The Armourer's Apprentice — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

es - yet did he have her we “ae THE ARMOURER “it was a just and mghteous purish- ment,” said the bishop. “I will not sey that it was otherwise,” replied the pretended Harl of Beauclerk, Sighing. “I had to fly, and I entrusted to the keeping of a fait ‘follower and his good dame my little daughter Alice. His name was Robert Smith, an armourer. The honest fellow, fearing that his little charge _ might be torn from his arms, should it be- come known who she was, brought her u to believe that she really was his own child, and carefully edu- cated, so that if fortune should smile once more upon our ruined house she would be able to fulfil the duties of her station. She fell in love with a base-born knave, thé armourers apprentice, and weuld have fled with him this night had I not carried her off. And even now she defies me— dares to declare Iam not her father, and refuses to obey me, although she must know my story is true.” . “Can this be ‘possible?” demanded the _ bishop. J se eka t ’ ; : ¥ . . _ ’ . forward. ar* men af mis false ! My heart tells meit is false!” cried Alice. | “Her heart!” sneered Sir Bidulph. “If maidens are to be guided by their hearts, methinks we should have a strange world.” “And where 1s this Lord de Courcy?” _ demanded the bishop, “Hore,” said De Courcy, boldly stepping “T love the maiden and woul wed her. Think you that I would do soif _ J were not sure that sheis cf noble birth? _ Not I hold my honour at a greater price.” - = - F i > : * ~ ’ ~ i > e “? a . - eried. Alice. ; with all my heart. We are betrothed.” “Tis strange,” said the bishop, who was greatly puzzled at what he heard: for who - would believe that a nobleman would lay false claim to the daughter of a common armourer ? The story was plausible enough, and the bishop knew that an Karl of Beau- clerk had been banished and his estates confiscated to the Crown. “Ii know not how to decide, my lord,” said the bishop, sternly. “Ifeel that I ought to believe yous word, even against this maiden, for ath she not been kept purposely in ignor- ance ? Maiden, is it true that you love this armourer’s apprentice ?” | - “Tt is, most noble and reverend lord,” “ ITlovye Stephen Stermhold “Silence, minion!” cried Sir Bidulph, _ Clasping his hand upon his dagger-hilt. “Tf thou dost dare to breathe that name again t wili plunge my dagger in thy heart.” — Meech * Be patient, my lord—” | “No, sir priost, I will not be patient. Have I not borne sorrows enough, that she should thus beard me to my face? No: by Heaven! she shall obey me,or—” 4 " te iy sr y+ ee rot ~ “* ‘; : , a y eet , ; .true, for Richard thought more of deeds than religious rites. Pp By 8) pd RN we eT EE) COPECO io AA ky, eer taal . f . ; : * é . . é mh 5 . » * : i, nf . .- ; 7 by f ; ; 7 * é , ; J “Not to one word. Come not between me and my daughter, The tie between — father and child is too sacred for even & ~ priest to dare to interfere. I do deny — your authority in this matter. What ho, — there!” he cried, erg: to his men, — “ Seize that disobedient girl.” ones “Hold!” cried. the bishop, “If you are™ her father—and I am compelled to believe’ — our story—return with the maiden to ondon, and there before the king—” “Before the king!” exclaimed Bidulph, — assionately. “Think you that Richard — boeue de Lion would meet me with a friend- ly eye when I had turned back on so vais ; a mission? No; I havehis orders *) sailat — once, hence the rapid manner in which I must compel this maiden to become the- wife of Lord de Courey. You know all, my Lord Bishop, and I pray you interfere no more, nor hinder me obeying the com- mand of Richard, my king.” BPiey is The good bishop knew that this . yo | was — -» x " 1a. ta b é 4 _. AL ot pat who in his heart he pitied, althoug ie tes: beauty and gentle grace conyinced hi eae? that she was not the daughter of acommon armourer, and, therefore, inclined him to ~ give credence to the earls story. ~~ “T know not how to act in this matter,” he said at last. “If this be your danehior the laws alike of God and man call upon — her to obey, and therefore I cannot and ~ must not encourage her to break these laws. But I will be no party to any act of yvio- — lence. Tell me, maiden, will you wed this ~ nobleman ?” : ae eal & | “Never! Sooner would I be killea than break my troth to Stephen Sternbold.” “Be it so,” said the bishop. “Then, my | Lord Abbot, I forbid you and all the other — priests from uniting this noblemen and this maiden in the bonds of wedlock until such time as the Earl of Beauclerk hath prove to the satisfaction of myself and the mem- > bers of the king's council that he is the father of this maid. And J here declare,by ~ the authority I have received from His ~ Holiness the Pope Clement, that he who dares break this command shall be excom- _ municated by bell, by candle, and by book. — Look to it, my Lord Abbot. See thatthe — maiden comes to no harm, for I have placed ~ around her the circle of Holy Mother Church, aud he who dare violate that is — accursed for ever. Fear not, tmaiden, bh who would injure you now must doso at — the peril of his soul. Go,” he continued, as” he turned to one of his followers, “G a orl \ He had but one hope left of saving - a4 - i ~ €omicbook