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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15670-h.zip b/15670-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a6560e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/15670-h.zip diff --git a/15670-h/15670-h.htm b/15670-h/15670-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..77745a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/15670-h/15670-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5515 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content= "text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<title>The Secret Chamber at Chad</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + body {background:#ffffff; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size:14pt; + margin-top:70px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + h1 {text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em} + h2 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + hr {height: 5px} + pre {text-align: center; font-size: 10pt;} + p {text-indent: 4% } + caption {text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold; + letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial";} + td { text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold; + letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial";} + td.toc { text-align: right} +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Secret Chamber at Chad, by Evelyn Everett-Green + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Secret Chamber at Chad + +Author: Evelyn Everett-Green + +Release Date: April 20, 2005 [EBook #15670] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECRET CHAMBER AT CHAD *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>The Secret Chamber at Chad</h1> +<h2>by Everett Evelyn-Green.</h2> +<hr /> +<table cellspacing="5" align="center" summary="Table of Contents"> +<caption>Table of Contents</caption> +<tr> +<td class="toc"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterI">Chapter I</a>:</td> +<td>A Mysterious Visitor.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterII">Chapter II</a>:</td> +<td>The Household At Chad.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterIII">Chapter III</a>:</td> +<td>Brother Emmanuel.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterIV">Chapter IV</a>:</td> +<td>The Travelling Preacher.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterV">Chapter V</a>:</td> +<td>A Warning.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterVI">Chapter VI</a>:</td> +<td>Watched!</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterVII">Chapter VII</a>:</td> +<td>An Imposing Spectacle.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterVIII">Chapter VIII</a>:</td> +<td>Hidden Away.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterIX">Chapter IX</a>:</td> +<td>The Search.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="toc"><a href="#ChapterX">Chapter X</a>:</td> +<td>From Peril To Safety.</td> +</tr> +</table> +<h2><a name="ChapterI" id="ChapterI">Chapter I</a>: A Mysterious +Visitor.</h2> +<p>The great house at Chad was wrapped in sleep. The brilliant +beams of a June moon illuminated the fine pile of gray masonry with +a strong white light. Every castellated turret and twisted chimney +stood out in bold relief from the heavy background of the pine wood +behind, and the great courtyard lay white and still, lined by a +dark rim of ebon shadow.</p> +<p>Chad, without being exactly a baronial hall of the first +magnitude, was nevertheless a very fine old house. It had been +somewhat shorn of its pristine glories during the Wars of the +Roses. One out of its original two quadrangles had then been laid +in ruins, and had never been rebuilt. But the old inner quadrangle +still remained standing, and made an ample and commodious dwelling +house for the family of the Chadgroves who inhabited it; whilst the +ground which had once been occupied by the larger outer quadrangle, +with its fortifications and battlements, was now laid out in +terraces and garden walks, which made a pleasant addition to the +family residence.</p> +<p>The seventh Henry was on the throne. The battle of Bosworth +Field had put an end to the long-drawn strife betwixt the houses of +York and Lancaster. The exhausted country was beginning to look +forward to a long period of prosperity and peace; and the household +at Chad was one of the many that were rejoicing in the change which +had come upon the public outlook, and was making the most of the +peaceful years which all trusted lay before the nation.</p> +<p>Several changes of some importance had passed over Chad during +the previous century. The wars had made gaps in the ranks of the +family to whom it had always belonged. There had been sundry edicts +of confiscation--as speedily repealed by the next change in the +fate of the day; and more than once the head had been struck down +by death, and the house and lands had passed either to a minor or +to some other branch of the family. There had been the confusion +and strife betwixt the various branches of the family which was a +characteristic of that age of upheaval and strife; but the present +owner of the estate, Sir Oliver Chadgrove, seemed firmly settled in +his place. He had fought on Henry's side at Bosworth, and had been +confirmed by that monarch in the possession of the estate of Chad; +and since that day none had tried to dispute his claim; nor, +indeed, would it have been very easy to do so, as he was +undoubtedly the rightful representative of the older branch of the +family.</p> +<p>A just and kindly man, he was beloved of those about him, and +would have been <span lang="en-GB" xml:lang= +"en-GB">staunchly</span> supported by his retainers had any +adversary arisen against him. His only enemy was the Lord of +Mortimer, who owned Mortimer's Keep, the adjoining property, and +had cast covetous eyes on Chad during the stormy days of the late +wars, more than once trying unsuccessfully to step in between the +disputing parties and claim it as his own, not by the power of +right, but by that of might alone. However, he had not been +successful in this attempt; and for the past few years there had +been a semblance of friendliness between Sir Oliver and his proud +and powerful neighbour.</p> +<p>The knight was well aware that the friendliness was more a +seeming than a reality. He was perfectly well acquainted with the +rapacious character of the owner of Mortimer's Keep, and with his +covetous designs upon Chad. He knew he was a secret foe, always on +the watch for any cause of complaint against him; and he could +often feel that it would take very little to stir up the old +jealous strife and hostility. Still, for the present an armed truce +was the order of the day, and Sir Oliver, knowing his own loyalty, +the cleanness of his hands, and the uprightness of his dealings, +was not much afraid that his enemy would ever succeed in ousting +him from his lands, or in gaining possession of the fair park and +house of Chad for himself.</p> +<p>Sir Oliver was personally liked by the king, which was another +point in his favour. Without being a brilliant ruler like his +successors, the seventh Henry had the faculty of choosing men of +parts to place about him, and he had recognized in Sir Oliver +Chadgrove certain qualities which he approved, and of which he +wished to avail himself from time to time. So the knight was +frequently summoned to attend the king, and occasionally his wife +went with him and appeared at court. On this particular bright June +night, both the master and the mistress were absent, being at +Windsor with the king's court; and the three boys--the children +with whom Providence had blessed them--were the only members of the +family sleeping beneath the roof of the great house.</p> +<p>The bedchamber of the three boys was a large, bare room looking +out across the wooded park and ridge of hills, through which the +little river of Chad meandered leisurely. The boys would have +preferred the courtyard for their lookout; but a lover of nature +could not but be struck by the exceeding beauty of the view from +this row of latticed casements. And indeed the green expanse of +home-like country had its charm even for high-spirited boys; and +Edred, the second child of the house, often sat for hours together +on the wide window ledge, gazing his fill at the shifting lights +and shadows, and dreaming dreams of his own about what he saw.</p> +<p>The long room contained three small narrow beds, and very little +furniture besides, In each of these beds a boy lay sleeping. The +moonlight streaming in through the uncurtained windows illuminated +the whole room, and showed the curly heads, two dark and one fair, +lying on the hard pillows, and shone so straight into the face of +the eldest boy, that he stirred a little in his sleep, and half +turned round.</p> +<p>He was a handsome lad of some eight or nine summers, with +regular, strongly-marked features, and dark hair and eyes. The +brown hand and arm which lay exposed to view showed a muscular +development that betokened great strength to come when the boy +should be grown to manhood, and the face exhibited a like promise +of strength of will and character.</p> +<p>Bertram Chadgrove, half aroused by the strong light of the moon +in his face, opened his dark eyes sleepily for a few minutes, and +then turned over towards the wall, and prepared to slumber again. +But before he had sunk to sleep he became further aroused by a very +peculiar sound in the wall (as it seemed), close to which his bed +was stationed; and instead of drowsing off again, he woke up with +all his faculties on the alert, much as a watchdog does, and +sitting up in bed he listened with all his ears.</p> +<p>Yes; there could be no mistaking it! There was certainly a +sound--a muffled, curious sound--within the very wall itself. He +pressed his ear against the panel, and his eyes shone brightly in +the moonlight.</p> +<p>"It is some living thing," he whispered to himself. "Methinks it +is surely some human thing. Rats can make strange sounds, I know, +but not such sounds as these. A human being, and within the +thickness of the wall! How can such a thing be? I never heard the +like before. It comes nearer--I hear the groping of hands close +beside mine ear. Heaven send it be not a spirit from the other +world! I fear no mortal arm, of flesh and blood, but I desire not +to see a visitor from the land of shadows."</p> +<p>For a moment the boy's flesh crept on his bones, and the hair of +his head seemed to rise up from his scalp. The groping of those +phantom hands against the wall just beside him was enough to fill +the stoutest heart with terror, in an age when superstition was +always rife. He strove to call to his brothers; but his voice was +no more than a whisper, and his throat felt dry and parched. +Failing in making himself heard by his companions, he cowered down +and drew the clothes right over his head, shivering with fear; and +it was several minutes before his native courage came to his aid, +and he felt ashamed of this paroxysm of terror.</p> +<p>"Fie upon me for a white-livered poltroon!" he cried, as the +chill sweat of fear ceased to break out upon him, and he rallied +his courage and his determination.</p> +<p>"I am no better than a maid! Shame upon me for a coward! I will +not call to Edred and Julian. It shall not be said of me, even by +mine own self, that I dared not face even a spirit from the lower +world alone. I will find out what this sound is, and that without +the help of any other living soul, else shall I despise myself +forever!"</p> +<p>And with that resolve hot within him, Bertram threw back his +coverings and prepared to rise from his bed, when his attention was +arrested by some strange stealthy sounds close against the great +carved chimney piece, on the same side of the room as his own +bed.</p> +<p>His brothers slept on the opposite side of the big room. None of +the sounds which were so astonishing Bertram would penetrate to +their sleeping senses. Had the eldest boy not been awake at the +beginning, he would scarce have heard the sound, so cautious and +soft it was. But this noise was something new. It was like hands +fumbling and groping in search of something. Bertram held his +breath to listen, growing hot and cold by turns. But he drew some +of his clothes cautiously towards him, and silently slipped into +his nether garments. He felt that if there were some unseen enemy +striving in mysterious fashion to penetrate into this room, he +could better meet him if he were clothed, however scantily, than he +could do as he was; and he had ample time to put on even his +doublet and hose, and to cover himself up again in bed, with his +small poniard closely held in his hand, before there was any +further development of that strange night's drama which he was so +breathlessly watching.</p> +<p>That something or somebody was seeking to find entrance into the +room, he could not doubt for a moment; but, on the other hand, it +seemed an incredible surmise, because the wall along which the +unknown visitor had plainly felt his way was an outside wall, and +if there really were any person thus moving, he must be walking +along some secret passage in the thickness of the wall itself.</p> +<p>Such a thing was not impossible. Bertram knew of more than one +such passage contrived in the thickness of the wall in his ancient +home, and all the family were acquainted with a certain secret +hiding place that existed, cleverly contrived in the rambling old +building, which, with its various levels and its wilderness of +chimneys, might well defy detection, even with the most skilled +search. But the boy knew of no such passage or chamber in +connection with their sleeping room, and he was sure his parents +did not know of one either, or any member of the household. +Therefore it was immensely surprising to hear these uncanny sounds, +and it was small wonder if they did give rise to a wave of +supernatural terror, of which the boy was man enough to feel +ashamed the moment reason had time to assert her sway.</p> +<p>"I have done no wrong; I confessed but three days since, and +received blessing and absolution. If any spirit were to come to +visit this room, it could do me no hurt. Besides, methinks a spirit +would pass easily along the straightest place, and would not need +to fumble thus as if in search of hidden bolts.</p> +<p>"Ha! what is that! Methought some spring shot back. Hist! here +IT comes!"</p> +<p>The boy lay back upon his bed, drawing the clothes silently up +to his very eyes. The moonlight had shifted just a little, and no +longer illumined his face. That was now in shadow, and would scarce +reveal the fact that he was awake. He lay perfectly still, scarce +daring to draw his breath, and the next moment a strange thing +happened.</p> +<p>The whole of one of the great carved pillars that supported the +high mantle shelf swung noiselessly forward, and stood out at right +angles to the wall. From where he lay Bertram could not see, but he +could well understand that when this was done a narrow doorway had +been revealed, and the next moment a shadowy figure glided with +noiseless steps into the room.</p> +<p>The figure was poorly clad in a doublet of serge much the worse +for wear, and the moonlight showed a strangely haggard face and +soiled and torn raiment. Yet there was an air of dignity about the +mysterious visitor which showed to the astonished boy that he must +at some time have been in better circumstances, and lying quite +still Bertram watched his movements with breathless attention.</p> +<p>With a quick, scared glance round him, as though afraid that +even the silence might be the silence of treachery, the gaunt +figure advanced with covert eagerness across the floor, leaving the +door wide open behind him, as if to be ready for him should he +desire to fly; and precipitating himself upon a ewer of cold water +standing upon the floor, he drank and drank and drank as though he +would never cease.</p> +<p>Plainly he was consumed by the most raging thirst. Bertram had +never seen anything but an exhausted horse after a burning summer's +chase in the forest drink in such a fashion. And as he watched, all +fear left him in a moment, for certainly no phantom could drink dry +this great ewer of spring water; and if he had only a creature of +flesh and blood to deal with, why, then there was certainly no +cause for fear.</p> +<p>In place of dread and terror, a great pity welled up in the +generous heart of the boy. He had all the hatred for oppression and +the chivalrous desire to help the oppressed that seem born in the +hearts of the sons of British birth. Who and what manner of man +this was he did not know; but he was evidently some poor hunted +creature, going in very fear of his life, and as such the boy +pitied him from the very ground of his heart, and would gladly have +helped him had he known how.</p> +<p>He lay for a few moments wondering and pondering. Certainly his +father was no foe to any man. He could not be hiding from his +displeasure. The fugitive had rather taken refuge in his house; and +if so, who better could be found to help him than the son of the +owner?</p> +<p>"Our father and our mother alike have always taught us to +befriend the stranger and the oppressed," said the boy to himself. +"I will ask this stranger of himself, and see if I may befriend +him. I would gladly learn the trick of yon door. It would be a +goodly secret to have for our very own."</p> +<p>It was plain that the fugitive, though aware that the room was +tenanted, had satisfied himself that the occupants were all asleep. +He had ceased his frightened, furtive looks around him, and was +quaffing the last of the water with an air of relish and relief +that was good to see, pausing from time to time to stretch his +limbs and to draw in great gulps of fresh air through the open +window by which he stood, as a prisoner might do who had just been +released from harsh captivity.</p> +<p>The moonlight shining upon his face showed it haggard, unkempt, +and unshorn. Plainly he had been several days in hiding; and by the +gauntness of his figure, and the wolfish gleam in his eye as it +roved quickly round the apartment, as if in search of food, it was +plain that he was suffering keenly from hunger, too.</p> +<p>Bertram's decision was quickly taken. Whilst the man's face was +turned the other way, he quickly rose from his bed, and crossing +the room with noiseless steps, laid a hand upon his arm.</p> +<p>"Hist, friend!" he whispered whilst the start given by the +other, and the hoarse exclamation that broke from his lips, might +have wakened sleepers who were not healthy, tired boys. "Fear not; +I am no foe to betray thee. Tell me who and what thou art, and I +will help thee all I may."</p> +<p>The frightened eyes bent upon him bespoke a great terror. The +man's voice died away as he tried to speak. The only word Bertram +could catch seemed to be a prayer that he would not betray him.</p> +<p>"Betray thee! Never! Why, good fellow, dost not know that the +Chadgroves never betray those who trust in them? Hence sometimes +has trouble come upon them. But before we talk, let me get thee +food. Methinks thou art well-nigh starved."</p> +<p>"Food! food! Ah, if thou wouldst give me that, young master, I +would bless thee forever! I have well-nigh perished with hunger and +thirst. Heaven be thanked that I have tasted water once again!"</p> +<p>"Come hither," said Bertram cautiously. "First close this narrow +doorway, the secret of which thou must teach me in return for what +I will do for thee, and then I will take thee to another chamber, +where our voices will not disturb my brothers, and we can talk, and +thou canst eat at ease. I must know thy story, and I pledge myself +to help thee. Show me now the trick of this door. I swear I will +make no treacherous use of the secret."</p> +<p>"I will trust thee, young sir. I must needs do so, for without +human help I must surely die.</p> +<p>"Seest thou this bunch of grapes so cunningly carved here? This +middle grape of the cluster will turn round in the fingers that +know how to find and grasp it, and so turning and turning slowly, +unlooses a bolt within--here--and so the whole woodwork swings out +upon hinges and reveals the doorway. Where that doorway leads I +will show thee anon, if thou wouldst know the trick of the secret +chamber at Chad that all men have now forgotten. It may be that it +will some day shelter thee or thine, for thou hast enemies abroad, +even as I have."</p> +<p>Bertram was intensely interested as he examined and mastered the +simple yet clever contrivance of this masked door; but quickly +remembering the starved condition of his companion, he led him +cautiously into an adjoining room, where were a table and some +scant furniture, and gliding down the staircase and along dim +corridors just made visible by the reflected radiance of the moon, +he reached the buttery, and armed himself with a venison pasty, a +loaf of bread, and a bottle of wine. Hurrying back with these, he +soon had the satisfaction to see the stranger fall upon them with +the keen relish of a man who has fasted to the last limits of +endurance; and only after he had seen that the keen edge of his +hunger had been satisfied did he try to learn more of him and his +concerns.</p> +<p>"Now tell me, my good friend, who and what thou art," said the +boy, "and how comes it that thou seekest shelter here, and that +thou knowest more of Chad than we its owners do. That is the thing +which has been perplexing me this long while. I would fain hear +from thy story how it comes about."</p> +<p>"That is soon told, young sir. Thou dost not, probably, remember +the name of Warbel as that of some of the retainers of thy +grandsire, but--"</p> +<p>"I have heard the name," said the boy. "I have heard my father +speak of them. But I knew not that there were any of that name now +living."</p> +<p>"I am a Warbel--I trow the last of my race. I was born beyond +the seas; but I was early brought to England, and I heard munch of +the strife that encompassed Chad, because my father and grandfather +both knew the place well, and would fain have gone back and lived +in the old country had not fortune otherwise decreed it. To make a +long story short, they never returned to the place. But when I was +grown to man's estate, I was offered a post in the household of the +Lord of Mortimer, and as it was the best thing that had fallen in +my way, I accepted it very gladly; for I knew that name, too, and I +knew naught against the haughty lord, albeit my father and +grandsire had not loved the lords of that name who lived before +him.</p> +<p>"For many years I have been in his service, and for a while all +went well with me. I was made one of his gentlemen, and he seemed +to favour me. But of late there has been a change towards me--I +know not how or why. I have offended him without intending it, and +he has sometimes provoked me almost beyond endurance by his proud +insolence. But that I might have borne, for he was my master, had +it not been for the insolence and insults I had to bear from others +amongst his servants, and from one youth in particular, who seemed +to me to be trying to oust me from my place, and to get himself the +foremost place in his master's favour. That made my hot blood boil +again and again, until at last the thing I believe they had long +planned happened, and I had to fly for my life."</p> +<p>The man paused, and Bertram, who was drinking in this story, +asked eagerly: "And what was that?"</p> +<p>"It was four days ago now, in the hall where we had supped. We +had drunk much wine in honour of our master's birthday, and then we +began playing and dicing to pass the time till we retired to bed. +My adversary was this youth whom I so greatly distrust. As we +played I detected him in unfair practices. He vowed I lied, and +called upon me to prove my words at the sword's point; but in my +fury and rage I sprang upon him with my bare hands, and would have +wrung his neck--the insolent popinjay--had I been able. As it was, +we struggled and swayed together till my greater weight caused him +to fall over backwards against one of the tables, and I verily +believe his back is broken. I know not whether he is living yet. +But as he is not only a great favourite with the Lord of Mortimer, +but a distant kinsman to boot, no sooner was the deed done than all +in the hall called to me to save myself by flight, for that the +master would revenge such a death upon the perpetrator of it +without mercy, and that if I wished to spare my neck I must fly +without an instant's delay.</p> +<p>"I knew this but too well myself. The baron was a fearful man to +meet in his rage. Where to fly I knew not, but stay I could not. I +had bare time to rush to my room, don a dress that would not excite +inquiry if I had to lie hid in the forest a few days. I did not +think flight would be so difficult a matter, but I knew that every +moment spent in Mortimer's Keep was at peril of my life; and I had +but just made my escape through a small postern door before I heard +the alarm bell ring, the drawbridge go up, and knew that the edict +had gone forth for my instant apprehension."</p> +<p>He paused with a slight shudder, and seemed to be listening +intently.</p> +<p>"There is naught to fear here," said Bertram. "Tell me more of +thy flight."</p> +<p>"It was terrible," answered the man. "I had not looked to be +hunted like the wild beasts of the forest; and yet an hour had not +gone by before I heard, by the baying of the fierce hounds that are +kept at Mortimer, that a hunting party had sallied forth; and I +knew that I was the quarry. I doubled and ran like any hare. I knew +the tricks of the wild things that have skill in baffling the dogs, +and at last I reached the shelter of these walls, and ran there for +protection. I had thrown off the dogs at the last piece of water; +and in the marshy ground the scent did not lie, and could not be +picked up. For a brief moment I was safe; but I was exhausted +almost to death. I could go no further. I lay down beneath the +shadow of some arbour within the sheltering precincts of Chad, and +wondered what would become of me."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes! and then--?"</p> +<p>"Then I remembered a story told me by my grandsire, years and +years gone by, of a secret chamber at Chad, which had sheltered +many a fugitive in the hour of peril. Lying out in the soft night +air, I recalled bit by bit all that I had been told--the very +drawings the old man had made to amuse me in a childish sickness, +how the door opened, and how access was had to the chamber. I knew +that the country round would be hunted for days, and that I could +never escape the malice of the Lord of Mortimer if I pursued my way +to the sea. He would overtake and kill me before I could make shift +to gain that place of refuge. But I bethought me of the secret +chamber and its story, and methought I might slip in unseen did I +but watch my opportunity, find my way up the winding stair to this +room, and so to the secret chamber beyond."</p> +<p>"And thou didst?"</p> +<p>"Ay, I did, the very next morning. I saw thee and thy brothers +sally forth a-hunting. I saw the men follow in thy train. I had +heard that the knight and his lady with their retinue were absent +at Windsor. It needed no great skill to slip in unseen and gain the +longed-for hiding place. I had some food in my wallet. I fondly +hoped it would prove enough; but the sounds of hunting day by day +all around have told me too well that I must not venture forth; and +as this room was slept in by night, I feared to sally forth after +food, lest I should be found and betrayed. I had heard of the +merciful nature of the master of Chad; but in his absence I knew +not what his servants might say or do. Doubtless there is a reward +offered for my apprehension; and if that be so, how could I help +fearing that any hired servant would betray me to my lord?"</p> +<p>"And thou thoughtest that servants slept in this room, and dared +not show thyself either by day or night for fear thou mightest be +betrayed! And only hunger and thirst drove thee forth at +length?"</p> +<p>"Ay. And from my heart do I thank thee for thy kindness, young +sir; and gladly will I show thee in return the trick of yon +chamber. If thou canst kindle a torch it will light us better, for +the way thither is wondrous tortuous and narrow."</p> +<p>Bertram had a little lantern--a very treasured possession of +his--and after the usual tedious process of lighting had been gone +through, he softly led the way back to the sleeping chamber. With +his own hands he undid the fastening of the door and saw it swing +open, and then the two passed through into a very narrow aperture, +which proved to be a long narrow gallery contrived in the thickness +of the wall, which would only just admit of the passage of one +figure at a time.</p> +<p>As they went in they drew to the door, and the fugitive showed +his young companion how the bolt upon the inner side might be +unloosed.</p> +<p>"It is easy enow in the light, but hard to feel in the black +darkness," he remarked; and then they pursued their devious way on +and on through this strange passage, which wound up and down and in +and out, and landed them at last at the foot of a spiral staircase, +so narrow and squeezed in by masonry as to be barely serviceable +for the purpose for which it was contrived. It led them to a small +door, through which they passed, to find themselves in a room of +fair size but very low, and without any window, which seemed to +occupy (as indeed it did) a portion of the house between two of the +other floors, and was so contrived as to absolutely defy detection +be the examination of the structure of the house never so +exhaustive. If the secret door were not found, nothing else would +ever betray this cunning hiding-place. Doubtless that was why, +during the many changes that had prevailed at Chad during the past +fifty years, the knowledge of its very existence had been lost.</p> +<p>"Air comes in freely through many cracks and slits," explained +the prisoner. "It is not an unpleasant place save in the heat of +the middle day, when it becomes like a veritable oven. That is why +my thirst was so unbearable. There is a bed, as thou seest, and a +chair and a few other things. One could be comfortable here were it +not for starvation and thirst."</p> +<p>"I will feed thee so long as thou remainest hid," cried the boy, +with generous ardour. "Thou shalt hide there by day, and by night +shalt wander abroad an thou wilt, to breathe the air and stretch +thy limbs. My brothers and I will be thy friends. Thou needst fear +nothing now. We will find out when it is safe for thee to leave thy +retreat, and then thou shalt go forth without fear; or, if thou +likest it better, thou shalt abide here till our father returns and +take service with him. I doubt not he would be glad enow to number +a Warbel again amongst his trusty servants."</p> +<p>The man's face lighted up wonderfully.</p> +<p>"If he would do that," he cried eagerly, "I should have no wish +for anything better. But my master, the baron--"</p> +<p>"My father fears not the baron!" answered the boy proudly; "and, +besides, his young kinsman is not dead. We heard something of his +side of the tale, and the youth is not even like to die now. My +father could protect thee from his wrath. Stay here, and thou wilt +have naught to fear."</p> +<p>The fugitive took the lad's hand and pressed it to his lips.</p> +<p>"I will serve thee for ever and ever for this boon," he +answered; and Bertram went back to his room, to lie awake and muse +over what had befallen till the dawn broke and his brothers awoke +to the new day.</p> +<p>To keep any secret from his two brothers was a thing impossible +to Bertram, and before they had finished dressing that morning, +Edred and Julian were both made aware of the strange adventure of +the night previous. Looking up to Bertram, as they both did, as the +embodiment of prowess and courage, they did not grudge him his +wonderful discovery, but they were eager to visit the fugitive +themselves, and to carry him food and drink.</p> +<p>The days that followed were days of absolute enchantment to the +boys, who delighted in waiting on Warbel and passing hours in his +company. He told them entrancing stories of adventure and peril. He +was devoted to his three youthful keepers, and wished for nothing +better than to enter service with their father.</p> +<p>Later on, when all hue and cry after the missing man was over, +and when Lord Mortimer's young kinsman was so far recovered that it +would be impossible to summon Warbel for any injury inflicted on +him, Bertram conducted him to the hut of one of his father's +woodmen, who promised to keep him safe till the return of the +knight.</p> +<p>When Sir Oliver came back, Warbel was brought to him, told a +part of his tale, and was admitted readily as a member of the +household; but the story of his incarceration in the secret chamber +remained a secret known only to himself and the three boys. So +delightful a mystery as the existence of this unknown chamber was +too precious to be parted with; and it was a compact between the +boys and the man, who now became their chief attendant and body +servant, that the trick of that door and the existence of that +chamber were to be told to none, but kept as absolutely their own +property.</p> +<h2><a name="ChapterII" id="ChapterII">Chapter II</a>: The +Household At Chad.</h2> +<p>The office of mistress of a large household in the sixteenth +century was no sinecure. It was not the fashion then to depute to +the hands of underlings the supervision of the details of domestic +management; and though the lady of the Hall might later in the day +entertain royalty itself, the early hours of the morning were spent +in careful and busy scrutiny of kitchen, pantry, and store or still +room, and her own fair hands knew much of the actual skill which +was required in the preparation of the many compounds which graced +the board at dinner or supper.</p> +<p>Lady Chadgrove was no exception to the general rule of careful +household managers; and whilst her lord and master went hunting or +hawking in the fresh morning air, or shut himself up in his library +to examine into the accounts his steward laid before him or concern +himself with some state business that <span lang="en-US" xml:lang= +"en-US">might</span> have been placed in his hands, she was almost +always to be found in the offices of the house, looking well after +the domestic details of household management, and seeing that each +servant and scullion was doing the work appointed with steadiness +and industry.</p> +<p>There was need for some such careful supervision of the daily +routine, for the large houses in the kingdom were mainly dependent +upon their own efforts for the necessaries of life throughout the +year. In towns there were shops where provisions could be readily +bought, but no such institution as that of country shops had been +dreamed of as yet. The lord of the manor killed his own meat, baked +his own bread, grew his own wheat, and ground his own flour. He had +his own brewery within the precinct of the great courtyard, where +vast quantities of mead and ale were brewed, cider and other +lighter drinks made, and even some sorts of simple home-grown +wines. Chad boasted its own "vineyard," where grapes flourished in +abundance, and ripened in the autumn as they will not do now.</p> +<p>Nothing, perhaps, shows more clearly the change that has passed +upon our climate by slow degrees than a study of the parish records +of ancient days. Vineyards were common enough in England some +hundreds of years ago, and wine was made from the produce as +regularly as the season came round. Then there were the simpler +fruit wines from gooseberries, currants, and elderberries, to say +nothing of cowslip wine and other light beverages which it was the +pride of the mistress to contrive and to excel in the making. Our +forefathers, though they knew nothing of the luxuries of tea and +coffee, were by no means addicted to the drinking of water. +Considering the sanitary conditions in which they lived in those +days, and the fearful contamination of water which frequently +prevailed, and which doubtless had much to do with the spread of +the Black Death and other like visitations, this was no doubt an +advantage. Still there were drawbacks to the habit of constant +quaffing of fermented drinks at all hours of the day, and it was +often a difficult matter to keep in check the sin of drunkenness +that prevailed amongst all classes of the people.</p> +<p>At Chad the gentle influence of the lady of the manor had done +much to make this household an improvement on many of its +neighbours. Although there was always abundance of good things and +a liberal hospitality to strangers of all sorts, it was not often +that any unseemly roistering disturbed the inmates of Chad. The +servants and retainers looked up to their master and mistress with +loyalty and devotion, curbed their animal passions and wilder moods +out of love and reverence for them, and grew more civilized and +cultivated almost without knowing it, until the wild orgies which +often disgraced the followings of the country nobility were almost +unknown here.</p> +<p>Possibly another humanizing and restraining influence that acted +silently upon the household was the presence of a young monk, who +had been brought not long since from a neighbouring monastery, to +act in the capacity of chaplain to the household and tutor to the +boys, now fast growing towards man's estate. There was a beautiful +little chapel connected with Chad. It had fallen something into +neglect and ruin during the days of the civil wars, and had been +battered about in some of the struggles that had raged round Chad. +But Sir Oliver had spent both money and loving care in restoring +and beautifying the little place, and now the daily mass was said +there by Brother Emmanuel, and the members of the household were +encouraged to attend as often as their duties would permit. The +brother, too, would go about amongst the people and talk with them +as they pursued their tasks, and not one even of the rudest and +roughest but would feel the better for the kindly and beneficent +influence of the youthful ecclesiastic.</p> +<p>Brother Emmanuel had one of those keenly intelligent and +versatile minds that are always craving a wider knowledge, and +think no knowledge, even of the humblest, beneath notice. He would +ask the poorest wood cutter to instruct him in the handling of his +tool or in the simple mysteries of his craft as humbly as though he +were asking instruction from one of the learned of the land. No +information, no occupation came amiss to him. He saw in all toil a +dignity and a power, and he strove to impress upon every worker, of +whatever craft he might be, that to do his day's work with all his +might and with the best powers at his command was in truth one +excellent way of serving God, and more effectual than any number of +<i>Paters</i> and <i>Aves</i> said whilst idling away the time that +should be given to his master's service.</p> +<p>Such teaching might not be strictly orthodox from a monkish +standpoint, but it commended itself to the understanding and the +approval of simple folks; and the brother was none the less beloved +and respected that his talk and his teaching did not follow the +cut-and-dried rules of his order. Sir Oliver and his wife thought +excellently of the young man, and to the boys he was friend as well +as tutor.</p> +<p>On this hot midsummer day the mistress of Chad was making her +usual morning round of the kitchens and adjoining offices--her +simple though graceful morning robe, and the plain coif covering +her hair, showing that she was not yet dressed for the duties which +would engross her later in the day. She had a great bunch of keys +dangling at her girdle, and her tablets were in her hands, where +from time to time she jotted down some brief note to be entered +later in those household books which she kept herself with +scrupulous care, so that every season she knew exactly how many +gallons or hogsheads of mead or wine had been brewed, what had been +the yield of every crop in the garden or meadow, what stores of +conserves had <span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">been</span> made +from each fruit as its season came in, and whether that quantity +had proved sufficient for the year's consumption.</p> +<p>The cherry crop was being gathered in today. Huge baskets of the +delicious fruit were ranged along one wall of the still room, and +busy hands were already preparing the bright berries for the +preserving pan or the rows of jars that were likewise placed in +readiness to receive them. The cherry trees of Chad were famous for +their splendid crop, and the mistress had many wonderful recipes +and preparations by which the fruit was preserved and made into all +manner of dainty conserves that delighted all who partook of +them.</p> +<p>"I will come anon, and help you with your task," said the lady +to the busy wenches in the still room, who were hard at work +preparing the fruit. "I will return as soon as I have made my +round, and see that all is going well."</p> +<p>The girls smiled, and dropped their rustic courtesies. Some +amongst them were not the regular serving maids of the place, but +were the daughters of the humbler retainers living round and about, +who were glad to come to assist at the great house when there was +any press of work--a thing that frequently happened from April to +November.</p> +<p>None who assisted at Chad at such times ever went away empty +handed. Besides the small wage given for the work done, there was +always a basket of fruit, or a piece of meat, or a flagon of wine, +according to the nature of the task, set aside for each assistant +who did not dwell beneath the roof of Chad. And if there was +sickness in any cottage from which a worker came, there was certain +to be some little delicacy put into a basket by the hands of the +mistress, and sent with a kindly word of goodwill and sympathy to +the sufferer.</p> +<p>It was small wonder, then, that the household and community of +Chad was a happy and peaceable one, or that the knight and his lady +were beloved of all around.</p> +<p>The morning's round was no sinecure, even though the mistress +was today as quick as possible in her visit of inspection. Three +fat bucks had been brought in from the forest yester-eve, when the +knight and his sons had returned from hunting. The venison had to +be prepared, and a part of it dried and salted down for winter use; +whilst of course a great batch of pies and pasties must be put in +hand, so that the most should be made of the meat whilst it was +still fresh.</p> +<p>When that matter had been settled, there were the live creatures +to visit--the calves in their stalls, the rows of milch kine, and +the great piggery, where porkers of every kind and colour were +tumbling about in great excitement awaiting their morning meal. The +mistress of the house generally saw the pigs fed each day, to +insure their having food proper to them, and not the offal and foul +remnants that idle servants loved to give and they to eat were not +some supervision exercised. The care of dogs and horses the lady +left to her husband and sons, but the cows, the pigs, and the +poultry she always looked after herself.</p> +<p>Her daily task accomplished, she returned to the still room, +prepared for a long morning over her conserves. It was but +half-past nine now; for the breakfast hour in baronial houses was +seven all the year round, and today had been half-an-hour earlier +on account of the press of work incident to the harvesting of the +cherry crop. Several of the servants who were generally occupied +about the house had risen today with the lark, to be able to help +their lady, and soon a busy, silent party was working in pantry and +still room under the careful eye of the mistress.</p> +<p>One old woman who had been accommodated with a chair, though her +fingers were as brisk as any of the younger girls', from time to +time addressed a question or a remark to her lady, which was always +kindly answered. She was the old nurse of Chad, having been nurse +to Sir Oliver in his infancy, and having since had charge of his +three boys during their earliest years. She was growing infirm now, +and seldom left her own little room in a sunny corner of the big +house, where her meals were taken her by one of the younger maids. +But in the warm weather, when her stiff limbs gained a little more +power, she loved on occasion to come forth and take a share in the +life of the house, and work with the busy wenches under the +mistress's eye at the piles of fruit from the successive summer and +autumn crops as they came in rotation.</p> +<p>"And where be the dear children?" she asked once; "I have not +set eyes on them the livelong day. Methought the very smell of the +cherries would have brought them hither, as bees and wasps to a +honey pot."</p> +<p>The lady smiled slightly.</p> +<p>"I doubt not they will be here anon; but doubtless they have +paid many visits to the trees ere the store was garnered. I think +they are in the tilt yard with Warbel. It is there they are +generally to be found in the early hours of the day."</p> +<p>"They be fine, gamesome lads," said the old woman fondly--"chips +of the old block, true Chads every one of them;" for the custom +with the common people was to call the lord of the manor by the +name of his house rather than by his own patronymic, and Sir Oliver +was commonly spoken of as "Chad" by his retainers; a custom which +lingered long in the south and west of the country.</p> +<p>"They are well-grown, hearty boys," answered the mother quietly, +though there was a light of tender pride in her eyes. "Bertram is +almost a man in looks, though he is scarce seventeen yet. +Seventeen! How time flies! It seems but yesterday since he was a +little boy standing at my knee to say his light tasks, and walking +to and fro holding his father's hand. Well, Heaven be praised, the +years have been peaceful and prosperous, else would not they have +fled by so swiftly."</p> +<p>"Heaven be praised indeed!" echoed the old woman. "For now the +master is so safely seated at Chad that he would be a bold man who +tried to oust him. But in days gone by I have sorely feared yon +proud Lord of Mortimer. Methought he would try to do him a +mischief. His spleen and spite, as all men say, are very +great."</p> +<p>The lady's face clouded slightly, but her reply was quiet and +calm.</p> +<p>"I fear me they are that still; but he lacks all cause of +offence. My good lord is careful in all things to avoid making ill +blood with a jealous neighbour. That he has always cast covetous +eyes upon Chad is known throughout the countryside; but I trow he +would find it something difficult to make good any claim."</p> +<p>"Why, verily!" cried the nurse, with energy. "He could but come +as a foul usurper, against whom would every honest hand be raised. +But, good my mistress, what is the truth of the whisper I have +heard that the Lord of Mortimer has wed his daughter to one who +calls himself of the house of Chad? I cannot believe that any of +the old race would mate with a Mortimer. Is it but the idle gossip +of the ignorant? or what truth is there in it?"</p> +<p>"I scarce know myself the rights of the matter," answered Lady +Chadgrove, still with a slight cloud upon her brow. "It is +certainly true that Lord Mortimer has lately wed his only child, a +daughter, to a knight who calls himself Sir Edward Chadwell, and +makes claim to be descended from my lord's house. Men say that he +makes great boasting that the Chadwells are an older branch than +the Chadgroves, and that by right of inheritance Chad is his.</p> +<p>"Methinks he would find it very hard to make good any such +claim. Belike it is but idle boasting. Yet it may be that there +will be some trouble in store. He has taken up his abode at +Mortimer's Keep, and maybe we shall hear ill news before long."</p> +<p>All eyes were fixed for a moment on the lady's face, and then +the hands moved faster than before, whilst a subdued murmur went +round the group. Not one heart was there that did not beat with +indignation at the thought that any should dare to try to disturb +the peace of the rightful lord of Chad. If the loyalty and +affection of all around would prove a safeguard, the knight need +have no fear from the claims advanced by any adversary.</p> +<p>"There has been a muttering of coming tempest anent those vexed +forest rights," continued the lady, in reply to some indignant +words from the nurse. "I would that difficult question could be +settled and laid at rest; but my good lord has yielded something +too much already for the sake of peace and quietness, and at each +concession Mortimer's word was passed that he would claim no +further rights over the portion that remained to us. But his word +is broken without scruple, and we cannot ever be giving way. Were +no stand to be made, the whole forest track would soon be claimed +by Mortimer, and we should have nothing but the bare park that is +fenced about and cannot be filched bit by bit away. But all the +world knows that Chad has forest rights equal to those of Mortimer. +It is but to seek a quarrel that the baron continues to push his +claims ever nearer and nearer our walls."</p> +<p>Another murmur of indignation went round; but there was no time +for further talk, as at that moment the three boys entered from the +tilt yard; hot, thirsty, and breathless, and the fair-haired lad +with the dreamy blue eyes held a kerchief to his head that was +stained with blood.</p> +<p>"Art hurt, Edred?" asked the mother, looking up.</p> +<p>"'Tis but a scratch," answered the boy. "I am not quite a match +for Bertram yet; but I will be anon. I must learn to be quicker in +my defence. Thanks, gentle mother; belike it will be better for it +to be bound up. It bleeds rather too fast for comfort, but thy +hands will soon stop that."</p> +<p>The other boys fell upon the fruit with right good will, whilst +the mother led her second son to the small pump nigh at hand, and +bathed and dressed the rather ugly wound in his head.</p> +<p>Neither mother nor son thought anything of the hurt. It was easy +enough to give and receive hard blows in the tilt yard, and bruises +and cuts were looked upon as part of the discipline of life.</p> +<p>As soon as the dressing was over, Edred joined his brothers, and +did his share in diminishing the pile of luscious fruit. And as +they ate they chattered away to the old woman of their prowess in +tilt yard and forest, relating how Bertram had slain a fat buck +with his own hands the previous day, and how they had between them +given the <i>coup-de-grace</i> to another, which had been brought +to bay at the water, father and huntsmen standing aloof to let the +boys show their strength and skill.</p> +<p>Nine years had passed since that strange night when Bertram had +been awakened by the advent of the mysterious stranger at his +bedside. He had developed since then from a sturdy little boy into +a fine-grown youth of seventeen, who had in his own eyes, and in +the eyes of many others, well-nigh reached man's estate; and who +would, if need should arise, go forth equipped for war to fight the +king's battles. He was a handsome, dark-haired, dark-eyed youth, +with plenty of determination and force of character, and with a +love of Chad so deeply rooted in his nature, that to be the heir of +that property seemed to him the finest position in all the world, +and he would not have exchanged it for that of Prince of Wales.</p> +<p>The second son, Edred (Ethelred was his true name; he was called +after his mother, Etheldred), was some half-head shorter than his +brother, but a fine boy for all that. He was fifteen, and whilst +sharing to a great extent in the love of sport and of warlike games +so common in that day, he was also a greater lover of books than +his brothers, and would sometimes absent himself from their +pastimes to study with Brother Emmanuel and learn from him many +things that were not written in books. The other lads gave more +time to study than was usual at that period; for both Sir Oliver +and his lady believed in the value of book lore and the use of the +pen, deploring the lack of learning that had prevailed during the +confusion of the late wars, and greatly desiring its revival. But +it was Edred who really inherited the scholarly tastes of his +parents, and already the question of making a monk of him was under +serious discussion. The boy thought that if he might have a few +more years of liberty and enjoyment he should like the life of the +cloister well.</p> +<p>Julian bore a strong resemblance to Bertram both in person and +disposition. He was a very fine boy, nearly fourteen years old, and +had been the companion of his brothers from infancy, so that he +often appeared older than his age. All three brothers were bound +together in bonds of more than wonted affection. They not only +shared their sports and studies, but held almost all their +belongings in common. Each lad had his own horse and his own +weapons, whilst Edred had one or two books over which he claimed +absolute possession; but for the rest, they enjoyed all properties +in common, and it had hardly entered into their calculations that +they could ever be separated, save when the idea of making Edred +into a monk came under discussion; and as that would not be done +for some years, it scarcely seemed worth troubling over now. +Perhaps things would turn out differently in the end, and they +would remain together at Chad for the whole of their natural +lives.</p> +<p>Nurse never wearied of the tales told by her young masters, and +listened with fond pride to the recital. So eagerly were Bertram +and Julian talking, that they did not heed the sound of the horn at +the gate way which bespoke the arrival of some messenger; but Edred +slipped out to see who could be coming, and presently he returned +with a frown upon his brow.</p> +<p>"There is a messenger at the gate who wears the livery of +Mortimer," he said. "An insolent knave to boot, who flung his +missive in the face of old Ralph, and spurred off with a mocking +laugh. I would I had had my good steed between my knees, and I +would have given the rascal a lesson in manners. I like not these +messengers from Mortimer; they always betide ill will to my +father."</p> +<p>Lady Chadgrove looked anxious for a moment, but her brow soon +cleared as she made answer: "I shall be sorry if aught comes to +grieve or vex your father; but so long as we are careful to give no +just cause for offence, we need not trouble our heads overmuch as +to the jealous anger of the Lord of Mortimer. I misdoubt me if he +can really hurt us, be he never so vindictive. The king is just, +and he values the services of your father. He will not permit him +to be molested without cause. And methinks my Lord of Mortimer +knows as much, else he would have wrought us more ill all these +past years."</p> +<p>"He is a tyrant and an evil liver!" cried Bertram hotly; "and +his servants be drunken, brawling knaves, every one--as insolent as +their master. If I had been old Ralph, I would have hurled back his +missive in his face, and bidden him deliver it rightly."</p> +<p>"Nay, nay, my son; that would but be to stir up strife. If +others comport themselves ill, that is no reason why our servants +should do the like. I would never give a foe a handle against me by +the ill behaviour of even a serving man. Let them act never so +surlily, I would that they were treated with all due courtesy."</p> +<p>Bertram and Julian hardly entered into their mother's feelings +on this point; but Edred looked up eagerly, and it was plain that +he understood the feelings which prompted the words, for he said in +a low voice:</p> +<p>"Methinks thou art right, gentle mother; albeit I did sorely +long to give the varlet a lesson to teach him better. But perchance +it was well I was not nigh enough. Surely it must be nigh upon the +hour for dinner. Our sport has whet the edge of appetite, and I +would fain hear what the missive was which yon knave brought with +him. Our father will doubtless tell us at the table."</p> +<p>It was indeed nearly noon, and mistress and maids alike +relinquished their tasks to prepare for the meal which was the +chiefest of the day, though the supper was nothing to be +despised.</p> +<p>The long table in the great banqueting hall was a goodly sight +to see when the dinner was spread, and the retainers of the better +sort and some amongst the upper servants sat down with the master +and his family to partake of the good cheer. At one end of the long +board sat the knight and his lady side by side; to their right were +the three boys, the young monk, and Warbel the armourer, who now +held a post of some importance in the house. Opposite to these were +other gentlemen-at-arms and their sons, who were resident at Chad; +and at the lower end of the table, below the great silver salt +cellars, sat the seneschal, the lowlier retainers, and certain +trusted servants who held responsible positions at Chad. The cooks +and scullions and underlings dined in the great kitchen immediately +after their masters' meal had been served.</p> +<p>The table at Chad always groaned with good things, except at +such seasons as the Church decreed a fast, and then the diet was +scrupulously kept within the prescribed bounds. Sir Oliver and his +wife were both devout and earnest people, and had every reverence +for their spiritual superiors. The Benedictine Priory of Chadwater +stood only a mile and a half distant, and the prior was on +excellent terms with the owner of Chad. Brother Emmanuel had been +an inmate of the priory before he was selected by Sir Oliver for +the education of his sons. He was considered a youth of no small +promise, and the knight was well pleased at the progress made by +his boys since they had been studying with him.</p> +<p>Today there was a look of annoyance upon the handsome face of +Sir Oliver Chadgrove. It was a striking countenance at all times, +in which sternness of purpose and kindness of heart were blended in +a fashion that was both attractive and unusual. He had the same +regular features, rather square in the outline, which he had +transmitted to his children; and his hair, which was now silvered +with many streaks, had been raven black in its day. His carriage +was upright and fearless, and he was very tall and powerfully +proportioned. It was Bertram's keenest ambition to grow up in all +points like his father, and he copied him, consciously and +unconsciously, in a fashion that often raised a smile on his +mother's face.</p> +<p>"I have been favoured with another insolent letter from my Lord +of Mortimer," he said. "He had better take heed that he try not my +patience too far, and that I go not to the king and lay a complaint +before him. I will do so if I be much more troubled."</p> +<p>"What says he now, father?" asked Bertram eagerly, forgetting in +his eagerness the generally observed maxim that the sons spoke not +at table till they were directly addressed. But the knight did not +himself heed this breach of decorum.</p> +<p>"It is the same old story; but every year he grows more grasping +and more insolent. Today he complains, forsooth, that the last buck +we killed was killed on his ground, and by rights belonged to him. +He threatens that his foresters and huntsmen will wage war with us +in future if we 'trespass' upon his rights, and wrest our spoil +from us! Beshrew me if I submit to much more! Patience and +forbearance are useless with such a man. I would I had not conceded +all I have done in the interests of peace."</p> +<p>Bertram's face was crimson with anger, Edred's eyes had widened +in astonishment, whilst Julian burst out in indignant remonstrance +and argument.</p> +<p>"His ground! his rights! How can he dare say that? Why, the buck +was killed at Juno's Pool; and all the world knows that that is +within the confines of Chad, and that all forest rights there +belong to the Lord of Chad! I would I could force his false words +down his false throat! I would I could--" but the boy suddenly +ceased, because he caught his mother's warning eye upon him, and +saw that his father had opened his lips to speak.</p> +<p>"Ay, and he knows it himself as well as we do; but he is growing +bolder and bolder through that monstrous claim he is ever +threatening to push--the claim of his son-in-law to be rightful +Lord of Chad! Phew! he will find it hard to prove that claim, or to +oust the present lord. But Mortimer has money and to spare, and +Chad has long been to him what Naboth's vineyard was to King +Ahab--</p> +<p>"Brother Emmanuel, that simile is thine, and a right good one, +too.</p> +<p>"He will seize on any pretext to pick a quarrel; and if he +dares, he will push that quarrel at the point of the sword. I do +not fear him; I have the right on my side. But we may not blind +ourselves to this: that he is a right bitter and treacherous foe, +and that should we give any, even the smallest cause of suspicion +or offence, he would seize upon that to ruin us."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver looked keenly round the table at all assembled there, +and many knew better than his sons what was in his mind at the time +and what had caused him to speak thus.</p> +<p>For a long while now the leaven of Lollardism had been working +silently in the country, and there were very many even amongst +orthodox sons of the Church who were more or less "bitten" by some +of the new notions. It need hardly be said that wherever light is, +it will penetrate in a mysterious and often inexplicable fashion; +and although there was much extravagance and perversion in the +teachings of the advanced Lollards, there was undoubtedly amongst +them a far clearer and purer light than existed in the hearts of +those of the common people who had been brought up beneath the sway +of the priests, themselves so often ignorant and ill-living +men.</p> +<p>And so the light gradually spread; and many who would have +repudiated the name of Lollard with scorn and loathing were +beginning to hold some of their tenets, and to wish for a simpler +and purer form of faith, and for liberty to study the Scriptures +for themselves; and no one knew better the leavening spirit of the +age than did Sir Oliver Chadgrove, himself a man of liberal views +and devout habit of mind, and his wife, who shared his every +thought and opinion.</p> +<p>They had both heard the stirring and enlightened preaching of +Dean Colet, and were great admirers of his; but they took the view +that that divine himself held--namely, that the Church would +gradually reform herself from within; that she was awakening to the +need of some reformation and advance; and that her sons were safe +within her fold, and must patiently await her own work there.</p> +<p>This was exactly the feeling of the knight and his lady. They +rejoiced in the words they had heard, and in the wider knowledge of +the Scriptures which had been thus unfolded; but that any such +doctrine, when preached and taught by the Lollard heretics, could +be right or true they would have utterly denied and repudiated. The +Lollards had won for themselves a bad name, and were thought of +with scorn and contempt. Nevertheless, in country places the leaven +of their teaching permeated far and wide, and Sir Oliver had more +than once occasion to fear that amongst his own retainers some were +slightly tainted by heresy.</p> +<p>Of course if it could be proved against him that his followers +were Lollards, his enemy might take terrible advantage and deal him +a heavy blow. It was the one charge which if proved would strike +him to the earth; even the king's favour would scarce serve him +then. The king would not stand up in opposition to the Church; and +if the Church condemned his house as <span lang="en-US" xml:lang= +"en-US">being</span> a harbouring place for heretics, then indeed +he would be undone.</p> +<p>It was this thing which was in his mind as he glanced with keen +eyes round his table on this bright midsummer day; and his wife, +and the monk, and the bulk of those sitting there read the true +meaning of his words and of his look, and recognized the truth of +the grave word of warning.</p> +<h2><a name="ChapterIII" id="ChapterIII">Chapter III</a>: Brother +Emmanuel.</h2> +<p>The hush of a Sabbath was upon the land. The sounds of life and +industry were no longer heard around Chad. Within and without the +house a calm stillness prevailed, and the hot summer sunshine lay +broad upon the quiet fields and the garden upon which so much +loving care had of late years been spent.</p> +<p>The white and red roses, no longer the symbols of party strife, +were blooming in their midsummer glory. The air was sweet with +their fragrance, and bees hummed drowsily from flower to flower. In +the deep shadow cast by a huge cedar tree, that reared its stately +head as high as the battlements of the turret, a small group had +gathered this hot afternoon. The young monk was there in the black +cassock, hood, and girdle that formed the usual dress of the +Benedictine in this country, and around him were grouped his three +pupils, to whom he was reading out of the great Latin Bible that +was one of the treasures of Sir Oliver's library.</p> +<p>All the boys were Latin scholars, and had made much progress in +their knowledge of that language since the advent of the young monk +into the household. They had likewise greatly increased in their +knowledge of the Scriptures; for Brother Emmanuel was a sound +believer in the doctrine preached by the Dean of St. Paul's, and of +the maxims laid down by him--that the Scriptures were not to be +pulled to fragments, and each fragment explained without reference +to the context, but to be studied and examined as a whole, and so +explained, one portion illuminating and illustrating another. After +such a fashion had Brother Emmanuel long been studying the Word of +God, and after such a method did he explain it to his pupils.</p> +<p>All three boys were possessed of clear heads and quick +intelligence, and their minds had expanded beneath the influence of +the young monk's teaching. They all loved a quiet hour spent with +him in reading and expounding the Bible narrative, and today a +larger portion than usual had been read; for the heat made exertion +unwelcome even to the active lads, and it was pleasanter here +beneath the cedar tree than anywhere else besides.</p> +<p>"Now, I would fain know," began Julian, after a pause in the +reading, "why it is that it is thought such a vile thing for men to +possess copies of God's Word in their own tongue that they may read +it to themselves. It seems to me that men would be better and not +worse for knowing the will of God in all things; and here it is set +down clearly for every man to understand. Yet, if I understand not +amiss, it is made a cause of death for any to possess the +Scriptures in his own tongue."</p> +<p>"Yea, that is what the heretic Lollards do--read and expound the +Scriptures in the vulgar tongue and after their own fashion," said +Bertram. "Have a care, Julian, how thou seemest to approve their +methods; for there is a great determination in high places to put +down at once and for all the vile doctrines which are corrupting +all the land."</p> +<p>"I approve no heresy," cried Julian eagerly. "I do but ask why +it be heresy to read the Word of God, and to have in possession a +portion of it in the language of one's country."</p> +<p>"Marry, dost thou not know that one reason is the many errors +the translators have fallen into, which deceive the unwary and lead +the flock astray?" cried Edred eagerly. "Brother Emmanuel has told +me some amongst these, and there are doubtless many others of which +he may not have heard. A man may not drink with impunity of +poisoned waters; neither is it safe to take as the Word of God a +book which may have many perversions of His truth."</p> +<p>Edred looked up at Brother Emmanuel for confirmation of this +explanation. It was the monk's habit to encourage the boys to +discuss any question of interest freely amongst themselves, he +listening in silence the while, and later on giving them the +benefit of his opinion. All the three turned to him now to see what +he would say upon a point that was already agitating the country, +and was preparing the way for a shaking that should lead to an +altogether new state of existence both in Church and State. Even +out here in the garden, in the sanctuary of their own home, with +only their friend and spiritual pastor to hear them, the boys spoke +with bated breath, as though fearful of uttering words which might +have within them some germ of that dreaded sin of heresy.</p> +<p>As for Brother Emmanuel, he sat with his hands folded in his +sleeves, the great book upon his knees, a slight and thoughtful +smile playing around the corners of his finely-cut mouth. His whole +face was intensely spiritual in expression. The features were +delicately cut, and bore the impress of an ascetic life, as well as +of gentle birth and noble blood. He was, in fact, a scion of an +ancient and powerful house; but it was one of those houses that had +suffered sorely in the recent strife, and whose members had been +scattered and cut off. He had no powerful relatives and friends to +turn to now for promotion to rich benefice or high ecclesiastical +preferment, and he had certainly never lamented this fact. In heart +and soul he was a follower of the rules of poverty laid down by the +founder of his order, and would have thought himself untrue to his +calling had he suffered himself to be endowed with worldly wealth. +Even such moneys as he received from Sir Oliver for the instruction +given to his sons were never kept by himself. All were given either +to the poor by his hands direct, or placed at the disposal of the +Prior of Chadwater, where he had been an inmate for a short time +previous to his installation as chaplain at Chad. He had not sought +this office; he would rather have remained beneath the priory +walls. He thought that it was something contrary to the will of the +founders for monks to become parochial priests, or to hold offices +and benefices which took them from the shelter of their monastery +walls. But such things were of daily occurrence now, and were +causing bitter jealousy to arise betwixt the parochial clergy and +the monks, sowing seeds of strife which played a considerable part +in the struggle this same century was to see. But it was useless to +try to stem the current single-handed, and the rule of obedience +was as strong within him as that of poverty and chastity.</p> +<p>When sent forth by his prior (who secretly thought that this +young monk was too strict and ascetic and too keen-witted to be a +safe inmate of a house which had long fallen from its high estate, +and was becoming luxurious and wealthy and lax), he had gone +unmurmuringly to Chad, and since then had become so much interested +in his pupils and in his round of daily duties there that he had +not greatly missed the life of the cloister.</p> +<p>He had leisure for thought and for study. He had access to a +library which, although not large, held many treasures of book +making, and was sufficient for the requirements of the young monk. +He could keep the hours of the Church in the little chantry +attached to the house, and he was taken out of the atmosphere of +jealousy and bickering which, to his own great astonishment and +dismay, he had found to be the prevailing one at Chadwater.</p> +<p>On the whole, he had benefited by the change, and was very happy +in his daily duties. He rejoiced to watch the unfolding minds of +his three pupils, and especially to train Edred for the life of the +cloister, to which already he had been partially dedicated, and +towards which he seemed to incline.</p> +<p>And now, eagerly questioned by the boys upon that vexed point of +the translated Scriptures and their possession by the common +people, he looked thoughtfully out before him, and gave his answer +in his own poetic fashion.</p> +<p>"The Word of God, my children, is as a fountain of life. Those +who drink of it drink immortality and joy and peace passing all +understanding. The Saviour of mankind--Himself the Word of God--has +given Himself freely, that all men may come to Him, and, drinking +of the living water, may find within their hearts a living fountain +which shall cause that they never thirst again. But the question +before us is not whether men shall drink of this fountain--we know +that they must do so to live--but how they shall drink of it; how +and in what manner the waters of life shall be dispensed to +them."</p> +<p>The boys fixed their eyes eagerly upon him. Julian nodded his +head, and Edred's eyes grew deep with the intensity of his wish to +follow the workings of the mind of his instructor.</p> +<p>"For that we must look back to the days of our Lord, when He was +here upon earth. HOW did He give forth the Word of Life? How did He +rule that it was from that time forward to be given to men?"</p> +<p>"He preached to the people who came to Him," answered Edred, +"and He directed His apostles and disciples to do likewise--to go +forth into all lands and preach the gospel to every creature."</p> +<p>"Just so," answered Brother Emmanuel, with an other of his +slight peculiar smiles. "In other words, he intrusted the +Word--Himself, the news of Himself--to a living ministry, to men, +that through the mouths of His apostles and those disciples who had +received regular instruction from Him and from them the world might +be enlightened with the truth."</p> +<p>The boys listened eagerly, with mute attention.</p> +<p>"Go on," said Edred breathlessly. "Prithee tell us more."</p> +<p>"Our blessed Lord and Master laid no charge upon His apostles to +write of Him--to send forth into the world a written testimony. We +know that the inspired Word is written from end to end by the will +of God. It was necessary for the preservation of the truth in its +purity that its doctrines should be thus set down--that there +should be in existence some standard by which in generations to +come the learned ones of the earth might be able to judge of the +purity of the doctrines preached, and refute heresies and errors +that might and would creep in; but it was to men, to a living +ministry, that our Saviour intrusted the precious truths of His +gospel, and to a living ministry men should look to have those +truths unfolded."</p> +<p>"I see that point," cried Edred eagerly. "I had never thought of +it quite in that way before. Does it so state the matter anywhere +in the Holy Book? I love to gather the truth from its pages. Thou +hast not told us that we are wrong in that."</p> +<p>"Nay, under guidance all men should seek to those holy truths; +but will they find the priceless jewel if they seek it without +those aids our blessed Lord Himself has appointed? Wouldst thou +know more of His will in this matter? Then thou shalt."</p> +<p>The monk turned the leaves of the book awhile, and then paused +at an open page.</p> +<p>"On earth, as we have seen, the blessed Saviour intrusted His +truth to the care of chosen men. Now let us see how He acted when, +ascended into the heavens, He looked down upon earth, and directed +from thence the affairs of this world. Did He then ordain that a +written testimony was to be prepared and sent forth into all lands? +No. What we learn then is that when He ascended into the heavens +and received and gave gifts to men, He gave to them apostles, +prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers--a living ministry +again, a fourfold living ministry--that by this living ministry, +surely typified in the vision of St. John by the four living +creatures with the fourfold head, the saints were to be perfected, +the unity of the faith preserved, and the body of Christ edified +and kept in its full growth and perfection till He come Himself to +claim the Bride."</p> +<p>Edred's eyes were full of vivid intelligence. He followed in the +Latin tongue the words as Brother Emmanuel spoke them, and looking +up he asked wistfully:</p> +<p>"But where are they now, the apostles and prophets, the +evangelists and pastors? Have we got them with us yet?"</p> +<p>"We have at least the semblance of them; doubtless but for our +own sins and shortcomings we should have a fuller ministry--a +fuller outpouring of the water of life through those four God-given +channels by which the Church is to be fed. We have the apostolic +office ever in exercise in our spiritual head at Rome. St. Peter +has left us a successor, and his throne shall never be empty so +long as the world lasts. Now and again the prophetic fire bursts +forth in some holy man who has fasted and prayed until the veil +betwixt the seen and the unseen has grown thin. Would to God there +was more light of prophecy in the earth! Perchance in His grace and +mercy He will outpour His Spirit once again upon the earth, and +gather about his Holiness a band of men lighted by fire from above. +In our wandering friars, ever going forth to the people with the +word of the gospel, we have the office of evangelist in exercise; +and the priest who guides the flock and dwells in the midst of the +people of the land, surely he is the pastor, the keeper of the +sheep. And thus we see that our blessed Saviour's gifts to men have +been preserved all through these long centuries, and are still +amongst us in greater or less degree; and we can well understand +that having given us these channels, by which His vineyard is to be +watered, by which the living waters are to flow forth, it is not +His will that every man should be his own evangelist or pastor, +feeding himself at will, drinking, perhaps to surfeit, of the +precious waters which should be conveyed to him through the +appointed channel, but that he should be under dutiful obedience +and submission, and that thus and thus only may unity and peace be +preserved, and the body grow together into its perfect stature and +<span lang="en-GB" xml:lang="en-GB">fullness.</span>"</p> +<p>"I see all that exactly," cried Bertram, "and I will strive to +keep it in mind. I mislike the very name of Lollard, and I well +know that they be a mischievous and pernicious brood, whom it were +well to see exterminated root and branch. Yet no man can fail to +see that they love the Scriptures, and I felt they were in the +right there. Now I well see that they may love the Word as much as +they will, but that they must still seek to be taught and fed by +those who are over them in the Church, and not seek to eat and +drink (in the spiritual sense of the word) at their own will and +pleasure. That is truly what the Church has ever taught, but I +never heard it so clearly explained before.</p> +<p>"Come, Julian; the sun is losing much of its power now. Let us +stroll along the margin of the stream, and see where best we may +fish upon the morrow.</p> +<p>"Edred, wilt thou come? No; I thought not. Thou art half a monk +already. We will leave thee with Brother Emmanuel to talk more on +these hard matters. I have heard enough to satisfy me, I shall +never want to turn Lollard now. The name was always enough, but now +I see more and more clearly how wrong-headed and wilful they +be."</p> +<p>Julian, too, had got an answer that completely satisfied him, +and he readily rose to go with his brother. Those two found an hour +or two of thought and study as much at a time as they cared for. +They called their dogs and sallied forth over the fields towards +the shady, well-fringed river banks, and Brother Emmanuel was left +alone with his second pupil, Edred, whose eyes were still fixed +upon the black lettering of the great Bible open at the last +passage under discussion.</p> +<p>The monk bent an earnest glance upon the boy's face. He saw that +an argument which had completely satisfied the other two had not +satisfied this other keener mind. But he asked no questions, +leaving the boy to speak or not as he chose. These were days in +which too much questioning was a dangerous thing. Many men felt as +though they were treading the crust of a volcano, and that a single +unwary step might plunge them headlong into the burning gulf.</p> +<p>When even such a man as Bishop Peacock had been threatened with +the stake, and sent into perpetual imprisonment, even after having +"recanted" his errors, no wonder that all men holding broad or +enlightened opinions trembled for themselves. And yet, as thought +will not be bound, and the young are ever the most ardent in the +pursuit of truth, and the most impatient under the yoke of fetters +unwillingly worn, so neither this young monk nor his still more +youthful companion could be content to drift on without looking +into the stirring questions of the day for themselves.</p> +<p>Edred's mind at this moment was working rapidly and following up +a train of thought as fascinating as it was new. He suddenly turned +back to the very beginning of the book, and began reading to +himself some words he found there. Presently he looked up quickly +into his instructor's face.</p> +<p>"Thy words about four channels put me in mind of the four +streams we read of in the beginning, that watered the garden of the +Lord. It seemed to me as if perchance there was some connection +betwixt them--that the Lord's plan has ever been the same. Surely +He led forth the children of Israel through the wilderness beneath +four standards. And here the four streams are all given. But we +hear no more of any of them later, do we, save the river Euphrates. +Out of the four three seem to have been lost," and the boy raised +his eyes with a perplexed expression and looked earnestly at his +teacher.</p> +<p>Between those two existed one of those keen bonds of sympathy +that often enable persons to communicate their thoughts without the +medium of words. In a moment the monk had read what was in the +boy's mind, and in a fashion he answered as though Edred had +spoken.</p> +<p>"Thou thinkest that even as some of God's watering rivers ran +dry, so some of His channels of grace, whereby He meant all men to +be replenished with heavenly light and grace, may perchance have +become choked and useless. Is not that thy thought, my son?"</p> +<p>"My father, is it sin thus to think?" asked Edred, almost +beneath his breath. "I cannot shut mine eyes and mine ears. I have +heard whispers of terrible corruption in high places even at Rome +itself. I try not to hear or to think too much, but I cannot help +my burning desire to know more of what passes in the world. It was +but a short year ago that a godly man coming from foreign lands +told us fearful tales of the corruption even of the papal court. O +my father, I fear to whisper it even to thee; but I cannot but ask +in my heart, can the popes be truly apostles? And if not, can we +say that the channel of grace once given to men is open yet for us +to drink from? Ah, pardon me if I err! I will do penance for my +evil thoughts. But where may we find now those four life-giving +streams by which Christ purposed to keep His body, the Church, +nourished and sustained? Prophets there be none, save here and +there a spark of the old fire. Those travelling friars are +sometimes holy men; but, alas! they are bitter foes of the very +Church from which they profess to be sent out, and are oft laid +under the papal ban. We have our pastor priests; but do they feed +the flock? O my father, how can I walk with closed eyes through +this world of sin and strife? If the channels run dry, if the +pastors refuse food to the hungry people, can it be sin if they +strive to feed themselves, even though they be something too +ignorant to do it wisely and well?"</p> +<p>A very grave, thoughtful, and austere look was stamped upon the +face towards which Edred directed his gaze. It was long before he +received any answer, and then it was but a sorrowful one.</p> +<p>"My son, I will not blame thee for these thoughts, albeit they +be charged with peril in these days. It is human nature thus to +question and thus to doubt. We may not blind our eyes, though we +must ever strive to chasten our hearts, that we fall not into the +condemnation of those who speak evil of dignities, and bring a +railing accusation against those set over them. I, too, have had my +period of storm-tossed doubts and fears; but I have learned to fix +mine eyes upon the Holy One of Israel, who never slumbers nor +sleeps--upon the crucified Saviour, who has suffered that death of +agony and shame that He may draw <span lang="en-US" xml:lang= +"en-US">all</span> men unto Himself. How He will do it I know not. +How He will open up again the closed channels, and make ready His +Church to meet Him and receive Him, I can not even conjecture. But +His word cannot fail; and in His own appointed time, and in His own +appointed way, I verily believe that He will draw unto Himself all +men who have ever called upon His name, and all those unto whom His +name has never been proclaimed, and who, therefore, have never +rejected Him. In that hope and that belief I try to rest; and +fixing my eyes and thoughts upon Him and Him alone, I strive to +forget the chaos and the strife of earth, and to look upon all men +as brothers in Christ, if they will but bow the knee at that thrice +holy name."</p> +<p>Edred looked at him with wide-open eyes.</p> +<p>"Heretics call upon the name of Jesus. Thinkest thou that +heretics will be saved? I thought they were doomed to hellfire +forever!"</p> +<p>The boy spoke in a voice that was little more than a whisper. He +was almost afraid to hear the answer, lest it should convey a germ +of the dreaded heresy, and yet how eager he was to know what +Brother Emmanuel really thought.</p> +<p>"It is not for me to say who will and who will not be saved," he +said, slowly and thoughtfully; "and we are expressly told that +there will be punishment for those who fall away from the faith. +Yet we are not told that error will be punished with everlasting +death. And there be places in Holy Scripture which tell us that +'whoso believeth and is baptized shall be saved;' and heretics +believe that Christ died for the world. It says, again, that those +who love the Lord are born of God; and shall they perish +everlastingly? My son, the mercies of God are very great; from end +to end of this book we are told that. Knowing so much, need we ask +more? With Him rests the judgment of all mankind. He alone can read +the heart. Let that thought be enough for us. Whether the sin of +heresy is as vile in His eyes as in those of man, He alone knows; +we do not. Let us strive for our own part to keep the unity of the +faith in the bond of peace, and leave all else to Him."</p> +<p>As he spoke, Brother Emmanuel gently closed the book, as though +to close the discussion likewise; and Edred, looking up and round +about him, drawing a long breath meantime, suddenly gave a start, +which attracted the attention of his preceptor.</p> +<p>A short distance away--how he had got there neither of the pair +knew; they had been too much engrossed in their talk to take much +heed of external impressions--was an elderly monk, clad in the same +gown and hood as Brother Emmanuel, betokening that he too was of +the Benedictine order; and his face, shrouded in its cowl, was +turned towards the pair with a very peculiar expression upon it. A +sinister smile was in the narrow beady eyes; the features, which +were coarse and somewhat bloated from luxurious living, were set in +a look of ill-concealed malice; and the salutation addressed to the +pair when he saw himself perceived had in it something of an +incongruous sound.</p> +<p>"<i>Pax vobiscum</i>!" said the newcomer, lifting his hand as if +to impart a blessing.</p> +<p>Edred instinctively bent the knee, but Brother Emmanuel's face +did not move a muscle.</p> +<p>"Hast thou come with a message for me from the reverend father?" +he asked quietly.</p> +<p>"Nay, not for thee. My message was to Sir Oliver; but I will +report to the father how excellently I found thee +employed--training thy pupils in all godliness and honesty, and in +that hatred of heresy which it behoves all true sons of the Church +to cherish."</p> +<p>There was a spiteful gleam in the man's eyes as he spoke these +words that made Edred shiver; but the calm regard of the younger +monk did not waver.</p> +<p>"I have taught him nothing but what I have heard our good Dean +of St. Paul's speak before princes and prelates in the pulpit," +answered Brother Emmanuel, not pretending to misunderstand the +innuendo conveyed. "Methinks it would profit many of our brothers +in country places to hear what is being thought and taught in +Oxford and London, in all the great centres of the country. The +reverend father knows well what I hold and what I teach."</p> +<p>So clear and steadfast was the light in the young monk's eyes, +that the regard of the other fell before it. He made a gesture, as +if to repudiate the defence as a thing quite superfluous.</p> +<p>"The piety and orthodoxy of Brother Emmanuel are known far and +wide," he answered, in a tone that was half cringing, half +spiteful; "no truer son of the Church than he lives in all the +land."</p> +<p>And then with another salutation he turned and glided away in +the lengthening shadows, whilst Edred turned to Brother Emmanuel +with rather a scared face, and asked:</p> +<p>"Dost think he heard what we were saying?"</p> +<p>"Belike he caught a phrase or two," was the answer, spoken +gravely but quite calmly. "I would not speak words of which I am +ashamed; at the same time, it is well in these perilous days to use +all caution, for an enemy can well distort and magnify the words he +hears, till they sound like rank heresy. For myself I have no fear. +I prize not my life greatly, though to die as a heretic, cut off +from the Church of Christ, is a fearful thing to think of. Yet even +that might be better than denying the truth--if indeed one believes +the truth to lie without, which assuredly I do not. But thou, my +son, would do well to think something less of these matters. Thou +art but a child in years, and--"</p> +<p>"I am quickly rising to man's estate," answered the boy, rather +impetuously, "and my thoughts will not be chained. I must give them +liberty to rove where they will. All men are talking and thinking +of these things, and wherefore not I? But, Brother Emmanuel, tell +me, who was yon black-browed brother? Methinks I have seen his face +before; but beneath the cowl many faces look alike. Who was he? and +wherefore looked he so askance at thee?"</p> +<p>"Brother Fabian loves me not," answered the monk with a slight +smile. "I scarce know how it began; it seemed to commence from the +day I entered the priory. I had looked to find things there +somewhat different. Perchance I spoke more than I should, being +young and ardent, and fresh from places where a different order +reigned. Brother Fabian holds various offices in the priory. He +liked not my words. Methinks he has never forgotten or forgiven. He +has always sour looks for me, and ofttimes sneering words. But I +heed them not greatly; they do not touch me near."</p> +<p>Edred was looking straight out before him, with a gaze in which +there was much of shrinking and surprise.</p> +<p>"Brothers in the same monastery at enmity one with the other!" +he said slowly, grasping more than had been spoken, with that quick +intuition which existed between tutor and pupil. "Some, leading +lives of luxury, indignant with those who would protest against +them. Brother Emmanuel, my father, my friend, when these things +come before me, I turn with loathing from the thought of entering +the life of the cloister; and yet how I long to give myself wholly +to the cause of God! How can I judge? how can I choose aright?"</p> +<p>"Thou must not try to choose," answered the young monk, with a +touch of austerity in his tone; "thou must await that leading and +that guiding which never fail those who truly wait upon the blessed +Son of God, and strive to do not their will but the will of Him who +pleased not Himself. At the foot of His Cross--before the altar, +where His precious body and blood are ever abiding in memorial of +His one sacrifice for sin--there is the place to seek grace and +guidance; there is the place where peace may be found. Because man +is frail, shall we despise the ordinances of God? Because men are +able to make (if such be their will) a hell upon earth even of holy +places, is that any reason why we shall think scorn of those +sanctuaries, provided by the merciful goodness of God, where men +may flee for shelter from the world, and lead a life of devotion +and fasting and prayer? My son, beware of the manifold snares of +the devil. The young are ever ready to condemn and to revolt. It is +the nature of the unchastened will of man. Be patient, and watch +unto prayer. The day will surely come when (if thou wilt but listen +for it) the voice will speak in thine heart, and tell thee what +thou art called upon to do, even as it spoke in mine, and called me +from the snares and enticements of the world to the haven of the +cloister. I know not yet what my work in this world will be; but it +is enough that my Lord and Master knows. I am here, abiding in my +place and awaiting my call. May He grant that whensoever and +howsoever that call may come, I may hear it and be ready for it, +and may follow the guiding voice even to the end."</p> +<p>A rapt look was in the dark eyes. Edred caught the enthusiasm of +that look, and half unconsciously sank down upon his knee.</p> +<p>"Bless me, even me also, O my father!" he cried, scarce knowing +what words he chose; and the thin, strong hand was laid upon his +head.</p> +<p>"God be with thee and bless thee, my son," said the monk, in +grave, steadfast tones; "and may He be thy guide and thy portion +henceforth and forever. May He show thee the way in which He would +have thee to go, and give thee grace and strength to follow it unto +the end."</p> +<p>For a moment deep silence prevailed. Both were rapidly reviewing +the words that day spoken, and the thoughts suggested by the bare +discussion of such subjects; and Edred, rising and looking with a +strange smile into the monk's face, said softly:</p> +<p>"Methinks it would not be hard to die in a righteous cause; but +to be hunted to death through the spite and malice of a treacherous +foe, that would be an evil fate. I would fight with the best member +I possess against such an one, were he to be mine own enemy or +thine."</p> +<p>A smile crossed Brother Emmanuel's face.</p> +<p>"Go to, boy! thou art more soldier than monk yet. Methinks thou +wouldst fight bravely and well in a good cause. Perchance that +would be the best and happiest lot for thee--</p> +<p>"There be thy brothers coming up from the water. Go join them, +and think not too much for thy years. Be a youth as long as thou +mayest. Manhood's cares will come all too fast."</p> +<p>With that he turned and went quietly towards the house, whilst +Edred went forth to meet his brothers.</p> +<h2><a name="ChapterIV" id="ChapterIV">Chapter IV</a>: The +Travelling Preacher.</h2> +<p>Perhaps it was the memory of those spiteful and malicious +glances bent upon his preceptor by Brother Fabian that suggested to +Edred upon the day following to pay a visit to the secret chamber +that had once before so well sheltered a helpless fugitive.</p> +<p>The secret of that chamber still remained with the three boys +and their faithful esquire, Warbel. To no other living soul in the +house had any of these four ever named the matter. The boys might +not have been able to give any reason for this reticence towards +their parents, but the fact remained that they had never revealed +the secret to them, and that although tradition still spoke of a +cleverly-masked chamber somewhere at Chad, it was now popularly +supposed to have been in that part of the house which had boon +demolished during the Wars of the Roses. Children did not chatter +to their parents in days of old as they do now. They might love +them never so well, but they held them in reverence and even in +awe. They were silent in their presence, as a rule, unless spoken +to first, and the habit of conversational intimacy did not grow up +until a much later period in their lives. Thus the adventures of +Warbel, and his strange midnight visit to their bedchamber, had +never been told to Sir Oliver or his wife. All they knew was that +the man had taken refuge from the anger of the Lord of Mortimer in +one of their woodmen's huts. They were glad to give him shelter and +employment at Chad, and had never regretted the hospitality +extended to him; for he had proved the most faithful of servants, +and his devotion to the boys was so great that they could be +trusted anywhere in his keeping.</p> +<p>As for the anger of his proud neighbour, Sir Oliver had made +light of that. The Lord of Mortimer could not make any thing out of +so small a matter, and at that time had other more weighty affairs +on hand. Warbel's stories to his fellows of the harshness and +tyrannical rule at Mortimer made his own servants more loyal and +stanch than ever. Chad was a peaceable and happy abode for all its +inmates, and the need for secret hiding places had so far never +arisen.</p> +<p>The boys in years gone by had almost regretted this fact. They +had pictured so vividly how they would hide their father or some +friend of his in this secret chamber, should peril menace them from +any quarter, that it had seemed sometimes almost a pity that so +secure a hiding place should be of so little use, when it might +have done such excellent service had the need arisen.</p> +<p>However, as years sped by and the lads began to know more of +life, they ceased to regret that the secret chamber remained +without an occupant. From time to time they visited it, swept out +the dust and cobwebs that had accumulated there, and bit by bit +collected a few more odds and ends of furniture, so that the place +now wore a look of greater comfort and habitation than it had done +when they saw it first.</p> +<p>Once when Edred had been laid up by an accident to his foot, he +had amused himself by making a number of feather pillows from the +feathers of the birds his brothers shot and brought home to him. +These feathers were dressed in the proper way by the boys +themselves, and then made up into large pillows or cushions, which +were then taken up to the secret chamber (at that time the +favourite hobby of the boys), in order to make restful and +comfortable the hard pallet bed, in case any fugitive were forced +to take shelter there. In the same way had several rudely-made +rugs, formed of the skins of wild bears taken in the woods, and +tanned by the boys in a fashion of their own, found their way +thither; and altogether the place had assumed an aspect of some +comfort and even luxury, although it was now several years since +any further additions had been made to its plenishings.</p> +<p>Edred looked round the strange apartment with a thoughtful air +as he emerged into it from the long, dark, twisting passage he had +threaded with the security of one to whom every winding and turn +was known. It was dim and dark there, but sufficient light filtered +in through cracks and cleverly-contrived apertures to render it +easy to move about; and when the eye grew used to the dimness, +everything could be seen with pretty fair distinctness.</p> +<p>"It would not be a bad hiding place," mused the boy, speaking +half aloud. "Methinks over there one could even read without much +trouble. Yes, without doubt one could; and that crack might be +judiciously enlarged without any peril. It does but give upon the +leads behind the main chimney stack, and the tiles would cover any +aperture I made."</p> +<p>He took out his large hunting knife from his girdle as he spoke, +and worked away awhile in silence. Very soon he had considerably +added to the amount of light in the strange room. He eyed his +handiwork with considerable satisfaction.</p> +<p>"That is better. It would be something gloomy to be shut up here +without light enough to study by; but with books and food one might +spend many a week here and not be overwhelmed with <span lang= +"en-GB" xml:lang="en-GB">dullness.</span> The place is something +straight, to be sure, and there is bare room for a tall man to +stand upright."</p> +<p>Edred drew himself to his full height, and found that his head +did not quite reach the beams which formed the ceiling.</p> +<p>"I trow Brother Emmanuel could just stand; he is not greatly +taller than I. And he is marvellous contented with a very little, +and has been used to passing days and weeks in the solitude of his +cell. Sure this would not be to him an evil place. If he had but a +book or two and the needful food, he would be vastly content.</p> +<p>"I wonder if he can be in any sort of peril. I liked not the +looks or the words of you malicious monk. Our father and mother +often say that these be times when men must walk warily, and +ofttimes they tell of godly men even in high places who have fallen +into disgrace and been accused of fearful sins. It is not safe in +these days to have for enemies those who are within the pale of the +Church--monks and priors, men who are held up as examples and +models of true faith and piety.</p> +<p>"I know not whether they merit the praise men give to them. +Methinks Brother Emmanuel could teach them many things both in +precept and practice. But it is not for me to be the judge in such +matters; yet if he were in any kind of peril, I would lay down my +life to save him!"</p> +<p>The boy's eyes kindled at the thought. He cherished for his +preceptor an ardent and enthusiastic love, and he had his share of +that chivalrous devotion and self-sacrifice which has been the +brightest ornament of days that have much of darkness and cruelty +to disgrace them.</p> +<p>His face wore a very earnest look as he set about his homely +task of cleaning and setting in order this secret chamber. He was +more than two hours over his task, for he went through it with +unwonted energy. The place looked almost tempting before he had +done with it, and he looked about him with satisfied eyes at the +close of his labours.</p> +<p>There was a convenient spout, meant to carry off the rain water +from the complex level of the old roof, which made an excellent +substitute for a dust shoot. It could be got at from this place +without difficulty, and Edred shot down his rubbish without any +trouble through a funnel-like piece of wood he and his brothers had +contrived for the purpose many years before. Then he stood quite +still at the aperture whence the soft breeze came blowing in, lost +in thought.</p> +<p>"It doth get very hot here in the summer days," he remarked, +"and in especial at this end of the room, where it abuts upon the +leads. It is cooler yonder, but then it is also darker. The air and +the light come in at this side, but so does the heat likewise. And +how thirsty one gets, too! My throat is parched and dry. I mind me +how poor Warbel suffered in like manner when he was here. Food +could be brought in without trouble. I will amass even now by slow +degrees some of those hard oaten cakes that keep good for weeks, +and some salted venison that would last the winter through.</p> +<p>"But water--how could that be brought? Suppose that we too were +watched; suppose we dared not go through the secret door? What +would become of the prisoner?</p> +<p>"I must talk to Bertram and Julian about that. Bertram has a +wonderful gift for getting out of such difficulties; he has a +marvellous quick wit. We never thought in old days how the water +was to be conveyed; we thought a few bottles of wine would last a +lifetime. But to die of thirst would be worse than to face one's +foes. I shall not really rest till I have thought how such a danger +might be guarded against."</p> +<p>Edred left the place with a thoughtful air. He gained their own +long sleeping room without adventure. Nobody was ever there at this +hour of the day, and he sat down on his bed to think and plan.</p> +<p>There his brothers found him later when they came rushing up +tumultuously to find him.</p> +<p>"Ha! thou art there. We have been seeking thee everywhere. What +hast thou been doing, brother?"</p> +<p>"I have been up to the room," answered the boy. "I have been +making it all ready. I was something disturbed by what chanced +yester-afternoon. I told thee of Brother Fabian and his evil +looks?"</p> +<p>The other two nodded.</p> +<p>"Yes, verily; but they be brothers of one fraternity. Surely one +Benedictine would not hurt another?"</p> +<p>"I know not that. I was talking this day with Warbel. He has +been about in the world. He has seen priests and monks accused of +heresy the one by the other; and none are so fearfully persecuted +as those who wear the tonsure, if men do but suspect them of that +sin.</p> +<p>"Brother Emmanuel a heretic!" cried Bertram, with flashing eyes. +"I would force the word down the false throat of any who dared to +say so! Brother Emmanuel is a right holy man. Art thou mad, Edred, +to think such a thing?"</p> +<p>The boy shook his head doubtfully.</p> +<p>"I would I were," he replied; "but methinks Brother Emmanuel +himself thinks that peril may menace him. I understand not rightly +these matters; but I saw that yesterday upon his face which showed +me that he felt he stood something in peril, albeit he has no fear. +He is not of the stuff of which cowards are made."</p> +<p>Julian's eyes were wide with affright.</p> +<p>"They say the Lollards and heretics are to be sought out and +burned, and that right soon," he said, in low, awe-struck tones. +"Some of our people heard it today from those at Mortimer. The Lord +of Mortimer has become very zealous to help the priests and monks +to scent out all suspected of heresy and make a great example of +them.</p> +<p>"Edred, thou dost not think they will take Brother +Emmanuel--and--burn--him?"</p> +<p>The last words were little more than a whisper.</p> +<p>"I will die sooner than see it done!" cried the boy +passionately. "But in these days no man may say who is safe. +Therefore went I up to the chamber this very day to set it in +order;" and then he told his brothers of the difficulty that had +beset him there, and how he felt no security for any person in +hiding there so long as the difficulty of conveying water to him +remained so great.</p> +<p>Bertram grasped the situation in a moment. He well knew that if +any person were suspected of lying hidden in the house, a close +watch might well be kept upon every member of the household, and +that it might be hard indeed to pay more than a very occasional +visit to the prisoner. If, for instance, suspicion were to fall +upon the boys in this matter, it would be probable they would be +placed under some restraint; they might be carried off to the +priory and forced to do some penance there. It would never do for +the prisoner to be entirely dependent upon them for supplies of the +precious commodity; and yet what else was to be done?</p> +<p>"I must think about it," cried Bertram. "I shall never rest till +I have thought of some method. Would we had not left it so long! We +have had all these years to make our plans, and we have never +thought of this thing till trouble seems like to be at the very +doors.</p> +<p>"Still it may but be our fantasy. Neither Brother Emmanuel nor +any other may need the shelter of this room. We will trust it may +be so.</p> +<p>"Yet I will cudgel my brains for a plan. It would be a fearful +thing to know him to be shut up here, and yet to be unable to visit +him with the necessaries of life. How poor Warbel drank when he +issued forth that night. Methinks I see him now. One would have +thought he had never tasted water before."</p> +<p>"But we came not to talk of all this," interrupted Julian, who +had been evincing a few signs of impatience latterly; "we came to +tell of the fair held today and tomorrow at Chadwick. Our father +says we may go thither tomorrow if we will. Warbel says they will +bait a bull, and perhaps a bear; and that there will be fighting +with the quarterstaff and shooting with cross and long bow, and +many other like spectacles. He will attend us, and we may be off +with the light of day, an we will. That is what we came to tell +thee, Edred."</p> +<p>Edred was boy enough to be well pleased at this news. Any +variety in the day's round was pleasing to the lads, who found life +a little monotonous, albeit pleasant enough. It was a relief, too, +to turn from grave thoughts and anxious forebodings to the +anticipation of simpler pleasures, and the boys all ran to seek +Warbel and ask him what these village fairs were like; for they had +been much interrupted during the recent wars, and only now that +peace had been for some years established did they begin to revive +and gain their old characteristics.</p> +<p>At break of day on the morning following, the little party +started forth on foot to walk the five miles which separated them +from the village of Chadwick. It was a pleasant enough walk through +the green forest paths before the heat of the day had come. The +three boys and Warbel headed the party, and were followed by some +eight or ten men of various degree, some bent on a day's pleasure +for themselves, others there with a view of attending upon their +master's sons.</p> +<p>Bertram felt that he could have dispensed with any attendance +save that of Warbel; but Sir Oliver had given his own orders. With +so powerful and jealous a neighbour within easy reach of the +village, he felt bound to be careful of his children. They were but +striplings after all, and doubtless his unscrupulous neighbour +would be delighted to hold one or more as a hostage should excuse +arise for opening hostilities of any kind. He knew well the +unscrupulous character of the man with whom he had to deal, and he +acted with prudence and foresight accordingly.</p> +<p>The little village when reached proved to be all <i>en fete</i>. +Rude arches of greenery crossed every pathway to the place, and all +the people had turned out in their holiday dresses upon the green +to join in the dances and see the sights. There was a miracle play +going on in one place, repeated throughout the day to varying +groups of spectators. In another corner some rude gipsy juggling +was to be seen, at which the rustic yokels gazed with wondering +eyes. There were all the usual country games in full swing; and the +baiting of a great bull, which was being led to the centre of the +green, attracted the attention of the bulk of the spectators, and +drew them away from other sports. The actors in the miracle play +threw off their dresses to come and witness this delightful +pastime, and hardly any of those present seemed to regard for a +moment the sufferings of the poor brute, or the savage nature of +the whole performance.</p> +<p>Edred, however, belonged to that very small minority, and whilst +his two brothers pressed into the ring, he wandered away elsewhere +to see what was to be seen. His attention was attracted by a little +knot of persons gathered together under the shade of a great oak +tree, rather far away from the green that was the centre of +attraction. The shade looked inviting, now that the heat was +growing greater, and the boy felt some curiosity to know what was +the attraction which kept this little group so compact and quiet. +On the green were shouting and yelling and noise of every +description; but Edred could hear no sound of any kind proceeding +from this little group till he approached quite near, and then he +was aware of the sound of a single voice speaking in low tones and +very earnestly.</p> +<p>When he got nearer still he saw that the speaker was a little +hunchback, and that he had in his hand a small book from which he +was reading aloud to the people about him. And this fact surprised +the boy not a little, for it was very unusual for any person in the +lower ranks of life to be able to read; and yet this man was +evidently in poor circumstances, for his clothes were shabby and +his hands were hardened by manual toil.</p> +<p>Drawing nearer in great curiosity, Edred became aware that what +the hunchback was reading was nothing more or less than a part of +the gospel narrative in the English tongue, to which the people +about him were listening in amazement, and with keen curiosity and +attention.</p> +<p>Edred was familiar enough with the Latin version of the +Scriptures, and had studied them under the guidance of Brother +Emmanuel with great care and attention; but he had never yet heard +the words read out in their entirety in his native tongue, and he +was instantly struck and fascinated by the freshness and +suggestiveness of the familiar language when used for this purpose. +He was conscious that it gave to the words a new life and meaning; +that it seemed, as it were, to drive them home to the heart in a +new fashion, and to make them the property of the listener as they +could never be when a dead language was used as the medium of +expression. He felt a strange thrill run through him as the story +of Calvary was thus read in the low, impassioned tones of the +hunchback; and he was not surprised to see that tears were running +down many faces, and that several women could hardly restrain their +sobs.</p> +<p>Now and again the hunchback paused and added a few explanatory +words of his own; now and again he broke forth into a rhapsody not +lacking in a certain rude eloquence, in which he besought his +hearers to come to their Saviour with their load of sin--their +Saviour, who was the one and only Mediator between God and man. +Were not His own words enough--"Father, forgive them"? What need, +then, of the priest; the confessional; the absolution of man? To +God and to Him alone was the remission of sins. Let those who loved +their Lord seek to Him, and see what bliss and happiness resulted +from this personal bond between the erring soul and the loving +Saviour.</p> +<p>Edred shivered slightly as he stood, yet something in the +impassioned gestures of the hunchback, and the strange enthusiastic +light which shone in his eyes, attracted him in spite of himself. +That this was rank heresy he well knew. He knew that one of the +Lollard tenets had always been that confession was a snare devised +of man and not appointed by God. Edred himself could have quoted +many passages from Holy Writ which spoke of some need of confession +through the medium of man, and of sins remitted by God-appointed +ministers. He had been well instructed in such matters by Brother +Emmanuel, who, whatever his enemies might allege against him, was a +stanch son of the Church, even though he might be gifted with a +wide tolerance and a mind open to conviction; and his pupil was not +to be easily convinced against his will. Nor was Edred convinced of +the justice and truth of many things that this ignorant man spoke; +but what did strike him very greatly was his intense earnestness, +his fiery and impassioned gestures, the absolute confidence he +possessed in the righteousness of his own cause, and his utter +freedom from any kind of doubt or fear--the eloquence of one of +nature's orators that carries away the heart far more than the +studied oratory which is the result of practice and artifice.</p> +<p>Whilst the man spoke, Edred felt himself carried away in spite +of his inner consciousness that there was a flaw in the argument of +the preacher. He was intensely interested by the whole scene. He +could not help watching the faces of the group of which he made +one, watching the play of emotion upon them as they followed with +breathless attention their instructor's words, and drank in his +fiery eloquence as though it were life-giving water.</p> +<p>And was it wonderful this should be so? the youth asked of +himself. Were not these poor people fairly starving for want of +spiritual food? and what food did they receive from the hands of +their parish priest? Edred knew the old man well. He was a +kind-hearted sexagenarian, and in those days that was accounted an +immense age. He mumbled through the mass on Sundays; he baptized +the children and buried the dead when need arose; and if sent for +by some person in extremity, would go and administer the last rites +of the Church. But beyond that his duties did not go, and no living +soul in the place remembered hearing him speak a word of +instruction or admonition on his own account. He had a passion for +gardening, and spent all his spare time with his flowers; and his +people went their way as he did his, and their lives never touched +on any point.</p> +<p>Such being the case, was it wonderful that the people should +come with eagerness to hear of the Saviour from whomsoever would +tell them of Him? Edred well remembered Brother Emmanuel's words +about the four God-given channels of grace--the living ministry by +which He had meant His Church to be perfected. But how when the +streams grew choked? how when the ministry had become a dead +letter? Was the Church, were the people, to die of inanition? Might +not God pardon them for listening to any messenger who came with +His name upon his lips? Surely He who lived in the heavens would +pardon them even if it were sin, seeing that it was the instinctive +love of His own wandering sheep which brought them crowding round +any shepherd who would teach them of Him, even though he did not +come in the God-directed order.</p> +<p>Some such thoughts in a more chaotic form surged through Edred's +head as he stood listening, almost causing him to lose the words of +the preacher, though the tenor of his discourse was plain. He +almost wished he might enter into a discussion with this +enthusiast, and point out to him where he thought him extravagant +and wrong; but young as he was, Edred yet knew something of the +futility of argument with those whose minds are made up, and +caution withheld him from entering into any argument with one who +was plainly a Lollard preacher. So, after listening with sympathy +and interest for a long while, he quietly stole away again.</p> +<p>The bull baiting was over by this time. The games and other +sports were recommencing with greater energy after this brief +interruption. The miracle play was again represented, and Edred +stood a few minutes to watch, thinking within his heart that this +representation, half comical, half blasphemous (though the people +who regarded it seemed in no way aware of this), was a strange way +of bringing home the realities of the Scriptures, when it could be +done so far more faithfully and eloquently by simply reading the +gospel words in the tongue of the common people.</p> +<p>His eye roved from the actors, with their mincing words and +artificial gestures, to the group still collected beneath the tree, +and he could not but contrast the two methods in his own mind, and +wonder for a moment whether the Lollards could be altogether so +desperately wicked as their enemies would make out.</p> +<p>He was half afraid of allowing himself to think too much on such +themes, and went in search of his brothers. He found Warbel looking +out for him in some anxiety. He had missed the boy for some little +while from his charge, and as the field was filling fast with +followers and servants wearing the Mortimer livery, he was glad to +have the three boys all together beneath his care.</p> +<p>He would have been glad to get them to leave the place, but +Bertram would not hear of it. He wished to try his own skill at +some of the sports; and Julian, of course, must needs follow his +example.</p> +<p>The skill and address of the Chadgrove brothers won the hearty +admiration of the rustics, but it also brought them more than once +into rivalry and collision with some of Mortimer's +gentlemen-at-arms, who were not best pleased to be overmatched by +mere striplings. It was also galling and irritating to them to note +the popularity of these lads with the rustics. Any success of +theirs was rewarded by loud shouting and applause, whilst no +demonstration of satisfaction followed any feat performed by those +wearing the livery of Mortimer. And if the lads scored a triumph +over any of these latter, the undisguised delight of the beholders +could not pass unnoticed by the vanquished.</p> +<p>Altogether there were so much jealousy and ill will aroused that +little scuffles between the followers of Chad and Mortimer had +already taken place in more than one part of the field. Warbel was +getting very uneasy, and had persuaded Edred to use his influence +with his brothers to return home before any real collision should +have occurred, when a great tumult and shouting suddenly arose to +interrupt the whispered colloquy, and Edred saw a great rush being +made in the direction of the oak tree, where the hunchback preacher +had been keeping his station the whole day long, always surrounded +by a little knot of listeners.</p> +<p>Shouts and yells were filling the air, the voices being those of +Mortimer's following.</p> +<p>"A Lollard, a Lollard! A heretic! Down with him! Away with him! +To the fire with him! A Lollard, a Lollard!"</p> +<p>A deep flush overspread Edred's face. He made a spring forward; +but Warbel laid a detaining hand upon his arm.</p> +<p>"It is no case for us to interfere in," he said, with clouded +brow. "If they have a heretic to deal with we must not meddle. It +is not England's way for a score to attack one; but we must not +interpose betwixt Mortimer and a heretic. That would be too much +peril."</p> +<p>But almost before the man had done speaking Edred broke away, +crying out excitedly: "My brothers, my brothers! they are there in +the thick of it!" and with a groan of terror and dismay Warbel +recognized the voice of Bertram raised in angry scorn.</p> +<p>"Stand back, you cowards! Who ever heard of fifty men against +one, and he a cripple? The first who touches him I strike dead. A +heretic! Pooh! nonsense. He is but a poor travelling peddler with +his pack. See, here is the pack to speak for itself. For shame to +mar a merry holiday in this <span lang="en-US" xml:lang= +"en-US">unmannerly</span> fashion! No; I will not give him up! Ye +are no better than a pack of howling, ravening wolves. I am the +Lord of Chad, and I will see that no violence is done this day. +Back to your sports, ye unmannerly knaves. Are ye fit for nothing +but to set upon one helpless man and worry him as dogs worry their +helpless prey?"</p> +<p>Howls, execrations, oaths followed freely; but the village +people were to a man with their young lord, and the scions of +Mortimer felt it by instinct.</p> +<p>"Who is he? Whence came he?" was being asked on all sides; but +none could give an answer. He was a stranger to the village, but +all those who had been drinking in his words rallied round him, and +declared he was but a simple peddler whose wares they had been +buying; and Bertram, who really thought so, stood beside the tree, +opened the bundle, and showed the innocent nature of the wares.</p> +<p>His brothers had forced their way to his side by this time, and +helped to make a ring round the poor hunchback; and Edred kept a +very sharp eye upon the emptying of the pack, resolved if there +should be any book at the bottom to contrive that it should not +reach the eyes of any of the vindictive followers of Mortimer.</p> +<p>But there was nothing of the sort to be seen. The man was both +too poor and too wary to carry such dangerous things with him. His +own thin volume had been slipped into some secret receptacle about +his person, and his calmness of bearing helped to convince all who +were open to conviction that he was innocent of the charge brought +against him.</p> +<p>With dark, lowering faces, and many muttered threats, the +Mortimer retainers drew off, seeing that with public feeling dead +against them they could not prevail to work their will upon the +intended victim. But <span lang="en-US" xml:lang= +"en-US">Warbel</span> was made very anxious by the words he heard +openly spoken on all sides, and he would have given much to have +hindered this act of Bertram's, generous and manly though he knew +it to have been.</p> +<p>"It is ill work drawing down the charge of heresy," he remarked, +as he got the boys at last in full march <span lang="en-US" +xml:lang="en-US">homeward.</span> "Any other charge one can laugh +to scorn; but no man may tell where orthodoxy ends and heresy +begins. Godly bishops have been sent to prison, and priests to the +stake. How may others hope to escape?"</p> +<p>"Tush!" answered Bertram lightly; "there was never a heretic at +Chad yet, and never will be one, I trow. Was I to see a poor +cripple like that done to death without striking a blow in his +defence--he in Chadwick, of which my father is lord of the manor? +Was I to see Mortimer's men turning a gay holiday into a scene of +horror and affright? Never! I were unworthy of my name had I not +interposed. The man was no heretic, and if he had been--"</p> +<p>"Have a care, sir, how thou speakest; have a care, I entreat +thee! Thou knowest not what ears may be listening!" cried Warbel, +in a real fright.</p> +<p>Bertram laughed half scornfully.</p> +<p>"I have no need to be ashamed of what I think. I am a true son +of the Church, and fear not what the vile Mortimer scum may say. +But to pleasure thee, good Warbel, I will say no more. We will make +our way home with all speed, and tell the tale to our father. I +doubt not he will say it was well done. The Lord of Chad would ever +have the defenceless protected, and stand between them and the +false and treacherous bloodhounds of Mortimer. I have no fear that +he will blame me. He would have done the same in my place."</p> +<p>"I trow he would," answered Warbel in a low voice; "but that +does not make the deed done without peril of some sort following to +the doer."</p> +<h2><a name="ChapterV" id="ChapterV">Chapter V</a>: A Warning.</h2> +<p>Sir Oliver and his wife listened with some anxiety to the boys' +story of the rescue of the peddler. Bertram observed the cloud upon +his father's brow, and eagerly asked if he had done wrong.</p> +<p>"I say not so, my son," replied the knight. "I would ever have a +child of mine merciful and just--the protector of the oppressed, +and the champion of the defenceless; nevertheless--"</p> +<p>"And it was those bloodhounds of Mortimer's who were setting +upon him," broke in Julian vehemently. "What right had they to +molest him? Could we of Chad, upon our own soil, stand by and see +it done? I trow, father, that thou wouldst have done the same hadst +thou been there."</p> +<p>A smile flitted over the face of the knight. He loved to see the +generous fire burning in his boys' eyes; but for all that his face +was something anxious as he made reply:</p> +<p>"Belike I should, my son, albeit perhaps in a something less +vehement fashion. My authority would have served to keep down riot, +and the charge against the peddler could have been forthwith +examined, and if found false the man could then have been sent on +his way in safety. But it is dangerous work just now to appear to +side with those against whom the foul charge of heresy is brought. +Knowest thou--know any of ye--what gave rise to the sudden +suspicion?"</p> +<p>Edred, who knew much more of the real nature of the peddler's +occupation that day, kept his lips close sealed. He would not for +worlds have told what he had seen and heard. His brothers were +plainly ignorant of the peddler's exhortation, reading, and +preaching. It was not for him to add to the anxieties of his +parents.</p> +<p>Julian was the first to answer the question.</p> +<p>"It was but the idle spite of the people of Mortimer," he +answered. "They had baited the bull and the bear, and they had the +mind to bait or burn a heretic whilst their blood was up, as a fit +end to their day's pleasuring. I saw them prowling round the tree +where the fellow was talking to the women and showing his wares; +and suddenly they raised the shout. I called out to Bertram that +Mortimer's people were bent on a mischief, and he sprang to the +peddler's side before any had touched him, and we disappointed the +hell hounds of their prey. He had nothing in his pack but such +wares as all peddlers have; and the people vowed he had done naught +all the day but sell to all who came. It would have been sin and +shame for us of Chad to have stood by to see him hounded perhaps to +death. We could not choose but balk those evil men of their will. +None of our blood could have stood by to see such ill done!"</p> +<p>"I cannot blame ye, my sons," said the knight. "Ye have the +blood of your forefathers in your veins, and it goes against all of +us at Chad to see injustice and unrighteousness committed. I do but +wish the cry raised against yon man had been anything else than +that of heresy. The priests and magistrates are very busy now +searching out all those suspected of that vile sin, and those who +shelter them are accounted as guilty as those who are proved +tainted. Our foe of Mortimer is very zealous in the good cause, and +will not scruple to employ against us every weapon in his power. It +would be an excellent thing in his eyes to show how mine own +children had stood up to defend a Lollard heretic. I would we knew +something more anent this man and his views.</p> +<p>"Warbel, didst thou know him? Is he anyone known in and about +Chad?"</p> +<p>"I never saw his face <span lang="en-US" xml:lang= +"en-US">before</span>, sir," answered Warbel. "I know not so much +as his name. I had thought of making some inquiries of the village +folks. All I noted was that he seemed always to have plenty of +persons around and about him, and his wares were nothing very +attractive. Still, it is often the tales peddlers tell and the way +they have with them that keeps a crowd always about them. Some of +the folks of the place must know who and what he is."</p> +<p>"Yes, verily; and it would be well for thee to ride over +tomorrow and make all needful inquiry. It would set my mind at rest +to know that there was no cause of complaint against him. We cannot +be blind to the fact that heretical doctrines are widely spread by +those purporting to be hawkers and peddlers. Yet there must be many +honest men who would scorn to be so occupied, and who know not even +the name of these pestilent heresies."</p> +<p>And with that charge the knight tried to dismiss the subject +from his mind; whilst Edred went to bed feeling terribly uneasy, +and dreamed all night of the secret chamber, and how the time came +when they were all forced to take refuge in it from the hatred of +the Lord of Mortimer and his bloodthirsty followers.</p> +<p>But not even to his brothers did he tell all that he had heard +and all that he knew. The words of the gospel in the familiar +language of his country haunted him persistently. He felt a strange +wish to hear more, although he believed the wish to be sin, and +strove against it might and main. Some of the passages clung +tenaciously to his memory, and he fell asleep repeating them. When +he woke the words were yet in his mind, and they seemed to get +between him and the words of his task that day when the boys went +to their tutor for daily instruction.</p> +<p>Brother Emmanuel had never found Edred so inattentive and absent +before. He divined that the boy must have something on his mind, +and let him alone. He was not surprised that he lingered when the +others had gone, and then in a low voice asked his preceptor if he +would meet him in the chantry, as he felt he could not be happy +till he had made confession of a certain matter, done penance, and +received absolution.</p> +<p>A request of that sort never met a denial from the monk. He sent +Edred to the chantry to pray for an hour, and met him there at the +end of that time to listen to all he had to say.</p> +<p>Edred's story was soon told--nothing held back, not even the +innermost thoughts of his heart--and the expression of the face +beneath the enshrouding cowl was something strange to see.</p> +<p>It was long before the monk spoke, and meantime Edred lay +prostrate at his feet, thankful to transfer the burden weighing him +down to the keeping of another, but little guessing what the burden +was to him to whom he made this confession.</p> +<p>Well did Brother Emmanuel know and recognize the peril of +entertaining such thoughts, longings, and aspirations as were now +assailing the heart of this unconscious boy. That there was sin in +all these feelings he did not doubt; that heavy penance must be +done for them he would not for a moment have wished to deny. But +yet when he came to place reason in the place of the formulas of +the Church in which he had been reared, he knew not how to condemn +that longing after the Word of God which was generally the first +step towards the dreaded sin of heresy.</p> +<p>No one more sincerely abhorred the name and the sin of heresy. +When men denied the presence of the living God in the sacraments of +the Church, or attacked its time-honoured practices in which the +heart of the young monk was bound up, then the whole soul of the +enthusiast rose up in revolt, and he felt that such blasphemers +well deserved the fiery doom they brought upon themselves. But when +their sin was possessing a copy of the living Word; when all that +could be alleged against them was that they met together to read +that Word which was denied to them by their lawful pastors and +teachers, and which they had no opportunity of hearing +otherwise--then indeed did it seem a hard thing that they should be +so mercilessly condemned and persecuted.</p> +<p>Yet he could not deny that this reading and expounding of the +Scriptures by the ignorant and unlearned led almost invariably to +those other sins of blasphemy and irreverence which curdled the +very blood in his veins. Again and again had his heart burned +within him to go forth amongst the people himself; to take upon +himself and put in practice the office of evangelist, which he knew +to be a God-appointed ministry, and yet which was so seldom +worthily fulfilled, and himself to proclaim aloud the gospel, that +all might have news of the Son of God, yet might be taught to +reverence the holy sacraments more rather than less for the sake of +Him who established them upon earth, and to respect the priesthood, +even though it might in its members show itself unworthy, because +it was a thing given by Christ for the edification of the body, and +because He Himself, the High Priest passed into the heavens, must +needs have His subordinate priests working with Him and by Him on +earth.</p> +<p>Again and again had longings such as these filled his soul, and +he had implored leave to go forth preaching and teaching. But he +had never won permission to do this. The request had been treated +with contempt, and he himself had been suspected of ambition and +other unworthy motives. He had submitted to the will of his +superiors, as his vow of obedience obliged him to do; but none the +less did his heart burn within him as he saw more and more plainly +how men were thirsting for living waters, and realized with +ever-increasing intensity of pain and certainty that if the Church +herself would not give her children to drink out of pure fountains, +they would not be hindered from drinking of poisoned springs, and +thus draw down upon themselves all manner of evils and +diseases.</p> +<p>He had never doubted for a moment the pureness of the source +from which he himself drank. He was not blind to the imperfections +many and great of individuals in high places, and the corruptions +which had crept within the pale of the Church, but these appeared +to him incidental and capable of amendment. He never guessed at any +deeper poison at work far below, tainting the very waters at their +source. He was in all essential points an orthodox son of Rome; but +he had imbibed much of the spirit of the Oxford Reformers, of whom +Colet was at this time the foremost, and his more enlightened +outlook seemed to the blind and bigoted of his own order to savour +something dangerously of heresy.</p> +<p>He did not know himself seriously suspected. His conscience was +too clear, his devotion to the Church too pure, to permit of his +easily fearing unworthy suspicions. He knew himself no favourite +with the stately but self-indulgent Prior of Chadwater; knew that +Brother Fabian, whom he had once sternly rebuked for an act of open +sin, was his bitter enemy. But he had not greatly heeded this, +strong in his own innocence, and he had been far happier at Chad in +the more truly pure atmosphere of that secular house than in the +so-called sanctity of the cloister.</p> +<p>And now he found his own thoughts, aspirations, and yearnings +repeated in the mind of his favourite pupil, and he was confronted +by a problem more difficult to solve than any that had met him +before. In his own case he felt he had a compass to steer by--the +restraint and guidance of his vows and his habit to help him. But +how would it be with this ardent and imaginative boy? His mind was +struggling to free itself from artificial trammels. To what goal +might not that wish lead?</p> +<p>Earnestly he looked upon the bowed form at his feet, and in his +eyes there was a great compassion. But his lips pronounced, with +sternness and decision, the words of the heavy penance imposed, and +at the end of the prescribed formulas he raised the boy and looked +searchingly into his face.</p> +<p>"My son," he said, very gently yet very impressively, "remember +that the first sin that entered into the world was the sin of +disobedience. Remember that Satan's most powerful weapon is the one +which he employed towards our first mother when he bid her eat of +the tree of knowledge, because that knowledge is good--a God-given +thing--when he persuaded her that God was wrong in keeping anything +hidden from her that in itself was good. The same sin by which +death entered the world has abounded there ever since. God and the +Son of God and the Church have always taught that there be certain +things hidden, only to be revealed to man by God or through the +ordinances of the Church, not to be sought after through curiosity +by unlettered men themselves. Yet <span lang="en-GB" xml:lang= +"en-GB">for as much</span> as Satan is never at rest, and can +transform himself on occasion into an angel of light, he is ever +present with men urging them on to pry into these hidden mysteries +and to make light of the ordinances of God. He puts into their +mouth words similar to those by which he tempted the woman to her +fall, and men listen greedily as our first mother did, and are led +into destruction when they think they are walking forth into the +light of day.</p> +<p>"My son, beware of this sin; beware of this temptation. Remember +the many solemn warnings against disobedience contained in the Word +of God; remember how obedience is insisted on throughout that holy +volume. Thou mayest not always see the reason--thou mayest not +always recognize the authority; but remember that there is a +blessing upon those who obey, and be not in haste to break the bond +under which thou wast born, remembering who has placed thee where +thou art, and who has bidden us give all dutiful obedience to the +powers that be."</p> +<p>Edred made a deep reverence, crossed himself silently in token +of submission, and prostrated himself upon the step of the altar, +to lie there fasting till set of sun as one part of his penance. +With a murmured prayer and blessing the monk left him, hoping that +he had spoken a word of seasonable warning to one whose heart was +enkindled with ardent devotion, whilst his active mind and vivid +imagination were in danger of leading him into perilous paths.</p> +<p>No questions were asked of Edred respecting this penance, which +took him away from his ordinary occupations during the chief part +of the two following days. He and Brother Emmanuel alone knew the +reason for it, and it was against the traditions of the house that +any open notice should be taken by others.</p> +<p>The episode of the peddler and the outbreak with the followers +of Mortimer had begun to fade somewhat from the minds of those at +Chad. No complaint had reached that house from Mortimer's Keep, as +had been expected, and it was hoped that the thing would never be +heard of again.</p> +<p>Yet it was with something of a sinking heart that Sir Oliver +heard the third day that the Prior of Chadwater desired speech of +him; and as he mounted his horse and summoned his servants about +him, he wondered, not without considerable uneasiness, what this +summons might mean.</p> +<p>He had always been on good terms with the handsome prior of the +Benedictine monastery. The choicest of the game, the fattest of the +bucks slain in the forest, the chiefest specimens of his wife's +culinary triumphs, always found their way to the prior's table, and +an excellent understanding had always been maintained between the +two houses. But the knight had observed of late that the prior had +become more slack in those visits of friendly courtesy which once +had been common enough between them; and when he had presented +himself at the monastery, he had not been quite certain that his +welcome was as cordial as heretofore. It was not until latterly +that this had caused him any uneasiness--it had taken him some +while to feel sure that it was anything but his own fantasy; but he +had just begun to feel that something was amiss, and now this +summons seemed to him to have an evil import.</p> +<p>However, there was nothing for it but to go; and a clear +conscience keeps a man bold even in face of greater peril than was +likely to assail him now. He thought it probable that some rumour +of the stir on the fair day had reached the ecclesiastic, and that +he wanted an account of it in detail. Sir Oliver was quite prepared +to give him that, and entered the presence of the prior with a bold +front and an air of cordial courtesy such as he was wont to wear in +the presence of this dignitary.</p> +<p>There was nothing alarming in the prior's manner. He received +his guest graciously, bid him be seated in the best chair reserved +for the use of guests, and asked him of the welfare of his +household with benevolence and friendly interest. But after all +that had been said, his face took another look, and he brought up +the subject of the travelling peddler or preacher, and asked the +knight what his sons meant by standing champions to a notable and +pernicious Lollard heretic.</p> +<p>The knight started at the words, and disclaimed any such +knowledge both on behalf of himself and his sons. He told the tale +as Bertram and Julian had told it him; and there was such sincerity +in his manner, and his character both for orthodoxy and for +scrupulous truthfulness in word and deed was so widely known and +respected, that the prior's brow unbent somewhat, and he looked +less stern and severe.</p> +<p>"I believe your story, Sir Knight," he said. "I believe that +your sons sinned in ignorance. But none the less is it true that +they have stood champions for a pestilent heretic; and that is an +offence not likely to escape the vengeful notice of the Lord of +Mortimer, who is always on the lookout for a cause of complaint +against person or persons at Chad."</p> +<p>"That is very true," replied Sir Oliver, thoughtfully and +gravely. "I was greatly vexed when I heard of the affair, and +chided my boys for their hot-headed rashness. Howbeit there be many +there to testify that the man was at that time but hawking his +wares, and my sons could not know that he was a secret heretic and +Lollard."</p> +<p>"Nay, but when that cry was raised they should not have stood at +his side as his champions without more knowledge of the truth. The +man is now known to have been preaching well nigh the whole day +long, reading portions of those accursed translations of Wycliffe's +which are damnation to all who possess them or listen to them, and +expounding thereupon in the fashion that sends persons raving mad +with the poison of heresy. The man is in hiding somewhere in the +woods about; but he will soon be caught and handed over to the +secular power to be doomed to death. And I like not the story of +your sons' part in all this; it hath an ugly look."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver hid his anxiety beneath a cloak of dignified +submission. He well knew the best way of putting things straight +with the prior.</p> +<p>"I greatly grieve over the hotheadedness of the lads, but I will +gladly make such amends as lies in my power. They sinned in +ignorance, as you, reverend father, believe, and for such sins the +indulgence of the Church may be won by the payment of such sum as +shall be thought right. If you will tell me what I ought to give to +purchase this indulgence, I will do my utmost to meet the just +claim; and Holy Church shall be richer and not poorer for the +trespass unwittingly made by the sons of Chad."</p> +<p>The prior looked pleased at this ready suggestion, and named a +sum which, though sufficiently heavy, was within Sir Oliver's +means, and which he promised should be immediately paid. He knew +that the prior, though a man fond of money, and somewhat greedy in +gaining possession of all he could, was not treacherous or unjust; +and that if he had accepted this sum as the price of the pardon of +the boys' escapade, he would stand their friend, and not allow them +to be persecuted by Mortimer for the same offence, should the +matter ever be brought up against them again.</p> +<p>Indeed, now that the arrangement had been so amicably entered +into, Sir Oliver was rather glad that the subject had been +broached. The prior was the most powerful man in the county, and to +have him for a friend was everything. It was his game to hold the +balance very nicely betwixt the owners of Mortimer and Chad, +keeping his neutral position, and not permitting either party to +overstep the limits beyond a certain extent. After what had just +passed, he felt assured that the prior would not permit his boys to +be harried or accused of countenancing heresy by their enemy, and +he was well pleased at the interview and its result.</p> +<p>He rose now as if to go, but the prior motioned him to resume +his seat.</p> +<p>"There is yet another matter upon which I would speak to you," +he said. "You have beneath your roof one of our younger brethren, +Brother Emmanuel. How have you found him comport himself since he +has been free from the restraints of the cloister?"</p> +<p>The knight looked surprised at the question.</p> +<p>"He is in all ways a very godly and saintly youth," he replied. +"He instructs my sons after an excellent fashion, keeps the hours +of the Church with a scrupulous precision I have never seen +equalled, and instructs all who come to him for advice or +assistance in a manner that makes him beloved of all. Whenever I +have talked with him or gone to him for spiritual counsel, I have +been greatly struck by his spiritual insight, his purity of +thought, his earnestness of mind, and his knowledge of the Holy +Scriptures."</p> +<p>The prior shifted a little in his seat, and coughed behind his +hand somewhat dubiously.</p> +<p>"He was ever prone to observe the hours well. He lived +blamelessly here in all outward observances; but as for his +knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, it may be that it goes something +too far. It is whispered abroad that some of his words savour +strongly of those very Lollard heresies which are about to be put +down with fire and sword. Hast thou heard and seen naught of +that?"</p> +<p>A thrill of indignation ran through Sir Oliver's frame. It was +only by an effort that he restrained a hasty exclamation. He well +knew that the wave of enlightened feeling rising within the Church +herself had found no echo in the remoter parts of the kingdom, +where bigotry and darkness and intolerance still reigned supreme. +He was perfectly aware that the most enlightened sons of the Church +who had dared to bid the people study the Word of God, and +especially to study it as a whole, would have been denounced as +heretics had they lifted up their voices in many parts of the +kingdom. This very enlightened understanding, which was so marked a +feature in Brother Emmanuel, had been one of the strongest bonds +between him and his patron, and it seemed little short of monstrous +to the knight to hear such an accusation brought against one who +had lived a godly and blameless life, had observed far more +rigorously all the laws of the Church than the prior or the +fraternity thought of doing, and was a far truer and better son +than they ever attempted to be.</p> +<p>But he restrained his indignation, and only answered very +calmly:</p> +<p>"I have seen naught of it; indeed, I have seen so much to the +contrary, that methinks it is but an idle tale, not worth your +reverence's attention. In every matter, word or deed, Brother +Emmanuel is faithful to his vows and to his calling. He is an able +instructor of youth; and were your reverence to examine him as +strictly as possible, I do not believe that any cause of offence, +however trivial, could be found against him."</p> +<p>"I am well pleased to hear such good testimony," returned the +prior, who was regarding his visitor with a scrutiny not altogether +agreeable to the knight. "At the same time, it is not always well +for a monk to remain too long away from the cloister, and a change +of instructor is ofttimes better for the young. I have been +thinking that it might be well to recall Brother Emmanuel, and send +in his place Brother Fabian, in whom I repose the greatest +confidence. How would such a change meet your good pleasure? If +Brother Emmanuel is in need of penance, it can better be imposed +here than elsewhere--and by all I hear it seems to me that he +stands something in need of the discipline of the monastery; and +Brother Fabian would make an excellent substitute as an instructor +for the lads."</p> +<p>Whilst the prior was speaking, thought had been rapid with Sir +Oliver, and something in the prior's look--a subtlety and almost +cruelty about the lines of the mouth--warned him that there was in +this proposition that which boded evil to someone.</p> +<p>It flashed across him that Brother Emmanuel was perhaps to be +made a victim of ecclesiastical tyranny and cruelty. He knew that +the ascetic young monk had been no favourite with his brethren at +Chadwater; and if they could bring against him some charge of +heresy, however trifling, it was like enough that he might be +silently done to death, as others of his calling had been for less +fearful offences. Monastic buildings held their dark secrets, as +the world was just beginning to know; and only a short while back +he had heard a whisper that it was not wise for a monk to be too +strict in his hours and in his living. Then again, Brother Fabian +was a coarse, illiterate man, utterly unfit to be the guide and +instructor of youth. Sir Oliver had not dined at the prior's table +and spent hours in his company for nothing, and he knew many of the +monks tolerably well. Brother Fabian was the one he liked the +least; indeed he had a strong dislike and distrust of the man, and +was well aware that the ecclesiastical habit was the only thing +about him that savoured of sanctity or the monastic life. He would +not have allowed the contaminating presence of such a man near his +sons, even had he been indued with the needful learning for the +task of instructor. As it was, he knew that the monk could barely +spell through his breviary, and it was plain that the prior must +have another reason for wishing to induct him into the house.</p> +<p>Nor was the reason difficult to divine. It was not as an +instructor but as a spy that Brother Fabian was to come. The +whispers abroad--doubtless spread industriously by his vengeful +foe--had not been without effect, and men had begun to suspect that +his household was tainted with heresy. Brother Emmanuel was +suspected, his sons were probably suspected as being his pupils, +and possibly some other members of his household too. Brother +Fabian was to be sent to act as spy, and if bribed (as was most +probable) by the Lord of Mortimer, would doubtless find some cause +of offence which could be twisted into an accusation of heresy +against someone there.</p> +<p>It was difficult for Sir Oliver to see his way all in a moment. +To oppose this scheme or to submit to it appeared alike dangerous. +His independence and honest English pride revolted against any +attempt to coerce him in his domestic arrangements, or to submit to +interference there, even from the ministers of the Church.</p> +<p>But it was needful to walk warily, and the prior was watching +him as a cat does a mouse.</p> +<p>"Will you give me a few days to consider this matter?" he asked, +in as easy a tone as he could. "Your reverence knows that changes +are not of themselves welcome to me; and my sons have made such +progress with Brother Emmanuel that I am something loath to part +with him. Also, they are at this moment going through a course of +study which none other could conclude with the same advantage. +Brother Fabian is doubtless an excellent brother of his order, but +he has scarce the same learning as Brother Emmanuel. Nevertheless, +I will well consider the change proposed, and give it all dutiful +heed. But I should like to speak with my wife anent the matter, and +learn her will. It is not a matter of pressing haste, by what I +have gathered from your words?"</p> +<p>"No, not one of pressing haste. Yet I would not long delay," +answered the prior. "I may not speak too openly, but there be +reasons why I would have Brother Emmanuel beneath this roof once +more. I will leave thee one week to consider and to get the course +of study completed. At the week's end, methinks, I shall be +constrained to bid Brother Emmanuel return home. But if all be well +after a short time has sped by, he may return again to thee."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver was looking full at the handsome but crafty face of +the prior, and as the last words passed his lips he saw a flicker +in the eyes which made him say within his heart:</p> +<p>"If Brother Emmanuel once re-enters these walls, he will never +sally forth again. Mischief is meant him; of that I am convinced. +What must I do? Must I give him up to his death? And how can I save +him, even if I would?"</p> +<p>These thoughts were surging in his heart as he rode home. The +peril he had feared against those of his own name and race had been +averted. The payment of what was practically a heavy fine would +secure to the boys immunity from the results of their rashness; but +with the monk it was far different. What had aroused the animosity +of the fraternity, and why mischief was planned against him, Sir +Oliver could not divine; but that something had occurred to arouse +it he could not doubt.</p> +<p>No sooner had he reached home than he sought Brother Emmanuel in +his own bare room, and laid before him the account of what had +passed.</p> +<p>A strange look crossed the young monk's face.</p> +<p>"Then it is known!" he said simply.</p> +<p>"What is known?"</p> +<p>"That I am the author of a certain pamphlet, written some while +ago, and taken to Germany to be printed, giving an account of some +of the corruptions and abuses that have stolen into the Church, and +in especial into the monasteries and religious houses of this land. +I could not choose but write it. If the Church is to be saved, it +can only be by her repudiation of such corruptions, and by a +process of self cleansing that none can do for her. I always knew +that if suspected my life would pay the forfeit; but I know not how +the authorship has been discovered. Yet the great ones of the land +have ways we know not of; and if the truth is not known, it is +suspected. I am to go back to the priory; but once there, I shall +never go forth again. Yet what matter? I always knew if the thing +were known my life would .pay the forfeit. I wrote as the Spirit +bid me; I know that God was with me then. I am ready to lay down my +life in a good cause; I am not afraid what man can do unto me."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver looked into that young face, which the martyr spirit +illuminated and glorified, and an answering spark kindled in his +own eyes.</p> +<p>"If that is thine offence, and not the alleged one of heresy, I +will stand thy friend," he said; "and thou shalt not go forth from +Chad to thy death so long as I have a roof to shelter thee. I will +stand thy friend and protector so long as I have a house to call +mine own."</p> +<h2><a name="ChapterVI" id="ChapterVI">Chapter VI</a>: +Watched!</h2> +<p>"I am glad thou hast so resolved, my husband; but hast thou +considered what it may mean to thee?"</p> +<p>Lady Chadgrove spoke gently, laying her hand upon her husband's +arm with a gesture unwontedly tender; for neither was demonstrative +of the deep affection which existed between them, and he knew that +only strong emotion evoked such action from her.</p> +<p>"I know that if I refuse to give up Brother Emmanuel I may draw +down upon myself stern admonition, and perchance something worse, +but I mean not that it come to open defiance of any injunction from +the Church. Brother Emmanuel must leave Chad secretly, and be far +away ere the week of grace expires. We are but twenty miles from +the coast. This very day I shall ride thither and see what small +trading vessels are in the bay about to fare forth to foreign +shores. I shall negotiate with some skipper making for some Dutch +port to carry thither the person whom I shall describe to him, and +who will show him this ring"--and Sir Oliver displayed an emerald +upon his own finger--"in token that he is the person to be taken +aboard. Those trading skippers are used to such jobs, and if they +be paid they know how to hold their peace and ask no questions. In +Holland the brother will be safer than in any other land. The spite +of the Prior of Chadwater is not like to pursue him there. But here +his life is not safe from hour to hour."</p> +<p>"And how if it comes to be known that thou hast planned this +escape?" asked the lady, a little anxiously.</p> +<p>"I have thought of that too, dame," replied the knight, smiling. +"Let but the good brother be safely out of the country, and whilst +the hue and cry is still going on here after him I will to the king +and tell him all the story. Our pious Dean Colet, who knows Brother +Emmanuel, and knows, too, that it is meet the corrupt practices +that have crept within the pale of Holy Church should be made +known, that they may be swept away and reformed, will stand my +friend, and together we can so persuade his Majesty that even if +the prior and Mortimer both combine to accuse me before him he will +not allow their spite to touch me. The king knows right well that +there is need of amendment within the Church herself. We have heard +words spoken in the Cathedral of London which would be accounted +rank heresy here. There is light abroad which must one day reach to +the ends of the earth, and truly it sometimes seemeth to me that if +the priests, the abbots, and the monks set their faces steadfastly +against this light, they will fall into some terrible pitfall, but +they will never quench the light with their united strength."</p> +<p>The lady gave one quick glance round, as though afraid that even +the walls might have ears, and such sentiments were not those that +it was safe to blazon abroad. But Sir Oliver, strong in the +consciousness of his own deep and abiding love for the Church and +for all the doctrines which she upheld, was bold to speak his mind +in private when the subject broached was the one of corruptions and +abuses which some of the sturdiest and noblest sons of the Church +were now engaged in examining and denouncing, none dreaming of +charging them with heresy on that account.</p> +<p>But the mother had noted the presence of Edred, who had come in +quietly whilst the discussion was going on, and was now standing +listening to his father's words with kindling eyes; and she made a +sign to her husband which caused him to turn round, and then the +boy spoke.</p> +<p>"The horses are ready at the door, father, and Bertram prays +that he may accompany thee. He is donning his riding dress +already."</p> +<p>"With all my heart," answered the knight readily, "an he can +ride the forty miles betwixt this and tomorrow at the same hour; +for I do not purpose to be long absent."</p> +<p>"Bertram would ride all day and all night and feel it not," +answered Edred with a proud smile; "and he loves the sight and the +smell of the salt sea, and would be loath to miss the chance of +seeing it. Father, art thou going to aid Brother Emmanuel to fly? +Is there peril for him abroad?"</p> +<p>The knight bent a quick, keen glance upon his son.</p> +<p>"I fear so, my boy; and Brother Emmanuel himself thinks that ill +is meant him. And it is better to seek safety in flight at the +first hint of danger than to dally and delay, and perhaps find at +last that it is too late to fly. Thou, my son, wilt for this one +day and night be left in charge of thy mother and thy home and all +within it; for I must needs take with me Warbel and a score of our +stoutest fellows, for the lonely road to the coast is none too safe +for travellers of the better sort. Be thou watchful and vigilant, +and keep thine eyes and thine ears alike open. Heed well that the +gates be closed early, and that all be made safe, and let not +Brother Emmanuel adventure himself without the walls. Use all +discretion and heed, and fare thee well. I shall reach the coast +tonight, and do my business with all speed, and be in the saddle +again with the light of dawn, so thou mayest look to see us again +before noon."</p> +<p>And with a tender farewell to his wife, the knight mounted and +rode away with his gallant little train; and the lady looked after +him from the window, and said to Edred, who quickly came to her to +learn more, if he could, of the words he had recently heard:</p> +<p>"Now may the blessed saints and our Lord Himself be with him! +for no braver and truer gentleman lives in the length and breadth +of this land. There be few, indeed, who would imperil their own +safety rather than yield up one who is after all little more than a +stranger. Heaven send that he repent not this deed! May God be with +him in all his ways!"</p> +<p>"My mother," said Edred cautiously, "is it that Brother Emmanuel +is in sore peril? He is so devout and faithful a son of the Church +that it is hard to credit it."</p> +<p>"In sooth, my son, these be matters hard to be understood; but +thy father truly holds that he were safer out of this country and +out of reach of the Prior of Chadwater and the Lord of Mortimer. +Men's words can be turned and twisted till the best may be accused +of heresy; and again, if a monk has fallen beneath the wrath of his +superior, no man may tell what would befall were he to return to +the power of his spiritual father. Sure those holy men who founded +the orders of godly recluses little dreamed what those places might +become in time, and with the ever-increasing love of ease and +wealth which seems implanted in the heart of man.</p> +<p>"Heaven pardon me if I speak or think amiss! but it is strange +to hear and see what passes in the world. But one must use all +caution even in thought, and I would not have thee speak aught of +this save in a whisper in thy brother's ear, that he too may use +all caution and discretion till we can find occasion to send +Brother Emmanuel forth in safety.</p> +<p>"We have a week before us ere he will be summoned hence. Strive +that none shall suspect aught of difference or coming change. Keep +well the hours of study. Give none occasion for remark. For all we +know, a spy may be in our midst; and at least any servant of ours +might well be questioned by any of the monks of Chadwater, to whom +he might go to confess, as to what was passing in the house, and +see no hurt in answering questions. Wherefore be very wise and +discreet, and give none occasion for remark.</p> +<p>"Thou dost understand me, my son? I may trust thee? Remember +that thine own father's welfare may be imperilled by the veriest +trifle should men suspect him of striving to outwit the prior."</p> +<p>Edred's eyes expressed a great comprehension and sympathy. He +took his mother's hand and kissed it, slightly bending the +knee.</p> +<p>"Thou mayest trust me, sweet mother," he answered. "Methinks I +know well all thou wouldst say. I will be cautious, and I will +teach caution to Julian. No harm shall come to any beneath this +roof from word or deed of ours."</p> +<p>And then the lady went to her delayed household duties, whilst +Edred went in search of his brother, to take him to the room where +their studies were usually prosecuted, that the household wheels +might revolve after the accustomed manner.</p> +<p>But Julian was nowhere to be seen. Edred sought him and called +him lustily, till at length the old seneschal at the gate heard +him, and informed him that his brother had gone a short distance on +foot with the travellers, but that he would doubtless be back ere +long.</p> +<p>Julian was light and fleet of foot as a deer, and often ran for +many miles beside his father's charger, the nature of the wooded +country round Chad giving him many advantages. Edred wandered forth +a little way to meet him on his return, and was presently aware of +a cowled figure standing close against a great beech tree, and so +motionless and rigid was the attitude that the boy had to look +somewhat closely to be certain that it was not a part of the tree +trunk itself.</p> +<p>He paused and examined the figure with an intense curiosity not +unmixed with suspicion. His own light footfall did not appear to +have been heard, and the motionless figure, partly concealed behind +the tree, remained in the same rigid attitude, as though intently +watching some approaching object.</p> +<p>For a moment a superstitious thrill ran through the boy's frame. +He had heard stories of ghostly visitants to these woods, some of +which wore the garb of the monks of the neighbouring priory; but he +had never seen any such apparition, and would not have thought of +it now had it not been for the peculiar and unnatural quietude of +this figure. As it was, he paused, gazing intently at it, wondering +if indeed it were a being of flesh and blood.</p> +<p>He was just summoning up courage to go forward and salute it, +when it moved forward in a gliding and cautious fashion. Edred felt +ashamed of his momentary thrill of fear, for he recognized at once +the awkward gait and rolling step of Brother Fabian, and knew that +his preceptor's bitterest foe was lingering in the precincts of his +home.</p> +<p>Resolved not to be seen himself, the boy sprang up a +neighbouring tree as lightly as a squirrel, and from that vantage +ground he saw that his brother Julian was approaching, and that the +monk had stepped out to greet the lad. He heard the sound of the +nasal tones, so different from the refined accents of Brother +Emmanuel.</p> +<p>"Peace be with thee, my son."</p> +<p>Julian stopped short, and slightly bent the knee. He looked up +into Brother Fabian's face with a look which Edred well knew, and +which implied no love for his interlocutor. A stranger, however, +would be probably pleased at the frank directness of the gaze, not +noting the underlying hardihood and defiance.</p> +<p>"Alone, my son?" questioned the brother. "Methought I saw thee +not long since with thy father and brother and the servants. How +comes it thou art now alone?"</p> +<p>"I saw thee not," answered Julian, without attempting to reply +to the question.</p> +<p>"Belike no. I was telling my beads out here in the forest. Thou +didst pass me by all unknowing; but I was nigh thy path the while +nevertheless. Whither--"</p> +<p>"That is something strange," remarked the boy, affecting not to +hear the commencement of another question; "for I could be sworn +that not a squirrel or field mouse crosses my path but that I mark +him down. But I may not linger thus; the hour of our studies is +already here. I wish you good e'en; I must away home."</p> +<p>The boy would have been gone with a bound the next instant had +not the monk laid a detaining hand upon his arm. Edred saw by the +reluctance of his brother's mien that he resented being thus +stayed.</p> +<p>"One moment, good my son," said Brother Fabian. "Tell me whither +thy father and brother have gone. It is something too late in the +day for a hunting party; yet I knew not that the good knight +purposed any journey."</p> +<p>Edred saw the sudden flash that came into Julian's eyes. He was +in an agony lest the boy should betray his father's destination, +which to the astute mind of the monk might betray much more than +his brother himself knew; but as he heard Julian's words he drew +his breath more freely.</p> +<p>"Marry, hast thou not heard that my Lord of Beaumaris and +Rochefort goes a-hunting tomorrow with great muster? My father has +gone to join the goodly company assembling there. Wilt thou not go +thither too, Master Monk, and join the revelry that will make the +hall ring tonight? I trow there is welcome for all who come. I +would my father had taken me."</p> +<p>"Go to, saucy boy, go to!" replied the brother, half piqued, +half amused by the lad's boldness in thus implying that his place +was at a riotous revel such as generally took place when some great +baron invited his friends for a day's sport in the forest.</p> +<p>It was like enough that this hunting party had been arranged for +the morrow, and this road certainly led to Beaumaris and Rochefort. +The reply seemed to satisfy the monk, and he relaxed his grasp of +the boy's arm.</p> +<p>"I must not keep thee from thy studies longer," he said. "Say, +what does Brother Emmanuel teach you?"</p> +<p>"The Latin tongue and the use of the pen. Edred is a fine scribe +already. And he hath taught us our letters in Greek likewise; for +men are saying, he tells us, that it is shame that that language +has been neglected so long, since the Holy Scriptures were written +in it first."</p> +<p>"And he doubtless teaches you from the Holy Scriptures--"</p> +<p>"Ay; and from the writings of the fathers, and the mass book," +added the boy. "We can all read Latin right well now. But I must be +going, an it please thee-"</p> +<p>"Yea, verily thou wilt make a fine scholar one of these days. I +am glad thou hast so good an instructor. And that reminds me--I +would have speech with Brother Emmanuel some day soon. I have a +missal that I think he would greatly like sight of. I misdoubt me +if the prior would like it carried forth from the library; but if +he would meet me one day here in the forest, I will strive to +secrete it and let him have sight of it. It hath wonderful pictures +and lettering such as he loves. Wilt tell him of it, boy, and ask +if he will have sight of it?"</p> +<p>"I will tell him," answered Julian. "But I trow he will have +naught to do with it an it has been filched away from the library +without the reverend prior's permission. Brother Emmanuel teaches +us more of the doctrine of obedience than of any other. I trow he +will not budge an inch!"</p> +<p>A scowling look passed over the features of the monk, which had +hitherto been smiling and bland. He took Julian by the arm again, +and said in a low voice:</p> +<p>"I have something of import to speak to Brother Emmanuel. He +will do well to heed me, and to hear what I have to say. Bid him be +at this spot two days hence just as the sun goes down. Tell him if +he come not he may live to repent it bitterly."</p> +<p>"Wilt thou not come back with me?" asked the boy, with a quick, +distrustful look into the bloated face beneath the cowl. "Thou +canst speak at ease with him at home. It were better than out here +in the forest. I will lead thee to him straight, and thou canst say +all that is in thine heart."</p> +<p>But the monk dropped his arm and turned quickly away; his voice +bespoke ill-concealed irritation.</p> +<p>"I may not linger longer here. The vesper bell will be ringing +by now. Give Brother Emmanuel my message. I would see him here in +the forest. And now farewell, boy; go home as fast as thou wilt, +and put a bridle on thy forward tongue, lest haply it lead thee one +day into trouble."</p> +<p>The monk strode away in the direction of the priory. Julian took +the path towards Chad, with many backward glances at the retreating +figure, and hardly was it lost in the thick underwood of the forest +than he found his brother standing at his side.</p> +<p>"Thou here, Edred? Whence camest thou?"</p> +<p>Edred pointed to his leafy hiding place, and laid a finger on +his lips in token of caution. Julian pursued his way awhile in +silence, and only when they had increased the distance betwixt +themselves and the monk by many hundred yards, the elder brother +said, in low tones and very cautiously:</p> +<p>"Have a care, Julian; methinks he is not going home. He is here +as a spy, I do not doubt. I saw him watching and spying like a +veritable messenger sent for such a purpose.</p> +<p>"O Julian, I was right glad at the answer thou gavest him about +our father. I trembled lest thou shouldst say he was bound for the +coast."</p> +<p>Both brothers had been too well trained in the creed which +allows and encourages the practice of speaking falsehood and even +doing evil in a good cause, to feel that any kind of shame attached +to a falsehood spoken to conceal from a crafty enemy a thing it +would be perilous to others for him to know. And indeed diplomatic +falsehood has never been eradicated from the world even since purer +light has shone in upon it. It is very hard to meet craft, +falsehood, and treachery by absolute frankness and truthful +honesty. In the long run it does sometimes prove to be the +strongest weapon a man can wield; but the temptation to meet craft +by craft, deceit by deceit, is strong in human nature, and until a +much later date was openly advocated as the only policy sane men +could adopt when they dealt with foes always eager to outwit them. +And certainly these lads would have felt themselves justified in +going to far greater lengths to save their father from suspicion, +or their preceptor and friend from peril.</p> +<p>"Then thou heardest all? I scarce know why I spoke as I did, for +our father has always been the friend of the brethren of Chadwater. +But the look in the man's eye made me cautious, and I minded a few +parting words spoken by Bertram. Tell me, Edred, what it is that is +stirring; I would know more."</p> +<p>"Verily it is that Brother Emmanuel stands in some peril from +those of his own community. He has written something they mislike, +and they mean to have him back to answer for it. Both he and our +father think that if once he enters Chadwater again he will never +come forth alive. Wherefore our father will not give him up to his +enemies, but will contrive for him to escape. That is what he has +gone to the coast for today; and when he knows that a vessel is +ready and about to sail, Brother Emmanuel must be spirited away in +the dead of the night; and when the prior comes to search for +him--as doubtless he will do when we can find him not--it will +puzzle him to lay hands upon him, for he will be away on the high +seas."</p> +<p>"Good!" cried Julian, delighted. "Edred, I mislike those cruel, +crafty monks. Methinks they are little like the saintly men of old +who fled to the cloister to rid themselves of the trammels of the +world. I--"</p> +<p>But Edred laid a hand upon his brother's arm and checked him +suddenly, pointing to another stationary figure a short distance +away amongst the trees--a figure wearing the dress of a lay brother +of the priory, and engaged in keeping a close and careful watch +upon the main entrance to the house.</p> +<p>"Hist!" whispered Edred; "we must not let him hear such words. +Julian, mark my word, this house is watched. The prior has set his +spies upon it. He fears lest Brother Emmanuel shall escape; or else +the watch is set so that any going forth of his may be known, and +he will be set upon and swiftly bound, and carried away to the +priory, whence, I fear me, no man will ever see him re-issue."</p> +<p>Both the boys had stopped short, and now they looked into each +other's faces with dismay.</p> +<p>Their light footfalls had not been heard, nor even the sound of +their voices; for a strong breeze had sprung up, and was rustling +the leaves overhead, and several birds were singing lustily. The +brothers had time to take in the situation without being seen +themselves, and they then drew hack into a leafy covert and spoke +in whispers.</p> +<p>"Edred, do thou go back to the house instantly and openly, and +warn Brother Emmanuel that he go not forth. Belike he might come +out in search of us, since the hour is long past when we should +have been with him. That must not be. Go and tell him all we have +seen; whilst I will creep like a wildcat round the house, and see +if there be other spies keeping watch like those we have seen."</p> +<p>"Ay, do so," replied Edred earnestly. "I fear me we shall find +that every door is watched. But if thou art seen, go forward +boldly. Let none guess that you suspect aught. Doubtless each +watcher is well primed with some excellent reason for being found +there. Speak them friendly, and do not show distrust."</p> +<p>"I will be as wise as a serpent," answered the boy, with one of +his keen looks which bespoke him older in mind than in years.</p> +<p>Edred felt that his junior was better fitted to cope with a spy +than he himself; and gladly taking the other office upon himself, +he walked gaily forward, whistling a roundelay as he moved, and +affecting not to see the dark figure by the oak, which pressed +closer and closer out of sight as the lad strode by.</p> +<p>"Verily he means to remain unseen," thought Edred to himself. +"If he had not been a spy he would have greeted me as I passed. He +is after no good. Thank Heaven we have seen and heard what we have! +We can so manage now that Brother Emmanuel set not foot beyond the +courtyard for long enough to come--not till he may sally forth to +make his way to the coast."</p> +<p>And then a sudden fear smote the boy that per chance this night +journey to the coast might not be so easy to accomplish as had been +hoped. If the cunning prior had set a watch upon Chad with the very +object of preventing the escape of his intended victim, might it +not well be that his father's forethought would be of no avail?</p> +<p>But it would not do to lose heart--time might show a way of +escape; and Edred hurried within, and found Brother Emmanuel +awaiting his tardy pupils, the great Bible open before him, the +sunset light illuminating his face till, to the boy's ardent +imagination, it seemed to be encircled by a nimbus.</p> +<p>His story was soon excitedly told, and as Brother Emmanuel heard +of Sir Oliver's sudden journey, a look almost as of pain crossed +his face.</p> +<p>"I have told thy father that I cannot and will not suffer harm +to befall him and his through his kindness to me. Boy, boy, these +be evil days in which to offend the powers that be; and it were +better, far better, I should give myself up to death than that hurt +should fall upon those I love and those who have befriended me with +such generosity and love."</p> +<p>But Edred passionately disclaimed and explained.</p> +<p>"Brother, holy father, speak not so! thou wilt break our hearts! +We love thee! thou knowest that we love thee! And we think, we are +assured, that we can yet save thee, and ourselves too. Do not break +our hearts by giving thyself up ere we have tried our utmost. It +may be--nay, I am assured of it--that our blessed Saviour has a +great work for thee to do for Him somewhere. Has He not Himself +charged His servants if they be persecuted in one city to flee to +another? He has not bid them give themselves up to their foes, to +be hindered from doing the work He has put it into their hearts to +do.</p> +<p>"Pardon my forwardness if I seem to teach my preceptor. I do but +repeat words thou hast taught me. Stay with us--stay at Chad. There +be ways and means both for hiding and for flight of which few know +or dream. Let us have this alms to do for our Lord, that we hide +and save one of His servants. Thou canst little know what grief and +sorrow thou wouldst cause to us, or thou couldst not talk of giving +thyself up."</p> +<p>The boy's earnestness was so deep that it could not but produce +an impression. Although full of heroic courage and capabilities of +self sacrifice, it was against human nature that Brother Emmanuel +should desire to cast away his life, and that not by raising a +protest for any point of conscience, but simply to be quietly put +out of the way, that he might no longer expose the luxury and vice +prevailing in the monastic retreat of which he was a member.</p> +<p>He had seen a row of underground niches, some of which had been +walled up; and tradition asserted that living monks had been thus +buried alive for being untrue to their vows. He quite believed the +prior capable of accusing him of the same sin and ordering him to a +like fate. In the eyes of the haughty ecclesiastic such a betrayal +of cloister secrets would be looked upon as treachery to his vows, +whilst in reality it was his very love for his vows, and his horror +at their violation, which had inspired the pen that had poured +forth burning words of denunciation and scorn. To die openly for +the cause would have been one thing--a martyr has ofttimes spoken +more eloquently by his death than by his life--but to be thus +buried in a living grave would benefit none; and who would not +shrink from such a fate?</p> +<p>The pause which succeeded Edred's impassioned appeal was broken +by the entrance of Julian, flushed and heated.</p> +<p>"It is as we thought. The house is watched. There be six or +seven spies posted around it--most of them lay brothers, but some +monks themselves. Every entrance is watched closely. None can go in +or out unmarked by one or another. Doubtless they have some signal +which may at any time bring all of them together to one spot.</p> +<p>"Brother Emmanuel, thou must not adventure thyself beyond the +courtyard till this watch ceases. Were they spies of my Lord of +Mortimer's, we might go forth and drive them hence. But none may +lay a finger on a monk. They are all ready with a story that they +are on the watch for some heretic in hiding in the woods. I spoke +to one to see what he would say, and he began about the hunchback +of the fair, whom they have not caught yet, and professed to be +watching for him. Doubtless they would all say the same did any +question them; but they strive to keep out of sight as far as may +be, and some have found hollow trees where they might pass days and +nights and none be the wiser."</p> +<p>There could be no study for the boys that day; they were too +deeply moved and excited. Moreover, Edred had his father's charge +to keep, and as sundown was nigh at hand, the two brothers visited +every gate and portal and saw the house made fast within and +without.</p> +<p>An air of excitement and mystery seemed to permeate the place. +The servants had caught some of the infection, and whispers of +loyalty and affection were murmured many times in the boys' ears as +they pursued their round. At last, all being safely ordered, they +went by common consent to their own room, and stood looking at the +secret door which led to the hiding place none knew of but +themselves and Warbel.</p> +<p>"I trow we shall need it now," said Edred. "But all is in +readiness for the fugitive; all has been done save to bring in the +victuals. Brother, shall we do that this very night? I would there +were a supply there for a month, and a couple of gallon jars of +good mead and some bottles of wine. We must put water there, too, +but not till the last minute. They say men must have water, else +they die; but sure they could live for long on good mead and ale. +Hath Bertram any plan for getting water to the chamber save what we +can carry ourselves? He said he would not rest till we had done +somewhat; but--"</p> +<p>A light sparkled in Julian's eyes.</p> +<p>"Come, and thou shalt see, thou brother of books," he said. +"Whilst thou hast been doing thy penance for what sin we know not, +and been reading amain with Brother Emmanuel, we have not been +idle. Come, and I will show thee what we have contrived. I trow +none need perish of thirst in the secret chamber now who knows +aught of our contrivance."</p> +<p>With eager steps Julian led the way, and Edred no less eagerly +followed. It was very dark in the secret chamber; but the means of +kindling a light were now there, and soon a small dim lantern was +lighted.</p> +<p>"Come hither," said Julian, taking the light and leading the way +into a corner that lay beneath the leads of the house; and when +there Edred saw a metal trough or receiver, rudely made but +effectual for the purpose of holding any liquid, something similar +to what the animals in the yard were fed and watered from. Above +this trough was a piece of iron pipe with a bung at the end.</p> +<p>"That trough and pipe Bertram and I fashioned in the +blacksmith's forge with our own hands," said the boy proudly, "and +I trow both are good enow and strong. Dost know what does the other +end of the pipe? Why, we have inserted it into the great rainwater +tank yonder above our heads, which our grandsire contrived, and +which is fed from the roofs and battlements of all the towers. Thou +hast heard our father tell how he read of such things in days of +old, when men built wondrous palaces, and had hanging gardens, and +I know not what beside. He set the tank up there, and, as thou +knowest, it is not now greatly used, albeit there is always water +there, and at times men draw it forth. It may not be the best or +purest, but it will serve for washing, and for drinking too were a +man in a great strait. It is all pure and sweet now; for in the +thunderstorm three nights since Bertram got up and let off all the +stagnant water by the pipe which can be opened below, and the rain +soon filled it again, it poured down with such goodwill. We need +not fear that any captive will die of thirst. He has but to draw +this bung and water will pour forth into this trough till he stops +it again. He can pour away the surplus down the pipe with the dust +and such like.</p> +<p>"I trow whoever lives up here awhile will have no such bad +housing. And if we but get the place victualled this night, it will +be ready for Brother Emmanuel whensoever he may need it."</p> +<h2><a name="ChapterVII" id="ChapterVII">Chapter VII</a>: An +Imposing Spectacle.</h2> +<p>"To appear at the priory with all our household! Surely, my +husband, that command is something strange?"</p> +<p>Lady Chadgrove raised her eyes anxiously to her lord's face, to +see thereon an answering look of perplexity not untinged by +anxiety. He was perusing a paper held in his hands.</p> +<p>"Such is the missive," he remarked. "It was brought by a lay +brother but now. Methinks the fellow is yet in the kitchen. Our +mead is not to be lightly disdained. I will send young Julian to +talk with him, and learn if may be the cause of this strange +summons. I would not willingly give cause of offence to the lord +prior; and the money has been paid that was promised, so methinks +he means no hurt to me or mine. But it is not safe to adventure +oneself into the lion's mouth. I would gladly know what is behind +all this. I am something ill at ease."</p> +<p>"All the household would mean Brother Emmanuel likewise," said +the lady. "Perchance it is but a means of drawing him within the +toils."</p> +<p>"It is like enough. It will be the day on which the week of +grace expires. Would to God I could see my way more clearly! I am +in a great strait betwixt mine own conscience and the authority of +the Church. How can I deliver up a faithful and devoted son of the +Church to certain death, when my house is his <span lang="en-US" +xml:lang="en-US">only</span> refuge and protection? Yet how may I +refuse obedience to my spiritual fathers and superiors, to whom I +owe submission in all things, in right of their office, albeit as +men I know them to be--faulty?".</p> +<p>He paused, as if reluctant to put his thoughts into words even +to his wife. He was going through that mental and spiritual +struggle which was speedily to do so great a work in the +world--that struggle which led to the final fall of the religious +houses in this land. Viewed as a God-appointed ordinance, or at +least as a bulwark and rampart of the Church, it seemed a fearful +thing to hold them in aught but awe and reverence, and to look upon +their sons as saints and godly men, in whom the Spirit of the Lord +was working. But when the corrupt practices within those walls were +known, when men were convinced, sorely against their will, that the +inmates were licentious, depraved, covetous, and tyrannical, then +indeed it became hard to recognize their God-appointed mission.</p> +<p>Sir Oliver was no heretic; he had not even the faint sympathy +with and comprehension of the tenets of the heretics which were +creeping into some enlightened minds. He had imbibed some new and +enlightened views from stanch sons of the Church, who were +themselves preaching the doctrine of internal reform, but he went +no further in these matters than his teachers. The very name of +heresy was odious to him, but none the less did it go sorely +against the grain to be a slave to the haughty Prior of Chadwater, +and at his bidding to violate (as it seemed to him) the sacred laws +of hospitality.</p> +<p>Whilst Julian was gone upon his errand, he paced the floor +restlessly and moodily.</p> +<p>"I would we had got him off before this coil began. But who +could have thought it would come--and Brother Emmanuel so true and +faithful a son of the Church? Knowest thou, wife, that he keeps +vigil three nights in the week in the chantry, watching +sleeplessly, lest the Lord coming suddenly should find the whole +house sleeping? Edred keeps watch one night, and good old Margaret +another. I did but lately know this thing. Brother Emmanuel holds +that the Church should ever be watching and waiting for her Lord, +lest He come as a thief in the night. He would have prayers +ceaselessly ascending before Him. It is his grief and pain that +within the cloister walls, whence he has come, no true vigil is +kept, but that sloth and ease have taken the place of watching and +vigil and prayer. And such a man as that they would have me deliver +to his death!"</p> +<p>"Art sure they mean him ill, my husband? It seems scarce +possible."</p> +<p>"I am very sure that it is so," answered the knight, with a +stern glance bent upon the sunny landscape beyond the open window. +"It is strange, but it is true; and I sometimes think that some +fearful and unlooked-for judgment must some day fall upon men +who--"</p> +<p>But Sir Oliver paused, for his wife had made a gesture, as if to +check the impetuous words that sprang to his lips. He smiled a +little darkly.</p> +<p>"Thou art right, good dame. Such words are better left unspoke. +If it be dangerous to think some things, it be more dangerous to +speak one's thoughts. Let it be enough for us that the Lord +reigneth, be the earth never so unquiet. He sitteth a judge and a +king. In His hands are the final issues of all things."</p> +<p>The lady bent her head with due reverence, and then asked +eagerly:</p> +<p>"And when does the fishing smack sail?"</p> +<p>Sir Oliver shook his head impatiently.</p> +<p>"Not for full fourteen days: it had but just come into port, and +there be much merchandise to unlade and lade again. The skipper was +an honest fellow, and a true-hearted man to boot. He would not take +my gold, but said his passenger should bring it with him when he +came; for he knew there was a chance he might not contrive to come, +and he would not receive aught for services he might never have +power to render. But he knows his business, and once safe on board +the sloop our fugitive will be safe enow. But not till it be almost +ready for sea--not till the skipper could weigh anchor at a +moment's notice. He himself said he must not come aboard till the +last moment. Were any hue and cry to be made after him, any vessel +in port would be certain to be searched. How to keep him safe for +these fourteen--nay, it is but twelve days now--is the thing that +is perplexing me. Until the close of the appointed week naught will +be done; but there will be one long week after that which will tax +our resources to the utmost. And this summons from the prior makes +the whole question the more difficult."</p> +<p>"And the boys say that the house is being watched. Hast not +heard as much? There be spies from the priory posted round and +about. All the gates are watched. Edred thinks it is to strive to +seize Brother Emmanuel should he venture forth from the shelter of +the walls.</p> +<p>"I like not the thought of all those prying eyes. My husband, +these be strange times in which we dwell."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver's face was dark and thoughtful.</p> +<p>"Ay, verily they be. How can men wonder that the ignorant and +unlearned turn with loathing and scorn from such crooked and +cowardly ways?--</p> +<p>"How now, Julian? Hast learned the cause of this ado? What says +the lay brother? Hast thou sounded him with care and with all due +caution?"</p> +<p>Julian and Edred came in together. Julian looked flushed and +excited, Edred pale and thoughtful, and his eyes were glowing with +a strange fire.</p> +<p>"Ay, verily, we have found it all out," cried the younger boy, +with eager excitement of manner. "Methinks it will be a fine sight. +Father, hast heard of the thing which men call the 'Great +Abjuration'--was not that the name, Edred?"</p> +<p>The elder boy made a sign of assent.</p> +<p>"It is for the heretics and Lollards," pursued Julian eagerly. +"It hath been done before in many places, and here it is to be done +two days from hence. All those persons who are suspected of heresy, +or have been found guilty, are to be called before the lord prior +and the Lord of Mortimer, and they will be bidden to abjure all +their false doctrines publicly. The whole village will be assembled +to hear them recant; high and low, rich and poor, all are to meet +together in the great quadrangle of the priory to hear and see. The +lay brother says it will be a fine sight. If they will not recant, +the prior will give them over to the Lord of Mortimer, who will see +that they suffer as heretics are wont to do. If they abjure their +errors, the prior will set them their penances; and these be no +light thing, by what the brother says. Some will be branded in the +cheek, that they carry the mark of their shame all their days; some +will have a green badge affixed to their arm, to wear until they +have leave to cast it off, that all men may know they have been +touched by the pollution; whilst others will be set to menial toil +in the monasteries, and will perchance spend the rest of their +lives there, sundered from their friends and their homes and all +those whom they love.</p> +<p>"In truth, I marvel how any man can meddle with heresy in these +days. The bishops have resolved to stamp it out once and for all, +and methinks they will do so right well if they take such steps as +these."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver's face looked a little relieved as he heard his son's +words.</p> +<p>"Then everybody within the district is to be summoned to meet at +the priory upon this same day?"</p> +<p>"Ay, verily; all are to be there, from the highest to the +lowest. The lay brothers are going round the country, bidding all +to the spectacle. It is thought that after all have seen what will +take place upon that day, there will be no longer any fear of +heresy round Chad and Mortimer."</p> +<p>The boy ran off to try to learn more details. Edred stood +looking at his father with troubled eyes.</p> +<p>"Father," he said, in a low voice, "must Brother Emmanuel go +with us that day?"</p> +<p>Sir Oliver looked down at the paper in his hands.</p> +<p>"It bids me to attend with my family and all my household, save +such as must be left to take due care of the house in my absence," +said he. Then he paused awhile in silent thought, and looking up he +said suddenly, "Go fetch Brother Emmanuel hither."</p> +<p>Edred vanished silently and swiftly, and soon afterwards +returned with the monk at his side.</p> +<p>The past few days had left their mark on the thin, spiritual +face of the young ecclesiastic. The knowledge of the peril in which +he stood had not daunted his courage, though it had drawn lines in +his face and deepened the fire which burned within those dark, +resolute eyes. His face looked as though he had slept but little, +as though his nights had been passed in watching and prayer, as was +indeed the case. He had an air of calm, resolute courage and +hopefulness, though it was plain that he knew the danger of his +position, and was fully alive to the peril which menaced him.</p> +<p>Sir Oliver placed the paper in his hand, and watched him +silently whilst he perused it. When he had finished he handed it +back, and stood for a moment looking out of the window with an +expression of thoughtful concentration on his face. At the end of a +few moments he looked up quickly, and said:</p> +<p>"You and yours will attend, Sir Oliver?"</p> +<p>"Yes; we must needs do that. But you?"</p> +<p>Brother Emmanuel lifted his head and threw it back with a +gesture of resolution and independence.</p> +<p>"Sir Oliver," he said, "upon the day when your household is +bidden to the priory, I cease, by the command of my superior, to be +a member of this household. Upon that day your command over me (if +I may use the word)--your responsibility over me--ceases. Whatever +I may do or not do is no concern of yours. I am no longer the +instructor of your sons, nor the priest within your walls. What I +do I do of mine own self. None can rightly call you to task for it. +Let that be your safeguard; let that be your answer to all +questions. The prior has ordained that from that day I cease to +remain here. From the dawning of that day you have no part nor lot +in my life. I take its control into mine own hands, and it were +better you should not even know whither I go nor what I do."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver bent a searching look upon him.</p> +<p>"So be it," he answered, after a moment's thought. "But this one +word I say to thee: Thou hast been true and faithful to me and +mine; wherefore my roof and my walls shall be thy shelter until +thou goest forth of thine own freewill. Be not afraid to remain +here with me. I will defend thee with every power I have until such +time as thou mayest safely escape beyond the seas."</p> +<p>He held out his hand. The monk took it and pressed it between +both of his.</p> +<p>"The Lord deal with thee and thine as thou hast dealt with me," +was the reply, spoken in deep, earnest accents.</p> +<p>The knight bent his head in response to the benediction; and +Brother Emmanuel moved silently away, closely followed by Edred, +who looked pale and troubled.</p> +<p>"Thou dost not think he will present himself at the priory with +the rest of the world?" asked Lady Chadgrove, with anxiety in face +and voice; and her husband thoughtfully shook his head as he made +reply:</p> +<p>"I trow not. I have spoken to him of that before, and he was +very well resolved to fly the country and strive to finish the work +he has begun, to join the band who are toiling might and main to +bring a purer and holier spirit within the pale of the Church and +her servants. It is a work to which he has long felt called, and he +believes that it will be faithfully carried out somewhere, if not +here. For a while he will be safer beyond the seas; but he may +return and join with those in Oxford and London who are toiling in +the same cause. He knows of the sloop--where it lies and when it +sails; and I trow he is laying plans of his own. It were better not +to ask of these. I would rather walk in ignorance. A man cannot +betray, however inadvertently, what he knows not, and the subtle +skill in questioning possessed by our reverend prior might win the +secret from any unskilled person ere he knew he had revealed it. I +know not what he means to do, nor shall I seek to know. But he has +courage, spirit, and a consciousness of integrity which may carry +him through much. Methinks he has judged wisely and well both for +us and himself.</p> +<p>"When this day comes," touching the paper in his hand, "it is +very true that I am no longer accountable for him as a member of my +house hold. He has received his recall from his superior. It is for +him to answer to it or not as he thinks best."</p> +<p>A sense of excitement and uneasiness pervaded the whole of the +house during the two following days. In all men's mouths was talk +of this solemn abjuration which was about to be forced upon all +those suspected of heresy; and many persons who had tampered +slightly and privately with doubtful matters went about looking +uneasy and troubled, fearful lest they might find themselves +accused of illicit practices, and be summoned forth to do penance +in a more or less severe form before they could hope to receive +absolution.</p> +<p>Sir Oliver Chadgrove's household was strictly orthodox in all +outward matters; but the leaven of Lollardism was wonderfully +penetrating, and he himself had suspected and feared that some of +his servants might be tainted therewith. He awaited the day with +almost as much anxiety as any of his dependants, for he well knew +that the Lord of Mortimer would lose no opportunity of dealing him +a heavy blow; and if he could be proved guilty of harbouring +heretics or even suspected persons in his house, it would give his +enemy a handle against him that he would not be slow to use.</p> +<p>As for the boys, it was plain that something of unwonted +excitement was agitating their minds; but in the general anxiety +pervading the whole household little account was taken of this.</p> +<p>The day came at last, dawning fair and clear. Sir Oliver +assembled his household early in the courtyard, and every retainer +was clad in his best and <span lang="en-US" xml:lang= +"en-US">mounted</span> upon his best charger. It was well to make a +goodly display of strength and wealth on an occasion like the +present. Doubtless the Lord of Mortimer would be there with all his +train, and Chad must not cut a much poorer figure in the eyes of +the beholders.</p> +<p>None knew better than Sir Oliver how far a goodly seeming went +in condoning offences and allaying suspicion, especially in the +eyes of such a worldly-wise man as the Prior of Chadwater. A proud +bearing, a goodly following, a gorgeous retinue, would be a far +better proof of orthodoxy in his eyes than any saintliness of life +and conduct. Mortimer would know that right well, though, as he had +been elected as the secular agent to assist the prior in his work +today, plainly no stigma of any kind was thought to rest upon his +household. Sir Oliver knew that Mortimer was a larger property than +Chad, and that the baron was a greater man than the knight. It was +reasonable enough that he had been selected for this office, and +such choice need imply no distrust of himself on the prior's part; +but still there was an uneasy, underlying consciousness that he was +suspected and watched, and the espionage which had been kept up all +this while on his house was a plain proof that he was not entirely +trusted.</p> +<p>The priory and its adjacent buildings formed a very fine +specimen of medieval architecture. The abbey was in itself a +masterpiece of beauty, and the great block formed by refectories +and dormitories stood at right angles to it. The prior's house, +with its ample accommodation and its guest chambers, formed an +other side to the great quadrangle; whilst the granaries, +storehouses, and such-like buildings formed the fourth--the whole +enclosing a very large space, which formed the exercising ground of +the monks when they were kept by their rules within the precincts +of their home.</p> +<p>The smoothest of green grass, carefully kept and tended, formed +the carpet of this enclosure; and today the whole quadrangle formed +an animated and picturesque spectacle on account of the shifting, +many-coloured groups of people gathered together there with looks +of expectation and wonder.</p> +<p>A holiday appearance was presented by the crowd; for however ill +at ease any person might feel, it was his aim and object to look as +jovial and well assured as possible. Every knee was bent whenever +any monk appeared. The professions of reverence and orthodoxy were +almost comic in their display.</p> +<p>The whole of the rural population had gathered in this open +space when the master of Chad and his retainers rode in, followed +by the humbler servants and many women and children on foot. But +the Lord of Mortimer had not yet put in an appearance, though some +of his retainers and men-at-arms might be seen mingling with the +crowd; and Sir Oliver and his wife and sons looked curiously about +them as they reined back their horses against the wall, wondering +whether they should dismount altogether, and what the order of the +day's proceedings was to be.</p> +<p>There were two great raised platforms at one end of the open +enclosure, and upon these platforms, both of which were draped with +cloth, many seats had been arranged. One of these was canopied, and +was plainly for the prior; but beyond this Sir Oliver could be sure +of nothing.</p> +<p>When, however, it became known that the party from Chad had +arrived, a lay brother came out and bid them dismount and send away +their steeds to the meadow beyond, where one or two of the servants +could see to them; and as soon as this had been done, Sir Oliver +was told that he and his lady would occupy certain seats upon one +of the platforms, but that there would not be room for more than +his eldest son to have a place there beside him. The younger boys +must remain in the crowd.</p> +<p>Edred and Julian were well pleased at this, and gave each other +a quick pressure of the hand. Edred was intensely excited; and +gradually edged his way to a good position not far from the +platform, that he might hear and see everything; and Julian stood +beside him, as intent upon the proceedings as anyone.</p> +<p>With a great show of ecclesiastical pomp, forth came the prior +with his monks in attendance, and closely following them the +haughty Lord of Mortimer; with his son-in-law, Sir Edward Chadwell, +by his side, and his daughter following her husband. With these +came many knights and persons of standing in the county; and whilst +the prior and the monks grouped themselves upon one platform, the +barons, knights, and nobles took their appointed places on the +other, the owners of Mortimer and Chad being for once in their +lives elbow to elbow, and constrained to exchange words and looks +of greeting.</p> +<p>A deep hush fell upon the crowd, and the people surged back +against the walls, leaving the centre space vacant. At the same +time certain men wearing the garb and the air of jailers or +executioners came forth and stood in the midst of the open +space--one of them bearing the glowing brazier and the branding +iron, which he placed on a slab of stone in the very centre of the +enclosure.</p> +<p>When all preparations were complete, the prior arose, and in a +loud and solemn voice commanded that the prisoners should be +brought forth--those persons who had not been merely suspected of +heresy, but had been found with heretical books in their +possession, or were known to be in the habit of meeting together to +read such books and hear the pestilent doctrines which vile and +wicked persons were propagating in the land.</p> +<p>At that command a number of monks appeared, leading bound, and +in scant and miserable clothing, about a score of men and women, +foremost amongst whom was the hunchback, whose face and voice were +alike well known to Edred. Most of the prisoners were trembling and +cowering; but he held his head erect, and looked calmly round upon +the assembled potentates. There was no fear or shrinking in his +pinched face. He eyed the prior with a look as unbending as his +own.</p> +<p>Then began a long harangue from the great man, in which the +wiles of the devil in the pestilent doctrines of the heretics, +so-called Lollards, were forcibly and not illogically pointed out. +When no man might give answer, when none might show where +misrepresentation came in, where there was nothing given but the +one side of the question, it was not difficult to make an excellent +case against the accused. The early heretics, mostly unlettered +people, always marred the purity of the cause by falling into +exaggeration and foolishness, by denouncing what was good as well +as what was corrupt in a system against which they were +revolting--thus laying themselves open to attack and confutation, +and alienating from them many who would have striven to stand their +friend and to have gently set them right had they been less +headstrong and less prone to tear away and condemn every practice +the meaning of which they were, through ignorance and want of +comprehension, unable to enter into.</p> +<p>In the hands of the skilful prior their doctrines were indeed +made to look vile and blasphemous and foolish in the extreme. Many +persons shuddered at hearing what words had been used by them with +regard to the holy sacraments; and most of the persons brought to +their trial were weeping and terrified at their own conduct before +the prior's speech was half through. Only the hunchback retained +his bold front, and looked back with scorn into the face of the +prelate as he made point after point in his scathing +denunciation.</p> +<p>When the harangue ended, the prior made a sign to his servants, +and immediately one of the most timorous and craven of the +prisoners was brought up before him. He was far too cunning a judge +to try first to bend the spirit of the hunchback. He knew that with +that man he could do nothing, and he knew too what marvels were +sometimes accomplished by the example of self devotion. So +commencing with a weak and trembling woman, who was ready to sink +into the ground with fear and shame merely at being thus had up +before the eyes of the whole place, he easily obtained a solemn +recantation and abjuration of every form of heresy; and in a tone +of wonderful mildness, though of solemn warning, too, told her that +since she was a woman and young, and had doubtless been led away by +others, she should be pardoned after she had paid a visit barefoot +to a shrine forty miles off--a shrine much derided by the heretic +teachers--and had returned in like fashion, having tasted nothing +but bread and water the whole time of the journey.</p> +<p>Then came, one after another, the weakest and most timorous of +the craven crowd. The infection of fear had seized upon them. +Ignorant, superstitious, scarcely understanding the new teachings +that had attracted them, and fearfully terrified of falling under +the ban of the Church under whose shelter they had always lived, +was it wonderful that one after another should abjure their +heretical opinions, and swear to listen to the enticer no more? +Some strove to ask questions upon the points which troubled them; +but scarce any sort of disputing was allowed. The prior was subtle +in fence, and by a few scathing words could generally quell the +questioner and make him wish his objection unspoken.</p> +<p>And those who showed a tendency towards disputation were far +more harshly dealt with than those who abjured at once. The red-hot +iron, the badge of shame, the servitude which might be lifelong +were imposed upon them. So a sense of despair fell upon the little +band, and they yielded one by one; only three refusing to take the +words of the oath--the hunchback and two more, one being a lad of +about sixteen summers; and after using every threat and argument to +overcome their obstinacy, the prior called upon the Lord of +Mortimer as the representative of the secular arm, and delivered +the prisoners over to him to be dealt with after the manner of the +law.</p> +<p>A shuddering groan went up, as if involuntarily, from many +throats as the prisoners were led away by the guards of Mortimer. +The prior looked sternly round to check the demonstration, +reminding the people that the burning of the body was as nothing, +it was the eternal burning of the soul in hell that men should +fear; and that if in the midst of the flames the guilty persons +recanted their sins, it was just possible that even then the +merciful God would hear and receive their prayer, and that they +might be saved from the eternal death of the soul.</p> +<p>Then somewhat changing his tone, though still speaking with +gravity and even with sadness, he told the people of the pain with +which he had heard stories of the sympathy evinced by some even +amongst those standing about him for the wicked and pestilent +disturbers of the public peace and the safety of the Church. One or +two persons he called upon by name, and rebuked with some severity +for words reported to have been dropped by them which savoured, if +not of heresy itself, yet of carelessness and irreverence for +sacred things which bordered dangerously on heresy. One after +another these persons came forward trembling, asked pardon, and +were dismissed not unkindly, but with many an admonition for the +future. It was made plain and patent to all that the bishops had +absolutely resolved to stamp out heresy once and for all; and for +once the prior and abbots, the monks and the friars, were in accord +and working hand in hand. It was useless for any to hope to stem +such a tide as that--such was the tenor of the prior's +speech--heresy was to be exterminated. On that point there was no +manner of doubt; and if, knowing this, persons chose deliberately +to put themselves under the ban of the law, well, their blood must +be upon their own head. Neither God nor man would have mercy upon +them.</p> +<p>Several of the retainers and a few of the actual household of +Chad had received admonitions of this sort. Sir Oliver looked on +uneasily, catching a subdued look of triumph in the eyes of his +rival and foe. He did not believe his household seriously tainted +with heresy. He knew that certain of them who had been with him in +London had imbibed the teaching of Dean Colet and his pupils, and +he did not know, any more than the dean himself, that the Lollards +secretly encouraged each other to go and hear a man who spoke so +much of the truth they themselves held.</p> +<p>The line where orthodoxy ends and heresy begins has been at all +times hard to define, and perhaps the upholders of the "Church" +knew as little as anybody how hard this definition was +becoming.</p> +<p>Several persons had stood forth (invited by the prior to do so) +and confessed to dangerous sentiments which they now saw to be +utterly wrong, and vowed to abjure forever; or had accused other +persons of words which required explanation, or of deeds which +suggested a leaning towards secret meetings where heresy might be +discussed.</p> +<p>But the day's proceedings seemed drawing to a close, and nothing +of any great peril to the Lord of Chad had occurred, when just at +the close of the afternoon Brother Fabian suddenly came forward and +whispered a few words in the prior's ear; and he, after a moment of +apparent hesitation, spoke aloud.</p> +<p>"It is with great grief that I learn that one of our own +brethren has been heard to utter words which sound strangely like +those of heresy; but since it is our bounden duty that strict +justice be done to all, whether high or low, rich or poor, nay, +whether it be our own son or brother, I here call upon Brother +Emmanuel to stand forth publicly, as others have done, and answer +the charge brought against him."</p> +<p>The prior looked round as he spoke these words in a loud voice; +but there was no movement either in the crowd or amongst the cowled +monks, and he spoke the name again without eliciting any +response.</p> +<p>The Lord of Mortimer leaned forward and spoke to his +neighbour.</p> +<p>"Methinks this brother was a member of your household, Sir +Oliver," he said, with a gleam of malice in his eye. "Surely you +received a mandate bidding you come with all your household. Where +is this preceptor of your sons?"</p> +<p>"His duties ceased last night," replied Sir Oliver calmly, in a +tone loud enough to reach the prior's ears. "He had command to +return today to the priory, and last evening he said farewell to me +and mine. I have not seen him today."</p> +<p>"Did he know of the summons to all to attend the gathering here +today?"</p> +<p>Sir Oliver bent his head.</p> +<p>"He did. I showed him the paper myself."</p> +<p>"Then wherefore is he not here?"</p> +<p>"That know I not. I did not know he was not here. I do not know +it even now. I have never known Brother Emmanuel fail in obedience +yet."</p> +<p>The name was being whispered all round. The monks were +professing to be searching for the missing brother. The prior +looked at Sir Oliver with some sternness.</p> +<p>"Where is this monk?" he asked,</p> +<p>"I do not know," was the firm response. "I have not seen him +since his farewell yesternight."</p> +<p>"You thought he was coming hither?"</p> +<p>"I knew naught. He told me naught of his purposes."</p> +<p>The prior's eyes flashed ominously.</p> +<p>"Have a care, Sir Oliver, have a care. Brother Emmanuel is yet +within the walls of Chad. I have reason to know he has not left +them the whole of this past week. He has been disobedient to his +vow of submission. He has not come at my bidding."</p> +<p>"I know naught of it," replied the knight calmly.</p> +<p>The Lord of Mortimer leaned forward once more with an evil smile +in his eyes.</p> +<p>"Let not mistaken generosity get the better of prudence, my +brother," he said, with derisiveness in his tone. "You know well +that the penalty of hiding and harbouring a heretic is little short +of that of heresy itself. Have a care you do not lose all just for +the caprice of the moment, which in time to come you will have +leisure bitterly to repent."</p> +<p>The prior, too, was eying him sternly.</p> +<p>"Lord Mortimer gives good counsel, Sir Oliver," he said. "Thou +knowest I am no enemy of thine. What has this day passed must have +shown thee that. Thou knowest that there be some here who might +have been called before me today to answer for their deeds who have +been spared for their youth and gentle birth. Thou hast had proof +that I am no enemy of thine. But the walls of Chad must not harbour +a heretic. Brother Emmanuel is there; he hath been there, and hath +not sallied forth this many days, showing that a guilty conscience +keeps him within. He cannot go forth without my knowledge; and if +thou wilt not give him up to me, I must obtain authority and have +the house searched and the man dragged forth. And I tell thee +freely, if it be found that thou hast lent thine aid in harbouring +a heretic and disobedient monk, thy lands will be forfeit, if not +thy life, and the Lord of Mortimer will be likewise Lord of +Chad."</p> +<p>At that moment, had any person had eyes to heed it, it might +have been observed that Edred and Julian slipped like veritable +shadows through the packed crowd. The next moment they had reached +the gateway, had passed under it without exciting any observation, +and as soon as they reached the cover of the forest, they set off +to run towards Chad as fast as their legs could carry them--far +faster than their horses could have borne them through the narrow +paths of the tangled wood.</p> +<h2><a name="ChapterVIII" id="ChapterVIII">Chapter VIII</a>: Hidden +Away.</h2> +<p>Fleetly, silently, untiringly ran the two brothers, without +exchanging a single word of their purpose even to each other. The +distance from the priory to the house was a matter of some two +miles, but to the trained and hardy limbs of the country-bred lads +a two miles' run was a trifle, and they were only slightly flushed +and winded when they paused, by mutual consent, a short distance +from Chad, at a point where the tall turrets and battlements became +visible over the treetops.</p> +<p>Julian, who was a few paces in advance, pulled up short, and +caught his brother by the arm.</p> +<p>"Hist!" he whispered cautiously. "I trow the prior's spies be +still on the watch. We must not be seen coming in this guise. Let +us wait a few moments till our breath be returned; then we will go +forward boldly and openly.</p> +<p>"Edred, have a care how thou answerest me when I shall speak to +thee anon. We have a part to play, and Brother Emmanuel's life may +hang upon how we play it."</p> +<p>Edred nodded assent. He was more weary, because more deeply +excited, than his brother, and no sleep had visited his eyes the +previous night. It had been spent with Brother Emmanuel in vigil in +the chantry. The strain of watching and deeply-seated anxiety was +telling upon the boy. He was glad that Julian had all his wits +about him, for his own head seemed swimming and his mind +unhinged.</p> +<p>They stood silent awhile, until both had regained their breath; +then putting on their caps, which for convenience they had carried +in their hands hitherto, they started forth again at a leisurely +pace, and with an air of openness and fearlessness, in the +direction of the main entrance, talking to each other as they went +in no softened tones.</p> +<p>"It was a fine sight!" cried Julian. "I would not have missed it +for worlds. That villainous hunchback! So he was a damnable heretic +after all! I grieve we ever stood his friend. May he perish like +the vile creature he is! I will ask Brother Emmanuel to set me a +penance for having touched him that day when we thought him an +innocent trader.</p> +<p>"Edred, thinkest thou that it can be true that Brother Emmanuel +is himself a heretic? If it be, we must drive him forth with blows +and curses. To sit down at board with a heretic, to hear teaching +from his lips! Beshrew me, but one might as well have a friend from +the pit for an instructor! It cannot be; surely it cannot be."</p> +<p>The boy spoke hotly and angrily. He had stopped short as if in +the heat of argument, and Edred saw by the flash in his eye that he +had caught sight of some lurking spy close at hand.</p> +<p>"Belike no," answered Edred cautiously, but taking his cue +instantly from the other. "I did not well hear what Brother Fabian +said; surely it could be naught so bad as that?"</p> +<p>"I scarcely heard myself. I was something aweary by that time of +the spectacle, and methought all the heretics had been dealt with. +I saw that thou, like myself, wouldst fain stretch thy limbs once +again, and I had shifted too far away to be certain what was said. +But I did hear the name of Brother Emmanuel spoken, and there was a +call for him, and he came not.</p> +<p>"Edred, can it be that he feared to come? Hath he a guilty +conscience? If that be so, shall we strive to find him and keep +watch upon him ourselves, that if the good prior comes to search +for him at Chad we may be able to give him up, though he have +hidden himself never so cunningly?"</p> +<p>"Marry, a good thought. It is certainly something strange that +he did not come at the prior's summons-and he a brother of the +order too. Sure, it looks somewhat as though he were afraid. But if +that be so, we shall scarce find him at Chad. He will have +benefited by the absence of the household to make good his +escape.</p> +<p>"Beshrew me, but he is a crafty knave. Who would have thought it +of him?"</p> +<p>"When men turn heretic they seem to be indued with all the +cunning of the devil!" cried Julian hotly. "But let us not dally +here; let us run within and strive to seek and to find him. It may +be he will think he may hide himself the better in some nook or +corner of the house, since he be well known all around; and the +good prior said somewhat of having kept a watch upon him. But I +trow he cannot hide so well but what we shall find him. I would +fain earn my forgiveness for having shielded one heretic by helping +to give up another.</p> +<p>"Come, Edred, let us be going. Those priests are as crafty as +foxes when the heretic leaven gets into them."</p> +<p>The brothers dashed away again towards the house; and when once +within the shelter of the walls, Julian nipped his brother's hand, +saying in a whisper:</p> +<p>"There was a spy overhead who drank in every word. He had no +notion mine eyes had seen him, for he was marvellous well +concealed, and I never should have found his hiding place had I not +chanced one day to see him climbing into it. Nobody will suspect +now that we have had a hand in the hiding of the good brother. But +let us make all haste, for no man knows when the bloodhounds may be +upon us to strive to take him away."</p> +<p>Edred's face was very pale, but steady and resolved. He +understood, better perhaps than his younger brother, the peril of +the enterprise upon which they had embarked. But he did not shrink +from that one whit, only he did hope and trust that his father +would never be implicated by their conduct; for if, after all, the +priest were to be found hidden within the precincts of Chad, it was +easy to prophesy a great reverse of fortune to all who dwelt +therein.</p> +<p>However, even that consideration did not move him at this +moment. Brother Emmanuel, their preceptor and friend and comrade +(for he had been all three to his pupils during his residence +beneath their roof), stood in deadly peril of his life, and to save +him from the malice of his foes must be the first consideration +now. The existence of the secret chamber was not known even to +their father. Not a soul in the house or in the world knew of it +save the three brothers and Warbel. Warbel was absolutely to be +trusted. He owed too much himself to that retreat to wish to betray +its existence to others, and he loathed and hated the whole +household of Mortimer; and it was very plain to all concerned that +Mortimer was working hand in hand with the prior in this +matter--the one to obtain possession of the person of the offending +monk, the other to find cause of accusation against the owner of +Chad for harbouring and concealing a suspected person, in defiance +of the laws of the land and of the Church.</p> +<p>That there was conspiracy afoot against Chad and its master +Edred did not for a moment doubt; but the first consideration must +now be the safe hiding of Brother Emmanuel, and the boys dashed +eagerly through the empty house, to find him in the little chantry, +where so many of his hours were spent.</p> +<p>He was reading the office of vespers without any congregation to +assist. Instinctive reverence caused the boys to kneel in silence +till the brief service concluded, and then, after prostrating +themselves before the altar, they beckoned vehemently to the monk +to follow them, and conducted him up a narrow winding stair, but +little used, to the large sleeping chamber which the three brothers +had shared ever since their early childhood.</p> +<p>Once there Julian carefully locked the door, whilst Edred in +brief and graphic words told the story of that day's spectacle. +Brother Emmanuel listened calmly, with his features set into an +expression which the boys were beginning to know well, although +they did not read its meaning aright. Sternness and resolve were +strangely blended with an infinite compassion and a look of almost +divine tenderness; his words were few, and carried little of their +meaning home to the hearts of the boys.</p> +<p>"And thus they strive, thus they think to check the growth of +the evil weed by fire and by the sword! Yet even nature may teach +them that the burned field only yields the richer crop, and that +the plough tearing its way along is a fertilizer of the earth. +Would to heaven they would send forth evangelists from the Church, +not with fire and sword, but with the sword of the Spirit--the Word +of God--with the lamp of life in their hands; not to deny the +people that life-giving fount, but to give them to drink through +the channels God Himself has appointed! Then, indeed, methinks +heresy would soon cease to exist. But theirs is not the way; God +who dwelleth in the heavens will soon show them that. Theirs is not +the way!"</p> +<p>But time there was none now for one of those conversations in +which Edred's heart delighted. Julian burst in then with the story +of the latest scene in that solemn spectacle--of the whispered +words of Brother Fabian; of the call for Brother Emmanuel; of the +appeal made to Sir Oliver, and his reply; and finally of the +certainty that the house would speedily be searched, and the +necessity of getting into safe hiding before that happened.</p> +<p>"Safe hiding!" said Brother Emmanuel with a slight smile; "my +kind pupils, there can be no safe hiding from the messengers sent +forth from the Church. Wherever I am they will find and drag me +forth. I am grateful for all the goodness shown to me at Chad by +all within its walls; but none shall suffer on my account. It hath +not pleased God to open to me a way of escape, wherefore I must now +yield myself to the will of my enemies; and it were better to go +forth and be taken by the spies without than to remain here a +source of peril to those within these walls."</p> +<p>"But there is yet another way!" cried Edred with flashing eyes. +"Thou shalt not go forth, and yet thou shalt not be a source of +peril to any living soul. Brother Emmanuel, methinks it was God's +doing, or that of the holy saints, that this hap befell us which +revealed to us a safe hiding place of which none knows but +ourselves, not even our father and mother, and the secret of which +we have preserved unto this day, resisting the temptation to +divulge it to any living soul. Time presses. When we are there I +will tell thee all the tale--how this secret place came to our +knowledge. But now let us tarry no longer, but come quickly and see +for thyself. Once within that friendly shelter thou wilt have +naught to fear save the loneliness to which thou art well used.</p> +<p>"See, there is Julian already opening the door. Come, my father, +come!"</p> +<p>Julian had kindled the little lamp the boys had constructed for +themselves, and which was much upon the principle of a modern +bull's-eye, and could be safely carried through draughty passages +without flickering or going out; and now the wondering monk allowed +Edred to take him by the hand and lead him step by step along the +narrow, tortuous passage. Julian closed the door behind them, +showing how the cleverly-contrived spring acted; then they +proceeded step by step in cautious silence--for this passage +skirted a great portion of the house, and was very long--towards +their destination, till at last they stood within the secret +chamber itself; and Julian extinguished the light, to let the +evening sunshine filter in and show how much of illumination it +could give.</p> +<p>"Now, Brother Emmanuel, let us show you all," said Edred +eagerly; "for methinks it must be very few visits we must pay thee, +and those at dead of night. For I much mistake me if we be not +closely watched by some spy of the prior's these next days, and it +will not do for any to think we have hidden haunts of our own."</p> +<p>"Nay, nay, my children; ye must not run into peril for me. Far +rather would I--"</p> +<p>"I know--I know!" cried Edred. "But in truth thou needst not +fear to rest here. This is the lost chamber, the secret of which +had perished for well nigh a generation, till kindly fortune made +it known to us. All men think that the chamber lay in the portion +of Chad that was destroyed in the late wars. None dream it still +exists. But here it is, and Bertram has made out little by little +exactly where it lies, and I will tell it thee.</p> +<p>"This portion at the lower and darker end is jammed in betwixt +the ceiled roof of the great gun room and that attic chamber where +the dry roots are stored away in the winter months before the frost +binds them into the ground. None enter that attic in the summertide +save rats and mice, and though there may be many passing to and fro +in the gun room, no sound from here can penetrate there; for we +have tried times and again, when there has been none by to hear, if +we can make each other hear sounds from either place. From the gun +room noise will, if very great, penetrate hither; but nothing thou +canst do will make them below hear thee.</p> +<p>"Then this wider and lighter and loftier portion, where the +light comes in, is but a space filched away from the roofs and +leads, and jammed in in such a fashion that it would defy a +magician to find it from without. We tried days and days and could +not do it, and never did, albeit we can climb like cats and had an +inkling where it was--until we put Julian within to shout aloud and +guide us by his voice. It is so placed that none can get really +nigh to those places where the cracks are made to let in the light +and air. Thou needst not fear, though all the monks in the priory +come to search, that this hiding place will ever be found."</p> +<p>The monk looked around the narrow chamber and drew an +involuntary breath of relief. If indeed this thing were so, if +indeed he might lie hidden from discovery and defy the most +stringent search, might it not be a God-appointed means of +salvation for him? Might he not be doing wrong in insisting upon +falling into the hands of men? Would it indeed be possible for him +to secrete himself without bringing down upon others the wrath he +himself would escape?</p> +<p>Whilst he stood thus debating with himself, the boys pulled him +by the sleeve and spoke eagerly, though involuntarily in low +tones.</p> +<p>"And see further. Here is food laid up against this day. It will +all keep for many weeks. It is but poor fare, but not poorer than +thou art well used to--salted meat, and dried fish, and oaten cake; +which keeps moist far longer than any other. Here are a few +confections, and here is wine, and a jar of good mead. As for +water, it may be had at this trough here, and a goodly supply; only +it comes with somewhat of a rush, and the bung is not easily rammed +back in its place. It is best to raise the tube--so--in the hand; +but we could not make shift to do better. There is the lantern, and +oil in this vessel, and none can see the light at night from any +place when it is burned. I have placed three books in you corner--I +dared not take more from the library; but I knew thou wouldst have +thy breviary with thee, and thou art never dull. If it may be done +safely, one of us will visit thee from time to time; and if there +is any way of escape open to thee, thou shalt surely hear +thereof.</p> +<p>"But be not dismayed if days go by and thou hearest naught. It +may be safer that thou shouldst be left quite alone. Thou wilt not +think thyself forgotten?"</p> +<p>Brother Emmanuel's eyes were fixed with a tender gaze upon the +faces of the bold, generous boys. He took their hands in his, and +they bent the knee to receive his blessing. His words were few and +brief, but each lad as he rose resolved deep down in his heart that +he would suffer the penalty of death itself sooner than betray the +secret hiding place and give the brother up to his foes.</p> +<p>Then with a few more last words respecting the hiding place and +the arrangements made for the comfort of its occupant, the pair +stole away, and soon found themselves safely within the walls of +their own room, the door of which was still safely locked. They +looked each other in the face with a proud, glad smile.</p> +<p>"It is done!" cried Edred, drawing a long breath.</p> +<p>"Nay, not altogether," answered Julian, with eyes that flashed +with excitement; and drawing a step nearer his brother, he said in +changed tones, "Now must that rascally priest have fled, and it +behoves us to search the precincts of the place with all diligence. +We must not leave a nook or a cranny unvisited, and must make a +mighty coil. Thou takest me, brother, dost thou not?"</p> +<p>Edred made a quick, eager sign of assent.</p> +<p>"Ay, Julian, I do; and when we have done all that, let us back +to the priory again. We must whisper in our father's ear that +Brother Emmanuel is safe. Then will he act with a freer hand. And +it were better, perchance, that we were all there to ride back with +him when he takes his leave."</p> +<p>Julian assented at once to this proposition; and forth went the +boys, at first calling aloud the name of their tutor, and then +halting, always within earshot of one of the spies, to <span lang= +"en-US" xml:lang="en-US">debate</span> where he could have +concealed himself, darting hither and thither, as if suddenly +remembering some new place, and ever returning disappointed and +vexed.</p> +<p>"He is a veritable fox!" cried Julian, flinging his cap on the +ground in a well-assumed tempest of chagrin. "He must have left +Chad altogether, for not a trace of him is here; and I looked to +have the pleasure of bringing him ourselves before the reverend +prior, to atone for having helped that other pestilent fellow to +avoid for a while the hand of the law. A plague upon him and his +cunning ways! Unless he have found the secret chamber our father +knows of, and which he once took us to see, there be no other place +in all Chad where he can be lurking, unless he has been moving from +spot to spot at our approach. A pest upon the crafty rogue!"</p> +<p>"We shall do no good loitering here, since he be really gone," +remarked Edred, in a tone of vexation very like his brother's; +"perchance he may have fallen into the hands of the prior through +the watch of which he spoke. I trust it may be so. But for us, I +trow we had better go back to see the end of the day's spectacle. +We can do no more at Chad. If he is hiding he will not dare come +forth now, with all the folks returning so soon; and if he has got +clean away, nothing we can do will bring him back."</p> +<p>Julian grumbled in the finest phrases he could think of as the +two pursued their way back towards the priory, increasing their +speed as they left Chad behind, and very quickly gaining the +meadow, where the servants were already beginning to collect the +horses and get them ready for their masters.</p> +<p>The day's proceedings were over. Refreshments were being served +in the refectory to all of the better sort. Sir Oliver's two +younger sons had never been missed; but Edred contrived to slip +into the hall, and in passing beside his father's chair to whisper +in his ear the four simple words:</p> +<p>"Brother Emmanuel is safe!"</p> +<p>None heard the whisper, not even Bertram, who was sitting next +his father, though he read it in his brother's eye the next moment. +Edred had affected to catch the clasp of his belt against his +father's chair as he passed by, and in pausing to free it had bent +his head and spoken the brief message.</p> +<p>No change passed over Sir Oliver's face. Not a creature present +observed the trifling by-play. Wine had circulated freely, and much +laughing and talking were going on. The prior had unbent from his +judicial severity, and even the Lord of Mortimer was smiling and +bland, although there was something in his aspect that suggested +the fierce feline play of a man-eating creature biding its time and +toying with its victim.</p> +<p>Just before the close of the feast Sir Oliver rose to his +feet.</p> +<p>"My lord prior, and you knights and gentlemen," he said +suddenly, addressing all those who sat at the board in one +comprehensive glance round the table. "I have been not a little +disturbed and astonished today by hearing that there is ill known +of one who has been long a member of my household--Brother +Emmanuel--whom the reverend prior himself sent forth to be the +instructor of my sons, and who has always comported himself right +reverently and seemly in my house. But inasmuch as there is cause +of offence in him, and that he has this day refused obedience to +his lawful superior, and has not come at the bidding of the prior, +I cannot but own him in fault, and decline to have further dealings +with him. I do not know whether he is yet at Chad. I have not seen +him since his farewell last evening. But if he be yet there, let +the Lord of Mortimer, or you, holy father, send a company of +servants to bring him thence.</p> +<p>"I have heard it whispered around that he is hiding within the +walls of Chad, and that we of that household know where he lurks. +My reply to that whisper is a denial (which I will take upon oath +if need be) that I know aught whatever about him; and furthermore, +I will throw open my house, upon any day and at any time, to +whatever persons shall be sent to seek him, and will aid them in +every possible way in the finding of the offender."</p> +<p>A murmur of approval went round the company. The prior looked +pleased, and a smile crossed his face.</p> +<p>The only person who did not seem gratified by this openness was +the Lord of Mortimer, whose face contracted sourly, and who gave a +keen glance at his rival, as though he would have read his very +soul. But the calm gaze with which Sir Oliver returned this look +did not appear to restore his equanimity, and he flashed a glance +at his son-in-law which plainly betokened surprise and chagrin.</p> +<p>"Well spoken, Sir Oliver," said the prior; "and since I have +excellent reason to know that the brother has not left Chad, and +cannot do it without my knowledge, it is plain to me that he is +hiding in some place there, albeit all unknown to you and yours. +Wherefore, on the morrow, I myself, together with my good friend +the Lord of Mortimer, will present ourselves at Chad, and make full +search, and we shall no doubt find the heretic monk cowering away +in some undreamed-of hiding place, and will drag him thence to the +fate he so well merits.</p> +<p>"Chad has its secrets, has it not? I have heard of them in days +gone by."</p> +<p>"It has several cunning nooks and crannies, but all of these +will I myself display to you upon the morrow," replied the knight +calmly; and the Lord of Mortimer arose with a crafty smile upon his +face, and addressed the prior in these words:</p> +<p>"Reverend father, I do not willingly speak ill of my neighbours, +least of all of one who is now near akin to me through the marriage +of my daughter with Sir Edward, who comes of the old stock of Chad. +Yet I cannot but state here, in this place, that I hold Sir Oliver +to have drawn down suspicion upon himself by failing to give up +Brother Emmanuel a week ago when it was demanded of him. There be +something to my mind strange and unworthy in such an act; and I +here call upon all men to witness that I verily believe we shall +find this traitor monk sheltering within the walls of Chad, and +that if this be so I shall openly accuse Sir Oliver before all the +world--before the king himself--of harbouring traitors and +heretics, and shall make petition that Chad and all that pertains +to it be forfeit, as the penalty for such evil courses, and be +given to the rightful lord by inheritance--Sir Edward +Chadwell."</p> +<p>The partisans of Mortimer raised a cheer; those of Chad received +the challenge with groans and curses. Sir Oliver spoke not a word, +but sat with his head proudly erect, and his eyes gleaming somewhat +dangerously; whilst the prior commanded silence by a gesture of his +hand, and spoke to quell the tumult.</p> +<p>"My Lord of Mortimer, I have far more trust than you in the +integrity of good Sir Oliver. I trow he will be able to clear +himself of whatever suspicions lie upon him; and if the monk be +found within his house, he shall have every opportunity of +explaining his presence there. At the same time, I will not deny +that it will look ill for him if he be found there; and that the +tongues of all suspicious persons may be silenced, so that none +shall say there has been opportunity for him to get the monk +secretly away from the place, I will double the watch that has +already been set around Chad, and I will send thither with Sir +Oliver and his family two of my trustiest sons, Brother Fabian and +Brother Nathaniel, to keep strict watch within doors, that there be +no cause for any enemy to say that any there have aided an unlawful +escape, or have striven to hide a miscreant from those who justly +demand him."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver bent his head.</p> +<p>"Any brother coming from Chadwater will be an honoured guest at +Chad," he said. "I was about to ask if Brother Fabian was to be +sent thither to instruct my sons."</p> +<p>"Ay, and to find out what germs of heresy yon false monk may not +have implanted!" cried Lord Mortimer, losing control of himself as +he saw the calmness of his enemy, and felt that the prey he had so +confidently looked to be his might even now slip from his grasp. +"It was those lads from Chad who strove to protect yon miserable +hunchback who will be burned to ashes for his sins ere three more +days have gone by. How explain you such conduct as that, Sir +Oliver? Are you and your dame rearing up a heretic brood, to cumber +the land in days to come?"</p> +<p>But the prior here interposed somewhat sternly. He had no +intention of allowing his table to be made the scene of a +disturbance that might lead to bloodshed. He turned somewhat +sternly upon the haughty baron, and his words were few and +plain.</p> +<p>"My Lord of Mortimer, Sir Oliver has answered to me for that +offence. You take something too much upon yourself in thus striving +to sit in judgment, and that in mine own presence.</p> +<p>"And now, gentlemen, the sun will be shortly setting, and some +of you have many miles to ride. We have done the day's work in a +thorough and righteous fashion; and I will now give you my +blessing, and dismiss you to your homes. I trust this may be the +last time that I have to assemble you together to drive from +amongst us those who are tainted by the curse of heresy."</p> +<p>Half an hour later the party for Chad were riding quietly +<span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">homeward</span> through the +forest with two cowled monks in their company. The last charge to +these from the prior had been:</p> +<p>"Thou, Brother Fabian, keep a sharp eye by night and by day upon +the boys; and thou, Brother Nathaniel, upon the knight and his +lady. If any of those are in the secret, be it your mission to find +out and bring it home to them."</p> +<h2><a name="ChapterIX" id="ChapterIX">Chapter IX</a>: The +Search.</h2> +<p>"If Brother Emmanuel is found, Chad will be forfeit."</p> +<p>Such was the burden of Edred's thoughts as he rode homeward at +his brothers' side, just behind their father and mother, at the +close of that eventful day's proceedings.</p> +<p>It was a thought that could not but be fraught with some terror +to the boy, who knew that he had been instrumental in hiding the +threatened monk, and that if by some gruesome chance the secret +were to be discovered, their bitter enemy would make it an excuse +for prosecuting his malicious and covetous purpose towards Chad +with redoubled ardour, and with every prospect of success. At +present the prior was standing neutral betwixt the two foes; at +present the king was well disposed towards Sir Oliver. But should +it be proved beyond dispute that he had set the Church at defiance, +and had harboured a suspected heretic within his walls, then the +prior would at once turn against him, and representations would be +made to the king which would almost force him to turn away his +favour. The Lord of Chad would be a disgraced and suspected person, +whilst in all probability the wiles of the ambitious Mortimer would +prove successful, and the claim of Sir Edward Chadwell would be +admitted, and the estate pass into his hands.</p> +<p>The thought was maddening. The bare idea of being forced to +leave the old home sent the hot blood coursing through the boy's +body. If such a thing as that were to befall them, it would break +their father's heart. And how should he ever hold up his head +again, knowing that in some sort he had been the author of the +mischief?</p> +<p>All the brothers had been heart and soul together in their +desire to hide the brother from the wrath and unjust tyranny of the +prior; but Edred felt as though the greatest responsibility had +been his, though he could scarcely have said why.</p> +<p>Julian had certainly taken the lead in the final act of the +drama; but Julian was yet a boy, and did not thoroughly realize the +perils which might follow such a course. Edred did, and his face +was grave and thoughtful; and when from time to time he stole a +glance at Bertram, he saw that his elder brother's face was +overcast and anxious, too.</p> +<p>They did not dare to exchange a single word upon the subject +nearest to their hearts as they rode decorously behind <span lang= +"en-US" xml:lang="en-US">their</span> parents and the two monks. +The whole train had to restrain their horses to the ambling pace of +the steed bestridden by the monks, who were by no means skilled +riders; and dusk had fallen ere they all rode into the courtyard of +Chad, where the bustle of dismounting afforded the brothers the +chance of escaping for a few minutes to their upper chamber +together.</p> +<p>"We must not stay a minute; the spies will be after us!" +whispered Bertram. "But one question I must ask. Is he there?"</p> +<p>"Yea, verily; and none need visit him for many days. It were +better not.</p> +<p>"But, brothers both, lend me your strong arms here. I would move +this great chest across the fireplace. Ask no question; I will show +you why anon."</p> +<p>Edred was the speaker, and he indicated an enormous carved oak +chest quite twelve feet in length, which was kept in this room to +hold the clothing of the three lads. They did from time to time +change its position in the room, so that no remark would be excited +by the fact that it had been moved. As Edred wished to place it +now, it would stand right across the fireplace, blocking entirely +the secret door; but Bertram looked a little doubtfully at it when +it was in place, saying tentatively:</p> +<p>"Thou dost not think it would draw attention to the carved +pillars of the fireplace? We shall have cunning and crafty men to +deal with on the morrow."</p> +<p>Edred smiled slightly.</p> +<p>"Wait till the morrow comes, and thou shalt see," he answered; +and then the brothers hastened down again, knowing that any sudden +disappearance on their part might be marked and held as +suspicious.</p> +<p>They had not, however, been gone long enough to be missed, and +the two monks who had been told off to keep watch within this house +had but just made their way into the hall, where hot spiced wine +was being dispensed, and the table set out for supper.</p> +<p>Notwithstanding the feast recently partaken of at the priory, +the brothers appeared by no means loath to sit down once again, and +Edred could not but observe how differently they comported +themselves from Brother Emmanuel, and how thoroughly they +appreciated the dainty viands which were brought out in their +honour.</p> +<p>He did not mean to sit in judgment--he scarcely knew that he was +doing so; yet as be watched their deep potations, and marked how +they chose the best portions, and stinted themselves in no good +thing, his stern young mind could not but rise up in revolt, the +more so that these very men were actually here on purpose to strive +to capture a brother of their own order, and deliver him over to +death. And so far as the youth understood the matter, the offence +for which it was resolved he should suffer was that he was too +faithful to the vows he had taken upon himself, and too ardent in +striving to enforce upon others the rules he held binding upon +himself.</p> +<p>But at least if these brothers ate and drank merrily, they were +not therefore the better watchers. They had smiled a little +scornfully as he contrasted their good feeding and deep drinking +and subsequent visible sleepiness with the spare and frugal meal +always taken by Brother <span lang="en-US" xml:lang= +"en-US">Emmanuel</span>, to be followed as often as not by a long +night vigil in the chantry. There was small look of watchfulness +about these men. Any vigil kept by them would be but a mockery of +the term. It was all they could do to stumble through the office of +compline when the meal was ended and the household about to retire, +and there was no suggestion on their part of wishing to remain to +keep vigil.</p> +<p>But Edred resolved that he would watch again that night. He had +done so the previous night with Brother Emmanuel, both thinking +that it might be the last watch they would ever hold together. Now +the boy felt that he could not sleep, at least for many hours; and +since their mother had whispered to them that Brother Fabian was to +share their room, since he said it was his duty to keep watch upon +the boys till next morning, it seemed well to leave his bed for the +drowsy monk, aid keep vigil himself in the silent chantry.</p> +<p>The brother looked puzzled when he heard what one of his young +charges proposed to do. Edred looked him full in the face as he +answered:</p> +<p>"Brother Emmanuel taught us that it were not well that all +within the house should be sleeping. We know not when the Lord may +appear--at midnight, at cock crowing, or in the morning; and +methinks whenever He may come, He would gladly find one soul +holding vigil and waiting for His appearing. Lock the door of the +chantry upon me, my father. Thou canst see that there is but the +one door by which we may come or go. If thou fearest to leave me +here, lock the door upon me until such time as it pleases thee to +release me."</p> +<p>The brother regarded the boy with perplexed looks, and slowly +shook his head, as though such an attitude of mind were wholly +incomprehensible. But he did not oppose his resolve. It would not +do to appear astonished at the idea of keeping vigil. He passed out +of the chantry muttering to himself, and Edred prostrated himself +before the altar, above which the solitary lamp burned clear and +bright, and offered up most earnest prayers for the safety of +Brother Emmanuel, for the failure and <span lang="en-US" xml:lang= +"en-US">discomfiture</span> of his foes, and for his safe escape +when the time was ripe into some country where his enemies were not +like to find him.</p> +<p>How the hours of the night passed he scarcely knew. He might +perhaps have slept at his post awhile, or have remained in a dreamy +and passive state; for it did not seem long before the morning sun +came glinting in at the eastern window, and the boy saw that the +day had come which was to be a momentous one to Chad.</p> +<p>Before very long, sounds of life about, and later on within the +house, warned him that he was not the only watcher now; and feeling +very drowsy and weary, he resolved to creep upstairs and share +Julian's couch for the remaining hours before the working day +should commence.</p> +<p>He had not been locked into the chantry. Perhaps Brother Fabian +felt a little shame in his suspicions, or perhaps he forgot to take +the precaution. The door yielded to his touch, and he found himself +at liberty to go where he would.</p> +<p>But before <span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">turning</span> +his steps to his room upstairs, he made an expedition to an +outhouse on what appeared to be a curious errand. It was a dirty, +neglected place, and was full of dust and flue and cobweb. The boy +began deliberately collecting masses of this flue and web, and +presently he swept up carefully a good-sized heap of dust, which he +as deliberately placed in a wooden box, and proceeded to make in +one end a number of small holes.</p> +<p>Carefully carrying away this strange load, and bearing it with +great secrecy, the boy mounted the stairs very softly, and put down +the handkerchief in which the flue was placed in the small unused +room beside their sleeping chamber. With the box still in his hands +he stole on tiptoe into the room and looked carefully round +him.</p> +<p>His brothers were sleeping lightly, looking as though they would +be easily and speedily aroused. But the monk was snoring deeply, +and the bloated face which was turned towards him displayed that +abandonment of repose which bespeaks a very sound and even sottish +slumber.</p> +<p>The boy looked with repulsion at the flushed face, the open +mouth, and dropped jaw. Something in the expression of that +sleeping face filled him with scorn and loathing. No danger of this +man's awakening; his half-drunken sleep was far too heavy and +sodden.</p> +<p>Edred stepped lightly across the room towards the chest which he +had had moved the previous evening, and lying at full length along +the floor, he proceeded to shake his box after the manner of a +pepper pot until he had made beneath the chest a soft layer of dust +which looked like the accumulation of weeks. It was deftly and +skilfully done, and although he looked critically at the after +effect, to make sure there was nothing artificial about the aspect, +he could not detect anything amiss.</p> +<p>The next step was to carry away his box, empty it out of a +window, and break in pieces the perforated part, that there might +be no tracing his action in this matter. Then gaining possession of +his handkerchief full of flue, he stole softly back again, and laid +great flakes between the legs of the chest and the wall, stuffed +light fragments into the interstices of the carving, and laid them +upon any projecting ledge that was likely to have caught such light +dirt as it filtered through the air.</p> +<p>A soft movement in the room told him that his brothers were +awake and watching him, though the monk still snored on in his +stertorous fashion. One after the other the pair stole from their +beds and looked for a moment at this skilful travesty of nature's +handiwork, and both nodded in token of approval and +congratulation.</p> +<p>Edred had an artist's eye for effect, and did not spoil his +handiwork by overdoing it. The result produced was exactly as if +the chest had stood for some time in its present position, so that +the dust had gathered beneath it and the flue had clung to the wall +behind it. No one looking at its position there could doubt that it +had been there for a period of some weeks.</p> +<p>Satisfied with the result of his manoeuvre, the boy flung away +the rest of his spoil, and throwing himself upon one of his +brothers' beds was soon lost in healthy sleep.</p> +<p>When he awoke the sun was high in the sky, and he found himself +alone with Father Fabian, who appeared likewise only just to have +awakened.</p> +<p>Brother Emmanuel would long ago have held early mass in the +chantry, but this new inmate appeared by no means disposed to +follow in the footsteps of his predecessors. He rubbed his eyes, +and seemed scarce to know where he was; but he accepted Edred's +offers of assistance, and was soon ready to leave the room in +search of the meal to which he was accustomed.</p> +<p>All Chad was in a stir of expectation. It was known throughout +the house that a great search was to be instituted after the +<span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">missing</span> priest, who had, +as it were, disappeared into thin air.</p> +<p>Everybody knew that he had been within the precincts of Chad +upon the previous day. Some amongst the few servants who had been +left behind to take care of the house had seen him moving quietly +about from the chantry to the courtyard and back. It was now well +known that spies were lurking in the forest round Chad with a view +of intercepting any attempt at flight, and it was plain they had +seen nothing of him. Therefore, unless he had escaped their +vigilance by cunning and artifice, he must still be somewhere +within the precincts of the house; and on the whole this appeared +the most probable theory. In a place like Chad, where there were +all manner of outbuildings, sheds, and lofts; to say nothing of all +the corners and hiding places within the house itself, it would be +very tempting to take refuge in one of these nooks and crannies, +and to trust to the chance of concealment rather than run the +gauntlet of meeting foes in the open.</p> +<p>Brothers from the monasteries, to say nothing of hunted +heretics, had the reputation of being marvellous cunning in their +methods. It was like enough that Brother Emmanuel had long been +planning some such concealment for himself, and had made his plans +cleverly and astutely. Such was the prevailing opinion at Chad, and +scarcely a member of the household but hoped and trusted his hiding +place would not be detected, even though they did not know how +seriously the fortunes of their master might be affected were the +monk to be found hidden in his house.</p> +<p>They all loved Brother Emmanuel for his own sake, and hated the +Lord of Mortimer. And it was well known that that haughty baron was +making common cause with the prior of Chadwater in this matter, +doubtless in the hope of disgracing Sir Oliver in the eyes of the +ecclesiastical powers.</p> +<p>So a general feeling of excitement and uncertainty prevailed +during the early hours of the morning. Sir Oliver and his wife +strove to appear calm and tranquil, but inwardly they were consumed +by anxiety. They felt something very much approaching certainty +that their own sons knew what had befallen the monk--probably his +very hiding-place; and they were by no means certain that it might +not be within the very precincts of Chad itself. The knight's +generosity and love of justice were sufficiently stirred to make +him willing to run some risk in the cause; he had resolved to ask +no question, and to let matters take their own course. But he could +not help feeling a tremor run through him as he heard the winding +of the horn which bespoke the presence of the visitors at his gate, +and he went forth to meet them with a sinking heart, albeit his +mien was calm and untroubled and his bearing dignified and +assured.</p> +<p>The prior and the Lord of Mortimer headed the train, and behind +followed a goodly retinue of men wearing the livery of the baron, +to say nothing of the lay brothers and the cowled monks, who were +skilful in matters pertaining to search, and who had come to assist +in the examination of the whole of the great house.</p> +<p>Upon the face of Lord Mortimer and upon that of his son-in-law +there was an ill-disguised look of vindictive triumph. It was easy +to see that they were fully assured of the presence of the fugitive +within these walls, and that they did not mean to leave until he +had been dragged forth from his hiding place.</p> +<p>The guests of the better quality were respectfully conducted +into the great hall, and refreshments were placed before them. Sir +Oliver put his whole house and possessions into the hands of the +prior, who was invited to make any kind of investigation and +examination that he thought necessary. The knight repeated what he +had said the previous day as to his entire ignorance where the monk +was hiding, and whether he was hiding at all. But no obstacle of +any kind would be placed by him against the most stringent search, +and he would either accompany the searchers or remain passive where +he was, exactly as the reverend father judged best.</p> +<p>This statement was well received by the prior, who turned to the +Lord of Mortimer and suggested that in the first place his armed +troopers, who were well used to this kind of work, should make a +strict search through all the outbuildings of whatever kind, +posting his men wherever he thought needful, and taking any steps +such as the smoking of chimneys and kindred methods that might in +any wise be likely to dislodge the fugitive. Meantime the rest of +the party would remain where they were, and the house should only +be searched if it was made clear that the monk was not hiding +without.</p> +<p>Lord Mortimer retired to give his orders, and the rest of the +company remained in the hall. The boys would better have liked the +house searched first, that their anxiety might be the sooner +relieved. It was keeping them on tenterhooks all this time, as they +knew well that no result could accrue from any search of the outer +yards or buildings, and it was hard to wait all that time in +uncertainty and suspense.</p> +<p>But they heard the order given without making any sign. It was +well for them at this crisis that they had been trained in habits +of self control and reserve. No one, to look at the three boys, +would have guessed them to be greatly interested in the +proceedings. They remained standing in the background, with an air +of quiet respect and submission appropriate to the young in +presence of their spiritual superiors. The prior, as his keen eye +travelled over the faces in the hall, never suspected for a moment +that those three quiet lads knew aught of this matter. But, pleased +by their air and bearing, he called them to him and asked them some +questions, to assure himself that they had been properly taught by +the recalcitrant monk whom now he had resolved to find and to +punish for his rebellion and temerity.</p> +<p>The boys replied with such ready intelligence and so much actual +learning that he could not but be pleased with them. Edred, in +particular, showed such readiness and aptitude that the prior was +surprised, and laying a kindly hand upon the boy's head, asked him +how soon they would be welcoming him at Chadwater.</p> +<p>The youth looked up with grave, thoughtful eyes.</p> +<p>"I know not that, my father. I have had thoughts of the +religious life; but--"</p> +<p>"Well, boy, what is the 'but'?" asked the prior with a smile, +but a keen flash of the eye which did not pass unheeded.</p> +<p>Edred saw the flash, and was put at once upon his guard. This +was not Brother Emmanuel, to whom he could open his whole soul and +ask counsel and advice.</p> +<p>"I misdoubt me at times if I be fit for the life," he answered. +"There is too much of the world in my heart, I fear me. I used to +think I was fit to be a monk, but I am the less sure now."</p> +<p>"Well, well, I would fain have a promising lad like thee beneath +my care; but there is time to talk of that later.</p> +<p>"Well, my Lord of Mortimer, how goes the search? Is all in train +for it?"</p> +<p>"Ay, reverend father; and I trow if the miscreant be in hiding +anywhere without the house, he will shortly be brought before us. I +am no novice in this manner of work, and I have laid my plans that +he will scarce escape us. If that fail, we must try the house +itself. It will go hard if we find him not somewhere. We have full +information that he has not left the place;" and here he flashed an +insolent look of triumph at Sir Oliver, who took not the smallest +notice either of the speech or the look.</p> +<p>Edred retired to his former place beside his brothers, and the +party awaited the result of the search with what patience they +might. Now and then shouts and calls broke the stillness, and faces +would flush with excitement at the sound; but the shouts always +died away again into silence, and at last there came a trooper into +the hall to salute the company and report that there was no one +hidden in any of the places without. Not a rat or a mouse could +have failed to be turned out after the stringent search to which +the premises had been subjected.</p> +<p>The Lord of Mortimer then rose and said:</p> +<p>"Keep the men posted as I have given orders. Let none stir from +his vantage ground. And be thou there to see that the closest watch +is kept. We go in person to search the house, and if any living +thing seeks to make escape by door or window, it will be thine +office and that of thy men to seize and hold him."</p> +<p>"We will not fail, my lord," said the man, who again saluted and +withdrew.</p> +<p>Then the prior rose and called his monks about him, whilst the +Lord of Mortimer did the like with his followers.</p> +<p>"Sir Oliver," said the prior, "I would have spared you this +unwelcome formality had it been possible, but my duty must be done. +I will ask you to be our conductor throughout the house, and will +crave permission to post my servants hither and thither about the +passages as seems to me best, and to take such steps as shall +appear needful for proving to the satisfaction of all that this +traitor monk is not hidden within your walls."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver bent his head.</p> +<p>"Take what steps you will, reverend father; I and mine are at +your disposal. Whatever means you desire to use, do so without +hesitation. Shall my people arm themselves with tools to remove +panelling or flooring? You have but to command them; they shall +instantly obey."</p> +<p>The Lord of Mortimer again looked taken aback for a moment. +There was a confidence in Sir Oliver's manner that did not appear +to be assumed. He would have preferred another aspect in his +foe.</p> +<p>"We have brought all things needful for a rigorous search," +answered the prior. "We hope and trust nothing will be needed. Is +it true that there are secret hiding places in the house, my son? +It would be well, perhaps, to visit any such first."</p> +<p>"There be two," answered Sir Oliver quietly, though his heart +beat rather fast. What if Brother Emmanuel had learned the secret +of either of those places, and had sought refuge in one? True, it +would have been worse than useless to deny their existence. Many in +the household knew of them and how they might be entered.</p> +<p>Probably the prior or some of his monks had the trick of those +chambers by heart. Chad had been through many vicissitudes, and the +monks had often been its guests. Secrets once known to them were +never allowed to be lost. It would have been idle to seek to put +the searchers off the scent. He led the way to the places where the +masked doors lay--one was much after the pattern of that in the +boys' chamber--and in each case himself opened the door, letting +his guests go in to examine for themselves.</p> +<p>Those were terrible moments for him; but the hearts of the boys +did not palpitate. Each time the search party came forth with looks +of baffled disappointment. Each time the Lord of Mortimer's face +was dark and gloomy. He had reckoned somewhat confidently on +finding the fugitive in one of these known hiding places. He had +hoped Sir Oliver would profess an ignorance of at least one of the +two. His face was fierce and vindictive as the second was "drawn +blank."</p> +<p>But the excitement of the boys was slowly augmenting as the +party moved higher and higher in the house, leaving scouts posted +in various places, and, as it were, spreading a +cleverly-constructed net all through Chad, which it would be +impossible for any person being hunted from spot to spot finally to +escape.</p> +<p>The prior's idea now was that the monk might be gliding before +them from place to place, confident that his knowledge of the +intricacies of the house would give him the chance of evading them +at the last. It was a desperate game, to be sure, but one that had +been successfully tried by others on more than one occasion. He +therefore posted his men with great skill and acumen; and knowing +the house accurately, was able to feel secure that if this were the +game being played, the prey would sooner or later be his.</p> +<p>Lord Mortimer, on the other hand, gave his attention to the +panelled walls, the carved chimney pieces, the flooring of the old +rooms; and many were the blows struck here and there by his orders, +and great was the damage done to certain panelled rooms, in the +hopes of coming upon some masked door or passage.</p> +<p>It was this energy on his part that caused such anxiety to the +boys. Suppose he were to attack the carving which really concealed +the masked door in their room? Might not his eagle eye light upon +that, too, and might not all be discovered? The boys felt almost +sick with apprehension as they approached the door of their room, +and Edred's whole heart went up in a voiceless prayer that no +discovery might be made.</p> +<p>Nothing in the aspect of the room attracted comment. All looked +matter of fact and innocent enough, and the prior was growing +something weary with the unavailing search. The usual thumping on +the walls was commenced; but even the carved mantel pillars were so +solid that no hollow sound was given forth when they were struck. +The prior turned away.</p> +<p>"There is naught here, methinks, my Lord of Mortimer."</p> +<p>"Wait one moment," replied the baron. "This carving be something +deep and ponderous. I always suspect traps when I see such pains +bestowed upon it. Let me examine a while further. These grapes look +to me as if they had been fingered something often. Let me examine +further."</p> +<p>Edred's heart was in his mouth. It was all he could do to +restrain himself from seeking to attract the prior's attention in +another direction; but his sound sense told him that this sudden +interruption would be suspicious. Julian nipped him by the arm, as +those strong fingers went travelling over the carved work with dire +intent. Both started when the Lord of Mortimer exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Take away yon chest; it encumbers me."</p> +<p>The servants did his bidding in a moment; and then a sudden +change came over his face. The eager look died away. He remained +awhile looking down at the floor, which was covered with dust and +flue, as was also the carving which had been concealed behind the +chest. The prior looked down too, and shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p>"That tells a tale, my lord. Naught has been disturbed here for +many a long day. Let us pursue our search elsewhere. No fugitive +could have passed by that spot since yesterday, when Brother +Emmanuel was last seen."</p> +<p>The baron could not but assent. He looked once again at the +carving, but he had had no real reason to suspect aught, and he +turned away to go elsewhere. Another grip of the arm showed Edred +how Julian's feelings had been stirred; but the lads did not even +look at each other as they moved on behind the company, and they +now hardly heard or heeded what passed during the remaining hour of +that long search.</p> +<p>For them the crisis had passed when they turned from the room +where the secret lay. If not discovered at that awful moment when +Lord Mortimer's hand was actually upon the bunch of grapes beneath +which lay the spring, they surely need not fear any other manoeuvre +on his part.</p> +<p>And at last the long search ended. Even the Lord of Mortimer had +to own himself beaten. Reluctantly and with scowling brow he +followed the prior back to the long banqueting hall, where the +tables had already been laid with savoury viands. He had been +worsted where he had been most confident of success, and he was as +furious as a bear robbed of her whelps.</p> +<p>The prior was taking Sir Oliver by the hand and speaking words +of goodwill, professing great satisfaction at the result of this +stringent search; his only vexation being that the monk had +contrived to give them the slip. In the back of his head the prior +had a lurking feeling that Sir Oliver had been in some sort +concerned in Brother Emmanuel's escape, and was rejoicing at it; +but inasmuch as he had entirely failed to bring home any charge +against him, and as in all other respects he was a good neighbour +and true son of the Church, he was willing enough to restore him to +favour and confidence, and was not sorry on the whole that the +haughty Lord of Mortimer was not going to have it all his own +way.</p> +<p>The astute ecclesiastic knew very well that he himself did +better for holding a neutral position between two adversaries both +desiring his friendship and good opinion, than he would do were +Chad and Mortimer to be in the same hands. He was disappointed at +not finding the monk, but not sorry Sir Oliver stood vindicated. He +set himself down to the board with a hearty goodwill; but the baron +refused the proffered hospitality of his rival, and summoned his +attendants about him.</p> +<p>"I will say farewell this time, Sir Oliver," he said haughtily. +"But remember I still hold that we have only been foiled by your +cunning; not that you are innocent in this matter. If ever I can +prove this thing against you, I shall do so; and I recommend the +reverend prior to keep his watch still upon this house, as I fully +believe yon traitor monk is in hiding here."</p> +<p>"And I, my lord baron," said Sir Oliver proudly, "will give you +fair warning that I will speedily to the king, to lay before him +the history of this day and the insults to which I have been +subjected through you and your groundless suspicions of me. I have +not resisted what you have chosen to do, knowing well the use you +would have made of such resistance. But I have not forgotten the +many acts of aggression and hostility of which you have been +guilty; and this last day's work, in which your servants have made +themselves, as it were, masters of Chad, shall be answered for at +some future day. You have thought good to threaten me. I too will +threaten you. I threaten you with the displeasure of the king when +this thing comes to his ears; and I shall seek him now without +delay, and tell him all I have suffered at your hands."</p> +<h2><a name="ChapterX" id="ChapterX">Chapter X</a>: From Peril To +Safety.</h2> +<p>"My son, what hast thou done to thyself?"</p> +<p>Edred was stumbling across the courtyard, supported by Julian, +his face streaming with blood and muffled in a great kerchief. He +was unable to speak himself, but Julian spoke eagerly for him.</p> +<p>"I trow the fault is half mine. It was done in tilting. I was +careless, and saw not that Edred's guard was down. I fear me I have +something hurt him. I trust it is not the eye. Look to it quickly, +sweet mother. It was a nasty blow."</p> +<p>"It is not of serious nature," muttered Edred through his +wrappings; "it will be well right quickly."</p> +<p>The mother hurried the two boys into a small room of her own +where she kept medicaments of various kinds, and where all wounds +of a trifling character were washed and dressed. Julian hurried to +fetch her all she needed; and just at that moment Sir Oliver came +hastily in looking for his wife.</p> +<p>"How now, Edred?" he exclaimed. "Hast thou been in the wars +again?" for Edred was something famed for getting hard knocks and +ugly scratches in his mimic encounters with his more skilled and +dexterous brothers. "Why, boy, but this is a worse business than +usual. I am sorry for it, for I had something purposed to take thee +with me to Windsor on the next morrow, as well as Bertram, and show +thee to the king, and give thee a glimpse of the world of court. +But if thou be in such plight as this, thou wilt scarce be fit to +go."</p> +<p>"I must await another time," muttered Edred, in the same +indistinct way, and Julian added with an air of chagrin:</p> +<p>"It was a villainous mischance. I would I had been more careful. +I am always having the ill luck to hurt Edred."</p> +<p>"Nay, the fault is mine!" exclaimed the other boy.</p> +<p>"And now thou wilt be hindered from seeing the king and his fine +court."</p> +<p>"Perchance thou wilt go in my stead."</p> +<p>"Nay, that will I not. An thou stayest at home for fault of +mine, I will stay to keep thee company.</p> +<p>"Now, gentle mother, prithee see if he be much hurt. I cannot +rest till I know."</p> +<p>The lady was ready now to make her examination, and gently +removed the rude wrappings the boys had made for themselves. +Edred's face presented an ugly appearance as these were taken away. +He had a great gash across his brow, which passed dangerously near +to the eye, and had laid open the cheek almost as far as the mouth, +<span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">and</span> knocked out one back +tooth. The knight looked concerned at the magnitude of the damage, +and spoke rather sharply to Julian.</p> +<p>"Thou must have a care with these weapons of thine, or thou wilt +do thy brother a fatal mischief one of these days. See, boy, had +that blow of thine swerved but the half of an inch, thy brother +would have lost the sight of an eye forever--nay, he might have +lost his life; for an injury to the eye oft penetrates to the +brain, and then the skill of the leech is of no avail.</p> +<p>"Good wife, is thy skill sufficient for these hurts? or shall we +send to seek a surgeon's aid?"</p> +<p>"Methinks I can do all that is needful. They are ugly scratches +and painful, but not over deep. The lad will not be scarred, +methinks, when the wound is well healed. See, it looks better +already after the bathing.</p> +<p>"Run, Julian, for the roll of lint and the strapping in yon +cupboard.</p> +<p>"The boy will be a sorry spectacle for a few short days, but +after that I trow he will feel none the worse."</p> +<p>"It is but a scratch," said Edred, speaking more freely now, +though with a mumbling accent, as though his lips were swollen, +which, indeed, one of them was. "I scarce feel it, now it is +bathed. Do not look so grave anent the matter, my father."</p> +<p>Sir Oliver, relieved to find matters no worse, went on his way; +and Lady Chadgrove proceeded to bind up and plaster the bruised +face with the skill and dexterity of which she was mistress. She +had no attention to spare for Julian, or she might have been +surprised to note that he secreted for himself a certain amount of +the dressing she had used, and looked on very intently whilst she +applied the remainder to his brother's face.</p> +<p>When her ministrations were accomplished, Edred was greatly +disguised. His face was almost entirely swathed in linen, and one +eye was completely bandaged up. Julian laughed aloud as he saw the +object presented by his brother; and Edred would have joined in the +laugh if he had had free play with his facial muscles.</p> +<p>The mother looked gently scandalized.</p> +<p>"Sure, it is no laughing matter, Julian. I am not wont to make +much of these boyish mischiefs. Lads must learn to give and to take +hard blows as they grow to manhood. Yet I would that thou wert +something more careful. Thou mightest have killed thy brother, or +have caused him life-long injury, today."</p> +<p>Julian looked grave enough then; but Edred caressed his mother +gently, saying:</p> +<p>"Nay, chide him not. He is the best of brothers. It was as much +my fault as his."</p> +<p>And then the pair went away together, and did not pause until +they had reached their own room, when they suddenly seized each +other by the hand and commenced cutting extraordinary capers, +indicative of a secret understanding and triumph.</p> +<p>"It could not have turned out better," said Edred, speaking +stiffly with his bandaged face and swollen lips.</p> +<p>"I fear me thou dost suffer somewhat."</p> +<p>"It is naught. I scarce feel it, now mother has bound it up. And +thy stroke was wondrous skilful, Julian--brow and eye and mouth all +scratched."</p> +<p>"The praise should be thine for standing thus rigid to let me +thus mark thee. Hadst thou flinched, as many another would have +done--as I should have done, I trow--it could not have been done a +tithe as well. Wrapped and bandaged as thou must be these next days +to come, not a creature could know thee. Everything can be carried +out according to the plan. Not even our father will suspect aught. +The only fear is lest thou shouldst take a fever or somewhat of +that sort, so that they say thou must not ride forth a few miles +with our father when he fares forth to Windsor at the dawning of +the next morrow after tomorrow's dawn."</p> +<p>"No fear of that," answered Edred boldly. "I am not wont to +trouble a sickbed. I have had knocks and blows as hard as this +before. Art sure thou hast enough of the linen and the strapping to +serve the purpose? And dost think thou canst apply it rightly? It +will be thy hands, not mine, that must do all that. I shall be far +away when the moment comes. Art sure that thou canst do all as it +should be done? Thou and Bertram will have all the last +arrangements to carry through. How my heart will be in my mouth +until I see thee and my double approaching in the gray light of the +morning!"</p> +<p>"I trow we shall not disappoint thee!" cried the boy excitedly; +adding after a moment's pause, "Methinks in the matter of artifice +both Bertram and I can beat thee, albeit thou art the best of us in +other matters. What a boon that that fat, slothful, ignorant monk +no longer shares this room! That might have been a rare trouble. +But since he loves well the soft bed of the guest chamber in lieu +of these hard pallets, he is not like to trouble us again. They put +their trust in the spies around the house. Let their spies do their +worst, I trow we shall outwit them yet."</p> +<p>And the boys took hands again and renewed their impromptu +triumph dance. Their hearts were brimming over with satisfaction +and hope. They had had a tough problem to think out during the past +days, but now it seemed in a fair way of solution.</p> +<p>When the prior had left Chad after the banquet prepared for him, +he professed himself perfectly satisfied that the missing Brother +Emmanuel was not concealed upon the premises yet for all that, +since the Lord of Mortimer had declared himself still dissatisfied, +and because the escape of the monk was difficult to credit, nothing +having been seen or heard of him abroad, he judged it wise still to +keep his watch upon the place, that all might be satisfied that no +precaution had been left untaken.</p> +<p>Sir Oliver had briefly, and with a slight accent of scorn, +agreed with all the prior said, and had professed himself perfectly +agreeable to the arrangement. He had nothing to hide either in his +own comings and goings or in those of any member of his household. +So long as his movements were not interfered with or his liberties +infringed, the whole forest might be alive with spies for all that +he cared. He had not known of the first watch set upon his house, +and he was indifferent to the second. He should be soon leaving +home to seek the king, and all he demanded was that the sanctity of +his house should be duly regarded in his absence. Of course the +prior fully agreed to that. Indeed, after the rigorous and +exhaustive search that had been already made, there was no reason +why any further entrance should be made into Chad.</p> +<p>But although Sir Oliver had heard this mandate with indifference +and contempt, it had filled the hearts of the boys with dismay. In +a week's time the vessel would sail that was to carry Brother +Emmanuel away to foreign soil, and out of the clutches of his +present enemies; and if this guard around the house were to be +maintained all that while, what chance had they of smuggling their +fugitive away and down to the coast, as they had set their hearts +on doing?</p> +<p>But inasmuch as necessity has ever been the mother of invention, +and the lads were not only bold and fearless but ready of resource, +they had laid their heads together with some good effect, and now +the first and one of the most important steps of the little drama +had been carried to a successful conclusion.</p> +<p>The next day was a busy and bustling one at Chad. Upon the +morrow its lord and master rode forth to Windsor with his eldest +son and the best of his followers. There was a great burnishing of +arms and grooming and feeding of steeds. Every man was looking up +his best riding dress and putting it into <span lang="en-GB" +xml:lang="en-GB">spic</span>-and-span order, and the whole place +rang with the sound of cheery voices and the clash of steel.</p> +<p>In and out and backwards and forwards throughout the day passed +the three boys, watching everything, asking eager questions of all, +and expressing keen interest in the whole expedition.</p> +<p>Edred was of course a great figure. His face was all swathed up. +One side was completely concealed by the wrappings, and as he found +the light trying to even the other eye, his plumed hat was drawn +low down over his brow, so that no one would have guessed who he +was but for the fact that his mishap was well known by this time to +all the household.</p> +<p>Even after supper the restless boys could not keep still. Edred +and Julian had won their father's consent to riding some few miles +with him on the morrow towards Windsor, and they ran off as soon as +the meal was concluded to visit their steeds and see that their +saddles were in order. After they had done this, they sallied out +by one of the smaller gates to take an evening stroll in the wood, +calling out to the custodian of the portal that they should return +by the great gate.</p> +<p>They wandered away some distance into the wood; but when they +returned it was only Bertram and Julian who entered the gate and +went up to their sleeping room. However, as nobody at the larger +entrance had seen the three sally forth, no remark was occasioned +by the return of only two; and it was supposed that Edred would +have retired early, since he was in somewhat battered plight, and +had to recover strength for the early start upon the morrow.</p> +<p>When they reached their room that night, Bertram and Julian +carefully locked the door behind them--a precaution they did not +often take; and when they took from the great chest their own best +riding suits, they also took out Edred's and looked it well +over.</p> +<p>"It will fit him to a nicety," said Bertram. "He and Edred are +almost of a height, and both slim and slightly built. His pale +face, so much as may be seen beneath the white linen, will look +mightily like Edred's in the gray light of the early morn. This hat +has a mighty wide brim--well that Edred affects such headgear. +Pulled over his eyes, as he wore it yesterday, there be scarce a +feature to be seen. We have but to say he is something late, take +him his breakfast to eat up here, and get him on to horseback +whilst all the bustle is going on, and not even our father will +know him. He may ride past the spies with head erect and fearless +mien, for there is not one of them but saw Edred this day, and will +know at a glance who rides betwixt us twain with the white linen +about his head!"</p> +<p>Sir Oliver had decided rather late in the day to take his lady +with him. She was in great favour always with the queen, and of +late they had heard that the health of that gracious lady was +something failing. It would be a graceful attention on the part of +the mistress of Chad to visit her and learn of her welfare, and it +was known that the queen had considerable influence with the king, +and he might well give more favourable notice to Sir Oliver's plea +were his wife to urge it upon him in response to what the lady +might tell to her of their recent troubles with their haughty +neighbour.</p> +<p>So that there was even more stir and excitement than usually +attended an early morning's start. The sun was not yet up, and the +gray dimness of the coming summer's day enshrouded the great +courtyard as Bertram and Julian descended to it with a slim figure +between them clad in a riding dress similar to their own, the +slouched hat drawn over the face, which face was well wrapped and +muffled in white linen, as Edred's had been the previous day.</p> +<p>The lady of the house came out with a look of preoccupation upon +her face. She noted that the boys were already in the saddle, and +smiled.</p> +<p>"Always in such haste," she said, as her own palfrey was led up. +"But, Edred my son, why didst thou not come to me to have thy hurts +looked to this morn? I was expecting thee."</p> +<p>"Sweet mother, I bound them for him today!" cried Julian +eagerly. "Methought I must learn to be his leech since thou wast +going with our father, and we knew that thou wouldst have much to +do and to think of. Methinks I have not done amiss. It scarce looks +as neat as though thy skilful fingers had had the care of it; but +he says it feels not amiss, and that is a great thing."</p> +<p>"Ay, verily; and I am glad thou hast skill enough for his +needs.</p> +<p>"Be cautious, Edred my son, that the cold gets not to the hurts. +Draw up the collar of thy mantle well over that left cheek of +thine, and do not talk whilst the air bites so keenly. When the sun +is up all will be well; but be cautious in the first chill of the +dawn."</p> +<p>The brothers went towards their companion, and rearranged the +collar of his riding cloak so as still more to conceal his face. +The hands of the younger lad were trembling somewhat; there was a +quivering of the muscles of the face which betokened some repressed +emotion. The muffled rider did not speak or make much movement. He +obeyed the injunction of the lady of Chad to the letter.</p> +<p>Sir Oliver now appeared, and lifted his wife upon her palfrey. +He gave a look to see that his sons were mounted, and his servants +standing ready to follow his example when he sprang to the +saddle.</p> +<p>Then his charger was led up, and he mounted and gave the word, +and the little cavalcade moved out through the gate and into the +still, dim forest track, watched intently by more than one pair of +keen, sharp, suspicious eyes.</p> +<p>"I trust when I come back," remarked the knight to his lady, +"that yon spies will have grown weary of their bootless watch, and +will have taken themselves off. It is but the malice and suspicion +of the Lord of Mortimer which causes the prior to act so. Alone he +would never trouble himself. He knows that Brother Emmanuel is not +at Chad, and has not been these many days. Wherever he be, he has +escaped the malice of his foes this time. Heaven send that he may +long escape! He was a godly and a saintly man, and no more heretic +than thou or I. If the Church will persist in warring thus against +her own truest sons, then indeed will she provoke some great +judgment upon her own head. A house divided against itself can +never stand, and she above all others should know that."</p> +<p>The spies had been some time passed before Sir Oliver spoke +these words, and when he did so they were only loud enough to reach +the ears of his wife and of his sons, who rode immediately behind +him. Two of these turned their heads for a moment to look at him +who rode between them, but his face was far too well concealed for +its expression to be seen.</p> +<p>A few miles further on and a pause was made. Julian suggested +that he and Edred should be turning back; whilst the mother, who +thought that Edred was scarce fit for the saddle yet, seconded the +idea with approbation.</p> +<p>They were passing through a very dark part of the forest, where +the trees grew dense, and where on one side the sandstone rose up +in a wall, quite keeping out the level rays of the rising sun. It +was almost as dim as night in this overgrown spot.</p> +<p>Julian sprang to his feet, and went and dutifully kissed the +hand both of father and mother, and the bandaged lad with the +concealed face followed his example, touching both hands reverently +and gratefully, and murmuring some words of farewell that were only +indistinctly heard in the champing of bits and stamping of +impatient horse hoofs. Then whilst the mother still laid many +charges upon Julian to be careful of his brother, and bent a few +anxious regards upon the injured lad himself, Sir Oliver gave the +signal for riding on again, as they had a long day's journey before +them; and the little cavalcade vanished quickly into the forest, +leaving the two companions and their respective steeds standing +alone in that dim place.</p> +<p>When the last of the horses had quite vanished, and the sound of +their steps was no longer to be heard, Julian flung his cap +suddenly into the air, and uttered a long and peculiar cry.</p> +<p>Almost immediately that cry was answered from some place near at +hand, and in a few minutes more a figure strangely like the one +standing at Julian's side emerged from the sheltering underwood, +leading by the rein a small forest pony, such as were much used in +that part of the country. With bandaged face, hat drawn over the +brows, and collar turned up to the ears, the newcomer was the very +counterpart of the motionless figure in the path, save that the +latter wore the better dress. Julian burst into a great laugh as +the two stood facing each other; but for Edred the meeting was +fraught with too much of thankful relief for him to be able to join +in his brother's hilarity, and after standing very still for a +moment, he suddenly bent his knee, and felt a hand laid upon his +head in mute blessing.</p> +<p>Then Brother Emmanuel removed the wrappings from his head, and +looked from one brother to the other with a world of gratitude in +his dark eyes. But it was a time for action, not words, and that +mute, eloquent gaze was all that passed at present.</p> +<p>"We have a servant's dress ready in the hut hard by," said Edred +quickly; "and then we must to horse again and get to the coast as +fast as may be. Yon sturdy little pony good Warbel has provided +will serve us as well as any stouter nag, and look more in keeping +with the humble part thou must play this day, Brother Emmanuel. +Come, let us change our dress quickly. I love not to linger in this +forest, even though we be five good miles from Chad."</p> +<p>Julian took care of the three horses, whilst Edred and the +disguised monk made their way through the thick growth of +underwood.</p> +<p>When they reappeared it seemed to the boy as though the monk was +as greatly disguised now as he had been with the wrappings of linen +about his face. Certainly none but a spy on the watch and on the +right scent would recognize in this serving man the young +ecclesiastic of a few weeks back.</p> +<p>There was a stubble of beard upon his lips and chin which was in +itself a marvellous disguise. He wore a loose riding dress, with a +slouch hat and a high collar to the cloak which shaded and changed +the outline of his features. There was nothing of the monk in his +look, save perhaps in the steady glance of his eyes, where a bright +intelligence and keen devotion beamed.</p> +<p>Julian flung his cap into the air again as he cried +joyously:</p> +<p>"Why, not even the lord prior himself would know thee now. Sure, +thou mightest almost have ridden past the spies themselves thus +habited. We may push on in open daylight now, and none will heed +thy presence."</p> +<p>Edred had now put on the riding dress which Brother Emmanuel had +hitherto worn, so that on their return the same pair might be seen +to re-enter the house. The disguised monk mounted the forest pony +and followed his young masters, who pushed on quietly to the coast, +feeling a greater and greater security with every mile they put +between themselves and their home.</p> +<p>It was the day for the sailing of the sloop that would carry the +monk away to a safe retreat. They were not afraid of losing the +boat, for it was not to sail till nightfall; but their impatience +acted like a spur, and drove them steadily forward; and save for +the needful halts to refresh themselves and their beasts, they did +not tarry or draw rein.</p> +<p>It was growing towards the westering of the sun when they beheld +the great sea lying before them far below, and Edred's eyes glowed +with joy as he saw the white-winged shallops flitting hither and +thither on the wide expanse of blue water, and pictured how soon +Brother Emmanuel would be sailing away out of the reach of peril. +Truly God had been very good in hearing and answering prayer. Edred +had, by some instinct for which he could not account, addressed his +prayers of late less to the blessed Virgin and more to the Son of +God Himself--struck, perhaps, by the words he had heard from the +lips of the heretic peddler about the "one Mediator, the man Christ +Jesus." He now turned in his saddle and waited till Brother +Emmanuel came up. It was too solitary a place for them to care to +keep up the appearance of master and servant.</p> +<p>Riding thus side by side, Brother Emmanuel talked with the boys +out of the fulness of his heart. His week of captivity had been +spent in deep and earnest thought, and some of these thoughts were +imparted to the boys in that last serious talk. He bid them hold in +all reverence and godly fear that Church which was the body of +Christ, and those ordinances which had been given at the beginning +for the perfecting of the saints, and which were God's ways of +dealing with man. But he warned them in solemn tones of the fearful +disease which had attacked the body, and which threatened a fearful +remedy before that body could be cleansed; he warned them also of +the perils which beset the path of those who should live to see the +coming struggle. There would be men who would vow that whatever the +Church said and did must be right because the Church was the body +of Christ, not knowing that even that body can become corrupt +(though never the Head) if the will of man be put in the stead of +the will of God; and these would cling to the corruptions as +closely as to the ordinances of God, and become bitter persecutors +of those who would arise and seek to cleanse and renew the body by +God-given remedies. But again there would be men who would arise +and deny that there was a body, would condemn the very name of the +Church, and avow that what the Lord wanted was not a body, but a +number of individuals each seeking light and salvation in his own +fashion. That would be a fearful evil--an evil which would rend the +body into a thousand schisms, and bring down at last the heavy +wrath of God, who has from the beginning taught men that the body +must be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing before it can be +fit to be the bride of the Lamb.</p> +<p>The young monk earnestly strove to show the perils of both these +ways to the boys who rode beside him, and his words were earnestly +listened to, and, by one at least, laid seriously to heart, to be +remembered in after days almost as the words of prophecy, and +destined to have a lasting effect upon his own future career.</p> +<p>From that day Edred renounced all thought of the monastic life, +feeling that such a life would but trammel his conscience and +stultify his judgment. He resolved to live his life in the world, +whilst seeking to be not of the world. How that resolve was kept +there is no space in these pages to tell.</p> +<p>Slowly and quietly the three friends jogged down into the little +fishing and trading hamlet that lay at the base of the cliffs. In +the small bay lay one or two sloops and frigates, and it was not +hard to find the owner of the one which was to sail that night and +carry Brother Emmanuel away. Julian found the man, and made all +arrangements; whilst Edred saw that Brother Emmanuel made a +sufficient meal, and sat talking with him to the very last, +drinking in new thoughts and aspirations with every word, and +striving, in the joy of knowing his beloved preceptor to be safe, +to still the ache at heart which this parting involved.</p> +<p>The sun was just setting as the boat bearing Brother Emmanuel to +the sloop pushed off from shore. The skipper resolved to set sail +forthwith, and the boys stood watching whilst she shook out her +canvas to the favouring breeze, and glided like a white-winged sea +bird out from the shelter of the bay and into the wide ocean.</p> +<p>There were smarting tears in Edred's eyes despite his joy and +relief. But Julian had room only for the latter feeling, and waved +his cap with an air of exultant triumph as the sails expanded more +and more and the little vessel went skimming its way over the +shining sea.</p> +<p>"He is safe, and we have saved him!" he cried with flashing +eyes. "Let men say what they will, but he was no heretic. I fear +not but that we have done right in the sight of God, even though we +may not whisper in the confessional this deed, nor receive priestly +absolution therefor."</p> +<p>"God will give us His pardon if we have done amiss," said Edred +thoughtfully. "But I have no fear that He regards this deed as a +sin. It was done in His name, and as such will He receive it."</p> +<p>"Yes, verily; though perchance it were better to leave such +words unsaid. And now we must to horse and make all speed back to +Chad. As it is we shall not reach it till after nightfall, and they +will something wonder at our delay."</p> +<p>"They will but think we went far and rested long for thy sake. +We have travelled leisurely today to keep the horses fresh. We can +travel back in the cool right merrily. It is but twenty miles. We +can take the most of it at a hand gallop."</p> +<p>The boys and the horses were alike refreshed and ready for a +gallop through the cool evening air, rushing on as fast as the +nature of the road would let them, they reached Chad in three +hours, and rode beneath the gateway just as the old seneschal was +wondering how much longer he must wait before he closed the gate +for the night.</p> +<p>The spies saw them ride in, as they had (to their thinking) seen +them ride out; and all unconscious that the prey had escaped their +vigilance, continued their weary and fruitless watch with the +pertinacity which in so many like cases had given them success at +the last.</p> +<p>One bright evening some three weeks later the bugle at the gate +was loudly blown, and Edred and Julian came flying out to welcome +their eldest brother, who had ridden hither with some dozen +servants to bring news to his brothers at home.</p> +<p>"We have had marvellous good hap. The king received us right +graciously, and heard our story with kingly friendliness and +goodwill. He is none of your bigoted, priest-ridden monarchs; and +although he hates true heresy, and would destroy it root and +branch, he cries shame that all enlightened men who would cleanse +the Church from some of her corrupt practices should be branded by +that evil term. The great and worthy Dean Colet was called in, and +he knows well the pamphlet Brother Emmanuel wrote, and says it is a +work which should be read and taken to heart by all. That such a +man should be dubbed a heretic is vile and wicked; and right glad +were all to hear that he had escaped the malice of his enemies, and +fled where they could not reach him. I did not dare even then to +tell all the tale, but I said how we had laid our heads together +and had helped him to escape. The king and the queen themselves +praised me for our courage, and called me a good lad and a brave +one not even to trouble our father with the knowledge of a secret +that might have made ill work for him.</p> +<p>"My Lord of Mortimer had not been idle. He had been before us in +seeking the king; but as good chance befell, he had a quarrel with +young Henry, the king's fiery son; and the prince was mightily +offended, and made his sire offended likewise. Wherefore Mortimer +was something in disgrace even before we got there, and when our +story was told he was called up before the king and prince. And all +our old forest rights have been restored to us--nay, have been +widened and increased, and that at the expense of Mortimer. Ye +should have seen his face when that mandate was brought forth and +duly signed and sealed with the royal seal and delivered to our +father! And the prior has been warned to take his spies from Chad, +and the prince has promised to come and visit us, and to enjoy a +week's hunting in the forest."</p> +<p>Bertram's breath gave out before he had well finished outpouring +his story, and the pause was filled by a great huzza, led off by +Julian, and taken up by all the company, who were hearing scraps of +like information from the men-at-arms who had conducted home the +heir.</p> +<p>"Our parents are constrained to remain awhile longer at court; +but I hungered to bring the news to Chad, and to hear the end of +the story."</p> +<p>Bertram here dismounted, and taking his brothers by the arm, led +them up to their own room, which was always their favourite +haunt.</p> +<p>"<span>I see that thy face is well-nigh recovered, Edred; but it +stood us in marvellous good stead. Tell me, how fared you when you +parted from us? All went well?"</span></p> +<p>"<span>Excellent well in all truth. Not a soul accosted us by +the way. We saw him take boat to the sloop, and saw the sloop sail +out of the bay. In truth, it seems like a dream now that it is all +passed. But it was a fearful time whilst it lasted."</span></p> +<p>"<span>Yet it has led to good. We are higher in favour with the +king than ever, and I trow it will be long ere our haughty +neighbour dares to raise his crest against us."</span></p> +<p>Bertram paused smiling, and laid his hand upon the <span lang= +"en-US" xml:lang="en-US">masked</span> door which had kept its +secret so long.</p> +<p>"<span>And if it be that our gracious prince doth in very truth +visit us here, methinks that to him and to him alone will we tell +the whole of the strange story, and disclose to him the trick of +the secret chamber at Chad!"</span></p> +<p><br /></p> +<p>The End.</p> +<p><br /></p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Secret Chamber at Chad, by Evelyn Everett-Green + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECRET CHAMBER AT CHAD *** + +***** This file should be named 15670-h.htm or 15670-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/6/7/15670/ + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Secret Chamber at Chad + +Author: Evelyn Everett-Green + +Release Date: April 20, 2005 [EBook #15670] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECRET CHAMBER AT CHAD *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + +THE SECRET CHAMBER AT CHAD +by Everett Evelyn-Green. + +Table of Contents + +CHAPTER I: A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR. +CHAPTER II: THE HOUSEHOLD AT CHAD. +CHAPTER III: BROTHER EMMANUEL. +CHAPTER IV: THE TRAVELLING PREACHER. +CHAPTER V: A WARNING. +CHAPTER VI: WATCHED! +CHAPTER VII: AN IMPOSING SPECTACLE. +CHAPTER VIII: HIDDEN AWAY. +CHAPTER IX: THE SEARCH. +CHAPTER X: FROM PERIL TO SAFETY. + + + +Chapter I: A Mysterious Visitor. + + +The great house at Chad was wrapped in sleep. The brilliant beams +of a June moon illuminated the fine pile of gray masonry with a +strong white light. Every castellated turret and twisted chimney +stood out in bold relief from the heavy background of the pine wood +behind, and the great courtyard lay white and still, lined by a +dark rim of ebon shadow. + +Chad, without being exactly a baronial hall of the first magnitude, +was nevertheless a very fine old house. It had been somewhat shorn +of its pristine glories during the Wars of the Roses. One out of +its original two quadrangles had then been laid in ruins, and had +never been rebuilt. But the old inner quadrangle still remained +standing, and made an ample and commodious dwelling house for the +family of the Chadgroves who inhabited it; whilst the ground which +had once been occupied by the larger outer quadrangle, with its +fortifications and battlements, was now laid out in terraces and +garden walks, which made a pleasant addition to the family +residence. + +The seventh Henry was on the throne. The battle of Bosworth Field +had put an end to the long-drawn strife betwixt the houses of York +and Lancaster. The exhausted country was beginning to look forward +to a long period of prosperity and peace; and the household at Chad +was one of the many that were rejoicing in the change which had +come upon the public outlook, and was making the most of the +peaceful years which all trusted lay before the nation. + +Several changes of some importance had passed over Chad during the +previous century. The wars had made gaps in the ranks of the family +to whom it had always belonged. There had been sundry edicts of +confiscation--as speedily repealed by the next change in the fate +of the day; and more than once the head had been struck down by +death, and the house and lands had passed either to a minor or to +some other branch of the family. There had been the confusion and +strife betwixt the various branches of the family which was a +characteristic of that age of upheaval and strife; but the present +owner of the estate, Sir Oliver Chadgrove, seemed firmly settled in +his place. He had fought on Henry's side at Bosworth, and had been +confirmed by that monarch in the possession of the estate of Chad; +and since that day none had tried to dispute his claim; nor, +indeed, would it have been very easy to do so, as he was +undoubtedly the rightful representative of the older branch of the +family. + +A just and kindly man, he was beloved of those about him, and would +have been staunchly supported by his retainers had any adversary +arisen against him. His only enemy was the Lord of Mortimer, who +owned Mortimer's Keep, the adjoining property, and had cast +covetous eyes on Chad during the stormy days of the late wars, more +than once trying unsuccessfully to step in between the disputing +parties and claim it as his own, not by the power of right, but by +that of might alone. However, he had not been successful in this +attempt; and for the past few years there had been a semblance of +friendliness between Sir Oliver and his proud and powerful +neighbour. + +The knight was well aware that the friendliness was more a seeming +than a reality. He was perfectly well acquainted with the rapacious +character of the owner of Mortimer's Keep, and with his covetous +designs upon Chad. He knew he was a secret foe, always on the watch +for any cause of complaint against him; and he could often feel +that it would take very little to stir up the old jealous strife +and hostility. Still, for the present an armed truce was the order +of the day, and Sir Oliver, knowing his own loyalty, the cleanness +of his hands, and the uprightness of his dealings, was not much +afraid that his enemy would ever succeed in ousting him from his +lands, or in gaining possession of the fair park and house of Chad +for himself. + +Sir Oliver was personally liked by the king, which was another +point in his favour. Without being a brilliant ruler like his +successors, the seventh Henry had the faculty of choosing men of +parts to place about him, and he had recognized in Sir Oliver +Chadgrove certain qualities which he approved, and of which he +wished to avail himself from time to time. So the knight was +frequently summoned to attend the king, and occasionally his wife +went with him and appeared at court. On this particular bright June +night, both the master and the mistress were absent, being at +Windsor with the king's court; and the three boys--the children +with whom Providence had blessed them--were the only members of the +family sleeping beneath the roof of the great house. + +The bedchamber of the three boys was a large, bare room looking out +across the wooded park and ridge of hills, through which the little +river of Chad meandered leisurely. The boys would have preferred +the courtyard for their lookout; but a lover of nature could not +but be struck by the exceeding beauty of the view from this row of +latticed casements. And indeed the green expanse of home-like +country had its charm even for high-spirited boys; and Edred, the +second child of the house, often sat for hours together on the wide +window ledge, gazing his fill at the shifting lights and shadows, +and dreaming dreams of his own about what he saw. + +The long room contained three small narrow beds, and very little +furniture besides, In each of these beds a boy lay sleeping. The +moonlight streaming in through the uncurtained windows illuminated +the whole room, and showed the curly heads, two dark and one fair, +lying on the hard pillows, and shone so straight into the face of +the eldest boy, that he stirred a little in his sleep, and half +turned round. + +He was a handsome lad of some eight or nine summers, with regular, +strongly-marked features, and dark hair and eyes. The brown hand +and arm which lay exposed to view showed a muscular development +that betokened great strength to come when the boy should be grown +to manhood, and the face exhibited a like promise of strength of +will and character. + +Bertram Chadgrove, half aroused by the strong light of the moon in +his face, opened his dark eyes sleepily for a few minutes, and then +turned over towards the wall, and prepared to slumber again. But +before he had sunk to sleep he became further aroused by a very +peculiar sound in the wall (as it seemed), close to which his bed +was stationed; and instead of drowsing off again, he woke up with +all his faculties on the alert, much as a watchdog does, and +sitting up in bed he listened with all his ears. + +Yes; there could be no mistaking it! There was certainly a sound--a +muffled, curious sound--within the very wall itself. He pressed his +ear against the panel, and his eyes shone brightly in the +moonlight. + +"It is some living thing," he whispered to himself. "Methinks it is +surely some human thing. Rats can make strange sounds, I know, but +not such sounds as these. A human being, and within the thickness +of the wall! How can such a thing be? I never heard the like +before. It comes nearer--I hear the groping of hands close beside +mine ear. Heaven send it be not a spirit from the other world! I +fear no mortal arm, of flesh and blood, but I desire not to see a +visitor from the land of shadows." + +For a moment the boy's flesh crept on his bones, and the hair of +his head seemed to rise up from his scalp. The groping of those +phantom hands against the wall just beside him was enough to fill +the stoutest heart with terror, in an age when superstition was +always rife. He strove to call to his brothers; but his voice was +no more than a whisper, and his throat felt dry and parched. +Failing in making himself heard by his companions, he cowered down +and drew the clothes right over his head, shivering with fear; and +it was several minutes before his native courage came to his aid, +and he felt ashamed of this paroxysm of terror. + +"Fie upon me for a white-livered poltroon!" he cried, as the chill +sweat of fear ceased to break out upon him, and he rallied his +courage and his determination. + +"I am no better than a maid! Shame upon me for a coward! I will not +call to Edred and Julian. It shall not be said of me, even by mine +own self, that I dared not face even a spirit from the lower world +alone. I will find out what this sound is, and that without the +help of any other living soul, else shall I despise myself +forever!" + +And with that resolve hot within him, Bertram threw back his +coverings and prepared to rise from his bed, when his attention was +arrested by some strange stealthy sounds close against the great +carved chimney piece, on the same side of the room as his own bed. + +His brothers slept on the opposite side of the big room. None of +the sounds which were so astonishing Bertram would penetrate to +their sleeping senses. Had the eldest boy not been awake at the +beginning, he would scarce have heard the sound, so cautious and +soft it was. But this noise was something new. It was like hands +fumbling and groping in search of something. Bertram held his +breath to listen, growing hot and cold by turns. But he drew some +of his clothes cautiously towards him, and silently slipped into +his nether garments. He felt that if there were some unseen enemy +striving in mysterious fashion to penetrate into this room, he +could better meet him if he were clothed, however scantily, than he +could do as he was; and he had ample time to put on even his +doublet and hose, and to cover himself up again in bed, with his +small poniard closely held in his hand, before there was any +further development of that strange night's drama which he was so +breathlessly watching. + +That something or somebody was seeking to find entrance into the +room, he could not doubt for a moment; but, on the other hand, it +seemed an incredible surmise, because the wall along which the +unknown visitor had plainly felt his way was an outside wall, and +if there really were any person thus moving, he must be walking +along some secret passage in the thickness of the wall itself. + +Such a thing was not impossible. Bertram knew of more than one such +passage contrived in the thickness of the wall in his ancient home, +and all the family were acquainted with a certain secret hiding +place that existed, cleverly contrived in the rambling old +building, which, with its various levels and its wilderness of +chimneys, might well defy detection, even with the most skilled +search. But the boy knew of no such passage or chamber in +connection with their sleeping room, and he was sure his parents +did not know of one either, or any member of the household. +Therefore it was immensely surprising to hear these uncanny sounds, +and it was small wonder if they did give rise to a wave of +supernatural terror, of which the boy was man enough to feel +ashamed the moment reason had time to assert her sway. + +"I have done no wrong; I confessed but three days since, and +received blessing and absolution. If any spirit were to come to +visit this room, it could do me no hurt. Besides, methinks a spirit +would pass easily along the straightest place, and would not need +to fumble thus as if in search of hidden bolts. + +"Ha! what is that! Methought some spring shot back. Hist! here IT +comes!" + +The boy lay back upon his bed, drawing the clothes silently up to +his very eyes. The moonlight had shifted just a little, and no +longer illumined his face. That was now in shadow, and would scarce +reveal the fact that he was awake. He lay perfectly still, scarce +daring to draw his breath, and the next moment a strange thing +happened. + +The whole of one of the great carved pillars that supported the +high mantle shelf swung noiselessly forward, and stood out at right +angles to the wall. From where he lay Bertram could not see, but he +could well understand that when this was done a narrow doorway had +been revealed, and the next moment a shadowy figure glided with +noiseless steps into the room. + +The figure was poorly clad in a doublet of serge much the worse for +wear, and the moonlight showed a strangely haggard face and soiled +and torn raiment. Yet there was an air of dignity about the +mysterious visitor which showed to the astonished boy that he must +at some time have been in better circumstances, and lying quite +still Bertram watched his movements with breathless attention. + +With a quick, scared glance round him, as though afraid that even +the silence might be the silence of treachery, the gaunt figure +advanced with covert eagerness across the floor, leaving the door +wide open behind him, as if to be ready for him should he desire to +fly; and precipitating himself upon a ewer of cold water standing +upon the floor, he drank and drank and drank as though he would +never cease. + +Plainly he was consumed by the most raging thirst. Bertram had +never seen anything but an exhausted horse after a burning summer's +chase in the forest drink in such a fashion. And as he watched, all +fear left him in a moment, for certainly no phantom could drink dry +this great ewer of spring water; and if he had only a creature of +flesh and blood to deal with, why, then there was certainly no +cause for fear. + +In place of dread and terror, a great pity welled up in the +generous heart of the boy. He had all the hatred for oppression and +the chivalrous desire to help the oppressed that seem born in the +hearts of the sons of British birth. Who and what manner of man +this was he did not know; but he was evidently some poor hunted +creature, going in very fear of his life, and as such the boy +pitied him from the very ground of his heart, and would gladly have +helped him had he known how. + +He lay for a few moments wondering and pondering. Certainly his +father was no foe to any man. He could not be hiding from his +displeasure. The fugitive had rather taken refuge in his house; and +if so, who better could be found to help him than the son of the +owner? + +"Our father and our mother alike have always taught us to befriend +the stranger and the oppressed," said the boy to himself. "I will +ask this stranger of himself, and see if I may befriend him. I +would gladly learn the trick of yon door. It would be a goodly +secret to have for our very own." + +It was plain that the fugitive, though aware that the room was +tenanted, had satisfied himself that the occupants were all asleep. +He had ceased his frightened, furtive looks around him, and was +quaffing the last of the water with an air of relish and relief +that was good to see, pausing from time to time to stretch his +limbs and to draw in great gulps of fresh air through the open +window by which he stood, as a prisoner might do who had just been +released from harsh captivity. + +The moonlight shining upon his face showed it haggard, unkempt, and +unshorn. Plainly he had been several days in hiding; and by the +gauntness of his figure, and the wolfish gleam in his eye as it +roved quickly round the apartment, as if in search of food, it was +plain that he was suffering keenly from hunger, too. + +Bertram's decision was quickly taken. Whilst the man's face was +turned the other way, he quickly rose from his bed, and crossing +the room with noiseless steps, laid a hand upon his arm. + +"Hist, friend!" he whispered whilst the start given by the other, +and the hoarse exclamation that broke from his lips, might have +wakened sleepers who were not healthy, tired boys. "Fear not; I am +no foe to betray thee. Tell me who and what thou art, and I will +help thee all I may." + +The frightened eyes bent upon him bespoke a great terror. The man's +voice died away as he tried to speak. The only word Bertram could +catch seemed to be a prayer that he would not betray him. + +"Betray thee! Never! Why, good fellow, dost not know that the +Chadgroves never betray those who trust in them? Hence sometimes +has trouble come upon them. But before we talk, let me get thee +food. Methinks thou art well-nigh starved." + +"Food! food! Ah, if thou wouldst give me that, young master, I +would bless thee forever! I have well-nigh perished with hunger and +thirst. Heaven be thanked that I have tasted water once again!" + +"Come hither," said Bertram cautiously. "First close this narrow +doorway, the secret of which thou must teach me in return for what +I will do for thee, and then I will take thee to another chamber, +where our voices will not disturb my brothers, and we can talk, and +thou canst eat at ease. I must know thy story, and I pledge myself +to help thee. Show me now the trick of this door. I swear I will +make no treacherous use of the secret." + +"I will trust thee, young sir. I must needs do so, for without +human help I must surely die. + +"Seest thou this bunch of grapes so cunningly carved here? This +middle grape of the cluster will turn round in the fingers that +know how to find and grasp it, and so turning and turning slowly, +unlooses a bolt within--here--and so the whole woodwork swings out +upon hinges and reveals the doorway. Where that doorway leads I +will show thee anon, if thou wouldst know the trick of the secret +chamber at Chad that all men have now forgotten. It may be that it +will some day shelter thee or thine, for thou hast enemies abroad, +even as I have." + +Bertram was intensely interested as he examined and mastered the +simple yet clever contrivance of this masked door; but quickly +remembering the starved condition of his companion, he led him +cautiously into an adjoining room, where were a table and some +scant furniture, and gliding down the staircase and along dim +corridors just made visible by the reflected radiance of the moon, +he reached the buttery, and armed himself with a venison pasty, a +loaf of bread, and a bottle of wine. Hurrying back with these, he +soon had the satisfaction to see the stranger fall upon them with +the keen relish of a man who has fasted to the last limits of +endurance; and only after he had seen that the keen edge of his +hunger had been satisfied did he try to learn more of him and his +concerns. + +"Now tell me, my good friend, who and what thou art," said the boy, +"and how comes it that thou seekest shelter here, and that thou +knowest more of Chad than we its owners do. That is the thing which +has been perplexing me this long while. I would fain hear from thy +story how it comes about." + +"That is soon told, young sir. Thou dost not, probably, remember +the name of Warbel as that of some of the retainers of thy +grandsire, but--" + +"I have heard the name," said the boy. "I have heard my father +speak of them. But I knew not that there were any of that name now +living." + +"I am a Warbel--I trow the last of my race. I was born beyond the +seas; but I was early brought to England, and I heard munch of the +strife that encompassed Chad, because my father and grandfather +both knew the place well, and would fain have gone back and lived +in the old country had not fortune otherwise decreed it. To make a +long story short, they never returned to the place. But when I was +grown to man's estate, I was offered a post in the household of the +Lord of Mortimer, and as it was the best thing that had fallen in +my way, I accepted it very gladly; for I knew that name, too, and I +knew naught against the haughty lord, albeit my father and +grandsire had not loved the lords of that name who lived before +him. + +"For many years I have been in his service, and for a while all +went well with me. I was made one of his gentlemen, and he seemed +to favour me. But of late there has been a change towards me--I +know not how or why. I have offended him without intending it, and +he has sometimes provoked me almost beyond endurance by his proud +insolence. But that I might have borne, for he was my master, had +it not been for the insolence and insults I had to bear from others +amongst his servants, and from one youth in particular, who seemed +to me to be trying to oust me from my place, and to get himself the +foremost place in his master's favour. That made my hot blood boil +again and again, until at last the thing I believe they had long +planned happened, and I had to fly for my life." + +The man paused, and Bertram, who was drinking in this story, asked +eagerly: "And what was that?" + +"It was four days ago now, in the hall where we had supped. We had +drunk much wine in honour of our master's birthday, and then we +began playing and dicing to pass the time till we retired to bed. +My adversary was this youth whom I so greatly distrust. As we +played I detected him in unfair practices. He vowed I lied, and +called upon me to prove my words at the sword's point; but in my +fury and rage I sprang upon him with my bare hands, and would have +wrung his neck--the insolent popinjay--had I been able. As it was, +we struggled and swayed together till my greater weight caused him +to fall over backwards against one of the tables, and I verily +believe his back is broken. I know not whether he is living yet. +But as he is not only a great favourite with the Lord of Mortimer, +but a distant kinsman to boot, no sooner was the deed done than all +in the hall called to me to save myself by flight, for that the +master would revenge such a death upon the perpetrator of it +without mercy, and that if I wished to spare my neck I must fly +without an instant's delay. + +"I knew this but too well myself. The baron was a fearful man to +meet in his rage. Where to fly I knew not, but stay I could not. I +had bare time to rush to my room, don a dress that would not excite +inquiry if I had to lie hid in the forest a few days. I did not +think flight would be so difficult a matter, but I knew that every +moment spent in Mortimer's Keep was at peril of my life; and I had +but just made my escape through a small postern door before I heard +the alarm bell ring, the drawbridge go up, and knew that the edict +had gone forth for my instant apprehension." + +He paused with a slight shudder, and seemed to be listening +intently. + +"There is naught to fear here," said Bertram. "Tell me more of thy +flight." + +"It was terrible," answered the man. "I had not looked to be hunted +like the wild beasts of the forest; and yet an hour had not gone by +before I heard, by the baying of the fierce hounds that are kept at +Mortimer, that a hunting party had sallied forth; and I knew that I +was the quarry. I doubled and ran like any hare. I knew the tricks +of the wild things that have skill in baffling the dogs, and at +last I reached the shelter of these walls, and ran there for +protection. I had thrown off the dogs at the last piece of water; +and in the marshy ground the scent did not lie, and could not be +picked up. For a brief moment I was safe; but I was exhausted +almost to death. I could go no further. I lay down beneath the +shadow of some arbour within the sheltering precincts of Chad, and +wondered what would become of me." + +"Yes, yes! and then--?" + +"Then I remembered a story told me by my grandsire, years and years +gone by, of a secret chamber at Chad, which had sheltered many a +fugitive in the hour of peril. Lying out in the soft night air, I +recalled bit by bit all that I had been told--the very drawings the +old man had made to amuse me in a childish sickness, how the door +opened, and how access was had to the chamber. I knew that the +country round would be hunted for days, and that I could never +escape the malice of the Lord of Mortimer if I pursued my way to +the sea. He would overtake and kill me before I could make shift to +gain that place of refuge. But I bethought me of the secret chamber +and its story, and methought I might slip in unseen did I but watch +my opportunity, find my way up the winding stair to this room, and +so to the secret chamber beyond." + +"And thou didst?" + +"Ay, I did, the very next morning. I saw thee and thy brothers +sally forth a-hunting. I saw the men follow in thy train. I had +heard that the knight and his lady with their retinue were absent +at Windsor. It needed no great skill to slip in unseen and gain the +longed-for hiding place. I had some food in my wallet. I fondly +hoped it would prove enough; but the sounds of hunting day by day +all around have told me too well that I must not venture forth; and +as this room was slept in by night, I feared to sally forth after +food, lest I should be found and betrayed. I had heard of the +merciful nature of the master of Chad; but in his absence I knew +not what his servants might say or do. Doubtless there is a reward +offered for my apprehension; and if that be so, how could I help +fearing that any hired servant would betray me to my lord?" + +"And thou thoughtest that servants slept in this room, and dared +not show thyself either by day or night for fear thou mightest be +betrayed! And only hunger and thirst drove thee forth at length?" + +"Ay. And from my heart do I thank thee for thy kindness, young sir; +and gladly will I show thee in return the trick of yon chamber. If +thou canst kindle a torch it will light us better, for the way +thither is wondrous tortuous and narrow." + +Bertram had a little lantern--a very treasured possession of +his--and after the usual tedious process of lighting had been gone +through, he softly led the way back to the sleeping chamber. With +his own hands he undid the fastening of the door and saw it swing +open, and then the two passed through into a very narrow aperture, +which proved to be a long narrow gallery contrived in the thickness +of the wall, which would only just admit of the passage of one +figure at a time. + +As they went in they drew to the door, and the fugitive showed his +young companion how the bolt upon the inner side might be unloosed. + +"It is easy enow in the light, but hard to feel in the black +darkness," he remarked; and then they pursued their devious way on +and on through this strange passage, which wound up and down and in +and out, and landed them at last at the foot of a spiral staircase, +so narrow and squeezed in by masonry as to be barely serviceable +for the purpose for which it was contrived. It led them to a small +door, through which they passed, to find themselves in a room of +fair size but very low, and without any window, which seemed to +occupy (as indeed it did) a portion of the house between two of the +other floors, and was so contrived as to absolutely defy detection +be the examination of the structure of the house never so +exhaustive. If the secret door were not found, nothing else would +ever betray this cunning hiding-place. Doubtless that was why, +during the many changes that had prevailed at Chad during the past +fifty years, the knowledge of its very existence had been lost. + +"Air comes in freely through many cracks and slits," explained the +prisoner. "It is not an unpleasant place save in the heat of the +middle day, when it becomes like a veritable oven. That is why my +thirst was so unbearable. There is a bed, as thou seest, and a +chair and a few other things. One could be comfortable here were it +not for starvation and thirst." + +"I will feed thee so long as thou remainest hid," cried the boy, +with generous ardour. "Thou shalt hide there by day, and by night +shalt wander abroad an thou wilt, to breathe the air and stretch +thy limbs. My brothers and I will be thy friends. Thou needst fear +nothing now. We will find out when it is safe for thee to leave thy +retreat, and then thou shalt go forth without fear; or, if thou +likest it better, thou shalt abide here till our father returns and +take service with him. I doubt not he would be glad enow to number +a Warbel again amongst his trusty servants." + +The man's face lighted up wonderfully. + +"If he would do that," he cried eagerly, "I should have no wish for +anything better. But my master, the baron--" + +"My father fears not the baron!" answered the boy proudly; "and, +besides, his young kinsman is not dead. We heard something of his +side of the tale, and the youth is not even like to die now. My +father could protect thee from his wrath. Stay here, and thou wilt +have naught to fear." + +The fugitive took the lad's hand and pressed it to his lips. + +"I will serve thee for ever and ever for this boon," he answered; +and Bertram went back to his room, to lie awake and muse over what +had befallen till the dawn broke and his brothers awoke to the new +day. + +To keep any secret from his two brothers was a thing impossible to +Bertram, and before they had finished dressing that morning, Edred +and Julian were both made aware of the strange adventure of the +night previous. Looking up to Bertram, as they both did, as the +embodiment of prowess and courage, they did not grudge him his +wonderful discovery, but they were eager to visit the fugitive +themselves, and to carry him food and drink. + +The days that followed were days of absolute enchantment to the +boys, who delighted in waiting on Warbel and passing hours in his +company. He told them entrancing stories of adventure and peril. He +was devoted to his three youthful keepers, and wished for nothing +better than to enter service with their father. + +Later on, when all hue and cry after the missing man was over, and +when Lord Mortimer's young kinsman was so far recovered that it +would be impossible to summon Warbel for any injury inflicted on +him, Bertram conducted him to the hut of one of his father's +woodmen, who promised to keep him safe till the return of the +knight. + +When Sir Oliver came back, Warbel was brought to him, told a part +of his tale, and was admitted readily as a member of the household; +but the story of his incarceration in the secret chamber remained a +secret known only to himself and the three boys. So delightful a +mystery as the existence of this unknown chamber was too precious +to be parted with; and it was a compact between the boys and the +man, who now became their chief attendant and body servant, that +the trick of that door and the existence of that chamber were to be +told to none, but kept as absolutely their own property. + + + +Chapter II: The Household At Chad. + + +The office of mistress of a large household in the sixteenth +century was no sinecure. It was not the fashion then to depute to +the hands of underlings the supervision of the details of domestic +management; and though the lady of the Hall might later in the day +entertain royalty itself, the early hours of the morning were spent +in careful and busy scrutiny of kitchen, pantry, and store or still +room, and her own fair hands knew much of the actual skill which +was required in the preparation of the many compounds which graced +the board at dinner or supper. + +Lady Chadgrove was no exception to the general rule of careful +household managers; and whilst her lord and master went hunting or +hawking in the fresh morning air, or shut himself up in his library +to examine into the accounts his steward laid before him or concern +himself with some state business that might have been placed in his +hands, she was almost always to be found in the offices of the +house, looking well after the domestic details of household +management, and seeing that each servant and scullion was doing the +work appointed with steadiness and industry. + +There was need for some such careful supervision of the daily +routine, for the large houses in the kingdom were mainly dependent +upon their own efforts for the necessaries of life throughout the +year. In towns there were shops where provisions could be readily +bought, but no such institution as that of country shops had been +dreamed of as yet. The lord of the manor killed his own meat, baked +his own bread, grew his own wheat, and ground his own flour. He had +his own brewery within the precinct of the great courtyard, where +vast quantities of mead and ale were brewed, cider and other +lighter drinks made, and even some sorts of simple home-grown +wines. Chad boasted its own "vineyard," where grapes flourished in +abundance, and ripened in the autumn as they will not do now. + +Nothing, perhaps, shows more clearly the change that has passed +upon our climate by slow degrees than a study of the parish records +of ancient days. Vineyards were common enough in England some +hundreds of years ago, and wine was made from the produce as +regularly as the season came round. Then there were the simpler +fruit wines from gooseberries, currants, and elderberries, to say +nothing of cowslip wine and other light beverages which it was the +pride of the mistress to contrive and to excel in the making. Our +forefathers, though they knew nothing of the luxuries of tea and +coffee, were by no means addicted to the drinking of water. +Considering the sanitary conditions in which they lived in those +days, and the fearful contamination of water which frequently +prevailed, and which doubtless had much to do with the spread of +the Black Death and other like visitations, this was no doubt an +advantage. Still there were drawbacks to the habit of constant +quaffing of fermented drinks at all hours of the day, and it was +often a difficult matter to keep in check the sin of drunkenness +that prevailed amongst all classes of the people. + +At Chad the gentle influence of the lady of the manor had done much +to make this household an improvement on many of its neighbours. +Although there was always abundance of good things and a liberal +hospitality to strangers of all sorts, it was not often that any +unseemly roistering disturbed the inmates of Chad. The servants and +retainers looked up to their master and mistress with loyalty and +devotion, curbed their animal passions and wilder moods out of love +and reverence for them, and grew more civilized and cultivated +almost without knowing it, until the wild orgies which often +disgraced the followings of the country nobility were almost +unknown here. + +Possibly another humanizing and restraining influence that acted +silently upon the household was the presence of a young monk, who +had been brought not long since from a neighbouring monastery, to +act in the capacity of chaplain to the household and tutor to the +boys, now fast growing towards man's estate. There was a beautiful +little chapel connected with Chad. It had fallen something into +neglect and ruin during the days of the civil wars, and had been +battered about in some of the struggles that had raged round Chad. +But Sir Oliver had spent both money and loving care in restoring +and beautifying the little place, and now the daily mass was said +there by Brother Emmanuel, and the members of the household were +encouraged to attend as often as their duties would permit. The +brother, too, would go about amongst the people and talk with them +as they pursued their tasks, and not one even of the rudest and +roughest but would feel the better for the kindly and beneficent +influence of the youthful ecclesiastic. + +Brother Emmanuel had one of those keenly intelligent and versatile +minds that are always craving a wider knowledge, and think no +knowledge, even of the humblest, beneath notice. He would ask the +poorest wood cutter to instruct him in the handling of his tool or +in the simple mysteries of his craft as humbly as though he were +asking instruction from one of the learned of the land. No +information, no occupation came amiss to him. He saw in all toil a +dignity and a power, and he strove to impress upon every worker, of +whatever craft he might be, that to do his day's work with all his +might and with the best powers at his command was in truth one +excellent way of serving God, and more effectual than any number of +Paters and Aves said whilst idling away the time that should be +given to his master's service. + +Such teaching might not be strictly orthodox from a monkish +standpoint, but it commended itself to the understanding and the +approval of simple folks; and the brother was none the less beloved +and respected that his talk and his teaching did not follow the +cut-and-dried rules of his order. Sir Oliver and his wife thought +excellently of the young man, and to the boys he was friend as well +as tutor. + +On this hot midsummer day the mistress of Chad was making her usual +morning round of the kitchens and adjoining offices--her simple +though graceful morning robe, and the plain coif covering her hair, +showing that she was not yet dressed for the duties which would +engross her later in the day. She had a great bunch of keys +dangling at her girdle, and her tablets were in her hands, where +from time to time she jotted down some brief note to be entered +later in those household books which she kept herself with +scrupulous care, so that every season she knew exactly how many +gallons or hogsheads of mead or wine had been brewed, what had been +the yield of every crop in the garden or meadow, what stores of +conserves had been made from each fruit as its season came in, and +whether that quantity had proved sufficient for the year's +consumption. + +The cherry crop was being gathered in today. Huge baskets of the +delicious fruit were ranged along one wall of the still room, and +busy hands were already preparing the bright berries for the +preserving pan or the rows of jars that were likewise placed in +readiness to receive them. The cherry trees of Chad were famous for +their splendid crop, and the mistress had many wonderful recipes +and preparations by which the fruit was preserved and made into all +manner of dainty conserves that delighted all who partook of them. + +"I will come anon, and help you with your task," said the lady to +the busy wenches in the still room, who were hard at work preparing +the fruit. "I will return as soon as I have made my round, and see +that all is going well." + +The girls smiled, and dropped their rustic courtesies. Some amongst +them were not the regular serving maids of the place, but were the +daughters of the humbler retainers living round and about, who were +glad to come to assist at the great house when there was any press +of work--a thing that frequently happened from April to November. + +None who assisted at Chad at such times ever went away empty +handed. Besides the small wage given for the work done, there was +always a basket of fruit, or a piece of meat, or a flagon of wine, +according to the nature of the task, set aside for each assistant +who did not dwell beneath the roof of Chad. And if there was +sickness in any cottage from which a worker came, there was certain +to be some little delicacy put into a basket by the hands of the +mistress, and sent with a kindly word of goodwill and sympathy to +the sufferer. + +It was small wonder, then, that the household and community of Chad +was a happy and peaceable one, or that the knight and his lady were +beloved of all around. + +The morning's round was no sinecure, even though the mistress was +today as quick as possible in her visit of inspection. Three fat +bucks had been brought in from the forest yester-eve, when the +knight and his sons had returned from hunting. The venison had to +be prepared, and a part of it dried and salted down for winter use; +whilst of course a great batch of pies and pasties must be put in +hand, so that the most should be made of the meat whilst it was +still fresh. + +When that matter had been settled, there were the live creatures to +visit--the calves in their stalls, the rows of milch kine, and the +great piggery, where porkers of every kind and colour were tumbling +about in great excitement awaiting their morning meal. The mistress +of the house generally saw the pigs fed each day, to insure their +having food proper to them, and not the offal and foul remnants +that idle servants loved to give and they to eat were not some +supervision exercised. The care of dogs and horses the lady left to +her husband and sons, but the cows, the pigs, and the poultry she +always looked after herself. + +Her daily task accomplished, she returned to the still room, +prepared for a long morning over her conserves. It was but +half-past nine now; for the breakfast hour in baronial houses was +seven all the year round, and today had been half-an-hour earlier +on account of the press of work incident to the harvesting of the +cherry crop. Several of the servants who were generally occupied +about the house had risen today with the lark, to be able to help +their lady, and soon a busy, silent party was working in pantry and +still room under the careful eye of the mistress. + +One old woman who had been accommodated with a chair, though her +fingers were as brisk as any of the younger girls', from time to +time addressed a question or a remark to her lady, which was always +kindly answered. She was the old nurse of Chad, having been nurse +to Sir Oliver in his infancy, and having since had charge of his +three boys during their earliest years. She was growing infirm now, +and seldom left her own little room in a sunny corner of the big +house, where her meals were taken her by one of the younger maids. +But in the warm weather, when her stiff limbs gained a little more +power, she loved on occasion to come forth and take a share in the +life of the house, and work with the busy wenches under the +mistress's eye at the piles of fruit from the successive summer and +autumn crops as they came in rotation. + +"And where be the dear children?" she asked once; "I have not set +eyes on them the livelong day. Methought the very smell of the +cherries would have brought them hither, as bees and wasps to a +honey pot." + +The lady smiled slightly. + +"I doubt not they will be here anon; but doubtless they have paid +many visits to the trees ere the store was garnered. I think they +are in the tilt yard with Warbel. It is there they are generally to +be found in the early hours of the day." + +"They be fine, gamesome lads," said the old woman fondly--"chips of +the old block, true Chads every one of them;" for the custom with +the common people was to call the lord of the manor by the name of +his house rather than by his own patronymic, and Sir Oliver was +commonly spoken of as "Chad" by his retainers; a custom which +lingered long in the south and west of the country. + +"They are well-grown, hearty boys," answered the mother quietly, +though there was a light of tender pride in her eyes. "Bertram is +almost a man in looks, though he is scarce seventeen yet. +Seventeen! How time flies! It seems but yesterday since he was a +little boy standing at my knee to say his light tasks, and walking +to and fro holding his father's hand. Well, Heaven be praised, the +years have been peaceful and prosperous, else would not they have +fled by so swiftly." + +"Heaven be praised indeed!" echoed the old woman. "For now the +master is so safely seated at Chad that he would be a bold man who +tried to oust him. But in days gone by I have sorely feared yon +proud Lord of Mortimer. Methought he would try to do him a +mischief. His spleen and spite, as all men say, are very great." + +The lady's face clouded slightly, but her reply was quiet and calm. + +"I fear me they are that still; but he lacks all cause of offence. +My good lord is careful in all things to avoid making ill blood +with a jealous neighbour. That he has always cast covetous eyes +upon Chad is known throughout the countryside; but I trow he would +find it something difficult to make good any claim." + +"Why, verily!" cried the nurse, with energy. "He could but come as +a foul usurper, against whom would every honest hand be raised. +But, good my mistress, what is the truth of the whisper I have +heard that the Lord of Mortimer has wed his daughter to one who +calls himself of the house of Chad? I cannot believe that any of +the old race would mate with a Mortimer. Is it but the idle gossip +of the ignorant? or what truth is there in it?" + +"I scarce know myself the rights of the matter," answered Lady +Chadgrove, still with a slight cloud upon her brow. "It is +certainly true that Lord Mortimer has lately wed his only child, a +daughter, to a knight who calls himself Sir Edward Chadwell, and +makes claim to be descended from my lord's house. Men say that he +makes great boasting that the Chadwells are an older branch than +the Chadgroves, and that by right of inheritance Chad is his. + +"Methinks he would find it very hard to make good any such claim. +Belike it is but idle boasting. Yet it may be that there will be +some trouble in store. He has taken up his abode at Mortimer's +Keep, and maybe we shall hear ill news before long." + +All eyes were fixed for a moment on the lady's face, and then the +hands moved faster than before, whilst a subdued murmur went round +the group. Not one heart was there that did not beat with +indignation at the thought that any should dare to try to disturb +the peace of the rightful lord of Chad. If the loyalty and +affection of all around would prove a safeguard, the knight need +have no fear from the claims advanced by any adversary. + +"There has been a muttering of coming tempest anent those vexed +forest rights," continued the lady, in reply to some indignant +words from the nurse. "I would that difficult question could be +settled and laid at rest; but my good lord has yielded something +too much already for the sake of peace and quietness, and at each +concession Mortimer's word was passed that he would claim no +further rights over the portion that remained to us. But his word +is broken without scruple, and we cannot ever be giving way. Were +no stand to be made, the whole forest track would soon be claimed +by Mortimer, and we should have nothing but the bare park that is +fenced about and cannot be filched bit by bit away. But all the +world knows that Chad has forest rights equal to those of Mortimer. +It is but to seek a quarrel that the baron continues to push his +claims ever nearer and nearer our walls." + +Another murmur of indignation went round; but there was no time for +further talk, as at that moment the three boys entered from the +tilt yard; hot, thirsty, and breathless, and the fair-haired lad +with the dreamy blue eyes held a kerchief to his head that was +stained with blood. + +"Art hurt, Edred?" asked the mother, looking up. + +"'Tis but a scratch," answered the boy. "I am not quite a match for +Bertram yet; but I will be anon. I must learn to be quicker in my +defence. Thanks, gentle mother; belike it will be better for it to +be bound up. It bleeds rather too fast for comfort, but thy hands +will soon stop that." + +The other boys fell upon the fruit with right good will, whilst the +mother led her second son to the small pump nigh at hand, and +bathed and dressed the rather ugly wound in his head. + +Neither mother nor son thought anything of the hurt. It was easy +enough to give and receive hard blows in the tilt yard, and bruises +and cuts were looked upon as part of the discipline of life. + +As soon as the dressing was over, Edred joined his brothers, and +did his share in diminishing the pile of luscious fruit. And as +they ate they chattered away to the old woman of their prowess in +tilt yard and forest, relating how Bertram had slain a fat buck +with his own hands the previous day, and how they had between them +given the coup-de-grace to another, which had been brought to bay +at the water, father and huntsmen standing aloof to let the boys +show their strength and skill. + +Nine years had passed since that strange night when Bertram had +been awakened by the advent of the mysterious stranger at his +bedside. He had developed since then from a sturdy little boy into +a fine-grown youth of seventeen, who had in his own eyes, and in +the eyes of many others, well-nigh reached man's estate; and who +would, if need should arise, go forth equipped for war to fight the +king's battles. He was a handsome, dark-haired, dark-eyed youth, +with plenty of determination and force of character, and with a +love of Chad so deeply rooted in his nature, that to be the heir of +that property seemed to him the finest position in all the world, +and he would not have exchanged it for that of Prince of Wales. + +The second son, Edred (Ethelred was his true name; he was called +after his mother, Etheldred), was some half-head shorter than his +brother, but a fine boy for all that. He was fifteen, and whilst +sharing to a great extent in the love of sport and of warlike games +so common in that day, he was also a greater lover of books than +his brothers, and would sometimes absent himself from their +pastimes to study with Brother Emmanuel and learn from him many +things that were not written in books. The other lads gave more +time to study than was usual at that period; for both Sir Oliver +and his lady believed in the value of book lore and the use of the +pen, deploring the lack of learning that had prevailed during the +confusion of the late wars, and greatly desiring its revival. But +it was Edred who really inherited the scholarly tastes of his +parents, and already the question of making a monk of him was under +serious discussion. The boy thought that if he might have a few +more years of liberty and enjoyment he should like the life of the +cloister well. + +Julian bore a strong resemblance to Bertram both in person and +disposition. He was a very fine boy, nearly fourteen years old, and +had been the companion of his brothers from infancy, so that he +often appeared older than his age. All three brothers were bound +together in bonds of more than wonted affection. They not only +shared their sports and studies, but held almost all their +belongings in common. Each lad had his own horse and his own +weapons, whilst Edred had one or two books over which he claimed +absolute possession; but for the rest, they enjoyed all properties +in common, and it had hardly entered into their calculations that +they could ever be separated, save when the idea of making Edred +into a monk came under discussion; and as that would not be done +for some years, it scarcely seemed worth troubling over now. +Perhaps things would turn out differently in the end, and they +would remain together at Chad for the whole of their natural lives. + +Nurse never wearied of the tales told by her young masters, and +listened with fond pride to the recital. So eagerly were Bertram +and Julian talking, that they did not heed the sound of the horn at +the gate way which bespoke the arrival of some messenger; but Edred +slipped out to see who could be coming, and presently he returned +with a frown upon his brow. + +"There is a messenger at the gate who wears the livery of +Mortimer," he said. "An insolent knave to boot, who flung his +missive in the face of old Ralph, and spurred off with a mocking +laugh. I would I had had my good steed between my knees, and I +would have given the rascal a lesson in manners. I like not these +messengers from Mortimer; they always betide ill will to my +father." + +Lady Chadgrove looked anxious for a moment, but her brow soon +cleared as she made answer: "I shall be sorry if aught comes to +grieve or vex your father; but so long as we are careful to give no +just cause for offence, we need not trouble our heads overmuch as +to the jealous anger of the Lord of Mortimer. I misdoubt me if he +can really hurt us, be he never so vindictive. The king is just, +and he values the services of your father. He will not permit him +to be molested without cause. And methinks my Lord of Mortimer +knows as much, else he would have wrought us more ill all these +past years." + +"He is a tyrant and an evil liver!" cried Bertram hotly; "and his +servants be drunken, brawling knaves, every one--as insolent as +their master. If I had been old Ralph, I would have hurled back his +missive in his face, and bidden him deliver it rightly." + +"Nay, nay, my son; that would but be to stir up strife. If others +comport themselves ill, that is no reason why our servants should +do the like. I would never give a foe a handle against me by the +ill behaviour of even a serving man. Let them act never so surlily, +I would that they were treated with all due courtesy." + +Bertram and Julian hardly entered into their mother's feelings on +this point; but Edred looked up eagerly, and it was plain that he +understood the feelings which prompted the words, for he said in a +low voice: + +"Methinks thou art right, gentle mother; albeit I did sorely long +to give the varlet a lesson to teach him better. But perchance it +was well I was not nigh enough. Surely it must be nigh upon the +hour for dinner. Our sport has whet the edge of appetite, and I +would fain hear what the missive was which yon knave brought with +him. Our father will doubtless tell us at the table." + +It was indeed nearly noon, and mistress and maids alike +relinquished their tasks to prepare for the meal which was the +chiefest of the day, though the supper was nothing to be despised. + +The long table in the great banqueting hall was a goodly sight to +see when the dinner was spread, and the retainers of the better +sort and some amongst the upper servants sat down with the master +and his family to partake of the good cheer. At one end of the long +board sat the knight and his lady side by side; to their right were +the three boys, the young monk, and Warbel the armourer, who now +held a post of some importance in the house. Opposite to these were +other gentlemen-at-arms and their sons, who were resident at Chad; +and at the lower end of the table, below the great silver salt +cellars, sat the seneschal, the lowlier retainers, and certain +trusted servants who held responsible positions at Chad. The cooks +and scullions and underlings dined in the great kitchen immediately +after their masters' meal had been served. + +The table at Chad always groaned with good things, except at such +seasons as the Church decreed a fast, and then the diet was +scrupulously kept within the prescribed bounds. Sir Oliver and his +wife were both devout and earnest people, and had every reverence +for their spiritual superiors. The Benedictine Priory of Chadwater +stood only a mile and a half distant, and the prior was on +excellent terms with the owner of Chad. Brother Emmanuel had been +an inmate of the priory before he was selected by Sir Oliver for +the education of his sons. He was considered a youth of no small +promise, and the knight was well pleased at the progress made by +his boys since they had been studying with him. + +Today there was a look of annoyance upon the handsome face of Sir +Oliver Chadgrove. It was a striking countenance at all times, in +which sternness of purpose and kindness of heart were blended in a +fashion that was both attractive and unusual. He had the same +regular features, rather square in the outline, which he had +transmitted to his children; and his hair, which was now silvered +with many streaks, had been raven black in its day. His carriage +was upright and fearless, and he was very tall and powerfully +proportioned. It was Bertram's keenest ambition to grow up in all +points like his father, and he copied him, consciously and +unconsciously, in a fashion that often raised a smile on his +mother's face. + +"I have been favoured with another insolent letter from my Lord of +Mortimer," he said. "He had better take heed that he try not my +patience too far, and that I go not to the king and lay a complaint +before him. I will do so if I be much more troubled." + +"What says he now, father?" asked Bertram eagerly, forgetting in +his eagerness the generally observed maxim that the sons spoke not +at table till they were directly addressed. But the knight did not +himself heed this breach of decorum. + +"It is the same old story; but every year he grows more grasping +and more insolent. Today he complains, forsooth, that the last buck +we killed was killed on his ground, and by rights belonged to him. +He threatens that his foresters and huntsmen will wage war with us +in future if we 'trespass' upon his rights, and wrest our spoil +from us! Beshrew me if I submit to much more! Patience and +forbearance are useless with such a man. I would I had not conceded +all I have done in the interests of peace." + +Bertram's face was crimson with anger, Edred's eyes had widened in +astonishment, whilst Julian burst out in indignant remonstrance and +argument. + +"His ground! his rights! How can he dare say that? Why, the buck +was killed at Juno's Pool; and all the world knows that that is +within the confines of Chad, and that all forest rights there +belong to the Lord of Chad! I would I could force his false words +down his false throat! I would I could--" but the boy suddenly +ceased, because he caught his mother's warning eye upon him, and +saw that his father had opened his lips to speak. + +"Ay, and he knows it himself as well as we do; but he is growing +bolder and bolder through that monstrous claim he is ever +threatening to push--the claim of his son-in-law to be rightful +Lord of Chad! Phew! he will find it hard to prove that claim, or to +oust the present lord. But Mortimer has money and to spare, and +Chad has long been to him what Naboth's vineyard was to King Ahab-- + +"Brother Emmanuel, that simile is thine, and a right good one, too. + +"He will seize on any pretext to pick a quarrel; and if he dares, +he will push that quarrel at the point of the sword. I do not fear +him; I have the right on my side. But we may not blind ourselves to +this: that he is a right bitter and treacherous foe, and that +should we give any, even the smallest cause of suspicion or +offence, he would seize upon that to ruin us." + +Sir Oliver looked keenly round the table at all assembled there, +and many knew better than his sons what was in his mind at the time +and what had caused him to speak thus. + +For a long while now the leaven of Lollardism had been working +silently in the country, and there were very many even amongst +orthodox sons of the Church who were more or less "bitten" by some +of the new notions. It need hardly be said that wherever light is, +it will penetrate in a mysterious and often inexplicable fashion; +and although there was much extravagance and perversion in the +teachings of the advanced Lollards, there was undoubtedly amongst +them a far clearer and purer light than existed in the hearts of +those of the common people who had been brought up beneath the sway +of the priests, themselves so often ignorant and ill-living men. + +And so the light gradually spread; and many who would have +repudiated the name of Lollard with scorn and loathing were +beginning to hold some of their tenets, and to wish for a simpler +and purer form of faith, and for liberty to study the Scriptures +for themselves; and no one knew better the leavening spirit of the +age than did Sir Oliver Chadgrove, himself a man of liberal views +and devout habit of mind, and his wife, who shared his every +thought and opinion. + +They had both heard the stirring and enlightened preaching of Dean +Colet, and were great admirers of his; but they took the view that +that divine himself held--namely, that the Church would gradually +reform herself from within; that she was awakening to the need of +some reformation and advance; and that her sons were safe within +her fold, and must patiently await her own work there. + +This was exactly the feeling of the knight and his lady. They +rejoiced in the words they had heard, and in the wider knowledge of +the Scriptures which had been thus unfolded; but that any such +doctrine, when preached and taught by the Lollard heretics, could +be right or true they would have utterly denied and repudiated. The +Lollards had won for themselves a bad name, and were thought of +with scorn and contempt. Nevertheless, in country places the leaven +of their teaching permeated far and wide, and Sir Oliver had more +than once occasion to fear that amongst his own retainers some were +slightly tainted by heresy. + +Of course if it could be proved against him that his followers were +Lollards, his enemy might take terrible advantage and deal him a +heavy blow. It was the one charge which if proved would strike him +to the earth; even the king's favour would scarce serve him then. +The king would not stand up in opposition to the Church; and if the +Church condemned his house as being a harbouring place for +heretics, then indeed he would be undone. + +It was this thing which was in his mind as he glanced with keen +eyes round his table on this bright midsummer day; and his wife, +and the monk, and the bulk of those sitting there read the true +meaning of his words and of his look, and recognized the truth of +the grave word of warning. + + + +Chapter III: Brother Emmanuel. + + +The hush of a Sabbath was upon the land. The sounds of life and +industry were no longer heard around Chad. Within and without the +house a calm stillness prevailed, and the hot summer sunshine lay +broad upon the quiet fields and the garden upon which so much +loving care had of late years been spent. + +The white and red roses, no longer the symbols of party strife, +were blooming in their midsummer glory. The air was sweet with +their fragrance, and bees hummed drowsily from flower to flower. In +the deep shadow cast by a huge cedar tree, that reared its stately +head as high as the battlements of the turret, a small group had +gathered this hot afternoon. The young monk was there in the black +cassock, hood, and girdle that formed the usual dress of the +Benedictine in this country, and around him were grouped his three +pupils, to whom he was reading out of the great Latin Bible that +was one of the treasures of Sir Oliver's library. + +All the boys were Latin scholars, and had made much progress in +their knowledge of that language since the advent of the young monk +into the household. They had likewise greatly increased in their +knowledge of the Scriptures; for Brother Emmanuel was a sound +believer in the doctrine preached by the Dean of St. Paul's, and of +the maxims laid down by him--that the Scriptures were not to be +pulled to fragments, and each fragment explained without reference +to the context, but to be studied and examined as a whole, and so +explained, one portion illuminating and illustrating another. After +such a fashion had Brother Emmanuel long been studying the Word of +God, and after such a method did he explain it to his pupils. + +All three boys were possessed of clear heads and quick +intelligence, and their minds had expanded beneath the influence of +the young monk's teaching. They all loved a quiet hour spent with +him in reading and expounding the Bible narrative, and today a +larger portion than usual had been read; for the heat made exertion +unwelcome even to the active lads, and it was pleasanter here +beneath the cedar tree than anywhere else besides. + +"Now, I would fain know," began Julian, after a pause in the +reading, "why it is that it is thought such a vile thing for men to +possess copies of God's Word in their own tongue that they may read +it to themselves. It seems to me that men would be better and not +worse for knowing the will of God in all things; and here it is set +down clearly for every man to understand. Yet, if I understand not +amiss, it is made a cause of death for any to possess the +Scriptures in his own tongue." + +"Yea, that is what the heretic Lollards do--read and expound the +Scriptures in the vulgar tongue and after their own fashion," said +Bertram. "Have a care, Julian, how thou seemest to approve their +methods; for there is a great determination in high places to put +down at once and for all the vile doctrines which are corrupting +all the land." + +"I approve no heresy," cried Julian eagerly. "I do but ask why it +be heresy to read the Word of God, and to have in possession a +portion of it in the language of one's country." + +"Marry, dost thou not know that one reason is the many errors the +translators have fallen into, which deceive the unwary and lead the +flock astray?" cried Edred eagerly. "Brother Emmanuel has told me +some amongst these, and there are doubtless many others of which he +may not have heard. A man may not drink with impunity of poisoned +waters; neither is it safe to take as the Word of God a book which +may have many perversions of His truth." + +Edred looked up at Brother Emmanuel for confirmation of this +explanation. It was the monk's habit to encourage the boys to +discuss any question of interest freely amongst themselves, he +listening in silence the while, and later on giving them the +benefit of his opinion. All the three turned to him now to see what +he would say upon a point that was already agitating the country, +and was preparing the way for a shaking that should lead to an +altogether new state of existence both in Church and State. Even +out here in the garden, in the sanctuary of their own home, with +only their friend and spiritual pastor to hear them, the boys spoke +with bated breath, as though fearful of uttering words which might +have within them some germ of that dreaded sin of heresy. + +As for Brother Emmanuel, he sat with his hands folded in his +sleeves, the great book upon his knees, a slight and thoughtful +smile playing around the corners of his finely-cut mouth. His whole +face was intensely spiritual in expression. The features were +delicately cut, and bore the impress of an ascetic life, as well as +of gentle birth and noble blood. He was, in fact, a scion of an +ancient and powerful house; but it was one of those houses that had +suffered sorely in the recent strife, and whose members had been +scattered and cut off. He had no powerful relatives and friends to +turn to now for promotion to rich benefice or high ecclesiastical +preferment, and he had certainly never lamented this fact. In heart +and soul he was a follower of the rules of poverty laid down by the +founder of his order, and would have thought himself untrue to his +calling had he suffered himself to be endowed with worldly wealth. +Even such moneys as he received from Sir Oliver for the instruction +given to his sons were never kept by himself. All were given either +to the poor by his hands direct, or placed at the disposal of the +Prior of Chadwater, where he had been an inmate for a short time +previous to his installation as chaplain at Chad. He had not sought +this office; he would rather have remained beneath the priory +walls. He thought that it was something contrary to the will of the +founders for monks to become parochial priests, or to hold offices +and benefices which took them from the shelter of their monastery +walls. But such things were of daily occurrence now, and were +causing bitter jealousy to arise betwixt the parochial clergy and +the monks, sowing seeds of strife which played a considerable part +in the struggle this same century was to see. But it was useless to +try to stem the current single-handed, and the rule of obedience +was as strong within him as that of poverty and chastity. + +When sent forth by his prior (who secretly thought that this young +monk was too strict and ascetic and too keen-witted to be a safe +inmate of a house which had long fallen from its high estate, and +was becoming luxurious and wealthy and lax), he had gone +unmurmuringly to Chad, and since then had become so much interested +in his pupils and in his round of daily duties there that he had +not greatly missed the life of the cloister. + +He had leisure for thought and for study. He had access to a +library which, although not large, held many treasures of book +making, and was sufficient for the requirements of the young monk. +He could keep the hours of the Church in the little chantry +attached to the house, and he was taken out of the atmosphere of +jealousy and bickering which, to his own great astonishment and +dismay, he had found to be the prevailing one at Chadwater. + +On the whole, he had benefited by the change, and was very happy in +his daily duties. He rejoiced to watch the unfolding minds of his +three pupils, and especially to train Edred for the life of the +cloister, to which already he had been partially dedicated, and +towards which he seemed to incline. + +And now, eagerly questioned by the boys upon that vexed point of +the translated Scriptures and their possession by the common +people, he looked thoughtfully out before him, and gave his answer +in his own poetic fashion. + +"The Word of God, my children, is as a fountain of life. Those who +drink of it drink immortality and joy and peace passing all +understanding. The Saviour of mankind--Himself the Word of God--has +given Himself freely, that all men may come to Him, and, drinking +of the living water, may find within their hearts a living fountain +which shall cause that they never thirst again. But the question +before us is not whether men shall drink of this fountain--we know +that they must do so to live--but how they shall drink of it; how +and in what manner the waters of life shall be dispensed to them." + +The boys fixed their eyes eagerly upon him. Julian nodded his head, +and Edred's eyes grew deep with the intensity of his wish to follow +the workings of the mind of his instructor. + +"For that we must look back to the days of our Lord, when He was +here upon earth. HOW did He give forth the Word of Life? How did He +rule that it was from that time forward to be given to men?" + +"He preached to the people who came to Him," answered Edred, "and +He directed His apostles and disciples to do likewise--to go forth +into all lands and preach the gospel to every creature." + +"Just so," answered Brother Emmanuel, with an other of his slight +peculiar smiles. "In other words, he intrusted the Word--Himself, +the news of Himself--to a living ministry, to men, that through the +mouths of His apostles and those disciples who had received regular +instruction from Him and from them the world might be enlightened +with the truth." + +The boys listened eagerly, with mute attention. + +"Go on," said Edred breathlessly. "Prithee tell us more." + +"Our blessed Lord and Master laid no charge upon His apostles to +write of Him--to send forth into the world a written testimony. We +know that the inspired Word is written from end to end by the will +of God. It was necessary for the preservation of the truth in its +purity that its doctrines should be thus set down--that there +should be in existence some standard by which in generations to +come the learned ones of the earth might be able to judge of the +purity of the doctrines preached, and refute heresies and errors +that might and would creep in; but it was to men, to a living +ministry, that our Saviour intrusted the precious truths of His +gospel, and to a living ministry men should look to have those +truths unfolded." + +"I see that point," cried Edred eagerly. "I had never thought of it +quite in that way before. Does it so state the matter anywhere in +the Holy Book? I love to gather the truth from its pages. Thou hast +not told us that we are wrong in that." + +"Nay, under guidance all men should seek to those holy truths; but +will they find the priceless jewel if they seek it without those +aids our blessed Lord Himself has appointed? Wouldst thou know more +of His will in this matter? Then thou shalt." + +The monk turned the leaves of the book awhile, and then paused at +an open page. + +"On earth, as we have seen, the blessed Saviour intrusted His truth +to the care of chosen men. Now let us see how He acted when, +ascended into the heavens, He looked down upon earth, and directed +from thence the affairs of this world. Did He then ordain that a +written testimony was to be prepared and sent forth into all lands? +No. What we learn then is that when He ascended into the heavens +and received and gave gifts to men, He gave to them apostles, +prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers--a living ministry +again, a fourfold living ministry--that by this living ministry, +surely typified in the vision of St. John by the four living +creatures with the fourfold head, the saints were to be perfected, +the unity of the faith preserved, and the body of Christ edified +and kept in its full growth and perfection till He come Himself to +claim the Bride." + +Edred's eyes were full of vivid intelligence. He followed in the +Latin tongue the words as Brother Emmanuel spoke them, and looking +up he asked wistfully: + +"But where are they now, the apostles and prophets, the evangelists +and pastors? Have we got them with us yet?" + +"We have at least the semblance of them; doubtless but for our own +sins and shortcomings we should have a fuller ministry--a fuller +outpouring of the water of life through those four God-given +channels by which the Church is to be fed. We have the apostolic +office ever in exercise in our spiritual head at Rome. St. Peter +has left us a successor, and his throne shall never be empty so +long as the world lasts. Now and again the prophetic fire bursts +forth in some holy man who has fasted and prayed until the veil +betwixt the seen and the unseen has grown thin. Would to God there +was more light of prophecy in the earth! Perchance in His grace and +mercy He will outpour His Spirit once again upon the earth, and +gather about his Holiness a band of men lighted by fire from above. +In our wandering friars, ever going forth to the people with the +word of the gospel, we have the office of evangelist in exercise; +and the priest who guides the flock and dwells in the midst of the +people of the land, surely he is the pastor, the keeper of the +sheep. And thus we see that our blessed Saviour's gifts to men have +been preserved all through these long centuries, and are still +amongst us in greater or less degree; and we can well understand +that having given us these channels, by which His vineyard is to be +watered, by which the living waters are to flow forth, it is not +His will that every man should be his own evangelist or pastor, +feeding himself at will, drinking, perhaps to surfeit, of the +precious waters which should be conveyed to him through the +appointed channel, but that he should be under dutiful obedience +and submission, and that thus and thus only may unity and peace be +preserved, and the body grow together into its perfect stature and +fullness." + +"I see all that exactly," cried Bertram, "and I will strive to keep +it in mind. I mislike the very name of Lollard, and I well know +that they be a mischievous and pernicious brood, whom it were well +to see exterminated root and branch. Yet no man can fail to see +that they love the Scriptures, and I felt they were in the right +there. Now I well see that they may love the Word as much as they +will, but that they must still seek to be taught and fed by those +who are over them in the Church, and not seek to eat and drink (in +the spiritual sense of the word) at their own will and pleasure. +That is truly what the Church has ever taught, but I never heard it +so clearly explained before. + +"Come, Julian; the sun is losing much of its power now. Let us +stroll along the margin of the stream, and see where best we may +fish upon the morrow. + +"Edred, wilt thou come? No; I thought not. Thou art half a monk +already. We will leave thee with Brother Emmanuel to talk more on +these hard matters. I have heard enough to satisfy me, I shall +never want to turn Lollard now. The name was always enough, but now +I see more and more clearly how wrong-headed and wilful they be." + +Julian, too, had got an answer that completely satisfied him, and +he readily rose to go with his brother. Those two found an hour or +two of thought and study as much at a time as they cared for. They +called their dogs and sallied forth over the fields towards the +shady, well-fringed river banks, and Brother Emmanuel was left +alone with his second pupil, Edred, whose eyes were still fixed +upon the black lettering of the great Bible open at the last +passage under discussion. + +The monk bent an earnest glance upon the boy's face. He saw that an +argument which had completely satisfied the other two had not +satisfied this other keener mind. But he asked no questions, +leaving the boy to speak or not as he chose. These were days in +which too much questioning was a dangerous thing. Many men felt as +though they were treading the crust of a volcano, and that a single +unwary step might plunge them headlong into the burning gulf. + +When even such a man as Bishop Peacock had been threatened with the +stake, and sent into perpetual imprisonment, even after having +"recanted" his errors, no wonder that all men holding broad or +enlightened opinions trembled for themselves. And yet, as thought +will not be bound, and the young are ever the most ardent in the +pursuit of truth, and the most impatient under the yoke of fetters +unwillingly worn, so neither this young monk nor his still more +youthful companion could be content to drift on without looking +into the stirring questions of the day for themselves. + +Edred's mind at this moment was working rapidly and following up a +train of thought as fascinating as it was new. He suddenly turned +back to the very beginning of the book, and began reading to +himself some words he found there. Presently he looked up quickly +into his instructor's face. + +"Thy words about four channels put me in mind of the four streams +we read of in the beginning, that watered the garden of the Lord. +It seemed to me as if perchance there was some connection betwixt +them--that the Lord's plan has ever been the same. Surely He led +forth the children of Israel through the wilderness beneath four +standards. And here the four streams are all given. But we hear no +more of any of them later, do we, save the river Euphrates. Out of +the four three seem to have been lost," and the boy raised his eyes +with a perplexed expression and looked earnestly at his teacher. + +Between those two existed one of those keen bonds of sympathy that +often enable persons to communicate their thoughts without the +medium of words. In a moment the monk had read what was in the +boy's mind, and in a fashion he answered as though Edred had +spoken. + +"Thou thinkest that even as some of God's watering rivers ran dry, +so some of His channels of grace, whereby He meant all men to be +replenished with heavenly light and grace, may perchance have +become choked and useless. Is not that thy thought, my son?" + +"My father, is it sin thus to think?" asked Edred, almost beneath +his breath. "I cannot shut mine eyes and mine ears. I have heard +whispers of terrible corruption in high places even at Rome itself. +I try not to hear or to think too much, but I cannot help my +burning desire to know more of what passes in the world. It was but +a short year ago that a godly man coming from foreign lands told us +fearful tales of the corruption even of the papal court. O my +father, I fear to whisper it even to thee; but I cannot but ask in +my heart, can the popes be truly apostles? And if not, can we say +that the channel of grace once given to men is open yet for us to +drink from? Ah, pardon me if I err! I will do penance for my evil +thoughts. But where may we find now those four life-giving streams +by which Christ purposed to keep His body, the Church, nourished +and sustained? Prophets there be none, save here and there a spark +of the old fire. Those travelling friars are sometimes holy men; +but, alas! they are bitter foes of the very Church from which they +profess to be sent out, and are oft laid under the papal ban. We +have our pastor priests; but do they feed the flock? O my father, +how can I walk with closed eyes through this world of sin and +strife? If the channels run dry, if the pastors refuse food to the +hungry people, can it be sin if they strive to feed themselves, +even though they be something too ignorant to do it wisely and +well?" + +A very grave, thoughtful, and austere look was stamped upon the +face towards which Edred directed his gaze. It was long before he +received any answer, and then it was but a sorrowful one. + +"My son, I will not blame thee for these thoughts, albeit they be +charged with peril in these days. It is human nature thus to +question and thus to doubt. We may not blind our eyes, though we +must ever strive to chasten our hearts, that we fall not into the +condemnation of those who speak evil of dignities, and bring a +railing accusation against those set over them. I, too, have had my +period of storm-tossed doubts and fears; but I have learned to fix +mine eyes upon the Holy One of Israel, who never slumbers nor +sleeps--upon the crucified Saviour, who has suffered that death of +agony and shame that He may draw all men unto Himself. How He will +do it I know not. How He will open up again the closed channels, +and make ready His Church to meet Him and receive Him, I can not +even conjecture. But His word cannot fail; and in His own appointed +time, and in His own appointed way, I verily believe that He will +draw unto Himself all men who have ever called upon His name, and +all those unto whom His name has never been proclaimed, and who, +therefore, have never rejected Him. In that hope and that belief I +try to rest; and fixing my eyes and thoughts upon Him and Him +alone, I strive to forget the chaos and the strife of earth, and to +look upon all men as brothers in Christ, if they will but bow the +knee at that thrice holy name." + +Edred looked at him with wide-open eyes. + +"Heretics call upon the name of Jesus. Thinkest thou that heretics +will be saved? I thought they were doomed to hellfire forever!" + +The boy spoke in a voice that was little more than a whisper. He +was almost afraid to hear the answer, lest it should convey a germ +of the dreaded heresy, and yet how eager he was to know what +Brother Emmanuel really thought. + +"It is not for me to say who will and who will not be saved," he +said, slowly and thoughtfully; "and we are expressly told that +there will be punishment for those who fall away from the faith. +Yet we are not told that error will be punished with everlasting +death. And there be places in Holy Scripture which tell us that +'whoso believeth and is baptized shall be saved;' and heretics +believe that Christ died for the world. It says, again, that those +who love the Lord are born of God; and shall they perish +everlastingly? My son, the mercies of God are very great; from end +to end of this book we are told that. Knowing so much, need we ask +more? With Him rests the judgment of all mankind. He alone can read +the heart. Let that thought be enough for us. Whether the sin of +heresy is as vile in His eyes as in those of man, He alone knows; +we do not. Let us strive for our own part to keep the unity of the +faith in the bond of peace, and leave all else to Him." + +As he spoke, Brother Emmanuel gently closed the book, as though to +close the discussion likewise; and Edred, looking up and round +about him, drawing a long breath meantime, suddenly gave a start, +which attracted the attention of his preceptor. + +A short distance away--how he had got there neither of the pair +knew; they had been too much engrossed in their talk to take much +heed of external impressions--was an elderly monk, clad in the same +gown and hood as Brother Emmanuel, betokening that he too was of +the Benedictine order; and his face, shrouded in its cowl, was +turned towards the pair with a very peculiar expression upon it. A +sinister smile was in the narrow beady eyes; the features, which +were coarse and somewhat bloated from luxurious living, were set in +a look of ill-concealed malice; and the salutation addressed to the +pair when he saw himself perceived had in it something of an +incongruous sound. + +"Pax vobiscum!" said the newcomer, lifting his hand as if to impart +a blessing. + +Edred instinctively bent the knee, but Brother Emmanuel's face did +not move a muscle. + +"Hast thou come with a message for me from the reverend father?" he +asked quietly. + +"Nay, not for thee. My message was to Sir Oliver; but I will report +to the father how excellently I found thee employed--training thy +pupils in all godliness and honesty, and in that hatred of heresy +which it behoves all true sons of the Church to cherish." + +There was a spiteful gleam in the man's eyes as he spoke these +words that made Edred shiver; but the calm regard of the younger +monk did not waver. + +"I have taught him nothing but what I have heard our good Dean of +St. Paul's speak before princes and prelates in the pulpit," +answered Brother Emmanuel, not pretending to misunderstand the +innuendo conveyed. "Methinks it would profit many of our brothers +in country places to hear what is being thought and taught in +Oxford and London, in all the great centres of the country. The +reverend father knows well what I hold and what I teach." + +So clear and steadfast was the light in the young monk's eyes, that +the regard of the other fell before it. He made a gesture, as if to +repudiate the defence as a thing quite superfluous. + +"The piety and orthodoxy of Brother Emmanuel are known far and +wide," he answered, in a tone that was half cringing, half +spiteful; "no truer son of the Church than he lives in all the +land." + +And then with another salutation he turned and glided away in the +lengthening shadows, whilst Edred turned to Brother Emmanuel with +rather a scared face, and asked: + +"Dost think he heard what we were saying?" + +"Belike he caught a phrase or two," was the answer, spoken gravely +but quite calmly. "I would not speak words of which I am ashamed; +at the same time, it is well in these perilous days to use all +caution, for an enemy can well distort and magnify the words he +hears, till they sound like rank heresy. For myself I have no fear. +I prize not my life greatly, though to die as a heretic, cut off +from the Church of Christ, is a fearful thing to think of. Yet even +that might be better than denying the truth--if indeed one believes +the truth to lie without, which assuredly I do not. But thou, my +son, would do well to think something less of these matters. Thou +art but a child in years, and--" + +"I am quickly rising to man's estate," answered the boy, rather +impetuously, "and my thoughts will not be chained. I must give them +liberty to rove where they will. All men are talking and thinking +of these things, and wherefore not I? But, Brother Emmanuel, tell +me, who was yon black-browed brother? Methinks I have seen his face +before; but beneath the cowl many faces look alike. Who was he? and +wherefore looked he so askance at thee?" + +"Brother Fabian loves me not," answered the monk with a slight +smile. "I scarce know how it began; it seemed to commence from the +day I entered the priory. I had looked to find things there +somewhat different. Perchance I spoke more than I should, being +young and ardent, and fresh from places where a different order +reigned. Brother Fabian holds various offices in the priory. He +liked not my words. Methinks he has never forgotten or forgiven. He +has always sour looks for me, and ofttimes sneering words. But I +heed them not greatly; they do not touch me near." + +Edred was looking straight out before him, with a gaze in which +there was much of shrinking and surprise. + +"Brothers in the same monastery at enmity one with the other!" he +said slowly, grasping more than had been spoken, with that quick +intuition which existed between tutor and pupil. "Some, leading +lives of luxury, indignant with those who would protest against +them. Brother Emmanuel, my father, my friend, when these things +come before me, I turn with loathing from the thought of entering +the life of the cloister; and yet how I long to give myself wholly +to the cause of God! How can I judge? how can I choose aright?" + +"Thou must not try to choose," answered the young monk, with a +touch of austerity in his tone; "thou must await that leading and +that guiding which never fail those who truly wait upon the blessed +Son of God, and strive to do not their will but the will of Him who +pleased not Himself. At the foot of His Cross--before the altar, +where His precious body and blood are ever abiding in memorial of +His one sacrifice for sin--there is the place to seek grace and +guidance; there is the place where peace may be found. Because man +is frail, shall we despise the ordinances of God? Because men are +able to make (if such be their will) a hell upon earth even of holy +places, is that any reason why we shall think scorn of those +sanctuaries, provided by the merciful goodness of God, where men +may flee for shelter from the world, and lead a life of devotion +and fasting and prayer? My son, beware of the manifold snares of +the devil. The young are ever ready to condemn and to revolt. It is +the nature of the unchastened will of man. Be patient, and watch +unto prayer. The day will surely come when (if thou wilt but listen +for it) the voice will speak in thine heart, and tell thee what +thou art called upon to do, even as it spoke in mine, and called me +from the snares and enticements of the world to the haven of the +cloister. I know not yet what my work in this world will be; but it +is enough that my Lord and Master knows. I am here, abiding in my +place and awaiting my call. May He grant that whensoever and +howsoever that call may come, I may hear it and be ready for it, +and may follow the guiding voice even to the end." + +A rapt look was in the dark eyes. Edred caught the enthusiasm of +that look, and half unconsciously sank down upon his knee. + +"Bless me, even me also, O my father!" he cried, scarce knowing +what words he chose; and the thin, strong hand was laid upon his +head. + +"God be with thee and bless thee, my son," said the monk, in grave, +steadfast tones; "and may He be thy guide and thy portion +henceforth and forever. May He show thee the way in which He would +have thee to go, and give thee grace and strength to follow it unto +the end." + +For a moment deep silence prevailed. Both were rapidly reviewing +the words that day spoken, and the thoughts suggested by the bare +discussion of such subjects; and Edred, rising and looking with a +strange smile into the monk's face, said softly: + +"Methinks it would not be hard to die in a righteous cause; but to +be hunted to death through the spite and malice of a treacherous +foe, that would be an evil fate. I would fight with the best member +I possess against such an one, were he to be mine own enemy or +thine." + +A smile crossed Brother Emmanuel's face. + +"Go to, boy! thou art more soldier than monk yet. Methinks thou +wouldst fight bravely and well in a good cause. Perchance that +would be the best and happiest lot for thee-- + +"There be thy brothers coming up from the water. Go join them, and +think not too much for thy years. Be a youth as long as thou +mayest. Manhood's cares will come all too fast." + +With that he turned and went quietly towards the house, whilst +Edred went forth to meet his brothers. + + + +Chapter IV: The Travelling Preacher. + + +Perhaps it was the memory of those spiteful and malicious glances +bent upon his preceptor by Brother Fabian that suggested to Edred +upon the day following to pay a visit to the secret chamber that +had once before so well sheltered a helpless fugitive. + +The secret of that chamber still remained with the three boys and +their faithful esquire, Warbel. To no other living soul in the +house had any of these four ever named the matter. The boys might +not have been able to give any reason for this reticence towards +their parents, but the fact remained that they had never revealed +the secret to them, and that although tradition still spoke of a +cleverly-masked chamber somewhere at Chad, it was now popularly +supposed to have been in that part of the house which had boon +demolished during the Wars of the Roses. Children did not chatter +to their parents in days of old as they do now. They might love +them never so well, but they held them in reverence and even in +awe. They were silent in their presence, as a rule, unless spoken +to first, and the habit of conversational intimacy did not grow up +until a much later period in their lives. Thus the adventures of +Warbel, and his strange midnight visit to their bedchamber, had +never been told to Sir Oliver or his wife. All they knew was that +the man had taken refuge from the anger of the Lord of Mortimer in +one of their woodmen's huts. They were glad to give him shelter and +employment at Chad, and had never regretted the hospitality +extended to him; for he had proved the most faithful of servants, +and his devotion to the boys was so great that they could be +trusted anywhere in his keeping. + +As for the anger of his proud neighbour, Sir Oliver had made light +of that. The Lord of Mortimer could not make any thing out of so +small a matter, and at that time had other more weighty affairs on +hand. Warbel's stories to his fellows of the harshness and +tyrannical rule at Mortimer made his own servants more loyal and +stanch than ever. Chad was a peaceable and happy abode for all its +inmates, and the need for secret hiding places had so far never +arisen. + +The boys in years gone by had almost regretted this fact. They had +pictured so vividly how they would hide their father or some friend +of his in this secret chamber, should peril menace them from any +quarter, that it had seemed sometimes almost a pity that so secure +a hiding place should be of so little use, when it might have done +such excellent service had the need arisen. + +However, as years sped by and the lads began to know more of life, +they ceased to regret that the secret chamber remained without an +occupant. From time to time they visited it, swept out the dust and +cobwebs that had accumulated there, and bit by bit collected a few +more odds and ends of furniture, so that the place now wore a look +of greater comfort and habitation than it had done when they saw it +first. + +Once when Edred had been laid up by an accident to his foot, he had +amused himself by making a number of feather pillows from the +feathers of the birds his brothers shot and brought home to him. +These feathers were dressed in the proper way by the boys +themselves, and then made up into large pillows or cushions, which +were then taken up to the secret chamber (at that time the +favourite hobby of the boys), in order to make restful and +comfortable the hard pallet bed, in case any fugitive were forced +to take shelter there. In the same way had several rudely-made +rugs, formed of the skins of wild bears taken in the woods, and +tanned by the boys in a fashion of their own, found their way +thither; and altogether the place had assumed an aspect of some +comfort and even luxury, although it was now several years since +any further additions had been made to its plenishings. + +Edred looked round the strange apartment with a thoughtful air as +he emerged into it from the long, dark, twisting passage he had +threaded with the security of one to whom every winding and turn +was known. It was dim and dark there, but sufficient light filtered +in through cracks and cleverly-contrived apertures to render it +easy to move about; and when the eye grew used to the dimness, +everything could be seen with pretty fair distinctness. + +"It would not be a bad hiding place," mused the boy, speaking half +aloud. "Methinks over there one could even read without much +trouble. Yes, without doubt one could; and that crack might be +judiciously enlarged without any peril. It does but give upon the +leads behind the main chimney stack, and the tiles would cover any +aperture I made." + +He took out his large hunting knife from his girdle as he spoke, +and worked away awhile in silence. Very soon he had considerably +added to the amount of light in the strange room. He eyed his +handiwork with considerable satisfaction. + +"That is better. It would be something gloomy to be shut up here +without light enough to study by; but with books and food one might +spend many a week here and not be overwhelmed with dullness. The +place is something straight, to be sure, and there is bare room for +a tall man to stand upright." + +Edred drew himself to his full height, and found that his head did +not quite reach the beams which formed the ceiling. + +"I trow Brother Emmanuel could just stand; he is not greatly taller +than I. And he is marvellous contented with a very little, and has +been used to passing days and weeks in the solitude of his cell. +Sure this would not be to him an evil place. If he had but a book +or two and the needful food, he would be vastly content. + +"I wonder if he can be in any sort of peril. I liked not the looks +or the words of you malicious monk. Our father and mother often say +that these be times when men must walk warily, and ofttimes they +tell of godly men even in high places who have fallen into disgrace +and been accused of fearful sins. It is not safe in these days to +have for enemies those who are within the pale of the Church--monks +and priors, men who are held up as examples and models of true +faith and piety. + +"I know not whether they merit the praise men give to them. +Methinks Brother Emmanuel could teach them many things both in +precept and practice. But it is not for me to be the judge in such +matters; yet if he were in any kind of peril, I would lay down my +life to save him!" + +The boy's eyes kindled at the thought. He cherished for his +preceptor an ardent and enthusiastic love, and he had his share of +that chivalrous devotion and self-sacrifice which has been the +brightest ornament of days that have much of darkness and cruelty +to disgrace them. + +His face wore a very earnest look as he set about his homely task +of cleaning and setting in order this secret chamber. He was more +than two hours over his task, for he went through it with unwonted +energy. The place looked almost tempting before he had done with +it, and he looked about him with satisfied eyes at the close of his +labours. + +There was a convenient spout, meant to carry off the rain water +from the complex level of the old roof, which made an excellent +substitute for a dust shoot. It could be got at from this place +without difficulty, and Edred shot down his rubbish without any +trouble through a funnel-like piece of wood he and his brothers had +contrived for the purpose many years before. Then he stood quite +still at the aperture whence the soft breeze came blowing in, lost +in thought. + +"It doth get very hot here in the summer days," he remarked, "and +in especial at this end of the room, where it abuts upon the leads. +It is cooler yonder, but then it is also darker. The air and the +light come in at this side, but so does the heat likewise. And how +thirsty one gets, too! My throat is parched and dry. I mind me how +poor Warbel suffered in like manner when he was here. Food could be +brought in without trouble. I will amass even now by slow degrees +some of those hard oaten cakes that keep good for weeks, and some +salted venison that would last the winter through. + +"But water--how could that be brought? Suppose that we too were +watched; suppose we dared not go through the secret door? What +would become of the prisoner? + +"I must talk to Bertram and Julian about that. Bertram has a +wonderful gift for getting out of such difficulties; he has a +marvellous quick wit. We never thought in old days how the water +was to be conveyed; we thought a few bottles of wine would last a +lifetime. But to die of thirst would be worse than to face one's +foes. I shall not really rest till I have thought how such a danger +might be guarded against." + +Edred left the place with a thoughtful air. He gained their own +long sleeping room without adventure. Nobody was ever there at this +hour of the day, and he sat down on his bed to think and plan. + +There his brothers found him later when they came rushing up +tumultuously to find him. + +"Ha! thou art there. We have been seeking thee everywhere. What +hast thou been doing, brother?" + +"I have been up to the room," answered the boy. "I have been making +it all ready. I was something disturbed by what chanced +yester-afternoon. I told thee of Brother Fabian and his evil +looks?" + +The other two nodded. + +"Yes, verily; but they be brothers of one fraternity. Surely one +Benedictine would not hurt another?" + +"I know not that. I was talking this day with Warbel. He has been +about in the world. He has seen priests and monks accused of heresy +the one by the other; and none are so fearfully persecuted as those +who wear the tonsure, if men do but suspect them of that sin. + +"Brother Emmanuel a heretic!" cried Bertram, with flashing eyes. "I +would force the word down the false throat of any who dared to say +so! Brother Emmanuel is a right holy man. Art thou mad, Edred, to +think such a thing?" + +The boy shook his head doubtfully. + +"I would I were," he replied; "but methinks Brother Emmanuel +himself thinks that peril may menace him. I understand not rightly +these matters; but I saw that yesterday upon his face which showed +me that he felt he stood something in peril, albeit he has no fear. +He is not of the stuff of which cowards are made." + +Julian's eyes were wide with affright. + +"They say the Lollards and heretics are to be sought out and +burned, and that right soon," he said, in low, awe-struck tones. +"Some of our people heard it today from those at Mortimer. The Lord +of Mortimer has become very zealous to help the priests and monks +to scent out all suspected of heresy and make a great example of +them. + +"Edred, thou dost not think they will take Brother +Emmanuel--and--burn--him?" + +The last words were little more than a whisper. + +"I will die sooner than see it done!" cried the boy passionately. +"But in these days no man may say who is safe. Therefore went I up +to the chamber this very day to set it in order;" and then he told +his brothers of the difficulty that had beset him there, and how he +felt no security for any person in hiding there so long as the +difficulty of conveying water to him remained so great. + +Bertram grasped the situation in a moment. He well knew that if any +person were suspected of lying hidden in the house, a close watch +might well be kept upon every member of the household, and that it +might be hard indeed to pay more than a very occasional visit to +the prisoner. If, for instance, suspicion were to fall upon the +boys in this matter, it would be probable they would be placed +under some restraint; they might be carried off to the priory and +forced to do some penance there. It would never do for the prisoner +to be entirely dependent upon them for supplies of the precious +commodity; and yet what else was to be done? + +"I must think about it," cried Bertram. "I shall never rest till I +have thought of some method. Would we had not left it so long! We +have had all these years to make our plans, and we have never +thought of this thing till trouble seems like to be at the very +doors. + +"Still it may but be our fantasy. Neither Brother Emmanuel nor any +other may need the shelter of this room. We will trust it may be +so. + +"Yet I will cudgel my brains for a plan. It would be a fearful +thing to know him to be shut up here, and yet to be unable to visit +him with the necessaries of life. How poor Warbel drank when he +issued forth that night. Methinks I see him now. One would have +thought he had never tasted water before." + +"But we came not to talk of all this," interrupted Julian, who had +been evincing a few signs of impatience latterly; "we came to tell +of the fair held today and tomorrow at Chadwick. Our father says we +may go thither tomorrow if we will. Warbel says they will bait a +bull, and perhaps a bear; and that there will be fighting with the +quarterstaff and shooting with cross and long bow, and many other +like spectacles. He will attend us, and we may be off with the +light of day, an we will. That is what we came to tell thee, +Edred." + +Edred was boy enough to be well pleased at this news. Any variety +in the day's round was pleasing to the lads, who found life a +little monotonous, albeit pleasant enough. It was a relief, too, to +turn from grave thoughts and anxious forebodings to the +anticipation of simpler pleasures, and the boys all ran to seek +Warbel and ask him what these village fairs were like; for they had +been much interrupted during the recent wars, and only now that +peace had been for some years established did they begin to revive +and gain their old characteristics. + +At break of day on the morning following, the little party started +forth on foot to walk the five miles which separated them from the +village of Chadwick. It was a pleasant enough walk through the +green forest paths before the heat of the day had come. The three +boys and Warbel headed the party, and were followed by some eight +or ten men of various degree, some bent on a day's pleasure for +themselves, others there with a view of attending upon their +master's sons. + +Bertram felt that he could have dispensed with any attendance save +that of Warbel; but Sir Oliver had given his own orders. With so +powerful and jealous a neighbour within easy reach of the village, +he felt bound to be careful of his children. They were but +striplings after all, and doubtless his unscrupulous neighbour +would be delighted to hold one or more as a hostage should excuse +arise for opening hostilities of any kind. He knew well the +unscrupulous character of the man with whom he had to deal, and he +acted with prudence and foresight accordingly. + +The little village when reached proved to be all en fete. Rude +arches of greenery crossed every pathway to the place, and all the +people had turned out in their holiday dresses upon the green to +join in the dances and see the sights. There was a miracle play +going on in one place, repeated throughout the day to varying +groups of spectators. In another corner some rude gipsy juggling +was to be seen, at which the rustic yokels gazed with wondering +eyes. There were all the usual country games in full swing; and the +baiting of a great bull, which was being led to the centre of the +green, attracted the attention of the bulk of the spectators, and +drew them away from other sports. The actors in the miracle play +threw off their dresses to come and witness this delightful +pastime, and hardly any of those present seemed to regard for a +moment the sufferings of the poor brute, or the savage nature of +the whole performance. + +Edred, however, belonged to that very small minority, and whilst +his two brothers pressed into the ring, he wandered away elsewhere +to see what was to be seen. His attention was attracted by a little +knot of persons gathered together under the shade of a great oak +tree, rather far away from the green that was the centre of +attraction. The shade looked inviting, now that the heat was +growing greater, and the boy felt some curiosity to know what was +the attraction which kept this little group so compact and quiet. +On the green were shouting and yelling and noise of every +description; but Edred could hear no sound of any kind proceeding +from this little group till he approached quite near, and then he +was aware of the sound of a single voice speaking in low tones and +very earnestly. + +When he got nearer still he saw that the speaker was a little +hunchback, and that he had in his hand a small book from which he +was reading aloud to the people about him. And this fact surprised +the boy not a little, for it was very unusual for any person in the +lower ranks of life to be able to read; and yet this man was +evidently in poor circumstances, for his clothes were shabby and +his hands were hardened by manual toil. + +Drawing nearer in great curiosity, Edred became aware that what the +hunchback was reading was nothing more or less than a part of the +gospel narrative in the English tongue, to which the people about +him were listening in amazement, and with keen curiosity and +attention. + +Edred was familiar enough with the Latin version of the Scriptures, +and had studied them under the guidance of Brother Emmanuel with +great care and attention; but he had never yet heard the words read +out in their entirety in his native tongue, and he was instantly +struck and fascinated by the freshness and suggestiveness of the +familiar language when used for this purpose. He was conscious that +it gave to the words a new life and meaning; that it seemed, as it +were, to drive them home to the heart in a new fashion, and to make +them the property of the listener as they could never be when a +dead language was used as the medium of expression. He felt a +strange thrill run through him as the story of Calvary was thus +read in the low, impassioned tones of the hunchback; and he was not +surprised to see that tears were running down many faces, and that +several women could hardly restrain their sobs. + +Now and again the hunchback paused and added a few explanatory +words of his own; now and again he broke forth into a rhapsody not +lacking in a certain rude eloquence, in which he besought his +hearers to come to their Saviour with their load of sin--their +Saviour, who was the one and only Mediator between God and man. +Were not His own words enough--"Father, forgive them"? What need, +then, of the priest; the confessional; the absolution of man? To +God and to Him alone was the remission of sins. Let those who loved +their Lord seek to Him, and see what bliss and happiness resulted +from this personal bond between the erring soul and the loving +Saviour. + +Edred shivered slightly as he stood, yet something in the +impassioned gestures of the hunchback, and the strange enthusiastic +light which shone in his eyes, attracted him in spite of himself. +That this was rank heresy he well knew. He knew that one of the +Lollard tenets had always been that confession was a snare devised +of man and not appointed by God. Edred himself could have quoted +many passages from Holy Writ which spoke of some need of confession +through the medium of man, and of sins remitted by God-appointed +ministers. He had been well instructed in such matters by Brother +Emmanuel, who, whatever his enemies might allege against him, was a +stanch son of the Church, even though he might be gifted with a +wide tolerance and a mind open to conviction; and his pupil was not +to be easily convinced against his will. Nor was Edred convinced of +the justice and truth of many things that this ignorant man spoke; +but what did strike him very greatly was his intense earnestness, +his fiery and impassioned gestures, the absolute confidence he +possessed in the righteousness of his own cause, and his utter +freedom from any kind of doubt or fear--the eloquence of one of +nature's orators that carries away the heart far more than the +studied oratory which is the result of practice and artifice. + +Whilst the man spoke, Edred felt himself carried away in spite of +his inner consciousness that there was a flaw in the argument of +the preacher. He was intensely interested by the whole scene. He +could not help watching the faces of the group of which he made +one, watching the play of emotion upon them as they followed with +breathless attention their instructor's words, and drank in his +fiery eloquence as though it were life-giving water. + +And was it wonderful this should be so? the youth asked of himself. +Were not these poor people fairly starving for want of spiritual +food? and what food did they receive from the hands of their parish +priest? Edred knew the old man well. He was a kind-hearted +sexagenarian, and in those days that was accounted an immense age. +He mumbled through the mass on Sundays; he baptized the children +and buried the dead when need arose; and if sent for by some person +in extremity, would go and administer the last rites of the Church. +But beyond that his duties did not go, and no living soul in the +place remembered hearing him speak a word of instruction or +admonition on his own account. He had a passion for gardening, and +spent all his spare time with his flowers; and his people went +their way as he did his, and their lives never touched on any +point. + +Such being the case, was it wonderful that the people should come +with eagerness to hear of the Saviour from whomsoever would tell +them of Him? Edred well remembered Brother Emmanuel's words about +the four God-given channels of grace--the living ministry by which +He had meant His Church to be perfected. But how when the streams +grew choked? how when the ministry had become a dead letter? Was +the Church, were the people, to die of inanition? Might not God +pardon them for listening to any messenger who came with His name +upon his lips? Surely He who lived in the heavens would pardon them +even if it were sin, seeing that it was the instinctive love of His +own wandering sheep which brought them crowding round any shepherd +who would teach them of Him, even though he did not come in the +God-directed order. + +Some such thoughts in a more chaotic form surged through Edred's +head as he stood listening, almost causing him to lose the words of +the preacher, though the tenor of his discourse was plain. He +almost wished he might enter into a discussion with this +enthusiast, and point out to him where he thought him extravagant +and wrong; but young as he was, Edred yet knew something of the +futility of argument with those whose minds are made up, and +caution withheld him from entering into any argument with one who +was plainly a Lollard preacher. So, after listening with sympathy +and interest for a long while, he quietly stole away again. + +The bull baiting was over by this time. The games and other sports +were recommencing with greater energy after this brief interruption. +The miracle play was again represented, and Edred stood a few minutes +to watch, thinking within his heart that this representation, half +comical, half blasphemous (though the people who regarded it seemed +in no way aware of this), was a strange way of bringing home the +realities of the Scriptures, when it could be done so far more +faithfully and eloquently by simply reading the gospel words in the +tongue of the common people. + +His eye roved from the actors, with their mincing words and +artificial gestures, to the group still collected beneath the tree, +and he could not but contrast the two methods in his own mind, and +wonder for a moment whether the Lollards could be altogether so +desperately wicked as their enemies would make out. + +He was half afraid of allowing himself to think too much on such +themes, and went in search of his brothers. He found Warbel looking +out for him in some anxiety. He had missed the boy for some little +while from his charge, and as the field was filling fast with +followers and servants wearing the Mortimer livery, he was glad to +have the three boys all together beneath his care. + +He would have been glad to get them to leave the place, but Bertram +would not hear of it. He wished to try his own skill at some of the +sports; and Julian, of course, must needs follow his example. + +The skill and address of the Chadgrove brothers won the hearty +admiration of the rustics, but it also brought them more than once into +rivalry and collision with some of Mortimer's gentlemen-at-arms, who +were not best pleased to be overmatched by mere striplings. It was also +galling and irritating to them to note the popularity of these lads +with the rustics. Any success of theirs was rewarded by loud shouting +and applause, whilst no demonstration of satisfaction followed any feat +performed by those wearing the livery of Mortimer. And if the lads +scored a triumph over any of these latter, the undisguised delight of +the beholders could not pass unnoticed by the vanquished. + +Altogether there were so much jealousy and ill will aroused that +little scuffles between the followers of Chad and Mortimer had +already taken place in more than one part of the field. Warbel was +getting very uneasy, and had persuaded Edred to use his influence +with his brothers to return home before any real collision should +have occurred, when a great tumult and shouting suddenly arose to +interrupt the whispered colloquy, and Edred saw a great rush being +made in the direction of the oak tree, where the hunchback preacher +had been keeping his station the whole day long, always surrounded +by a little knot of listeners. + +Shouts and yells were filling the air, the voices being those of +Mortimer's following. + +"A Lollard, a Lollard! A heretic! Down with him! Away with him! To +the fire with him! A Lollard, a Lollard!" + +A deep flush overspread Edred's face. He made a spring forward; but +Warbel laid a detaining hand upon his arm. + +"It is no case for us to interfere in," he said, with clouded brow. +"If they have a heretic to deal with we must not meddle. It is not +England's way for a score to attack one; but we must not interpose +betwixt Mortimer and a heretic. That would be too much peril." + +But almost before the man had done speaking Edred broke away, +crying out excitedly: "My brothers, my brothers! they are there in +the thick of it!" and with a groan of terror and dismay Warbel +recognized the voice of Bertram raised in angry scorn. + +"Stand back, you cowards! Who ever heard of fifty men against one, +and he a cripple? The first who touches him I strike dead. A +heretic! Pooh! nonsense. He is but a poor travelling peddler with +his pack. See, here is the pack to speak for itself. For shame to +mar a merry holiday in this unmannerly fashion! No; I will not give +him up! Ye are no better than a pack of howling, ravening wolves. I +am the Lord of Chad, and I will see that no violence is done this +day. Back to your sports, ye unmannerly knaves. Are ye fit for +nothing but to set upon one helpless man and worry him as dogs +worry their helpless prey?" + +Howls, execrations, oaths followed freely; but the village people +were to a man with their young lord, and the scions of Mortimer +felt it by instinct. + +"Who is he? Whence came he?" was being asked on all sides; but none +could give an answer. He was a stranger to the village, but all +those who had been drinking in his words rallied round him, and +declared he was but a simple peddler whose wares they had been +buying; and Bertram, who really thought so, stood beside the tree, +opened the bundle, and showed the innocent nature of the wares. + +His brothers had forced their way to his side by this time, and +helped to make a ring round the poor hunchback; and Edred kept a +very sharp eye upon the emptying of the pack, resolved if there +should be any book at the bottom to contrive that it should not +reach the eyes of any of the vindictive followers of Mortimer. + +But there was nothing of the sort to be seen. The man was both too +poor and too wary to carry such dangerous things with him. His own +thin volume had been slipped into some secret receptacle about his +person, and his calmness of bearing helped to convince all who were +open to conviction that he was innocent of the charge brought +against him. + +With dark, lowering faces, and many muttered threats, the Mortimer +retainers drew off, seeing that with public feeling dead against +them they could not prevail to work their will upon the intended +victim. But Warbel was made very anxious by the words he heard +openly spoken on all sides, and he would have given much to have +hindered this act of Bertram's, generous and manly though he knew +it to have been. + +"It is ill work drawing down the charge of heresy," he remarked, as +he got the boys at last in full march homeward. "Any other charge +one can laugh to scorn; but no man may tell where orthodoxy ends +and heresy begins. Godly bishops have been sent to prison, and +priests to the stake. How may others hope to escape?" + +"Tush!" answered Bertram lightly; "there was never a heretic at +Chad yet, and never will be one, I trow. Was I to see a poor +cripple like that done to death without striking a blow in his +defence--he in Chadwick, of which my father is lord of the manor? +Was I to see Mortimer's men turning a gay holiday into a scene of +horror and affright? Never! I were unworthy of my name had I not +interposed. The man was no heretic, and if he had been--" + +"Have a care, sir, how thou speakest; have a care, I entreat thee! +Thou knowest not what ears may be listening!" cried Warbel, in a +real fright. + +Bertram laughed half scornfully. + +"I have no need to be ashamed of what I think. I am a true son of +the Church, and fear not what the vile Mortimer scum may say. But +to pleasure thee, good Warbel, I will say no more. We will make our +way home with all speed, and tell the tale to our father. I doubt +not he will say it was well done. The Lord of Chad would ever have +the defenceless protected, and stand between them and the false and +treacherous bloodhounds of Mortimer. I have no fear that he will +blame me. He would have done the same in my place." + +"I trow he would," answered Warbel in a low voice; "but that does +not make the deed done without peril of some sort following to the +doer." + + + +Chapter V: A Warning. + + +Sir Oliver and his wife listened with some anxiety to the boys' +story of the rescue of the peddler. Bertram observed the cloud upon +his father's brow, and eagerly asked if he had done wrong. + +"I say not so, my son," replied the knight. "I would ever have a +child of mine merciful and just--the protector of the oppressed, +and the champion of the defenceless; nevertheless--" + +"And it was those bloodhounds of Mortimer's who were setting upon +him," broke in Julian vehemently. "What right had they to molest +him? Could we of Chad, upon our own soil, stand by and see it done? +I trow, father, that thou wouldst have done the same hadst thou +been there." + +A smile flitted over the face of the knight. He loved to see the +generous fire burning in his boys' eyes; but for all that his face +was something anxious as he made reply: + +"Belike I should, my son, albeit perhaps in a something less +vehement fashion. My authority would have served to keep down riot, +and the charge against the peddler could have been forthwith +examined, and if found false the man could then have been sent on +his way in safety. But it is dangerous work just now to appear to +side with those against whom the foul charge of heresy is brought. +Knowest thou--know any of ye--what gave rise to the sudden +suspicion?" + +Edred, who knew much more of the real nature of the peddler's +occupation that day, kept his lips close sealed. He would not for +worlds have told what he had seen and heard. His brothers were +plainly ignorant of the peddler's exhortation, reading, and +preaching. It was not for him to add to the anxieties of his +parents. + +Julian was the first to answer the question. + +"It was but the idle spite of the people of Mortimer," he answered. +"They had baited the bull and the bear, and they had the mind to +bait or burn a heretic whilst their blood was up, as a fit end to +their day's pleasuring. I saw them prowling round the tree where +the fellow was talking to the women and showing his wares; and +suddenly they raised the shout. I called out to Bertram that +Mortimer's people were bent on a mischief, and he sprang to the +peddler's side before any had touched him, and we disappointed the +hell hounds of their prey. He had nothing in his pack but such +wares as all peddlers have; and the people vowed he had done naught +all the day but sell to all who came. It would have been sin and +shame for us of Chad to have stood by to see him hounded perhaps to +death. We could not choose but balk those evil men of their will. +None of our blood could have stood by to see such ill done!" + +"I cannot blame ye, my sons," said the knight. "Ye have the blood +of your forefathers in your veins, and it goes against all of us at +Chad to see injustice and unrighteousness committed. I do but wish +the cry raised against yon man had been anything else than that of +heresy. The priests and magistrates are very busy now searching out +all those suspected of that vile sin, and those who shelter them +are accounted as guilty as those who are proved tainted. Our foe of +Mortimer is very zealous in the good cause, and will not scruple to +employ against us every weapon in his power. It would be an +excellent thing in his eyes to show how mine own children had stood +up to defend a Lollard heretic. I would we knew something more +anent this man and his views. + +"Warbel, didst thou know him? Is he anyone known in and about +Chad?" + +"I never saw his face before, sir," answered Warbel. "I know not so +much as his name. I had thought of making some inquiries of the +village folks. All I noted was that he seemed always to have plenty +of persons around and about him, and his wares were nothing very +attractive. Still, it is often the tales peddlers tell and the way +they have with them that keeps a crowd always about them. Some of +the folks of the place must know who and what he is." + +"Yes, verily; and it would be well for thee to ride over tomorrow +and make all needful inquiry. It would set my mind at rest to know +that there was no cause of complaint against him. We cannot be +blind to the fact that heretical doctrines are widely spread by +those purporting to be hawkers and peddlers. Yet there must be many +honest men who would scorn to be so occupied, and who know not even +the name of these pestilent heresies." + +And with that charge the knight tried to dismiss the subject from +his mind; whilst Edred went to bed feeling terribly uneasy, and +dreamed all night of the secret chamber, and how the time came when +they were all forced to take refuge in it from the hatred of the +Lord of Mortimer and his bloodthirsty followers. + +But not even to his brothers did he tell all that he had heard and +all that he knew. The words of the gospel in the familiar language +of his country haunted him persistently. He felt a strange wish to +hear more, although he believed the wish to be sin, and strove +against it might and main. Some of the passages clung tenaciously +to his memory, and he fell asleep repeating them. When he woke the +words were yet in his mind, and they seemed to get between him and +the words of his task that day when the boys went to their tutor +for daily instruction. + +Brother Emmanuel had never found Edred so inattentive and absent +before. He divined that the boy must have something on his mind, +and let him alone. He was not surprised that he lingered when the +others had gone, and then in a low voice asked his preceptor if he +would meet him in the chantry, as he felt he could not be happy +till he had made confession of a certain matter, done penance, and +received absolution. + +A request of that sort never met a denial from the monk. He sent +Edred to the chantry to pray for an hour, and met him there at the +end of that time to listen to all he had to say. + +Edred's story was soon told--nothing held back, not even the +innermost thoughts of his heart--and the expression of the face +beneath the enshrouding cowl was something strange to see. + +It was long before the monk spoke, and meantime Edred lay prostrate +at his feet, thankful to transfer the burden weighing him down to +the keeping of another, but little guessing what the burden was to +him to whom he made this confession. + +Well did Brother Emmanuel know and recognize the peril of +entertaining such thoughts, longings, and aspirations as were now +assailing the heart of this unconscious boy. That there was sin in +all these feelings he did not doubt; that heavy penance must be +done for them he would not for a moment have wished to deny. But +yet when he came to place reason in the place of the formulas of +the Church in which he had been reared, he knew not how to condemn +that longing after the Word of God which was generally the first +step towards the dreaded sin of heresy. + +No one more sincerely abhorred the name and the sin of heresy. When +men denied the presence of the living God in the sacraments of the +Church, or attacked its time-honoured practices in which the heart +of the young monk was bound up, then the whole soul of the +enthusiast rose up in revolt, and he felt that such blasphemers +well deserved the fiery doom they brought upon themselves. But when +their sin was possessing a copy of the living Word; when all that +could be alleged against them was that they met together to read that +Word which was denied to them by their lawful pastors and teachers, +and which they had no opportunity of hearing otherwise--then indeed +did it seem a hard thing that they should be so mercilessly condemned +and persecuted. + +Yet he could not deny that this reading and expounding of the +Scriptures by the ignorant and unlearned led almost invariably to +those other sins of blasphemy and irreverence which curdled the +very blood in his veins. Again and again had his heart burned +within him to go forth amongst the people himself; to take upon +himself and put in practice the office of evangelist, which he knew +to be a God-appointed ministry, and yet which was so seldom +worthily fulfilled, and himself to proclaim aloud the gospel, that +all might have news of the Son of God, yet might be taught to +reverence the holy sacraments more rather than less for the sake of +Him who established them upon earth, and to respect the priesthood, +even though it might in its members show itself unworthy, because +it was a thing given by Christ for the edification of the body, and +because He Himself, the High Priest passed into the heavens, must +needs have His subordinate priests working with Him and by Him on +earth. + +Again and again had longings such as these filled his soul, and he +had implored leave to go forth preaching and teaching. But he had +never won permission to do this. The request had been treated with +contempt, and he himself had been suspected of ambition and other +unworthy motives. He had submitted to the will of his superiors, as +his vow of obedience obliged him to do; but none the less did his +heart burn within him as he saw more and more plainly how men were +thirsting for living waters, and realized with ever-increasing +intensity of pain and certainty that if the Church herself would +not give her children to drink out of pure fountains, they would +not be hindered from drinking of poisoned springs, and thus draw +down upon themselves all manner of evils and diseases. + +He had never doubted for a moment the pureness of the source from +which he himself drank. He was not blind to the imperfections many +and great of individuals in high places, and the corruptions which +had crept within the pale of the Church, but these appeared to him +incidental and capable of amendment. He never guessed at any deeper +poison at work far below, tainting the very waters at their source. +He was in all essential points an orthodox son of Rome; but he had +imbibed much of the spirit of the Oxford Reformers, of whom Colet +was at this time the foremost, and his more enlightened outlook +seemed to the blind and bigoted of his own order to savour +something dangerously of heresy. + +He did not know himself seriously suspected. His conscience was too +clear, his devotion to the Church too pure, to permit of his easily +fearing unworthy suspicions. He knew himself no favourite with the +stately but self-indulgent Prior of Chadwater; knew that Brother +Fabian, whom he had once sternly rebuked for an act of open sin, +was his bitter enemy. But he had not greatly heeded this, strong in +his own innocence, and he had been far happier at Chad in the more +truly pure atmosphere of that secular house than in the so-called +sanctity of the cloister. + +And now he found his own thoughts, aspirations, and yearnings +repeated in the mind of his favourite pupil, and he was confronted +by a problem more difficult to solve than any that had met him +before. In his own case he felt he had a compass to steer by--the +restraint and guidance of his vows and his habit to help him. But +how would it be with this ardent and imaginative boy? His mind was +struggling to free itself from artificial trammels. To what goal +might not that wish lead? + +Earnestly he looked upon the bowed form at his feet, and in his +eyes there was a great compassion. But his lips pronounced, with +sternness and decision, the words of the heavy penance imposed, and +at the end of the prescribed formulas he raised the boy and looked +searchingly into his face. + +"My son," he said, very gently yet very impressively, "remember +that the first sin that entered into the world was the sin of +disobedience. Remember that Satan's most powerful weapon is the one +which he employed towards our first mother when he bid her eat of +the tree of knowledge, because that knowledge is good--a God-given +thing--when he persuaded her that God was wrong in keeping anything +hidden from her that in itself was good. The same sin by which +death entered the world has abounded there ever since. God and the +Son of God and the Church have always taught that there be certain +things hidden, only to be revealed to man by God or through the +ordinances of the Church, not to be sought after through curiosity +by unlettered men themselves. Yet for as much as Satan is never at +rest, and can transform himself on occasion into an angel of light, +he is ever present with men urging them on to pry into these hidden +mysteries and to make light of the ordinances of God. He puts into +their mouth words similar to those by which he tempted the woman to +her fall, and men listen greedily as our first mother did, and are +led into destruction when they think they are walking forth into +the light of day. + +"My son, beware of this sin; beware of this temptation. Remember +the many solemn warnings against disobedience contained in the Word +of God; remember how obedience is insisted on throughout that holy +volume. Thou mayest not always see the reason--thou mayest not +always recognize the authority; but remember that there is a +blessing upon those who obey, and be not in haste to break the bond +under which thou wast born, remembering who has placed thee where +thou art, and who has bidden us give all dutiful obedience to the +powers that be." + +Edred made a deep reverence, crossed himself silently in token of +submission, and prostrated himself upon the step of the altar, to +lie there fasting till set of sun as one part of his penance. With +a murmured prayer and blessing the monk left him, hoping that he +had spoken a word of seasonable warning to one whose heart was +enkindled with ardent devotion, whilst his active mind and vivid +imagination were in danger of leading him into perilous paths. + +No questions were asked of Edred respecting this penance, which +took him away from his ordinary occupations during the chief part +of the two following days. He and Brother Emmanuel alone knew the +reason for it, and it was against the traditions of the house that +any open notice should be taken by others. + +The episode of the peddler and the outbreak with the followers of +Mortimer had begun to fade somewhat from the minds of those at +Chad. No complaint had reached that house from Mortimer's Keep, as +had been expected, and it was hoped that the thing would never be +heard of again. + +Yet it was with something of a sinking heart that Sir Oliver heard +the third day that the Prior of Chadwater desired speech of him; +and as he mounted his horse and summoned his servants about him, he +wondered, not without considerable uneasiness, what this summons +might mean. + +He had always been on good terms with the handsome prior of the +Benedictine monastery. The choicest of the game, the fattest of the +bucks slain in the forest, the chiefest specimens of his wife's +culinary triumphs, always found their way to the prior's table, and +an excellent understanding had always been maintained between the +two houses. But the knight had observed of late that the prior had +become more slack in those visits of friendly courtesy which once +had been common enough between them; and when he had presented +himself at the monastery, he had not been quite certain that his +welcome was as cordial as heretofore. It was not until latterly +that this had caused him any uneasiness--it had taken him some +while to feel sure that it was anything but his own fantasy; but he +had just begun to feel that something was amiss, and now this +summons seemed to him to have an evil import. + +However, there was nothing for it but to go; and a clear conscience +keeps a man bold even in face of greater peril than was likely to +assail him now. He thought it probable that some rumour of the stir +on the fair day had reached the ecclesiastic, and that he wanted an +account of it in detail. Sir Oliver was quite prepared to give him +that, and entered the presence of the prior with a bold front and +an air of cordial courtesy such as he was wont to wear in the +presence of this dignitary. + +There was nothing alarming in the prior's manner. He received his +guest graciously, bid him be seated in the best chair reserved for +the use of guests, and asked him of the welfare of his household +with benevolence and friendly interest. But after all that had been +said, his face took another look, and he brought up the subject of +the travelling peddler or preacher, and asked the knight what his +sons meant by standing champions to a notable and pernicious +Lollard heretic. + +The knight started at the words, and disclaimed any such knowledge +both on behalf of himself and his sons. He told the tale as Bertram +and Julian had told it him; and there was such sincerity in his +manner, and his character both for orthodoxy and for scrupulous +truthfulness in word and deed was so widely known and respected, +that the prior's brow unbent somewhat, and he looked less stern and +severe. + +"I believe your story, Sir Knight," he said. "I believe that your +sons sinned in ignorance. But none the less is it true that they +have stood champions for a pestilent heretic; and that is an +offence not likely to escape the vengeful notice of the Lord of +Mortimer, who is always on the lookout for a cause of complaint +against person or persons at Chad." + +"That is very true," replied Sir Oliver, thoughtfully and gravely. +"I was greatly vexed when I heard of the affair, and chided my boys +for their hot-headed rashness. Howbeit there be many there to +testify that the man was at that time but hawking his wares, and my +sons could not know that he was a secret heretic and Lollard." + +"Nay, but when that cry was raised they should not have stood at +his side as his champions without more knowledge of the truth. The +man is now known to have been preaching well nigh the whole day +long, reading portions of those accursed translations of Wycliffe's +which are damnation to all who possess them or listen to them, and +expounding thereupon in the fashion that sends persons raving mad +with the poison of heresy. The man is in hiding somewhere in the +woods about; but he will soon be caught and handed over to the +secular power to be doomed to death. And I like not the story of +your sons' part in all this; it hath an ugly look." + +Sir Oliver hid his anxiety beneath a cloak of dignified submission. +He well knew the best way of putting things straight with the +prior. + +"I greatly grieve over the hotheadedness of the lads, but I will +gladly make such amends as lies in my power. They sinned in +ignorance, as you, reverend father, believe, and for such sins the +indulgence of the Church may be won by the payment of such sum as +shall be thought right. If you will tell me what I ought to give to +purchase this indulgence, I will do my utmost to meet the just +claim; and Holy Church shall be richer and not poorer for the +trespass unwittingly made by the sons of Chad." + +The prior looked pleased at this ready suggestion, and named a sum +which, though sufficiently heavy, was within Sir Oliver's means, +and which he promised should be immediately paid. He knew that the +prior, though a man fond of money, and somewhat greedy in gaining +possession of all he could, was not treacherous or unjust; and that +if he had accepted this sum as the price of the pardon of the boys' +escapade, he would stand their friend, and not allow them to be +persecuted by Mortimer for the same offence, should the matter ever +be brought up against them again. + +Indeed, now that the arrangement had been so amicably entered into, +Sir Oliver was rather glad that the subject had been broached. The +prior was the most powerful man in the county, and to have him for +a friend was everything. It was his game to hold the balance very +nicely betwixt the owners of Mortimer and Chad, keeping his neutral +position, and not permitting either party to overstep the limits +beyond a certain extent. After what had just passed, he felt +assured that the prior would not permit his boys to be harried or +accused of countenancing heresy by their enemy, and he was well +pleased at the interview and its result. + +He rose now as if to go, but the prior motioned him to resume his +seat. + +"There is yet another matter upon which I would speak to you," he +said. "You have beneath your roof one of our younger brethren, +Brother Emmanuel. How have you found him comport himself since he +has been free from the restraints of the cloister?" + +The knight looked surprised at the question. + +"He is in all ways a very godly and saintly youth," he replied. "He +instructs my sons after an excellent fashion, keeps the hours of +the Church with a scrupulous precision I have never seen equalled, +and instructs all who come to him for advice or assistance in a +manner that makes him beloved of all. Whenever I have talked with +him or gone to him for spiritual counsel, I have been greatly +struck by his spiritual insight, his purity of thought, his +earnestness of mind, and his knowledge of the Holy Scriptures." + +The prior shifted a little in his seat, and coughed behind his hand +somewhat dubiously. + +"He was ever prone to observe the hours well. He lived blamelessly +here in all outward observances; but as for his knowledge of the +Holy Scriptures, it may be that it goes something too far. It is +whispered abroad that some of his words savour strongly of those +very Lollard heresies which are about to be put down with fire and +sword. Hast thou heard and seen naught of that?" + +A thrill of indignation ran through Sir Oliver's frame. It was only +by an effort that he restrained a hasty exclamation. He well knew +that the wave of enlightened feeling rising within the Church +herself had found no echo in the remoter parts of the kingdom, +where bigotry and darkness and intolerance still reigned supreme. +He was perfectly aware that the most enlightened sons of the Church +who had dared to bid the people study the Word of God, and +especially to study it as a whole, would have been denounced as +heretics had they lifted up their voices in many parts of the +kingdom. This very enlightened understanding, which was so marked a +feature in Brother Emmanuel, had been one of the strongest bonds +between him and his patron, and it seemed little short of monstrous +to the knight to hear such an accusation brought against one who +had lived a godly and blameless life, had observed far more +rigorously all the laws of the Church than the prior or the +fraternity thought of doing, and was a far truer and better son +than they ever attempted to be. + +But he restrained his indignation, and only answered very calmly: + +"I have seen naught of it; indeed, I have seen so much to the +contrary, that methinks it is but an idle tale, not worth your +reverence's attention. In every matter, word or deed, Brother +Emmanuel is faithful to his vows and to his calling. He is an able +instructor of youth; and were your reverence to examine him as +strictly as possible, I do not believe that any cause of offence, +however trivial, could be found against him." + +"I am well pleased to hear such good testimony," returned the +prior, who was regarding his visitor with a scrutiny not altogether +agreeable to the knight. "At the same time, it is not always well +for a monk to remain too long away from the cloister, and a change +of instructor is ofttimes better for the young. I have been +thinking that it might be well to recall Brother Emmanuel, and send +in his place Brother Fabian, in whom I repose the greatest +confidence. How would such a change meet your good pleasure? If +Brother Emmanuel is in need of penance, it can better be imposed +here than elsewhere--and by all I hear it seems to me that he +stands something in need of the discipline of the monastery; and +Brother Fabian would make an excellent substitute as an instructor +for the lads." + +Whilst the prior was speaking, thought had been rapid with Sir +Oliver, and something in the prior's look--a subtlety and almost +cruelty about the lines of the mouth--warned him that there was in +this proposition that which boded evil to someone. + +It flashed across him that Brother Emmanuel was perhaps to be made +a victim of ecclesiastical tyranny and cruelty. He knew that the +ascetic young monk had been no favourite with his brethren at +Chadwater; and if they could bring against him some charge of +heresy, however trifling, it was like enough that he might be +silently done to death, as others of his calling had been for less +fearful offences. Monastic buildings held their dark secrets, as +the world was just beginning to know; and only a short while back +he had heard a whisper that it was not wise for a monk to be too +strict in his hours and in his living. Then again, Brother Fabian +was a coarse, illiterate man, utterly unfit to be the guide and +instructor of youth. Sir Oliver had not dined at the prior's table +and spent hours in his company for nothing, and he knew many of the +monks tolerably well. Brother Fabian was the one he liked the +least; indeed he had a strong dislike and distrust of the man, and +was well aware that the ecclesiastical habit was the only thing +about him that savoured of sanctity or the monastic life. He would +not have allowed the contaminating presence of such a man near his +sons, even had he been indued with the needful learning for the +task of instructor. As it was, he knew that the monk could barely +spell through his breviary, and it was plain that the prior must +have another reason for wishing to induct him into the house. + +Nor was the reason difficult to divine. It was not as an instructor +but as a spy that Brother Fabian was to come. The whispers +abroad--doubtless spread industriously by his vengeful foe--had not +been without effect, and men had begun to suspect that his +household was tainted with heresy. Brother Emmanuel was suspected, +his sons were probably suspected as being his pupils, and possibly +some other members of his household too. Brother Fabian was to be +sent to act as spy, and if bribed (as was most probable) by the +Lord of Mortimer, would doubtless find some cause of offence which +could be twisted into an accusation of heresy against someone +there. + +It was difficult for Sir Oliver to see his way all in a moment. To +oppose this scheme or to submit to it appeared alike dangerous. His +independence and honest English pride revolted against any attempt +to coerce him in his domestic arrangements, or to submit to +interference there, even from the ministers of the Church. + +But it was needful to walk warily, and the prior was watching him +as a cat does a mouse. + +"Will you give me a few days to consider this matter?" he asked, in +as easy a tone as he could. "Your reverence knows that changes are +not of themselves welcome to me; and my sons have made such +progress with Brother Emmanuel that I am something loath to part +with him. Also, they are at this moment going through a course of +study which none other could conclude with the same advantage. +Brother Fabian is doubtless an excellent brother of his order, but +he has scarce the same learning as Brother Emmanuel. Nevertheless, +I will well consider the change proposed, and give it all dutiful +heed. But I should like to speak with my wife anent the matter, and +learn her will. It is not a matter of pressing haste, by what I +have gathered from your words?" + +"No, not one of pressing haste. Yet I would not long delay," +answered the prior. "I may not speak too openly, but there be +reasons why I would have Brother Emmanuel beneath this roof once +more. I will leave thee one week to consider and to get the course +of study completed. At the week's end, methinks, I shall be +constrained to bid Brother Emmanuel return home. But if all be well +after a short time has sped by, he may return again to thee." + +Sir Oliver was looking full at the handsome but crafty face of the +prior, and as the last words passed his lips he saw a flicker in +the eyes which made him say within his heart: + +"If Brother Emmanuel once re-enters these walls, he will never +sally forth again. Mischief is meant him; of that I am convinced. +What must I do? Must I give him up to his death? And how can I save +him, even if I would?" + +These thoughts were surging in his heart as he rode home. The peril +he had feared against those of his own name and race had been +averted. The payment of what was practically a heavy fine would +secure to the boys immunity from the results of their rashness; but +with the monk it was far different. What had aroused the animosity +of the fraternity, and why mischief was planned against him, Sir +Oliver could not divine; but that something had occurred to arouse +it he could not doubt. + +No sooner had he reached home than he sought Brother Emmanuel in +his own bare room, and laid before him the account of what had +passed. + +A strange look crossed the young monk's face. + +"Then it is known!" he said simply. + +"What is known?" + +"That I am the author of a certain pamphlet, written some while +ago, and taken to Germany to be printed, giving an account of some +of the corruptions and abuses that have stolen into the Church, and +in especial into the monasteries and religious houses of this land. +I could not choose but write it. If the Church is to be saved, it +can only be by her repudiation of such corruptions, and by a +process of self cleansing that none can do for her. I always knew +that if suspected my life would pay the forfeit; but I know not how +the authorship has been discovered. Yet the great ones of the land +have ways we know not of; and if the truth is not known, it is +suspected. I am to go back to the priory; but once there, I shall +never go forth again. Yet what matter? I always knew if the thing +were known my life would .pay the forfeit. I wrote as the Spirit +bid me; I know that God was with me then. I am ready to lay down my +life in a good cause; I am not afraid what man can do unto me." + +Sir Oliver looked into that young face, which the martyr spirit +illuminated and glorified, and an answering spark kindled in his +own eyes. + +"If that is thine offence, and not the alleged one of heresy, I +will stand thy friend," he said; "and thou shalt not go forth from +Chad to thy death so long as I have a roof to shelter thee. I will +stand thy friend and protector so long as I have a house to call +mine own." + + + +Chapter VI: Watched! + + +"I am glad thou hast so resolved, my husband; but hast thou +considered what it may mean to thee?" + +Lady Chadgrove spoke gently, laying her hand upon her husband's arm +with a gesture unwontedly tender; for neither was demonstrative of +the deep affection which existed between them, and he knew that +only strong emotion evoked such action from her. + +"I know that if I refuse to give up Brother Emmanuel I may draw +down upon myself stern admonition, and perchance something worse, +but I mean not that it come to open defiance of any injunction from +the Church. Brother Emmanuel must leave Chad secretly, and be far +away ere the week of grace expires. We are but twenty miles from +the coast. This very day I shall ride thither and see what small +trading vessels are in the bay about to fare forth to foreign +shores. I shall negotiate with some skipper making for some Dutch +port to carry thither the person whom I shall describe to him, and +who will show him this ring"--and Sir Oliver displayed an emerald +upon his own finger--"in token that he is the person to be taken +aboard. Those trading skippers are used to such jobs, and if they +be paid they know how to hold their peace and ask no questions. In +Holland the brother will be safer than in any other land. The spite +of the Prior of Chadwater is not like to pursue him there. But here +his life is not safe from hour to hour." + +"And how if it comes to be known that thou hast planned this +escape?" asked the lady, a little anxiously. + +"I have thought of that too, dame," replied the knight, smiling. +"Let but the good brother be safely out of the country, and whilst +the hue and cry is still going on here after him I will to the king +and tell him all the story. Our pious Dean Colet, who knows Brother +Emmanuel, and knows, too, that it is meet the corrupt practices +that have crept within the pale of Holy Church should be made +known, that they may be swept away and reformed, will stand my +friend, and together we can so persuade his Majesty that even if +the prior and Mortimer both combine to accuse me before him he will +not allow their spite to touch me. The king knows right well that +there is need of amendment within the Church herself. We have heard +words spoken in the Cathedral of London which would be accounted +rank heresy here. There is light abroad which must one day reach to +the ends of the earth, and truly it sometimes seemeth to me that if +the priests, the abbots, and the monks set their faces steadfastly +against this light, they will fall into some terrible pitfall, but +they will never quench the light with their united strength." + +The lady gave one quick glance round, as though afraid that even +the walls might have ears, and such sentiments were not those that +it was safe to blazon abroad. But Sir Oliver, strong in the +consciousness of his own deep and abiding love for the Church and +for all the doctrines which she upheld, was bold to speak his mind +in private when the subject broached was the one of corruptions and +abuses which some of the sturdiest and noblest sons of the Church +were now engaged in examining and denouncing, none dreaming of +charging them with heresy on that account. + +But the mother had noted the presence of Edred, who had come in +quietly whilst the discussion was going on, and was now standing +listening to his father's words with kindling eyes; and she made a +sign to her husband which caused him to turn round, and then the +boy spoke. + +"The horses are ready at the door, father, and Bertram prays that +he may accompany thee. He is donning his riding dress already." + +"With all my heart," answered the knight readily, "an he can ride +the forty miles betwixt this and tomorrow at the same hour; for I +do not purpose to be long absent." + +"Bertram would ride all day and all night and feel it not," +answered Edred with a proud smile; "and he loves the sight and the +smell of the salt sea, and would be loath to miss the chance of +seeing it. Father, art thou going to aid Brother Emmanuel to fly? +Is there peril for him abroad?" + +The knight bent a quick, keen glance upon his son. + +"I fear so, my boy; and Brother Emmanuel himself thinks that ill is +meant him. And it is better to seek safety in flight at the first +hint of danger than to dally and delay, and perhaps find at last +that it is too late to fly. Thou, my son, wilt for this one day and +night be left in charge of thy mother and thy home and all within +it; for I must needs take with me Warbel and a score of our +stoutest fellows, for the lonely road to the coast is none too safe +for travellers of the better sort. Be thou watchful and vigilant, +and keep thine eyes and thine ears alike open. Heed well that the +gates be closed early, and that all be made safe, and let not +Brother Emmanuel adventure himself without the walls. Use all +discretion and heed, and fare thee well. I shall reach the coast +tonight, and do my business with all speed, and be in the saddle +again with the light of dawn, so thou mayest look to see us again +before noon." + +And with a tender farewell to his wife, the knight mounted and rode +away with his gallant little train; and the lady looked after him +from the window, and said to Edred, who quickly came to her to +learn more, if he could, of the words he had recently heard: + +"Now may the blessed saints and our Lord Himself be with him! for +no braver and truer gentleman lives in the length and breadth of +this land. There be few, indeed, who would imperil their own safety +rather than yield up one who is after all little more than a +stranger. Heaven send that he repent not this deed! May God be with +him in all his ways!" + +"My mother," said Edred cautiously, "is it that Brother Emmanuel is +in sore peril? He is so devout and faithful a son of the Church +that it is hard to credit it." + +"In sooth, my son, these be matters hard to be understood; but thy +father truly holds that he were safer out of this country and out +of reach of the Prior of Chadwater and the Lord of Mortimer. Men's +words can be turned and twisted till the best may be accused of +heresy; and again, if a monk has fallen beneath the wrath of his +superior, no man may tell what would befall were he to return to +the power of his spiritual father. Sure those holy men who founded +the orders of godly recluses little dreamed what those places might +become in time, and with the ever-increasing love of ease and +wealth which seems implanted in the heart of man. + +"Heaven pardon me if I speak or think amiss! but it is strange to +hear and see what passes in the world. But one must use all caution +even in thought, and I would not have thee speak aught of this save +in a whisper in thy brother's ear, that he too may use all caution +and discretion till we can find occasion to send Brother Emmanuel +forth in safety. + +"We have a week before us ere he will be summoned hence. Strive +that none shall suspect aught of difference or coming change. Keep +well the hours of study. Give none occasion for remark. For all we +know, a spy may be in our midst; and at least any servant of ours +might well be questioned by any of the monks of Chadwater, to whom +he might go to confess, as to what was passing in the house, and +see no hurt in answering questions. Wherefore be very wise and +discreet, and give none occasion for remark. + +"Thou dost understand me, my son? I may trust thee? Remember that +thine own father's welfare may be imperilled by the veriest trifle +should men suspect him of striving to outwit the prior." + +Edred's eyes expressed a great comprehension and sympathy. He took +his mother's hand and kissed it, slightly bending the knee. + +"Thou mayest trust me, sweet mother," he answered. "Methinks I know +well all thou wouldst say. I will be cautious, and I will teach +caution to Julian. No harm shall come to any beneath this roof from +word or deed of ours." + +And then the lady went to her delayed household duties, whilst +Edred went in search of his brother, to take him to the room where +their studies were usually prosecuted, that the household wheels +might revolve after the accustomed manner. + +But Julian was nowhere to be seen. Edred sought him and called him +lustily, till at length the old seneschal at the gate heard him, +and informed him that his brother had gone a short distance on foot +with the travellers, but that he would doubtless be back ere long. + +Julian was light and fleet of foot as a deer, and often ran for +many miles beside his father's charger, the nature of the wooded +country round Chad giving him many advantages. Edred wandered forth +a little way to meet him on his return, and was presently aware of +a cowled figure standing close against a great beech tree, and so +motionless and rigid was the attitude that the boy had to look +somewhat closely to be certain that it was not a part of the tree +trunk itself. + +He paused and examined the figure with an intense curiosity not +unmixed with suspicion. His own light footfall did not appear to +have been heard, and the motionless figure, partly concealed behind +the tree, remained in the same rigid attitude, as though intently +watching some approaching object. + +For a moment a superstitious thrill ran through the boy's frame. He +had heard stories of ghostly visitants to these woods, some of +which wore the garb of the monks of the neighbouring priory; but he +had never seen any such apparition, and would not have thought of +it now had it not been for the peculiar and unnatural quietude of +this figure. As it was, he paused, gazing intently at it, wondering +if indeed it were a being of flesh and blood. + +He was just summoning up courage to go forward and salute it, when +it moved forward in a gliding and cautious fashion. Edred felt +ashamed of his momentary thrill of fear, for he recognized at once +the awkward gait and rolling step of Brother Fabian, and knew that +his preceptor's bitterest foe was lingering in the precincts of his +home. + +Resolved not to be seen himself, the boy sprang up a neighbouring +tree as lightly as a squirrel, and from that vantage ground he saw +that his brother Julian was approaching, and that the monk had +stepped out to greet the lad. He heard the sound of the nasal +tones, so different from the refined accents of Brother Emmanuel. + +"Peace be with thee, my son." + +Julian stopped short, and slightly bent the knee. He looked up into +Brother Fabian's face with a look which Edred well knew, and which +implied no love for his interlocutor. A stranger, however, would be +probably pleased at the frank directness of the gaze, not noting +the underlying hardihood and defiance. + +"Alone, my son?" questioned the brother. "Methought I saw thee not +long since with thy father and brother and the servants. How comes +it thou art now alone?" + +"I saw thee not," answered Julian, without attempting to reply to +the question. + +"Belike no. I was telling my beads out here in the forest. Thou +didst pass me by all unknowing; but I was nigh thy path the while +nevertheless. Whither--" + +"That is something strange," remarked the boy, affecting not to +hear the commencement of another question; "for I could be sworn +that not a squirrel or field mouse crosses my path but that I mark +him down. But I may not linger thus; the hour of our studies is +already here. I wish you good e'en; I must away home." + +The boy would have been gone with a bound the next instant had not +the monk laid a detaining hand upon his arm. Edred saw by the +reluctance of his brother's mien that he resented being thus +stayed. + +"One moment, good my son," said Brother Fabian. "Tell me whither +thy father and brother have gone. It is something too late in the +day for a hunting party; yet I knew not that the good knight +purposed any journey." + +Edred saw the sudden flash that came into Julian's eyes. He was in +an agony lest the boy should betray his father's destination, which +to the astute mind of the monk might betray much more than his +brother himself knew; but as he heard Julian's words he drew his +breath more freely. + +"Marry, hast thou not heard that my Lord of Beaumaris and Rochefort +goes a-hunting tomorrow with great muster? My father has gone to +join the goodly company assembling there. Wilt thou not go thither +too, Master Monk, and join the revelry that will make the hall ring +tonight? I trow there is welcome for all who come. I would my +father had taken me." + +"Go to, saucy boy, go to!" replied the brother, half piqued, half +amused by the lad's boldness in thus implying that his place was at +a riotous revel such as generally took place when some great baron +invited his friends for a day's sport in the forest. + +It was like enough that this hunting party had been arranged for +the morrow, and this road certainly led to Beaumaris and Rochefort. +The reply seemed to satisfy the monk, and he relaxed his grasp of +the boy's arm. + +"I must not keep thee from thy studies longer," he said. "Say, what +does Brother Emmanuel teach you?" + +"The Latin tongue and the use of the pen. Edred is a fine scribe +already. And he hath taught us our letters in Greek likewise; for +men are saying, he tells us, that it is shame that that language +has been neglected so long, since the Holy Scriptures were written +in it first." + +"And he doubtless teaches you from the Holy Scriptures--" + +"Ay; and from the writings of the fathers, and the mass book," +added the boy. "We can all read Latin right well now. But I must be +going, an it please thee-" + +"Yea, verily thou wilt make a fine scholar one of these days. I am +glad thou hast so good an instructor. And that reminds me--I would +have speech with Brother Emmanuel some day soon. I have a missal +that I think he would greatly like sight of. I misdoubt me if the +prior would like it carried forth from the library; but if he would +meet me one day here in the forest, I will strive to secrete it and +let him have sight of it. It hath wonderful pictures and lettering +such as he loves. Wilt tell him of it, boy, and ask if he will have +sight of it?" + +"I will tell him," answered Julian. "But I trow he will have naught +to do with it an it has been filched away from the library without +the reverend prior's permission. Brother Emmanuel teaches us more +of the doctrine of obedience than of any other. I trow he will not +budge an inch!" + +A scowling look passed over the features of the monk, which had +hitherto been smiling and bland. He took Julian by the arm again, +and said in a low voice: + +"I have something of import to speak to Brother Emmanuel. He will +do well to heed me, and to hear what I have to say. Bid him be at +this spot two days hence just as the sun goes down. Tell him if he +come not he may live to repent it bitterly." + +"Wilt thou not come back with me?" asked the boy, with a quick, +distrustful look into the bloated face beneath the cowl. "Thou +canst speak at ease with him at home. It were better than out here +in the forest. I will lead thee to him straight, and thou canst say +all that is in thine heart." + +But the monk dropped his arm and turned quickly away; his voice +bespoke ill-concealed irritation. + +"I may not linger longer here. The vesper bell will be ringing by +now. Give Brother Emmanuel my message. I would see him here in the +forest. And now farewell, boy; go home as fast as thou wilt, and +put a bridle on thy forward tongue, lest haply it lead thee one day +into trouble." + +The monk strode away in the direction of the priory. Julian took +the path towards Chad, with many backward glances at the retreating +figure, and hardly was it lost in the thick underwood of the forest +than he found his brother standing at his side. + +"Thou here, Edred? Whence camest thou?" + +Edred pointed to his leafy hiding place, and laid a finger on his +lips in token of caution. Julian pursued his way awhile in silence, +and only when they had increased the distance betwixt themselves +and the monk by many hundred yards, the elder brother said, in low +tones and very cautiously: + +"Have a care, Julian; methinks he is not going home. He is here as +a spy, I do not doubt. I saw him watching and spying like a +veritable messenger sent for such a purpose. + +"O Julian, I was right glad at the answer thou gavest him about our +father. I trembled lest thou shouldst say he was bound for the +coast." + +Both brothers had been too well trained in the creed which allows +and encourages the practice of speaking falsehood and even doing +evil in a good cause, to feel that any kind of shame attached to a +falsehood spoken to conceal from a crafty enemy a thing it would be +perilous to others for him to know. And indeed diplomatic falsehood +has never been eradicated from the world even since purer light has +shone in upon it. It is very hard to meet craft, falsehood, and +treachery by absolute frankness and truthful honesty. In the long +run it does sometimes prove to be the strongest weapon a man can +wield; but the temptation to meet craft by craft, deceit by deceit, +is strong in human nature, and until a much later date was openly +advocated as the only policy sane men could adopt when they dealt +with foes always eager to outwit them. And certainly these lads +would have felt themselves justified in going to far greater +lengths to save their father from suspicion, or their preceptor and +friend from peril. + +"Then thou heardest all? I scarce know why I spoke as I did, for +our father has always been the friend of the brethren of Chadwater. +But the look in the man's eye made me cautious, and I minded a few +parting words spoken by Bertram. Tell me, Edred, what it is that is +stirring; I would know more." + +"Verily it is that Brother Emmanuel stands in some peril from those +of his own community. He has written something they mislike, and +they mean to have him back to answer for it. Both he and our father +think that if once he enters Chadwater again he will never come +forth alive. Wherefore our father will not give him up to his +enemies, but will contrive for him to escape. That is what he has +gone to the coast for today; and when he knows that a vessel is +ready and about to sail, Brother Emmanuel must be spirited away in +the dead of the night; and when the prior comes to search for +him--as doubtless he will do when we can find him not--it will +puzzle him to lay hands upon him, for he will be away on the high +seas." + +"Good!" cried Julian, delighted. "Edred, I mislike those cruel, +crafty monks. Methinks they are little like the saintly men of old +who fled to the cloister to rid themselves of the trammels of the +world. I--" + +But Edred laid a hand upon his brother's arm and checked him +suddenly, pointing to another stationary figure a short distance +away amongst the trees--a figure wearing the dress of a lay brother +of the priory, and engaged in keeping a close and careful watch +upon the main entrance to the house. + +"Hist!" whispered Edred; "we must not let him hear such words. +Julian, mark my word, this house is watched. The prior has set his +spies upon it. He fears lest Brother Emmanuel shall escape; or else +the watch is set so that any going forth of his may be known, and +he will be set upon and swiftly bound, and carried away to the +priory, whence, I fear me, no man will ever see him re-issue." + +Both the boys had stopped short, and now they looked into each +other's faces with dismay. + +Their light footfalls had not been heard, nor even the sound of +their voices; for a strong breeze had sprung up, and was rustling +the leaves overhead, and several birds were singing lustily. The +brothers had time to take in the situation without being seen +themselves, and they then drew hack into a leafy covert and spoke +in whispers. + +"Edred, do thou go back to the house instantly and openly, and warn +Brother Emmanuel that he go not forth. Belike he might come out in +search of us, since the hour is long past when we should have been +with him. That must not be. Go and tell him all we have seen; +whilst I will creep like a wildcat round the house, and see if +there be other spies keeping watch like those we have seen." + +"Ay, do so," replied Edred earnestly. "I fear me we shall find that +every door is watched. But if thou art seen, go forward boldly. Let +none guess that you suspect aught. Doubtless each watcher is well +primed with some excellent reason for being found there. Speak them +friendly, and do not show distrust." + +"I will be as wise as a serpent," answered the boy, with one of his +keen looks which bespoke him older in mind than in years. + +Edred felt that his junior was better fitted to cope with a spy +than he himself; and gladly taking the other office upon himself, +he walked gaily forward, whistling a roundelay as he moved, and +affecting not to see the dark figure by the oak, which pressed +closer and closer out of sight as the lad strode by. + +"Verily he means to remain unseen," thought Edred to himself. "If +he had not been a spy he would have greeted me as I passed. He is +after no good. Thank Heaven we have seen and heard what we have! We +can so manage now that Brother Emmanuel set not foot beyond the +courtyard for long enough to come--not till he may sally forth to +make his way to the coast." + +And then a sudden fear smote the boy that per chance this night +journey to the coast might not be so easy to accomplish as had been +hoped. If the cunning prior had set a watch upon Chad with the very +object of preventing the escape of his intended victim, might it +not well be that his father's forethought would be of no avail? + +But it would not do to lose heart--time might show a way of escape; +and Edred hurried within, and found Brother Emmanuel awaiting his +tardy pupils, the great Bible open before him, the sunset light +illuminating his face till, to the boy's ardent imagination, it +seemed to be encircled by a nimbus. + +His story was soon excitedly told, and as Brother Emmanuel heard of +Sir Oliver's sudden journey, a look almost as of pain crossed his +face. + +"I have told thy father that I cannot and will not suffer harm to +befall him and his through his kindness to me. Boy, boy, these be +evil days in which to offend the powers that be; and it were +better, far better, I should give myself up to death than that hurt +should fall upon those I love and those who have befriended me with +such generosity and love." + +But Edred passionately disclaimed and explained. + +"Brother, holy father, speak not so! thou wilt break our hearts! We +love thee! thou knowest that we love thee! And we think, we are +assured, that we can yet save thee, and ourselves too. Do not break +our hearts by giving thyself up ere we have tried our utmost. It +may be--nay, I am assured of it--that our blessed Saviour has a +great work for thee to do for Him somewhere. Has He not Himself +charged His servants if they be persecuted in one city to flee to +another? He has not bid them give themselves up to their foes, to +be hindered from doing the work He has put it into their hearts to +do. + +"Pardon my forwardness if I seem to teach my preceptor. I do but +repeat words thou hast taught me. Stay with us--stay at Chad. There +be ways and means both for hiding and for flight of which few know +or dream. Let us have this alms to do for our Lord, that we hide +and save one of His servants. Thou canst little know what grief and +sorrow thou wouldst cause to us, or thou couldst not talk of giving +thyself up." + +The boy's earnestness was so deep that it could not but produce an +impression. Although full of heroic courage and capabilities of +self sacrifice, it was against human nature that Brother Emmanuel +should desire to cast away his life, and that not by raising a +protest for any point of conscience, but simply to be quietly put +out of the way, that he might no longer expose the luxury and vice +prevailing in the monastic retreat of which he was a member. + +He had seen a row of underground niches, some of which had been +walled up; and tradition asserted that living monks had been thus +buried alive for being untrue to their vows. He quite believed the +prior capable of accusing him of the same sin and ordering him to a +like fate. In the eyes of the haughty ecclesiastic such a betrayal +of cloister secrets would be looked upon as treachery to his vows, +whilst in reality it was his very love for his vows, and his horror +at their violation, which had inspired the pen that had poured +forth burning words of denunciation and scorn. To die openly for +the cause would have been one thing--a martyr has ofttimes spoken +more eloquently by his death than by his life--but to be thus +buried in a living grave would benefit none; and who would not +shrink from such a fate? + +The pause which succeeded Edred's impassioned appeal was broken by +the entrance of Julian, flushed and heated. + +"It is as we thought. The house is watched. There be six or seven +spies posted around it--most of them lay brothers, but some monks +themselves. Every entrance is watched closely. None can go in or +out unmarked by one or another. Doubtless they have some signal +which may at any time bring all of them together to one spot. + +"Brother Emmanuel, thou must not adventure thyself beyond the +courtyard till this watch ceases. Were they spies of my Lord of +Mortimer's, we might go forth and drive them hence. But none may +lay a finger on a monk. They are all ready with a story that they +are on the watch for some heretic in hiding in the woods. I spoke +to one to see what he would say, and he began about the hunchback +of the fair, whom they have not caught yet, and professed to be +watching for him. Doubtless they would all say the same did any +question them; but they strive to keep out of sight as far as may +be, and some have found hollow trees where they might pass days and +nights and none be the wiser." + +There could be no study for the boys that day; they were too deeply +moved and excited. Moreover, Edred had his father's charge to keep, +and as sundown was nigh at hand, the two brothers visited every +gate and portal and saw the house made fast within and without. + +An air of excitement and mystery seemed to permeate the place. The +servants had caught some of the infection, and whispers of loyalty +and affection were murmured many times in the boys' ears as they +pursued their round. At last, all being safely ordered, they went +by common consent to their own room, and stood looking at the +secret door which led to the hiding place none knew of but +themselves and Warbel. + +"I trow we shall need it now," said Edred. "But all is in readiness +for the fugitive; all has been done save to bring in the victuals. +Brother, shall we do that this very night? I would there were a +supply there for a month, and a couple of gallon jars of good mead +and some bottles of wine. We must put water there, too, but not +till the last minute. They say men must have water, else they die; +but sure they could live for long on good mead and ale. Hath +Bertram any plan for getting water to the chamber save what we can +carry ourselves? He said he would not rest till we had done +somewhat; but--" + +A light sparkled in Julian's eyes. + +"Come, and thou shalt see, thou brother of books," he said. "Whilst +thou hast been doing thy penance for what sin we know not, and been +reading amain with Brother Emmanuel, we have not been idle. Come, +and I will show thee what we have contrived. I trow none need +perish of thirst in the secret chamber now who knows aught of our +contrivance." + +With eager steps Julian led the way, and Edred no less eagerly +followed. It was very dark in the secret chamber; but the means of +kindling a light were now there, and soon a small dim lantern was +lighted. + +"Come hither," said Julian, taking the light and leading the way +into a corner that lay beneath the leads of the house; and when +there Edred saw a metal trough or receiver, rudely made but +effectual for the purpose of holding any liquid, something similar +to what the animals in the yard were fed and watered from. Above +this trough was a piece of iron pipe with a bung at the end. + +"That trough and pipe Bertram and I fashioned in the blacksmith's +forge with our own hands," said the boy proudly, "and I trow both +are good enow and strong. Dost know what does the other end of the +pipe? Why, we have inserted it into the great rainwater tank yonder +above our heads, which our grandsire contrived, and which is fed +from the roofs and battlements of all the towers. Thou hast heard +our father tell how he read of such things in days of old, when men +built wondrous palaces, and had hanging gardens, and I know not +what beside. He set the tank up there, and, as thou knowest, it is +not now greatly used, albeit there is always water there, and at +times men draw it forth. It may not be the best or purest, but it +will serve for washing, and for drinking too were a man in a great +strait. It is all pure and sweet now; for in the thunderstorm three +nights since Bertram got up and let off all the stagnant water by +the pipe which can be opened below, and the rain soon filled it +again, it poured down with such goodwill. We need not fear that any +captive will die of thirst. He has but to draw this bung and water +will pour forth into this trough till he stops it again. He can +pour away the surplus down the pipe with the dust and such like. + +"I trow whoever lives up here awhile will have no such bad housing. +And if we but get the place victualled this night, it will be ready +for Brother Emmanuel whensoever he may need it." + + + +Chapter VII: An Imposing Spectacle. + + +"To appear at the priory with all our household! Surely, my +husband, that command is something strange?" + +Lady Chadgrove raised her eyes anxiously to her lord's face, to see +thereon an answering look of perplexity not untinged by anxiety. He +was perusing a paper held in his hands. + +"Such is the missive," he remarked. "It was brought by a lay +brother but now. Methinks the fellow is yet in the kitchen. Our +mead is not to be lightly disdained. I will send young Julian to +talk with him, and learn if may be the cause of this strange +summons. I would not willingly give cause of offence to the lord +prior; and the money has been paid that was promised, so methinks +he means no hurt to me or mine. But it is not safe to adventure +oneself into the lion's mouth. I would gladly know what is behind +all this. I am something ill at ease." + +"All the household would mean Brother Emmanuel likewise," said the +lady. "Perchance it is but a means of drawing him within the +toils." + +"It is like enough. It will be the day on which the week of grace +expires. Would to God I could see my way more clearly! I am in a +great strait betwixt mine own conscience and the authority of the +Church. How can I deliver up a faithful and devoted son of the +Church to certain death, when my house is his only refuge and +protection? Yet how may I refuse obedience to my spiritual fathers +and superiors, to whom I owe submission in all things, in right of +their office, albeit as men I know them to be--faulty?". + +He paused, as if reluctant to put his thoughts into words even to +his wife. He was going through that mental and spiritual struggle +which was speedily to do so great a work in the world--that +struggle which led to the final fall of the religious houses in +this land. Viewed as a God-appointed ordinance, or at least as a +bulwark and rampart of the Church, it seemed a fearful thing to +hold them in aught but awe and reverence, and to look upon their +sons as saints and godly men, in whom the Spirit of the Lord was +working. But when the corrupt practices within those walls were +known, when men were convinced, sorely against their will, that the +inmates were licentious, depraved, covetous, and tyrannical, then +indeed it became hard to recognize their God-appointed mission. + +Sir Oliver was no heretic; he had not even the faint sympathy with +and comprehension of the tenets of the heretics which were creeping +into some enlightened minds. He had imbibed some new and +enlightened views from stanch sons of the Church, who were +themselves preaching the doctrine of internal reform, but he went +no further in these matters than his teachers. The very name of +heresy was odious to him, but none the less did it go sorely +against the grain to be a slave to the haughty Prior of Chadwater, +and at his bidding to violate (as it seemed to him) the sacred laws +of hospitality. + +Whilst Julian was gone upon his errand, he paced the floor +restlessly and moodily. + +"I would we had got him off before this coil began. But who could +have thought it would come--and Brother Emmanuel so true and +faithful a son of the Church? Knowest thou, wife, that he keeps +vigil three nights in the week in the chantry, watching +sleeplessly, lest the Lord coming suddenly should find the whole +house sleeping? Edred keeps watch one night, and good old Margaret +another. I did but lately know this thing. Brother Emmanuel holds +that the Church should ever be watching and waiting for her Lord, +lest He come as a thief in the night. He would have prayers +ceaselessly ascending before Him. It is his grief and pain that +within the cloister walls, whence he has come, no true vigil is +kept, but that sloth and ease have taken the place of watching and +vigil and prayer. And such a man as that they would have me deliver +to his death!" + +"Art sure they mean him ill, my husband? It seems scarce possible." + +"I am very sure that it is so," answered the knight, with a stern +glance bent upon the sunny landscape beyond the open window. "It is +strange, but it is true; and I sometimes think that some fearful +and unlooked-for judgment must some day fall upon men who--" + +But Sir Oliver paused, for his wife had made a gesture, as if to +check the impetuous words that sprang to his lips. He smiled a +little darkly. + +"Thou art right, good dame. Such words are better left unspoke. If +it be dangerous to think some things, it be more dangerous to speak +one's thoughts. Let it be enough for us that the Lord reigneth, be +the earth never so unquiet. He sitteth a judge and a king. In His +hands are the final issues of all things." + +The lady bent her head with due reverence, and then asked eagerly: + +"And when does the fishing smack sail?" + +Sir Oliver shook his head impatiently. + +"Not for full fourteen days: it had but just come into port, and +there be much merchandise to unlade and lade again. The skipper was +an honest fellow, and a true-hearted man to boot. He would not take +my gold, but said his passenger should bring it with him when he +came; for he knew there was a chance he might not contrive to come, +and he would not receive aught for services he might never have +power to render. But he knows his business, and once safe on board +the sloop our fugitive will be safe enow. But not till it be almost +ready for sea--not till the skipper could weigh anchor at a +moment's notice. He himself said he must not come aboard till the +last moment. Were any hue and cry to be made after him, any vessel +in port would be certain to be searched. How to keep him safe for +these fourteen--nay, it is but twelve days now--is the thing that +is perplexing me. Until the close of the appointed week naught will +be done; but there will be one long week after that which will tax +our resources to the utmost. And this summons from the prior makes +the whole question the more difficult." + +"And the boys say that the house is being watched. Hast not heard +as much? There be spies from the priory posted round and about. All +the gates are watched. Edred thinks it is to strive to seize +Brother Emmanuel should he venture forth from the shelter of the +walls. + +"I like not the thought of all those prying eyes. My husband, these +be strange times in which we dwell." + +Sir Oliver's face was dark and thoughtful. + +"Ay, verily they be. How can men wonder that the ignorant and +unlearned turn with loathing and scorn from such crooked and +cowardly ways?-- + +"How now, Julian? Hast learned the cause of this ado? What says the +lay brother? Hast thou sounded him with care and with all due +caution?" + +Julian and Edred came in together. Julian looked flushed and +excited, Edred pale and thoughtful, and his eyes were glowing with +a strange fire. + +"Ay, verily, we have found it all out," cried the younger boy, with +eager excitement of manner. "Methinks it will be a fine sight. +Father, hast heard of the thing which men call the 'Great +Abjuration'--was not that the name, Edred?" + +The elder boy made a sign of assent. + +"It is for the heretics and Lollards," pursued Julian eagerly. "It +hath been done before in many places, and here it is to be done two +days from hence. All those persons who are suspected of heresy, or +have been found guilty, are to be called before the lord prior and +the Lord of Mortimer, and they will be bidden to abjure all their +false doctrines publicly. The whole village will be assembled to +hear them recant; high and low, rich and poor, all are to meet +together in the great quadrangle of the priory to hear and see. The +lay brother says it will be a fine sight. If they will not recant, +the prior will give them over to the Lord of Mortimer, who will see +that they suffer as heretics are wont to do. If they abjure their +errors, the prior will set them their penances; and these be no +light thing, by what the brother says. Some will be branded in the +cheek, that they carry the mark of their shame all their days; some +will have a green badge affixed to their arm, to wear until they +have leave to cast it off, that all men may know they have been +touched by the pollution; whilst others will be set to menial toil +in the monasteries, and will perchance spend the rest of their +lives there, sundered from their friends and their homes and all +those whom they love. + +"In truth, I marvel how any man can meddle with heresy in these +days. The bishops have resolved to stamp it out once and for all, +and methinks they will do so right well if they take such steps as +these." + +Sir Oliver's face looked a little relieved as he heard his son's +words. + +"Then everybody within the district is to be summoned to meet at +the priory upon this same day?" + +"Ay, verily; all are to be there, from the highest to the lowest. +The lay brothers are going round the country, bidding all to the +spectacle. It is thought that after all have seen what will take +place upon that day, there will be no longer any fear of heresy +round Chad and Mortimer." + +The boy ran off to try to learn more details. Edred stood looking +at his father with troubled eyes. + +"Father," he said, in a low voice, "must Brother Emmanuel go with +us that day?" + +Sir Oliver looked down at the paper in his hands. + +"It bids me to attend with my family and all my household, save +such as must be left to take due care of the house in my absence," +said he. Then he paused awhile in silent thought, and looking up he +said suddenly, "Go fetch Brother Emmanuel hither." + +Edred vanished silently and swiftly, and soon afterwards returned +with the monk at his side. + +The past few days had left their mark on the thin, spiritual face +of the young ecclesiastic. The knowledge of the peril in which he +stood had not daunted his courage, though it had drawn lines in his +face and deepened the fire which burned within those dark, resolute +eyes. His face looked as though he had slept but little, as though +his nights had been passed in watching and prayer, as was indeed +the case. He had an air of calm, resolute courage and hopefulness, +though it was plain that he knew the danger of his position, and +was fully alive to the peril which menaced him. + +Sir Oliver placed the paper in his hand, and watched him silently +whilst he perused it. When he had finished he handed it back, and +stood for a moment looking out of the window with an expression of +thoughtful concentration on his face. At the end of a few moments +he looked up quickly, and said: + +"You and yours will attend, Sir Oliver?" + +"Yes; we must needs do that. But you?" + +Brother Emmanuel lifted his head and threw it back with a gesture +of resolution and independence. + +"Sir Oliver," he said, "upon the day when your household is bidden +to the priory, I cease, by the command of my superior, to be a +member of this household. Upon that day your command over me (if I +may use the word)--your responsibility over me--ceases. Whatever I +may do or not do is no concern of yours. I am no longer the +instructor of your sons, nor the priest within your walls. What I +do I do of mine own self. None can rightly call you to task for it. +Let that be your safeguard; let that be your answer to all +questions. The prior has ordained that from that day I cease to +remain here. From the dawning of that day you have no part nor lot +in my life. I take its control into mine own hands, and it were +better you should not even know whither I go nor what I do." + +Sir Oliver bent a searching look upon him. + +"So be it," he answered, after a moment's thought. "But this one +word I say to thee: Thou hast been true and faithful to me and +mine; wherefore my roof and my walls shall be thy shelter until +thou goest forth of thine own freewill. Be not afraid to remain +here with me. I will defend thee with every power I have until such +time as thou mayest safely escape beyond the seas." + +He held out his hand. The monk took it and pressed it between both +of his. + +"The Lord deal with thee and thine as thou hast dealt with me," was +the reply, spoken in deep, earnest accents. + +The knight bent his head in response to the benediction; and +Brother Emmanuel moved silently away, closely followed by Edred, +who looked pale and troubled. + +"Thou dost not think he will present himself at the priory with the +rest of the world?" asked Lady Chadgrove, with anxiety in face and +voice; and her husband thoughtfully shook his head as he made +reply: + +"I trow not. I have spoken to him of that before, and he was very +well resolved to fly the country and strive to finish the work he +has begun, to join the band who are toiling might and main to bring +a purer and holier spirit within the pale of the Church and her +servants. It is a work to which he has long felt called, and he +believes that it will be faithfully carried out somewhere, if not +here. For a while he will be safer beyond the seas; but he may +return and join with those in Oxford and London who are toiling in +the same cause. He knows of the sloop--where it lies and when it +sails; and I trow he is laying plans of his own. It were better not +to ask of these. I would rather walk in ignorance. A man cannot +betray, however inadvertently, what he knows not, and the subtle +skill in questioning possessed by our reverend prior might win the +secret from any unskilled person ere he knew he had revealed it. I +know not what he means to do, nor shall I seek to know. But he has +courage, spirit, and a consciousness of integrity which may carry +him through much. Methinks he has judged wisely and well both for +us and himself. + +"When this day comes," touching the paper in his hand, "it is very +true that I am no longer accountable for him as a member of my +house hold. He has received his recall from his superior. It is for +him to answer to it or not as he thinks best." + +A sense of excitement and uneasiness pervaded the whole of the +house during the two following days. In all men's mouths was talk +of this solemn abjuration which was about to be forced upon all +those suspected of heresy; and many persons who had tampered +slightly and privately with doubtful matters went about looking +uneasy and troubled, fearful lest they might find themselves +accused of illicit practices, and be summoned forth to do penance +in a more or less severe form before they could hope to receive +absolution. + +Sir Oliver Chadgrove's household was strictly orthodox in all +outward matters; but the leaven of Lollardism was wonderfully +penetrating, and he himself had suspected and feared that some of +his servants might be tainted therewith. He awaited the day with +almost as much anxiety as any of his dependants, for he well knew +that the Lord of Mortimer would lose no opportunity of dealing him +a heavy blow; and if he could be proved guilty of harbouring +heretics or even suspected persons in his house, it would give his +enemy a handle against him that he would not be slow to use. + +As for the boys, it was plain that something of unwonted excitement +was agitating their minds; but in the general anxiety pervading the +whole household little account was taken of this. + +The day came at last, dawning fair and clear. Sir Oliver assembled +his household early in the courtyard, and every retainer was clad +in his best and mounted upon his best charger. It was well to make +a goodly display of strength and wealth on an occasion like the +present. Doubtless the Lord of Mortimer would be there with all his +train, and Chad must not cut a much poorer figure in the eyes of +the beholders. + +None knew better than Sir Oliver how far a goodly seeming went in +condoning offences and allaying suspicion, especially in the eyes +of such a worldly-wise man as the Prior of Chadwater. A proud +bearing, a goodly following, a gorgeous retinue, would be a far +better proof of orthodoxy in his eyes than any saintliness of life +and conduct. Mortimer would know that right well, though, as he had +been elected as the secular agent to assist the prior in his work +today, plainly no stigma of any kind was thought to rest upon his +household. Sir Oliver knew that Mortimer was a larger property than +Chad, and that the baron was a greater man than the knight. It was +reasonable enough that he had been selected for this office, and +such choice need imply no distrust of himself on the prior's part; +but still there was an uneasy, underlying consciousness that he was +suspected and watched, and the espionage which had been kept up all +this while on his house was a plain proof that he was not entirely +trusted. + +The priory and its adjacent buildings formed a very fine specimen +of medieval architecture. The abbey was in itself a masterpiece of +beauty, and the great block formed by refectories and dormitories +stood at right angles to it. The prior's house, with its ample +accommodation and its guest chambers, formed an other side to the +great quadrangle; whilst the granaries, storehouses, and such-like +buildings formed the fourth--the whole enclosing a very large +space, which formed the exercising ground of the monks when they +were kept by their rules within the precincts of their home. + +The smoothest of green grass, carefully kept and tended, formed the +carpet of this enclosure; and today the whole quadrangle formed an +animated and picturesque spectacle on account of the shifting, +many-coloured groups of people gathered together there with looks +of expectation and wonder. + +A holiday appearance was presented by the crowd; for however ill at +ease any person might feel, it was his aim and object to look as +jovial and well assured as possible. Every knee was bent whenever +any monk appeared. The professions of reverence and orthodoxy were +almost comic in their display. + +The whole of the rural population had gathered in this open space +when the master of Chad and his retainers rode in, followed by the +humbler servants and many women and children on foot. But the Lord +of Mortimer had not yet put in an appearance, though some of his +retainers and men-at-arms might be seen mingling with the crowd; +and Sir Oliver and his wife and sons looked curiously about them as +they reined back their horses against the wall, wondering whether +they should dismount altogether, and what the order of the day's +proceedings was to be. + +There were two great raised platforms at one end of the open +enclosure, and upon these platforms, both of which were draped with +cloth, many seats had been arranged. One of these was canopied, and +was plainly for the prior; but beyond this Sir Oliver could be sure +of nothing. + +When, however, it became known that the party from Chad had +arrived, a lay brother came out and bid them dismount and send away +their steeds to the meadow beyond, where one or two of the servants +could see to them; and as soon as this had been done, Sir Oliver +was told that he and his lady would occupy certain seats upon one +of the platforms, but that there would not be room for more than +his eldest son to have a place there beside him. The younger boys +must remain in the crowd. + +Edred and Julian were well pleased at this, and gave each other a +quick pressure of the hand. Edred was intensely excited; and +gradually edged his way to a good position not far from the +platform, that he might hear and see everything; and Julian stood +beside him, as intent upon the proceedings as anyone. + +With a great show of ecclesiastical pomp, forth came the prior with +his monks in attendance, and closely following them the haughty +Lord of Mortimer; with his son-in-law, Sir Edward Chadwell, by his +side, and his daughter following her husband. With these came many +knights and persons of standing in the county; and whilst the prior +and the monks grouped themselves upon one platform, the barons, +knights, and nobles took their appointed places on the other, the +owners of Mortimer and Chad being for once in their lives elbow to +elbow, and constrained to exchange words and looks of greeting. + +A deep hush fell upon the crowd, and the people surged back against +the walls, leaving the centre space vacant. At the same time +certain men wearing the garb and the air of jailers or executioners +came forth and stood in the midst of the open space--one of them +bearing the glowing brazier and the branding iron, which he placed +on a slab of stone in the very centre of the enclosure. + +When all preparations were complete, the prior arose, and in a loud +and solemn voice commanded that the prisoners should be brought +forth--those persons who had not been merely suspected of heresy, +but had been found with heretical books in their possession, or +were known to be in the habit of meeting together to read such +books and hear the pestilent doctrines which vile and wicked +persons were propagating in the land. + +At that command a number of monks appeared, leading bound, and in +scant and miserable clothing, about a score of men and women, +foremost amongst whom was the hunchback, whose face and voice were +alike well known to Edred. Most of the prisoners were trembling and +cowering; but he held his head erect, and looked calmly round upon +the assembled potentates. There was no fear or shrinking in his +pinched face. He eyed the prior with a look as unbending as his +own. + +Then began a long harangue from the great man, in which the wiles +of the devil in the pestilent doctrines of the heretics, so-called +Lollards, were forcibly and not illogically pointed out. When no +man might give answer, when none might show where misrepresentation +came in, where there was nothing given but the one side of the +question, it was not difficult to make an excellent case against +the accused. The early heretics, mostly unlettered people, always +marred the purity of the cause by falling into exaggeration and +foolishness, by denouncing what was good as well as what was +corrupt in a system against which they were revolting--thus laying +themselves open to attack and confutation, and alienating from them +many who would have striven to stand their friend and to have +gently set them right had they been less headstrong and less prone +to tear away and condemn every practice the meaning of which they +were, through ignorance and want of comprehension, unable to enter +into. + +In the hands of the skilful prior their doctrines were indeed made +to look vile and blasphemous and foolish in the extreme. Many +persons shuddered at hearing what words had been used by them with +regard to the holy sacraments; and most of the persons brought to +their trial were weeping and terrified at their own conduct before +the prior's speech was half through. Only the hunchback retained +his bold front, and looked back with scorn into the face of the +prelate as he made point after point in his scathing denunciation. + +When the harangue ended, the prior made a sign to his servants, and +immediately one of the most timorous and craven of the prisoners +was brought up before him. He was far too cunning a judge to try +first to bend the spirit of the hunchback. He knew that with that +man he could do nothing, and he knew too what marvels were +sometimes accomplished by the example of self devotion. So +commencing with a weak and trembling woman, who was ready to sink +into the ground with fear and shame merely at being thus had up +before the eyes of the whole place, he easily obtained a solemn +recantation and abjuration of every form of heresy; and in a tone +of wonderful mildness, though of solemn warning, too, told her that +since she was a woman and young, and had doubtless been led away by +others, she should be pardoned after she had paid a visit barefoot +to a shrine forty miles off--a shrine much derided by the heretic +teachers--and had returned in like fashion, having tasted nothing +but bread and water the whole time of the journey. + +Then came, one after another, the weakest and most timorous of the +craven crowd. The infection of fear had seized upon them. Ignorant, +superstitious, scarcely understanding the new teachings that had +attracted them, and fearfully terrified of falling under the ban of +the Church under whose shelter they had always lived, was it +wonderful that one after another should abjure their heretical +opinions, and swear to listen to the enticer no more? Some strove +to ask questions upon the points which troubled them; but scarce +any sort of disputing was allowed. The prior was subtle in fence, +and by a few scathing words could generally quell the questioner +and make him wish his objection unspoken. + +And those who showed a tendency towards disputation were far more +harshly dealt with than those who abjured at once. The red-hot +iron, the badge of shame, the servitude which might be lifelong +were imposed upon them. So a sense of despair fell upon the little +band, and they yielded one by one; only three refusing to take the +words of the oath--the hunchback and two more, one being a lad of +about sixteen summers; and after using every threat and argument to +overcome their obstinacy, the prior called upon the Lord of +Mortimer as the representative of the secular arm, and delivered +the prisoners over to him to be dealt with after the manner of the +law. + +A shuddering groan went up, as if involuntarily, from many throats +as the prisoners were led away by the guards of Mortimer. The prior +looked sternly round to check the demonstration, reminding the +people that the burning of the body was as nothing, it was the +eternal burning of the soul in hell that men should fear; and that +if in the midst of the flames the guilty persons recanted their +sins, it was just possible that even then the merciful God would +hear and receive their prayer, and that they might be saved from +the eternal death of the soul. + +Then somewhat changing his tone, though still speaking with gravity +and even with sadness, he told the people of the pain with which he +had heard stories of the sympathy evinced by some even amongst +those standing about him for the wicked and pestilent disturbers of +the public peace and the safety of the Church. One or two persons +he called upon by name, and rebuked with some severity for words +reported to have been dropped by them which savoured, if not of +heresy itself, yet of carelessness and irreverence for sacred +things which bordered dangerously on heresy. One after another +these persons came forward trembling, asked pardon, and were +dismissed not unkindly, but with many an admonition for the future. +It was made plain and patent to all that the bishops had absolutely +resolved to stamp out heresy once and for all; and for once the +prior and abbots, the monks and the friars, were in accord and +working hand in hand. It was useless for any to hope to stem such a +tide as that--such was the tenor of the prior's speech--heresy was +to be exterminated. On that point there was no manner of doubt; and +if, knowing this, persons chose deliberately to put themselves +under the ban of the law, well, their blood must be upon their own +head. Neither God nor man would have mercy upon them. + +Several of the retainers and a few of the actual household of Chad +had received admonitions of this sort. Sir Oliver looked on +uneasily, catching a subdued look of triumph in the eyes of his +rival and foe. He did not believe his household seriously tainted +with heresy. He knew that certain of them who had been with him in +London had imbibed the teaching of Dean Colet and his pupils, and +he did not know, any more than the dean himself, that the Lollards +secretly encouraged each other to go and hear a man who spoke so +much of the truth they themselves held. + +The line where orthodoxy ends and heresy begins has been at all +times hard to define, and perhaps the upholders of the "Church" +knew as little as anybody how hard this definition was becoming. + +Several persons had stood forth (invited by the prior to do so) and +confessed to dangerous sentiments which they now saw to be utterly +wrong, and vowed to abjure forever; or had accused other persons of +words which required explanation, or of deeds which suggested a +leaning towards secret meetings where heresy might be discussed. + +But the day's proceedings seemed drawing to a close, and nothing of +any great peril to the Lord of Chad had occurred, when just at the +close of the afternoon Brother Fabian suddenly came forward and +whispered a few words in the prior's ear; and he, after a moment of +apparent hesitation, spoke aloud. + +"It is with great grief that I learn that one of our own brethren +has been heard to utter words which sound strangely like those of +heresy; but since it is our bounden duty that strict justice be +done to all, whether high or low, rich or poor, nay, whether it be +our own son or brother, I here call upon Brother Emmanuel to stand +forth publicly, as others have done, and answer the charge brought +against him." + +The prior looked round as he spoke these words in a loud voice; but +there was no movement either in the crowd or amongst the cowled +monks, and he spoke the name again without eliciting any response. + +The Lord of Mortimer leaned forward and spoke to his neighbour. + +"Methinks this brother was a member of your household, Sir Oliver," +he said, with a gleam of malice in his eye. "Surely you received a +mandate bidding you come with all your household. Where is this +preceptor of your sons?" + +"His duties ceased last night," replied Sir Oliver calmly, in a +tone loud enough to reach the prior's ears. "He had command to +return today to the priory, and last evening he said farewell to me +and mine. I have not seen him today." + +"Did he know of the summons to all to attend the gathering here +today?" + +Sir Oliver bent his head. + +"He did. I showed him the paper myself." + +"Then wherefore is he not here?" + +"That know I not. I did not know he was not here. I do not know it +even now. I have never known Brother Emmanuel fail in obedience +yet." + +The name was being whispered all round. The monks were professing +to be searching for the missing brother. The prior looked at Sir +Oliver with some sternness. + +"Where is this monk?" he asked, + +"I do not know," was the firm response. "I have not seen him since +his farewell yesternight." + +"You thought he was coming hither?" + +"I knew naught. He told me naught of his purposes." + +The prior's eyes flashed ominously. + +"Have a care, Sir Oliver, have a care. Brother Emmanuel is yet +within the walls of Chad. I have reason to know he has not left +them the whole of this past week. He has been disobedient to his +vow of submission. He has not come at my bidding." + +"I know naught of it," replied the knight calmly. + +The Lord of Mortimer leaned forward once more with an evil smile in +his eyes. + +"Let not mistaken generosity get the better of prudence, my +brother," he said, with derisiveness in his tone. "You know well +that the penalty of hiding and harbouring a heretic is little short +of that of heresy itself. Have a care you do not lose all just for +the caprice of the moment, which in time to come you will have +leisure bitterly to repent." + +The prior, too, was eying him sternly. + +"Lord Mortimer gives good counsel, Sir Oliver," he said. "Thou +knowest I am no enemy of thine. What has this day passed must have +shown thee that. Thou knowest that there be some here who might +have been called before me today to answer for their deeds who have +been spared for their youth and gentle birth. Thou hast had proof +that I am no enemy of thine. But the walls of Chad must not harbour +a heretic. Brother Emmanuel is there; he hath been there, and hath +not sallied forth this many days, showing that a guilty conscience +keeps him within. He cannot go forth without my knowledge; and if +thou wilt not give him up to me, I must obtain authority and have +the house searched and the man dragged forth. And I tell thee +freely, if it be found that thou hast lent thine aid in harbouring +a heretic and disobedient monk, thy lands will be forfeit, if not +thy life, and the Lord of Mortimer will be likewise Lord of Chad." + +At that moment, had any person had eyes to heed it, it might have +been observed that Edred and Julian slipped like veritable shadows +through the packed crowd. The next moment they had reached the +gateway, had passed under it without exciting any observation, and +as soon as they reached the cover of the forest, they set off to +run towards Chad as fast as their legs could carry them--far faster +than their horses could have borne them through the narrow paths of +the tangled wood. + + + +Chapter VIII: Hidden Away. + + +Fleetly, silently, untiringly ran the two brothers, without +exchanging a single word of their purpose even to each other. The +distance from the priory to the house was a matter of some two +miles, but to the trained and hardy limbs of the country-bred lads +a two miles' run was a trifle, and they were only slightly flushed +and winded when they paused, by mutual consent, a short distance +from Chad, at a point where the tall turrets and battlements became +visible over the treetops. + +Julian, who was a few paces in advance, pulled up short, and caught +his brother by the arm. + +"Hist!" he whispered cautiously. "I trow the prior's spies be still +on the watch. We must not be seen coming in this guise. Let us wait +a few moments till our breath be returned; then we will go forward +boldly and openly. + +"Edred, have a care how thou answerest me when I shall speak to +thee anon. We have a part to play, and Brother Emmanuel's life may +hang upon how we play it." + +Edred nodded assent. He was more weary, because more deeply +excited, than his brother, and no sleep had visited his eyes the +previous night. It had been spent with Brother Emmanuel in vigil in +the chantry. The strain of watching and deeply-seated anxiety was +telling upon the boy. He was glad that Julian had all his wits +about him, for his own head seemed swimming and his mind unhinged. + +They stood silent awhile, until both had regained their breath; +then putting on their caps, which for convenience they had carried +in their hands hitherto, they started forth again at a leisurely +pace, and with an air of openness and fearlessness, in the +direction of the main entrance, talking to each other as they went +in no softened tones. + +"It was a fine sight!" cried Julian. "I would not have missed it +for worlds. That villainous hunchback! So he was a damnable heretic +after all! I grieve we ever stood his friend. May he perish like +the vile creature he is! I will ask Brother Emmanuel to set me a +penance for having touched him that day when we thought him an +innocent trader. + +"Edred, thinkest thou that it can be true that Brother Emmanuel is +himself a heretic? If it be, we must drive him forth with blows and +curses. To sit down at board with a heretic, to hear teaching from +his lips! Beshrew me, but one might as well have a friend from the +pit for an instructor! It cannot be; surely it cannot be." + +The boy spoke hotly and angrily. He had stopped short as if in the +heat of argument, and Edred saw by the flash in his eye that he had +caught sight of some lurking spy close at hand. + +"Belike no," answered Edred cautiously, but taking his cue +instantly from the other. "I did not well hear what Brother Fabian +said; surely it could be naught so bad as that?" + +"I scarcely heard myself. I was something aweary by that time of +the spectacle, and methought all the heretics had been dealt with. +I saw that thou, like myself, wouldst fain stretch thy limbs once +again, and I had shifted too far away to be certain what was said. +But I did hear the name of Brother Emmanuel spoken, and there was a +call for him, and he came not. + +"Edred, can it be that he feared to come? Hath he a guilty +conscience? If that be so, shall we strive to find him and keep +watch upon him ourselves, that if the good prior comes to search +for him at Chad we may be able to give him up, though he have +hidden himself never so cunningly?" + +"Marry, a good thought. It is certainly something strange that he +did not come at the prior's summons-and he a brother of the order +too. Sure, it looks somewhat as though he were afraid. But if that +be so, we shall scarce find him at Chad. He will have benefited by +the absence of the household to make good his escape. + +"Beshrew me, but he is a crafty knave. Who would have thought it of +him?" + +"When men turn heretic they seem to be indued with all the cunning +of the devil!" cried Julian hotly. "But let us not dally here; let +us run within and strive to seek and to find him. It may be he will +think he may hide himself the better in some nook or corner of the +house, since he be well known all around; and the good prior said +somewhat of having kept a watch upon him. But I trow he cannot hide +so well but what we shall find him. I would fain earn my +forgiveness for having shielded one heretic by helping to give up +another. + +"Come, Edred, let us be going. Those priests are as crafty as foxes +when the heretic leaven gets into them." + +The brothers dashed away again towards the house; and when once +within the shelter of the walls, Julian nipped his brother's hand, +saying in a whisper: + +"There was a spy overhead who drank in every word. He had no notion +mine eyes had seen him, for he was marvellous well concealed, and I +never should have found his hiding place had I not chanced one day +to see him climbing into it. Nobody will suspect now that we have +had a hand in the hiding of the good brother. But let us make all +haste, for no man knows when the bloodhounds may be upon us to +strive to take him away." + +Edred's face was very pale, but steady and resolved. He understood, +better perhaps than his younger brother, the peril of the +enterprise upon which they had embarked. But he did not shrink from +that one whit, only he did hope and trust that his father would +never be implicated by their conduct; for if, after all, the priest +were to be found hidden within the precincts of Chad, it was easy +to prophesy a great reverse of fortune to all who dwelt therein. + +However, even that consideration did not move him at this moment. +Brother Emmanuel, their preceptor and friend and comrade (for he +had been all three to his pupils during his residence beneath their +roof), stood in deadly peril of his life, and to save him from the +malice of his foes must be the first consideration now. The +existence of the secret chamber was not known even to their father. +Not a soul in the house or in the world knew of it save the three +brothers and Warbel. Warbel was absolutely to be trusted. He owed +too much himself to that retreat to wish to betray its existence to +others, and he loathed and hated the whole household of Mortimer; +and it was very plain to all concerned that Mortimer was working +hand in hand with the prior in this matter--the one to obtain +possession of the person of the offending monk, the other to find +cause of accusation against the owner of Chad for harbouring and +concealing a suspected person, in defiance of the laws of the land +and of the Church. + +That there was conspiracy afoot against Chad and its master Edred +did not for a moment doubt; but the first consideration must now be +the safe hiding of Brother Emmanuel, and the boys dashed eagerly +through the empty house, to find him in the little chantry, where +so many of his hours were spent. + +He was reading the office of vespers without any congregation to +assist. Instinctive reverence caused the boys to kneel in silence +till the brief service concluded, and then, after prostrating +themselves before the altar, they beckoned vehemently to the monk +to follow them, and conducted him up a narrow winding stair, but +little used, to the large sleeping chamber which the three brothers +had shared ever since their early childhood. + +Once there Julian carefully locked the door, whilst Edred in brief +and graphic words told the story of that day's spectacle. Brother +Emmanuel listened calmly, with his features set into an expression +which the boys were beginning to know well, although they did not +read its meaning aright. Sternness and resolve were strangely +blended with an infinite compassion and a look of almost divine +tenderness; his words were few, and carried little of their meaning +home to the hearts of the boys. + +"And thus they strive, thus they think to check the growth of the +evil weed by fire and by the sword! Yet even nature may teach them +that the burned field only yields the richer crop, and that the +plough tearing its way along is a fertilizer of the earth. Would to +heaven they would send forth evangelists from the Church, not with +fire and sword, but with the sword of the Spirit--the Word of +God--with the lamp of life in their hands; not to deny the people +that life-giving fount, but to give them to drink through the +channels God Himself has appointed! Then, indeed, methinks heresy +would soon cease to exist. But theirs is not the way; God who +dwelleth in the heavens will soon show them that. Theirs is not the +way!" + +But time there was none now for one of those conversations in which +Edred's heart delighted. Julian burst in then with the story of the +latest scene in that solemn spectacle--of the whispered words of +Brother Fabian; of the call for Brother Emmanuel; of the appeal +made to Sir Oliver, and his reply; and finally of the certainty +that the house would speedily be searched, and the necessity of +getting into safe hiding before that happened. + +"Safe hiding!" said Brother Emmanuel with a slight smile; "my kind +pupils, there can be no safe hiding from the messengers sent forth +from the Church. Wherever I am they will find and drag me forth. I +am grateful for all the goodness shown to me at Chad by all within +its walls; but none shall suffer on my account. It hath not pleased +God to open to me a way of escape, wherefore I must now yield +myself to the will of my enemies; and it were better to go forth +and be taken by the spies without than to remain here a source of +peril to those within these walls." + +"But there is yet another way!" cried Edred with flashing eyes. +"Thou shalt not go forth, and yet thou shalt not be a source of +peril to any living soul. Brother Emmanuel, methinks it was God's +doing, or that of the holy saints, that this hap befell us which +revealed to us a safe hiding place of which none knows but +ourselves, not even our father and mother, and the secret of which +we have preserved unto this day, resisting the temptation to +divulge it to any living soul. Time presses. When we are there I +will tell thee all the tale--how this secret place came to our +knowledge. But now let us tarry no longer, but come quickly and see +for thyself. Once within that friendly shelter thou wilt have +naught to fear save the loneliness to which thou art well used. + +"See, there is Julian already opening the door. Come, my father, +come!" + +Julian had kindled the little lamp the boys had constructed for +themselves, and which was much upon the principle of a modern +bull's-eye, and could be safely carried through draughty passages +without flickering or going out; and now the wondering monk allowed +Edred to take him by the hand and lead him step by step along the +narrow, tortuous passage. Julian closed the door behind them, +showing how the cleverly-contrived spring acted; then they +proceeded step by step in cautious silence--for this passage +skirted a great portion of the house, and was very long--towards +their destination, till at last they stood within the secret +chamber itself; and Julian extinguished the light, to let the +evening sunshine filter in and show how much of illumination it +could give. + +"Now, Brother Emmanuel, let us show you all," said Edred eagerly; +"for methinks it must be very few visits we must pay thee, and +those at dead of night. For I much mistake me if we be not closely +watched by some spy of the prior's these next days, and it will not +do for any to think we have hidden haunts of our own." + +"Nay, nay, my children; ye must not run into peril for me. Far +rather would I--" + +"I know--I know!" cried Edred. "But in truth thou needst not fear +to rest here. This is the lost chamber, the secret of which had +perished for well nigh a generation, till kindly fortune made it +known to us. All men think that the chamber lay in the portion of +Chad that was destroyed in the late wars. None dream it still +exists. But here it is, and Bertram has made out little by little +exactly where it lies, and I will tell it thee. + +"This portion at the lower and darker end is jammed in betwixt the +ceiled roof of the great gun room and that attic chamber where the +dry roots are stored away in the winter months before the frost +binds them into the ground. None enter that attic in the summertide +save rats and mice, and though there may be many passing to and fro +in the gun room, no sound from here can penetrate there; for we +have tried times and again, when there has been none by to hear, if +we can make each other hear sounds from either place. From the gun +room noise will, if very great, penetrate hither; but nothing thou +canst do will make them below hear thee. + +"Then this wider and lighter and loftier portion, where the light +comes in, is but a space filched away from the roofs and leads, and +jammed in in such a fashion that it would defy a magician to find +it from without. We tried days and days and could not do it, and +never did, albeit we can climb like cats and had an inkling where +it was--until we put Julian within to shout aloud and guide us by +his voice. It is so placed that none can get really nigh to those +places where the cracks are made to let in the light and air. Thou +needst not fear, though all the monks in the priory come to search, +that this hiding place will ever be found." + +The monk looked around the narrow chamber and drew an involuntary +breath of relief. If indeed this thing were so, if indeed he might +lie hidden from discovery and defy the most stringent search, might +it not be a God-appointed means of salvation for him? Might he not +be doing wrong in insisting upon falling into the hands of men? +Would it indeed be possible for him to secrete himself without +bringing down upon others the wrath he himself would escape? + +Whilst he stood thus debating with himself, the boys pulled him by +the sleeve and spoke eagerly, though involuntarily in low tones. + +"And see further. Here is food laid up against this day. It will +all keep for many weeks. It is but poor fare, but not poorer than +thou art well used to--salted meat, and dried fish, and oaten cake; +which keeps moist far longer than any other. Here are a few +confections, and here is wine, and a jar of good mead. As for +water, it may be had at this trough here, and a goodly supply; only +it comes with somewhat of a rush, and the bung is not easily rammed +back in its place. It is best to raise the tube--so--in the hand; +but we could not make shift to do better. There is the lantern, and +oil in this vessel, and none can see the light at night from any +place when it is burned. I have placed three books in you corner--I +dared not take more from the library; but I knew thou wouldst have +thy breviary with thee, and thou art never dull. If it may be done +safely, one of us will visit thee from time to time; and if there +is any way of escape open to thee, thou shalt surely hear thereof. + +"But be not dismayed if days go by and thou hearest naught. It may +be safer that thou shouldst be left quite alone. Thou wilt not +think thyself forgotten?" + +Brother Emmanuel's eyes were fixed with a tender gaze upon the +faces of the bold, generous boys. He took their hands in his, and +they bent the knee to receive his blessing. His words were few and +brief, but each lad as he rose resolved deep down in his heart that +he would suffer the penalty of death itself sooner than betray the +secret hiding place and give the brother up to his foes. + +Then with a few more last words respecting the hiding place and the +arrangements made for the comfort of its occupant, the pair stole +away, and soon found themselves safely within the walls of their +own room, the door of which was still safely locked. They looked +each other in the face with a proud, glad smile. + +"It is done!" cried Edred, drawing a long breath. + +"Nay, not altogether," answered Julian, with eyes that flashed with +excitement; and drawing a step nearer his brother, he said in +changed tones, "Now must that rascally priest have fled, and it +behoves us to search the precincts of the place with all diligence. +We must not leave a nook or a cranny unvisited, and must make a +mighty coil. Thou takest me, brother, dost thou not?" + +Edred made a quick, eager sign of assent. + +"Ay, Julian, I do; and when we have done all that, let us back to +the priory again. We must whisper in our father's ear that Brother +Emmanuel is safe. Then will he act with a freer hand. And it were +better, perchance, that we were all there to ride back with him +when he takes his leave." + +Julian assented at once to this proposition; and forth went the +boys, at first calling aloud the name of their tutor, and then +halting, always within earshot of one of the spies, to debate where +he could have concealed himself, darting hither and thither, as if +suddenly remembering some new place, and ever returning +disappointed and vexed. + +"He is a veritable fox!" cried Julian, flinging his cap on the +ground in a well-assumed tempest of chagrin. "He must have left +Chad altogether, for not a trace of him is here; and I looked to +have the pleasure of bringing him ourselves before the reverend +prior, to atone for having helped that other pestilent fellow to +avoid for a while the hand of the law. A plague upon him and his +cunning ways! Unless he have found the secret chamber our father +knows of, and which he once took us to see, there be no other place +in all Chad where he can be lurking, unless he has been moving from +spot to spot at our approach. A pest upon the crafty rogue!" + +"We shall do no good loitering here, since he be really gone," +remarked Edred, in a tone of vexation very like his brother's; +"perchance he may have fallen into the hands of the prior through +the watch of which he spoke. I trust it may be so. But for us, I +trow we had better go back to see the end of the day's spectacle. +We can do no more at Chad. If he is hiding he will not dare come +forth now, with all the folks returning so soon; and if he has got +clean away, nothing we can do will bring him back." + +Julian grumbled in the finest phrases he could think of as the two +pursued their way back towards the priory, increasing their speed +as they left Chad behind, and very quickly gaining the meadow, +where the servants were already beginning to collect the horses and +get them ready for their masters. + +The day's proceedings were over. Refreshments were being served in +the refectory to all of the better sort. Sir Oliver's two younger +sons had never been missed; but Edred contrived to slip into the +hall, and in passing beside his father's chair to whisper in his +ear the four simple words: + +"Brother Emmanuel is safe!" + +None heard the whisper, not even Bertram, who was sitting next his +father, though he read it in his brother's eye the next moment. +Edred had affected to catch the clasp of his belt against his +father's chair as he passed by, and in pausing to free it had bent +his head and spoken the brief message. + +No change passed over Sir Oliver's face. Not a creature present +observed the trifling by-play. Wine had circulated freely, and much +laughing and talking were going on. The prior had unbent from his +judicial severity, and even the Lord of Mortimer was smiling and +bland, although there was something in his aspect that suggested +the fierce feline play of a man-eating creature biding its time and +toying with its victim. + +Just before the close of the feast Sir Oliver rose to his feet. + +"My lord prior, and you knights and gentlemen," he said suddenly, +addressing all those who sat at the board in one comprehensive +glance round the table. "I have been not a little disturbed and +astonished today by hearing that there is ill known of one who has +been long a member of my household--Brother Emmanuel--whom the +reverend prior himself sent forth to be the instructor of my sons, +and who has always comported himself right reverently and seemly in +my house. But inasmuch as there is cause of offence in him, and +that he has this day refused obedience to his lawful superior, and +has not come at the bidding of the prior, I cannot but own him in +fault, and decline to have further dealings with him. I do not know +whether he is yet at Chad. I have not seen him since his farewell +last evening. But if he be yet there, let the Lord of Mortimer, or +you, holy father, send a company of servants to bring him thence. + +"I have heard it whispered around that he is hiding within the +walls of Chad, and that we of that household know where he lurks. +My reply to that whisper is a denial (which I will take upon oath +if need be) that I know aught whatever about him; and furthermore, +I will throw open my house, upon any day and at any time, to +whatever persons shall be sent to seek him, and will aid them in +every possible way in the finding of the offender." + +A murmur of approval went round the company. The prior looked +pleased, and a smile crossed his face. + +The only person who did not seem gratified by this openness was the +Lord of Mortimer, whose face contracted sourly, and who gave a keen +glance at his rival, as though he would have read his very soul. +But the calm gaze with which Sir Oliver returned this look did not +appear to restore his equanimity, and he flashed a glance at his +son-in-law which plainly betokened surprise and chagrin. + +"Well spoken, Sir Oliver," said the prior; "and since I have +excellent reason to know that the brother has not left Chad, and +cannot do it without my knowledge, it is plain to me that he is +hiding in some place there, albeit all unknown to you and yours. +Wherefore, on the morrow, I myself, together with my good friend +the Lord of Mortimer, will present ourselves at Chad, and make full +search, and we shall no doubt find the heretic monk cowering away +in some undreamed-of hiding place, and will drag him thence to the +fate he so well merits. + +"Chad has its secrets, has it not? I have heard of them in days +gone by." + +"It has several cunning nooks and crannies, but all of these will I +myself display to you upon the morrow," replied the knight calmly; +and the Lord of Mortimer arose with a crafty smile upon his face, +and addressed the prior in these words: + +"Reverend father, I do not willingly speak ill of my neighbours, +least of all of one who is now near akin to me through the marriage +of my daughter with Sir Edward, who comes of the old stock of Chad. +Yet I cannot but state here, in this place, that I hold Sir Oliver +to have drawn down suspicion upon himself by failing to give up +Brother Emmanuel a week ago when it was demanded of him. There be +something to my mind strange and unworthy in such an act; and I +here call upon all men to witness that I verily believe we shall +find this traitor monk sheltering within the walls of Chad, and +that if this be so I shall openly accuse Sir Oliver before all the +world--before the king himself--of harbouring traitors and +heretics, and shall make petition that Chad and all that pertains +to it be forfeit, as the penalty for such evil courses, and be +given to the rightful lord by inheritance--Sir Edward Chadwell." + +The partisans of Mortimer raised a cheer; those of Chad received +the challenge with groans and curses. Sir Oliver spoke not a word, +but sat with his head proudly erect, and his eyes gleaming somewhat +dangerously; whilst the prior commanded silence by a gesture of his +hand, and spoke to quell the tumult. + +"My Lord of Mortimer, I have far more trust than you in the +integrity of good Sir Oliver. I trow he will be able to clear +himself of whatever suspicions lie upon him; and if the monk be +found within his house, he shall have every opportunity of +explaining his presence there. At the same time, I will not deny +that it will look ill for him if he be found there; and that the +tongues of all suspicious persons may be silenced, so that none +shall say there has been opportunity for him to get the monk +secretly away from the place, I will double the watch that has +already been set around Chad, and I will send thither with Sir +Oliver and his family two of my trustiest sons, Brother Fabian and +Brother Nathaniel, to keep strict watch within doors, that there be +no cause for any enemy to say that any there have aided an unlawful +escape, or have striven to hide a miscreant from those who justly +demand him." + +Sir Oliver bent his head. + +"Any brother coming from Chadwater will be an honoured guest at +Chad," he said. "I was about to ask if Brother Fabian was to be +sent thither to instruct my sons." + +"Ay, and to find out what germs of heresy yon false monk may not +have implanted!" cried Lord Mortimer, losing control of himself as +he saw the calmness of his enemy, and felt that the prey he had so +confidently looked to be his might even now slip from his grasp. +"It was those lads from Chad who strove to protect yon miserable +hunchback who will be burned to ashes for his sins ere three more +days have gone by. How explain you such conduct as that, Sir +Oliver? Are you and your dame rearing up a heretic brood, to cumber +the land in days to come?" + +But the prior here interposed somewhat sternly. He had no intention +of allowing his table to be made the scene of a disturbance that +might lead to bloodshed. He turned somewhat sternly upon the +haughty baron, and his words were few and plain. + +"My Lord of Mortimer, Sir Oliver has answered to me for that +offence. You take something too much upon yourself in thus striving +to sit in judgment, and that in mine own presence. + +"And now, gentlemen, the sun will be shortly setting, and some of +you have many miles to ride. We have done the day's work in a +thorough and righteous fashion; and I will now give you my +blessing, and dismiss you to your homes. I trust this may be the +last time that I have to assemble you together to drive from +amongst us those who are tainted by the curse of heresy." + +Half an hour later the party for Chad were riding quietly homeward +through the forest with two cowled monks in their company. The last +charge to these from the prior had been: + +"Thou, Brother Fabian, keep a sharp eye by night and by day upon +the boys; and thou, Brother Nathaniel, upon the knight and his +lady. If any of those are in the secret, be it your mission to find +out and bring it home to them." + + + +Chapter IX: The Search. + + +"If Brother Emmanuel is found, Chad will be forfeit." + +Such was the burden of Edred's thoughts as he rode homeward at his +brothers' side, just behind their father and mother, at the close +of that eventful day's proceedings. + +It was a thought that could not but be fraught with some terror to +the boy, who knew that he had been instrumental in hiding the +threatened monk, and that if by some gruesome chance the secret +were to be discovered, their bitter enemy would make it an excuse +for prosecuting his malicious and covetous purpose towards Chad +with redoubled ardour, and with every prospect of success. At +present the prior was standing neutral betwixt the two foes; at +present the king was well disposed towards Sir Oliver. But should +it be proved beyond dispute that he had set the Church at defiance, +and had harboured a suspected heretic within his walls, then the +prior would at once turn against him, and representations would be +made to the king which would almost force him to turn away his +favour. The Lord of Chad would be a disgraced and suspected person, +whilst in all probability the wiles of the ambitious Mortimer would +prove successful, and the claim of Sir Edward Chadwell would be +admitted, and the estate pass into his hands. + +The thought was maddening. The bare idea of being forced to leave +the old home sent the hot blood coursing through the boy's body. If +such a thing as that were to befall them, it would break their +father's heart. And how should he ever hold up his head again, +knowing that in some sort he had been the author of the mischief? + +All the brothers had been heart and soul together in their desire +to hide the brother from the wrath and unjust tyranny of the prior; +but Edred felt as though the greatest responsibility had been his, +though he could scarcely have said why. + +Julian had certainly taken the lead in the final act of the drama; +but Julian was yet a boy, and did not thoroughly realize the perils +which might follow such a course. Edred did, and his face was grave +and thoughtful; and when from time to time he stole a glance at +Bertram, he saw that his elder brother's face was overcast and +anxious, too. + +They did not dare to exchange a single word upon the subject +nearest to their hearts as they rode decorously behind their +parents and the two monks. The whole train had to restrain their +horses to the ambling pace of the steed bestridden by the monks, +who were by no means skilled riders; and dusk had fallen ere they +all rode into the courtyard of Chad, where the bustle of +dismounting afforded the brothers the chance of escaping for a few +minutes to their upper chamber together. + +"We must not stay a minute; the spies will be after us!" whispered +Bertram. "But one question I must ask. Is he there?" + +"Yea, verily; and none need visit him for many days. It were better +not. + +"But, brothers both, lend me your strong arms here. I would move +this great chest across the fireplace. Ask no question; I will show +you why anon." + +Edred was the speaker, and he indicated an enormous carved oak +chest quite twelve feet in length, which was kept in this room to +hold the clothing of the three lads. They did from time to time +change its position in the room, so that no remark would be excited +by the fact that it had been moved. As Edred wished to place it +now, it would stand right across the fireplace, blocking entirely +the secret door; but Bertram looked a little doubtfully at it when +it was in place, saying tentatively: + +"Thou dost not think it would draw attention to the carved pillars +of the fireplace? We shall have cunning and crafty men to deal with +on the morrow." + +Edred smiled slightly. + +"Wait till the morrow comes, and thou shalt see," he answered; and +then the brothers hastened down again, knowing that any sudden +disappearance on their part might be marked and held as suspicious. + +They had not, however, been gone long enough to be missed, and the +two monks who had been told off to keep watch within this house had +but just made their way into the hall, where hot spiced wine was +being dispensed, and the table set out for supper. + +Notwithstanding the feast recently partaken of at the priory, the +brothers appeared by no means loath to sit down once again, and +Edred could not but observe how differently they comported +themselves from Brother Emmanuel, and how thoroughly they +appreciated the dainty viands which were brought out in their +honour. + +He did not mean to sit in judgment--he scarcely knew that he was +doing so; yet as be watched their deep potations, and marked how +they chose the best portions, and stinted themselves in no good +thing, his stern young mind could not but rise up in revolt, the +more so that these very men were actually here on purpose to strive +to capture a brother of their own order, and deliver him over to +death. And so far as the youth understood the matter, the offence +for which it was resolved he should suffer was that he was too +faithful to the vows he had taken upon himself, and too ardent in +striving to enforce upon others the rules he held binding upon +himself. + +But at least if these brothers ate and drank merrily, they were not +therefore the better watchers. They had smiled a little scornfully +as he contrasted their good feeding and deep drinking and +subsequent visible sleepiness with the spare and frugal meal always +taken by Brother Emmanuel, to be followed as often as not by a long +night vigil in the chantry. There was small look of watchfulness +about these men. Any vigil kept by them would be but a mockery of +the term. It was all they could do to stumble through the office of +compline when the meal was ended and the household about to retire, +and there was no suggestion on their part of wishing to remain to +keep vigil. + +But Edred resolved that he would watch again that night. He had +done so the previous night with Brother Emmanuel, both thinking +that it might be the last watch they would ever hold together. Now +the boy felt that he could not sleep, at least for many hours; and +since their mother had whispered to them that Brother Fabian was to +share their room, since he said it was his duty to keep watch upon +the boys till next morning, it seemed well to leave his bed for the +drowsy monk, aid keep vigil himself in the silent chantry. + +The brother looked puzzled when he heard what one of his young +charges proposed to do. Edred looked him full in the face as he +answered: + +"Brother Emmanuel taught us that it were not well that all within +the house should be sleeping. We know not when the Lord may +appear--at midnight, at cock crowing, or in the morning; and +methinks whenever He may come, He would gladly find one soul +holding vigil and waiting for His appearing. Lock the door of the +chantry upon me, my father. Thou canst see that there is but the +one door by which we may come or go. If thou fearest to leave me +here, lock the door upon me until such time as it pleases thee to +release me." + +The brother regarded the boy with perplexed looks, and slowly shook +his head, as though such an attitude of mind were wholly +incomprehensible. But he did not oppose his resolve. It would not +do to appear astonished at the idea of keeping vigil. He passed out +of the chantry muttering to himself, and Edred prostrated himself +before the altar, above which the solitary lamp burned clear and +bright, and offered up most earnest prayers for the safety of +Brother Emmanuel, for the failure and discomfiture of his foes, and +for his safe escape when the time was ripe into some country where +his enemies were not like to find him. + +How the hours of the night passed he scarcely knew. He might +perhaps have slept at his post awhile, or have remained in a dreamy +and passive state; for it did not seem long before the morning sun +came glinting in at the eastern window, and the boy saw that the +day had come which was to be a momentous one to Chad. + +Before very long, sounds of life about, and later on within the +house, warned him that he was not the only watcher now; and feeling +very drowsy and weary, he resolved to creep upstairs and share +Julian's couch for the remaining hours before the working day +should commence. + +He had not been locked into the chantry. Perhaps Brother Fabian +felt a little shame in his suspicions, or perhaps he forgot to take +the precaution. The door yielded to his touch, and he found himself +at liberty to go where he would. + +But before turning his steps to his room upstairs, he made an +expedition to an outhouse on what appeared to be a curious errand. +It was a dirty, neglected place, and was full of dust and flue and +cobweb. The boy began deliberately collecting masses of this flue +and web, and presently he swept up carefully a good-sized heap of +dust, which he as deliberately placed in a wooden box, and +proceeded to make in one end a number of small holes. + +Carefully carrying away this strange load, and bearing it with +great secrecy, the boy mounted the stairs very softly, and put down +the handkerchief in which the flue was placed in the small unused +room beside their sleeping chamber. With the box still in his hands +he stole on tiptoe into the room and looked carefully round him. + +His brothers were sleeping lightly, looking as though they would be +easily and speedily aroused. But the monk was snoring deeply, and +the bloated face which was turned towards him displayed that +abandonment of repose which bespeaks a very sound and even sottish +slumber. + +The boy looked with repulsion at the flushed face, the open mouth, +and dropped jaw. Something in the expression of that sleeping face +filled him with scorn and loathing. No danger of this man's +awakening; his half-drunken sleep was far too heavy and sodden. + +Edred stepped lightly across the room towards the chest which he +had had moved the previous evening, and lying at full length along +the floor, he proceeded to shake his box after the manner of a +pepper pot until he had made beneath the chest a soft layer of dust +which looked like the accumulation of weeks. It was deftly and +skilfully done, and although he looked critically at the after +effect, to make sure there was nothing artificial about the aspect, +he could not detect anything amiss. + +The next step was to carry away his box, empty it out of a window, +and break in pieces the perforated part, that there might be no +tracing his action in this matter. Then gaining possession of his +handkerchief full of flue, he stole softly back again, and laid +great flakes between the legs of the chest and the wall, stuffed +light fragments into the interstices of the carving, and laid them +upon any projecting ledge that was likely to have caught such light +dirt as it filtered through the air. + +A soft movement in the room told him that his brothers were awake +and watching him, though the monk still snored on in his stertorous +fashion. One after the other the pair stole from their beds and +looked for a moment at this skilful travesty of nature's handiwork, +and both nodded in token of approval and congratulation. + +Edred had an artist's eye for effect, and did not spoil his +handiwork by overdoing it. The result produced was exactly as if +the chest had stood for some time in its present position, so that +the dust had gathered beneath it and the flue had clung to the wall +behind it. No one looking at its position there could doubt that it +had been there for a period of some weeks. + +Satisfied with the result of his manoeuvre, the boy flung away the +rest of his spoil, and throwing himself upon one of his brothers' +beds was soon lost in healthy sleep. + +When he awoke the sun was high in the sky, and he found himself +alone with Father Fabian, who appeared likewise only just to have +awakened. + +Brother Emmanuel would long ago have held early mass in the +chantry, but this new inmate appeared by no means disposed to +follow in the footsteps of his predecessors. He rubbed his eyes, +and seemed scarce to know where he was; but he accepted Edred's +offers of assistance, and was soon ready to leave the room in +search of the meal to which he was accustomed. + +All Chad was in a stir of expectation. It was known throughout the +house that a great search was to be instituted after the missing +priest, who had, as it were, disappeared into thin air. + +Everybody knew that he had been within the precincts of Chad upon +the previous day. Some amongst the few servants who had been left +behind to take care of the house had seen him moving quietly about +from the chantry to the courtyard and back. It was now well known +that spies were lurking in the forest round Chad with a view of +intercepting any attempt at flight, and it was plain they had seen +nothing of him. Therefore, unless he had escaped their vigilance by +cunning and artifice, he must still be somewhere within the +precincts of the house; and on the whole this appeared the most +probable theory. In a place like Chad, where there were all manner +of outbuildings, sheds, and lofts; to say nothing of all the +corners and hiding places within the house itself, it would be very +tempting to take refuge in one of these nooks and crannies, and to +trust to the chance of concealment rather than run the gauntlet of +meeting foes in the open. + +Brothers from the monasteries, to say nothing of hunted heretics, +had the reputation of being marvellous cunning in their methods. It +was like enough that Brother Emmanuel had long been planning some +such concealment for himself, and had made his plans cleverly and +astutely. Such was the prevailing opinion at Chad, and scarcely a +member of the household but hoped and trusted his hiding place +would not be detected, even though they did not know how seriously +the fortunes of their master might be affected were the monk to be +found hidden in his house. + +They all loved Brother Emmanuel for his own sake, and hated the +Lord of Mortimer. And it was well known that that haughty baron was +making common cause with the prior of Chadwater in this matter, +doubtless in the hope of disgracing Sir Oliver in the eyes of the +ecclesiastical powers. + +So a general feeling of excitement and uncertainty prevailed during +the early hours of the morning. Sir Oliver and his wife strove to +appear calm and tranquil, but inwardly they were consumed by +anxiety. They felt something very much approaching certainty that +their own sons knew what had befallen the monk--probably his very +hiding-place; and they were by no means certain that it might not +be within the very precincts of Chad itself. The knight's +generosity and love of justice were sufficiently stirred to make +him willing to run some risk in the cause; he had resolved to ask +no question, and to let matters take their own course. But he could +not help feeling a tremor run through him as he heard the winding +of the horn which bespoke the presence of the visitors at his gate, +and he went forth to meet them with a sinking heart, albeit his +mien was calm and untroubled and his bearing dignified and assured. + +The prior and the Lord of Mortimer headed the train, and behind +followed a goodly retinue of men wearing the livery of the baron, +to say nothing of the lay brothers and the cowled monks, who were +skilful in matters pertaining to search, and who had come to assist +in the examination of the whole of the great house. + +Upon the face of Lord Mortimer and upon that of his son-in-law +there was an ill-disguised look of vindictive triumph. It was easy +to see that they were fully assured of the presence of the fugitive +within these walls, and that they did not mean to leave until he +had been dragged forth from his hiding place. + +The guests of the better quality were respectfully conducted into +the great hall, and refreshments were placed before them. Sir +Oliver put his whole house and possessions into the hands of the +prior, who was invited to make any kind of investigation and +examination that he thought necessary. The knight repeated what he +had said the previous day as to his entire ignorance where the monk +was hiding, and whether he was hiding at all. But no obstacle of +any kind would be placed by him against the most stringent search, +and he would either accompany the searchers or remain passive where +he was, exactly as the reverend father judged best. + +This statement was well received by the prior, who turned to the +Lord of Mortimer and suggested that in the first place his armed +troopers, who were well used to this kind of work, should make a +strict search through all the outbuildings of whatever kind, +posting his men wherever he thought needful, and taking any steps +such as the smoking of chimneys and kindred methods that might in +any wise be likely to dislodge the fugitive. Meantime the rest of +the party would remain where they were, and the house should only +be searched if it was made clear that the monk was not hiding +without. + +Lord Mortimer retired to give his orders, and the rest of the +company remained in the hall. The boys would better have liked the +house searched first, that their anxiety might be the sooner +relieved. It was keeping them on tenterhooks all this time, as they +knew well that no result could accrue from any search of the outer +yards or buildings, and it was hard to wait all that time in +uncertainty and suspense. + +But they heard the order given without making any sign. It was well +for them at this crisis that they had been trained in habits of +self control and reserve. No one, to look at the three boys, would +have guessed them to be greatly interested in the proceedings. They +remained standing in the background, with an air of quiet respect +and submission appropriate to the young in presence of their +spiritual superiors. The prior, as his keen eye travelled over the +faces in the hall, never suspected for a moment that those three +quiet lads knew aught of this matter. But, pleased by their air and +bearing, he called them to him and asked them some questions, to +assure himself that they had been properly taught by the +recalcitrant monk whom now he had resolved to find and to punish +for his rebellion and temerity. + +The boys replied with such ready intelligence and so much actual +learning that he could not but be pleased with them. Edred, in +particular, showed such readiness and aptitude that the prior was +surprised, and laying a kindly hand upon the boy's head, asked him +how soon they would be welcoming him at Chadwater. + +The youth looked up with grave, thoughtful eyes. + +"I know not that, my father. I have had thoughts of the religious +life; but--" + +"Well, boy, what is the 'but'?" asked the prior with a smile, but a +keen flash of the eye which did not pass unheeded. + +Edred saw the flash, and was put at once upon his guard. This was +not Brother Emmanuel, to whom he could open his whole soul and ask +counsel and advice. + +"I misdoubt me at times if I be fit for the life," he answered. +"There is too much of the world in my heart, I fear me. I used to +think I was fit to be a monk, but I am the less sure now." + +"Well, well, I would fain have a promising lad like thee beneath my +care; but there is time to talk of that later. + +"Well, my Lord of Mortimer, how goes the search? Is all in train +for it?" + +"Ay, reverend father; and I trow if the miscreant be in hiding +anywhere without the house, he will shortly be brought before us. I +am no novice in this manner of work, and I have laid my plans that +he will scarce escape us. If that fail, we must try the house +itself. It will go hard if we find him not somewhere. We have full +information that he has not left the place;" and here he flashed an +insolent look of triumph at Sir Oliver, who took not the smallest +notice either of the speech or the look. + +Edred retired to his former place beside his brothers, and the +party awaited the result of the search with what patience they +might. Now and then shouts and calls broke the stillness, and faces +would flush with excitement at the sound; but the shouts always +died away again into silence, and at last there came a trooper into +the hall to salute the company and report that there was no one +hidden in any of the places without. Not a rat or a mouse could +have failed to be turned out after the stringent search to which +the premises had been subjected. + +The Lord of Mortimer then rose and said: + +"Keep the men posted as I have given orders. Let none stir from his +vantage ground. And be thou there to see that the closest watch is +kept. We go in person to search the house, and if any living thing +seeks to make escape by door or window, it will be thine office and +that of thy men to seize and hold him." + +"We will not fail, my lord," said the man, who again saluted and +withdrew. + +Then the prior rose and called his monks about him, whilst the Lord +of Mortimer did the like with his followers. + +"Sir Oliver," said the prior, "I would have spared you this +unwelcome formality had it been possible, but my duty must be done. +I will ask you to be our conductor throughout the house, and will +crave permission to post my servants hither and thither about the +passages as seems to me best, and to take such steps as shall +appear needful for proving to the satisfaction of all that this +traitor monk is not hidden within your walls." + +Sir Oliver bent his head. + +"Take what steps you will, reverend father; I and mine are at your +disposal. Whatever means you desire to use, do so without +hesitation. Shall my people arm themselves with tools to remove +panelling or flooring? You have but to command them; they shall +instantly obey." + +The Lord of Mortimer again looked taken aback for a moment. There +was a confidence in Sir Oliver's manner that did not appear to be +assumed. He would have preferred another aspect in his foe. + +"We have brought all things needful for a rigorous search," +answered the prior. "We hope and trust nothing will be needed. Is +it true that there are secret hiding places in the house, my son? +It would be well, perhaps, to visit any such first." + +"There be two," answered Sir Oliver quietly, though his heart beat +rather fast. What if Brother Emmanuel had learned the secret of +either of those places, and had sought refuge in one? True, it +would have been worse than useless to deny their existence. Many in +the household knew of them and how they might be entered. + +Probably the prior or some of his monks had the trick of those +chambers by heart. Chad had been through many vicissitudes, and the +monks had often been its guests. Secrets once known to them were +never allowed to be lost. It would have been idle to seek to put +the searchers off the scent. He led the way to the places where the +masked doors lay--one was much after the pattern of that in the +boys' chamber--and in each case himself opened the door, letting +his guests go in to examine for themselves. + +Those were terrible moments for him; but the hearts of the boys did +not palpitate. Each time the search party came forth with looks of +baffled disappointment. Each time the Lord of Mortimer's face was +dark and gloomy. He had reckoned somewhat confidently on finding +the fugitive in one of these known hiding places. He had hoped Sir +Oliver would profess an ignorance of at least one of the two. His +face was fierce and vindictive as the second was "drawn blank." + +But the excitement of the boys was slowly augmenting as the party +moved higher and higher in the house, leaving scouts posted in +various places, and, as it were, spreading a cleverly-constructed +net all through Chad, which it would be impossible for any person +being hunted from spot to spot finally to escape. + +The prior's idea now was that the monk might be gliding before them +from place to place, confident that his knowledge of the +intricacies of the house would give him the chance of evading them +at the last. It was a desperate game, to be sure, but one that had +been successfully tried by others on more than one occasion. He +therefore posted his men with great skill and acumen; and knowing +the house accurately, was able to feel secure that if this were the +game being played, the prey would sooner or later be his. + +Lord Mortimer, on the other hand, gave his attention to the +panelled walls, the carved chimney pieces, the flooring of the old +rooms; and many were the blows struck here and there by his orders, +and great was the damage done to certain panelled rooms, in the +hopes of coming upon some masked door or passage. + +It was this energy on his part that caused such anxiety to the +boys. Suppose he were to attack the carving which really concealed +the masked door in their room? Might not his eagle eye light upon +that, too, and might not all be discovered? The boys felt almost +sick with apprehension as they approached the door of their room, +and Edred's whole heart went up in a voiceless prayer that no +discovery might be made. + +Nothing in the aspect of the room attracted comment. All looked +matter of fact and innocent enough, and the prior was growing +something weary with the unavailing search. The usual thumping on +the walls was commenced; but even the carved mantel pillars were so +solid that no hollow sound was given forth when they were struck. +The prior turned away. + +"There is naught here, methinks, my Lord of Mortimer." + +"Wait one moment," replied the baron. "This carving be something +deep and ponderous. I always suspect traps when I see such pains +bestowed upon it. Let me examine a while further. These grapes look +to me as if they had been fingered something often. Let me examine +further." + +Edred's heart was in his mouth. It was all he could do to restrain +himself from seeking to attract the prior's attention in another +direction; but his sound sense told him that this sudden +interruption would be suspicious. Julian nipped him by the arm, as +those strong fingers went travelling over the carved work with dire +intent. Both started when the Lord of Mortimer exclaimed: + +"Take away yon chest; it encumbers me." + +The servants did his bidding in a moment; and then a sudden change +came over his face. The eager look died away. He remained awhile +looking down at the floor, which was covered with dust and flue, as +was also the carving which had been concealed behind the chest. The +prior looked down too, and shrugged his shoulders. + +"That tells a tale, my lord. Naught has been disturbed here for +many a long day. Let us pursue our search elsewhere. No fugitive +could have passed by that spot since yesterday, when Brother +Emmanuel was last seen." + +The baron could not but assent. He looked once again at the +carving, but he had had no real reason to suspect aught, and he +turned away to go elsewhere. Another grip of the arm showed Edred +how Julian's feelings had been stirred; but the lads did not even +look at each other as they moved on behind the company, and they +now hardly heard or heeded what passed during the remaining hour of +that long search. + +For them the crisis had passed when they turned from the room where +the secret lay. If not discovered at that awful moment when Lord +Mortimer's hand was actually upon the bunch of grapes beneath which +lay the spring, they surely need not fear any other manoeuvre on +his part. + +And at last the long search ended. Even the Lord of Mortimer had to +own himself beaten. Reluctantly and with scowling brow he followed +the prior back to the long banqueting hall, where the tables had +already been laid with savoury viands. He had been worsted where he +had been most confident of success, and he was as furious as a bear +robbed of her whelps. + +The prior was taking Sir Oliver by the hand and speaking words of +goodwill, professing great satisfaction at the result of this +stringent search; his only vexation being that the monk had +contrived to give them the slip. In the back of his head the prior +had a lurking feeling that Sir Oliver had been in some sort +concerned in Brother Emmanuel's escape, and was rejoicing at it; +but inasmuch as he had entirely failed to bring home any charge +against him, and as in all other respects he was a good neighbour +and true son of the Church, he was willing enough to restore him to +favour and confidence, and was not sorry on the whole that the +haughty Lord of Mortimer was not going to have it all his own way. + +The astute ecclesiastic knew very well that he himself did better +for holding a neutral position between two adversaries both +desiring his friendship and good opinion, than he would do were +Chad and Mortimer to be in the same hands. He was disappointed at +not finding the monk, but not sorry Sir Oliver stood vindicated. He +set himself down to the board with a hearty goodwill; but the baron +refused the proffered hospitality of his rival, and summoned his +attendants about him. + +"I will say farewell this time, Sir Oliver," he said haughtily. +"But remember I still hold that we have only been foiled by your +cunning; not that you are innocent in this matter. If ever I can +prove this thing against you, I shall do so; and I recommend the +reverend prior to keep his watch still upon this house, as I fully +believe yon traitor monk is in hiding here." + +"And I, my lord baron," said Sir Oliver proudly, "will give you +fair warning that I will speedily to the king, to lay before him +the history of this day and the insults to which I have been +subjected through you and your groundless suspicions of me. I have +not resisted what you have chosen to do, knowing well the use you +would have made of such resistance. But I have not forgotten the +many acts of aggression and hostility of which you have been +guilty; and this last day's work, in which your servants have made +themselves, as it were, masters of Chad, shall be answered for at +some future day. You have thought good to threaten me. I too will +threaten you. I threaten you with the displeasure of the king when +this thing comes to his ears; and I shall seek him now without +delay, and tell him all I have suffered at your hands." + + + +Chapter X: From Peril To Safety. + + +"My son, what hast thou done to thyself?" + +Edred was stumbling across the courtyard, supported by Julian, his +face streaming with blood and muffled in a great kerchief. He was +unable to speak himself, but Julian spoke eagerly for him. + +"I trow the fault is half mine. It was done in tilting. I was +careless, and saw not that Edred's guard was down. I fear me I have +something hurt him. I trust it is not the eye. Look to it quickly, +sweet mother. It was a nasty blow." + +"It is not of serious nature," muttered Edred through his +wrappings; "it will be well right quickly." + +The mother hurried the two boys into a small room of her own where +she kept medicaments of various kinds, and where all wounds of a +trifling character were washed and dressed. Julian hurried to fetch +her all she needed; and just at that moment Sir Oliver came hastily +in looking for his wife. + +"How now, Edred?" he exclaimed. "Hast thou been in the wars again?" +for Edred was something famed for getting hard knocks and ugly +scratches in his mimic encounters with his more skilled and +dexterous brothers. "Why, boy, but this is a worse business than +usual. I am sorry for it, for I had something purposed to take thee +with me to Windsor on the next morrow, as well as Bertram, and show +thee to the king, and give thee a glimpse of the world of court. +But if thou be in such plight as this, thou wilt scarce be fit to +go." + +"I must await another time," muttered Edred, in the same indistinct +way, and Julian added with an air of chagrin: + +"It was a villainous mischance. I would I had been more careful. I +am always having the ill luck to hurt Edred." + +"Nay, the fault is mine!" exclaimed the other boy. + +"And now thou wilt be hindered from seeing the king and his fine +court." + +"Perchance thou wilt go in my stead." + +"Nay, that will I not. An thou stayest at home for fault of mine, I +will stay to keep thee company. + +"Now, gentle mother, prithee see if he be much hurt. I cannot rest +till I know." + +The lady was ready now to make her examination, and gently removed +the rude wrappings the boys had made for themselves. Edred's face +presented an ugly appearance as these were taken away. He had a +great gash across his brow, which passed dangerously near to the +eye, and had laid open the cheek almost as far as the mouth, and +knocked out one back tooth. The knight looked concerned at the +magnitude of the damage, and spoke rather sharply to Julian. + +"Thou must have a care with these weapons of thine, or thou wilt do +thy brother a fatal mischief one of these days. See, boy, had that +blow of thine swerved but the half of an inch, thy brother would +have lost the sight of an eye forever--nay, he might have lost his +life; for an injury to the eye oft penetrates to the brain, and +then the skill of the leech is of no avail. + +"Good wife, is thy skill sufficient for these hurts? or shall we +send to seek a surgeon's aid?" + +"Methinks I can do all that is needful. They are ugly scratches and +painful, but not over deep. The lad will not be scarred, methinks, +when the wound is well healed. See, it looks better already after +the bathing. + +"Run, Julian, for the roll of lint and the strapping in yon +cupboard. + +"The boy will be a sorry spectacle for a few short days, but after +that I trow he will feel none the worse." + +"It is but a scratch," said Edred, speaking more freely now, though +with a mumbling accent, as though his lips were swollen, which, +indeed, one of them was. "I scarce feel it, now it is bathed. Do +not look so grave anent the matter, my father." + +Sir Oliver, relieved to find matters no worse, went on his way; and +Lady Chadgrove proceeded to bind up and plaster the bruised face +with the skill and dexterity of which she was mistress. She had no +attention to spare for Julian, or she might have been surprised to +note that he secreted for himself a certain amount of the dressing +she had used, and looked on very intently whilst she applied the +remainder to his brother's face. + +When her ministrations were accomplished, Edred was greatly +disguised. His face was almost entirely swathed in linen, and one +eye was completely bandaged up. Julian laughed aloud as he saw the +object presented by his brother; and Edred would have joined in the +laugh if he had had free play with his facial muscles. + +The mother looked gently scandalized. + +"Sure, it is no laughing matter, Julian. I am not wont to make much +of these boyish mischiefs. Lads must learn to give and to take hard +blows as they grow to manhood. Yet I would that thou wert something +more careful. Thou mightest have killed thy brother, or have caused +him life-long injury, today." + +Julian looked grave enough then; but Edred caressed his mother +gently, saying: + +"Nay, chide him not. He is the best of brothers. It was as much my +fault as his." + +And then the pair went away together, and did not pause until they +had reached their own room, when they suddenly seized each other by +the hand and commenced cutting extraordinary capers, indicative of +a secret understanding and triumph. + +"It could not have turned out better," said Edred, speaking stiffly +with his bandaged face and swollen lips. + +"I fear me thou dost suffer somewhat." + +"It is naught. I scarce feel it, now mother has bound it up. And +thy stroke was wondrous skilful, Julian--brow and eye and mouth all +scratched." + +"The praise should be thine for standing thus rigid to let me thus +mark thee. Hadst thou flinched, as many another would have done--as +I should have done, I trow--it could not have been done a tithe as +well. Wrapped and bandaged as thou must be these next days to come, +not a creature could know thee. Everything can be carried out +according to the plan. Not even our father will suspect aught. The +only fear is lest thou shouldst take a fever or somewhat of that +sort, so that they say thou must not ride forth a few miles with +our father when he fares forth to Windsor at the dawning of the +next morrow after tomorrow's dawn." + +"No fear of that," answered Edred boldly. "I am not wont to trouble +a sickbed. I have had knocks and blows as hard as this before. Art +sure thou hast enough of the linen and the strapping to serve the +purpose? And dost think thou canst apply it rightly? It will be thy +hands, not mine, that must do all that. I shall be far away when +the moment comes. Art sure that thou canst do all as it should be +done? Thou and Bertram will have all the last arrangements to carry +through. How my heart will be in my mouth until I see thee and my +double approaching in the gray light of the morning!" + +"I trow we shall not disappoint thee!" cried the boy excitedly; +adding after a moment's pause, "Methinks in the matter of artifice +both Bertram and I can beat thee, albeit thou art the best of us in +other matters. What a boon that that fat, slothful, ignorant monk +no longer shares this room! That might have been a rare trouble. +But since he loves well the soft bed of the guest chamber in lieu +of these hard pallets, he is not like to trouble us again. They put +their trust in the spies around the house. Let their spies do their +worst, I trow we shall outwit them yet." + +And the boys took hands again and renewed their impromptu triumph +dance. Their hearts were brimming over with satisfaction and hope. +They had had a tough problem to think out during the past days, but +now it seemed in a fair way of solution. + +When the prior had left Chad after the banquet prepared for him, he +professed himself perfectly satisfied that the missing Brother +Emmanuel was not concealed upon the premises yet for all that, +since the Lord of Mortimer had declared himself still dissatisfied, +and because the escape of the monk was difficult to credit, nothing +having been seen or heard of him abroad, he judged it wise still to +keep his watch upon the place, that all might be satisfied that no +precaution had been left untaken. + +Sir Oliver had briefly, and with a slight accent of scorn, agreed +with all the prior said, and had professed himself perfectly +agreeable to the arrangement. He had nothing to hide either in his +own comings and goings or in those of any member of his household. +So long as his movements were not interfered with or his liberties +infringed, the whole forest might be alive with spies for all that +he cared. He had not known of the first watch set upon his house, +and he was indifferent to the second. He should be soon leaving +home to seek the king, and all he demanded was that the sanctity of +his house should be duly regarded in his absence. Of course the +prior fully agreed to that. Indeed, after the rigorous and +exhaustive search that had been already made, there was no reason +why any further entrance should be made into Chad. + +But although Sir Oliver had heard this mandate with indifference +and contempt, it had filled the hearts of the boys with dismay. In +a week's time the vessel would sail that was to carry Brother +Emmanuel away to foreign soil, and out of the clutches of his +present enemies; and if this guard around the house were to be +maintained all that while, what chance had they of smuggling their +fugitive away and down to the coast, as they had set their hearts +on doing? + +But inasmuch as necessity has ever been the mother of invention, +and the lads were not only bold and fearless but ready of resource, +they had laid their heads together with some good effect, and now +the first and one of the most important steps of the little drama +had been carried to a successful conclusion. + +The next day was a busy and bustling one at Chad. Upon the morrow +its lord and master rode forth to Windsor with his eldest son and +the best of his followers. There was a great burnishing of arms and +grooming and feeding of steeds. Every man was looking up his best +riding dress and putting it into spic-and-span order, and the whole +place rang with the sound of cheery voices and the clash of steel. + +In and out and backwards and forwards throughout the day passed the +three boys, watching everything, asking eager questions of all, and +expressing keen interest in the whole expedition. + +Edred was of course a great figure. His face was all swathed up. +One side was completely concealed by the wrappings, and as he found +the light trying to even the other eye, his plumed hat was drawn +low down over his brow, so that no one would have guessed who he +was but for the fact that his mishap was well known by this time to +all the household. + +Even after supper the restless boys could not keep still. Edred and +Julian had won their father's consent to riding some few miles with +him on the morrow towards Windsor, and they ran off as soon as the +meal was concluded to visit their steeds and see that their saddles +were in order. After they had done this, they sallied out by one of +the smaller gates to take an evening stroll in the wood, calling +out to the custodian of the portal that they should return by the +great gate. + +They wandered away some distance into the wood; but when they +returned it was only Bertram and Julian who entered the gate and +went up to their sleeping room. However, as nobody at the larger +entrance had seen the three sally forth, no remark was occasioned +by the return of only two; and it was supposed that Edred would +have retired early, since he was in somewhat battered plight, and +had to recover strength for the early start upon the morrow. + +When they reached their room that night, Bertram and Julian +carefully locked the door behind them--a precaution they did not +often take; and when they took from the great chest their own best +riding suits, they also took out Edred's and looked it well over. + +"It will fit him to a nicety," said Bertram. "He and Edred are +almost of a height, and both slim and slightly built. His pale +face, so much as may be seen beneath the white linen, will look +mightily like Edred's in the gray light of the early morn. This hat +has a mighty wide brim--well that Edred affects such headgear. +Pulled over his eyes, as he wore it yesterday, there be scarce a +feature to be seen. We have but to say he is something late, take +him his breakfast to eat up here, and get him on to horseback +whilst all the bustle is going on, and not even our father will +know him. He may ride past the spies with head erect and fearless +mien, for there is not one of them but saw Edred this day, and will +know at a glance who rides betwixt us twain with the white linen +about his head!" + +Sir Oliver had decided rather late in the day to take his lady with +him. She was in great favour always with the queen, and of late +they had heard that the health of that gracious lady was something +failing. It would be a graceful attention on the part of the +mistress of Chad to visit her and learn of her welfare, and it was +known that the queen had considerable influence with the king, and +he might well give more favourable notice to Sir Oliver's plea were +his wife to urge it upon him in response to what the lady might +tell to her of their recent troubles with their haughty neighbour. + +So that there was even more stir and excitement than usually +attended an early morning's start. The sun was not yet up, and the +gray dimness of the coming summer's day enshrouded the great +courtyard as Bertram and Julian descended to it with a slim figure +between them clad in a riding dress similar to their own, the +slouched hat drawn over the face, which face was well wrapped and +muffled in white linen, as Edred's had been the previous day. + +The lady of the house came out with a look of preoccupation upon +her face. She noted that the boys were already in the saddle, and +smiled. + +"Always in such haste," she said, as her own palfrey was led up. +"But, Edred my son, why didst thou not come to me to have thy hurts +looked to this morn? I was expecting thee." + +"Sweet mother, I bound them for him today!" cried Julian eagerly. +"Methought I must learn to be his leech since thou wast going with +our father, and we knew that thou wouldst have much to do and to +think of. Methinks I have not done amiss. It scarce looks as neat +as though thy skilful fingers had had the care of it; but he says +it feels not amiss, and that is a great thing." + +"Ay, verily; and I am glad thou hast skill enough for his needs. + +"Be cautious, Edred my son, that the cold gets not to the hurts. +Draw up the collar of thy mantle well over that left cheek of +thine, and do not talk whilst the air bites so keenly. When the sun +is up all will be well; but be cautious in the first chill of the +dawn." + +The brothers went towards their companion, and rearranged the +collar of his riding cloak so as still more to conceal his face. +The hands of the younger lad were trembling somewhat; there was a +quivering of the muscles of the face which betokened some repressed +emotion. The muffled rider did not speak or make much movement. He +obeyed the injunction of the lady of Chad to the letter. + +Sir Oliver now appeared, and lifted his wife upon her palfrey. He +gave a look to see that his sons were mounted, and his servants +standing ready to follow his example when he sprang to the saddle. + +Then his charger was led up, and he mounted and gave the word, and +the little cavalcade moved out through the gate and into the still, +dim forest track, watched intently by more than one pair of keen, +sharp, suspicious eyes. + +"I trust when I come back," remarked the knight to his lady, "that +yon spies will have grown weary of their bootless watch, and will +have taken themselves off. It is but the malice and suspicion of +the Lord of Mortimer which causes the prior to act so. Alone he +would never trouble himself. He knows that Brother Emmanuel is not +at Chad, and has not been these many days. Wherever he be, he has +escaped the malice of his foes this time. Heaven send that he may +long escape! He was a godly and a saintly man, and no more heretic +than thou or I. If the Church will persist in warring thus against +her own truest sons, then indeed will she provoke some great +judgment upon her own head. A house divided against itself can +never stand, and she above all others should know that." + +The spies had been some time passed before Sir Oliver spoke these +words, and when he did so they were only loud enough to reach the +ears of his wife and of his sons, who rode immediately behind him. +Two of these turned their heads for a moment to look at him who +rode between them, but his face was far too well concealed for its +expression to be seen. + +A few miles further on and a pause was made. Julian suggested that +he and Edred should be turning back; whilst the mother, who thought +that Edred was scarce fit for the saddle yet, seconded the idea +with approbation. + +They were passing through a very dark part of the forest, where the +trees grew dense, and where on one side the sandstone rose up in a +wall, quite keeping out the level rays of the rising sun. It was +almost as dim as night in this overgrown spot. + +Julian sprang to his feet, and went and dutifully kissed the hand +both of father and mother, and the bandaged lad with the concealed +face followed his example, touching both hands reverently and +gratefully, and murmuring some words of farewell that were only +indistinctly heard in the champing of bits and stamping of +impatient horse hoofs. Then whilst the mother still laid many +charges upon Julian to be careful of his brother, and bent a few +anxious regards upon the injured lad himself, Sir Oliver gave the +signal for riding on again, as they had a long day's journey before +them; and the little cavalcade vanished quickly into the forest, +leaving the two companions and their respective steeds standing +alone in that dim place. + +When the last of the horses had quite vanished, and the sound of +their steps was no longer to be heard, Julian flung his cap +suddenly into the air, and uttered a long and peculiar cry. + +Almost immediately that cry was answered from some place near at +hand, and in a few minutes more a figure strangely like the one +standing at Julian's side emerged from the sheltering underwood, +leading by the rein a small forest pony, such as were much used in +that part of the country. With bandaged face, hat drawn over the +brows, and collar turned up to the ears, the newcomer was the very +counterpart of the motionless figure in the path, save that the +latter wore the better dress. Julian burst into a great laugh as +the two stood facing each other; but for Edred the meeting was +fraught with too much of thankful relief for him to be able to join +in his brother's hilarity, and after standing very still for a +moment, he suddenly bent his knee, and felt a hand laid upon his +head in mute blessing. + +Then Brother Emmanuel removed the wrappings from his head, and +looked from one brother to the other with a world of gratitude in +his dark eyes. But it was a time for action, not words, and that +mute, eloquent gaze was all that passed at present. + +"We have a servant's dress ready in the hut hard by," said Edred +quickly; "and then we must to horse again and get to the coast as +fast as may be. Yon sturdy little pony good Warbel has provided +will serve us as well as any stouter nag, and look more in keeping +with the humble part thou must play this day, Brother Emmanuel. +Come, let us change our dress quickly. I love not to linger in this +forest, even though we be five good miles from Chad." + +Julian took care of the three horses, whilst Edred and the +disguised monk made their way through the thick growth of +underwood. + +When they reappeared it seemed to the boy as though the monk was as +greatly disguised now as he had been with the wrappings of linen +about his face. Certainly none but a spy on the watch and on the +right scent would recognize in this serving man the young +ecclesiastic of a few weeks back. + +There was a stubble of beard upon his lips and chin which was in +itself a marvellous disguise. He wore a loose riding dress, with a +slouch hat and a high collar to the cloak which shaded and changed +the outline of his features. There was nothing of the monk in his +look, save perhaps in the steady glance of his eyes, where a bright +intelligence and keen devotion beamed. + +Julian flung his cap into the air again as he cried joyously: + +"Why, not even the lord prior himself would know thee now. Sure, +thou mightest almost have ridden past the spies themselves thus +habited. We may push on in open daylight now, and none will heed +thy presence." + +Edred had now put on the riding dress which Brother Emmanuel had +hitherto worn, so that on their return the same pair might be seen +to re-enter the house. The disguised monk mounted the forest pony +and followed his young masters, who pushed on quietly to the coast, +feeling a greater and greater security with every mile they put +between themselves and their home. + +It was the day for the sailing of the sloop that would carry the +monk away to a safe retreat. They were not afraid of losing the +boat, for it was not to sail till nightfall; but their impatience +acted like a spur, and drove them steadily forward; and save for +the needful halts to refresh themselves and their beasts, they did +not tarry or draw rein. + +It was growing towards the westering of the sun when they beheld +the great sea lying before them far below, and Edred's eyes glowed +with joy as he saw the white-winged shallops flitting hither and +thither on the wide expanse of blue water, and pictured how soon +Brother Emmanuel would be sailing away out of the reach of peril. +Truly God had been very good in hearing and answering prayer. Edred +had, by some instinct for which he could not account, addressed his +prayers of late less to the blessed Virgin and more to the Son of +God Himself--struck, perhaps, by the words he had heard from the +lips of the heretic peddler about the "one Mediator, the man Christ +Jesus." He now turned in his saddle and waited till Brother +Emmanuel came up. It was too solitary a place for them to care to +keep up the appearance of master and servant. + +Riding thus side by side, Brother Emmanuel talked with the boys out +of the fulness of his heart. His week of captivity had been spent +in deep and earnest thought, and some of these thoughts were +imparted to the boys in that last serious talk. He bid them hold in +all reverence and godly fear that Church which was the body of +Christ, and those ordinances which had been given at the beginning +for the perfecting of the saints, and which were God's ways of +dealing with man. But he warned them in solemn tones of the fearful +disease which had attacked the body, and which threatened a fearful +remedy before that body could be cleansed; he warned them also of +the perils which beset the path of those who should live to see the +coming struggle. There would be men who would vow that whatever the +Church said and did must be right because the Church was the body +of Christ, not knowing that even that body can become corrupt +(though never the Head) if the will of man be put in the stead of +the will of God; and these would cling to the corruptions as +closely as to the ordinances of God, and become bitter persecutors +of those who would arise and seek to cleanse and renew the body by +God-given remedies. But again there would be men who would arise +and deny that there was a body, would condemn the very name of the +Church, and avow that what the Lord wanted was not a body, but a +number of individuals each seeking light and salvation in his own +fashion. That would be a fearful evil--an evil which would rend the +body into a thousand schisms, and bring down at last the heavy +wrath of God, who has from the beginning taught men that the body +must be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing before it can be +fit to be the bride of the Lamb. + +The young monk earnestly strove to show the perils of both these +ways to the boys who rode beside him, and his words were earnestly +listened to, and, by one at least, laid seriously to heart, to be +remembered in after days almost as the words of prophecy, and +destined to have a lasting effect upon his own future career. + +From that day Edred renounced all thought of the monastic life, +feeling that such a life would but trammel his conscience and +stultify his judgment. He resolved to live his life in the world, +whilst seeking to be not of the world. How that resolve was kept +there is no space in these pages to tell. + +Slowly and quietly the three friends jogged down into the little +fishing and trading hamlet that lay at the base of the cliffs. In +the small bay lay one or two sloops and frigates, and it was not +hard to find the owner of the one which was to sail that night and +carry Brother Emmanuel away. Julian found the man, and made all +arrangements; whilst Edred saw that Brother Emmanuel made a +sufficient meal, and sat talking with him to the very last, +drinking in new thoughts and aspirations with every word, and +striving, in the joy of knowing his beloved preceptor to be safe, +to still the ache at heart which this parting involved. + +The sun was just setting as the boat bearing Brother Emmanuel to +the sloop pushed off from shore. The skipper resolved to set sail +forthwith, and the boys stood watching whilst she shook out her +canvas to the favouring breeze, and glided like a white-winged sea +bird out from the shelter of the bay and into the wide ocean. + +There were smarting tears in Edred's eyes despite his joy and +relief. But Julian had room only for the latter feeling, and waved +his cap with an air of exultant triumph as the sails expanded more +and more and the little vessel went skimming its way over the +shining sea. + +"He is safe, and we have saved him!" he cried with flashing eyes. +"Let men say what they will, but he was no heretic. I fear not but +that we have done right in the sight of God, even though we may not +whisper in the confessional this deed, nor receive priestly +absolution therefor." + +"God will give us His pardon if we have done amiss," said Edred +thoughtfully. "But I have no fear that He regards this deed as a +sin. It was done in His name, and as such will He receive it." + +"Yes, verily; though perchance it were better to leave such words +unsaid. And now we must to horse and make all speed back to Chad. +As it is we shall not reach it till after nightfall, and they will +something wonder at our delay." + +"They will but think we went far and rested long for thy sake. We +have travelled leisurely today to keep the horses fresh. We can +travel back in the cool right merrily. It is but twenty miles. We +can take the most of it at a hand gallop." + +The boys and the horses were alike refreshed and ready for a gallop +through the cool evening air, rushing on as fast as the nature of +the road would let them, they reached Chad in three hours, and rode +beneath the gateway just as the old seneschal was wondering how +much longer he must wait before he closed the gate for the night. + +The spies saw them ride in, as they had (to their thinking) seen +them ride out; and all unconscious that the prey had escaped their +vigilance, continued their weary and fruitless watch with the +pertinacity which in so many like cases had given them success at +the last. + +One bright evening some three weeks later the bugle at the gate was +loudly blown, and Edred and Julian came flying out to welcome their +eldest brother, who had ridden hither with some dozen servants to +bring news to his brothers at home. + +"We have had marvellous good hap. The king received us right +graciously, and heard our story with kingly friendliness and +goodwill. He is none of your bigoted, priest-ridden monarchs; and +although he hates true heresy, and would destroy it root and +branch, he cries shame that all enlightened men who would cleanse +the Church from some of her corrupt practices should be branded by +that evil term. The great and worthy Dean Colet was called in, and +he knows well the pamphlet Brother Emmanuel wrote, and says it is a +work which should be read and taken to heart by all. That such a +man should be dubbed a heretic is vile and wicked; and right glad +were all to hear that he had escaped the malice of his enemies, and +fled where they could not reach him. I did not dare even then to +tell all the tale, but I said how we had laid our heads together +and had helped him to escape. The king and the queen themselves +praised me for our courage, and called me a good lad and a brave +one not even to trouble our father with the knowledge of a secret +that might have made ill work for him. + +"My Lord of Mortimer had not been idle. He had been before us in +seeking the king; but as good chance befell, he had a quarrel with +young Henry, the king's fiery son; and the prince was mightily +offended, and made his sire offended likewise. Wherefore Mortimer +was something in disgrace even before we got there, and when our +story was told he was called up before the king and prince. And all +our old forest rights have been restored to us--nay, have been +widened and increased, and that at the expense of Mortimer. Ye +should have seen his face when that mandate was brought forth and +duly signed and sealed with the royal seal and delivered to our +father! And the prior has been warned to take his spies from Chad, +and the prince has promised to come and visit us, and to enjoy a +week's hunting in the forest." + +Bertram's breath gave out before he had well finished outpouring +his story, and the pause was filled by a great huzza, led off by +Julian, and taken up by all the company, who were hearing scraps of +like information from the men-at-arms who had conducted home the +heir. + +"Our parents are constrained to remain awhile longer at court; but +I hungered to bring the news to Chad, and to hear the end of the +story." + +Bertram here dismounted, and taking his brothers by the arm, led +them up to their own room, which was always their favourite haunt. + +"I see that thy face is well-nigh recovered, Edred; but it stood us +in marvellous good stead. Tell me, how fared you when you parted +from us? All went well?" + +"Excellent well in all truth. Not a soul accosted us by the way. We +saw him take boat to the sloop, and saw the sloop sail out of the +bay. In truth, it seems like a dream now that it is all passed. But +it was a fearful time whilst it lasted." + +"Yet it has led to good. We are higher in favour with the king than +ever, and I trow it will be long ere our haughty neighbour dares to +raise his crest against us." + +Bertram paused smiling, and laid his hand upon the masked door +which had kept its secret so long. + +"And if it be that our gracious prince doth in very truth visit us +here, methinks that to him and to him alone will we tell the whole +of the strange story, and disclose to him the trick of the secret +chamber at Chad!" + +The End. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Secret Chamber at Chad, by Evelyn Everett-Green + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECRET CHAMBER AT CHAD *** + +***** This file should be named 15670.txt or 15670.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/6/7/15670/ + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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