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Led by Knolles and Nigel, the storming party rushed upward and seized the courtyard. The guard of the gate taken in the rear threw down their weapons and cried for mercy. The gate was thrown open and the assailants rushed in, with hundreds of furious peasants at their heels. Some of the robbers died in hot blood, many in cold; but all died, for Knolles had vowed to give no quarter.
Then the English drew back, sullen and dogged, bearing Bambro' with them, and the Bretons, breathing hard, gathered again in their own quarter. At the same instant the three prisoners picked up such weapons as were scattered upon the grass and ran over to join their own party. "Nay, nay!" cried Knolles, raising his visor and advancing. "This may not be.
Of these, the first was so extraordinary it is impossible not to attribute its suggestion to Phranza, who, to the immeasurable grief and disgust of our friend the venerable Dean, was now returned, and in the exercise of his high office of Grand Chamberlain. KNOLLES' Turk. Hist., 239, Vol. Ibid. 230. After the interment of Amurath, she had been returned to her native land. Her age was about fifty.
A body of horsemen showed hard and black upon the bare hill. Then they dipped down the slope into the valley, whilst a band of footmen followed behind. "They are my people," cried Nigel joyously. "Come, my friend, hasten, that we may take counsel what we shall do." Sir Robert Knolles rode a bowshot in front of his men, and his brow was as black as night.
"By Saint Dunstan," said Percy, looking round at their flushed faces, "if ever we are to carry it now is the moment, for these men will not be stopped if hate can take them forward." "You are right, Thomas!" cried Knolles. "Gather together twenty men-at-arms each with his shield to cover him. Astley, do you place the bowmen so that no head may show at window or parapet.
Surely then, these are two of the villains who have slain him, and it is right that we do justice upon them." Sure enough, upon sword, girdle and dagger shone the silver Molene cross which had gleamed on the dead man's armor. Knolles looked at them and then at the prisoners with a face of stone.
In another minute he and his men would have been stretched senseless before this terrible circle of steel, when suddenly the whole array fell in pieces before his eyes, his enemies Croquart, Knolles, Calverly, Belford, all were stretched upon the ground together, their weapons dashed from their hands and their bodies too exhausted to rise.
"You have gained what your heart desired, and perchance I have done so also," said he. An instant later Knolles strode up to him with outstretched hand. "I ask your pardon, Nigel," said he. "I have spoken too hotly in my wrath." "Nay, fair sir, I was at fault." "If we stand here now within this castle, it is to you that I owe it. The King shall know of it, and Chandos also.
"Where is the Shipman?" asked Knolles. "What is your name, fellow? Do you dare call yourself master-mariner?" "My name is Nat Dennis, fair sir," said the gray-bearded old seaman. "It is thirty years since first I showed my cartel and blew trumpet for a crew at the water-gate of Southampton. If any man may call himself master-mariner, it is surely I." "Where are our two ships?"
Bambro' turned to the others. "If such should be the case, fair sirs, I desire that my Squire Croquart should command." There was a pause while the knights looked with some chagrin at each other. The silence was broken by Knolles. "I will do what you say, Richard," said he, "though indeed it is bitter that we who are knights should serve beneath a squire.
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