The Old English Baron: a Gothic Story

by Clara Reeve

day; he bade some otherskeep an eye upon him lest he should escape; As soon as they were ready,my Lord wished him a good journey, and gave him a letter for his mother.He departed without saying a word, in a sullen kind of resentment, buthis countenance shewed the inward agitations of his mind.

  As soon as he was gone, every mouth was opened against him; a thousandstories came out that they never heard before; The Baron and his sonswere astonished that he should go on so long without detection. My lordsighed deeply at the thoughts of Edmund's expulsion, and ardently wishedto know what was become of him.

  Sir Robert took the opportunity of coming to an explanation with hisbrother William; he took shame to himself for some part of his pastbehaviour. Mr. William owned his affection to Edmund, and justified itby his merit and attachment to him, which were such that he wascertain no time or distance could alter them. He accepted his brother'sacknowledgement, as a full amends for all that had passed, and beggedthat henceforward an entire love and confidence might ever subsistbetween them. These new regulations restored peace, confidence, andharmony, in the Castle of Lovel.

  At length, the day arrived for the combatants to meet. The Lord Graham,with twelve followers gentlemen, and twelve servants, was ready at thedawn of day to receive them.

  The first that entered the field, was Sir Philip Harclay, knight, armedcompletely, excepting his head-piece; Hugh Rugby, his esquire, bearinghis lance; John Barnard, his page, carrying his helmet and spurs; andtwo servants in his proper livery. The next came Edmund, the heir ofLovel, followed by his servant John Wyatt; Zadisky, followed by hisservant.

  At a short distance came the Lord Clifford, as judge of the field, withhis esquire, two pages, and two livery-servants; followed by his eldestson, his nephew, and a gentleman his friend, each attended by oneservant; He also brought a surgeon of note to take care of the wounded.

  The Lord Graham saluted them; and, by his order, they took their placeswithout the lists, and the trumpet sounded for the challenger. It wasanswered by the defendant, who soon after appeared, attended by threegentlemen his friends, with each one servant, beside his own properattendants.

  A place was erected for the Lord Clifford, as judge of the field;he desired Lord Graham would share the office, who accepted it, oncondition that the combatants should make no objection, and they agreedto it with the greatest courtesy and respect. They consulted together onmany points of honour and ceremony between the two combatants.

  They appointed a marshal of the field, and other inferior officers,usually employed on these occasions. The Lord Graham sent the marshalfor the challenger, desiring him to declare the cause of his quarrelbefore his enemy. Sir Philip Harclay then advanced, and thus spoke:

  "I, Philip Harclay, knight, challenge Walter, commonly called LordLovel, as a base, treacherous, and bloody man, who, by his wicked artsand devices, did kill, or cause to be killed, his kinsman, Arthur LordLovel, my dear and noble friend. I am called upon, in an extraordinarymanner, to revenge his death; and I will prove the truth of what I haveaffirmed at the peril of my life."

  Lord Graham then bade the defendant answer to the charge. Lord Lovelstood forth before his followers, and thus replied:

  "I, Walter, Baron of Lovel, do deny the charge against me, and affirmit to be a base, false, and malicious accusation of this Sir PhilipHarclay, which I believe to be invented by himself, or else framed bysome enemy, and told to him for wicked ends; but, be that as it may, Iwill maintain my own honour, and prove him to be a false traitor, at thehazard of my own life, and to the punishment of his presumption."

  Then said the Lord Graham, "will not this quarrel admit of arbitration?"

  "No," replied Sir Philip; "when I have justified this charge, I havemore to bring against him. I trust in God and the justice of my cause,and defy that traitor to the death!"

  Lord Clifford then spoke a few words to Lord Graham, who immediatelycalled to the marshal, and bade him open the lists, and deliver theirweapons to the combatants.

  While the marshal was arranging the combatants and their followers,Edmund approached his friend and patron; he put one knee to the ground,he embraced his knees with the strongest emotions of grief and anxiety.He was dressed in complete armour, with his visor down; his device wasa hawthorn, with a graft of the rose upon it, the motto--This is not mytrue parent; but Sir Philip bade him take these words--E fructu arborcognoscitur.

  Sir Philip embraced the youth with strong marks of affection. "Becomposed, my child!" said he; "I have neither guilt, fear, nor doubtin me; I am so certain of success, that I bid you be prepared for theconsequence."

  Zadisky embraced his friend, he comforted Edmund, he suggested everything that could confirm his hopes of success.

  The marshal waited to deliver the spear to Sir Philip; he now presentedit with the usual form.

  "Sir, receive your lance, and God defend the right!"

  Sir Philip answered, "Amen!" in a voice that was heard by all present.

  He next presented his weapon to Lord Lovel with the same sentence, wholikewise answered "Amen!" with a good courage. Immediately the listswere cleared, and the combatants began to fight.

  They contended a long time with equal skill and courage; at lengthSir Philip unhorsed his antagonist. The judges ordered, that either heshould alight, or suffer his enemy to remount; he chose the former, anda short combat on foot ensued. The sweat ran off their bodies with theviolence of the exercise. Sir Philip watched every motion of his enemy,and strove to weary him out, intending to wound, but not to kill him,unless obliged for his own safety.

  He thrust his sword through his left arm, and demanded, whether he wouldconfess the fact? Lord Lovel enraged, answered, he would die sooner.Sir Philip then passed the sword through his body twice, and Lord Lovelfell, crying out that he was slain.

  "I hope not," said Sir Philip, "for I have a great deal of business foryou to do before you die: confess your sins, and endeavour to atone forthem, as the only ground to hope for pardon."

  Lord Lovel replied, "You are the victor, use your good fortunegenerously!"

  Sir Philip took away his sword, and then waved it over his head, andbeckoned for assistance. The judges sent to beg Sir Philip to spare thelife of his enemy.

  "I will," said he, "upon condition that he will make an honestconfession."

  Lord Lovel desired a surgeon and a confessor.

  "You shall have both," said Sir Philip; "but you must first answer me aquestion or two. Did you kill your kinsman or not?"

  "It was not my hand that killed him," answered the wounded man.

  "It was done by your own order, however? You shall have no assistancetill you answer this point."

  "It was," said he, "and Heaven is just!"

  "Bear witness all present," said Sir Philip; "he confesses the fact!"

  He then beckoned Edmund, who approached.

  "Take off your helmet," said he; "look on that youth, he is the son ofyour injured kinsman."

  "It is himself!" said the Lord Lovel, and fainted away.

  Sir Philip then called for a surgeon and a priest, both of which LordGraham had provided; the former began to bind up his wounds, and hisassistants poured a cordial into his mouth. "Preserve his life, if it bepossible," said Sir Philip; "for much depends upon it."

  He then took Edmund by the hand, and presented him to all the company."In this young man," said he, "you see the true heir of the house ofLovel! Heaven has in its own way made him the instrument to discoverthe death of his parents. His father was assassinated by order of thatwicked man, who now receives his punishment; his mother was, by hiscruel treatment, compelled to leave her own house; she was delivered inthe fields, and perished herself in seeking a shelter for her infant.I have sufficient proofs of every thing I say, which I am ready tocommunicate to every person who desires to know the particulars. Heaven,by my hand, has chastised him; he has confessed the fact I accuse himof, and it remains that he make restitution of the fortune and honourshe hath usurped so long."

  Ed
mund kneeled, and with uplifted hands returned thanks to Heaven, thathis noble friend and champion was crowned with victory. The lords andgentlemen gathered round them, they congratulated them both; while LordLovel's friends and followers were employed in taking care of him. LordClifford took Sir Philip's hand.

  "You have acted with so much honour and prudence, that it ispresumptuous to offer you advice; but what mean you to do with thewounded man?"

  "I have not determined," said he; "I thank you for the hint, and begyour advice how to proceed."

  "Let us consult Lord Graham," replied he.

  Lord Graham insisted upon their going all to his castle: "There," saidhe, "you will have impartial witnesses of all that passes." Sir Philipwas unwilling to give so much trouble. The Lord Graham protested