IN THE LIBRARY

Northern Advocate, 20 July 1935, Page 6

IN THE LIBRARY

[BY “THE BOOK-MAN”]

BATTLE OF BOUVINES A CREATIVE VICTORY. PAGE IN FRENCH HISTORY. By A. Hadenguc. On June 28, 2914, the French nation celebrated, with military pageantry, the seventh centenary of the battle of Bouvines. Little, at the moment, did those who took part in this surmise how near the abyss they stood on that summer day, for this was the very day of the murder of the Austrian Archduke at Sarajevo, which was to plunjs all Europe into war. It is however the battle of Bouvines of 1214 which now interests us. To the French it is one of their great national conflicts. By some it is even classed as the beginning of the French monarchy as it existed until the fall of the Bourbons, and from it may assuredly be dated the real coming into a recognised power of the large cities. To Englishmen it is of importance from another viewpoint; after the fall of Chateau Gaillard, that proud edifice so much beloved by its builder, Richard of the Lion Heart, who thought it impregnable, as indeed in those days it should have been, and which was to be the sure defence of Plantagenet Normandy from French aggression, after its fall then Normandy was open to Philip Augustus. For its recovery John instigated a powerful* confederacy against the French king: the Emperor, the Duke of Flanders, and others, while he himself made a strong diversion from the south, gathering the nobles of' Poitou to his standard, since the English barons refused to take part in this outland war. At first John was successful, but Philip won a hard fought but overwhelming victory at Bouvines, and John’s attempt crumbled at once. Effects of Victory. The effects of the victory of Bouvines were immense in both countries. John had been endeavouring to make himself an autocratic monarch. The defeat of his allies, and as a consequence indirectly of himself, for he was unable to sustain the campaign alone, compelled him to accept the terms of his own baronage and burghers, and was the immediate reason of the many which caused the signing of the Great Charter. Upon the other side of the Channel Philip Augustus relied to a considerable extent upon the armed men supplied by his cities, though his nobles also supported him in full strength. The citizen militia proved itself capable; as men-at-arms they made an excellent showing at Bouvines, and henceforth the feudal barons and their retainers cdbnted for less in warfare, and Philip established his kingdom as dependent to a considerable extent upon the cities with their charters and their freedom, while the always turbulent knighthood in their strong castles received a setback from which as a body it never fully recovered, though its downfall was necessarily slow. Thus Bouvines was, and for good reasons, of t!ie highest import for the development both of France and EnglandStory of the Campaign. There has just been issued in France (Paris, plon) a fine and scholarly account of the whole of this important campaign of Bouvines, fought out upon the plains of Flanders. The author has been at great pains to examine the ground, reconstruct its- condition as it was in those times, and to detail clearly and interestingly the entire campaign, with the political and social changes, with their motives, which both preceded and followed it. Philip Augustus is best known to us perhaps by the incident of his quarrel with Richard I in Palestine. There is no English novel devoted to his extremely important and arresting career, save G. P. R. James’ “Philip Augustus; or, the Brothers in Arms”— though incidentally he figures in most romances where also appears him of the Lion Heart, as, for instance, in “The Talisman.”

Failing an available copy of Hardengue’s “Bouvines,” it may not lack interest to quote the account of Philip’s danger in this battle, as well and correctly pictured by James. ‘•At that moment, however, the king found himself surrounded on every side by the German foot, who hemmed him in with their short pikes. The only knight who was near him was the Count de Montigny, bearing the royal banner; and nothing was to be seen around but the fierce faces of the Saxon pikemen looking out from under their steel caps, drawing their circle closer and closer round him. and fixing their eager eyes upon the crown that he wore on the crest of his helmet —or else the forms of some German knights at a short distance, whirling about like armed phantoms, through the clouds of dust that enveloped the whole scene.

"Still Philip fought with desperate valour; plunging his horse into the ranks of the pikemen; and dealing sweeping blows around with his sword, which four or five times succeeded in clearing the space immediately before him.

"Well and nobly, too. did the Count de Montigny do his devoir, holding with one hand the royal banner, which ho raised and depressed continually. lo give notice to all eyes of the monarch’s danger; and striking

with the other on every side round Philip’s person, which he thus protected for many minutes from the near approach of his enemies. A Vain Effort. “It was in vain, however, that the king and his banner-bearer displayed such feats of chivalrous valour. Closer and closer the German burgesses hemmed them in. Many of the Saxon knights became attracted by the sight of the royal banner; and were urging their horses through the melee towards the spot where the conflict was raging so fiercely,- when one of the serfs creptf; close to the King's charger. Philip felt his horse reeling underneath him; and, in a moment, the animal fell to the ground, bearing its rider down along with it. “A hundred of the long, three-edged knives, with which many of the Saxons fought that day, were instantly at the King’s throat, and at the bars of his helmet. One thought of Agnesone brief prayer to Heaven, was au that seemed allowed to Philip Augustus; but that moment, the shout of ‘Auvergne! Auvergne!’ rang upon his ear and yielded hope.

Destiny of Europe.

“With his head bent down to his saddle-bow, receiving a thousand blows as he came, his horse all in foam and blood, his armour hacked, dented and broken, Thibalt d’Auvergne clove the hostile press with the fierce rapidity of a falcon in its stoop. He checked his horse but by the royal banner; he sprang to the ground; dashed, weltering to the earth, the boors who were kneeling on the prostrate body of the King, and, striding over it, whirled his immense mace round his head, at every blow sending the soul of some Saxon on the cold pilgrimage of death. The burgesses reeled back; but at .the same time, the knights who had been advancing, hurled themselves upon the Count d’Auvergne, and heaped blow upon blow on his head. “The safety of the whole host—the fife and death, or captivity of the King—the destiny of all Europe—perhaps of all the world, depended at that moment on the arm of a madman. But that arm bore it all nobly up; and, though his armour was actually hewn from his flesh; and he himself bleeding from a hundred wounds, he wavered nci a step; but, still striding over the body of the King, as he lay unable to rise, from the weight of his horse resting on his thigh—maintained his ground, till knight after knight arriving on both sides, the combat became more equal.

“Still the fight around the royal banner was doubtful, when the battle cry v of De Coucy was heard approaching. ‘A Coucy! A Coucy! St. Michael! St. Michael!’ rang over the plain; and the long lances of Tankerville, which had twice completely traversed and retraversed the enemy’s line, were seen sweeping on, in unbroken masses, like a thunder cloud advancing over the heaven. The regular order they still preserved, as well as their admirable training, and confidence in their leader, gave them vast superiority. The German pikemen were trampled under their tread. The knights were forced back at the point of the spear; the communes of Compiegne and Abbeville rallied behind them, and, in a short time, the field around the royal banner was once more clear of all enemies. The first thing was to free the King from the weight of his horse, which had been stabbed in the neck, and was now quite dead.

THE MAGAZINES From Messrs Gordon and Gotch, through Mr H. Menzies, has come a parcel of current magazines. The Novel for May is a very readable volume. An outstanding feature is a complete story “The Love Story of Captain Blaster,” by Dorothy Black. Other contributors include Ursula Bloom, A. R. Wetjen, Barbara Hadworth, and Sewell Peaslee Wright. ♦ The June number of the Grand features stories from such wellknown and able pens as those of Sir Philip Gibbs, H. G. Wehs and Rebecca West. The H. G. Wells feature is a serial story, the “Sleeper Awakes,” in which the writer aims at predicting the future of mankind. In addition, there are half a dozen short stories from other experienced writers. vs- * * * * Features of the May number of the Royal Screen Pictorial are Grace Moore’s story on her fight to fame, a readable article on Shirley Temple, the souvenir album of “Strictly Confidential,” and characters in “David Copperfield.” There are a number of special articles, and the usual features dealing with gossip from Hollywood. “West” for mid-April provides thrills galore. “Pokeasy Jones” is a complete novel written in Ray Palmer Tracey's best style. Of a different character is an article on “Will Rogers, cowboy. fancy roper, humourist, philosopher, writer and motion picture star.” This is most readable. Weldon’s Bazaar of Children's Fashions. July number, contains free patterns of dress and short coat 11-12 years; smock and knickers. 3-4 years; and yoked frock 3-4 years. In addition, the 16-page supplement of fashions contains the very latest designs in frocks, coats, berets, undies etc., also a special page of fashions for mothers and mother-to-be. * * * • The rnagtiziues referred to ovo on sale at all booksellers’ shops in Whangarei.