Page 33 - A Knight of the White Cross

pile which, although not yet fully completed, was already one of the
grandest and stateliest abodes in England.

On inquiring for the grand prior, and stating that she had a letter of

importance for him, Dame Tresham and her son were shown up to his
apartment, and on entering were kindly and courteously received by him
when informed that she was the widow of the late Sir Thomas Tresham.

"I am the bearer of a letter for you, given into my hand by my husband's

dear friend your predecessor," she said, "a few days before his murder at
Tewkesbury. It relates to my son here."

The grand prior opened the letter and read it.

"Assuredly, madam, I will carry out the wishes here expressed," he said.
"They are, that I should forward at once the letter he has given you to Sir
Peter D'Aubusson, and that until an answer is received from him, I should

take care of the boy here, and see that he is instructed in all that is needful
for a future knight of our Order. I grieve to see that you yourself are

looking so ill."

"My course is well nigh run," she said. "I have, methinks, but a few days to

live. I am thankful that it has been permitted to me to carry out my
husband's wishes, and to place my boy in your hands. That done, my work

on earth is finished, and glad indeed am I that the time is at hand when I
can rejoin my dear husband."

"We have a building here where we can lodge ladies in distress or need,
Dame Tresham, and trust that you will take up your abode there."

"I shall indeed be thankful to do so," she replied. "I know no one in
London, and few would care to lodge a dying woman."

"We are Hospitallers," the grand prior said. "That was our sole mission

when we were first founded, and before we became a military order, and it
is still a part of our sworn duty to aid the distressed."