108 fa HuuSTree of l&ogamon&'g (Srabe. 



hunters of the court. Hubert de Burgh, who stood high 

 in favour with Henry III., sought for his nephew the 

 hand of the widowed countess, and the youth, entering 

 with a kindred spirit into the interested views of his 

 ambitious kinsman, prepared for the undertaking. De 

 Burgh had been twice at Salisbury in attendance on 

 the king during the earl's perilous voyage,* and 

 it is therefore not surprising that the future disposal 

 of the honours and broad lands of the Lady Ela should 

 have become an object of his speculations. Henry 

 III. was said to be much afflicted by the supposed death 

 of the earl, but when De Burgh petitioned that he would 

 permit his inheritance to pass with the Lady Ela into 

 his own family, the king readily gave leave, on condition 

 that the countess could be induced to- consent. The 

 justiciary, for such was the office of De Burgh, accordingly 

 dispatched his nephew, on a courser richjy caparisoned, 

 with knights and squires sumptuously arrayed, that he 

 might present himself in a distinguished manner before the 

 countess. But the lady scorned his suit; she heeded 

 neither his flattering speeches nor large promises, and 

 she told him, with becoming dignity, that messengers 

 had arrived from her absent husband, bringing the wel- 

 come news that he was both safe and well. She added, 

 further, that if indeed the earl was dead, she would in 

 no wise receive the nephew of the Justiciary De Burgh as 

 a second husband. " Therefore," said she, " you may 

 * William de Wanda's Church History. 



