THE HAWK AND THE BIRD, 60

V. RESISTANCE, 82

VI. THREE FRIENDS, 101

VII. WHITSUNTIDE, 1581, 121

VIII. DEFEAT, 146

IX. ACROSS THE FORD, 171

BOOK II.

X. AT WILTON, 207

XI. LUMEN FAMILIAE SUAE, 223

XII. FIRE AND SWORD, 243

XIII. RESTORED, 258

XIV. WHAT RIGHT? 276

XV. THE PASSING OF PHILIP, 296

XVI. FOUR YEARS LATER--1590, 311

_LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS_

THE ENTRANCE TOWER, PENSHURST CASTLE, _Frontispiece_

PAGE

PENSHURST CHURCH AND CASTLE, 4

THE LYCH GATE, PENSHURST, 64

PENSHURST CASTLE, FROM THE PARK, 70

OLD HOUSES BY THE LYCH GATE, PENSHURST, 130

THE TILT YARD, WHITEHALL, 148

THE GREAT HALL, PENSHURST CASTLE, 224

THE BARON'S COURT, PENSHURST CASTLE, 288

BOOK I.

'What man is he that boasts of fleshly might,
And vaine assurance of mortality;
Which, all so soone as it doth come to fight
Against spirituall foes, yields by and by:
Or from the field most cowardly doth fly?
No, let the man ascribe it to his skill,
That thorough grace hath gained victory.
If any strength we have, it is to ill;
But all the good is God's, both power and will.'

_The Faery Queene_, Book I. Canto 10.

Penshurst Castle

CHAPTER I

THE SISTERS

'She was right faire and fresh as morning rose,
But somewhat sad and solemne eke in sight,
As if some pensive thought constrained her gentle spright.'

SPENSER.

1581.--'There is time yet ere sunset; let me, I pray you, go down to the
lych gate with the wheaten cake for Goody Salter.'

'Nay, Lucy; methinks there are reasons for your desire to go down to the
village weightier than the wheaten cake you would f