The first step of King Richard was to dispossess all the minions of John from the castles and lands which had been taken from his faithful adherents.  Some of these resisted; but their fortresses were speedily stormed.  Sir Rudolph was not one of these.  Immediately the news of King Richard’s arrival in England reached him, feeling that all was now lost, he rode to the seacoast, took ship, and passed into France, and Cuthbert, on his arrival at Evesham, found himself undisputed lord of the place.  He found that the hiding-place of his mother had not been discovered, and, after a short delay to put matters in train, he, attended by a gallant retinue, rode into Wiltshire to the castle of Sir Baldwin of Bethune.  Here he found the Lady Margaret safe and sound, and mightily pleased to see him.  She was now seventeen, and offered no objections whatever to the commands of King Richard that she should at once bestow her hand upon the Earl of Evesham.  By the king’s order, the wedding took place at London, the king himself bestowing the bride upon his faithful follower, whom we may now leave to the enjoyment of the fortune and wife he had so valiantly won.

THE END.