The Old English Baron

wanting a night's lodging, to rest himself before he returned to his own home, he was fain to take up with one at our cottage; that my father thought my Lord would be angry with him, if he were not told of the stranger's journey and intentions, especially to let such a man lie at our cottage, where he could neither be lodged nor entertained according to his quality."

Here John stopped, and his father exclaimed--

"A good lad! you did your errand very well; and tell us the answer."

John proceeded--

"Master Edmund ordered me some beer, and went to acquaint my Lord of the message; he stayed a while, and then came back to me.-- 'John,' said he, 'tell the noble stranger that the Baron Fitz-Owen greets him well, and desires him to rest assured, that though Lord Lovel is dead, and the castle fallen into other hands, his friends will always find a welcome there; and my lord desires that he will accept of a lodging there, while he remains in this country.' -- So I came away directly, and made haste to deli