In the Wars of the Roses: A Story for the Young

ous and pleasant place enough. It had been in the hands of Devenishes ever since the Norman conquest--so at least the commo

the grunting of pigs, and the rough voices of the hinds as they got the horses out of the sheds, and prepared to commence the labours of the day with harrow or plough. These sounds were familiar enough to Paul; they seemed to carry him back to the days of his childhood, and he lay for s

During the last two years, in which he had been forced to lead the roving life of an adventurer--common enough in those days, and by no means entirely distasteful

that although stiff and bruised, and crippled in the left arm, he might yet make shift to rise and dress himself. He saw his clothes all laid out in readiness for him, and it was plain that some good friend had sat up far in

onotonous cadence that it must be the latter--in some room that could not be far away from his own chamber. In those days suc

l was certain that the reading had changed to prayer; but not the pattering Paternosters or Ave Marias with which he was familiar enough. This style of prayer wa

ed into a nest of heresy;" and he crossed himself devoutl

ched to the faith as they found it, and Henry the Sixth had burned many a heretic at Smithfield; for he was at once a saint and a fanatic--a v

ing to check its spread. London--the place of all others which was ever loyal to him--was a perfect hotbed of heresy (in the language of the priests), and that alone was enough to deter the Yorkist monarch from stirring up stri

d knocked about the world enough to have won a larger toleration for all sorts and conditions of men than he would have done had he remained master of t

his wounds were healed, he saw no particular reason against doing so. A spell of rest and quiet would suit hi

prayer nigh at hand; and when he had finished he opened his door, and made his way down

sils as clean as scrubbing could make them--and the brick floor clean enough to eat off, as the saying goes. And this cleanliness was not so common in those days of partial civilization as it is now: there were farmhouses enough and to spare

moment that this was his own breakfast thus temptingly spread for him; and he was fully disposed to do it ample justice, for he had eaten little during the past four-and-twenty hours, and had ridden far and done some good hard fighting to boot.

what my fate must have been but for your timely rescue. But I pray you be seated, and try this pie of mother's own making, with a slice of home-cured ham (father is a great rearer of pigs; and the brothers of Leighs Pr

at himself down to t

rover like myself is tough and wiry, or should be. I fear t

d man, you will be giving us great honour and pleasure; for I think that if harm had befallen our dear and only

and Paul rose instinctively to his feet as he

d intellect seldom found in persons of her class in those rough and uncultured times. Paul, who was a shrewd observer, detected at once that this was no ordinary woman before him, and saw from whom Joan had inherited her graceful, refined bearing and sweet

o rest, for a few days at least, in such pleasant quarters; but I must not let myself become a burden

hankful joy. What would have become of the maid carried off by that evil man to his own secret haunts I dare not even thin

rred by your act of yesterday the fury of one who never forgives, and who is as cunning as he is cruel. He may set his spies upon you; and dog your steps if you leave this place; and if you were to be overcome by them and

or disposed to despise warnings thus given him; but his life had taught him a certain hardihood and con

y next journey will be to London, and there, methinks, shall I find more of law and order. It is a sad state of things when not fo

civil strife, and we fondly told ourselves that the worst was over, and that the distracted country would taste something of the blessings of peace again. But since that haughty earl men call the King Maker has gone to France to make his peace with the Lancastrian queen, and has returned to place her husband (poor man, it is no fault of his that he cannot sway the sceptre, but can only submit to the dictates of others) on England's throne, we shall a

f the Red Rose. He had hoped to find the whole country rejoicing in the restoration of the gentle monarch, whom he loved with the ardour of a generous and impetuo

cendant of the elder branch of the family of Edward the Third. It was only the politic reign of the fourth Henry, and the brilliant reign of the fifth, which had given to the House of Lancaster its kingly title. Men would probably never have thought of disputing the sixth Henry's sway had he held the sceptre firmly and played the part of king, to any purpose. But his healt

ved. It was little more in reality than the struggle for supremacy and place amongst the overbearing and ambitious nobles; hence the ease and readiness with which they chan

e case. His whole heart was in the cause of the Red Rose, and he could scarce listen to these

ay the sceptre which has proved too heavy for his hands. He has a son--a fair and gallant prince--worthy of the royal name of Edward which he bears. Men say that it will not be the feeble father who will restore order to the country and bring peace again to its shores, but that the task will be intrusted to the youthful Edward, who in his person combines the graces of his stately mother and the warlike prowess of his great ancestor whose cognizance he bears. Trust me, good people, if you love not Henry you will love Hen

ation and a generous and undoubting love. Even the grave-faced woman at the spinning wh

d just, then England might count itself a happy land indeed; but I have lived through troublous times, a

were distracted by the war. But tell us of this prince--the Prince of Wales, as you call him. Would he be able to rule us wisely and well? Has he a strong ar

aded or grown dim. "In sooth, he was the noblest, kingliest child the sun ever shone on. And men say he has grown up to fulfil all the promise of his youth. He is solemn

ts of the nation would surely go out to him. Shall I tell you a story of him when he was a child--when we were c

hard by Lichfield; and mother and daughter as they heard the tale exchanged glances, as if it was not the firs

clutches? Well, this same story that you have told to us he has heard a dozen times from his chief--the chief of all the band--Fire Eater, as he is called in their fierce language. It was he and his followers who hung upon the royal party all those long years ago, and he who carried you off in mistak

hen make hasty and swift flight for London, where perchance you may be safe. These terrible robbers are not to be smiled at; they are cunni

heme he had frustrated would undoubtedly be his deadly enemy, and it was possible that if his name became known in the place, it would draw upon him the vengeance of the whole band. True, the robber chieftain might have forgotten the name of the child who had been carried off by him in mistake for the Prince of Wales; but Paul remembered how he had

ther; and presently, when the meal was over, and the women had retired to wash up the platters in an adjoining room, whilst the lab

here has worked a robe for the reverend prior himself as cost me a pretty penny in materials, and half blinded her pretty eyes, she sat at it so close. They have no need to look askance at us; but there, there, I suppose they have had a deal of trouble with the heretic books and such like as have been getting about the country of late. They say they found a Wycliffe's Bible hidden under the hearth stone of a poor woman's cottage in Little Waltham, nigh at hand here; and if King Henry had been on the

was not impossible that he himself might not be secretly favouring the new religion whilst conforming outwardly in all things. Such

iscredit. He was sure that, whatever they might privately believe, they were good and trustworthy folks, and he gav

n his sleek palfrey; and Paul, who was seated near to the door, rose and bent his knee, asking the customary blessing;

arder. Brother Lawrence was no exception to this rule; and the farmer's wife bestirred herself to get him everything he could fancy, whilst he sat and questioned Paul as to his history and the adventure wh

respecting the flitches of bacon required for the Priory, Brother Lawre

who think that they can thus judge for themselves on matters too high for them. You, my son, as a true son of the Church, may do us great service by keeping open both ears and eyes, and telling if you see or hear ought amiss. I would fain learn that no such evil is done among these good folks; but if it be that the leaven is working, it will be your duty to tell us thereof, and we will see if the evil may not be stamped

he had regarded for years with kindly goodwill. But there were strange anomalies in those days, even as there are in our own, and Paul saw nothing strange in this, nor in his own conduct, which made him appear submissive to the dictates of the Holy Church, as he ever called her in his thoughts, whilst all the time he was resolved neither

ached. It was nothing but a rude cart track; and although well-tilled fields lay on one side of t

day dream by the growl of one of the farm dogs, who stood at his side. Looking quickly round him, he fancied he detected amid the shadows of the trees across the roa

g himself if it were not all a dream; but if it had been one, it was remarkably cl