d pray Him that this may find you unhurt
and growing ever in glory.

My son, I have no good news for you. The Pope at Avignon, having studied
the matter, (if indeed it ever reached his own ears) writes by one of
his secretaries to say that he will not dissolve the alleged marriage
between the Count of Noyon and the lady Eve of Clavering until the
parties have appeared before him and set out their cause to his face.
Therefore Eve cannot come to you, nor must you come to her while de
Noyon lives, unless the mind of his Holiness can be changed. Should
France become more quiet, so that English folk can travel there in
safety, perchance Eve and I will journey to Avignon to lay her plaint
before the Holy Father. But as yet this seems scarcely possible.
Moreover, I trust that the traitor, Acour, may meet his end in this way
or in that, and so save us the necessity. For, as you know, such cases
take long to try, and the cost of them is great. Moreover, at the Court
of Avignon the cause of one of our country must indeed be good just now
when the other party to it is of the blood of France.

Soon I hope to write to you again, who at present have no more to say,
save that notwithstanding my years I am well and strong, and would that
I sat with you before the walls of Calais. God's blessing and mine be on
you, and to Richard the archer, greetings. Dunwich has heard how he
shot the foul-tongued Frenchman before the great battle closed, and the
townsfolk lit a bonfire on the walls and feasted all the archers in his
honour.

Andrew Arnold.

"I have found another letter," said Master de Cressi, when Hugh had
finished reading, "which I remember Sir Andrew charged me to give to you
also," and he handed him a paper addressed in a large, childish hand.

Hugh broke its silk eagerly, for he knew that writing.

"Hugh," it began simply, "Clement the Pope will not void my false
marriage unless I appear before him, and this as yet I cannot do because
of the French wars. Moreover, he sets the curse of the Church upon me
and any man with whom I shall dare to re-marry until this be done. For
myself I would defy the Church, but not for you or for children that
might come to us. Moreover, the holy father, Sir Andrew, forbids it,
saying that God will right all in His season and that we must not make
Him wroth. Therefore, Hugh, lover you are, but husband you may not
be while de Noyon lives or until the Pope gives his dispensation of
divorce, whi