But a little while tarried the Earl Geoffrey at Leashowe, but departednext morning and came to Meadhamstead. A month thereafter came folkfrom him to Leashowe, to wit, the new meney for the new abode ofGoldilind; amongst whom was a goodly band of men-at-arms, led by anold lord pinched and peevish of face, who kneeled to Goldilind as the newburgreve of Greenharbour; and a chaplain, a black canon, young, broad-cheeked and fresh-looking, but hard-faced and unlovely; three newdamsels withal were come for the young Queen, not young maids, butstalworth women, well-grown, and two of them hard-featured; the third,tall, black-haired, and a goodly-fashioned body.
Now when these were come, who were all under the rule of DameElinor, there was no gainsaying the departure to the new home; and in twodays' time they went their ways from Leashowe. But though Goldilindwas young, she was wise, and her heart misgave her, when she was amidstthis new meney, that she was not riding toward glory and honour, and aworld of worship and friends beloved. Howbeit, whatso might lie beforeher, she put a good face upon it, and did to those about her queenly andwith all courtesy.
Five days they rode from Leashowe north away, by thorpe and townand mead and river, till the land became little peopled, and the sixth daythey rode the wild-wood ways, where was no folk, save now and again thelittle cot of some forester or collier; but the seventh day, about noon, theycame into a clearing of the wood, a rugged little plain of lea-land, mingledwith marish, with a little deal of acre-land in barley and rye, round about ascore of poor frame-houses set down scattermeal about the lea. But on along ridge, at the northern end of the said plain, was a grey castle, strong,and with big and high towers, yet not so much greater than was Leashowe,deemed Goldilind, as for a dwelling-house.
Howbeit, they entered the said castle, and within, as without, it wassomewhat grim, though nought was lacking of plenishing due for folk knightly. Long it were to tell of its walls and baileys and chambers; butlet this suffice, that on the north side, toward the thick forest, was a gardenof green-sward and flowers and potherbs; and a garth-wall of grey stone,not very high, was the only defence thereof toward the wood, but it wasoverlooked by a tall tower of the great wall, which hight the Foresters'Tower. In the said outer garth-wall also was a postern, whereby therewas not seldom coming in and going out.