"We have had an unhappy time of it with the good knight, Master Edmund,"

said the curate. "I have not suffered so much since I was torn away from

my beloved flock, and compelled to abandon them to the Romish wolves."

"That was in TERTIO MARIAE," said Master Mumblazen.

"In the name of Heaven," continued the curate, "tell us, has your

time been better spent than ours, or have you any news of that

unhappy maiden, who, being for so many years the principal joy of this

broken-down house, is now proved our greatest unhappiness? Have you not

at least discovered her place of residence?"

"I have," replied Tressilian. "Know you Cumnor Place, near Oxford?"

"Surely," said the clergyman; "it was a house of removal for the monks

of Abingdon."

"Whose arms," said Master Michael, "I have seen over a stone chimney in

the hall,--a cross patonce betwixt four martlets."

"There," said Tressilian, "this unhappy maiden resides, in company with

the villain Varney. But for a strange mishap, my sword had revenged all

our injuries, as well as hers, on his worthless head."

"Thank God, that kept thine hand from blood-guiltiness, rash young man!"

answered the curate. "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I will

repay it. It were better study to free her from the villain's nets of

infamy."

"They are called, in heraldry, LAQUEI AMORIS, or LACS D'AMOUR," said

Mumblazen.

"It is in that I require your aid, my friends," said Tressilian. "I

am resolved to accuse this villain, at the very foot of the throne, of

falsehood, seduction, and breach of hospitable laws. The Queen shall

hear me, though the Earl of Leicester, the villain's patron, stood at

her right hand."

"Her Grace," said the curate, "hath set a comely example of continence

to her subjects, and will doubtless do justice on this inhospitable

robber. But wert thou not better apply to the Earl of Leicester, in the

first place, for justice on his servant? If he grants it, thou dost save

the risk of making thyself a powerful adversary, which will certainly

chance if, in the first instance, you accuse his master of the horse and

prime favourite before the Queen."

"My mind revolts from your counsel," said Tressilian. "I cannot brook

to plead my noble patron's cause the unhappy Amy's cause--before any one

save my lawful Sovereign. Leicester, thou wilt say, is noble. Be it so;

he is but a subject like ourselves, and I will not carry my plaint to

him, if I can do better. Still, I will think on what thou hast said; but

I must have your assistance to persuade the good Sir Hugh to make me his

commissioner and fiduciary in this matter, for it is in his name I must

speak, and not in my own. Since she is so far changed as to dote upon

this empty profligate courtier, he shall at least do her the justice

which is yet in his power."




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