"Who is he who dareth to take my crown?" cried Beauclerc; but the shadows had passed away. to himself; "twice before have I seen him, I perceptibly over the apartment. As that when he came with warnings, alas, unlight smoke cleared away, a tremulous heeded; but this last warning!-who is motion appeared on the face of the mirhe that shall snatch the crown from her ror, clouds following clouds passed along brow?" the surface, and at length a crowd of menWith violent effort, unperceived, how-at-arms became clearly visible, the lion ever, by his surrounding vassals, (for standard of England floating above, and Beauclerc was a perfect master of dupli- in the midst a knight, on his well-appointcity,) did the monarch assume a calm and ed destrere, with the strawberry-leaf even cheerful air. He commanded the crown on his brow. minstrels and jongleurs to appear, and summoned master Sampson de Nanteuil and Geoffroy Gaimar to his presence, and when the latter, in right courtly strains, Long and sternly did the empress gaze assured to his patron and his daughter on the mirror, for anxiety to learn her futhe praise and admiration of all posterity, ture destiny had now banished all fear a purse of bezants, bright and unclipped, from her mind; and curiosity to know rewarded the politic trouvère, and the whether that mysterious old man's words smile of the monarch showed to all around would indeed come true, took possession how little the visit of the mysterious old of every feeling. man had availed to awaken fear or care. But when, dismissing his menie, Beauclerc retired to his chamber, the forboding words of the old man returned with full force to his mind.-" Call Durand hither," said he, to his favorite attendant, and the dreaded magister, Durandus, soon appear-shall I revisit it ?" ed at the summons. The conference was long, but none knew its import; and at length the same messenger was sent to the chamber of the empress, to require her instant attendance. Marvelling at the summons, and not without some vague foreboding of ill, did the widow of the kaisar repair to her father's presence; nor did that vague though strong foreboding pass away when she gazed on the anxious countenance of her father, on the strange garb and repulsive features of the imagined magician who stood beside him, and on the dim mirror placed just opposite, but which gave no reflection. "The mirror will not answer our inqui ries," said Beauclerc; "it is thou, my daughter, who must ask; for the answer is for thee." But the Empress Maude drew back, nor until urged by her father, in a tone which she well knew brooked no delay, did she place herself before the dreaded mir ror. "What said the old man of shelter, and in this very castle ?" said Beauclerc. "What wouldst thou learn?" said Durand to her. "He said that I should seek the shelter of this castle gladly as the deer takes refuge from the hunter," replied the empress with a smile of scorn; "in what guise Again shadows flitted over the dull surface of the mirror;-they cleared slowly away, and a reflection of the very room in which they stood appeared. But neither Durand nor the empress in imperial robes was seen, but a half-clothed figure, lying beside a coarse and mire-bestained cloak, and wringing, with bleeding hands, the wet from her long unfilleted tresses. "St. Mary!" exclaimed the empress, "what serf is this?" The figure turned slowly round, and the features, wan and woe-worn, were her own! That night both Beauclerc and the empress sought rest in vain, and with the earliest dawn the scholar-king was seated with Durand in his cabinet, engaged in anxious search into futurity.-“ I will see this old man," said the king; "he alone can show that future which your skill but seeks in vain"-and the offended astrologer withdrew. Seven days passed away in the chase and feasting, and then the command was given for the royal household to depart"I have seen him," said Beauclerc, to his Recalled to her self-possession by her daughter, ere she mounted her palfrey, pride, a smile of scorn passed over the" and do thou take heed to his counselsbrow of the empress.--"I heeded not," 'tis a holy man! and, on my blessing, again I charge thee, take heed to his coun sels when I am dead." said she. "Would that I might see what shall be twelve months after my death," said Beauclerc. "Ask it of the mirror, empress," said Durand; "the star of Beauclerc is not in the ascendant, and the mirror will return no answer to him." The question was repeated three times, audibly and distinctly, by the empress, and the words of incantation were whispered by Durand, and a light smoke, breathing sweet odors, spread itself im The empress looked with amazement on the solemn, the awe-stricken countenance of her father.-"Who is that old man, then ?" said she. "That secret, which he hath revealed to me," said Beauclerc, solemnly, "must never be disclosed-suffice it for thee, that he is one who well may foretel chance and change to those who dream not of them, and well may he counsel the young, over whose head the snows of ninety winters have passed-surely not in vain hath his ready to marshall the company; but ere life been lengthened!" the kingly sturgeon was brought in on his The monarch quitted his daughter's huge silver dish, ere the bishop rose to side, the seneschal lifted his long white pronounce the blessing, a secret messenwand, and gave the word to the men-at-ger whispered that danger was at handarms who formed the vanguard to go for- was at the door; for Maude of Boulogne, ward, and the long train filed away be- at the head of the Kentish auxiliaries, had neath the massive gateway. "Lady Ma- crossed the river, the citizens had joyfully ry!" said the empress, "if ever I enter opened the gates, and were even now prothis ill-omened castle again, it shall indeed ceeding to Baynard's castle, to take capbe through dire necessity. But away tive the empress. And there she stood, with such thoughts-what hath the widow thunder struck at the intelligence, beneath of the kaisar, the heiress of England's the gorgeous canopy, surrounded but by a crown, to do with sorrow?" few faithful knights, while the golden cups, and the silver dishes, even the perfumed napery was stripped from the tables by those whom but the moment before she had deemed her true and faithful servants; there she stood, uncertain what to do, and looking to heaven in despair, when a voice whispered, "Follow me." * * * * Years passed away. Beauclerc slum bered in royal state in his favorite Abbey of Reading, and Stephen, not the empress, had been called to assume the crown by the united voice of nobles and people. He had been defeated, driven from the throne, and was now held in stern captivity, and There was surely a strange authority the crown which Beauclerc fondly hoped in that voice, for, willingly as the little would encircle his daughter's brow, was child obeys the voice of its parent, did the at last, in the cathedral of Winchester, haughty empress turn and follow. Greatplaced on her head by Stephen's thrice-ly marvelled her faithful knights who that perjured brother, Henry of Blois. And in old man could be who had just before right royal state did the Empress Maude brought intelligence of coming danger, proceed from Winchester to Oxford, and and who now seemed prepared to provide from Oxford to London, to receive the an escape from it; and more did they homage of her citizens. But when, in marvel, when following, they saw him rich attire and bearing splendid gifts, the fathers of the city knelt at her silver footstool, and prayed that boon so dear to the Londoner for many centuries, "the good old laws of King Edward," she spurned them from her presence, and shamed not to call them traitors. Angrily, and breathing no impotent threats, they withdrew, all but one, and he approached even nearer to her foot-stool."Empress Maude," said he "remember thou art now Queen of England, pledged to uphold her welfare -take heed that ye fulfil it, or woe unto ye." The empress turned angrily round, but she said not, "Who art thou?" for the well-remembered features of the old man at the Castle of Wallingford met her eye, and her father's warning words rushed on her mind. lead the empress along the covered way, and open the small wicket gate that led toward the west, just beyond the boundary of the massive city wall; and greater still was their marvelling when just beside the gate they beheld a gallant black palfrey, unbedecked indeed with broidered howsings, or silver-belled bridle-rein, but of surpassing beauty, and saw the old man give the bridle to the empress, saying, "Ride for your life." "By St. Mary and St. Michael," cried Hugh d'Abrincis, "that old man is a fearful magician; alas ! my lady and empress, woe worth the day that ye mounted that dæmon steed." "Then onward, and seize him," cried Fitz Warine; but the old man had vanished away, and eager to escape, for the foemen were now at the gates, they mounted their fleetest horses, and fled by that wicket gate. But the admonition of that old man too soon passed from her memory, for she was girt about with evil counsellors; and A gallant steed was that black palfreylittle did she deem, after she had returned no dæmon steed, but foaled in the land of a second scornful reply to the demands of the east; and onward he bounded like a the citizens, that that very night Waleran shaft from the bow, while the Empress Fitz-Aylward, whom she had despatch-Maude's pursuers urged their heavy wared with intelligence to her brother-in- steeds after her in vain. Onward-onlaw, Earl Robert of Gloster, had cross-ward-fled the daughter of Beauclerced the river, and proceeded to the ar- onward, hoping, yet far from fearing, she my of William D'Ypres, and there given might never reach her nearest stronginto the hands of Stephen's wife, Maude hold; but still onward bounded her coalof Boulogne, herself, the invitation of black steed, even more than fifty miles bethe Londoners that she should enter the city, and hold it for her captive lord. Little dreamed the empress of this: a gallant feast was prepared at Baynard's castle, and threescore servitors, each of gentle birth, in vair-lined mantles, stood fore sun-set. It was sexts when she fled from Baynard's castle, and the bells were chiming for vespers when she entered the castle of Oxford. "Cause proclamation to be made, and seek diligently after the old man, who this man. day hath saved me from captivity," said hope of obtaining more from the wasted the empress to Eudo de Marmion, as she country round, when Eudo de Marmion dismounted from her weary palfrey; "tell appeared, and with him the mysterious old him the gratitude of a queen, of an empress, awaits him." Eudo de Marmion, and two score knights, made diligent search, and caused proclamation to be made, even to the morrow of Lammas, but the old man was not to be found. Still was Stephen kept in dungeon deep, and in fetters, for in warfare it was indeed a barbarous age! and heeding little the defection of London, while Winchester, with its impregnable castle, and the royal treasury, remained to her, Empress Maude haughtily rejected all overtures for his liberation, even although it was offered that he should yield up his claim to the crown, and quit the land; and she even refused her trustiest ally, the bishop of Winchester, the boon that his nephew Eustace should possess his mother's estates. And now did the perjured bishop bethink himself of his brother pining in captivity, and he renounced his allegiance to the empress. Sad were it to tell of the events of the events of the next seven weeks-when the golden harvest was trodden down beneath the iron feet of armed men-when the citizens of Winchester saw their fair city exposed to a close seige, during which two abbeys and forty parish chur ches,* besides numberless dwelling-houses, were consumed by fire; and when the desolation was so wide-spreading, and so complete, that in the forcible words of the venerable Saxon Chronicle, "To till the ground was to plough the sea, the earth bare no corn, for the land was laid waste by such deeds, and men openly said that Christ and his saints were asleep." "O welcome, holy man," cried the empress; wherefore hast thou staid so long away, when the gratitude of an empress awaited thee?" "I ask no reward, and therefore I sought none," ," said the old man, calmly; "and I now come but to bid thee avail thyself of this short truce, for instant flight." "Flight!" said Earl Robert of Gloucester, angrily; wherefore dost thou counsel flight?" Because that alone remains; Earl Robert, Empress Maude, look on the desolations of these seven last weeks alone, and say, shall such things continue? But I need not say this-look to your garrison, murmuring even now, for lack, not of payment, but provision-look at your stores, have ye wherewith to supply them?" "What knowest thou of the stores in this castle?" said Earl Milo. "Well know I that threescore loaves, and fourscore barrels of meal will ill supply five hundred men, even to the feast of St. Michael," said the old man. "How couldst thou know the stores in this castle ?" cried Earl Robert in amazement, for the aged stranger had stated their exact amount. "Well do I know every part of this castle," replied the old man solemly, "not the store-houses alone, but every postern gate, every secret passage-the winding stair that leads to the covered way, the marble slab that covers the descent to the treasury." "St. Michael! holy man-how knowest thou all this?" cried Earl Robert, in uncontrolled astonishment. "Because I myself have ere now descended by it; a life, not always passed within the boundary of a cloister, and lengthened out even to one hundred years, must needs have discovered many things." At length came the eve of Holyroodday, and pleasant was the chime of the vesper-bell, for it told alike to besieger and besieged, of welcome rest, and an unbroken truce for forty-eight hours; and Henry of Blois himself, in mitred pomp, proclaimed from the cathedral high altar, "And thou counsellest us to give up the "The peace of God, in going, in remain-place-to flee?" inquired Earl Robert, ing, and in returning, until the morrow of earnestly; for he felt that it was no ordiHolyrood." nary being who, with the weight of one hundred years on his brow stood before him. In the council-room of the castle, in anxious debate with the empress, sat her brother, Earl Robert of Gloucester, her uncle, king David of Scotland, and Earl Milo of Hereford, and Earl Reineld of Cornwall, and Earl Ranulph of Chester-all wise and wary statesmen, and stalwart warriors; and they were deliberating whether they should not be compelled, though sorely unwilling, to raise the siege; for there was scant provision in the castle, and little *This number appears incredibly large; it is, however, expressly mentioned by more than one contemporary chronicler, and it must be borne in mind that at this period Winchester certainly was superior to London in wealth and population. "I do. Take advantage of this short truce-send the empress forward at nightfall with a convoy of trusty knights-then do you, Earl Robert, follow with the garrison, well prepared to give battle if pursuit should be made." "Counselled like one who hath known the battle-field," cried Earl Reineld of Cornwall, gazing with admiration on that wan and feeble old man; "surely those lips, that can so wisely counsel, have cheered on many a gallant company to the fray." "I have known the battle-field," replied the old man, sadly. "And in age sought the cloister, even like my grandsire, Hugh Lupus," cried Earl Ranulph of Chester, eagerly; "didst thou know him ?" "Right well.” "And thou art an hundred years old, holy man! Surely thou must remember the field of Hastings ?" "I do!" and the old man clasped his hands, and looked upward with a look of agony. A gallant fight," cried Earl Milo, "for it gained my father his broad lands." A woeful fight!" murmured the old man; our blessed Lord assoil the souls of those who fell there!" There was a pause, and then the empress said, "This, then, is thy counsel, holy man, that I quit this castle?" "It is this alone can save thee. O! would that I might prevail on thee to relinquish a crown, preserved on thy brow but by bloodshed." vigilance of Henry of Blois too soon discovered the retreat of the garrison; and regardless of that "peace of God," which, with his own lips, he had proclaimed from the altar at sunset, midnight saw him preparing a chosen band to follow, and give battle to the fugitives. Too soon did Earl Robert's company hear the confused murmur of the armed troop behind him, and too soon did Earl Robert learn the treachery of the bishop: he turned to give bat. tle, and long and bravely did he continue the fight; but he was defeated, taken prisoner, and ere dawn a handful of men, fleeing in confusion, was all that remained of the garrison of Winchester. It was sunrise, when the empress and her scanty escort, all unknowing of the treachery of the Bishop of Winchester, entered the Castle of Ludgershall. She hastily stepped from her litter, and prepared to ascend to her chamber, when Eudo de Marmion galloped into the court"Never!" said the empress sternly. yard, breathless with haste and anxiety, "Hath not Stephen worn it, and even now and told of the fatal encounter at Stockstrives to regain it, by the selfsame means." The old man shook his head. "Farewell," said he; "again will ye be in jeopardy, and then we will meet again." "Nay, holy man," cried the empress earnestly, "we part not thus-stay and receive at least protection, if thou wilt not guerdon; kind attendance, watchful care, these, clerk and lay alike, require in their extreme old age." "Protection I seek from Heaven," replied the old man; "kind attendance I require not. I have one task to fulfil, and for that alone is my life lengthened out." "Holy man, what is thy task, and who art thou?" asked Earl Robert. "That was never disclosed save to one," replied the old man solemnly, "and that was thy father. Well did he preserve my secret, and heedfully will I watch over his daughter's interests." "Thou hast done so, holy man," said the empress, "and therefore still stay and aid her. "I may not," said he, "my word forbids me. Farewell till we meet again.” bridge, and the captivity of Earl Robert of Gloucester. "Onward," said he, “onward to Devizes, or Henry of Blois, ere vespers, may sing' Te Deum' for the capture of the empress, as well as that of her brother." The empress turned wildly round, “O! for that gallant steed which bore me from London to Oxford!" "It is here," said Alan de Fortibus, the seneschal; "brought hither yesterday by two grooms from Winchester." "He can be no mortal man!" said the empress to herself, well judging to whose watchful care she owed a second time her means of deliverance. And well did that good palfrey bound along, over hill and vale, until a second time, saved by the fleetness of her steed, did the Empress Maude, secure from danger, dismount in the court-yard of the strong castle of Devizes. Here, a prey to the bitterest anxietyuncertain of the fate of that brother, whom perhaps beyond any other being, save her young son, she most fondly loved-uncertain whether the bishop's army were not That evening, not by the chief gateway, even now in pursuit of her, and perhaps or surrounded by knights in broidered within only a few hours' march of that contoises, and heralds waving aloft their very castle in which she sought shelter, blazoned banderols, but stealthily, in a the Empress Maude passed two wretched close litter, and by the north postern gate, days; and then, for the first time, the feelthe empress quitted the castle; and when ings of a better, but too long perverted she had gone the length of two bowshots, nature, took possession of her mind. In her faithful brother-in-law, with heedful accordance with the superstition of the care, marshalled his chosen men, and pre- period, she made a vow that, if released pared to follow her. In profound silence from the dangers that now threatened her, did the garrison quit the castle, bearing she would found, and richly endow, a nowhatever treasure might thus be carried ble abbey; and she vowed too a holier away; and right joyfully that their course vow, even that she would release Stephen lay towards the castle of Ludgershall, from his captivity, and urge upon her where storehouses well filled with provi- adherent nobles the necessity of obtaining sion, and cellars well stored with mead peace. and wine, awaited them. Alas! few, in- It was late on the evening of the second deed, were fated to reach that castle. The day, that an aged man, wrapped in the Benedictine gown, weary and wayworn, the baldric, wrought by the faëry fingers of knocked at the gate of the outer wall that his ladye love, around his coat of mail, and surrounded the strong castle of Devizes. proceeded to summon his company. The warden looked over the battlement Alas! ere dawn, young Hugh de Rolmare that surmounted the gateway, and when had exchanged the lance for the crucifix, not he saw an aged monk standing there un- in the silence of the cloister, but in the stillattended, and in threadbare garb, he care-ness of death; and with cold and stiffened lessly, almost scoffingly, asked whom he fingers, as in ceaseless prayer, he clasped to wanted. "The empress," said the old man, firmly. "The empress! gramercy," cried the warder, "what hath the empress to do with such as thou?" "Thou shalt know full well, ere the Compline bell rings out," was the reply; "but hasten, let me in forthwith; he speeds well who rides swiftly.'” The warder stood no longer in parley, for the old man had given the password; so he drew back the massive bolts, and gave him entrance. "Where are your means of defence ?" said the old man, glancing a keen survey around. "They are within yonder," said the warder, pointing to the second wall; "aye, mangonels, and balisters enow, to put King Stephen himself to flight, ere he could come to us." "Then wherefore are they not here, ready for the first attack?" said the old man. "St. Michael and the seneschal alone know," replied the warder; "'tis their business, I trow." The old man shook his head. "Who is he, yonder, on the gateway ?" said he, pointing to a young knight. "Sir Hugh de Rolmare, captain of the cross-bowmen." "Bid him come down to me; for tell him that ere the curfew rings out, five hundred of Henry de Blois' choicest men will be within bowshot of this castle." The young knight at this intelligence swiftly descended. "Holy father," said he, "bring you this message from Eudo de Marmion ?" "Eudo de Marmion and threescore lances were this morning defeated beside Ludgershall," was the reply; "but suffer no time to be lost. Remove the balisters to the outer court, plant them upon the southern gate, and throw up a breastwork as swiftly as ye may, before it, to protect you and your men. "It shall be done, holy father," said de Rolmare; by our lady of Rouen, that monk's cowl hath, methinks, replaced a head of mail. Your blessing, holy father, I pray ye; for ye have braced in harness his lifeless breast the symbol of our salvation. It was as the old man had foretold-ere nightfall, five hundred of the bishop's choicest men, well furnished with all the ponderous apparatus of medieval warfare, appeared before the castle; and bravely and skilfully had de Rolmare maintained his post. But the outer gate was forced, de Rolmare bravely fighting was slain, and at morning's dawn the besiegers, with a strong reinforcement from Winchester, advanced to the second gate and summoned the besieged to surrender. Nor was the summons received with the scorn which they expected. A truce of twelve hours, and permission to remove the corpse of the gallant de Rolmare to the Priory founded by his father, were demanded; and to requests so natural, no objection could be raised. Three priests from the besieging party entered the castle to perform, with the three castle chaplains, the rites of the church; and the closely covered bier, borne by six men at arms, and preceded by the six priests chanting the service for the dead, slowly passed out from the castle yard, while many a stern warrior, with faltering tongue, said a prayer for the repose of that valiant knight's soul. Next morning Henry of Blois arrived, and he summoned the garrison instantly to capitulate; and he placed guards all around, for he had received sure and certain information that the empress herself was there. "The day is won," said he, when the seneschal brought him the castle keys, "bring the empress to our presence." His commands were vain-the empress had fled, none knew whither; but stretched before the altar in the chapel, with uplifted hands, lay the corpse of Hugh de Rolmare. That bier which, at nightfall, had passed out, contained no dead body-it was over the living that the service for the dead was chaunted; and it was around the body of her that wore the crown of England, that the winding-sheet and death fillet had been bound. * * Safe now in the city of Gloucester, surrounded by her adherents, the Empress Maude was revolving in her mind how she should redeem her devoted brother from captivity, when again that mysterious old man entered her presence. "Holy man, what do I not owe to thee?" cried she, sinking on her knees, and regarding him with the awful reverence due to the inhabitants of a higher sphere of existence. "Thrice have I owed my freedom, perhaps my very life, to thee; tell me thy name, and an abbey, richly endowed, shall be dedicated to thee." "Arise, Empress Maude," said the old man; "kneel not to mortal like myself." |