"And count the thousands they have massacred, "The epitome of all the pestilent plagues "That Egypt knew! who pour their locust swarms "O'er ravaged realms, and bid the brooks run blood. "FEAR and DESTRUCTION go before their path, "And FAMINE dogs their footsteps. God of Justice, "Let not the innocent blood cry out in vain!" Thus whilst he spake the murmur of the camp "Slow o'er the hill "Whose rising head conceal'd our cot I past, "Yet on my journey paus'd awhile, and gaz'd “And wept; for often had I crost the hill “With chearful step, and seen the rising smoke "Of hospitable fire; alas! no smoke "Curl'd o'er the melancholy chimneys now! "Orleans I reach'd. There in the suburbs stood "The abbey; and ere long I learnt the fall Of Jenville. "On a day, a soldier ask'd "For Isabel. Scarce could my faltering feet "Support me. It was Francis, and alone"The sole survivor of the fatal fight! "And soon the foes approach'd: impending war "Soon sadden'd * Orleans. There the bravest chiefs "The French King used every expedient to supply the city with a garrison and provisions, and enable it to maintain a long and obstinate siege. The Lord of Gaucour, a brave and experienced captain, was appointed governor. Many officers of distinction threw themselves into the place. The "Assemble: Thouars, Coarase, Chabannes, " And the Sire * Chapelle in successful war "Since wounded to the death, and that good Knight "Giresme of Rhodes, who in a better cause troops which they conducted were inured to war, and were determined to make the most obstinate resistance: and even the inhabitants, disciplined by the long continuance of hostilities, were well qualified in their own defence, to second the efforts of the most veteran forces. The eyes of all Europe were turned towards this scene; where, it was reasonably supposed, the French were to make their last stand for maintaining the independance of their monarchy, and the rights of their sovereign." Hume. This title was not discriminately used by the French. Chapelle is sometimes stiled le Sire, and sometimes Gentilhomme de Beausse by Daniel. The same title was applied to the Allmighty, and to Princes, and Selden observes from Pasquier" these ancient Barons affected rather to be stiled by the name of Sire than Baron, and the Baron of Coucy carried to that purpose this rithme in his device: Je ne suis Roy ne Princeaussi, Je suis le Sire de Coucy. "Can never wield the crucifix + that hilts "His hallowed sword, and Xaintrailles ransom'd now, "And Fayette late releas'd, and that young * Duke "Who at Verneuil senseless with many a wound "Fell prisoner, and La Hire, the § merriest man At the creation of a Knight of Rhodes a sword with a cross for the hilt was delivered to him in token that his valour must defend religion. No bastard could be a Knight Hospitaller, from whose order that of Rhodes was formed, except a bastard to a Prince, there being honour in that dishonour, as there is light in the very spots of the moon." Fuller's Historie of the Holy Warre. * Alençon. § "In the late warres in France between King Henry the fifth of England and Charles the 7th of France, the French armie being in distresse, one Captain La Hire a Frenchman, was sent to declare unto the said French King, the estate and affaires of the warre, and how for want of victuals, money, and other necessaries, the French had lost divers townes and battailes to the English. The French King being disposed to ùse his Captaine familiarly, shewed him such thinges as himself was delighted in, as his buildings, his banquets, faire ladies, &c. and then asked the Captaine how hee liked them: " trust me Sir" quoth the Captaine, speaking his "That ever yet did win his soldiers love, "And over all for hardihood renown'd "The Bastard Orleans. "These within the town Expect the foe. Twelve hundred chosen men "Well tried in war, uprear the guardian shield Dreadful was the sight "Beneath their banners. "Of preparation. The wide suburbs stretch'd "Along the pleasant borders of the Loire, 'Late throng'd with multitudes, now feel the hand mind freely, "I did never know any Prince that more delighted himself with his losses, than you doe with yours." Howes. La Hire had just time before an engagement to make a general confession of his sins, and tell his Confessor that they were all of them very soldier-like ones. This done he made this prayer, "Dieu je te prie, que tu fasses aujourd'hui pour La Hire, autant que tu voudrois que La Hire fit pour toi, s'il etoit Dieu et tu fusses La Hire." The epitaph of Thomas Hodmandod was evidently suggested by this ill-directed jest of La Hire. It is surprizing how few witticisms are original. |