Forest Days: A Romance of Old Times
her free."
"May I know," demanded Alured de Ashby, assuming a sweet and
ceremonious tone, which contrasted strangely with the workings of anger
and pride in his face--"may I know, fair sir, whether this demand is
made of my father by these courteous outlaws of Sherwood, or by the
noble Lord Hugh de Monthermer?"
"Hush! Alured, I will have none of this!" exclaimed his father again.
"You are too violent! Surely I have maintained the dignity of my house
all my days, and can do it without your help. Now, my Lord Hugh, from
whom comes this demand?"
"It comes, my lord," replied Hugh, "from all those persons who held
your daughter in their power. To you, my lord, for whom I entertain so
much respect, I bear it unwillingly, and bear it only in the name of
others; but it is my purpose, I acknowledge, whenever and wheresoever I
meet Richard de Ashby, to demand that and more at his hands."
"Sir!" cried Alured, "there is one here present right willing and ready
to put himself in the place of his cousin, and render you every account
of his conduct you can desire."
Hugh turned from him with a look from which he could not altogether
banish some contempt. "When I find, my lord," he replied, "that Richard
de Ashby is lame or impotent, a woman or a monk, I will consent to his
appointing a champion, but not till then. I have no quarrel with you,
my lord, and do not intend to have one."
"Methinks, my Lord of Ashby," said De Montfort, who had been speaking
for a moment apart with the old Earl of Monthermer--"methinks the
demand made upon you is but just, let it come from whom it may. These
men held your daughter in their power, and they fixed certain
conditions, taking it for granted you would execute which, they set the
lady free. Those conditions in themselves are fair, if I understand the
matter rightly; and it were better far to yield to them, than now to
dispute the matter, when your daughter has thus attained her
liberty.--It would be more honourable, I say."
The colour came up in the old Earl de Ashby's cheek.
"The house of Ashby, my lord," he replied, "permits no one to dictate
to it, what is for its honour to do."
"Far less," cried Alured, "will it allow an ancient enemy, presuming on
the forbearance which has already given pardon and forgiveness for many
offences, to bring false charges against one of its members, and then
dictate how its chief is to act!"
"Pardon and forgiveness!" exclaimed Hugh de Monthermer--"false charges!
These are strange terms. As to the truth of the accusation, if your
base kinsman, sir, dares to put forth still the lying pretext that he
made use of when last I saw him, and to lay, upon the same scapegoat,
the blame of corresponding with the enemies of the state and of
carrying off this poor girl, his falsehood now can soon be proved, for
she has been seen with him in this very city."
Alured looked down and bit his lip; and the old Lord of Monthermer,
anxious to prevent the house of Ashby from abandoning that cause which
he conceived to be just and right, interposed in the calm, grave manner
which was usual with him, saying--"Do not suppose, my noble friend,
that my Lord of Leicester wishes to dictate to you in any degree. It is
fair that he should submit for your consideration whether it will not
be more honourable to your family to clear it of the stain which this
man's conduct leaves upon it."
"I can meddle, my lord, with no man's pastimes," said the Earl de
Ashby, carried away by the example of his son. "Richard de Ashby is not
my page, for me to chastise him, if he plays the fool with a peasant's
daughter. I cannot meddle in the matter."
"Would your lordship not have meddled," asked De Montfort, sternly, "if
your daughter's freedom had still depended on it. Methinks you would
then have found right soon motives sufficient to interfere, and that
somewhat vigorously."
"Well, my lord," cried the Earl, in an angry tone,--for where weakness
goes hand in hand with wrong, wrath is never far behind; "at all
events, it is no affair of yours! This is no public matter, but a
private business, put upon me by Lord Hugh of Monthermer."
"Nay, my good lord--nay!" exclaimed Hugh, "most unwillingly did I
undertake it; but surely you would not have had me risk your daughter's
liberation, by hesitating to convey to you a mere demand, which,
without obtaining her deliverance at all, might have been sent by any
other person."
"And carried by any other, with much more grace than by a pretended
friend," rejoined Alured de Ashby.
"Young gentleman," said the old Earl of Monthermer, "you have done
mischief enough this morning, whether you intended it or not. Do no
more mischief, I beseech you; nor make those part enemies who would
fain be friends. Your father's answer is given--he will not meddle in
the affair; so let it rest. Hugh has done his duty, and he has had,
moreover, the pleasure and the honour of serving and protecting a lady.
Whatever more is to be done rests with yourselves."
"Not entirely," replied De Montfort, with a frown; "I have some say in
this business."
"How so, my lord?" demanded the Earl of Ashby, sharply. "I will allow
no one--, not the highest in all the laud, to judge for me, as to my
private conduct."
"You are somewhat hasty, my good lord," said De Montfort, coldly.
"Hasty or not," interrupted Alured de Ashby, eager to widen the breach
as far as possible, "my father is right in what he says: and I say yea
to him."
"So bold!" said De Montfort, contemptuously; "so very bold for so young
a bird! Methinks its wings want clipping, lest it should flee away!"
Alured de Ashby saw that he had gone somewhat too far, and might,
perhaps, if he said more, endanger his own liberty. At least, conscious
of his own purposes, he so construed the words of the Earl of
Leicester. His haughty spirit, however, would not bow to qualify even
in a degree the rash language he had used, and he remained sullenly
silent, looking down upon the ground, while the great Earl continued
with his keen grey eyes fixed sternly upon him.
"To end all this," De Montfort went on, "and to conclude a conversation
which has continued too long, there are other charges against your
kinsman, Earl of Ashby, which cannot exactly be trusted to your
lordship's lenity. They are somewhat more serious than debauching a
country girl; and as it has been proved that he has been seen with this
light-o'-love damsel, who, by his own confession, went off with one
undoubtedly a traitor to these realms, it is strong presumptive proof
that he still has that traitor in his service, or knows more of him
than is befitting. Under these circumstances, I have already ordered
his arrest, should he enter Hereford; and now, moreover, I will have
him sought for, and if he be a traitor, deal with him as such--which I
will likewise do with all who prove so;" he added, in a marked tone.
"Your lordship is right," said Alured de Ashby; and he muttered between
his teeth so low that it could not be heard--"If you can catch them!"
"Now, good morning to you, my lords," continued De Montfort; "at three
this evening we will hold a council, to consider of proclaiming
Mortimer and others, traitors. We shall expect you all to be present.
Come with me, Monthermer--come with me, Lord Hugh! We will have no high
words upon the stairs."
Lord Ashby and his son turned away, with frowning brows; and, as they
descended to the court-yard, two short sentences were spoken, which
decided the fate of both. "I know not what may be your purpose, my
father," said Alured, "but my course is determined. I will neither be
the jest of the Monthermers nor the slave of Simon de Montfort!"
"Nor I either, Alured," answered the Earl, in a low tone; and without
more comment they mounted their horses, and rode back to the inn.
They had scarcely quitted the court when Hugh de Monthermer appeared in
it, with a hasty step. One of the small party of armed retainers who
had accompanied him instantly led forwards his horse, and he sprang
into the saddle. "Which way did the Earl of Ashby take?" he demanded.
"Through that gate, my lord," replied the man; and, bidding the
servants follow him, the young knight was turning towards the other
archway, when he felt something pull his stirrup, and looking down,
beheld the boy Tangel, holding up his long bony hand with many a
curious grimace.
"I will speak with thee by and by, Tangel," said Hugh; "I will be back
in an hour."
"Ay, by and by is the cat that lapped up all the cream!" cried the
dwarf. "By and by wont do, I must speak with you now! I have much to
say!"
"Then you must get a horse, and follow me, Tangel," replied the young
lord--"it is already near the hour named. I go up the hill--be quick!"
and he put spurs to his horse. The dwarf gazed after him for a minute,
murmuring--"He'll be an hour too soon, if he do not mind!" and turned
away.
CHAPTER XVIII.
About half an hour after the events had taken place, of which we have
spoken in the last chapter, Prince Edward stood in the midst of the
chamber already described, habited in a light riding suit, but armed
only with his sword. He was gazing, with a look of expectation, at the
door, when it opened, and his young companion, Thomas de Clare, entered
in haste. "Oh yes, my lord," he said, with a well pleased smile, "he
fully confirms the permission; and, indeed, William of Cantelupe,
Ingelby, and Thomas de Blundel, with three or four, are already waiting
in the court-yard for your coming."
"Is my horse prepared, then?" demanded the Prince.
"Why, the foolish grooms, my lord," replied the young nobleman, "had
brought out the roan, alleging that grey was lean, and not like a
Prince's horse, but I bade them saddle him, notwithstanding, saying
that I had given him to your Grace, and checking them for not obeying
the order they had received. He is, doubtless, caparisoned by this
time--but you are pale, my lord; the fever has weakened you! Were it
not as well to take a cup of wine before you ride forth?"
Edward shook his head. "Not so!" he said; "when I strike my spur into
that horse's side, the very thought of freedom shall give me better
strength and courage than the best wine that ever France produced.
However, let me have your arm; it may be well to seem a little weaker
than I am. Do you go with me, De Clare?"
"No, my lord," answered his companion, "I am not one of those named;
and, to say the truth, I did not seek the honour, for I might but
embarrass you, and I must provide for my own safety here."
"Are you sure you can?" demanded the Prince. "You must not risk your
life for me, De Clare!"
"Oh, fear not--fear not!" replied the young nobleman; "give me but one
hour, and I will be beyond the reach of harm."
After a few more words, Prince Edward took his arm, and slowly
descended the stairs, at the foot of which they found a number of
gentlemen assembled, with several servants holding the horses which had
been prepared for their excursion. The spearmen whom De Clare had
talked of the preceding night did not make their appearance, De
Montfort judging that seven or eight of his stanchest followers would
be quite sufficient to secure him against the escape of the captive
Prince. Edward bowed familiarly to the various gentlemen present, and
was received with every appearance of deference and respect.
"Good morning, Ingelby," he said; "good morning, Sir William de
Cantelupe. Blundel, I am glad you are here--you are a judge of horses;
and De Clare has given me one, which he declares will make an excellent
charger--God speed the mark! When shall I need a charger again?--But
there he comes; at least, I suppose so. What think you of him?"