CHAPTER XXXIII. HOW THE ARMY MADE THE PASSAGE OF RONCESVALLES.

ofguidons,andflashandflutterofcountlessarmorialdevices.AlldayAlleynelookeddownuponthechangingscene,andalldaytheoldbowmanstoodbyhiselbow,pointingoutthecrestsoffamouswarriorsandthearmsofnoblehouses.HerewerethegoldmulletsofthePakingtons,thesableandermineoftheMackworths,thescarletbarsoftheWakes,thegoldandblueoftheGrosvenors,thecinque-foilsoftheCliftons,theannuletsoftheMusgraves,thesilverpinionsoftheBeauchamps,thecrossesoftheMolineaux,thebloodychevronoftheWoodhouses,theredandsilveroftheWorsleys,theswordsoftheClarks,theboars'-headsoftheLucies,thecrescentsoftheBoyntons,andthewolfanddaggeroftheLipscombs.SothroughthesunnywinterdaythechivalryofEnglandpoureddownthroughthedarkpassofRoncesvallestotheplainsofSpain. ItwasonaMondaythattheDukeofLancaster'sdivisionpassedsafelythroughthePyrenees.OntheTuesdaytherewasabitterfrost,andthegroundrunglikeironbeneaththefeetofthehorsesyetereeveningtheprincehimself,withthemainbattleofhisarmy,hadpassedthegorgeandunitedwithhisvanguardatPampeluna.WithhimrodetheKingofMajorca,thehostageKingofNavarre,andthefierceDonPedroofSpain,whosepaleblueeyesgleamedwithasinisterlightastheyrestedoncemoreuponthedistantpeaksofthelandwhichhaddisownedhim.UndertheroyalbannersrodemanyaboldGasconbaronandmanyahot-bloodedislander.HerewerethehighstewardsofAquitaine,ofSaintonge,ofLaRochelle,ofQuercy,ofLimousin,ofAgenois,ofPoitou,andofBigorre,withthebannersandmustersoftheirprovinces.HerealsowerethevaliantEarlofAngus,SirThomasBanasterwithhisgarteroverhisgreave,SirNeleLoring,secondcousintoSirNigel,andalongcolumnofWelshfootmenwhomarchedundertheredbannerofMerlin.Fromdawntosundownthelongtrainwoundthroughthepass,theirbreathreekingupuponthefrostyairlikethesteamfromacauldron. TheweatherwaslesskeenupontheWednesday,andtherear-guardmadegoodtheirpassage,withthebombardsandthewagon-train.FreecompanionsandGasconsmadeupthisportionofthearmytothenumberoftenthousandmen.ThefierceSirHughCalverley,withhisyellowmane,andtheruggedSirRobertKnolles,withtheirwar-hardenedandveterancompaniesofEnglishbowmen,headedthelongcolumnwhilebehindthemcametheturbulentbandsoftheBastardofBreteuil,NandondeBagerant,one-eyedCamus,BlackOrtingo,LaNuitandotherswhoseverynamesseemtosmackofhardhandsandruthlessdeeds.WiththemalsowerethepickoftheGasconchivalry—theoldDucd'Armagnac,hisnephewLordd'Albret,broodingandscowlingoverhiswrongs,thegiantOliverdeClisson,theCaptaldeBuch,pinkofknighthood,thesprightlySirPerducasd'Albret,thered-beardedLordd'Esparre,andalongtrainofneedyandgraspingbordernobles,withlongpedigreesandshortpurses,whohadcomedownfromtheirhill-sidestrongholds,allhungeringforthespoilsandtheransomsofSpain.BytheThursdaymorningthewholearmywasencampedintheValeofPampeluna,andtheprincehadcalledhiscounciltomeethimintheoldpalaceoftheancientcityofNavarre.