CHAPTER TWELVE.
EASTWARD HO!
"Whether he go to East or West, With Christ he always is at home."
Newton.
For a few minutes after Richard finished reading the letter, there wassilence, unbroken save by the sound of weeping, in the old hall. FriarAndrew cried like a child. Dame Lovell, too, wept profusely, especiallyat the passage in which Margery begged her forgiveness, and sobbed forththat she had nothing to forgive her. Richard had hard work to read. Heheard her voice in every line, and when he came to the one sentenceaddressed to himself, he very nearly broke down altogether. After thatlong pause, Richard, who had been sitting with his head buried in hishands, looked up and spoke.
"Mistress, you mind that I did promise you not to go hence save withyour good will?"
"Well, Richard?"
"May I have the same, good mistress, for a season?"
"Where wouldst go, lad? Dost want to see thy father? I meant not tolet thee from going home at times, so thou leave me not wholly." [Letmeans hinder. The modern signification of this word is exactly theopposite of its original meaning.]
"You do misconceive me, mistress. I trust soothly, to go but for aseason, though mayhap a long one; but not home. An' you will give meleave, and I have my father's goodwill to it, I shall go abroad."
"Go _where_, Richard?" asked Dame Lovell, in some alarm and no littleastonishment.
"Anywhere," he answered, listlessly, "that is far enough away. I shallwend unto the East Country."
"Eh, Richard! thou wilt be slain of robbers!" cried Friar Andrew. "Allyon country is full filled of Saracens and heathens, who think no moreof shedding Christian blood than of cooking a capon."
"I shall be slain, good father, I trow, if I stay here. There is nopeace heraway in England for them who read God's Word, and I have readit. I should quickly be indicted, I ween; for a Lollard, an' I stayed.Master Carew told me yestre'en, that there were spies hereabouts, and hedid trow he was suspected. And if they take him, they will come next tome."
"Richard! Richard!" cried Dame Lovell. "Thou frightest me, lad! Butwilt thou go, soothly? I wis not how to leave thee do so."
"Dear mistress," said Richard, in a low tone, "I pray God and you topardon me, but I fear I am only a poor caitiff coward. I could not bearthe fiery ordeal which Margery has borne. I will confess to you, goodlady, that night and day I do pray God to spare me the same. I hadbetter go, ere I am tired, and perchance fail and deny my Master. Iwill give you to wit of my welfare, in case I should meet any Palmers ontheir way home, and may be I can come back, an' there should rise a kingwho shall give us leave to live."
"Well, my lad! I trow I must not let thee!" said Dame Lovell, in agrieved tone. "I wis not how to do without thee, Richard; but I ween Ishould sorrow more to keep thee and bring thee to grief, than in leavingthee go away from me."
The following day brought a servant in Lord Marnell's livery, with aletter to Richard.
"_To the hands of Master Richard Pynson, at Lovell Tower, give these_.
"Good Master Pynson,--I pray you for to look warily unto your ways; forI hear by messengers from London that you be suspected for a Lollard,and Abbot Bilson hath your name on his list of evil affected unto theChurch. If you can wend for a time unto some other country, I trow youwould find your safety in so doing. I beseech you burn this letter, orit may do me a mischief.
"It hath come into my mind that Madge did name unto me your desire ofknighthood. If such be still your wish, I pray you make use of me inthis matter. Let me wit by the bearer of these your pleasure herein,and if you desire to watch this even, I will meet you in Bostock Churchearly on the morrow.
"I set out on my way to London to-morrow.
"Commend me in all lowly fashion to my good mother; and with God'sblessing and mine to the child, I rest, your loving friend, R. Marnell."
Richard read Lord Marnell's letter to Dame Lovell, and then at once putit in the fire. He determined to accept the kind offer thus made tohim; and accordingly he sent word by the messenger that he would beready to meet Lord Marnell in Bostock Church, at any early hour on thefollowing morning.
Knighthood was then conferred in two ways. A knight-banneret was onecreated on the field of battle. An ordinary knight was required to beof good family and of a suitable age, and the accolade was given himafter a night's fasting and watching in some church. Other, but lessimportant ceremonies were also observed. This latter course wasnecessarily the one chosen by Richard. At five o'clock on the followingmorning, Lord Marnell met him in Bostock Church, and gave him the strokeon the shoulder with the flat of his sword, which was required to makeits recipient a knight. [See Note 1.] Richard thanked Lord Marnellfervently for his warning, and also for his kindness in offering himknighthood; and told him that he had already resolved to go abroad,before receiving his letter.
"I think you will do well," said he; "but I pray you, Sir Richard, tolose no time, for spies be about in Marston even now."
Late that night, after an affectionate farewell to Dame Lovell and FriarAndrew, and a warm kiss to little Geoffrey, who was fast asleep, SirRichard Pynson set out on his long and perilous journey. Dame Lovellsent with him one of her own servants, a man who she knew would imperilhis own life sooner than that of Richard; and he returned to her in afew days with the welcome tidings that he had seen Richard safelyembarked on a vessel for La Rochelle, with Master Carew's son, a youthof about eighteen, as his squire. The servant had, however, more, andless agreeable news than this to tell; for as he passed through Marston,he had been told that Master Carew was arrested, and on his journey toLondon under a strong guard.
So set in the bitter persecution, which was to last for many wearyyears.
A full twelvemonth had passed since Richard's departure. Of LordMarnell, Dame Lovell had neither seen nor heard anything more. AliceJordan had arrived, to little Geoffrey's great delight; but she had onlybeen able to report the return of her master to London, as she had leftthat place the day after his arrival. Dame Lovell fulfilled her promiseof promotion for Margery's humble but faithful friend, who washenceforth generally addressed in the house as "Mistress" Alice. LittleGeoffrey, though somewhat consoled by Alice's appearance, missed Richardsorely; and demanded of his grandmother at least once a day, "when hewould come back!"
The family and household were seated at supper, on a summer afternoon inthe year 1402, when the sound of a horn outside the moat sent one of thefarm-servants hurriedly to the gate. He returned saying, "A holyPalmer, good mistress, seeketh entrance."
"A Palmer! bring him in speedily, good Hodge!" exclaimed Dame Lovell."Blessed is the house whereinto entereth a Palmer,--and mayhap he maygive us to wit of Richard."
The Palmer was attired in a long coat of coarse brown frieze, with alarge flapped hat, not unlike that of a coal-heaver. He was conductedto the high table, where Friar Andrew served him with meat, and put allmanner of questions to him. He had come, he said, from Damascus, wherehe had met with a friend of theirs, one Sir Richard Pynson, and hebrought a packet from him; which he thereupon took from his wallet, anddelivered into Dame Lovell's hands. It was a large packet, andevidently contained something more than merely a letter. Dame Lovellwas highly delighted, particularly when, on opening the parcel, she drewout a magnificent piece of baudekyn, one of the richest dress-stuffsthen made, and only to be procured from Constantinople. Beside this thepacket only contained a letter, which Dame Lovell was sorely puzzled howto read. There was nobody at Lovell Tower who could read except FriarAndrew, and he, as has been previously stated, was not by any means afirst-class scholar. However, Dame Lovell passed him the letter, andafter spending some time in the examination of it, he announced that hethought he could read it, "for the lad had written the letters great,like a good lad, as he always was." Richard had, indeed, purposely doneso, because he anticipated that Friar Andrew would have to read it. ThePalmer interposed, saying that he could read well, and offered to readt
he letter; but this Dame Lovell civilly declined, because she thoughtthere might be secrets in the letter, and she did not know whether thePalmer were to be trusted. Friar Andrew was mechanically retiring intoone of the deep windows, but Dame Lovell stopped him, and requested himto follow her to her own room. She gathered up her baudekyn, and leftthe servants to entertain the Palmer, who she gave orders should befeasted with the best in the house.
"Now, father," said Dame Lovell, when she had Friar Andrew and theletter safe in her own apartment, "Now read, I pray thee; but we willhave no eavesdroppers, and though Palmers be holy men, yet may theycarry tales."
Friar Andrew sat down, cleared his throat, and began to read rathergrandiloquently. He read syllable by syllable, like a child, and everynow and then stumbled over a hard word. As to the names of places, hedeclared himself unable to read those at all. I therefore purpose togive the letter, not as Andrew read it, but as Richard wrote it.
"_To the hands of the very worthy Dame, my good lady and mistress, DameAgnes Lovell, of Lovell Tower, be these delivered with all convenientspeed_.
"Dear Mistress and my worthy Dame,--In as humble and lowly wise as maybe, I commend myself to your kindly favour, hoping that these may findyou in health, as they leave me presently. I do you to wit, goodmistress, that I have arrived safely, by the grace of our Lord, atDamascus, which is a very fair and rich city, and full of all manner ofmerchandise; and I have been by Byzantium, and have seen all the holyrelics there kept; to wit, the cross of our Lord, and His coat, and thesponge and reed wherewith the heathen Jews [`Cursed be they!' interposedFriar Andrew] did give Him to drink, and more blessed relics else than Ihave the time to write of, the which nathless be named, as I think, inthe Travels of Sir John Maundeville. This city of Damascus is verygreat, and there be about the same so fair gardens as I never did see atany other place; moreover, Saint Paul here dwelt, and was a leech. [SeeNote 2.] Also I give you to wit, good lady, that I look by our Lord'shelp, to go on to the holy city of Jerusalem, the which is from herefive days' journey. And I send you herein a fine piece of baudekyn, thebravest I could see, the which I bought in the market at Byzantium, tomake you a rare gown for feast-days. Moreover, I beseech you to sayunto good Father Andrew, (I count he will read this letter, andtherefore do say unto himself), I would fain have sent you somewhatlikewise, good father, but as yet I found not to my hand aught thatwould like you; but I look, when I shall be in Jerusalem, if it be theLord's pleasure that I come therein, for to get you some relics, by thewhich I wis you will set great store." ["Thou art a good lad," said thefriar].
"Edmund Carew is in health, and is a faithful squire, and a passinghonest fellow [see note 3]; but he doth long for to hear news of hisfather, and my heart also is oft-times sore to wit what is become ofmine old friend. If you shall hear of any one who wendeth unto the Landof Promise, I beseech you send us news herein. Likewise would I fainknow somewhat of the Lord Marnell, who I guess [see note 4] hath nowreturned to London. Is Geoffrey yet with you? I pray you ask him if heremembereth me, for an' he doth, I will bring him a brave thing when Ishall come: and God's blessing and mine be with the sweet heart, andkeep him ever from all evil.
"I beseech you commend me humbly unto the Lord Marnell, if you see himor send to him, and also unto Sir Ralph Marston, when you shall havespeech of him; and greet well all the maidens and servants from me.Pray salute also Mistress Katherine on my part, and specially MistressAlice Jordan. Moreover, I beseech you to make my most humble duty andservice unto my good knight my father, and my good lady my mother, andsalute from me lovingly my sistren, who I trust be all in health. I metthis holy Palmer at a church called Our Lady of Sardenak, the which isfive miles from this city; and he hath promised me for to deliver myletters with safety, and in all convenient haste. I have written alsounto my father by him; wherefore, if he come unto you first, as I counthe will do, I pray you for my sake to put him in the way to Pynsonlee.
"I give you to wit also, good mistress, that in this country be some menwho call themselves Jacobites,--to wit, disciples of Saint James,--andthey be right Lollards, holding that a man should make confession to Godand no wise unto the priest; and also read they God's Word in their owntongue, and not in Latin, the which giveth me much marvel how they camein this place, for they do wit nothing of us and of our country.Nathless, I trow that God learneth [teaches] His own alike in all landsand at divers times.
"I pray you specially, good mistress, that you give me to wit how I maycome home. Doth King Henry still reign? and is he yet evil affectedtoward the Lollards? for so long as things be in this case, I dare in nowise take my way unto you.
"And now, dear mistress, I pray God to have you in His holy keeping, tothe which I commit you all.
"From your very humble serving-man and loving friend, Richard Pynson.
"Edmund Carew prayeth me for to make his lowly commendations unto you.
"Written at Damascus, this xxvii day of November."
This was the first and last letter which Dame Lovell received fromRichard Pynson. Probably he wrote many others, but they never came tohand.
Friar Andrew, with the greatest difficulty, managed to write back a fewlines. His letter took him a whole week to compose and transfer topaper. It was written in short sentences, like a child's epistle; andnearly every sentence commenced with Richard's name. Friar Andrewinformed his correspondent that all parties named in his letter werewell; that Geoffrey was still with them, sent his loving commendations,and said he remembered him, and would never forget him as long as helived; that of Lord Marnell they had only heard a rumour which theycould not believe, of his having joined an insurrection in the West;that Master Carew was had up to London and strictly examined by thecouncil, but that his answers were so ingeniously evasive that theycould lay hold of nothing, and nothing had been found in his house whichcould criminate him; he had accordingly been dismissed with a caution.Sir Ralph Marston had privately declared that "the old fox must havehidden his Lollard books in some uncommonly safe place, for I wis he hadsome." Friar Andrew concluded his letter with a malediction upon "evilcompanions," by which he meant the anti-Lollard party; for though Andrewcared not a straw about the matter of opinion, he could never forgivethem for his favourite's death. He also besought Richard to "look wellto his ways, and have nought to do with heathen Jews and Saracens, whoall worshipped mawmetis," [see note 5] and to come home as soon as hecould--which, however, must not be just now.
Friar Andrew then folded his elaborate and arduous piece of composition,and directed it in remarkable characters and singular spelling, asfollows:--
"_To ye hondes of ye veraye gode Knyghte, Syr Rechurt Pynsone ofPinnsonrue, beyng yn ye Halie Londe at Dommosscsc_ (this word gave himimmense trouble), _or elsewhar, dilyuher thes_."
"There!" said the friar, with a deep sigh of relief in conclusion, as heexhibited the fruit of his prowess in triumph to Dame Lovell."Methinketh that Richard himself could not better those letters!"
Dame Lovell looked with unfeigned admiration at the cabalisticcharacters, for such they were in her eyes, and declared them "rightbrave," opining moreover that "learning was soothly a passing rarething!"
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Note 1. Knighthood is now conferred only by the Sovereign, who is "thefountain of honour," or by a viceroy, as representing the Sovereign. Inancient times, however, "a knight could make a knight." When the Dukeof Suffolk was taken prisoner in battle by a simple squire, he asked,before surrendering his sword, "Are you a knight?" "No," was theanswer. "Kneel, then," replied Suffolk, "that I may make you one; for Iwill never give up my sword to a squire." The squire knelt, and Suffolkknighted his captor, and then delivered his sword to one who, by thelaws of chivalry, had now become his equal.
Note 2. The reader does not need to search through the Acts of theApostles for any mention of Saint Paul's having been a doctor for it isone of the endless legends of the Middle Ages, of
which Maundeville'sTravels are full.
Note 3. A very pleasant companion. "Fellow" and "companion" have nowexchanged meanings, though we still speak of a bed_fellow_ and the_fellow_ to a glove.
Note 4. This "Americanism" is really an old English phrase, as manymore so-called Americanisms also are.
Note 5. Idols. Our forefathers had a rooted idea that Jews andMohammedans were idolaters. Their very word for idols, "Mawmetis," wasa corruption of the name of Mahomet.