The Betrothed

he to his c

Castle th

t walls were

ave won the

walls were s

they won th

ey won the

e hewn in ro

ICS OF ANCI

ed in their lamentation by many others - women, children, and infirm old men, the relatives of those whom they saw engaged in this unavailing contest. These helpless beings had been admitted to the castle for security's sake, and they had now thronged to the battlements, from which Father Aldrovand f

Eveline replied in a voice which she would fain have rendered firm, and which was tremulous in her despite -"Yes, father, you say well - here is no longer aught left for maidens to look up

port of the confessor. Hastily wrapping her head in her mantle, as if ashamed of the agony of grief which she could not restrain, and of which her sobs and t

s of the wise, and shortens the arm of the mighty. To the chapel - to the chapel, Lady Eveline; and instead of vain repining, let

her tongue faltered out mechanically, were upon the field of battle, beside the body of her slaughtered parent. The rest of the mourners imitated their young lady in her devotional posture, and in the absence of her thoughts. The consciousness that so many of the gar

ir condition, he left them to their private devotions to indulge his own anxious curiosity by inquiring into the defences of the castle. Upon the outward walls he found Wilkin Flammock, who, having done the office of a good a

t not exceed in this matter. Wine is, thou knowest, like fi

one needs the spur, and the other must have a taste of the winepot; but, credit me, father, they are of an enduring generation, and will not shrink in th

starting; "I trust in the saints

f countenance. "We had kept, as you know, too jolly a Christmas to have a very fat Easter. Yon Wels

last evening given by our lord (whose soul God assoilzie!)

ce. Our lord deceased, if deceased he be, was one of those who trusted to the edge of the sword, and even so hath come of it. Commend me

h Wilkin pressed him to with clownish civility. "We ha

I will content myself with fasting, which will come whether I will or no."- At this moment a horn w

ll-hill, just within shot of the cross-bows;

he castle be ranged along the battlements, and pointed through the shot-holes - cut up some tapestry into the shape of banners, and show them from the highest towers.- Be ready when I give a signal, to strike naker , [Footnote: Naker ,- Drum. ] and blow trumpets, if we have any; if not, some cow-horns - anything for a noise. And hark ye,

le in Wilkin's instructions to his countryman, but commanded himself, although a little surprised, both at this suspicious circumstance, an

ountryman, than what he had intended. As if to lull asleep any suspicion which Father Aldrovand might entertain, he r

d done as if you had practised war from th

that you English think that Flemings have nought in their brainpan but s

er; "but, good Fleming, wilt thou tell me what ans

ll me what the summons wil

the instant," answered the mo

, Nay - unless upo

position and the castle of the Garde Do

have me dally until the question amongst the garrison be, whether a plump

olly. Relief must arrive within twenty-four hours at farthest.

ved this morning in more matters

ghtly in this matter, as thou dost regard thine own life; for here are as many English left alive, notwithstanding the slaughter of today, as may well suffice to fling

ied Wilkin Flammock -"I am castellane in this house, by command of its

Wilkin Flammock, but dost lean to the heresy of the mountaineers. Thou hast refused to take the blessed cross - thou hast breakfasted, and drunk both ale and win

Jericho at present; and lucky I have such reasons, since I had not else been here to defend the gate of the Garde Doloureuse. It is also true that I may have been sometimes obliged to visit my mills earlier than the chaplain was called by his zeal to the altar,

d of the church permitted. He was baffled by the Fleming's reply, and finding him unmoved by the charge of here

cteth secular matters. If aught of religious tenor s

ered the monk to himself, but in a tone not to be heard b

tall, and bulky forms, and motionless postures, causing them to look rather like trophies of some past age, than living and existing soldiers. Surrounded by these huge and inanimate figures, in a little vaulted room which almost excluded daylight, Flammock received the Welsh envoy, who was led in blindfolded betwixt two Flemings, yet not so carefully watched but that they permitted him

enwyn's offer of alliance, now bare his summons of surrender,- he looked haughtily around him and deman

rence of manner, "must be contented to treat with Wilkin Flammock

English Crogan [Footnote: This is a somewhat contumelious epithet applied by the Welsh to the English.] cannot ha

"but if they return you any answer sa

born on British earth, though the children of spoilers and invaders, had inspired you with too much pride to brook the yoke of a base mechanic. Or, if you are not courageous, should you not

heir casques in reply to Jorworth's questi

sovereign, since it brings pardon and mercy to the inhabitants of this Castell an Carrig, [Footnote: Castle of the Craig.] which you have called the Garde Doloureuse, to cover the usurpation of the territory by the change of the name. Upon surrender of the

his summons?" said the imp

cing with the vindictive ferocity which dictated his answer. "So many strangers as be here amongst ye, so many bodies to the

words of others that safety, which they can secure by their own deeds. We have walls high and strong enough, deep moats, and plent

port of his discourse from the supposed English in the apartment. "Hark thee hither," he proceeded, "good Fleming. Knowest thou not that he in whom is your trust, the Constable De Lacy, hath bound himself by his vow to engage in no quarrel till he crosses t

with a countenance from which all expression seemed studiously banished, and which exhibited, upon features otherwise t

most efforts cannot prevent the fall of this castle; but thou mayst hasten it, and the doing so shall avail thee much." Thus speaking, he drew close up to Wilkin, and sunk his v

ing the one, and the dropping the other, h

e with an overflowing measure. The liber

dings have been this mor

ace of thy goods," said the Welshman; but the Fleming conti

ayed, twenty kine

terrupted Jorworth, "chosen from th

th some slight change in his monotonous voice, which seemed to

l forget the contumelies of Raymond, and raise his daughter to high honour among the daughters of the Cymry. For thine own c

hee, at least,"

ive face of the Netherlander, like an eager student who seeks to discover some hidden and mysteri

aid Wilkin; "but here lies the difficul

t for thee, or such as thee, to express dou

well I wot thou art not one who will let thy traffic

severation on asseveration -"by the soul of my father

the right estimate," said Flammock; "that which is so lightly pledged, is sometimes not thought w

churl, darest tho

ilkin;-"nevertheless, I will b

" said Jorworth -"What

e money thou didst promise, and I wil

s by his conquests, as the waterspout sucks up water by its strength, but it is to disperse them among his followers, as the cloudy column restores its contents to eart

ving full power in the castle,) and s

ther the Welsh took the place or the Normans relieved it - the one would expect their

s far, why not return my cattle, which are in your own hands, and at your disposal? If

icious Welshman. "But what would it avail thee to have thy cattle wit

the garrison.- And yet, when I consider it more closely, we have enough of forage to maintain all we have, and more. Now, my cattle are of a pecul

e and horn," said Jorworth; "it is b

ing; "I am a simple-minded man, and bound m

then, to deliver the

such a purpose, we should have wild work - they must be fully dispersed ere I can hold farther communication

omething more fixed and

yonder tall fellow begins already to handle his dagger - G

said Jorworth; "but if tho

irected to Wilkin himself, partly assumed in consequence of his advice. Flam

o thy shame and thy master's!- Here - let him be blindfolded once more, and returned in safety to his attendants

rdroom, one of the seeming men-at-arms, who had been present at this interview, said in h

disconcerted by this circumstance, which showed him that his interview with Jorworth had been observed, and its purpose known or conjectur