A Circumstance Happened In The Castle Of Haverford During Our Time,
Which Ought Not To Be Omitted.
A famous robber was fettered and
confined in one of its towers, and was often visited by three boys,
The son of the earl of Clare, and two others, one of whom was son of
the lord of the castle, and the other his grandson, sent thither for
their education, and who applied to him for arrows, with which he
used to supply them. One day, at the request of the children, the
robber, being brought from his dungeon, took advantage of the
absence of the gaoler, closed the door, and shut himself up with the
boys. A great clamour instantly arose, as well from the boys
within, as from the people without; nor did he cease, with an
uplifted axe, to threaten the lives of the children, until indemnity
and security were assured to him in the most ample manner. A
similar accident happened at Chateau-roux in France. The lord of
that place maintained in the castle a man whose eyes he had formerly
put out, but who, by long habit, recollected the ways of the castle,
and the steps leading to the towers. Seizing an opportunity of
revenge, and meditating the destruction of the youth, he fastened
the inward doors of the castle, and took the only son and heir of
the governor of the castle to the summit of a high tower, from
whence he was seen with the utmost concern by the people beneath.
The father of the boy hastened thither, and, struck with terror,
attempted by every possible means to procure the ransom of his son,
but received for answer, that this could not be effected, but by the
same mutilation of those lower parts, which he had likewise
inflicted on him. The father, having in vain entreated mercy, at
length assented, and caused a violent blow to be struck on his body;
and the people around him cried out lamentably, as if he had
suffered mutilation. The blind man asked him where he felt the
greatest pain? when he replied in his reins, he declared it was
false and prepared to precipitate the boy. A second blow was given,
and the lord of the castle asserting that the greatest pains were at
his heart, the blind man expressing his disbelief, again carried the
boy to the summit of the tower. The third time, however, the
father, to save his son, really mutilated himself; and when he
exclaimed that the greatest pain was in his teeth; "It is true,"
said he, "as a man who has had experience should be believed, and
thou hast in part revenged my injuries. I shall meet death with
more satisfaction, and thou shalt neither beget any other son, nor
receive comfort from this." Then, precipitating himself and the boy
from the summit of the tower, their limbs were broken, and both
instantly expired. The knight ordered a monastery to be built on
the spot for the soul of the boy, which is still extant, and called
De Doloribus.
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