This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905. Excerpt: ... The Black-faced Lamb This is the story of Bride the shepherdess, of Agnes the anchoress, and of Mildred. Agnes indeed plays but a mute part since she fell on sleep or ever the tale begins. Yet is there much to tell of her, and of how she was put to bed. She was born of a Saint Agnes' Eve (that in Towton year), and her mother vowed her to God if so be He would send her husband home, to wit Sir Harry Fane of Westling. In due time God rendered him back, and so when the maid was seven years old he received his quittance. With much pomp and circumstance, with a train of fifty men-at-arms, with silver largess by the way, and feastinga and junketings at the way's end, the child was brought to her cell in Hart Hollow near Cuckmere Haven. Here was a new-built Anchorage hard by the church of Saint Agnes, wherein her mother had been christened. There was a room beside the cell, and her nurse, a Cuckmere woman, was housed there. Moreover a small serving-maid was hired to bear her company. Joyous was that day of the vow's discharge, but it issued sadly in that her mother was struck by the cold going home, and never mended before her time came, two months after. So Agnes lost mother and new brother at once, and was rudely weaned from her care for home since she knew little of her other parent. He was away on the northern marches most of the years of peace, seeking occasions of strife where he could find them. When the stern wars for the Crown called again, he came to the call greedily, and served with a will. But he had shown small discretion in choosing his party, and for a while after the Tewkesbury rout, he had perforce to walk warily. Home and friends for that time saw nought of him. A month before he sued his pardon and received it, Agnes went home to her mother. ...