Both were men of unwonted strength and endurance, and both were fired by a strong personal enmity towards the French and their aggressive policy.
Julian told Humphrey, in their private conferences, something of the cause of this personal rancour.
"There was a fair maid in our valley--Renee we called her--and her parents were French.

But we were all friends together; and Fritz and she loved each other, and were about to be betrothed.

Then came these troubles, and the priest forbade Renee to wed a heretic; and though she herself would have been faithful, her parents were afraid.

It seemed to all then that the French were going to be masters of the land.

There was another youth who loved her also, and to him they married her.