Cuthbert himself had determined to make his way to the castle of his friend, Sir Baldwin, and to leave the Lady Margaret in his charge.  Cnut hurried on at full speed to the house of a franklin, some three miles distant.  Here horses were obtained and saddled, and dresses prepared; and when Cuthbert with Lady Margaret arrived there, no time was lost.  Dressed as a yeoman, with the Lady Margaret as his sister, he mounted a horse, with her behind him on a pillion.  The other damsels also mounted, as it would not have been safe for them to remain near Evesham.  They therefore purposed taking refuge in a convent near Gloucester for the present.  Bidding a hearty adieu to Cnut, and with thanks to the franklin who had aided them, they set forward on their journey.  By morning they had reached the convent, and here the two girls were left, and Cuthbert continued his journey.  He left his charge at a convent a day’s ride distant from the castle of Sir Baldwin, as he wished to consult the knight first as to the best way of her entering the castle without exciting talk or suspicion.

Sir Baldwin received him with joy.  He had heard something of his doings, and the news of the siege of Evesham had been noised abroad.  He told him that he was in communication with many other barons, and that ere long they hoped to rise against the tyranny of Prince John, but that at present they were powerless, as many, hoping that King Richard would return ere long, shrank from involving the country in a civil war.  When Cuthbert told him that the daughter of his old friend was at a convent but a day’s ride distant, and that he sought protection for her, Sir Baldwin instantly offered her hospitality.

“I will,” he said, “send my good wife to fetch her.  Some here know your presence, and it would be better therefore that she did not arrive for some days, as her coming will then seem to be unconnected with yourself.  My wife and I will, a week hence, give out that we are going to fetch a cousin of my wife’s to stay here with her; and when we return no suspicion will be excited that she is other than she seems.  Should it be otherwise, I need not say that Sir Baldwin of B,thune will defend his castle against any of the minions of Prince John.  But I have no fear that her presence here will be discovered.  What think you of doing in the meantime?”

“I am thinking,” Cuthbert said, “of going east.  No news has been obtained of our lord the king save that he is a prisoner in the hands of the emperor; but where confined, or how, we know not.  It is my intent to travel to the Tyrol, and to trace his steps from the time that he was captured.  Then, when I obtain knowledge of the place where he is kept, I will return, and consult upon the best steps to be taken.  My presence in England is now useless.  Did the barons raise the standard of King Richard against the prince, I should at once return and join them.  But without land or vassals, I can do nothing here, and shall be indeed like a hunted hare, for I know that the false earl will move heaven and earth to capture me.”