The Robber Baron of Bedford Castle

mas de Muleton and Henry de Braybrooke, were riding together thro

mer, and having concluded that part of the business, were now journeying towards Dunstable to clear off certain matters which had been left un

, and were riding leisurely along on their stout palfreys, with their serving-men joggin

hills which encloses the vale of Bedford on the south-west. Passing the village of Cranfield and its Norman church, still in part existing, they rode under the old fortifications and earth-works of Brogborough--old eve

t upon their journey and partake of his mid-day meal. Here also they had arranged to meet their

rd Lisle had awaited him in vain. So when the other justices made their appearance, their host commanded th

suitable entertainment for guests of such hi

the merry h

e lofty a

the gorgeou

quire, with h

the rank of

ready blade

meal to car

heronshaw,

peacock's g

boar-head, ga

ygnet

had spoke h

hood were also present, among whom was the lord abbot of the abbey of Woburn hard by. The head of the Cistercian

only to one another, but to the servants belonging to the castle. In those days any festivities at a great castle were attended by a motle

yard was a crowd of se

beggars, indeed, ranged themselves into position to ask for alms in the name of religion, but the minstrels and the jugglers felt themselves de

jingling at his side, remarked a swarthy man of considerable height and size, who was evide

whence comest thou?"

nch which his interlocutor could easily have followed, but in a dialec

noble seneschal. I chant lov

ied the functionary gruffly, "naught but

momentary gleam of satisfaction passed

my lord senescha

eaf, man? My lord the king's justices who travel towards Dunstable.

s had made Lord Lisle's

stices' serving-men a song of fair France; or a love chansonnette w

chal with a shrug, turning away, "an y

turned to one of De Braybrooke's men, staring open-mouthed and stolid at the strange dialect and stranger counte

e as how thou art a stranger in these part

s it n

ten the way we ride, through the woodland, by way of Ev

k stranger, mispronouncing the name.

o at hay-harvest," jeered the othe

ar what you shall hear," retorted the stranger imperturbably. But as he strode across the yard, the serving-man, had he not been so bus

ear themselves away from Lord Lisle's hospitabl

w show where once the forest extended round the famous Cistercian abbey. In the midst of this district stands a village, wh

unsuspectingly, the two justices, engaged in

brooke was saying, "all our jurisconsults a

finished his sentence, for h

n from either side of the road upon the hapless representatives of the

no need of grooms!" he added, as he saw his men seizing the br

ld his horse, not distinguishing in the confusion between master and man, released their hold, and

n-at-arms were all dismounted, their horses tethered to the trees, or held by some of the band. Pursuit was ou

ring roundly at his men for their blunder, he struck the unfortunate serving-man who had been detained instead of his mast

not ourselves with dogs that c

apless Henry de Braybrooke well guarded in their midst. De Breauté's rage was a little softened, however, when he learned that he had not mis