Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-11-19
THE FALSE PALMER.
A Legend Of Horribly Castle.

The time Of the following legend is that of
the First Crusade, when William Rufus was
King of England, and Robert, surnamed
Curthose," was engagedin Palestine, fight
ing the Saracens for the possession Of the
Holy Sepulchre.
William st. Quintys, Lord of Hornby and
the adjacent districts, was the father OF two
sons-Reginald and Ralph. Both grew Up to
be two of the noblest and most accomplished
youths III all England, both deeply attached
to each other. They were about the same
age-Reginald, the elder being about year
older than his brother. When their father
died the two brothers resided together in the
castle, and it seemed as if it never entered
the head of Reginald, to exercise the author
ity to which, III virtue Of his primogeniturc,
and according to the feudal system he was en-
titled In all things he treated his brother
rs his equal.
But Notwithstanding the brctherly kind
ness and generosity OF Reginald, Ralph was
not the less alive to his own inferior position;
and though he dearly loved his brother, he
resolved to carve name and Il station for
himself with his own good sword, rather than
remain behoden to the benevolence Of the
lawful Lord of Hornby Castle.
Now, about this time G095), Robert, the
elder son Of the Norman conqueror of Eng
land, resolved to take part in the crusade
which Peter the Hermit had preached against
the Moslem retaners of the Holy Sepuchre
W William IL, or Rufus, as he was called, gladly
aided his brother, in order to get rid OF dan
gerous rival and Robert CurthoSe departed
with joyful heart i'll quest OF dangers and OF
glory. Ralph st. Quintys was one of the very
few Norman Enghshmen vino accompanied
Robert
The story Of this crusade it Is not our in
tentlon to relate. Suffice it to state, that
with little more than the twentieth part of
the number with which they started, the CRU
saders in 1897, after having taken Nice, in
the Morea, defeated Solyman, conquered Ed
essa, the next year took the town, but not
the citadel, OF Antioch, defeated an army OF
six hundred thousand Saracens then adyanc
ed to Jerusalem, which, after seigc Of forty
days, was carried by storm; and having put
all the inhabitants-men, women, and chill
dren-to the sword, excepting the Christians
they raised the victorious Godfrey to the
throne, who soon after added to the security
of the newly-cre tted kingdom by defeating
the Sedan of Egypt, with an immeasurablC
army, on the plains of Askalon.
Here Ralph st. Quintys performed prodi
gies Of yalor; but towards the latter end o
the contest, and Just as he charged and rout
ed group Of MoSlem horscmen, he himse
received thrust Of Il jayelyn, which pierced
through his body He fell without utterin@ ;
word, aud was left for dead on the ensan
guined battlefield, while the victorious Cru
saders chased the routed Moslcm.
On the return Of the triumphant host scarcl
was made for the bodies of the distinguished
fallen, in order that they might receive tn,
honors Of Christian sculpture. But notwith
standing stout search, chat of Ralph st
Qulntys could not be found, nor could an,
trace of it be discovered.
Years passed and the Crusadcrs-that is
the few who survived the swords of the Sar
acens, and the cline and diseases of the Eas
returned to Europe. Among those VIII,
came back was Robert Curthose.
In the meantime, Reginald st. Quintys wht
deeply mourned for his brother when the ii
dingS of his death had reached him, had takel
to himself a wife. Madeline Mowbrav wa.
the daughter of one of the most illustrous O
the Norman houses; but she was compare
lively poor, for her father and mother having
both died when she was but Il mere child she
became Crown ward, and the Crown took
very good care to pay itself out of the orphan
maldens inheritance, for any trouble to which
It was put In protecting her person. Thus il
came to pass that Madeline Mowbray was al
most portionless bride to Reginald St Quin
tvs. But the Lord of Hornbv Castle would
have deemed himself rich in her possession
though deprived of all his worldly possessions
Though Reginald was some years older than
his wife, yet Madeline was deeply attached to
her lord, not only on account of his handsome
person, graceful mien, gallant bearing, and
various knlghtly accomplishments but also on
account of the utter absence of sordid feeling
which he had manifested in relation to her
self. And as for the Lord of Hornby he alb.
solutely adored his wife. This passion, which
rendered them both as happy as ii is the
privilege Of mortal beings ever to be. at the
same time exposed him to the reproaches OF
his fellow mobiles The once bold and gallant
Reginald St Quintys was said to be uxorious
to have resi- gned the sword for the distaff
and TO have restricted bis freedom to the
range Of the apron-strings Of his wife. Blu
he only laughed ut these taunts; and thu
weeks and months passed away, leaving til,
enamored pair in the enjoyment Of a serene
felicity, which had no other drawback THAI
the shade Ct deep sorrow which now an,
then fitted athwart the mind of the HUSBAND
at the recollection of his dearly beloved
brother.
1t was a cold, dark night in the latter en-,
of autumn, when word was brought to tn,
lord and lady OF Horribly Castle that veneer
able stranger, in the weeds OF pilgrim
sought admittance at the gate
Let him be admitted, was the promp
reply Of Reginald st. Quintys; land when h,
has been refreshed with the very best of TIL
wine and yiands in the castle, we viii holC
some converse with him"
"From your appearance, said St. Quintys
when the pilgrim came into his presence
''you seem to have travelled over man,
lands"
6 You judge rightly" said the pilgrim; g
have traversed the greater portion of Europe
besides large part of Asia. And even now
| am but just returned from Egypt and the
Holy Land"
And what may your mission in this part
of the country be ?"
my principal mission is to the Lord OF
Horribly Castle"
'Have the goodness, then, holy palmer
for suchI may now call you-to unfold its
import"