Blanche Heriot : or, The Chertsey curfew. A romance

Chapter I. The Hostelrie

— THE QUARREL. — AN ABBIVAL. Those of our readers who have visited the secluded village of Chertsey will probably agree with our general assertion, that it is one of the most dull and in active places within our bustling sea-girt island. This remark, however, cnly applies to that place at the present day, for to those who have glanced over the pages of history, it may hardly be necessary to observe that, in by-gone days, when the abbey was peopled with its pious inmates, several important transactions connected with the history of our country took place within its immediate pre cincts. Among other occurrences, and. indeed, the only one to which we shall direct the reader's attention, is that which we are about to relate, as leading to the impor'ant results connected with our present narrative.

I *o. 1. ft —^ —^— — — ______ The precise period to which we allude, is that when the rival houses of York and Lancaster had kindled the torch of civil warfare, carrying destruction through out the country, and devastating the land from one extremity to the other. In the locality which we have chosen for the scene of our story, the madness of party feud had manifested itself, and the rival partizans gave way to the heartburning and rage which usually attend commotions of this kind. Numerous persons usually resorted to an open space in the midst of the village at the close of each day, manifesting by their riotous conduct the particular views they bad formed npon the all-engrossing subject. To avert as much as possible the popular feeling thus exhibited, the Earl ot Warwick — surnamed the "King-maker" — was obliged to have recourse to such means as appeared most likely to favour his own views.

Emissaries were, there fore, sent down by him, to pacify the discontented by the most artfully devised misrepresentations, and a profuse distribution of bribes was made for effecting their mucb-desired reconciliation with his own party. One evening in the spring of the year 1471, several artizans and tradespeople were assembled in the public room of the Golden Cross, a hostelry so called from its vicinity to the beautiful structure which at that period graced the place of which we are speaking. Various groups were formed iu different parts of the room, and, as usual, the conversation turned upon the sanguinary contest then raging between the Yorkists and the Lancastrians. This exciting subject natu raUy gave rise to angry words amongst the rival advocates of the two parties— menaces were uttered — swords were drawn, and bloodshed would doubtless have quickly ensued had not the host interposed himself between the excited partizans, and, by prayers and entreaties, prevailed upon them to suspend their fury till a more fitting time and place presented themselves.

A sadden pause ensued, and the terrified host, following up his temporary advantage, most earnestly entreated them not to inflict an injury upon him by making his house the scene of their violence and riotous conduct. " Peace, good neighbours, peace, I prithee," he exclaimed, as soon as the cla mour bad subsided. "This is no piace to discuss whether a Yorkist or a Lancas trian shall be our king, and should our good prior hear of this riotous condact, it is likely that I and my wife may be turned from our home to seek our fortune in some other town where these party feuds are less known." " Ay," cried the termagant wife of the host, who at this moment presented herself before them, flourishing a Drace of pistols in her hands ; " hence, to your homes, roysterers and madmen that ye are. for it were better for yourselves to keep the peace than thus to disturb the quiet of our house."

I " Avaunt, woman 1" exclaimed Hugh Laneret, who from the first had been foremost in the fray ; "avaunt, I say, or expect no mercy to thy weaker sex from men whose blood has been heated to madness. I am for Kin.; Edward the Fourth, and those who dare gainsay his title to the crown had belter look to their own safety." " And I am for King Henry the Sixth," cried Dickon the tanner ; " and am ready to do him service against any traitor that would uphold the cause of his enemies." " Shame on ye both," interposed the hostess, "for thus seeking to mar ihe quiet of our house with these mad broils. But ye have been warned, aud now look to yourselves, I say, for, woman as I am, the first that again breaks the peace shall have a bullet through his heart." "Nay, good dame," said Dickon, " reproach not us, who have only ventured to espouse the part of our lawful sovereign, but rather let thy wrath light upon those scurvy kuaves who would take up arms against good King Henry.

Trust me, dame, we, who are liege men, and true to the cause of our monarch, would not injure thee or thine." ■' Humph!" muttered Hugh Lineret, "hear how scurvily the knave speaks oi jnen thain.re better than himself." " Ay> a)'/ ' shouted a voice from one of a party aft the further end of the iccm ; THE CHERTSEY CUREEW. 3 I " speak freely, Master Laneret, and fear not, for we are here who will not stand idly by and see thee put down by yonder boasting knaves. Say thy say, man, and fear not the consequences." " He will do well to take the caution I have given him," cried the hostess, again flourishing her pistols with an air of determination. " I have warned Mm, and will not fail to keep my word, should he seek to renew the quarr el that has just been quelled." Whilst she was uttering these words Hugh Laneret eyed her with a sullen glance, and removed himself a few paces to consult with his party, at the other end of the room.

As he did this, the hostess lowered the points of her weapons, and thus proceeded— " bhame on ye all, I again say, for I care not to wliich party ye belong, who would thus disturb the quiet of our house with these vexatious brawls and jea lousies. Ye know well enough that, in an instant my good man and myself may be rendered houseless wanderers, and that a word from the prior would drive us from, hence in sorrow and utter ruin." "Ay, neighbours, and there is no saying where our misfortunes would end," cried the alarmed host, venturing at length to follow in the wake of his termagant spouse, " for should the reverend prior think proper to eject us from our house, he may at the same time procure for us a more disagreeable asylum in one of the numerous dungeons beneath the abbey. May Heaven and the blessed Virgin protect us!"

"Amen, with all my heart," responded the hostess, at the same time crossing Herself. Whilst this was passing between the host and his better half, Dickon and Hugh Laneret, as the leaders of their parties, were eagerly consulting with their adhe rents as to what would be the better course to pursue. All now appeared calm, and not a sound was heard except the low whispers which passed among the company as they were conversing in different parts of the room. At this juncture the solemn tolling of a bell was heard, and the host, starting as from a reverie, exclaimed— " Gentlemen, hear ye not the curfew sounding from the abbey belfry ? 'Tis now time that you take your departure, and let me conjure you to go in peace, lest worse come of the fray that has broken out among you." " Peace, thou babbling fool," crie4Hugh Laneret, "and speak not where your interference is not required.

Dickon and 1 know and hate each other ; this night has evidenced the breach between us, and if h e has half the courage he boasts, he will now draw his sword and prove whether he is more skilful with the weapon than myself." As he said this he made a furious rush towards his antagonist, and would have slain him, had not Dickon at the moment started on one side, and thus avoided the treacherous assault. Upon this an exclamation of rage burst forth on both sides ; every dagger was, in an instant, snatched from its scabbard, and the rival parties were advancing furiously towards each other, when they were arrested in the midst of their impetuous wrath by the voice of Dickon. " Hold," he exclaimed ; " hold, I charge ye, and deluge not this peaceful hearth with biood for the cowardly attack made upon me by yonder treacherous vdlain.

This is no place to settle the differences that are between us, and doubt not, time and opportunity will be found more fitting than the present." With a malicious sneer of derision, Laneret was about to taunt his adversary with deserting his party ou the first appearance of danger, when the quick trampling of a horse near the door, withdrew for a moment the attention of every one from the feud in which they were engaged. "The saints be praised," ejaculated the host, "'tis doubtless the headborough and his assistants." Then turning towards his quarrelsome guests, he com inued, " now, good neighbours, let me entreat of you to stay the mad affray that has broken out among you. Go to your homes, and forget, if you can, that there has ever been the cause for this fearful outburst of passion. Come, come, be persuaded far once by a simple tapster, and " Here the knight of the spigot was interrupted in the midst of his harangue by the loud and commanding voice of the new comer, exclaiming from without — "What, ho ! sirrah tapster ! hostler, knave, are all in the house asleep, and the curfew only just ringing ?" *' Go, prating idiot," cried Hugh Laneret to the host ; " dost thou not hear thyself called, or art thou so in love with peace and speechmaking, that thou would'st leave thy customers to look after their own cattle ?

By St. Paul, thou. art a marvellous proper host, truly." Casting an imploring look upon both parties, as if humbly imploring a cessation of hostilities during his absence, the host slowly withdrew to wait upon the newly " arrived visitor, who he found at the door, abusing in no very measured terms a lazy fellow, who was loitering about the place, and who he had mistaken for one cf thc people belonging to the house. "I'll tell you what it is, master," exclaimed Guy Addlepate, the person to whoin the impatient speech had been addressed ; " if you want favours done, you must learn to keep a civil tongue in your head, or you may chance to stand groom. yourself for once in your life." " Humph, you are not the hosller then r" " No, I'm Guy Addlepate." *" " Then, for once in my Use, Guy Addlepate, I prithee bestir thyself," exclaimed the stranger.

" My horse and I have journeyed far since morning, and since he is tired, and I not in the best of humours, you will do well to provoke me no further with this slothfulness." " Saving your honourable worship's presence," said the host, who at this moment presented himself, " Guy will be more ready to do your bidding for a kind word than for all this anger. Or if it pleases you to walk into my house, I will myself look to your steed." * Varlet,™ cried the other with impatience, and at the same time throwing the bridle angrily into the hands of mine host ; " it is well for thee there is no decent hostelrie near, or thou would'st surely have lost a customer this night by thy most unseemly negligence." "I crave your pardon, gentle sir," replied the other, as he assisted the stranger to dismount ; " I was but endeavouring to pacify some angry neighbours who have assembled in my house.

Will it please your brughtship to take up your abode with us this evening ?" "Why, ay," returned Neville Audeley, for such was the name of the visitor; " and see that I have a snug dormitory, and my gelding a warm stable." "That," answered the host, " I can promise thee without doing much violence to my conscience." " And hast thou a room where I can sit aud sup alone ?" "Why no," returned the host, "there is not one at present; but if you can put up with the inconvenience of sitting in the public room for a brief space, the company which i have now in the house will be gone, and then you mav have the place all to yourself." " Well then, be it so," replied Neville, after a pause ; " travellers may not always be choosers in such cases as these, so lead the way, friend, without further parley."

The host now gave the horse to the care of Guy Addlepate, and leading the way into the house, the guest was in a few moments ushered into the room which had just before been the scene of so much confusion. Silently taking a seat apart from the other guests, the stranger cast aside his travelling cloak, in which, till now, he had been closely wrapped, and throwing himself back in his seat, appeared studi ously to avoid any communication with those around him. This appeared to create some surprise and curiosity amongst the company, which he heeded not in. the least, nor did he seem to observe the host, who stood bowinf and sniirkin" before him, as if waiting for further commands. At length, however, he roused himself from the thoughts which had occupied his mind, aud beckoning to the landlord, he desired his company to assist in emptying a bottle of canary, a request which the other most willingly complied with, and seating himself opposite his guest, a conversation arose betweeu them upon general matters.

The host now began to grow communicative, and as he answered all queries with perfect freedom, the stranger ventured to inquire if he knew aught of one Blanche Heriot, who lived not long since ac Redwynde Manor House, in that neigbourhood. "Ay, marry do I. ' replied the host, " and few there are, I believe, who know her not, for she is loved by all, gentle and simple, that live about the place." The quick eye of Neville Audeley soon discovered that his question had created some interest am.ngst his auditors, and he was about to change the convention to another subject, when Hugh Laneret, starting from his seat, exclaimed — " Your voice, sir, assures me that you and 1 have not met now for the first time. We are rivals for the hand of Blanche Heriot, and, being such, we cannot now be otherwise than sworn foes."

" Hugh Leneret," returned the young man, " it matters little to me in what light we meet together. I am perfectly willing that we should be enemies, yet surely this is no place to pick a quarrel upon such a subject." "And what have you or I to do with time or place r ' demanded the other, haughtily. " Let it suffice that I hate you, and will let no opportunity pass that may serve to rid me «f a rival." " Hah ! would you threaten me. ?" "I will do more than utter vain threats," replied Laneret. " Humph ! perhaps you will slay me unawares ?" '• There will be no need for that," answered the other, "your life will ere long be at my disposal, and be assured I shall not hesitate to make use of my ad vantage." "Come, come, Laneret," exclaimed Dickon, "a stranger has come among us, and we will not see him treated thus scurvily.

We have nothing to do with your quarrel, and by St. Paul he shall not be insulted, even if I stand up alcne in, his defence." " You will have enough to do to take care of yourself," muttered Laneret- Remember there is a score to be settled between you and me ; we have been in terrupted to-night, but many hours shall not pass away without either you or I claiming the mastery." "I ask no one to interfere between us," exclaimed Neville Audeley, "nor shall Hugh Laneret have it in his power to brand me with the name of coward when ever he may think proper to offer me a fair challenge." " We shall not meet in single combat," answered Laneret, " but in the field of battle, where you and I shall be found fighting in the opposite ranks. I am for Edward the Fourth, the rightful sovereign of these dominions, and you advocate the cause of Henry who at present usurps the throne of England."

" The throne is is by right," exclaimed Neville Audeley, "and all who dare gainsay it, I denounce as traitors, and will do my utmost to bring them to the punishment they merit." " Nay, gentles, let us hear no more of this, or there will be a renewal of the quarrel that has just been quelled," cried the alarmed host. "What have any of us to do with the Yorkists or Lancastrians, since in a short time there will be blood enough spilt in the affray, and the sword will decide which party shall prove victorious. So prithee let all now depart in peace, or we shall have the head borough and his men here, and Heaven only knows what the consequence will be should the* find my house filled with disorderly company after the great curfew bell has tolled." " Vou understand me, Neville Audeley," said Laneret, without heeding a word that had been uttered by the host.

" We are rivals, and therefore enemies." "That I knew long ere we last parted," answered the other, " and it his never been ir.y wish to claim friendship with one who would so far outrage the name of manhood as to force his attentions upon a helpless female, who has with sufficient candour declared her aversion to him. Blanche Heroit knows you for what you are, and never will become the bride of him she loathes." "And if she loathes me," cried Laneret, " who have I to thanK for it except yourself? But let her scorn me as she will, Blanche Heriot shall become my prize, even though I wade through blood for the attainment of my object." " If it be my blood you seek," exclaimed the other, " you shall not find me unwilling to risk it in defence of her who has honoured me with her regard. The maiden's choice has been free and unfettered, and since it has fallen upon me, I should indeed have bee n unworthy of her favour, were 1 to yield her up at the bidding of Hugh Laneret, whose evil practices have branded him with the name of villain amongst all honourable men."

"Villain in your teeth, Neville Audeley !" cried the other, drawing his sword, passionately. " I would have spared you for the present, that my revenge might hereafter be greater ; but you have pronounced your death doom, and thus will I revenge the insult you have cast upon me !" Scarcely had he uttered these words, than he rushed furiously upon Neville, and would have carried his threat into execution, had not his antagonist skilfully avoided the thrust, and thus given himself time to throw himself into an attitude of defence. The countenance of Hugh Laneret now betrayed the fearful ragi that had taken possession of his heart, and the combat, grew so fierce that those who were spectators of the scene were unable to part them. At length, however, Hugh Laneret slipped, and fell to the ground, and the other, wound up to a pitch of fury that he could not controul, wa3 about to pass his sword through the body of his prostrate foe, when the door was burst open, and the headborough, followed by a number of his assisstants, rushed into the room, and arrested the weapon as il was about to complete its fatal work, " What means this outrage," exclained the headborough, gazing alternately upon the two combatants.

" Is the king's peace to be broken thus by a couple of brawlers, who think proper to quarrel over their cups ? — and thou must needs settle it by drawing your swords upon each other." . "Our quarrel is not quite so sudden a one as you seem to imagine," answered Hugh Laneret, sullenly. " He is my hated foe, and shall yet repent that he has been the cause of the fury he has given rise to." " That remains to be proved," exclaimed Neville, " when next our swords are fairly measured against each other. Within the last few minutes you have been at my mercy, and it may happen at our next meeting fortune will not be less pro pitious to me. My arm was staid by these intruders, or you would not have been living to have given utterance to the threat." " When next we are opposed to each other in mortal strife," replied Laneret, " I pray Heaven there may be no meddling fools to interfere between us.

You now know rae for your enemy, Neville Audeley, and I warn you to beware of one who will neither ask nor give mercy." " I will ask none, even were your sword at my throat," returned the other, haughtily. " As foes we shall, doubtless, meet again ere long ; and, should chance prove adverse to me, I can at ieast die satisfied with the thought that I perish to save Blanche Heriot from the evil machination of a black-souled villain." "Come, come, let us have no more of this," interposed the headborough, pompously. " Remember, I'm armed with the authority of the law, and, if either of you rebel against my commands, I have aid enough at hand to compel your obedience. So, now let thc house be cleared, or you will endanger the worthy host and hostess by keeping the house open after the great abbey'-bell has given warning that it is time for all honest people to be in their beds." ' " The stranger sleeps here to-night," observed the host to the man of authority, " but, for the rest, yoa may clear my house of them with as much despatch as you please.

They have almost turned my brain with their quarrels already, and, should they begin another affray, our good Eatker Abbot will not fail to turn my i poor dame and me from house and home. So, leave us, Master Hugh Laneret, and my earnest prayer is, that you will not again honour me with your patron age." " Why, that will depend upon circumstances," answered the person he had last addressed; "for wherever Neville Audeley is, I shall not be far off. He has made me his enemy, and let him look to the consequences." With these words he turned sullenly away, and left the house, which, proving so far satisfactory to the constable, he next addressed himself to those who re mained, exhorting them, in a set speech, to make the best of their way home, and not to interfere in affairs that concerned them not.

" You have nothing to do with either Yorkists or Lancastrians," he continued, " for that is a matter that must be settled by wiser heads than our own. If great folks choose to quarrel about who shall be king, it is no business of ours, and we should therefore be quiet till we see which side is likely to gain the day. Then it will be time enough for us to throw our caps into the air, and shout for the winning party, since we might happen to take the weaker side, and get ourselves into trouble before we are aware of it. For my own part, I shall continue to serve the king that now sits upon the throne ; but should he be obliged to give it up to his rival, I can change as easily as a weathercock, and thus save my head, when many a husy fool will be brought to the scaffold, to answer for their treason."

This counsel was listened to in silence at the commencement ; but, as the headborough proceeded, his audience g'adually stole away from the house, and by the time he had brought his speech to a conclusion, he found there was no one left but the host, his wife, and Neville Audeley. This somewhat disconcerted him ; but a draught of ale restored him to tolerable good temper, and he left the house, ! wondering how so excellent a speech could have been so coldly received.

Chapter II. The Guest

— THE NIGHT ATTACK.— THE RESCUE. For some time after the departure of the guests and the headborough, Neville Audeley sat gloomily meditating upon the scene that had just taken place, and endeavouring to obtain through it a glimpse into futurity. The ferocity displayed towards him by Hugh Laneret, augured, indeed, mueh trouble and difficulty to himself, but he saw only the danger to which Blanche would be exposed in con sequence of the resolution with which his rival intended to woo her, and his thoughts were, therefore, turned towards such means as would be most likely to aid her from the persecutions of a man against whom she entertained no feelings save those of scorn and detestation. , Whilst he was thus meditating, Master Froth, the host of the Golden Cross, was busily occupied with his wife in clearing away the drinking utensils, with which the tables were crowded ; and having completed this to his satisfaction, he drew a chair near to that which was occupied by his guest, and having in vain sought to attract his attention towards himself, he, at length, gave a loud hem to clear his throat, and then hazarded an inquiry whether his guest would like to retire to bed at once, or take any further refreshment before he went.

"I would be alone," answered Neville, rousing himself; and then, after a moment's reflection, he added : " but I had strangely forgotten myself where I am, good host, and so, on condition that you bear me company for a short time you may repeat my quantum of canary, over which we may discuss sundry matters, in which I feel deeply interested." This order was quickly obeyed by Master Froth, and having placed the wine upon the table, he poured out a cup for his guest, and another for himself, which, having quaffed with much apparent zest, he said— " I warrant me now, you are a stranger in these parts, or at the very least that you have not visited it lately." " Your guess is a tolerable shrewd one," answered NevUle, with an inclination to smile that he could scarcely suppress, " for never till this day have I set foot in your good town of Chertsey."

" Humph ! and yet it seems you claim acquaintance with pretty Mistress Blanche Heriot, of the old manor house, down yonder ?" "I knew her when she lived with her father some few miles from hence," an swered Neville. " And you are aware, of course," continued the host, "tbat her father being dead, she is now under the guardianship of Sir Philip Warrenue ? ' " I am." * And are you sure he will consent to the young lady receiving you as a lover ?'' "Your question is a singular one to ask of a stranger," exclaimed Neville, " but as I am not disinclined to make you my father confessor, I will, at once, inform you that Blanche Heriot and I are cousins." " And, therefore, not the less likely to be a lover," returned the host, laughing heartily at his own conceit. "That, at any rate," answered Neville Audeley, gravely, "is a matter that 1 shall not at present explain.

Blanche, yon say, is under the guardianship of Sir Philip Warrenne, and I have yet to learn whether he is lii_cly to forbid my visits to his house." " Why, thai I can hardly undertake to say," replied Master Froth, " for there are various reports about him, and some people say that he is morose, and certain it is there are few persons suffered to enter his house." "Then Hugh Laneret, I suppose, is among the number of the excluded?" " Hugh Laneret is not a man to be easily thwarted, when once he has made up his mind to a thing," replied the tapster. " He may or may not have been for bidden the house; but that he often finds his way into the presence of Mistress Blauche, 1 believe there is very little doubt." '• Curses light upon the villain !" exclaimed Neville, vehemently ; and then suddenly correcting himself, he continued, " are you aware whether his visits are en couraged by her you have mentioned r" " Not being in the lady's confidence I am unable to answer your question," replied Froth, " but as her father was a warm frieud of the Lancastrian party, I should hardly think it likely she could give her love to a man who is one of the staunebest adherents to the opposite party.

Besides, Sir Philip Warrenne is on the s:ime side that her father was, and I know he would sooner see the devil him self than allow a Yorkist to enter his house." " Yet you say Hugh Laneret finds admission there ?" * Ay, but he does it by stealth." "In that case I would have bim beware how he again ventures into the presence of Blanche Heriot," exclaimed Neville. " We are foes, and bitter ones, too, and either his blood or mine shall be shed if he dare repeat his insolent intrusion." " 1 prithee take care how you get into another quarrel with Master Hugh Laneret," said the host, '• for he bears but a strange character in these parts, -and fails uot to practise the foulest means when he is determined to carry his object. You will do well, therefore, to ace with ciution, and not tempt him to violence till you are well assured of getting the best of him."