yet dead, but completely exhausted, for her entrails had protruded through the wound in such a way, as to render death inevitable. I called her by name, and she answered the well-known voice by a low neigh, such as she had often given when I approached her manger with an apple. Stooping down I kissed her head, and drawing my knife, cut a long lock from her mane: as the tear fell from my eye, a rude retainer seeing the knife in my hand, asked me, "if I was going to cut her throat?" The question itself was shocking, but, at the same time, I felt that humanity might have prompted the suggestion. Little, however, disposed to witness, or much less execute it, I mounted my horse and overtook the litter at the bottom of the hill, just as it passed under a remarkably fine oak tree in the very height of ample perfection, and seemingly the advanced guard of the giant tribe that grew around.* * Probably the old tree now at the entrance of the Deer Park, known by the name of King William's Oak, mentioned in Doomsday Book as a land-mark in the survey of the country, which was made in the time of the Conqueror.-ED. Having quitted the park or chase, we entered upon the more open ground in the direction of the castle; Lord Berkeley leading the way, closely followed by the litter, at the side of which, occasionally speaking in words of comfort to its fair occupant, or otherwise cautioning the bearers to tread lightly over the dry and hardened surface of the road, walked Sir Maurice. How I enjoyed that ride to the castle, it was a moment, but for poor Bessy's death, of unalloyed pleasure. Isabel was more frightened than hurt; I had had an opportunity of publicly displaying my contempt of danger, and I was now in the company of those men, the history of whose family I had ever dwelt upon with all the enthusiasm of my romantic nature. How proudly I felt, when Sir Maurice, in the hearing of my cousin, denominated me his page, and praised my seat on horseback; were I to cull one moment from the rest of my existence which I could recall to my mind as one of pure delight, it would be this, on which I first rode as an invited guest to Berkeley. We now passed through a range of low meadow ground, intersected by a considerable brook, and a number of deep ditches, by which the whole of the land in the vicinity of the castle could be flooded at pleasure, and thus rendered impassable to an enemy.* At last, turning short to the right, we ascended a steep acclivity to the main entrance of the building, and passed the drawbridge with the usual ceremony of challenge and watchword; the keys of the gate being brought by Thomas Berkeley, who had been left in charge of the place in the absence of his brothers, and escorted from their place of safety by a guard of men at arms; a precaution ever adopted since the surprise of the castle in the late Lord's time. In the inner court we were duly received by a numerous and splendidly appointed suite of retainers. Isabel was now removed from her litter, and received into the castle by Margaret, the eldest sister of Lord Berkeley, who had married master Joseph Shipward, of Bristol; but which marriage * Matford Brook.-ED. had taken place much against her brother's consent and for that reason she always came alone, although a more unexceptionable gentleman, in point of honour and integrity, than her husband did not exist; still, in the way of alliance, it was deemed objectionable by the haughty lord, and that was, for him, a sufficient reason for the continuance of his displeasure. Having dismounted and taken leave of Isabel, I followed Sir Maurice through a small postern beneath the inner gateway, to a suite of apartments termed the waiting or withdrawing chambers; where we found Lord Berkeley and several nobles, knights, and gentlemen, already assembled in the expectation of the announcement of dinner, which had been delayed some time through the prolonged absence of the host. Among those to whom Sir Maurice made me known, were several personages of distinction, such as Lord Darcy of Chich, the then Lord Chamberlain; Sir Richard Cotton, Comptroller of the King's household; Sir Robert Bowes, Master of the Rolls, and Sir Walter Millway; these four were then holding a com mission under the great seal, for a general enquiry into all the king's revenues, and for establishing some plan for putting down the system of plunder carried on in the forest of Dean, for which purpose the Earl of Worcester, who had the custody of it, was also a guest at the castle. Besides these,. there were Sir William Rawleigh of Edgworth, Sir John Guise, Sir Thomas Arundel, Sir Gilbert Dennys of Dyrham, Sir Thomas Bridges, Sir Maurice Berkeley of Beverstone Castle, with Messrs. Kingscot of Kingscot, Dean, Bridgman, and Baynham, from the forest; the two former from Little Dean, and the latter from Newland. Some of them doing service in the castle as knights;* others paying a congratulatory visit on the approaching marriage of Lord Berkeley with the daughter of Lord De La Ware; and the rest on the king's affairs, as before-mentioned. The summons to the feast being at length announced, we passed from this suite of rooms, and * Lord Berkeley retained six knights as part of his household. ED.-MS.; apud Castro de Berkeley. |