Blanche Langdale the outlaw's bride : A romance of Sherwood Forest

Preface

. The reign of "Good Queen Bess" has ever been a favourite as well as a fruitful period with romancists, and it has also attained to great favour with that portion of the reading public which delights to wander in the flowery fields of fiction. The history of that era teems with incidents of a most inte resting and attractive nature ; and the character of the time was such as to ensure it a firm hold upon a vivid imagination. Availing himself of these circumstances, bo admirably combined and inviting to popularity, and believing that the path, however trodden by previous writers, might yet lead to exciting novelty, the Author ventured upon introducing the present production of his pen to a public which has always been liberal in their judgment of, and in granting their support to, those works which he hitherto has had the honour of laying before them.

The scene, too, in which the Romance of " Blanche Langdale " is laid is one familiar to us, time out of mind, and is hallowed with many a pleasant recollection. There it was that the bold Robin Hood and his merry men all held their rustic revels ; and the shady glades of Sherwood Forest have ofttimes echoed to the swelling chorus of their manly voices. It is the scene, also, of the exploits of many a daring outlaw, who, clad in Lincoln green, and with his good yew bow, ranged the forest as he listed, unseating and uncontrolled, killing a buck, or robbing a priest — and loved by the poor as much as he was dreaded by the rich. That there was, in the materials he selected, a sufficiency from which to create a work of some interest, the Author is satisfied, from the great success " Blanche Langdale " has had ; and it is no small gratification to him to find that the time and care he has bestowed upon it have not been thrown away but that they have contributed in no inconsiderable degree to the entertainment of his readers.

For the past and present the Author returns his most sincere thanks and now has only to hope that the future may wear as bright an aspect. London, January, 1847. THE OUTLAW'S BKIDE. % 2&ortVAiuf,

Chapter I

The moon pulls off her veil of liglit, Tbat hides her face by day from sight; (Mysterious veil, of brightness made, That's both her lustre and her shade,) And in tho lanthorn of tho night, With shining horns hangs out her light.— Hudibeas. Black, threatening clouds, the sure forerunner of a coming tempest, wer thering in the heavens, when two persons, the one young and the other m „ -,.* a*ed, reached the borders of Sherwood Forest. Their way lay through th -]<%_ mass of trees before them, but, being nearly strangers to the spot, neither o„ NO. 1. v ffhprri seemed to know which of the numerous foot-paths would lead them to the place lhey were desirous of reaching ; and pausing to consider what had best be done, they turned an anxious gaze around them in the hope of discovering some cottage, where they might either inquire their way, or procure the services of some person -to act as a guide.

This hope, however, was doomed to be frustrated, and the younger then commenced a loud shouting, thinking to bring the assistance they •were so much in need of; but this scheme proved equally inefficacious, and the other, stopping him in the midst of his shouting, exclaimed : — " I'll tell you what it is, Harry, you may bawl and call till this time to-morrow, for in a wild, out-of-the-way place like this, nobody will be likely to hear you." " Why do you think so ?" asked the other. "You often call me a witless idiot," replied his companion, "but 'in this in stance I can prove myself a man of more sense than yourself. You see what a storm we are likely to have before long, and yet ask why we are not likely to be heard, when any one may suppose that the peasant churls have sought the shelter of their own cottageB, instead of strolling about to look after stray travellers."

" Peace, thou prating fool ! " exclaimed Henry Neville, impatiently; "and rather give me thine assistance in discovering some place of shelter, than thus aggravate our misfortunes by giving utterance to these senseless forebodings." " What is it you want of me ?" demanded the other, without appearing to be the least offended by the discourteous terms in which he had been addressed. " In the first place, Master Nicodemus Dove, 1 would know how far we are from Holmwood Castle, the seat of my friend, Sir Richard Langdale ?" "How far?" reiterated the other ; "why, just far enough for us both to, get tolerably well drenched with rain, if we are not fortunate enough to meet with a comfortable cottage and hospitable people to entertain us, between this place and the end of our journey." " Pshqw ! what am 1 to understand by all that ?" exclaimed the younger man ; " I am in no humour for these idle jests, se tell me, in as few words as you can, how far it i3 from this place to Holmwood Castle."

" Well, then," replied Nicodemus, " though I cannot give very exact information, yet as near as I can guess— but mind, I won't answer for a furlong or two — the distance, I should say, is — " " Ten miles, perhaps ?" " Nay ! not quite so bad as that, either ; it may, however, be about the third of that distance — and, considering you are going to court fair Mistress Blanche, Sir Richard Langdale's daughter, it cannot be of any very great object if you -should happen to get wet through, since the warmth of your passion for the maiden must be quite sufficient to prevent the possibility of your catching a cold." " A witty speech, that, considering it came from the lips of an idiot!" ex claimed the other ; "but you spoke just now of Blanche Langdale, who, 1 believe, you have often seen V " I have !"

" And think you she is as fair as her sister Catherine ?" " Do you want my candid opinion ?" " Most certainly I do!" "Then you must excuse me, Master Harry, if I answer ' No' to your question ; the girl is well enough, but since I have a sort of sneaking kindness for her sister Kate, I of course can see no one so fair as herself." " Perhaps they are both equal in beauty 1" " Very likely they are," answered Nicodemus ; " but as I happen to be a bit of a poet, suppose I give you a description of them in verse— a few extemporaneous lines of my own, Master Harry ; — My lovely Blanche is rather tall, Her sister rather shorter — " "Peace!" exclaimed Henry Neville, impatiently. " Nay," persisted the other, " I must finish the verse, in spite of your inter ruptions ; — So list, my friend, and hear it all — / love the eldest daughter."

" A truce with thy folly, and answer me one question, so that I may under stand thee." " Well, what is it you want to know ?" " Is the report true that Blanche Langdale is sought in marriage by a mvsterious outlaw, who infests the neighbourhood of her father's mansion ?" " I have heard the rumour, and a good many people hereabouts think there's some truth in it." "What says her father to it?" " That's more than I can tell you, though I rather think they've^ managed mat ters so well that he knows nothing of their having met. However, it must come to his cars by-and-by, and when the storm bursts, I shouldn't like to stand in the shoes of Blanche Langdale." " Does her unknown lover venture to the house ?" " He's often very near it," replied Nicodemus Dove ; " and, between ourselves, Harry, you stand a fair chance of losing your prize, unless you make up your mind to lose no time about making her your wife."

"You shall see that I am resolute, when a rival is in the way," exclaimed Neville ; " and if she proves to be worth the trouble, I'll find means to prevent her union with the villain you have been speaking to me about." "Then you must take care to keep out of his reach." "I shall rather endeavour to throw myself in his way," answered the young man ; " for I must see this rival of mine, who, they tell me, is not without a fair share of mettle." " That will depend upon whether he chooses to throw himself in your way or not," observed Nicodemus. " How so ?" " Because they say he's for all the world like a ghost, and appears to people only when he's least expected." " But he sometimes shows himself, I suppose ?" " Yes, but only when he knows there's no danger of being taken hold of, though." " What spot does he principally haunt?" inquired Neville.

" There's no place in particular that I know of," answered the other ; " but I've heard people say they have seen him three or four times at night-fall, wandering about on the banks of the river. Perhaps, like me, he's poetical, and goes forth to meditate in silence and solitude." " I suppose, Master Dove, you have had your curiosity gratified by a sight of this extraordinary man V "I should rather think I have too," answered the other; " and, what's more, I've tried to draw him into conversation." " And there you of course failed ?" " Why, I can say he has been very anxious to seeure the pleasure of my ac quaintance, but I've seen him, and that's more than a great many other people can say." "Perhaps then, you can exactly describe to me what sort of a personage he is." "I can," answered the would-be poet; "his image is still in my eye, Master Harry, but you must excuse me if 1 attempt to describe his appearance in rhyme.

He's a handsome, decent, good-looking wight As you'd sec in a hundred men ; He's rather stout, and I think his height May be about five feet ten." " A very accurate description indeed, Nicodemus," exclaimed the young man, hardly able to refrain from laughing aloud at the eccentricity of his companion. "So you have seen him, it seems, though he has not at present favoured you by entering into conversation?" , "That's no fault of mine, for I've tried it on pretty hard every time 1 ve iound myself within speaking distance." "How did you contrive to introduce anything that might lead to a con versation?" " By wishing him good night, to be sure." *' Wh ich he of course took no notice of?" "Not much, I must confess," replied Nicodemus Dove ; " but one's ebliged to be civil, you know, for they say he's so strong, that no other man is to he sound who is able to bend his bow."

" How does he manage to support himself ?" " In the best way he can," replied the other ; " he kills the deer in this forest at a pretty rate, for a week never passes that he doesn't shoot two or three of the fattest bucks in Sir Richard Langdale's domain." " It is strange too," exclaimed the young man, " that Sir Richard allows him to commit these depredations without taking steps for having him punished." "As for that," answered Nicodemus, "attempts enough have been made to take him, but they might as well do nothing, for the Outlaw goes armed with sword, dagger, and pistol, so that, there would be queerish work cut out for those that might attempt to take him." " Would to Heaven I could meet with him ! "exclaimed Henry Neville, " for then would we soon see whether he or I was to get the best of it."

" Are you serious in wanting to meet with him ?" demanded his companion. " So much in earnest am I," answered Neville, " that I should esteem it the most fortunate hour of my life if I could but find myself in his presence." " If you mean it you may soon have your wish gratified," observed the other, for he is generally to be found at the cottage of Stephen Dagley, about this time in the evening." " Where is the place you speak of ? " "About half-way between here and Holmwood Castle." "But we are unable to find which is the right road that leads towards our place of destination." " We'll have another try for it presently, though," exclaimed Nicodemus ; "for we may find shelter from the evening storm in Dagley's cottage, and that's a prospect not to be forgotten on a night such as this is likely to turn out."

"At any rate, we shall get a roof to shelter us from the storm." "Ay, from the wind, and the rain, and the thunder, and lightning perhaps ; " observed Nicodemus Dove, "but I'm thinking if you should happen to meet the Outlaw, there'll be a storm of a worse kind before long." " Think you, then, I fear to confront this man ? " " I don't know how you may feel about it," answered Nicodemus Dove, '* but for my own part, I always had a mortal antipathy to be present at quarrels." " You confess yourself a coward, then 1 " " Not a bit of it," replied the other ; " for I hold discretion to be the better part of valour. Besides, I may, myself, be dragged into the dilemma, and that's a thing that I'd rather avoid, if there's any way of doing it." "Be that as it may," exclaimed Henry Neville, resolutely ; "we will go 'there immediately."

" Consider the danger, my dear fellow," cried the other, with alarm; " a quarre would be sure to take place, and then the only way to settle the difference would be at the sword's point.'' " So much the better," returned Henry ; " for, to speak the truth, Nicodemus, I long to measure weapons with the man who has achieved so much notoriety." " Then wait some better opportunity." "That may never occur." " You can see him, I tell you, any evening, at the cottage of Stephen Dagley." " If that's the case," asked Neville, " how is it that Sir Richard Langdale does not oblige this cottager to surrender this Outlaw into the hands of justice? " "Do you really believe Stephen Dagley would give up the man that he has afforded shelter to ? " "Ay," replied Henry, "for, if called upon to do so, he must either obey, or receive the punishment due to one who gives shelter and concealment to a criminal."

"Pshaw! " exclaimed the other, "why, Stephen Dagley follows this poaching business himself, and it is not veiy likely that he'd give up his friend, when he knows to a certainty that it would he the means of sending him to the gallows. Besides, there is another reason why he don't want to turn the Outlaw out of his cottage." '* What is that, pray ? " " Why, the long and the short of it is, Stephen Dagley has got a pretty wench of a daughter, that they call Martha, and folks do say— but mind, I don't assert it for a fact— that her pretty face has drawn the Outlaw to the cottage of the old man." " Impossible ! " " Why is it impossible? " "Because your own words contradict yourself?" answeted Henry Neville. "Did you not tell me just now that the Outlaw presumes to pay his addresses to Blanche Langdale ?

" " To be sure 1 did," exclaimed Nicodemus, " and I still stick to the same story. Who knows but he pretends to court this Martha Dagley, that he may deceive Sir Richard for purposes of his own ? However, there may be another reason, that I shall give in some original verses of my own composition : — Ons girl's very well, but 'tis better, you know, To have, when you can, two strings to your beau .'.' /" "Prating fool! this buffoonery is unbearable," exclaimed Henry impatiently. " I would speak seriously upon an event that may turn out of the greatest conse quence, and you treat the affair as if it was a mere joke." " Ah ! that's because you have no taste for poetry.'' '■ So little taste have I for such as yours," exclaimed Neville, "that, unless you desist from annoying me with any more of it, I shall part from your company, and find my road to the castle the best way I can."

" Which you would be very unlikely to do,, seeing that I, who know something of these parts, am completely bewildered." " Then, for once, drop this folly, and act the more friendly part cs being my guide. At all events, we must move forward, for see you not that the storm which has been so long gathering above us, is now about to burst forth *.*. ith terrific violence? " " Where am I to take you ? " " Lead me to the cottage of this Stephen Dagley," exclaimed the young man. " It may serve to shelter us for a while, and a lucky chance may throw in my path this mysterious outlaw, whom 1 have sworn to measure swords with on the first opportunity that offers itself." " And if I do so, good Master Neville, will you promise not to fly into one of your confounded passions ? " "Lead on." " Not till you have given the promise I ask for,'' exclaimed Nicodemus Dove.

" I'm pretty certain you won't be able to govern your temper, and, if you should get into a quarrel with the Outlaw, the poor cottagers will be frightened out of their wits." "I make no promises," answered Henry Neville; " for should I chance to meet my rival, no consideration shall withhold my arm from taking the vengeance I have sworn to accomplish." "And why have you formed such a hatred for him ?" "That is aquestion that it is in vain for you to ask me," replied Henry Neville. "Let it suffice that there is a feud between us, and that I never can rest satisfied till I have had the heart's blood of the man I am in search of." " Revenge, Master Neville, is a bad feeling," exclaimed she other; and it vvtiat you have said just now should ever come to the ears of Sir Richard Langdale or his daughter, you won't be thought any the better of for it." .

" Perhaps not," answered the young man ; "but at any rate I am determined, come what may, to have mv revenge. However, you seem little disposed to guide me on my way, so the only 'thing that I can do in this extremity is to call loudly for assistance, and if anyone is within hearing, he shall have no reason to complain of the reward I will bestow upon him for acting the part of a guide to the cottage of this Stephen Dagley." And again the impatient traveller called loudly ; but, as on the former occasion, no answer was returned. The shout was however repeated three or four times, but still he was left in the same doubt and uncertainty as ever. "It's all of no use, you see," exclaimed Nicodemus, "for, as I told you before, the people have all gone to their beds, so we must make up our minds to find the best shelter we can in the thickest part of the forest."

" You can do as you like about it," returned Henry Neville, " but I shall take the first path I come to, and trust to chance for reaching some place where I may get a lodging for the night." " If you do that," exclaimed Nicodemus, " you'll find your mistake out, and, be sorry for it when too late. However, a wilful man will have his own way ; so, if you are determined to do as you have said, I shall beg leave to decline accom panying you any further on your way." " Indeed ! then you mean to leave me to my fate ?" " It's your own fault, and none of mine if I do," answered Nicodemus, " for I don't mind looking about in the open country for some place where we may find shelter, but hang me if I trust myself to the risk of groping my way through a dark, dreary forest like this." " Do you know of any house where we are likely to meet with a night's shelter?"

" The only one I know of," replied Nicodemus Dove, " is the one I have told you of; and there I'm afraid to go lest you should find the outlaw, and then there would be a pretty kettle of fish between the pair of you." " And what of that," demanded Henry Neville, " since you would not be called upon to take part with either side ?" " Very likely," replied the other ; " but I should not be able to resist the temptation of giving you a helping hand, if it so happened that the other party was likely to get the best of it." " If that's the case I've wronged you," exclaimed Neville ; " and yet, after all, I cannot persuade myself to believe that you have so much regard for me as to bring yoti into a quarrel for the mere sake of helping me at a pinch." " And, what's more, I don't wish to convince you of it," retorted Nicodemus Dove ; f so be persuaded by me, and let us find a shelter anywhere else than in the cottage of Stephen Dagley."

" I shall not alter my intention if there is any way of carrying it into effect," exclaimed the other; and once more raising his voice to the highest pitch, he made so vociferous a shouting that anyone within a quarter of a mile could not have failed to hear him. The two then waited in silence for a few minutes, anxiously listening to hear if any response was given to their call for assistance. Once dr twice they fancied they heard a faint cry in the distance ; but as it came no nearer it was supposed to proceed from some of the birds that had been startled by the strange outcry, and the two friends were just beginning to despair of meeting with a guide, when footsteps were heard approaching, when a man of tall stature and rather ferocious aspect advanced quickly towards them. "Who and what are you?" he demanded; "and why do you make such a shouting as if you wanted to alarm the whole neighbourhood, and rouse honest people from their beds r" " We have lost our way," answered Henry Neville, " and felt no inclination to pass the night exposed to the fury of a tempest such as this is likely to be."

" You want a guide, then V " Ay, if we can find an honest one." " Well, I am honest," returned the man, " and you may consider my services as secured if you pay me for 'em by a handsome sum of money beforehand." " You shall have three crowns, lawful money of our good Queen Bess," ex claimed Nicodemus, " so now move on towards the cottage of Stephen Dagley, if you know how to find it, and we'll follow you in all confidence." " Answer for yourself alone in this case," cried Henry Neville; " you can trust yourself to this man if you think proper, but I shall remain where I am till I am satisfied that he belongs not to the band of marauders that I have heard infest this forest and its neighbourhood." " If you take me for a robber you're mistaken," exclaimed the man, in a sulky tone. " Perhaps so," answered Neville, " but you must convince me of my mistake by explaining why you are armed."

" Oh, that's easily done," returned the stranger ; " the truth is I am one of the keepers in the service of Sir Richard Langdale, and the reason of my being armed is, that I may be prepared against the attacks of the deer-stealers and poachers that prowl about this place o' nights." " That's a fair explanation," interposed Nicodemus Dove, " and for my own part I really think we can't do better than put ourselves under this man's guidance." " That is to say if I think proper to act as yoiir guide after the suspicious hints that have been thrown out," exclaimed the man : " you had your doubts about me, and now, before we go any further, I should like to know who and what you both are?" " Why do you ask the question ?" demanded Henry Neville. " Because I have a right to put it to all strangers that I meet with after nightfall," replied the man.

" Sir Richard Langdale has given orders to take into custody an outlaw that has been prowling about these parts for some time past, and, for aught I know, one of you chaps may be the very person I'm looking for.'' " Make yourself perfectly easy about that," exclaimed Henry Neville, " for I have the honour of being a friend of Sir Richard Langdale's, and was on my way to pay him a visit when night overtook us, and we have been brought to a stand still, uncertain which way to proceed." " Are you a friend of my master as well as t'other one ?" asked the man in a tone tbat showed he was anything but satisfied with the answer he had already received. " Friend!" exclaimed Nicodemus Dove, with offended dignity, " I'm something more than that, I flatter myself, for I shall have soon the honour to be son-in-law of your master, so you had better be civil, or I shall repoit your conduct and insist upon your instant dismissal from his service."

" What ! for doing my duty ?" " If you know your duty, sirrah, you will act as our guide without further delay," exclaimed Henry Neville ; " we have quite sufficiently explained who and what we are ; and now, in fulfilment of my friend's promise, here are three crowns, which shall be yours on condition that you conduct us without further delay to the cottage of Stephen Dagley." " Stephen Dagley is suspected of being a poacher, so you can't want to be going there for any good purpose." "Sirrah ! will you obey my orders or not?" exclaimed Henry Neville, with in creasing impatience. " I have heard the character of the man whose hospitality I seek, but this is no time for me to be particular about trifles." " To be sure it aint," rejoined Nicodemus, " for the rain is already beginning to come down, and, after all, we shall scarcely reach the cottage before we are drenched to the skin."

" Follow me, then," said the man ; " but remember, if any mischief should come of this visit to Stephen Dagley's, I'll not be answerable for what may happen." As he said this he took a path that skirted the forest, and was closely followed by the two travellers, who, wrapped in their capacious riding-cloaks, seemed to bid defiance to the storm, which by this time had begun to realise some of the violence that had been anticipated. For nearly half-an-hour they pursued their way in silence, which was at length broken by Henry Neville, who inquired of their guide if he knew anything of the Outlaw, whom report spoke of as having sought a refuge within the purlieus of the forest. " I know nothing more than what I have been told of him," replied the man. " Have you ever seen him ?" " Yes, many times."

" Then you can tell me what sort of person he is ?* " Ay," answered the guide, " he is a fine, noble-looking fellow as ever I saw in my life. But I'd rather you'd find some other subject to talk about, for he's always wandering through the forest, and he wouldn't be best pleased if he should happen to overhear us talking of him." " Nor is there much fear of his doing so just now," observed Henry, " for he would hardly be out on such a night as this ; and if the report of my friend here is to be depended on, we are likely to find him snugly housed at the place where we are going to." " If that should be the case," exclaimed the guide, *' I'd advise you to appear as if you knew him not." "And why so?" " Because he's a sort of customer that you don't happen to meet with every day of your life," answered the other.

" He has the strength of two men, and as for courage, I don't think the Queen has a braver fellow in the whole of her dominions." "But he is an outlaw, and is one who sets at open defiance the laws of his country. He ought, long before this time, to have been safely secured in a prison." " I don't know much about that," replied the guide, "but I believe there's very few hereabouts that would be inclined to try his strength against him." " But many may be able to do what one is afraid to attempt," exclaimed Henry Neville. " Besides, a proclamation has been issued against him, and it is the duty of all loyal subjects to assist in apprehending him." " Let those that think so be the first to come forward and take him," exclaimed the guide. " For my own part, I. have too much regard for my own life to risk it against a man that I'm no match for."