The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc Read online

  CHAPTER I

  COUNT WILLIAM OF WARWICK

  In the fertile, rich and lovely island of England there lived amost valiant knight, noble by his lineage and much more for hiscourage. In his great wisdom and ingenuity he had served theprofession of chivalry for many years and with a great deal ofhonor, and his fame was widely known throughout the world. Hisname was Count William of Warwick. This was a very strong knightwho, in his virile youth, had practiced the use of arms,following wars on sea as well as land, and he had brought manybattles to a successful conclusion.

  The count found himself at the advanced age of fifty-five, andmoved by divine inspiration he decided to withdraw from thepractice of arms and make a pilgrimage to the holy land ofJerusalem. This virtuous count wanted to go, because he feltsorrow and contrition for the many deaths he had caused in hisyouth.

  That evening he told the countess, his wife, about his plans, andalthough she was virtuous and discreet, she became very upset atthe news because she loved him so much. In the morning the counthad all his servants, both men and women, come to him, and hesaid:

  "My children and most faithful servants, it is the will of HisDivine Majesty that I should leave you, and the time of my returnis uncertain. Since the journey will be very dangerous, I wantto pay each of you now for all the good services you haverendered to me."

  He had a large chest full of money brought out, and to each ofhis servants he gave much more than he owed, so that they wereall very satisfied. Then he gave the countess all his land andall his rights. And he ordered that a ring of gold be made withhis and the countess's coat of arms on it, and this ring was madein such away that it was divided into two parts. Each part was acomplete ring in itself, showing half the coat of arms of each ofthem, and when the two halves were joined together the entirecoat of arms could be seen.

  When all this had been done, he turned to the virtuous countess,and said kindly:

  "I know that you will accept my departure with love and patience,and if it is God's will, my journey will soon be over. I amleaving in your charge everything I have. And here is half ofthe ring I had made. I beg you dearly to hold it in my stead,and to guard it until I return."

  "Oh, dear!" cried the countess. "Then it's true, my lord, thatyou are leaving without me? At least allow me to go with you sothat I can serve you. I would rather die than go on livingwithout you. Just when I was thinking that all my misfortuneswere over, I see that my unhappiness is only increasing. I'mleft with only this poor son as a pledge from his father, and hissad mother must be consoled with him."

  She seized her small son by the hair and pulled it, and thenslapped his face, saying:

  "Cry, my child, for your father's departure, and you will be goodcompany to your mother."

  The tiny infant, who had been born only three months before,burst out crying. The count, seeing both mother and child intears, felt deeply grieved, and he could not hold back his owntears. And for some time he could not speak, while all three ofthem wept.

  The count took his leave of her, kissing her again and again,tears running freely from his eyes. He said farewell to theother ladies, and when he left he took only one squire with him.

  Leaving his city of Warwick, he boarded a ship, and sailed with agood wind, and as time passed he arrived safely at Alexandria.There he disembarked and made his way to Jerusalem. When hereached Jerusalem he confessed his sins, and with great devotionhe received the precious body of Jesus Christ. Then he enteredthe holy sepulchre of Jesus Christ and prayed there fervently andtearfully, with great contrition for his sins.

  After visiting all the other sanctuaries, he returned toAlexandria. Then he boarded a ship and went to Venice. When hewas near Venice he gave all the money still in his possession tohis squire who had served him well, and he arranged a marriagefor him so that he would not want to return to England. Then hehad his squire spread the news that he had died, and he arrangedfor merchants to write to England that Count William of Warwickhad died while returning from the Holy Land of Jerusalem.

  When the countess heard the news, she felt deeply grieved, andwent into mourning, and she arranged for the funeral rites thatsuch a virtuous knight deserved. With the passing of time, thecount returned alone to his own land, having let his hair growdown to his shoulders, while his beard, completely white, reachedto his waist. He was dressed in the habit of the glorious SaintFrancis, and lived from charity, and he secretly entered a devouthermitage of Our Lady which was very close to his city ofWarwick.

  This hermitage was in a lovely spot on a high mountain, with adense thicket of trees, and a clear running spring. The countretired to this solitary place, and lived alone to escape thematerialistic world and to do penance for his sins. Living fromcharity, he went to his city of Warwick once a week to beg foralms. With his thick beard and long hair the people there didnot recognize him, and he went to the countess, his wife, to beg.When she saw him asking for charity so humbly, she made them givehim more than they gave any of the others. And he spent hispoor, miserable life this way for some time.

  Some time later the great King of Canary was filled with angerbecause some pirate ships had plundered a village that belongedto him. He left his land with a large armada, and sailing with afavorable wind he reached the fertile, peaceful shores ofEngland.

  In the dark of night the entire fleet entered the port ofSouthampton and all the Moors went ashore very quietly. Whenthey were on land, they put their troops in order and began toattack the island.

  When the peace-loving king received the news, he gathered as manymen as he could to put up a resistance, and went into battle withthe Moors. The fighting was great, indeed: many men died,especially the Christians. Because the Moors were greater innumber, the forces of the English king were destroyed. He had toretreat with his remaining men, and he took refuge in a citycalled Saint Thomas of Canterbury where that holy body now rests.

  The King of England mustered more men, and he learned that theMoors were conquering the island, killing many Christian men anddishonoring the women and young girls, making captives of themall. When this Christian king discovered that the Moors held thepass near a watercourse, he placed his forces in a passage at thehour of midnight. But he did not do it very secretly, and theMoors heard of it, and held back until it was broad daylight.Then they pressed them in a very cruel battle where manyChristians died, and those whose lives were spared fled with theunfortunate king, while the Moorish king remained in the camp.

  Great was the misfortune of this Christian king who lost ninebattles, one after another, and had to withdraw to the city ofLondon. When the Moors learned of it they laid siege to thecity. Every day there was heavy fighting until finally the poorking was forced to leave London, and he went toward themountains, passing through the city of Warwick.

  When the countess heard that the king was fleeing to that city,she had food and everything necessary prepared for the night.The countess, who was a very prudent woman, began to think of howshe could strengthen her city so that it would not be lost soquickly, and as soon as she saw the king she said to him:

  "Virtuous king, I see that your grace, and all of us on thisisland, are in great danger. But Sire, if Your Highness wouldlike to remain in this city, you will find it abundant inprovisions and everything necessary for war. My lord andhusband, William of Warwick, who was count in this land,provided this city and his castle with arms as well as bombards,cross-bows and culverins, and many other kinds of artillery. Anddivine Providence, in its mercy, has given us a great abundanceof fruit from the land for the last four years. So your gracemay be safe here."

  "I am very happy", said the king, "to stay here, and I pray you,countess, to arrange things so that my army will have everythingthey need."

  The countess and two of her ladies immediately left the king, andwent with the magistrates of the city through the houses, makingthem bring wheat and barley and everything necessary. When theking and his men saw what a great abunda
nce there was ofeverything, they were very pleased.

  When the Moors discovered that the king had left the city ofLondon, they pursued him until they learned that he had takenrefuge in the city of Warwick. On the way the Moors attacked andtook a castle called Killingworth, two leagues from where theking was. Since they had now conquered a great part of thekingdom, the Moorish king appeared with all his forces before thecity of Warwick. The wretched Christian king, seeing that therewas no hope, did not know what to do: he climbed to the top of atower in the castle, and watched the huge body of Moors burningand destroying villas and castles, killing as many Christians asthey could, both women and men. Those who were able to escapecame running and shouting toward the city. Their terriblescreams could be heard a good half league away, and it would havebeen better for them to die than to become captives of theinfidels.

  As the king watched the immense suffering and destruction, hethought he would die from all the grief he felt. Unable to lookany longer at the desolation, he came down from the tower andwent into a small chamber where he began to sigh deeply. Tearsran from his eyes, and he lamented more gravely than any man hadever done. The stewards were outside the chamber listening tothe king's agony, and when he had cried and lamented at length,he said:

  "Lord, Thy compassion and pity will not allow for this. Thymercy will not allow Thy Christian people, great sinners thoughthey may be, to be afflicted by the scourge of the Moors.Rather, defend and preserve them and let them be returned to Thyholy service so that they may serve Thee and praise Thee andreturn glory unto Thee."

  While the poor king was lamenting, he put his head down on thebed, and it seemed to him that he saw a very beautiful ladycoming through the doorway to his chamber, dressed in whitedamask, holding a small child in her arms. Following her weremany other ladies, all singing the Magnificat. When he hadfinished his prayer, the lady walked toward the king, and placingher hand upon his head, she said:

  "Oh, king, be doubtful of nothing. Be very confident that theSon and the Mother will help you in this great trial. The firstman you see with a long beard who asks you for alms in the nameof God, kiss him on the mouth as a sign of peace, and beg himgraciously to put aside the habit, and make him captain over allthe people."

  The poor king awoke and saw nothing. He was astonished at thedream, and he thought about it a great while, rememberingeverything he had seen. Then he left the chamber, and therestood all the principal knights, who told the king:

  "Your grace, all the Moors have set up their tents in front ofthe city."

  The king did everything possible to have the city well guardedthat night.

  The following morning the hermit-count climbed the high mountainto gather herbs for his sustenance, and he saw the great numberof Moors teeming over all the land. He left his deserthabitation and went into the city.

  The poor old man, who had spent several days on a diet of nothingbut herbs, saw that the city was in deep sorrow, and he went tothe castle to beg alms from the countess. When he was inside thecastle he saw the king coming from mass, and when he saw him sonearby, he sank to his knees and begged him in God's name to givehim alms. The king remembered the dream and helped him up. Thenhe kissed him on the mouth, took hold of his hand and led himinto a room. When they had sat down, the king said to him:

  "I beg you to help and advise us in our time of need, for I seethat you are a holy man and a friend of Jesus Christ. I beg youdearly, if you love God and if you have charity in your heart,cast off the clothing you are wearing for penance, and dressyourself in the clothes of charity, which are arms. For withGod's help and your command we will have a glorious victory overour enemies."

  When the king had finished these words, the hermit began tospeak:

  "My lord, I am astonished that your grace is asking me, a poor,weak man, for advice and help. As Your Excellency can see, myold, weak body is in a state of decrepitude because of its manyyears and the harsh life I've led so long on the mountain, eatingonly herbs and bread. I don't have the strength to bear arms. Ibeg Your Excellency to allow me to decline."

  The king became very pained at this answer, and said:

  "Reverend Father, I kneel at your feet and with these tears Iagain beg you, if you are a steadfast Christian, to havecompassion on me, a miserable king, and on all Christians. Alltheir hope and mine is in the mercy of God and in your greatvirtue. Don't refuse me this."

  The painful tears of the king moved the hermit to pity, and hisheart softened.

  After a brief pause while the hermit made the king rise, he said:

  "Out of love for you, my king, I will obey your commands and tryto save you and your kingdom. And, if necessary, I will placemyself in the thick of battle, old as I am, to defendChristianity and bring the haughty Mohammedan sect to its knees,with the understanding that Your Excellency will be guided by myadvice."

  The king answered: "Reverend Father, since you grant me so muchgrace, I promise you, on my word as king, that I will not go onestep beyond your orders."

  "Now, my lord," said the hermit, "when you are outside in thegreat hall, show a happy and very content face to the knights andall the people, and speak to them very complacently. And whenyou dine, eat well and enjoy yourself, and show much morehappiness than you ordinarily do, so that all those who have losthope will regain it. For a lord or a captain should never wear asad face, no matter how great an adversity there may be, so thathis people will not be discouraged. Have some Moorish garmentsbrought to me, and you shall see what I am going to do. When Iwas on my way to the Holy Land of Jerusalem I stayed inAlexandria, and in Beirut they taught me the Moorish tongue,because I was there many days. In Beirut I learned to makeexplosives of certain materials that delay six hours before theyignite, but when they do, they could burn up the entire world,and all the water in the world would not be able to extinguishthem, unless oil and pine resin is used."

  "It is astonishing," said the king, "that they can only beextinguished with oil or pine resin. I thought water would putout any fire in the world."

  "No, my lord," said the hermit. "If your grace will allow me togo to the castle gate, I will bring you a special substance, andwith clear water or wine you will be able to light a torch."

  "In faith," said the king, "I will take great pleasure in seeingit."

  The hermit immediately went to the castle gate since, when heentered, he had seen quicklime there, and he picked up a littlesod and came back to the king. Then he took some water, andthrowing it on the quicklime he lighted it the way a straw lightsa candle.

  The king said: "I would never have been able to believe such athing if I had not seen it with my own eyes. Now I am certainthere is nothing that men cannot do. I beg you, Reverend Father,please tell me what we need to make the explosives."

  "My lord," said the hermit, "I will go and buy it, because it ismuch better to know if the materials are good, and I have madethem many times with my own hands. When they are made, Sire, Iwill go to the Moors' camp alone, and put the explosives near theking's tent. At the hour of midnight the explosives will igniteand all the Moors will run there to put out the fire, and yourgrace will be armed and waiting with all your men. When you seethe huge fire, attack them with all your forces, and yourlordship may be sure that ten thousand of your men will causeconfusion among one hundred thousand of theirs."

  The hermit's words pleased the king, and he gave deep thanks forhis offer, and was very happy. He immediately gave orders thateverything the hermit had commanded should be carried out.

  The hermit, who had left the king, soon returned with the thingsthey needed for the explosives, and he said to the king:

  "My lord, there is only one element we lack, but I know that thecountess has it. When her husband, William of Warwick, wasalive, he had a great deal of it since it can be used for manythings."

  The king said: "Then I want both of us to go to the countess nowto get it."

  The king sent word to the countess that he wanted to
speak withher. When the countess came out of her room she saw the king andthe hermit.

  "Countess," said the king, "by your grace and virtue, be so kindas to give me a little sulfur, the kind which causes heat anddoes not burn itself up, the kind that the count, your husband,put into the torches so that no matter how much the wind blewthey would not go out."

  The countess answered: "Who told your grace that my husband,William of Warwick, could make torches like that with that kindof flame?"

  "Countess," said the king, "this hermit standing here."

  And the countess quickly went to the weapons chamber, and shebrought back so much of it that the king was highly pleased.

  When the king had returned to the great hall where the meal wasalready prepared, he took the hermit by the hand and sat down atthe table, making the hermit sit at his side, honoring him as hedeserved. The king's courtiers were astonished at the greathonor the king was bestowing upon the hermit, and the countesswas even more astonished because she was accustomed to giving himalms. And she said to her ladies:

  "Oh, how angry I am at my great ignorance! Why did I not honorthis poor hermit much more? Now I see that he must be a man whohas led a very holy life."

  Rising from the table, the King of England gave the hermitpermission to go and make the explosives. A few days later, whenthey were finished, the hermit went to the king and said to him:

  "Sire, if your grace will give me leave, I will carry out ourplan.

  Your Excellency should have all the men get ready."'

  The king said that he would. In the dark of night the hermitchanged into the Moorish clothing that was prepared for him. Hewent out through a back door of the castle very secretly, and noone saw him. Then he went into the Moors' camp.

  When he thought the time right, he threw the explosives into thecamp, near the tent of a great captain who was a relative of theMoorish king. And when it was almost midnight the fire brokeout, and it grew so great and so terrible that everyone wasastonished at the enormous flames. The king and the other Moors,unarmed, hurried to where the fire was greatest in order to putit out. But instead of being extinguished, the more water theythrew on it, the more brightly it burned.

  When the King of England saw the huge fire, he went out of thecity, armed, and with the few men he still had he attacked theMoors. And they brought such great destruction to them that itwas fearful, and they spared no one.

  When the Moorish king saw such a large fire and so many of hismen dead, he mounted a horse and fled. He took shelter in acastle he had taken, named Killingworth, together with all thosewho had escaped the camp, and they recovered their resolve.

  He and all the other Moors were astonished at how they had beendefeated, and they could not understand what had caused such agreat disaster, because their forces were fifty times greaterthan those of the Christians. When the Moors fled, theChristians pillaged their camp, and day was upon them when theyentered the city victoriously.

  After four days had passed, the Moorish king sent his emissarieswith a letter challenging the King of England, and it said thefollowing:

  "To you, Christian king who rules the isle of England, I, Abraim,king and lord of Canaria, say that if you wish the war betweenyou and me to end, and the killing between your people and mineto cease, let us have a joust, king against king, under thefollowing pacts and agreements: If I should defeat you, you willhold all England under my power and command, and you shall giveme two hundred thousand pieces of gold in tribute each year. Andif fortune decides that you are the conqueror, I shall return tomy own land, and you will remain in yours in peace, and you andall your people will enjoy full peace and tranquility. And inaddition I shall restore to you all the cities and castles that Ihave won and conquered by my own victorious hand.

  "These words are not spoken for vainglory or out of disdain forthe royal crown, but so that God Who is great may give to eachthat share which, by his merits, he will deserve."

  Two great Moorish knights, whom the King of Canary was sending tothe city of Warwick as envoys to the King of England, left thecastle of Killingworth, and before they departed, they sent amessenger to the city to request safe conduct.

  When the messenger came to the gates of the city the guards toldhim to wait a little while, and they would return with the reply.One of the guards quickly went to the king to tell him. Afterthe king had held a brief counsel, he told the guard to let himin. When the messenger was inside the city, the Count ofSalisbury spoke to him and said:

  "Messenger, on behalf of His Majesty, the king, I can tell youthat the envoys may come without danger and in safety, for theywill not be harmed in any way."

  And the count gave him a silk garment and one hundred pieces ofgold. The messenger departed, very content, and before theenvoys came, the hermit said to the king:

  "My lord, let us put fear into the hearts of these Moors. YourMajesty should order two grandees to go out to the gate andreceive the envoys. And let many men, very well armed, butwithout helmets, go with them. Have three hundred men at thegate to guard it, armed like the others. And let all the ladiesand maidens who are able, old as well as young, hang banners inthe windows and on the roofs, as tall as the women's chests, andeach of these women should put armor on her head. When theenvoys pass by they will see the coats of mail shining, and willthink they are all warriors. Have the three hundred guarding thegate follow them by other streets, and let them appear in thesquare and on the corner. Then, after the envoys have passed by,let them do the same again and again until they reach YourHighness. And you may be sure that they will be frightened whenthey see so many soldiers after the battle they have lost.Seeing the great number of men, they will believe that many havecome from Spain or France or Germany to help us."

  The king and all his council thought very highly of the hermit'swords. It was decided that the Duke of Lancaster and the Countof Salisbury should receive the envoys, and that four thousandmen should go with them, each wearing a garland of flowers on hishead. They went a good mile out of the city to receive theenvoys.

  Then the Duke of Bedford said:

  "Tell us, Father, since there are so many ceremonies to beperformed for the envoys, how should they find the king, clothedor naked, armed or unarmed?"

  "That would be a good question," said the hermit, "if there werenot so much anger behind your words. But I see the meaning ofyour words, and that they are intended more for malice than good.It is because I am old and a hermit that you are trying tobesmear my advice and belittle me before my lord the king. Holdyour tongue. If you do not, I shall put a bridle in your mouththat will make you stop at every turn."

  At this, the duke rose to his feet, drew his sword, and said:

  "If it were not because you are so old and you wear the habit ofSaint Francis, I would take this sword and cut your skirts rightup to the waist."

  Then the king rose angrily to his feet, seized the duke and tookthe sword out of his hand, and had him imprisoned in the tower.All the other noble lords there calmed the hermit, telling himthat because of his age and the habit he wore he should beforgiving, and he was content to forgive. But the king wouldnot, in spite of all the pleas of the hermit and the other noblelords.

  In the midst of these troubles, news was brought to the king thatthe Moorish envoys were approaching, and those who had beenchosen went out quickly as they had arranged.

  When the envoys stood before the king, they gave him the letter,and the king commanded that it be read in everyone's presence.The hermit drew near to the king and said to him:

  "Your Highness, accept the challenge."

  Then the king said:

  "I agree to the battle, in accordance with the conditions yourking sets down."

  He begged the envoys to remain there until the following day whenhe would give them the formal reply. He showed them to verycomfortable chambers and gave them everything they needed.

  Then the king convoked a general council, and while it was beingprepare
d, the hermit, along with the other lords, went to theking.

  He knelt at the king's feet and kissed his hands and feet, andvery humbly begged him to give him the keys to the tower so thathe could release the duke. The hermit pleaded so much, as didthe other lords, that the king was obliged to give them to him.Then the hermit went with the others to the tower where the dukewas imprisoned, and there they found a friar hearing hisconfession, because he was certain he would be killed. When heheard the door open he was so startled that he felt he was losinghis mind, for he thought they were coming to take him out toexecute him.

  When the hermit saw him he said:

  "My lord, duke, if you and I have spoken harmful words to eachother, I beg you to forgive me, for I most willingly pardon you."

  When they had made their peace they all returned to the councilwhere the king and all the dukes, counts and marquis were, andthey read the letter from the Moorish king once more. Becausethe king and all the others loved and revered the hermit and theysaw that he led a saintly life, and that he expressed himselfwell and was knowledgeable about arms, they all agreed that heshould be the first to speak, and this led to the followingdiscourse.

  "I will tell you my opinion, although I realize that I am notworthy to speak of such things since I know little of the use ofarms. Because of the weak disposition of my lord, the king, whois young and has a weak constitution and is sickly, although hehas the courage of a virtuous knight, it would not be fitting orjust for him to do battle with a man as robust as the Moorishking. Instead, let the Duke of Lancaster, who is the uncle of mylord king, undertake this battle, and let our king grant to himthe scepter and the royal crown so that the Moorish king will notbe deceived and so that he may combat a true king."

  Scarcely had the hermit spoken these last words when three dukessprang to their feet in great anger: the Duke of Gloucester, theDuke of Bedford, and the Duke of Exeter. And they began to cryloudly that they would not consent for the Duke of Lancaster toenter into battle and be made king, because each of them was moreclosely related to the king, and it was more just for them to dobattle than the Duke of Lancaster.

  The king would not permit any further discussion, and he said:

  "It is not my pleasure that any of you should take my place inbattle. Since I have accepted, I wish to carry it out alone."

  A baron stood up and said the following:

  "Sire, may Your Excellency forgive me for what I am about to say.We will never consent to what Your Highness has said. If ourHeavenly Father has indeed given you the desire, he has takenfrom you the strength. We all know that Your Highness is notready for such a formidable and arduous battle as this will be.Let your grace be ruled by our counsel and will. If we believedthat Your Excellency were disposed for such an undertaking, wewould very willingly have agreed to what Your Highness hascommanded."

  All the other barons and knights praised what this baron hadsaid.

  "My most faithful vassals and subjects," said the king, "since itis not to your liking, and you see that I am not fit to combatthe Moorish king, I give you my thanks for the great love youhave shown me, and I submit to your will. But it is my wish andmy command that no one, under pain of death, shall be so bold asto say that he will take my place in battle, except the one Ishall choose. Unto him I shall give the crown, the kingdom andthe royal scepter."

  Then the king said:

  "Dukes, counts and marquis, and all the rest of my most faithfulsubjects, I am relinquishing my station, the scepter and theroyal crown, and my title to my beloved father hermit."

  He removed the garments, and said:

  "As I relinquish these royal robes, and put them on the fatherhermit, in the same way I relinquish my throne and my station tohim. I beg him to accept, and to do battle for me with theMoorish king."

  When the hermit heard the king say these words, he arose quicklybecause he wished to speak, and all the great lords who werethere also stood and gathered so closely to the hermit that theywould not let him speak, but instead removed the habit he wasclothed in and made him dress in the royal robes. As the kingturned over all his power to the hermit, it was duly noted in thepresence of all the council and with the consent of all thebarons. When the hermit king heard the pleas of all those in thecouncil, he accepted the kingdom and the battle, and quicklyasked them to bring him armor that would fit him well. Theybrought him many suits of armor, but of all the ones theybrought him there was none he was pleased with.

  "In faith," said the hermit king, "nothing will stop this battle,even if I have to go dressed in only my shirt. I beg you, mylords," said the hermit king, "to be so good as to go to thecountess and entreat her by her great virtue and kindness, tolend me the armor of her husband, Sir William of Warwick, whichhe wore when he went into battle."

  When the countess saw so many dukes, counts and marquis, and theentire council of the king approaching, and she heard the reasonthey had come, the virtuous countess gave them a suit of armorof little value. When the king saw it, he said, "This is not theone I asked for. There is another that is much better."

  All the barons returned once more to the countess and asked forthe other armor, and the countess told them that there was noother. When the king heard the answer, he said:

  "My lords and my brothers, let us all go, and we shall try ourluck."

  When they were all before the countess, the king said:

  "Countess, out of your great kindness and gentility, I beg you tolend me the armor of your husband, Sir William of Warwick."

  "Sire," said the countess, "may God take this child from me, forI have no other dear thing in the world: I have already sent thearmor to you."

  "That is true," said the king, "but this is not what I asked for.Lend me the armor that is in the small chamber in your bedroom,covered by green and white damask."

  The countess knelt, and said:

  "Sire, by your mercy and your grace, I beg Your Majesty to tellme your name and how you came to know my lord and husband, CountWilliam of Warwick."

  The king answered: "My lady, because you wish me to tell you, Iwill. I was in his company continually, for in the wars we werebrothers in arms."

  The countess immediately replied:

  "I beg your lordship to forgive me for not doing all that I couldhave for Your Highness when you were a hermit. If I had knownhow close you were to my lord, William of Warwick, I would havehonored you much more and given you more of my possessions than Idid."

  The king was very content with the words of the countess:

  "Where there is no error there is no need to beg forgiveness. Ionly ask you, out of your great virtue and genteelness, to lendme the armor I have asked you for."

  The countess immediately had other armor brought to him, coveredwith blue brocade. When the king saw it, he said:

  "Countess, my lady, how well you have kept the arms of yourhusband! In spite of all the supplications that these lords andI have made to you, you have been unwilling to lend them to us.These are the ones which William of Warwick used in tournaments;the ones I want are hanging in the alcove, and are covered withwhite and green damask, with the emblem of a lion wearing agolden crown. And if my entering there would not anger you,countess, I am sure that I would find them."

  "Oh, wretched me!" said the countess. "It's as though you hadbeen raised in this house! Your grace may indeed go in and look,and take everything you wish."

  When the king saw her willingness he thanked her, and they allwent into her chamber and saw them hanging there. The king hadthem brought to him, and he had them repaired.

  The battle was arranged for the following day. In the eveningthe king went to the main church and stayed there all night,kneeling before the altar of the holy Mother of God, Our Lady,with all his armaments upon the altar. When it was fulldaylight, he very devoutly heard mass. After mass he had himselffitted with armor inside the church, and ate a partridge in orderto fortify himself. Then he went out to the field.

  When the
hermit king was in the field he saw the Moorish kingwith all his foot soldiers and horsemen. All the Moors climbedto the top of a hill to view the battle, and the Christiansremained near the city. The hermit king held a well sharpenedlance and had a small shield on his arm, along with his sword anda dagger. The Moorish king had a bow and arrow, a sword, and onhis head was a helmet wrapped with a turban.

  When the two brave kings were in the field, they charged at eachother. The Moorish king quickly shot an arrow which hit thecenter of the hermit king's shield, passing freely by him nearhis arm, and at once the Moorish king shot another which hit himin the thigh, but with the armor the hermit king was wearing thearrow could not penetrate it completely. The hermit king hurledthe lance at him when they were near. The Moorish king was veryskillful with his arms: when he saw the lance coming he deflectedit with his bow. By this time the hermit king had drawn so nearthat the Moorish king could not shoot more arrows. When he wasso close that he could almost touch him with his hand, the hermitking cried out in a loud voice:

  "If You help me, Lord, it will not matter if all the Moors in theworld attack me."

  When the Moorish king saw him so near, and realized that he couldnot shoot any arrows, he felt that he had lost.

  After the hermit king had thrown the lance, he quickly reachedfor his sword, and drawing as close to the Moorish king as hecould, he gave him a mighty blow on the head. But he did himlittle harm because of the thick turban the Moorish king wore!Then the hermit king struck him a mighty blow with his sword,cutting off his arm, and as he plunged his sword fully into hisside the Moorish king fell to the ground. As quickly as hecould, the hermit king cut off his head. Then he picked up hislance and stuck the head on the end of it, and rode back into thecity in triumph.

  Imagine what rejoicing there was among the Christians, the womenand the young girls, when they thought they were now releasedfrom their captivity! When the king was inside the city he hadthe doctors brought to him, and they ministered to his wounds.

  On the morning of the following day the king held his council inthe bed where he lay, and it was decided that two knights wouldbe sent as envoys to the Moors, to tell them that they wished toobserve the pacts they had all agreed to and sworn to, and thatthey could go to their own lands in safety, with all their shipsand clothing and jewelry, and that no one in the kingdom wouldharm them.

  The envoys departed, and when they were with the Moors theyexplained their mission to them. They were given lodging, andwere asked to await the reply. The Moors told them this in orderto do them great harm, for they were now very vengeful because ofthe death of their king.

  Among them a great dispute arose over whom they would make king.Some wanted Cale-ben-Cale, others wanted Aduqueperec,cousin-german of the dead king. Cale-ben-Cale was chosen king,and he immediately ordered the envoys seized, along with all whohad come with them, and he had them put to death. They cut offtheir heads, put them inside a packsaddle, and sent them to thecity on a mule. The guards who were in the city towers saw twohorsemen driving the mule on. When they were near the city theyabandoned the mule and galloped away. The captain of the guardssaw them and ordered ten men on horseback to go and see what itwas all about. When they got there they wished they had not goneout to see such a terrible thing, and they immediately went totell the king and his entire council. When the king heard thenews he was very much taken aback, and he said:

  "Oh, cruel infidels: you who have little faith, for you cannotgive what you do not have! Now I make a solemn vow, wounded as Iam, never to enter a covered building, except to hear mass at achurch, until I have driven these Moors from the entire kingdom."

  He quickly had his clothing brought to him, and he left his bedand had the trumpets sound. The first to leave the city was theking, and he had all the men who were more than eleven years oldand less than seventy summoned, and under penalty of death theyall had to follow him. That day his tents were raised on thevery spot where the Moors had been defeated, and the king had agreat deal of artillery for war brought out.

  When the virtuous countess learned that the king had proclaimedsuch a summons, and that those who were more than eleven yearsold were to follow him, she was very upset, for she realized thather son was included. So she hurried to where the king was, andfell to her knees on the hard ground. Then, with a grievingvoice, she began to say:

  "Have pity on me. I have nothing of value except this son who isso young that he cannot help you. Grant me this favor in memoryof your great friendship and love for my virtuous husband. Andlet me remind your grace of the alms that I used to give you whenyou were a hermit. Please hear my supplications, and leave myson with me. His father is dead, and the only thing I have toconsole me is this poor son."

  The king saw the countess's error, and quickly replied:

  "I would very much like to obey you, Countess, if your petitionwere honorable and just. But it is well known that men mustlearn to use arms, and they must know the practice of war, andthe gentle ways of this blessed order of chivalry. It iscustomary for men of honor to begin to use arms when they arevery young, for they learn better at that age than at any other.And because he is now at the best age in the world to see andunderstand the great honors that knights achieve, I wish to keephim in my company as my own son. He must come with me, andtomorrow I shall dub him a knight so that he may imitate thevirtuous actions of his father, William of Warwick."

  "I am called mother only by this son of mine," said the countess,"and if he dies in battle, what will become of me, for I shallhave lost my husband and my son and all that I had in thismiserable world?"

  When the countess had finished, her son began to speak:

  "Madam, I beg you, please do not cry for me. You know that Ihave now reached an age when I have to leave the protection of mymother's wings, and that I am worthy of bearing arms and goinginto battle to show the mettle I am made of, and who my fatherwas. If it is God's will, He will keep me from harm and willallow me to carry out such actions that He will be pleased, andthey will give consolation to my father's soul, and your gracewill be made happy."

  When her son had gone, the countess went into the city, weeping,and many virtuous women of the city went with her, consoling heras best they could.

  That night the king had the camp well guarded, and he allowed noone to take off their armor. In the morning, when the sun cameout, he had the trumpets sound, and they moved the camp to withinhalf a league of where the Moors were. When the tents were setup he let the men rest. This happened after the noon hour.

  When the Moors learned that the Christians had come out of thecity, they were astonished, because a short time before they hadnot dared take a step outside the city, and now they came lookingfor them. Some captains said this was because of the greatcruelty of their king, Cale-ben-Cale, who had killed theChristian ambassadors so cruelly, and they said that they mightbe recruiting men from Spain or France:

  "That is why they are coming so near, and you can be sure thatany of us they capture will be cut to shreds."

  One of the ambassadors who had taken the letter to convene thejoust, said:

  "They paid us many honors, and as soon as we were in the city wesaw great numbers of men in the towers, the squares, in thewindows and on the rooftops. It was astonishing to see so manyarmed men. By Mohammed, I would guess there were two hundredthousand soldiers. And this wicked king killed their ambassadorswithout reason."

  After all the captains had heard the words of this ambassador,they talked to the other Moors who had gone into the city withhim, and when they knew the truth of the situation, they killedCale-ben-Cale and chose a new king. Nonetheless, they armedthemselves for battle and went in sight of the Christians.

  The sun was nearly down, but they still decided to go up a nearbyhill. When the hermit king saw them, he said:

  "In faith, they're afraid of us. That's why they've gone up tosuch a high place. Let everyone do what I do, and with Divinehelp we will have veng
eance on our enemies."

  He took a basket in one hand, and a spade in the other, and wentin front of them all. When the great lords saw the king do this,each of them did the same, and followed him.

  Before leaving the city, the virtuous king had procuredeverything necessary for the war. Around the palisade he dug adeep ditch that led to a large water hole, and they left a greatentryway in the middle, through which one hundred fifty men couldpass at one time. On the other side they dug another ditch thatled to a high cliff.

  The king said:

  "Since we've finished, and there are only two hours left tilldawn, you, Duke of Gloucester, and you, Count of Salisbury, goquickly to the countess, and ask her to give me two large barrelsthat belong to William of Warwick. They are full of copperspikes, and she will find them upstairs, in the weapons room."

  They went there quickly and begged and commanded her, on theking's behalf, so that she gave them to them, even though she wasupset with the king because he had not given her son back to her.But she realized how great their needs were, and so she did it,although she could not help saying:

  "Lord, have mercy on me! What's going on that this king knows somuch about my house? There's nothing I have that has to do withweapons or war that he doesn't know about. I don't know if he isonly guessing or if he's a wizard."

  The barons had the barrels of spikes loaded onto carts, and tookthem to the camp. When they were before the king, they told himeverything the countess had said, and the virtuous king burst outlaughing, and he smiled and joked with them at length.

  Afterward he had the spikes taken to the gate, and they placedthem on the ground so that when the Moors came through, theywould stick into their feet. He also had many holes, like wells,dug, so that if they escaped one danger they would fall intoanother. And the Christians worked at this all night long.

  When daylight broke, the Moors began to beat drums, and they blewtrumpets and pipes, and shouted their battle-cries, and withgreat joy they streamed down the mountain to attack theChristians. The hermit king ordered all the men to lie down onthe ground, and pretend to be asleep. When they were almostwithin range of bombards they all got up, and gave signs of beingunprepared for battle. When the Moors were inside the entryway,the king said:

  "Gentlemen, do not dismay, I beg you. Let's turn our backs, andpretend to run away."

  When the Moors saw them fleeing, they rushed forward as quicklyas they could. They ran inside the entryway which, as we havementioned, they could not pass through because the copper spikesstuck into their feet. When the virtuous hermit king saw theMoors inside the entryway he made his men slow down, like anexpert in war and weaponry, and he saw the Moors stopping becauseof the wounds from the spikes, while others were falling into thewells that were covered by branches with dirt piled on top. Thenthe king began to shout with a loud voice:

  "Oh knights of honor, take your eyes from the city, and turn yourfaces to the enemies of the Christian faith. Let us attack withgreat courage, for this day is ours. Give them a cruel battle,and grant mercy to no one!"

  The king was the first to strike a blow; then the othersfollowed. The Moors saw the Christians doing battle savagelywhile they were all unable to move because of their wounds, andso they were forced to die, and great destruction was wroughtunto them. Those who were coming behind saw how the Christianswere slaughtering the Moors, and they fled back to the castlethey had come from, without offering resistance.

  The king pursued them, killing and beheading as many as he couldcatch. When the king was worn out from his wounds, he stoppedfor a moment and they captured a very tall Moor of enormousproportions. After the king had knighted the countess's son, hewanted him to kill that Moor. And very bravely the boy stabbedhim with his sword until he killed him. When the king saw thatthe Moor was dead he took the boy by the hair and threw him ontop of the Moor, and rubbed him hard against the man, filling hiseyes and face with blood, and he made him stick his hands intothe wounds, and in that way he baptized him in the blood of theMoor. He grew up very bravely, and in his time in a large partof the world there could not be found so worthy a knight.

  When the good king saw that the battle was won, he began topursue the Moors, and he killed all those he caught. This wasthe greatest destruction and slaughter of men that took place inthat time, for ninety-seven thousand Moors died in the space often days. Since the king could not walk well because of hiswounds, they brought him a horse so he could ride.

  "In truth, I shall not," said the king. "All the others aregoing on foot, and if I went on horseback it would be veryunjust."

  They went along slowly until they came to the castle where theMoors had barricaded themselves, and here they made camp andrested that night. In the morning, when it was broad daylight,the king ordered the trumpets blown, and all the men armedthemselves. The king put on his royal tunic and went in front ofall the rest, and they charged the castle. They were met bycross bows and spears and rocks that were thrown down on themfrom the top of the castle. And the king pressed on so hardthat he went ahead alone, without anyone being able to help him.The countess's son shouted loudly:

  "Run, knights of honor! Let us run and help our king and lordwho has placed himself in great danger!"

  And he took hold of a small shield that a page was carrying, andjumped into the moat to go to where the king was. The others,seeing the small boy going by, all rushed forward at the sametime to get to the other side, and many knights died or werewounded. But the small boy, with the aid of Our Lord, sufferedno harm.

  When they had all crossed over they gathered a great deal ofwood, and they set fire to the door of the castle. The boy beganto shout as loudly as he could, and he said:

  "Oh, English ladies! Come out, and regain your lost liberty: theday of your redemption has come."

  Three hundred nine women were inside the castle. When they heardthat voice they all ran to the back door of the castle, for therewas a huge fire at the other one and all the women were welcomedby the Christians, and among them were many noblewomen.

  When the Moors saw the great fire, and that the entire castle wasburning, they wanted to surrender, but the valiant king would notpermit it.

  Instead, he wanted them all to die by fire and the sword. Andthose who came running out of the castle were either quicklykilled, or the spears forced them back inside. In this waytwenty-two thousand Moors were killed and burned that day.

  The hermit king left the castle with all his men, and they wentthrough all the kingdom to those places the Moors had taken.They did not find one Moor that they wanted to spare, and theywent all the way to the port of Southampton where they found allthe vessels and ships on which they had come. Afterward the kingordered that any Moor who came to the island of England, nomatter what his business might be, should die without mercy.

  When they had retaken the entire kingdom, the king's vow wasfulfilled and all the people went into the city of Warwick. Whenthe countess learned that the king was coming she went out towelcome him with all the ladies and maidens of the city, sincenot one man had stayed there except the sick and wounded. Whenthe countess was near the king, she fell to her knees, and allthe other women shouted with a loud voice:

  "Welcome, victorious King!"

  The virtuous gentleman embraced them all, one by one, and tookthe countess's hand, and they walked along, talking, until theywere inside the city. The countess thanked him profusely for allthe honor he had bestowed on her son, and then she thanked allthe other great lords.

  Having rested for a few days, the hermit king was in his chamberone day, thinking to himself. Since he had ended the war, andthe entire kingdom was at peace, he decided to reveal who he wasto his wife, the countess, and to all the others, so that hecould return the royal scepter to the first king, and go back tohis penance.

  He called his chamberlain, and giving him the half-ring he had

  divided with the countess before going to Jerusalem, he told himto speak to her a
nd give her the ring. The chamberlain quicklywent to the countess, and kneeling before her, he said:

  "My lady, one who has loved and continues to love you sends youthis ring."

  The countess took the ring, and when she looked at it she turnedpale. She ran into her chamber and opened a box where she keptthe other part of the ring. She put the two parts together, andsaw that they were one piece, revealing the family arms. Sheunderstood that it belonged to her husband, the count, and shecried out:

  "Tell me, sir, where is my husband, the Count of Warwick?"

  And she tried to find the door to leave the chamber, but in herconfusion she could not. Then she fell to the floor in a faint.

  When the chamberlain saw what a state the countess was in, he ranto the king in fright. The king said:

  "My friend, what's wrong? What news do you bring me?"

  The chamberlain fell to his knees before him, and said:

  "I dearly wish you had not sent me. I don't know what specialpower that ring has, or if it was made by sorcery and yourworship took it from the Moors, because as soon as the countessplaced it on her finger she fell to the floor, dead."

  The king got up from his seat and quickly went to her chamberwhere he found her more dead than alive, with all the doctors ather side. As soon as the countess regained consciousness, andsaw her husband and king, she quickly got up and knelt before himto kiss his feet and his hands. But he would not allow it, andinstead he took her arm and lifted her from the floor, andembraced and kissed her many times. Then he revealed who he wasto all the lords in the kingdom, and to the entire town. And allthe lords and ladies came to honor the king and their new queen.When the son learned that the king was his father, he hurried tothe chamber and knelt and kissed his hands and feet many timesover.

  There were great celebrations, and after nine days four hundredcarts arrived, loaded with gold and silver, jewels, and veryvaluable items which they had found in the Moors' possession.The king ordered the jewels, the gold, and the silver to be givento four lords: the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Bedford, theCount of Salisbury, and the Count of Stafford.

  After this had been done the king called a general council forthe following day. When they were all present, the king cameinto the council chamber in his royal robes, the crown on hishead and the scepter in his hand, and sitting down, he said:

  "My lord and king, Your Highness must be content with the gracethat almighty God has given you, for with the help of yourvassals you have recovered the entire isle of England. And so,in the presence of all these worthy lords, I return to you thekingdom, the crown, the scepter and the royal robes."

  He immediately removed the garments and dressed again in hishabit.

  The king and all the barons recognized his great virtue andgentility, and gave him many thanks. The king asked him toremain in his court, and offered to make him Prince of Wales, buthe excused himself, saying that he would not leave God's servicefor the vanities of this world. Then he left the king and thosein the court, and went to his village, about a league from thecity, and there he rested for a few days.

  When the countess learned that her husband had gone, she left thecastle without saying a word to the king or to anyone, and wentwith her ladies and maidens to be with her husband.

  Within a few days the king and his people were ready to leave.Then the hermit-count told his son to go with the king, and toserve him fully. And if disagreements arose in the kingdom, inno case should he turn against his king and lord.

  After the king had left for London, the countess begged herhusband:

  "My lord, let me stay with you so that I may serve you. Let usmake a hermitage separated into two parts, with a church inbetween."

  So much did the countess implore him that the count was forced toobey her. The countess then wanted to go to another site thatwas lovely, with many trees and a beautiful, clear spring, and inthe middle of that fine meadow was a pine tree of strikingbeauty. And everyday all the wild beasts of the forest came todrink from that clear spring.

  When the hermitage was finished, and the count and countess wereabout to go and live in it, the Count of Northumberland arrived,as an ambassador of the king, to ask them to go to London, forthe king was to marry the daughter of the King of France. And ifthe count could not go, the countess was requested to go, for shewas needed to teach the queen the customs of England.

  The count-hermit answered:

  "Ambassador, tell His Majesty, the king, that I would he veryhappy to serve His Excellency, but I cannot abandon the vow Ihave made to serve God. As for the countess, her presence therecan take the place of both of us."

  The countess would have preferred to remain behind and serve herhusband, but when she saw her husband's wishes, and realized herduty to the king, she agreed to go. The count left them withmany tears and went to the hermitage. And every day, afterprayer, he went underneath the beautiful tree to see the animalsdrink from the clear spring.