R5V 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 T.H E O L D 
 
 ENGLISH BARON 
 
 GOTHIC STORY, 
 
 BY CLARA REEVE. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR EDWARD AND CHARLES DILLY 
 IN THE POULTRY. 
 
 MDCCLXXVIII.
 
 2270
 
 Sv 
 
 ' 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 AS this Story is of a fpecies which, tho* 
 not new, is out of the common 
 track, it has been thought necefiary to 
 point out fome circumftances to the reader, 
 which will elucidate the defign, and, it is 
 hoped, will induce him to form a favour- 
 able, as well as a right judgment of the 
 work before him. 
 
 This Story is the literary offspring of 
 the Caftle of Otranto, written upon the 
 fame plan, with a defign to unite the moft 
 attractive and interefting circumftances of 
 the ancient Romance and modern Novel, 
 at the fame time it afitrmes a character and 
 manner of its own, that differs from both ; 
 it is diftinguifhed by the appellation of a 
 Gothic Story, being a picture of Gothic 
 times and manners. Fictitious Stories 
 have been the delight of all times and all 
 countries, by oral tradition in barbarous, 
 by writing in more civilized ones; and 
 A 2 although 
 
 157383
 
 iv PREFACE. 
 
 altho* fome perfons of wit and learning 
 have condemned them indifcriminately, I 
 would venture to affirm, that even thofe 
 who fo much affect to defpiie them under 
 one form, will receive and embrace them 
 under another. 
 
 Thus, for inftance, a man fhall admire 
 and almoft adore the Epic poems of the 
 Ancients, and yet defpife and execrate the 
 ancient Romances, which are only Epics 
 in profe. 
 
 .Hiftory reprefents human nature as it 
 is in real life ; alas, too often a melancholy 
 retrofpeft ! Romance difplays only the 
 amiable fide of the pidure ; it mews the 
 pleafmg features, and throws a veil over 
 the blemilhes : Mankind are naturally 
 pleafed with what gratifies their vanity; 
 and vanity, like all other paffions of the 
 human heart, may be rendered fubfer- 
 vient to good and ufeful purpoles. 
 
 I confeis that it may be abufed, and be- 
 come an inftrument to corrupt the man- 
 ners and morals of mankind ; fo may poe- 
 try, fo may plays, fo may every kind of 
 competition; but that will prove nothing 
 
 more
 
 PREFACE. * 
 
 more than the old faying lately revived 
 by the philofophers the moft in fafhion, 
 " that every earthly thing has two handles." 
 
 The bufinefs of Romance is, firft, to ex- 
 cite the attention ; and, fecondly, to direct it 
 to fome uleful, or an leaft innocent, end ; 
 Happy the writer who attains both thefe 
 points, like Richardfon ! and not unfortu- 
 nate, or undeferving praife, he who gains 
 only the latter, and furnifhes out an enter- 
 tainment for the reader ! 
 
 Having, in fome degree, opened my 
 defign, I beg leave to conduct my reader 
 back again, till he comes within view of 
 the Caftie of Otranto ; a work which, as al- 
 ready has been obferved, is an attempt to 
 unite the various merits and graces of the 
 ancient Romance and modern Novel. To 
 attain this end, there is required a fufiicient 
 degree of the marvellous, to excite the at- 
 tention ; enough of the manners of real life, 
 to give an air of probability to the work ; 
 and enough of the pathetic, to engage the 
 heart in its behalf. 
 
 The book we have mentioned is excel- 
 lent in the two laft points, but has a rc",u;:- 
 dancy in the firft; the opening excites the 
 i attention
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 attention very ftrongly ; the conduct of the 
 (lory is artful and judicious ; the characters 
 are admirably drawn and fupported; the 
 diction polimed and elegant j yet, with all 
 thefe brilliant advantages, it palls upon 
 the mind (though it does not upon the 
 ear) -, and the reafon is obvious, the ma- 
 chinery is fo violent, that it deftroys the 
 effect it is intended to excite. Had the 
 ftory been kept within the utmoft verge of 
 probability, the effect had been preferved, 
 without lofing the leaft circumftance that 
 excites or detains the attention. 
 
 Forinftancej we can conceive, and allow 
 of, the appearance of a ghoft ; we can even 
 difpenfe with an enchanted fword and hel- 
 met ; but then they muft keep within cer- 
 tain limits of credibility : A fword fo large 
 as to require an hundred men to lift it ; a 
 helmet that by its own weight forces a 
 paflage through a court-yard into an arched 
 vault, big enough for a man to go through ; 
 a picture that walks out of its frame ; a 
 fkeleton ghoft in a hermit's cowl : When 
 your expectation is wound up to the high- 
 eft pitch, thefe circumftances take it down 
 
 with
 
 PREFACE. vii 
 
 with a witnefs, deftroy the work of imagi- 
 nation, and, inftead of attention, excite 
 laughter. I was both furpriied and vexed 
 to find the enchantment difiblved, which 
 I wifhed might continue to the end of the 
 book ; and feveral of its readers have con- 
 fefied the fame difappointment to me : The 
 beauties are fo numerous, that we cannot 
 bear the defects, but want it to be perfedt 
 in all refpeds. 
 
 In the courfe of my obfervations upon 
 this fingular book, it feemed to me that it 
 was poflible to com pole a work upon the 
 fame plan, wherein thefe defects might be 
 avoided; and the keeping^ as in painting^ 
 might be preferved. 
 
 But then I began to fear it might hap- 
 pen to me as to certain tranflators, and 
 imitators of Shakefpeare ; the unities may 
 be preferved, while the fpirit is evaporated. 
 However, I ventured to attempt it ; 1 read 
 the beginning to a circle of friends of ap- 
 proved judgment, and by their approbation 
 was encouraged to proceed, and to finifh it. 
 
 By the advice of the fame friends 1 print- 
 ed the firft Edition in the country, where 
 
 it
 
 viu PREFACE; 
 
 it circulated chiefly, very few copies being 
 ier.t to London, and being thus encouraged, 
 I have determined to offer a fecond Edi- 
 tion to that public which has fo often re- 
 warded the efforts of thofe, who have en- 
 deavoured to contribute to its entertain- 
 ment. 
 
 The work has lately undergone a revifion 
 and correction, the former Edirion being 
 very incorrect; and by the earned felicita- 
 tion of feveral friends, for whofe judp-ment 
 I have the greateft deference, I have con- 
 fcnted to a change of the title from the 
 Champion of Virtue to the Old Engtijh Ba- 
 ron : as that character is thought to be the 
 principal one in the (lory. 
 
 I have alfo been prevailed upon, though 
 with extreme reluctance, to fuffer my name 
 to appear in the title-page ; and I do now, 
 with the utmoft refpect and diffidence, fub- 
 mit the whole to the candour of the Public. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 A 
 
 GOTHIC STORY. 
 
 IN the minority of Henry the Sixth, King of 
 England, when the renowned John Duke 
 of Bedford was Regent of France, and Hum- 
 phrey the good Duke of Gloucefter was Protector 
 of England, a worthy Knight, called Sir Phi- 
 lip Harclay, returned from his travels to Eng- 
 land, his native country. He had ferved under 
 the glorious King Henry the Fifth with dif- 
 tinguimed valour, had acquired an honour- 
 able fame, and was no lefs efteemed for chrif- 
 tian virtues than for deeds of chivalry. After 
 the death of his Prince, he entered into the fer- 
 vice of the Greek Emperor, and diftinguifhed his 
 courage againft the encroachments of the Sara- 
 cens. In a battle there, he took prifoner acer- 
 B tain
 
 2 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 tain Gentleman, by name M. Zadifky, of 
 Greek extraction, but brought up by a Saracen 
 Officer ; this man he converted to the Chriftian 
 faith ; after which he bound him to himfelf by 
 the tyes of friendfhip and gratitude, and he re- 
 folved to continue with his Benefactor. After 
 thirty years travel and warlike fervice, he deter- 
 mined to return to his native land, and to fpend 
 the remainder of his life in peace ; and, by de- 
 voting himfelf to works of piety and charity, 
 prepare for a better ftate hereafter. 
 
 This noble Knight had, in his early youth, 
 contracted a ftrict friendfhip with the only fon 
 of the Lord Lovel ; a gentleman of eminent 
 virtues and accomplifhments. During Sir Phi- 
 lip's refidence in foreign countries, he had fre- 
 quently written to his friend, and had for a time 
 received anfwers; the laft informed him of the 
 death of old Lord Lovel, and the marriage of 
 the young one ; but from that time he had heard 
 no more from him. Sir Philip imputed it not 
 to neglect or forgetful nefs, but to the difficulties 
 of intercourfe, common at that time to all tra- 
 vellers and adventurers. When he was return- 
 ing home, he refolved, after looking into his fa- 
 mily affairs, to vifit the caftle of Lovel, and en- 
 quire into the fltuation of his friend. He land- 
 ed in Kent, attended by his Greek friend and 
 two faithful fervants, one of which was maimed 
 
 by
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 3 
 
 by the wounds he had received in the defence 
 of his Mafter. 
 
 Sir Philip went to his family-feat in York- 
 fhire j he found his mother and fifter were dead, 
 and his eftates fequeftered in the hands of Com- 
 miffioners appointed by the Prote&or. He was 
 obliged to prove the reality of his claim, and 
 the identity of his perfon (by the teftimony of 
 fome of the old fervants of his family), after 
 which every thing was reftored to him. He 
 took pofleflion of his own houfe, eftablifhed his 
 houfehold, fettled the old fervants in their for- 
 mer ftations, and placed thofe he brought home 
 in the upper offices of his family. He then left 
 his friend to fuperintend his domeftic affairs ; 
 and, attended by only one of his old fervants, 
 he fet out for the caftle of Lovel, in the weft 
 of England. They travelled by eafy journeys j 
 but, towards the evening of the fecond day, the 
 fervant was fo ill and fatigued he could go no 
 further; he flopped at an inn where he grew 
 worfe every hour, and the next day expired. 
 Sir Philip was under great concern for the lofs 
 of his fervant, and fome for himfelf, being alone 
 in a ftrange place ; however he took courage, 
 ordered his fervant's funeral, attended it him- 
 felf, and, having fried a tear of humanity over 
 his grave, proceeded alone on his journey. 
 
 B 2 As
 
 4 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 As he drew near the eftate of his friend, he 
 began to enquire of every one he met, whether 
 the Lord Lovel refided at the feat of his ancef- 
 tors ? He was anfwered by one, he did not 
 know ; by another, he could not tell ;-^-by a 
 third, that he never heard of fuch a perfon. Sir 
 Philip thought it ftrange that a man of Lord 
 Lovel's confequence fhould be unknown in his 
 own neighbourhood, and where his anceftors had 
 ufually refided. He ruminated on the uncer- 
 tainty of human happinefs : This world, faid 
 he, has nothing for a wife man to depend upon. 
 I have loft all my relations, and moft of my 
 friends ; and am even uncertain whether any are 
 remaining : I will, however, be thankful for 
 the bleffings that are fpared to me ; and I will 
 endeavour to replace thofe that I have loft. If 
 my friend lives, he ftiall (hare my fortune with 
 me ; his children fhall have the reverfion of it ; 
 and I will (hare his comforts in return. But per- 
 haps my friend may have met with troubles that 
 have made him difgufted with the world : Per- 
 haps he has buried his amiable wife, or his pro- 
 mifing children j and, tired of public life, he 
 is retired into a monaftery. At leaft, I will 
 know what all this filence means. 
 
 When he came within a mile of the Caftle of 
 Lovel, he ftopped at a cottage, and aflced for a 
 draught of water : A Peafant, mafter of the 
 
 houfe,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 5 
 
 houfe, brought it, and afked if his Honour 
 would alight and take a moment's refrefhment. 
 Sir Philip accepted his offer, being refolyed to 
 make farther enquiry before he approached the 
 caftle. He afked the fame queftions of him, 
 that he had before of others. Which Lord Lo- 
 vel, faid the man, does your Honour enquire 
 after ? The man whom I knew was called Ar- 
 thur, faid Sir Philip. Ay, faid the Peafant, he 
 was the only furviving fon of Richard Lord Lo- 
 vel, as I think ? Very true, friend, he was fo. 
 Alas, Sir, faid the man, he is dead ! he fur- 
 vived his father but a fhort time. Dead ! fay 
 you ? how long fmce ? About fifteen years, to 
 the beft of my remembrance. Sir Philip fighed 
 deeply alas, faid he, what do we, by living 
 long, but furvive all our friends ! But pray 
 tell me how he died ?- I will. Sir, to the beft 
 of my knowledge. An't pleafe your Honour, 
 I heard fay, that he attended the King when he 
 went againft the Welch Rebels, and he left his 
 Lady big with child ; and fo there was a battle 
 fought, and the King got the better of the Re- 
 bels : There cnme firft a report that none of the 
 Officers were killed ; but a few days after there 
 came a mefTenger with an account very different, 
 that feveral were wounded, and that the Lord 
 Lovel was (lain ; which fad news overfet u-> all 
 with forrow, for he was a noble Gentleman, a 
 B 3 bounti-
 
 6 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 bountiful Matter, and the delight of all the 
 neighbourhood. He was indeed, faid Sir Phi- 
 lip, all that is amiable and good ; he was my 
 dear and noble friend, and I arn inconfolable for 
 his lofs : But the unfortunate Lady, what be- 
 came of her i Why, a'nt pleafe your Honour, 
 they faid fhe died of grief for the lofs of her huf- 
 band ; but her death vv<is kept private for a time, 
 and we did not know it for certain till fome 
 weeks afterwards. The will of Heaven be obey- 
 ed ! faid Sir Philip; but who fucceeded to the 
 title and eftate ? The next heir, faid the Pea- 
 fant, a kinfman of the deceafed, Sir Walter Lo- 
 vel by name. I have feen him, faid Sir Philip, 
 formerly ; but where was he when thefe events 
 happened ?- At the caftle of Lovel, Sir; he 
 came there on a vifit to the Lady, and waited 
 there to receive my Lord, at his return from 
 Wales ; when the news of his death arrived, Sir 
 Walter did every thing in his power to comfort 
 her, and fome faid he was to marry her; but 
 (he refufed to be comforted, and took it fo to 
 heart that (he died. And does the prefent Lord 
 Lovel refide at the Caftle ? No, Sir. Who 
 then ? The Lord Baron Fitz-Owen. And 
 how came Sir Walter to leave the feat of his an- 
 ceftors r Why, Sir, he married his fitter to 
 this faid Lord ; and fo he fold the Caftle to him, 
 and went away, and built himfelf a houfe in the 
 
 north
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 7 
 
 north country, as far as Northumberland, I 
 think they call it. That is very ftrange ! faid 
 Sir Philip. So it is, pleafe your Honour ; but 
 this is all I know about it. I thank you friend 
 for your intelligence ; I have taken a long jour- 
 ney to no purpofe, and have met with nothing 
 but crofs accidents. This life is, indeed, a pil- 
 grimage ! Pray direct me the neareft way to the 
 next Monaftery. Noble Sir, faid the Peafant, 
 it is full five miles off, the night is coming on, 
 and the ways are bad ; I am but a poor man, and 
 cannot entertain your Honour as you are ufed 
 to ; but if you will enter my poor cottage, that, 
 and every thing in it, are at your fervice. My 
 honeft friend I thank you heartily, faid Sir Phi- 
 lip ; your kindnefs and hofpitality might fhame 
 many of higher birth and breeding; I will ac- 
 cept your kind offer : But pray let me know the 
 name of my hoft ? John Wyatt, Sir ; an ho- 
 neft man though a poor one, and a Chriftian 
 man, though a finful one. Whofe cottage is 
 this ? It belongs to the Lord Fitz-Owen. 
 What family have you ? A wife, two fons and 
 a daughter, who will all be proud to wait upon 
 your Honour ; let me hold your Honour's ftir- 
 rup whilft you alight. He feconded thefe words 
 by the proper action, and having aflifted his 
 gueft to difmount, he conducted him into his 
 houfe, called his wife to attend him, and then 
 B 4 led
 
 8 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 led his horfe under a poor fhed, that ferved him 
 as a ftable. Sir Philip was fatigued in body and 
 mind, and was glad to repofe himfelf any where. 
 The courtefy of his hoft engaged his attention, 
 and fatisfied hiswiflies. He foon after returned, 
 followed by a youth of about eighteen years ; 
 Make hafte John, faid the father, and be fure 
 you fay neither more nor lefs than what I have 
 told you, I will, father, faid the lad j and im- 
 mediately fet off, ran like a buck acrofs the 
 fields, and was out of fight in an inftant. I 
 hope, friend, faid Sir Philip, you have not fent 
 your fon to provide for my entertainment ; I am 
 a foldier, ufed to lodge and fare hard ; and, if 
 it were otherwife, your courtefy and kindnefs 
 would give a relifli to the moft ordinary food. 
 I vvifli heartily, faid Wyatt, it was in my power 
 to entertain your Honour as you ought to be ; 
 but, as I cannot do fo, I will, when my fon re- 
 turns, acquaint you with the errand I fent him 
 on. After this they converfed together on com- 
 mon fubje&s, like fellow-creatures of the fame 
 natural form and endowments, though different 
 kinds of education had given a confcious fuperio- 
 rity to the one, a confcious inferiority to the 
 other ; and the due refpeft was paid by the lat- 
 ter, without being exacted by the former. In 
 about half an hour young John returned. Thou 
 baft made hafte, faid the father. Not more than 
 
 good
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 9 
 
 good fpeed, quoth the fon. Tell us, then, how 
 you fped ? Shall I tell all that pafled ? faid 
 John. All, faid the father; I don't want to 
 hide any thing. John flood with his cap in his 
 hand, and thus told his tale. I went ftraight to 
 the Caftle as faft as I could run j it was sny hap 
 to light on young Mafter Edmund firft, fo I told 
 him juft as you bad me, that a noble Gentle- 
 man was come a long journey from foreign 
 parts to fee the Lord Lovel, his friend ; and, 
 having lived abroad many years, he did not 
 know that he was dead, and that the Caftle was 
 fallen into other hands; that upon hearing thefe 
 tidings he was much grieved and difappointed, 
 and wanting a night's lodging, to reft himfelf 
 before he returned to his own home, he was 
 fain to take up with one at our cottage j that 
 my father thought my Lord would be angry with 
 him, if he were not told of the ftranger's jour- 
 ney and intentions, efpecially to let fuch a man 
 lye at our cottage, where he could neither be 
 lodged nor entertained according to his quality. 
 Here John ftopped, and his father exclaimed 
 A good lad ! you did your errand very well j 
 and tell us theanfwer. John proceeded Maf- 
 ter Edmund ordered me fome beer, and went to 
 acquaint my Lord*of the meflage ; he ftayed a 
 while, and then came back to me. John, faid 
 b,e, tell the noble ftranger, that the Baron Fitz- 
 
 Owen
 
 io THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Owen greets him well, and defircs him to reft 
 affured, that though Lord Lovel is dead, and 
 the Caftle fallen into other hands, his friends 
 will always find a welcome there ; and my Lord 
 defires that he will accept of a lodging there, 
 while he remains in this country fo I came 
 away dire&ly, and made hafte to deliver my er- 
 rand. 
 
 Sir Philip exprefled fome diflatisfacHon at this 
 mark of old Wyatt's refpecl: I wifh, faid he, 
 that you had acquainted me with your intention 
 before you fent to inform the Baron I was here. 
 I choofe rather to lodge with you ; and I pro- 
 pofe to make amends for the trouble I {hall give 
 you. Pray, Sir, don't mention it, faid the 
 Peafanr, you are as welcome as myfelf ; I hope 
 no offence ; the only reafon of my fending was, 
 becaufe I am both unable and unworthy to en- 
 tertain your Honour. I am forry, faid Sir Phi- 
 lip, you fhould think me fo dainty ; I am a 
 Chriftian foldierj and him I acknowledge for 
 my Prince and Mafter, accepted the invita- 
 tions of the poor, and wafhed the feet of his dif- 
 ciples. Let us fay no more on this head ; I am 
 refolved to (lay this night 'in your cottage, to- 
 morrow I will wait on the Baron, and thank him 
 for his hofpitable invitation. That (hall be as 
 your Honour pleafes, fince you will condefcend 
 to flay here. John, do you run back and ac- 
 quaint
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 11 
 
 quaint my Lord of it. Not fo, faid Sir Philip ; 
 it is now alrnoft dark. 'Tis no matter, faid 
 John, I can go it blindfold. Sir Philip then 
 gave him a meflage to the Baron in his own 
 name, acquainting him that he would pay 
 his refpe&s to him in the morning. John flew 
 back the fecond time, and foon returned with 
 new commendations from the Baron, and that 
 he would expect him on the morrow. Sir Phi- 
 lip gave him an angel of gold, and praifed his 
 fpeed and abilities. 
 
 He fupped with Wyatt and his family upon 
 new laid eggs and rafhers of bacon, with the 
 higheft relifh. They praifed the Creator for his 
 gifts, and acknowledged they were unworthy 
 of the leafl. of his bleflings. They gave the 
 beft of their two lofts up to Sir Philip, the reft 
 of the family flept in the other, the old woman 
 and her daughter in the bed, the father and his 
 two fons upon clean ftraw. Sir Philip's bed 
 was of a better kind, and yet much inferior to 
 his ufual accommodations ; neverthelefs the good 
 Knight flept as well in Wyatt's cottage, as he 
 could have done in a palace. 
 
 During his fleep, many ftrange and incohe- 
 rent dreams arofe to his imagination. He thought 
 he received a meffage from his friend Lord Lo- 
 vel, to come to him at the Caftle ; that he flood 
 at the gate and received him, that he ftrovc to 
 
 em-
 
 I* THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 embrace him, but could not ; but that he fpoke to 
 this effect. Though I have been dead thefe fif- 
 teen years, I ftiil command here, and none can 
 enter thefe gates without my pcrmiffion ; know 
 that it is i that invite, and bid you welcome ; 
 the hopes of my houfe reft upon you. Upon 
 this he bid Sir Philip follow him; he led him 
 through many rooms, till at laft he funk down, 
 and Sir Philip thought he (till followed him, 
 till he came into a dark and frightful cave, 
 where he difappeared, and in his ftead he beheld 
 a complete fuit of armour (rained with blood, 
 which belonged to his friend, and he thought 
 he heard difmal groans from beneath. Prefently 
 after, he thought he was hurried away by an in- 
 vifible hand, and led into a wild heath, where 
 the people were inclofing the ground, and ma- 
 king preparations for two combatants ; the trum- 
 pet founded, and a vcice called out ftill louder, 
 Forbear ! It is not permitted to be revealed till 
 the time is ripe for the event : Wait with pa- 
 tience on the decrees of heaven. He was then 
 tranfported to his own houfe, where, going in- 
 to an unfrequented room, he was again met by 
 his friend, who was living, and in all the bloom 
 of youth, as when he firft knew him : He ftart- 
 cd at the fight, and awoke. The fun (hone up- 
 on- his curtains, and, perceiving it was day, he 
 fat up, and recollected where he was. The 
 
 images
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 13 
 
 images that imprefled his fleeping fancy remain- 
 ed ftrongly on his mind waking ; but his reafon 
 ftrove to difperfe them ; it was natural that the 
 ftory he had heard fhould create thefe ideas, that 
 they fhould wait on him in his fleep, and that 
 every dream ftiould bear fome relation to his de- 
 ceafed friend. The fun dazzled his eyes, the 
 birds ferenaded him and diverted his attention, 
 and a woodbine forced its way through the win- 
 dow, and regaled his fenfe of fmelling with its 
 fragrance. He arofe, paid his devotions to 
 Heaven, and then carefully defcended the nar- 
 row ftairs, and went out at the door of the cot- 
 tage. There he faw the induftrious wife and 
 daughter of old Wyatt at their morning work, 
 the one milking her cow, the other feeding her 
 poultry. He afked for a draught of milk, 
 which, with a flice of rye bread, ferved to break 
 his faft. He walked about the fields alone ; for 
 old Wyatt and his two fons were gone out to 
 their daily labour. He was foon called back by 
 the good woman, who told him that a fervant 
 from the Baron waited to conduct him to the 
 Caftle. He took leave of Wyatt's wife, telling 
 her he would fee her again before he left the 
 country. The daughter fetched his horfe, 
 which he mounted, and fet forward with the 
 fervant, of whom he afked many queftions con- 
 cerning his matter's family. How long have 
 6 you
 
 14 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 you lived with the Baron ? Ten years. 
 Is he a good mailer ? Yes, Sir, and alfo a 
 good hufband and father. What family has 
 he? Three fons and a daughter. What age 
 are they of? The eldeft fon is in his feven- 
 teenth year, the fecond in his fixteenth, the 
 others feveral years younger j but befide thefe 
 my Lord has feveral young gentlemen brought 
 up with his own fons, two of which are his 
 nephews ; he keeps in his houfe a learned 
 clerk to teach them languages ; and as for all 
 bodily exercifes, none come near them ; there 
 is a fletcher to teach them the ufe of the crofs 
 bow ; a matter to teach them to ride ; another 
 the ufe of the fvvord ; another learns them to 
 dance ; and then they wreftle and run, and 
 have fuch activity in all their motions, that it 
 does one good to fee them ; and my Lord thinks 
 nothing too much to beftow on their educa- 
 tion. Truly, fays Sir Philip, he does the part 
 of a good parent, and I honour him greatly 
 for it j but are the young gentlemen of a pro- 
 mifing difpofition ? Yes indeed, Sir, anfwered 
 the fervant ; the young gentlemen, my Lord's 
 fons, are hopeful youths ; but yet there is one 
 who is thought to exceed them all, though he 
 is the fon of a poor labourer. And who is he ? 
 faid the knight. One Edmund Twyford, the 
 foa of a cottager in our village ; he is to be 
 
 fure
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 15 
 
 fure as fine a youth as ever the fun {hone upon, 
 and of fo fvveet a difpofition that nobody envies 
 his good fortune. What good fortune does he 
 enjoy ? Why, Sir, about two years ago, my 
 Lord, at his fons requeft, took him into 
 his own family, and gives him the fame educa- 
 tion as his own children ; the young Lords 
 doat upon him, efpecially Mafter William, who 
 is about his own age: It is fuppofed that he 
 will attend the young Lords when they go to 
 the wars, which my Lord intends they fhall bye 
 and bye. What you tell me, faid Sir Philip, 
 increafes every minute my refpecl: for your Lord ; 
 he is an excellent father and mafter, he fecks 
 out merit in obfcurity, he diftinguifhes and re- 
 wards it : I honour him with all my heart. 
 
 In this manner they converfed together, till 
 they came within view of the Cattle. In a field 
 near the houfe they faw a company of youths, 
 with crofs bows in their hands, (hooting at 
 a mark. There, faid the fervant, are our young 
 gentlemen at their exercifes. Sir Philip flop- 
 ped his horfe to obferve them, he heard two or 
 three of them cry out Edmund is the victor ! 
 He wins the prize ! I muft, faid Sir Philip, 
 take a view of this Edmund He jumped off his 
 horfe, gave the bridle tothefervant, and walked 
 into the field. The young gentlemen came up, 
 andpaid their refpe&stohim; he apologized for in- 
 truding 
 7
 
 16 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 trading upon their fports, and afked which was 
 the vi&or ? upon which the youth he fpoke to 
 beckoned to another, who immediately advan- 
 ced, and made his obeifance : As he drew near, 
 Sir Phjlip fixed his eyes upon him, with fo much 
 attention, that he feemed not to obferve his 
 courtefy and addrefs. At length he recollected 
 himfelf, and faid, what is your name, young 
 man ? Edmund Twyford, replied the youth ; 
 and I have the honour to attend upon the Lord 
 Fitz-Owen's Tons Pray, noble Sir, faid the 
 youth who firft addrefied Sir Philip, are not you 
 the ftranger who is expected by my father? I 
 am, Sir, anfwered he, and I go to pay my re- 
 fpects to him. Will you excufe our attend- 
 ance, Sir ? We hr.ve not yet finished our exer- 
 cifes. My dear youth, faid Sir Philip, no apo- 
 logy is necefiary ; but will you favour me with 
 your proper name, that I may know to whofe 
 courtefy I am obliged ? My name is William 
 Fitz-Owen ; that Gentleman is my eldeft bro- 
 ther, Matter Robert; that other my kinfman, 
 Matter Richard Wenlock. Very well ; I thank 
 you, gentle Sir ; I beg you not to ftir another 
 ftep, your fervant holds my horfe. Farewell, 
 Sir, faid Mafter William ; I hope we (hall have 
 the pleafure of meeting you at dinner. The 
 youths returned to their fports, and Sir Philip 
 mounted his horfe and proceeded to the Cattle ; 
 
 he
 
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 17 
 
 he entered it with a deep figh, and melancholy 
 recol leclions. The Baron received him with 
 the utmoft refpecl and courtefy. He gave a 
 brief account of the principal events that had 
 happened in the family of Lovel during his ab- 
 fence ; he fpoke of the late Lord Lovel with re- 
 fpe6t, of the prefent with the affedion of a bro- 
 ther. Sir Philip, in return, gave a brief recital 
 of his own adventures abroad, and of the difa- 
 greeable circumftances he had met with fince 
 his return home ; he pathetically lamented the 
 lofs of all his friends, not forgetting that of his 
 faithful fervant on the way ; faying he could be 
 contented to give up the world, and retire to a 
 religious houfe, but that he was withheld by the 
 eonfideration, that fome who depended entirely 
 upon him, would want his prefence and aflift- 
 ance ; and, beflde that, he thought he might be 
 of fervice to many others. The Baron agreed 
 with him in opinion, that a man was of much 
 more fervice to the world who continued in it, 
 than one who retired from it, and gave his for- 
 tune to the Church, whofe fervants did not al- 
 ways make the beft ufe of it. Sir Philip then 
 turned the converfation, and congratulated the 
 Baron on his hopeful family ; he praifed their 
 perfons and addrefs, and warmly applauded the 
 care he beftowed on their education. The Ba- 
 ron liftened with pleafure to the honeft appro- 
 C bation
 
 i* THE OLD ENGLISH 
 
 bation of a worthy heart, and enjoyed the true 
 happinefs of a parent. 
 
 Sir Philip then made further enquiry concern- 
 ing Edmund, whofe appearance had ftruck him 
 with an impreffion in his favour. That boy, 
 faid the Baron, is the fon of a cottager in this 
 neighbourhood j his uncommon merit, and gen- 
 tlenefs of manners, diitinguifhes him from thofe 
 of his own clafs ; from his childhood he attract- 
 ed the notice and affection of all that knew him ; 
 he was beloved every where but at his father's 
 houfe, and there it fhould feem that his merits 
 were his crimes ; for the Peafant, his father, 
 hated him, treated him feverely, and at length 
 threatened to turn him out of doors j he ufed to 
 run here and there on errands for my people,, 
 and at length they obliged me to take notice of 
 him j my ions earneftly defired I would take 
 him into my family j I did fo about two years 
 ago, intending to make him their fervant j but 
 his extraordinary genius and difpofition has 
 obliged me to look upon him in a fuperior 
 light ; perhaps I may incur the cenfure of many 
 people, by giving him fo many advantages, 
 and treating him as the companion of rny chil- 
 dren : His merit muft juftify, or condemn, my 
 partiality for him ; however, I truft that I have 
 fecurcd to my children a faithful fervant of the 
 upper kind, and an ufeful friend to my family. 
 
 Sir
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 19 
 
 Sir Philip warmly applauded his generous hoft, 
 and wiflied to be a (barer in his bounty to that 
 fine youth, whofe appearance indicated all the 
 qualities that had indeared him to his compa- 
 nions. 
 
 At the hour of dinner the young men prefented 
 themfelves before their Lord, and his gueft. Sir 
 Philip addrefled himfelf to Edmund; he aflced 
 him many queftions, and received modeft and 
 intelligent anfwers, and he grew every minute 
 more pleafed with him. After dinner the youths 
 withdrew with their tutor to purfue their ftudies. 
 Sir Philip fat, for fome time, wrapt up in medi- 
 tation. After fome minutes, the Baron afked 
 him, if he might not be favoured with the fruits 
 of his contemplations You fhall, my Lord, 
 anfwered he, for you have a right to them. I 
 was thinking, that when many bleffings are loft, 
 we fhould cherifh thofe that remain, and even 
 endeavour to replace the others My Lord, I 
 have taken a ftrong liking to that youth whom 
 you call Edmund Twyford : I have neither 
 children nor relations to claim my fortune, nor 
 fhare my affedtions ; your Lordfhip has many 
 demands upon your generofity : 1 can provide 
 for this promising youth without doing injuftice 
 to any one j will you give him to me ? He is a 
 fortunate boy, faid the Baron, to gain your fa- 
 vour fo foon. My Lord, faid the Knight, I 
 C 2 will
 
 20 THE OLD ENGLISH BAKON: 
 
 will confefs to you, that the firft thing that 
 touched my heart in his favour, is a ftrong re- 
 femblance he bears to a certain dear friend I once 
 had, and his manner refembles him as much as 
 his perfon ; his qualities deferve that he fhould 
 be placed in a higher rank; I will adopt him for 
 my fon, and introduce him into the world a 
 my relation, if you will refign him to me : 
 What fay you ? Sir, faid the Baron, you have 
 made a noble offer, and I am too much the 
 young man's friend to be a hindrance to his pre- 
 ferment. It is true that I had intended to pro- 
 vide for him in my own family j but I cannot do 
 it fo effectually as by giving him to you, whofe 
 generous affection being unlimited by other ties, 
 may in time prefer him to a higher ftation as he 
 fhall deferve it. I have only one condition to 
 make; that the lad fhall have his option ; for I 
 would not oblige h-im to leave my fervice againft 
 his inclination. You fay well, replied Sir Phi- 
 lip ; nor would I take him upon other terms. 
 Agreed then, faid the Baron ; let us fend for 
 Edmund hither. A fervant was fent to fetch 
 him ; he came immediately, and his Lord thus 
 befpoke him. Edmund, you owe eternal obli- 
 gations to this gentleman, who, perceiving in 
 you a certain refemblance to a friend of his, and 
 liking your behaviour, has taken a great affection 
 for you, infomuch that he defires to receive you 
 
 into
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 21 
 
 into his family : I cannot better provide for you 
 than by difpofing of you to him ; and, if you 
 have no objection, you fhall return home with 
 him when he goes from hence. The counte- 
 nance of Edmund underwent many alterations 
 during this propofal of his Lord; it exprefled 
 tendernefs, gratitude, and forrow, but the laft 
 was predominant ; he bowed refpe&fully to the 
 Baron and Sir Philip, and, after fome hesitation, 
 /poke as follows : 1 feel very ftrongly the obli- 
 gations I owe to this gentleman, for his noble 
 and generous .offer ; I cannot expre-fs the fenfe I 
 have of his goodnefs to me, a Peafant boy, only 
 known to him by my Lord's kind and partial men- 
 tion ; this uncommon bounty claims my eternal 
 gratitude. To you., my honoured Lord, I owe 
 every thins;, even this gentleman's good opinion 
 you diftinguifijed me when nobody elfe did ; 
 and, next to you, your fons are my beft and deareft 
 benefactors^ they introduced me to your notice. 
 My heart is unalterably attached to this houfe 
 and family, and my utmoft ambition is to fpend 
 my life in your fervice : But if you have per- 
 ceived any great and grievous faults in me, that 
 make you wilh to put me out of your family, 
 and if you have recommended me to this gentle- 
 man in order to be rid of me, in that cafe I will 
 fubmit to your pleafure, as I would if you -fhould 
 Sentence me to death. 
 
 C 3 During
 
 22 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 During this fpeech the tears made themfelves 
 channels down Edmund's cheeks j and his two 
 noble auditors, catching the tender infection, 
 wiped their eyes at the concluiion. My dear 
 child, faid the Baron, you overcome me by your 
 tendernefs and gratitude ! I know of no faults 
 you have committed, that I fhould wifli to be 
 rid of you : I thought to do you the beft fervice 
 "by promoting you to that of Sir Philip Harclay, 
 who is both able and willing to provide for you ; 
 but if you prefer my fervice to his, I will not 
 part with you. Upon this Edmund kneeled to 
 the Baron ; he embraced his knees My dear 
 Lord ! I am, and will be your fervant, in pre- 
 ference to any man living j I only afk your per- 
 miilion to live and die in your fervice. You 
 fee, Sir Philip, faid the Baron, how this boy 
 engages the heart ; how can I part with him ? 
 I cannot afk you any more, anfwered Sir Phi- 
 lip, I fee it is impolfible ; but I efteem you both 
 ftill higher than ever ; the youth for his grati- 
 tude, and your Lordfhip for your noble mind 
 3nd true generofity ; bleffings attend you both ! 
 Oh, Sir, faid Edmund, preffing the hand of 
 Sir Philip, do not think me ungrateful to you, 
 I will ever remember your goodnefs, and pray 
 to Heaven to reward it ; the name of Sir Philip 
 Harclay (hall be engraven upon my heart, next 
 o my Lord and his family, for ever. Sir Philip 
 
 raifed
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 23 
 
 araifed the youth and embraced him, faying, if 
 ver you want a friend, remember me ; and de- 
 pend upon my protection, fo long as you conti- 
 nue to deferve it. Edmund bowed low, and 
 withdrew, with his eyes full of tearsjifLfeafibi*. 
 j[ty and gratitude. When he was gone, Sir 
 Philip faid, I am thinking, that though young 
 Edmund wants not my afliftance at prefent, he 
 may hereafter ftand in need of my friendfhip. 
 I Ihould not wonder if fuch rare qualities as he 
 pofTefles, fhould one day create envy, and raife 
 him enemies ; in which cafe he might come to 
 lofe your favour, without any fault of yours or 
 his own. I am obliged to you for the warning, 
 faid the Baron, I hope it will be unneceflary ; 
 but if ever I part with Edmund, you fhall have 
 the refufal of him. I thank your Lord/hip for 
 all your civilities to me, faid the Knight ; I 
 leave my beft wiflies with you and your hopeful 
 family, and I humbly take my leave. Will you 
 not ftay one night in the Caftle ? returned my 
 Lord ; you fhall be as welcome a gueft as ever. 
 I acknowledge your goodnefs and hofpitality, 
 but this houfe fills me with melancholy recollec- 
 tions j I came hither with a heavy heart, and it 
 will not be lighter while I remain here. I (hall 
 always remember your Lordfhip with the higheft 
 refpecT: and efteem ; and I pray God to preferve 
 you, and increafe your bleffings ! . 
 
 C 4 After
 
 24 THEOLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 After fome further ceremonies, Sir Philip de- 
 parted, and returned to old Wyatt's, ruminating 
 on the viciffitude of human affairs, and thinking 
 .on the changes he had feen. 
 
 At his return to Wyatt's cottage, he found 
 the family aflembled together. He told them he 
 would take another night's lodging there, which 
 they heard with great pleafure ; for he had fa- 
 miliarifed himfelf to them in the laft evening's 
 converfation, infomuch that they began to en- 
 joy his company. He told Wyatt of the misfor- 
 tune he had fuftained by lofing his fervant on the 
 way, and wifhed he coujd get one to attend him 
 home in his place, Young John looked earneft- 
 Jy at his father, who returned a look of appro- 
 bation. I perceive one in this company, faid he, 
 that would be proud to ferveyour Honour; but 
 I fear he is not brought up well enough. John 
 coloured with impatience, he- could not forbear 
 fpeaking. Sir, I can anfwer for an honcft heart, 
 a willing mind, and a light pair of heels ; and 
 though I am fomewhat aukward, I fhall be prod 
 to learn, to pleafe my noble Mafter, if he will 
 tut try me. You fay well, faid Sir Philip, I 
 have obferved your qualifications, and if you 
 ^re defirous to ferve me, I am equally pleafed 
 with you ; if your father has no objection I will 
 fake you. Objection, Sir ! faid the old man i 
 
 it
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 25 
 
 it will be my pride to prefer him to fuch a noble 
 gentleman j I will make no terms for him, but 
 leave it to your Honour to do for him as he fliall 
 deferve. Very well, faid Sir Philip, you fhall 
 be no lofer by that ; I will charge myfelf with 
 the care of the young man. The bargain was 
 {truck, and Sir Philip purchafed a horfe for John 
 of the old man. The next morning they fet 
 out; the Knight left marks of his bounty with 
 the good couple, and departed, laden with their 
 bleffing and prayers. He flopped at the place 
 where his faithful fervant was buried, and caufed 
 mafles to be faid for the repofe of his foul j then, 
 purfuing his way by eafy journeys, arrived in 
 fafety at home. His family rejoiced at his re- 
 turn j he fettled his new fervant in attendance 
 upon his perfon ; he then looked round his 
 neighbourhood for objects of his charity ; when 
 he faw merit in diftrefs, it was his delight to 
 raife and fupport it : He fpent his time in the 
 fervice of his Creator, and glorified him in do- 
 ing good to his creatures. He reflected fre- 
 quently upon every thing that had befallen him 
 in his late journey to the weft ; and, at hi? 
 leifure, took down all the particulars in writing. 
 
 Here follows an interval of four years, as ly the 
 manufcript ; and tins omijfion feems intended by the 
 Writer. Wkat follows is in a different kand> and 
 ilx char after is more modern, 
 
 ABOUT
 
 26 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 A BOUT this time the prognofticks of Sir Phi- 
 lip Harclay began to be verified, that Ed- 
 mund's good qualities might one day excite 
 envy and create him enemies. The fons and 
 kin (men of his patron began to feek occafioij 
 to find fault with him, and to depreciate him 
 with others. The Baron's eldeft fon and heir, 
 Mafter Robert, had feveral contefts with Maf- 
 ter William, the fecond fon, upon his account : 
 This youth had a warm affection for Edmund, 
 and whenever his brother and kinfmen treated 
 him flightly, he fupported him againft their 
 malicious infinuations. Mr. Richard Wen- 
 lock, and Mr. John Markham, were the fitters 
 fons of the Lord Fitz-Owenj and there were 
 feveral other more diitant relations, who, with 
 them, fecretly envied Edmund's fine qualities, 
 and drove to Jeflen him in the eileem of the Ba- 
 ron and his family. By degrees they excited 
 a diflike in Mafter Robert, that in time was 
 fixed iato habit, and fell little fliort of aver- 
 fifMI. 
 
 Young Wenlock's hatred was confirmed by 
 an additional circumftance : He had a growing 
 paflion for the Lady Emma, the Baron's only 
 daughter ^ and, as love is eagle-eyed, he faw, 
 or fancied he faw her caft an eye of preference 
 on Edmund. An accidental fervice that fhe 
 received from him, had excited her grateful 
 
 regards
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 27 
 
 regards and attentions towards him. The Sn- 
 ceffant view of his fine perfon and qualities, 
 had perhaps improved her efteem into a ftill 
 fofter fenfation, though (he was yet ignorant 
 of it, and thought it only the tribute due to 
 gratitude and friendfhip. 
 
 One Chriftmas time, the Baron and all his 
 family went to vifit a family in Wales ; crofT- 
 ing a ford, the horfe that carried the Lady 
 Emma, who rode behind her coufin Wenlock, 
 {tumbled and fell down, and threw her off into 
 the water: Edmund difmounted in a moment, 
 and flew to her afliflance ; he took her out fo 
 quick, that the accident was not known to 
 fome part of the company. From this time 
 Wenlock ftrove to undermine Edmund in her 
 efteem, and (he conceived herfelf obliged in 
 juftice and gratitude to defend him againft the 
 malicious insinuations of his enemies. She one 
 day afked Wenlock, why he in particular fhould 
 endeavour to recommend himfelf to her fa- 
 vour, by /peaking againft Edmund, to whom 
 fhe was under great obligations? He made 
 but little reply; but the impreflion funk deep 
 into his rancorous heart ; every word in Ed- 
 mund's behalf was like a poifoned arrow that 
 rankled in the wound, and grew every day 
 more inflamed. Sometimes he would pretend 
 o extenuate Edmund's fuppofed faults, in order 
 
 to
 
 8 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 to load him with the fin of ingratitude upon 
 other occasions. Rancour works deepeft in the 
 heart that drives to conceal it ; and, when co- 
 vered by art, frequently puts on the appear- 
 ance of candour. By thefe means did Wenlock 
 znd Markham impofe upon the credulity of 
 Mafter Robert and their other relations : Maf- 
 ter William, only flood proof againft ail their 
 infinuations. 
 
 The fame autumn that Edmund compleated 
 his eighteenth year, the Baron declared his 
 intention of fending the young men of his 
 houfe to France the following fpring, to learn 
 the art of war, and fignalize their courag j and 
 abilities. 
 
 Their ill-will towards Edmund was fo well 
 concealed, that his patron had not difcovered 
 it; but it was whifpered among the fervants, 
 who are generally ciofe observers of the man- 
 ners of their principals. Edmund was a fa- 
 vourite with them all, which was a ftrong pre- 
 (umption that he deferved to be fo, for they 
 feldoin fhew much regard to dependents, or to 
 iuperiour .domeftics, who are generally objects 
 of ,enyy a^id difiike. Edmund was courteous* 
 tut not familiar with them; and, by this means, 
 gained their affe<5iions without foliciting them 
 Among them ivas an old ferving man, called 
 jofeph Howell] this man had formerly fervcd 
 
 the
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 29 
 
 the old Lord Lovel, and his fon ; and when the 
 young Lord died, and Sir Walter fold the caftle 
 to his brother-in-law, the Lord Fitz-Owen, he 
 only of all the old fervants was left in the houfe,. 
 to take care of it, and to deliver it into the 
 pofleffion of the new proprietor, who retained 
 him in his fervice : He was a man of few words 
 but much reflection ; and without troubling him- 
 felf about other peopled affairs, went filenty 
 and properly about his own bufinefs; more 
 felicitous to difcharge his duty, than to re- 
 commend himfelf to notice, and not feeming 
 to afpire to any higher office than that of a 
 ferving man. This old man would fix his eyes 
 upon Edmund, whenever he could do it with- 
 out obfervation ; fometimes he would figh 
 deeply, and a tear would flart from his tyr, 
 which he ftrove to conceal from obfervation. 
 One day Edmund furprized him in this tender 
 emotion, as he was wiping his eyes with the 
 back of his hand: Why, faid he, my good 
 friend, do you look at me fo earneftly and af- 
 fectionately? Becaufe I love you Matter Ed- 
 mund, faid he, becaufe I wifh you well. I 
 thank you kindly, cnfwered Edmund ; I am 
 unable to repay your love, otherwife than by 
 returning it, which I do fincere'y. I thank 
 you, Sir, faid the old man ; that is all I define, 
 and more than I deferve. Do riot fay fo, faid 
 9 Edmundj
 
 3 o THE Otl> ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Edmund; if I had any better way to thank 
 you, I would not fay fo much about it; but 
 words are all my inheritance. Upon this he 
 Ihoolc hands with Jofeph, who withdrew haf- 
 tily to conceal his emotion, faying, God blefs 
 you Mafter, and make your fortune equal to 
 your deferts ! I cannot help thinking you 
 were born to a higher ftation than what you 
 now hold. You know to the contrary, faid 
 Edmund; but Jofeph was gone out of fight 
 and hearing. 
 
 The notice and obfervation of ftrangers, 
 and the affe&ion of individuals, together with 
 that inward confcioufnefs that always attends 
 fuperiour qualities, would fometimes kindle 
 the flames of ambition in Edmund's heart j 
 but he checked them prefently by reflecting 
 upon his low birth and dependant ftation. 
 He was modeft, yet intrepid ; gentle and 
 courteous to all ; frank and unreferved to thofe 
 that loved him, difcreet and complaifant to 
 thofe who hated him ; generous and com- 
 paffionate to the diftrefles of his fellow-crea- 
 tures in general ; humble, but not fervile, to his 
 patron and fuperiors. Once, when he with a 
 manly fpirit juftified himfelf againft a malici- 
 ous imputation, his young Lord, Robert, taxed 
 him with pride and arrogance to his kinfmen. 
 Edmund denied the charge againft him with 
 
 equal
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 3* 
 
 equal fpirit and modefty. Mafter Robert an- 
 fwered him fharply How dare you contradict 
 my coufins ! do you mean to give them the lye ? 
 Not in words Sir, faid Edmund; but I will be- 
 have fo as that you (hall not believe them. 
 Mafter Robert haughtilyjsade him be filent and 
 know himfelf, and not prefume to contend 
 with men fo much his fuperiors in every re- 
 fpedt. Thefe heart-burnings in fome degree 
 fubfided by their preparations for going to 
 France. Mafter Robert was to be prefented 
 at court before his departure, and it was ex- 
 pected that he (hould be knighted. The Ba- 
 ron defigned Edmund to be his Efquire; but this 
 was fruftrated by his old enemies, who per- 
 fuaded Robert to make choice of one of his 
 own domeftics, called Thomas Hewfonj him 
 did they fet up as a rival to Edmund, and he 
 took every occafion to affront hinn. All that 
 Mafter Robert gained by this ftep, was the 
 contempt of thofe who faw Edmund's merit, 
 and thought it want of difcernment in him not 
 to diftinguifli and reward it. Edmund requefted 
 of his Lord that he might be Mafter William's 
 attendant; and when, faid he, my patron (hall 
 be knighted, as I make no doubt he will one 
 day be, he has promifed mat Ifhall behisEiquire. 
 The Baron granted Edmund's requeft ; and, 
 being freed from fervitude to the reft, he was 
 
 devoted
 
 32 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 devoted to that of his beloved Mafter William, 
 who treated him in public as his principal do- 
 meftic, but in private as his chofen friend and 
 brother. 
 
 The whole cabal of his enemies confulted 
 together in what manner they fhould vent their 
 refentment againft him ; and it was agreed that 
 they {hould treat him with indifference and 
 neglect, till they {hould arrive in France ; and 
 when there, they {hould contrive to render his 
 courage fufpected, and by putting him upon fome 
 defperate enterprize, rid themfelves of him for 
 ever. About this time died the great Duke of 
 Bedford, to the irreparable lofs of the Englifli 
 nation. He was fucceeded by Richard Planta- 
 genet, Duke of York, as Regent of France, of 
 which great part had revolted to Charles the 
 Dauphin. Frequent actions enfued. Cities 
 were loft and won ; and continual occafions 
 offered toexercife the courage, and abilities, of 
 the youth of both nations. 
 
 The young men of Baron Fitz-Owen's houfs 
 were recommended particularly to the Regent's 
 notice. Mafter Robert was knighted, with 
 feveral other young men of family who diftin- 
 guiftied themfelves by their fpirit and activity 
 upon every occafion. The youth were daily 
 employed in warlike exercifes, and frequent 
 
 actions j
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 33 
 
 actions ; and made their full efTay in arms in 
 fuch a manner as to bring into notice all that de- 
 ferved it. 
 
 Various arts were ufed by Edmund's enemies 
 to expofe him to danger; but all their contri- 
 vances recoiled upon themfelves, and brought 
 increafe of honour upon Edmund's head : He 
 diftinguifhed himfelf upon fo many occaftons, 
 that Sir Robert himfelf began to pay him more 
 than ordinary regard, to the infinite mortifica- 
 tion of his kinfmen and relations. They laid 
 many fchemes againft him, but none took 
 effeft. 
 
 From this place the characlers in the manufcript 
 are effaced by time and damp. Here and there 
 fome fentences are legible, but not fujficient to purfue 
 the thread of the Jlory . Mention is made cf fever al 
 
 aclions in which the young men were engaged 
 
 that Edmund dijlinguijhed himfelf by intrepidity 
 in aflisn; by gentlenefs, humanity and modejly in 
 the ceffations that he attrafted the notice of every 
 perfon of observation, andalfo that he received per- 
 fonal commendation from the Regent. 
 
 The following incidents are clear enough to be 
 tranfcribed ; but the beginning of the next fucceed- 
 ing pages is obliterated: However, we may 
 guefs at th beginning by what remains. 
 
 D AS
 
 34 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON 
 
 A S foon as the cabal met in Sir Robert's tent, 
 Mr. Wenlock thus began. You fee, my 
 friends, that every attempt we make to humble 
 this upftart, turns into applaufe, and ferves only 
 to raife his pride ftill higher. Something muft 
 be done, or his praife will go home before us, at 
 our own expence ; and we fhall feem only foils to 
 fet off his glories. Any thing would I give to 
 the man who fhould execute our vengeance upon 
 him. Stop there, coufin Wenlock, faid Sir 
 Robert; though I think Edmund proud and 
 vain-glorious, and would join in any fcheme to 
 humble him, and make him know himfelf, I will 
 not fuffer any man to ufe fuch bafe methods to 
 effect it. Edmund is brave } and it is beneath 
 an Englifhman to revenge himfelf by unworthy 
 means ; if any fuch are ufed, I will be the firft 
 man to bring the guilty to juftice j and if I hear 
 another word to this purpofe, I will inform my 
 brother William, who will acquaint Edmund 
 with your mean intentions. Upon this the ca- 
 bal drew back, and Mr. Wenlock protefled 
 that he meant no more than to mortify his 
 pride, and make him know his proper ftation. 
 Soon after Sir Robert withdrew, and they re- 
 fumed their deliberations. 
 
 Then
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 35 
 
 Then fpoke Thomas Hewfon : There is a 
 party to be fent out to-morrow night, to inter- 
 cept a convoy of provifions for the relief of 
 Rouen ; I will provoke Mr. Edmund to make 
 one of this party, and when he is engaged in 
 the a&ion, I and my companions will draw off, 
 and leave him to the enemy, who I truft will 
 fo handle him, that you fhall no more be trou- 
 bled with him. This will do, faid Mr. Wen- 
 lock j but let it be kept from my two coufins 
 and only known to ourfelves ; if they offer to 
 be of the party, I will perfuade them off it: 
 And you, Thomas, if you bring this fcheme to 
 a conclufion, may depend upon my eternal gra- 
 titude. And mine, faid Markham j and fo faid 
 all. The next day the affair was publickly 
 mentioned ; and Hewfon, as he promifed, pro- 
 voked Edmund to the trial : Several young 
 men of family offered themfelves; among the 
 reft, Sir Robert, and his brother William. Mr. 
 Wenlock perfuaded them not to go, and fet 
 the danger of the enterprize in the ftrongeft 
 colours. At laft Sir Robert complained of the 
 tooth-ach, and was confined to his tentj Ed- 
 mund waited on him; and judging by the ar- 
 dour of his own courage of that of his patron, 
 thus befpoke him. I am greatly concerned 
 dear Sir, that we cannot have your company 
 at night ; but as I know what you will fuffer in 
 being abfent, I would beg the favour of you to 
 D 2 let
 
 36 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 let me ufe your arms and device, and I will 
 promife not to difgrace them. No, Edmund, 
 I cannot confent to that : I thank you for your 
 noble offer, and will remember it to your ad- 
 vantage; but I cannot wear honours of another 
 man's getting. You have awakened me to a 
 fenfe of my duty : I will go with you, and 
 contend with you for glory ; and William fhall 
 do the fame. 
 
 In a few hours they were ready to fet out. 
 Wenlock and Adarkham, and their dependants, 
 found themfelves engaged in honour to go 
 upon an enterprize they never intended ; and 
 fet out, with heavy hearts, to join the party. 
 They marched in filence in the horrors of a dark 
 night, and wet roads ; they met the convoy 
 where they expected, and a fharp engagement 
 enfued. The vi&ory was fome time doubtful j 
 but the moon rifing on the backs of the Eng- 
 lifh, gave them the advantage. They faw 
 the difpofition of their enemies, and availed 
 themfelves of it. Edmund advanced the fore- 
 moft of the party ; he drew out the leader on 
 the French fide; he flew him. Mr. William 
 prefled forward to affift his friend, Sir Robert, 
 to defend his brother; Wenlock, and Markham, 
 from fhame to ftay behind. 
 
 Thomas Hewfon and his aflbciates drew 
 back on their fide} the French perceived it, 
 
 and
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 37 
 
 and purfued the advantage. Edmund pufhed 
 them in front ; the young nobles all followed 
 him ; they broke through the detachment, 
 and flopped the waggons. The officer who 
 commanded the party, encouraged them to go 
 on ; the defeat was foon compleat, and the 
 provifions carried in triumph to the Englifli 
 camp. 
 
 Edmund was prefented to the Regent as the 
 man to whom the victory was chiefly owing. 
 Not a tongue prefumed to move itfelf againft 
 him; even malice and envy were filenced. 
 
 Approach, young man, faid the Regent, that 
 I may confer upon you the honour of knight- 
 hood, which you have well defcrved. Mr. 
 Wenlock could no longer forbear fpeaking : 
 Knighthood, faid he, is an order belonging to 
 gentlemen, it cannot be conferred on a pea- 
 fant. What fay you, Sir! returned the Regent; 
 is this youth a peafant? He is, faid Wenlock ; 
 let him deny it if he can. Edmund, with a mo- 
 deft bow, replied, It is true indeed I am a pea- 
 fant, and this honour is too great forme: I 
 have only done my duty. The Duke of York, 
 whofe pride of birth equalled that of any man 
 living or dead, flieathed hia fword immediately. 
 Though, faid he, I cannot reward you as I 
 intended, I will take care thr.t you (hall hnve a 
 lar^e fhare in the fpoils of this tiight ; and, I 
 D 3 declare 
 
 157888
 
 38 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 declare publickly, that you ftand firft in the 
 lift of gallant men in this engagement. 
 
 Thomas Hewfon and his afTociates made a 
 poor figure in their return ; they were publickTy 
 reproved for their backwardnefs. Hewfon 
 was wounded in body and more in mind, for 
 the bad fuccefs of his ill laid defign. He could 
 not hold up his head 'before Edmund; who, 
 unconfcious of their malice, adminiftered every 
 kind of comfort to them. He fpoke in their 
 behalf to the commanding officer, imputing 
 their conduct to unavoidable accidents. He 
 vifited them privately; he gave them a part of 
 the fpoils allotted to himfelf ; by every act of 
 valour and courtefy he ftrove to engage thofe 
 hearts that hated, envied, and maligned him : 
 But where hatred arifes from envy of fuperior 
 qualities, every difplay of thofe qualities in- 
 ereafes the caufe from whence it arifes. 
 
 Another pauje enfues here* 
 
 The young nobles and gentlemen who dif- 
 tinguiflied Edmund, were prevented from raifmg 
 him to preferment by the infmuations of Wen- 
 Jock and his aflbciates, who never failed to fet 
 before them his low defcent, and his pride and 
 arrogance in prefuming to rank with gentle- 
 men.
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 39 
 
 Here the manufcript is not legible for feveral 
 pages. There is mention, about this time, of the 
 death of the Lady Fitz-Owen ; but not the caufe. 
 
 Wenlock rejoiced to find that his fchemes 
 took efFeft, and that they fhould be recalled at 
 the approach of winter. The Baron was glad 
 of a pretence to fend for them home j for he 
 could no longer endure the abfence of his 
 children, after the lofs of their mother. 
 
 The manufcript is again defaced for many leaves ; 
 at length the letters become more legible* and the rt- 
 mainder of it is quite perfeft. 
 
 FROM
 
 40 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 P R O M the time the young men returned 
 from France, the enemies of Edmund em- 
 ployed their utmoft abilities to ruin him in the 
 Baron's opinion, and get him difmiffed from 
 the family. They infmuated a thoufand things 
 againft him that happened, as they faid, dur- 
 ing his refidence in France, and therefore could 
 not be known to his mafter; but when the Ba- 
 ron privately enquired of his two elder fons, 
 he found there was no truth in their reports. 
 Sir Robert, though he did not love him, fcorned 
 to join in untruths againft him. Mr. William 
 fpoke of him with the warmth of fraternal 
 affection. The Baron perceived that his kinf- 
 men difliked Edmund; but his own good heart 
 hindered him from feeing the bafenefs of theirs. 
 It is faid, that continual dropping will wear 
 away a {tone ; fo did their inceflant reports, by 
 infenfible degrees, produce a coolnefs in his 
 patron's behaviour towards him. If he behaved 
 with manly fpirit, it was mifconftrued into pride 
 and arrogance; his generofity was imprudence; 
 his humility was hypocrify, the better to co- 
 ver his ambition. Edmund bore patiently all 
 the indignities that were thrown upon him ; 
 and, though he felt them feverely in his bofom, 
 fcorned to juftify his conduct at the expence 
 even of his enemies. Perhaps his gentle fpi- 
 rit might at length have funk under this treat- 
 ment,
 
 A .GOTHIC STORY. 41 
 
 ment, but providence interpofed in his be- 
 half; and, by feemingly accidental circumftan- 
 ces, conducted him imperceptibly towards the 
 crifis of his fate. 
 
 Father Ofwald, who had been preceptor to 
 the young men, had a ftrong affection for Ed- 
 mund, from a thorough knowledge of his 
 heart ; he faw through the mean artifices that 
 were ufed to undermine him in his patron's fa- 
 vour ; he watched their machinations, and drove 
 to fruftrate their defigns. 
 
 This good man ufed frequently to walk out 
 with Edmund ; they converfed upon various 
 fubje&s ; and the youth would lament to him 
 the unhappinefs of his fituation, and the pecu- 
 liar circumftances that attended him. The fa- 
 ther, by his wholefome advice, comforted his 
 drooping heart ; and confirmed him in his re- 
 folution of bearing unavoidable evils with pa- 
 tience and fortitude, from the confcioufnefs of 
 his own innocence, and the aflurance of a 
 future and eternal reward. 
 
 One day, as they were walking in a wood 
 near the caftle, Edmund afked the father what 
 meant thofe preparations for building, the cut- 
 ting down trees and burning of bricks ? What, 
 faid Ofwald, have not you heard that rny Lord 
 is going to build a new apartment on the weft 
 fide of the caftle? AnJ why, laid Edmund, 
 
 fhould
 
 4 4 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 fliould my Lord be at that expence when there 
 is one on the eaft fide that is never occupied ? 
 That apartment, faid the friar, you muft have 
 obferved is always fhut up. I have obferved it 
 often, faid Edmund; but I never prefumed to 
 afk any queftions about it. You had then, faid 
 Ofvvald, lefs curiofity, and more difcretion, than 
 is common at your age. You have raifed my 
 curiofity, faid Edmund ; and, if it be not impro- 
 per, I beg of you to gratify it. We are alone, 
 faid Ofwald, and I am fo well allured of your 
 prudence, that I will explain this myftery in 
 ibme degree to you, 
 
 You muft know, that apartment was occupied 
 by the laft Lord Lovel when he was a batche- 
 lor. He married in his father's life-time, who 
 gave up his own apartment to him, and offered 
 to retire to this himfelf; but the fon would 
 not permit him, he chofe to fleep here, rather 
 than in any other. He had been married about 
 three months when his father, the old Lord, died 
 of a fever. About twelve months after his 
 marriage, he was called upon to attend the 
 King, Henry the fourth, on an expedition into 
 Wales, whither he was attended by many of 
 his dependants. He left his lady big with child, 
 and full of care and anxiety for his fafety and 
 return. 
 
 After
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 43 
 
 After the King had chaftifed the Rebels, and 
 obtained the vi&ory, the Lord Lovel was ex- 
 pe&ed home every day j various reports were 
 fent home before him j one meflenger brought 
 an account of his health and fafety foon after 
 another came with bad news, that he was flain 
 in battle. His kinfman, Sir Walter Lovel, 
 came here on a vifit to comfort the Lady j and 
 he waited to receive his kinfman at his return. 
 It was he that brought the news of the fad event 
 of the battle to the Lady Lovel. 
 
 She fainted away at the relation ; but, when 
 flie revived, exerted the utmoft refolution ; fay- 
 ing, it was her duty to bear this dreadful ftroke 
 with chriftian fortitude and patience, efpecially 
 in regard to the child fhe went with, the laft re- 
 mains of her beloved hufband, and the undoubt- 
 ed heir of a noble houfe. For feveral days {he 
 feemed an example of patience and refignation ; 
 but then, all at once, fhe renounced them, and 
 broke out into paffionare and frantic exclama- 
 tions ; fhe faid, that her dear Lord was bafely 
 murdered ; that his ghoft had appeared to her, 
 and revealed his fate : She called upon Heaven 
 and earth to revenge her wrongs ; faying, fhe 
 would never ceafe complaining to God, and the 
 King, for vengeance and juftice. 
 
 Upon this, Sir Walter told the fervants that 
 Lovel was diftra&ed, from grief for the 
 
 death
 
 44 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 death of her Lord ; that his regard for her was 
 as ftrong as ever ; and that, if (he recovered, 
 be would himfelf be her comforter, and marry 
 her. In the mean time (he was confined in this 
 very apartment, and in lefs than a month the 
 poor Lady died. She lies buried in the family 
 vault in St. Auftin's church in the village. Sir 
 Walter took pofleffion of the Caftle, and all the 
 other eftates, and affumed the title of Lord 
 Level. 
 
 Soon after, it was reported that the Caftle was 
 haunted, and that the ghofts of Lord and Lady 
 Lovel had been feen by leveral of the fervants. 
 Whoever went into this apartment were terrified 
 by uncommon noifes, and ftrange appearances ; 
 at length this apartment was wholly ftiut up, and 
 the fervants were forbid to enter it, or to talk of 
 any thing relating to it : However, the ftory 
 did not ftop here j it was whifpered about, that 
 the new Lord Lovel was fo difturbed every night 
 that he could not fleep in quiet ; and, being at 
 hft tired of the place, he fold the Caftle and 
 eftate of his anceftors, to his brother-in-law the 
 Lord Fitz-Ovven, who now enjoys it, and left 
 this country. 
 
 All this is news to me, faid Edmund ; but, 
 father, tell me what grounds there were for the 
 Latiy's fufpicion that her Lord died unfairly 
 Alas ! laid Ofwald, that is only known to God. 
 
 There
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 45 
 
 There were ftrange thoughts In the minds of many 
 at that time ; I had mine ; but I will not dif- 
 clofe them, not even to you. I will not injure 
 thofe who may be innocent ; and I leave it to 
 Providence, who will doubtlefs, in its own beft 
 time and manner, punifh the guilty. But let 
 what I have told you be as if you had never 
 heard it. 
 
 I thank you for thefe marks of your efteem 
 and confidence, faid Edmund ; be allured that 
 I will not abufe them ; nor do I defire to pry 
 into fecrets not proper to be revealed : I entirely 
 approve your difcretion, and acquiefce in your 
 conclufion, that Providence will in its own 
 time vindicate its ways to man : If it were not 
 for that truft, my fituation would be infupport- 
 able. I ftrive earneftly to deferve the efteem and 
 favour of good men ; I endeavour to regulata 
 my conduct fo as to avoid giving offence to any 
 man ; but I fee, with infinite pain, that it is 
 impoffible for me to gain thefe points. I fee it 
 too, with great concern, faid Ofwald ; and 
 every thing that I can fay and do in your fa- 
 vour is mifconftrued ; and, by feeking to do you 
 fervice, I lofe my own influence : But I will 
 never give my fan&ion to ads of injuftice, nor 
 join to opprefs innocence. My dear child, put 
 your truft in God : He who brought light out of 
 I darknefs,
 
 4* THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 darknefs, can bring good out of evil. I hope 
 and truft To, faid Edmund ; but, father, if my 
 enemies fhould prevail, if my Lord fhould be- 
 lieve their ftories againft me, and I fhould be 
 put out of the houfe with difgrace, what will 
 become of me ? I have nothing but my charac- 
 ter to depend upon ; if I lofe that, I lofe every 
 thing ; and I fee they feek no Icfs than my ruin. 
 Truft in my Lord's honour and juftice, re- 
 plied Ofwald ; he knows your virtue, and he is 
 not ignorant of their ill-will towards you. I 
 know my Lord's juftice too well to doubt it, 
 faid Edmund ; but would it not be better to 
 rid him of this trouble, and his family of an in- 
 cumbrance ? I would gladly do fomething for 
 myfelf, but cannot without my Lord's recom- 
 mendation ; and, fuch is my fituarion, that I 
 fear the afking for a difmiflion would be account- 
 ed bafe ingratitude : Befide, when I think of 
 leaving this houfe, my heart faddens at the 
 thought, and tells me 1 cannot be happy out of 
 it : Yet 1 think I could return to a peafant's 
 life with chcarfulnefs, rather than live in a pa- 
 lace under difdain and contempt. Have pa- 
 tience a little longer, my fon, faid Ofwald ; I 
 will think of fome way to ferve you, and to 
 reprefent your grievances to my Lord, with- 
 out offence to either : Perhaps the caufes 
 may be removed. Continue to obferve the fame 
 
 irre-
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 47 
 
 irreproachable conduct j and be aflured that 
 Heaven will defend your innocence, and defeat 
 the unjuft defigns of your enemies. Let us 
 now return home. 
 
 About a week after this conference, Edmund 
 walked out in the fields ruminating on the dif- 
 agreeable circumftances of his fituation. In- 
 fenfible of the time, he had been out feverai 
 hours without perceiving how the day wore 
 away, when he heard himfelf called by name fe- 
 veral times j looking backward he faw his friend 
 Mr. William, and hallowed to him. He came 
 running towards him ; and, leaping over the 
 ftyle, flood ftill a while to recover his breath. 
 What is the matter, Sir, faid Edmund ? your 
 looks befpeak fome tidings of importance. With 
 a look of tender concern and affection, the youth 
 prefled his hand and fpoke. My dear Edmund, 
 you muft come home with me directly; your 
 old enemies have united to ruin you with my 
 father ; my brother Robert has declared that he 
 thinks there will be no peace in our family till 
 you are difmtfled from it, and told my father, 
 he hoped he would not break with his kinfmen 
 rather than give up Edmund. But what do 
 they lay to my charge ? faid Edmund. I can- 
 not rightly underftand, anfwered William, for 
 they make a great tnyftery of it ; fomething of 
 6 great
 
 48 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 great confequence they fay ; but they will not 
 tell me what: However, my father has told 
 them that they muft bring their accufation be- 
 fore your face, and he will have you anfwer them 
 publicly. I have been feeking you this hour, 
 to inform you of this, that you might be pre- 
 pared to defend yourfelf againft your accufers. 
 God reward you, Sir, faid Edmund, for all 
 your goodnefs to me ! I fee they are determined 
 to ruin me if poffible : I (hall be compelled to 
 leave the Caftle ; but, whatever becomes of me, 
 be aflured you (hall have no caufe to blufh for 
 your kindnefs and partiality to your Edmund. 
 I know it, I am fure of it, faid William ; and 
 here I fwear to you, as Jonathan did to David, 
 I befeech Heaven to blefs me, as my friendfhip 
 to you (hall be fteady and inviolable ! Only fo 
 long as I (hall deferve fo great a bleffing, inter- 
 rupted Edmund. I know your worth and ho- 
 nour, continued William j and fuch is my con- 
 fidence in your merit, that I firmly believe 
 Heaven defigns you for fomething extraordinary ; 
 and I expect that fome great and unforefeen event 
 will raife you to the rank and ftation to which 
 you appear to belong : Promife me, therefore, 
 that whatever may be your fate you will preferve 
 the fame friendfhip for me that I bear to you. 
 Edmund was fo much affeded that he could not 
 
 anfwer
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 49 
 
 anfwer but in broken fentences. Oh my friend, 
 toy mafter ! I vow, I promife, my heart pro- 
 mifes ! He kneeled dowrt with clafped hands, 
 and uplifted eyes : William kneeled by him* 
 and they invoked the Supreme to witnefs to 
 their friendfhip, and implored his bleffing upon 
 it : They then rofe up and embraced each other, 
 while tears of cordial affection bedewed their 
 cheeks. 
 
 As foon as they were able to fpeak, Edmund 
 conjured his friend not to expofe himfelf to the 
 difpleafure of his family out of kindnefs to him. 
 I fubmit to the will of Heaven, faid he, I wait 
 with patience its difpofal of me ; if I leave the 
 Caftle I will find means to inform you of my 
 fate and fortunes. I hope, faid William, that 
 things may yet be accommodated j but do not 
 take any refolution, let us acl: as occafions arife. 
 
 In this manner thefe amiable youths confer- 
 red, till they arrived at the Caftle. The Baron 
 was fitting in the great hall on a high chair 
 with a footftep before, with the ftate and dig- 
 nity of a judge ; before him flood father Of- 
 wald, as pleading the caufe for himfelf and 
 Edmund. Round the Baron's chair flood hii 
 eldeft fon and his kinfmen, with their principal 
 domeftics. The old fervant, Jofiph, at fome 
 diflance, with his head leaning forward, as lif- 
 tening with the utmoft attention to what paficd. 
 E Mr.
 
 $0 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Mr. William approached the chair. My Lord 1 , 
 I have found Edmund, and brought him to an- 
 fwer forhimfelf. You have done well, faid the 
 Baron. Edmund, eome hither ; you are charged 
 with fome indifcretions, for I cannot properly 
 call them crimes : lam refolved to do juftice 
 between you and your accufers ; I fhall there- 
 fore hear you as well as them ; for no man ought 
 to be condemned unheard. My Lord, faid Ed- 
 mund, with equal modefty and intrepidity, I 
 demand my trial ; if I fhall be found guilty of 
 any crimes againft my Benefactor, let me be 
 puniftied with the utmoft rigor : But if, as I 
 truft, no fuch charge can be proved againft me, 
 I know your goodnefs too well to doubt that 
 you will do juftice to me, as well as to others ; 
 and if it fhould fo happen that by the mifrepre- 
 fentations of my enemies (who have long fought 
 my ruin privately, and now avow it publicly), 
 if by their artifices your Lordfliip fhould be in- 
 duced to think me guilty, I would fubmit to 
 your fentence in filence, and appeal to another 
 tribunal.. See, faid Mr. Wenlock, the confi- 
 dence of the fellow ! he already fuppofes that 
 rny Lord muft be in the wrong if he condemns 
 him ; and then this meek creature will appeal 
 to another tribunal : To whofe will he appeal ? 
 I defire he may be made to explain himfelf. - 
 That I will immediately, faid Edmund, with- 
 out
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 51 
 
 out being compelled j I only meant to appeal 
 to Heaven that beft knows my innocence. 'Tis 
 true, faid the Baron, and no offence to any 
 one; man can only judge by appearances, but 
 Heaven knows the heart : Let every one of you 
 bear this in mind, that you may not bring afalfe 
 accufation, nor juftify yourfelves by concealing 
 the truth. Edmund, I am informed that Of- 
 wald and you have made very free with me and 
 my family, in fome of your converfations ; you 
 were heard to cenfure me for the abfurdity of 
 building a new apartment on the weft fide of the 
 Caftle when there was one on the eaft fide unin- 
 habited : Ofwald faid, that apartment was fhut 
 up becaufe it was haunted ; that fome {hocking 
 murther had been committed there ; adding ma- 
 ny particulars concerning Lord Lovel's family, 
 fuch as he could not know the truth of, and if 
 he had known, was imprudent to reveal. But, 
 further, you complained of ill treatment here ; 
 and mentioned an intention to leave the Caftle, 
 and feek your fortune elfewhere. I (hall examine 
 into all thefe particulars in turn. At prefent I 
 defire you, Edmund, to relate all that you can 
 remember of the converfation that pafled between 
 you and Ofwald in the wood laft Monday. 
 Good God ! faid Edmund, is it poffible that 
 any peribn could put fuch a conftrudion upon 
 fo innocent a converfation r 
 
 E 2 TCI
 
 5t THE OLD ENGLISH BARONT: 
 
 Tell me then, faid the Baron, the particulars 
 of it. I will, my Lord, as nearly as my memory 
 will allow me. Accordingly he related moft 
 of the converfation that pafTed in the wood ; 
 but, in the part that concerned the family of 
 Lovel, he abbreviated as much as poffible. 
 Ofwald's countenance cleared up, for he had 
 done the fame before Edmund came. The 
 Baron called to his eldeft fon, You hear, Sir 
 Robert, what both parties fay : I have queftioned 
 them feparatelyj neither of them knew what 
 the other would anfwer, yet their accounts agree 
 almoft to a word. I confefs they do fo, an- 
 fwered Sir Robert; but, Sir, it is very bold and 
 prefuming for them to fpeak of our family af- 
 fairs in fuch a manner ; if my uncle, Lord Lovel, 
 fhould come to know it, he would punifh them 
 feverely; arid, if his honour is reflected upon, 
 it becomes us to refent and to punifli it. Here 
 Mr. Wenlock broke out into paffion, and offered 
 to fwear to the truth of his accufation. Be 
 fileiit, Dick, faid the Baron; 1 (hall judge for 
 myfelf. I proteft, faid he to Sir Robert, I ne- 
 ver heard fo much as Ofvvald has now told me 
 concerning the deaths of Lord and Lady Lovel ; 
 I think it is beft to let fuch ftories alone till 
 they die away of themfelves. I had, indeed, 
 heard of an idle ftory of the eaft apartments 
 being haunted when firft J came hither, and 
 
 my
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 53 
 
 jny brother advifed me to fhut it up till it fhould 
 be forgotten ; but what has now been faid, 
 has fuggefted a thought that may make that 
 apartment ufeful in future. I have thought 
 of a punifhment for Edmund that will ftop 
 the mouth of his accufers for the prefentj and, 
 as I hope, will eftablifli his credit with every bo- 
 dy. Edmund will you undertake this adven- 
 ture for me? What adventure, my Lord, faid 
 Edmund? There is nothing I would not un- 
 dertake to {how my gratitude and fidelity to 
 you. As to my courage, I would fhew that at 
 the expence of my malicious accufers, if re- 
 fpect to my Lord's blood did not tie up my 
 hands; as I am fltuated I beg it may be put 
 to the proof in whatever way is moft for my 
 matter's fervice. That is well faid, cried the 
 Baron: As to your enemies, lam thinking how 
 to feparate you from them effectually; of that 
 1 (hall fpeak hereafter. I am going to try 
 Edmund's courage; he {hall fleep three nights 
 an the eaft apartment, that he may teftify 
 to all whether it be haunted or not ; afterwards 
 I will have that apartment fet in order, and 
 my eldeft fon fliall take it for his own ; it will 
 fpare me fome expence, and anfwer my pur*- 
 f>ofe as well, or better : Will you confent Ed- 
 mund ? With all my heart, my Lord, faid 
 Edmund, I have not wilfully offended God or 
 E 3 manj
 
 54 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 man; I have, therefore, nothing to fear. Brave 
 boy ! faid my Lord ; I am not deceived in you, 
 nor mall you be deceived in your reliance on me. 
 You mall fleep in that apartment to-night, and 
 to-morrow I will have fome private talk with 
 you. Do you, Ofwald, go with me; I want to 
 have fome converfation with you. The reft of 
 you, retire to your ftudies and bufinefs j I will 
 meet you at dinner. 
 
 Edmund retired to his own chamber, and 
 Ofwald was fhut up with the Baron ; he de- 
 fended Edmund's caufe and his own, and laid 
 open as much as he knew of the malice and 
 defigns of his enemies. The Baron exprefled 
 much concern at the untimely deaths of Lord 
 and Lady Lovel, and defired Ofwald to be cir- 
 cumfpeft in regard to what he had to fay of the 
 circumftances attending them; adding, that he 
 was both innocent and ignorant of any treachery 
 towards either of them. Ofwald excufed him- 
 felf for his communications to Edmund, faying, 
 they fell undefignedly into the fubjecT:, and 
 that he mentioned it in confidence to him, 
 only. 
 
 The Baron fent orders to the young men to 
 come to dinner ; but they refufed to meet Ed- 
 mund at table ; accordingly he ate in the fteward's 
 apartment. After dinner the Baron tried to re- 
 concile his kinfmen to Edmund 3 but found it 
 
 impoffcble.
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 55 
 
 jmpoflible. They faw their defigns were laid 
 open; and judging of him by themfelves, 
 thought it impomble to forgive or be forgiven. 
 The Baron ordered them to keep in feparate 
 apartments; he took his eldeft fon for his own 
 companion, as being the moft reafonable of the 
 malecontents; and ordered his kinfmen to keep 
 their own apartment, with a fervant to watch 
 their motions. Mr. William had Ofvvald for 
 his companion. Old Jofeph was bid to attend 
 on Edmund; toferve him at fupper; and, at the 
 hour of nine, to conduit him to the haunted 
 apartment. Edmund defined that he might 
 have a light and his fword, left his enemies 
 fhould endeavour to furprife him. The Baron 
 thought his requeft reafonable, and complied 
 with it. 
 
 There was a great fearch to find the key of the 
 apartment; atlaft it was difcovered by Edmund, 
 himfelf, among a parcel of old rufty keys in 
 a lumber room. The Baron fent the young 
 men their fuppers to their refpe&ive apart- 
 ments. Edmund declined eating, and deiired 
 to be conducted to his apartment. He was ac- 
 companied by moft of the fervants to the door 
 of it; they wifhed him fuccefs, and prayed for 
 him as if he had been going to execution. 
 
 The door was with great difficulty unlocked, 
 
 jsid Jofeph gave Edmund a lighted lamp, and 
 
 E 4
 
 56 THfiOLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 wifhed him a good night; he returned his good 
 wifhes to them all with the utmoft chearful- 
 nefs, took the key on the infide of the door, and 
 difmifled them. 
 
 He then took a furvey of his chamber; the 
 furniture, by long neglect, was decayed and 
 dropping to pieces; the bed was devoured by 
 the moths, and occupied by the rats, who had 
 built their nefts there with impunity for many 
 generations. The bedding was very damp, 
 for the rain had forced its way through the 
 ceiling; he determined, therefore, to lie down 
 in his clothes. There were two doors on the 
 further fide of the room v/ith keys in them ; 
 being not at all fleepy, he refolved to examine 
 them; he attempted one lock, and opened it 
 with eafe; he went into a large dining room, 
 the furniture of which was in the fame tattered 
 condition; out of this was a large clofet with 
 fome books in it, and hung round with coats of 
 arms, with genealogies and alliances of the 
 houfe of Lovel ; he amufed himfelf here fome 
 ininutes, and then returned into the bed-cham- 
 ber. 
 
 He recollected the other door, and refolved 
 to fee where it led to; the key was rufted into 
 the lock, and refitted his attempts ; he fet the 
 Jamp on the ground, and exerting all his 
 #rength opened the door, and at the fame in- 
 to*
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 57 
 
 ftant the wind of it blew out the lamp, and 
 left him in utter darknefs. At the fame mo- 
 ment he heard a hollow ruftling noife like that 
 of a perfon coming through a narrow paflage. 
 Till this moment not one idea of fear had 
 approached the mind of Edmund ; but, juft then, 
 all the concurrent circumftances of his fituation 
 ftruck upon his heart, and gave him a new and 
 difagreeable fenfation.- He paufed a while ; and, 
 recolle&ing himfelf, cried out aloud What 
 ihould I fear ? I have not wilfully offended God, 
 or man ; why, then, (hould I doubt protection ? 
 But I have not yet implored the divine aflift- 
 ance; how, then, can I expect it ! Upon this, he 
 kneeled down and prayed earneftly, refigning 
 himfelf wholly to the will of heaven ; while he 
 was yet fpeaking, his courage returned, and 
 he refumed his ufual confidence ; again he 
 approached the door from whence the noife 
 proceeded; he thought he faw a glimmering 
 light upon a ftaircafe before him. If, faid he, 
 this apartment is haunted, I will ufe my endea- 
 vours to difcover the caufe of it; and if the 
 fpirit appears vifibly, I will fpeak to it. 
 
 He was preparing to defcend the flaircafe, 
 when he heard feveral knocks at the door by 
 jvhich he firft entered the room; and, fteppin* 
 backward, the door was clapped to with great 
 violence, Again fear attacked him, but he 
 
 jefi.fted
 
 $8 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 refitted it, and boldly cried out Who is there ? 
 A voice at the outer door anfwered, 'Its I < 
 Jofeph, vour friend! What do you want, faid 
 Edmund? I have brought you fome wood to 
 make a fire, faid Jofeph.-- 1 thank you kindly, 
 faid Edmund ; but my lamp is gone out ; I will 
 try to find the door, however. After fome 
 trouble he found, and opened it; and was not 
 forry to fee his friend Jofeph with a light in one 
 hand, a flaggon of beer in the other, and a 
 faggot upon his (boulder. 1 come, faid the 
 good old man to bring you fomething to keep 
 up your fpirits ; the evening is cold ; I know 
 this room wants airing; and befide that, my 
 Matter, I think your prefent undertaking re- 
 quires a little affiftance. 
 
 My good friend, faid Edmund, I never (hall 
 be able to deferve or requite your kindnefs to 
 me. My dear Sir, you always deferved more 
 than I could do for you ; and I think I (hall 
 yet live to fee you defeat the defigns of your 
 enemies, and acknowledge the fervices of your 
 friends. Alas, faid Edmund, I fee little pro- 
 fpecT: of that! I fee, faid Jofeph, fomething 
 that perfuades me you are defigned for great 
 things; and I perceive that things are working 
 about to fome great end : Have courage, my 
 Matter, my heart beats (Irangely high upon 
 your account ! You make me fmile, faid Ed- 
 mund,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 5$ 
 
 mund. I am glad to fee it, Sir; may you fmile 
 all the reft of your life. I thank your honeft 
 affe&ion, returned Edmund, though it is too 
 partial to me. You had better go to bed, how- 
 ever; if it is known that you vifit me here, it 
 will be bad for us both. So I will prefently ; 
 but, pleafeGod, I will come here again to-mor- 
 row night when all the family are a-bed; and 
 I will tell you fome things that you never yet 
 heard. But pray tell me, faid Edmund, where 
 does that door lead to ? Upon a paflage that 
 ends in a ftaircafe that leads to the lower rooms; 
 and there is likewife a door out of that paflage 
 into the dining-room. And what rooms are 
 there below flairs, faid Edmund ? The fame as 
 above, replied he. Very well; then I wifh you 
 a good night, we will talk further to-morrow. 
 Aye, to-morrow night; and in this place, my 
 dear Mafter. Why do you call me your Maf- 
 ter ? I never was, nor ever can be, your Mafter. 
 God only knows that, faid the good old 
 man; good night, and heaven blefs you I- 
 good night, my worthy friend ! 
 
 Jofeph withdrew, and Edmund returned to 
 the other door, and attempted feveral times to 
 open it in vain ; his hands were benumbed and 
 tired ; at length he gave over. He made a fire 
 in the chimney, placed the lamp on a table, and 
 opened one of the window-lhutters to admit 
 
 the
 
 60 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 the clay-light; he then recommended himfelf 
 to the divine protection, and threw himfelf upon, 
 the bed ; he prefently fell afleep, and continued 
 in that ftate, till the fun faluted him with his 
 orient beams through the window he had opened. 
 As foon as he was perfectly awake he flrove 
 to recollect his dreams. He thought that he 
 heard people coming up the ftaircafe that he 
 had a glimpfe of; that the door opened, and 
 there entered a \Varrior, leading a Lady by the 
 hand, who was young and beautiful, but pale 
 and wan : The Man was drefled in complete 
 armour, and his helmet do.v n. They approach- 
 ed the bed ; they undrew the curtains. He 
 thought the Man laid, Is this our child ? The 
 woman replied, It is; and the hour approaches 
 that he fhall be known for fuch. They then 
 feparated, and one flood on each fide of the bed ; 
 their hands met over bis head, and they gave 
 him a folemn benedidion. He ftrove to rife 
 and pay them his refpe&s, but they forbad 
 him ; and the Lady faid, Sleep in peace, oh 
 my Edmund ! for thofe who are the true pofiefTors 
 of this apartment are employed in thy prefer- 
 vation: Sleep on, fvveet hope of a houfe that 
 is thought paft hope! Upon this, they 
 withdrew, and went out at the fame door 
 by which they entered, and he heard them 
 dcfcend the flairs. After this, he followed 
 
 a funeral
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 61 
 
 a funeral as chief mourner; he faw the whole 
 proceffion, and heard the ceremonies performed. 
 He was fnatched away from this mournful fcene 
 to one of a contrary kind, a ftately feaft, at 
 which he prefided ; and he heard himfelf con- 
 gratulated as a hufband, and a father : His friend! 
 William fat by his fide ; and his happinefs was 
 complete. Every fucceeding idea was happi- 
 nefs without allay; and his mind was not idle a 
 moment till the morning fun awakened him. 
 He perfectly remembered his dreams, and me- 
 ditated on what all thefe things fhould portend. 
 Am I then, faid he, not Edmund Twyford, but 
 fomebody of confequence in whofe fate fo many 
 people are interefted ? Vain thought, that muft 
 have arifen from the partial fuggeftion of my 
 two friends, Mr. William and old Jofeph ! 
 
 He lay thus reflecting, when a fervant knocked 
 at his door, ana told him it was paft fix o'clock, 
 and that the Baron expected him to breakfaft in 
 an hour. Ht rofe immediately; paid his tribute 
 of thanks to heaven for its protection, and went 
 from his chamber in high health and fpirits. 
 
 He walked in the garden till the hour of 
 breakfaft, and then attended the Baron. Good 
 morrow, Edmund ! faid he; how have you refled 
 in your new apartment? Extremely well my 
 Lord, anfvvered he. I am glad to hear it, faid 
 the Baron ; but I did not know your accommo- 
 9 dations
 
 62 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 dations were fobad, as Jofeph tells me they are, 
 'Tisof no confequence, faid Edmund j if they 
 were much worfe I could diipenfe with them 
 for three nights. Very well, faid the Baron j 
 you are a brave lad : I am fatisfied with you, 
 and will excufe the other two nights. But, my 
 Lord, I will not be excufed ; no one fhall have 
 leafon to fufpe& my courage: I am determined 
 to go through the remaining nights upon many 
 accounts. That fhall be as you pleafe, faid my 
 Lord. I think of you as you defervej fo well, 
 that I fhall afk your advice by and by in fome 
 affairs of confequence. My life and fervices 
 are yours, my Lord ; command them freely. 
 Let Ofwald be called in, faid my Lord ; he fhall 
 be one of our confultation. He came ; the fer- 
 vants were difmifTed ; and the Baron fpoke as 
 follows. Edmund, when firft I took you into 
 my family, it was at the requefl of my fons and 
 kinfmen ; 1 bear witncfs to your good behavi- 
 our, you have not deferved to lofc their efteem ; 
 but, neverthelefs, I have obferved for fome 
 years paft, that all but my fon William have 
 let their faces againft you : I fee their mean- 
 nefs, and I perceive their motives : But they 
 are, and muft be, my relations ; and I would 
 rather govern them by love, than fear. I love 
 and efteem your virtues : I cannot give you up 
 to gratify their humours. My fon William has 
 
 loft
 
 ' A GOTHIC STORY. 63 
 
 loft the affections of the reft, for that he bears 
 to you ; but he has increafed my regard for him : 
 I think myfelf bound in honour to him 
 and you, to provide for you ; I cannot do it, 
 as I wifhed, under my own roof. If you ftay 
 here I fee nothing but confufion in my family ; 
 yet I cannot put you out of it difgracefully. I 
 want to think of fome way to prefer you, that 
 you may leave this houfe with honour ; and I 
 defire both of you to give me your advice in 
 this matter. If Edmund will tell me in what 
 way I can employ him to his own honour and 
 my advantage, I am ready to do it ; let him pro- 
 pofe it, and Ofwald (hall moderate between us. 
 
 Here he flopped ; and Edmund, whofe fighs 
 almoft choaked him, threw himfelf at the Ba- 
 ron's feet, and wet his hand with his tears. 
 Oh, my noble generous benefactor ! do you 
 condefcend to confult fuch a one as me upon 
 the ftate of your family ? does your moft amia- 
 able and beloved fon incur the ill will of his 
 brothers and kinfmen for my fake? What am 
 I, th-u I fhould difturb the peace of this noble 
 family ? Oh, my Lord, fend n-.e away direclly ! 
 I fhould be unworthy to Jive if I did not ear- 
 reftly endeavour to reffore your happinefs. 
 You have given me a noble education, and I 
 truft I mail not difgrace it. If you will recom- 
 mend me, and give me a character, 1 fear not 
 
 to
 
 64 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 to make my own fortune. The Baron wiped 
 his eyes ; I wifh to do this my child, but m 
 what way. My Lord, faid Edmund, I will 
 open my heart to you. I have ferved with cre- 
 dit in the army, and I fhould prefer a foldier's 
 life. You pleafe me well, faid the Baron : I 
 will fend you to France, and give you a recom- 
 mendation to the Regent ; he knows you per- 
 fonally, and will prefer you, for my fake, and 
 for your own merit. My Lord, you overwhelm 
 me with your goodnefs ! I am but your crea- 
 ture, and my life (hall be devoted to your fer- 
 vice. But, faid the Baron, how to difpofe of 
 you till the fpring? That, faid Ofwald, may 
 be thought of at leifure ; I am glad that you have 
 refolved, and I congratulate you both. The 
 Baron put an end to the converfation by de- 
 firing Edmund to go with him into the Manage 
 to fee his horfes. He ordered Ofwald to ac- 
 quaint his fon William with all that had pafied, 
 and to try to perfuade the young men to meet 
 Edmund and William at dinner. 
 
 The Baron took Edmund with him into his 
 Manage to fee fome horfes he had lately pur- 
 chafed ; while they were examining the beau- 
 ties and defe&s of thefe noble and ufeful ani- 
 mals, Edmund declared that he preferred Ca- 
 radoc, a horfe he had broke hirnfelf, to any 
 other in my Lord's ftables. Then, faid the Ba-
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 65 
 
 ron, I will give him to you ; and you {hall go up- 
 on him to feek your fortune. He made new 
 acknowledgments for this gift, and declared he 
 would prize it highly for the giver's fake. But 
 I fhall not part with you yet, faid my Lord ; I 
 will firft carry all my points with thefe faucy 
 
 boys, and oblige them to do you juftice. 
 
 You have already done that, faid Edmund ; and 
 I will not fuffer any of your Lordfhip's blood 
 to undergo any farther humiliation upon my 
 account. I think, with humble fubmiffion to 
 your better judgment, the fooner I go hence 
 the better. 
 
 While they were fpeaking, Ofwald came to 
 them, and faid, that the young men had abfo- 
 lutely refufed to dine at the table, if Edmund 
 was prefent. 'Tis well, faid the Baron ; I fhall 
 find a way to punifh thir coutumacy hereafter : 
 I will make them know that I am the mafter 
 here. Edmund and you, Ofwald, fhall fpend 
 the day in my apartment above flairs. Wil- 
 liam fhall dine with me alone j and I will ac- 
 quaint him with our determination : My fon 
 Robert, and his cabal, fhall be prifoners in the 
 great parlour. Edmund fhall, according to his 
 own defire, fpend this and the following night 
 in the haunted apartment; and this for his 
 fake, and my own j for if I fhould now contra- 
 F dia
 
 66 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON*: 
 
 diet my former orders, it would fubjeft us both 
 to their impertinent reflections. 
 
 He then took Ofwald afide, and charged 
 him not to let Edmund go out of his fight ; for 
 if he fhould come in the way of thofe impla- 
 cable enemies, he trembled for the confequen- 
 ces. He then walked back to the ftables, and 
 the two friends returned into the houfe. 
 
 They had a long converfation on various 
 fubjedts ; in the courfe of it, Edmund acquainted 
 Ofwald with all that had pafled between him 
 and Jofeph the preceding night, the curiofity 
 he had raifed in him, and his promife to gra- 
 tify it the night following. I wifli, faid Of- 
 wald, you would permit me to be one of your 
 party. How can that be, faid Edmund ? we 
 fhall be watched perhaps; and, if difcovered, 
 what excufe can you make for coming there ? 
 . Befide, if it were known, I fhall be branded 
 with the imputation of cowardice, and though 
 I have borne much, I will not promife to bear 
 that patiently. Never fear, replied Ofwald, I 
 I will fpeak to Jofeph about it, and after prayers 
 are over and (he family gone to bed, I will fteal 
 away from my own chamber and come to you. 
 I am flrongly interefled in your affairs; and I 
 cannot be eafy unlefs you will receive me into 
 your company: I will bind myfelf to fecrecy
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 67 
 
 in any manner you fhall enjoin. Your word is 
 fufficient, faid Edmund ; I have as much rea- 
 fon to truft you, father, as any man living; I 
 fhould be ungrateful to refufe you any thing 
 in my power to grant : But fuppofe the apart- 
 ment fhould really be haunted, would you have 
 refolution enough to purfue the adventure to a 
 difcovery? I hope fo, faid Ofwald: But have 
 you any reafon to believe it is ? I have, faid 
 Edmund ; but I have not opened my lips upon 
 this fubject to any creature but yourfelf. This 
 night I purpofe, if Heaven permit, to go all over 
 the rooms; and though I had formed this de- 
 iign, I will confefs that your company will 
 ftrengthen my refolution. I will have no re- 
 ferves to you in any refpedt; but I muft put a 
 feal upon your lips. Ofwald fwore fecrecy till 
 he fhould" be permitted to difclofe the myfteries 
 of that apartment ; and both of them waited, 
 in fo'emn expectation, the event of the approach- 
 ing night. 
 
 In the afternoon Mr. William was allowed 
 to vifit his friend : An affecting interview paffed 
 between them : He lamented the neceflity of 
 Edmund's departure; and they took a folemn 
 leave of each other, as if thev foreboded it 
 would be long e'er they fhould meet again. 
 
 About the fame hour as the preceding even- 
 ing, Jofeph came to conduct Edmund to his 
 F a apartments
 
 68 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 apartment. You will find better accommoda- 
 tions than you had laft night, faid he, and all 
 by my Lord's own order. I every hour receive 
 fome new proof of his goodnefs, faid Edmundt 
 When they arrived, he found a good fire in the 
 chamber, and a table covered with cold meats, 
 and a flaggon of ftrong beer. Sit down and 
 get your fupper, my dear Mafter, faid Jofeph : 
 I muft attend my Lord ; but as foon as the fa- 
 mily are gone to bed I will vifit you again. 
 Do fo, faid Edmund ; but firft, fee father Of- 
 wald; he has fomething to fay to you: You 
 may truft him, for I have no referves to him. 
 Well, Sir, I will fee him if you defire it; and I 
 will come to you as foon as poffible. So fay- 
 ing, he went his way 3 and Edmund fat down to 
 fupper. 
 
 After a moderate refrefhment he kneeled 
 down, and prayed with the greateft fervency; 
 he refigned himfelf to the difpofal of Heaven: 
 I am nothing, faid he, I defire to be nothing 
 but what thou, O Lord, pleafeft to make me: 
 If it is thy will that I fhould return to my for- 
 mer obfcurity, be it obeyed with chearfulnefs f 
 and, if thou art pleafed to exalt me, I will look 
 up to thee as the only fountain of honour and 
 dignity. While he prayed, he felt an enlarge- 
 ment of heart beyond what he had ever ex- 
 perienced before j all idle fears were difperfed, 
 
 awl
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 69 
 
 and his heart glowed with divine love and af- 
 fiance : He feemed raifed above the world and 
 all its purfuits. He continued wrapt up in men- 
 tal devotion, till a knocking at the door obliged 
 him to rife, and let in his two friends, who 
 came without fhoes, and on tiptoe, to vifit him. 
 
 Save you, my fon ! faid the friar ; you look 
 chearful and happy. -7-! am fo, father, faid Ed- 
 mund ; I have refigned myfelf to the difpofal 
 of Heaven, and I find my heart ftrengthened 
 above what I can exprefs. Heaven be praifed ! 
 faid Ofwald : I believe you are defigned for 
 great things, my fon. What ! do you too en- 
 courage my ambition ? fays Edmund j ftrange 
 concurrence of circumftances ! Sit down, my 
 friends ; and do you, my good Jofeph, tell me 
 the particulars you promifed laft night. They 
 drew their chairs round the fire, and Jofeph, 
 began as follows. 
 
 You have heard of the untimely death of 
 the late Lord Lovel, my noble and worthy 
 Matter; perhaps you may have alfo heard that, 
 from that time, this apartment was haunted. 
 What paused the other day, when my Lord 
 queflioned you both on this head, brought all 
 the circumftances frefh into my mind. You, 
 then faid, there were fufpicions that he came 
 not fairly to his end. I truft you both, and will 
 fpeak what I know of it. There was a perfon 
 F 3 fufpeded
 
 70 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 fufpe&ed of this murder; and whom do you 
 think it was ? You muft fpeak out, faid Of- 
 wald. Why then, faid Jofeph, it was the pre- 
 fentLord Lovel. You fpeak my thoughts, faid 
 Ofwald ; but proceed to the proofs. I will, 
 faid Jofeph. From the time that my Lord's 
 death was reported, there were ftrange whif- 
 perings and confutations between the new 
 Lord and fome of the fervants ; there was a 
 deal of private bufinefs carried on in this apart- 
 ment : Soon after, they gave out that my poor 
 Lady was diftrafled ; but fh.e threw out flrong 
 cxpreffions that favoured nothing of madnefs : 
 She faid, that the ghoft of her departed Lord 
 had appeared to her, and revealed the circum- 
 ftances of this murder. None of the fervants, 
 but one, were permitted to fee her. At this 
 very time Sir Walter, the new Lord, had the 
 cruelty to offer love to her j he urged her to 
 marry him ; and one of her women overheard 
 her fay, (he would fooner die than give her hand 
 to the man who caufed the death of her Lord : 
 Soon after this, we were told my Lady was 
 dead. The Lord Lovel made a publick and 
 fumptuous funeral for her. That is true, faid 
 Ofwald j for I was a novice, and aflifted at it. 
 
 Well, fays Jofeph, now comes my part of 
 the ftory. As I was coming home from the 
 burial, I overtook Roger our plowman. Said he, 
 
 What
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 7* 
 
 What think you of this burying ? What fhould 
 I think, faid I, but that we have loft the beft 
 Matter and Lady that we (hall ever know ? 
 God he knows, quoth Roger, whether they 
 be living or dead ; but if ever I faw my Lady 
 in my life, I faw her alive the night they fay 
 fhe died. I tried to convince him that he was 
 miftaken; but he offered to take his oath, that 
 the very night they faid {he died, he faw her 
 come out at the garden gate into the fields ; 
 that flie often flopped, like a perfon in pain, 
 and then went forward again until he loft fight 
 of her. Now it is certain that her time was 
 out, and fhe expected to lay down every day: 
 and they did not pretend that fhe died in child- 
 bed. I thought upon what I heard, but no- 
 thing I faid. Roger told the fameftory to ano- 
 ther fervant j fo he was called to an account, 
 the ftory was hufhed up, and the foolifh fellow 
 faid, he was verily perfuaded it was her ghoft 
 that he faw. Now you muft take notice that 
 from this time, they began to talk about that 
 this apartment was troubled : and not only this, 
 but at laft the new Lord could not fleep in quiet 
 in his own room ; and this induced him to fell 
 the caftle to his brother-in-law, and get out of 
 this country as faft as poflible. He took mofl 
 of the fervants away with him, and Roger 
 #rnong the reft. As for me, they thought I 
 F 4 knew
 
 72 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 knew nothing, and fo they left me behind ; 
 but I was neither blind nor deaf, though I 
 could hear, and fee, and fay nothing. 
 
 This is a dark ftory, faid Ofwald. It is fo, 
 faid Edmund; but why fhould Jofeph feern 
 to think it concerns me in particular? Ah, 
 dear Sir! faid Jofeph, I mufttell you, though I 
 never uttered it to mortal man before ; the ftri- 
 king refemblance this young man bears to my 
 dear Lord, the ftrange diflike his reputed father 
 took to him, his gentle manners, his generous 
 heart, his noble qualities fo uncommon in thofe 
 of his birth and breeding, the found of his 
 voice You may fmile at the ftrength of my 
 fancy, but I cannot put it out of my mind but 
 that he is my own Matter's fon. 
 
 At thefe words Edmund changed colour and 
 trembled ; he clapped his hand upon his breaft, 
 and looked tfp to Heaven in filence; his dream 
 recurred to his memory, and ftruck upon his 
 heart. He related it to his attentive auditors. 
 The ways of providence are wonderful, faid 
 Ofwald ! If this be fo, Heaven in its own time 
 will make it appear. 
 
 Here a filence of feveral minutes enfued ; 
 when, fuddenly, they were awakened from their 
 reverie by a violent noife in the rooms under- 
 neath them. It feemed like the clafhing of 
 
 arms,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 73 
 
 arms, and fomething feemed to fall down with 
 violence. 
 
 They ftarted, and Edmund rofe up with a 
 look full of refolution and intrepidity. I am 
 called ! faid he; I obey the call ! He took up 
 a lamp, and went to the door that he had 
 opened the night before. Ofwald followed 
 with his rofary in his hand, and Jofeph laft 
 with trembling fteps. The door opened with 
 eafe, and they defcended the ftairs in profound 
 iilence. 
 
 The lower rooms anfwered exadlly to thofe 
 above ; there were two parlours and a large 
 clofet. They faw nothing remarkable in thefe 
 rooms, except two pictures' that were turned 
 with their faces to the wall. Jofeph took the 
 courage to turn them: Thefe, faid he, are the 
 portraits of my late Lord and Lady. Father, 
 look at this face, do you know who is like it. 
 I fliould think, faid Ofwald, it was done for 
 Edmund ! I am, faid Edmund, ftruck with the 
 refemblance myfelf : But let us go on, I feel 
 myfelf infpired with unufual courage. Let us 
 open the clofet door. Ofwald flopped him 
 ftiort; Take heed, faid he, left the wind of the 
 door put out the lamp. I will open this door. 
 He attempted it without fuccefs ; Jofeph did 
 the fame, but to no purpofe : Edmund gave 
 the lamp to Jofeph, he approached the door, 
 
 tried
 
 74 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON; 
 
 tried the key, and it gave way to his hand in 
 a moment. This adventure belongs, faid he, 
 to me only, that is plain ; bring the lamp for- 
 ward. Ofwald repeated the paternofter, in 
 which they all joined, and then entered the 
 clofet. 
 
 The firft thing that prefented itfelf to their 
 view was a compleat fuit of armour that 
 feemed to have fallen down on an heap. Be- 
 hold ! faid Edmund; this made the noife we 
 heard above. They took it up, and examined it 
 piece by piece ; the infide of the breaft-plate 
 was ftained with blood. See here ! faid Ed- 
 mund ; what think you of this? 'Tis my 
 Lord's armour, faid Jofeph ; I know it well : 
 Here has been bloody work in this clofet! 
 Going forward he {tumbled over fomething ; it 
 was a ring with the arms of Lovel engraved 
 upon it. This is my Lord's ring, faid Jofeph j 
 I have feen him wear it: I give it to you, Sir, as 
 the right owner; and moft religioufly do I believe 
 you his fon. Heaven only knows that, faid 
 Edmund ; and, if it permits, I will know who 
 was my father before I am a day older. While 
 he was fpeaking he fhii'ted his ground, and 
 perceived that the boards rofc up on the other 
 fide of the clofet ; upon farther examination they 
 found that the whole floor was loofe, and a 
 table that flood over them concealed the cir- 
 
 cumftaiice
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 75 
 
 cumftance from a cafual obferver. I perceive~7~~ 
 faid Ofwald, that fome great difcovery is at 
 hand. God defend us! faid Edmund, but I 
 verily believe that the perfon that owned this 
 armour lies buried under us. Upon this, a dif- 
 mal hollow groan was heard as if from under- 
 neath. A folemn filence enfued, and marks 
 of fear were vifible upon all three; the groan 
 was thrice heard : Ofwald made figns for them 
 to kneel, and he prayed audibly, that Heaven*"' 
 would diredl them how to adt; he alfo prayed 
 for the foul of the departed, that it might reft 
 in peace. After this he arofe ; but Edmund 
 continued kneeling: He vowed folemnly to de- 
 vote himfelf to the difcovery of this fecret, 
 and the avenging the death of the perfon there 
 buried. He then rofe up. Tt would be to no 
 purpofe, faid he, for us to examine further now, 
 when I am properly authorifed I will have this 
 place opened : I truft that time is not far off.- 
 I believe it, faid Ofwald ; you are defigned by 
 Heaven to be its inftrument in bringing this 
 deed of darknefs to light. We are your crea- 
 tures, only tell us what you would have us do, 
 and we are ready to obey your commands. 
 I only demand your filence, faid Edmund, till 
 I call for your evidence ; and then, you mufl 
 fpeak all you know, and all you fufpecT:. Oh, 
 faid Jofeph, that I may but live to fee that 
 
 day,
 
 76 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 day, and I {hall have lived long enough ! 
 Come, {aid Edmund, let us return up ftairs, 
 and we will confult further how I fiull pro- 
 ceed : So faying, he went out of the clofet, 
 and they followed him. He locked the door, 
 and took the key out : I will keep this, faid 
 he, till I have power to ufe it to purpofe, left 
 any one fhould prefume to pry into the fecret 
 of this clofet : I will always carry it about me, 
 to remind me of what I have undertaken. 
 
 Upon this, they returned up ftairs into the 
 bed-chamber j all was ftill, and they heard no- 
 thing more to difturb them. How, faid Ed- 
 mund, is it poffible that I fliould be the fon of 
 Lord Lovel ? for, however circumftances have 
 feemed to encourage fuch a notion, what rear 
 fon have I to believe it ? I am ftrangely puz- 
 zled about it, faid Ofwald. It feems unlikely 
 that fo good a man as Lord Lovel fliould cor- 
 rupt the wife of a peafant, his vaflal ; and, efpe- 
 cially, being fo lately married to a Lady with 
 whom he was paflionately in love. Hold there ! 
 faid Jofeph ; my Lord was incapable of fuch an 
 action : If Mafter Edmund is the fon of my 
 Lord, he is alfo the fon of my Lady. How can 
 that be, faid Edmund ? I don't know how, 
 faid Jofeph ; but there is a perfon who can tell 
 if (he will : I mean Margery Twyford, who 
 calls herfelf your mother. You meet my 
 
 thoughts,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 77 
 
 thoughts, faid Edmund; I had refolved, before 
 you ipoke, to vifit her, and to interrogate her 
 on the fubject : I will aflc my Lord's permiflion 
 to go this very day. That is right, faid Ofwald ; 
 but be cautious and prudent in your enquiries. 
 If you, faid Edmund, would bear me com- 
 pany I (hould do better ; fhe might think her- 
 felf obliged to anfwer your queftions ; and, be- 
 ing lefs interefted in the event, you would be 
 more difcreet in your interrogations. That I 
 will moft readily, faid hej and I will afk my 
 Lord's permiflion for us both. This point is 
 well determined, faid Jofeph j I am impatient 
 for the refultj and I believe my feet will carry 
 me to meet you whether I confent or not. 
 I am as impatient as you, faid Ofwald ; but 
 let us be filent as the grave, and let not a 
 word or look indicate any thing knowing or 
 rnyfterious. 
 
 The day-light began to dawn upon their 
 conference; and Edmund, obferving it, begged 
 his friends to withdraw in filence. They did 
 fo, and left Edmund to his own recollections. 
 His thoughts were too much employed for 
 fleep to approach him ; he threw himfelf upon 
 the bed, and lay meditating how he fhould 
 proceed ; a thoufand fchemes offered themfelves 
 and were rejected ; But he refolved, at all 
 
 events,
 
 78 THE OLD ENGLISH BAROtfi 
 
 events, to leave Baron Fitz-Owen's family ths 
 firft opportunity that prefented itfelf. 
 
 He was fummoned, as before, to attend my 
 Lord at breakfaft; during which, he was fi- 
 Jent, abfent, and referved. ' My Lord obferved 
 it, and rallied him; enquiring how he had 
 fpent the night? In reflecting upon my fitua- 
 tion, my Lord ; and in laying plans for my fu- 
 ture conduct. Ofwald took the hint, and afked 
 permiffion to vifit Edmund's mother in his 
 company, and acquaint her with his intentions 
 of leaving the country foon. He confented 
 freely; but feemed unrefolved about Edmund's 
 departure. 
 
 They fet out directly, and Edmund went 
 haftily to old Tvvyford's cottage, declaring that 
 every field feemed 'a mile to him. Reftrain your 
 warmth my fon, faid Ofwald ; compofe your 
 minJ, and recover your breath, before you en- 
 ter upon a bufmefs of fuch confequence. Mar- 
 gery met them at the door, and afked Edmund, 
 what wind blew him thither ? Is it fo very fur- 
 prifmg, faid he, that I fliould vifit my parents ? 
 Yes it is, faid flie, confidering the treatment 
 you have met with from us j but fincc Andrew 
 is not in the houfe I may fay I am glad to fee 
 you : Lord blefs you, what a fine youth you 
 be grown ! 'Tis a long time fines I law you ; 
 
 but
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 79 
 
 but that is not my fault : Many a crofs word, 
 and many a blow have I had- on your account; 
 but I may now venture to embrace my dear 
 child. Edmund came forward and embraced 
 her fervently ; the ftarting tears, on both fides, 
 evinced their affection. And why, faid he, 
 fhould my father forbid you to embrace your 
 child ? what have I ever done to deferve his 
 hatred ? Nothing, my dear boy ! you were 
 always good and tender hearted, and deferved 
 the love of every body. It is not common, faid 
 Edmund, for a parent to hate his firft born fon 
 without his having deferved it. That is true, 
 faid Ofwald ; it is uncommon, it is unnatural ; 
 nay, I am of opinion it is almoft impoffible. I 
 I am fo convinced of this truth, that I believe 
 the man who thus hates and abufes Edmund, 
 cannot be his father. In faying this, he obferved 
 her countenance attentively ; fhe changed colour 
 apparently. Come, faid he, let us fit down ; 
 and do you Margery anfwer to what I have faid : 
 Blefled Virgin ! faid Margery, what does your Re- 
 verence mean ? what do you fufpedl ? I fufpecl, 
 faid he, that Edmund is not the fon of Andrew 
 your hufband. Lord blefs me, faid {he, whai 
 is it you do fufped ? Do notevade my queftion. 
 woman ! I am come here by authority to exa- 
 mine you upon this point. The woman trem- 
 bled every joint : Would to Heaven ! faid (he, 
 
 that
 
 8o THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 that Andrew was at home ! It is much better as 
 it is, faid Ofwald : You are the perfon we are 
 to examine. Oh, father, faid (he, do you 
 think that I 'that I that I am to blame in this 
 matter ? what have I done ? Do you, Sir, faid 
 he, afk your own questions. Upon this, Ed- 
 mund threw himfelf at her feet, and embraced 
 her knees. Oh my mother, faid he, for as 
 fuch my heart owns you, tell me for the love of 
 Heaven! tell me who was my father ? Gra- 
 cious Heaven ? faid (he, what will become of 
 me ? Woman ! faid Ofwald, confefs the truth 
 or you (hall be compelled to do it : By whom 
 had you this youth ? Who, I ! faid (he ; I had 
 him ! No, father, I am not guilty of the black 
 crime of adultery ; God he knows my inno- 
 cence : I am not worthy to be the mother of 
 fuch a fweet youth as that is. You are not 
 his mother then, nor Andrew his father ? Oh, 
 what (hall I do ! faid Margery ; Andrew will 
 be the death of me ! No, he (hall not, faid 
 Edmund ; you (hall be protected and rewarded 
 for the difcovery. Goody, faid Ofwald, con- 
 fefs the whole truth, and I will protect you from 
 harm and from blame; you may be the means of 
 making Edmund's fortune, in which cafe he 
 will certainly provide for you ; on the other 
 hand, by an obftinate filence you will deprive 
 yourfelf of all advantages you might receive from 
 
 the
 
 A GOTHIC StORV. 8t 
 
 the difcovery ; and, beficle, you will foon be 
 Examined in a different manner, and be obliged 
 toconfefs all you know, and nobody will thank 
 you for it. Ah, faid file, but Andrew beat me 
 the laft time I fpoke to Edmund ; and told me 
 he would break every bone in my fkin if ever I 
 fpoke to him again. - He knows it then, faid 
 Ofwald ? He know it ! Lord help you, it was 
 all his own doing. Tell us then, faid Ofwald, 
 for Andrew ftiall never know it, till it is out of 
 his power to punifli you. 'Tis a long ftory, 
 faid (he, and cannot be told in a few words. 
 It will never be told at this rate, faid he ; fit 
 down and begin it inftantly. My fate depends 
 upon your words, faid Edmund j my foul is im- 
 patient of the fufpence ! If ever you loved me 
 and cherifhed me, (hew it now, and tell while 
 1 have breath to afk it. 
 
 He fat in extreme agitation of mind ; his 
 words and aflions were equally expreflive of 
 his inward emotions. I will, faid fhe; but I 
 muft try to recolleil all the circumftances. You 
 muft know* young man, that you are juft one 
 and twenty years of age. On what day was he 
 born, faid Ofwald ? The day before yefterday, 
 faid fhe, the 2lft of September. A remarkable 
 aera, faid he. 'Tis fo indeed, faid Edmund : 
 Oh, that night ! that apartment ! Be iilent, 
 G faid
 
 82 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 faid Ofwald j and do you, Margery, begin your 
 ftory. 
 
 I will, faid fhe. Juft one and twenty years 
 ago, on that very day, I loft my firft born fon : 
 I got a hurt by over-reaching myfelf when I 
 was near my time, and fo the poor child died. 
 And fo, as I was fitting all alone, and very me- 
 lancholy, Andrew came home from work : See 
 Margery, faid he, I have brought you a child 
 inftead of that you have loft. So he gave me a 
 bundle, as I thought ; but fure enough it was a 
 child ; a poor helplefs babe juft born, and only 
 rolled up in a fine handkerchief, and over that a 
 rich velvet cloak, trimmed with gold lace. And 
 where did you find this ? faid I. Upon the 
 foot bridge, fays he, juir. below the clay field. 
 This child, faid he, belongs to fome great folk, 
 and perhaps it may be enquired after one day, 
 and may make our fortunes j take care of it, 
 faid he, and bring it up as if it was your own. 
 The poor infant was cold, and it cried, and 
 looked up at me fo pitifully, that I loved it ; 
 befide my milk was troublefome to me, and I 
 was glad to be eafed of it, fo I gave it the breaft, 
 and from that hour I loved the child as if it were 
 my own, and fo I do ftill if I dared to own it. 
 
 And this is all you know of Edmund's 
 
 birth ? faid Ofwalu. No, not all, faid Margery ; 
 but pray look out and fee whether Andrew is 
 
 coming,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 83 
 
 coming, for I am all over in a twitter. He is 
 not, faid Ofwald ; go on I befeech you ! 
 This happened, faid (he, as I told you, on the 
 2ift. On the morrow my Andrew went out 
 early to work, along with one Robin Roufe, 
 our neighbour ; they had not been gone above 
 an hour when they both came back feemingly 
 very much frightened : Says Andrew, go you 
 Robin and borrow a pick-axe at neighbour 
 Styles's. What is the matter now, faid I ? 
 Matter enough, quoth Andrew ! we may come 
 to be hanged perhaps, as many an innocent man 
 has before us. Tell me what is the matter ? 
 faid I. I will, faid he ; but if ever you open 
 your mouth about it, woe be to you ! I never 
 will, faid I : But he made me fwear by all the 
 blefled Saints in the Calendar ; and then he told 
 me, that as Robin and he were going over the 
 foot bridge, where he found the child the even- 
 ing before, they faw fomething floating upon the 
 water ; fo they followed it, till it ftuck againft 
 a ftake, and found it to be the dead body of a 
 woman : As fure as you are alive Madge, faid 
 he, this was the mother of the child I brought 
 home. Merciful God ! faid Edmund ; am I 
 the child of that haplefs mother ? Be compofed, 
 faid Ofwald : Proceed, good woman, the time 
 is precious. And fo, continued fhe, Andrew- 
 told me they dragged the body out of the river, 
 G 2 and
 
 84 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 and it was richly dreflfed, and muft be fomebody 
 of confequence. I fuppofe, faid he, when the 
 poor Lady had taken care of her child, fhe went 
 to find fome help ; and, the night being dark, 
 her foot flipped, and flie fell into the river and 
 was drowned. 
 
 Lord have mercy ! faid Robin, what fhall 
 we do with the dead body ? we may be taken 
 up for the murder ; what had we to do to med- 
 dle with it ? Ay, but, fays Andrew, we muft 
 have fomething to do with it nowj and our 
 wifeft way is to bury it. Robin was fadly 
 frightened, but at raft they agreed to carry it 
 into the wood and bury it there ; fo they came 
 home for a pick-axe and (hovel. Well, faid I, 
 Andrew, but will you bury all the rich clothes 
 you fpeak of? Why, faid he, it would be both 
 a fin and a fhame to ftrip the dead. So it 
 would, faid I ; but I will give you a fheet ta 
 wrap the body in, and you may take off her up- 
 per garments, and any thing of value j but do 
 not ftrip her to the fkin for any thing. Well 
 faid, wench ! faki he ; I will do as you fay. So 
 I fetched a meet, and by that time Robin was 
 come back, and away they went together. 
 
 They did not come back again till noon, and 
 then they fat down and ate a morfel together. 
 Says Andrew, Now we may fit down and eat ir> 
 
 peace.
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 85 
 
 peace. Ay, fays Robin, and fleep in peacetoo, 
 for we have done no harm. No, to be fure, 
 faid I; but yet I am much concerned that the 
 p-jor Lady had not Chriftian burial. Never 
 trouble thyfelf about that, faid Andrew j we 
 have done the beft we could for her: But let 
 us fee what we have got in our bags, we muft 
 divide them. So they opened their bags, and 
 took out a fine gown and a pair of rich {hoes ; 
 but befides thefe, there was a fine necklace with 
 a golden locket, and a pair of ear-rings. Says 
 Andrew, and winked at me, I will have thefe, 
 and you may take the reft. Robin faid, he was 
 fatisfied, and fo he went his way. When he 
 was gone, Here you fool, fays Andrew, take 
 thefe, and keep them as fafe as the bud of your 
 ye : If ever young Mafter is found, thefe will 
 make our fortune. And have you them now ? 
 faid Ofwald. Yes, that I have, anfwered fhe; 
 Andrew would have fold them long ago, but I 
 always put him off it. Heaven be praifed ! faid 
 Edmund. Hufh, faid Ofwald, let us not lofe 
 time; proceed, Goody! Nay, faid Margery, 
 I have not much more to fay. We looked eve- 
 ry day to hear fome enquiries after the child, but 
 nothing pafied, nobody was miffing. Did no- 
 body of note die about that time ? faid Ofwald. 
 Why yes, faid Margery, the widow Lady 
 died that fame week : By the fame token, 
 G 3 Andrew
 
 86 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON : 
 
 Andrew went to the funeral and brought home 
 a 'fcutcheon, which I keep unto this day. Ve- 
 ry well ; go on. My hufband behaved well 
 enough to the boy till fuch time as he had two 
 or three children of his own ; and then he began 
 to grumble, and fay, it was hard to maintain 
 other folks children, when he found it hard 
 enough to keep his own : I loved the boy quite 
 as well as my own ; often and often have I paci- 
 fied Andrew, and made him to hope that he 
 fhould one day or other be paid for his trouble; 
 but at laft he grew out of patience, and gave 
 over all hopes of that kind. 
 
 As Edmund grew up, he grew fickly and ten- 
 der, and could not bear hard labour ; and that 
 was another reafon why my hufband could not 
 bear with him. If, quoth he, the boy could 
 earn his living I did not care; but I muft bear 
 all the expence. There came an old pilgrim 
 into our parts, he was a fcholar, and had been 
 a foldier, and he taught Edmund to read ; then 
 he told him hiftories of wars, and Knights, and 
 Lords, and great men ; and Edmund took fuch 
 delight in hearing him, that he would not take 
 to any thing elfe. 
 
 To be fure Edwin was a pleafant companion, 
 he would tell old ftories, and fmg old fongs, 
 that one could have fat all night to hear him ; 
 but, as I was a faying, Edmund grew more 
 
 and
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 87 
 
 and more fond of reading and lefs of work ; 
 however, he would run of errands and do many 
 handy turns for the neighbours ; and he was fo 
 courteous a lad that people took notice of him. 
 Andrew once catched him alone reading, and 
 then told him, that if he did not find fome way 
 to earn his bread, he would turn him out of 
 doors in a very fhort time j and fo he would have 
 done fure enough, if my Lord Fitz-Owen had 
 not taken him into his fervice juft in the nick. 
 
 Very well, Goody, faid Ofwald ; you have 
 told your ftory very well ; I am glad for Edmund's 
 fake, that you can do it fo properly : But now, 
 can you keep a fecret ? Why an't pleafe your 
 Reverence, I think I have fhowed you that I 
 can. But can you keep it from your hufband ? 
 Aye, faid fhe, furely I can ; for I dare not tell 
 it him. That is a good fecurity, faid he ; but I 
 muft have a better : You muft fwear upon this 
 book not to difclofe any thing that has pafled be- 
 tween us three, till we defire you to do it. Be 
 affured you will foon be called upon for this pur- 
 pofe ; Edmund's birth is near the difcovery : 
 He is the fon of parents of high degree ; and it 
 will be in his power to make your fortune when 
 he takes pofleflion of his own. 
 
 Holy Virgin ! what is it you tell me ? How 
 
 you rejoice me to hear, that what I have fo long 
 
 prayed for will come to pafs! She took the 
 
 G 4 oath
 
 88 THEOLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 oath required, faying after Ofwald. Now, faid 
 he, go and fetch the tokens you have mentioned. 
 When fhe was gone, Edmund's pafiions, long 
 fupprefled, broke out in tears and exclamations} 
 he kneeled down, and, with his hands clafped 
 together, returned thanks to Heaven for the dif- 
 covery. Ofwald begged him to be compofed, 
 Jeft Margery (hould perceive his agitation, and, 
 mifconftrue the caufe. She foon returned with 
 the necklace and ear-rings : They were pearls 
 of great value; and the necklace had a locket, 
 on which the cypher of Lovel was engraved. 
 This, faid Ofwald, is indeed a proof of confe- 
 quence : Keep it, Sir, for it belongs to you. 
 Muft he take it away? faid fhe. Certainly, 
 returned Ofwald j we can do nothing without 
 it: But if Andrew fliould afk for it, you muft 
 put him off for the prefent, and hereafter he 
 will find his account in it. Margery confented 
 reluctantly to part with the jewels ; and, after 
 fome further converfation, they took leave of 
 her. Edmund embraced her affectionately. I 
 thank you with my whole heart, faid he, for all 
 your goodnefs to me ! Though I confefs, I ne- 
 ver felt much regard for your hufband, yet for 
 you I had always the tender affection of a fon. 
 You will, I truft, give your evidence in my 
 behalf when called upon ; and I hope it will one 
 day be in my power to reward your kindnefs : 
 
 In
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 89 
 
 In that cafe, I will own you as my fofter-mo- 
 ther, and you (hall always be treated as fuch. 
 
 Margery wept. The Lord grant it ! faid 
 
 flie j and I pray him to have you in his holy 
 keeping. Farewel, my dear child ! Ofwald de- 
 fired them to feparate for fear of intrufion j and 
 they returned to the Caftle. Margery flood at 
 the door of her cottage, looking every way to 
 fee if the coaft was clear. 
 
 Now, Sir, faid Ofwald, I congratulate you 
 as the fon of Lord and Lady Lovel ! the proofs 
 are ftrong and indifputable. To us they are fo, 
 faid Edmund ; but how fliall we make them fo 
 to others ? and what are we to think of the fu- 
 neral of Lady Lovel ? As of a fi&ion, faid 
 Ofwald j the work of the prefent Lord, to fe- 
 cure his title and fortune. And what means 
 can we ufe to difpofiefs him ? faid Edmund : 
 He is not a man for a poor youth like me to 
 contend with. Doubt not, faid Ofwald, but 
 Heaven, who has evidently conduced you by 
 the hand thus far, will compleat its ovirn work ; 
 for my part, I can only wonder and adore ! 
 Give me your advice then, faid Edmund j for 
 Heaven aflifts us by natural means. 
 
 It feems to me, faid Ofwald, that your firft 
 flep muft be to make a friend of fome great 
 man, of confequence enough to efpoufe your 
 and to get this affair examined into by 
 authority.
 
 90 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 authority. Edmund ftarted, and crofled him- 
 felf; he fuddenly exclaimed A friend ! Yes; 
 I have a friend ! a powerful one too ; one fent 
 by Heaven to be my proteror, but whom I 
 have too long neglefted. Who can that be? 
 fard Ofwald. Who fliould it be, faid Edmund, 
 but that good Sir Philip Harclay, the chofen 
 friend of him, whom I fhall from henceforward 
 call my father. 'Tis true indeed, faid Ofv/ald ; 
 and this is a frefh proof of what 1 before ob- 
 ferved, that Heaven affifts you, 'and will com- 
 pleat its own work. 1 think fo myfelf, faid 
 Edmund, and rely upon its direction. I have 
 already determined on my future conduct, 
 which I will communicate to you. My firft 
 ftep (hall be to leave the Caftle ; my Lord has 
 this day given me a horfe, upon which I pur- 
 pofe to fet out this very night, without the 
 knowledge of any of the family. I will go to 
 Sir Philip Harclay; I will throw myfelf at his 
 feet, relate my ftrange ftory, and implore his 
 protection : With him I will confult on the 
 moft proper way of bringing this murderer to 
 public juftice; and I will be guided by his 
 advice and direction in every thing Nothing 
 can be better, faid Ofwald, than what you 
 propofe; but give me leave to offer an addition 
 to your fcheme. You fhall fet off in the dead 
 of night as you intend; Jofeph^ and I, will fa-
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 91 
 
 vour your departure in fuch a manner as to 
 throw a myftery over the circumftances of it : 
 Your difappearing at fuch a time from the 
 haunted apartment, will terrify and confound 
 all the family j they will puzzle themfelves in 
 vain to account for it, and they will be afraid 
 to pry into the fecrets of that place. 
 
 You fay well, and I approve your addition, 
 replied Edmund. Suppofe, likewife, there was 
 a letter written in a myfterious manner, and 
 dropt in my Lord's way, or fent to him after- 
 wards; it would forward our defign, and frighten 
 them away from that apartment. That fhall be 
 my care, faid Ofwald; and I will warrant you 
 that they will not find themfelves difpofed to 
 inhabit it prefently. But how (hall I leave my 
 dear friend Mr. William, without a word of 
 notice of this feparation ? I have thought of 
 that too, faid Ofwald ; and I will fo manage, 
 as to acquaint him with it in fuch a manner 
 as he fhall think out of the common courfe of 
 things, and which fhall make him wonder and 
 be filent. How will you do that, faid Edmund ? 
 I will tell you hereafter, faid Ofwald; for 
 here comes old Jofeph to meet us. 
 
 He came, indeed, as faft as his age would 
 permit him. As foon as he was within hearing, 
 he afked them what news ? They related all 
 that had pafled at Twy ford's cottage; he heard 
 
 them
 
 92 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 them with the greateft eagernefs of attention, 
 and as foon as they came to the great event 
 I knew it ! I knew it ! exclaimed Jofeph ; I 
 Was fure it would prove fo ! Thank God for 
 it! But I will be the firft to acknowledge my 
 young Lord, and I will live and die his faith- 
 ful fervant ! Here Jofeph attempted to kneel 
 to him, but Edmund prevented him with a 
 warm embrace: My friend, my dear friend! 
 faid he, I cannot fuffer a man of your age to 
 kneel to me; are you not one of my beft and 
 trueft friends ? I will ever remember your dif- 
 interefted affection for me; and if heaven re- 
 ftores me to my rights, it (hall be one of my 
 firft cares to render your old age eafy and happy. 
 Jofeph wept over him, and it was fome time 
 before he could utter a word, 
 
 Ofwald gave them both time to recover 
 their emotion, by acquainting Jofeph with 
 Edmund's fcheme for his departure. Jofeph 
 wiped his eyes and fpoke. I have thought, faid 
 he, of fomething that will be both agreeable 
 and ufeful to my dear Mafter. John Wyatt, 
 Sir Philip Harclay's fervant, is now upon a 
 vifit at his father's ; I have heard that he goes 
 home foon; now he would be both a guide, and 
 companion, on the way. That is, indeed, a 
 happy circumftance, faid Edmund; but how 
 fhall we know certainly the time of his de- 
 parture?
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 93 
 
 parture ? Why, Sir, I will go to him, and en- 
 quire; and bring you word dire&ly. Do fo, 
 faid Edmund, and you will oblige me greatly. 
 But, Sir, faid Ofwald, I think it will be beft not 
 to let John Wyatt know who is to be his com- 
 panion ; only let Jofeph tell him that a gentle- 
 man is going to vifit his Mafter : And, if poffible, 
 prevail upon him to fet out this night. Do fo, 
 my good friend, faid Edmund ; and tell him, 
 further, that this perfon has bufmefs of great 
 confequence to communicate to his Mafter, and 
 cannot delay his journey on any account. I 
 will do this you may depend, faid Jofeph, 
 and acquaint you with my fuccefs as foon as 
 poffible j but, Sir, you muft not go without a 
 guide, at any rate. I truft I {hall not, faid 
 Edmund, though I go alone; he that has re- 
 ceived fuch a call as I have, can want no 
 other, nor fear any danger. 
 
 They converfed on thefe points till they 
 drew near the caftle, when Jofeph left them 
 to go on his errand, and Edmund attended his 
 Lord at dinner. The Baron obferved that he 
 was filent and referved; the converfation lan- 
 guifhed on both fides. As foon as dinner was 
 ended, Edmund afked permiflion to go up 
 into his own apartment; where he packed up 
 Tome neceflaries, and made a hafty preparation 
 for his departure. 
 
 After-
 
 94 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Afterwards he walked into the garden, re- 
 volving in his mind the peculiarity of his fitua- 
 tion, and the uncertainty of his future pro- 
 fpetsj loft in thought, he walked to and fro 
 in a covered walk, with his arms croft and 
 his eyes caft down, without perceiving that 
 he was obferved by two females who flood at 
 a diftance watching his motions: It was the 
 Lady Emma, and her attendant, who were thus 
 engaged. At length, he lifted up his eyes and 
 faw them: he ftood ftill, and was irrefolute 
 whether to advance or retire : They approached 
 him ; and, as they drew near, fair Emma fpoke. 
 You have been fo wrapt in meditation, Edmund, 
 that I am apprehenfive of fome new vexation 
 that I am yet a ftranger to : Would it were in 
 my power to leflen thofe you have already ! But 
 tell me if I guefs truly? He ftood ftill irrefo- 
 lute, he anfwered with hefitation. Oh, Lady 
 I am I am grieved, I am concerned, to be the 
 caufe of fo much confufion in this noble fa- 
 mily, to which I am fo much indebted: I fee 
 no way to leflen thefe evils but to remove the 
 caufe of them. Meaning yourfelf ? faid {he. 
 Certainly, Madam ; and 1 was meditating on 
 my departure. But, faid ftie, by your* de- 
 parture you will not remove the caufe. How 
 fo, Madam? Becaufe you are not the caufe, 
 but thofe you will leave behind you. Lady 
 t Emma!
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 95 
 
 Emma! How can you affect this ignorance, 
 Edmund ? You know well enough it is that 
 odious Wenlock, your enemy and my averfion, 
 that has caufed all this mifchief among us, 
 and will much more if he is not removed. 
 This, Madam, is a fubjedt that it becomes me 
 to be filent upon : Mr. Wenlock is your kinf- 
 man ; he is not my friend ; and for that rea- 
 fon I ought not to fpeak againft him, nor you 
 to hear it from me: If he has ufed me ill, 1 am 
 recompenced by the generous treatment of 
 my Lord your father, who is all that is great 
 and good; he has allowed me to juftify myfelf 
 to him, and he has reftored me to his good 
 opinion, which I prize among the beft gifts 
 of heaven : Your amiable brother William 
 thinks well of me, and his efteem is infinitely 
 dear to me; and you, excellent Lady, permit 
 me to hope that you honour me with your good 
 opinion: Are not thefe ample amends for the 
 ill-wiil Mr. Wenlock bears me? My opinion 
 of you, Edmund, faid {he, is fixed and fettled : 
 It is not founded upon events of yefterday, but 
 upon long knowledge and experience; upon your 
 whole conduct and character. You honour me, 
 Lady ! Continue to think well of me, it will 
 excite me to deferve it. When I am far diftant 
 from this place, the remembrance of your 
 goodnefs will be a cordial to my heart. But 
 
 why
 
 96 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON! 
 
 why will you leave us, Edmund ? flay and de* 
 feat the defigns of your enemy ; you {hail have 
 my wifhes and affiftance. Pardon me, Ma- 
 dam, that is among the things I cannot do, 
 even if it were in my power, which it is not. 
 Mr. Wenlock loves you, Lady, and if he is fo 
 unhappy as to be your averfion, that is a pu- 
 nifliment fevere enough. For the reft, I may 
 be unfortunate by the wickednefs of others, 
 but if I am unworthy it muft be by my own 
 fault. So then you think it is an unworthy 
 a&ion tooppofeMr. Wenlock ! Very well, Sir: 
 Then I fuppofe you wifh him fuccefs; you 
 wifh that I may be married to him? I, Ma- 
 dam? faid Edmund, confufedj what am I that 
 I (hould give my opinion on an affair of fo 
 much confequence ? You diftrefs me by the 
 queftion. May you be happy ! may you enjoy 
 your own wifhes ! He fighed, he turned away. 
 She called him backj he trembled, and kept 
 filence. 
 
 She feemed to enjoy his confuflon ; fhe was 
 cruel enough to repeat the queflion. Tell me, 
 Edmund, and truly, do you wifh to fee me 
 give my hand to Wenlock ? I infift upon your 
 anfwer. All on a fudden he recovered both 
 his voice and courage; he ilepped forward, 
 his perfon ereft, his countenance afiured, his 
 voice refolute and intrepid. Since Lady Emma 
 
 infifts 
 7
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 97 
 
 infifts upon my anfwer, fince flie avows a 
 diflike to Wenlock, fince fhe condefcends to 
 afk my opinion, I will tell her my thoughts, 
 my wifhes. The fair Emma now trembled 
 in her turn; fhe blufhed, looked down, and 
 was afhamed to have fpoken fo freely. Edmund 
 went on : My moft ardent wifhes are, that 
 the fair Emma may referve her heart and 
 hand till a certain perfon, a friend of mine, is 
 at liberty to folicit them ; whofe utmoft am- 
 bition is, firft to deferve, and then to obtain 
 them. Your friend. Sir! faid Lady Emma; her 
 brow clouded, her eye difdainful. Edmund 
 proceeded : My friend is fo particularly cir- 
 cumftanced that he cannot at prefent with 
 propriety afk for Lady Emma's favour; but as 
 foon as he has gained a caufe that is yet in fuf- 
 pence, he will openly declare his pretenfions, 
 and if he is unfuccefsful he will then condemn 
 himfelf to eternal filence. Lady Emma knew 
 not what to think of this declaration, fhe hoped, 
 (he feared, file meditated ; but her attention 
 was too ftrongly excited to be fatisfied without 
 fome gratification : After a paufe, fhe purfued 
 the fubjecT:. And this friend of yours, Sir, of 
 what degree and fortune is he ? Edmund 
 fmiled; but, commanding his emotion, here- 
 plied, his birth is noble, his degree and for- 
 tune uncertain. Her countenance fell, fhe 
 H figheJ;
 
 98 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 fighed; he proceeded. It is utterly impoffible, 
 faid he, for any man of inferior degree to af- 
 pire to Lady Emma's favour j her noble birth, 
 the dignity of her beauty and virtues, muft 
 awe and keep at their proper diftance, all men 
 of inferior degree and merit j they may admire, 
 they may revere ; but they muft not prefume 
 to approach too near, left their prefumption 
 dould meet with its punifliment. Well, Sir, 
 faid (he, fuddenly ; and fo this friend of yours 
 has commiflioned you to fpeak in his behalf ? 
 . He has, Madam. Then I muft tell you, that 
 I think his affurance is very great, and yours not 
 much lefs. I am furry for that, Madam. Tell 
 him, that I fhall referve my heart and hand 
 for the man to whom my father (hall bid me 
 give them. Very well, Lady ; I am certain my 
 Lord loves you too well to difpofe of them 
 againft your inclination. How do you know 
 that, Sir? But tell him that the man that hopes 
 for my favour muft apply to my Lord for his. 
 * That is my friend's intention, hisrefolution I 
 fhould fay, as foon as he can do it with pro- 
 priety; and I accept your permiffion for him 
 to do fo. My permiffion did you fay ? I am 
 aftonifhed at your affurance ! tell me no more 
 of your friend : But perhaps you are pleading 
 for Wenlock all this time : It is all one to me ; 
 only, fay no more. Arc you offended with mc ? 
 
 Madam ?
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 
 
 99 
 
 Madam ? No matter, Sir. Yes, it is. I am 
 furprifed at you, Edmund ! I am furprifcd at 
 my own temerity; but, forgive me. It does not 
 fignify; good bye ty'e, Sir. Don't leave me in 
 anger, Madam ; I cannot bear that : Perhaps I 
 may not fee you again for a long time? He look- 
 ed afflicted ; fhe turned back. I do forgive you, 
 Edmund : I was concerned for you ; but, it 
 feems, you are more concerned for every body 
 than for yourfelf. She fighed : Farewel ! faid 
 (he. Edmund gazed on her with tendernefs; 
 he approached her, he juft touched her hand ; his 
 heart was rifing to his lips, but he recollected 
 his fituation ; he checked himfelf immediately ; 
 he retired back, he fighed deeply, bowed low, 
 and haftily quitted her. 
 
 The Lady turning into another walk, he 
 reached the houfe firft, and went up again to 
 his chamber; he threw himfelf upon his knees ; 
 prayed for a thoufand bleffings upon every 
 one of the family of his benefactor, and in- 
 voluntarily wept at mentioning the name of 
 the charming Emma, whom he was about to 
 leave abruptly, and perhaps for ever. He then 
 endeavoured to compofe himfelf and once mo f e 
 attended the Baron ; wifhed him a good night ; 
 and withdrew to his chamber, till he was caTk-d 
 upon to go again to the haunted apartmcm. 
 
 H 2 Hr
 
 ioo THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 He came down equipped for his journey, 
 and went haftily for fear of obfervation j he 
 paid his cuftomary devotions, and foon after 
 Ofwald tapped at the door. They conferred 
 together upon the interefting fubjedr. that en- 
 grofled their attention, until Jofeph came to 
 them ; who brought the reft of Edmund's bag- 
 gage, and fome refreshment for him before he 
 let out. Edmund promifed to give them the 
 earlieft information of his fituation and fuccefs. 
 At the hour of twelve they heard the fame 
 groans as the night before in the lower apart- 
 ment; but, being fornewhat familiarized to it, 
 they were not fo ftrongly affe&ed : Ofwald 
 crofled himfelf, and prayed for the departed 
 foul ; he alfo prayed for Edmund, and recom- 
 mended him to the divine protection : He then 
 arofe, and embraced that young man ; who, 
 aifo, took a tender leave of his friend Jofeph. 
 They then went, with filence and caution, 
 through a long gallery j they defcended the ftairs 
 in the fame manner ; they crofled the hall in 
 profound filence, and hardly dared to breathe 
 left they fhould be overheard : They found 
 fome difficulty in opening one of the folding 
 doors, which a? laft they accomplished ; they 
 were again in jeopardy at the outward gate; at 
 length they conveyed him fafely into the fta- 
 
 bles:
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 101 
 
 bles : There they again embraced him, and 
 prayed for his profperity. 
 
 He then mounted his horfe and fet forward 
 to Wyatt's cottage ; he hallowed at the door, 
 and was anfwered from within : In a few mi- 
 nutes John came out to him. What, is it you, 
 Mafter Edmund? Hufh ! faidhe; not a word 
 of who I am : I go upon private bufinefs, and 
 would not wifti to be known. If you will go 
 forward, Sir, I will foon overtake you : He did 
 fo; and they purfued their journey to the north. 
 In the mean time, Ofwald and Jofeph returned 
 in filence into the houfe j they retired to their 
 refpe&ive apartments without hearing or being 
 heard by any one. 
 
 About the dawn of day Ofwald intended to 
 lay his pacquets in the way of thofe to whom 
 they were addreffed ; after much contrivance he 
 determined to take a bold ftep, and, if he were 
 difcovered, to frame fome excufe. Encou- 
 raged by his late fuccefs, he went on tip-toe 
 into Mafter William's chamber, placed a letter 
 upon his pillow, and withdrew unheard. Ex- 
 ulting in his heart, he attempted the Baron's 
 apartment, but found it fattened within; find- 
 ing this fcheme fruftrated, he waited till the 
 hour the Baron was expected down to break- 
 faft, and laid the letter and the key of the 
 haunted apartment upon the table. 
 
 H 3 Soon
 
 102 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Soon after, he faw the Baron enter the 
 breakfaft room ; he got out of fight, but ftaid 
 within call, preparing himfelf for a fummons. 
 The Baron fat down to breakfaft; he faw a 
 letter directed to himfelf, he opened it, and 
 to his great furprife, read as follows : 
 
 " The guardian of the haunted apartment 
 " to Baron Fitz-Owen. To thee I remit 
 " the key of my charge, until the right owner 
 " ftiall comej who will both difcover and a- 
 " venge my wrongs ; then, woe be to the 
 ' guilty ! But let the innocent reft in peace. 
 " In the mean time, let none prefume to ex- 
 " plore the fecrets of my apartment, left they 
 " fuftvr for their temerity." 
 
 The Baron was ftruck with amazement at 
 the letter : He took up the key, examined it, 
 then laid it down, and took up the letter ; he 
 was in fuch confufion of thought, he knew 
 not what to do or fay for feveral minutes : At 
 length he called his fervants about him ; the 
 firft qucftion he afked was, Where is Edmund ? 
 They could not tell. Has he been called? 
 Yes, my Lord, but nobody anfwered, and the 
 key was not in the door. Where is Jofeph ? 
 Gone into the ftables. Where is father Of- 
 wald ? In his ftudy. Seek him, and defire 
 him to come hither. By the time the Baron 
 had read the letter over again, he came. 
 
 He
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. jo 3 
 
 He had been framing a fteady countenance 
 to anfwer to all interrogatories ; as he came 
 in he attentively obferved the Baron, whofe 
 features were in ftrong agitation; as foon as 
 he faw Ofwald, he fpoke as one out of breath. 
 Take that key, and read this letter ! He did 
 fo, flirugged up his {boulders, and remained 
 filent. Father, faid my Lord, what think you 
 of this letter? It is a very furprifingone. The 
 contents are alarming; where is Edmund? 
 I do not know. Has nobody feen him ? Not 
 that I know of. Call my fons, my kinfmen, 
 my fervants. The fervants came in. Have any 
 of you feen or heard of Edmund ? No, was the 
 znfwer. Father, ftep up ftairs to my fons and 
 kinfmen, and defire them to come down im- 
 mediately. 
 
 Ofwald withdrew ; and went, firA, to Mr. 
 William's chamber. My dear Sir, you muft 
 come to my Lord now directly ; he has fome- 
 thing extraordinary to communicate to you. 
 And fo have I, father; fee what I have found 
 upon my pillow ! Pray, Sir, read it to me be- 
 fore you (hew it to any body; my Lord is alarm- 
 ed too much already, and wants nothing to in- 
 creafe his confternation. William read his 
 letter, while Ofwald Jooked as if he was an 
 utter ftranger to the contents, which were thefe : 
 
 H 4. What-
 
 104 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 " Whatever may be heard or feen, let the 
 " feal of friendship be upon thy lips. The pea- 
 " fant Edmund is no more: But there ftill lives 
 " a man who hopes to acknowledge, and re- 
 " pay, the Lord Fitz-Owen's generous care and 
 " protection ; to return his beloved William's 
 " vowed affection, and to claim his friendfhip 
 " on terms of equality." 
 
 What, faid William, can this mean ? It is 
 not eafy to fay, replied Ofwald. Can you tell 
 what is the caufe of this alarm? I can tell' 
 you nothing, but that my Lord defires to fee 
 you directly ; pray make hafte down ; I muft 
 go up to your brothers and kinfmen : Nobody 
 knows what to think, or believe. 
 
 Matter William went down flairs, and fa- 
 ther Ofwald went to the malecontents : As foon 
 as he entered the outward door of their apart- 
 ment, Mr. Wenlock called out. Here comes 
 the friend ; now for fome new propofal ! 
 Gentlemen, faid Ofwald, my Lord defires your 
 company immediately in the breakfaft parlour. 
 What! to meet your favourite Edmund, I 
 fuppofe? faid Mr. Wenlock. No, Sir. 
 What, then, is the matter? faid Sir Robert, 
 Something very extraordinary has happened, 
 gentlemen : Edmund is not to be found j he dif- 
 appeared from the haunted apartment, the key 
 of which was conveyed to my Lord in a ftrange 
 
 manner,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 105 
 
 manner, with a letter from an unknown hand : 
 My Lord is both furprifed and concerned, and 
 wiflies to have your opinion and advice on the 
 occaflon. Tell him, faid Sir Robert, we will 
 wait upon him immediately. 
 
 As Ofwald went away, he heard Wenlock 
 fay, So Edmund is gone, it is no matter how, 
 or whither. Another faid, I hope the ghoft has 
 taken him out of the way. The reft laughed at 
 the conceit, as they followed Ofwald down ftairs. 
 -They found the Baron, and his fon William, 
 commenting upon the key and the letter. My 
 Lord gave them to Sir Robert, who looked on 
 them with marks of furprife and confuflon. 
 The Baron addrefled him : Is not this a very 
 ftrange affair ? Son Robert, lay afide your ill 
 humours, and behave to your father with the 
 fefpe& and affection his tendernefs deferves from 
 you, and give me your advice and opinion on this 
 alarming fubjecl ? My Lord, faid Sir Robert, 
 I am as much confounded as yourfelf ; I can 
 give no advice : Let my coufins fee the letter ; 
 let us have their opinion. They read it in turn ; 
 they were equally furprifed : But when it came 
 into Wenlock's hand, he paufed and meditated 
 fome minutes j at length I am indeed furprifed, 
 and ft ill more concerned, to fee my Lord and 
 Uncle the dupe of an artful contrivance; and, 
 if he will permit me, I lhall endeavour to un- 
 riddle
 
 io6 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 riddle it, to the confufion of all that are con- 
 cerned in it. Do fo, Dick, faid my Lord, and 
 you fhall have my thanks for it. This letter, 
 faid he, I imagine to be the contrivance of Ed- 
 mund, or fome ingenious friend of his, to con- 
 ceal fome defigns they have againft the peace of 
 this family, which has been too often difturbed 
 upon that rafcal's account. But what end could 
 be propofed by it ? faid the Baron. -"-Why, one 
 part of the fcheme is to cover Edmund's depar- 
 ture, that is clear enough ; for the reft, we can 
 only guefs at it : Perhaps he may be concealed 
 fomewhere in that apartment, from whence he 
 may rufh out in the night, and either rob or 
 murder us ; or, at leaft, alarm and terrify the 
 family. The Baron fmiled : You {hoot beyond 
 the mark, Sir, and overfhoot yourfelf, as you 
 have done before now ; you fliew only your in- 
 veteracy againft that poor lad, whom you can- 
 not mention with temper : To what purpofe 
 fhould he (hut himfelf up there, to be ftarved ? 
 Starved ! no, no ! he has friends in this 
 houfe (looking at Ofwald), who will not fuffer 
 him to want any thing : Thofe who have always 
 magnified his virtues, and extenuated his faults, 
 will lend a hand to help him in time of need j 
 and, perhaps, to aflift his ingenious contrivan- 
 ces. OfwalJ fhrugged up his flioulders, and 
 
 remained filent. This is a ftrange fancy of 
 
 yours,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 107 
 
 yours, Dick, faid my Lord ; but I am willing 
 topurfueit; firft, to difcover what you drive 
 at ; and, fecondly, to fatisfy all that are here 
 prefent of the truth or falfehood of it, that they 
 may know what value to fet upon your fagacity 
 hereafter. Let us all go over that apartment 
 together ; and let Jofeph be called to attend us 
 thither. Ofwald offered to call him, but Wen- 
 lock flopped him. No, father, faid he, you 
 muft ftay with us ; we want your ghoftly coun- 
 fel and advice : Jofeph (hall have no private 
 conference with you. What mean you, faid 
 Ofwald, to infinuate to my Lord againft me, 
 or Jofeph ? But your ill-will fpares nobody. It 
 will one day be known who is the difturber of 
 the peace of this family ; I wait for that time, 
 and am filent. 
 
 Jofeph came ; when he was told whither 
 they were going, he looked hard at Ofwald. 
 Wenlock obferved them : Lead the way, father ! 
 faid he ; and Jofeph fhall follow us. Ofwald 
 fmiled : We will go where Heaven permits us, 
 faid he j alas ! the wifdom of man can neither 
 haften, nor retard, its decrees. 
 
 They followed the father up flairs, and went 
 direUy to the haunted apartment. The Baron 
 unlocked the door; he bid Jofeph open th 
 Jhutters and admit the day-light, which had 
 been excluded for many years. They went 
 
 rsr
 
 io8 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 over the rooms above ftairs, and then defcended 
 the ftaircafe, and through the lower rooms in 
 the fame manner. However, they overlooked 
 the clofet in which the fatal fecret was con- 
 cealed ; the door was covered with tapeftry the 
 fame as the room, and united fo well that it 
 Teemed but one piece. Wenlock tauntingly de- 
 fired father Ofwald to introduce them to the 
 ghoft. The father in reply, afked them where 
 they fhould find Edmund ? Do you think, faid 
 he, that he lies hid in my pocket, or in Jofeph's ? 
 'Tis no matter, anfwered he; thoughts are 
 free. My opinion of you, Sir, faid Ofwald, is 
 not founded upon thoughts : I judge of men by 
 their actions j a rule, 1 believe, it will not fuit 
 you to be tried by. None of your infolent ad- 
 monitions, father ! returned Wenlock ; this is 
 neither the time nor the place for them. That 
 is truer than you are aware of, Sir j I meant not 
 to enter into the fubjecl: juft now. Be filent, 
 faid my Lord. I (hall enter into this fubjeft 
 with you hereafter ; then look you be prepared 
 for it ! In the mean time do you, Dick Wen- 
 lock, anfwer to my queftions. Do you think 
 Edmund is concealed in this apartment? No, 
 Sir. Do you think there is any myftery in it ? 
 No, my Lord. Is it haunted, think you ? 
 No, I think not. Should you be afraid to try ? 
 In vr bat manner, my Lord ? Why, you have 
 
 {hewn
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 
 
 109 
 
 (hewn your wit upon the fubjeft, and I mean to 
 fliew your courage ; you, and Jack Markham 
 your confident, fhall fleep here three nights as 
 Edmund has done before. Sir, faid Sir Robert, 
 for what purpofe ? I fhould be glad to under- 
 ftand why ? I have my reafons, Sir, as well 
 as your kinfmen there. No reply, Sirs ! I in- 
 fift upon being obeyed in this point. Jofeph, 
 let the beds be well aired, and everything made 
 agreeable to the Gentlemen : If there is any 
 contrivance to impofe upon me, they, I am fure, 
 will have pleafure in detecting it ; and, if not, 
 I fhall obtain my end in making thefe rooms ha- 
 bitable. Ofwald come with me, and the reft 
 may go where they lift till dinner-time. 
 
 The Baron went with Ofwald into the par- 
 lour. Now tell me, father, faid he, do you 
 difapprove what I have done r Quite the con- 
 trary, my Lord, faid he; I entirely approve it. 
 But you do not know all my reafons for it. 
 Yefterday Edmund's behaviour was different 
 from what I have ever feen it ; he is naturally 
 frank and open in all his ways ; but he was then 
 filent, thoughtful, abfent ; he fighed deeply, 
 and once I faw tears ftand in his eyes : Now, 
 I do fufpecl: there is fomething uncommon in 
 that apartment; that Edmund has difcovered 
 the fecret ; and, fearing to difclofe it, he is fled 
 away from the houfe. As to this letter, per- 
 6 haps
 
 I io THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 haps he may have written it to hint that there is 
 more than he dares reveal ; I tremble at the 
 hints contained in it, though I fhall appear to 
 make light of it : But I and mine are innocent ; 
 and if Heaven difclofes the guilt of others, I 
 ought to adore and fubmit to its decrees. That 
 is prudently and pioufly refolved, my Lord j 
 let us do our duty, and leave events to Heaven. 
 But, father, I have a further view in obliging 
 my kinfmen to flcep there : If any thing fhould 
 appear to them, it is better that it fhould only 
 be known to my own family ; if there is no- 
 thing in it, I fhall put to the proof the courage 
 and veracity 6f my two kinfmen, of whom I 
 think very indifferently. I mean fhortly to en- 
 quire into many things I have heard lately to 
 their difadvantage ; and, if I find them guilty, 
 they (hall not etcape with impunity. My Lord, 
 faid Ofwald, you judge like yourfelf j I wifti 
 you to make enquiry concerning them, and 
 believe the refult will be to their confufion, and 
 your Lordi'hip will be enabled to re-eftablifh 
 the peace of your family. 
 
 During this convcrfation, Ofwald was upon 
 his guard, left any thing fhould efcape that 
 might create fufnicion. He withdrew as foon 
 *s he could with decency, and left the Baron 
 meditating what all thefe things fhould mean : 
 He feared there was fome misfortune impending 
 t over
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. in 
 
 over his houfe, though he knew not from what 
 caufe. 
 
 He dined with his children and kinfmen, and 
 ftrove to appear chearful j but a gloom was per- 
 ceivable through his deportment. Sir Robert 
 was referved and refpedtful ; Mr. William was 
 filent and attentive j the reft of the family du- 
 tifully affiduous to my Lord ; only Wenlock 
 and Markham were fullen and chagrined. The 
 Baron detained the young men the whole after- 
 noon ; he ftrove to amufe and to be amufed ; 
 he (hewed the greateft affection and parental re- 
 gard to his children, and endeavoured to conci- 
 liate their affections, and engage their gratitude 
 by kindnefs. Wenlock and Markham felt their 
 courage abate as the night approached : At the 
 hour of nine old Jofeph came to conduct them 
 to the haunted apartment ; they took leave of 
 their kinfmen, and went up flairs with heavy 
 hearts. 
 
 They found the chamber fet in order for 
 them, and a table fpread with provifion and good 
 liquor to keep up their fpirits. It feems, faid 
 Wenlock, that your friend Edmund was obliged 
 to you for his accommodations here. Sir, faid 
 Jofeph, his accommodations were bad enough 
 the firfl night ; but, afterwards, they were bet- 
 tered by my Lord's orders. Owing to your of- 
 ficious cares ? faid Wenlock : I own it, faid 
 
 Jofeph,
 
 ii2. THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 \ 
 
 Jofeph, and I am not afhamed of it. Are you 
 
 not anxious to know what is become of him ? 
 faid Markham. Not at all, Sir ; I truft he is 
 in the beft protection ; fo good a young man as 
 he is, is fafe every where. You fee coufin 
 Jack, faid Wenlock, how this villain has ftole 
 the hearts of my Uncle's fervants : 1 fuppofe 
 this canting old fellow knows where he is, if 
 the truth were known. Have you any further 
 commands for me, Gentlemen ? faid the old 
 man. No, not we. Then I am ordered to 
 attend my Lord when you have done with me. 
 Go, then, about your bufmefs. Jofeph went 
 away, glad to be difmifled. 
 
 What fhall we do, coufm Jack, faid Wenlock, 
 to pafs away the time ? it is plaguy dull fitting 
 here. Dull enough, faid Markham ; I think 
 the beft thing we can do is to go to bed and 
 fieep it away. Faith, fays Wenlock, I am in 
 no difpofition to fleep ! Who would have 
 thought the old man would have obliged us to 
 fpend the night here J Don't fay aj, I beg of 
 you, it was all your own doing, replied Mark- 
 ham. 1 did not intend heihould have taken me 
 at my word. Then you fhould have fpoken 
 more cautioufly. I have always been governed 
 by you, like a fool as I am ; you play the brag- 
 gart, and I fuffer for it : But they begin to fee 
 through your fine-fpun arts and contrivances, 
 
 and
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 113 
 
 and I believe you will meet with your deferts one 
 day or other. What now ! do you mean to af- 
 front me, Jack ? know, that fome are born to 
 plan, others to execute j I am one of the form- 
 er, thou of the latter : Know your friend, or 
 
 Or what ? replied Markham ; do you 
 
 mean to threaten me ? If you do \- What then ? 
 faid Wenlock. Why, then, I will try which 
 of us two is the beft man, Sir ! Upon this Mark- 
 ham arofe, and put himfelf into a pofture of de- 
 fence. Wenlock perceiving he was ferious in 
 his anger, began to footh him ; he perfuaded, 
 he flattered, he promifed great things if he would 
 be compofed. Markham was fullcn, uneafy, 
 refentful ; whenever he fpoke it was to upbraid 
 Wenlock with his treachery and falfehood. 
 Wenlock tried all his eloquence to get him into 
 a good humour, but in vain j he threatened to 
 acquaint his Uncle with all that he knew, and 
 to exculpate himfelf at the other's expence. 
 Wenlock began to find his choler rife; they 
 were both almoft choaked with rage ; and, at 
 length, they both rofe with a refolution to fight. 
 As they flood with their fifts clenched, on a 
 fudden they were alarmed with a difmal groan 
 from the room underneath. They flood like 
 fratues petrified by fear, yet liflening with trem- 
 bling expectation : A fecond groan increafed 
 their condensation j and, foon after, a third 
 I com-
 
 ii4 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 compleated it. They daggered to a feat, and 
 funk down upon it, ready to faint; prefemly 
 all the doors flew open, a pale glimmering light 
 appeared at the door from the ftaircafe, and a 
 man in compleat armour entered the room : He 
 flood, with one hand extended, pointing to the 
 outward door ; they took the hint, and crawled 
 away as faft as fear would let them ; they ftag- 
 gered along the gallery, and from thence to the 
 Baron's apartment, where Wenlock funk down- 
 in a fwoon, and Markham had juft ftrength 
 enough to knock at the door. 
 
 The fervant who flept in the outward room 
 alarmed his Lord : Markham cried out For 
 Heaven's fake, let us in ! Upon hearing his voice, 
 the door was opened, and Markham approached 
 his Uncle in fuch an attitude of fear, as excited 
 a degree of it in the Baron. He pointed to 
 \Venlock, who was with fome difficulty reco- 
 vered from the fit he was fallen into ; the fer- 
 vant was terrified, he rung the alarm bell j the 
 fervants came running from all parts to their 
 Lord's apartment : The young Gentlemen came 
 likewife, and prefently all was confufion, and 
 the terror was univerfal. Ofwald, who guefled 
 the bufmefs, was the only one that could quef- 
 tion them ; he afked, feveral times, What is 
 the matter ? Markham, at laft, anfwered him : 
 We have feen the ghoft ! -All regard to fe- 
 
 crecy
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 115 
 
 crecy was now at an end ; the echo ran through 
 the whole family : They hare fecn the ghoft ! 
 The Baron defired Ofwald to talk to the young 
 men, and endeavour to quiet the difturbance. 
 He came forward j he comforted fome, he re- 
 buked others ; he bad the fervants retire into the 
 outward room : The Baron, with his fons and 
 kinfmen, remained in the bed-chamber. It is 
 very unfortunate, faid Ofwald, that this affair 
 fhould be made fo public ; furely thefe young 
 men might have related what they had feen 
 without alarming the whole family : I am very 
 much concerned upon my Lord's account. I 
 thank you, father, faid the Baron ; but pru- 
 dence was quite overthrown here : Wenlock 
 was half dead, and Markham half diftra&ed } 
 the family were alarmed without my being able 
 to prevent it : But let us hear what thefe poor 
 terrified creatures fay. Ofwald demanded, What 
 
 have you feen, Gentlemen ? The ghoft ! 
 
 faid Markham. In what form did it appear ? 
 A man in armour. Did it fpeak to you ? 
 No. What did it do to terrify you fo much ? 
 It flood at the fartheft door, and pointed to the 
 outward door, as if to have us leave the room ; 
 we did not wait for a fecond notice, but came 
 away as faft as we could. Did it follow you ? 
 No. Then you need not have raifed fuch 
 a difturbance. Wenlock lifted up his head, 
 I 2 and
 
 ii6 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 and fpoke : I believe, father, if you had been 
 with us, you would not have flood upon cere- 
 monies any more than we did. I wifh my 
 Lord would fend you to parley with the ghoft ; 
 for, without doubt, you are better qualified 
 than we. My Lord, faid Ofwald,. I will go 
 thither with your permiffion j I will fee that 
 every thing is fafe, and bring the key back to 
 you : Perhaps this may help to difpel the fears 
 that have been raifed ; at leaft, I will try to do 
 it. I thank you, father, for your good offices ; 
 do as you pleafe. 
 
 Ofwald went into the outward room. I am 
 going, faid he, to fhut up the apartment : The 
 young Gentlemen have been more frightened 
 than they had occafion for j I will try to account 
 for it. Which of you will go with me ? They 
 all drew back, except Jofeph, who offered to 
 bear him company. They went into the bed- 
 room in the haunted apartment, and found every 
 tning quiet there. They put out the fire, ex- 
 tinguimed the lights, locked the door, and 
 brought away the key. As they returned, I 
 thought how it would be, faid Jofeph. Hum. ! 
 not a word, faid Ofwald; you find we are fuf- 
 pe&ed of fomething, though they know not 
 what. Wait till you are called upon, and then 
 we will both fpeak to purpofe. They carried 
 the key to the Baron, 
 
 AH
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 117 
 
 All is quiet in the apartment, faid Ofwald, 
 as we can teftify. Did you afk Jofeph to go 
 with you, faid the Baron, or did he offer him- 
 felf ? My Lord, I aflced if any body would go 
 with me, and they all declined it but he ; I 
 thought proper to have a witnefs befide myfelf, 
 for whatever might be feen or heard. Jofeph, 
 you was fervant to the late Lord Lovel ; what 
 kind of man was he ? A very comely man, 
 pleafe your Lordfliip. Should you know him if 
 you were to fee him ? I cannot fay, my Lord. 
 Would you have any objection to fleep a night 
 in that apartment ? I beg, I hope, I befeech 
 your Lordfliip not to command me to do it I 
 You are then afraid ; why did you offer your- 
 felf to go thither ? Becaufe I was not fo much 
 frightened as the reft. I wifh you would lay a 
 night there ; but, I do not infift upon it. My 
 Lord, I am a poor ignorant old man, not fit 
 for fuch an undertaking : Befide, if I (hould fee 
 the ghoft, and if it fhould be the perfon of my 
 Mafter, and if it fhould tell me any thing, and 
 bid me keep it fecret, I fhould not dare to dif- 
 clofe it ; and then, what fervice fhould I do 
 your Lordfliip? That is true, indeed, faid the 
 Baron. 
 
 This fpeech, faid Sir Robert, is both a fimple 
 
 and an artful one : You fee, however, that Jo- 
 
 I 3 feph
 
 u8 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 feph is not a man for us to depend upon j he 
 regards the Lord Lovel, though dead, more than 
 Ixird Fitz-Owen, living; he calls him his 
 Mafter, and promifes to keep his fecrets. What 
 iay you, father, is the ghoft your Mafter, or 
 your friend? Are you under any obligation to 
 keep his fecrets ? Sir, faid Ofwald, I anfwer 
 as Jofeph does; I would fooner die than difco- 
 ver a fecret revealed in that manner. I thought 
 as much, faid Sir Robert ; there is a myftery 
 in father Ofwald's behaviour that I cannot com- 
 prehend. Do not refleft upon the father, faid 
 the Baron, I have no caufe to complain of him ; 
 perhaps the myftery may be too foon explained : 
 But let us not anticipate evils. Ofwald and 
 Jofeph have fpoken like good men ; 1 am fatif- 
 fied with their anfwers : Let us, who are inno- 
 cent, reft in peace ; and let us endeavour to 
 reftore peace in the family ; and do you, father, 
 aflift us : With my beft fervices, faid Ofwald. 
 He called the fervants in : Let nothing be men- 
 tioned out of doors, faid he, of what has lately 
 pafied within, efpecially in the eaft apartment ; 
 the young Gentlemen had not fo much reafon 
 to be frightened as they apprehended ; a piece 
 of furniture fell down in the rooms underneath, 
 which made the noife that alarmed them fo 
 much : But I can certify that all things in the 
 rooms are in quiet, and there is nothing to fear. 
 
 All
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 119 
 
 All of you attend me in the chapel in an hour ; 
 do your duties, put your truft in God, and obey 
 your Lord, and you will find every thing go 
 right as it ufed to do. 
 
 They difperfed ; the fun rofe, the day came 
 on, and every thing went on in the ufual courfe: 
 But the fervants were not fo eafily fatisfied ; 
 they whifpered that fomething was wrong, and 
 expected the time that (hould fet all right. The 
 mind of the Baron was employed in meditating 
 upon thefe circumftances that feemed to him the 
 forerunners of fome great events : He fometimes 
 thought of Edmund j he fighed for his expul- 
 fion, and lamented the uncertainty of his fate; 
 but, to his family, he appeared eafy and fatisfied. 
 
 From the time of Edmund's departure the fair 
 Emma had many uneafy hours ; fhe wifhed to 
 enquire after him, but feared to fhow any foli- 
 citude concerning him : The next day, when 
 her brother William came into her apartment, 
 foe took courage to afk a queftion. Pray, bro- 
 ther, can you give any guefs what is become of 
 Edmund ? No, faid he (with a figh), why do 
 you afk me ? Becaufe, my dear William, I 
 (hould think if any body knew, it muft be you ; 
 and I thought he loved you too well to leave 
 you in ignorance : But don't you think he left 
 the Caftle in a very ftrange manner ? I do, my 
 dear ; there is a myftery in evCTy circumftance 
 I 4 of
 
 jaoTHEOLDENGLISH BARON: 
 
 of his departure : Neverthelefs (I will truft you 
 with a fecret), he did not leave the Caftle with- 
 out making a diftindlion in my favour. 1 
 
 thought fo, faid (he; but you might tell me 
 what you know about him ? Alas, my dear 
 Emma ! I know nothing : When I faw him 
 laft he feemed a good deal affe&ed, as if he were 
 taking leave of me ; and I had a foreboding that 
 we parted for a longer time than ufual. Ah ! 
 fo had I, faid (he, when he parted from me in 
 the garden. What leave did he take of you, 
 Emma? She blufhed, and hefitated to tell him 
 all that patted between them ; but he begged, 
 perfuaded, infifted, and, at length, under the 
 ftrongeft injunHons of fecrecy, fhe told him all. 
 He faid, that Edmund's behaviour on that occa- 
 fion was as myfterious as the reft of his conduct; 
 but now Jiou have revealed your fecret, you 
 have a right to know mine. He then gave her 
 the letter he found upon his pillow; fhe read it 
 with great emotion. Saint Winifred aflift me ! 
 faid fhe ; what can I think ? " The peafant 
 " Edmund is no more, but there lives one," 
 that is to my thinking, Edmund lives, but is 
 no peafant. Go on, my dear, faid William ; 
 I like your explanation. Nay, brother, I only 
 guefs i but what think you ? I believe we 
 think alike in more than one refpet, that he 
 meant to recommend no other perfon than him- 
 
 felf
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 121 
 
 felf to your favour; and, if he were indeed of 
 noble birth, I would prefer him to a prince for 
 a hufband to my Emma! Blefs me! faid {he, 
 do you think it poffible that he fhould be of 
 either birth or fortune ? It is hard to fay what 
 is impofiible ! We have proof that the eaft apart- 
 ment is haunted: It was there that Edmund 
 was made acquainted with many fecrets, I 
 doubt not; and, perhaps, his own fate may be 
 involved in that of others. I am confident 
 that what he faw and heard there, was the 
 caufe of his departure. We muft wait with 
 patience the unravelling this intricate affair: 
 I believe I need not enjoin your fecrecy as to 
 what I have faid, your heart will be my fecu- 
 rity. What mean you brother? Don't affect 
 ignorance, my dear; you love Edmund, fo do 
 I; it is nothing to be afhamed of: It would 
 have been ftrange if a girl of your good fenfe 
 had not diftinguifhed a fwan among a flock of 
 geefe. Dear William, don't let a word of this 
 efcape you; but you have taken a weight off 
 my heart. You may depend that I will not 
 difpofe of my hand or heart till I know the 
 end of this affair. William fmiled : Keep them 
 for Edmund's friend: I (hall rejoice to fee him 
 in a fituation to afk them. Hulh, my brother \ 
 not a word more, I hear footftcps. They were 
 her eldeft brother's, who. came to afk, Mr Wil- 
 liam
 
 122 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 liam to ride out with him, which finifhed the 
 conference. 
 
 The fair Emma from this time aflumed an 
 air of fatisfa&ion ; and William frequently ftole 
 away from his companions to talk with his 
 fifter upon their favourite fubjedr.. 
 
 While thefe things pafled at the Caftle of 
 Lovel, Edmund and his companion John Wyatt 
 proceeded on their journey to Sir Philip Har- 
 clay's f.at; they converfed together on the way, 
 and Edmund found him a man of underftand- 
 ing, though not improved by education ; he alfo 
 difcovered that John loved his Mafter and re- 
 fpefted him even to veneration ; from him he 
 learned many particulars concerning that wor- 
 thy knight. Wyatt told him, that Sir Philip 
 maintained twelve old foldiers who had been 
 maimed and difabled in the wars, and had no 
 provifion made for them ; alfo fix old officers 
 who had been unfortunate and were grown grey 
 without preferment ; he likewife mentioned the 
 Greek Gentleman, his mailer's captive and 
 friend, as a man eminent for valour and piety ; 
 but, befide thefe, faid Wyatt, there are many 
 others who eat of my Mailer's bread and 
 drink of his cup, and who join in bleffings and 
 prayers to heaven for their noble benefactor ; his 
 ears are ever open to tliftrefs, his hand to re- 
 lieve it, and he {hares in every good man's joys 
 
 and
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 123 
 
 and blefiings. Oh what a glorious chara&er ! 
 faid Edmund: how my heart throbs with wifhes 
 to imitate fuch a man ! oh that I might refera- 
 ble him, though at ever fo great a diftance ! Ed- 
 mund was never weary of hearing the a&ions of 
 tr>is truly great man, nor Wyatt with relating 
 them; and during three days journey, there 
 were but few paufes in their converfation. 
 
 The fourth dav, when they came within view 
 of the houfe, Edmund's heart began to raife 
 doubts of his reception. If, faid he, Sir Philip 
 fhould not receive me kindly, if he ftiould re- 
 fentmy long neglect, and difown my acquaint- 
 ance, it would be no more than juftice. 
 
 He fent Wyatt before to notify his arrival 
 to Sir Philip, while he waited at the gate, full 
 of doubts and anxieties concerning his recep- 
 tion. Wyatt was met and congratulated on his 
 return by moft of his fellow-fervants ; he 
 afked, where is my matter ? -In the parlour. 
 Are any ftrangers with him? No, only his own 
 family. Then I will (hew myfelf to him. He 
 prefented himfelf before Sir Philip. So John, 
 faid he, you are welcome home ! I hope you left 
 your parents and relations well? All well, 
 dunk God ! and fend their humble duty to 
 your honour, and they pray for you every day 
 of their lives ; I hope your honour is in good 
 health? Very wel!. Thank God for that! 
 
 but,
 
 124 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 but, Sir, I have fomething further to tell you: 
 I have had a companion all the way home, a 
 perfon who comes to wait on your honour on 
 
 bufinefs of great confequence, as he fays. 
 
 Who is that, John? It is mafter Edmund 
 
 Twyford, from the Caftle of Lovel. -Voung 
 
 Edmund ! fays Sir Philip, furprifed : Where is 
 he ? At the gate,. Sir. Why did you leave him 
 there ? Becaufe he bad me come before, and 
 acquaint your honour, that he waits your plea- 
 fure. Bring him hither, faid Sir Philip; tell 
 him I fhall be glad to fee him. 
 
 John made hafte to deliver his meflage, and 
 Edmund followed him in filence into Sir Philip's 
 prefence: He bowed low, and kept at diftance. 
 Sir Philip held out his hand and bad him ap- 
 proach. As he drew near he was feized with 
 an univerfal trembling; he kneeled down, took 
 his hand, kifled it, and prefled it to his heart 
 in filence. 
 
 You are welcome, young man ! faid Sir Philip ; 
 take courage, and fpeak for yourielf. Edmund 
 fighed deeply ; he, at length, broke filence with 
 difficulty. I am come thus far, noble Sir, to 
 throw myfelf at your feet, and implore your 
 protection. You are, under God, my only re- 
 liance ! I receive you, faid Sir Philip, with 
 all my heart! Your perfon is greatly improved 
 fince i faw you laft, and I hope your mind is 
 
 equally
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 125 
 
 equally fo : I have heard a great chara&er 
 of you from fome that knew you in France. 
 I remember the promife I made you long ago, 
 and am ready now to fulfil it, upon condition 
 that you have done nothing, to difgrace the 
 good opinion I formerly entertained of you; 
 and am ready to ferve you in any thing con- 
 fiftent with my own honour. Edmund luffed 
 the hand that was extended to raife him. I ac- 
 cept your favour, Sir, upon this condition only; 
 and if ever you find me to impofe upon your 
 credulity, or incroach on your goodnefs, may 
 you renounce me from that moment! Enough, 
 faid Sir Philip j rife, then, and let me embrace 
 you : You are truly welcome ! Oh, noble Sir ! 
 faid Edmund, I have a ftrange ftory to tell you; 
 but it muft be by ourfelves, with only heaven 
 to bear witnefs to what pafles between us. 
 Very well, faid Sir Philip; I am ready to hear 
 you : But firft, go and get fome refrefhment 
 after your journey, and then come to me again ; 
 John Wyatt will attend you. I want no re- 
 frefhment, faid Edmund ; and I cannot eat or 
 drink till I have told my bufinefs to your ho- 
 nour. Well then, faid Sir Philip, come along 
 with me. He took the youth by the hand and 
 led him into another parlour, leaving his friends 
 in great furprize, what this young man's errand 
 could be: John Wyatt told them all that he 
 
 knew
 
 126 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 knew relating to Edmund's birth, chara&er, and 
 fituation- 
 
 When Sir Philip had featcd his young friend, 
 he litlened in filence to the furprizing tale he 
 had to tell him. Edmund told him briefly 
 the mod remarkable circumftances of his life, 
 from the time when he firft faw and liked him, 
 till his return from France; but from that aera 
 he related at large every thing that had happen- 
 ed, recounting every interesting particular which 
 was imprinted on his memory in ftrong and luft- 
 ing characters. Sir Philip grew every moment 
 more affected by the recital j fometimes he 
 clafped his hands together, he lifted them up to 
 heaven, he fmote his breaft, he fighed, he ex- 
 claimed aloud ; when Edmund related his dream, 
 he breathed ftiort, and feemed to devour him 
 with attention ; when he delcribed the fatal clo- 
 iet, he trembled, fighed, fobbed, and was almoft 
 fuffocateJ with his agitations : But when he re- 
 lated all that pafled between his fuppofed mother 
 and himfelf, and finally produced the jewels, 
 the proofs of his birth, and the death of his un- 
 fortunate mother he flew to him, he prefled 
 him to his bofom, he ftrove to fpeak, but fpeech 
 was for fome minutes denied : He wept aloud ; 
 and, at length, his words found their way in bro- 
 ken exclamations. Son of my deareft friend ! 
 dear and precious relick of a noble houfe ! 
 3 child
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 127 
 
 child of providence ! the beloved of heaven ! 
 welcome! thrice welcome to my arms! 
 to my heart! I will be thy parent from hence- 
 forward, and thou fhalt be indeed my child, 
 my heir ? My mind told me from the firft mo- 
 ment I beheld thee, that thou wert the image 
 of my friend ! my heart then opened itfelf to 
 receive thee, as his offspring. I had a ftrange 
 foreboding that I was to be thy protestor. I 
 would then have made thee my own ; but hea- 
 ven orders things for the beft ; it made thee the 
 inftrument of this difcovery, and in its own 
 time and manner conducted thee to my arms. 
 Praife be to God for his wonderful doings to- 
 wards the children of men ! every thing that has 
 befallen thee is by his direction, and he will 
 not leave his work unfinifhed ; I truft that I (hall 
 be his inftrument to do juftice on the guilty, 
 and to reftore the orphan of my friend to his 
 rights and title. I devote myfelf to this fervice, 
 and will make it the bufinefs of my life to effecfc 
 it. 
 
 Edmund gave vent to his emotions, in rap- 
 tures of joy and gratitude. They fpent feveral 
 hours in this way, without thinking of the time 
 that pa/Ted; the one enquiring, the other ex- 
 plaining, and repeating, every particular of the 
 interefting ftory. 
 
 At
 
 J28 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON; 
 
 At length they were interrupted by the 
 careful John Wyatt, who was anxious to know 
 if any thing was likely to give trouble to his 
 Mafter. Sir, faid Sir John, it grows dark, do 
 you want a light? We want no light but 
 what heaven gives us, faid Sir Philip; J knew 
 not whether it was dark or light. I hope, faid 
 John, nothing has happened, I hope your 
 honour has heard no bad tidings, I I I hope 
 no offence. None at all, faid the good knight j 
 I am obliged to your folicitude for me: I have 
 heard fome things that grieve me, and others 
 that give me great pleafure ; but the forrows 
 are paft, and the joys remain. Thank God ! 
 faid John; I was afraid fomething was the 
 matter to give your honour trouble. I thank 
 you, my good fervant ! You fee this young gen- 
 tleman ; 1 would have you, John, devote your- 
 felf to his fervice : I give you to him for an 
 attendant on his perfon, and would have you 
 Clow your affection to me by your attachment 
 to him. Oh, Sir ! faid John in a melancholy 
 voice, what have I done to be turned out of 
 your fervice ? No fuch matter, John, faid Sir 
 Philip; you will not leave my fervice. Sir, 
 faid John, I would rather die than leave you. 
 And, my lad, I like you too well to part with 
 you; but in ferving my friend, you will ferv? 
 me; Know, that this young man is my fon. 
 * Youf
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 129 
 
 Your fon, Sir! faid John! Not rny natural 
 fon, but my relation ; my fon by adoption, my 
 heir ! And will he live with you, Sir ? Yes 
 John ; and I hope to die with him. Oh, then, 
 I will ferve him with all my heart and foul ; 
 and I will do my beft to pleafe you both. I 
 thank you, John, and I will not forget your 
 honeft love and duty: I have fo good an opi- 
 nion of you, that I will tell you of fome things 
 concerning this gentleman that will entitle him 
 to your refpeft. 'Tis enough for me, faid John, 
 to know that your honour refpeds him, to make 
 me pay him as much duty as yourfelf. But, 
 John, when you know him better, you will re- 
 fpe<5t him ftill more ; at prefent, I fhall only tell 
 you what he is not; for you think him only 
 the fon of Andrew Twyford. And is he not ? 
 faid John. No; but his wife nurfed him, and 
 he pafled for her fon. And does old Twyford 
 know it, Sir? He does, and will bear witnefs 
 to it ; but he is the fon of a near friend of 
 mine, of quality fuperior to my own, and as 
 fuch you muft ferve and refpect him. I fhall 
 to be fure, Sir ; but what name fhall I call him? 
 You fhall know that hereafter; in the mean 
 time bring a light, and wait on us to the other 
 parlour. 
 
 When John was withdrawn, Sir Philip faid, 
 
 that is a point to be confidered and determined 
 
 K immediately :
 
 130 THE OLD ENGLISH BAROtf : 
 
 immediately : It is proper that you (hould af- 
 fume a name till you can take that of your 
 father; for I choofe you fhould drop that of 
 your fofter father; and I would have you be 
 called by one that is refpedtable. In that, and 
 every other point, I will be wholly governed 
 by you, Sir, faid Edmund. Well then, I will 
 give you the name of Seagrave: I ihall fay 
 that you are a relation of my own j and my 
 mother was really of that family. 
 
 John foon returned, and attended them into 
 the other parlour : Sir Philip entered, with Ed- 
 mund in his hand. My friends, faid he, this 
 gentleman is Mr. Edward Seagrave, the fon of 
 a dear friend and relation of mine : He was loft 
 in his infancy, brought up by a good woman 
 out of pure humanity, and is but lately reftored 
 to his own family : The circumftances fhall be 
 made known hereafter: In the mean time, I 
 have taken him under my care and protection, 
 and will ufe all my power and intereft to fee 
 him reftored to his fortune, which is enjoyed 
 by the ufurpet who was the caufe of his expul- 
 fion, and the death of his parents. Receive him 
 as my relation, and friend : Zadifky, do you 
 embrace him. firft f Edmund, you and this gen- 
 tleman muft love each other for my fake; here- 
 after you will do it for your own. They all 
 rofe, each embraced and congratulated the young
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 131 
 
 fnan. Zadifky faid, Sir, whatever griefs and 
 misfortunes you may have endured, you may 
 reckon them at an end, from the hour you are 
 beloved and protected by Sir Philip Harclay. 
 I firmly believe it, Sir, replied Edmund ; and 
 my heart enjoys, already, more happinefs than 
 1 ever yet felt, and promifes me all that I can 
 wifli in future : His friendfhip is the earned 
 Heaven gives me of its bleflings hereafter. 
 
 They fat down to fupper with mutual chear- 
 fulnefs ; and Edmund enjoyed the repaft with 
 more fatisfaclion than he had felt a long time. 
 Sir Philip faw his countenance brighten up, and 
 looked on him with heart- felt pleafure. Every 
 time I look on you, faid he, reminds me of your 
 father ; you are the fame perfon 1 loved twenty- 
 three years ago: I rejoice to fee you under my 
 roof. Go to your repofe early, and to-morrow 
 we will confult farther. Edmund withdrew^ 
 and enjoyed a night of fweet undifturbed repofe. 
 
 The next morning Edmund arofe in perfect 
 health and fpirits; he waited on his benefactor. 
 They were foon after joined by Zadifky, who 
 fnewed great attention and refpeft to the youth, 
 and offered him his beft fervices without re~ 
 l>rve. Edmund accepted them with equal re- 
 fpecl and modefty; and finding himfelf at eafe, 
 begun to difplay his amiable qualities. They 
 K 2 break-
 
 i 3 2 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 breakfafted together; afterwards, Sir Philip de- 
 fifed Edmund to walk out with him. 
 
 As foon as they were out of hearing, Sir 
 Philip (aid, I could not deep laft night for 
 thinking of your affairs: I laid fchemes for you, 
 and reje&ed them again. We muft lay our plan, 
 before we begin to ac"h What (hall be done 
 with this treacherous kinfman ! this inhuman, 
 monfter ! this aflaflin of his neareft relation ? 
 I will rifle my life and fortune to bring him to 
 juftice. Shall I go to court, and demand juftice 
 of the King? or (hall I accufe him of the mur- 
 der, and make him ftand a publick trial? If I 
 treat him as a Baron of the realm, he muft be tried 
 by his peers ; if as a commoner, he muft be 
 tried at the county affize : But we muft (hew 
 reafon why he fhould be degraded from his title. 
 Have you any thing to propofe? Nothing, 
 Sir; I have only to wifh that it might be as pri- 
 vate as poffible, for the fake of my noble bene- 
 factor, the Lord Fitz-Owen, upon whom fome 
 part of the family difgrace would naturally fall ; 
 and that would be an ill return for all his kind- 
 nefs and generofity to me. That is a generous 
 and grateful confideration on your part; but 
 you owe ftill more to the memory of your injured 
 parents. However, there is yet another way 
 that fuits me better than any hitherto propofed : 
 I will challenge the traitor to meet me in the 
 field i and, if he has fpirit enough to anfwcr my 
 
 call,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY, 133 
 
 call, I will there bring him to juftice; if not, 1 
 will bring him to a publick trial. 
 
 No, Sir, faid Edmund, that is my province : 
 Should I ftand by and fee my noble gallant 
 friend expofe his life for me, I fhould be un- 
 worthy to bear the name of that friend whom 
 you fo much lament. It will become his fon 
 to vindicate his name, and revenge his death. 
 I will be the challenger, and no other. And do 
 you think he will anfwer the challenge of an 
 unknown youth, with nothing but his preten- 
 fions tohis name and title ? Certainly not. Leave 
 this matter to me: I think of a way that will 
 oblige him to meet me at the houfe of a third 
 perfon who is known to all the parties con- 
 cerned, and where we will have authentick wit- 
 nefles of all that pafTes between him and me. 
 I will devife the t me, place, and manner, 
 and fatisfy all your fcruples. Edmund offered 
 to reply ; but Sir Philip bad him be filent, and 
 let him proceed in his own way. 
 
 He then led him over his eftate, and {hewed 
 him every thing deferving his notice j' he told 
 him all the particulars of his domeftick ceco- 
 nomy, and they returned home in time to meet 
 their friends at dinner. 
 
 They fpent feveral days in confuhing how to 
 
 bring Sir Walter to account, and in improving 
 
 their friendship and confidence in each other. 
 
 K Edmund
 
 134 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Edmund endeared himfelf fo much to his friend 
 and patron, that he declared him his adopted fon 
 and heir before all his friends and fervants, and 
 ordered them to refpe& him as fuch. He every 
 day improved their love and regard for him, and 
 became the darling of the whole family. 
 
 After much confideration, Sir Philip fixed 
 his refolutions, and began to execute his pur- 
 pofes. He fet out for the feat of the Lord Clif- 
 ford, attended by Edmund, M. ZadLfky, and 
 two fervants. Lord Clifford received them with 
 kindnefs and hofpitality. 
 
 Sir Philip prefented Edmund to Lord Clifford 
 and his family, as his near relation and pre- 
 fumptive heir : They fpent the evening in the 
 pleafures of convivial mirth and hofpitable en- 
 tertainment. The next day Sir Philip began to 
 open his mind to Lord Clifford, informing him 
 that both his young friend and himfelf had re- 
 ceived great injuries from the prefent Lord Lo- 
 vel, for which they were refolved to call him to 
 account; but that, for many reafons, they were 
 defirous to have proper witneffes of all that 
 fhould pafs between them, and begging the fa- 
 vour of his Lordfhip to be the principal one. 
 Lord Clifford acknowledged the confidence plac- 
 ed in him ; and befought Sir Philip to let him 
 be the arbitrator between them. Sir Philip af- 
 frred him, that their wrongs would not admit of 
 9 arbitra-
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 135 
 
 arbitration, as he fhould hereafter judge; but 
 that he was unwilling to explain them further 
 till he knew certainly whether or not the Lord 
 Lovel would meet him; for, if he refufed, he 
 muft take another method with him. 
 
 Lord Clifford was defirous to know the 
 grounds of the quarrel ; but Sir Philip declined 
 entering into particulars at prefent, alluring 
 him of a full information hereafter. He then 
 fent M. Zadiiky, attended by John Wyatt, 
 and a fervant of Lord Clifford, with a letter to 
 Lord Lovel ; the contents were as follows : 
 
 " My Lord Lovel ! 
 
 * e Sir Philip Harclay earneftly defires to fee 
 <c you at the houfe of Lord Clifford, where he 
 " waits to call you to account for the injuries 
 " done by you to the late Arthur Lord Lovel, 
 " your kinfman : If you accept his demand, 
 " he will make the Lord Clifford a witnefs and 
 " a judge of thecaufe; if not, he will expofe 
 <c you publicly as a traitor and a coward. 
 " Pleafe to anfwer this letter, and be will ac- 
 " quaint you with the time, place, and man- 
 " ner of the meeting. Philip Harclay." 
 
 Zadifky prefented the letter to Lord Lovel, 
 informing him that he was the friend of Sir 
 Philip Harclay. He feemed furprifed and con- 
 founded at the contents; but, putting on an 
 K 4 haughty
 
 136 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 haughty airj I know nothing, faid he, of the 
 bufinefs this letter hints at: But wait a few 
 hours, and I will give you an anfwer. He gave 
 orders to treat Zadifky as a gentleman in every 
 refpeft, except in avoiding his company; for 
 the Greek had a (hrewd and penetrating afpecl, 
 and he obferved every turn of his countenance. 
 The next day he came and apologized for his 
 abfence, and gave him the anfwer ; fending 
 his refpefts to the Lord Clifford. The meflen- 
 gers returned with all fpeed, and Sir Philip read 
 the anfwer before all prefent. 
 
 " Lord Lovel knows not of any injuries done 
 " by him to the late Arthur Lord Lovel, whom 
 < e he fucceeded by juft right of inheritance ; nor 
 " of any right Sir Philip H^rclay has, to call 
 " to account a man to whom he is barely 
 <e known, having feen him only once, many 
 " years ago, at the houfe of his uncle, the old 
 c Lord Lovel : Neverthelefs, Lord Lovel will 
 " not fuffer any man to call his name and ho- 
 " nour into queftion with impunity; for which 
 " reafon he will meet Sir Philip Harclay at any 
 " time, place, and in what manner he fhaH ap- 
 " point, bringing the fame number of friends 
 " and dependants, that juftice may be done to 
 K all parties. Lovel." 
 
 'Tis well, faid Sir Philip: I am glad to find 
 he has the fpirit to meet me ; he is an enemy 
 
 worthy
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 137 
 
 worthy of my fvvord. Lord Clifford then pro- 
 pofed, that both parties fhould pafs the borders, 
 and obtain leave of the warden of the Scottifti 
 marches to decide the quarrel in hisjurifdi&ion, 
 with a feledt number of friends on both fides. 
 Sir Philip agreed to the propofal ; and Lord 
 Clifford wrote in his own name to afk permit- 
 fion of the Lord Graham, that his friends might 
 come there; and obtained it, on condition that 
 neither party fliould exceed a limited number 
 of friends and followers. 
 
 Lord Clifford fent chofen meffengers to Lord 
 Lovel, acquainting him with the conditions, 
 and appointing the time, place, and manner of 
 their meeting, and that he had been denred 
 to accept the office of judge of the field. Lord 
 Lovel accepted the conditions, and promifed 
 to be there without fail. Lord Clifford 
 notified the fame to Lord Graham, war- 
 den of the marches, who caufed a piece of 
 ground to be enclofed for the lifts, and made 
 preparations againft the day appointed. 
 
 In the interim, Sir Philip Harclay thought 
 proper to fettle his worldly affairs: He made 
 Zadifky acquainted with every circumftance 
 cf Edmund's hiftory, and the obligation that 
 lay upon him to revenge the death of his 
 friend, and fee juftice done to his heir. Zadilky 
 entered into the caufe with an ardor that fpoke 
 the affection he bore to hi* friend. Why, 
 
 faid
 
 I 3 S THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 faid he, would you not fuffer me to engage 
 this traitor ? Your life is of too much confe- 
 juence to be flaked againft his : But tho' I 
 truft that the juftice of your caufe muft fuc- 
 <eed, yet if it fhould happen otherwife, I vow 
 to revenge you ; he (hall never go back from 
 us both : However my hope and truft is, to fee 
 your arm the minifter of juftice. Sir Philip 
 then lent for a lawyer and made his will, by 
 which he appointed Edmund his chief heir by 
 the name of Lovel, alias Seagrave, alias Twy- 
 ford ; he ordered that all his old friends, foldiers 
 and fervants, fhould be maintained in the fame 
 manner during their lives; he left to Zadifky 
 an annuity of an hundred a year, and a legacy 
 of two hundred pounds ; one hundred pounds 
 to a certain monaftery; the fame fum to be di- 
 ftributed among difbanded foldiers, and the 
 fame to the pour and needy in his neighbour* 
 hood. 
 
 He appointed Lord Clifford joint executor 
 with Edmund, and gave his will into that no- 
 bleman's care, recommending Edmund to his 
 favour and protection. If I live, faid he, I will 
 make him appear to be worthy of it j if I die, he 
 will want a friend. I am defirous your Lordfhip, 
 as a judge of the field, fhould be unprejudiced 
 on either fide, that you may judge impartially. 
 If I die, Edmund's pretenlions die with me; 
 
 but
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 139 
 
 but my friend Zadifky will acquaint you with 
 the foundation of them. I take thefe precau- 
 tions becaufe I ought to be prepared for every 
 thing; but my heart is warm with better 
 hopes, and I truft I {hall live to juftify my 
 own caufe, as well as that of my friend, who is 
 a perfon of more confequence than he appears 
 to be. Lord Clifford accepted the truft, and 
 exprefied the greateft reliance upon Sir Philip's 
 honour and* veracity. 
 
 While thefe preparations were making for 
 the great event that was to decide the preten- 
 fions of Edmund, his enemies at the Caftle 
 of Lovel were brought to fhame for their be- 
 haviour to him, 
 
 The difagreement between Wenlock and 
 Markham had by degrees brought on an ex- 
 planation of fome parts of their conduct. 
 Father Ofwald had often hinted to the Baron, 
 Wenlock's envy of Edmund's fuperior qua- 
 lities, and the artifices by which he had ob- 
 tained fuch an influence with Sir Robert, 
 as to make him take his part upon all occa- 
 fions. Ofwald now took advantage of the 
 breach between thefe two incendiaries, to per- 
 fuade Markham to juftify himfelf at Wenlock's 
 cxpence, and to tell all he knew of his wicked- 
 nefs ; at length he promifed to declare all he 
 knew of Wenlock's conduit, as well in France 
 
 as
 
 140 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 as fince their return, when he ftiould be called 
 upon; and, by him, Ofwald was enabled to 
 tmravel the whole of his contrivances, againft 
 the honour, intereft, and even life of Ed- 
 mund. 
 
 He prevailed on Hewfon, and Kemp his 
 affociate, to add their teflimony to the others. 
 Hewfon confefied that he was touched in his 
 conscience, when he reflected on the cruelty and 
 injustice of his behaviour to Edmund, whofe 
 behaviour towards him, after he had laid a fnare 
 for his life, was fo noble and generous, that he 
 vras cut to the heart by it, and had fuffered 
 fb much pain and remorfe, that he longed for 
 nothing fo much as an opportunity to unbur- 
 den his mind ; but the dread of Mr. Wen- 
 lock's anger, and the effects of his refent- 
 mej>t, had hitherto kept him fiient, always 
 hoping there would come a time when he 
 might have leave to declare the whole truth. 
 
 Ofwald conveyed this information to the Ba- 
 ron's ear, who waited for an opportunity to 
 make the proper ufe of it. Not long after, the 
 two principal incendteries came to an open 
 rupture, and Markham threatened Wenlock 
 that he would {hew his uncle what a ferpent 
 fee had harboured in his bofom. The Barort 
 arrefted his words, and infifted upon his tell- 
 ing all he knew; adding, if you fpeak the 
 * truth
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 141 
 
 truth I will fupport you, but if you prove falfe, 
 I will punifli you feverely: As to Mr. Wen- 
 lock, he (hall have a fair trial ; and, if all the 
 accufations I have heard are made good, it is 
 high time that I fhould put him out of my 
 family. The Baron, with a ftern afpe<Sr, bade 
 them follow him into the great hall j and fenfc 
 for all the reft of the family together. 
 
 He then, with great folemnity, told them be 
 was ready to hear all fides of the qtieftkm. 
 He declared the whole fubftance of his infor- 
 mations, and called upon the accufers to fup- 
 port the charge. Hewfon and Kemp gave the 
 fame account they had done to Ofwald, offer- 
 ing to fwear to the truth of their teftimony ; 
 feveral of the other fervawts related fuch cir- 
 cumftances as had come to their knowledge. 
 Markham then fpoke of every thing, and 
 gave a particular account of all that had paffed 
 on the night they fpent in the eaft apartment ; 
 he accufed himfelf of being privy to Wenlock's 
 villany, called himfelf fool and blockhead for be- 
 ing the inftrument of his malignant difpofition, 
 and aflced pardon of his uncle for concealing 
 it fo long. 
 
 The Baron called upon Wenlock to reply to 
 the charge; who, inftead of anfwering, flew into 
 a paflion, raged, fwore, threatened, and finally 
 denied every thing. The witnefTes perfifted in 
 
 their
 
 I 4 2 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 their afTertions. Markham defired leave to 
 make known the reafon why they were all afraid 
 of him; he gives it out (faid he), that he is 
 to be my Lord's fon-in-law j and they, fuppofing 
 him to (land firft in his favour, are afraid of 
 his difpleafure. I hope, faid the Baron, I {hall 
 not be at fuch a lofs for a fon-in-law, as to 
 make choice of fuch a one as him ; he never 
 but once hinted at fuch a thing, and then I 
 gave him no encouragement. I have long feen 
 there was fomething very wrong in him ; but 
 I did not believe he was of fo wicked a difpo- 
 iition : It is no wonder that princes fhould be 
 fo frequently deceived, when I, a private man, 
 could be fo much impofed upon within the 
 circle of my own family. What think you, 
 fon Pobert? I, Sir, have been much more 
 impofed on ; and I take fhame to myfelf on 
 the occafion.- Enough, my fon, faid the Baron ; 
 a generous confeffion is only a proof of grow- 
 ing wifdom : You are now fenfible, that the beft 
 of us are liable to impofition. The artifices of 
 this unworthy kinfman have fet us at variance 
 with each other, and driven away an excellent 
 youth from this houfe, to go I know not 
 whither : But he {hall no longer triumph in 
 his wickcdnefs ; he fhall feel what it fs to be 
 banimed from the houfe of his protedor. He 
 Hull fet out for his mother's this very day ; I 
 
 will
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 143 
 
 will write to her in fuch a manner as fhall in- 
 form her that he has offended me, without 
 particularifing the nature of his faults : I will 
 give him an opportunity of recovering his cre- 
 dit with his own family, and this fhall be my 
 fecurity againft his doing further mifchier". 
 May he repent, and be forgiven ! 
 
 Markham defcrves punifhment, but not in the 
 fame degree. I confefs it, faid he, and will 
 fubmit to whatever your Lordfhip fhall enjoin. 
 You fhall only be banilhed for a time, but 
 he for ever. I will fend you abroad on a bu- 
 fmefs that fhall put you in a way to do credit 
 to yourfelf, and fervice to me. Son Robert, 
 
 have you any objection to my fentence? 
 
 My Lord, faid he, I have great reafon to dif- 
 truft myfelf ; I am fenfible of my own weak- 
 nefs, and your fuperior wifdom, as well as 
 goodnefs, and I will henceforward fubmit to 
 you in all things, 
 
 The Baron ordered two of his fervants to 
 pack up Wen lock's clothes and necefiaries, 
 and to fet out with him that very day ; he 
 bade fomc others keep an eye upon him left he 
 fhould efcape : As foon as they were ready, 
 my Lord v/ifhed ^im a good journey, and gave 
 him a letter for his mother. He departed 
 without faying a word, in a fullen kind of re- 
 
 fentment,
 
 144 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 fentment, but his countenance (hewed the in- 
 ward agitations of his mind. 
 
 As foon as he was gone every mouth was 
 opened againft him ; a thoufand ftories came 
 out that they never heard before : The Baron 
 and his fons were aftonifhed that he fhould go 
 on fo long without detection. My Lord fighed 
 deeply at the thoughts of Edmund's cxpulfion, 
 and ardently vvifhed to know what was become 
 of him. 
 
 Sir Robert took the opportunity of coming 
 to an explanation with his brother William ; he 
 took fhame to himfelf for fome part of his 
 paft behaviour. Mr. William owned his affec- 
 tion to Edmund, and juftified it by his merit, 
 and attachment to him, which were fuch that 
 he was certain no time or diftance could alter 
 them. He accepted his brother's acknowledge- 
 ment as a full amends for all that had paft, and 
 begged that henceforward an entire love and 
 confident might ever fubfift between them. 
 Thefe new regulations reftored peace, confi- 
 dence, and harmony, in the caftle of Lovel. 
 
 At length the day arrived for the combatants 
 to meet. The Lord Graham, with twelve fol- 
 lowers gentlemen, and twelve fervants, was 
 ready at the dawn of day to receive them. 
 
 The firft that entered the field was Sir Philip 
 Harclay, Knight, armed compleatly, excepting 
 
 his
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 145 
 
 his head-piece ; Hugh Rugby, his Efquire, 
 bearing his lance; John Barnard, his page, 
 carrying his helmet and fpurs j and two fervants 
 in his proper livery. The next came Edmund, 
 the heir of Lovel, followed by his fervant John 
 Wyatt; Zadifky, followed by his fervant. 
 
 At a (hort diftance came the Lord Clifford, 
 as judge of the field, with his Efquire, two 
 pages, and two livery fervants j followed by 
 hiseldeft fon, his nephew, and a gentleman his 
 friend, each attended by one fervant: He alfo 
 brought a furgeon of note to take care of the 
 wounded. 
 
 The Lord Graham faiutcdthem; and, by his 
 order, they took their places without the lifts, 
 and the trumpet founded for the challenger. It 
 was anfwered by the defendant, who foon after 
 appeared, attended by three gentlemen his 
 friends, with each one fervant, befide his own 
 proper attendants. 
 
 A place was erected for the Lord Clifford, as 
 j udge of the field ; he dcfired Lord Graham would 
 ihare the office, who accepted it on condition 
 that the combatants (hould make no objection., 
 and they agreed to it with the greateft cour- 
 tefy and refpecr.. They confulted together on 
 many points of honour and ceremony between 
 the two combatants. 
 
 L They
 
 146 THE OLD ENGLISH BARONr 
 
 They appointed a marfhal of the field, and 
 other inferior officers ufually employed on 
 thefe occafions. The Lord Graham fent the 
 marfhal for the challenger, defiring him to de- 
 clare the caufe of his quarrel before his enemy. 
 Sir Philip Harclay then advanced, and thus 
 fpoke : 
 
 " I Philip Harclay, Knight, challenge Wal- 
 " ter, commonly called Lord Lovel, as a bafe, 
 ** treacherous and bloody man, who, by his 
 " wicked arts and devices, did kill, or caufe 
 tl to be killed, his kinfman, Arthur Lord 
 " Lovel, my dear and noble friend. I am 
 ** called upon, in an extraordinary manner, to 
 " revenge his death; and I will prove the truth 
 w of what I have affirmed at the peril of my 
 life." 
 
 Lord Graham then bade the defendant an- 
 fwer to the charge. Lord Lovel flood forth 
 before his followers, and thus replied : 
 
 " I Walter, Baron of Lovel, do deny the 
 *' charge againft me, and affirm it to be a bafe, 
 * falfe, and malicious accufation of this Sir 
 *' Philip Harclay, which I believe to be in- 
 *' vented by himfelf, or elfe. framed by fome 
 " enemy, and told to him for wicked endsj 
 but be that as it may, I will maintain my 
 ct own honour, and prove him to be a falfe 
 
 ** traitor
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 147 
 
 e traitor at the hazard of my own life, and to 
 " the punifhment of his prefumption." 
 
 Then faid the Lord Graham, will not this 
 quarrel admit of arbitration? No, replied Sir 
 Philip; when I have juftified this charge, I 
 have more to bring againfthim. I truft in God 
 and the juftice of my caufe, and defy that 
 traitor to the death ! Lord Clifford then fpoke 
 a few words to Lord Graham, who immediately 
 called to the marlhal and bade him open the 
 lifts, and deliver their weapons to the com- 
 batants. 
 
 While the marfhal was arranging the com- 
 batants, and their followers, Edmund ap- 
 proached his friend and patron ; he put one 
 knee to the ground, he embraced his knees 
 with the ftrongeft emotions of grief and an- 
 xiety. He was drefled in compleat armour 
 with his vifor down; his device was a hawthorn, 
 with a graft of the rofe upon it, the motto 
 This is not my true parent ; but Sir Philip bade 
 him take thefe words e fruftu arbor cogncf- 
 citur. 
 
 Sir Philip embraced the youth with fliong 
 marks of affection : Be compofed, my child ! faid 
 he ; I have neither guilt, fear, nor doubt in me : 
 I am fo certain of fuccefs that I bid you be pre- 
 pared for the confequence. Zadifky embraced 
 his friend, he comforted Edmund, he fuggefted 
 L 2
 
 j 4 S THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 every thing that could confirm his hopes of 
 fuccefs. 
 
 Themarflial waited to deliver the fpear to Sir 
 Philip j he now prefented it with the ufual form. 
 Sir, receive your lance, and God defend the 
 right ! Sir Philip anfwered, Amen ! in a voice 
 that was heard by all prefent. 
 
 He next prefented his weapon to Lord Lovel 
 with the fame fentence, who likewife anfwered 
 Amen ! with a good courage. Immediately 
 the lifts were cleared, and the combatants be- 
 gan the fight. 
 
 They contended a long time with equal fkill 
 and courage; at length Sir Philip unhorfed his 
 antagonift. The judges ordered, that either he 
 fhould alight, or fuffer his enemy to remount; 
 he chofe the former, and a fhort combat on 
 foot enfued. The fweat run off their bodies 
 with the violence of the exercife. Sir Philip 
 watched every motion of his enemy, and ftrove 
 to weary him out, intending to wound but 
 not to kill him, unlefs obliged for his own 
 fafety. 
 
 He thruft his fword through his left arm, 
 and demanded whether he would confefs the 
 fadt ? Lord Lovel enraged, anfwered, he would 
 die fooner. Sir Philip then pafled the fword 
 through his body twice, and Lord Lovel fell, 
 frying out that he was flain. 
 
 I hope
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 149 
 
 I hope ngt, faid Sir Philip, for I have a great 
 deal of bufinefs for you to do before you die: 
 Confefs your fins, and endeavour to atone for 
 them, as the only ground to hope for pardon. 
 Lord Lovel replied, You are the victor, ufe 
 your good fortune generoufly ! 
 
 Sir Philip took away his fword, and then 
 waved it over his head, and beckoned for 
 afliftance. The judges fent to beg Sir Philip to 
 fpare the life of his enemy. I will, faid he, 
 upon condition that he will make an honeft 
 confeffion. 
 
 Lord Lovel defired a furgeon and a confeflbr. 
 You fhall have both, faid Sir Philip; but you 
 muft firft anfwer me a queftion or two. Did 
 you kill your kinfman or not ? It was not my 
 hand that killed him, anfwered the wounded 
 man. It was done by your own order, how- 
 ever ? You fhall have no afliftance till you an- 
 fwer this point. It was, faid he, and Heaven is 
 j u ft ! Bear witnefs all prefent, faid Sir Philip; 
 he confefles the faa ! 
 
 He then beckoned Edmund, who approach- 
 ed. Take off your helmet, faid he: Look on 
 that youth, he is the fon of your injured kinf- 
 man. It is himfelf ! faid the Lord Lovel, and 
 fainted away. 
 
 Sir Philip then called for a furgeon and a 
 
 prieft, both of which Lord Graham had pro- 
 
 L 3 vided;
 
 150 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 v!<5ed ; the former began to bind up his wounds 
 and his afiiftants poured a cordial into his 
 mouth. Preferve his life, if it be poffible, faid 
 Sir Philip ; for much depends upon it. 
 
 He then took Edmund by the hand, and 
 prefented him to all the company. In this 
 young man, faid he, you fee the true heir of 
 the houfe of Lovel ! Heaven has in its own way 
 made him the inftrument to difcover the death 
 of his parents. His father was aflafllnated by 
 order of that wicked man, who now receives 
 his puniftiment ; his mother was, by his cruel 
 treatment, compelled to leave her own houfe ; 
 {he was delivered in the fields, and periflied 
 herfelf in feeking a (helter for her infant. I 
 have t fufficient proofs of every thing I fay, 
 which I am ready to communicate to every 
 perfon who defires to know the particulars : 
 Heaven, by my hand, has chaftifed him; he has 
 confefled the fal I accufe him of, and it re- 
 mains that he make reftituticn of the fortune 
 and honours he hath ufurped fo long. 
 
 Edmund kneeled, and with uplifted hands 
 returned thanks to Heaven, that his noble 
 friend and champion was crowned with vic- 
 tory! The Lords and gentlemen gathered 
 round them, they congratulated them both j 
 while Lord Level's friends and followers were 
 Employed in taking care of him. Lord Clifford 
 
 tpok
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 131 
 
 took Sir Philip's hand. You have aded with 
 fo much honour and prudence that it is pre- 
 fumptuous to offer you advice; but what mean 
 you to do with the wounded man? I have not 
 determined, faid he ; I thank you for the hint, 
 and beg your advice how to proceed. Let us 
 confult Lord Graham, replied he. Lord Gra- 
 ham infifted upon their going all to his caftle; 
 there, faid he, you will have impartial witnefles 
 of all that paffes. Sir Philip was unwilling to 
 givefo much trouble. The Lord Graham pro- 
 tefted he fhould be proud to do any fervice to fo> 
 noble a gentleman. Lord Clifford enforced his 
 requeft, faying, it was better upon all accounts 
 to keep their prifoner on this fide the borders 
 till they faw what turn his health would take, 
 and to keep him fafely till he had fettled his 
 worldly affairs. 
 
 This refolution being taken, Lord Graham 
 invited the wounded man and his friends to his 
 caftle, as being the neareft place where he 
 could be lodged and taken proper care of, it 
 being dangerous to carry him further. They 
 accepted the propofal with many acknowledge- 
 ments; and, having made a kind of litter of 
 boughs, they all proceeded to Lord Graham's 
 caftle, where they put Lord Lovel to bed, and 
 ',the furgeon dreffed his wounds, and defired he 
 L 4 might
 
 152 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 might be kept quiet, not knowing at prefent 
 whether they were dangerous or not. 
 
 About an hour after, the wounded man 
 complained of thirft; he afked for the furgeon, 
 and enquired if his life was in danger ? The fur- 
 geon anfwered him doubtfully. He afked, 
 - where is Sir Philip Harclay ? In the caftle. 
 Where is that young man whom he calls the 
 heir of Lovel ? He is here, too. Then I am 
 furrounded with my enemies. I want to fpeak 
 to one of my own fervants, without witnefles j 
 Jet one be fent to me. 
 
 The furgeon withdrew, and acquainted the 
 gentlemen below. He fhall not fpeak to any 
 man, faid Sir Philip, but in my prefence. He 
 went with him into thefick man's room. Upon 
 the fight of Sir Philip, he feemed in great agita- 
 tion. Am I not allowed to fpeak with my own 
 fervant, faid he? Yes, Sir, you may; but not 
 without witnefles. X ne n I am a prifoner, it 
 feems ? No, not fo Sir; but fome caution is 
 necefiary at prefent: But compofe yourfeif, I do 
 not wifh for your death. Then why did you 
 feek it? I never injured you. Yes, you have, 
 in the perfon of my friend, and I am only the 
 infrrument of juftice in the hand of Heaven; 
 endeavour to make atonement while life is fpared 
 to you. Shall I fend the prieft to you ? perhaps 
 he Tnay convince you of the neceffity of teftitu- 
 
 tion
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 153 
 
 tion, in order to obtain forgivenefs of your fins. 
 
 Sir Philip fent for the prieft and the furgeon, 
 and obliged the fervant to retire with him. I 
 leave you, Sir, to the care of thefe gentlemen; 
 and whenever a third perfon is admitted, I will 
 be his attendant : I will vifit you again within 
 an hour. He then retired, and confulted his 
 friends below; they were of opinion that no 
 time fhould be loft. You will then, faid he, 
 accompany me into the ficlc man's apartment 
 in an hour's time. 
 
 Within the hour, Sir Philip, attended by Lord 
 Clifford and Lord Graham, entered the cham- 
 ber. Lord Lovel was in great emotion ; the 
 prieft ftood on one fide of the bed, the furgeon 
 on the other; the former exhorted him to con- 
 fefs his fins, the other defired he might be left 
 to his repofe. Lord Lovel feemed in great an- 
 guifh of mind; he trembled, and was in the ut- 
 moft confufion. Sir Philip intreated him, with 
 the piety of a confeflbr, to confider his foul's 
 health before that of his body. He then afked 
 Sir Philip, by what means he knew that he was 
 concerned in the death of his kinfman ? Sir, 
 replied he, it was not merely by human means 
 this fa& was difcovered. There is a certain 
 apartment in the caftle of Lovel, that has been 
 {hut up thefe one and twenty years, but has 
 lately been opened and examined into. 
 
 Oh
 
 154 THE O LD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Oh Heaven ! exclaimed he, then Geoffry 
 tnuft have betrayed rr.e ! No, Sir, he has not, 
 it was revealed in a very extraordinary man- 
 ner to that youth whom it moft concerns. 
 How can he be the heir of Lovel? By being 
 the fon of that unfortunate woman, whom 
 you cruelly obliged to leave her own houfe, to 
 avoid being compelled to wed the murderer 
 of her hufband : We are not ignorant, more- 
 over, of the fictitious funeral you made for her. 
 All is difcovered, and you will not tell us any 
 more than we know already ; but we defire to 
 have it confirmed by your confeffion. The 
 judgments of Heaven are fallen upon me! faid 
 Lord Lovel. I am childlefs, and one is arifen 
 from the grave to claim my inheritance. No- 
 thing, then, hinders you to do juftice and make 
 reftitution ; it is for the eafe of your confcience; 
 and you have no other way of making atone- 
 ment for all the mifchief you have done. You 
 know too much, faid the criminal, and I will 
 xelate what you do not know. 
 
 You may remember, proceeded he, that I faw 
 you once at my uncle's houfe? I well remem- 
 ber it. At that time my mind was difturbed 
 
 by the baleful paffion of envy; it was from that 
 root all my bad actions fprung. Praife be to 
 God ! faid the good prieft j he hath touched your 
 heart with true contrition, and you fhew the 
 
 effe.a
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 155 
 
 effect of his mercies; you will do juftice, and 
 you will be rewarded by the gift of repentance 
 unto falvation. Sir Philip defired the penitent 
 to proceed. 
 
 My kinfman excelled me in every kind of 
 merit, in the graces of perfon and mind, in 
 all his exercifes, and in every accomplifh- 
 ment. I was totally eclipfed by him, and I 
 hated to be in his company; but what finifhed 
 my averfion, was his addrefilng the lady upon 
 whom I had fixed my affections : I ftrove to 
 rival him there, but {he gave him the prefer- 
 ence that, indeed, was only his due ; but I could 
 not bear to fee, or acknowledge, it. 
 
 The moft bitter hatred took poffefllon of my 
 breaft, and I vowed to revenge the fuppofed in- 
 jury as foon as opportunity fliould offer. I 
 buried my refentment deep in my heart, and 
 outwardly appeared to rejoice at his fuccefs; I 
 made a merit of refigning my pretenfions to him, 
 but I could not bear to be prefent at his nup- 
 tials : I retired to my father's feat, and brooded 
 over my revenge in fecret. My father died this 
 year, and foon after my uncle followed him; 
 within another year my kinfman was fummon- 
 ed to attend the king on his Welch expedition. 
 
 As foon as I heard he was gone from home, 
 I refolved to prevent his return, exulting in 
 the profpecl of poflefling his title, fortune, and 
 
 hi.
 
 XS&THEOLDENGLISH BARON: 
 
 his Lady. I hired meftengers, who were con- 
 ftantly going and coming to give me intelli- 
 gence of all that pafled at the caftle ; I went 
 there foon after, under pretence of vifiting my 
 kinfman. My fpies brought me an account of 
 all that happened ; one informed me of the 
 event of the battle, but could not tell whether 
 my rival was living or dead; 1 hoped the latter, 
 that I might avoid the crime 1 meditated : I 
 reported his death to his Lady, who took it very 
 heavily. 
 
 Soon after a meflenger arrived with tidings 
 that he was alive and well, and had obtained 
 leave to return home immediately. 
 
 I inftantly difpatched my two emiflaries to 
 intercept him on the way. He made fo much 
 hafte to return, that he was met within a mile 
 of his own caftle: he had out-rode his fervants 
 and was alone: They killed him, and drew him 
 afide out of the highway. They then came to 
 me with all fpeed, and defired my orders; it 
 was then about funfet : I fent them back to 
 fetch the dead body, which they brought pri- 
 vately into the caftle : They tied it neck and 
 heels, and put it into a trunk, which they bu- 
 ried under the floor in the clofet you mention- 
 ed. The fight of the body flung me to the 
 heart; I then felt the pangs of remorfe, but it 
 was too late : I took every precaution that 
 
 prudence
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 
 
 '57 
 
 prudence fuggefted to prevent the difcovery; 
 but nothing can be concealed from the eye of 
 Heaven. 
 
 From that fatal hour I have never known 
 peace, always in fear of fomething impending 
 to difcover my guilt, and to bring me to 
 lhame : At length I am overtaken by juftice. I 
 am brought to a fevere reckoning here, and 
 I dread to meet one more fevere hereafter. 
 
 Enough, faid the prieft, you have done a 
 good work, my fon ! truft in the Lord ; and, 
 now this burden is off your mind, the reft will 
 be made eafy to you. 
 
 Lord Lovel took a minute's repofe, and 
 then went on. I hope by the hint you gave, 
 Sir Philip, the poor lady is yet alive ? No, Sir, 
 file is not ; but (he died not till after fhe brought 
 forth a fon, whom Heaven made its inftrument 
 to difcover and avenge the death of both his pa- 
 rents. They are well avenged ! faid he. I 
 have no children to lament for me, all mine 
 have been taken from me in the bloom of youth ; 
 only one daughter lived to be twelve years old; 
 I intended her for a wife for one of my ne- 
 phews, but within three months I have buried 
 her. He fighed, wept, and was filent. 
 
 The gentlemen prefent lifted up their hands 
 
 and eyes to Heaven in filence. The will of 
 
 Heaven be obeyed ! faid the prieft. My peni- 
 
 5 teat
 
 158 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 tent hath confefTed all; what more would you 
 require ? That he make atonement, faid Sir 
 Philip; that he Surrender the title and eftate to 
 the right heir, and difpofe of his o\vn proper 
 fortune to his neareft relations, and refign him- 
 felf to penitence and preparation for a future 
 ftate. For this time I leave him with you, fa- 
 ther, and will join my prayers with yours for 
 his repentance. 
 
 So faying, he left the room, and was fol- 
 lowed by the Barons and the furgeon; the prieft 
 alone remaining with him. As foon as they 
 were out of hearing, Sir Philip queftioned the 
 furgeon concerning his patient's fituation; who 
 anfwered, that at prefent he faw no figns of im- 
 mediate danger, but he could not yet pronounce 
 that there was none : if he were mortally wound- 
 ed, faid he, he could not be fo well, nor fpealc 
 fo long without faintnefs; and it is my opinion 
 that he will foon recover, if nothing happens 
 to retard the cure. Then, faid Sir Philip, keep 
 this opinion from him ; for I would fuffer the 
 fear of death to operate on him until he hath 
 performed fome neceflary acls of jurtice: Let 
 it only be known to thefe noblemen, upon whofc 
 honour I can rely, and I truft they will approve 
 my requeft to you, Sir. I join in it, faid Lord 
 Clifford, from the fame motives. I infift upon 
 it, faid Lord Graham j and I can anfwer for 
 
 my
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 159 
 
 my furgeon's difcretion. My Lords, faid the 
 furgeon, you may depend on my fidelity; and, 
 after what I have juft heard, my confcience 
 is engaged in this noble gentleman's behalf, 
 and I will do every thing in my power to fe- 
 
 cond your intentions. i thank you, Sir, 
 
 faid Sir Philip, and you may depend on my gra- 
 titude in return. I prefume you will fit up with 
 him to-night; if any danger fhould arife, I de- 
 fire to be called immediately; but, otherwife, I 
 would fuffer him to reft quietly, that he may be 
 prepared for the bufinefs of the following day. 
 I fhall obey your directions, Sir; my necef- 
 fary attendance will give me a pretence not to 
 leave him, and thus I {hall hear all that pafles 
 between him and all that vifit him. You will 
 oblige me highly, faid Sir Philip, and I fhall go 
 to reft with confidence in your care. 
 
 The furgeon returned to the fick man's 
 chamber, Sir Philip and the Barons to the 
 company below : They fupped in the great hal!> 
 with all the gentlemen that were prelent at the 
 combat. Sir Philip and his Edmund retired to 
 their repofe, being heartily fuigued ; and the 
 company {laid to a late hour, commenting upon 
 the action of the day, praifmg the courage and 
 generofity of the noble knight, and wilhing a 
 good event to his undertaking, 
 
 9 fooh
 
 160 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Moft of Lord Level's friends went away as 
 foon as they faw him fafely lodged, being 
 afliamed of him, and of their appearance in 
 his behalf; and the few that flayed were in- 
 duced by their defire of a further information 
 of the bafe action be had committed, and to 
 juftify their own characters and conduct. 
 
 The next morning Sir Philip entered into 
 confultation with the two Barons, on the me- 
 thods he fhould take to get Edmund received, 
 and acknowledged, as heir of the houfe of 
 Lovel. They were all of opinion, that the cri- 
 minal fhould be kept in fear till he had fettled 
 his worldly affairs, and they had refolved how 
 to difpofe of him. With this determination 
 they entered his room, and enquired of the fur- 
 geon how he had pafled the night ? He {hook 
 his head, and faid but little. 
 
 Lord Lovel defired that he might be re- 
 moved to his own houfe. Lord Graham faid, 
 he could not confent to that, as there was evi- 
 dent danger in removing him ; and appealed to 
 the furgeon, who confirmed his opinion. Lord 
 Graham defired he would make himfelf eafy, 
 and that he fhould have every kind of affiftance 
 there. 
 
 Sir Philip then propofed to fend for the Lord 
 Fitz-Owen, who would fee that all poffible 
 care was taken of his brother-in-law, and 
 would affift him in fettling his affairs. Lord 
 
 Lovel
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 161 
 
 Lovel was againft it; he was peevifh and un- 
 eafy, and defined to be left with only his own 
 fervants to attend him. Sir Philip quitted the 
 room with a fignificant look ; and the two Lords 
 endeavoured to reconcile him to his fituation. 
 He interrupted them. It is eafy for men in 
 your fituation to advife, but it is difficult for 
 one in mine to practife; wounded in body and 
 mind, it is natural that I fhould ftrive to avoid 
 the extremes of fhame and punifhment : I thank 
 you for your kind offices, and beg I may be 
 
 left with my own fervants. With them, and 
 
 the furgeon, you fhall, faid Lord Graham ; and 
 they both retired. 
 
 Sir Philip met them below. My Lords, faid 
 he, I am defirous that my Lord Fitz-Owen 
 fhould be fent for, and that he may hear his 
 brother's confeffion ; for I fufpe<t that he may 
 hereafter deny, what only the fear of death 
 has extorted from him : With your permiffion 
 I am determined to fend mefiengers to-day. 
 They both exprefied approbation, and Lord 
 Clifford propofed to write to him, faying, a 
 letter from an impartial perfon will have the 
 more weight: I will fend one of my principal 
 domefticks with your own. This meafure be- 
 ing refolved upon, Lord Clifford retired to 
 write, and Sir Philip to prepare- his fervants for 
 inftant departure. Edmund defired leave to 
 M write
 
 162 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 write to father Ofwald, and John Wyatt was 
 ordered to be the bearer of his letter. When 
 the Lord Clifford had finifhed his letter, he read 
 it to Sir Philip and his chofen friends, as follows : 
 
 44 Right Hon. my good Lord, 
 44 I have taken upon me to acquaint your 
 " Lordmip, that there has been a folemn com- 
 44 bat at arms between your brother-in-law, 
 44 the Lord Lovel, and Sir Philip Harclay, knt. 
 44 of Yorkfhire. It was fought in the jurif- 
 44 diction of the Lord Graham, who with my- 
 44 felf, was appointed judge of the field; it 
 " was fairly won, and Sir Philip is the con- 
 44 queror. After he had gained the victory he 
 44 declared at large the caufe of the quarrel, 
 " and that he had revenged the death of Ar- 
 44 thur Lord Lovel his friend, whom theprefent 
 44 Lord Lovel had afTaflinated, that he might 
 " enjoy his title and eftate. The wounded 
 " man confefled the fa&: and Sir Philip gave 
 44 him his life, and only carried off his fword 
 44 as a trophy of his victory. Both the vie- 
 44 tor and the vanquifhed were conveyed to 
 44 Lord Graham's caftle, where the Lord Lovel 
 44 now lies in great danger. He is defirous to 
 44 fettle his worldly affairs, and to make his 
 44 peace with God and man. Sir Philip Har- 
 44 clay fays, there is a male heir of the houfe 
 44 of Lovel, for whom he claims the title and 
 
 44 eftate j
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 163 
 
 cc eftate; but he is very defirous that your 
 " Lordfhip fhould be prefent at the difpofal 
 " of your brother's property that of right be- 
 " longs to him, of which your children are 
 *' the undoubted heirs : He alfo wants to con- 
 " fult you in many other points of honour and 
 * c equity. Let me intreat you, on the receipt 
 " of this letter, to fet out immediately for 
 " Lord Graham's caftle, where you will be re- 
 " ceived with the utmoft refpeft and hofpita- 
 <c lity. You will hear things that will fur- 
 " prife you as much as they do me; you will 
 " judge of them with that juftice and honour 
 " that fpeaks your character ; and you will 
 " unite with us in wondering at the ways of 
 ' " providence, and fubmitting to its decrees, in. 
 " punifhing the guilty, and doing juftice to the 
 " innocent and opprefled. My beft wiflies and 
 " prayers attend you and your hopeful family. 
 " My Lord, I remain your humble fervant. 
 
 Clifford." 
 
 Every one prefent exprefled the higheft ap- 
 probation of this letter. Sir Philip gave orders 
 to John Wyatt to be very circumfpeft in his 
 behaviour, to give Edmund's letter privately 
 to father Ofwald, and to make no mention of 
 him, or his pretenfions to Lovel caftle. 
 
 M 2 Lord
 
 164 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Lord Clifford gave his fervant the requifitc 
 precautions. Lord Graham added a note of in- 
 vitation, and fent it by a fervant of his own. 
 As foon as all things were ready, the meflengers 
 fet out with all fpeed for the Caftle of Lovel. 
 
 They ftaid no longer by the way than to take 
 fome refreQiment, but rode night and day till 
 they arrived there. 
 
 Lord Fitz-Owen was in the parlour with his 
 children. Father Ofwald was walking in the 
 avenue before the houfe, when he faw three rrref- 
 fengers whofe horfes feemed jaded and the riders 
 fatigued, like men came a long journey. He 
 came up, juft as the firft had delivered his meffage 
 to the porter. John Wyatt knew him, he dif- 
 mounted, and made figns that he had fomething 
 to fay to him ; he retired back a few fteps, and 
 John, with great dexterity, flipped a letter into 
 his hand. The father gave him his blelfing, 
 and a welcome. Who do you come from ? 
 faid he aloud. From the Lords Graham and 
 Clifford to the Lord Fitz-Owen ; and we bring 
 letters of confequence to the Baron. 
 
 Ofwald followed the meflengers into the hall, 
 a fervant announced their arrival. Lord Fitz- 
 Owen received them in the parlour : Lord Clif- 
 ford's fervant delivered his matter's letter, Lord 
 Graham's his, and they faid they would retire 
 and wait his Lordfhip's anfwer. The Baron 
 3 ordered
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 165 
 
 ordered them fome refreshment. They retired, 
 and he opened his letters : He read them with 
 great agitations, he ftruck his hand upon his 
 heart, he exclaimed My fears are all verified ! 
 the blow is ftruck, and it has fallen upon the 
 guilty ! 
 
 Ofwald came in a minute after. You are 
 come in good time, faid the Baron. Read that 
 letter, that my children may know the con- 
 tents. He read it, with faultering voice, and 
 trembling limbs. They were all in great 
 furprife. William looked down, and kept a 
 ftudied filence. Sir Robert exclaimed Is it 
 poffible ? can my Uncle be guilty of fuch an 
 action ? You hear, faid the Baron, he has con- 
 fefied it ! But to whom ? faid Sir Robert. 
 His father replied, Lord Clifford's honour is 
 unquestionable, and I cannot doubt what he af- 
 firms. 
 
 Sir Robert leaned his head upon his hand, 
 as one loft in thought : At length he feemed to 
 awake My Lord, I have no doubt that Ed- 
 mund is at the bottom of this bufmefs. Do you 
 not remember, that Sir Philip Harclay long ago 
 promifedhimhisfriendfliip? Edmund difappears j 
 and, foon after, this man challenges my Uncle. 
 You know what pafled here before his departure : 
 He has fuggefted this affair to Sir Philip, and 
 inftigated him to this action. This is the re- 
 M 3 turn
 
 i66 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON : 
 
 turn he has made for the favours he has received 
 from our family, to which he owes every thing. 
 Softly, my fon ! faid the Baron j let us be 
 cautious of reflecting upon Edmund : There is 
 a greater hand in this bufmefs. My conjefture 
 was too true : It was in that fatal apartment 
 that he was made acquainted with the circum- 
 ftances 6f Lord Lovel's death j he was, per- 
 haps, enjoined to reveal them to Sir Philip 
 Harclay, the bofom friend of the deceafed. The 
 myftery of that apartment is difclofed, the woe 
 to the guilty is accomplifhed ! There is no re- 
 flection upon any one ; Heaven effecls its pur- 
 pofes in its own time and manner. I and mine 
 are innocent ; let us worfhip, and be filent ! 
 
 But what do you propofe to do ? faid Sir 
 Robert. To return with the meflengers, an- 
 fwered the Baron. I think it highly proper 
 that I fhould fee your Uncle, and hear what he 
 has to fay : My children are his heirs j in juf- 
 tice to them I ought to be acquainted with every 
 thing that concerns the difpofal of his fortune. 
 Your Lordfhip is in the right, anfwered Sir Ro- 
 bert, it concerns us all. I have only to afk 
 your permiffion to bear you company. With 
 all my heart, faid the Baron : I have only to 
 afkofyou in return, that you will command 
 yourfelf, and not fpeak your mind haftily ; wait 
 for the proofs before you give judgment, and 
 
 take
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 167 
 
 take advice of your reafon before you decide up- 
 on any thing : If you reflect upon the paft, you 
 will find reafon to diftruft yourfelf. Leave all 
 to me, and be aflured I will protect your honour 
 and my own. I will obey you in all things, 
 my Lord ; and will make immediate preparation 
 for our departure. So faying, he left the room. 
 As foon as he was gone, Mr. William broke 
 filence. My Lord, faid he, if you have no 
 great objection, I beg leave alfo to accompany 
 you both. You fhall, my fon, if you defire it ; 
 I think I can fee your motives, and your bro- 
 ther's alfo j your coolnefs will be a good balance 
 to his warmth : You (hall go with us. My fon 
 Walter {hall be his fitter's protector in our ab- 
 fence, and he (hall be mafter here till we return, 
 I hope, my dear father, that will not be long ; 
 I (hall not be happy till you come home, faid 
 the fair Emma. It (hall be no longer, my 
 deareft, than till this untoward affair is fettled. 
 The Baron defired to know when the meflengers 
 were expected to return. Ofwald took this op- 
 portunity to retire ; he went to his own apart- 
 ment, and read the letter, as follows : 
 
 " The Heir of Lovel, to his dear and reve- 
 " rend friend, father Ofwald. 
 
 " Let my friends at the Caftle of Lovel know 
 
 * 4 that I live in hopes one day to fee them there. 
 
 M 4 If
 
 168 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 " If you could by any means return with the 
 " meflengers, your teftimony would add weight 
 " to mine ; perhaps you might obtain permif- 
 " fion to attend the Baron : I leave it to you 
 " to manage this. John Wyatt will inform you 
 " of all that has pafled here, and that hitherto 
 " my fuccefs has outran my expeftation, and, 
 " almoft, my wiflies. I am in the high road to 
 " my inheritance; and truft that the Power 
 " who hath conduced me thus far, will not 
 <e leave his work unfinished. Tell my beloved 
 ** William that I live, and hope to embrace 
 ** him before long. I recommend myfelf to 
 " your holy prayers and bleffing, and remain 
 " your fon and fervant, Edmund." 
 
 Ofwald then went to the meflengers; he 
 drew John Wyatt to a diftance from the reft, 
 and got the information he wanted : He flayed 
 with him till he was fent for by the Baron, to 
 whom he went directly, and prevented hisquef- 
 tions, by faying, I have been talking with the 
 meflengers : I find they have travelled night and 
 day to bring the letters with all fpeed ; they on- 
 ly require one night's reft, and will be ready to 
 fet out with you to-morrow. 'Tis well, faid 
 the Baron j we will fet out as foon as they are 
 ready. My Lord, faid Ofwald, I have a favour 
 to beg of you ; it is that I may attend you : I 
 have feen the progrefs of this wonderful difco- 
 
 very,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 169 
 
 very, and I have a great dcfire to fee the con- 
 clufion of it; perhaps my prefence may be of 
 fervice in the courfe of your bufmefs. Perhaps 
 it may, faid the Baron ; I have no objection, if 
 you dellre to go. They then feparated, and 
 went to prepare for their journey. 
 
 Ofwald had a private interview with Jofeph, 
 whom he informed of all that he knew, and his 
 refolution to attend the Baron in his journey 
 to the north. I go, faid he, to bear witnefs 
 in behalf of injured innocence : If it be needful, 
 I (hall call upon you ; therefore, hold yourfelf 
 in readinefs in cafe you fhould be fent for. 
 That I will, faid Jofeph, and fpend my laft 
 remains of life and ftrength, to help my young 
 Lord to his right and title ; but do they not be- 
 gin to fufpecl: who is the Heir of Lovel ? Not 
 in the leaft, faid Ofwald ; they think him con- 
 cerned in the difcovery, but have no idea of his 
 being interefted in the event. Oh father, faid 
 Jofeph, I fliall think everyday a week till your 
 return ; but I will no longer keep you from 
 your repofe. Good night, faid Ofwald ; but I 
 have another vifit to pay before I go to reft. 
 
 He left Jofeph, and went on tip-toe to Mr". 
 William's room and tapped at his door; he 
 came and opened it. What news, father ? 
 Not much ; I have only orders to tell you that 
 Edmund is well, and as much your friend as 
 
 ever.
 
 I 7 o THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 ever. I guefTed, faid William, that we fhould 
 hear fomething of him : I have ftill another 
 guefs. What is that, my child ? That we fhall 
 fee or hear of him where we are going. It is 
 very likely, faid Ofwald ; and I would have you 
 be prepared for it: I am confident we (hall 
 hear nothing to his difcredit. I am certain of 
 that, faid William, and I (hall rejoice to fee 
 him : I conclude that he is under the protection 
 of Sir Philip Harclay. He is fo, faid Ofwald ; 
 I had my information from Sir Philip's fervant, 
 who is one of the meflengers, and was guide to 
 the others in their way hither. After fome far- 
 ther converfation they feparated, and each went 
 to his repofe. 
 
 The next morning the whole party fet out on 
 their journey ; they travelled by eafy ftages on 
 account of the Baron's health, which began to 
 be impaired, and arrived in health and fpirits at 
 the Caftle of Lord Graham, where they were 
 received with the utmoft refpedt and kindnefs by 
 the noble Matter. 
 
 The Lord Lovel had recovered his health 
 and ftrength as much as poflible in the time, 
 and was impatient to be gone from thence to his 
 own houfe. He was furprifed to hear of the 
 arrival of his brother and nephews, and exprefled 
 no pleafure at the thoughts of feeing them. 
 When Sir Philip Harclay came to pay his re- 
 
 fpefts
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 171 
 
 fpecls to Baron Fitz-Owen, the latter received 
 him with civility, but with a coldnefs that was 
 apparent. Sir Robert left the room, doubting 
 his refolution. Sir Philip advanced, and took 
 the Baron by the hand. My Lord, faid he, I 
 rejoice to fee you here ? I cannot be fatisfied 
 with the bare civilities of fuch a man as you. I 
 afpire to your efteem, to your friendfhip, and I 
 (hall not be happy till I obtain them. I will 
 make you the j udge of every part of my conduct, 
 and where you fhall condemn me, I will con- 
 demn myfelf. 
 
 The Baron was foftened, his noble heart felt 
 its alliance with its counterpart, but he thought 
 the fituation of his brother demanded fome re- 
 ferve towards the man who fought his life; 
 but, in fpite of himfelf, it wore off every mo- 
 ment. Lord Clifford related all that had paffed, 
 with the due regard to Sir Philip's honour; he 
 remarked how nobly he concealed the caufe of 
 his refentment againft the Lord Lovel till the 
 day of combat, that he might not prepoffefs the 
 judges againft him. He enlarged on his huma- 
 nity to the vanquifhed, on the defire he expref- 
 fed to have juftice done to his heirs ; finally, 
 he mentioned his great refpeft for the Lord Fitz- 
 Owen, and the folicitude he fhewed to have him 
 come to fettle the eftate of the fick man in fa- 
 vour of his children. Lord Clifford alfo em- 
 ployed
 
 I 7 2 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 ployed his fon to foften S5r~Robert, and to 
 explain to him every doubtful part of Sir Phi- 
 lip's behaviour. 
 
 After the travellers had taken fome reft, the 
 Lord Graham propofed that they {hould make 
 a vifit to the fick man's chamber. The Lords 
 fent to acquaint him they were coming to vifit 
 him, and they followed the meflenger. The 
 Lord Fitz-Owen went up to the bedflde ; he 
 embraced his brother with ftrong emotions of 
 concern. Sir Robert followed him ; then Mr. 
 William. Lord Lovel embraced them, but faid 
 nothing; his countenance fliewed his inward 
 agitations. Lord Fitz-Owen firft broke filcnce. 
 I hope, faid he, I fee my brother better than I 
 expected? Lord Lovel bit his fingers, he pulled 
 the bed clothes, he feemed almoft diffracted ; 
 at length he broke out I owe no thanks to 
 thofe who fent for my relations ! Sir Philip 
 Harclay, you have ufed ungeneroufly the ad- 
 vantage you have gained over me ! you fpared 
 my life only to take away my reputation. 
 You have expofed me to ftrangers, and, what 
 is worfe, to my deareft friends ; when I lay in 
 a ftate of danger, you obliged me to fay any 
 thing, and now you take advantage of it, to 
 ruin me in my friends affection : But, if I reco- 
 ver, you may repent it ! 
 
 Sir
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 17$ 
 
 Sir Philip then came forward. My Lords, I 
 fhall take no notice of what this unhappy man 
 has juft now faid j I (hall appeal to you, as to 
 the honourable witnefles of all that has pafled : 
 You fee it was no more than neceflary. I ap- 
 peal to you for the motives of my treatment of 
 him, before, at, and after our meeting. I did 
 not take his life as I might have done; I wifhed 
 him to repent of his fins, and to make refti- 
 tution of what he unjuftly poflefles. I was 
 called out to do an a of jufticej I had taken 
 the heir of Lovel under my prote&ion, my 
 chief view was to fee juftice done to him ; 
 what regarded this man was but a fecondary 
 motive. This was my end, and I will never, 
 never lofe fight of it. 
 
 Lord Lovel feemed almoft choaked with 
 paflion, to fee every one giving fome mark 
 of approbation and refpe& to Sir Philip. He 
 called out, I demand to know who is this pre- 
 tended heir whom he brings out to claim my 
 title and fortune ? My noble auditors, faid Sir 
 Philip, I (hall appeal to your judgment in re- 
 gard to the proofs of my ward's birth and fa- 
 mily ! every circumftance (hall be laid before 
 you, and you fhall decide upon them. 
 
 Here is a young man, fuppofed the fon of a 
 peafant, who by a train of circumftances that 
 could not have happened by human contri- 
 vance.
 
 j 7 4 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 vance, difcovers not only who are his real 
 parents, but that they came to untimely deaths. 
 He even difcovers the different places where 
 their bones are buried, both out of confecrated 
 ground, and appeals to their afhes for the truth 
 of his pretenfions. He has alfo living proofs 
 to offer, that will convince the moft incredu- 
 lous. I have deferred entering into particu- 
 lars till the arrival of Baron Fitz-Owen ; I 
 know his noble heart and honourable charac- 
 ter, from one that has long been an eye-wit- 
 nefs of his goodnefs ; fuch is the opinion I 
 have of his juftice, that I will accept him as 
 one of the judges in his brother's caufe : I and 
 my ward will bring our proofs before him, 
 and the company here prefent; in the courfe 
 of them it will appear that he is the beft qua- 
 lified of any to judge of them, becaufe he can 
 afcertain many of the facts we fhall have oc- 
 cafion to mention : I will reft our caufe upon 
 their decifion. 
 
 Lord Graham applauded Sir Philip's appeal, 
 affirming his own impartiality, and calling 
 upon Lord Clifford and his fon, and alfo his 
 own nephews who were prefent. Lord Clifford 
 faid, Sir Philip offers fairly, and like himfelf ; 
 there can be no place nor perfons more im- 
 partial than the prefent, and I prefume the 
 Lord Lovel can have no objection. No ob- 
 jection !
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 175 
 
 je&ion ! anfwered hej what, to be tried like 
 a criminal, to have judges appointed over 
 me to decide upon my right to my own eftate 
 and title? I will not fubmit to fuch a jurif- 
 di&ion ! Then, faid Sir Philip, you had ra- 
 ther be tried by the laws of the land, and 
 have them pronounce fentence upon you ? 
 Take your choice, Sir ; if you refufe the one, 
 you fhall be certain of the other. Lord Clif- 
 ford then faid, you will allow Lord Lovel to 
 confider of the propofal ; he will confult his 
 friends, and be determined by their advice. 
 Lord Fitz-Owen faid, I am very much fur- 
 prifed at what 1 have heard. I fhould be glad 
 to know all that Sir Philip Harclay has to fay 
 for his ward, that I may judge what my bro- 
 ther has to hope or fear j 1 will then give my 
 beft advice, or offer my mediation as he may 
 ftand in need of them. You fay well, replied 
 Lord Graham ; and pray let us come directly 
 to the point: Sir Philip, you will introduce 
 your ward to this company, and enter upon 
 your proofs. 
 
 Sir Philip bowed to the company, he went 
 out and brought in Edmund, encouraging him 
 by the way ; he prefented him to Baron Fitz- 
 Owen, who looked very ferious. Edmund 
 Twyford, faid he, are you the heir of the 
 houfe of Lovcl? I am, my Lord, faid Edmund, 
 
 bowing
 
 176 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 bowing to the ground; the proofs will appear; 
 but I am, at the fame time, the moft humble 
 and grateful of all your fervants, and the fer- 
 vant of your virtues. Sir Robert rofe up, and 
 was going to leave the room. Son Robert, 
 ftay, faid the Baron : If there is any fraud you 
 will be pleafed to detect it, and if all that is 
 affirmed be true, you will not (hut your eyes 
 againft the light ; you are concerned in this 
 bufinefs, hear it in filence, and let reafon be 
 arbiter in your caufe. He bowed to his fa- 
 ther, bit his lip, and retired to the window. 
 WHliam nodded to Edmund, and was filent. 
 All the company had their eyes fixed on the 
 young man, who flood in the midft, cafting 
 down his eyes with modeft refpecl: to the au- 
 dience; while Sir Philip related all the ma- 
 terial circumftances of his life, the wonderful 
 gradation by which he came to the knowledge 
 of his birth, the adventures of the haunted 
 apartment, the difcovery of the fatal clofet, 
 nnd the prefumptive proofs that Lord Lovel 
 was buried there. At this part of his nar- 
 ration, Lord Fitz-Owen interrupted him 
 Where rs this clofet you talk of, for I and 
 ray fons went over the apartment fince Ed- 
 mund's departure, and found no fuch place, 
 as you defcribe ? My Lord, faid Edmund, I 
 can account for it; the door is covered with 
 
 tapeftry,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 177 
 
 tapeftry, the fame as the room, and you might 
 eafily overlook it; but I have a witnefs here, 
 faid he, and putting his hand into his bofom, he 
 drew out the key. If this is not the key of 
 that clofet, let me be deemed an impoftor, and 
 all I fay a falfehood ; I will rifle my pretenfions 
 upon this proof. 
 
 And for what purpofe did you take it away ? 
 faid the Baron. To prevent any perfon from 
 going into it, replied Edmund ; I have vowed to 
 keep it till I (hall open that clofet before wit- 
 neffes appointed for that purpofe. Proceed, 
 Sir, faid the Baron Fitz-Owen. Sir Philip 
 then related the converfation between Edmund 
 and Margery Twyford, his fuppofed mother. 
 Lord Fitz-Owen feemed in the utmoft fur- 
 prife: He exclaimed, can this be true? ftrange 
 difcovery ! unfortunate child ! Edmund's tears 
 bore witnefs to his veracity; he was obliged 
 to hide his face, he lifted up his clafped hands 
 to Heaven, and was in great emotions during 
 all this part of the relation ; while Lord Lovel 
 groaned, and feemed in jjreat agitation. 
 
 Sir Philip then addrefled himfelf to Lord Fitz- 
 Owen. My Lord, there was another perfoa 
 prefent at the converfation between Edmund 
 and his fofter-mother, who can witnefs to all 
 that parted; perhaps your Lordfhip can tell 
 who that was ? It was father Ofwald, replied 
 N the
 
 178 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 the Baron j I will remember that he went with 
 him at his requeftj let him be called in. He 
 was fent for, and came immediately. The Ba- 
 ron defired him to relate all that patted between 
 Edmund and his mother. 
 
 Ofwald then began. Since I am now pro- 
 perly called upon to teftify what I know con- 
 cerning this young man, I will fpcak the truth 
 without fear or favour of any one ; and I will 
 fwear by the rules of my holy order, to the 
 truth of what I fhall relate. He then gave a 
 particular account of all that pafled on that 
 occafion, and mentioned the tokens found on 
 both the infant and his mother. Where are 
 thefe tokens to be feen, faid the Lord Clifford ? 
 I have them here, my Lord, faid Edmund, 
 and I keep them as my greatcft treafures. He 
 then produced them before all the company* 
 There is no appearance of any fraud or col- 
 lufion, faid Lord Graham ; if any man thinks 
 he fees any, let him fpeak. Pray, my Lord, 
 fuffer me to fpeak a word, faid Sir Robert. 
 Do you remember that I hinted my fufpicions 
 concerning father Ofwald, the night our kinf- 
 men lay in the eaft apartment? I do, faid 
 the Baron. Well, Sir, it now appears that he 
 did know more than he would tell us ; you find 
 he is very deep in all Edmund's fecrets, and you 
 may judge what were his motives for under- 
 taking
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 179 
 
 taking this journey. I obferve what you fay, 
 anfwered his father, but let us hear all that 
 Ofwald has to fay: I will be as impartial as 
 poffible. My Lord, returned Ofwald, I beg 
 you alfo to recoiled what I faid on the night 
 your fon fpeaks of, concerning fecrecy in certain- 
 matters. I remember that alfo, faid the Ba- 
 ron; but proceed. My Lord, continued Of- 
 wald, I knew more than I thought myfelf at 
 liberty to difclofe at that time ; but I will now 
 tell you every thing. I law there was fomc- 
 thing more than common in the accidents that 
 befel this young man, and in his being called 
 out to fleep in the eaft apartment ; I earneftly 
 defired him to let me be with him on the fecond 
 night, to which he confented reluctantly ; we 
 heard a great noife in the rooms underneath, 
 we went down flairs together, I faw him open 
 the fatal clofet, I heard groans that pierced me 
 to the heart, I kneeled down and prayed for the 
 repofe of the fpirit departed j I found a feal 
 with the arms of Lovel engraven upon it, 
 which I gave to Edmund, and he now has it 
 in his pofleffion : He enjoined me to keep fe- 
 cret what I had feen and heard, till the time 
 (hould come to declare it. I conceived that I 
 was called to be a witnefs of thefe things ; 
 befides my curiofity was excited to know the 
 N 2 eventj
 
 i8o THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 event j I, therefore, defired to be prefent at the 
 interview between him and his mother, which 
 was affecting beyond expreflion : I heard what 
 I have now declared as nearly as my memory 
 permits me. I hope no impartial perfon will 
 blame me for any part of my conduct ; but if 
 they fhould, I do not repent it : If I ftiould for- 
 feit the favour of the rich and great, I {hall 
 have acquitted myfelf to God and my con- 
 fcience. I have no worldly ends to anfwer; I 
 plead the caufe of the injured orphan ; and I 
 think, alfo, that I fecond the defigns of provi- 
 dence. You have well fpoken, father, faid the 
 Lord Clifford j your teftimony is indeed of con- 
 fequence. 
 
 It is amazing and convincing, faid Lord Gra- 
 ham ; and the whole ftory is fo well connected, 
 that I can fee nothing to make us doubt the 
 truth of it : But let us examine the proofs. 
 Edmund gave into their hands the necklace 
 and ear-rings ; he {hewed them the locket with 
 the cypher of Lovel, and the feal with the 
 arms ; he told them the cloak in which he 
 was wrapped was in the cuftody of his fofter- 
 mother, who would produce it on demand. 
 He begged that fome proper perfons might be 
 commifiioned to go with him to examine whe- 
 ther or no the bodies of his parents were bu- 
 ried where he affirmed j adding, that he put 
 
 his
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 181 
 
 his pretenfions into their hands with pleafure, 
 relying entirely upon their honour and juftice. 
 
 During this interefting fcene, the criminal 
 covered his face, and was filent j but he fent 
 forth bitter fighs and groans that denoted the 
 anguifh of his heart. At length, Lord Gra- 
 ham, in companion to him, propofed that they 
 fhould retire and confiderof the proofs ; adding, 
 Lord Lovel muft needs be fatigued j we will 
 refume the fubject in his prefence, when he is 
 difpofed to receive us. Sir Philip Harclay ap- 
 proached the bed: Sir, faid he, I now leave you 
 in the hands of your own relations j they are 
 men of ftridt honour, and I confide in them to 
 take care of you and of your concern. They 
 then went out of the room, leaving only the 
 Lord Fitz-Owen and his fons with the criminal. 
 They difcourfed of the wonderful ftory of Ed- 
 mund's birth, and the principal events of his 
 life. 
 
 After dinner Sir Philip requefted another con- 
 ference with the Lords, and their principal 
 friends. There was prefentalfo, father Ofwald 
 and Lord Graham's confeflbr, who had taken 
 the Lord Level's confeflion, Edmund and Za- 
 difky. Now gentlemen, faid Sir Philip, I -de- 
 fire to know your opinion of our proofs, and 
 your advice upon them. 
 
 N 3 Lord
 
 j82 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Lord Graham replied, I am defired to fpeak 
 for the reft : We think there are ftrong pre- 
 fumptive proofs that this young man is the true 
 heir of Lovel ; but they ought to be confirmed 
 and authenticated. Of the murder of the 
 late Lord there is no doubt; the criminal hath 
 confefled it, and the circumftances confirm it; 
 the proofs of his crime are fo connected with 
 thofe of the young man's birth, that one can- 
 not be public without the other. We are 
 defirous to do juftice, and yet are unwilling, 
 for the Lord Fitz-Owcn's fake, to bring the 
 criminal to public fhame and punifhment. 
 We wifh to find out a medium; we therefore 
 defire Sir Philip to make propofals for his ward, 
 and let Lord Fitz-Owen anfwer for himfelf and 
 his brother, and we will be moderators between 
 them. Here every one exprefled approbation, 
 and called upon Sir Philip to make his de- 
 mands. 
 
 If, faid he, I were to demand ftrict juftice, 
 I fhould not be fatisfied with any thing lefs 
 than the life of the criminal ; but I am a chrif- 
 tian foldier, the difciple of him who came into 
 the world to fave finners ; for his fake, conti- 
 nued he (eroding himfelf), I forego my revenge, 
 I fpare the guilty: If Heaven gives him time for 
 repentance, man fhould not deny it. It is my 
 
 ward's
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 183 
 
 ward's particular requeft, that I will not bring 
 fhame upon the houfe of his benefa&or, the 
 Lord Fitz-Owen, for whom he hath a filial af- 
 fection and profound veneration. My propofals 
 are thefe; firft, that the criminal make refti- 
 tution of the title and eftate obtained with fo 
 much injuftice and cruelty to the lawful heir, 
 whom he (hall acknowledge fuch before pro- 
 per witnefles. Secondly, that he fliall furren- 
 der his own lawful inheritance and perfonal 
 eftate into the hands of the Lord Fitz-Owen, 
 in truft for his fons, who are his heirs of blood. 
 Thirdly, that he fliall retire into a religious 
 houfe, or elfe quit the kingdom in three months 
 time; and, in either cafe, thofe who enjoy his 
 fortune (hall allow him a decent annuity, that 
 he may not want the comforts of life. By the 
 laft I difable him from the means of doing fur- 
 ther mifchief, and enable him to devote the 
 remainder of his days to penitence. Thefe are 
 my propofals, and I give him four and twenty 
 hours to confider of them ; if he refufes to 
 comply with them, I (hall be obliged to pro- 
 ceed to feverer meafures, and to a public 
 profecution : But the goodnefs of the Lord 
 Fitz-Owen bids me expect, from his influence 
 with his brother, a compliance with propofals, 
 made out of refpect to his honourable character. 
 N 4 Lord
 
 184 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Lord Graham applauded the humanity, pru- 
 dence, and piety of Sir Philip's propofals. He 
 enforced them with all his influence and elo- 
 quence. Lord Clifford feconded him j and the 
 reft gave tokens of approbation. Sir Robert 
 Fitz-Owen then rofe up I beg leave to ob- 
 ferve to the company, who are going to dif- 
 pofe fo generoufly of another man's property, 
 that my father purchafed the caftle and eftate 
 of the houfe of Lovel j who is to repay him 
 the money for it ? 
 
 Sir Philip then faid, I have alfo a queftion 
 to afk. Who is to pay the arrears of my ward's 
 eftate, which he has unjuftly been kept out of 
 thefe one and twenty years ? Let Lord Clifford 
 anfwer to both points, for he is not interefted 
 in either ? Lord Clifford fmiled. 1 think, re- 
 turned he, the firft queftion is anfwered by the 
 fecond, and that the parties concerned fhould fet 
 one againft the other, efpecially as Lord Fitz- 
 Owen's children will inherit the fortune, which 
 includes the purchafe-money. Lord Graham 
 faid, this determination is both equitable and 
 generous, and I hope will anfwer the expectations 
 on all fides. I have another propofal to make 
 to my Lord Fitz-Owen, faid Sir Philip ; but 
 I firft wait for the acceptance of thofe already 
 made. Lord Fitz-Owen replied, I flull report 
 
 them
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 185 
 
 them to my brother, and acquaint the company 
 with his refolution to-morrow. 
 
 They then feparated ; and the Baron, with his 
 fons, returned to the fick man's chamber j there 
 he exhorted his brother, with the piety of a 
 confeflbr, to repent of his fins and make atone- 
 ment for them. He made known Sir Philip's 
 propofals, and obferved on the wonderful dif- 
 covery of his crime, and the punifhment that 
 followed it. Your repentance, continued he, 
 may be accepted, and your crime may yet be 
 pardoned : If you continue refractory, and re- 
 fufe to make atonement, you will draw down 
 upon you a feverer punifhment. The criminal 
 would not confefs, and yet could not deny the 
 truth and jufticeofhisobfervations. The Baron 
 fpent feveral hours in his brother's chamber; he 
 fent for a prieft who took his confeffion, and 
 they both fat up with him all night, advifing, 
 perfuading, and exhorting him to do juftice, 
 and to comply with the propofals. He was un- 
 willing to give up the world, and yet more fo 
 to become the object of public fhame, difgrace, 
 and punifhment. 
 
 The next day Lord Fitz-Owen fummoned 
 the company into his brother's chamber, and 
 there declared, in his name, that he accepted 
 Sir Philip Barclay's propofals ; that if the young 
 man could, as he promifed, direct them to the 
 
 places
 
 I86THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 places were his parents were buried, and if his 
 birth fhould be authenticated by his fofter pa- 
 rents, he fhould be acknowledged the heir of 
 the houfe of Lovel. That, to be certified of 
 thefe things, they muft commiffion proper per- 
 fons to go with him for this purpofe ; and, in 
 cafe the truth fhould be made plain, they fhould 
 immediately put him in pofleffion of the caftle 
 and eftate, in the ftate it was. He defired Lord 
 Graham and Lord Clifford to choofe the com- 
 miffioners, and gave Sir Philip and Edmund a 
 right to add to them, each, another perfon. 
 
 Lord Graham named the eldeft fon of Lord 
 Clifford ; and the other, in return, named his 
 nephew; they alfo chofe the prieft, Lord 
 Graham's confeflbr, and the eldeft fon of Baron 
 Fitz-Owen, to his great mortification. Sir 
 Philip appointed Mr. William Fitz-Owen, and 
 Edmund named father Ofwald ; they chofe out 
 the fervants to attend them, who were alfo to 
 bewitneffea of all that fhould pafs. Lord Clif- 
 ford propofed to Baron Fitz-Owen, that as foon 
 as the commiffioners were fet out, the remain- 
 der of the company fhould adjourn to his feat 
 in Cumberland, whither Lord Graham fhould 
 be invited to accompany them, and to ftay 
 till this affair was decided. After fome debate, 
 this was agreed toj and, at the fame time, that 
 
 the
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 187 
 
 the criminal fhould be kept with them till every 
 thing was properly fettled. 
 
 Lord Fitz-Owen gave his fon William the 
 charge to receive and entertain the commif- 
 fioners at the caftle: But before they fet out, 
 Sir Philip had a conference with Lord Fitz- 
 Owen concerning the furrender of the Caftle, 
 in which he infifted on the furniture and flock 
 of the farm, in conftderation of the arrears. Lord 
 Fitz-Owen flightly mentioned the young man's 
 education and expences. Sir Philip anfwered, 
 You are right, my Lord ; I had not thought of 
 this point; we owe you in this refpecT: more 
 than we can ever repay : But you know not 
 half the refpecl: and affection Edmund bears for 
 you. When reftitution of his title and fortune 
 are fully made, his happinefs will ftill depend 
 on you. How on me? faid the Baron. Why 
 he will not be happy unlefs you honour him 
 with your notice and efteem; but this is not 
 all, I muft hope that you will do ftill more 
 for him. Indeed, faid the Baron ; he has put 
 my regard for him to a fevere proof, what fur- 
 ther can he expect from me ? My dear Lord 
 be not offended, I have only one more propo- 
 f%l to make to you ; if you refufe it, I can allow 
 for you ; and I confefs it requires a greatnefs of 
 mind, but not more than you poflefs, to grant 
 it, Well, Sir, fpeak your demand ? Say rather 
 
 my
 
 I88THEOLDENGLISH BARON: 
 
 Ciy requeft, It is this : Ceafe to look upon 
 Edmund as the enemy of your houfe; look 
 upon him as a fon, and make him fo indeed ! 
 How fay you, Sir Philip ? my fon ! Yes, my 
 Lord j give him your daughter: He is already 
 your fon in filial affe&ion I your fon William 
 and he are fworn brothers ; what remains but 
 to make him yours ? He deferves fuch a parent, 
 you fuch a fonj and you will, by this means, 
 ingraft into your family, the name, title and 
 eftate of Lovel, which will be entailed on 
 your pofterity for ever. This offer requires 
 much confederation, returned the Baron.- 
 Suffer me to fuggefl fome hints to you, faid Sir 
 Philip. This match is, I think, verily pointed 
 out by providence, which hath conducted the 
 dear boy through fo many dangers, and brought 
 him within view of his happinefsj look on him 
 as the precious relick of a noble houfe, the fon 
 of my deareft friend ! or look on him as my fon 
 and heir, and let me, as his father, implore you 
 to confent to his marriage with your daughter. 
 The Baron's heart was touched, he turned 
 
 away his face. Oh Sir Philip Harclay, what 
 
 a friend are you ! why fliould fuch a man be our 
 
 enemy? My Lord, faid Sir Philip, we arc 
 
 not, cannot be enemies : our hearts are already 
 allied ; and I am certain we {hall one day be 
 dear friends. The Baron fupprefTed his emo- 
 tions
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 1^9 
 
 tions, but Sir Philip faw into his heart. I 
 muft confult my eldeftTon, returned he. Then, 
 replied Sir Philip, I forefee much difficulty; 
 he is prejudiced againft Edmund, and thinks the 
 reftitution of his inheritance an injury to your 
 family : Hereafter he will fee this alliance in a 
 different light, and will rejoice that fuch a bro- 
 ther is added to the family ; but, at prefent, he 
 will fet his face againft it. However, we will 
 not defpair ; virtue and refolution will furmount 
 all obftacles. Let me call in young Lovel. 
 
 He brought Edmund to the Baron, and ac- 
 quainted him with the propofal he had been 
 making in his name, my Lord's anfwers, and the 
 objections he feared on the part of Sir Robert. 
 Edmund kneeled to the Baron, he took his hand 
 and prefled it to his lips. Beft of men ! of pa- 
 rents ! of patrons ! faid he, I will ever be your 
 fon in filial affection, whether I have the ho- 
 nour to be legally fo or not ; not one of your 
 own children can feel a ftronger fenfe of love 
 and duty. Tell me, faid the Baron, do you 
 love my daughter ? I do, my Lord, with the 
 moft ardent affection ; I never loved any wo- 
 man but her ; and if I am fo unfortunate as to 
 be refufed her, I will not marry at all. Oh, my 
 Lord, reject not my honeft fuit ! Your alliance 
 will give me confequence with myfelf, it will 
 excite me to aft worthy of the ftation to which 
 I am exalted ; if you refufe me, I (hall feem an 
 4 abject
 
 190 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 abjed"fc wretch, difdained by thofe whom my 
 heart claims relation to : Your family are the 
 whole world to me. Give me your lovely 
 daughter ! give me alfo your fon, my beloved 
 William ! and let me fhare with them the for- 
 tune providence beftows upon me : But what is 
 title or fortune, if I am deprived of thefociety of 
 thofe I love? 
 
 Edmund, faid the Baron, you have a noble 
 friend, but you have a ftronger in my heart, 
 which I think was implanted there by Heaven 
 to aid its own purpofes : I feel a variety of 
 emotions of different kinds, and am afraid to 
 truft my own heart with you. But anfwer me 
 a queftion ; Are you aflured of my daughter's 
 confent? have you folicited her favour? have 
 you gained her affections ? Never, my Lord ! I 
 am incapable of fo bafe an action : I have loved 
 her at an humWe diftance; but, in my fituation, 
 I fhould have thought it a violation of all the 
 laws of gratitude and hofpitality, to have pre- 
 fumed to fpeak the fentiments of my heart. 
 Then you have acted with unqueftionable 
 honour on this, and I muft fay on all other oc- 
 cafions. Your approbation, my Lord, is the 
 firft vvifh of my life; it is the feal of my ho- 
 nour and happinefs. 
 
 Sir Philip fmiled : My Lord Fitz-Owen, I 
 am jealous of Edmund's preferable regard for 
 
 you,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 191 
 
 you, it is juft the fame now as formerly. Ed- 
 mund came to Sir Philip, he threw himfelf into 
 his arms, he wept, he was overpowered with 
 the feelings of his heart ; he prayed to Heaven 
 to ftrengthen his mind to fupport his inexpref- 
 fible fenfations. I am overwhelmed with obli- 
 gation ! faid he ; Oh, beft of friends, teach me, 
 like you, to make my actions fpeak for me ! 
 Enough Edmund ; I know your heart, and that 
 is my fecurity. My Lord, fpeak to him, and 
 bring him to himfelf by behaving coldly to him 
 if you can. The Baron faid, I muft not truft 
 myfelf with you, you make a child of me ! I 
 will only add, Gain my fon Robert's favour, and 
 be allured of mine : 1 owe fome refpe& to the 
 heir of my family, he is brave, honeft, and fin- 
 cere ; your enemies are fepa rated from him, you 
 have William's influence in your behalf; make 
 one effort, and let me know the mfult. Edmund 
 kifled his hand in tranfports of joy and gratitude. 
 I will not lofe a moment, faid he; I fly to 
 obey your commands. 
 
 Edmund went immediately to his friend Wil- 
 liam, and related all that had pafled between 
 the Baron, Sir Philip, and himfelf. William 
 promifed him his intereft in the warmeft man- 
 ner : He recapitulated all that had pafled in the 
 Caftle fince his departure ; but he guarded his 
 fitter's delicacy, till it fliould be refolved to 
 
 give
 
 igi THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 give way to his addrefs. They both confulted 
 young Clifford, who had conceived an affection, 
 to Edmund for his amiable qualities, and to 
 William for his generous friendfliip for him. 
 He promifed them his afliftance, as Sir Robert 
 feemed defirous to cultivate his friendfliip. Ac- 
 cordingly, they both attacked him with the whole 
 artillery of friendfliip and perfuafion. Clifford 
 urged the merits of Edmund, and the advan- 
 tages of his alliance: William enforced his ar- 
 guments by a retrofpedl: of Edmund's paft life; 
 and obferved, that every obftacle thrown in his 
 way, had brought his enemies to fliame, and 
 increafe of honour to himfelf. I fay nothing, 
 continued he, of his noble qualities and affec- 
 tionate heart ; thofe who have been fo many 
 years his companions, can want no proofs of it. 
 We know your attachment to him Sir, faid Sir 
 Robert : and, in confequence, your partiality. 
 Nay, replied William, you are fenfible of the 
 truth of my aflertions ; and, I am confident, 
 would have loved him yourfelf, but for the in- 
 iinuations of his enemies : But if hefhould make 
 good his aflertions, even you muft be convinced 
 of his veracity. And you would have my fa- 
 ther give him your fitter upon this uncertainty ? 
 No, Sir, but upon thefe conditions. But 
 fuppofe he does not make them good ? Then 
 I will be of your party, and give up his intereft. 
 
 Very
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 193 
 
 Very well, Sir; my father may do as he 
 pleafes $ but I cannot agree to give my fifter to 
 one who has always ftood in the way of our fa- 
 mily, and now turns us out of our own houfe. 
 
 I am forry, brother, you fee his pretenfions in 
 fo wrong a light; but if you think there is any 
 impofture in the cafe, go with us, and be a 
 witnefs of ail that pafles ? No, not I ! if Ed- 
 mund is to be mailer of the Caftle, I will never 
 more fet my foot in it. This matter, faid Mr. 
 Clifford, muft be left to time, which has 
 brought ftranger things to pafs. Sir Robert's 
 honour and good fenfe will enable him to fub- 
 due his prejudices, and to judge impartially. 
 They took leave, and went to make prepara- 
 tions for their journey. 
 
 Edmund made his report of Sir Robert's in- 
 flexibility to his father, inprefenceof Sir Philip; 
 who, again, ventured to urge the Baron on his 
 favourite fubject. It becomes me -to wait for 
 the further proofs, faid he; but if they are as 
 clear as I expet, j will not be inexorable to 
 your wifhes : Say nothing more on this fubjecl 
 till the return of the commiffioners. They 
 were profufe in their acknowledgments of his 
 goodnefs. 
 
 Edmund took a tender leave of his two pa- 
 ternal friends : When, faid he, I take poflef- 
 fion of my inheritance, I muft hope for the 
 O company
 
 I 9 4 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 company of you both to compleat my happi- 
 nefs. Of me, faid Sir Philip, you may be cer- 
 tain; and, as far as my influence reaches, of the 
 Baron. Ke was lilent. Edmund aflured them 
 of his conftant prayers for their happinefs. 
 
 Soon after, the commifiioners, with Edmund, 
 let out for Lovel Caftlej and the following day 
 the Lord Clifford fetout for his own houfe, with 
 Baron Fitz-Owen and his fon. The nominal 
 Baron was carried with them, very much 
 againft his will. Sir Philip Harclay was invited 
 to go with them by Lord Clifford, who declared 
 his prefence necefTary to bring things to a 
 conclufion. They all joined in acknowledging 
 their obligations to Lord Graham's generous 
 hofpitality, and befought him to accompany 
 them ; at length he confented, on condition 
 they would allow him to go to and fro, as his 
 duty (hould call him. 
 
 Lord Clifford received them with the greateft 
 hofpitality, and prefented them to his Lady and 
 three daughters, who were in the bloom of 
 youth and beauty. They fpent their time very 
 pleafantly, excepting the criminal, who con- 
 tinued gloomy and referved, and declined 
 company. 
 
 In the mean time the commifiioners pro- 
 ceeded on their journey. When they were with* 
 in a day's diftance from the Caftle, Mr. William 
 
 and
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 195 
 
 and his fervant put forward, and arrived feveral 
 hours before the reft, to make preparations for 
 their reception. His fifter and brother received 
 them with open arms, and enquired eagerly 
 after the event of the journey to the north. 
 He gave them a brief account of every thing 
 that had happened to their uncle 3 adding, but 
 this is not all : Sir Philip Harclay has brought 
 a young man, whom he pretends is the fon of 
 the late Lord Lovel, and claims his eftate and 
 title. This perfon is on his journey hither, 
 with feveral others who are commiffioned to 
 enquire into certain particulars, to confirm his 
 pretenfions : If he make good his claim, my 
 father will furrender the Caftle and eftate into 
 his hands. Sir Philip and my Lord have many 
 points to fettle ; and he has propofed a com- 
 promife that you, my fifter, ought to know, 
 becaufe it nearly concerns you. Me ! brother 
 William; pray explain yourfelf? Why, he 
 propofes that in lieu of arrears and other ex- 
 pectations, my father (hall give his dear Emma 
 to the heir of Lovel, in full of all demands. 
 She changed colour: Holy Mary ! faid {he; and 
 does my father agree to this propofal ? He is 
 not very averfe to it; but Sir Robert refufes his 
 confent : However, I have given him my intereft 
 with you. Have you indeed ? What ! aftranger, 
 perhaps an impoftor, who comes to turn us out 
 of our dwelling ? Have patience, my Emma ! 
 O 2 fee
 
 196 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 fee this young man without prejudice and per- 
 haps you vyill like him as well as I do. I am fur- 
 prifed at you, William ! Dear Emma, I can- 
 not bear to fee you uneafy. Think of the man 
 who- of all others you would wifh to fee in a 
 fituation to afk you of your father, and expecl: to 
 fee your wifbes realised. Impoffible ! faid {he.- 
 Nothing is impoffible, my dear; let us be pru- 
 dent, and a)l will end happily. You muft help 
 me to receive and entertain thefe commiffion- 
 ers, I expet a very folemn fcene ; but when 
 that is once got over, happier hours than the 
 paft will fucceed. We {hall firft vifit the haunted 
 apartment ; you, my fitter, will keep in your own 
 till I {hall fend for you. I go now to give orders 
 to the fervants. He went and ordered them 
 to be in waiting ; and himfelf, and his youngeft 
 brother, flood in readinefs to receive them. 
 
 The found of the horn announced the arrival 
 of the commiffioners; at the fame inftant a fud- 
 den guft of wind arofe, and the outward gates 
 Hew open. They entered the court-yard, and 
 the great folding doors into the hall, were opened 
 without any ailiflance. The moment Edmund 
 enLered the hall, every door in the houfe flew 
 open ; the fervants all ruflied into the hall, and 
 fea.r was written on their countenances : Jo- 
 feph only was undaunted. Thefe doors, faid 
 he, open of their own accord to receive their 
 
 mafter I
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 197 
 
 maftcr ! this is he indeed ! Edmund was fbon ap- 
 prized of what had happened. ! accept the 
 omen ! faid he. Gentlemen, let us go-forward 
 to the apartment ! let us finifh the work of fate! 
 I will lead the way. He went on to the apart- 
 ment, followed by all prefent. Open. the fh ut- 
 ters, faid he, thfe day- light fhall rib longer bfe 
 excluded here ; the deeds of darknefs ftiall now 
 be brought to light. 
 
 'fhey defcended the ftaircafe ; every door 
 was open, till they came to the fatal clofet, 
 drriund called to Mr. William : Approach, my 
 friend, and behold the door your family over- 
 looked ! They came forward ; he drew the key 
 out of his bofom and unlocked the door ; he 
 made them obferve that the boards were all 
 loofe j he then called to the fervants, and bid 
 them remove every thing out of the clofet. 
 While they were doing this, Edmund fliewed 
 them the breaft-plate all ftained with blood ; 
 he then called to Jofeph : Do you know whofe 
 was this fuit of armour? It was my Lord's, 
 faid Jofeph; the late Lord Lovel; I have feen 
 him wear it. 
 
 Edmund bade them bring {hovels and remove 
 the earth. While they were gone, he defired 
 Ofwald to repeat all that pafled the night they 
 fat up together in that apartment, which he 
 did till the fervants returned. They threw out 
 O 3 the
 
 198 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON : 
 
 the earth, while the bye-ftanders in folemn fi- 
 Jence waited the event. After fome time and 
 labour they ftruck againft fomething. They 
 proceeded till they difcovered a large trunk, 
 which with fome difficulty they drew out. It 
 bad been corded round, but the cords were 
 Totted to duft. They opened it, and found a 
 fkeleton which appeared to have been tied neck 
 and heels together, and forced into the trunk. 
 Behold, faid Edmund, the bones of him to 
 whom I owe my birth ! The prieft from Lord 
 Graham's advanced.- -This is undoubtedly the 
 body of the Lord Level ; I heard his kinfman 
 confefs the manner in which he was interred. 
 Let this awful fpeclacle be a leflbn to all pre- 
 fent, that though wickednefs may triumph for 
 a feafon, a day of retribution will come | Of- 
 wald exclaimed Behold the day of retribution ! 
 of triumph to the innocent, of lhame and con- 
 fufion to the wicked. 
 
 The young gentlemen declared that Edmund 
 had made good his aflertions ; what then, faid 
 they, remains ? I propofe, faid l^ord Graham's 
 prieft, that an account be written of this difco- 
 very, and fjgned by all the witnefles prefent ; 
 that an attefted copy be left in the hands of this 
 gentleman, and the original be fent to the Ba- 
 rons and Sir Philip Harclay, to convince them 
 of the truth of it. 
 
 Mr.
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 199 
 
 Mr. Clifford then defired Edmund to proceed 
 in his own way. The firft thing I propofe to 
 do, faid he, is to have a coffin made for thefe 
 honoured remains j I truft to find the bones of 
 my other parent, and to inter them all together 
 in confecrated ground. Unfortunate pair ! you 
 {hall at laft reft together ! your fon fhall pay the 
 laft duties to your afhes ! He flopped to fhed 
 tears, and none prefent but paid this tribute to 
 their misfortunes. Edmund recovered his voice 
 and proceeded My next requeft is, that father 
 Ofwald and this reverend father, with whoever 
 elfe the gentlemen fhall appoint, will fend for 
 Andrew and Margery Twyford, and examine 
 them concerning the circumftances of my birth, 
 and the death and burial of my unfortunate mo- 
 ther. It fhall be done, faid Mr. William j but 
 firft let me intreat you to come with me and 
 take fome refrefhment afcer your journey, for 
 you muft be fatigued : After dinner we will pro- 
 ceed in the enquiry. 
 
 They all followed him into the great hall, 
 where they were entertained with great hof- 
 pitality, and Mr. William did the honours in 
 his father's name. Edmund's heart was deeply 
 affe&ed, and the folemnity of his deportment 
 bore witnefs to his fincerity; but it was a manly 
 forrow, that did not make him neglect his duty 
 to his friends or himfelf. He enquired after the 
 O 4 health
 
 200 THE OLD ENGLISH fcARON: 
 
 health of the lady Emma. He is well, fa id 
 William, and as much your friend as ever. Ed- 
 mund bowed in filence. 
 
 After dinner the commiflloners fent for An- 
 drew and his wife. They examined them fepa- 
 *ately, and found their accounts agreed toge- 
 ther, and were in fubftance the fame as Ofwald 
 and Edmund had before related, feparately 
 alfo. The commifiioriers obferved, that there 
 could be no collufion between them, and that 
 the proofs were indifputable. They kept the 
 fofter parents all night; and the- next day An- 
 drew directed them to the place where the Lady 
 Lovel was buried, between two trees which he 
 had marked for a memorial. They collected 
 the bones and carried them to the Caftle, where 
 Edmund caiifed a ftaiely coffin to be made for 
 the remains of the unfortunate pair. The two 
 priefts obtained leave to look in the cofHn bu- 
 ried in the church, and found nothing but ftortes 
 and earth in it. The commifiloners then de- 
 clared they were fully fatisfied of the reality of 
 Edmund's preienfions. 
 
 The two priefts were employed in drawing 
 up a circumftantial account of thefe difcoveries, 
 in order to make their report to the Barons at 
 their return. In the mean time Mr. William 
 tO->k an opportunity to introduce Edmund to 
 his filter. My Emma, faid he, the heir of 
 f Lovel
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 201 
 
 Level is deTirous to pay his refpe&s to you, 
 They were both in apparent confufion ; but Ed- 
 mund's wore off, and Emma's increafed. I have 
 been long defirous, faid he) to pay my refpe&s 
 to the Lady whom \ moft honour, but unavoid- 
 able duties have detained me; when thefe are 
 fully paid, it is my wifti to devote the remain- 
 der of my life to Lady Emma ! Are you, tnen, 
 the heir of Lovel ? I am, Madam; and am alfo 
 the man in whofe behalf I once prefumed to 
 fpeak. 'Tis very ftrange indeed ! It is fo, Ma- 
 dam, to myfelf; but time that reconciles us to 
 all things, will, I hope, render this change in 
 my fituation familiar to you. William faid^ 
 you are both well acquainted with the wifhes 
 of my heart; but my advice is, that you do not 
 encourage a farther intimacy till my Lord's de- 
 termination be fully known. You may difpofe 
 of me as you pleafe, faid Edmund; but I can- 
 not help declaring my wifhes ; yet I will fubmit 
 to my Lord's, fentence though he fliould doom 
 me todefpair. 
 
 From this period, the young pair behaved 
 with folemn refpecr. to each other, but with 
 apparent referve. The young Lady fometimes 
 appeared in company, but oftenef chofe to be 
 in her own apartment, where (he began td 
 believe and hope for the completion of her 
 wifhes. The uncertainty of the Baron's deter- 
 mination)
 
 202 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 mination, threw an air of anxiety over Edmund's 
 face: His friend William, by the moft tender 
 care and attentions, ftrove to difpel his fears, 
 and encourage his hopes; but he waited with 
 impatience for the return of the commiffioners, 
 tnd the decifion of his fate. 
 
 While thefe things paffed at the Caftle of 
 Lovel, the nominal Baron recovered his health 
 and ftrength at the houfe of Lord Clifford : In 
 the fame proportion he grew more and more fhy 
 and referved, avoided the company of his bro- 
 ther and nephew, and was frequently (hut -up 
 with his two fervants. Sir Pobert Fitz-Owen 
 made feveral attempts to gain his confidence, but 
 in vain ; he was equally fhy to him as the reft. 
 M. Zadifky obferved his motions with the pene- 
 tration for which his countrymen have been 
 diftinguiflied in all ages : He communicated 
 his fufpicions to Sir Philip and the Barons, 
 giving it as his opinion, that the criminal was 
 meditating an efcape. They afked, what he 
 thought was to be done ? Zadifky offered to 
 watch him in turn with another perfon, and 
 to lye in wait for him ; he alfo propofed, that 
 horfes fhould be kept in readinefs, and men 
 to mount them, without knowledge of the fer- 
 vice they were to be employed in. The Barons 
 agreed to leave the whole management of this 
 affair to Zadifky. He took his meafures fo 
 
 well,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 203 
 
 well, that he intercepted the three fugitives in 
 the fields adjoining to the houfe, and brought 
 them all back prifoners. They confined them 
 feparately, while the Lords and Gentlemen qon- 
 fulted how to difpofe of them. 
 
 Sir Philip applied to Lord Fitz-Owen, who 
 begged leave to be filent : I have nothing, faid 
 he, to offer in favour of this bad man ; and I 
 cannot propofe harfher meafures with fo near 
 a relation. Zadifky then begged to be heard, 
 You can no longer have any reliance upon the 
 word of a man who has forfeited all pretenfions 
 to honour and fincerity. I have long wifhed to 
 revifit once more my native country, and to 
 enquire after fome very dear friends I left there; 
 I will undertake to convey this man to a very 
 diftant part of the world, where it will be out of 
 his power to do further mifchief, and free his 
 relations from an ungrateful charge, unlefs you 
 {hould rather chufe to bring him to punifliment 
 here. Lord Clifford approved of the propofal ; 
 Lord Fitz-Owen remained filent, but (hewed 
 no marks of difapprobation. 
 
 Sir Philip objecled to parting with his friend; 
 but Zadifky aflured him he had particular rea- 
 fons for returning to the Holy Land, of which 
 he fhould be judge hereafter. Sir Philip defired 
 the Lord Fitz-Owen to give him his company 
 to the criminal's apartment, faying, we will 
 
 have
 
 204 THE OLD ENGLISH BAfcON: 
 
 have one more converfation with him, and that 
 fhall decide his fate. They found him filent 
 and fullen, arid he refufed t> anfwer their qucf- 
 tions. Sir Philip then befpoke him After the 
 proofs you have given of your falfehood and in- 
 fmcerity, we can no longer have any reliance 
 Upon you, nor faith in. your fulfillin g- the con- 
 ditions of our agreement ; I will, therefore, once 
 more make you a propofal that fhall flill leav^ 
 you indebted to our clemency. You (hall ba- 
 nifh yourfelf from England for ever, and go in 
 pilgrimage io the Holy Land, with fuch compa- 
 nions as we fliall appoint ; or$ fecondly, you 
 fhall enter directly into a monaftery, and there 
 be fhut up for life; or, thirdly, if you refufe 
 both thefe offers, 1 will go direclly to Court, 
 throw myfelf at the feet of my Sovereign, relate 
 the whole (lory of your wicked life and adlions, 
 and demand vengeance on ytiur head. The 
 King is too e;ood and pious to let fuch villany 
 go unpunished ; he will bring you to public 
 fliame and punifhment : And be you allured, 
 if 1 begin this profecution, I will purfue it to 
 the utmoft. 1 appeal to your worthy brother for 
 the juftice of my proceeding. I reafon no more 
 with you, I only declare my refolutioh. I wait 
 your anfwer one hour, and the next I put in 
 execution whatever you fhall oblige me to de- 
 termine. So faying they retired, and left him 
 
 to
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 205 
 
 to reflect and to refolve. At the expiration of 
 the hour they fent Zadifky to receive his anfwer ; 
 he infinuated to him the generofity and charity 
 of Sir Philip and the Lords, and the certainty 
 of their refolutions, and begged him to take care 
 what anfwer he returned, for that his fate de- 
 pended on it. He kept filent feveral minutes, 
 refentment and defpair were painted on his vi- 
 fage ; at length he fpoke : 
 
 Tell my proud enemies that I prefer banifli- 
 ment to death, infamy, or a life of folitude. . 
 You have chofen well, faid Zadifky. To a 
 wife man all countries are alike; it (hall be my 
 care to make mine agreeable to you. Are you, 
 then, (he perfon chofen for my companion ? 
 I am, Sir; and you may judge by that circum- 
 ftance, that thofe whom you call your enemies, 
 are not fo in effect. Farewcl, Sir ; I go to pre- 
 pare for our departure. 
 
 Zadifky went and made his report, and then 
 fet immediately about his preparations. He 
 chofe two active young men for his attendants; 
 and gave them directions to keep a ftrit eye 
 upon their charge, for that they fhould be ac- 
 countable if he fhould efgape them. 
 
 In the mean time the Baron Fitz-Owen had 
 feveral conferences with his brother j he en- 
 deavoured to make iiim fenfible of his crimes, 
 and Qf thejuftice and clemensy of his Con- 
 queror ;
 
 206 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 queror; but he was moody and referved to him 
 as to the reft. Sir Philip Harclay obliged him 
 to furrender his worldly eflates into the hands 
 of Lord Fitz-Owen : A writing was drawn up 
 for that purpofe, and executed in the prefence 
 of them all. Lord Fitz-Owen engaged to allow 
 him an annual fum, and to advance money for 
 the expences of his voyage. He fpoke to him 
 in the moft affectionate manner, but he refu- 
 fed his embrace : You will have nothing to re- 
 gret, faid he, haughtily ; for the gain is yours. 
 Sir Philip conjured Zadifky to return to him 
 again ; who anfwered, I will either return, or 
 give fuch reafons for my ftay, as you ihall ap- 
 prove. 1 will fend a meflenger to acquaint you, 
 with my arrival in Syria, and with fuch other 
 particulars as I fhafl judge interefting to you 
 and yours. In the mean time remember me in. 
 your prayers, and preferve for me thofe fenti- 
 ments of friendship and efteem, that I have al- 
 ways deemed one of the chief honours and blef- 
 fmgs of my life. Commeod my love and duty 
 to your adopted fon j he will more than fupply 
 my ab fence, and be the comfort of your old age. 
 Adieu, beft and noblcit of friends ! They took 
 a tender leave of each other, not without tears 
 on both fides. 
 
 The travellers fetout directly for a diftant fea- 
 port, where they heard of a. (hip bound for the 
 
 Levant,
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 207 
 
 I evant, in which they embarked and proceeded 
 on their voyage. 
 
 The Commiffioners arrived at Lord Clifford's 
 a few days after the departure of the adventurers. 
 They gave a minute account of their commifiion, 
 and expreffed themfelves entirely fatished of the 
 juftice of Edmund's pretenfions ; they gave an 
 account in writing of all that they had been eye- 
 witnefs to, and ventured to urge the Baron 
 Fitz-Owen on the fubjecl of Edmund's wifties. 
 The Baron was already difpofed in his favour ; 
 his mind was employed in the future eftablifh- 
 mcnt of his family. During their refidence at 
 Lord Clifford's, his eldeft fon Sir Robert had 
 caft his eye upon the eldeft daughter of that 
 nobleman, and he befought his father to aflc h$r 
 in marriage for him. The Baron was pleafed 
 with the alliance, and took the firft opportunity 
 to mention it to Lord Clifford j who anfwered 
 him, pleafantly, I will give my daughter to your 
 fon, upon condition that you will give yours 
 to the Heir of Lovel. The Baron looked fe- 
 rious : Lord Clifford went on I like that young 
 man io well, that 1 would accept him for a fon- 
 in-law, if he afked me for my daughter ; and if 
 I have any influence with you I will ufe it in 
 his behalf. A powerful folicitor indeed ! faid 
 the Baron j but you know my eldeft fon's re- 
 lu (Stance to it; if he confents, fo will I. He
 
 208 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 ib.aU confent, faid Lord Clifford, or he fhalt 
 have no daughter of mine. Let him fubdue his 
 prejudices, and then I will lay afide my fcruples. 
 But, my Lord, replied the Baron, if I can 
 obtain his free confent, it will be the beft for 
 all : I will try once more, and if he will not, I 
 will leave it wholly to your management. 
 
 When the noble company were all affembled, 
 Sir Philip Harclay revived the fubjel, and be- 
 fought the Lord Fitz-Owen to put an end to 
 the work he had begun, by confirming Ed- 
 mund's happiness. The Baron rofe up, and thus 
 fpoke : The proofs of Edmund's noble birth, 
 the ftill ftronger ones of his excellent endow- 
 ments and qualities, the felicitations of fo many 
 noble friends in his behalf, have altogether de- 
 termined me in his favour ; and I hope to do 
 juftice to his merit, without detriment to my 
 other children : I am refbJved to make them all 
 as happy as my power will allow me to do. 
 Lord Clifford has been fo gracious to promife 
 his fair daughter to my fon Robert, upon cer- 
 tain conditions, that 1 will rake upon me to ra- 
 tify, and which will render my fon worthy of 
 the happinefs that av.-a ts him. My children 
 are the undoubted heirs of my unhappy brother^ 
 Lovel ; you, my fon, fhall therefore immedi- 
 ately take pofieffion of your Uncle's houfe and 
 eftate, only obliging you to pay to each of your 
 
 younger
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 209 
 
 younger brothers, the fum of one thoufand 
 pounds ; on this condition I will fecure that 
 eftate to you and your heirs for ever. I will by 
 my own a6t and deed furrender the Caftle and 
 eftate of Lovel to the right owner, and at the 
 fame time marry him to my daughter. I will 
 fettle a proper allowance upon my two younger 
 fons, and difpofe of what remains by a will and 
 tcftament; and then I mall have done all my 
 bufmefs in this world, and fhall have nothing to 
 do but prepare for the next. 
 
 Oh my father ! faid Sir Robert, I cannot 
 bear your generofity ! you would give away all 
 to others, and referve nothing for yourfelf. 
 Not fo, my fon, faid the Baron : I will repair 
 my old caftle in Wales, and refide there. I 
 will vifit my children, and be vifited by them ; 
 I will enjoy their happinefs, and by that means 
 increafe my own ; whether I look backwards or 
 forwards I mall have nothing to do but rejoice, 
 and be thankful to Heaven that has given me 
 fo many bleffings : I (hall have the comfortable 
 reflection of having difchargcd my duties as a 
 citizen, a hunband, a father, a friend j and, 
 whenever I am futnmoned away from this world, 
 I fhali die content. 
 
 Sir Robert came forward with tears on his 
 
 cheeks, he kneeled to his father Bed of parents, 
 
 and of men ! faid he, you have fubdued a heart 
 
 P that
 
 2io THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 that has been too refractory to your will j you 
 have this day made me fenfible how much I owe 
 to your goodnefs and forbearance with me. 
 Forgive me all that is paft, and from hencefor- 
 ward difpofe of me ; I will have no will but 
 yours, no ambition but to be worthy of the 
 name of your fon. And this day, faid the Ba- 
 ron, do I enjoy the true happinefs of a father ! 
 Rife, my fon, and take pofTeflion of the firft 
 place in my affed-tion without referve. They 
 embraced with tears on both fides : The com- 
 pany rofe, and congratulated both father and 
 fon. The Baron prefented his fon to Lord 
 Clifford, who embraced him, and faid, You fhall 
 have my daughter, for I fee that you deferve 
 her. 
 
 Sir Philip Barclay approached ; the Baron, 
 gave his fon's hand to the knight : Love and 
 refpedl: that good man, faid he ; deferve his 
 friendftip, and you will obtain it. Nothing 
 but congratulations were heard on all fides. 
 
 When their joy was in fome degree reduced 
 to compofure, Sir Philip propofed that they 
 fhould begin to execute the fchemes of happinefs 
 they had planned. He propofed that my Lord 
 Fitz-Owen mould go with him to the Caftle of 
 Lovel, and fettle the family there. The Baron 
 confented j and both together invited fuch of 
 the company as liked it, to accompany them 
 3 thither.
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 211 
 
 thither. It was agreed that a nephew of Lord 
 Graham's, another of Lord Clifford's, two 
 Gentlemen, friends of Sir Philip Harclay, and 
 father Ofwald, fhould be of the party j together 
 with feveral of Sir Philip's dependants and do- 
 meftics, and the attendants on the reft. Lord 
 Fitz-Owen gave orders for their fpeedy depar- 
 ture. Lord Graham and his friends took leave 
 of them, in order to return to his own home 5 
 but before he went, he engagrd his eldeft ne- 
 phew and heir to the fecond daughter of the 
 Lord Clifford : Sir Robert offered himfelf to 
 the eldeft, who modeftly received his addrefs, 
 and made no objection to his propofal. The 
 fathers confirmed their engagement. 
 
 Lord Fitz-Owen promifed to return to the 
 celebration of the marriage ; in the mean time 
 he ordered his fon to go and take pofleffion of 
 his Uncle's houfe, and to fettle his houfehold : 
 He invited young Clifford, and fome other 
 Gentlemen, to go with him. The company 
 feparated with regret, and with many promifes 
 of friendfhip on all fides ; and the Gentlemen 
 of the North were to cultivate the good neigh- 
 bourhood on both fides of the borders. 
 
 Sir Philip Harclay and the Baron Fitz-Owen, 
 
 with their friends and attendants, fet forwards 
 
 for the Caftle of Lovel ; a fervant went before, 
 
 at full fpeed, to acquaint the family of their 
 
 P 2 approach.
 
 212 THE OLD ENGLISft BARON: 
 
 approach. Edmund was in great anxiety of 
 mind, now the crifis of his fate was near at 
 hand : He enquired of the meflenger, who were 
 of the party ? and rinding that Sir Philip Har- 
 lay was there, and that Sir Robert Fitz-Owen 
 {laid in the North, his hopes rofe above his 
 fears. Mr. William, attended by a fervant, 
 rode forward to meet them ; he defined Edmund 
 to ftay and receive them. Edmund was under 
 fome difficulty with regard to his behaviour to 
 the lovely Emma j a thoufand times his heart 
 rofe to his lips, as often he fupprefled his emo- 
 tions ; they both fighed frequently, faid little, 
 thought much, and wifhed for the event. Maf- 
 ter Walter was too young to partake of their 
 anxieties, but he wifhed for the arrival of his fa- 
 ther to end them, 
 
 Mr. William's impatience fpurred him on to 
 meet his father; as foon as he faw him, he 
 rode up directly to him : My dear father, you 
 are welcome home ! faid he. I think not, Sir, 
 faid the Baron, and looked ferious. Why fo 
 my Lord ? faid William. Becaufe it is no 
 longer mine, but another man's home, anfwer- 
 ed he, and I muft receive my welcome from him. 
 -Meaning Edmund ? faid William. Whomelfe 
 can it be ? Ah, my Lord ! he is your creature, 
 your fervant, he puts his fate into your hands, 
 and will fubmit to your pleafure in all things! 
 9 ' Why
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 
 
 213 
 
 Why comes he not to meet us ? faid the Ba- 
 ron. His fears prevent him, faid William ; 
 but fpeak the word, and I will fetch him ? No, 
 faid the Baron, we will wait on him. Wil- 
 liam looked confufed : Is Edmund fo unfortu- 
 nate, faid he, as to have incurred your difplea- 
 fure ? Sir Philip Harclay advanced, and laid his 
 hand on William's faddle Generous impatience ! 
 noble youth ! faid he ; look round you, and fee 
 if you can difcover in this company one enemy 
 of your friend ? Leave to your excellent father 
 the time and manner of explaining himfelf; he, 
 only, can do juftice to his own fentiments. The 
 Baron fmiled on Sir Philip: William's counte- 
 nance cleared up ; they went forward, and foon, 
 arrived at the Caftle of Level. 
 
 Edmund was walking to and fro in the hall, 
 when he heard the horn that announced their 
 arrival ; his emotions were fo great that he could 
 hardly fupport them. The Baron and Sir Phi- 
 lip entered the hall hand in hand ; Edmund 
 threw himfelf at their feet and embraced their 
 knees, but could not utter a word. They 
 raifed him between them, and ftrove to en- 
 courage him; but he threw himfelf into the 
 arms of Sir Philip Harclay, deprived of ftrength, 
 and almoft of life. They fupported him to a 
 /eat, where he 'recovered by degrees, but had 
 f\o power to fpeak his feelings j he looked up to 
 P 3 ~ hi*
 
 2i4 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 his Benefactors in the 'moft affecting manner, 
 he laid his hand upon his bofom, but was flill 
 filent. Compofe yourfelf, my dear fon, faid Sir 
 Philip ; you are in the arms of your beft friends. 
 Look up to the happinefs that awaits you, en- 
 joy the bleflings that Heaven fends you ; lift 
 up your heart in gratitude to the Creator, and 
 think lefs of what you owe to the creature ! 
 You will have time enough to pay us your ac- 
 knowledgments hereafter. 
 
 The company came round them, the fervants 
 flocked into the hall, fhouts of joy were heard 
 on all fides j the Baron came and took Edmund's 
 hand : Rife, Sir, faid he, and do the honours 
 of your houfe ! it is yours from this day : We 
 are your guefts, and expect from you our wel- 
 come ! Edmund kneeled to the Baron, he fpoke 
 with a faltering voice My Lord, I am yours ! 
 all that I have is at your devotion ! difpofe of 
 me as it pleafes you beft. The Baron embraced 
 him with the greateft affection : Look round 
 you, faid he, and falute your friends j thefe 
 Gentlemen came hither to do you honour. Ed- 
 mund revived, he embraced and welcomed the 
 Gentlemen. Father Ofwald received his em- 
 brace with peculiar affection, and' gave him his 
 benediction in a moft affecting manner : Ed- 
 mund exclaimed Pray for me, father ! that I 
 may bear all thefe bleffings with gratitude and 
 
 mode-*
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 215 
 
 moderation ! He then faluted and (hook hands 
 with all the fervants, not omitting the meaneft; 
 he diftinguifhed Jofeph by a cordial embrace, 
 he called him his dear friend : Now, faid he, I 
 can return your friendfhip, and I am proud to 
 acknowledge it ! The old man, with a faltering 
 voice, cried out Now I have lived long enough ! 
 I have feen my matter's fon acknowledged for 
 the heir of Lovel { the hall ecchoed with his 
 words : Long live the heir of Lovel ! 
 
 The Baron took Edmund's hands in his own : 
 Let us retire from this croud, faid he ; we have 
 bufinefs of a more private nature to tranfacl. 
 He led to the parlour, followed by Sir Philip 
 and the other Gentlemen. Where are my other 
 children ? faid he. William retired, and pre- 
 fently returned with his brother and fitter. They 
 kneeled to their father, who raifed and embraced 
 them. He then called out, William ! Ed- 
 mund ! come and receive my bleflang alfo : 
 They approached hand in hand, they kneeled, 
 and he gave them a folemn benediction Your 
 friendfnip deferves our praife, my children ! love 
 each other always ! and may Heaven pour down 
 its choiceft bleffings upon your heads ! They 
 rofe, and embraced in filent raptures of joy, 
 Edmund prefented his friend to Sir Philip: I 
 underftand you, faid he; this Gentleman was 
 my firft acquaintance of this family, he has a 
 P 4 title
 
 216 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 title to the fecond place in my heart : I fhall 
 tell him, at more leifurc, how much I love and 
 honour him for his own fake as well as yours. 
 He embraced the youth, and defired his friend- 
 fliip. 
 
 Come hither, my Emma ! faid the Baron. 
 She approached, with tears on her cheek:, fweetly 
 bluming, like the damafk rofe, wet with the 
 dew of the morning. I muft afk you a ferious 
 queftion, my child ; anfwer me with the fame 
 fmcerity you would to Heaven ? You fee this 
 young man, the Heir of Lovel ! you have 
 known him long ; confult your own heart, and 
 tell me whether you have any objection to re- 
 ceive him for your hufband ? I have promifed 
 to all this company to give you to him ; but up- 
 on condition that you approve him : I think 
 him worthy of you ; and, whether you accept 
 him or not, he (hall ever be to me a fon ; but 
 Heaven forbid that I fhould compel my child to 
 give her hand where fhe cannot beftow her 
 heart ! Speak freely, and decide this point for 
 me and for yourfelf. The fair Emma blufhed, 
 and was under fome confufion ; her virgin mo- 
 defty prevented her fpeaking for fome moments. 
 Edmund trembled, he leaned upon William's 
 ihoulder to fupport himfelf. Emma caft her eye 
 upon him, fhe faw his emotion, and haftened 
 to relieve him ; fhe thus fpoke, in a foft voice 
 
 which
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 217 
 
 which gathered ftrength as fhe proceeded My 
 Lord and father's gooc'nefs has always prevented 
 my wifhes ; I am the happieft of all children, in 
 being able to obey his commands, without offer- 
 ing violence to my own inclinations: As I am 
 called upon in this public manner, it is but juf- 
 tice to this Gentleman's merit to declare, that, 
 were I at liberty to choofe a hufband from all 
 the world, he only (hould be my choice, who 
 I can fay, with joy, is my father's alfo. Ed- 
 mund bowed low, he advanced towards her; 
 the Baron took his daughter's hand, and prefent- 
 ed it to him ; he kneeled upon one knee, he 
 took her hand, kifled it, and prefled it to his 
 bofom : The Baron embraced and blefled them ; 
 he prefented them to Sir Philip Harclay Re- 
 ceive and acknowledge your children ! faid he. 
 I do receive them as the gift of Heaven ! faid 
 the noble Knight ; they are as much mine as if 
 I had begotten them : All that I have is theirs, 
 and fhall defcend to their children for ever. A 
 frefh fcene of congratulation enfued ; and the 
 hearts of all the auditors were too much engaged 
 to be able foon to return to the eafe and tran- 
 quillity of common life. 
 
 After they had refreflied themfelves, and reco- 
 vered from the emotions they had fuftained on 
 this interefting occafion, Edmund thus addrefTed 
 fhe Baron : On the brink of happinefs I muft 
 
 claim
 
 OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 claim your attention to a melancholy fubjeh 
 The bones of both my parents lie unburied in 
 thishoufe; permit me, my honoured Lord, to 
 perform my laft duties to them, and the remain- 
 der of my life (hall be devoted to you and yours. 
 Certainly, faid the Baron ; why have you not 
 interred them r My Lord, I waited for your 
 arrival, that you might be certified of the reality, 
 and that no doubts might remain. I have no 
 doubts, faid the Baron : Alas, both the crime 
 and puni/hment of the offender leave no room 
 for them ! He fighed. Let us now put an end 
 to this affair; and, if pofiible, forget it for 
 ever. 
 
 If it will not be too painful to you my Lord, 
 I would intreat you, with thefe Gentlemen our 
 friends, to follow me into the eaft apartment, 
 the fcene of my parents woes, and yet the dawn- 
 ing of my better hopes. 
 
 They rofe to attend him ; he committed the 
 Lady Emma to the care of her youngefl brother, 
 obferving that the fcene was too folemn for a 
 Lady to be prefent at it. They proceeded to 
 the apartment ; he fliewed the Baron the fatal 
 clofet, and the place where the bones were 
 found, alfq the trunk: that contained them; he 
 recapitulated all that paffed before their arrival ; 
 Jie {hewed them the coffin where the bones of 
 (he unfortunate pair were dcpofited : He then 
 
 defoed
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 21$ 
 
 defired the Baron to give orders for their inter- 
 ment. No, replied he, it belongs to you to or- 
 der, and every one here is ready to perform it. 
 Edmund then defired father Ofwald to give no- 
 tice to the Friars of the Monaftery of St. Auftin, 
 that, with their permiffion, the funeral fhould 
 be folemnized there, and the bones interred in 
 the church. He alfo gave orders that the clofet 
 ihould be floored, the apartment repaired, and 
 put in order. He then returned to the other 
 fide of the Caftle. 
 
 Preparations being made for the funeral, it 
 was performed a few days after. Edmund at- 
 tended in perfon as chief- mourner, Sir Philip 
 Harclay as the fecond ; Jofeph defired he might 
 affift, as fervant to the deceafed : They were 
 followed by moft people of the village. The 
 ftory was now become public, and every one 
 blefled Edmund for the piety and devotion with 
 which he performed thelaft duties to his parents, 
 Edmund appeared in deep mourning the week 
 after j he aflifted at a mafs for the repofe of the 
 deceafed. 
 
 Sir Philip Harclay crdered a monument to be 
 eredled to the memory of his friends, with the 
 following infcription. 
 
 " Praye for the foules of Arthur Lord Lovele 
 *' and Marie his wife, who were cut off in the 
 " flowerp of theire yout.he, by the trecherye and 
 
 " cruelue
 
 *2oTHEOLDENGLISH BARON: 
 
 ** crueltie of theire neare kinnefmanne. Ed- 
 *' munde theire onlie fonne, one and twentie 
 <c yeares after theire deathe, by the diredtion of 
 ** Heavene, made the difcoverye of the mannere 
 " of thcire deathe, and at the fame time proved 
 " his owne birthe. He collected theire bones 
 " together, and interred them in this place : 
 '* A warning and proofe to late pofteritie, of the 
 **juftice of Providence, and the certaintie of 
 44 Retribution." 
 
 The Sunday after the funeral, Edmund threw 
 off his mourning, and appeared in a drefs fuit- 
 able to his condition. He received the compli- 
 ments of h s friends with eafe and chearfulnefs, 
 and began to enjoy his happinefs. He afkcd an 
 audience of his fair Miftrefs, and was permitted 
 lo uecbre the paffion he had fo long ftifled in 
 his own bofom. She gave him a favourable 
 hearing; and in a fhort time confeffed that fhe 
 had fuffered equally in that fufpenfe that was fo 
 grievous to him. They engaged themfelvcs by 
 mutual vows to each other, and only waited the 
 Baron's pleaflire to complete their happinefs ; 
 every cloud was vanifhed from their brows, and 
 fvveet tranquillity took pofleflion of their bofoms. 
 Their friends fhared their happinefs ; William 
 and Edmund renewed their vows of everlafting 
 fricndfhip, and promifed to be as much toge- 
 ther as William's oiher duties would permit. 
 
 The
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 221 
 
 The Baron once more fummoned all his 
 company together ; he told Edmund all that 
 had palled relating to his brother-in-law, his 
 exile, and the pilgrimage of Zadifky ; he then 
 related the circumftances of Sir Robert's engage- 
 ment to Lord Clifford's daughter, his eftablifh- 
 ment in his Uncle's feat, and his own obligations 
 to return time enough to be prefent at the mar- 
 riage : But before I go, faid he, 1 will give my 
 daughter to the Heir of Level, and then I {hall 
 have difcharged my duty to him, and my pro- 
 mife to Sir Philip Harclay. 
 
 You have nobly performed both, faid Sir Phi- 
 lip, and whenever you depart 1 fhall be your 
 companion. What, faid Edmund, am I to be 
 deprived of both my fathers at once ? My ho- 
 noured Loid, you have given away two houfes, 
 where do you intend to refide? No matter, 
 faid the Baron ; I knew I {hail be welcome to 
 both. My dear Lord, faid Edmund, ftay her* 
 and be ftill the Mafter j I fhall be proud to be 
 under your command, and to be your fervant 
 as well as your fon! No Edmund, faid the 
 Baron, that would not now be proper ; this is 
 your Caftle, you are its Lord and Mafter, and 
 it is incumbent on you to fhew yourfelf worthy 
 of the great things Providence has done for you. 
 How (hall T, a young man, acquit myfelf of 
 fo many duties as will be upon me, without the 
 
 advice
 
 222 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 advice and affiftance of my two paternal friends ? 
 Oh, Sir Philip ! will you too leave me ? once 
 you gave me hopes he flopped, greatly affected. 
 Sir Philip faid, Tell me truly, Edmund, do you 
 really defire that I fhould live with you ? As 
 
 truly, Sir, as I defire life and happinefs ! 
 
 Then, my dear child, I will live and die with 
 you ! They embraced with tears of affection, 
 and Edmund was all joy and gratitude. My 
 good Lord, faid Sir Philip, you have difpofed 
 of two houfes, and have none ready to receive 
 you ; will you accept of mine ? it is much at 
 your fervice, and its being in the fame county 
 with your eldeft fon, will be an inducement to 
 you to refide there. The Baron caught Sir 
 Philip's hand Noble Sir, I thanlc you, and I 
 will embrace your kind offer ; I will be your 
 tenant for the prefent ; my caftle in Wales fliall 
 be put in repair, in the mean time ; if I do not 
 refide there, it will be an eftablifhment for one 
 of my younger fons : But what will you do with 
 your old foldiers and dependants ? My Lord, 
 I will never caft them off. There is another 
 houfe on my eftate that has been (hut up many 
 years ; I will have it repaired and furnifhed pro- 
 perly for the reception of my old men : I will 
 endow it with a certain fum to be paid annually, 
 and will appoint a fteward to manage their re- 
 venue ; I will continue it during the lives of the 
 
 firft
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. ^3 
 
 firft inhabitants, and after that I {hall leave it to 
 my fon here, to do as he pleafes. Your fon, 
 faid Edmund, will make it the bufinefs of his 
 life to a& worthy of fuch a father. Enough, 
 faid Sir Philip, I am fatisficd that you will. I 
 purpofe to relide myfelf in that very apartment 
 which my dear friend your father inhabited ; I 
 will tread in his footfteps, and think he fees me 
 acting his part in his fon's family. I will be 
 attended by my own fervants j and, whenever 
 you defire it, I will give you my company; 
 your joys, your griefs {hall be mine, I {hall hold 
 your children in my arms, and their prattle fhall 
 amufe my old age : And, as my laft earthly 
 wifli, your hands {hall clofe my eyes. Long, 
 very long, faid Edmund, (with eyes and hands 
 lifted up) may it be ere I perform fo fad a du- 
 ty ! Long and happily may you live together, 
 faid the Baron ! I will hope to fee you fome- 
 times, and to claim a fhare in your bleffings. 
 But let us give no more tears to forrow, the reft 
 (hall be thofe of joy and tranfport. The firft 
 ftep we take {hall be to marry our Edmund ; I 
 will give orders for the celebration, and they 
 fliall be the laft orders I {hall give in this houfc. 
 They then feparated, and went to prepare for 
 the approaching folemnity. 
 
 Sir Philip and the Baron had a private con- 
 ference concerning Edmund's afluming the 
 
 name
 
 224 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 name and title of Lovel. I am refolved, faid 
 Sir Philip, to go to the King ; to acquaint him 
 briefly with Edmund's hiftory; I will requeft 
 that he may be called up to parliament by a 
 writ, for there is no need of a new patent, he 
 being the true inheritor; in the mean time he 
 (hall aflame the name, arms, and title, and I 
 will anfwer any one that (hall difpute his 
 right to them. Sir Philip then declared his 
 refolution to fet out with the Baron at his de- 
 parture, and to fettle all his other affairs before 
 he returned to take up his refidehce at the Caftle. 
 
 A few days after, the marriage was cele- 
 brated to the entire fatisfa&ion of all parties. 
 The Baron ordered the doors to be thrown 
 open, and the houfe free for all comers; with 
 every other token of joy and fcftivity. Ed- 
 mund appeared full of joy without levity, of 
 mirth without extravagance; he received the 
 congratulations of his friends, with eafe, free- 
 dom and vivacity. He fent for his fofter father 
 and mother, who began to think themfelves 
 neglected, as he had been fo deeply engaged 
 .in affairs of more confequence that he had 
 not been particularly attentive to them ; he 
 made them come into the great hall, and pre- 
 fented them to his Lady. 
 
 Thefe, faid he, are the good people to 
 whom I am, under God, indebted for my pre- 
 
 ient
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 225 
 
 fent happinsfs ; they were my firfl benefa&ors ; 
 I was obliged to them for food and fuftenance 
 in try childhood) and this good woman nou- 
 rifhcd my infancy at her own breaft. The Lady 
 received them gracioufly, and faluted Margery. 
 Andrew kneeled down, and with great hu- 
 mility, begged Edmund's pardon for his treat- 
 ment of him in his childhood. I heartily 
 forgive you, {aid he, and T will cxcufe you 
 to yourfelf; it was natural for you to look 
 upon me as an intruder, that was eating your 
 children's bread ; you faved my life, and af- 
 terwards you fuftained it by your food and 
 raiment : i ought to have maintained myfelf, 
 and to have contributed to your maintenance. 
 But, befides this, your treatment of me was 
 the firft of my preferment ; it recommended 
 me to the notice of this noble family : Every 
 thins; that happened to me fince, has been a 
 ftep to my prefent ftate of honour and hap- 
 pinels. Never man had fo many benefaiprs 
 as myfelf.j but both they, and myfelf, have 
 been only inftrunients in the hands of provi- 
 dence, to bring about its own purpofes : Let 
 us praile God for ail ! I Iharcd your poverty, 
 and you will fiiare my riches ; 1 will give you 
 the cottage where you dwell, and the ground 
 about it; I will alfo pay you the annual fum 
 of ten pounds for the lives of you both ; I will 
 put out your children to manual trades, and 
 
 aflift
 
 226 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 affift you to provide for them in their own 
 ftation ; and you are to look upon this as pay- 
 ing a debt, and not beftowing a gift : I owe 
 you more than I can ever pay ; and, if there 
 be any thing further in my power that will 
 contribute to your happinefs, you can afk 
 nothing in reafon that I will deny you. 
 
 Andrew hid his face : I cannot bear it ! 
 faid he ; Oh what a brute was I, to abufe fuch 
 a child as this ! I (hall never forgive myfelf I- 
 You muft indeed, my friend, for I forgive and 
 thank you. Andrew retired back, but Mar- 
 gery came forward; (he looked earneftly on 
 Edmund, (he then threw her arms about his 
 neck, and wept aloud My precious child ! 
 my lovely babe ! thank God, I have lived to 
 fee this day ! I will rejoice in your good for- 
 tune, and your bounty to us, but I muft afk 
 one more favour yet; that I may fometimes 
 come hither and behold that gracious coun- 
 tenance, and thank God that I was honoured 
 fo far as to give thee food from my own 
 breaft, and to bring thee up to be a blefling 
 to me, and to all that know thee ! Edmund 
 was affected, he returned her embrace ; he 
 bade her come to the Caftle as often as (he 
 pleafed, and (he (hould always be received as 
 his mother; the bride faluted her, and told her 
 the oftener (he came, the more welcome (he 
 fhould be. Margery and her hu(band retired, 
 
 full
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 227 
 
 full of bleffings and prayers for their happi- 
 nefs ; fhe gave vent to her joy, by relating 
 to the fervants and neighbours every circum- 
 ftance of Edmund's birth, infancy, and child- 
 hood : Many a tear was dropped by the audi- 
 tors, and many a prayer wafted to Heaven for 
 his happinefs. Jofeph took up the ftory where 
 fhe left it ; he told the rifing dawn of youth 
 and virtue, darting its ray through the clouds 
 of obfcurity, and how every ftroke of envy 
 and malignity bruflied away fome part of the 
 darknefs that veiled its luftre : He told the ftory 
 of the haunted apartment, and all the confe- 
 quences of it; how he and Ofwald conveyed 
 the youth away from the caftle, no more to 
 return till he came as matter of it : He clofed 
 the tale. with praife to Heaven for the happy 
 difcovery, that gave fuch an heir to the houfe 
 of Lovel ; to his dependants fuch a Lord and 
 Mafter ; to mankind a friend and benefactor. 
 There was truly a houfe of joy; not that falfe 
 kind, in the midft of which there is heavinefs, 
 but that of rational creatures grateful to the 
 fupreme benefactor, raifing their minds by a 
 due enjoyment of earthly bleffings to a prepa- 
 ration for a more perfect ftate hereafter. 
 
 A few days after the wedding, the Lord 
 
 Fitz-Owen began to prepare for his journey to 
 
 the north. He gave to Edmund the plate, 
 
 linen, and furniture of the Caftle, the farming 
 
 2 ftock
 
 228 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 flock and utenfils ; he would h?.ve added a 
 fum of money, but Sir Philip flopped his hand: 
 We do not forget, faid he, that you have 
 other children, we will not fuffer you to injure 
 them ; give us your bleffing and paternal af- 
 fection, and we have nothing more to afk: 
 I told you, my Lord, that you and I fhould one 
 day be fincere friends. We muft be fo, an- 
 fwered the Baron ; it is impofiible to be long 
 your enemy : We are brothers, and fhall be to 
 our lives end. 
 
 They regulated the young man's houfehold ; 
 the Baron gave leave to the fervants to choofe 
 their matter ; the elder" ones followed him 
 (except Jofeph, who defired to live with 
 Edmund, as the chief hnppinefs of his life) ; 
 moft of the younger ones chofe the fervice of 
 the youthful pair. There was a tender and 
 affectionate parting on all fides. Edmund be- 
 fought his beloved William not to leave him. 
 The Baron faid, he muft infift on his being 
 at his brother's wedding, as a due attention 
 to him ; but after that he Ihould return to the 
 Gaftle for fome time. 
 
 The Baron and Sir Philip Harclay, with their 
 train, fet forward. Sir Philip went to London 
 and obtained all he defired for his Edmund; 
 from thence he went into Yorkshire, and fet- 
 tled his affairs there, removing his penfioners 
 to his other houfe, and putting Lord Fitz-Owen
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 22$ 
 
 In pofleflion of his own. They had a generous 
 contention about the terms ; but Sir Philip in- 
 fifted on the Baron's accepting the ufe of every 
 thing there : You hold it in truft for a future 
 grandchild, faid he, whom I hope to live to 
 endow with it. 
 
 During Sir Philip's abfence, the young Lord 
 Lovel caufed the haunted apartment to be re- 
 paired and furniehed for the reception of his fa- 
 ther by adoption. He placed his friend Jofeph 
 over all his men fervants, and ordered him to 
 forbear his attendance ; but the old man would 
 always ftand at the fide-board, and feaft his 
 eyes with the countenance of his own Mafter's 
 fon, furrounded with honour and happinefs. 
 John Wyatt waited upon the perfon of his 
 Lord, and enjoyed his favour without abate- 
 ment. Mr. William Fitz-Owen accompanied 
 Sir Philip Barclay from the north country, 
 when he returned to take up his residence at 
 the Caftle of Lovel. 
 
 Edmund, in the arms of love and friendibip, 
 enjoyed with true reiifh the blefiings that fur- 
 rounded him, with an heart overflowing with 
 benevolence to his feiiow-creatures, and rap- 
 tures of gratitude to his Creator. His Lady and 
 himfelf were examples of conjugal afFecYion 
 and happinefs. Within a year from his ma--- 
 riage,fhe brought him a fon and heir, whofe 
 birth renewed the joy and congratulations of 
 
 all
 
 * 3 o THE OLD ENGLISH BARON: 
 
 all his friends : The Baron Fitz-Ovven came to 
 the baptifm, and partook of his children's 
 bleffings. The child was called Arthur, after 
 the name of his grandfather. 
 
 The year following was born a fecond fon, 
 who was called Philip Harclay; upon him the 
 noble knight of that name fettled his eftate in 
 Yorkfhire; and by the king's permiffion, he 
 took the name and arms of that family. 
 
 The third fon was called William ; he in- 
 herited the fortune of his uncle of that name, 
 who adopted him, and he made the Caftle of 
 Lovel his refidence, and died a batchelor. 
 
 The fourth fon was called Edmund j the fifth 
 Owen; and there was alfo a daughter called 
 Emma. 
 
 When time had worn out the prejudices of 
 Sir Robert Fitz-Owen, the good old Baron of 
 that name, propofed a marriage between his 
 eldeft fon and heir, and the daughter of Ed- 
 mund Lord Lovel, which was happily con- 
 cluded. The nuptials were honoured with the 
 prefence of both families ; and the old Baron 
 was fo elevated with this happy union of his 
 defcendants, that he cried out Now 1 am 
 ready to die ! I have lived long enough ! this 
 is the band of love that unites all my children 
 to me, and to each other ! He did not long 
 furvive this happy event ; he died full of years 
 and honours, and his name was never men- 
 tioned
 
 A GOTHIC STORY. 231 
 
 tioned but with the deepeft marks of gratitude, 
 love and veneration. Sweet is the remem- 
 brance of the virtuous, and happy are the 
 defcendants of fuch a father ! they will think 
 on him and emulate his virtues ; they will re- 
 member him, and be afhamed to degenerate 
 from their anceftor. 
 
 Many years after Sir Philip Harclay fettled 
 at the Caftle, he received tidings from his 
 friend Zadifky, by one of the two fervants 
 who attended him to the Holy Land. From 
 him he learned that his friend had difcovered, 
 by private advices, that he had a fon living in 
 Paleftine, which was the chief motive of his 
 leaving England ; that he met with various 
 adventures in purfuit of him j that at length 
 he found him, converted him to the chriftian 
 religion, and then perfuadcd him to retire 
 from the world into a monaftery by the fide of 
 mount Libanus, where he intended to end his 
 days. 
 
 That Walter, commonly called Lord Lovel, 
 had entered into the fervice of the Greek 
 emperor, John Paleologus, not bearing to un- 
 dergo a life of folitude and retirement; that 
 he made up a ftory of his being compelled to 
 leave his native country by his relations, for 
 having accidentally killed one of them, and 
 that he was treated with great cruelty and in- 
 juftice j that he had accepted a poft in the em- 
 4 peror's
 
 232 THE OLD ENGLISH BARON. 
 
 peror's army, and was foon after married to 
 the daughter of one of the chief officers of it. 
 
 Zadifky forefaw, and lamented the dovvnfal 
 of that empire, and withdrew from the ftorm 
 he faw Approaching, Finally, he bade the mef- 
 fengcr tell Sir Philip Harclay and his adopted 
 fon, that he fhould not ccafe to pray for them, 
 and delired their prayers in return. 
 
 Sir Philip defired Lord Lovel to entertain this 
 meflengcr in his fervice. That good knight 
 lived to extreme old age in honour and hap- 
 pinel's, and died in the arms of his beloved 
 Edmund ; who alfo performed the laft duties 
 to his faithful jofeph. 
 
 Father Ofvv-id lived many vears in the fa- 
 mily as chaplain ; he retired from thence at 
 Icn .tb, and died in his own monaftery. 
 
 Edmund Lord Lovel lived to old age, in 
 ptace, honour and happinefs; and died in the 
 arms of his children. 
 
 Sir Philip Harclay caufed the papers relat- 
 ino~ to his fon's hiflory to be collected toge- 
 ther ; the firft part of it was written under his 
 own eye in Yorkihire, the fubfequent parts 
 by father OiV/a'd at the Caftle of Lovel. All 
 thefe, when to;. ether, furnifti a ftriking leflba 
 to pofterity, of the over-ruling hand of Provi- 
 dence, and the certainty of RETRIBUTION. 
 
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