Читать книгу Under the Lily and the Rose - Arthur G. Sir Doughty - Страница 6

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One can hardly imagine the state of mind in Europe at a time when the New World was seen through a golden haze of romance and adventure. The yarns of the mariners, startling from the first, gained in wonder as they were passed on from year to year, until they outrivalled the most thrilling adventures of song-story or of fairy tale. And they were far more satisfactory because there was an element of truth in them. The old stories were all very well: they created a vivid picture in the mind. But no one living had actually seen the fairies. Here it was different. The mariners had actually seen and talked with the dwarfs and imps and all the other curious folk who make up dreamland. At least they said so. Was it not true that some of them had been seen in the streets of Spain? It was indeed a fact that in the triumphal progress of Columbus there were men of strange hue, painted in gorgeous colours, and decked with ornaments of gold such as had never been seen before. Moreover, they had brought with them birds of rich plumage, and strange flowers and plants which surely must have belonged to a real fairy land. And so the marvel grew. And the spirit of youth chafed under restraint and longed to plunge into these mysteries half revealed.

Perhaps we may catch somewhat of the spirit of the time if we turn our attention to the ancient harbour of St. Malo, on the Breton coast, in the month of April, 1534. Something unusual is astir, and we shall do well to watch.

You will notice in the picture facing page 8 that there are a large number of children about, and that many are gathered around an old seafaring man. He just loves to tell them the stories of the sea and of the sailors he has met who have been to the new found isle. Now they would not miss these stories for the world; but on this particular day they are just burning to ask him questions.

A few fathoms from the shore, flying the banners and flags of France, two stately ships are riding at anchor. And if we had a powerful glass, we might discern other ships that do not appear to be flying any flags at all. Surely the kindly old gentleman would be able to tell them all about these ships, for no one else seemed to know why they were there. And why are there so many strange sailors in St. Malo, and so many nobles, high in the service of the King?

We should be able to find out for ourselves. Look towards the square of the Cathedral. The stately equipage that has just arrived is the coach of Sir Charles de Mouy, Lord of Meilleraye, Vice-Admiral of France, and the tall, handsome man by his side is the famous Pilot of St. Malo, Jacques Cartier. The ecclesiastic who has just alighted is the Bishop, and soon we behold a goodly array of nobles and officials. Listen! the bells of the Cathedral are ringing joyously and a procession enters the church. We had better follow, and mingle with the congregation. As the service comes to an end the Bishop makes an announcement that His Most Christian Majesty, Francis I, has been pleased to appoint his well-beloved and trusty Pilot, Jacques Cartier, to command an expedition to the far-off land of Cathay, and has given him power to take possession of all lands in the name of the King. He further expresses the hope that the expedition will bring great glory to France.

ST. MALO

C. W. Simpson, R.C.A.

The procession leaves the church, the mothers hold up their small children to be blessed by the Bishop and kissed by Jacques Cartier. But did you notice the two tall men who were standing near the church, and how Cartier frowned at them as he passed? He did not know them, neither did the Bishop, and I am quite sure they are not known to the King. Apparently they do not wish to be recognised, for they have suddenly disappeared, feeling no doubt that they had no right to be there.

And why, do you think, had they come to St. Malo? Now it is quite a secret, but I will tell the secret to you. They are in St. Malo because of jealousy. Now jealousy is a strange thing, the cause of much unhappiness and of many crimes; and jealousy can be caused by so many things. Sometimes it is the size of an apple or a piece of cake; a pretty doll or a handsome beau. If we seek for the cause of jealousy we shall find that usually it arises from the fact that someone has something that another has not. And these strange men are in St. Malo, and the unknown ships are in the offing, because of the jealousy of the King of Spain. In fact, they are spies of Spain and Portugal who hope to find out what the King of France is doing. Rumours had reached Spain that France was fitting out several ships for a voyage. And these men will try to follow the ships, and capture them, if possible. But happily Jacques Cartier knew nothing of this, and presently we see him and his crew getting into small boats and making for the ships amidst the ringing of the bells, the rejoicings of the people and the wonder of the children. Soon the two proud ships become mere specks on the ocean. The voyage of Jacques Cartier has begun.

We do not know what became either of the spies or of their ships. Probably Cartier’s ships were too fast for them. Or perhaps they did not like the stern look given them by the Pilot of St. Malo. In any event, they did not interfere with him.