Stanfield Hall. A romance

Front matter

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Chapter I

A tale of lore and war, of olden times, "When heathen prods in this scarce Christian land "Were worshippe-tl in secret and in terror. SrANrijJLD Hall, the scene of so many remarkable events and fearful crimes, is one of the oldest manors iu Eugland. It is No. STANFIELD HACt. ruins of whose cell the present church i» built. These woods served as the retreat for vast herds of swine, which lived in a half savage state within its almost impervious recesses, which served as shelter to the deer and game for which that part of Eugland has so long been celebrated. Herwald of the Tower, the owner of the edifice we have endeavoured to describe, was a true Saxon, generous, fierce, and impetuous — a mixture of, the good and evil qualities of his unhappy race. Passionately addicted to war, aud its mimic pastime, the chase, his character naturally bore the impress of his pursuits.

He was proud of his wealth and lineage, but still prouder of the object in which they were both to centre — his only child, Edith, the heiress of Stanfield, and mauy a broad land beside. Resolute as the franklin was, he had seldom been known to resist the slightest wish of his daughter, who might, without impropriety, have been called Our Lady of Son Secours by all who stood in fear of hcr impetuous father's resentment. As good as she was beautiful, even the extravagant indulgence of her sire had failed to spoil her — an indulgence more frequently forced upon her thansought. Edith possessed neither the blue eyes nor fair hair so characteristic of herraec; on the contrary, her tresses might have vied with the raven's the rich aud ancient family of Hale, or Held, as they are denominated in the chronicles of Walter of Cotessy, a monkish writer of the twelfth century, whose quaint histories and obscure Latin will well repay the labour of those who have either time or patience to pore over his musty manuscripts.

At the period nt which our tale com mences — the year preceding the fatal battle of Hastings — it was the chief residence of Herwald de Hale, so called by the Norman writers— the distinctive particle de marking their acknowledgment of the nobility of the powerful Saxon, who was more familiarly known to those of his own race as Herwald of Stanfells, or Herwald of the Tower. Stanfield, in the age of which we write, presented a far different appearance from the present comparatively modern pile, which offers a fair specimen of the mixed domestic architecture which characterised the reign of Elizabeth. A low range of buildings, built of sunburnt bricks and rough stones, eu closed a large quadrangular court, capable, in case of need, of containing the herds of cattle, which formed no inconsiderable portion of the wealth of the Saxon proprietor; the windows — if the unglazed apertures might bc so designated — were all to the exterior, a few narrow loopholes only being left in the outward walls for the purpose of reconnoitring or defence.

The place, or holm, as the buildwing in blackness ; her eyes, of the same ings were called, was still further strengthened colour, were chastened in their brilliancy by by irregular turrets at its respective angles. The principal tower, from which the Saxons gave to the lord of Stanfells his distinctive appellation, was a lofty building, with more pretension to architectural ornament than the a melancholy expression, which seemed to foreshadow some impending doom ; bnt the maiden's complexion was fair as e'eu the fairest of her raee — so pure, so transparent, and so clear, that her rising thoughts might " r O O O 1st. Over the low, circular arched door was be read in its roseate changes, as clouds are rudely sculptured shield, displaying a bittern ' seen reflected on the bosom of some tranquil in the centre of a cross engrailed — the arms, joubtless, of its founder ; but how obtained, or by whom bestowed, it might puzzle the Heralds' College to decide.

A corresponding door ou the opposite side gave admittance into the interior of the quadrangle, of vvhich it formed the principal object and defence. The lands surrounding the edifice were rich pasture, well drained by irregular channels, cut to convey the water to the extensive moat, which said moat was crossed by a rude drawbridge of wood, extending partially over the stream, and resting on an irregular bridge of stone, whose arches reached to the middle only of the' moat. The drawbridge was capable of being either moved or destroyed upon the first approach of danger. Low thick .woods extended from the clear pasture lands, even to the limits of the town of Wymondham, or Wyndham, as the inhabitants now call it, then celebrated as the residence of a sainted anchorite, npon the lake. To the advantage of personal beauty, Edith added that of simple as well as rich attire.

It is true the arms and neck of the noble Saxon maiden were circled with jewelled bracelets and a collar of gold— ornaments indispensable to her birth and station ; but hcr robes were made in the simplest form, and generally of white ; the girdle whicli bound them to her slender waist being of needlework, and matching with the embroidered hem of the ample veil which floated round her. It was in a co9tnme mnch like the one we have attempted to describe, that Edith, surrounded by her handmaidens, and two or three officers of her father's household, stood, at the close of a cold autumnal day, within the narrow entrance of the principal tower of Stanfield, to await the franklin's return. Darkness already obscured the horizon, and a shower of sleet began to fall. " I wish," exclaimed Judith, Edith's STANFIELD HAH. 3 favourite attendant aud foster-sister, shivering, aud drawing her wimple closer round her shoulders, "our master would return, or that you, noble lady, would retire to your chamber.

The sleet reaches you even here ; aud it is not so long," she added, iu a lower tone, "since your illness, that you should unnecessarily brave it. Be persuaded, dear lady, aud let us iu." "Not so," mildly replied Edith, whom the whispered allusion to her illness had evidently disconcerted, but not angered. "Thou knowest, Judith, that my father is displeased if his daughter's step fail to meet him at the threshold on his return ; aud I must not anger him — disobedience iu a child is a sin : in me it would, I fear, be a fearful one," she added, tears suffusing her eyes as she spoke, " having so kind a parent." "The kindest arc sometimes unreasonable," thought Judith, who, however, was far too prudent to give utterance to her opinion, certain that it would be disapproved by her young mistress.

Perhaps her knowledge of her lady's secret cause of uneasiness was present to her thoughts, for she knew that Edith loved, and that her love was not blessed with her father's smile. "Our master will soon be here," exclaimed old Hubert, the nominal seneschal of the holm — we say nominal, for, on account of his great age and blindness, the duties of his office were performed by his nephew, Huon, a sturdy man-at-arms, whose tender assiduities had, it was suppos-ed by the gossips of the household, at length found favour with the pretty Judith. "Soon be here, indeed!" repeated Huon; " why, uncle, do you pretend to the gift of second-sight? Our eyes are young aud keen enough, yet we can discover no traces of our lord's approach." " If my eyes are dim, boy," answered the old man, "praise to St. Cuthbert.myears are as true as ever.

Hark !" he added, forming a hollow with his hand to his ear, to aid the sense as he spoke, " black Hubert is giving tongue right merrily. There are other dogs than our lord's," he added, after a pause, during which the rest of the attendants, who had more faith in his perception than his ungracious nephew, had vainly listened for the distant sounds; "some stranger of note is with our master. In, knaves, in, and prepare for the reception of an honoured guest." ' " By Hengist, lady, but old Hubert is right !" said Judith, who at last caught the distant bayiug of the deep-mouthed hounds ; " your honoured father approaches, but whether accompanied by guests or no is more than I can guess or tell, though any guest were welcome, pro. ided he were youug aud handsome, to theso ul.l towers." "' Peace.

Judith," answered her mi-tress, witt a aaule ; "ihy tongue outruns disetetiou. Sec!" she added, as the hunting party appeared in sight, emerging from the thick, umbrageous wood, " my father comes : let us forth to mccl him." Scarcely had the expecting party, who followed their young mistress, gained the draw- , than the hunters reached it. The lV.ml.lin, a hale, powerful mau of fifty, was the lirst to cross it. Leaping from his horse, which he left to his numerous attendants -to catch, he hastily approached his lovely child. "Why, how now, Edith, bird!" he exclaimed — " why have you quitted your tapestried nook to expose your cheek to the keen blast ? This is no night for maidens to be abroad in. Come," he added, throwing his mantle around her shoulders, alter first kissing her on the forehead, " let us in.

I must see you with your brightest eyes and sweetest smiles to-night — we nave a guest at Stanfield." Her father indicated, with a glance, at the conclusion of his speech, a mau of about five-and-twenty, who was in the act of dismounting, that he might in a more seemly manner pay his homage to the Lady Edith. " My uncle said we should have guests," muttered Huon, aside ; " but little did I dream that it would be our lord's uephew. What brings him here ? — the old scent, I suppose." " Whatever brings him," whispered Judith, who had heard the remark, " it bodes our lady no good. The two years accorded by her father are not yet expired." " Perhaps," answered Huon, " he comes to renounce his claim to the Lady Edith's hand, seeing that she hath scant love for him." " He reuounce his claim to her hand I" answered Judith, her lip curling with scorn.

" No, no ; you know him too well to think or hope it — he will never renounce it while she is the heiress of broad lands, or his craven heart thirsts for gold. lie resign it ! As well ask thy hawk, Master Huon, to forego its prey, when poised to make the deadly swoop, or lure the bloodhound from the track it hath followed for days, as expect Herman of the Burg to forego the prize which he believes to be within his reach." " Believes within his reach !• If our lord's will does not alter, he is sure it is withiu his reach." "Perhaps," replied the damsel, with a smile of intelligence; ; " but wills as stern as thel'rauklin's have ere now been thwarted, and by as weak a thing as woman's resolution.." The effect produced by the appearance of Herman of the Burg upon the lovely Edith was most distressing ; the blood forsook her lips and cheeks, and her mild eyes were cast hopelessly round, as if to seek a refuge from some impending evil.

Her wily suitor either did not see or would not notice her distress ; with a high-bred courtesy, whose refinement was a mockery, he half bent the knee as he saluted his cousin's hand. His triumphant glance gave the lie to the humility of the action — the latter was for his uncle, the former for his intended victim. How easy it i9 for parents to utter com mands which the heart finds it impossible to obey ! Edith, who, until that moment, had found her chief happiness in fulfilling her father's wishes, for the first time in her life found them harsh and difficult. Edward, till then all submission to his venerable parent, declared obedience impossible. Vainly they strove to forget each other — memory had too fondly treasured each loved image in its shrine for mere commands to part them. In short, aided by the faithful Judith, whose indignation at her master's cruelty was often loudly and vehemently expressed, the lovers contrived to meet.

Eloquence is doubly persuasive when uttered by those we lovo. Edward succeeded in persuading the object of his paBsion to con sent to a clandestine union ; and the unhappy Edith was, at the period of which we write, both a wife and mother. " Come, my children," uttered Hefwald, who at last perceived his daughter's agitation, " t his is no place for greeting. Yon, Herman, go and change your rough riding gear — women love not to look upon soiled garments and stained plumes ; and you, Edith," he added, " to your tire.women. Remember," he whis pered, in reply to her glance of supplication, " your brightest smiles and gayest robes to night." The passionate fondness of the Saxon franklin for his daughter will at first, perhaps, appear to our readers incompatible with the violence which he evidently placed upon her inclinations.

A few words will explain the seeming incongruity. Herman of the Burg was the heir of his name, and consequently preferred by him as a suitor for his daughter's hand. In Herwald the love of his child, deep and indulgent as was the sentiment, was second only to his pride of ancestry. No other Saxon, no matter how noble his lineage, how valiant his achievements, could perpetuate to his race the name which he himself so proudly bore ; and to this vain pride the happiness of his ohild was to be coldly sacrificed. Indul gent to excess in every other matter, he would listen to no remonstrance in this. Two years previous to the commencement of our history he had quarreUed violently with his oldest friend and brother in arms, Edda the Saxon, because his son Edward had presumed to love his daughter.

In birth, disposition, and for tune, they were equal ; as children, they were reared together. The gentle disposition of the gallant boy had won the maiden's heart, and they mutually loved, in the confiding inno cence of their natures, before they were aware that the fatal passion had found an entrance to their souls. Time at last revealed to Edward the nature of his hopes and wishes. His high sense of honour told him how to act : he sought his father, confessed his passion, and besought him to demand the hand of Edith of the franklin. The result of their interview has been already stated. The two fathers, who had so long been sworn friends, parted declared enemies -, each commanding their offspring never to tliink of such a marriage more. "Now may the Mother of Heaven aid mei" exclaimed the unhappy Edith, as soon as she had reached her chamber, throwing herself at the same time on the neck of her faithfnl Judith.

" The hour I jtave so long dreaded has arrived — the hour when I must have a father's curse. Oh ! the sin," she added, wringing her hands as she spoke, "the bitter sin of disobedience !" " Be comforted, dear lady," soothingly ut tered her attendant, alarmed at the despair of her mistress ; " your noble father loves you dearer than aught on earth ; he will never resist your prayers and tears ; besides, you have an advocate in your fair boy. Think yon that when he sees the heir of his prond name, the son of his loved Edith, his iron nature will not at last give way ? And," she added, with a half smile, " at the worst it is but running away : your lord hath a fair castle to receive, and brave friends to protect you. Things are never so bad bat they may be mended, or but they might be worse." " This visit, this ill-omenened visit !" murmured Edith, scarcely conscious of the utterance of her thoughts ; "this very night, too, I was to have seen my Edward " " And yonr boy — your fair, sweet boy !" interrupted Judith, willing to change the current of her thoughts ; " you must tliink of him — act for him.

I would that black Herman had met the foul fiend in his path ere hc had crossed your3 ; but since it is so, let's meet him bravely. At ten to-night your lord and infant will arrive at my mother's cottage. The little rogue, how T do long to kiss him ! Yon must contrive to see him, and consult what is to be done." "Impossible! I mnst remain within the banquet hall — you heard my father's words ? And even supposing I could contrive to escape the feast how quit the manor?" " Leave that to me," answered Judith. " Huon keeps the keys, and never more shall he have smile or soir word of me unless he do my bidding. Aud now," she continued, " deailady, let me arrange your hair : jour veil is damp with the uight dew aud the siect. The bell will soon sound, aud your noble father is impaticut of being kept waiting."

Edith, seating herself upon a faldstool, resigned herself into the busy hands of her attendant, who, removing the veil aud fasten ing from her mistress's head, suffered her loug tresses to flow for a few seconds over her shoulders, while she sought, in a small quaintly -carved ivory cabinet, a rich circlet of gems, to replace the simple bandeau wliich she had removed. While so ocenpied, Edith sat like a statue of Grief, fair iu its pensive loveliness ; her long hair, like a sable veil, shading her pallid features ; her pure heart torn by the agony of conflicting emotions ; her mind absorbed, calmed by the intensencss of its agonies. absence of his daughter, Edith, who had uot yet made her appearance. " What do the hounds do here ? — is there no chencry at Stanfield, that we meet them in our very chambers ?

See to it, knaves, for the future, and force not me to look to it 1" The faithful animal was not to be repulsed with words, but continued to press his claim to notice ; the canine courtier not knowing, like his human brother, that there are mo ments of ennui in the lives of despots when even flattery offends and homage fatigues — a truth of which poor Odin soon received a practical illustration : an impatient kick sent him howling to a distant corner of the apartment. "Come," continued Herwald, "let us to the feast; and you, Huon, must serve my cup to-night — it seems my child hath forgot it is her father's hour of service." " Not for lack of being reminded," said Herman, "for 'tis not so long since you bade her to the feast." "Humph I" muttered the franklin, "that speech were better from her father's lips.

Thou hast scant courtesy, Herman, in that rugged heart of thine ; and I sometimes wish that thou wert other than my brother's sou. What right hast thou to blame her ?" The wily nephew perceived that he had gone too far. Herwald's parental love and pride took the alarm that another should presume to blame his child. Herman knew that his uncle loved him not for himself, but as the heritor of his name, and that, if pro voked, he was capable of sacrificing even the fixed purpose of his life to Edith's tears and his own resentment.

Chapter II

The bannered hall hung with the trophies Of the manly chase— the seat of old Of council, hospitality, and mirth. HE great hall of Stanfield was illuminated with hnge candles of coarse yellow wax, placed in iron sconces, at irregular distances, on the wall. gt^Sjiii^-SjX) The logs of wood burnt «—_--' bfjsidy m the w;de chim ney: their dancing flames and crackling embers sent forth a genial heat, and gave a comparatively comfortable appearance to the desolate apartment. The broad-chested stag hounds were lying at their ease before the fire, fatigued with the day's protracted chase. A careless observer would, from their half closed eyes, have pronounced them to be sleeping ; but whenever a fresh footstep fell on the rough stone pavement, the open eye and pricked ear showed that they were wake fully attentive to all that passed.

The numerous domestics had already placed the manchet bread and spiced cover, when HcrwlBd entered the hall, accompanied by Herman, and others of his guests : his pet hound rose lazily to meet him, and with the familiarity of an admitted favourite, thrust his long nose into the franklin's hand, in order to attract his attention, and obtain the customary caress. "You deal not fairly with me, noble franklin," he replied : " you first cut short my speech, then blame me for its harshness. I was about to express my fear that the keen blast and sleet which blanched my cousin's cheek had chilled her blood — that illness might ' " " Illness 1" interrupted Herwald, his love for Edith changing the current of his thoughts. " What a churl am I to blame her I It must be so. I marked her pallid cheek and clouded eye, and thought they both proceeded from a different cause.

Now, knaves, can ye not stir? Haste to your lady's chamber; tell hcr " His further words were cut short by the entrance of Edith, who at last had mustered sufficient courage to meet her father's glance — to endure her cousin's detested assiduities. " Why, this is well I" cried the franklin, kindly taking her by the hand, to lead her to a seal, his eye glancing in approbation on hcr improved attire : " our feast were dull, Edith, without thy presence. To your places," he "Down, Odin, down!" cried bis master, peevishly, hi3 displeasure excited at the anxious to visit her mother's cottage to-night. Hcr young lady hath given her permission to be absent, and here, Judith," hc added, " come and speak for yourself." The maiden advanced, and laid her hand upon the arm of the vigilant guardian, liall' siniliug and half-pouting as shu did so.

" Come, Hubert, you surely won't refine me?" she said: "my poor mother is ill, aim tards to see her child." "Well, well," replied the old man, gradually relaxing his grasp upon the keys, for Judith was a favourite with him, " I am glad it is no worse. Thou art a duteous child," he added, "unlike my roystering scapegrace: thou canst honour gray hairs. There, take the key ; but who is to go wilh thec? True, the land is quiet, and there is little fear of robbers ; but still it is not seemly that my old cummer's daughter should cross the wold like a wayfarer or runaway serf." " I shall accompany her, uncle : under my care, it must be a bold arni that would do her wrong." Huon's g^mce of affection as he spake was answered by Judith with a corresponding one of innocent confidence. " Ho 1 ho I" laughingly exclaimed the old man.

" What ! is my dainty springer caught at last ? Huon," he added, checking liis tone, and speaking in a more serious voice, " this must be no light love." "Uncle!" added, turning to his guests ; " our worthy chaplain will ask the blessing, and my daugh ter speak her father's welcome." The portly ecclesiastic spoke the hurried benediction, and the flowing wine-cup soon begau to circle in the hall of Stanfield. In a distant chamber of the holm a different scene was passing.* Hubert, the aged seneschal, was sleeping iu a rough settle, lined with deer-skin, beside a smouldering fire, whose red, flickering blaze, as it alternately rose and fell, gave a Rembrandt-like expression to his features ; his bunch of pon derous keys hung ou a hook within reach of his shrivelled hand ; the doors had all been fastened foi' the night, and the faithful ser vilor, conscious that he had fulfilled his duty, was indulging in repose.

A flagon of mead, half-emptied, and the remains of a pasty, showed that he had already supped. So deep was his sleep, that the sound of music and revelry in the hall failed to wake him — perhaps because, although loud, it was distant : a nearer sound, far less distinct, might, as it soou after proved, have roused him. The sounds of revelry came louder aud louder, when Huon, followed by Judith, appeared cautiotloly at the door of the cham ber in which his uncle sat, and, after recon noitring awhile, slowly, and with the stealthy pace of a cat, approached the old man's chair. His manner would have seemed suspicious, had uot the open, manly expression of his rough, handsome face, and the half-laughing, halt-anxious countenance of the damsel, who was watching him, precluded all idea of any sinister design.

Comparatively noiseless as were the steps of Huon, they fell upon the sleeper's ear, or perchance his breath fell upon his aged face, as he leant over him to reach the keys ; for at the very moment he grasped them Hubert awoke, and caught the culprit's receding arm. "Eh! what?" exclaimed the seneschal — " have we thieves in Stanfield ? What, ho J Help, knaves 1 — help, I say 1" " Well, well — there, now, I'll trust thee — I'll trust thee;" and the aged man sank chuckling in his warm seat by the fire, lus thoughts gradually becoming confused, wandering from Huon and Judith to the recollection of his own all but forgotten boyish passion. " In an hour meet me at the gate," whispered Judith to her lover; "by that time the household will have retired to rest, and I may pass forth unperceived." " But rny guerdon ?" replied the esquire, not willing to be baulked ol his promised reward. 1'ortunately, at that moment, a fresh burst from the banquet-chamber covered the speaker's voice.

"Silence, uncle, silence!" whispered Huon. " 'Tis I, your nephew. Have you been dream ing, or do you suppose that I am come to rob you ?" " I don't know," replied the old man, sus piciously ; " the world is grown so changed aud wicked. What want you with the keys ? The gates are all made fast ; and, without the franklin's order, none may enter or have egress to-night." " Pshaw ! uncle — our master carouses : would you have ine disturb him for a trifle like this? It is ouly fo^ Judith, who is "Out on thee for au unreasonable creditor !" said his mistress. " Wouldst have me pay thy service before it i3 performed ? It were poor wisdom, that." ljuon, expecting that he would have a fair opportunity of urging his suit during their walk to the cottage, gipimblingly submitted to the postponement of the kiss — the bribe for which he had been tempted to steal the keys from his uncle, to whose charge, after thefasteningof the doors, they were invariably given.