The Lances of Lynwood | Page 4

and we cannot but hope that our sketch may serve as an
inducement to some young readers to make acquaintance with the
delectable old Canon for themselves, undeterred by the size of his
tomes.
The story of Orthon is almost verbally copied from him, and bears a
curious resemblance to various German legends--such as that of
"Heinzelman," to be found in Keightley's "Fairy Mythology," and to

"Teague of the Lea," as related in Croker's "Irish Fairy Legends."
The old French "Vie de Bertrand du Guesclin" has likewise been drawn
upon for materials, and would have supplied much more of great
interest, such as Enrique of Trastamare's arrival in the disguise of a
palmer, to consult with him during his captivity at Bordeaux, and many
most curious anecdotes of his early childhood and youth.
To Breton tradition, his excellent wife Epiphanie Raguenel owes her
title of Tiphaine la fee, meaning that she was endowed with magic
power, which enabled her to predict what would be lucky or unlucky
days for her husband. His disregard of them was thought to have twice
cost him the loss of a battle.
We must apologize for having made Henry of Lancaster a year or two
older than is warranted by the date of his birth.

THE LANCES OF LYNWOOD

CHAPTER I

Seldom had the interior of this island presented a more peaceful and
prosperous aspect than in the reign of Edward III., when the more
turbulent spirits among his subjects had found occupation in his foreign
wars, and his wise government had established at home a degree of
plenty, tranquility, and security, such as had probably never before
been experienced in England.
Castle and cottage, church and convent, alike showed the prosperity
and safety of the inhabitants, at once by the profuseness of
embellishment in those newly erected, and by the neglect of the jealous
precautions required in former days of confusion and misrule. Thus it
was with the village of Lynwood, where, among the cottages and
farm-houses occupying a fertile valley in Somersetshire, arose the
ancient Keep, built of gray stone, and strongly fortified; but the
defences were kept up rather as appendages of the owner's rank, than as
requisite for his protection; though the moat was clear of weeds, and
full of water, the drawbridge was so well covered with hard-trodden
earth, overgrown at the edges with grass, that, in spite of the massive

chains connecting it with the gateway, it seemed permanently fixed on
the ground. The spikes of the portcullis frowned above in threatening
array, but a wreath of ivy was twining up the groove by which it had
once descended, and the archway, which by day stood hospitably open,
was at night only guarded by two large oaken doors, yielding to a slight
push. Beneath the southern wall of the castle court were various
flower-beds, the pride and delight of the old seneschal, Ralph Penrose,
in his own estimation the most important personage of Lynwood Keep,
manager of the servants, adviser of the Lady, and instructor of the
young gentleman in the exercises of chivalry.
One fine evening, old Ralph stood before the door, his bald forehead
and thin iron-gray locks unbonneted, and his dark ruddy-brown face
(marked at Halidon Hill with a deep scar) raised with an air of
deference, and yet of self-satisfaction, towards the Lady who stood on
the steps of the porch. She was small and fragile in figure; her face,
though very lovely, was pale and thin, and her smile had in it
something pensive and almost melancholy, as she listened to his
narration of his dealings with a refractory tenant, and at the same time
watched a noble-looking child of seven or eight years old, who,
mounted on an old war-horse, was led round the court by a youth, his
elder by some ten or eleven years.
"See mother!" cried the child, "I am holding the reins myself. Uncle
Eustace lays not a finger on them!"
"As I was saying, madam," continued Ralph, disregarding the
interruption, "I told him that I should not have thought of one exempted
from feudal service in the camp, by our noble Knight, being deficient in
his dues in his absence. I told him we should see how he liked to be
sent packing to Bordeaux with a sheaf of arrows on his back, instead of
the sheaf of wheat which ought to be in our granary by this time. But
you are too gentle with them, my Lady, and they grow insolent in Sir
Reginald's long absence."
"All goes ill in his absence, said the Lady. "It is a weary while since the
wounded archer brought tidings of his speedy return."
"Therefore," said the youth, turning round, "it must be the nearer at
hand. Come sweet sister