As a younger brother
he could have slight pretensions to patrimony, and save the manors, then
but a slender endowment, just granted by King Edward, his profession as
a soldier supplied his chief revenue. His exclusive notice of the Lady
Isabella at the tournament was quickly conveyed to the ear of Sir
Thomas; and, it was said, the latter had vowed that no portion of
wealth should descend to his daughter if wedded to Sir John, but that
the whole should be settled on Sir Oskatell. "The course of true love
never did run smooth." That Sir John Stanley had a watchful eye at the
time to the fortune as well as to the person of Isabella, is by some
rather freely hinted. This, however, turns out to be an unfounded
calumny, as the events hereafter unfolded will abundantly demonstrate.
Sir John, after vainly endeavouring to avert this cruel purpose, and to
win the old man's favour, entered into the service of the king. He hoped
that some lucky adventure would enable him to appear with more certainty
of success the next time he played the suitor at Lathom.
Isabella, though sorely importuned to the contrary, remained true to her
first and only attachment; and Sir Oskatell was likely, in the end, to
gather to himself the whole of these vast possessions.
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