Foxholme Hall, and Other Tales Read online

game than formerly, he never grumbled at his ill-luck.Perhaps both Roger and Father Mathew were watching him, but, if so, hewas not aware of it, and was perfectly well satisfied with the course hewas taking. He found that Mistress Gertrude was not over strictlybrought up, and that her parents did not object to her mixing with otheryoung people, and enjoying the spoils and pastimes suitable to theirage. At all festivals and merry-makings Herbert became her constantattendant. He cared not if any one remarked that he demeaned himself byassociating as he did with a yeoman's family. Master Alwyn did notobject to his consorting with his daughter, and therefore no one elsehad any business to find fault with him. He engaged warmly with otheryoung men of his age in the various athletic sports then generallypractised. It was his delight to excel in them, and whenever he won aprize, as he often did, he was wont to bring it and place it at the feetof the fair Gertrude. He did so with a right noble air, and it wasoften remarked that she received these attentions with a grace which notthe first lady in the land could surpass. He was not without rivals whodesired to gain the chief place in her affections; not that she gavethem any encouragement, for her heart was already entirely surrenderedto Herbert.

  Among the many devices employed by that money-loving monarch, Henry theSeventh, was that of confiscating the property of any of his nobles orother wealthy persons who gave him cause of offence by rebelling orintriguing with his enemies. Not far off resided a certain Master JohnFisher, once a wealthy merchant in London, who had in an evil hour forhimself purchased one of these estates, lately belonging to a LordNevile, of ancient lineage, much beloved in the country. Master Fisherwas a worthy honest man, and would have proved a greater benefactor tothe people among whom he came to reside than he had afterwards the powerof being, had not the king looked on his hordes as a mine of wealth fromwhich it was his royal privilege to extract whatever he might require.The merchant had several sons, who naturally desired to live like theyoung lords and gentlemen around them. One of them, Thomas Fisher, hadset his eyes on Mistress Gertrude. He had more fortune than hisbrothers, money having been bequeathed to him by an uncle, also amerchant. His personal appearance was in his favour, and, altogether,he might have been considered a very good match for the yeoman'sdaughter. Master Fisher, his father, however, did not approve of it,and desired that he should wed into some noble family, which would givehim a better standing in the country than he could otherwise obtain.Thomas, however, was of an obstinate disposition, and would by no meansgive her up. Wherever there was a prospect of meeting her there he wasalways to be found, though he had to confess that of late she certainlyhad given him very little encouragement.

  There was in the neighbourhood of Beauville Castle a large open common,in the centre of which were certain Druidical remains--huge blocks ofstone, some like pillars standing upright, and others placed on a pivotover another by means the knowledge of which appears afterwards to havebeen lost. One of these stones, the largest in the group, was so placedthat the slightest touch would set it vibrating. It was generallybelieved, however, that this could only be done by the good andvirtuous, and that any one not deserving that character, though theymight shake it ever so violently, could not move it. Here, from nearand far, it had been the custom of the youths and lasses to assemble onfestivals and holidays to amuse themselves with the games and sportsthen in vogue. Archers came to exhibit their skill. Quintains were setup, at which young men delighted to run, with lance in rest, either onfoot or on horseback. Here were practised hurling the bar, casting thelance, running races, and other similar active sports; while on May-daya pole was set up, round which the morris-dancers assembled, and theLord of Misrule held his court. People of position in the county didnot disdain to come to these merry meetings. One fine afternoon, on the1st of May, 1493, a large number of persons of all ranks and ages wereassembled in the neighbourhood--of the rocking-stone. The still wealthymerchant, Master Fisher, and the yeoman, Master Alwyn, and Herbert'sfaithful guardian, Roger Bertram, and several knights and justices withtheir families, and Father Mathew, and other priests and curates, andnot a few monks and friars, who had come with the spirit of pickpocketsof the present day to try what they could filch from the pouches of themerry-makers.

  After the gay assemblage had got somewhat weary of the ordinary sports,a number of persons repaired to the rocking-stone, where they amusedthemselves by daring each other to give evidence of their virtuous livesby setting the stone rocking. Several had gone forward, when the stonewas clearly seen to vibrate. At length the names of several damselswere called out, and, among others, Mistress Gertrude Alwyn was summonedto go forward and move the stone. There might have been a slight blushon her cheek at appearing before so many people on such an undertaking;but yet, with a slight laugh and a smile on her lips, she advancedtowards the stone. There was a perfect silence among the crowd ofspectators as she touched the stone. It did not move. Again and againshe touched it, with all the force she could exert. The stone remainedas immovable as if part of the mass on which it rested. There was ageneral groan uttered by the crowd, an evidence of their full belief inthe truth of the legend, while, at the same moment, a piercing cry washeard, and the unhappy damsel was seen to fall fainting to the ground.Dame Alwyn ran forward to raise her daughter, followed by young Herbertde Beauville, who declared aloud that, for his part, he believed thestone might sometimes rock and sometimes cease to rock, but that thishad nothing to do with the virtue or want of that quality in those whotouched it. There was a cry of "Heretic Lollard" from among the crowd,but Herbert silenced it by declaring that he would slit the tongue andbreak the head of any one who uttered it, or a word against the fairfame of Mistress Gertrude Alwyn. The poor girl was mounted on a pillionbehind her father and conveyed back to Donington, weeping bitterly. Anumber of persons collected round the stone, and soon afterwards, onbeing touched by chance, it was seen to rock as before.

  Herbert remained some time behind the Alwyn family, stalking about withhis hand on the hilt of his sword, evidently longing for an encounterwith some one; but as no person present seemed disposed just then tobeard him, he at length mounted his horse and rode after his friends.Again and again he assured Master Alwyn, and his dame, and sweetMistress Gertrude of his disbelief in the knowledge of the stone of thecharacter of those who touched it, and that he would not credit a wordagainst her fair fame should the cardinal, or bishop, or the Popehimself utter it. Gertrude thanked him with tears in her eyes, butbegged him to return home and talk the matter over with Master Rogerbefore he took any steps to vindicate her character, which he told herthat he was resolved to do. His worthy guardian did not look on thematter in the light he did. He confessed that he did not believe thatMistress Gertrude was of light character, but that if the world did so,it was nearly as bad, and that she was not a fit bride for him. Herbertdid not see the matter in this light, and argued the point with greatvehemence, and declared that nothing should prevent him from vindicatingher character by marrying her forthwith.

  In this same year a claimant to the throne of England appeared in theperson of a handsome youth, who pretended to be Richard Duke of York,second son of Edward the Fourth. He had married the Lady CatherineGordon, a cousin of the King of Scotland, who espoused his cause. Nosooner did he appear in arms than Herbert, faithful to the traditions ofhis family, prepared to join him. He had no retainers, no money, onlyhis own good sword and ardent young heart. Roger was now too old tobear him company, much as he wished it. He would, indeed, havedissuaded his young master from the enterprise, on the ground that theHouses of York and Lancaster were already united, and that, after all,the new claimant to the crown might be only a pretender, as wasasserted, and not the true prince; but then he thought that absencemight cure him of his love for Gertrude, and that mixing in courtlysociety might make him desirous of wedding with the fair Lady BarbaraFitz Osbert. Roger was, however, far too wise to hint anything of thesort, and with inward satisfaction he saw him go to bid farewell topretty Mistress Gert
rude, hoping that the young people might never meetagain. Herbert, however, had no such thoughts in his mind. Again andagain he repeated his promise to Gertrude that he would remain faithfulto her, and that, come weal or come woe, he would return, if alive, andmarry her. The world might say what it dared--might traduce and scornher, but he would believe her true. He spoke with so much earnestnessthat she believed him, and pledged her own word to be faithful to him inreturn.

  Not till Herbert had paid this farewell visit to Mistress Gertrude didthe wily Father Mathew attempt to cast any slur on her character, or todissuade his pupil from his intended marriage. He left nothing unsaidwhich he thought could produce that result. Every insinuation he daredmake he whispered into Herbert's ear. Roger also was not slow tosupport the curate's remarks, while at the same time he warmly praisedthe charms of the Lady Barbara Fitz Osbert, the heiress of the castle ofHardingham