CHAPTER II
THE SOLDIER GUEST
Passing out of the park, Francis and her tutor came into the forestproper. One vast sea of woods rolled, a flood of green, over hill andvalley onward and ever on till lost among the moors. Presently theyascended Stoney Cross Hill and there opened out one long view. On thenortheast rose the hills of Winchester but the city was hidden in theirvalley. To the east lay Southampton by the waterside; and to the north,gleamed the green Wiltshire downs lit up by the sunlight.
Among the beeches but a short distance away lay Castle Malwood with itssingle trench and Forest lodge, where tradition says that William Rufusfeasted before his death, and down in the valley was the spot where he issaid to have fallen. The road now became a long avenue of trees--beecheswith their smooth trunks, oaks growing in groups, with here and therelong lawns stretching far away into distant woods. All at once the manorburst upon the view.
Situated in the midst of a noble park which crowned the summit of one ofthe hills that fringed the borders of the weald, Stafford Hall, in thisyear of grace 1586, the twenty-eighth of Elizabeth, was graceful andstately in the extreme. The general design of the castle was aparallelogram defended by a round tower at each of the angles with anAnglo-Saxon keep. The entrance through a vaulted passageway was its moststriking feature. Of the time of the first Edward, there were signs ofdecay in tower and still more ancient keep. Crevices bare of mortar gaverare holding ground for moss and wall flower, and ivy and clematismantled chapel and turrets with a dank shroud that added to thepicturesqueness of the building.
The park, full of ferny depths, glorious old oaks and deep glades,stretched away on one side toward the soft recesses of the forest. On theother its wooded declivities sloped down to an idle brook now stopped upby water-lilies and white crowfoot. The fair corn lands sloping to thesoutheast so as to miss no gleam of morning or noonday sun; the fatmeadows where the herbage hid the hocks of the browsing kine, and thehanging woods holding so many oaks and beeches ripe for the felling,formed an appanage that was almost royal.
The views of the castle, the winding declivity of hill, the trees, thefields, the exquisite landscape in the distance made an assemblage ofnature's beauties that was at once inspiring and noble.
But Francis Stafford was too angry to heed either beauty of scene or sky,and she hurried toward the Hall with so quick a step that the tutor couldscarcely keep pace with her.
"I cry you mercy, Francis," he panted querulously as the girl pausedreluctantly in answer to his pleading. "Age hath stolen my vigor and Icannot walk as thou canst. Already thou hast made me plod many a wearystep beyond my strength; and now thou wouldst have me run as though Iwere a lad. Thou art too unheeding."
"A truce to thy chiding, cousin," rebuked the girl sharply. "I marvelthat thou dost appeal to my compassion. Thou knowest my skill with thebow, and thou didst see the deer fall under my shaft; yet thou didst saywith the boy that 'twas he who did the deed. Catiff! How dared he claimthe stag? And 'twas a hart royal!"
"Yet had he not done so thou wouldst have had to suffer fine andimprisonment. Dost know the law? It says----"
"I care not what it says," declared Francis haughtily. "If I offendagainst the law then 'twere meet that I should bear the penalty. Myfather shall right the matter."
Master Greville knowing full well the futility of contradicting hischarge when she was in such a wilful mood said no more, but meeklyfollowed her as she started once more on her way. Through the greatdoors, which were of weathered oak thickly studded with nails, over whichhung the family coat of arms, a shield, azure, three quatrefoils, argent,the girl and the old man passed across the paved courtyard, up a flightof steps to the terrace which led to the porch and from thence to theante-hall passage.
Serving men clothed in blue with the family arms upon the left sleeve,and retainers clothed also in blue but without the heraldic devicethronged courtyard, terrace and hall. Francis hastened through theante-hall passage to the great hall which lay beyond. The floors werefreshly strewn with rushes, the walls were hung with rich tapestriesrepresenting stories from the classics. The upper end contained an orielwindow under which was a fringed dais. On one side of the apartment was ahuge fireplace over which the ancestral arms hung with the arms ofEngland over them. On the other side towered lofty windows. A screengallery, an organ and a high table completed the hall which was theprincipal room of the castle and the place where all of the feasts,mummeries and masques were held.
Ushers were hurrying through the great hall for it was "covering time,"and the household was mustering for the midday meal. Francis threaded herway through the crowd of yeomen to the door of the presence chamber, anddrawing aside the arras that hid the entrance, opened it and entered.
"My father," she began abruptly, and then paused for she saw that herfather was not alone.
"Is it you, my daughter?" Lord Stafford rose to meet her. The resemblancebetween them was very striking. "I had just asked for you. This is mychild, Fortescue. She of whom we were speaking. Give greeting, Francis,to my good friend Captain Fortescue."
Francis gave a quick glance at her father's guest. He was a man ofcommanding stature, with black hair and keen black eyes that held a cruellight in them. He was arrayed in a blue velvet jerkin with hose of thesame material. A large beaver hat with a long feather in it lay on thetable. A rapier depending from his belt completed his attire which wasthat of a soldier. Without heeding this fact something in his bearingcaused the girl to address him as a priest.
"I give thee welcome, good father."
"Said I not that the wench was shrewd?" asked Lord Stafford with a heartylaugh.
"Ay, my lord; and 'twas well said," returned the guest. "My child, do younot see that I am attired as a soldier?"
"I crave forbearance," faltered Francis in some confusion. "I did notnotice thy dress, but judged from thy manner. Nathless, priest orsoldier, I give thee greeting. Prithee heed not mine error."
"'Twas naught," smiled Captain Fortescue. "It is to my praise that thoudidst accost me as an holy man. My lord, methinks the maid will serve ourpurpose well."
"I trow so," answered Lord Stafford with a proud look. "She hath spiritand courage to a rare degree in a maid. I know no lad of her age that canequal her in hunting or hawking. No tercelet for her, but the fiercestgoshawk that e'er seized quarry. How now, Francis?"
"My father, I knew that thou wouldst believe my skill," said Franciseagerly. "Yet a lad did but now contend that he it was who shot a deer inthe forest," and she related the incident graphically.
"Beshrew me, I doubt not but that thine was the arrow that slew the buck,yet it contents me well that the lad should endure the penalty of thedeed in thy stead. How now, Greville?" to the tutor. "Was the youth ofnoble birth?"
"Methought there seemed something of the gentle in him, though he wasbut meanly garbed. Yet the apparel doth not always make the man,"answered Greville.
"Not always," acquiesced Lord Stafford.
"He was not noble," interjected Francis shortly. "Else he would not haveclaimed the deer. I would, good my father, that you compass his release,and let me take the consequences of my action. I killed the deer."
"Be that as it may, child, the lad must bear the penalty. There arematters of grave import that must now be considered, and thou canst aidme."
"I aid thee?" asked the girl in surprise. "Father, didst thou say myaid?"
"Thine, child. Come to me anon, and I will acquaint thee with the fullimport of the matter. Greville, thou standest like a hind. Give greetingto our guest. One would think that thou hadst never been at court."
"I give thee welcome, sir," said Greville bowing. "As my lord's friend, Iwelcome thee."
"Methinks thy countenance is not unfamiliar, Master Greville," and thesoldier returned his obeisance courteously.
"In London mayhap thou hast seen me. It was mine abode for a time,"replied the tutor carelessly.
"Perchance 'twas there," mused the other with a searching loo
k at the oldman. "But howsoe'er that may be, later will I pledge to our betterfriendship."
"I drink with no enemy of the queen," said Greville coldly.
"Greville!" exclaimed Lord Stafford.
"We differ not, Master Greville," smiled the soldier. "My life, myservice, my all is devoted to our queen. God bless Her Majesty!"
"God bless Her Majesty, Elizabeth," returned Greville pointedly.
"Thy mother waits thee, Francis, in her tiring-room," interposed LordStafford hastily. "Come to me anon. Greville, no more of this an thoulovest me."
The tutor without another word withdrew from the room accompanied by hispupil.
"Was it not strange, cousin, that I should have thought our guest apriest?" queried Francis when they were beyond the portals of the door.
"Nay; the habit doth not always proclaim the monk," quoth Grevillesententiously. "You spoke truer than you knew when you called him'father.'"
"Is he in sooth then a priest?" asked the girl curiously. "Why comes hethen in such array? Are not priests always welcome in my father'shouse?"
"Is it not within thy ken that an edict hath been passed making ittreason for priests to be found within the kingdom, and felony to harborthem? And, forsooth, there is much reason for such a law. So many havebeen the plots against the Queen's Majesty that much precaution must betaken to preserve her from them."
"Would evil befall my father should it come to the ears of the queen thathe had given a priest entertainment?"
"I make no doubt of it, child. Therefore it behooves us to be silentrespecting the matter. But, by my life, girl! we dally too long. Away!and set a guard upon thy lips. If thou canst carry so weighty a mattersub silentio then will I deem thee better than the most of thy sex."