Read Online A Wind From the North by Ernle Bradford - Free Book Online
Authors: Ernle Bradford
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that his favorite son was dead.
“Such is the end that soldiers must expect” was his laconic reply.
But Henry was at the outer door of the castle itself. He had cleared the enemy from the streets behind him, and had barricaded them into the one strong point that remained in the city. He was finally discovered by Garcia Moniz, who had been his tutor when he was a child. Most of Henry’s followers had drifted away, some to loot and others intent on food and drink (they had had nothing to eat since early morning). He alone had been blind to everything but the task of victory.
Garcia Moniz discovered him thus, bloody and disheveled, sword in hand and his dark eyes exultant. He ran forward and clasped the young man to him.
“You wish to attempt things that are beyond the powers of man!” he said. The words were prophetic.
That evening the last strong point of Ceuta, the citadal, fell to the Portuguese. The last of the defenders fled to the mountains and inland villages, the treasure of Sala-ben-Sala was captured, and the flag of Prince Edward flaunted upon the tower of Fez. The golden city of Ceuta was taken.
The streets seethed with soldiers, and flames flickered over dark faces bent on plunder. They staggered under rich carpets and jewelry, Oriental vases and tapestries, wine and oil, and delicate silks. Order and discipline had long since gone. They were now drawing their pay in the manner of the time.
King John was overjoyed to find his son—despite his Spartan acceptance of the first ill news. He listened to tales of Henry’s deeds, of how he had led the attack, and how for many hours he had always been in the forefront of battle. He learned that it was Prince Henry who had been first at the gate of the castle.
“I will knight you first before your brothers,” he said fondly.
“God brought us into the world one after the other. I beg you, let the honor of knighthood go in the same succession.”
On the first Sunday after the battle, in the cleansed and consecrated mosque, the victors prepared to celebrate Mass. Te Deum Laudamus, they sang, as two hundred trumpets sounded over the captured city. Above the heads of the King and his sons, two old church bells swung and boomed. Prince Henry had remembered that these bells, captured years before from the village of Sines in the Portuguese province of Algarve, were kept in Ceuta. He had made a search for them, and now, restored to their ancient use, they joined in the thanksgiving.
When Mass was over, the princes retired to their apartments and put on their armor before returning to the church for the ceremony of knighthood. “… and this was a noble sight indeed, for all three of the princes had tall well-built bodies, and their armour was gleaming and richly adorned. From their belts hung the swords which their mother had blessed. Before them went the trumpets and the drums. I do not believe that there was a single man there who did not take pleasure in beholding them.”
One after the other, the young princes knelt to receive from King John the accolade of knighthood. This was their moment of triumph. Distinguished in their first battle, conquerors of the great city of Ceuta, they were knighted in a mosque consecrated to the Christian faith, under the recaptured bells of Sines. A medieval dream of knighthood with honor had led them to this North African shore, and to this brilliant moment. Throughout their lives they would remember it. It was the golden hour of youth, when all dreams seem capable of fulfillment.
6
❖
The capture of Ceuta was the first great European success against the Mohammedans in their own territory. Ceuta was also the first European base to be established on the continent of Africa. From it would spring that gradual occupation and colonization of the continent, the problems arising from which constitute one of the major issues of our own day.
The fleet, which “to the sound of divers instruments of music” returned in
“Such is the end that soldiers must expect” was his laconic reply.
But Henry was at the outer door of the castle itself. He had cleared the enemy from the streets behind him, and had barricaded them into the one strong point that remained in the city. He was finally discovered by Garcia Moniz, who had been his tutor when he was a child. Most of Henry’s followers had drifted away, some to loot and others intent on food and drink (they had had nothing to eat since early morning). He alone had been blind to everything but the task of victory.
Garcia Moniz discovered him thus, bloody and disheveled, sword in hand and his dark eyes exultant. He ran forward and clasped the young man to him.
“You wish to attempt things that are beyond the powers of man!” he said. The words were prophetic.
That evening the last strong point of Ceuta, the citadal, fell to the Portuguese. The last of the defenders fled to the mountains and inland villages, the treasure of Sala-ben-Sala was captured, and the flag of Prince Edward flaunted upon the tower of Fez. The golden city of Ceuta was taken.
The streets seethed with soldiers, and flames flickered over dark faces bent on plunder. They staggered under rich carpets and jewelry, Oriental vases and tapestries, wine and oil, and delicate silks. Order and discipline had long since gone. They were now drawing their pay in the manner of the time.
King John was overjoyed to find his son—despite his Spartan acceptance of the first ill news. He listened to tales of Henry’s deeds, of how he had led the attack, and how for many hours he had always been in the forefront of battle. He learned that it was Prince Henry who had been first at the gate of the castle.
“I will knight you first before your brothers,” he said fondly.
“God brought us into the world one after the other. I beg you, let the honor of knighthood go in the same succession.”
On the first Sunday after the battle, in the cleansed and consecrated mosque, the victors prepared to celebrate Mass. Te Deum Laudamus, they sang, as two hundred trumpets sounded over the captured city. Above the heads of the King and his sons, two old church bells swung and boomed. Prince Henry had remembered that these bells, captured years before from the village of Sines in the Portuguese province of Algarve, were kept in Ceuta. He had made a search for them, and now, restored to their ancient use, they joined in the thanksgiving.
When Mass was over, the princes retired to their apartments and put on their armor before returning to the church for the ceremony of knighthood. “… and this was a noble sight indeed, for all three of the princes had tall well-built bodies, and their armour was gleaming and richly adorned. From their belts hung the swords which their mother had blessed. Before them went the trumpets and the drums. I do not believe that there was a single man there who did not take pleasure in beholding them.”
One after the other, the young princes knelt to receive from King John the accolade of knighthood. This was their moment of triumph. Distinguished in their first battle, conquerors of the great city of Ceuta, they were knighted in a mosque consecrated to the Christian faith, under the recaptured bells of Sines. A medieval dream of knighthood with honor had led them to this North African shore, and to this brilliant moment. Throughout their lives they would remember it. It was the golden hour of youth, when all dreams seem capable of fulfillment.
6
❖
The capture of Ceuta was the first great European success against the Mohammedans in their own territory. Ceuta was also the first European base to be established on the continent of Africa. From it would spring that gradual occupation and colonization of the continent, the problems arising from which constitute one of the major issues of our own day.
The fleet, which “to the sound of divers instruments of music” returned in
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