The Constant Prince Read online

and their opinions,have due weights I give way to them so far that I shall lay this matterbefore the Council of Portugal, when all may speak their mind. But, mybrothers, let not our difference of opinion bring the first cloudbetween us."

  "Nay," said Fernando, with rather a painful smile, "Joao does but provethe truth of my complaint, that I have hitherto been the idle one amongyou. But we have taken enough of the king's time. I would but ask himto forgive me for urging my wishes on him."

  "Nay, it is well to be reminded of our higher aims," said Duarte, whohad not quite approved of the way in which Fernando had been put down bythe others. "We will speak of it again in Council."

  In spite of Duarte's warning there was a good deal of hot discussionbetween Enrique, Pedro, and Joao, which certainly resulted in fixingEnrique's own view of the matter. Duarte declined to speak of itfurther in private, and Fernando's desire grew so strong that he fearedto trust his own temper in the dispute. He spoke, however, in thecouncil well and to the point, urging his view of what number would besufficient for the attack, and the reasons why he thought that it shouldbe made. Enrique supported him with all the weight of his influence,and the war was exceedingly popular among the younger nobility. Pedroopposed it entirely; Joao declared it to be only possible with a verylarge force and at great expense; and the king, finding his councildivided, at last appealed to the decision of the Pope. If he authorisedthe war, and would give a Bull of Crusade, well and good; if not, theproject must be abandoned.

  But meanwhile Enrique and Fernando made their preparations, to be readyto start at once when the consent, of which they never doubted, arrived.

  CHAPTER TWELVE.

  SELF CHOSEN WAYS.

  "I saw the Holy Grail, and heard a cry-- O Galahad, and O Galahad, follow me."

  The number of voices raised in favour of the Moorish war concealed thefact of how many regarded it with disapproval. Sir Walter Northberry atonce offered himself as a volunteer, and Harry Hartsed, in common withall the members in Dom Fernando's suite, was hot in the cause, saw nodifficulties, and talked as if Tangier were already won, a mode ofproceeding provoking to the opposing princes, and to those who thoughtwith them.

  No such light-mindedness could be urged against the prince himself.There was, indeed, a light of hope and happiness in his face rarely seenthere before; but he spent long hours in prayer, not so much for thesuccess of his undertaking, as that he might be worthy to engage in it,and constantly urged on his followers the necessity of preparing for aholy war by a holy life. He showed no resentment at his brothers'opposition, merely saying that he did not wonder at their distrust ofthe views of so inexperienced a person as himself, though he could neverbe grateful enough to Enrique for his comprehension of them. Enriquehad so many other matters in hand, in preparation for his departure,that he had not much time to bestow on the collecting of the forces, andmoreover had something of the self-confidence of great conscious power,that anything in which he was engaged could be made to succeed. So thatFernando had it all his own way, and perhaps was hardly the person torealise all the difficulties in his path, since he credited others withhis own strong and unwavering zeal.

  The war was, on the whole, popular among the clergy, and was approved bythe Archbishop of Lisbon; and Father Jose--who had been Fernando'sconfessor and chaplain from childhood, and had constantly listened tohis longings for such an opportunity--rejoiced that his dear son, as heregarded Fernando, should at last gain the wish of his heart. But hesaid much less about triumphing over the Moors, than about the necessityof faith, purity, and holiness in those who would attack them, about thesin of rivalry and contention among men engaged in a holy war, pointingout how self-indulgence and disputes had been the ruin of crusades. Noone, he said, who entered on a holy war, in such an unholy spirit, wouldfind the sword of the Moor open to him a passage from earth to Heaven.No one, who, during this period of preparation, fell into mortal sin,neglected his religious duties, or indulged in uncharitable feelings,would be a true crusader, though he bound the cross on his shoulder, andsailed under the authority of a Bull of Crusade.

  These truths, however wholesome they might be, and however entirelyaccepted and enforced by the prince himself, were not always palatable,and Father Jose's preaching was often deserted for that of a chaplainbelonging to Dom Enrique's household, named Martin. This priest wasinstrumental in turning the minds of many towards the war. He preachedin glowing terms the glory that was to be won both for earth and Heaven,the certainty of success, the sure path to Paradise; painted vividly thetriumph over the conquered city, the splendid spoils that would be therightful property of the conquering soldiers of the cross, the dreadfulfate that would rightly befall the "Pagan hounds," whom they woulddestroy; and finally promised absolution and the Church's blessing toall those who heartily engaged in the contest. This preaching worked upthe young nobility to a state of wild enthusiasm, and among others HarryHartsed, who, though greatly admiring his prince, thought his sentimentsrather fine-spun, and that to take arms with a view of revenging thewrong of the Northberry family, and of gaining some spiritual advantagesfor himself, was quite enough.

  All his interest in his little playmate's lost sister was revived by theintelligence that Sir Walter had declined all offers of marriage forNella in England, and that in the event of his returning safely from thepresent campaign he meant her to come to Lisbon and rejoin him. She wasnow more than sixteen, and her reputation as a beauty had preceded her.

  Harry thought that when spoils and honours should enable him to think ofa wife, he would like to see Nella's brave blue eyes, and hear her franktongue, before he gave his heart away to any dark-glancing, soft-spokenPortuguese.

  All through the spring the preparations were pushed forward; and atlast, after much delay, came the long-expected answer from the Pope.

  He wrote that wars of offence with the Infidel were allowable inresistance to any actual injury committed by them on any particularkingdom, but during a period of entire peace could only be justified byproving that the existence of the infidel power was injurious toChristendom at large, in which latter case the Pope granted a bull ofcrusade. He could not now perceive that the King of Portugal hadreceived any injuries from the King of Barbary, or that the latter hadrecently in any way made himself obnoxious to the nations ofChristendom. He could not therefore grant the bull of crusade, andrecommended King Duarte to abstain from the attack.

  This was King Duarte's own opinion; but he could not read the Pope'sdespatch without thinking of the disappointment it would inflict on hisardent brothers; and, alas! of the great unpopularity of disbanding thealready impatient army. This difficulty also occurred to Pedro, whoblamed Duarte for having allowed the preparations to be begun.

  "Look you," said Duarte, "I shall leave it in their hands. If they canconscientiously disregard the opinion of his holiness, let them make theattempt. It is indeed true that Fernando has never seen warfare. Whenthis is over he will be content, and if Tangier is taken, maybe the Popewill not think the war unjustifiable."

  The Popes of the fifteenth century had not so lived or ruled that theirfiat should be accepted with unquestioning respect. It was a hardmatter, however, to display the letter to the eager spirits who werestaking their all on the attempt.

  Fernando turned pale as death, and uttered not a word.

  Enrique read through the parchment, and then started up, exclaiming--

  "There are things that man must do at his own risk. Who can authorisethe inmost promptings of the soul that lead to great ends? The holyfather may fear to speak; we will give Tangier to the Church, and winhis blessing at the sword's point."

  So said Enrique, having indeed much experience of the inward promptingsof which he spoke; and Duarte was much swayed by his words.

  Fernando was still silent. There was the sharpness of a personal wish,both to sway him and to cause a fear of being swayed.

  "Let it be as the king will," he said, slowly; but Duarte had not theheart t
o accept his submission.

  "Matters have gone too far to recede," he said. "Go, my brothers; Iconfide in your judgment, and may the blessing of God rest on yourarms."

  Fernando bent down and kissed the king's hand, while Enrique exclaimed--

  "Tangier shall be yours, when we meet again." Dom Joao shrugged hisshoulders. "That depends," he said, "on the number and the condition ofyour troops."

  All was now hurry and excitement. And between the contending viewsthere was much confusion.

  Dom Joao's opinion on military matters had great weight; and when it wasknown that he disapproved of the expedition, many held back from it.

  The young queen liking the excitement of the start, and the probableglory to Portugal favoured the enterprise; and strangely enough it fellout, that the war was advocated by all the gayer and wilder