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Updated: June 6, 2025
Before the high altar stood a youthful pair; Hubert of Walderne, now to be known as Radulphus, or Ralph; and Alicia de Grey, who had been sheltered from ill and Drogo as one of the handmaidens of the Countess Eleanor, in keeping for her true love. The good prior, Foville, performed the ceremony and celebrated the mass Pro sponso et sponsa.
Of course Sir Nicholas was quite unaware that the third child of the old lord, Mabel, had left issue. Do our readers remember it? Drogo had no real claim on Walderne, and could only succeed by disposition of Sir Nicholas, in the absence of natural heirs. Oh, those poor young lovers! She cried, and although Hubert tried hard to restrain it, it was infectious, and he couldn't help a tear.
So Drogo had to swallow his hatred as best he could, but it led to many black dark thoughts, and to a determination to rid himself of his rival should the opportunity ever be afforded, by fair means or foul. "I mean yet to be Lord of Walderne," he said to himself again and again.
Sir Hugh de Revel, Grand Master of the Order of Saint John, heard of the arrival of five Christian fugitives, escaped from the palace of the "Old Man of the Mountain," and naturally curiosity led him to interrogate them. To his astonishment he found one of them a knight like himself, and, to his further surprise, recognised the son of an old acquaintance, Sir Roger of Walderne. All was well now.
But he must go! "Wilt thou be true to me till death?" the anxious lover cried. "Ay, while this mortal form hath breath," Alicia replied. "Come, go to bed," said Sir Nicholas, entering, and they went: To bed, but not to sleep. On the morrow the sun shone brightly on the castle, on the church, on the hilltop, and on the wooded valley of Walderne.
The prospect was not new to them, for Martin's long labours had not been in vain; but while Drogo was at Walderne, and the royal party triumphant, it seemed useless to hope for its realisation. Now things had changed, and there was hope that the breach would be healed. "His last prayer was for peace," said Grimbeard. "Should not mine be the same?
He died at a good old age, and was buried as a crusader in Lewes Priory, with crossed legs and half-drawn sword, where his tomb could be seen until the sacrilegious hands of the minions of Thomas Cromwell destroyed that noble edifice. Mabel of Walderne retired, at her son's persuasion, to a convent at Mayfield, where she ended her days in all the "odour of sanctity," and Martin closed her eyes.
Then, finally, took up their quarters at Lewes; the king, as became his piety, at the priory; the prince, as became his youth, at the castle with John, Earl de Warrenne; to await the approach of the barons. There, in that priory, anticipating the rest which awaiteth the people of God, the once fiery and headlong prodigal, Roger of Walderne, spent his peaceful old age.
Therefore he let things take their course, and hoped for the best. But he determined to watch narrowly over his friend Hubert's interests, for he still believed that he lived, and would return home again. "We are friends, Drogo?" said Martin, as he left Walderne to go to the greenwood. "Friends," said Drogo. "We were friends at Kenilworth, were we not?
The watcher on the walls of Walderne Castle sees the sun sink beneath the distant downs, flooding Mount Caburn and his kindred giants with crimson light. In the great hall supper is preparing.
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