were very eager to make the first attack. Lockwoodcrouching in his corner, panting and sweating, his mouth fixed in a snarl, his dagger clenched in his hand, was no longer a proud intelligent man who chose his course and followed it, but a wild animal at bay; wild animals are dangerous, especially when young and strong; therefore the men hung back.
âWilliam Lockwood, you are indicted of the death of Sir John de Elland. Yield yourself in the Kingâs name, and we will carry you to York for trial,â said Bosville pompously in formal style.
âYield thyself, Wilkinâlet us have no bloodshed,â murmured Cannel feebly, from the rear.
âSir John killed my father,â panted Lockwood.
âAyeâwell! The justices will be mindful of that, no doubt,â said Bosville in an encouraging tone. âLet us have no more felonies and homicidesâwe will bind your hands and take you to York and soon there will be a gaol delivery and you can plead your cause.â
ââTis thy only chance of life, William,â wailed Cannel as before.
This was true. It was a small chance amid such enemies, but against twelve of them well armed he had no other. Lockwood hesitated, then threw down his dagger.
âWellâlet it be so,â he said.
Two men at once pulled aside the chair. Bosvilleâs steward produced a length of rope. Lockwood, smiling grimly, held out his hands, and the steward bound the wrists tightly together. Lockwood sighed and took a step forward, and Bosville, drawing his dagger, stabbed him strongly and neatly through the heart.
8
As for Adam Beaumont, when he heard of Lockwoodâs death he was so struck to the heart by grief and loneliness, together with fear, that he contrived to escape out of the kingdom and get himself by ship across to France. Presently he took service with the Knights of Rhodes, a kind of Crusaders, who had fortified that island for the protectionof the neighbouring seas against the Turks and were engaged against the heathen generally. Beaumontâs solid courage and good fighting qualities were much appreciated by the Knights, and he spent his life with them, fighting the heathen. He sent letters home to a friend near Huddersfield to tell of his successes, and presently died in the odour of sanctity in Rhodes, much respected.
And Aline? What happened to the poor girl after that dreadful morning, when although, as she thought, she deserved well of the Saints since she had kept her vows, she saw her darling lover stabbed before her eyes? Ah, that we shall never know. Poor Aline. A nunnery, probably.
Isabella, Isabella
(1630)
1
âNay. Tom! Look not so sour! Hast thou never lusted after a woman, lad?â said Sir Richard Bellomont. He threw back his handsome head and laughed very heartily.
His young kinsman coloured to the roots of his plain light-brown hair.
âIf you would but marry, uncle,â he said stiffly, âthese matters would not arise between us.â
âYou speak very much to your own disadvantage, nephew Thomas,â said Sir Richard in a mock formal tone. âAt present you are my heir. If I marry you might easily lose the estates of Whitland, South Crosley, Melton, Leptham and half the manor of Annotsfield.â
âOnly half?â exclaimed Thomas, startled out of his caution.
A frown appeared between Sir Richardâs well-shaped black eyebrows.
âWhy, yes,â he said reluctantly. âI have been forced of late to part with some of my Annotsfield land to my cousin Resmond to pay my debts, having stretched my credit as far as it will go.â
âGaming debts?â said Thomas.
âEven so, Tom. Come now, thou shalt chide me. Look down thy nose, lad, prim up thy mouth, and whine out some psalm about my duty to my land and name.â
âI shall not do that, uncle Richard,â said Thomas Bellomont stolidly.
âWhy not? Itâs what your motherâs sent you here to