PERO NIÑO AT THE FRENCH ADMIRAL'S. 31 no farther operations were thought of till the spring; and Pero Niño, moving with his galleys up the Seine, cast anchor at Rouen. He found his quarters most agreeable, not only because the French are an affable, hospitable, and joyous people, owing, as the chronicler believed, to the happy influence which the planet Venus exercises over their climate, but also because, in the vicinity, at a place called Girafontayna by the Spanish writer, the old admiral of France, Regnault de Trie*, who had retired from the service by reason of his age, kept a noble house, and had, moreover, for his wife the most beautiful woman in all France. The way, indeed, in which Pero Niño was entertained there forms so striking a contrast to his adventures on the English coast, and represents so fully the best manners of high life in that age, that a brief description of it may be regarded by the reader as a pleasant digression. The old admiral's infirmities had compelled him to retire from court as well as from war: but his house or palace was as well furnished and provided as if it had been in the city of Paris; a river, the banks of which were adorned with groves and gardens, was in its front: on the other side was an enclosed fish-pond, so large and well stocked that fish enough for 300 persons might at any time be taken there, by drawing off the water. Game of every kind abounded in the woods; and there was an establishment of hawks, hounds, and horses, suited to the admiral's rank and riches. His lady was of the best lineage in Normandy, and kept the greatest state: she had in her family ten damsels of condition, whose only business was to attend to their own persons, and wait upon her as her companions, for besides these she had many ladies of her bedchamber.† Mosen Arnao de Tria, the Spanish writer calls him. He was lord of Fontenay, (which is, probably, the Girafontayna of the chronicler,) and resigned the admiralship, in 1405, in favour of Pierre de Breban, sieur de Landreville, surnamed Clugnet, and called, by Monstrelet, Clugnet de Brabant.-Johnes's Monstrelet, i. 105. n. + Non avian cuidado de ninguna cosa si non de sus cuerpos, é de aguardar á la Señora tan solamente. : Her chamber, which was in a court or quadrangle, communicated with the admiral's by a drawbridge. She and her damsels rose early, and repaired to the adjoining grove, each with her prayer-book and her beads, and there, at due distance from each other, went through the string of their devotions; after which they gathered flowers, returned into the palace, went to the chapel, and heard mass. Mass being over, roasted fowls, larks, and other birds, were set before them in a silver dish, and they drank wine with their breakfast, they who chose, but madame seldom took any thing in the morning; when she did, it was but little, and only for complaisance. This done, the ladies mounted their palfreys, which were the most beautiful of their kind, and richly caparisoned the knights and gentles, Pero Niño and his officers among them, who were the guests of honour, accompanied them, some making green chaplets, and others singing lays, and delays, and virelays, and ronde lays, and chazas, and complaints, and ballads, and chansons,—all the forms of poetry which were then in vogue. The admiral was toò infirm to ride with them; but when they returned to dinner, he, who notwithstanding his infirmities was very courteous, was ready to receive them. He and madame and Pero Niño seated themselves at the board, and the master of the hall then placed a knight and an esquire to a damsel alternately flesh or fish, according to the day, and fruits, were served, all of the choicest kind, and in the best manner; and while the dinner continued, he who knew how to converse of arms or of love had fair opportunity of being heard and answered. Meantime there were joculars playing upon various instruments. When grace had been said, and the boards were removed, the minstrels entered, and madame danced with Pero Niño, and his officers with her damsels the dances lasted an hour, after which madame kissed the captain, and every one from that example saluted his partner. Spices and wine were then served, and the company retired to take their afternoon's sleep. : When the company re-assembled, the pages were ready with horses and hawks. Madame herself carried a falcon-gentle on her wrist; herns were let fly; dogs took the water; drums beat; and ladies, as well as men, entered with spirit into the sports of the field, till, satisfied with their success, they repaired to a pleasant part of the grounds, and there sat down to a cold collation. The gallantries of chanting verses and twining chaplets were repeated on the way home. Supper followed; after supper madame walked out; they played at ball till night closed; the hall was then lighted with torches ; the minstrels were again in attendance; they danced till a late hour; and concluded the operations of the day with fruit and wine. Madame ordered all these things, for the admiral was past all care of hic affairs. How the admiral soon died; how Pero Niño and madame came to an understanding with each other; how they could not marry immediately-she, because it would have been indecorous, he, because he was in the king of Castille's service; how she agreed to wait two years for him, that he might quit that service with honour, and arrange his affairs in Spain; and how, before the end of that time, he found himself so engaged in war with the Moors that he thought it necessary to break off the engagement, are matters with which this history has no concern. From Rouen Pero Niño went to Paris, to obtain pay for his people according to the conditions of alliance. This had been so long delayed, that he must have laid his galleys up for want of money, unless certain merchants had advanced it upon his personal credit. The chiefs who ruled the kingdom during the king's malady would have deferred payment, pleading the disordered state of affairs, if he had not persisted in demanding it, and assumed a resolute tone. The money was then forthcoming; and the duke of Orleans, in whose hands the chief authority was vested, took him into his household, with the office of chamberlain, in which character he wore the duke's badge*, and received his pay, according to the custom of France, and as "beA. D. seemed his own estate and honour." When the winter 1406. was so far past that it was thought the galleys might put to sea, he repaired to Rouen, that he might pursue his instructions of infesting the English coast. The vessels had hardly begun to fall down the Seine, before, to the great consternation of both soldiers and sailors, an eclipse of the sun began: some said that the sun was wounded, and that it portended a great mortality, some interpreted it as a sign of dreadful weather at sea, and others predicted other evils; but Pero Niño explained to his people the cause of an eclipse, assured them that the sun could neither die nor be wounded, and that that which occurred in the course of nature could not be intended for a token. At Harfleur, his former associate, M. Charles de Sabasil, joined him, and their force was increased by three French ballingers, well manned. The reception which they had met with on the western coast of England, in the preceding year, had not been of a kind to encourage them; and as the English in those parts they thought would be likely to expect and prepared to encounter them, they determined to make for the coast of Suffolkt, hoping to surprise some place upon the Orwell. But when they arrived off the place which they designed to attack, and lay off, meaning to approach in the night and make their attempt at daybreak, a gale rose which drove them out to sea; and after having driven, with great danger, they knew not where, they were glad to put into the Zwijn. The people of Sluys, who were dreading a visit from the English, rejoiced at their arrival; and his French comrades would have made prize of four Portugueze ships, which arrived during their tarriance there, upon the El le puso libreas é retenuas á la costumbre de Francia, segund que á su estado é honra cumplia, é dióle oficio de chamberlan en su casa.-p. 120. + Gutierre Diez says that on the coast at this time they met with flying fish:-"Hay alli unos pescados que vuelan sobre el agua; algunos dellos atravasaban volando por encima de las galeras, é aún algunos dellos caian dentro." (p. 141.) Probably he had seen them in the Mediterranean, and confounded time and place in his recollection. plea that, being allies of England, they were to be considered as enemies of France; but the Portugueze appealed to Pero Niño for protection, claiming the benefit of the truce between Castille and Portugal; and upon his interference, the French captain, greatly against his will, left them for that time unmolested. * Having repaired and refreshed themselves here, they proceeded to Calais. Pero Niño thought to have cut out some vessels which were lying in the harbour; but the town was provided with cannon, which made him keep at a respectful distance, and enter the port of Nieulet, where the French maintained a garrison. On the morrow he put to sea, and stood for the English coast. Presently they descried an English fleet; a council was called, and Pero Niño was for attacking them, the weather being calm. M. Charles, however, represented that the fleet consisted of many ships, and some of them large ones; that they were far from the land, and if the wind should come on, as it seldom failed in that sea, they should find themselves in great danger. But the Spaniard replied, that they ought to take advantage of the calm while it lasted, and do their duty; that the enemy were every day infesting Spain and France; there was now fair opportunity of fighting them; nothing could be worse than to give them reason to say, that the allies were afraid of them, and that if he had thought he were thus to shun the enemy instead of seeking them, never would he have come to France. M. Charles's caution proceeded from no want of courage he took Pero Niño's warmth in good part; and, submitting to his will, declared himself ready to obey his orders. The first preparation which the Spaniard made for action was to serve an allowance of wine, which was not commonly used in the galleys, or only in small quantities: but then, says the chronicler, it is very necessary, and of great profit, and gives strength and spirit to those who drink it; and this is the wine of which the prophet *Cronica del Conde D. Pero Niño, part ii. c. 37. |