Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2) eBook

Henry John Roby
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 723 pages of information about Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2).

Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2) eBook

Henry John Roby
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 723 pages of information about Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2).

Finding there was no likelihood of a speedy termination to this interview, our hostess of the Maypole conceived it to be a matter of duty that she should at least take her full share in the discussions and disclosures that might ensue.  For this purpose she descended, making a deep acknowledgment to the generally supposed sanctity of the pilgrim’s vocation.  So much occupied, however, did he appear by other concernments that he scarcely noticed her approach, but continued to pass with hasty and irregular steps across the chamber.

“By what quality or appearance may Sir Osmund Neville be distinguished?” he abruptly inquired.

“A right goodly person, and a brave gentleman!  He gave me a sousing kiss, and a pair of mittens to boot, the last choosing of knights to the parliament,” said the Dame.

“Hold thy tongue, Madge!” angrily exclaimed Giles.  “Good father, heed not a woman; they are caught by the lip and the fist, like my lord’s trencher-man.  This Sir Osmund is both lean and ill-favoured.  I wonder what the Lady Mabel saw above his shoe to wed with an ugly toad spawned i’ the Welsh marshes.  Had ye seen her first husband, Sir William Bradshaigh—­rest his soul! he was killed in the wars—­you would have marvelled that she drunk the scum after the broth.”

“Lady Mabel and Sir Osmund are now at Haigh?” cautiously inquired the palmer.

“You have business there, belike?” sharply interrogated the indefatigable host.

“I have slight matters that require my presence at the hall.  Does the knight go much abroad, or keeps he close house?”

“Why, look ye, it is some three months or so since I smelt the fat from her ladyship’s kitchen.  Dan Hardseg smutted my face, and rubbed a platterful of barley-dough into my poll, the last peep I had through the buttery.  I’ll bide about my own hearth-flag whilst that limb o’ the old spit is chief servitor.  I do bethink me though, it is long sin’ Sir Osmund was seen i’ the borough.  Belike he may have come at the knowledge of my misadventure, and careth not to meet the wrath of a patient man.”

Here the malicious dame burst into a giddy laugh.

“Thee! why Sir Osmund knoweth not thy crop from thy crupper, nor careth he if thy whole carcase were crammed into the dumpling-bag.  I’feck, it were a rare pastime to see Sir Osmund, the brave Welsh knight, give the gutter to Giles of the Merry Maypole.”

Giles was speechless with dismay at this aggravating insult; but the dame continued:—­

“I think, good stranger, the knight does keep house of late.  Grim told me that last week he was a-sporting once only by way of the higher park; and he appears something more soured and moody than usual.  If thou crave speech with him though, to-morrow being almonsday at the hall, the poor have free admission, and thou mayest have a sight of him there:  peradventure, as thou art strange in these parts, it will be needful thou hadst a guide.”

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Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.