son, a youth
of about eighteen, as his squire. The servant had, however, more, and
less agreeable news than this to tell; for as he passed through Marston,
he had been told that Master Carew was arrested, and on his journey to
London under a strong guard.

So set in the bitter persecution, which was to last for many weary
years.

A full twelvemonth had passed since Richard's departure. Of Lord
Marnell, Dame Lovell had neither seen nor heard anything more. Alice
Jordan had arrived, to little Geoffrey's great delight; but she had only
been able to report the return of her master to London, as she had left
that place the day after his arrival. Dame Lovell fulfilled her promise
of promotion for Margery's humble but faithful friend, who was
henceforth generally addressed in the house as "Mistress" Alice. Little
Geoffrey, though somewhat consoled by Alice's appearance, missed Richard
sorely; and demanded of his grandmother at least once a day, "when he
would come back!"

The family and household were seated at supper, on a summer afternoon in
the year 1402, when the sound of a horn outside the moat sent one of the
farm-servants hurriedly to the gate. He returned saying, "A holy
Palmer, good mistress, seeketh entrance."

"A Palmer! bring him in speedily, good Hodge!" exclaimed Dame Lovell.
"Blessed is the house whereinto entereth a Palmer,--and mayhap he may
give us to wit of Richard."

The Palmer was attired in a long coat of coarse brown frieze, with a
large flapped hat, not unlike that of a coal-heaver. He was conducted
to the high table, where Friar Andrew served him with meat, and put all
manner of questions to him. He had come, he said, from Damascus, where
he had met with a friend of theirs, one Sir Richard Pynson, and he
brought a packet from him; which he thereupon took from his wallet, and
delivered into Dame Lovell's hands. It was a large packet, and
evidently contained something more than merely a letter. Dame Lovell
was highly delighted, particularly when, on opening the parcel, she drew
out a magnificent piece of baudekyn, one of the richest dress-stuffs
then made, and only to be procured from Constantinople. Beside this the
packet only contained a letter, which Dame Lovell was sorely puzzled how
to read. There was nobody at Lovell Tower who could read except Friar
Andrew, and he, as has been previously stated, was not by any means a
first-class scholar. However, Dame Lovell passed him the let