THE KING AND THE BONDMEN.


 CHAPTER VII.

THE PEASANT'S HOME AGAIN-CONSEQUENCES OF THE
 INSURRECTION AN UNEXPECTED RETURN FREEDOM
 AT LAST, AND CONCLUSION.

WE must now leave this scene of tumult and suffering,.
and go back once more to the quiet forest in Essex.
 Hubert had kept on with his work as usual; he
had heard of Ralph's departure from some of those
who gave up and returned before reaching London,
and comforted himself with the hope that his son
would soon return with news that the villans were to
be released from their bondage, and with liberty to
work and buy and sell wheresoever they pleased. But
two weeks had scarcely passed before he began to see
numbers of wretched-looking peasants hastening down
into the country, eager, as it seemed, to leave London
far behind them. Now and then some of the fugitives
would enter the cottage to ask for a bit of bread, or
a drink of water, and from them Hubert heard of
the disastrous effects of the struggle for liberty; how
that Tyler had lost his life while conferring with the
king at Smithfield, and the other leaders had been
taken and executed, while the thousands of villans
were all dispersed and put to flight. Still they re-
membered that the king had given them charters
of freedom, and they hoped to find themselves free
when the alarm and rage excited by the insurrection
had subsided. But now they were all in terror; how
soon had their bright expectations faded into dis-
appointment !
 This was sad intelligence, and, what was worse,
there came no tidings of Ralph; no one knew what