arthur advanced unmolested with his little force on the road to anjou, via touraine, until he reached tours. he expected to encounter the first resistance there; and indeed a considerable armed band did meet him near the city gate, but not with hostile design. they were knights of anjou and poitou, who had deserted king john and come out of the city to welcome arthur. as soon as the duke came in sight they loudly shouted, “hail, all hail, arthur plantagenet, king of england!” both surprised and delighted, arthur entered the hospitable city. the people welcomed him in the most friendly manner and escorted him to the bishop’s palace, where quarters had been provided for him and his leaders. a grand banquet, given by the burghers in his honor, closed the day’s festivities.
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the next morning h?el advised the prince not to indulge too long in entertainments, nor revel in fancied security, but to hold a serious council of war at once. arthur thereupon summoned his leading knights to the great hall of the palace, where he also appeared, accompanied by the bishop. as he ascended the steps to the throne seat and took his place, he was truly regal in person and bearing. though he wore a simple duke’s cap, he bore himself with as much dignity as if it were a kingly crown. looking around upon the assembly with an air of ease and self-possession, he said: “noble knights and gentlemen, thanks for your readiness and goodwill in coming to my assistance against john, my usurping uncle. i ask for your advice as to the most effective method of attacking him. one hundred knights and their followers are here, and in a few days a like number will be sent us from our loyal brittany. but, hardly three days’ journey from here, john has thrice that number of experienced troops. it would be useless to cope with such a powerful force before king philip’s troops join us. that will be soon. if you agree with me, we will await the king’s arrival here.”
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arthur ceased, and the knights began making suggestions. h?el, the most experienced of them all, supported his proposal, but the knights of anjou and poitou were not in favor of delay. in the midst of the general indecision, one of the foremost of them, the count of aubigny, advanced and said: “duke, permit me to state my plan. instead of idly awaiting king philip here, let us make an advance movement. not far from here is the small fortress of mirabeau, where queen eleanor and her garrison are shut in.”
“eleanor!” muttered arthur, with lowering brows and blazing eyes.
“the city is poorly defended,” continued the count, “though it has for its champion william longsword, earl of salisbury. but we have captured two letters from the queen to john, in which she urgently implores him to come to her relief, as they cannot hold the city in case of attack. what is your decision, noble gentlemen? shall we march to mirabeau, surprise the fortress, and take the queen prisoner?”
the hazardous proposition met with the approval of the majority, notwithstanding h?el’s protests and arthur’s advice to wait a day or two for news from king philip. they were outvoted, and at last reluctantly consented rather than subject themselves to the reproach of cowardice.
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a few days later, arthur and his small force reached the walls of mirabeau. h?el was assigned to the leadership of the assault, and strove to conduct the undertaking, which he could not prevent, as judiciously as possible. the city gates were forced open, and after a short struggle the assailants advanced into the city. but a more difficult task awaited them—the capture of the citadel in which queen eleanor and her defenders were sheltered. h?el vainly sought to mass his force and storm the fortress. while arthur and alan advanced with their close-set column of knights, the others were straggling about the city in quest of plunder. as h?el with his trusty band approached the citadel tower, he was struck by a missile hurled from the roof. h?el fell, and the rest stood as if rooted to the spot. the english took advantage of the occurrence to make a sally from the tower and threw the ranks of the knights into dire confusion. instead of regular battle a fearful hand-to-hand encounter ensued; but arthur had time enough when h?el fell to order the nearest knights to dismount and remove him from the scene of the fighting. he then turned and commanded alan to follow his father.
“never more,” said alan. “i must follow you as honor demands.”
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there was no longer time for words. the advanced rank of the english was already upon them, and the young heroes stood with drawn swords ready to meet the onset.
“sound an alarm!” shouted arthur to the trumpeters, hoping thereby to summon the absent knights to their assistance. the call was in vain. not a friend appeared. but hark! in the distance another trumpet blast answered his own.
“what is that?” exclaimed arthur. but alan was as ignorant of its meaning as himself. suddenly a knight rode forward from the english side—a stalwart figure on a black steed, motioned his followers to halt, and pointing with his sword to arthur, said: “surrender, duke of brittany. resistance is useless. the trumpet you have heard announces the approach of king john’s army. your confederates are defeated. you are surrounded, and retreat is cut off.”
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“then i will fight for life and liberty like a true knight,” replied arthur. “i will never surrender myself to john.” he rushed upon the knight, and alan attacked another. superior in skill and self-confidence, arthur’s adversary acted upon the defensive until the duke’s sword point touched his breastplate. upon this the english knight no longer restrained himself, but returned blow for blow and thrust for thrust. during the encounter arthur’s horse stumbled and fell, carrying his rider with him. he was on his feet in an instant, but the fastenings of his helmet were broken in the fall and the duke’s head was unprotected. the english knight did not take advantage of this, but lowered his sword and said: “you have fought bravely and can do no more, duke of brittany. surrender.”
“to whom?” said arthur, also lowering his sword.
“to me, william longsword, earl of salisbury.”
“what!” cried arthur bitterly, “a plantagenet! how could you have the heart, cousin, to fight against henry’s nephew?”
he extended his sword. salisbury took it, and, gazing at arthur, said in a tone of utter astonishment: “by heaven, his features prove the truth of his words. geoffrey, as he was in life!” then advancing, he said, “my prince and cousin, most unwillingly i take you prisoner, but you shall be a prisoner only in name.”
“but how can you satisfactorily explain this to john?” asked arthur.
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“that can be arranged. you may think evil of him, and unfortunately i cannot altogether defend his course, but he will not tarnish his knightly honor by abuse of a prisoner. follow me, duke arthur, and rest assured i shall treat you with the utmost consideration.”
the fighting paused while the two were conversing, and at last salisbury gave the order for cessation of battle. but where were those young knights who had followed arthur? scattered, wounded, or captured, they were forced to declare themselves defeated, like their duke.
turning to arthur, salisbury asked, “what are your wishes with regard to your followers?”
“i hope, noble salisbury, you will arrange matters so that at the close of the war they may be ransomed and return to their homes. above all, care for the knight mordant. he fell at the very outset—”
“what!” interposed salisbury, with the utmost emotion. “my old companion in arms fallen!”
“and this is his son,” said arthur, taking alan by the hand. “permit him to attend his father or bury his body.”
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without hesitation salisbury replied: “he shall go free, and keep his steed and weapons, if he will give his promise not to fight against england for a year.”
a stir among those standing near them diverted the attention of the speakers. six soldiers came in sight bearing the body of knight h?el mordant prone upon their lances. with a despairing cry alan bent over the body, the warriors also showing signs of sorrow at the loss of the hero. at last alan rose and said with trembling voice: “i no longer desire my liberty. let me remain with my duke.”
but arthur answered: “for my sake, alan, accept the earl’s offer. hasten to my wife and mother and urge my friends to send a ransom to john, that i may be released. take this ring. you know who gave it to me. he has the power to help me.” arthur took abraham’s ring from his finger and placed it upon alan’s. when alan would have offered objection, arthur said for the first time in a tone of command, “i wish it.” as his loyal friend sorrowfully bowed in submission, arthur stretched out his arms and embraced him. they remained thus until alan looked upon arthur with sad eyes and tore himself away.
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at salisbury’s signal his men escorted him and the duke to the gate of the tower, in front of which guards were stationed with crossed halberds. as they approached, the guards lowered their weapons and admitted them. out of the brilliant glow of the evening sky arthur entered the gloom of the vaulted passage. salisbury quickly followed him, and the duke of brittany was a prisoner.
alan remained immovable upon his steed as long as he could see a trace of arthur’s retreating figure, but when it disappeared behind the dark walls, he gave spurs to his horse and galloped at full speed through the city and out into the country toward paris.
