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change his mind. This indeed was the case. The king had not started many

hours, when the arrival of fresh messengers from Phillip and John induced

the emperor once more to change his intentions, and a body of men were

sent in pursuit of the king. The latter fortunately made no stay on the

way, but changing horses frequently--for everywhere he was received with

honour and attention--he pushed forward for the coast of the North Sea,

and arrived there two or three hours only before his oppressors.

Fortunately it was night, and taking a boat he embarked without a

moment's delay; and when the emissaries of the emperor arrived the boat

was already out of sight, and in the darkness pursuit was hopeless.

On landing at Dover, the first to present himself before him was Prince

John, who, in the most abject terms besought pardon for the injuries he

had inflicted. King Richard waved him contemptuously aside.

"Go," he said, "and may I forget your injuries as speedily as you will

forget my pardon."

Then taking horse, he rode on to London, where he was received with the

most lively acclamation by his subjects.

The first step of King Richard was to dispossess all the minions of John

from the castles and lands which had been taken from his faithful

adherents. Some of these resisted; but their fortresses were speedily

stormed. Sir Rudolph was not one of these. Immediately the news of King

Richard's arrival in England reached him, feeling that all was now lost,

he rode to the seacoast, took ship, and passed into France, and Cuthbert,

on his arrival at Evesham, found himself undisputed lord of the place. He

found that the hiding-place of his mother had not been discovered, and,

after a short delay to put matters in train, he, attended by a gallant

retinue, rode into Wiltshire to the castle of Sir Baldwin of B,thune.

Here he found the Lady Margaret safe and sound, and mightily pleased to

see him. She was now seventeen, and offered no objections whatever to the

commands of King Richard that she should at once bestow her hand upon the

Earl of Evesham. By the king's order, the wedding took place at London,

the king himself bestowing the bride upon his faithful follower, whom we

may now leave to the enjoyment of the fortune and wife he had so

valiantly won.

THE END.

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