Kenilworth

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER VIII.

  HOST. I will hear you, Master Fenton; and I will, at the least, keepyour counsel.--MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

  It becomes necessary to return to the detail of those circumstanceswhich accompanied, and indeed occasioned, the sudden disappearanceof Tressilian from the sign of the Black Bear at Cumnor. It will berecollected that this gentleman, after his rencounter with Varney, hadreturned to Giles Gosling's caravansary, where he shut himself up in hisown chamber, demanded pen, ink, and paper, and announced his purposeto remain private for the day. In the evening he appeared again in thepublic room, where Michael Lambourne, who had been on the watch forhim, agreeably to his engagement to Varney, endeavoured to renew hisacquaintance with him, and hoped he retained no unfriendly recollectionof the part he had taken in the morning's scuffle.

  But Tressilian repelled his advances firmly, though with civility."Master Lambourne," said he, "I trust I have recompensed to yourpleasure the time you have wasted on me. Under the show of wildbluntness which you exhibit, I know you have sense enough to understandme, when I say frankly that the object of our temporary acquaintancehaving been accomplished, we must be strangers to each other in future."

  "VOTO!" said Lambourne, twirling his whiskers with one hand, andgrasping the hilt of his weapon with the other; "if I thought that thisusage was meant to insult me--"

  "You would bear it with discretion, doubtless," interrupted Tressilian,"as you must do at any rate. You know too well the distance that isbetwixt us, to require me to explain myself further. Good evening."

  So saying, he turned his back upon his former companion, and enteredinto discourse with the landlord. Michael Lambourne felt stronglydisposed to bully; but his wrath died away in a few incoherent oathsand ejaculations, and he sank unresistingly under the ascendency whichsuperior spirits possess over persons of his habits and description. Heremained moody and silent in a corner of the apartment, paying the mostmarked attention to every motion of his late companion, against whom hebegan now to nourish a quarrel on his own account, which he trusted toavenge by the execution of his new master Varney's directions. The hourof supper arrived, and was followed by that of repose, when Tressilian,like others, retired to his sleeping apartment.

  He had not been in bed long, when the train of sad reveries, whichsupplied the place of rest in his disturbed mind, was suddenlyinterrupted by the jar of a door on its hinges, and a light was seen toglimmer in the apartment. Tressilian, who was as brave as steel, sprangfrom his bed at this alarm, and had laid hand upon his sword, when hewas prevented from drawing it by a voice which said, "Be not too rashwith your rapier, Master Tressilian. It is I, your host, Giles Gosling."

  At the same time, unshrouding the dark lantern, which had hithertoonly emitted an indistinct glimmer, the goodly aspect and figure ofthe landlord of the Black Bear was visibly presented to his astonishedguest.

  "What mummery is this, mine host?" said Tressilian. "Have you supped asjollily as last night, and so mistaken your chamber? or is midnight atime for masquerading it in your guest's lodging?"

  "Master Tressilian," replied mine host, "I know my place and my time aswell as e'er a merry landlord in England. But here has been my hang-dogkinsman watching you as close as ever cat watched a mouse; and here haveyou, on the other hand, quarrelled and fought, either with him or withsome other person, and I fear that danger will come of it."

  "Go to, thou art but a fool, man," said Tressilian. "Thy kinsman isbeneath my resentment; and besides, why shouldst thou think I hadquarrelled with any one whomsoever?"

  "Oh, sir," replied the innkeeper, "there was a red spot on thy verycheek-bone, which boded of a late brawl, as sure as the conjunction ofMars and Saturn threatens misfortune; and when you returned, the bucklesof your girdle were brought forward, and your step was quick andhasty, and all things showed your hand and your hilt had been latelyacquainted."

  "Well, good mine host, if I have been obliged to draw my sword," saidTressilian, "why should such a circumstance fetch thee out of thy warmbed at this time of night? Thou seest the mischief is all over."

  "Under favour, that is what I doubt. Anthony Foster is a dangerous man,defended by strong court patronage, which hath borne him out in mattersof very deep concernment. And, then, my kinsman--why, I have toldyou what he is; and if these two old cronies have made up their oldacquaintance, I would not, my worshipful guest, that it should be atthy cost. I promise you, Mike Lambourne has been making very particularinquiries at my hostler when and which way you ride. Now, I would haveyou think whether you may not have done or said something for which youmay be waylaid, and taken at disadvantage."

  "Thou art an honest man, mine host," said Tressilian, after a moment'sconsideration, "and I will deal frankly with thee. If these men's maliceis directed against me--as I deny not but it may--it is because they arethe agents of a more powerful villain than themselves."

  "You mean Master Richard Varney, do you not?" said the landlord; "he wasat Cumnor Place yesterday, and came not thither so private but what hewas espied by one who told me."

  "I mean the same, mine host."

  "Then, for God's sake, worshipful Master Tressilian," said honestGosling, "look well to yourself. This Varney is the protector and patronof Anthony Foster, who holds under him, and by his favour, some leaseof yonder mansion and the park. Varney got a large grant of the landsof the Abbacy of Abingdon, and Cumnor Place amongst others, from hismaster, the Earl of Leicester. Men say he can do everything with him,though I hold the Earl too good a nobleman to employ him as some mentalk of. And then the Earl can do anything (that is, anything right orfitting) with the Queen, God bless her! So you see what an enemy youhave made to yourself."

  "Well--it is done, and I cannot help it," answered Tressilian.

  "Uds precious, but it must be helped in some manner," said the host."Richard Varney--why, what between his influence with my lord, and hispretending to so many old and vexatious claims in right of the abbothere, men fear almost to mention his name, much more to set themselvesagainst his practices. You may judge by our discourses the last night.Men said their pleasure of Tony Foster, but not a word of RichardVarney, though all men judge him to be at the bottom of yonder mysteryabout the pretty wench. But perhaps you know more of that matter thanI do; for women, though they wear not swords, are occasion for manya blade's exchanging a sheath of neat's leather for one of flesh andblood."

  "I do indeed know more of that poor unfortunate lady than thou dost,my friendly host; and so bankrupt am I, at this moment, of friends andadvice, that I will willingly make a counsellor of thee, and tell theethe whole history, the rather that I have a favour to ask when my taleis ended."

  "Good Master Tressilian," said the landlord, "I am but a poor innkeeper,little able to adjust or counsel such a guest as yourself. But as sureas I have risen decently above the world, by giving good measure andreasonable charges, I am an honest man; and as such, if I may notbe able to assist you, I am, at least, not capable to abuse yourconfidence. Say away therefore, as confidently as if you spoke to yourfather; and thus far at least be certain, that my curiosity--for I willnot deny that which belongs to my calling--is joined to a reasonabledegree of discretion."

  "I doubt it not, mine host," answered Tressilian; and while his auditorremained in anxious expectation, he meditated for an instant how heshould commence his narrative. "My tale," he at length said, "to bequite intelligible, must begin at some distance back. You have heard ofthe battle of Stoke, my good host, and perhaps of old Sir Roger Robsart,who, in that battle, valiantly took part with Henry VII., the Queen'sgrandfather, and routed the Earl of Lincoln, Lord Geraldin and his wildIrish, and the Flemings whom the Duchess of Burgundy had sent over, inthe quarrel of Lambert Simnel?"

  "I remember both one and the other," said Giles Gosling; "it is sungof a dozen times a week on my ale-bench below. Sir Roger Robsart ofDevon--oh, ay, 'tis him of whom minstrels sing to this hour,--

  'He was the flower of Stoke's red field, When
Martin Swart on ground lay slain; In raging rout he never reel'd, But like a rock did firm remain.'

  [This verse, or something similar, occurs in a long ballad, or poem, on Flodden Field, reprinted by the late Henry Weber.]

  "Ay, and then there was Martin Swart I have heard my grandfather talkof, and of the jolly Almains whom he commanded, with their slasheddoublets and quaint hose, all frounced with ribands above thenether-stocks. Here's a song goes of Martin Swart, too, an I had butmemory for it:--

  'Martin Swart and his men, Saddle them, saddle them, Martin Swart and his men; Saddle them well.'"

  [This verse of an old song actually occurs in an old play where the singer boasts,

  "Courteously I can both counter and knack Of Martin Swart and all his merry men."]

  "True, good mine host--the day was long talked of; but if you sing soloud, you will awake more listeners than I care to commit my confidenceunto."

  "I crave pardon, my worshipful guest," said mine host, "I was oblivious.When an old song comes across us merry old knights of the spigot, itruns away with our discretion."

  "Well, mine host, my grandfather, like some other Cornishmen, kept awarm affection to the House of York, and espoused the quarrel of thisSimnel, assuming the title of Earl of Warwick, as the county afterwards,in great numbers, countenanced the cause of Perkin Warbeck, callinghimself the Duke of York. My grandsire joined Simnel's standard, and wastaken fighting desperately at Stoke, where most of the leaders of thatunhappy army were slain in their harness. The good knight to whom herendered himself, Sir Roger Robsart, protected him from the immediatevengeance of the king, and dismissed him without ransom. But he wasunable to guard him from other penalties of his rashness, being theheavy fines by which he was impoverished, according to Henry's mode ofweakening his enemies. The good knight did what he might to mitigate thedistresses of my ancestor; and their friendship became so strict, thatmy father was bred up as the sworn brother and intimate of the presentSir Hugh Robsart, the only son of Sir Roger, and the heir of his honest,and generous, and hospitable temper, though not equal to him in martialachievements."

  "I have heard of good Sir Hugh Robsart," interrupted the host, "many atime and oft; his huntsman and sworn servant, Will Badger, hath spokenof him an hundred times in this very house. A jovial knight he is,and hath loved hospitality and open housekeeping more than the presentfashion, which lays as much gold lace on the seams of a doublet as wouldfeed a dozen of tall fellows with beef and ale for a twelvemonth, andlet them have their evening at the alehouse once a week, to do good tothe publican."

  "If you have seen Will Badger, mine host," said Tressilian, "you haveheard enough of Sir Hugh Robsart; and therefore I will but say, that thehospitality you boast of hath proved somewhat detrimental to the estateof his family, which is perhaps of the less consequence, as he has butone daughter to whom to bequeath it. And here begins my share in thetale. Upon my father's death, now several years since, the good Sir Hughwould willingly have made me his constant companion. There was atime, however, at which I felt the kind knight's excessive love forfield-sports detained me from studies, by which I might have profitedmore; but I ceased to regret the leisure which gratitude and hereditaryfriendship compelled me to bestow on these rural avocations. Theexquisite beauty of Mistress Amy Robsart, as she grew up from childhoodto woman, could not escape one whom circumstances obliged to be soconstantly in her company--I loved her, in short, mine host, and herfather saw it."

  "And crossed your true loves, no doubt?" said mine host. "It is the wayin all such cases; and I judge it must have been so in your instance,from the heavy sigh you uttered even now."

  "The case was different, mine host. My suit was highly approved bythe generous Sir Hugh Robsart; it was his daughter who was cold to mypassion."

  "She was the more dangerous enemy of the two," said the innkeeper. "Ifear me your suit proved a cold one."

  "She yielded me her esteem," said Tressilian, "and seemed not unwillingthat I should hope it might ripen into a warmer passion. There wasa contract of future marriage executed betwixt us, upon her father'sintercession; but to comply with her anxious request, the execution wasdeferred for a twelvemonth. During this period, Richard Varney appearedin the country, and, availing himself of some distant family connectionwith Sir Hugh Robsart, spent much of his time in his company, until, atlength, he almost lived in the family."

  "That could bode no good to the place he honoured with his residence,"said Gosling.

  "No, by the rood!" replied Tressilian. "Misunderstanding and miseryfollowed his presence, yet so strangely that I am at this moment at aloss to trace the gradations of their encroachment upon a family whichhad, till then, been so happy. For a time Amy Robsart received theattentions of this man Varney with the indifference attached to commoncourtesies; then followed a period in which she seemed to regard himwith dislike, and even with disgust; and then an extraordinary speciesof connection appeared to grow up betwixt them. Varney dropped thoseairs of pretension and gallantry which had marked his former approaches;and Amy, on the other hand, seemed to renounce the ill-disguised disgustwith which she had regarded them. They seemed to have more of privacyand confidence together than I fully liked, and I suspected that theymet in private, where there was less restraint than in our presence.Many circumstances, which I noticed but little at the time--for I deemedher heart as open as her angelic countenance--have since arisen on mymemory, to convince me of their private understanding. But I need notdetail them--the fact speaks for itself. She vanished from her father'shouse; Varney disappeared at the same time; and this very day I haveseen her in the character of his paramour, living in the house of hissordid dependant Foster, and visited by him, muffled, and by a secretentrance."

  "And this, then, is the cause of your quarrel? Methinks, you shouldhave been sure that the fair lady either desired or deserved yourinterference."

  "Mine host," answered Tressilian, "my father--such I must ever considerSir Hugh Robsart--sits at home struggling with his grief, or, if sofar recovered, vainly attempting to drown, in the practice ofhis field-sports, the recollection that he had once a daughter--arecollection which ever and anon breaks from him under circumstances themost pathetic. I could not brook the idea that he should live in misery,and Amy in guilt; and I endeavoured to-seek her out, with the hope ofinducing her to return to her family. I have found her, and when I haveeither succeeded in my attempt, or have found it altogether unavailing,it is my purpose to embark for the Virginia voyage."

  "Be not so rash, good sir," replied Giles Gosling, "and cast notyourself away because a woman--to be brief--IS a woman, and changesher lovers like her suit of ribands, with no better reason than merefantasy. And ere we probe this matter further, let me ask you whatcircumstances of suspicion directed you so truly to this lady'sresidence, or rather to her place of concealment?"

  "The last is the better chosen word, mine host," answered Tressilian;"and touching your question, the knowledge that Varney held large grantsof the demesnes formerly belonging to the monks of Abingdon directed meto this neighbourhood; and your nephew's visit to his old comrade Fostergave me the means of conviction on the subject."

  "And what is now your purpose, worthy sir?--excuse my freedom in askingthe question so broadly."

  "I purpose, mine host," said Tressilian, "to renew my visit to the placeof her residence to-morrow, and to seek a more detailed communicationwith her than I have had to-day. She must indeed be widely changed fromwhat she once was, if my words make no impression upon her."

  "Under your favour, Master Tressilian," said the landlord, "you canfollow no such course. The lady, if I understand you, has alreadyrejected your interference in the matter."

  "It is but too true," said Tressilian; "I cannot deny it."

  "Then, marry, by what right or interest do you process a compulsoryinterference with her inclination, disgraceful as it may be to herselfand to her parents? Unless my judgment gulls me, those unde
r whoseprotection she has thrown herself would have small hesitation to rejectyour interference, even if it were that of a father or brother; but asa discarded lover, you expose yourself to be repelled with the stronghand, as well as with scorn. You can apply to no magistrate for aid orcountenance; and you are hunting, therefore, a shadow in water, and willonly (excuse my plainness) come by ducking and danger in attempting tocatch it."

  "I will appeal to the Earl of Leicester," said Tressilian, "againstthe infamy of his favourite. He courts the severe and strict sect ofPuritans. He dare not, for the sake of his own character, refuse myappeal, even although he were destitute of the principles of honour andnobleness with which fame invests him. Or I will appeal to the Queenherself."

  "Should Leicester," said the landlord, "be disposed to protect hisdependant (as indeed he is said to be very confidential with Varney),the appeal to the Queen may bring them both to reason. Her Majesty isstrict in such matters, and (if it be not treason to speak it) willrather, it is said, pardon a dozen courtiers for falling in love withherself, than one for giving preference to another woman. Coragio then,my brave guest! for if thou layest a petition from Sir Hugh at the footof the throne, bucklered by the story of thine own wrongs, the favouriteEarl dared as soon leap into the Thames at the fullest and deepest, asoffer to protect Varney in a cause of this nature. But to do thiswith any chance of success, you must go formally to work; and, withoutstaying here to tilt with the master of horse to a privy councillor, andexpose yourself to the dagger of his cameradoes, you should hie you toDevonshire, get a petition drawn up for Sir Hugh Robsart, and make asmany friends as you can to forward your interest at court."

  "You have spoken well, mine host," said Tressilian, "and I will profitby your advice, and leave you to-morrow early."

  "Nay, leave me to-night, sir, before to-morrow comes," said he landlord."I never prayed for a guest's arrival more eagerly than I do to haveyou safely gone, My kinsman's destiny is most like to be hanged forsomething, but I would not that the cause were the murder of an honouredguest of mine. 'Better ride safe in the dark,' says the proverb, 'thanin daylight with a cut-throat at your elbow.' Come, sir, I move you foryour own safety. Your horse and all is ready, and here is your score."

  "It is somewhat under a noble," said Tressilian, giving one to the host;"give the balance to pretty Cicely, your daughter, and the servants ofthe house."

  "They shall taste of your bounty, sir," said Gosling, "and you shouldtaste of my daughter's lips in grateful acknowledgment, but at this hourshe cannot grace the porch to greet your departure."

  "Do not trust your daughter too far with your guests, my good landlord,"said Tressilian.

  "Oh, sir, we will keep measure; but I wonder not that you are jealousof them all.--May I crave to know with what aspect the fair lady at thePlace yesterday received you?"

  "I own," said Tressilian, "it was angry as well as confused, and affordsme little hope that she is yet awakened from her unhappy delusion."

  "In that case, sir, I see not why you should play the champion of awench that will none of you, and incur the resentment of a favourite'sfavourite, as dangerous a monster as ever a knight adventurerencountered in the old story books."

  "You do me wrong in the supposition, mine host--gross wrong," saidTressilian; "I do not desire that Amy should ever turn thought upon memore. Let me but see her restored to her father, and all I have to do inEurope--perhaps in the world--is over and ended."

  "A wiser resolution were to drink a cup of sack, and forget her," saidthe landlord. "But five-and-twenty and fifty look on those matters withdifferent eyes, especially when one cast of peepers is set in the skullof a young gallant, and the other in that of an old publican. I pityyou, Master Tressilian, but I see not how I can aid you in the matter."

  "Only thus far, mine host," replied Tressilian--"keep a watch on themotions of those at the Place, which thou canst easily learn withoutsuspicion, as all men's news fly to the ale-bench; and be pleased tocommunicate the tidings in writing to such person, and to no other,who shall bring you this ring as a special token. Look at it; it is ofvalue, and I will freely bestow it on you."

  "Nay, sir," said the landlord, "I desire no recompense--but it seems anunadvised course in me, being in a public line, to connect myself in amatter of this dark and perilous nature. I have no interest in it."

  "You, and every father in the land, who would have his daughter releasedfrom the snares of shame, and sin, and misery, have an interest deeperthan aught concerning earth only could create."

  "Well, sir," said the host, "these are brave words; and I do pity frommy soul the frank-hearted old gentleman, who has minished his estatein good housekeeping for the honour of his country, and now has hisdaughter, who should be the stay of his age, and so forth, whisked upby such a kite as this Varney. And though your part in the matter issomewhat of the wildest, yet I will e'en be a madcap for company, andhelp you in your honest attempt to get back the good man's child, so faras being your faithful intelligencer can serve. And as I shall be trueto you, I pray you to be trusty to me, and keep my secret; for it werebad for the custom of the Black Bear should it be said the bear-warderinterfered in such matters. Varney has interest enough with thejustices to dismount my noble emblem from the post on which he swings sogallantly, to call in my license, and ruin me from garret to cellar."

  "Do not doubt my secrecy, mine host," said Tressilian; "I will retain,besides, the deepest sense of thy service, and of the risk thou dostrun--remember the ring is my sure token. And now, farewell! for it wasthy wise advice that I should tarry here as short a time as may be."

  "Follow me, then, Sir Guest," said the landlord, "and tread as gently asif eggs were under your foot, instead of deal boards. No man must knowwhen or how you departed."

  By the aid of his dark lantern he conducted Tressilian, as soon as hehad made himself ready for his journey, through a long intricacy ofpassages, which opened to an outer court, and from thence to a remotestable, where he had already placed his guest's horse. He then aidedhim to fasten on the saddle the small portmantle which contained hisnecessaries, opened a postern door, and with a hearty shake of the hand,and a reiteration of his promise to attend to what went on at CumnorPlace, he dismissed his guest to his solitary journey.