THE CASTLE AND COMPANY.
To describe a baron's hall, as in the fifteenth century, with all its
cumbrous materials inside and out, would be, no doubt, very engaging
to the antiquarian reader; and Freston Castle, Freston Hall, or De
Freston's Mansion, as it was at various periods designated, if
minutely described, would fill many a page which the general reader
would be glad to be excused.
Not that it would be otherwise than entertaining, for the Lords of
Freston had each added something to the style of his predecessor, and
there was as great a variety of the Gothic from the year 1111 down to
1485, as could be found in any house in the eastern counties of the
kingdom. It vied with the ancient castle of Caister in its
castellated front and lofty turrets, its old Norman windows,
loop-holes, and bastions, and, standing as it did upon one of the
most picturesque spots throughout East Anglia, it commanded, in that
day, general admiration.
It was one of those castles which were exempt from the fines to
Peter's Priory, on account of the Lord De Freston having granted a
hide of land on the opposite shore to the then learned priors of
Alneshborne; and hence it was considered extra parochial, and the
church and chapel of De Freston as belonging to the immediate
jurisdiction of John De Freston, who appointed his own ecclesiastic
from among the preachers or prebends of Wykes Ufford, and, after
that, from Gypesswich (Ipswich).
It is 'but justice to the memory of the De Frestons to say they were
good Catholics, not good for their gifts of foolish and vain things,
but for their benevolent offerings for the poor. Their splendid old
hall, gracing the banks of the Orwell, for several centuries was
remarkable for the liberality displayed within it, not only to the
inhabitants of Freston, Arwarton, Holbrook, Wolverstone,
Chelmondiston, Harkstead, Tattingstone, and Bentley, on the western
side of the river, in which parishes the Lords of De Freston held
estates, but in all parts of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Gloucestershire,
where their property was situated, they had their benevolent houses,
in which the dole of charity was meted out to the surrounding poor.
Their great residences were at Freston and Malvern; for, connected
with the Latimers, they held much sway on the borders of the Malvern
Hills. Their head-quarters were at Freston Hall, a fortified
mansion, exhibiting traces of decay in some parts of the then
elaborate workmanship of the fourteenth century. A most noble park
lay around the castle, extending along the beautiful banks of the
river, including many a grand chasse, where deer and game of all
descriptions might be found.
Part of the great tenure by which this property was held free from
the interference of the religious houses in Ipswich, as well as
temporal authorities of the borough, whose power then extended to the
waste marshes upon the borders of the park, was the furnishing of
three fat bucks for the 8th of September, to the borough, on the day
of the election of bailiffs; and, on St. Peter's day, two bucks to
the Abbots of Bury, two to the Prior of St. Peter's, and one to the
Black Canons of Dodness; from all other charges whatsoever the Barony
of De Freston was exempt.
But our party, joyful in the society of each other, bent their way
from the lawn which surrounded the Tower to the broad and open space
before the castle. So level did the grass at a little distance
appear with the foundation walls of the building, that were it not
for the distinct evidence of the huge drawbridge and portcullis, no
one would imagine that a moat ninety-eight feet wide extended round
the walls. The building was a square with four towers, the
south-eastern front of which, facing the Orwell, was then in its most
perfect state. It was only at certain periods, when the distant
dependencies of the barony came to pay suit and service to the Lords
of De Freston, that the other wings of the mansion were inhabited.
They were not suffered to decay; but, as they were not constantly
used, they were only visited occasionally by the lord, who left it to
his household steward to see that all things were kept in order.
'It is a beautiful spot,' said Latimer to Ellen, as they approached
the spacious front of the building, 'and I hope it may never again
see the troubles with which it was visited when the Earl of Leicester
and his Flemings came from Walton Castle, and were opposed by John De
Freston and his troops. This looks not like a place of slaughter,
Ellen; yet many a brave youth did your ancestors' bowmen send to the
bottom of the waves, before the enemy could effect a landing, or
reach this spacious green sward. How thankful should we feel that we
can walk in peace free from such terrors; but other parts of the
kingdom are, at this moment, in arms, and the Baron De Freston will,
I fear, have to send his quota of men to the wars of the Roses!'
'Let him keep neutral if he can, say I. He is out of the reach of
the severity of the contest, unless Richmond should choose Suffolk
for his field of action. I trust my father's hall will be at peace
as long as his honored head shall be erect!'
'Amen!' added Wolsey. 'This place is too peaceful, too blessed in
its inhabitants, to be disturbed by faction. It has a charm in my
eye which, I trust, no bloodshed will ever destroy!'
'You are a partial friend, Thomas; but I wish all men felt towards it
and its inhabitants as you do.'
'That do not I,' thought Wolsey, 'unless, indeed, I were the foremost
and most favored of all;' but he only replied, 'I have reason to be
partial, Ellen.'
'Perchance, Thomas, the issue of our interest this day may make you
more partial than ever towards my father and myself, though your gain
must be our loss.'
'Wolsey, will not that be some consolation to you, when in Oxford, to
know my fair cousin here will be daily a loser by your absence?'
The youth blushed, feeling conscious that both his hopes and his
fears might be excited during his residence at the University; but
the color soon disappeared, and he joined in the conversation without
any appearance of embarrassment.
'If Ellen can promise herself the same pleasure in my progress,
neither she nor I can be a loser by my residence at the University,
however prolonged it may be.'
'I assure you, Thomas, I shall take a most lively interest in your
success.'
'He will not fail, Ellen, to be well repaid for his labors, should he
win your approbation.'
'Let him go on as he has begun, and his success will be considered to
form part of the honors attached to the house of De Freston.'
Now, though Ellen, in this speech, meant no more than to convey an
idea of a certain degree of patronage which the House of De Freston
had already exercised in the behalf of the young aspirant for future
fame, yet, upon such a temperament as Wolsey's it produced an
impression not easily to be effaced. The blood circulated warmly
through his frame as he thought of the possibility of his being able
to bring honor to the house of De Freston, and to be deemed worthy of
the hand (for his ambition had conceived the possibility of such an
accomplishment) of the beautiful and enlightened heiress of De
Freston, the chief happiness of his life. Wolsey could only bow and
promise to do his best, and repeated that it was one of the greatest
pleasures of his existence to have met with a person who had led him
to the foot of the hill on which the temple of Fame was built, and
was ready to welcome him upon his arrival at the summit.
The party arrived at the drawbridge, where the old warder, with his
battle-axe in hand, as if he were then watching for his safety, or
expecting the arrival of a foe, saluted his master. He was in his
niche in the side of the right-hand turret of the drawbridge, and
presented his lord with a packet of letters, which had arrived since
he went to the Tower. These were placed in the pouch or pocket of De
Freston, then worn externally, beneath the belt which bound the
leathern jerkin of the noble, and was wrought with ornamental gold
embroidery, and studded with the head of the bear. This crest of
that ancient family was adopted in consequence of the reputation of
his ancestor, who arrived with William the Conqueror, for great
personal strength, in expressed in the following motto:
'Who meets De Freston must beware
The arms and courage of the bear.'
On the summit of the two towers, at either entrance of the arch
forming the outer and inner gateway of the drawbridge, were the
well-carved colossal figures of a rampant bear, facing each other,
forming a barbarous, but, at that time, very common capital to the
huge square pillars of the gateway; and, in the arms over the old
porch, the bear hugging a foe was said to represent the manner in
which the founder of the family, after having broken his sword,
rushed in upon his enemy, and, seizing him, crushed him in his arms.
At that time, when the barons of England were expected to decide
which rose they would wear, it was almost a disgrace not to have
their castles ornamented in every part with the especial rose--red or
white--which they espoused. It is singular that a flower should be
the symbol of contention throughout the whole kingdom. The Lord De
Freston lost nothing of his reputation by commanding his adherents to
espouse neither side.
They reached the Baron's entrance-hall, where Ellen's maid stood in
readiness to receive the mantle and hood of her mistress, and to
await her retirement to her room. The retainers, in their military
habiliments still, as in war-like days, assembled in rank and file in
the ancestral hall: and every day with their burnished arms, their
broad breast-plates, and high peaked helmets, made their appearance
at the mid-day meal, before the baron or his mareschal.
The utmost regularity prevailed in that mansion, and the absence of
any member of the establishment was observable immediately. All
raised their right hands to their helmets as De Freston and his
daughter entered. His archers rested on their bows, his spearmen on
their spears, whilst his boatmen, with the Flemish pea-green jackets
and woollen hose, looked, in their sea-faring dresses, the most
independent among his retainers. Fifty spearmen, as many archers,
twelve boatmen, grooms of the chambers, and grooms of the stable,
together with domestics, in-door and out, were all assembled in that
spacious, lofty hall; and before they filed off into the great
dining-room, or, as it was then called, the steward's refectory, they
had to make this daily assembling a conspicuous part of their duty.
Every man's name was chalked upon the boards of the house the day of
his coming into his lord's service, and his place and position. It
was part of the steward's office to call over their names, and
signify the cause of absence to De Freston. In this manner, before
partaking of their master's meat, every man was inspected, and it
added no little to the pride of the lord, as of pleasure to his
vassal, to be recognised daily for punctuality and cleanliness.
'A man is mighty,' thought Wolsey, as he surveyed the band of
warriors and retinue of servants, 'a man is mighty who can depend
upon himself without these adjuncts! Yet he who is popular with his
own people, who serve him heart and hand, and without many
protestations but with faithful deeds, must feel strengthened in his
castle. Should I ever be a lord, I will take pleasure in seeing my
retainers marshalled in this way. It must add to mutual regard, and
make a man appear to himself of some consequence.'
After a word or two with the officer, De Freston dismissed his
servants, who retired to the great feast daily prepared for them, and
which, with forest rangers, watchers, warders, soldiers, and
serving-men, was always a joyful meeting. It was then that they were
permitted to arrange themselves around the great log fire, and speak
of the adventures by flood and field any of them had heard, or
manifest their regard for their master's honor; and many a boy
imbibed that feudal loyalty which induced him to devote his life to
his superior. The iron helmet rang upon the broad stone pavement of
the room, as each soldier threw it off, and exposed to view a manly
countenance, then covered with profuse locks and thick beard, and
took his seat among some of the less encumbered domestics. Wit, fun,
and frolic, had then their hour, and tales of the stables, of the
river, of the park, the town, the village, the country, and often
tales of love circulated rapidly.
Some would talk of the great doings of the former Barons of De
Freston, the feats of his followers, and the perils they had escaped.
Then was discussed, too, that all-important question with all the
retainers, the settlement of their beloved mistress.
'I have no faith in these learned gentry,' exclaimed a sturdy fellow
of the name of Bigmore, whose fathers had served the Lords De Freston
for many generations. 'I have no faith in these learned gentry for
the lord of my young mistress, though, bless her heart, she is worthy
of the most learned man in the land; though old Joe Jordan, with his
usual long face, declares that there will never be another warrior in
the house of De Freston.'
'So say I now, Hugh--so say I now; and if I do say it, may be, I may
not regret the day I see it, should I see your troop disbanded and
peace and liberty reigning without the help of the sword. You laugh
at me as a mechanic, as my lord's carpenter; now, to my mind,
building peaceful habitations is far pleasanter than building
castles, towers, or fortifications. I say now, that the tower of
peace which we have just finished on the banks of the Orwell,
unsuited as it is for attack and defence, will stand longer than many
a baron's castle, and, may be, outlast even the habitation of its
builder.'
'Why true, Master Jordan, it is but a slight concern, and might be
easily battered to pieces.'
'And for that very reason men will not think it worth their while to
attack it. It is built for my lady's tower. It is merely for her
pleasure, that she may not be weary in het pursuits of science, and
that no one may interfere therewith. Warriors as you are, you would
none of you fight against a woman, and therefore will this lady's
tower be respected, aye, should all the warriors be set in battle
array against each other, and the bloody rose meet the pale one in De
Freston's park.'
'Ah, well! methinks, Jordan, thou wouldst have thy mistress marry a
priest.'
'And pray why is not a priest as good a man as a lord?'
'Why? Because he may not marry!'
This created a laugh among some who were always glad to hear old Joe
Jordan's remarks, though they might not be exactly in accordance with
their own.
'That is their misfortune, not their fault. I would not be a priest,
to take such a vow.'
'I'll tell thy wife of thee, Master Jordan,' exclaimed Abdil Foley,
one of the journeymen, who happened to be then employed in fitting up
some frames belonging to the tapestry-room in De Freston's Tower.
'And she would thank thee for thy pains, and say, Bachelor Foley, do
thou marry, or else turn thou priest and get thee into the cloister.'
'Abdil, thou hast got an able answer. Go to and get married.'
'I will when it suits my purpose!'
'Well, friends, here's a health to our young mistress; and may she
marry a nobler lord than her father, if he can be found in the land.
What do you say to that, old Joe?
'I say, as an independent man would say, it may be improved upon.'
'How so?'
'Will you all drink it if I give it you improved?'
All vociferated 'Yes.'
'Well, then, I say, Here's a health to our young mistress and may she
marry the man of her mind.'
'Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!'
'But may that man be a lord!'
'May that be as it may be. Our lord's a deserving lord. A good
master, kind friend, upright, learned, wise, independent, generous,
and great; and if all the barons of England were like him, their
nobility would be an ornament to them, and they would be ornaments to
the people; but I say it with no disrespect to our master, God bless
him! there are many lords who visit him not half so good looking, nor
half so knightly, nor half so learned, nor half so well behaved, as
either Masters Latimer or Wolsey, now the guests at his table.'
'Well, which would you have for a master?'
'That is not for me to choose--I could serve either; for they have
both held much converse with me while the tower was building, and I
can perceive both are learned, both are gentlemen.'
'I think she likes young Wolsey,' said one, 'but surely she will
never marry a merchant's son, and the owner of the butcher's shambles
at Ipswich. My uncle there, John Carrington, is one of his tenants,
and told me that old Wolsey is as strict a master as if he had
nothing else to live upon than the rents of the butcher's shambles.'
'Our lord,' said another, 'did not scruple to marry a merchant's
daughter, though he was a rich one, it is true! Why, then, should
not his daughter smile upon a merchant's son; and that son such a one
as he is? Hey, Master Bigmore! this is true logic.'
'I don't understand your logic. I am for supporting the house of my
master, and not letting it fall.'
It was in such manner that the men of De Freston frequently occupied
that hour of their meals; and let education do what it will, it will
no more prevent the current of observation and reflection in the
kitchen than it will prevent many of those who call themselves most
enlightened religious professors talking about their neighbors, and
interfering much more in their families than any servants do in their
master's affairs. It is as impossible to stop men from thinking
about national subjects as to control the conversations of their
domestics when they see things passing before their eyes, either in
the parlor, or the chapel, or the hall. Good masters will not always
make good men, nor good domestics cease to serve bad masters; but
evil masters seldom fail of conveying evil consequences to their
dependents.
In those days of feudal grandeur it was of as much or of more
consequence than it is in these enlightened times that a lord should
stand well with his vassals. Though his power was great over their
lives, yet his own life and state much depended upon their support.
Happily, no such tyranny now exists, unless it may be said to have
sprung up in the nineteenth century, in the horrible tyranny of that
law which now enslaves the poor. The future consequences to this
country, under this new system, remains to be seen; at present, great
is the misery experienced; and it will be so whilst the liberty of
the subject is so shamefully infringed upon as to make poverty an
excuse for imprisonment, where crime only should be punished.
We may approach the days of high pressure upon liberty, and whilst we
are speculating upon the rapidity of motion, we may be only forging
chains for our confinement. 'We shall see!' is the expression of
many a man who sees more than he chooses to discuss; but may we live
to see more peace and prosperity, industry, simplicity, and
contentment, than we do any of us see or know at the present time.
Dinner was in the banqueting hall, and De Freston, his daughter, and
friends, sat as they did of old, at one long table, all on one side,
while the serving men stood opposite. The banners of De Freston
waved over the head of the gallery leading to the upper rooms, while
the old carved chimney-piece, representing the battle of the giants,
one party ascending on the right hand column of the fire-place to the
grand contest, whilst the left hand represented them hurled down with
rocks from Jupiter Tonans, who, in the very centre of the cross beam,
was with his fiery eagles sending forth his thunderbolts.
Bowls of polished wood contained the simple meal of the day, and
though silver and gold cups stood upon the table, no forks, but
fingers only, tore asunder the limbs of fowls, the slices of venison,
or whatever else was served up before the Lord De Freston. It is
true that a huge sword-like scimitar or knife was used by the steward
of the table to sever for my lord the portions from the baron of
beef; but ere the morsels could be reduced to the size fit for the
mouth, they must be torn asunder by the delicate fingers which
conveyed them to the teeth.
But men were not less cleanly or happy in their feasts than they are
now. The water was poured upon the hands, the napkin more frequently
applied, and conversation was far less formal, and much more general
than at present. The lord and his daughter performed the duties of
hospitality, conversed with their guests upon the great discoveries
then making in the world; and the wonders of navigation were thought
as much of in those days as the wonders of steam are in these. The
powers of the compass were then first discussed; and Captain Diaz,
the celebrated Portuguese navigator, had sailed round Cape Stormy,
now called, or soon after then called, the Cape of Good Hope.
Nothing more gratified our party than to speak of the wonders of the
press. Wolsey declared that the monks should all turn printers, and
that every monastery ought to have a press.
Had such been the case, it is much to be feared that truth would not
have triumphed as she did.
The meal was soon over, and the party prepared to take their
departure, according to previous arrangement, for the Port of Ipswich.