The Old English Baron

Setting

Medieval England

Main Characters

Sir Philip Harclay: A noble knight in search of his childhood friend.
Arthur Lord Lovel: Harclay’s murdered childhood friend.
Walter Lord Lovel: Arthur’s cousin and usurper of his land and titles.
Baron Fitz-Owen: The Old English Baron, brother-in-law of Walter, living in the Lovel castle.
Robert, William, Walter, Emma Fitz-Owen: The Baron’s children.
Edmund Lovel: Arthur’s son, raised in obscurity, unaware of his lineage.
Andrew and Margery Twyford: Edmund’s foster parents, peasant farmers.

Summary

When Sir Philip Harclay returns to England after a long absence, he finds that his childhood friend, Arthur Lord Lovel, is no longer alive. The castle and estates first went to Arthur’s cousin Walter, but Baron Fitz-Owen and his household now reside there as renters.

Among the Baron’s household are his sons and daughter, several young gentlemen educated with his sons, and Edmund Twyford, the son of a peasant who had been brought to live with them. When Sir Philip sees Edmund, he takes an immediate liking to him, noting a resemblance between him and his late friend, Arthur. The knight proposes to take him into his own family, but Edmund prefers to stay with the Baron, assured that should he need it, Sir Philip would renew his offer. Four years later, Edmund’s superior nature has resulted in hostility from the Baron’s nephews and Robert, his eldest son. The younger son William, however, is Edmund’s closest friend, and Edmund is in love with Lady Emma, the Baron’s daughter.

Edmund’s manliness is disparaged by Robert and his friends, so he proves it by spending the night in a mysteriously abandoned set of rooms in the castle, though to be haunted. He quickly overcomes any fear and finds clues of foul play. An old servant, Joseph, helps him piece together these clues to reveal that Edmund is the true heir of the Lovel name. An interview with Edmund’s foster mother Margery Twyford confirms this, and it is quickly realised that Arthur Lovel was murdered and buried under the floorboards. His wife, Edmund’s mother, ran away but drowned nearby in a river, leaving Edmund as a baby to be found and raised by the Twyfords, peasant farmers.

Edmund goes to Sir Phillip, but disguises his escape by pretending to be stolen away by the supposed ghost who haunts the castle. The antagonists attempt to prove their manliness by staying in the haunted rooms, but are terrified by a ghostly suit of armour, which is later revealed to be the servant Joseph dressed up.

Edmund meets Sir Phillip, who challenges Walter Lord Lovel. The two fight, and Lovel loses and confesses to the murder. Edmund is acclaimed to be the rightful Lord Lovel and marries Emma.