As far as I know, said Quentin, he wished to avoid a decision which he did not think could be made at present, and that the duke of Burgundy was more pompous than the king of France.Under his command, greater honor can be obtained, people can fight happily, and can establish outstanding military exploits.But it is said that this most Christian king won his victory by the good tongue of his ambassadors. Good nephew, you talk like a silly boy, said the scarred uncle, but I remember being as dumb as you when I first came here.When I think of the king, I think he either wears a golden crown, sits on a high platform, eats white jelly with the big vassals and warriors, drinks and has fun, or looks like Charlemagne in the legendary novel (Note: 742︱ 814, King of the Frankish Kingdom, and later Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.), or (Balbur and the Bard) such Scottish history books as Robert.Bruce (Note: King of Scotland, led the Scottish people to defeat England in 1314 and made Scotland independent.) and William.Wallace (Note: Scottish national hero, executed by the British in 1305.) Like that, he always takes the lead and charges forward.Listen, young man, this is all a false dream.Strategy Only strategy is omnipotent.You may ask, what is the strategy?Well, strategy is an art created by our French kings, to fight with other people's swords and guns, and to pay their soldiers out of other people's pockets.well!He is really the smartest emperor in the world who wears a purple robe. However, he doesn't often wear a luxurious purple robe. I think he usually wears very plain clothes, even for a person of my stature. Appears pathetic. Good uncle, you have not convinced me.Young Davelt replied that, since I must serve abroad, I intend to serve where I will be famous, if it is my destiny to do something great. I understand you, good nephew, said the faithful warrior, I understand you well.Still, you're immature in these things.The Duke of Burgundy is a reckless, impatient, foolish daredevil.In battle he was ahead of the noble knights and the subjects of Artois and Elau.Do you think, if you and I were here, we could go further than the Duke and the brave nobles of his own country?If we can't keep up with them, we risk being punished by the Advocate General for being slow.If we go as fast as they do, that's fine, they'll think we deserve our paychecks.Even in a scuffle where everyone is trying their best to fight, I braved difficulties and dangers, and charged a spear ahead of them, His Excellency would use the Flender words he used when he saw others playing beautifully. :ha!Well done!Good spearman The gallant Scot gave him a florin's money to drink our health.But a foreigner in service gets neither status nor land and property, all of which fall into the hands of the peasants of the sons of the land. Well, good uncle, to whom do these belong, for God's sake?asked young Davelt. Should be owned by the protectors of farmers.Le Balafrey raised his tall frame and preached, and King Louis said: My good French peasants, my honest and kind Jack, take up your implements, your plows, rakes, pruners, and your hoes My valiant Scotch guards will fight for you, and you will pay their wages and you, my quiet duke, illustrious earl, and mightiest marquess, hold back your courage till you need it , otherwise it will deviate and hurt its owner.Here is my Guardsmen, my French Guards, and especially my Scotch Archers, and my Scarred Ludwigs, who fight as well as you, and may even beat you.They also had the power to cause your father to lose Crecy and Agincourt during his lifetime .) The kind of uninhibited common man's courage.Enough, can't you see which of these kingdoms gives a knight who comes to chance the highest rank and honor? Good uncle, I think I understand you, replied the nephew, but it seems to me that honor cannot be won without risk.Forgive me for standing guard for an old man who no one wants to hurt, spending summer and winter nights on those battlements, locked in iron cages all day, lest they will leave their posts Uncle, this is just a habitat An eagle in its nest can never fly in the field! According to Saint-Martin of Tours, the boy has some spirit!How like me, in the noble blood of our Leslie family!But a little more crazy than me.Young man, hear me say long live the king!Almost every day the king had errands for his followers to receive money and honors.Don't think that the bravest and most dangerous things are done during the day.I can tell you that such things as climbing castles and taking captives, though done by unsung heroes, are more dangerous and rewarding than those adventurers in Charles of Burgundy.If His Majesty is content with strategizing, he may more leisurely look on and reward adventurers generously, for he understands their dangers and exploits better than he can participate in them himself.Ah, what a wise and strategic king he is! The nephew thought for a moment, then said in a low, menacing tone: Good Father Peter used to teach me that dishonor is dangerous.Good uncle, I need not tell you, I naturally suppose that these secret missions must be very respectable. Good nephew, what do you take me for?Le Barafrey said somewhat sternly, I'm not trained in the monastery, and I can't read or write, but I'm your mother's brother, and a faithful Leslie.Do you think I'm suggesting you do something dishonorable?The best knight in France, Dugusclin, would not be ashamed to regard my deeds as his deeds, had he lived. How can I doubt your faithfulness, good uncle?The young man said, you are the only family member who survived the disaster to guide me.But is it true that, as legend has it, the king is left in the cold at his court at Plessy Castle?It is said that neither nobles nor courtiers came to pay homage to him, nor did any great lords or dignitaries of the royal family come to accompany him.Only the servants at home played some games with him that could relieve loneliness, and he was invited to some secret meetings, and they were just humble and lowly people.The exclusion of those of high birth and status, and the promotion of the poorest to the king's favourites, all seemed eccentric, not unlike his father's vision of wresting soon-to-be-conquered France from the teeth of the English lion. Noble Charles was very different. You talk like a ignorant baby, said LeBalaffrey, but even like a baby you play the old tune on new strings.Listen to me: if the king sends his barber OliverWouldn't it be better for France if Dan did what he was better than the nobility?If he had ordered his faithful Attorney-General Triston to arrest some rebellious burgher, get rid of some nobleman who instigated the riot, and the matter would have been settled, and had given it to some duke or nobleman of France, the king would have received The answer may be to refuse to implement.Besides, if the king is happy to give ordinary Ludvik.Is it not enough to show his ingenuity that he would carry out a task entrusted to Le Balafrey, while the possibility of leaking secrets should be entrusted to the Supreme Justice?And most of all, isn't a king in such a situation the best fit for a knight looking for luck?You know, their purpose is to find the master who most appreciates and most urgently needs their allegiance.I tell you, my son, that King Louis knows how to choose his men, and what tasks to entrust them with.As the saying goes, set his load according to the weight he can carry.He wasn't like the King of Castille (Note: An ancient country in Spain.) who almost died of thirst because the Minister of Food was not there to hand him a cup.Listen, the bells of St. Martin's Church are ringing!I've got to hurry back to the castle and see you later. Take care of yourself.Go to the drawbridge at eight o'clock tomorrow morning and ask the sentry to find me.Remember not to go out of the prescribed straight road when approaching the gate!The traps there are so powerful that they might break a leg or an arm, and you'll regret it later.You will meet the king, and you can judge him for yourself. Farewell. With that, Le Balafrey left in a haste, forgetting to pay for the drink, which is the usual amnesia of a man like him.The owner of the store may have felt a little scared when he saw his nodding his head with a big military cap and his heavy sword, and didn't dare to remind him. One might suppose that, when his uncle had gone away, Darwilt would return to his tower, to wait again to hear the song which soothed his early dreams.But it was a romantic encounter after all, and his conversation with his uncle opened up a chapter in real life for him.This is an unpleasant chapter.The memories and musings it evokes overwhelm other thoughts, especially those of light-hearted reverie. Quentin inquired from the shopkeeper about a road that could be passed without needing to beware of traps, and along it came a quiet path beside the rushing Cher River.He tried to collect his confused and scattered thoughts, and considered his future course of action, for his conversation with his uncle had cast some doubts on his original plan.