Chapter I: Front Matter

THE SIEGE OF NORWICH CASTLE

_A STORY OF THE LAST STRUGGLE AGAINST THE CONQUEROR_

BY M. M. BLAKE

_With Illustrations by the Author_

LONDON SEELEY AND CO. LIMITED ESSEX STREET, STRAND 1893

TO MY FATHER THIS STORY IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

I. THE SUZERAIN'S 'NAY,' 9

II. LOVE OR LOYALTY, 25

III. JEST AND EARNEST, 37

IV. HORSE, HAWK, AND HOUND, 53

V. NORMAN AND SAXON, 65

VI. THE BRIDE-ALE, 74

VII. DELILAH SHEARS SAMSON, 91

VIII. KNIGHT-ERRANT AND MERCENARY, 100

IX. NORWICH, 113

X. LANFRANC, 127

XI. THE CASTELLAN OF BLAUNCHEFLOUR, 139

XII. THE STANDARD OF REVOLT, 148

XIII. ST. NICHOLAS FOR GUADER! 160

XIV. HOW THE CONQUEROR DEALS WITH REBELS, 173

XV. 'O HIGH AMBITION LOWLY LAID!' 189

XVI. WIFE OR WIDOW? 206

XVII. HOW RALPH CAME HOME, 222

XVIII. BESIEGED, 234

XIX. 'STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON MAKE,' 244

XX. À OUTRANCE, 256

XXI. THE ORDEAL BY FIRE, 272

XXII. A SUBTERRANEAN CONFLICT, 285

XXIII. HOW OLIVER DIED, 299

XXIV. FAMINE, 313

XXV. BRETAGNE, 327

XXVI. CONCLUSION, 336

APPENDIX, 347

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

HOW THE CONQUEROR DEALS WITH REBELS, _Frontispiece_

EMMA FITZOSBERN ACCEPTS THE TASSEL-GENTLE, 62

JUDITH WATCHES HER SLEEPING SPOUSE, 92

LANFRANC JESTS WITH THE CONQUEROR, 130

WALTHEOF'S HUMILIATION, 136

BISHOP ODO MEETS DE GUADER, 170

THE TOWER STAIRS, 178

THE RESCUE OF THE EARL, 198

EMMA'S FIRST SIGHT OF THE FOE, 240

THE BIG RAT HAS GONE INTO HIS HOLE, 292

A WARRENNE! A WARRENNE! FOR WILLIAM THE NORMAN! 300

DE GUADER DONS THE CROSS, 342

THE SIEGE OF NORWICH CASTLE