The Old English Baron | Page 3

of
the second day, the servant was so ill and fatigued he could go no
further; he stopped at an inn where he grew worse every hour, and the
next day expired. Sir Philip was under great concern for the loss of his
servant, and some for himself, being alone in a strange place; however
he took courage, ordered his servant's funeral, attended it himself, and,
having shed a tear of humanity over his grave, proceeded alone on his
journey.
As he drew near the estate of his friend, he began to enquire of every
one he met, whether the Lord Lovel resided at the seat of his ancestors?
He was answered by one, he did not know; by another, he could not tell;
by a third, that he never heard of such a person. Sir Philip thought it
strange that a man of Lord Lovel's consequence should be unknown in
his own neighbourhood, and where his ancestors had usually resided.
He ruminated on the uncertainty of human happiness. "This world,"
said he, "has nothing for a wise man to depend upon. I have lost all my
relations, and most of my friends; and am even uncertain whether any

are remaining. I will, however, be thankful for the blessings that are
spared to me; and I will endeavour to replace those that I have lost. If
my friend lives, he shall share my fortune with me; his children shall
have the reversion of it; and I will share his comforts in return. But
perhaps my friend may have met with troubles that have made him
disgusted with the world; perhaps he has buried his amiable wife, or his
promising children; and, tired of public life, he is retired into a
monastery. At least, I will know what all this silence means."
When he came within a mile of the Castle of Lovel, he stopped at a
cottage and asked for a draught of water; a peasant, master of the house,
brought it, and asked if his honour would alight and take a moment's
refreshment. Sir Philip accepted his offer, being resolved to make
farther enquiry before he approached the castle. He asked the same
questions of him, that he had before of others.
"Which Lord Lovel," said the man, "does your honour enquire after?"
"The man whom I knew was called Arthur," said Sir Philip.
"Ay," said the Peasant, "he was the only surviving son of Richard, Lord
Lovel, as I think?"
"Very true, friend, he was so."
"Alas, sir," said the man, "he is dead! he survived his father but a short
time."
"Dead! say you? how long since?"
"About fifteen years, to the best of my remembrance."
Sir Philip sighed deeply.
"Alas!" said he, "what do we, by living long, but survive all our friends!
But pray tell me how he died?"
"I will, sir, to the best of my knowledge. An't please your honour, I
heard say, that he attended the King when he went against the Welch
rebels, and he left his lady big with child; and so there was a battle
fought, and the king got the better of the rebels. There came first a
report that none of the officers were killed; but a few days after there
came a messenger with an account very different, that several were
wounded, and that the Lord Lovel was slain; which sad news overset us
all with sorrow, for he was a noble gentleman, a bountiful master, and
the delight of all the neighbourhood."
"He was indeed," said Sir Philip, all that is amiable and good; he was
my dear and noble friend, and I am inconsolable for his loss. But the

unfortunate lady, what became of her?"
"Why, a'nt please your honour, they said she died of grief for the loss
of her husband; but her death was kept private for a time, and we did
not know it for certain till some weeks afterwards."
"The will of Heaven be obeyed!" said Sir Philip; "but who succeeded to
the title and estate?"
"The next heir," said the peasant, "a kinsman of the deceased, Sir
Walter Lovel by name."
"I have seen him," said Sir Philip, "formerly; but where was he when
these events happened?"
"At the Castle of Lovel, sir; he came there on a visit 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 some said he was to marry her; but she refused to be
comforted, and took it so to heart that she died."
"And does the present Lord Lovel reside at the castle?"
"No, sir."
"Who then?"
"The Lord Baron Fitz-Owen."
"And how came Sir Walter to leave the