The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-05-08
A Legend of Brittany.

A Legend of Brittany.
Every one is familiar with the name of
Jeanne de Montfort. Every one knows
with what intrepidity this heroine of the
| fourteenth century-thathge Of heroines
maintained the rights of her husband
and child in the celebrated contest be-
| tween the Counts of Moutford and BIois
for the Duchy of Bretagne. But a fact
with which every one is not familiar, is
that the wa-like Countess, in displaying
the manly qualities which astonished her
contemporaries, lost none of the virtues
or graces af her sex; and the knights of
Bretagne and England, when they saw
her pass in front of their ranks, with her
son in her arms, attended by her page, or
seated in the halls of her castle, her golden
crown on her head, and her stately hound
at her feet, thought her as beautiful as
her enemies did terrible when she dashed
among them on her war horse, helmet on
head, battle axe in hand, and lance in
rest. Consequently the good Countess
had as many admirers as partisans, and
did as much execution at home with her
large dark eyes and golden hair as among
her enemies with the redoubtable sword
of her husband. Be it observed, how
ever, to the honor of our heroine, that her
lovers never gained aught but their signs
and the good lance strokes bestowed in
her name upon her adyersaries, the only
sufferers of this innocent gallantry. OF
all her adorers the goodliest among the
goOdly and the most ardent among the
ardent was. VI 5Hita de NANNY the flower
His reuown and his services place him
in the first rank among her followers.
The very day of his arrival at Henne
bont he adopted her colors the next he
declared her the lady OF his thoughts !;
the next he avowed his passion before all
the assembled knights, and not a day
passed that he did not break lance or
slay an enemy in honor of her and he
had his reward When she went to bat
/ tie it was he who handed her her arms ;
when she needed succor it was he who
/ flew to her rescue, and when, after the
conflict, she alghted from her steed, ii
was he who gave her his hand to cross
! the drawbridge of her castle; and one
day, when the fair warrior was wounded
by a stroke which Nanny had no time to
parry, it was he who received her in his
arms and bore her through the fortress.
If the Chevalier, emboldened by these
favors, ever ventured TO sue rUr any 9th
ers, the name of the Count de Montfor
during his life and afterwards the Grape
which futtered on the helmet 0fthe noble
widow was sufficient to remin him that
as the wife had lived for her husband the
widow would live for her infaIt alone
Still Sir Walter de Nanny once obtained
a more brilliant and more tender reward
and to understand its value we must re-
member that we are speaking not of tn,
Court of Louis XIV, but of the manner
of Brittany in the severest and purest o
the ages of chivalry.
The next morning the countess wa
preparing her knights for battle by {
hasty repast in one of the halls of he
castle of Hennebont. The flower of he
army was around her They were rising
from the table, and the knights, elevat
ing their large goblets, were pIedging tn
brave, amazon, and she her son, in return
when a squire entered the hall in a grea
agitation.
:" What is the matter :" cried all tn
guests as with one accord.
The squire answered that the detach
ment that had been expected from Auva
had been surprised by Don Louis o
, Spain and the three knights who com
m snded it made prisoners and that the,
would be put to death unless Hennebon
was surrendered within one hour.
" My three brave knights put t
death'' repeated Jeanne, rising and east
ing around her a bold and indignan
, glance as if to ask the heart of all he
followers Shall they indeed be put t
deathe"
E" No." voice which the Counties
recognized was the first to exclaim
90 No, they shall not die l swear it b,
| good sword and by yourself, madame!
And Nanny bowed low before her ant
! drew his long blade from the soabhard.
, The others followed his example, an
a sweet smile thanked them.
, But Nanny saw, or fancied, that tn
! smile was more tender for him than fo
his comrades, and, feeling inspired b
| such slight preference;
e " Madame!" said he, with look NOR
eloquent than his words, g what will 70
B give him who will bring you your tire
e captive knights safe and sound within on
) hour ~
A slight blush tinged the countess
cheek. Then turning to Sir Walter, bI
: without raising her eyes;
will give him my hand to kiss.
Y Cheyaliers!" cried Nanny, brandisl
e ing his long sword; Chevalier the br'
/, vest wins it, and Bretagne for the GOO
5 countess !"
81 "Bretagne for the good eountess!' r
. piled the others, Fastening to arms.
It Jeanne repaired to window whic
a overlooked the plain.
], In Eve minutes she saw a body
e knights pass through The gates of Il
= town and hurry on at full. speed towal
o the camp of Charles de Blois, and 81
o could see that the knight who rode for
e most wore her colors.
h For half an hour the hostile camp W
hidden in clouds of dust, from which ht