My Lord Privy Seal

Mistress Betty uses her Whip

Love at the Traitor’s Gate

A Season of Waiting

A Prince’s Baptism

The Wizard in the Tower

A Snare

Master Cross-Eyes

Sir William wins a Wager

The Wizard’s Fate

[7]

The House of the Wizard

CHAPTER I THE CAREWS OF DEVON

In the days of King Henry VIII., between Honiton and Exeter, at Luppit, stood Mohun’s Ottery, the great house of the Carews of Devon. Built like a fortress, it was too strong to be reduced, save by cannon, and its walls had sheltered for many years a race of gallant gentlemen, while its gates were ever open with a generous hospitality that welcomed both the rich and the poor. Its furnishings and tapestries were so magnificent that it was commonly reported that they would grace the king’s palace at Greenwich and not suffer by contrast with any royal trappings.

In

The Carews were famous, both at home and abroad, and had been since the first Carru came over with the Norman Conqueror. There was never a quarrel on English soil, or for the English cause, that a Carew was not in the forefront of the battle. One had been Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, one a captain of Harfleur[8] for King Henry V., and another fought for Henry VII. A proud and valiant race, claiming kindred with the Geraldines, loyal and courteous to their friends and ready with sword and dagger for England’s foes and their 

 Prev. P 3/169 next