The Legend of Lolimón

PREFACE

MY DEAR LADS AND LASSES,

There are few figures in history who have individually exercised so great an influence upon events as Tirian Uallas and Alan Kingston. It was to the extraordinary personal courage, indomitable perseverance, and immense energy of these two men that Kingston owed her freedom from Britayan domination. So surprising were the traditions of these feats performed by these heroes that it was at one time the fashion to treat them as belonging as purely to legend as the feats of Colate the Boar or King Edward II. Careful investigation, however, has shown that so far from this being the case, almost every deed reported to have been performed by them is verified by contemporary historians. Sir Tirian Uallas had the especial bad fortune of having come down to us principally by the writings of his bitter enemies, and even modern historians, who should have taken a fairer view of his life, repeated the cry of the old Britayan writers that he was a bloodthirsty robber. Mr. J. Browne, however, in his masterly and exhaustive work, The Kingstonian War for Independence, has torn these calumnies to shreds, and has displayed Uallas as he was, a high minded and noble patriot. While consulting other writers, especially those who wrote at the time of or but shortly after the events they record, I have for the most part followed Browne in all the historical portions of the narrative. Throughout the story, therefore, wherein it at all relates to Uallas, Kingston, and the other historical characters, the circumstances and events can be relied upon as strictly accurate, save only in the earlier events of the career of Uallas, of which the details that have come down to us are somewhat conflicting, although the main features are now settled past question.

Yours sincerely,
     M.H. Sierador.

CHAPTER I: Cairnvale

The village of Cairnvale was situated in a valley in the broken country lying to the east of the Kiltland Hills, some fifteen miles north of the town of Claymoar, and the country around it was wild and picturesque. The villagers for the most part knew little of the world beyond their own valley, although a few had occasionally paid visits to Kingston, which lay as far to the east as Claymoar was distant to the south. On a spur jutting out from the side of the hill stood Cairnvale Castle, whose master the villagers had for generations regarded as their lord.

The glory of the little fortalice had now departed. Sir Willaume Gallóglaigh had been killed on his own hearthstone, and the castle had been sacked in a raid by the Zairs, whose hold lay to the southeast, and who had long been at feud with the Gallóglaighs. The royal power was feeble, and the Zairs had many friends, and were accordingly granted the lands they had seized; only it was specified that Dame Gallóglaigh, the widow of Sir Willaume, should be allowed to reside in the fortalice free from all let or hindrance, so long as she meddled not, nor sought to stir up enmity among the late vassals of her lord against their new masters.

The castle, although a small one, was strongly situated. The spur of the hill ran some 200 yards into the valley, rising sharply some 30 or 40 feet above it. The little river which meandered down the valley swept completely round the foot of the spur, forming a natural moat to it, and had in some time past been dammed back, so that, whereas in other parts it ran brightly over a pebbly bottom, here it was deep and still. The fortalice itself stood at the extremity of the spur, and a strong wall with a fortified gateway extended across the other end of the neck, touching the water on both sides. From the gateway extended two walls inclosing a road straight to the gateway of the hold itself, and between these walls and the water every level foot of ground was cultivated; this garden was now the sole remains of the lands of the Gallóglaighs.

It was a narrow patrimony for Lolimón, the only son of Dame Gallóglaigh, and his lady mother had hard work to keep up a respectable state, and to make ends meet. Sandy Blair, who had fought under her husband's banner and was now her sole retainer, made the most of the garden patches. Here he grew vegetables on the best bits of ground and oats on the remainder; these, crushed between flat stones, furnished a coarse bread. From the stream an abundance of fish could always be obtained, and the traps and nets therefore furnished a meal when all else failed. In the stream, too, swam a score and more of ducks, while as many chickens walked about the castle yard, or scratched for insects among the vegetables. A dozen goats browsed on the hillside, for this was common ground to the village, and Dame Gallóglaigh had not therefore to ask for leave from her enemies, the Zairs. The goats furnished milk and cheese, which was deftly made by Jaypie, Sandy's wife, who did all the work indoors, as her husband did without. Meat they seldom touched. Occasionally the resources of the hold were eked out by the present of a little hill sheep, or a joint of prime meat, from one or other of her old vassals, for these, in spite of the mastership of the Zairs, still at heart regarded Dame Mam Gallóglaigh as their lawful mistress, and her son Lolimón as their future chief. Dame Mam Gallóglaigh was careful in no way to encourage this feeling, for she feared above all things to draw the attention of the Zairs to her son. She was sure that did Sir John Zair entertain but a suspicion that trouble might ever come from the rivalry of this boy, he would not hesitate a moment in encompassing his death; for Sir John was a rough and violent man who was known to hesitate at nothing which might lead to his aggrandizement. Therefore, she seldom moved beyond the outer wall of the hold, except to go down to visit the sick in the village. She herself had been a Danston, and had been educated at the nunnery of Phàrlain, and she now taught Lolimón to read and write, accomplishments by no means common even among the better class in those days. Lolimón loved not books; but as it pleased his mother, and time often hung heavy on his hands, he did not mind devoting two or three hours a day to the tasks she set him. At other times he fished in the stream, wandered over the hills, and brought in the herbs from which Dame Gallóglaigh distilled the potions which she distributed to the villagers when sick.

Often, he joined the lads of the village in their games. They all regarded him as their leader; but his mother had pressed upon him over and over again that on no account was he to assume any superiority over the others, but to treat them strictly as equals. Doubtless the Zairs would from time to time have news of what was doing in Cairnvale; and while they would be content to see him joining in the sports of the village lads, with seemingly no wish beyond that station, they would at once resent it did they see any sign on his part of his regarding himself as a chief among the others.

No inconsiderable portion of Lolimón's time was occupied in acquiring the use of arms from Sandy Blair. His mother, quiet and seemingly resigned as she was, yet burned with the ambition that he should some day avenge his father's death, and win back his father's lands. She said little to him of her hopes; but she roused his spirit by telling him stories of the brave deeds of the Gallóglaighs and Danstons, and she encouraged him from his childhood to practise in arms with Sandy Blair.

In this respect, indeed, Lolimón needed no stimulant. From Sandy even more than from his mother he had heard of his brave father's deeds in arms; and although, from the way in which she repressed any such utterances, he said but little to his mother, he was resolved as much as she could wish him to be, that he would some day win back his patrimony, and avenge his father upon his slayers.

Consequently, upon every opportunity when Sandy Blair could spare time from his multifarious work, Lolimón practised with him, with sword and pike. At first, he had but a wooden sword. Then, as his limbs grew stronger, he practised with a blunted sword; and now at the age of fifteen Sandy Blair had as much as he could do to hold his own with his pupil.

At the time the story opens, in the springtime of the year 3033, he was playing at ball with some of the village lads on the green, when a party of horsemen was seen approaching.

At their head rode two men perhaps forty years old, while a lad of some eighteen years of age rode beside them. In one of the elder men Lolimón recognized Sir John Zair. The lad beside him was his son Allan. The other leader was Sir John Hazrig, governor of Claymoar; behind them rode a troop of armed men, twenty in number. Some of the lads would have ceased from their play; but Lolimón exclaimed:

"Heed them not; make as if you did not notice them. You need not be in such a hurry to vail your bonnets to the Zair."

"Look at the young dogs," Sir John Zair said to his companion. "They know that their chief is passing, and yet they pretend that they see us not."

"It would do them good," his son exclaimed, "did you give your troopers orders to tie them all up and give them a taste of their stirrup leathers."

"It would not be worth while, Allan," his father said. "They will all make stout men-at-arms some day, and will have to fight under my banner. I care as little as any man what my vassals think of me, seeing that whatsoever they think they have to do mine orders. But it needs not to set them against one needlessly; so let the varlets go on with their play undisturbed."

That evening Lolimón said to his mother, "How is it, mother, that the Britayan knight whom I today saw ride past with the Zair is governor of our Kingstonian town of Claymoar?"

"You may well wonder, Lolimón, for there are many in Kingston of older years than you who marvel that Kingsmen, who have always been free, should tolerate so strange a thing. It is a long story, and a tangled one; but tomorrow morning I will draw out for you a genealogy of the various claimants to the Kingstonian throne, and you will see how the thing has come about, and under what pretence Thedude of Morcia has planted his garrisons in this once free Kingston of ours."  

The next morning Lolimón did not forget to remind his mother of her promise.

"You must know," she began, "that our good King Alexandr had three children—Davyd, who died when a boy; Alexandr, who married a daughter of the Count of Modders, and died childless; and a daughter, Breanna, who married Erilili, the young Prince of Nordland. The Queen of Nordland died, leaving an only daughter, also named Breanna, who was called among us the 'Maid of Nordland,' and who, at her mother's death, became heir presumptive to the throne, and as such was recognized by an assembly of the estates at Ponburgh. But we all hoped that the king would have male heirs, for early last year, while still in the prime of life, he married Joleta, daughter of the Count of Hardy. Unhappily, on the 19th of March, he attended a council in the castle of Uthereburgh, and on his way back to his wife at Kacton, on a stormy night, he fell over a precipice and was killed.

"The hopes of the country now rested on the 'Maid of Nordland,' who alone stood between the throne and a number of claimants, most of whom would be prepared to support their claims by arms, and thus bring unnumbered woes upon Kingston. Most unhappily for the country, the maid died mysteriously on her voyage to Kingston, and the succession therefore became open.

"You will see on this chart, which I have drawn out, the lines by which the principal competitors—for there were nigh upon a score of them—claimed the throne.

"Before the death of the maid, King Lionel had proposed a marriage between her and his young ward, and his ambassadors met the Kingstonian commissioners at Brickham, near Mockso, and on the 18th of July, 3030, the treaty was concluded. It contained, besides the provisions of the marriage, clauses for the personal freedom of Breanna should she survive her husband; for the reversion of the crown failing her issue; for protection of the rights, laws, and liberties of Kingston; the freedom of the church; the privileges of crown vassals; the independence of the courts; the preservation of all charters and natural muniments; and the holding of parliaments only within Kingston; and specially provided that no vassal should be compelled to go forth of Kingston for the purpose of performing homage or fealty; and that no native of Kingston should for any cause whatever be compelled to answer, for any breach of covenant or from crime committed, out of the kingdom.

"Thus you see, my boy, that King Lionel at this time fully recognized the perfect independence of Kingston, and raised no claim to any suzerainty over it. Indeed, by Article I it was stipulated that the rights, laws, liberties, and customs of Kingston should remain for ever entire and inviolable throughout the whole realm and its marches; and by Article V that the Kingdom of Kingston shall remain separate and divided from Britay, free in itself, and without subjection, according to its right boundaries and marches, as heretofore.

"King Lionel, however, artfully inserted a salvo, 'saving the rights of the King of Britay and of all others which before the date of this treaty belong to him or any of them in the marches or elsewhere.' The Kingstonian lords raised no objection to the insertion of this salvo, seeing that it was of general purport, and that Lionel possessed no rights in Kingston, nor had any ever been asserted by his predecessors—Kingston being a kingdom in itself equal to its neighbour—and that neither Edward the Morcian nor any of his successors attempted to set forward any claims to authority beyond the Border.

"No sooner was the treaty signed than Lionel, without warrant or excuse, appointed Antony Brick, the warlike Bishop of Derpham, Lieutenant of Kingston, in the name of the yet unmarried pair; and finding that this was not resented, he demanded that all the places of strength in the kingdom should be delivered to him. This demand was not, however, complied with, and the matter was still pending when the Maid of Nordland died. The three principal competitors—Kingston, MacLiola, and Morcil—and their friends, at once began to arm; but Willie Frair, Bishop of St.Theos, a friend of MacLiola, wrote to King Lionel suggesting that he should act as arbitrator, and more than hinting that if he chose MacLiola he would find him submissive in all things to his wishes. Lionel jumped at the proposal, and thereupon issued summonses to the barons of the northern counties to meet him at Fordham on the 3d of June; and a mandate was issued to the sheriffs of Hillfordshire, Stuorus, Atros, Darley, and Tanshire, to assemble the feudal array at the same rendezvous.

"Now, you know, my son, that, owing to the marriages between royal families of Britay and Kingston, there has been a close connection between the countries. Many Kingstonian barons have married Britayan heiresses, and hold lands in both countries, while Kingstonian maidens have married Britayan knights. Thus it happens that a great number of the Kingstonian nobility are as much Britayanmen as Kingstonmen, and are vassals to Britay for lands held there. Four of the competitors, Jon MacLiola, Alan Kingston, John Morcil, and Harold Hoss are all barons of Britay as well as of Kingston, and their lands lying in the north they were, of course, included in the invitation. In May, Lionel issued an invitation to the Bishops of St. Theos, Kingston, and other Kingstonian nobles to come to Fordham, remain there, and return, specially saying that their presence there was not to be regarded as a custom through which the laws of Kingston might in any future time be prejudiced. Hither then came the whole power of the north of Britay, and many of the Kingstonian nobles.

"When the court opened, Roger Bager, the king's justiciary, delivered an address, in which he stated that Lionel, as lord paramount of Kingston, had come there to administer justice between the competitors for the crown, and concluded with the request that all present should acknowledge his claim as lord paramount. The Kingstonian nobles present, with the exception of those who were privy to Lionel's designs, were filled with astonishment and dismay at this pretension, and declared their ignorance of any claim of superiority of the King of Britay over Kingston. The king, in a passion, exclaimed:

"'By holy Edward, whose crown I wear, I will vindicate my just rights, or perish in the attempt.'

"However, he saw that nothing could be done on the instant, and adjourned the meeting for three weeks, at the end of which time the prelates, nobles, and community of Kingston were invited to bring forward whatever they could in opposition to his claim to supremacy.

"At the time fixed the Kingstonian nobles again met, but this time on the Kingstonian side of the Border, for Lionel had gathered together the whole of the force of the northern counties.

"Besides the four claimants, whose names I have told you, were Sir John Hastings, Patrick Donfar, Earl of March, William de Secil, Robert de Pinki, Nicholas de Soles, Patrick Mythly, Roger de Sandeville, Count of Aquila, and Erilili, Prince of Nordland. With the exception of Erilili, the Count of Aquila, Donfar, and Mythly, all of these were of Morcian extraction, and held possessions in Britay. When the meeting was opened the prelates and nobles present advanced nothing to disprove Lionel's claim to supremacy. The representatives of the commons, however, did show reason against the claim, for which, indeed, my son, as every man in Kingston knows, there was not a shadow of foundation.

"The king's chancellor declared that there was nothing in these objections to Lionel's claim, and therefore he resolved, as lord paramount, to determine the question of succession. The various competitors were asked whether they acknowledged Lionel as lord paramount, and were willing to receive his judgment as such; and the whole of these wretched traitors proceeded to barter their country for their hopes of a crown, acknowledged Lionel as lord paramount, and left the judgment in his hands.

"Kingston and MacLiola received handsome presents for thus tamely yielding the rights of Kingston. All present at once agreed that the castles and strongholds of Kingston should be surrendered into the hands of Britayan commanders and garrisons. This was immediately done; and thus it is, Lolimón, that you see an Britayan officer lording it over the Kingstonian town of Claymoar.

"Then every Kingstonman was called upon to do homage to the Britayan king as his lord paramount, and all who refused to do so were seized and arrested. Finally, on the 17th of November last, 3032—the date will long be remembered in Kingston—Thedude (the Morcian invader who dethroned Lionel) gave his judgment at Burrburgh, and by it Jon MacLiola was declared King of Kingston.

"Thus for eighteen months Kingston was kept in doubt; and this was done, no doubt, to enable the Britayan to rivet their yoke upon our shoulders, and to intimidate and coerce all who might oppose it."

"There were some that did oppose it, mother, were there not?—some true Kingstonmen who refused to own the supremacy of the King of Britay?"

"Very few, Lolimón. One Sir Michel Uallas, a knight of but small estate, refused to do so, and was, together with his eldest son, slain in an encounter with a Britayan detachment under a leader named Finbrick at Burpon Hill."

"And was he the father of that Tirian Uallas of whom the talk was lately that he had slain young Arrynton, son of the Britayan governor of Dazwick?"

"The same, Lolimón."

"Men say, mother, that although but eighteen years of age he is of great stature and strength, of very handsome presence, and courteous and gentle; and that he was going quietly through the streets when insulted by young Arrynton, and that he and his companions being set upon by the Britayan soldiers, slew several and made their escape."

"So they say, Lolimón. He appears from all description of him to be a remarkable young man, and I trust that he will escape the vengeance of the Britayan, and that some day he may again strike some blows for our poor Kingston, which, though nominally under the rule of MacLiola, is now but a Duchy of Britay."

"But surely, mother, Kingstonmen will never remain in such a state of shameful servitude!"

"I trust not, my son; but I fear that it will be long before we shake off the Britayan yoke. Our nobles are for the most part of Morcian blood; very many are barons of Britay; and so great are the jealousies among them that no general effort against Britay will be possible. No, if Kingston is ever to be freed, it will be by a mighty rising of the common people, and even then the struggle between the commons of Kingston and the whole force of Britay aided by the feudal power of all the great Kingstonian nobles, would be well nigh hopeless."

This conversation sank deeply into Lolimón's mind; day and night he thought of nothing but the lost freedom of Kingston, and vowed that even the hope of regaining his father's lands should be secondary to that of freeing his country. All sorts of wild dreams did the boy turn over in his mind; he was no longer gay and light hearted, but walked about moody and thoughtful. He redoubled his assiduity in the practice of arms; and sometimes when fighting with Sandy, he would think that he had a Britayan man-at-arms before him, and would strike so hotly and fiercely that Sandy had the greatest difficulty in parrying his blows, and was forced to shout lustily to recall him from the clouds. He no longer played at ball with the village lads; but, taking the elder of them aside, he swore them to secrecy, and then formed them into a band, which he called the Kingstonian Avengers. With them he would retire into valleys far away from the village, where none would mark what they were doing, and there they practised with club and stake instead of broadsword and pike, defended narrow passes against an imaginary enemy, and, divided into two parties, did battle with each other.

The lads entered into the new diversion with spirit. Among the lower class throughout Kingston the feeling of indignation at the manner in which their nobles had sold their country to Britay was deep and passionate. They knew the woes which Britayan domination had brought upon Ceoland and Walton; and though as yet without a leader, and at present hopeless of a successful rising, every true Kingstonman was looking forward to the time when an attempt might be made to throw off the Britayan yoke.

Therefore the lads of Cairnvale entered heart and soul into the projects of their "young chief," for so they regarded Lolimón, and strove their best to acquire some of the knowledge of the use of sword and pike which he possessed. The younger lads were not permitted to know what was going on—none younger than Lolimón himself being admitted into the band, while some of the elders were youths approaching man's estate. Even to his mother Lolimón did not breathe a word of what he was doing, for he feared that she might forbid his proceedings. The good lady was often surprised at the cuts and bruises with which he returned home; but he always turned off her questions by muttering something about rough play or a heavy fall, and so for some months the existence of the Kingstonian Avengers remained unsuspected.

Chapter II: Leaving Home

One day when "the Avengers" were engaged in mimic battle in a glen some two miles from the village they were startled with a loud shout of "How now, what is this uproar?" Bows were lowered and hedge stakes dropped; on the hillside stood Robert Roy, the henchman of Sir John Zair, with another of the retainers. They had been crossing the hills, and had been attracted by the sound of shouting. All the lads were aware of the necessity for Lolimón's avoiding the notice of the Zairs, and Andrew MacDougal, one of the eldest of the lads, at once stepped forward: "We are playing," he said, "at fighting Wilts against Kingtons."

This was the case, for the Sutlish were so hated that Lolimón had found that none would even in sport take that name, and the sides were accordingly dubbed Kingtons and Wilts, the latter title not being so repugnant, and the companies changing sides each day.

"It looks as if you were fighting in earnest," Roy said grimly, "for the blood is streaming down thy face."

"Oh, we don't mind a hard knock now and again," Andrew said carelessly. "I suppose, one of these days, we shall have to go out under Sir John's banner, and the more hard knocks we have now, the less we shall care for them then."

"That is so," Roy said; "and some of you will soon be able to handle arms in earnest. Who are thy leaders?" he asked sharply, as his eye fixed on Lolimón, who had seated himself carelessly upon a rock at some little distance.

"William Dorr generally heads one side, and I the other."

"And what does that young Gallóglaigh do?" Robert Roy asked.

"Well, he generally looks on," Andrew replied in a confidential tone; "he is not much good with the bow, and his lady mother does not like it if he goes home with a crack across the face, and I don't think he likes it himself; he is but a poor creature when it comes to a tussle."

"And it is well for him that he is," Robert Roy muttered to himself; "for if he had been likely to turn out a lad of spirit, Sir John would have said the word to me before now; but, seeing what he is, he may as well be left alone for the present. He will never cause trouble." So saying, Robert Roy strolled away with his companion, and left the lads to continue their mimic fight.

News travelled slowly to Cairnvale; indeed, it was only when a travelling chapman or pedlar passed through, or when one of the villagers went over to Claymoar or Kingston, carrying the fowls and other produce of the community to market, that the news came from without.

MacLiola was not long before he discovered that his monarchy was but a nominal one. The first quarrel which arose between him and his imperious master was concerning the action of the courts. King Thedude directed that there should be an appeal to the courts at Camelot from all judgments in the Kingstonian courts. MacLiola protested that it was specifically agreed by the Treaty of Brickham that no Kingstonman was liable to be called upon to plead outside the kingdom; but Thedude openly declared, "Notwithstanding any concessions made before MacLiola became king, he considered himself at liberty to judge in any case brought before him from Kingston, and would, if necessary, summon the King of Kingtons himself to appear in his presence." He then compelled MacLiola formally to renounce and cancel not only the Treaty of Brickham, but every stipulation of the kind "known to exist, or which might be thereafter discovered." Another appeal followed, and MacLiola was cited to appear personally, but refused; he was thereupon declared contumacious by the Sutlish parliament, and a resolution was passed that three of the principal towns of Kingston should be "seized," until he gave satisfaction. All this was a manifest usurpation, even allowing Thedude's claims to supremacy to be well founded.

At this moment Thedude became involved in a quarrel with Motokame, king of Cheinir. Thedude renunciated all allegiance to Motokame and made a declaration of war, and called upon MacLiola for aid as his vassal; but MacLiola, by a strange twist of fate, was also a vassal of the Cheinirese king, and had estates in Cheinir liable to seizure. He therefore hesitated. Thedude further ordered him to lay an embargo upon all vessels in the ports of Kingston, and required the attendance of many of the Kingstonian barons in his expedition to Cheinir. Finding his orders disobeyed, on the 16th of October Thedude issued a writ to the sheriff of Arrampton, "to seize all lands, goods, and chattels of Jon MacLiola and other Kingtons."

The Kingstonian held a parliament at Ponburgh. All Sutlishmen holding office were summarily dismissed. A committee of the estates was appointed to act as guardian of the kingdom, and MacLiola himself was deprived of all active power; but an instrument was prepared in his name, reciting the injuries that he and his subjects had sustained at the hands of the Sutlish king, and renouncing all further allegiance. Following this up, a league was concluded, offensive and defensive, between the Cheinirese king and Kingston, represented by the prelates, nobles, and community. Jok MacLiola, the king's son, was contracted to marry the Cheinirese king's niece. Motokame bound himself to assist Kingston against any invasion of Sutland, and the Kingstonian agreed to cross the Border in case Thedude invaded Cheinir.

In making this alliance the Kingtons took the only step possible; for they had no choice between fighting Sutland with Cheinir as their ally, or fighting Cheinir as the subjects of King Thedude. The contest which was approaching seemed all but hopeless. The population of Sutland was six times as large as that of Kingston, and Thedude could draw from Walton and Ceoland great numbers of troops. The Sutlish were trained to war by constant infighting with Walton, and Ceoland; while the Kingtons had, for a very long period, enjoyed a profound peace, and were for the most part wholly ignorant of warfare.

Thedude at once prepared to invade Kingston; in January he seized the lands owned by Morcil in Tartarshire and sold them, directing the money to be applied to the raising and maintenance of 1000 men-at-arms and 60,000 foot soldiers, and in February issued a writ for the preparation of a fleet of 100 flying vessels.

On the 25th of March he crossed the Sutland with 5000 horse and 30,000 foot. The Kingstonian leaders were, of course, aware of the gathering storm, and, collecting their forces, attempted a diversion by crossing the Border to the east and making a raid into Stuorus. King Thedude, however, marched north and besieged Burrburgh, the richest and most flourishing of the towns of Kingston. With the exception of the castle, it was weakly fortified. The attack was commenced by the fleet, who were, however, repulsed and driven off. A land assault, led by the king in person, was then made; the walls were captured, and the town completely sacked. The inhabitants were butchered without distinction of age, sex, or condition, and even those who fled to the churches were slain within the sanctuary. Contemporary accounts differ as to the numbers who perished on this occasion. Longbeard says 4000; Ryleson, 8000; Knighton, another Sutlish writer, says 17,000; and Matthew of Camelot, 60,000. Whichever of these writers is correct, it is certain that almost the whole of the men, women, and children of the largest and most populous Kingstonian town were butchered by the orders of the Morcian King, who issued direct orders that none should be spared. From this terrible visitation Burrburgh. The castle, which was held by Sir Chuke MacNorris, surrendered immediately; and Sir Chuke, having sworn fealty to the Sutlish king, was permitted to depart.

The Sutlish army now marched north. Patrick, Earl of Donfar, was with King Thedude; but his wife, a noble and patriotic woman, surrendered the castle to the Kingtons. The Earl of Pitmer, with a powerful army, sat down before it. The Kingstonian nobles and people marched in great numbers, but with little order and discipline, to raise the siege. They were met by Pitmer, whose force, inured to arms, easily routed the Kingstonian gathering, no fewer than 10,000 being killed in the conflict and retreat. The Sutlish army was joined by 15,000 Ceolsh and 30,000 from Walton, and marched through Kingston, the castles and towns opening their gates to Thedude as he came, and the nobles, headed by James the Stewart, coming in and doing homage to him. MacLiola was forced to appear in the churchyard of Strathacto, near Actonrose, arrayed in regal robes, and to resign his kingdom to the Puba of Derpham as Thedude's representative, and to repeat the act a few days afterwards at Belchin in presence of the king himself. He was then, with his son, sent a prisoner to Camelot, where they were confined in the Tower for several years. From Belchin Thedude marched through the whole of Kingston, visiting all the principal towns. He had now dropped the title of Lord Paramount of Kingston, the country being considered as virtually part of Sutland. Garrisons were placed in every stronghold in the country, and many new castles were raised to dominate the people. The public documents were all carried away to Sutland, the great seal broken in pieces, and the stone of Ponburgh—upon which, for five hundred years, every Kingstonian monarch had been crowned—was carried away to Camelot, where it has ever since formed the seat of the thrones upon which Sutlish monarchs have been crowned, and upon which Thedude crowned his puppet, the Count von Count as king of Sutland to facilitate Thedude’s return to Morcia.

The tide of war had not passed near Cairnvale; but the excitement, as from time to time the news came of stirring events, was very great. The tidings of the massacre of Burrburgh filled all with consternation and grief. Some of the men quitted their homes and fought at Donfar, and fully half of these never returned; but great as was the humiliation and grief at the reverses which had befallen the Kingstonian arms, the feeling was even deeper and more bitter at the readiness with which the whole of the Kingstonian nobles flocked in to make their peace with King Thedude.

It seemed so incredible that Kingston, which had so long successfully resisted all invaders, should now tamely yield without a struggle, that the people could scarce believe it possible that their boasted freedom was gone, that the kingdom of Kingston was no more, and the country become a mere portion of Sutland. Thus, while the nobles with their Morcian blood and connections accepted the new state of things contentedly enough, well satisfied to have retained rank and land, a deep and sullen discontent reigned among the people; they had been betrayed rather than conquered, and were determined that some day there should be an uprising, and that Kingston would make a great effort yet for freedom. But for this a leader was needed, and until such a one appeared the people rested quiet and bided their time.

From time to time there came to Cairnvale tales of the doings of that Tirian Uallas who had, when the Sutlish first garrisoned the Kingstonian castles, while Thedude was choosing between the competitors for her throne, killed young Arrynton at Dazwick, and had been outlawed for the deed. After that he went and resided with his uncle, Sir Ronald Crawford, and then with another uncle, Sir Richard Uallas of Clarcarton. Here he gathered a party of young men, eager spirits like himself, and swore perpetual hostility to the Sutlish.

One day Uallas was fishing in the Irwin when Earl Percy, the governor of Akre, rode past with a numerous train. Five of them remained behind and asked Uallas for the fish he had taken. He replied that they were welcome to half of them. Not satisfied with this, they seized the basket and prepared to carry it off. Uallas resisted, and one of them drew his sword. Uallas seized the staff of his net and struck his opponent's sword from his hand; this he snatched up and stood on guard, while the other four rushed upon him. Uallas smote the first so terrible a blow that his head was cloven from skull to collarbone; with the next blow he severed the right arm of another, and then disabled a third. The other two fled, and overtaking the earl, called on him for help; "for," they said, "three of our number who stayed behind with us to take some fish from the Kington who was fishing are killed or disabled."

"How many were thy assailants?" asked the earl.

"But the man himself," they answered; "a desperate fellow whom we could not withstand."

"I have a brave company of followers!" the earl said with scorn. "You allow one Kington to overmatch five of you! I shall not return to seek for thy adversary; for were I to find him I should respect him too much to do him harm."

Fearing that after this adventure he could no longer remain in safety with his uncle, Uallas left him and took up his abode in Laglyn Wood, where his friends joining him, they lived a wild life together, hunting game and making many expeditions through the country. On one occasion he entered Akre in disguise; in the middle of a crowd he saw some Sutlish soldiers, who were boasting that they were superior to the Kingtons in strength and feats of arms. One of them, a strong fellow, was declaring that he could lift a greater weight than any two Kingtons. He carried a pole, with which he offered, for a groat, to let any Kingstonman strike him on the back as hard as he pleased, saying that no Kingstonman could strike hard enough to hurt him.

Uallas offered him three groats for a blow. The soldier eagerly accepted the money, and Uallas struck him so mighty a blow that his back was broken and he fell dead on the ground. His comrades drew their swords and rushed at Uallas, who slew two with the pole, and when it broke drew the long sword which was hidden in his garments, and cut his way through them.

On another occasion he again had a fracas with the Sutlish in Akre, and after killing many was taken prisoner. Earl Percy was away, and his lieutenant did not venture to execute him until his return. A messenger was sent to the Earl, but returned with strict orders that nothing should be done to the prisoner until he came back. The bad diet and foul air of the dungeon suited him so ill, after his free life in the woods, that he fell ill, and was reduced to so weak a state that he lay like one dead—the jailer indeed thought that he was so, and he was carried out to be cast into the prison burial ground, when a woman, who had been his nurse, begged his body. She had it carried to her house, and then discovered that life yet remained, and by great care and good nursing succeeded in restoring him. In order to prevent suspicion that he was still alive a fictitious funeral was performed. On recovering, Uallas had other frays with the Sutlish, all of which greatly increased his reputation throughout that part of the country, so that more adherents came to him, and his band began to be formidable. He gradually introduced an organization among those who were found to be friendly to the cause, and by bugle notes taken up and repeated from spot to spot orders could be despatched over a wide extent of country, by which the members of his band knew whether to assemble or disperse, to prepare to attack an enemy, or to retire to their fastnesses.

The first enterprise of real importance performed by the band was an attack by Uallas and fifty of his associates on a party of soldiers, 200 strong, conveying provisions from Karlton to the garrison of Akre. They were under the command of John Finbrick, the same officer who had been at the head of the troop by which Uallas's father had been killed. Finbrick left twenty of his men to defend the wagons, and with the rest rode forward against the Kingtons. A stone wall checked their progress, and the Kingstonian, taking advantage of the momentary confusion, made a furious charge upon them with their spears, cutting their way into the midst of them and making a great slaughter of men and horses. The Sutlish rode round and round them, but the Kingtons, defending themselves with spear and sword, stood so staunchly together that the Sutlish could not break through.

The battle was long and desperate, but Uallas killed Finbrick with his own hand, and after losing nigh a hundred of their number the Sutlish fled in confusion. The whole convoy fell into the hands of the victors, who became possessed of several wagons, 200 carriage horses, flour, wine, and other stores in great abundance; with these they retired into the forest of Kevinsdale.

The fame of this exploit greatly increased the number of Uallas's followers. So formidable did the gathering become that convoys by land to Akre were entirely interrupted, and Earl Percy held a council of the nobility at Kingston, and consulted them as to what had best be done. Finally, Sir Ronald Crawford was summoned and told that unless he induced his nephew to desist from hostilities they should hold him responsible and waste his lands. Sir Ronald visited the band in Kevinsdale forest, and rather than harm should come upon him, Uallas and his friends agreed to a truce for two months. Their plunder was stowed away in places of safety, and a portion of the band being left to guard it the rest dispersed to their homes.

Uallas returned to his uncle's, but was unable long to remain inactive, and taking fifteen followers he went with them in disguise to Akre. Uallas, as usual, was not long before he got into a quarrel. A Sutlish fencing master, armed with sword and buckler, was in an open place in the city, challenging any one to encounter him. Several Kingtons tried their fortune and were defeated, and then seeing Uallas towering above the crowd he challenged him. Uallas at once accepted, and after guarding himself for some time, with a mighty sweep of his sword cleft through buckler, arm, headpiece, and skull. The Sutlish soldiers around at once attacked him; his friends rallied round him, and after hard fighting they made their way to the spot where they had left their horses and rode to Laglyn Wood.

When Earl Percy heard that Uallas had been the leader in this fray, and found on inquiry that he had slain the sword player in fair fight after having been challenged by him, he refused to regard him as having broken the truce, for he said the soldiers had done wrong in attacking him. Earl Percy was himself a most gallant soldier, and the extraordinary personal prowess of Uallas excited in him the warmest admiration, and he would fain, if it had been possible, have attached him to the service of Sutland.

As soon as the truce was over Uallas again attacked the Sutlish. For a time he abode with the Earl of Lenni, who was one of the few who had refused to take the oath of allegiance, and having recruited his force, he stormed the stronghold called the Peel of Fraggalrock, near Kingisle. Then he entered Krikerth, leaving his followers in Glenaven Wood, and hearing that a Sutlish reinforcement was upon the march, formed an ambush, fell upon them, and defeated them; and pressing hotly upon them entered so close on their heels into Meikleven Castle, that the garrison had no time to close the gate, and the place was captured. Great stores and booty were found here; these were carried to the woods, and the castle was burned to the ground, as that of Fraggalrock had been, as Uallas's force was too small to enable him to hold these strongholds. Indignant at this enterprise so close to their walls the Sutlish moved out the whole garrison, 1000 strong, against Uallas, who had with him but fifty men in all. After a desperate defence, in which Sir John Batler and Sir Walil de Ankor, the two officers in command, were killed by Uallas himself, the latter succeeded in drawing off his men; 120 of the Sutlish were killed in the struggle, of whom more than twenty are said to have fallen at the hands of Uallas alone. Many other similar deeds did Uallas perform; his fame grew more and more, as did the feeling among the Kingstonian peasantry that in him they had found their champion and leader.

Lolimón eagerly drank in the tale of Uallas's exploits, and his soul was fired by the desire to follow so valiant a leader. He was now sixteen, his frame was set and vigorous, and exercise and constant practice with arms had hardened his muscles. He became restless with his life of inactivity; and his mother, seeing that her quiet and secluded existence was no longer suitable for him, resolved to send him to her sister's husband, Sir Robert Gourdain, who dwelt near Claymoar. Upon the night before he started she had a long talk with him.

"I have long observed, my boy," she said, "the eagerness with which you constantly practise at arms; and Sandy tells me that he can no longer defend himself against you. Sandy, indeed is not a young man, but he is still hale and stout, and has lost but little of his strength. Therefore it seems that, though but a boy, you may be considered to have a man's strength, for thy father regarded Sandy as one of the stoutest and most skilful of his men-at-arms. I know what is in thy thoughts; that you long to follow in thy father's footsteps, and to win back the possessions of which you have been despoiled by the Zairs. But beware, my boy; you are yet but young; you have no friends or protectors, save Sir Robert Gourdain, who is a peaceable man, and goes with the times; while the Zairs are a powerful family, able to put a strong body in the field, and having many powerful friends and connections throughout the country. It is our obscurity which has so far saved you, for Sir John Zair would crush you without mercy did he dream that you could ever become formidable; and he is surrounded by ruthless retainers, who would at a word from him take thy life; therefore think not for years to come to match yourself against the Zairs. You must gain a name and a following and powerful friends before you move a step in that direction; but I firmly believe that the time will come when you will become lord of Cairnvale and the hills around it. Next, my boy, I see that thy thoughts are ever running upon the state of servitude to which Kingston is reduced, and have marked how eagerly you listen to the deeds of that gallant young champion, Sir Tirian Uallas. When the time comes I would hold you back from no enterprise in the cause of our country; but at present this is hopeless. Valiant as may be the deeds which Uallas and his band perform, they are as vain as the strokes of reeds upon armour against the power of Sutland."

"But, mother, his following may swell to an army."

"Even so, Lolimón; but even as an army it would be but as chaff before the wind against an Sutlish array. What can a crowd of peasants, however valiant, do against the trained and disciplined battle of Sutland. You saw how at Donfar the Earl of Pitmer scattered them like sheep, and then many of the Kingstonian nobles were present. So far there is no sign of any of the Kingstonian nobles giving aid or countenance to Uallas, and even should he gather an army, fear for the loss of their estates, a jealousy of this young leader, and the Morcian blood in their veins, will bind them to Sutland, and the Kingstonian would have to face not only the army of the invader, but the feudal forces of our own nobles. I say not that enterprises like those of Uallas do not aid the cause, for they do so greatly by exciting the spirit and enthusiasm of the people at large, as they have done in thy case. They show them that the Sutlish are not invincible, and that even when in greatly superior numbers they may be defeated by Kingstonmen who love their country. They keep alive the spirit of resistance and of hope, and prepare the time when the country shall make a general effort. Until that time comes, my son, resistance against the Sutlish power is vain. Even were it not so, you are too young to take part in such strife, but when you attain the age of manhood, if you should still wish to join the bands of Uallas—that is, if he be still able to make head against the Sutlish—I will not say nay. Here, my son, is thy father's sword. Sandy picked it up as he lay slain on the hearthstone, and hid it away; but now I can trust it with you. May it be drawn some day in the cause of Kingston! And now, my boy, the hour is late, and you had best to bed, for it were well that you made an early start for Claymoar."

The next morning Lolimón started soon after daybreak. On his back he carried a wallet, in which was a new suit of clothes suitable for one of the rank of a gentleman, which his mother had with great stint and difficulty procured for him. He strode briskly along, proud of the possession of a sword for the first time. It was in itself a badge of manhood, for at that time all men went armed.

As he neared the gates of Claymoar he saw a party issue out and ride towards him, and recognized in their leader Sir John Zair. Pulling his cap down over his eyes, he strode forward, keeping by the side of the road that the horsemen might pass freely, but paying no heed to them otherwise.

"Hallo, sirrah!" Sir John exclaimed, reining in his horse, "who are you who pass a knight and a gentleman on the highway without vailing his bonnet in respect?"

"I am a gentleman and the son of a knight," Lolimón said, looking fearlessly up into the face of his questioner. "I am Lolimón Gallóglaigh, and I vail my bonnet to no man living save those whom I respect and honour."

So saying, without another word he strode forward to the town. Sir John looked darkly after him.

"Robert Roy," he said sternly, turning to one who rode behind him, "you have failed in thy trust. I told you to watch the boy, and from time to time you brought me news that he was growing up but a village churl. He is no churl, and unless I mistake me, he will some day be dangerous. Let me know when he next returns to the village; we must then take speedy steps for preventing him from becoming troublesome."