Robert Louis Stevenson
The Black Arrow
A Tale of the Two Roses
Critic on the Hearth
No one but myself knows what I have suffered nor what my books have gained by
your unsleeping watchfulness and admirable pertinacity And now here is a volume
that goes into the world and lacks your imprimatur a strange thing in our joint
lives and the reason of it stranger still I have watched with interest with
pain and at length with amusement your unavailing attempts to peruse »The
Black Arrow« and I think I should lack humour indeed if I let the occasion
slip and did not place your name in the flyleaf of the only book of mine that
you have never readand never will read
That others may display more constancy is still my hope The tale was
written years ago for a particular audience and I may say in rivalry with a
particular author I think I should do well to name him Mr Alfred R
Phillips It was not without its reward at the time I could not indeed
displace Mr Phillips from his wellwon priority but in the eyes of readers who
thought less than nothing of »Treasure Island« »The Black Arrow« was supposed
to mark a clear advance Those who read volumes and those who read story papers
belong to different worlds The verdict on »Treasure Island« was reversed in the
other court I wonder will if be the same with its successor
RLS
Saranac Lake
April 8 1888
Prologue
John AmendAll
On a certain afternoon in the late springtime the bell upon Tunstall Moat
House was heard ringing at an unaccustomed hour Far and near in the forest and
in the fields along the river people began to desert their labours and hurry
towards the sound and in Tunstall hamlet a group of poor countryfolk stood
wondering at the summons
Tunstall hamlet at that period in the reign of old King Henry VI wore
much the same appearance as it wears today A score or so of houses heavily
framed with oak stood scattered in a long green valley ascending from the
river At the foot the road crossed a bridge and mounting on the other side
disappeared into the fringes of the forest on its way to the Moat House and
further forth to Holywood Abbey Halfway up the village the church stood among
yews On every side the slopes were crowned and the view bounded by the green
elms and greening oaktrees of the forest
Hard by the bridge there was a stone cross upon a knoll and here the group
had collected half a dozen women and one tall fellow in a russet smock
discussing what the bell betided An express had gone through the hamlet half an
hour before and drunk a pot of ale in the saddle not daring to dismount for
the hurry of his errand but he had been ignorant himself of what was forward
and only bore sealed letters from Sir Daniel Brackley to Sir Oliver Oates the
parson who kept the Moat House in the masters absence
But now there was the noise of a horse and soon out of the edge of the
wood and over the echoing bridge there rode up young Master Richard Shelton
Sir Daniels ward He at the least would know and they hailed him and begged
him to explain He drew bridle willingly enough a young fellow not yet
eighteen sunbrowned and greyeyed in a jacket of deers leather with a black
velvet collar a green hood upon his head and a steel crossbow at his back The
express it appeared had brought great news A battle was impending Sir Daniel
had sent for every man that could draw a bow or carry a bill to go posthaste to
Kettley under pain of his severe displeasure but for whom they were to fight
or of where the battle was expected Dick knew nothing Sir Oliver would come
shortly himself and Bennet Hatch was arming at that moment for he it was who
should lead the party
»It is the ruin of this kind land« a woman said »If the barons live at
war ploughfolk must eat roots«
»Nay« said Dick »every man that follows shall have sixpence a day and
archers twelve«
»If they live« returned the woman »that may very well be but how if they
die my master«
»They cannot better die than for their natural lord« said Dick
»No natural lord of mine« said the man in the smock »I followed the
Walsinghams so we all did down Brierly way till two years ago come Candlemas
And now I must side with Brackley It was the law that did it call ye that
natural But now what with Sir Daniel and what with Sir Oliver that knows
more of law than honesty I have no natural lord but poor King Harry the Sixt
God bless him the poor innocent that cannot tell his right hand from his
left«
»Ye speak with an ill tongue friend« answered Dick »to miscall your good
master and my lord the king in the same libel But King Harry praised be the
saints has come again into his right mind and will have all things peaceably
ordained And as for Sir Daniel y are very brave behind his back But I will
be no talebearer and let that suffice«
»I say no harm of you Master Richard« returned the peasant »Y are a lad
but when ye come to a mans inches ye will find ye have an empty pocket I say
no more the saints help Sir Daniels neighbours and the Blessed Maid protect
his wards«
»Clipsby« said Richard »you speak what I cannot hear with honour Sir
Daniel is my good master and my guardian«
»Come now will ye read me a riddle« returned Clipsby »On whose side is
Sir Daniel«
»I know not« said Dick colouring a little for his guardian had changed
sides continually in the troubles of that period and every change had brought
him some increase of fortune
»Ay« returned Clipsby »you nor no man For indeed he is one that goes to
bed Lancaster and gets up York«
Just then the bridge rang under horseshoe iron and the party turned and
saw Bennet Hatch come galloping a brownfaced grizzled fellow heavy of hand
and grim of mien armed with sword and spear a steel salet on his head a
leather jack upon his body He was a great man in these parts Sir Daniels
right hand in peace and war and at that time by his masters interest bailiff
of the hundred
»Clipsby« he shouted »off to the Moat House and send all other laggards
the same gate Bowyer will give you jack and salet We must ride before curfew
Look to it him that is last at the lychgate Sir Daniel shall reward Look to
it right well I know you for a man of naught Nance« he added to one of the
women »is old Appleyard up town«
»Ill warrant you« replied the woman »In his field for sure«
So the group dispersed and while Clipsby walked leisurely over the bridge
Bennet and young Shelton rode up the road together through the village and past
the church
»You will see the old shrew« said Bennet »He will waste more time
grumbling and prating of Harry the Fift than would serve a man to shoe a horse
And all because he has been to the French wars«
The house to which they were bound was the last in the village standing
alone among lilacs and beyond it on three sides there was open meadow rising
towards the borders of the wood
Hatch dismounted threw his rein over the fence and walked down the field
Dick keeping close at his elbow to where the old soldier was digging kneedeep
in his cabbages and now and again in a cracked voice singing a snatch of
song He was all dressed in leather only his hood and tippet were of black
frieze and tied with scarlet his face was like a walnutshell both for colour
and wrinkles but his old grey eye was still clear enough and his sight
unabated Perhaps he was deaf perhaps he thought it unworthy of an old archer
of Agincourt to pay any heed to such disturbances but neither the surly notes
of the alarmbell nor the near approach of Bennet and the lad appeared at all
to move him and he continued obstinately digging and piped up very thin and
shaky
»Now dear lady if thy will be
I pray you that you will rue on me«
»Nick Appleyard« said Hatch »Sir Oliver commends him to you and bids that ye
shall come within this hour to the Moat House there to take command«
The old fellow looked up
»Save you my master« he said grinning »And where goeth Master Hatch«
»Master Hatch is off to Kettley with every man that we can horse« returned
Bennet »There is a fight toward it seems and my lord stays a reinforcement«
»Ay verily« returned Appleyard »And what will ye leave me to garrison
withal«
»I leave you six good men and Sir Oliver to boot« answered Hatch
»Itll not hold the place« said Appleyard »the number sufficeth not It
would take two score to make it good«
»Why its for that we came to you old shrew« replied the other »Who else
is there but you that could do aught in such a house with such a garrison«
»Ay when the pinch comes ye remember the old shoe« returned Nick »There
is not a man of you can back a horse or hold a bill and as for archery St
Michael if old Harry the Fift were back again he would stand and let ye shoot
at him for a farthing a shoot«
»Nay Nick theres some can draw a good bow yet« said Bennet
»Draw a good bow« cried Appleyard »Yes But wholl shoot me a good shoot
Its there the eye comes in and the head between your shoulders Now what
might you call a long shoot Bennet Hatch«
»Well« said Bennet looking about him »it would be a long shoot from here
into the forest«
»Ay it would be a longish shoot« said the old fellow turning to look over
his shoulder and then he put up his hand over his eyes and stood staring
»Why what are you looking at« asked Bennet with a chuckle »Do you see
Harry the Fift«
The veteran continued looking up the hill in silence The sun shone broadly
over the shelving meadows a few white sheep wandered browsing all was still
but the distant jangle of the bell
»What is it Appleyard« asked Dick
»Why the birds« said Appleyard
And sure enough over the top of the forest where it ran down in a tongue
among the meadows and ended in a pair of goodly green elms about a bowshot
from the field where they were standing a flight of birds was skimming to and
fro in evident disorder
»What of the birds« said Bennet
»Ay« returned Appleyard »y are a wise man to go to war Master Bennet
Birds are a good sentry in forest places they be the first line of battle Look
you now if we lay here in camp there might be archers skulking down to get
the wind of us and here would you be none the wiser«
»Why old shrew« said Hatch »there be no men nearer us than Sir Daniels
at Kettley y are as safe as in London Tower and ye raise scares upon a man
for a few chaffinches and sparrows«
»Hear him« grinned Appleyard »How many a rogue would give his two crop
ears to have a shoot at either of us St Michael man they hate us like two
polecats«
»Well sooth it is they hate Sir Daniel« answered Hatch a little sobered
»Ay they hate Sir Daniel and they hate every man that serves with him«
said Appleyard »and in the first order of hating they hate Bennet Hatch and
old Nicholas the bowman See ye here if there was a stout fellow yonder in the
woodedge and you and I stood fair for him as by St George we stand
which think ye would he choose«
»You for a good wager« answered Hatch
»My surcoat to a leather belt it would be you« cried the old archer »Ye
burned Grimstone Bennet theyll neer forgive you that my master And as for
me Ill soon be in a good place God grant and out of bowshoot ay and
cannonshoot of all their malices I am an old man and draw fast to homeward
where the bed is ready But for you Bennet y are to remain behind here at
your own peril and if ye come to my years unhanged the old trueblue English
spirit will be dead«
»Y are the shrewishest old dolt in Tunstall Forest« returned Hatch
visibly ruffled by these threats »Get ye to your arms before Sir Oliver come
and leave prating for one good while An ye had talked so much with Harry the
Fift his ears would ha been richer than his pocket«
An arrow sang in the air like a huge hornet it struck old Appleyard
between the shoulderblades and pierced him clean through and he fell forward
on his face among the cabbages Hatch with a broken cry leapt into the air
then stooping double he ran for the cover of the house And in the meanwhile
Dick Shelton had dropped behind a lilac and had his crossbow bent and
shouldered covering the point of the forest
Not a leaf stirred The sheep were patiently browsing the birds had
settled But there lay the old man with a clothyard arrow standing in his back
and there were Hatch holding to the gable and Dick crouching and ready behind
the lilac bush
»Dye see aught« cried Hatch
»Not a twig stirs« said Dick
»I think shame to leave him lying« said Bennet coming forward once more
with hesitating steps and a very pale countenance »Keep a good eye on the wood
Master Shelton keep a clear eye on the wood The saints assoil us here was a
good shoot«
Bennet raised the old archer on his knee He was not yet dead his face
worked and his eyes shut and opened like machinery and he had a most horrible
ugly look of one in pain
»Can ye hear old Nick« asked Hatch »Have ye a last wish before ye wend
old brother«
»Pluck out the shaft and let me pass a Marys name« gasped Appleyard »I
be done with Old England Pluck it out«
»Master Dick« said Bennet »come hither and pull me a good pull upon the
arrow He would fain pass the poor sinner«
Dick laid down his crossbow and pulling hard upon the arrow drew it forth
A gush of blood followed the old archer scrambled half upon his feet called
once upon the name of God and then fell dead Hatch upon his knees among the
cabbages prayed fervently for the welfare of the passing spirit But even as he
prayed it was plain that his mind was still divided and he kept ever an eye
upon the corner of the wood from which the shot had come When he had done he
got to his feet again drew off one of his mailed gauntlets and wiped his pale
face which was all wet with terror
»Ay« he said »itll be my turn next«
»Who hath done this Bennet« Richard asked still holding the arrow in his
hand
»Nay the saints know« said Hatch »Here are a good two score Christian
souls that we have hunted out of house and holding he and I He has paid his
shot poor shrew nor will it be long mayhap ere I pay mine Sir Daniel
driveth overhard«
»This is a strange shaft« said the lad looking at the arrow in his hand
»Ay by my faith« cried Bennet »Black and blackfeathered Here is an
illfavoured shaft by my sooth for black they say bodes burial And here be
words written Wipe the blood away What read ye«
»Appulyaird fro Jon AmendAll« read Shelton »What should this betoken«
»Nay I like it not« returned the retainer shaking his head »John
AmendAll Here is a rogues name for those that be up in the world But why
stand we here to make a mark Take him by the knees good Master Shelton while
I lift him by the shoulders and let us lay him in his house This will be a
rare shog to poor Sir Oliver he will turn papercolour he will pray like a
windmill«
They took up the old archer and carried him between them into his house
where he had dwelt alone And there they laid him on the floor out of regard
for the mattress and sought as best they might to straighten and compose his
limbs
Appleyards house was clean and bare There was a bed with a blue cover a
cupboard a great chest a pair of jointstools a hinged table in the
chimneycorner and hung upon the wall the old soldiers armoury of bows and
defensive armour Hatch began to look about him curiously
»Nick had money« he said »He may have had three score pounds put by I
would I could light upon t When ye lose an old friend Master Richard the
best consolation is to heir him See now this chest I would go a mighty wager
there is a bushel of gold therein He had a strong hand to get and a hard hand
to keep withal had Appleyard the archer Now may God rest his spirit Near
eighty year he was afoot and about and ever getting but now hes on the broad
of his back poor shrew and no more lacketh and if his chattels came to a good
friend he would be merrier methinks in heaven«
»Come Hatch« said Dick »respect his stoneblind eyes Would ye rob the
man before his body Nay he would walk«
Hatch made several signs of the cross but by this time his natural
complexion had returned and he was not easily to be dashed from any purpose It
would have gone hard with the chest had not the gate sounded and presently
after the door of the house opened and admitted a tall portly ruddy
blackeyed man of near fifty in a surplice and black robe
»Appleyard« the newcomer was saying as he entered but he stopped dead
»Ave Maria« he cried »Saints be our shield What cheer is this«
»Cold cheer with Appleyard sir parson« answered Hatch with perfect
cheerfulness »Shot at his own door and alighteth even now at purgatory gates
Ay there if tales be true he shall lack neither coal nor candle«
Sir Oliver groped his way to a jointstool and sat down upon it sick and
white
»This is a judgment O a great stroke« he sobbed and rattled off a leash
of prayers
Hatch meanwhile reverently doffed his salet and knelt down
»Ay Bennet« said the priest somewhat recovering »and what may this be
What enemy hath done this«
»Here Sir Oliver is the arrow See it is written upon with words« said
Dick
»Nay« cried the priest »this is a foul hearing John AmendAll A right
Lollardy word And black of hue as for an omen Sirs this knave arrow likes me
not But it importeth rather to take counsel Who should this be Bethink you
Bennet Or so many black illwillers which should he be that doth so hardily
outface us Simnel I do much question it The Walsinghams Nay they are not
yet so broken they still think to have the law over us when times change
There was Simon Malmesbury too How think ye Bennet«
»What think ye sir« returned Hatch »of Ellis Duckworth«
»Nay Bennet never Nay not he« said the priest »There cometh never any
rising Bennet from below so all judicious chroniclers concord in their
opinion but rebellion travelleth ever downward from above and when Dick Tom
and Harry take them to their bills look ever narrowly to see what lord is
profited thereby Now Sir Daniel having once more joined him to the Queens
party is in ill odour with the Yorkist lords Thence Bennet comes the blow
by what procuring I yet seek but therein lies the nerve of this discomfiture«
»Ant please you Sir Oliver« said Bennet »the axles are so hot in this
country that I have long been smelling fire So did this poor sinner Appleyard
And by your leave mens spirits are so foully inclined to all of us that it
needs neither York nor Lancaster to spur them on Hear my plain thoughts You
that are a clerk and Sir Daniel that sails on any wind ye have taken many
mens goods and beaten and hanged not a few Y are called to count for this
in the end I wot not how ye have ever the uppermost at law and ye think all
patched But give me leave Sir Oliver the man that ye have dispossessed and
beaten is but the angrier and some day when the black devil is by he will up
with his bow and clout me a yard of arrow through your inwards«
»Nay Bennet y are in the wrong Bennet ye should be glad to be
corrected« said Sir Oliver »Y are a prater Bennet a talker a babbler your
mouth is wider than your two ears Mend it Bonnet mend it«
»Nay I say no more Have it as ye list« said the retainer
The priest now rose from the stool and from the writingcase that hung
about his neck took forth wax and a taper and a flint and steel With these he
sealed up the chest and the cupboard with Sir Daniels arms Hatch looking on
disconsolate and then the whole party proceeded somewhat timorously to sally
from the house and get to horse
»Tis time we were on the road Sir Oliver« said Hatch as he held the
priests stirrup while he mounted
»Ay but Bennet things are changed« returned the parson »There is now no
Appleyard rest his soul to keep the garrison I shall keep you Bennet I
must have a good man to rest me on in this day of black arrows The arrow that
flieth by day saith the evangel I have no mind of the context nay I am a
sluggard priest I am too deep in mens affairs Well let us ride forth Master
Hatch The jackmen should be at the church by now«
So they rode forward down the road with the wind after them blowing the
tails of the parsons cloak and behind them as they went clouds began to
arise and blot out the sinking sun They had passed three of the scattered
houses that make up Tunstall hamlet when coming to a turn they saw the church
before them Ten or a dozen houses clustered immediately round it but to the
back the churchyard was next the meadows At the lychgate near a score of men
were gathered some in the saddle some standing by their horses heads They
were variously armed and mounted some with spears some with bills some with
bows and some bestriding ploughhorses still splashed with the mire of the
furrow for these were the very dregs of the country and all the better men and
the fair equipments were already with Sir Daniel in the field
»We have not done amiss praised be the cross of Holywood Sir Daniel will
be right well content« observed the priest inwardly numbering the troop
»Who goes Stand if ye be true« shouted Bennet
A man was seen slipping through the churchyard among the yews and at the
sound of this summons he discarded all concealment and fairly took to his heels
for the forest The men at the gate who had been hitherto unaware of the
strangers presence woke and scattered Those who had dismounted began
scrambling into the saddle the rest rode in pursuit but they had to make the
circuit of the consecrated ground and it was plain their quarry would escape
them Hatch roaring an oath put his horse at the hedge to head him off but
the beast refused and sent his rider sprawling in the dust And though he was
up again in a moment and had caught the bridle the time had gone by and the
fugitive had gained too great a lead for any hope of capture
The wisest of all had been Dick Shelton Instead of starting in a vain
pursuit he had whipped his crossbow from his back bent it and set a quarrel
to the string and now when the others had desisted he turned to Bennet and
asked if he should shoot
»Shoot shoot« cried the priest with sanguinary violence
»Cover him Master Dick« said Bennet »Bring me him down like a ripe
apple«
The fugitive was now within but a few leaps of safety but this last part of
the meadow ran very steeply uphill and the man ran slower in proportion What
with the greyness of the falling night and the uneven movements of the runner
it was no easy aim and as Dick levelled his bow he felt a kind of pity and a
half desire that he might miss The quarrel sped
The man stumbled and fell and a great cheer arose from Hatch and the
pursuers But they were counting their corn before the harvest The man fell
lightly he was lightly afoot again turned and waved his cap in a bravado and
was out of sight next moment in the margin of the wood
»And the plague go with him« cried Bennet »He has thieves heels he can
run by St Banbury But you touched him Master Shelton he has stolen your
quarrel may he never have good I grudge him less«
»Nay but what made he by the church« asked Sir Oliver »I am shrewdly
afeared there has been mischief here Clipsby good fellow get ye down from
your horse and search thoroughly among the yews«
Clipsby was gone but a little while ere he returned carrying a paper
»This writing was pinned to the church door« he said handing it to the
parson »I found naught else sir parson«
»Now by the power of Mother Church« cried Sir Oliver »but this runs hard
on sacrilege For the kings good pleasure or the lord of the manor well But
that every runthehedge in a green jerkin should fasten papers to the chancel
door nay it runs hard on sacrilege hard and men have burned for matters of
less weight But what have we here The light fails apace Good Master Richard
y have young eyes Read me I pray this libel«
Dick Shelton took the paper in his hand and read it aloud It contained some
lines of a very rugged doggerel hardly even rhyming written in a gross
character and most uncouthly spelt With the spelling somewhat bettered this
is how they ran
»I had four blak arrows under my belt
Four for the greefs that I have felt
Four for the nomber of ill menne
That have oppressid me now and then
One is gone one is wele sped
Old Apulyaird is ded
One is for Maister Bennet Hatch
That burned Grimstone walls and thatch
One for Sir Oliver Oates
That cut Sir Harry Sheltons throat
Sir Daniel ye shull have the fourt
We shall think it fair sport
Ye shull each have your own part
A blak arrow in each blak heart
Get ye to your knees for to pray
Ye are ded theeves by yea and nay
JON AMENDALL
of the Green Wood
And his jolly fellaweship
Item we have mo arrowes and goode hempen cord for otheres of your
following«
»Now welladay for charity and the Christian graces« cried Sir Oliver
lamentably »Sirs this is an ill world and groweth daily worse I will swear
upon the cross of Holywood I am as innocent of that good knights hurt whether
in act or purpose as the babe unchristened Neither was his throat cut for
therein they are again in error as there still live credible witnesses to
show«
»It boots not sir parson« said Bennet »Here is unseasonable talk«
»Nay Master Bennet not so Keep ye in your due place good Bennet«
answered the priest »I shall make mine innocence appear I will upon no
consideration lose my poor life in error I take all men to witness that I am
clear of this matter I was not even in the Moat House I was sent of an errand
before nine upon the clock «
»Sir Oliver« said Hatch interrupting »since it please you not to stop
this sermon I will take other means Goffe sound to horse«
And while the tucket was sounding Bennet moved close to the bewildered
parson and whispered violently in his ear
Dick Shelton saw the priests eye turned upon him for an instant in a
startled glance He had some cause for thought for this Sir Harry Shelton was
his own natural father But he said never a word and kept his countenance
unmoved
Hatch and Sir Oliver discussed together for a while their altered situation
ten men it was decided between them should be reserved not only to garrison
the Moat House but to escort the priest across the wood In the meantime as
Bennet was to remain behind the command of the reinforcement was given to
Master Shelton Indeed there was no choice the men were loutish fellows dull
and unskilled in war while Dick was not only popular but resolute and grave
beyond his age Although his youth had been spent in these rough country places
the lad had been well taught in letters by Sir Oliver and Hatch himself had
shown him the management of arms and the first principles of command Bennet had
always been kind and helpful he was one of those who are cruel as the grave to
those they call their enemies but ruggedly faithful and wellwilling to their
friends and now while Sir Oliver entered the next house to write in his
swift exquisite penmanship a memorandum of the last occurrences to his master
Sir Daniel Brackley Bennet came up to his pupil to wish him Godspeed upon his
enterprise
»Ye must go the long way about Master Shelton« he said »round by the
bridge for your life Keep a sure man fifty paces afore you to draw shots
and go softly till y are past the wood If the rogues fall upon you ride for
t ye will do naught by standing And keep ever forward Master Shelton turn
me not back again an ye love your life there is no help in Tunstall mind ye
that And now since ye go to the great wars about the king and I continue to
dwell here in extreme jeopardy of my life and the saints alone can certify if
we shall meet again below I give you my last counsels now at your riding Keep
an eye on Sir Daniel he is unsure Put not your trust in the jackpriest he
intendeth not amiss but doth the will of others it is a handgun for Sir
Daniel Get you good lordship where ye go make you strong friends look to it
And think ever a paternosterwhile on Bennet Hatch There are worse rogues afoot
than Bennet So Godspeed«
»And Heaven be with you Bennet« returned Dick »Ye were a good friend to
meward and so I shall say ever«
»And look ye master« added Hatch with a certain embarrassment »if this
AmendAll should get a shaft into me ye might mayhap lay out a gold mark or
mayhap a pound for my poor soul for it is like to go stiff with me in
purgatory«
»Ye shall have your will of it Bennet« answered Dick »But what cheer
man we shall meet again where ye shall have more need of ale than masses«
»The saints so grant it Master Dick« returned the other »But here comes
Sir Oliver An he were as quick with the longbow as with the pen he would be a
brave manatarms«
Sir Oliver gave Dick a sealed packet with this superscription »To my ryght
worchypful master Sir Daniel Brackley knyght be thys delyvered in haste«
And Dick putting it in the bosom of his jacket gave the word and set forth
westward up the village
Book I The Two Lads
Chapter I
At the Sign of the »Sun« in Kettley
Sir Daniel and his men lay in and about Kettley that night warmly quartered and
well patrolled But the Knight of Tunstall was one who never rested from
moneygetting and even now when he was on the brink of an adventure which
should make or mar him he was up an hour after midnight to squeeze poor
neighbours He was one who trafficked greatly in disputed inheritances it was
his way to buy out the most unlikely claimant and then by the favour he
curried with great lords about the king procure unjust decisions in his favour
or if that was too roundabout to seize the disputed manor by force of arms
and rely on his influence and Sir Olivers cunning in the law to hold what he
had snatched Kettley was one such place it had come very lately into his
clutches he still met with opposition from the tenants and it was to overawe
discontent that he had led his troops that way
By two in the morning Sir Daniel sat in the inn room close by the
fireside for it was cold at that hour among the fens of Kettley By his elbow
stood a pottle of spiced ale He had taken off his visored headpiece and sat
with his bald head and thin dark visage resting on one hand wrapped warmly in a
sanguinecoloured cloak At the lower end of the room about a dozen of his men
stood sentry over the door or lay asleep on benches and somewhat nearer hand
a young lad apparently of twelve or thirteen was stretched in a mantle on the
floor The host of the Sun stood before the great man
»Now mark me mine host« Sir Daniel said »follow but mine orders and I
shall be your good lord ever I must have good men for head boroughs and I will
have AdamaMore high constable see to it narrowly If other men be chosen it
shall avail you nothing rather it shall be found to your sore cost For those
that have paid rent to Walsingham I shall take good measure you among the
rest mine host«
»Good knight« said the host »I will swear upon the cross of Holywood I did
but pay to Walsingham upon compulsion Nay bully knight I love not the rogue
Walsinghams they were as poor as thieves bully knight Give me a great lord
like you Nay ask me among the neighbours I am stout for Brackley«
»It may be« said Sir Daniel drily »Ye shall then pay twice«
The innkeeper made a horrid grimace but this was a piece of bad luck that
might readily befall a tenant in these unruly times and he was perhaps glad to
make his peace so easily
»Bring up yon fellow Selden« cried the knight
And one of his retainers led up a poor cringing old man as pale as a
candle and all shaking with the fen fever
»Sirrah« said Sir Daniel »your name«
»Ant please your worship« replied the man »my name is Condall Condall
of Shoreby at your good worships pleasure«
»I have heard you ill reported on« returned the knight »Ye deal in
treason rogue ye trudge the country leasing y are heavily suspicioned of the
death of severals How fellow are ye so bold But I will bring you down«
»Right honourable and my reverend lord« the man cried »here is some
hodgepodge saving your good presence I am but a poor private man and have
hurt none«
»The undersheriff did report of you most vilely« said the knight »Seize
me saith he that Tyndal of Shoreby«
»Condall my good lord Condall is my poor name« said the unfortunate
»Condall or Tyndal it is all one« replied Sir Daniel coolly »For by my
sooth y are here and I do mightily suspect your honesty If you would save
your neck write me swiftly an obligation for twenty pound«
»For twenty pound my good lord« cried Condall »Here is midsummer madness
My whole estate amounteth not to seventy shillings«
»Condall or Tyndal« returned Sir Daniel grinning »I will run my peril of
that loss Write me down twenty and when I have recovered all I may I will be
good lord to you and pardon you the rest«
»Alas my good lord it may not be I have no skill to write« said Condall
»Welladay« returned the knight »Here then is no remedy Yet I would
fain have spared you Tyndal had my conscience suffered Selden take me this
old shrew softly to the nearest elm and hang me him tenderly by the neck where
I may see him at my riding Fare ye well good Master Condall dear Master
Tyndal y are posthaste for Paradise fare ye then well«
»Nay my right pleasant lord« replied Condall forcing an obsequious smile
»an ye be so masterful as doth right well become you I will even with all my
poor skill do your good bidding«
»Friend« quoth Sir Daniel »ye will now write two score Go to y are too
cunning for a livelihood of seventy shillings Selden see him write me this
in good form and have it duly witnessed«
And Sir Daniel who was a very merry knight none merrier in England took a
drink of his mulled ale and lay back smiling
Meanwhile the boy upon the floor began to stir and presently sat up and
looked about him with a scare
»Hither« said Sir Daniel and as the other rose at his command and came
slowly towards him he leaned back and laughed outright »By the rood« he
cried »a sturdy boy«
The lad flashed crimson with anger and darted a look of hate out of his
dark eyes Now that he was on his legs it was more difficult to make certain of
his age His face looked somewhat older in expression but it was as smooth as a
young childs and in bone and body he was unusually slender and somewhat
awkward of gait
»Ye have called me Sir Daniel« he said »Was it to laugh at my poor
plight«
»Nay now let laugh« said the knight »Good shrew let laugh I pray you
An ye could see yourself I warrant ye would laugh the first«
»Well« cried the lad flushing »ye shall answer this when ye answer for
the other Laugh while yet ye may«
»Nay now good cousin« replied Sir Daniel with some earnestness »think
not that I mock at you except in mirth as between kinsfolk and singular
friends I will make you a marriage of a thousand pounds go to and cherish you
exceedingly I took you indeed roughly as the time demanded but from
henceforth I shall ungrudgingly maintain and cheerfully serve you Ye shall be
Mrs Shelton Lady Shelton by my troth for the lad promiseth bravely Tut ye
will not shy for honest laughter it purgeth melancholy They are no rogues who
laugh good cousin Good mine host lay me a meal now for my cousin Master
John Sit ye down sweetheart and eat«
»Nay« said Master John »I will break no bread Since ye force me to this
sin I will fast for my souls interest But good mine host I pray you of
courtesy give me a cup of fair water I shall be much beholden to your courtesy
indeed«
»Ye shall have a dispensation go to« cried the knight »Shalt be well
shriven by my faith Content you then and eat«
But the lad was obstinate drank a cup of water and once more wrapping
himself closely in his mantle sat in a far corner brooding
In an hour or two there rose a stir in the village of sentries challenging
and the clatter of arms and horses and then a troop drew up by the inndoor
and Richard Shelton splashed with mud presented himself upon the threshold
»Save you Sir Daniel« he said
»How Dickie Shelton« cried the knight and at the mention of Dicks name
the other lad looked curiously across »What maketh Bennet Hatch«
»Please you sir knight to take cognisance of this packet from Sir Oliver
wherein are all things fully stated« answered Richard presenting the priests
letter »And please you farther ye were best make all speed to Risingham for
on the way hither we encountered one riding furiously with letters and by his
report my Lord of Risingham was sore bestead and lacked exceedingly your
presence«
»How say you Sore bestead« returned the knight »Nay then we will make
speed sitting down good Richard As the world goes in this poor realm of
England he that rides softliest rides surest Delay they say begetteth peril
but it is rather this itch of doing that undoes men mark it Dick But let me
see first what cattle ye have brought Selden a link here at the door«
And Sir Daniel strode forth into the village street and by the red glow of
a torch inspected his new troops He was an unpopular neighbour and an
unpopular master but as a leader in war he was well beloved by those who rode
behind his pennant His dash his proved courage his forethought for the
soldiers comfort even his rough gibes were all to the taste of the bold
blades in jack and salet
»Nay by the rood« he cried »what poor dogs are these Here be some as
crooked as a bow and some as lean as a spear Friends ye shall ride in the
front of the battle I can spare you friends Mark me this old villain on the
piebald A twoyear mutton riding on a hog would look more soldierly Ha
Clipsby are ye there old rat Y are a man I could lose with a good heart ye
shall go in front of all with a bullseye painted on your jack to be the
better butt for archery sirrah ye shall show me the way«
»I will show you any way Sir Daniel but the way to change sides« returned
Clipsby sturdily
Sir Daniel laughed a guffaw
»Why well said« he cried »Hast a shrewd tongue in thy mouth go to I
will forgive you for that merry word Selden see them fed both man and
brute«
The knight reentered the inn
»Now friend Dick« he said »fall to Here is good ale and bacon Eat while
that I read«
Sir Daniel opened the packet and as he read his brow darkened When he had
done he sat a little musing Then he looked sharply at his ward
»Dick« said he »y have seen this penny rhyme«
The lad replied in the affirmative
»It bears your fathers name« continued the knight »and our poor shrew of
a parson is by some mad soul accused of slaying him«
»He did most eagerly deny it« answered Dick
»He did« cried the knight very sharply »Heed him not He has a loose
tongue he babbles like a jacksparrow Some day when I may find the leisure
Dick I will myself more fully inform you of these matters There was one
Duckworth shrewdly blamed for it but the times were troubled and there was no
justice to be got«
»It befell at the Moat House« Dick ventured with a beating at his heart
»It befell between the Moat House and Holywood« replied Sir Daniel calmly
but he shot a covert glance black with suspicion at Dicks face »And now«
added the knight »speed you with your meal ye shall return to Tunstall with a
line from me«
Dicks face fell sorely
»Prithee Sir Daniel« he cried »send one of the villains I beseech you
let me to the battle I can strike a stroke I promise you«
»I misdoubt it not« replied Sir Daniel sitting down to write »But here
Dick is no honour to be won I lie in Kettley till I have sure tidings of the
war and then ride to join me with the conqueror Cry not on cowardice it is
but wisdom Dick for this poor realm so tosseth with rebellion and the kings
name and custody so changeth hands that no man may be certain of the morrow
Tosspot and Shuttlewit run in but my Lord GoodCounsel sits o one side
waiting«
With that Sir Daniel turning his back to Dick and quite at the farther
end of the long table began to write his letter with his mouth on one side
for this business of the Black Arrow stuck sorely in his throat
Meanwhile young Shelton was going on heartily enough with his breakfast
when he felt a touch upon his arm and a very soft voice whispering in his ear
»Make not a sign I do beseech you« said the voice »but of your charity
teach me the straight way to Holywood Beseech you now good boy comfort a
poor soul in peril and extreme distress and set me so far forth upon the way to
my repose«
»Take the path by the windmill« answered Dick in the same tone »it will
bring you to Till Ferry there inquire again«
And without turning his head he fell again to eating But with the tail of
his eye he caught a glimpse of the young lad called Master John stealthily
creeping from the room
»Why« thought Dick »he is as young as I Good boy doth he call me An I
had known I should have seen the varlet hanged ere I had told him Well if he
goes through the fen I may come up with him and pull his ears«
Half an hour later Sir Daniel gave Dick the letter and bade him speed to
the Moat House And again some half an hour after Dicks departure a messenger
came in hot haste from my Lord of Risingham
»Sir Daniel« the messenger said »ye lose great honour by my sooth The
fight began again this morning ere the dawn and we have beaten their van and
scattered their right wing Only the main battle standeth fast An we had your
fresh men we should tilt you them all into the river What sir knight Will ye
be the last It stands not with your good credit«
»Nay« cried the knight »I was but now upon the march Selden sound me
the tucket Sir I am with you on the instant It is not two hours since the
more part of my command came in sir messenger What would ye have Spurring is
good meat but yet it killed the charger Bustle boys«
By this time the tucket was sounding cheerily in the morning and from all
sides Sir Daniels men poured into the main street and formed before the inn
They had slept upon their arms with chargers saddled and in ten minutes five
score menatarms and archers cleanly equipped and briskly disciplined stood
ranked and ready The chief part were in Sir Daniels livery murrey and blue
which gave the greater show to their array The best armed rode first and away
out of sight at the tail of the column came the sorry reinforcement of the
night before Sir Daniel looked with pride along the line
»Here be the lads to serve you in a pinch« he said
»They are pretty men indeed« replied the messenger »It but augments my
sorrow that ye had not marched the earlier«
»Well« said the knight »what would ye The beginning of a feast and the
end of a fray sir messenger« and he mounted into his saddle »Why how now«
he cried »John Joanna Nay by the sacred rood where is she Host where is
that girl«
»Girl Sir Daniel« cried the landlord »Nay sir I saw no girl«
»Boy then dotard« cried the knight »Could ye not see it was a wench She
in the murreycoloured mantle she that broke her fast with water rogue
where is she«
»Nay the saints bless us Master John ye called him« said the host
»Well I thought none evil He is gone I saw him her I saw her in the
stable a good hour agone a was saddling a grey horse«
»Now by the rood« cried Sir Daniel »the wench was worth five hundred
pound to me and more«
»Sir knight« observed the messenger with bitterness »while that ye are
here roaring for five hundred pounds the realm of England is elsewhere being
lost and won«
»It is well said« replied Sir Daniel »Selden fall me out with six
crossbowmen hunt me her down I care not what it cost but at my returning
let me find her at the Moat House Be it upon your head And now sir
messenger we march«
And the troops broke into a good trot and Selden and his six men were left
behind upon the street of Kettley with the staring villagers
Chapter II
In the Fen
It was near six in the May morning when Dick began to ride down into the fen
upon his homeward way The sky was all blue the jolly wind blew loud and
steady the windmillsails were spinning and the willows over all the fen
rippling and whitening like a field of corn He had been all night in the
saddle but his heart was good and his body sound and he rode right merrily
The path went down and down into the marsh till he lost sight of all the
neighbouring landmarks but Kettley windmill on the knoll behind him and the
extreme top of Tunstall Forest far before On either hand there were great
fields of blowing reeds and willows pools of water shaking in the wind and
treacherous bogs as green as emerald to tempt and to betray the traveller The
path lay almost straight through the morass It was already very ancient its
foundation had been laid by Roman soldiery in the lapse of ages much of it had
sunk and every here and there for a few hundred yards it lay submerged below
the stagnant waters of the fen
About a mile from Kettley Dick came to one such break in the plain line of
causeway where the reeds and willows grew dispersedly like little islands and
confused the eye The gap besides was more than usually long it was a place
where any stranger might come readily to mischief and Dick bethought him with
something like a pang of the lad whom he had so imperfectly directed As for
himself one look backward to where the windmillsails were turning black
against the blue of heaven one look forward to the high ground of Tunstall
Forest and he was sufficiently directed and held straight on the water
washing to his horses knees as safe as on a highway
Halfway across and when he had already sighted the path rising high and
dry upon the farther side he was aware of a great splashing on his right and
saw a grey horse sunk to its belly in the mud and still spasmodically
struggling Instantly as though it had divined the neighbourhood of help the
poor beast began to neigh most piercingly It rolled meanwhile a bloodshot
eye insane with terror and as it sprawled wallowing in the quag clouds of
stinging insects rose and buzzed about it in the air
»Alack« thought Dick »can the poor lad have perished There is his horse
for certain a brave grey Nay comrade if thou criest to me so piteously I
will do all man can to help thee Shalt not lie there to drown by inches«
And he made ready his crossbow and put a quarrel through the creatures
head
Dick rode on after this act of rugged mercy somewhat sobered in spirit and
looking closely about him for any sign of his less happy predecessor in the way
»I would I had dared to tell him further« he thought »for I fear he has
miscarried in the slough«
And just as he was so thinking a voice cried upon his name from the
causeway side and looking over his shoulder he saw the lads face peering from
a clump of reeds
»Are ye there« he said reining in »Ye lay so close among the reeds that I
had passed you by I saw your horse bemired and put him from his agony which
by my sooth an ye had been a more merciful rider ye had done yourself But
come forth out of your hiding Here be none to trouble you«
»Nay good boy I have no arms nor skill to use them if I had« replied the
other stepping forth upon the pathway
»Why call me boy« cried Dick »Y are not I trow the elder of us twain«
»Good Master Shelton« said the other »prithee forgive me I have none the
least intention to offend Rather I would in every way beseech your gentleness
and favour for I am now worse bestead than ever having lost my way my cloak
and my poor horse To have a ridingrod and spurs and never a horse to sit
upon And before all« he added looking ruefully upon his clothes »before
all to be so sorrily besmirched«
»Tut« cried Dick »Would ye mind a ducking Blood of wound or dust of
travel thats a mans adornment«
»Nay then I like him better plain« observed the lad »But prithee how
shall I do Prithee good Master Richard help me with your good counsel If I
come not safe to Holywood I am undone«
»Nay« said Dick dismounting »I will give more than counsel Take my
horse and I will run awhile and when I am weary we shall change again that
so riding and running both may go the speedier«
So the change was made and they went forward as briskly as they durst on
the uneven causeway Dick with his hand upon the others knee
»How call ye your name« asked Dick
»Call me John Matcham« replied the lad
»And what make ye to Holywood« Dick continued
»I seek sanctuary from a man that would oppress me« was the answer »The
good Abbot of Holywood is a strong pillar to the weak«
»And how came ye with Sir Daniel Master Matcham« pursued Dick
»Nay« cried the other »by the abuse of force
He hath taken me by violence from my own place dressed me in these weeds
ridden with me till my heart was sick gibed me till I could a wept and when
certain of my friends pursued thinking to have me back claps me in the rear to
stand their shot I was even grazed in the right foot and walk but lamely Nay
there shall come a day between us he shall smart for all«
»Would ye shoot at the moon with a handgun« said Dick »Tis a valiant
knight and hath a hand of iron An he guessed I had made or meddled with your
flight it would go sore with me«
»Ay poor boy« returned the other »y are his ward I know it By the same
token so am I or so he saith or else he hath bought my marriage I wot not
rightly which but it is some handle to oppress me by«
»Boy again« said Dick
»Nay then shall I call you girl good Richard« asked Matcham
»Never a girl for me« returned Dick »I do abjure the crew of them«
»Ye speak boyishly« said the other »Ye think more of them than ye
pretend«
»Not I« said Dick stoutly »They come not in my mind A plague of them say
I Give me to hunt and to fight and to feast and to live with jolly foresters
I never heard of a maid yet that was for any service save one only and she
poor shrew was burned for a witch and the wearing of mens clothes in spite of
nature.«
Master Matcham crossed himself with fervour and appeared to pray
»What make ye« Dick inquired
»I pray for her spirit« answered the other with a somewhat troubled voice
»For a witchs spirit« Dick cried »But pray for her an ye list she was
the best wench in Europe was this Joan of Arc Old Appleyard the archer ran
from her he said as if she had been Mahoun Nay she was a brave wench«
»Well but good Master Richard« resumed Matcham »an ye like maids so
little y are no true natural man for God made them twain by intention and
brought true love into the world to be mans hope and womans comfort«
»Faugh« said Dick »Y are a milksopping baby so to harp on women An ye
think I be no true man get down upon the path and whether at fists
backsword or bow and arrow I will prove my manhood on your body«
»Nay I am no fighter« replied Matcham eagerly »I mean no tittle of
offence I meant but pleasantry And if I talk of women it is because I heard
ye were to marry«
»I to marry« Dick exclaimed »Well it is the first I hear of it And with
whom was I to marry«
»One Joan Sedley« replied Matcham colouring »It was Sir Daniels doing
he hath money to gain upon both sides and indeed I have heard the poor wench
bemoaning herself pitifully of the match It seems she is of your mind or else
distasted to the bridegroom«
»Well marriage is like death it comes to all« said Dick with
resignation »And she bemoaned herself I pray ye now see there how
shuttlewitted are these girls to bemoan herself before that she had seen me
Do I bemoan myself Not I An I be to marry I will marry dryeyed But if ye
know her prithee of what favour is she fair or foul And is she shrewish or
pleasant«
»Nay what matters it« said Matcham »An y are to marry ye can but marry
What matters foul or fair These be but toys Y are no milksop Master Richard
ye will wed with dry eyes anyhow«
»It is well said« replied Shelton »Little I reck«
»Your lady wife is like to have a pleasant lord« said Matcham
»She shall have the lord Heaven made her for« returned Dick »I trow there
be worse as well as better«
»Ah the poor wench« cried the other
»And why so poor« asked Dick
»To wed a man of wood« replied his companion »O me for a wooden husband«
»I think I be a man of wood indeed« said Dick »to trudge afoot the while
you ride my horse but it is good wood I trow«
»Good Dick forgive me« cried the other »Nay y are the best heart in
England I but laughed Forgive me now sweet Dick«
»Nay no fool words« returned Dick a little embarrassed by his companions
warmth »No harm is done I am not touchy praise the saints«
And at that moment the wind which was blowing straight behind them as they
went brought them the rough flourish of Sir Daniels trumpeter
»Hark« said Dick »the tucket soundeth«
»Ay« said Matcham »they have found my flight and now I am unhorsed« and
he became pale as death
»Nay what cheer« returned Dick »Y have a long start and we are near the
ferry And it is I methinks that am unhorsed«
»Alack I shall be taken« cried the fugitive »Dick kind Dick beseech ye
help me but a little«
»Why now what aileth thee« said Dick »Methinks I help you very patently
But my heart is sorry for so spiritless a fellow And see ye here John Matcham
sith John Matcham is your name I Richard Shelton tide what betideth come
what may will see you safe in Holywood The saints so do to me again if I
default you Come pick me up a good heart Sir Whiteface The way betters
here spur me the horse Go faster faster Nay mind not for me I can run like
a deer«
So with the horse trotting hard and Dick running easily alongside they
crossed the remainder of the fen and came out upon the banks of the river by
the ferrymans hut
Chapter III
The Fen Ferry
The river Till was a wide sluggish clayey water oozing out of fens and in
this part of its course it strained among some score of willowcovered marshy
islets
It was a dingy stream but upon this bright spirited morning everything was
become beautiful The wind and the martens broke it up into innumerable dimples
and the reflection of the sky was scattered over all the surface in crumbs of
smiling blue
A creek ran up to meet the path and close under the bank the ferrymans hut
lay snugly It was of wattle and clay and the grass grew green upon the roof
Dick went to the door and opened it Within upon a foul old russet cloak
the ferryman lay stretched and shivering a great hulk of a man but lean and
shaken by the country fever
»Hey Master Shelton« he said »be ye for the ferry Ill times ill times
Look to yourself There is a fellowship abroad Ye were better turn round on
your two heels and try the bridge«
»Nay times in the saddle« answered Dick »Time will ride Hugh Ferryman
I am hot in haste«
»A wilful man« returned the ferryman rising »An ye win safe to the Moat
House y have done lucky but I say no more« And then catching sight of
Matcham »Who be this« he asked as he paused blinking on the threshold of
his cabin
»It is my kinsman Master Matcham« answered Dick
»Give ye good day good ferryman« said Matcham who had dismounted and now
came forward leading the horse »Launch me your boat I prithee we are sore in
haste«
The gaunt ferryman continued staring
»By the mass« he cried at length and laughed with open throat
Matcham coloured to his neck and winced and Dick with an angry
countenance put his hand on the louts shoulder
»How now churl« he cried »Fall to thy business and leave mocking thy
betters«
Hugh Ferryman grumblingly undid his boat and shoved it a little forth into
the deep water Then Dick led in the horse and Matcham followed
»Ye be mortal small made master« said Hugh with a wide grin »something
o the wrong model belike Nay Master Shelton I am for you« he added
getting to his oars »A cat may look at a king I did but take a shot of the eye
at Master Matcham«
»Sirrah no more words« said Dick »Bend me your back«
They were by that time at the mouth of the creek and the view opened up and
down the river Everywhere it was enclosed with islands Clay banks were falling
in willows nodding reeds waving martens dipping and piping There was no sign
of man in the labyrinth of waters
»My master« said the ferryman keeping the boat steady with one oar »I
have a shrewd guess that JohnaFenne is on the island He bears me a black
grudge to all Sir Daniels How if I turned me up stream and landed you an
arrowflight above the path Ye were best not meddle with John Fenne«
»How then is he of this company« asked Dick
»Nay mum is the word« said Hugh »But I would go up water Dick How if
Master Matcham came by an arrow« and he laughed again
»Be it so Hugh« answered Dick
»Look ye then« pursued Hugh »Sith it shall so be unsling me your
crossbow so now make it ready good place me a quarrel Ay keep it so
and look upon me grimly«
»What meaneth this« asked Dick
»Why my master if I steal you across it must be under force or fear«
replied the ferryman »for else if John Fenne got wind of it he were like to
prove my most distressful neighbour«
»Do these churls ride so roughly« Dick inquired »Do they command Sir
Daniels own ferry«
»Nay« whispered the ferryman winking »Mark me Sir Daniel shall down His
time is out He shall down Mum« And he bent over his oars
They pulled a long way up the river turned the tail of an island and came
softly down a narrow channel next the opposite bank Then Hugh held water in
midstream
»I must land you here among the willows« he said
»Here is no path but willow swamps and quagmires« answered Dick
»Master Shelton« replied Hugh »I dare not take ye nearer down for your
own sake now He watcheth me the ferry lying on his bow All that go by and owe
Sir Daniel goodwill he shooteth down like rabbits I heard him swear it by the
rood An I had not known you of old days ay and from so high upward I would
a let you go on but for old days remembrance and because ye had this toy
with you thats not fit for wounds or warfare I did risk my two poor ears to
have you over whole Content you I can no more on my salvation«
Hugh was still speaking lying on his oars when there came a great shout
from among the willows on the island and sounds followed as of a strong man
breasting roughly through the wood
»A murrain« cried Hugh »He was on the upper island all the while« He
pulled straight for shore »Threat me with your bow good Dick threat me with
it plain« he added »I have tried to save your skins save you mine«
The boat ran into a tough thicket of willows with a crash Matcham pale
but steady and alert at a sign from Dick ran along the thwarts and leaped
ashore Dick taking the horse by the bridle sought to follow but what with
the animals bulk and what with the closeness of the thicket both stuck fast
The horse neighed and trampled and the boat which was swinging in an eddy
came on and off and pitched with violence
»It may not be Hugh here is no landing« cried Dick but he still
struggled valiantly with the obstinate thicket and the startled animal
A tall man appeared upon the shore of the island a longbow in his hand
Dick saw him for an instant with the corner of his eye bending the bow with a
great effort his face crimson with hurry
»Who goes« he shouted »Hugh who goes«
»Tis Master Shelton John« replied the ferryman
»Stand Dick Shelton« bawled the man upon the island »Ye shall have no
hurt upon the rood Stand Back out Hugh Ferryman«
Dick cried a taunting answer
»Nay then ye shall go afoot« returned the man and he let drive an arrow
The horse struck by the shaft lashed out in agony and terror the boat
capsized and next moment all were struggling in the eddies of the river
When Dick came up he was within a yard of the bank and before his eyes were
clear his hand had closed on something firm and strong that instantly began to
drag him forward It was the ridingrod that Matcham crawling forth upon an
overhanging willow had opportunely thrust into his grasp
»By the mass« cried Dick as he was helped ashore »that makes a life I owe
you I swim like a cannonball« And he turned instantly towards the island
Midway over Hugh Ferryman was swimming with his upturned boat while
JohnaFenne furious at the illfortune of his shot bawled to him to hurry
»Come Jack« said Shelton »run for it Ere Hugh can hale his barge across
or the pair of em can get it righted we may be out of cry«
And adding example to his words he began to run dodging among the willows
and in marshy places leaping from tussock to tussock He had no time to look for
his direction all he could do was to turn his back upon the river and put all
his heart to running
Presently however the ground began to rise which showed him he was still
in the right way and soon after they came forth upon a slope of solid turf
where elms began to mingle with the willows
But here Matcham who had been dragging far into the rear threw himself
fairly down
»Leave me Dick« he cried pantingly »I can no more«
Dick turned and came back to where his companion lay
»Nay Jack leave thee« he cried »That were a knaves trick to be sure
when ye risked a shot and a ducking ay and a drowning too to save my life
Drowning in sooth for why I did not pull you in along with me the saints
alone can tell«
»Nay« said Matcham »I would a saved us both good Dick for I can swim«
»Can ye so« cried Dick with open eyes It was the one manly accomplishment
of which he was himself incapable In the order of the things that he admired
next to having killed a man in single fight came swimming »Well« he said
»here is a lesson to despise no man I promised to care for you as far as
Holywood and by the rood Jack y are more capable to care for me«
»Well Dick were friends now« said Matcham
»Nay I never was unfriends« answered Dick »Y are a brave lad in your
way albeit something of a milksop too I never met your like before this day
But prithee fetch back your breath and let us on Here is no place for
chatter«
»My foot hurts shrewdly« said Matcham
»Nay I had forgot your foot« returned Dick »Well we must go the
gentlier I would I knew rightly where we were I have clean lost the path yet
that may be for the better too An they watch the ferry they watch the path
belike as well I would Sir Daniel were back with two score men he would sweep
me these rascals as the wind sweeps leaves Come Jack lean ye on my shoulder
ye poor shrew Nay y are not tall enough What age are ye for a wager
twelve«
»Nay I am sixteen« said Matcham
»Y are poorly grown to height then« answered Dick »But take my hand We
shall go softly never fear I owe you a life I am a good repayer Jack of
good or evil«
They began to go forward up the slope
»We must hit the road early or late« continued Dick »and then for a fresh
start By the mass but y have a rickety hand Jack If I had a hand like that
I would think shame I tell you« he went on with a sudden chuckle »I swear by
the mass I believe Hugh Ferryman took you for a maid«
»Nay never« cried the other colouring high
»A did though for a wager« Dick exclaimed »Small blame to him Ye look
liker maid than man and I tell you more y are a strangelooking rogue for a
boy but for a hussy Jack ye would be right fair ye would Ye would be
wellfavoured for a wench«
»Well« said Matcham »ye know right well that I am none«
»Nay I know that I do but jest« said Dick »Yell be a man before your
mother Jack What cheer my bully Ye shall strike shrewd strokes Now which
I marvel of you or me shall be first knighted Jack for knighted I shall be
or die for t Sir Richard Shelton Knight it soundeth bravely But Sir John
Matcham soundeth not amiss«
»Prithee Dick stop till I drink« said the other pausing where a little
clear spring welled out of the slope into a gravelled basin no bigger than a
pocket »And O Dick if I might come by anything to eat my very heart aches
with hunger«
»Why fool did ye not eat at Kettley« asked Dick
»I had made a vow it was a sin I had been led into« stammered Matcham
»but now if it were but dry bread I would eat it greedily«
»Sit ye then and eat« said Dick »while that I scout a little forward for
the road« And he took a wallet from his girdle wherein were bread and pieces
of dry bacon and while Matcham fell heartily to struck farther forth among
the trees
A little beyond there was a dip in the ground where a streamlet soaked
among dead leaves and beyond that again the trees were better grown and stood
wider and oak and beech began to take the place of willow and elm The
continued tossing and pouring of the wind among the leaves sufficiently
concealed the sounds of his footsteps on the mast it was for the ear what a
moonless night is to the eye but for all that Dick went cautiously slipping
from one big trunk to another and looking sharply about him as he went
Suddenly a doe passed like a shadow through the underwood in front of him and
he paused disgusted at the chance This part of the wood had been certainly
deserted but now that the poor deer had run she was like a messenger he should
have sent before him to announce his coming and instead of pushing farther he
turned him to the nearest wellgrown tree and rapidly began to climb
Luck had served him well The oak on which he had mounted was one of the
tallest in that quarter of the wood and easily outtopped its neighbours by a
fathom and a half and when Dick had clambered into the topmost fork and clung
there swinging dizzily in the great wind he saw behind him the whole fenny
plain as far as Kettley and the Till wandering among woody islets and in front
of him the white line of highroad winding through the forest The boat had been
righted it was even now midway on the ferry Beyond that there was no sign of
man nor aught moving but the wind He was about to descend when taking a last
view his eye lit upon a string of moving points about the middle of the fen
Plainly a small troop was threading the causeway and that at a good pace and
this gave him some concern as he shinned vigorously down the trunk and returned
across the wood for his companion
Chapter IV
A Greenwood Company
Matcham was well rested and revived and the two lads winged by what Dick had
seen hurried through the remainder of the outwood crossed the road in safety
and began to mount into the high ground of Tunstall Forest The trees grew more
and more in groves with heathy places in between sandy gorsy and dotted with
old yews The ground became more and more uneven full of pits and hillocks And
with every step of the ascent the wind still blew the shriller and the trees
bent before the gusts like fishingrods
They had just entered one of the clearings when Dick suddenly clapped down
upon his face among the brambles and began to crawl slowly backward towards the
shelter of the grove Matcham in great bewilderment for he could see no reason
for this flight still imitated his companions course and it was not until
they had gained the harbour of a thicket that he turned and begged him to
explain
For all reply Dick pointed with his finger
At the far end of the clearing a fir grew high above the neighbouring wood
and planted its black shock of foliage clear against the sky For about fifty
feet above the ground the trunk grew straight and solid like a column At that
level it split into two massive boughs and in the fork like a mastheaded
seaman there stood a man in a green tabard spying far and wide The sun
glistened upon his hair with one hand he shaded his eyes to look abroad and he
kept slowly rolling his head from side to side with the regularity of a
machine
The lads exchanged glances
»Let us try to the left« said Dick »We had near fallen foully Jack«
Ten minutes afterwards they struck into a beaten path
»Here is a piece of forest that I know not« Dick remarked »Where goeth me
this track«
»Let us even try« said Matcham
A few yards farther the path came to the top of a ridge and began to go
down abruptly into a cupshaped hollow At the foot out of a thick wood of
flowering hawthorn two or three roofless gables blackened as if by fire and a
single tall chimney marked the ruins of a house
»What may this be« whispered Matcham
»Nay by the mass I know not« answered Dick »I am all at sea Let us go
warily«
With beating hearts they descended through the hawthorns Here and there
they passed signs of recent cultivation fruittrees and potherbs ran wild
among the thicket a sundial had fallen in the grass it seemed they were
treading what once had been a garden Yet a little farther and they came forth
before the ruins of the house
It had been a pleasant mansion and a strong A dry ditch was dug deep about
it but it was now choked with masonry and bridged by a fallen rafter The two
farther walls still stood the sun shining through their empty windows but the
remainder of the building had collapsed and now lay in a great cairn of ruin
grimed with fire Already in the interior a few plants were springing green
among the chinks
»Now I bethink me« whispered Dick »this must be Grimstone It was a hold
of one Simon Malmesbury Sir Daniel was his bane Twas Bennet Hatch that burned
it now five years agone In sooth twas pity for it was a fair house«
Down in the hollow where no wind blew it was both warm and still and
Matcham laying one hand upon Dicks arm held up a warning finger
»Hist« he said
Then came a strange sound breaking on the quiet It was twice repeated ere
they recognised its nature It was the sound of a big man clearing his throat
and just then a hoarse untuneful voice broke into singing
»Then up and spake the master the king of the outlaws
What make ye here my merry men among the greenwood shaws
And Gamelyn made answer he lookèd never adown
O they must need to walk in wood that may not walk in town«
The singer paused a faint clink of iron followed and then silence
The two lads stood looking at each other Whoever he might be their
invisible neighbour was just beyond the ruin And suddenly the colour came into
Matchams face and next moment he had crossed the fallen rafter and was
climbing cautiously on the huge pile of lumber that filled the interior of the
roofless house Dick would have withheld him had he been in time as it was he
was fain to follow
Right in the corner of the ruin two rafters had fallen crosswise and
protected a clear space no larger than a pew in church Into this the lads
silently lowered themselves There they were perfectly concealed and through an
arrow loophole commanded a view upon the farther side
Peering through this they were struck stiff with terror at their
predicament To retreat was impossible they scarce dared to breathe Upon the
very margin of the ditch not thirty feet from where they crouched an iron
caldron bubbled and steamed above a glowing fire and close by in an attitude
of listening as though he had caught some sound of their clambering among the
ruins a tall redfaced batteredlooking man stood poised an iron spoon in
his right hand a horn and a formidable dagger at his belt Plainly this was the
singer plainly he had been stirring the caldron when some incautious step
among the lumber had fallen upon his ear A little farther off another man lay
slumbering rolled in a brown cloak with a butterfly hovering above his face
All this was in a clearing white with daisies and at the extreme verge a bow a
sheaf of arrows and part of a deers carcass hung upon a flowering hawthorn
Presently the fellow relaxed from his attitude of attention raised the
spoon to his mouth tasted its contents nodded and then fell again to stirring
and singing
»O they must need to walk in wood that may not walk in town«
he croaked taking up his song where he had left it
»O sir we walk not here at all an evil thing to do
But if we meet with the good kings deer to shoot a shaft into«
Still as he sang he took from time to time another spoonful of the broth blew
upon it and tasted it with all the airs of an experienced cook At length
apparently he judged the mess was ready for taking the horn from his girdle
he blew three modulated calls
The other fellow awoke rolled over brushed away the butterfly and looked
about him
»How now brother« he said »Dinner«
»Ay sot« replied the cook »dinner it is and a dry dinner too with
neither ale nor bread But there is little pleasure in the greenwood now time
was when a good fellow could live here like a mitred abbot set aside the rain
and the white frosts he had his hearts desire both of ale and wine But now
are mens spirits dead and this John AmendAll save us and guard us but a
stuffed booby to scare crows withal«
»Nay« returned the other »y are too set on meat and drinking Lawless
Bide ye a bit the good time cometh«
»Look ye« returned the cook »I have even waited for this good time sith
that I was so high I have been a grey friar I have been a kings archer I
have been a shipman and sailed the salt seas and I have been in greenwood
before this forsooth and shot the kings deer What cometh of it Naught I
were better to have bided in the cloister John Abbot availeth more than John
AmendAll Byr Lady here they come«
One after another tall likely fellows began to stroll into the lawn Each
as he came produced a knife and a horn cup helped himself from the caldron and
sat down upon the grass to eat They were very variously equipped and armed
some in rusty smocks and with nothing but a knife and an old bow others in the
height of forest gallantry all in Lincoln green both hood and jerkin with
dainty peacock arrows in their belts a horn upon a baldrick and a sword and
dagger at their sides They came in the silence of hunger and scarce growled a
salutation but fell instantly to meat
There were perhaps a score of them already gathered when a sound of
suppressed cheering arose close by among the hawthorns and immediately after
five or six woodmen carrying a stretcher debouched upon the lawn A tall lusty
fellow somewhat grizzled and as brown as a smoked ham walked before them with
an air of some authority his bow at his back a bright boarspear in his hand
»Lads« he cried »good fellows all and my right merry friends y have
sung this while on a dry whistle and lived at little ease But what said I
ever Abide Fortune constantly she turneth turneth swift And lo here is her
little firstling even that good creature ale«
There was a murmur of applause as the bearers set down the stretcher and
displayed a goodly cask
»And now haste ye boys« the man continued »There is work toward A
handful of archers are but now come to the ferry murrey and blue is their wear
they are our butts they shall all taste arrows no man of them shall struggle
through this wood For lads we are here some fifty strong each man of us most
foully wronged for some they have lost lands and some friends and some they
have been outlawed all oppressed Who then hath done this evil Sir Daniel
by the rood Shall he then profit shall he sit snug in our houses shall he
till our fields shall he suck the bone he robbed us of I trow not He getteth
him strength at law he gaineth cases nay there is one case he shall not gain
I have a writ here at my belt that please the saints shall conquer him«
Lawless the cook was by this time already at his second horn of ale He
raised it as if to pledge the speaker
»Master Ellis« he said »y are for vengeance well it becometh you but
your poor brother o the greenwood that had never lands to lose nor friends to
think upon looketh rather for his poor part to the profit of the thing He
had liefer a gold noble and a pottle of canary wine than all the vengeances in
purgatory«
»Lawless« replied the other »to reach the Moat House Sir Daniel must pass
the forest We shall make that passage dearer pardy than any battle Then
when he has got to earth with such ragged handful as escapeth us all his great
friends fallen and fled away and none to give him aid we shall beleaguer that
old fox about and great shall be the fall of him Tis a fat buck he will make
a dinner for us all«
»Ay« returned Lawless »I have eaten many of these dinners beforehand but
the cooking of them is hot work good Master Ellis And meanwhile what do we We
make black arrows we write rhymes and we drink fair cold water that
discomfortable drink«
»Y are untrue Will Lawless Ye still smell of the Grey Friars buttery
greed is your undoing« answered Ellis »We took twenty pounds from Appleyard
We took seven marks from the messenger last night A day ago we had fifty from
the merchant«
»And today« said one of the men »I stopped a fat pardoner riding apace
for Holywood Here is his purse«
Ellis counted the contents
»Five score shillings« he grumbled »Fool he had more in his sandal or
stitched into his tippet Y are but a child Tom Cuckow ye have lost the
fish«
But for all that Ellis pocketed the purse with nonchalance He stood
leaning on his boarspear and looked round upon the rest They in various
attitudes took greedily of the venison pottage and liberally washed it down
with ale This was a good day they were in luck but business pressed and they
were speedy in their eating The firstcomers had by this time even despatched
their dinner Some lay down upon the grass and fell instantly asleep like
boaconstrictors others talked together or overhauled their weapons and one
whose humour was particularly gay holding forth an alehorn began to sing
»Here is no law in good green shaw
Here is no lack of meat
Tis merry and quiet with deer for our diet
In summer when all is sweet
Come winter again with wind and rain
Come winter with snow and sleet
Get home to your places with hoods on your faces
And sit by the fire and eat«
All this while the two lads had listened and lain close only Richard had
unslung his crossbow and held ready in one hand the windac or grapplingiron
that he used to bend it Otherwise they had not dared to stir and this scene of
forest life had gone on before their eyes like a scene upon a theatre But now
there came a strange interruption The tall chimney which overtopped the
remainder of the ruins rose right above their hidingplace There came a whistle
in the air and then a sounding smack and the fragments of a broken arrow fell
about their ears Some one from the upper quarters of the wood perhaps the very
sentinel they saw posted in the fir had shot an arrow at the chimneytop
Matcham could not restrain a little cry which he instantly stifled and
even Dick started with surprise and dropped the windac from his fingers But to
the fellows on the lawn this shaft was an expected signal They were all afoot
together tightening their belts testing their bowstrings loosening sword and
dagger in the sheath Ellis held up his hand his face had suddenly assumed a
look of savage energy the white of his eyes shone in his sunbrown face
»Lads« he said »ye know your places Let not one mans soul escape you
Appleyard was a whet before a meal but now we go to table I have three men
whom I will bitterly avenge Harry Shelton Simon Malmesbury and« striking
his broad bosom »and Ellis Duckworth by the mass«
Another man came red with hurry through the thorns
»Tis not Sir Daniel« he panted »They are but seven Is the arrow gone«
»It struck but now« replied Ellis
»A murrain« cried the messenger »Methought I heard it whistle And I go
dinnerless«
In the space of a minute some running some walking sharply according as
their stations were nearer or farther away the men of the Black Arrow had all
disappeared from the neighbourhood of the ruined house and the caldron and the
fire which was now burning low and the dead deers carcass on the hawthorn
remained alone to testify they had been there
Chapter V
»Bloody as the Hunter«
The lads lay quiet till the last footstep had melted on the wind Then they
arose and with many an ache for they were weary with constraint clambered
through the ruins and recrossed the ditch upon the rafter Matcham had picked up
the windac and went first Dick following stiffly with his crossbow on his arm
»And now« said Matcham »forth to Holywood«
»To Holywood« cried Dick »when good fellows stand shot Not I I would see
you hanged first Jack«
»Ye would leave me would ye« Matcham asked
»Ay by my sooth« returned Dick »An I be not in time to warn these lads I
will go die with them What would ye have me leave my own men that I have lived
among I trow not Give me my windac«
But there was nothing further from Matchams mind
»Dick« he said »ye sware before the saints that ye would see me safe to
Holywood Would ye be forsworn Would you desert me a perjurer«
»Nay I swear for the best« returned Dick »I meant it too but now But
look ye Jack turn again with me Let me but warn these men and if needs
must stand shot with them then shall all be clear and I will on again to
Holywood and purge mine oath«
»Ye but deride me« answered Matcham »These men ye go to succour are the
same that hunt me to my ruin«
Dick scratched his head
»I cannot help it Jack« he said »Here is no remedy What would ye Ye run
no great peril man and these are in the way of death Death« he added »Think
of it What a murrain do ye keep me here for Give me the windac St George
shall they all die«
»Richard Shelton« said Matcham looking him squarely in the face »would
ye then join party with Sir Daniel Have ye not ears Heard ye not this Ellis
what he said or have ye no heart for your own kindly blood and the father that
men slew Harry Shelton he said and Sir Harry Shelton was your father as the
sun shines in heaven«
»What would ye« Dick cried again »Would ye have me credit thieves«
»Nay I have heard it before now« returned Matcham »The fame goeth
currently it was Sir Daniel slew him He slew him under oath in his own house
he shed the innocent blood Heaven wearies for the avenging ont and you the
mans son ye go about to comfort and defend the murderer«
»Jack« cried the lad »I know not It may be what know I But see here
This man hath bred me up and fostered me and his men I have hunted with and
played among and to leave them in the hour of peril O man if I did that I
were stark dead to honour Nay Jack ye would not ask it ye would not wish me
to be base«
»But your father Dick« said Matcham somewhat wavering »Your father and
your oath to me Ye took the saints to witness«
»My father« cried Shelton »Nay he would have me go If Sir Daniel slew
him when the hour comes this hand shall slay Sir Daniel but neither him nor
his will I desert in peril And for mine oath good Jack ye shall absolve me of
it here For the lives sake of many men that hurt you not and for mine honour
ye shall set me free«
»I Dick Never« returned Matcham »An ye leave me y are forsworn and so
I shall declare it«
»My blood heats« said Dick »Give me the windac Give it me«
»Ill not« said Matcham »Ill save you in your teeth«
»Not« cried Dick »Ill make you«
»Try it« said the other
They stood looking in each others eyes each ready for a spring Then Dick
leaped and though Matcham turned instantly and fled in two bounds he was
overtaken the windac was twisted from his grasp he was thrown roughly to the
ground and Dick stood across him flushed and menacing with doubled fist
Matcham lay where he had fallen with his face in the grass not thinking of
resistance
Dick bent his bow
»Ill teach you« he cried fiercely »Oath or no oath ye may go hang for
me«
And he turned and began to run Matcham was on his feet at once and began
running after him
»What dye want« cried Dick stopping »What make ye after me Stand off«
»I will follow an I please« said Matcham »This wood is free to me«
»Stand back byr Lady« returned Dick raising his bow
»Ah y are a brave boy« retorted Matcham »Shoot«
Dick lowered his weapon in some confusion
»See here« he said »Y have done me ill enough Go then Go your way in
fair wise or whether I will or not I must even drive you to it«
»Well« said Matcham doggedly »y are the stronger Do your worst I shall
not leave to follow thee Dick unless thou makest me« he added
Dick was almost beside himself It went against his heart to beat a creature
so defenceless and for the life of him he knew no other way to rid himself of
this unwelcome and as he began to think perhaps untrue companion
»Y are mad I think« he cried »Foolfellow I am hasting to your foes as
fast as foot can carry me go I thither«
»I care not Dick« replied the lad »If y are bound to die Dick Ill die
too I would liefer go with you to prison than to go free without you«
»Well« returned the other »I may stand no longer prating Follow me if ye
must but if ye play me false it shall but little advance you mark ye that
Shalt have a quarrel in thine inwards boy«
So saying Dick took once more to his heels keeping in the margin of the
thicket and looking briskly about him as he went At a good pace he rattled out
of the dell and came again into the more open quarters of the wood To the left
a little eminence appeared spotted with golden gorse and crowned with a black
tuft of firs
»I shall see from there« he thought and struck for it across a heathy
clearing
He had gone but a few yards when Matcham touched him on the arm and
pointed To the eastward of the summit there was a dip and as it were a
valley passing to the other side the heath was not yet out all the ground was
rusty like an unscoured buckler and dotted sparingly with yews and there one
following another Dick saw half a score green jerkins mounting the ascent and
marching at their head conspicuous by his boarspear Ellis Duckworth in
person One after another gained the top showed for a moment against the sky
and then dipped upon the farther side until the last was gone
Dick looked at Matcham with a kindlier eye
»So y are to be true to me Jack« he asked »I thought ye were of the
other party«
Matcham began to sob
»What cheer« cried Dick »Now the saints behold us would ye snivel for a
word«
»Ye hurt me« sobbed Matcham »Ye hurt me when ye threw me down Y are a
coward to abuse your strength«
»Nay that is fools talk« said Dick roughly »Y had no title to my
windac Master John I would a done right to have well basted you If ye go
with me ye must obey me and so come«
Matcham had half a thought to stay behind but seeing that Dick continued
to scour fulltilt towards the eminence and not so much as looked across his
shoulder he soon thought better of that and began to run in turn But the
ground was very difficult and steep Dick had already a long start and had at
any rate the lighter heels and he had long since come to the summit crawled
forward through the firs and ensconced himself in a thick tuft of gorse before
Matcham panting like a deer rejoined him and lay down in silence by his side
Below in the bottom of a considerable valley the short cut from Tunstall
hamlet wound downwards to the ferry It was well beaten and the eye followed it
easily from point to point Here it was bordered by open glades there the
forest closed upon it every hundred yards it ran beside an ambush Far down the
path the sun shone on seven steel salets and from time to time as the trees
opened Selden and his men could be seen riding briskly still bent upon Sir
Daniels mission The wind had somewhat fallen but still tussled merrily with
the trees and perhaps had Appleyard been there he would have drawn a warning
from the troubled conduct of the birds
»Now mark« Dick whispered »They be already well advanced into the wood
their safety lieth rather in continuing forward But see ye where this wide
glade runneth down before us and in the midst of it these two score trees make
like an island There were their safety An they but come sound as far as that
I will make shift to warn them But my heart misgiveth me they are but seven
against so many and they but carry crossbows The longbow Jack will have the
uppermost ever«
Meanwhile Selden and his men still wound up the path ignorant of their
danger and momently drew nearer hand Once indeed they paused drew into a
group and seemed to point and listen But it was something from far away across
the plain that had arrested their attention a hollow growl of cannon that
came from time to time upon the wind and told of the great battle It was
worth a thought to be sure for if the voice of the big guns were thus become
audible in Tunstall Forest the fight must have rolled ever eastward and the
day by consequence gone sore against Sir Daniel and the lords of the dark
rose
But presently the little troop began again to move forward and came next to
a very open heathy portion of the way where but a single tongue of forest ran
down to join the road They were but just abreast of this when an arrow shone
flying One of the men threw up his arms his horse reared and both fell and
struggled together in a mass Even from where the boys lay they could hear the
rumour of the mens voices crying out they could see the startled horses
prancing and presently as the troop began to recover from their first
surprise one fellow beginning to dismount A second arrow from somewhat farther
off glanced in a wide arch a second rider bit the dust The man who was
dismounting lost hold upon the rein and his horse fled galloping and dragged
him by the foot along the road bumping from stone to stone and battered by the
fleeing hoofs The four who still kept the saddle instantly broke and scattered
one wheeled and rode shrieking towards the ferry the other three with loose
rein and flying raiment came galloping up the road from Tunstall From every
clump they passed an arrow sped Soon a horse fell but the rider found his feet
and continued to pursue his comrades till a second shot despatched him Another
man fell then another horse out of the whole troop there was but one fellow
left and he on foot only in different directions the noise of the galloping
of three riderless horses was dying fast into the distance
All this time not one of the assailants had for a moment showed himself
Here and there along the path horse or man rolled undespatched in his agony
but no merciful enemy broke cover to put them from their pain
The solitary survivor stood bewildered in the road beside his fallen
charger He had come the length of that broad glade with the island of timber
pointed out by Dick He was not perhaps five hundred yards from where the boys
lay hidden and they could see him plainly looking to and fro in deadly
expectation But nothing came and the man began to pluck up his courage and
suddenly unslung and bent his bow At the same time by something in his action
Dick recognised Selden
At this offer of resistance from all about him in the covert of the woods
there went up the sound of laughter A score of men at least for this was the
very thickest of the ambush joined in this cruel and untimely mirth Then an
arrow glanced over Seldens shoulder and he leaped and ran a little back
Another dart struck quivering at his heel He made for the cover A third shaft
leaped out right in his face and fell short in front of him And then the
laughter was repeated loudly rising and reechoing from different thickets
It was plain that his assailants were but baiting him as men in those
days baited the poor bull or as the cat still trifles with the mouse The
skirmish was well over farther down the road a fellow in green was already
calmly gathering the arrows and now in the evil pleasure of their hearts they
gave themselves the spectacle of their poor fellowsinner in his torture
Selden began to understand he uttered a roar of anger shouldered his
crossbow and sent a quarrel at a venture into the wood Chance favoured him
for a slight cry responded Then throwing down his weapon Selden began to run
before him up the glade and almost in a straight line for Dick and Matcham
The companions of the Black Arrow now began to shoot in earnest But they
were properly served their chance had passed most of them had now to shoot
against the sun and Selden as he ran bounded from side to side to baffle and
deceive their aim Best of all by turning up the glade he had defeated their
preparations there were no marksmen posted higher up than the one whom he had
just killed or wounded and the confusion of the foresters counsels soon became
apparent A whistle sounded thrice and then again twice It was repeated from
another quarter The woods on either side became full of the sound of people
bursting through the underwood and a bewildered deer ran out into the open
stood for a second on three feet with nose in air and then plunged again into
the thicket
Selden still ran bounding ever and again an arrow followed him but still
would miss It began to appear as if he might escape Dick had his bow armed
ready to support him even Matcham forgetful of his interest took sides at
heart for the poor fugitive and both lads glowed and trembled in the ardour of
their hearts
He was within fifty yards of them when an arrow struck him and he fell He
was up again indeed upon the instant but now he ran staggering and like a
blind man turned aside from his direction
Dick leaped to his feet and waved to him
»Here« he cried »This way here is help Nay run fellow run«
But just then a second arrow struck Selden in the shoulder between the
plates of his brigandine and piercing through his jack brought him like a
stone to earth
»O the poor heart« cried Matcham with clasped hands
And Dick stood petrified upon the hill a mark for archery
Ten to one he had speedily been shot for the foresters were furious with
themselves and taken unawares by Dicks appearance in the rear of their
position but instantly out of a quarter of the wood surprisingly near to the
two lads a stentorian voice arose the voice of Ellis Duckworth
»Hold« it roared »Shoot not Take him alive It is young Shelton Harrys
son«
And immediately after a shrill whistle sounded several times and was again
taken up and repeated farther off The whistle it appeared was John
AmendAlls battle trumpet by which he published his directions
»Ah foul fortune« cried Dick »We are undone Swiftly Jack come
swiftly«
And the pair turned and ran back through the open pine clump that covered
the summit of the hill
Chapter VI
To The Days End
It was indeed high time for them to run On every side the company of the
Black Arrow was making for the hill Some being better runners or having open
ground to run upon had far outstripped the others and were already close upon
the goal some following valleys had spread out to right and left and
outflanked the lads on either side
Dick plunged into the nearest cover It was a tall grove of oaks firm under
foot and clear of underbrush and as it lay down hill they made good speed
There followed next a piece of open which Dick avoided holding to his left
Two minutes after and the same obstacle arising the lads followed the same
course Thus it followed that while the lads bending continually to the left
drew nearer and nearer to the highroad and the river which they had crossed an
hour or two before the great bulk of their pursuers were leaning to the other
hand and running towards Tunstall
The lads paused to breathe There was no sound of pursuit Dick put his ear
to the ground and still there was nothing but the wind to be sure still made
a turmoil in the trees and it was hard to make certain
»On again« said Dick and tired as they were and Matcham limping with his
injured foot they pulled themselves together and once more pelted down the
hill
Three minutes later they were breasting through a low thicket of evergreen
High overhead the tall trees made a continuous roof of foliage It was a
pillared grove as high as a cathedral and except for the hollies among which
the lads were struggling open and smoothly swarded
On the other side pushing through the last fringe of evergreen they
blundered forth again into the open twilight of the grove
»Stand« cried a voice
And there between the huge stems not fifty feet before them they beheld a
stout fellow in green sore blown with running who instantly drew an arrow to
the head and covered them Matcham stopped with a cry but Dick without a
pause ran straight upon the forester drawing his dagger as he went The other
whether he was startled by the daring of the onslaught or whether he was
hampered by his orders did not shoot he stood wavering and before he had time
to come to himself Dick bounded at his throat and sent him sprawling backward
on the turf The arrow went one way and the bow another with a sounding twang
The disarmed forester grappled his assailant but the dagger shone and descended
twice Then came a couple of groans and then Dick rose to his feet again and
the man lay motionless stabbed to the heart
»On« said Dick and he once more pelted forward Matcham trailing in the
rear To say truth they made but poor speed of it by now labouring dismally as
they ran and catching for their breath like fish Matcham had a cruel stitch
and his head swam and as for Dick his knees were like lead But they kept up
the form of running with undiminished courage
Presently they came to the end of the grove It stopped abruptly and there
a few yards before them was the highroad from Risingham to Shoreby lying at
this point between two even walls of forest
At the sight Dick paused and as soon as he stopped running he became aware
of a confused noise which rapidly grew louder It was at first like the rush of
a very high gust of wind but it soon became more definite and resolved itself
into the galloping of horses and then in a flash a whole company of
menatarms came driving round the comer swept before the lads and were gone
again upon the instant They rode as for their lives in complete disorder some
of them were wounded riderless horses galloped at their side with bloody
saddles They were plainly fugitives from the great battle
The noise of their passage had scarce begun to die away towards Shoreby
before fresh hoofs came echoing in their wake and another deserter clattered
down the road this time a single rider and by his splendid armour a man of
high degree Close after him there followed several baggagewaggons fleeing at
an ungainly canter the drivers flailing at the horses as if for life These
must have run early in the day but their cowardice was not to save them For
just before they came abreast of where the lads stood wondering a man in hacked
armour and seemingly beside himself with fury overtook the waggons and with
the truncheon of a sword began to cut the drivers down Some leaped from their
places and plunged into the wood the others he sabred as they sat cursing them
the while for cowards in a voice that was scarce human
All this time the noise in the distance had continued to increase the
rumble of carts the clatter of horses the cries of men a great confused
rumour came swelling on the wind and it was plain that the rout of a whole
army was pouring like an inundation down the road
Dick stood sombre He had meant to follow the highway till the turn for
Holywood and now he had to change his plan But above all he had recognised
the colours of Earl Risingham and he knew that the battle had gone finally
against the rose of Lancaster Had Sir Daniel joined and was he now a fugitive
and ruined or had he deserted to the side of York and was he forfeit to
honour It was an ugly choice
»Come« he said sternly and turning on his heel he began to walk forward
through the grove with Matcham limping in his rear
For some time they continued to thread the forest in silence It was now
growing late the sun was setting in the plain beyond Kettley the treetops
overhead glowed golden but the shadows had begun to grow darker and the chill
of the night to fall
»If there was anything to eat« cried Dick suddenly pausing as he spoke
Matcham sat down and began to weep
»Ye can weep for your own supper but when it was to save mens lives your
heart was hard enough« said Dick contemptuously »Y have seven deaths upon
your conscience Master John Ill neer forgive you that«
»Conscience« cried Matcham looking fiercely up »Mine And ye have the
mans red blood upon your dagger And wherefore did ye slay him the poor soul
He drew his arrow but he let not fly he held you in his hand and spared you
Tis as brave to kill a kitten as a man that not defends himself«
Dick was struck dumb
»I slew him fair I ran me in upon his bow« he cried
»It was a coward blow« returned Matcham »Y are but a lout and bully
Master Dick ye but abuse advantages let there come a stronger we will see you
truckle at his boot Ye care not for vengeance neither for your fathers
death that goes unpaid and his poor ghost that clamoureth for justice But if
there come but a poor creature in your hands that lacketh skill and strength
and would befriend you down she shall go«
Dick was too furious to observe that she
»Marry« he cried »and here is news Of any two the one will still be
stronger The better man throweth the worse and the worse is well served Ye
deserve a belting Master Matcham for your illguidance and unthankfulness to
meward and what ye deserve ye shall have«
And Dick who even in his angriest temper still preserved the appearance
of composure began to unbuckle his belt
»Here shall be your supper« he said grimly
Matcham had stopped his tears he was as white as a sheet but he looked
Dick steadily in the face and never moved Dick took a step swinging the belt
Then he paused embarrassed by the large eyes and the thin weary face of his
companion His courage began to subside
»Say ye were in the wrong then« he said lamely
»Nay« said Matcham »I was in the right Come cruel I be lame I be
weary I resist not I neer did thee hurt come beat me coward«
Dick raised the belt at this last provocation but Matcham winced and drew
himself together with so cruel an apprehension that his heart failed him yet
again The strap fell by his side and he stood irresolute feeling like a fool
»A plague upon thee shrew« he said »An ye be so feeble of hand ye should
keep the closer guard upon your tongue But Ill be hanged before I beat you«
and he put on his belt again »Beat you I will not« he continued »but forgive
you never I knew ye not ye were my masters enemy I lent you my horse my
dinner ye have eaten y have called me a man o wood a coward and a bully
Nay by the mass the measure is filled and runneth over Tis a great thing to
be weak I trow ye can do your worst yet shall none punish you ye may steal a
mans weapons in the hour of need yet may the man not take his own again y
are weak forsooth Nay then if one cometh charging at you with a lance and
crieth he is weak ye must let him pierce your body through Tut fool words«
»And yet ye beat me not« returned Matcham
»Let be« said Dick »let be I will instruct you Y have been
illnurtured methinks and yet ye have the makings of some good and beyond
all question saved me from the river Nay I had forgotten it I am as
thankless as thyself But come let us on An we be for Holywood this night
ay or tomorrow early we had best set forward speedily«
But though Dick had talked himself back into his usual goodhumour Matcham
had forgiven him nothing His violence the recollection of the forester whom he
had slain above all the vision of the upraised belt were things not easily
to be forgotten
»I will thank you for the form's sake« said Matcham »But in sooth good
Master Shelton I had liefer find my way alone Here is a wide wood prithee
let each choose his path I owe you a dinner and a lesson Fare ye well«
»Nay« cried Dick »if that be your tune so be it and a plague be with
you«
Each turned aside and they began walking off severally with no thought of
the direction intent solely on their quarrel But Dick had not gone ten paces
ere his name was called and Matcham came running after
»Dick« he said »it were unmannerly to part so coldly Here is my hand and
my heart with it For all that wherein you have so excellently served and helped
me not for the form, but from the heart I thank you Fare ye right well«
»Well lad« returned Dick taking the hand which was offered him »good
speed to you if speed you may But I misdoubt it shrewdly Y are too
disputatious«
So then they separated for the second time and presently it was Dick who
was running after Matcham
»Here« he said »take my crossbow shalt not go unarmed«
»A crossbow« said Matcham »Nay boy I have neither the strength to bend
nor yet the skill to aim with it It were no help to me good boy But yet I
thank you«
The night had now fallen and under the trees they could no longer read each
others face
»I will go some little way with you« said Dick »The night is dark I would
fain leave you on a path at least My mind misgiveth me y are likely to be
lost«
Without any more words he began to walk forward and the other once more
followed him The blackness grew thicker and thicker only here and there in
open places they saw the sky dotted with small stars In the distance the
noise of the rout of the Lancastrian army still continued to be faintly audible
but with every step they left it farther in the rear
At the end of half an hour of silent progress they came forth upon a broad
patch of heathy open It glimmered in the light of the stars shaggy with fern
and islanded with clumps of yew And here they paused and looked upon each
other
»Y are weary« Dick said
»Nay I am so weary« answered Matcham »that methinks I could lie down and
die«
»I hear the chiding of a river« returned Dick »Let us go so far forth for
I am sore athirst«
The ground sloped down gently and sure enough in the bottom they found a
little murmuring river running among willows Here they threw themselves down
together by the brink and putting their mouths to the level of a starry pool
they drank their fill
»Dick« said Matcham »it may not be I can no more«
»I saw a pit as we came down« said Dick »Let us lie down therein and
sleep«
»Nay but with all my heart« cried Matcham
The pit was sandy and dry a shock of brambles hung upon one edge and made
a partial shelter and there the two lads lay down keeping close together for
the sake of warmth their quarrel all forgotten And soon sleep fell upon them
like a cloud and under the dew and stars they rested peacefully
Chapter VII
The Hooded Face
They awoke in the grey of the morning the birds were not yet in full song but
twittered here and there among the woods the sun was not yet up but the
eastern sky was barred with solemn colours Halfstarved and overweary as they
were they lay without moving sunk in a delightful lassitude And as they thus
lay the clang of a bell fell suddenly upon their ears
»A bell« said Dick sitting up »Can we be then so near to Holywood«
A little after the bell clanged again but this time somewhat nearer hand
and from that time forth and still drawing nearer and nearer it continued to
sound brokenly abroad in the silence of the morning
»Nay what should this betoken« said Dick who was now broad awake
»It is some one walking« returned Matcham »and the bell tolleth ever as he
moves«
»I see that well« said Dick »But wherefore What maketh he in Tunstall
Woods Jack« he added »laugh at me an ye will but I like not the hollow sound
of it«
»Nay« said Matcham with a shiver »it hath a doleful note And the day
were not come «
But just then the bell quickening its pace began to ring thick and
hurried and then it gave a signal hammering jangle and was silent for a space
»It is as though the bearer had run for a paternosterwhile and then leaped
the river« Dick observed
»And now beginneth he again to pace soberly forward« added Matcham
»Nay« returned Dick »nay not so soberly Jack Tis a man that walketh
you right speedily Tis a man in some fear of his life or about some hurried
business See ye not how swift the beating draweth near«
»It is now close by« said Matcham
They were now on the edge of the pit and as the pit itself was on a certain
eminence they commanded a view over the greater proportion of the clearing up
to the thick woods that closed it in
The daylight which was very clear and grey showed them a riband of white
footpath wandering among the gorse It passed some hundred yards from the pit
and ran the whole length of the clearing east and west By the line of its
course Dick judged it should lead more or less directly to the Moat House
Upon this path stepping forth from the margin of the wood a white figure
now appeared It paused a little and seemed to look about and then at a slow
pace and bent almost double it began to draw near across the heath At every
step the bell clanked Face it had none a white hood not even pierced with
eyeholes veiled the head and as the creature moved it seemed to feel its way
with the tapping of a stick Fear fell upon the lads as cold as death
»A leper« said Dick hoarsely
»His touch is death« said Matcham »Let us run«
»Not so« returned Dick »See ye not he is stoneblind He guideth him
with a staff Let us lie still the wind bloweth towards the path and he will
go by and hurt us not Alas poor soul and we should rather pity him«
»I will pity him when he is by« replied Matcham
The blind leper was now about halfway towards them and just then the sun
rose and shone full on his veiled face He had been a tall man before he was
bowed by his disgusting sickness and even now he walked with a vigorous step
The dismal beating of his bell the pattering of the stick the eyeless screen
before his countenance and the knowledge that he was not only doomed to death
and suffering but shut out for ever from the touch of his fellowmen filled
the lads bosoms with dismay and at every step that brought him nearer their
courage and strength seemed to desert them
As he came about level with the pit he paused and turned his face full
upon the lads
»Mary be my shield He sees us« said Matcham faintly
»Hush« whispered Dick »He doth but hearken He is blind fool«
The leper looked or listened whichever he was really doing for some
seconds Then he began to move on again but presently paused once more and
again turned and seemed to gaze upon the lads Even Dick became deadwhite and
closed his eyes as if by the mere sight he might become infected But soon the
bell sounded and this time without any further hesitation the leper crossed
the remainder of the little heath and disappeared into the covert of the woods
»He saw us« said Matcham »I could swear it«
»Tut« returned Dick recovering some sparks of courage »He but heard us
He was in fear poor soul An ye were blind and walked in a perpetual night ye
would start yourself if ever a twig rustled or a bird cried Peep«
»Dick good Dick he saw us« repeated Matcham »When a man hearkeneth he
doth not as this man he doth otherwise Dick This was seeing it was not
hearing He means foully Hark else if his bell be not stopped«
Such was the case The bell rang no longer
»Nay« said Dick »I like not that Nay« he cried again »I like that
little What may this betoken Let us go by the mass«
»He hath gone east« added Matcham »Good Dick let us go westward straight
I shall not breathe till I have my back turned upon that leper«
»Jack y are too cowardly« replied Dick »We shall go fair for Holywood
or as fair at least as I can guide you and that will be due north«
They were afoot at once passed the stream upon some steppingstones and
began to mount on the other side which was steeper towards the margin of the
wood The ground became very uneven full of knolls and hollows trees grew
scattered or in clumps it became difficult to choose a path and the lads
somewhat wandered They were weary besides with yesterdays exertions and the
lack of food and they moved but heavily and dragged their feet among the sand
Presently coming to the top of a knoll they were aware of the leper some
hundred feet in front of them crossing the line of their march by a hollow His
bell was silent his staff no longer tapped the ground and he went before him
with the swift and assured footsteps of a man who sees Next moment he had
disappeared into a little thicket
The lads at the first glimpse had crouched behind a tuft of gorse there
they lay horrorstruck
»Certain he pursueth us« said Dick »certain He held the clapper of his
bell in one hand saw ye that it should not sound Now may the saints aid and
guide us for I have no strength to combat pestilence«
»What maketh he« cried Matcham »What doth he want Who ever heard the
like that a leper out of mere malice should pursue unfortunates Hath he not
his bell to that very end that people may avoid him Dick there is below this
something deeper«
»Nay I care not« moaned Dick »the strength is gone out of me my legs are
like water The saints be mine assistance«
»Would ye lie there idle« cried Matcham »Let us back into the open We
have the better chance he cannot steal upon us unawares«
»Not I« said Dick »My time is come and peradventure he may pass us by«
»Bend me then your bow« cried the other »What will ye be a man«
Dick crossed himself »Would ye have me shoot upon a leper« he cried »The
hand would fail me Nay now« he added »nay now let be With sound men I
will fight but not with ghosts and lepers Which this is I wot not One or
other Heaven be our protection«
»Now« said Matcham »if this be mans courage what a poor thing is man
But sith ye will do naught let us lie close«
Then came a single broken jangle on the bell
»He hath missed his hold upon the clapper« whispered Matcham »Saints how
near he is«
But Dick answered never a word his teeth were near chattering
Soon they saw a piece of the white robe between some bushes then the
lepers head was thrust forth from behind a trunk and he seemed narrowly to
scan the neighbourhood before he once again withdrew To their stretched senses
the whole bush appeared alive with rustlings and the creak of twigs and they
heard the beating of each others heart
Suddenly with a cry the leper sprang into the open close by and ran
straight upon the lads They shrieking aloud separated and began to run
different ways But their horrible enemy fastened upon Matcham ran him swiftly
down and had him almost instantly a prisoner The lad gave one scream that
echoed high and far over the forest he had one spasm of struggling and then
all his limbs relaxed and he fell limp into his captors arms
Dick heard the cry and turned He saw Matcham fall and on the instant his
spirit and his strength revived With a cry of pity and anger he unslung and
bent his arblast But ere he had time to shoot the leper held up his hand
»Hold your shot Dickon« cried a familiar voice »Hold your shot mad wag
Know ye not a friend«
And then laying down Matcham on the turf he undid the hood from off his
face and disclosed the features of Sir Daniel Brackley
»Sir Daniel« cried Dick
»Ay by the mass Sir Daniel« returned the knight »Would ye shoot upon
your guardian rogue But here is this « And there he broke off and pointing
to Matcham asked »How call ye him Dick«
»Nay« said Dick »I call him Master Matcham Know ye him not He said ye
knew him«
»Ay« replied Sir Daniel »I know the lad« and he chuckled »But he has
fainted and by my sooth he might have had less to faint for Hey Dick Did I
put the fear of death upon you«
»Indeed Sir Daniel ye did that« said Dick and sighed again at the mere
recollection »Nay sir saving your respect I had as lief a met the devil in
person and to speak truth I am yet all aquake But what made ye sir in such
a guise«
Sir Daniels brow grew suddenly black with anger
»What made I« he said »Ye do well to mind me of it What I skulked for my
poor life in my own wood of Tunstall Dick We were ill sped at the battle we
but got there to be swept among the rout Where be all my good menatarms
Dick by the mass I know not We were swept down the shot fell thick among us
I have not seen one man in my own colours since I saw three fall For myself I
came sound to Shoreby and being mindful of the Black Arrow got me this gown
and bell and came softly by the path for the Moat House There is no disguise
to be compared with it the jingle of this bell would scare me the stoutest
outlaw in the forest they would all turn pale to hear it At length I came by
you and Matcham I could see but evilly through this same hood and was not sure
of you being chiefly and for many a good cause astonished at the finding you
together Moreover in the open where I had to go slowly and tap with my staff
I feared to disclose myself But see« he added »this poor shrew begins a
little to revive A little good canary will comfort the heart of it«
The knight from under his long dress produced a stout bottle and began to
rub the temples and wet the lips of the patient who returned gradually to
consciousness, and began to roll dim eyes from one to another
»What cheer Jack« said Dick »It was no leper after all it was Sir
Daniel See«
»Swallow me a good draught of this« said the knight »This will give you
manhood Thereafter I will give you both a meal and we shall all three on to
Tunstall For Dick« he continued laying forth bread and meat upon the grass
»I will avow to you in all good conscience it irks me sorely to be safe
between four walls Not since I backed a horse have I been pressed so hard
peril of life jeopardy of land and livelihood and to sum up all these losels
in the wood to hunt me down But I be not yet shent Some of my lads will pick
me their way home Hatch hath ten fellows Selden he had six Nay we shall
soon be strong again and if I can but buy my peace with my right fortunate and
undeserving Lord of York why Dick well be a man again and go ahorseback«
And so saying the knight filled himself a horn of canary and pledged his
ward in dumb show
»Selden« Dick faltered »Selden « And he paused again
Sir Daniel put down the wine untasted
»How« he cried in a changed voice »Selden Speak What of Selden«
Dick stammered forth the tale of the ambush and the massacre
The knight heard in silence but as he listened his countenance became
convulsed with rage and grief
»Now here« he cried »on my right hand I swear to avenge it If that I
fail if that I spill not ten mens souls for each may this hand wither from my
body I broke this Duckworth like a rush I beggared him to his door I burned
the thatch above his head I drove him from this country and now cometh he
back to beard me Nay but Duckworth this time it shall go bitter hard«
He was silent for some time his face working
»Eat« he cried suddenly »And you here« he added to Matcham »swear me
an oath to follow straight to the Moat House«
»I will pledge mine honour« replied Matcham
»What make I with your honour« cried the knight »Swear me upon your
mothers welfare«
Matcham gave the required oath and Sir Daniel readjusted the hood over his
face and prepared his bell and staff To see him once more in that appalling
travesty somewhat revived the horror of his two companions But the knight was
soon upon his feet
»Eat with despatch« he said »and follow me yarely to mine house«
And with that he set forth again into the woods and presently after the
bell began to sound numbering his steps and the two lads sat by their untasted
meal and heard it die slowly away uphill into the distance
»And so ye go to Tunstall« Dick inquired
»Yea verily« said Matcham »when needs must I am braver behind Sir
Daniels back than to his face«
They ate hastily and set forth along the path through the airy upper levels
of the forest where great beeches stood apart among green lawns and the birds
and squirrels made merry on the boughs Two hours later they began to descend
upon the other side and already among the treetops saw before them the red
walls and roofs of Tunstall House
»Here« said Matcham pausing »ye shall take your leave of your friend
Jack whom y are to see no more Come Dick forgive him what he did amiss as
he for his part cheerfully and lovingly forgiveth you«
»And wherefore so« asked Dick »An we both go to Tunstall I shall see you
yet again I trow and that right often«
»Yell never again see poor Jack Matcham« replied the other »that was so
fearful and burthensome and yet plucked you from the river yell not see him
more Dick by mine honour« He held his arms open and the lads embraced and
kissed »And Dick« continued Matcham »my spirit bodeth ill Y are now to see
a new Sir Daniel for heretofore hath all prospered in his hands exceedingly
and fortune followed him but now methinks when his fate hath come upon him
and he runs the adventure of his life he will prove but a foul lord to both of
us He may be brave in battle but he hath the liars eye there is fear in his
eye Dick and fear is as cruel as the wolf We go down into that house St
Mary guide us forth again«
And so they continued their descent in silence and came out at last before
Sir Daniels forest stronghold where it stood low and shady flanked with
round towers and stained with moss and lichen in the lilied waters of the moat
Even as they appeared the doors were opened the bridge lowered and Sir Daniel
himself with Hatch and the parson at his side stood ready to receive them
Book II The Moat House
Chapter I
Dick Asks Questions
The Moat House stood not far from the rough forest road Externally it was a
compact rectangle of red stone flanked at each corner by a round tower pierced
for archery and battlemented at the top Within it enclosed a narrow court The
moat was perhaps twelve feet wide crossed by a single drawbridge It was
supplied with water by a trench leading to a forest pool and commanded
through its whole length from the battlements of the two southern towers
Except that one or two tall and thick trees had been suffered to remain within
half a bowshot of the walls the house was in a good posture for defence
In the court Dick found a part of the garrison busy with preparations for
defence and gloomily discussing the chances of a siege Some were making
arrows some sharpening swords that had long been disused but even as they
worked they shook their heads
Twelve of Sir Daniels party had escaped the battle run the gauntlet
through the wood and come alive to the Moat House But out of this dozen three
had been gravely wounded two at Risingham in the disorder of the rout one by
John AmendAlls marksmen as he crossed the forest This raised the force of the
garrison counting Hatch Sir Daniel and young Shelton to twentytwo effective
men And more might be continually expected to arrive The danger lay not
therefore in the lack of men
It was the terror of the Black Arrow that oppressed the spirits of the
garrison For their open foes of the party of York in these most changing
times they felt but a faraway concern »The world« as people said in those
days »might change again« before harm came But for their neighbours in the
wood they trembled It was not Sir Daniel alone who was a mark for hatred His
men conscious of impunity had carried themselves cruelly through all the
country Harsh commands had been harshly executed and of the little band that
now sat talking in the court there was not one but had been guilty of some act
of oppression or barbarity And now by the fortune of war Sir Daniel had
become powerless to protect his instruments now by the issue of some hours of
battle at which many of them had not been present they had all become
punishable traitors to the State outside the buckler of the law a shrunken
company in a poor fortress that was hardly tenable and exposed upon all sides
to the just resentment of their victims Nor had there been lacking grisly
advertisements of what they might expect
At different periods of the evening and the night no fewer than seven
riderless horses had come neighing in terror to the gate Two were from Seldens
troop five belonged to men who had ridden with Sir Daniel to the field Lastly
a little before dawn a spearman had come staggering to the moatside pierced
by three arrows even as they carried him in his spirit had departed but by
the words that he uttered in his agony he must have been the last survivor of a
considerable company of men
Hatch himself showed under his sunbrown the pallor of anxiety and when
he had taken Dick aside and learned the fate of Selden he fell on a stone bench
and fairly wept The others from where they sat on stools or doorsteps in the
sunny angle of the court looked at him with wonder and alarm but none ventured
to inquire the cause of his emotion
»Nay Master Shelton« said Hatch at last »nay but what said I We shall
all go Selden was a man of his hands he was like a brother to me Well he has
gone second well we shall all follow For what said their knave rhyme A black
arrow in each black heart Was it not so it went Appleyard Selden Smith old
Humphrey gone and there lieth poor John Carter crying poor sinner for the
priest«
Dick gave ear Out of a low window hard by where they were talking groans
and murmurs came to his ear
»Lieth he there« he asked
»Ay in the second porters chamber« answered Hatch »We could not bear him
farther soul and body were so bitterly at odds At every step we lifted him he
thought to wend But now methinks it is the soul that suffereth Ever for the
priest he crieth and Sir Oliver I wot not why still cometh not Twill be a
long shrift but poor Appleyard and poor Selden they had none«
Dick stooped to the window and looked in The little cell was low and dark
but he could make out the wounded soldier lying moaning on his pallet
»Carter poor friend how goeth it« he asked
»Master Shelton« returned the man in an excited whisper »for the dear
light of heaven bring the priest Alack I am sped I am brought very low down
my hurt is to the death Ye may do me no more service this shall be the last
Now for my poor souls interest and as a loyal gentleman bestir you for I
have that matter on my conscience that shall drag me deep«
He groaned and Dick heard the grating of his teeth whether in pain or
terror
Just then Sir Daniel appeared upon the threshold of the hall He had a
letter in one hand
»Lads« he said »we have had a shog we have had a tumble wherefore then
deny it Rather it imputeth to get speedily again to saddle This old Harry the
Sixt has had the undermost Wash we then our hands of him I have a good
friend that rideth next the duke the Lord of Wensleydale Well I have writ a
letter to my friend praying his good lordship and offering large satisfaction
for the past and reasonable surety for the future Doubt not but he will lend a
favourable ear A prayer without gifts is like a song without music I surfeit
him with promises boys I spare not to promise What then is lacking Nay a
great thing wherefore should I deceive you a great thing and a difficult a
messenger to bear it The woods y are not ignorant of that lie thick with
our illwillers Haste is most needful but without sleight and caution all is
naught Which then of this company will take me this letter bear it to my
Lord of Wensleydale and bring me the answer back«
One man instantly arose
»I will ant like you« said he »I will even risk my carcass«
»Nay Dicky Bowyer not so« returned the knight »It likes me not Y are
sly indeed but not speedy Ye were a laggard ever«
»Ant be so Sir Daniel here am I« cried another
»The saints forfend« said the knight »Y are speedy but not sly Ye would
blunder me headforemost into John AmendAlls camp I thank you both for your
good courage but in sooth it may not be«
Then Hatch offered himself and he also was refused
»I want you here good Bennet y are my right hand indeed« returned the
knight and then several coming forward in a group Sir Daniel at length
selected one and gave him the letter
»Now« he said »upon your good speed and better discretion we do all
depend Bring me a good answer back and before three weeks I will have purged
my forest of these vagabonds that brave us to our faces But mark it well
Throgmorton the matter is not easy Ye must steal forth under night and go
like a fox and how ye are to cross Till I know not neither by the bridge nor
ferry«
»I can swim« returned Throgmorton »I will come soundly fear not«
»Well friend get ye to the buttery« replied Sir Daniel »Ye shall swim
first of all in nutbrown ale« And with that he turned back into the hall
»Sir Daniel hath a wise tongue« said Hatch aside to Dick »See now where
many a lesser man had glossed the matter over he speaketh it out plainly to his
company Here is a danger a saith and here difficulty and jesteth in the
very saying Nay by St Barbary he is a born captain Not a man but he is some
deal heartened up See how they fall again to work«
This praise of Sir Daniel put a thought in the lads head
»Bennet« he said »how came my father by his end«
»Ask me not that« replied Hatch »I had no hand nor knowledge in it
furthermore I will even be silent Master Dick For look you in a mans own
business there he may speak but of hearsay matters and of common talk not so
Ask me Sir Oliver ay or Carter if ye will not me«
And Hatch set off to make the rounds leaving Dick in a muse
»Wherefore would he not tell me« thought the lad »And wherefore named he
Carter Carter nay then Carter had a hand in it perchance«
He entered the house and passing some little way along a flagged and
vaulted passage came to the door of the cell where the hurt man lay groaning
At his entrance Carter started eagerly
»Have ye brought the priest« he cried
»Not yet awhile« returned Dick »Y have a word to tell me first How came
my father Harry Shelton by his death«
The mans face altered instantly
»I know not« he replied doggedly
»Nay ye know well« returned Dick »Seek not to put me by«
»I tell you I know not« repeated Carter
»Then« said Dick »ye shall die unshriven Here am I and here shall stay
There shall no priest come near you rest assured For of what avail is
penitence an ye have no mind to right those wrongs ye had a hand in and
without penitence confession is but mockery«
»Ye say what ye mean not Master Dick« said Carter composedly »It is ill
threatening the dying and becometh you to speak truth little And for as
little as it commends you it shall serve you less Stay an ye please Ye will
condemn my soul ye shall learn nothing There is my last word to you« And the
wounded man turned upon the other side
Now Dick to say truth had spoken hastily and was ashamed of his threat
But he made one more effort
»Carter« he said »mistake me not I know ye were but an instrument in the
hands of others a churl must obey his lord I would not bear heavily on such an
one But I begin to learn upon many sides that this great duty lieth on my youth
and ignorance to avenge my father Prithee then good Carter set aside the
memory of my threatenings and in pure goodwill and honest penitence give me a
word of help«
The wounded man lay silent nor say what Dick pleased could he extract
another word from him
»Well« said Dick »I will go call the priest to you as ye desired for
howsoever ye be in fault to me or mine I would not be willingly in fault to
any least of all to one upon the last change«
Again the old soldier heard him without speech or motion even his groans he
had suppressed and as Dick turned and left the room he was filled with
admiration for that rugged fortitude
»And yet« he thought »of what use is courage without wit Had his hands
been clean he would have spoken his silence did confess the secret louder than
words Nay upon all sides proof floweth on me Sir Daniel he or his men hath
done this thing«
Dick paused in the stone passage with a heavy heart At that hour in the
ebb of Sir Daniels fortune when he was beleaguered by the archers of the Black
Arrow and proscribed by the victorious Yorkists was Dick also to turn upon
the man who had nourished and taught him who had severely punished indeed but
yet unwearyingly protected his youth The necessity if it should prove to be
one was cruel
»Pray Heaven he be innocent« he said
And then steps sounded on the flagging and Sir Oliver came gravely towards
the lad
»One seeketh you earnestly« said Dick
»I am upon the way good Richard« said the priest »It is this poor Carter
Alack he is beyond cure«
»And yet his soul is sicker than his body« answered Dick
»Have ye seen him« asked Sir Oliver with a manifest start
»I do but come from him« replied Dick
»What said he what said he« snapped the priest with extraordinary
eagerness
»He but cried for you the more piteously Sir Oliver It were well done to
go the faster for his hurt is grievous« returned the lad
»I am straight for him« was the reply »Well we have all our sins We must
all come to our latter day good Richard«
»Ay sir and it were well if we all came fairly« answered Dick
The priest dropped his eyes and with an inaudible benediction hurried on
»He too« thought Dick »he that taught me in piety Nay then what a
world is this if all that care for me be bloodguilty of my fathers death
Vengeance Alas what a sore fate is mine if I must be avenged upon my
friends«
The thought put Matcham in his head He smiled at the remembrance of his
strange companion and then wondered where he was Ever since they had come
together to the doors of the Moat House the younger lad had disappeared and
Dick began to weary for a word with him
About an hour after mass being somewhat hastily run through by Sir Oliver
the company gathered in the hall for dinner It was a long low apartment
strewn with green rushes and the walls hung with arras in a design of savage
men and questing bloodhounds here and there hung spears and bows and bucklers
a fire blazed in the big chimney there were arrascovered benches round the
wall and in the midst the table fairly spread awaited the arrival of the
diners Neither Sir Daniel nor his lady made their appearance Sir Oliver
himself was absent and here again there was no word of Matcham Dick began to
grow alarmed to recall his companions melancholy forebodings and to wonder to
himself if any foul play had befallen him in that house
After dinner he found Goody Hatch who was hurrying to my lady Brackley
»Goody« he said »where is Master Matcham I prithee I saw ye go in with
him when we arrived«
The old woman laughed aloud
»Ah Master Dick« she said »y have a famous bright eye in your head to
be sure« and laughed again
»Nay but where is he indeed« persisted Dick
»Ye will never see him more« she returned »never It is sure«
»An I do not« returned the lad »I will know the reason why He came not
hither of his full free will such as I am I am his best protector and I will
see him justly used There be too many mysteries I do begin to weary of the
game«
But as Dick was speaking a heavy hand fell on his shoulder It was Bennet
Hatch that had come unperceived behind him With a jerk of his thumb the
retainer dismissed his wife
»Friend Dick« he said as soon as they were alone »are ye a moonstruck
natural An ye leave not certain things in peace ye were better in the salt sea
than here in Tunstall Moat House Y have questioned me y have baited Carter
y have frighted the jackpriest with hints Bear ye more wisely fool and even
now when Sir Daniel calleth you show me a smooth face for the love of wisdom
Y are to be sharply questioned Look to your answers«
»Hatch« returned Dick »in all this I smell a guilty conscience«
»An ye go not the wiser ye will soon smell blood« replied Bennet »I do
but warn you And here cometh one to call you«
And indeed at that very moment a messenger came across the court to summon
Dick into the presence of Sir Daniel
Chapter II
The Two Oaths
Sir Daniel was in the hall there he paced angrily before the fire awaiting
Dicks arrival None was by except Sir Oliver and he sat discreetly backward
thumbing and muttering over his breviary
»Y have sent for me Sir Daniel« said young Shelton
»I have sent for you indeed« replied the knight »For what cometh to mine
ears Have I been to you so heavy a guardian that ye make haste to credit ill of
me Or sith that ye see me for the nonce some worsted do ye think to quit my
party By the mass your father was not so Those he was near those he stood
by come wind or weather But you Dick y are a fairday friend it seemeth
and now seek to clear yourself of your allegiance«
»An t please you Sir Daniel not so« returned Dick firmly »I am grateful
and faithful where gratitude and faith are due And before more is said I
thank you and I thank Sir Oliver y have great claims upon me both none can
have more I were a hound if I forgot them«
»It is well« said Sir Daniel and then rising into anger »Gratitude and
faith are words Dick Shelton« he continued »but I look to deeds In this hour
of my peril when my name is attainted when my lands are forfeit when this
wood is full of men that hunger and thirst for my destruction what doth
gratitude what doth faith I have but a little company remaining is it
grateful or faithful to poison me their hearts with your insidious whisperings
Save me from such gratitude But come now what is it ye wish Speak we are
here to answer If ye have aught against me stand forth and say it«
»Sir« replied Dick »my father fell when I was yet a child It hath come to
mine ears that he was foully done by It hath come to mine ears for I will not
dissemble that ye had a hand in his undoing And in all verity I shall not
be at peace in mine own mind nor very clear to help you till I have certain
resolution of these doubts«
Sir Daniel sat down in a deep settle He took his chin in his hand and
looked at Dick fixedly
»And ye think I would be guardian to the mans son that I had murdered« he
asked
»Nay« said Dick »pardon me if I answer churlishly but indeed ye know
right well a wardship is most profitable All these years have ye not enjoyed my
revenues and led my men Have ye not still my marriage I wot not what it may
be worth it is worth something Pardon me again but if ye were base enough to
slay a man under trust here were perhaps reasons enough to move you to the
lesser baseness«
»When I was a lad of your years« returned Sir Daniel sternly »my mind had
not so turned upon suspicions And Sir Oliver here« he added »why should he a
priest be guilty of this act«
»Nay Sir Daniel« said Dick »but where the master biddeth there will the
dog go It is well known this priest is but your instrument I speak very
freely the time is not for courtesies Even as I speak so would I be answered
And answer get I none Ye but put more questions I rede ye beware Sir Daniel
for in this way ye will but nourish and not satisfy my doubts«
»I will answer you fairly Master Richard« said the knight »Were I to
pretend ye have not stirred my wrath I were no honest man But I will be just
even in anger Come to me with these words when y are grown and come to mans
estate and I am no longer your guardian and so helpless to resent them Come
to me then and I will answer you as ye merit with a buffet in the mouth Till
then ye have two courses either swallow me down these insults keep a silent
tongue and fight in the meanwhile for the man that fed and fought for your
infancy or else the door standeth open the woods are full of mine enemies
go«
The spirit with which these words were uttered the looks with which they
were accompanied staggered Dick and yet he could not but observe that he had
got no answer
»I desire nothing more earnestly Sir Daniel than to believe you« he
replied »Assure me ye are free from this«
»Will ye take my word of honour Dick« inquired the knight
»That would I« answered the lad
»I give it you« returned Sir Daniel »Upon my word of honour upon the
eternal welfare of my spirit and as I shall answer for my deeds hereafter I
had no hand nor portion in your fathers death«
He extended his hand and Dick took it eagerly Neither of them observed the
priest who at the pronunciation of that solemn and false oath had half arisen
from his seat in an agony of horror and remorse
»Ah« cried Dick »ye must find it in your greatheartedness to pardon me I
was a churl indeed to doubt of you But ye have my hand upon it I will doubt no
more«
»Nay Dick« replied Sir Daniel »y are forgiven Ye know not the world and
its calumnious nature«
»I was the more to blame« added Dick »in that the rogues pointed not
directly at yourself but at Sir Oliver«
As he spoke he turned towards the priest and paused in the middle of the
last word This tall ruddy corpulent highstepping man had fallen you might
say to pieces his colour was gone his limbs were relaxed his lips stammered
prayers and now when Dicks eyes were fixed upon him suddenly he cried out
aloud like some wild animal and buried his face in his hands
Sir Daniel was by him in two strides and shook him fiercely by the
shoulder At the same moment Dicks suspicions reawakened
»Nay« he said »Sir Oliver may swear also Twas him they accused«
»He shall swear« said the knight
Sir Oliver speechlessly waved his arms
»Ay by the mass but ye shall swear« cried Sir Daniel beside himself with
fury »Here upon this book ye shall swear« he continued picking up the
breviary which had fallen to the ground »What Ye make me doubt you Swear I
say swear«
But the priest was still incapable of speech His terror of Sir Daniel his
terror of perjury risen to about an equal height strangled him
And just then through the high stainedglass window of the hall a black
arrow crashed and struck and stuck quivering in the midst of the long table
Sir Oliver with a loud scream fell fainting on the rushes while the
knight followed by Dick dashed into the court and up the nearest corkscrew
stair to the battlements The sentries were all on the alert The sun shone
quietly on green lawns dotted with trees and on the wooded hills of the forest
which enclosed the view There was no sign of a besieger
»Whence came that shot« asked the knight
»From yonder clump Sir Daniel« returned a sentinel
The knight stood a little musing Then he turned to Dick »Dick« he said
»keep me an eye upon these men I leave you in charge here As for the priest
he shall clear himself or I will know the reason why I do almost begin to
share in your suspicions He shall swear trust me or we shall prove him
guilty«
Dick answered somewhat coldly and the knight giving him a piercing glance
hurriedly returned to the hall His first glance was for the arrow It was the
first of these missiles he had seen and as he turned it to and fro the dark
hue of it touched him with some fear Again there was some writing one word
»Earthed«
»Ay« he broke out »they know I am home then Earthed Ay but there is
not a dog among them fit to dig me out«
Sir Oliver had come to himself and now scrambled to his feet
»Alack Sir Daniel« he moaned »y have sworn a dread oath y are doomed
to the end of time«
»Ay« returned the knight »I have sworn an oath indeed thou chucklehead
but thyself shalt swear a greater It shall be on the blessed cross of Holywood
Look to it get the words ready It shall be sworn tonight«
»Now may Heaven lighten you« replied the priest »may Heaven incline your
heart from this iniquity«
»Look you my good father« said Sir Daniel »if y are for piety I say no
more ye begin late that is all But if y are in any sense bent upon wisdom
hear me This lad beginneth to irk me like a wasp I have a need for him for I
would sell his marriage But I tell you in all plainness if that he continue
to weary me he shall go join his father I give orders now to change him to the
chamber above the chapel If that ye can swear your innocency with a good solid
oath and an assured countenance it is well the lad will be at peace a little
and I will spare him If that ye stammer or blench or anyways boggle at the
swearing he will not believe you and by the mass he shall die There is for
your thinking on«
»The chamber above the chapel« gasped the priest
»That same« replied the knight »So if ye desire to save him save him and
if ye desire not prithee go to and let me be at peace For an I had been a
hasty man I would already have put my sword through you for your intolerable
cowardice and folly Have ye chosen Say«
»I have chosen« said the priest »Heaven pardon me I will do evil for
good I will swear for the lads sake«
»So it is best« said Sir Daniel »Send for him then speedily Ye shall
see him alone Yet I shall have an eye on you I shall be here in the panel
room«
The knight raised the arras and let it fall again behind him There was the
sound of a spring opening then followed the creaking of trod stairs
Sir Oliver left alone cast a timorous glance upward at the arrascovered
wall and crossed himself with every appearance of terror and contrition
»Nay if he is in the chapel room« the priest murmured »were it at my
souls cost I must save him«
Three minutes later Dick who had been summoned by another messenger found
Sir Oliver standing by the hall table resolute and pale
»Richard Shelton« he said »ye have required an oath from me I might
complain I might deny you but my heart is moved toward you for the past and I
will even content you as ye choose By the true cross of Holywood I did not
slay your father«
»Sir Oliver« returned Dick »when first we read John AmendAlls paper I
was convinced of so much But suffer me to put two questions Ye did not slay
him granted But had ye no hand in it«
»None« said Sir Oliver And at the same time he began to contort his face
and signal with his mouth and eyebrows like one who desired to convey a
warning yet dared not utter a sound
Dick regarded him in wonder then he turned and looked all about him at the
empty hall
»What make ye« he inquired
»Why naught« returned the priest hastily smoothing his countenance »I
make naught I do but suffer I am sick I I prithee Dick I must begone
On the true cross of Holywood I am clean innocent alike of violence or
treachery Content ye good lad Farewell«
And he made his escape from the apartment with unusual alacrity
Dick remained rooted to the spot his eyes wandering about the room his
face a changing picture of various emotions wonder doubt suspicion and
amusement Gradually as his mind grew clearer suspicion took the upper hand
and was succeeded by certainty of the worst He raised his head and as he did
so violently started High upon the wall there was the figure of a savage
hunter woven in the tapestry With one hand he held a horn to his mouth in the
other he brandished a stout spear His face was dark for he was meant to
represent an African
Now here was what had startled Richard Shelton The sun had moved away from
the hall windows and at the same time the fire had blazed up high on the wide
hearth and shed a changeful glow upon the roof and hangings In this light the
figure of the black hunter had winked at him with a white eyelid
He continued staring at the eye The light shone upon it like a gem it was
liquid it was alive Again the white eyelid closed upon it for a fraction of a
second and the next moment it was gone
There could be no mistake The live eye that had been watching him through a
hole in the tapestry was gone The firelight no longer shone on a reflecting
surface
And instantly Dick awoke to the terrors of his position Hatchs warning
the mute signals of the priest this eye that had observed him from the wall
ran together in his mind He saw he had been put upon his trial that he had
once more betrayed his suspicions and that short of some miracle he was lost
»If I cannot get me forth out of this house« he thought »I am a dead man
And this poor Matcham too to what a cockatrices nest have I not led him«
He was still so thinking when there came one in haste to bid him help in
changing his arms his clothing and his two or three books to a new chamber
»A new chamber« he repeated »Wherefore so What chamber«
»Tis one above the chapel« answered the messenger
»It hath stood long empty« said Dick musing »What manner of room is it«
»Nay a brave room« returned the man »But yet« lowering his voice
»they call it haunted«
»Haunted« repeated Dick with a chill »I have not heard of it Nay then
and by whom«
The messenger looked about him and then in a low whisper »By the sacrist
of St Johns« he said »They had him there to sleep one night and in the
morning whew he was gone The devil had taken him they said the more
betoken he had drunk late the night before«
Dick followed the man with black forebodings
Chapter III
The Room Over the Chapel
From the battlements nothing further was observed The sun journeyed westward
and at last went down but to the eyes of all these eager sentinels no living
thing appeared in the neighbourhood of Tunstall House
When the night was at length fairly come Throgmorton was led to a room
overlooking an angle of the moat Thence he was lowered with every precaution
the ripple of his swimming was audible for a brief period then a black figure
was observed to land by the branches of a willow and crawl away among the grass
For some halfhour Sir Daniel and Hatch stood eagerly giving ear but all
remained quiet The messenger had got away in safety
Sir Daniels brow grew clearer He turned to Hatch
»Bennet« said he »this John AmendAll is no more than a man ye see He
sleepeth We will make a good end of him go to«
All the afternoon and evening Dick had been ordered hither and thither one
command following another till he was bewildered with the number and the hurry
of commissions All that time he had seen no more of Sir Oliver and nothing of
Matcham and yet both the priest and the young lad ran continually in his mind
It was now his chief purpose to escape from Tunstall Moat House as speedily as
might be and yet before he went he desired a word with both of these
At length with a lamp in one hand he mounted to his new apartment It was
large low and somewhat dark The window looked upon the moat and although it
was so high up it was heavily barred The bed was luxurious with one pillow of
down and one of lavender and a red coverlet worked in a pattern of roses All
about the walls were cupboards locked and padlocked and concealed from view by
hangings of darkcoloured arras Dick made the round lifting the arras
sounding the panels seeking vainly to open the cupboards He assured himself
that the door was strong and the bolt solid then he set down his lamp upon a
bracket and once more looked all around
For what reason had he been given this chamber It was larger and finer than
his own Could it conceal a snare Was there a secret entrance Was it indeed
haunted His blood ran a little chilly in his veins
Immediately over him the heavy foot of a sentry trod the leads Below he
knew was the arched roof of the chapel and next to the chapel was the hall
Certainly there was a secret passage in the hall the eye that had watched him
from the arras gave him proof of that Was it not more than probable that the
passage extended to the chapel and if so that it had an opening in his room
To sleep in such a place he felt would be foolhardy He made his weapons
ready and took his position in a corner of the room behind the door If ill was
intended he would sell his life dear
The sound of many feet the challenge and the password sounded overhead
along the battlements the watch was being changed
And just then there came a scratching at the door of the chamber it grew a
little louder then a whisper
»Dick Dick it is I«
Dick ran to the door drew the bolt and admitted Matcham He was very pale
and carried a lamp in one hand and a drawn dagger in the other
»Shut me the door« he whispered »Swift Dick This house is full of spies
I hear their feet follow me in the corridors I hear them breathe behind the
arras«
»Well content you« returned Dick »it is closed We are safe for this
while if there be safety anywhere within these walls But my heart is glad to
see you By the mass lad I thought ye were sped Where hid ye«
»It matters not« returned Matcham »Since we be met it matters not But
Dick are your eyes open Have they told you of tomorrows doings«
»Not they« replied Dick »What make they tomorrow«
»Tomorrow or tonight I know not« said the other »but one time or
other Dick they do intend upon your life I had the proof of it I have heard
them whisper nay they as good as told me«
»Ay« returned Dick »is it so I had thought as much«
And he told him the days occurrences at length
When it was done Matcham arose and began in turn to examine the
apartment
»No« he said »there is no entrance visible Yet tis a pure certainty
there is one Dick I will stay by you An y are to die I will die with you
And I can help look I have stolen a dagger I will do my best And
meanwhile an ye know of any issue any sallyport we could get opened or any
window that we might descend by I will most joyfully face any jeopardy to flee
with you«
»Jack« said Dick »by the mass Jack y are the best soul and the truest
and the bravest in all England Give me your hand Jack«
And he grasped the others hand in silence
»I will tell you« he resumed »There is a window out of which the messenger
descended the rope should still be in the chamber Tis a hope«
»Hist« said Matcham
Both gave ear There was a sound below the floor then it paused and then
began again
»Some one walketh in the room below« whispered Matcham
»Nay« returned Dick »there is no room below we are above the chapel It
is my murderer in the secret passage Well let him come it shall go hard with
him« And he ground his teeth
»Blow me the lights out« said the other »Perchance he will betray
himself«
They blew out both the lamps and lay still as death The footfalls
underneath were very soft but they were clearly audible Several times they
came and went and then there was a loud jar of a key turning in a lock
followed by a considerable silence
Presently the steps began again and then all of a sudden a chink of light
appeared in the planking of the room in a far corner It widened a trapdoor
was being opened letting in a gush of light They could see the strong hand
pushing it up and Dick raised his crossbow waiting for the head to follow
But now there came an interruption From a distant corner of the Moat House
shouts began to be heard and first one voice and then several crying aloud
upon a name This noise had plainly disconcerted the murderer for the trapdoor
was silently lowered to its place and the steps hurriedly returned passed once
more close below the lads and died away in the distance
Here was a moments respite Dick breathed deep and then and not till
then he gave ear to the disturbance which had interrupted the attack and which
was now rather increasing than diminishing All about the Moat House feet were
running doors were opening and slamming and still the voice of Sir Daniel
towered above all this bustle shouting for »Joanna«
»Joanna« repeated Dick »Why who the murrain should this be Here is no
Joanna nor ever hath been What meaneth it«
Matcham was silent He seemed to have drawn farther away But only a little
faint starlight entered by the window and at the far end of the apartment where
the pair were the darkness was complete
»Jack« said Dick »I wot not where ye were all day Saw ye this Joanna«
»Nay« returned Matcham »I saw her not«
»Nor heard tell of her« he pursued
The steps drew nearer Sir Daniel was still roaring the name of Joanna from
the courtyard
»Did ye hear of her« repeated Dick
»I heard of her« said Matcham
»How your voice twitters What aileth you« said Dick »Tis a most
excellent good fortune this Joanna it will take their minds from us«
»Dick« cried Matcham »I am lost we are both lost Let us flee if there be
yet time They will not rest till they have found me Or see let me go forth
when they have found me ye may flee Let me forth Dick good Dick let me
away«
She was groping for the bolt when Dick at last comprehended
»By the mass« he cried »y are no Jack y are Joanna Sedley y are the
maid that would not marry me«
The girl paused and stood silent and motionless Dick too was silent for
a little then he spoke again
»Joanna« he said »y have saved my life and I have saved yours and we
have seen blood flow and been friends and enemies ay and I took my belt to
thrash you and all that time I thought ye were a boy But now death has me and
my times out and before I die I must say this Y are the best maid and the
bravest under heaven and if only I could live I would marry you blithely
and live or die I love you«
She answered nothing
»Come« he said »speak up Jack Come be a good maid and say ye love me«
»Why Dick« she cried »would I be here«
»Well see ye here« continued Dick »an we but escape whole well marry
and an were to die we die and theres an end ont But now that I think how
found ye my chamber«
»I asked it of Dame Hatch« she answered
»Well the dames staunch« he answered »shell not tell upon you We have
time before us«
And just then as if to contradict his words feet came down the corridor
and a fist beat roughly on the door
»Here« cried a voice »Open Master Dick open«
Dick neither moved nor answered
»It is all over« said the girl and she put her arms about Dicks neck
One after another men came trooping to the door Then Sir Daniel arrived
himself and there was a sudden cessation of the noise
»Dick« cried the knight »be not an ass The Seven Sleepers had been awake
ere now We know she is within there Open then the door man«
Dick was again silent
»Down with it« said Sir Daniel And immediately his followers fell savagely
upon the door with foot and fist Solid as it was and strongly bolted it would
soon have given way but once more fortune interfered Over the thunderstorm of
blows the cry of a sentinel was heard it was followed by another shouts ran
along the battlements shouts answered out of the wood In the first moment of
alarm it sounded as if the foresters were carrying the Moat House by assault
And Sir Daniel and his men desisting instantly from their attack upon Dicks
chamber hurried to defend the walls
»Now« cried Dick »we are saved«
He seized the great old bedstead with both hands and bent himself in vain
to move it
»Help me Jack For your lifes sake help me stoutly« he cried
Between them with a huge effort they dragged the big frame of oak across
the room and thrust it endwise to the chamber door
»Ye do but make things worse« said Joanna sadly »He will then enter by the
trap«
»Not so« replied Dick »He durst not tell his secret to so many It is by
the trap that we shall flee Hark The attack is over Nay it was none«
It had indeed been no attack it was the arrival of another party of
stragglers from the defeat of Risingham that had disturbed Sir Daniel They had
run the gauntlet under cover of the darkness they had been admitted by the
great gate and now with a great stamping of hoofs and jingle of accoutrements
and arms they were dismounting in the court
»He will return anon« said Dick »To the trap«
He lighted a lamp and they went together into the corner of the room The
open chink through which some light still glittered was easily discovered and
taking a stout sword from his small armoury Dick thrust it deep into the seam
and weighed strenuously on the hilt The trap moved gaped a little and at
length came widely open Seizing it with their hands the two young folk threw
it back It disclosed a few steps descending and at the foot of them where the
wouldbe murderer had left it a burning lamp
»Now« said Dick »go first and take the lamp I will follow to close the
trap«
So they descended one after the other and as Dick lowered the trap the
blows began once again to thunder on the panels of the door
Chapter IV
The Passage
The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow dirty and
short At the other end of it a door stood partly open the same door without
doubt that they had heard the man unlocking Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof
and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread
Beyond the door there were two branches at right angles Dick chose one of
them at random and the pair hurried with echoing footsteps along the hollow
of the chapel roof The top of the arched ceiling rose like a whales back in
the dim glimmer of the lamp Here and there were spyholes concealed on the
other side by the carving of the cornice and looking down through one of
these Dick saw the paved floor of the chapel the altar with its burning
tapers and stretched before it on the steps the figure of Sir Oliver praying
with uplifted hands
At the other end they descended a few steps The passage grew narrower the
wall upon one hand was now of wood the noise of people talking and a faint
flickering of lights came through the interstices and presently they came to a
round hole about the size of a mans eye and Dick looking down through it
beheld the interior of the hall and some half a dozen men sitting in their
jacks about the table drinking deep and demolishing a venison pie These were
certainly some of the late arrivals
»Here is no help« said Dick »Let us try back«
»Nay« said Joanna »maybe the passage goeth farther«
And she pushed on But a few yards farther the passage ended at the top of a
short flight of steps and it became plain that as long as the soldiers
occupied the hall escape was impossible upon that side
They retraced their steps with all imaginable speed and set forward to
explore the other branch It was exceedingly narrow scarce wide enough for a
large man and it led them continually up and down by little breakneck stairs
until even Dick had lost all notion of his whereabouts
At length it grew both narrower and lower the stairs continued to descend
the walls on either hand became damp and slimy to the touch and far in front of
them they heard the squeaking and scuttling of the rats
»We must be in the dungeons« Dick remarked
»And still there is no outlet« added Joanna
»Nay but an outlet there must be« Dick answered
Presently sure enough they came to a sharp angle and then the passage
ended in a flight of steps On the top of that there was a solid flag of stone
by way of trap and to this they both set their backs It was immovable
»Some one holdeth it« suggested Joanna
»Not so« said Dick »for were a man strong as ten he must still yield a
little But this resisteth like dead rock There is a weight upon the trap Here
is no issue and by my sooth good Jack we are here as fairly prisoners as
though the gyves were on our anklebones Sit ye then down and let us talk
After a while we shall return when perchance they shall be less carefully upon
their guard and who knoweth we may break out and stand a chance But in my
poor opinion we are as good as shent«
»Dick« she cried »alas the day that ever ye should have seen me For like
a most unhappy and unthankful maid it is I have led you hither«
»What cheer« returned Dick »It was all written and that which is written
willy nilly cometh still to pass But tell me a little what manner of a maid ye
are and how ye came into Sir Daniels hands that will do better than to bemoan
yourself whether for your sake or mine«
»I am an orphan like yourself of father and mother« said Joanna »and for
my great misfortune Dick and hitherto for yours I am a rich marriage My Lord
Foxham had me to ward yet it appears Sir Daniel bought the marriage of me from
the king and a right dear price he paid for it So here was I poor babe with
two great and rich men fighting which should marry me and I still at nurse
Well then the world changed and there was a new chancellor and Sir Daniel
bought the warding of me over the Lord Foxhams head And then the world changed
again and Lord Foxham bought my marriage over Sir Daniels and from then to
now it went on ill betwixt the two of them But still Lord Foxham kept me in his
hands and was a good lord to me And at last I was to be married or sold if
ye like it better Five hundred pounds Lord Foxham was to get for me Hamley was
the grooms name and tomorrow Dick of all days in the year was I to be
betrothed Had it not come to Sir Daniel I had been wedded sure and never
seen thee Dick dear Dick«
And here she took his hand and kissed it with the prettiest grace and
Dick drew her hand to him and did the like
»Well« she went on »Sir Daniel took me unawares in the garden and made me
dress in these mens clothes which is a deadly sin for a woman and besides
they fit me not He rode with me to Kettley as ye saw telling me I was to
marry you but I in my heart made sure I would marry Hamley in his teeth«
»Ay« cried Dick »and so ye loved this Hamley«
»Nay« replied Joanna »not I I did but hate Sir Daniel And then Dick ye
helped me and ye were right kind and very bold and my heart turned towards
you in mine own despite and now if we can in any way compass it I would marry
you with right goodwill And if by cruel destiny it may not be still yell be
dear to me While my heart beats itll be true to you«
»And I« said Dick »that never cared a straw for any manner of woman until
now I took to you when I thought ye were a boy I had a pity to you and knew
not why When I would have belted you the hand failed me But when ye owned ye
were a maid Jack for still I will call you Jack I made sure ye were the
maid for me Hark« he said breaking off »one cometh«
And indeed a heavy tread was now audible in the echoing passage and the
rats again fled in armies
Dick reconnoitred his position The sudden turn gave him a post of vantage
He could thus shoot in safety from the cover of the wall But it was plain the
light was too near him and running some way forward he set down the lamp in
the middle of the passage and then returned to watch
Presently at the far end of the passage Bennet hove in sight He seemed to
be alone and he carried in his hand a burning torch which made him the better
mark
»Stand Bennet« cried Dick »Another step and y are dead«
»So here ye are« returned Hatch peering forward into the darkness »I see
you not Aha y have done wisely Dick y have put your lamp before you By my
sooth but though it was done to shoot my own knave body I do rejoice to see
ye profit of my lessons And now what make ye what seek ye here Why would ye
shoot upon an old kind friend And have ye the young gentlewoman there«
»Nay Bennet it is I should question and you answer« replied Dick »Why am
I in this jeopardy of my life Why do men come privily to slay me in my bed Why
am I now fleeing in mine own guardians strong house and from the friends that
I have lived among and never injured«
»Master Dick Master Dick« said Bennet »what told I you Y are brave but
the most uncrafty lad that I can think upon«
»Well« returned Dick »I see you know all and that I am doomed indeed It
is well Here where I am I stay Let Sir Daniel get me out if he be able«
Hatch was silent for a space
»Hark ye« he began »I return to Sir Daniel to tell him where ye are and
how posted for in truth it was to that end he sent me But you if ye are no
fool had best be gone ere I return«
»Be gone« repeated Dick »I would be gone already an I wist how I cannot
move the trap«
»Put me your hand into the corner and see what ye find there« replied
Bennet »Throgmortons rope is still in the brown chamber Fare ye well«
And Hatch turning upon his heel disappeared again into the windings of the
passage
Dick instantly returned for his lamp and proceeded to act upon the hint At
one corner of the trap there was a deep cavity in the wall Pushing his arm into
the aperture Dick found an iron bar which he thrust vigorously upwards There
followed a snapping noise and the slab of stone instantly started in its bed
They were free of the passage A little exercise of strength easily raised
the trap and they came forth into a vaulted chamber opening on one hand upon
the court where one or two fellows with bare arms were rubbing down the
horses of the last arrivals A torch or two each stuck in an iron ring against
the wall changefully lit up the scene
Chapter V
How Dick Changed Sides
Dick blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention led the way
upstairs and along the corridor In the brown chamber the rope had been made
fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed It had not been
detached and Dick taking the coil to the window began to lower it slowly and
cautiously into the darkness of the night Joan stood by but as the rope
lengthened and still Dick continued to pay it out extreme fear began to
conquer her resolution
»Dick« she said »is it so deep I may not essay it I should infallibly
fall good Dick«
It was just at the delicate moment of the operations that she spoke Dick
started the remainder of the coil slipped from his grasp and the end fell with
a splash into the moat Instantly from the battlement above the voice of a
sentinel cried »Who goes«
»A murrain« cried Dick »We are paid now Down with you take the rope«
»I cannot« she cried recoiling
»An ye cannot no more can I« said Shelton »How can I swim the moat
without you Do ye desert me then«
»Dick« she gasped »I cannot The strength is gone from me«
»By the mass then we are all shent« he shouted stamping with his foot
and then hearing steps he ran to the room door and sought to close it
Before he could shoot the bolt strong arms were thrusting it back upon him
from the other side He struggled for a second then feeling himself
overpowered ran back to the window The girl had fallen against the wall in the
embrasure of the window she was more than half insensible and when he tried to
raise her in his arms her body was limp and unresponsive
At the same moment the men who had forced the door against him laid hold
upon him The first he poniarded at a blow and the others falling back for a
second in some disorder he profited by the chance bestrode the windowsill
seized the cord in both hands and let his body slip
The cord was knotted which made it the easier to descend but so furious
was Dicks hurry and so small his experience of such gymnastics that he span
round and round in midair like a criminal upon a gibbet and now beat his head
and now bruised his hands against the rugged stonework of the wall The air
roared in his ears he saw the stars overhead and the reflected stars below him
in the moat whirling like dead leaves before the tempest And then he lost hold
and fell and soused head over ears into the icy water
When he came to the surface his hand encountered the rope which newly
lightened of his weight was swinging wildly to and fro There was a red glow
overhead and looking up he saw by the light of several torches and a cresset
full of burning coals the battlements lined with faces He saw the mens eyes
turning hither and thither in quest of him but he was too far below the light
reached him not and they looked in vain
And now he perceived that the rope was considerably too long and he began
to struggle as well as he could towards the other side of the moat still
keeping his head above water In this way he got much more than halfway over
indeed the bank was almost within reach before the rope began to draw him back
by its own weight Taking his courage in both hands he left go and made a leap
for the trailing sprays of willow that had already that same evening helped
Sir Daniels messenger to land He went down rose again sank a second time
and then his hand caught a branch and with the speed of thought he had dragged
himself into the thick of the tree and clung there dripping and panting and
still half uncertain of his escape
But all this had not been done without a considerable splashing which had
so far indicated his position to the men along the battlements Arrows and
quarrels fell thick around him in the darkness like driving hail and suddenly
a torch was thrown down flared through the air in its swift passage stuck
for a moment on the edge of the bank where it burned high and lit up its whole
surroundings like a bonfire and then in a good hour for Dick slipped off
plumped into the moat and was instantly extinguished
It had served its purpose The marksmen had had time to see the willow and
Dick ensconced among its boughs and though the lad instantly sprang higher up
the bank and ran for his life he was yet not quick enough to escape a shot An
arrow struck him in the shoulder another grazed his head
The pain of his wounds lent him wings and he had no sooner got upon the
level than he took to his heels and ran straight before him in the dark without
a thought for the direction of his flight
For a few steps missiles followed him but these soon ceased and when at
length he came to a halt and looked behind he was already a good way from the
Moat House though he could still see the torches moving to and fro along its
battlements
He leaned against a tree streaming with blood and water bruised wounded
and alone For all that he had saved his life for that bout and though Joanna
remained behind in the power of Sir Daniel he neither blamed himself for an
accident that it had been beyond his power to prevent nor did he augur any
fatal consequences to the girl herself Sir Daniel was cruel but he was not
likely to be cruel to a young gentlewoman who had other protectors willing and
able to bring him to account It was more probable he would make haste to marry
her to some friend of his own
»Well« thought Dick »between then and now I will find me the means to
bring that traitor under for I think by the mass that I be now absolved from
any gratitude or obligation and when war is open there is a fair chance for
all«
In the meanwhile here he was in a sore plight
For some little way farther he struggled forward through the forest but
what with the pain of his wounds the darkness of the night and the extreme
uneasiness and confusion of his mind he soon became equally unable to guide
himself or to continue to push through the close undergrowth and he was fain at
length to sit down and lean his back against a tree
When he awoke from something betwixt sleep and swooning the grey of the
morning had begun to take the place of night A little chilly breeze was
bustling among the trees and as he still sat staring before him only half
awake he became aware of something dark that swung to and fro among the
branches some hundred yards in front of him The progressive brightening of the
day and the return of his own senses at last enabled him to recognise the
object. It was a man hanging from the bough of a tall oak His head had fallen
forward on his breast but at every stronger puff of wind his body span round
and round and his legs and arms tossed like some ridiculous plaything
Dick clambered to his feet and staggering and leaning on the treetrunks
as he went drew near to this grim object
The bough was perhaps twenty feet above the ground and the poor fellow had
been drawn up so high by his executioners that his boots swung clear above
Dicks reach and as his hood had been drawn over his face it was impossible to
recognise the man
Dick looked about him right and left and at last he perceived that the
other end of the cord had been made fast to the trunk of a little hawthorn which
grew thick with blossom under the lofty arcade of the oak With his dagger
which alone remained to him of all his arms young Shelton severed the rope and
instantly with a dead thump the corpse fell in a heap upon the ground
Dick raised the hood it was Throgmorton Sir Daniels messenger He had not
gone far upon his errand A paper which had apparently escaped the notice of
the men of the Black Arrow stuck from the bosom of his doublet and Dick
pulling it forth found it was Sir Daniels letter to Lord Wensleydale
»Come« thought he »if the world changes yet again I may have here the
wherewithal to shame Sir Daniel nay and perchance to bring him to the block«
And he put the paper in his own bosom said a prayer over the dead man and
set forth again through the woods
His fatigue and weakness increased his ears sang his steps faltered his
mind at intervals failed him so low had he been brought by loss of blood
Doubtless he made many deviations from his true path but at last he came out
upon the highroad not very far from Tunstall hamlet
A rough voice bid him stand
»Stand« repeated Dick »By the mass but I am nearer falling«
And he suited the action to the word and fell all his length upon the road
Two men came forth out of the thicket each in green forest jerkin each
with longbow and quiver and short sword
»Why Lawless« said the younger of the two »it is young Shelton«
»Ay this will be as good as bread to John AmendAll« returned the other
»Though faith he hath been to the wars Here is a tear in his scalp that must
a cost him many a good ounce of blood«
»And here« added Greensheve »is a hole in his shoulder that must have
pricked him well Who hath done this think ye If it be one of ours he may all
to prayer Ellis will give him a short shrift and a long rope«
»Up with the cub« said Lawless »Clap him on my back«
And then when Dick had been hoisted to his shoulders and he had taken the
lads arms about his neck and got a firm hold of him the exGrey Friar added
»Keep ye the post brother Greensheve I will on with him by myself«
So Greensheve returned to his ambush on the wayside and Lawless trudged
down the hill whistling as he went with Dick still in a dead faint
comfortably settled on his shoulders
The sun rose as he came out of the skirts of the wood and saw Tunstall
hamlet straggling up the opposite hill All seemed quiet but a strong post of
some half a score of archers lay close by the bridge on either side of the road
and as soon as they perceived Lawless with his burden began to bestir
themselves and set arrow to string like vigilant sentries
»Who goes« cried the man in command
»Will Lawless by the rood ye know me as well as your own hand« returned
the outlaw contemptuously
»Give the word Lawless« returned the other
»Now Heaven lighten thee thou great fool« replied Lawless »Did I not
tell it thee myself But ye are all mad for this playing at soldiers When I am
in the greenwood give me greenwood ways and my word for this tide is A fig
for all mock soldiery«
»Lawless ye but show an ill example give us the word fool jester« said
the commander of the post
»And if I had forgotten it« asked the other
»An ye had forgotten it as I know y have not by the mass I would clap
an arrow into your big body« returned the first
»Nay an y are so ill a jester« said Lawless »ye shall have your word for
me Duckworth and Shelton is the word and here to the illustration is Shelton
on my shoulders and to Duckworth do I carry him«
»Pass Lawless« said the sentry
»And where is John« asked the Grey Friar
»He holdeth a court by the mass and taketh rents as to the manner born«
cried another of the company
So it proved When Lawless got as far up the village as the little inn he
found Ellis Duckworth surrounded by Sir Daniels tenants and by the right of
his good company of archers coolly taking rents and giving written receipts in
return for them By the faces of the tenants it was plain how little this
proceeding pleased them for they argued very rightly that they would simply
have to pay them twice
As soon as he knew what had brought Lawless Ellis dismissed the remainder
of the tenants and with every mark of interest and apprehension conducted
Dick into an inner chamber of the inn There the lads hurts were looked to and
he was recalled by simple remedies to consciousness
»Dear lad« said Ellis pressing his hand »y are in a friends hands that
loved your father and loves you for his sake Rest ye a little quietly for ye
are somewhat out of case Then shall ye tell me your story and betwixt the two
of us we shall find a remedy for all«
A little later in the day and after Dick had awakened from a comfortable
slumber to find himself still very weak but clearer in mind and easier in body
Ellis returned and sitting down by the bedside begged him in the name of his
father to relate the circumstance of his escape from Tunstall Moat House There
was something in the strength of Duckworths frame in the honesty of his brown
face in the clearness and shrewdness of his eyes that moved Dick to obey him
and from first to last the lad told him the story of his two days adventures
»Well« said Ellis when he had done »see what the kind saints have done
for you Dick Shelton not alone to save your body in so numerous and deadly
perils but to bring you into my hands that have no dearer wish than to assist
your fathers son Be but true to me and I see y are true and betwixt you
and me we shall bring that falseheart traitor to the death«
»Will ye assault the house« asked Dick
»I were mad indeed to think of it« returned Ellis »He hath too much
power his men gather to him those that gave me the slip last night and by the
mass came in so handily for you those have made him safe Nay Dick to the
contrary thou and I and my brave bowmen we must all slip from this forest
speedily and leave Sir Daniel free«
»My mind misgiveth me for Jack« said the lad
»For Jack« repeated Duckworth »O I see for the wench Nay Dick I
promise you if there come talk of any marriage we shall act at once till then
or till the time is ripe we shall all disappear even like shadows at morning
Sir Daniel shall look east and west and see none enemies he shall think by
the mass that he hath dreamed a while and hath now awakened in his bed But
our four eyes Dick shall follow him right close and our four hands so help
us all the army of the saints shall bring that traitor low«
Two days later Sir Daniels garrison had grown to such a strength that he
ventured on a sally and at the head of some two score horsemen pushed without
opposition as far as Tunstall hamlet Not an arrow flew not a man stirred in
the thicket the bridge was no longer guarded but stood open to all comers and
as Sir Daniel crossed it he saw the villagers looking timidly from their doors
Presently one of them taking heart of grace came forward and with the
lowliest salutations presented a letter to the knight
His face darkened as he read the contents It ran thus
»To the most untrue and cruel gentylman Sir Daniel Brackley Knyght
These
I fynde ye were untrue and unkynd fro the first Ye have my fathers
blood upon your hands let be it will not wasshe Some day ye shall
perish by my procurement so much I let you to wytte and I let you to
wytte farther that if ye seek to wed to any other the gentylwoman
Mistresse Joan Sedley whom that I am bound upon a great oath to wed
myself the blow will be very swift The first step therinne will be thy
first step to the grave
RIC SHELTON«
Book III My Lord Foxham
Chapter I
The House by the Shore
Months had passed away since Richard Shelton made his escape from the hands of
his guardian These months had been eventful for England The party of
Lancaster which was then in the very article of death had once more raised its
head The Yorkists defeated and dispersed their leader butchered on the field
it seemed for a very brief season in the winter following upon the events
already recorded as if the House of Lancaster had finally triumphed over its
foes
The small town of ShorebyontheTill was full of the Lancastrian nobles of
the neighbourhood Earl Risingham was there with three hundred menatarms
Lord Shoreby with two hundred Sir Daniel himself high in favour and once
more growing rich on confiscations lay in a house of his own on the main
street with three score men The world had changed indeed
It was a black bitter cold evening in the first week of January with a
hard frost a high wind and every likelihood of snow before the morning
In an obscure alehouse in a bystreet near the harbour three or four men
sat drinking ale and eating a hasty mess of eggs They were all likely lusty
weatherbeaten fellows hard of hand bold of eye and though they wore plain
tabards like country ploughmen even a drunken soldier might have looked twice
before he sought a quarrel in such company
A little apart before the huge fire sat a younger man almost a boy dressed
in much the same fashion though it was easy to see by his looks that he was
better born and might have worn a sword had the time suited
»Nay« said one of the men at the table »I like it not Ill will come of
it This is no place for jolly fellows A jolly fellow loveth open country good
cover and scarce foes but here we are shut in a town girt about with enemies
and for the bullseye of misfortune see if it snow not ere the morning«
»Tis for Master Shelton there« said another nodding his head towards the
lad before the fire
»I will do much for Master Shelton« returned the first »but to come to the
gallows for any man nay brothers not that«
The door of the inn opened and another man entered hastily and approached
the youth before the fire
»Master Shelton« he said »Sir Daniel goeth forth with a pair of links and
four archers«
Dick for this was our young friend rose instantly to his feet
»Lawless« he said »ye will take John Cappers watch Greensheve follow
with me Capper lead forward We will follow him this time an he go to
York«
The next moment they were outside in the dark street and Capper the man
who had just come pointed to where two torches flared in the wind at a little
distance
The town was already sound asleep no one moved upon the streets and there
was nothing easier than to follow the party without observation The two
linkbearers went first next followed a single man whose long cloak blew about
him in the wind and the rear was brought up by the four archers each with his
bow upon his arm They moved at a brisk walk threading the intricate lanes and
drawing nearer to the shore
»He hath gone each night in this direction« asked Dick in a whisper
»This is the third night running Master Shelton« returned Capper »and
still at the same hour and with the same small following as though his end were
secret«
Sir Daniel and his six men were now come to the outskirts of the country
Shoreby was an open town and though the Lancastrian lords who lay there kept a
strong guard on the main roads it was still possible to enter or depart unseen
by any of the lesser streets or across the open country
The lane which Sir Daniel had been following came to an abrupt end Before
him there was a stretch of rough down and the noise of the seasurf was audible
upon one hand There were no guards in the neighbourhood nor any light in that
quarter of the town
Dick and his two outlaws drew a little closer to the object of their chase
and presently as they came forth from between the houses and could see a
little farther upon either hand they were aware of another torch drawing near
from another direction
»Hey« said Dick »I smell treason«
Meanwhile Sir Daniel had come to a full halt The torches were stuck into
the sand and the men lay down as if to await the arrival of the other party
This drew near at a good rate It consisted of four men only a pair of
archers a varlet with a link and a cloaked gentleman walking in their midst
»Is it you my lord« cried Sir Daniel
»It is I indeed and if ever true knight gave proof I am that man« replied
the leader of the second troop »for who would rather not face giants
sorcerers or pagans than this pinching cold«
»My lord« returned Sir Daniel »beauty will be the more beholden misdoubt
it not But shall we forth for the sooner ye have seen my merchandise the
sooner shall we both get home«
»But why keep ye her here good knight« inquired the other »An she be so
young and so fair and so wealthy why do ye not bring her forth among her
mates Ye would soon make her a good marriage and no need to freeze your
fingers and risk arrowshots by going abroad at such untimely seasons in the
dark«
»I have told you my lord« replied Sir Daniel »the reason thereof
concerneth me only Neither do I purpose to explain it further Suffice it that
if ye be weary of your old gossip Daniel Brackley publish it abroad that y
are to wed Joanna Sedley and I give you my word ye will be quit of him right
soon Ye will find him with an arrow in his back«
Meantime the two gentlemen were walking briskly forward over the down the
three torches going before them stooping against the wind and scattering clouds
of smoke and tufts of flame and the rear brought up by the six archers
Close upon the heels of these Dick followed He had of course heard no
word of this conversation but he had recognised in the second of the speakers
old Lord Shoreby himself a man of an infamous reputation whom even Sir Daniel
affected in public to condemn
Presently they came close down upon the beach The air smelt salt the noise
of the surf increased and here in a large walled garden there stood a small
house of two stories with stables and other offices
The foremost torchbearer unlocked a door in the wall and after the whole
party had passed into the garden again closed and locked it on the other side
Dick and his men were thus excluded from any further following unless they
should scale the wall and thus put their necks in a trap
They sat down in a tuft of furze and waited The red glow of the torches
moved up and down and to and fro within the enclosure as if the linkbearers
steadily patrolled the garden
Twenty minutes passed and then the whole party issued forth again upon the
down and Sir Daniel and the baron after an elaborate salutation separated and
turned severally homeward each with his own following of men and lights
As soon as the sound of their steps had been swallowed by the wind Dick got
to his feet as briskly as he was able for he was stiff and aching with the
cold
»Capper ye will give me a back up« he said
They advanced all three to the wall Capper stooped and Dick getting
upon his shoulders clambered on to the copestone
»Now Greensheve« whispered Dick »follow me up here lie flat upon your
face that ye may be the less seen and be ever ready to give me a hand if I
fall foully on the other side«
And so saying he dropped into the garden
It was all pitch dark there was no light in the house The wind whistled
shrill among the poor shrubs and the surf beat upon the beach there was no
other sound Cautiously Dick footed it forth stumbling among bushes and
groping with his hands and presently the crisp noise of gravel underfoot told
him that he had struck upon an alley
Here he paused and taking his crossbow from where he kept it concealed
under his long tabard he prepared it for instant action and went forward once
more with greater resolution and assurance The path led him straight to the
group of buildings
All seemed to be sorely dilapidated the windows of the house were secured
by crazy shutters the stables were open and empty there was no hay in the
hayloft no corn in the cornbox Any one would have supposed the place to be
deserted but Dick had good reason to think otherwise He continued his
inspection visiting the offices trying all the windows At length he came
round to the seaside of the house and there sure enough there burned a pale
light in one of the upper windows
He stepped back a little way till he thought he could see the movement of a
shadow on the wall of the apartment Then he remembered that in the stable his
groping hand had rested for a moment on a ladder and he returned with all
despatch to bring it The ladder was very short but yet by standing on the
topmost round he could bring his hands as high as the iron bars of the window
and seizing these he raised his body by main force until his eyes commanded
the interior of the room
Two persons were within the first he readily knew to be Dame Hatch the
second a tall and beautiful and grave young lady in a long embroidered dress
could that be Joanna Sedley his old woodcompanion Jack whom he had thought
to punish with a belt
He dropped back again to the top round of the ladder in a kind of amazement
He had never thought of his sweetheart as of so superior a being and he was
instantly taken with a feeling of diffidence But he had little opportunity for
thought A low »Hist« sounded from close by and he hastened to descend the
ladder
»Who goes« he whispered
»Greensheve« came the reply in tones similarly guarded
»What want ye« asked Dick
»The house is watched Master Shelton« returned the outlaw »We are not
alone to watch it for even as I lay on my belly on the wall I saw men prowling
in the dark and heard them whistle softly one to the other«
»By my sooth« said Dick »but this is passing strange Were they not men of
Sir Daniels«
»Nay sir that they were not« returned Greensheve »for if I have eyes in
my head every manJack of them weareth me a white badge in his bonnet
something chequered with dark«
»White chequered with dark« repeated Dick »Faith tis a badge I know
not It is none of this countrys badges Well an that be so let us slip as
quietly forth from this garden as we may for here we are in an evil posture for
defence Beyond all question there are men of Sir Daniels in that house and to
be taken between two shots is a beggarmans position Take me this ladder I
must leave it where I found it«
They returned the ladder to the stable and groped their way to the place
where they had entered
Capper had taken Greensheves position on the cope and now he leaned down
his hand and first one and then the other pulled them up
Cautiously and silently they dropped again upon the other side nor did they
dare to speak until they had returned to their old ambush in the gorse
»Now John Capper« said Dick »back with you to Shoreby even as for your
life Bring me instantly what men ye can collect Here shall be the rendezvous
or if the men be scattered and the day be near at hand before they muster let
the place be something farther back and by the entering in of the town
Greensheve and I lie here to watch Speed ye John Capper and the saints aid
you to despatch And now Greensheve« he continued as soon as Capper had
departed »let thou and I go round about the garden in a wide circuit I would
fain see whether thine eyes betrayed thee«
Keeping well outwards from the wall and profiting by every height and
hollow they passed about two sides beholding nothing On the third side the
garden wall was built close upon the beach and to preserve the distance
necessary to their purpose they had to go some way down upon the sands
Although the tide was still pretty far out the surf was so high and the sands
so flat that at each breaker a great sheet of froth and water came careering
over the expanse and Dick and Greensheve made this part of their inspection
wading now to the ankles and now as deep as to the knees in the salt and icy
waters of the German Ocean
Suddenly against the comparative whiteness of the garden wall the figure
of a man was seen like a faint Chinese shadow violently signalling with both
arms As he dropped again to the earth another arose a little farther on and
repeated the same performance And so like a silent watchword these
gesticulations made the round of the beleaguered garden
»They keep good watch« Dick whispered
»Let us back to land good master« answered Greensheve »We stand here too
open for look ye when the seas break heavy and white out there behind us
they shall see us plainly against the foam«
»Ye speak sooth« returned Dick »Ashore with us right speedily«
Chapter II
A Skirmish in the Dark
Thoroughly drenched and chilled the two adventurers returned to their position
in the gorse
»I pray Heaven that Capper make good speed« said Dick »I vow a candle to
St Mary of Shoreby if he come before the hour«
»Y are in a hurry Master Dick« asked Greensheve
»Ay good fellow« answered Dick »for in that house lieth my lady whom I
love and who should these be that lie about her secretly by night Unfriends
for sure«
»Well« returned Greensheve »an John come speedily we shall give a good
account of them They are not two score at the outside I judge so by the
spacing of their sentries and taken where they are lying so widely one
score would scatter them like sparrows And yet Master Dick an she be in Sir
Daniels power already it will little hurt that she should change into
anothers Who should these be«
»I do suspect the Lord of Shoreby« Dick replied »When came they«
»They began to come Master Dick« said Greensheve »about the time ye
crossed the wall I had not lain there the space of a minute ere I marked the
first of the knaves crawling round the corner«
The last light had been already extinguished in the little house when they
were wading in the wash of the breakers and it was impossible to predict at
what moment the lurking men about the garden wall might make their onslaught Of
two evils Dick preferred the least He preferred that Joanna should remain
under the guardianship of Sir Daniel rather than pass into the clutches of Lord
Shoreby and his mind was made up if the house should be assaulted to come at
once to the relief of the besieged
But the time passed and still there was no movement From quarter of an
hour to quarter of an hour the same signal passed about the garden wall as if
the leader desired to assure himself of the vigilance of his scattered
followers but in every other particular the neighbourhood of the little house
lay undisturbed
Presently Dicks reinforcements began to arrive The night was not yet old
before nearly a score of men crouched beside him in the gorse
Separating these into two bodies he took the command of the smaller
himself and entrusted the larger to the leadership of Greensheve
»Now Kit« said he to this last »take me your men to the near angle of the
garden wall upon the beach Post them strongly and wait till that ye hear me
falling on upon the other side It is those upon the sea front that I would fain
make certain of for there will be the leader The rest will run even let them
And now lads let no man draw an arrow ye will but hurt friends Take to the
steel and keep to the steel and if we have the uppermost I promise every man
of you a gold noble when I come to mine estate«
Out of the odd collection of broken men thieves murderers and ruined
peasantry whom Duckworth had gathered together to serve the purposes of his
revenge some of the boldest and the most experienced in war had volunteered to
follow Richard Shelton The service of watching Sir Daniels movements in the
town of Shoreby had from the first been irksome to their temper and they had of
late begun to grumble loudly and threaten to disperse The prospect of a sharp
encounter and possible spoils restored them to good humour and they joyfully
prepared for battle
Their long tabards thrown aside they appeared some in plain green jerkins
and some in stout leathern jacks under their hoods many wore bonnets
strengthened by iron plates and for offensive armour swords daggers a few
stout boarspears and a dozen of bright bills put them in a posture to engage
even regular feudal troops The bows quivers and tabards were concealed among
the gorse and the two bands set resolutely forward
Dick when he had reached the other side of the house posted his six men in
a line about twenty yards from the garden wall and took position himself a few
paces in front Then they all shouted with one voice and closed upon the enemy
These lying widely scattered stiff with cold and taken at unawares
sprang stupidly to their feet and stood undecided Before they had time to get
their courage about them or even to form an idea of the number and mettle of
their assailants a similar shout of onslaught sounded in their ears from the
far side of the enclosure Thereupon they gave themselves up for lost and ran
In this way the two small troops of the men of the Black Arrow closed upon
the sea front of the garden wall and took a part of the strangers as it were
between two fires while the whole of the remainder ran for their lives in
different directions and were soon scattered in the darkness
For all that the fight was but beginning Dicks outlaws although they had
the advantage of the surprise were still considerably outnumbered by the men
they had surrounded The tide had flowed in the meanwhile the beach was
narrowed to a strip and on this wet field between the surf and the garden wall
there began in the darkness a doubtful furious and deadly contest
The strangers were well armed they fell in silence upon their assailants
and the affray became a series of single combats Dick who had come first into
the mellay was engaged by three the first he cut down at the first blow but
the other two coming upon him hotly he was fain to give ground before their
onset One of these two was a huge fellow almost a giant for stature and armed
with a twohanded sword which he brandished like a switch Against this
opponent with his reach of arm and the length and weight of his weapon Dick
and his bill were quite defenceless and had the other continued to join
vigorously in the attack the lad must have indubitably fallen This second man
however less in stature and slower in his movements paused for a moment to
peer about him in the darkness and to give ear to the sounds of the battle
The giant still pursued his advantage and still Dick fled before him
spying for his chance Then the huge blade flashed and descended and the lad
leaping on one side and running in slashed sideways and upwards with his bill
A roar of agony responded and before the wounded man could raise his formidable
weapon Dick twice repeating his blow had brought him to the ground
The next moment he was engaged upon more equal terms with his second
pursuer Here there was no great difference in size and though the man
fighting with sword and dagger against a bill and being wary and quick of
fence had a certain superiority of arms Dick more than made it up by his
greater agility on foot Neither at first gained any obvious advantage but the
older man was still insensibly profiting by the ardour of the younger to lead
him where he would and presently Dick found that they had crossed the whole
width of the beach and were now fighting above the knees in the spume and
bubble of the breakers Here his own superior activity was rendered useless he
found himself more or less at the discretion of his foe yet a little and he
had his back turned upon his own men and saw that this adroit and skilful
adversary was bent upon drawing him farther and farther away
Dick ground his teeth He determined to decide the combat instantly and
when the wash of the next wave had ebbed and left them dry he rushed in caught
a blow upon his bill and leaped right at the throat of his opponent The man
went down backwards with Dick still upon the top of him and the next wave
speedily succeeding the last buried him below a rush of water
While he was still submerged Dick forced his dagger from his grasp and
rose to his feet victorious
»Yield ye« he said »I give you life«
»I yield me« said the other getting to his knees »Ye fight like a young
man ignorantly and foolhardily but by the array of the saints ye fight
bravely«
Dick turned to the beach The combat was still raging doubtfully in the
night over the hoarse roar of the breakers steel clanged upon steel and cries
of pain and the shout of battle resounded
»Lead me to your captain youth« said the conquered knight »It is fit this
butchery should cease«
»Sir« replied Dick »so far as these brave fellows have a captain the poor
gentleman who here addresses you is he«
»Call off your dogs then and I will bid my villains hold« returned the
other
There was something noble both in the voice and manner of his late opponent
and Dick instantly dismissed all fears of treachery
»Lay down your arms men« cried the stranger knight »I have yielded me
upon promise of life«
The tone of the stranger was one of absolute command and almost instantly
the din and confusion of the mellay ceased
»Lawless« cried Dick »are ye safe«
»Ay« cried Lawless »safe and hearty«
»Light me the lantern« cried Dick
»Is not Sir Daniel here« inquired the knight
»Sir Daniel« echoed Dick »Now by the rood I pray not It would go ill
with me if he were«
»Ill with you fair sir« inquired the other »Nay then if ye be not of
Sir Daniels party I profess I comprehend no longer Wherefore then fell ye
upon mine ambush in what quarrel my young and very fiery friend to what
earthly purpose and to make a clear end of questioning to what good gentleman
have I surrendered«
But before Dick could answer a voice spoke in the darkness from close by
Dick could see the speakers black and white badge and the respectful salute
which he addressed to his superior
»My lord« said he »if these gentlemen be unfriends to Sir Daniel it is a
pity indeed we should have been at blows with them but it were tenfold
greater that either they or we should linger here The watchers in the house
unless they be all dead or deaf have heard our hammering this quarterhour
agone instantly they will have signalled to the town and unless we be the
livelier in our departure we are like to be taken both of us by a fresh foe«
»Hawksley is in the right« added the lord »How please ye sir Whither
shall we march«
»Nay my lord« said Dick »go where you will for me I do begin to suspect
we have some ground of friendship and if indeed I began our acquaintance
somewhat ruggedly I would not churlishly continue Let us then separate my
lord you laying your right hand in mine and at the hour and place that ye
shall name let us encounter and agree«
»Y are too trustful boy« said the other »but this time your trust is not
misplaced I will meet you at the point of day at St Brides Cross Come
lads follow«
The strangers disappeared from the scene with a rapidity that seemed
suspicious and while the outlaws fell to the congenial task of rifling the
dead bodies Dick made once more the circuit of the garden wall to examine the
front of the house In a little upper loophole of the roof he beheld a light
set and as it would certainly be visible in town from the back windows of Sir
Daniels mansion he doubted not that this was the signal feared by Hawksley
and that ere long the lances of the Knight of Tunstall would arrive upon the
scene
He put his ear to the ground and it seemed to him as if he heard a jarring
and hollow noise from townward Back to the beach he went hurrying But the work
was already done the last body was disarmed and stripped to the skin and four
fellows were already wading seaward to commit it to the mercies of the deep
A few minutes later when there debouched out of the nearest lanes of
Shoreby some two score horsemen hastily arrayed and moving at the gallop of
their steeds the neighbourhood of the house beside the sea was entirely silent
and deserted
Meanwhile Dick and his men had returned to the alehouse of the Goat and
Bagpipes to snatch some hours of sleep before the morning tryst
Chapter III
St Brides Cross
St Brides Cross stood a little way back from Shoreby on the skirts of
Tunstall Forest Two roads met one from Holywood across the forest one that
road from Risingham down which we saw the wrecks of a Lancastrian army fleeing
in disorder Here the two joined issue and went on together down the hill to
Shoreby and a little back from the point of junction the summit of a little
knoll was crowned by the ancient and weatherbeaten cross
Here then about seven in the morning Dick arrived It was as cold as
ever the earth was all grey and silver with the hoarfrost and the day began
to break in the east with many colours of purple and orange
Dick set him down upon the lowest step of the cross wrapped himself well in
his tabard and looked vigilantly upon all sides He had not long to wait Down
the road from Holywood a gentleman in very rich and bright armour and wearing
over that a surcoat of the rarest furs came pacing on a splendid charger
Twenty yards behind him followed a clump of lancers but these halted as soon as
they came in view of the trystingplace while the gentleman in the fur surcoat
continued to advance alone
His visor was raised and showed a countenance of great command and dignity
answerable to the richness of his attire and arms And it was with some
confusion of manner that Dick arose from the cross and stepped down the bank to
meet his prisoner
»I thank you my lord for your exactitude« he said louting very low
»Will it please your lordship to set foot to earth«
»Are ye here alone young man« inquired the other
»I was not so simple« answered Dick »and to be plain with your lordship
the woods upon either hand of this cross lie full of mine honest fellows lying
on their weapons«
»Y have done wisely« said the lord »It pleaseth me the rather since last
night ye fought foolhardily and more like a salvage Saracen lunatic than any
Christian warrior But it becomes not me to complain that had the undermost«
»Ye had the undermost indeed my lord since ye so fell« returned Dick
»but had the waves not holpen me it was I that should have had the worst Ye
were pleased to make me yours with several daggermarks which I still carry
And in fine my lord methinks I had all the danger as well as all the profit
of that little blindmans medley on the beach«
»Y are shrewd enough to make light of it I see« returned the stranger
»Nay my lord not shrewd« replied Dick »in that I shoot at no advantage
to myself But when by the light of this new day I see how stout a knight hath
yielded not to my arms alone but to fortune and the darkness and the surf
and how easily the battle had gone otherwise with a soldier so untried and
rustic as myself think it not strange my lord if I feel confounded with my
victory«
»Ye speak well« said the stranger »Your name«
»My name ant like you is Shelton« answered Dick
»Men call me the Lord Foxham« added the other
»Then my lord and under your good favour ye are guardian to the sweetest
maid in England« replied Dick »and for your ransom and the ransom of such as
were taken with you on the beach there will be no uncertainty of terms I pray
you my lord of your goodwill and charity yield me the hand of my mistress
Joan Sedley and take ye upon the other part your liberty the liberty of
these your followers and if ye will have it my gratitude and service till I
die«
»But are ye not ward to Sir Daniel Methought if y are Harry Sheltons
son that I had heard it so reported« said Lord Foxham
»Will it please you my lord to alight I would fain tell you fully who I
am how situate and why so bold in my demands Beseech you my lord take place
upon these steps hear me to a full end and judge me with allowance«
And so saying Dick lent a hand to Lord Foxham to dismount led him up the
knoll to the cross installed him in the place where he had himself been
sitting and standing respectfully before his noble prisoner related the story
of his fortunes up to the events of the evening before
Lord Foxham listened gravely and when Dick had done »Master Shelton« he
said »ye are a most fortunateunfortunate young gentleman but what fortune y
have had that ye have amply merited and what unfortune ye have noways
deserved Be of a good cheer for ye have made a friend who is devoid neither of
power nor favour For yourself although it fits not for a person of your birth
to herd with outlaws I must own ye are both brave and honourable very
dangerous in battle right courteous in peace a youth of excellent disposition
and brave bearing For your estates ye will never see them till the world shall
change again so long as Lancaster hath the strong hand so long shall Sir
Daniel enjoy them for his own For my ward it is another matter I had promised
her before to a gentleman a kinsman of my house one Hamley the promise is old
«
»Ay my lord and now Sir Daniel hath promised her to my Lord Shoreby«
interrupted Dick »And his promise for all it is but young is still the
likelier to be made good«
»Tis the plain truth« returned his lordship »And considering moreover
that I am your prisoner upon no better composition than my bare life and over
and above that that the maiden is unhappily in other hands I will so far
consent Aid me with your good fellows «
»My lord« cried Dick »they are these same outlaws that ye blame me for
consorting with«
»Let them be what they will they can fight« returned Lord Foxham »Help
me then and if between us we regain the maid upon my knightly honour she
shall marry you«
Dick bent his knee before his prisoner but he leaping up lightly from the
cross caught the lad up and embraced him like a son
»Come« he said »an y are to marry Joan we must be early friends«
Chapter IV
The »Good Hope«
An hour thereafter Dick was back at the Goat and Bagpipes breaking his fast
and receiving the report of his messengers and sentries Duckworth was still
absent from Shoreby and this was frequently the case for he played many parts
in the world shared many different interests and conducted many various
affairs He had founded that fellowship of the Black Arrow as a ruined man
longing for vengeance and money and yet among those who knew him best he was
thought to be the agent and emissary of the great Kingmaker of England
Richard Earl of Warwick
In his absence at any rate it fell upon Richard Shelton to command affairs
in Shoreby and as he sat at meat his mind was full of care and his face heavy
with consideration It had been determined between him and the Lord Foxham to
make one bold stroke that evening and by brute force to set Joanna free The
obstacles however were many and as one after another of his scouts arrived
each brought him more discomfortable news
Sir Daniel was alarmed by the skirmish of the night before He had increased
the garrison of the house in the garden but not content with that he had
stationed horsemen in all the neighbouring lanes so that he might have instant
word of any movement Meanwhile in the court of his mansion steeds stood
saddled and the riders armed at every point awaited but the signal to ride
The adventure of the night appeared more and more difficult of execution
till suddenly Dicks countenance lightened
»Lawless« he cried »you that were a shipman can ye steal me a ship«
»Master Dick« replied Lawless »if ye would back me I would agree to steal
York Minster«
Presently after these two set forth and descended to the harbour It was a
considerable basin lying among sandhills and surrounded with patches of down
ancient ruinous lumber and tumbledown slums of the town Many decked ships and
many open boats either lay there at anchor or had been drawn up on the beach A
long duration of bad weather had driven them from the high seas into the shelter
of the port and the great trooping of black clouds and the cold squalls that
followed one another, now with a sprinkling of dry snow now in a mere swoop of
wind promised no improvement but rather threatened a more serious storm in the
immediate future
The seamen in view of the cold and the wind had for the most part slunk
ashore and were now roaring and singing in the shoreside taverns Many of the
ships already rode unguarded at their anchors and as the day wore on and the
weather offered no appearance of improvement the number was continually being
augmented It was to these deserted ships and above all to those of them that
lay far out that Lawless directed his attention while Dick seated upon an
anchor that was half embedded in the sand and giving ear now to the rude
potent and boding voices of the gale and now to the hoarse singing of the
shipmen in a neighbouring tavern soon forgot his immediate surroundings and
concerns in the agreeable recollection of Lord Foxhams promise
He was disturbed by a touch upon his shoulder It was Lawless pointing to a
small ship that lay somewhat by itself, and within but a little of the harbour
mouth where it heaved regularly and smoothly on the entering swell A pale
gleam of winter sunshine fell at that moment on the vessels deck relieving
her against a bank of scowling cloud and in this momentary glitter Dick could
see a couple of men hauling the skiff alongside
»There sir« said Lawless »mark ye it well There is the ship for
tonight«
Presently the skiff put out from the vessels side and the two men keeping
her head well to the wind pulled lustily for shore Lawless turned to a
loiterer
»How call ye her« he asked pointing to the little vessel
»They call her the Good Hope of Dartmouth« replied the loiterer »Her
captain Arblaster by name He pulleth the bow oar in yon skiff«
This was all that Lawless wanted Hurriedly thanking the man he moved round
the shore to a certain sandy creek for which the skiff was heading There he
took up his position and as soon as they were within earshot opened fire on
the sailors of the Good Hope
»What Gossip Arblaster« he cried »Why ye be well met nay gossip ye be
right well met upon the rood And is that the Good Hope Ay I would know her
among ten thousand a sweet shear a sweet boat But marry come up my
gossip will ye drink I have come into mine estate which doubtless ye remember
to have heard on I am now rich I have left to sail upon the sea I do sail
now for the most part upon spiced ale Come fellow thy hand upon t Come
drink with an old shipfellow«
Skipper Arblaster a longfaced elderly weatherbeaten man with a knife
hanging about his neck by a plaited cord and for all the world like any modern
seaman in his gait and bearing had hung back in obvious amazement and distrust
But the name of an estate and a certain air of tipsified simplicity and
goodfellowship which Lawless very well affected combined to conquer his
suspicious jealousy his countenance relaxed and he at once extended his open
hand and squeezed that of the outlaw in a formidable grasp
»Nay« he said »I cannot mind you But what o that I would drink with any
man gossip and so would my man Tom Man Tom« he added addressing his
follower »here is my gossip whose name I cannot mind but no doubt a very good
seaman Lets go drink with him and his shore friend«
Lawless led the way and they were soon seated in an alehouse which as it
was very new and stood in an exposed and solitary station was less crowded
than those nearer to the centre of the port It was but a shed of timber much
like a blockhouse in the backwoods of today and was coarsely furnished with a
press or two a number of naked benches and boards set upon barrels to play the
part of tables In the middle and besieged by half a hundred violent draughts
a fire of wreckwood blazed and vomited thick smoke
»Ay now« said Lawless »here is a shipmans joy a good fire and a good
stiff cup ashore with foul weather without and an offsea gale asnoring in the
roof Heres to the Good Hope May she ride easy«
»Ay« said Skipper Arblaster »tis good weather to be ashore in that is
sooth Man Tom how say ye to that Gossip ye speak well though I can never
think upon your name but ye speak very well May the Good Hope ride easy
Amen«
»Friend Dickon« resumed Lawless addressing his commander »ye have certain
matters on hand unless I err Well prithee be about them incontinently For
here I be with the choice of all good company two tough old shipmen and till
that ye return I will go warrant these brave fellows will bide here and drink me
cup for cup We are not like shoremen we old tough tarryJohns«
»It is well meant« returned the skipper »Ye can go boy for I will keep
your good friend and my good gossip company till curfew ay and by St Mary
till the sun get up again For look ye when a man hath been long enough at
sea the salt getteth me into the clay upon his bones and let him drink a
drawwell he will never be quenched«
Thus encouraged upon all hands Dick rose saluted his company and going
forth again into the gusty afternoon got him as speedily as he might to the
Goat and Bagpipes Thence he sent word to my Lord Foxham that so soon as ever
the evening closed they would have a stout boat to keep the sea in And then
leading along with him a couple of outlaws who had some experience of the sea
he returned himself to the harbour and the little sandy creek
The skiff of the Good Hope lay among many others from which it was easily
distinguished by its extreme smallness and fragility Indeed when Dick and his
two men had taken their places and began to put forth out of the creek into the
open harbour the little cockle dipped into the swell and staggered under every
gust of wind like a thing upon the point of sinking
The Good Hope as we have said was anchored far out where the swell was
heaviest No other vessel lay nearer than several cables length those that
were the nearest were themselves entirely deserted and as the skiff approached
a thick flurry of snow and a sudden darkening of the weather further concealed
the movements of the outlaws from all possible espial In a trice they had
leaped upon the heaving deck and the skiff was dancing at the stern The Good
Hope was captured
She was a good stout boat decked in the bows and amidships but open in the
stern She carried one mast and was rigged between a felucca and a lugger It
would seem that Skipper Arblaster had made an excellent venture for the hold
was full of pieces of French wine and in the little cabin besides the Virgin
Mary in the bulkhead which proved the captains piety there were many lockfast
chests and cupboards which showed him to be rich and careful
A dog who was the sole occupant of the vessel furiously barked and bit
the heels of the boarders but he was soon kicked into the cabin and the door
shut upon his just resentment A lamp was lit and fixed in the shrouds to mark
the vessel clearly from the shore one of the wine pieces in the hold was
broached and a cup of excellent Gascony emptied to the adventure of the
evening and then while one of the outlaws began to get ready his bow and
arrows and prepare to hold the ship against all comers the other hauled in the
skiff and got overboard where he held on waiting for Dick
»Well Jack keep me a good watch« said the young commander preparing to
follow his subordinate »Ye will do right well«
»Why« returned Jack »I shall do excellent well indeed so long as we lie
here but once we put the nose of this poor ship outside the harbour See
there she trembles Nay the poor shrew heard the words and the heart misgave
her in her oaktree ribs But look Master Dick how black the weather gathers«
The darkness ahead was indeed astonishing Great billows heaved up out of
the blackness one after another and one after another the Good Hope buoyantly
climbed and giddily plunged upon the farther side A thin sprinkle of snow and
thin flakes of foam came flying and powdered the deck and the wind harped
dismally among the rigging
»In sooth it looketh evilly« said Dick »But what cheer Tis but a
squall and presently it will blow over« But in spite of his words he was
depressingly affected by the bleak disorder of the sky and the wailing and
fluting of the wind and as he got over the side of the Good Hope and made once
more for the landingcreek with the best speed of oars he crossed himself
devoutly and recommended to Heaven the lives of all who should adventure on the
sea
At the landingcreek there had already gathered about a dozen of the
outlaws To these the skiff was left and they were bidden embark without delay
A little farther up the beach Dick found Lord Foxham hurrying in quest of
him his face concealed with a dark hood and his bright armour covered by a
long russet mantle of a poor appearance
»Young Shelton« he said »are ye for sea then truly«
»My lord« replied Richard »they lie about the house with horsemen it may
not be reached from the land side without alarum and Sir Daniel once advertised
of our adventure we can no more carry it to a good end than saving your
presence we could ride upon the wind Now in going round by sea we do run
some peril by the elements but what much outweigheth all we have a chance to
make good our purpose and bear off the maid«
»Well« returned Lord Foxham »lead on I will in some sort follow you for
shames sake but I own I would I were in bed«
»Here then« said Dick »Hither we go to fetch our pilot«
And he led the way to the rude alehouse where he had given rendezvous to a
portion of his men Some of these he found lingering round the door outside
others had pushed more boldly in and choosing places as near as possible to
where they saw their comrade gathered close about Lawless and the two shipmen
These to judge by the distempered countenance and cloudy eye had long since
gone beyond the boundaries of moderation and as Richard entered closely
followed by Lord Foxham they were all three tuning up an old pitiful
seaditty to the chorus of the wailing of the gale
The young leader cast a rapid glance about the shed The fire had just been
replenished and gave forth volumes of black smoke so that it was difficult to
see clearly in the farther corners It was plain however that the outlaws very
largely outnumbered the remainder of the guests Satisfied upon this point in
case of any failure in the operation of his plan Dick strode up to the table
and resumed his place upon the bench
»Hey« cried the skipper tipsily »who are ye hey«
»I want a word with you without Master Arblaster« returned Dick »and here
is what we shall talk of« And he showed him a gold noble in the glimmer of the
firelight
The shipmans eyes burned although he still failed to recognise our hero
»Ay boy« he said »I am with you Gossip I will be back anon Drink
fair gossip« and taking Dicks arm to steady his uneven steps he walked to
the door of the alehouse
As soon as he was over the threshold ten strong arms had seized and bound
him and in two minutes more with his limbs trussed one to another and a good
gag in his mouth he had been tumbled neck and crop into a neighbouring
haybarn Presently his man Tom similarly secured was tossed beside him and
the pair were left to their uncouth reflections for the night
And now as the time for concealment had gone by Lord Foxhams followers
were summoned by a preconcerted signal and the party boldly taking possession
of as many boats as their numbers required pulled in a flotilla for the light
in the rigging of the ship Long before the last man had climbed to the deck of
the Good Hope the sound of furious shouting from the shore showed that a part
at least of the seamen had discovered the loss of their skiffs
But it was now too late whether for recovery or revenge Out of some forty
fighting men now mustered in the stolen ship eight had been to sea and could
play the part of mariners With the aid of these a slice of sail was got upon
her The cable was cut Lawless vacillating on his feet and still shouting the
chorus of seaballads took the long tiller in his hands and the Good Hope
began to flit forward into the darkness of the night and to face the great
waves beyond the harbour bar
Richard took his place beside the weather rigging Except for the ships own
lantern and for some lights in Shoreby town that were already fading to
leeward the whole world of air was as black as in a pit Only from time to
time as the Good Hope swooped dizzily down into the valley of the rollers a
crest would break a great cataract of snowy foam would leap in one instant
into being and in an instant more would stream into the wake and vanish
Many of the men lay holding on and praying aloud many more were sick and
had crept into the bottom where they sprawled among the cargo And what with
the extreme violence of the motion and the continued drunken bravado of
Lawless still shouting and singing at the helm the stoutest heart on board may
have nourished a shrewd misgiving as to the result
But Lawless as if guided by an instinct steered the ship across the
breakers struck the lee of a great sandbank where they sailed for a while in
smooth water and presently after laid her alongside a rude stone pier where
she was hastily made fast and lay ducking and grinding in the dark
Chapter V
The »Good Hope« continued
The pier was not far distant from the house in which Joanna lay it now only
remained to get the men on shore to surround the house with a strong party
burst in the door and carry off the captive They might then regard themselves
as done with the Good Hope it had placed them on the rear of their enemies and
the retreat whether they should succeed or fail in the main enterprise would
be directed with a greater measure of hope in the direction of the forest and my
Lord Foxhams reserve
To get the men on shore however was no easy task many had been sick all
were pierced with cold the promiscuity and disorder on board had shaken their
discipline the movement of the ship and the darkness of the night had cowed
their spirits They made a rush upon the pier my lord with his sword drawn on
his own retainers must throw himself in front and this impulse of rabblement
was not restrained without a certain clamour of voices highly to be regretted
in the case
When some degree of order had been restored Dick with a few chosen men
set forth in advance The darkness on shore by contrast with the flashing of
the surf appeared before him like a solid body and the howling and whistling
of the gale drowned any lesser noise
He had scarce reached the end of the pier however when there fell a lull
of the wind and in this he seemed to hear on shore the hollow footing of horses
and the clash of arms Checking his immediate followers he passed forward a
step or two alone even setting foot upon the down and here he made sure he
could detect the shape of men and horses moving A strong discouragement
assailed him If their enemies were really on the watch if they had beleaguered
the shoreward end of the pier he and Lord Foxham were taken in a posture of
very poor defence the sea behind the men jostled in the dark upon a narrow
causeway He gave a cautious whistle the signal previously agreed upon
It proved to be a signal for more than he desired Instantly there fell
through the black night a shower of arrows sent at a venture and so close were
the men huddled on the pier that more than one was hit and the arrows were
answered with cries of both fear and pain In this first discharge Lord Foxham
was struck down Hawksley had him carried on board again at once and his men
during the brief remainder of the skirmish fought when they fought at all
without guidance That was perhaps the chief cause of the disaster which made
haste to follow
At the shore end of the pier for perhaps a minute Dick held his own with a
handful one or two were wounded upon either side steel crossed steel nor had
there been the least signal of advantage when in the twinkling of an eye the
tide turned against the party from the ship Some one cried out that all was
lost the men were in the very humour to lend an ear to a discomfortable
counsel the cry was taken up »On board lads for your lives« cried another
A third with the true instinct of the coward raised that inevitable report on
all retreats »We are betrayed« And in a moment the whole mass of men went
surging and jostling backward down the pier turning their defenceless backs on
their pursuers and piercing the night with craven outcry
One coward thrust off the ships stern while another still held her by the
bows The fugitives leaped screaming and were hauled on board or fell back
and perished in the sea Some were cut down upon the pier by the pursuers Many
were injured on the ships deck in the blind haste and terror of the moment one
man leaping upon another and a third on both At last and whether by design or
accident the bows of the Good Hope were liberated and the everready Lawless
who had maintained his place at the helm through all the hurlyburly by sheer
strength of body and a liberal use of the cold steel instantly clapped her on
the proper tack The ship began to move once more forward on the stormy sea its
scuppers running blood its deck heaped with fallen men sprawling and
struggling in the dark
Thereupon Lawless sheathed his dagger and turning to his next neighbour
»I have left my mark on them gossip« said he »the yelping coward hounds«
Now while they were all leaping and struggling for their lives the men had
not appeared to observe the rough shoves and cutting stabs with which Lawless
had held his post in the confusion But perhaps they had already begun to
understand somewhat more clearly perhaps another ear had overheard the
helmsmans speech
Panicstricken troops recover slowly and men who have just disgraced
themselves by cowardice as if to wipe out the memory of their fault will
sometimes run straight into the opposite extreme of insubordination So it was
now and the same men who had thrown away their weapons and been hauled feet
foremost into the Good Hope began to cry out upon their leaders and demand
that some one should be punished
This growing illfeeling turned upon Lawless
In order to get a proper offing the old outlaw had put the head of the Good
Hope to seaward
»What« bawled one of the grumblers »he carrieth us to seaward«
»Tis sooth« cried another »Nay we are betrayed for sure«
And they all began to cry out in chorus that they were betrayed and in
shrill tones and with abominable oaths bade Lawless go aboutship and bring them
speedily ashore
Lawless grinding his teeth continued in silence to steer the true course
guiding the Good Hope among the formidable billows To their empty terrors as
to their dishonourable threats between drink and dignity he scorned to make
reply The malcontents drew together a little abaft the mast and it was plain
they were like barnyard cocks crowing for courage Presently they would be fit
for any extremity of injustice or ingratitude Dick began to mount by the
ladder eager to interpose but one of the outlaws who was also something of a
seaman got beforehand
»Lads« he began »y are right wooden heads I think For to get back by
the mass we must have an offing must we not And this old Lawless «
Some one struck the speaker on the mouth and the next moment as a fire
springs among dry straw he was felled upon the deck trampled under the feet
and despatched by the daggers of his cowardly companions At this the wrath of
Lawless rose and broke
»Steer yourselves« he bellowed with a curse and careless of the result
he left the helm
The Good Hope was at that moment trembling on the summit of a swell She
subsided with sickening velocity upon the farther side A wave like a great
black bulwark hove immediately in front of her and with a staggering blow
she plunged head foremost through that liquid hill The green water passed right
over her from stem to stern as high as a mans knees the sprays ran higher
than the mast and she rose again upon the other side with an appalling
tremulous indecision like a beast that has been deadly wounded
Six or seven of the malcontents had been carried bodily overboard and as
for the remainder when they found their tongues again it was to bellow to the
saints and wail upon Lawless to come back and take the tiller
Nor did Lawless wait to be twice bidden The terrible result of his fling of
just resentment sobered him completely He knew better than any one on board
how nearly the Good Hope had gone bodily down below their feet and he could
tell by the laziness with which she met the sea that the peril was by no means
over
Dick who had been thrown down by the concussion and half drowned rose
wading to his knees in the swamped well of the stern and crept to the old
helmsmans side
»Lawless« he said »we do all depend on you y are a brave steady man
indeed and crafty in the management of ships I shall put three sure men to
watch upon your safety«
»Bootless my master bootless« said the steersman peering forward through
the dark »We come every moment somewhat clearer of these sandbanks with every
moment then the sea packeth upon us heavier and for all these whimperers
they will presently be on their backs For my master tis a right mystery but
true there never yet was a bad man that was a good shipman None but the honest
and the bold can endure me this tossing of a ship«
»Nay Lawless« said Dick laughing »that is a right shipmans byword and
hath no more of sense than the whistle of the wind But prithee how go we Do
we lie well Are we in good case«
»Master Shelton« replied Lawless »I have been a Grey Friar I praise
fortune an archer a thief and a shipman Of all these coats I had the best
fancy to die in the Grey Friars as ye may readily conceive and the least fancy
to die in John Shipmans tarry jacket and that for two excellent good reasons
first that the death might take a man suddenly and second for the horror of
that great salt smother and welter under my foot here« and Lawless stamped
with his foot »Howbeit« he went on »an I die not a sailors death and that
this night I shall owe a tall candle to our Lady«
»Is it so« asked Dick
»It is right so« replied the outlaw »Do ye not feel how heavy and dull she
moves upon the waves Do ye not hear the water washing in her hold She will
scarce mind the rudder even now Bide till she has settled a bit lower and she
will either go down below your boots like a stone image or drive ashore here
under our lee and come all to pieces like a twist of string«
»Ye speak with a good courage« returned Dick »Ye are not then appalled«
»Why master« answered Lawless »if ever a man had an ill crew to come to
port with it is I a renegade friar a thief and all the rest ont Well ye
may wonder but I keep a good hope in my wallet and if that I be to drown I
will drown with a bright eye Master Shelton and a steady hand«
Dick returned no answer but he was surprised to find the old vagabond of so
resolute a temper and fearing some fresh violence or treachery set forth upon
his quest for three sure men The great bulk of the men had now deserted the
deck which was continually wetted with the flying sprays and where they lay
exposed to the shrewdness of the winter wind They had gathered instead into
the hold of the merchandise among the butts of wine and lighted by two
swinging lanterns
Here a few kept up the form of revelry and toasted each other deep in
Arblasters Gascony wine But as the Good Hope continued to tear through the
smoking waves and toss her stem and stern alternately high in air and deep into
white foam the number of these jolly companions diminished with every moment
and with every lurch Many sat apart tending their hurts but the majority were
already prostrated with sickness and lay moaning in the bilge
Greensheve Cuckow and a young fellow of Lord Foxhams whom Dick had
already remarked for his intelligence and spirit were still however both fit
to understand and willing to obey These Dick set as a bodyguard about the
person of the steersman and then with a last look at the black sky and sea he
turned and went below into the cabin whither Lord Foxham had been carried by
his servants
Chapter VI
The »Good Hope« concluded
The moans of the wounded baron blended with the wailing of the ships dog The
poor animal whether he was merely sick at heart to be separated from his
friends or whether he indeed recognised some peril in the labouring of the
ship raised his cries like minuteguns above the roar of wave and weather
and the more superstitious of the men heard in these sounds the knell of the
Good Hope
Lord Foxham had been laid in a berth upon a fur cloak A little lamp burned
dim before the Virgin in the bulkhead and by its glimmer Dick could see the
pale countenance and hollow eyes of the hurt man
»I am sore hurt« said he »Come near to my side young Shelton let there
be one by me who at least is gentle born for after having lived nobly and
richly all the days of my life this is a sad pass that I should get my hurt in
a little ferreting skirmish and die here in a foul cold ship upon the sea
among broken men and churls«
»Nay my lord« said Dick »I pray rather to the saints that ye will recover
you of your hurt and come soon and sound ashore«
»How« demanded his lordship »Come sound ashore There is then a question
of it«
»The ship laboureth the sea is grievous and contrary« replied the lad
»and by what I can learn of my fellow that steereth us we shall do well
indeed if we come dryshod to land«
»Ha« said the baron gloomily »thus shall every terror attend upon the
passage of my soul Sir pray rather to live hard that ye may die easy than to
be fooled and fluted all through life as to the pipe and tabor and in the
last hour be plunged among misfortunes Howbeit I have that upon my mind that
must not be delayed We have no priest aboard«
»None« replied Dick
»Here then to my secular interests« resumed Lord Foxham »ye must be as
good a friend to me dead as I found you a gallant enemy when I was living I
fall in an evil hour for me for England and for them that trusted me My men
are being brought by Hamley he that was your rival they will rendezvous in
the long room at Holywood this ring from off my finger will accredit you to
represent mine orders and I shall write besides two words upon this paper
bidding Hamley yield to you the damsel Will ye obey I know not«
»But my lord what orders« inquired Dick
»Ay« quoth the baron »ay the orders« and he looked upon Dick with
hesitation »Are ye Lancaster or York« he asked at length
»I shame to say it« answered Dick »I can scarce clearly answer But so
much I think is certain since I serve with Ellis Duckworth I serve the House
of York Well if that be so I declare for York«
»It is well« returned the other »it is exceeding well For truly had ye
said Lancaster I wot not for the world what I had done But sith ye are for
York follow me I came hither but to watch these lords at Shoreby while mine
excellent young lord Richard of Gloucester1 prepareth a sufficient force to
fall upon and scatter them I have made me notes of their strength what watch
they keep and how they lie and these I was to deliver to my young lord or
Sunday an hour before noon at St Brides Cross beside the forest This tryst
I am not like to keep but I pray you of courtesy to keep it in my stead and
see that not pleasure nor pain tempest wound nor pestilence withhold you
from the hour and place for the welfare of England lieth upon this cast«
»I do soberly take this upon me« said Dick »In so far as in me lieth your
purpose shall be done«
»It is good« said the wounded man »My lord duke shall order you further
and if ye obey him with spirit and goodwill then is your fortune made Give me
the lamp a little nearer to mine eyes till that I write these words for you«
He wrote a note »to his worshipful kinsman Sir John Hamley« and then a
second which he left without external superscription
»This is for the duke« he said »The word is England and Edward and the
counter England and York«
»And Joanna my lord« asked Dick
»Nay ye must get Joanna how ye can« replied the baron »I have named you
for my choice in both these letters but ye must get her for yourself boy I
have tried as ye see here before you and have lost my life More could no man
do«
By this time the wounded man began to be very weary and Dick putting the
precious papers in his bosom bade him be of good cheer and left him to repose
The day was beginning to break cold and blue with flying squalls of snow
Close under the lee of the Good Hope the coast lay in alternate rocky headlands
and sandy bays and farther inland the wooded hilltops of Tunstall showed along
the sky Both the wind and the sea had gone down but the vessel wallowed deep
and scarce rose upon the waves
Lawless was still fixed at the rudder and by this time nearly all the men
had crawled on deck and were now gazing with blank faces upon the
inhospitable coast
»Are we going ashore« asked Dick
»Ay« said Lawless »unless we get first to the bottom«
And just then the ship rose so languidly to meet a sea and the water
weltered so loudly in her hold that Dick involuntarily seized the steersman by
the arm
»By the mass« cried Dick as the bows of the Good Hope reappeared above
the foam »I thought we had foundered indeed my heart was at my throat«
In the waist Greensheve Hawksley and the better men of both companies
were busy breaking up the deck to build a raft and to these Dick joined
himself working the harder to drown the memory of his predicament But even as
he worked every sea that struck the poor ship and every one of her dull
lurches as she tumbled wallowing among the waves recalled him with a horrid
pang to the immediate proximity of death
Presently looking up from his work he saw that they were close in below a
promontory a piece of ruinous cliff against the base of which the sea broke
white and heavy almost overplumbed the deck and above that again a house
appeared crowning a down
Inside the bay the seas ran gaily raised the Good Hope upon their
foamflecked shoulders carried her beyond the control of the steersman and in
a moment dropped her with a great concussion on the sand and began to break
over her halfmast high and roll her to and fro Another great wave followed
raised her again and carried her yet farther in and then a third succeeded
and left her far inshore of the more dangerous breakers wedged upon a bank
»Now boys« cried Lawless »the saints have had a care of us indeed The
tide ebbs let us but sit down and drink a cup of wine and before half an hour
ye may all march me ashore as safe as on a bridge«
A barrel was broached and sitting in what shelter they could find from the
flying snow and spray the shipwrecked company handed the cup around and sought
to warm their bodies and restore their spirits
Dick meanwhile returned to Lord Foxham who lay in great perplexity and
fear the floor of his cabin washing kneedeep in water and the lamp which had
been his only light broken and extinguished by the violence of the blow
»My lord« said young Shelton »fear not at all the saints are plainly for
us the seas have cast us high upon a shoal and as soon as the tide hath
somewhat ebbed we may walk ashore upon our feet«
It was nearly an hour before the vessel was sufficiently deserted by the
ebbing sea and they could set forth for the land which appeared dimly before
them through a veil of driving snow
Upon a hillock on one side of their way a party of men lay huddled together
suspiciously observing the movements of the new arrivals
»They might draw near and offer us some comfort« Dick remarked
»Well an they come not to us let us even turn aside to them« said
Hawksley »The sooner we come to a good fire and a dry bed the better for my
poor lord«
But they had not moved far in the direction of the hillock before the men
with one consent rose suddenly to their feet and poured a flight of
welldirected arrows on the shipwrecked company
»Back back« cried his lordship »Beware in Heavens name that ye reply
not«
»Nay« cried Greensheve pulling an arrow from his leather jack »We are in
no posture to fight it is certain being drenching wet dogweary and
threeparts frozen but for the love of old England what aileth them to shoot
thus cruelly on their poor country people in distress«
»They take us to be French pirates« answered Lord Foxham »In these most
troublesome and degenerate days we cannot keep our own shores of England but
our old enemies whom we once chased on sea and land do now range at pleasure
robbing and slaughtering and burning It is the pity and reproach of this poor
land«
The men upon the hillock lay closely observing them while they trailed
upward from the beach and wound inland among desolate sandhills for a mile or
so they even hung upon the rear of the march ready at a sign to pour another
volley on the weary and dispirited fugitives and it was only when striking at
length upon a firm highroad Dick began to call his men to some more martial
order that these jealous guardians of the coast of England silently disappeared
among the snow They had done what they desired they had protected their own
homes and farms their own families and cattle and their private interest
being thus secured it mattered not the weight of a straw to any one of them
although the Frenchmen should carry blood and fire to every other parish in the
realm of England
Book IV The Disguise
Chapter I
The Den
The place where Dick had struck the line of a highroad was not far from
Holywood and within nine or ten miles of ShorebyontheTill and here after
making sure that they were pursued no longer the two bodies separated Lord
Foxhams followers departed carrying their wounded master towards the comfort
and security of the great abbey and Dick as he saw them wind away and
disappear in the thick curtain of the falling snow was left alone with near
upon a dozen outlaws the last remainder of his troop of volunteers
Some were wounded one and all were furious at their illsuccess and long
exposure and though they were now too cold and hungry to do more they grumbled
and cast sullen looks upon their leaders Dick emptied his purse among them
leaving himself nothing thanked them for the courage they had displayed though
he could have found it more readily in his heart to rate them for poltroonery
and having thus somewhat softened the effect of his prolonged misfortune
despatched them to find their way either severally or in pairs to Shoreby and
the Goat and Bagpipes
For his own part influenced by what he had seen on board of the Good Hope
he chose Lawless to be his companion on the walk The snow was falling without
pause or variation in one even blinding cloud the wind had been strangled
and now blew no longer and the whole world was blotted out and sheeted down
below that silent inundation There was great danger of wandering by the way and
perishing in drifts and Lawless keeping half a step in front of his companion
and holding his head forward like a hunting dog upon the scent inquired his way
of every tree and studied out their path as though he were conning a ship among
dangers
About a mile into the forest they came to a place where several ways met
under a grove of lofty and contorted oaks Even in the narrow horizon of the
falling snow it was a spot that could not fail to be recognised and Lawless
evidently recognised it with particular delight
»Now Master Richard« said he »an y are not too proud to be the guest of
a man who is neither a gentleman by birth nor so much as a good Christian I can
offer you a cup of wine and a good fire to melt the marrow in your frozen
bones«
»Lead on Will« answered Dick »A cup of wine and a good fire Nay I would
go a far way round to see them«
Lawless turned aside under the bare branches of the grove and walking
resolutely forward for some time came to a steepish hollow or den that had now
drifted a quarter full of snow On the verge a great beechtree hung
precariously rooted and here the old outlaw pulling aside some bushy
underwood bodily disappeared into the earth
The beech had in some violent gale been halfuprooted and had torn up a
considerable stretch of turf and it was under this that old Lawless had dug out
his forest hidingplace The roots served him for rafters the turf was his
thatch for walls and floor he had his mother the earth Rude as it was the
hearth in one corner blackened by fire and the presence in another of a large
oaken chest well fortified with iron showed it at one glance to be the den of a
man and not the burrow of a digging beast
Though the snow had drifted at the mouth and sifted in upon the floor of
this earthcavern yet was the air much warmer than without and when Lawless
had struck a spark and the dry furze bushes had begun to blaze and crackle on
the hearth the place assumed even to the eye an air of comfort and of home
With a sigh of great contentment Lawless spread his broad hands before the
fire and seemed to breathe the smoke
»Here then« he said »is this old Lawlesss rabbithole pray Heaven there
come no terrier Far I have rolled hither and thither and here and about since
that I was fourteen years of mine age and first ran away from mine abbey with
the sacrists gold chain and a massbook that I sold for four marks I have been
in England and France and Burgundy and in Spain too on a pilgrimage for my
poor soul and upon the sea which is no mans country But here is my place
Master Shelton This is my native land this burrow in the earth Come rain or
wind and whether its April and the birds all sing and the blossoms fall
about my bed or whether its winter and I sit alone with my good gossip the
fire and robinredbreast twitters in the woods here is my church and market
my wife and child Its here I come back to and its here so please the
saints that I would like to die«
»Tis a warm corner to be sure« replied Dick »and a pleasant and a
wellhid«
»It had need to be« returned Lawless »for an they found it Master
Shelton it would break my heart But here« he added burrowing with his stout
fingers in the sandy floor »here is my winecellar and ye shall have a flask
of excellent strong stingo«
Sure enough after but a little digging he produced a big leathern bottle
of about a gallon nearly three parts full of a very heady and sweet wine and
when they had drunk to each other comradely and the fire had been replenished
and blazed up again the pair lay at full length thawing and steaming and
divinely warm
»Master Shelton« observed the outlaw »y have had two mischances this last
while and y are like to lose the maid do I take it aright«
»Aright« returned Dick nodding his head
»Well now« continued Lawless »hear an old fool that hath been nighhand
everything and seen nighhand all Ye go too much on other peoples errands
Master Dick Ye go on Elliss but he desireth rather the death of Sir Daniel
Ye go on Lord Foxhams well the saints preserve him doubtless he meaneth
well But go ye upon your own good Dick Come right to the maids side Court
her lest that she forget you Be ready and when the chance shall come off
with her at the saddlebow«
»Ay but Lawless beyond doubt she is now in Sir Daniels own mansion«
answered Dick
»Thither then go we« replied the outlaw
Dick stared at him
»Nay I mean it« nodded Lawless »And if y are of so little faith and
stumble at a word see here«
And the outlaw taking a key from about his neck opened the oak chest and
dipping and groping deep among its contents produced first a friars robe and
next a girdle of rope and then a huge rosary of wood heavy enough to be
counted as a weapon
»Here« he said »is for you On with them«
And then when Dick had clothed himself in this clerical disguise Lawless
produced some colours and a pencil and proceeded with the greatest cunning to
disguise his face The eyebrows he thickened and produced to the moustache
which was yet hardly visible he rendered a like service while by a few lines
around his eye he changed the expression and increased the apparent age of this
young monk
»Now« he resumed »when I have done the like we shall make as bonny a pair
of friars as the eye could wish Boldly to Sir Daniels we shall go and there
be hospitably welcome for the love of Mother Church«
»And how dear Lawless« cried the lad »shall I repay you«
»Tut brother« replied the outlaw »I do naught but for my pleasure Mind
not for me I am one by the mass that mindeth for himself When that I lack I
have a long tongue and a voice like the monastery bell I do ask my son and
where asking faileth I do most usually take«
The old rogue made a humorous grimace and although Dick was displeased to
lie under so great favours to so equivocal a personage he was yet unable to
restrain his mirth
With that Lawless returned to the big chest and was soon similarly
disguised but below his gown Dick wondered to observe him conceal a sheaf of
black arrows
»Wherefore do ye that« asked the lad »Wherefore arrows when ye take no
bow«
»Nay« replied Lawless lightly »tis like there will be heads broke not
to say backs ere you and I win sound from where were going to and if any
fall I would our fellowship should come by the credit ont A black arrow
Master Dick is the seal of our abbey it showeth you who writ the bill«
»An ye prepare so carefully« said Dick »I have here some papers that for
mine own sake and the interest of those that trusted me were better left
behind than found upon my body Where shall I conceal them Will«
»Nay« replied Lawless »I will go forth into the wood and whistle me three
verses of a song meanwhile do you bury them where ye please and smooth the
sand upon the place«
»Never« cried Richard »I trust you man I were base indeed if I not
trusted you«
»Brother y are but a child« replied the old outlaw pausing and turning
his face upon Dick from the threshold of the den »I am a kind old Christian
and no traitor to mens blood and no sparer of mine own in a friends jeopardy
But fool child I am a thief by trade and birth and habit If my bottle were
empty and my mouth dry I would rob you dear child as sure as I love honour
and admire your parts and person Can it be clearer spoken No«
And he stumped forth through the bushes with a snap of his big fingers
Dick thus left alone after a wondering thought upon the inconsistencies of
his companions character hastily produced reviewed and buried his papers
One only he reserved to carry along with him since it in nowise compromised his
friends and yet might serve him in a pinch against Sir Daniel That was the
knights own letter to Lord Wensleydale sent by Throgmorton on the morrow of
the defeat at Risingham and found next day by Dick upon the body of the
messenger
Then treading down the embers of the fire Dick left the den and rejoined
the old outlaw who stood awaiting him under the leafless oaks and was already
beginning to be powdered by the falling snow Each looked upon the other and
each laughed so thorough and so droll was the disguise
»Yet I would it were but summer and a clear day« grumbled the outlaw »that
I might see myself in the mirror of a pool There be many of Sir Daniels men
that know me and if we fell to be recognised there might be two words for you
my brother but as for me in a paternosterwhile I should be kicking in a
ropesend«
Thus they set forth together along the road to Shoreby which in this part
of its course kept near along the margin of the forest coming forth from time
to time in the open country and passing beside poor folks houses and small
farms
Presently at sight of one of these Lawless pulled up
»Brother Martin« he said in a voice capitally disguised and suited to his
monkish robe »let us enter and seek alms from these poor sinners Pax vobiscum
Ay« he added in his own voice »tis as I feared I have somewhat lost the
whine of it and by your leave good Master Shelton ye must suffer me to
practise in these country places before that I risk my fat neck by entering Sir
Daniels But look ye a little what an excellent thing it is to be a
Jackofalltrades An I had not been a shipman ye had infallibly gone down in
the Good Hope an I had not been a thief I could not have painted me your face
and but that I had been a Grey Friar and sung loud in the choir and ate hearty
at the board I could not have carried this disguise but the very dogs would
have spied us out and barked at us for shams«
He was by this time close to the window of the farm and he rose on his
tiptoes and peeped in
»Nay« he cried »better and better We shall here try our false faces with
a vengeance and have a merry jest on Brother Capper to boot«
And so saying he opened the door and led the way into the house
Three of their own company sat at the table greedily eating Their daggers
stuck beside them in the board and the black and menacing looks which they
continued to shower upon the people of the house proved that they owed their
entertainment rather to force than favour On the two monks who now with a
sort of humble dignity entered the kitchen of the farm they seemed to turn
with a particular resentment and one it was John Capper in person who
seemed to play the leading part instantly and rudely ordered them away
»We want no beggars here« he cried
But another although he was as far from recognising Dick and Lawless
inclined to more moderate counsels
»Not so« he cried »We be strong men and take these be weak and crave
but in the latter end these shall be uppermost and we below Mind him not my
father but come drink of my cup and give me a benediction«
»Y are men of a light mind carnal and accursed« said the monk »Now may
the saints forbid that ever I should drink with such companions But here for
the pity I bear to sinners here I do leave you a blessed relic the which for
your souls interest I bid you kiss and cherish«
So far Lawless thundered upon them like a preaching friar but with these
words he drew from under his robe a black arrow tossed it on the board in front
of the three startled outlaws turned in the same instant and taking Dick
along with him was out of the room and out of sight among the falling snow
before they had time to utter a word or move a finger
»So« he said »we have proved our false faces Master Shelton I will now
adventure my poor carcass where ye please«
»Good« returned Richard »It irks me to be doing Set we on for Shoreby«
Chapter II
»In Mine Enemies House«
Sir Daniels residence in Shoreby was a tall commodious plastered mansion
framed in carven oak and covered by a lowpitched roof of thatch To the back
there stretched a garden full of fruittrees alleys and thick arbours and
overlooked from the far end by the tower of the abbey church
The house might contain upon a pinch the retinue of a greater person than
Sir Daniel but even now it was filled with hubbub The court rang with arms and
horseshoe iron the kitchen roared with cookery like a beeshive minstrels
and the players of instruments and the cries of tumblers sounded from the
hall Sir Daniel in his profusion in the gaiety and gallantry of his
establishment rivalled with Lord Shoreby and eclipsed Lord Risingham
All guests were made welcome Minstrels tumblers players of chess the
sellers of relics medicines perfumes and enchantments and along with these
every sort of priest friar or pilgrim were made welcome to the lower table
and slept together in the ample lofts or on the bare boards of the long
dininghall
On the afternoon following the wreck of the Good Hope the buttery the
kitchens the stables the covered cartshed that surrounded two sides of the
court were all crowded by idle people partly belonging to Sir Daniels
establishment and attired in his livery of murrey and blue partly nondescript
strangers attracted to the town by greed and received by the knight through
policy and because it was the fashion of the time
The snow which still fell without interruption the extreme chill of the
air and the approach of night combined to keep them under shelter Wine ale
and money were all plentiful many sprawled gambling in the straw of the barn
many were still drunken from the noontide meal To the eye of a modern it would
have looked like the sack of a city to the eye of a contemporary it was like
any other rich and noble household at a festive season
Two monks a young and an old had arrived late and were now warming
themselves at a bonfire in a corner of the shed A mixed crowd surrounded them
jugglers mountebanks and soldiers and with these the elder of the two had
soon engaged so brisk a conversation and exchanged so many loud guffaws and
country witticisms that the group momentarily increased in number
The younger companion in whom the reader has already recognised Dick
Shelton sat from the first somewhat backward and gradually drew himself away
He listened indeed closely but he opened not his mouth and by the grave
expression of his countenance he made but little account of his companions
pleasantries
At last his eye which travelled continually to and fro and kept a guard
upon all the entrances of the house lit upon a little procession entering by
the main gate and crossing the court in an oblique direction Two ladies
muffled in thick furs led the way and were followed by a pair of waitingwomen
and four stout menatarms The next moment they had disappeared within the
house and Dick slipping through the crowd of loiterers in the shed was
already giving hot pursuit
»The taller of these twain was Lady Brackley« he thought »and where Lady
Brackley is Joan will not be far«
At the door of the house the four menatarms had ceased to follow and the
ladies were now mounting the stairway of polished oak under no better escort
than that of the two waitingwomen Dick followed close behind It was already
the dusk of the day and in the house the darkness of the night had almost come
On the stairlandings torches flared in iron holders down the long tapestried
corridors a lamp burned by every door And where the door stood open Dick could
look in upon arrascovered walls and rushbescattered floors glowing in the
light of the woodfires
Two floors were passed and at every landing the younger and shorter of the
two ladies had looked back keenly at the monk He keeping his eyes lowered and
affecting the demure manners that suited his disguise had but seen her once
and was unaware that he had attracted her attention And now on the third
floor the party separated the younger lady continuing to ascend alone the
other followed by the waitingmaids descending the corridor to the right
Dick mounted with a swift foot and holding to the corner thrust forth his
head and followed the three women with his eyes Without turning or looking
behind them they continued to descend the corridor
»It is right well« thought Dick »Let me but know my Lady Brackleys
chamber and it will go hard an I find not Dame Hatch upon an errand«
And just then a hand was laid upon his shoulder and with a bound and a
choked cry he turned to grapple his assailant
He was somewhat abashed to find in the person whom he had so roughly
seized the short young lady in the furs She on her part was shocked and
terrified beyond expression and hung trembling in his grasp
»Madam« said Dick releasing her »I cry you a thousand pardons but I have
no eyes behind and by the mass I could not tell ye were a maid«
The girl continued to look at him but by this time terror began to be
succeeded by surprise and surprise by suspicion Dick who could read these
changes on her face became alarmed for his own safety in that hostile house
»Fair maid« he said affecting easiness »suffer me to kiss your hand in
token ye forgive my roughness and I will even go«
»Y are a strange monk young sir« returned the young lady looking him
both boldly and shrewdly in the face »and now that my first astonishment hath
somewhat passed away I can spy the layman in each word you utter What do ye
here Why are ye thus sacrilegiously tricked out Come ye in peace or war And
why spy ye after Lady Brackley like a thief«
»Madam« quoth Dick »of one thing I pray you to be very sure I am no
thief And even if I come here in war as in some degree I do I make no war
upon fair maids and I hereby entreat them to copy me so far and to leave me
be For indeed fair mistress cry out if such be your pleasure cry but
once and say what ye have seen and the poor gentleman before you is merely a
dead man I cannot think ye would be cruel« added Dick and taking the girls
hand gently in both of his he looked at her with courteous admiration
»Are ye then a spy a Yorkist« asked the maid
»Madam« he replied »I am indeed a Yorkist and in some sort a spy But
that which bringeth me into this house the same which will win for me the pity
and interest of your kind heart is neither of York nor Lancaster I will wholly
put my life in your discretion I am a lover and my name «
But here the young lady clapped her hand suddenly upon Dicks mouth looked
hastily up and down and east and west and seeing the coast clear began to
drag the young man with great strength and vehemence upstairs
»Hush« she said »and come Shalt talk hereafter«
Somewhat bewildered Dick suffered himself to be pulled upstairs bustled
along a corridor and thrust suddenly into a chamber lit like so many of the
others by a blazing log upon the hearth
»Now« said the young lady forcing him down upon a stool »sit ye there and
attend my sovereign goodpleasure I have life and death over you and I will
not scruple to abuse my power Look to yourself y have cruelly mauled my arm
He knew not I was a maid quoth he Had he known I was a maid he had taen his
belt to me forsooth«
And with these words she whipped out of the room and left Dick gaping with
wonder and not very sure if he were dreaming or awake
»Taen my belt to her« he repeated »Taen my belt to her« and the
recollection of that evening in the forest flowed back upon his mind and he
once more saw Matchams wincing body and beseeching eyes
And then he was recalled to the dangers of the present In the next room he
heard a stir as of a person moving then followed a sigh which sounded
strangely near and then the rustle of skirts and tap of feet once more began
As he stood hearkening he saw the arras wave along the wall there was the
sound of a door being opened the hangings divided and lamp in hand Joanna
Sedley entered the apartment
She was attired in costly stuffs of deep and warm colours such as befit the
winter and the snow Upon her head her hair had been gathered together and
became her as a crown And she who had seemed so little and so awkward in the
attire of Matcham was now tall like a young willow and swam across the floor
as though she scorned the drudgery of walking
Without a start without a tremor she raised her lamp and looked at the
young monk
»What make ye here good brother« she inquired »Ye are doubtless
illdirected Whom do ye require« And she set her lamp upon the bracket
»Joanna« said Dick and then his voice failed him »Joanna« he began
again »ye said ye loved me and the more fool I but I believed it«
»Dick« she cried »Dick«
And then to the wonder of the lad this beautiful and tall young lady made
but one step of it and threw her arms about his neck and gave him a hundred
kisses all in one
»O the fool fellow« she cried »O dear Dick O if ye could see yourself
Alack« she added pausing »I have spoilt you Dick I have knocked some of the
paint off But that can be mended What cannot be mended Dick or I much fear
it cannot is my marriage with Lord Shoreby«
»Is it decided then« asked the lad
»Tomorrow before noon Dick in the abbey church« she answered »John
Matcham and Joanna Sedley both shall come to a right miserable end There is no
help in tears or I could weep mine eyes out I have not spared myself to pray
but Heaven frowns on my petition And dear Dick good Dick but that ye can
get me forth of this house before the morning we must even kiss and say
goodbye«
»Nay« said Dick »not I I will never say that word Tis like despair but
while theres life Joanna there is hope Yet will I hope Ay by the mass and
triumph Look ye now when ye were but a name to me did I not follow did I
not rouse good men did I not stake my life upon the quarrel And now that I
have seen you for what ye are the fairest maid and stateliest of England
think ye I would turn if the deep sea were there I would straight through
it if the way were full of lions I would scatter them like mice«
»Ay« she said dryly »ye make a great ado about a skyblue robe«
»Nay Joan« protested Dick »tis not alone the robe But lass ye were
disguised Here am I disguised and to the proof do I not cut a figure of fun
a right fools figure«
»Ay Dick an that ye do« she answered smiling
»Well then« he returned triumphant »So was it with you poor Matcham in
the forest In sooth ye were a wench to laugh at But now«
So they ran on holding each other by both hands exchanging smiles and
lovely looks and melting minutes into seconds and so they might have continued
all night long But presently there was a noise behind them and they were aware
of the short young lady with her finger on her lips
»Saints« she cried »but what a noise ye keep Can ye not speak in compass
And now Joanna my fair maid of the woods what will ye give your gossip for
bringing you your sweetheart«
Joanna ran to her by way of answer and embraced her fierily
»And you sir« added the young lady »what do ye give me«
»Madam« said Dick »I would fain offer to pay you in the same money«
»Come then« said the lady »it is permitted you«
But Dick blushing like a peony only kissed her hand
»What ails ye at my face fair sir« she inquired curtseying to the very
ground and then when Dick had at length and most tepidly embraced her
»Joanna« she added »your sweetheart is very backward under your eyes but I
warrant you when first we met he was more ready I am all black and blue
wench trust me never if I be not black and blue And now« she continued
»have ye said your sayings for I must speedily dismiss the paladin«
But at this they both cried out that they had said nothing that the night
was still very young and that they would not be separated so early
»And supper« asked the young lady »Must we not go down to supper«
»Nay to be sure« cried Joan »I had forgotten«
»Hide me then« said Dick »put me behind the arras shut me in a chest or
what ye will so that I may be here on your return Indeed fair lady« he
added »bear this in mind that we are sore bestead and may never look upon
each others face from this night forward till we die«
At this the young lady melted and when a little after the bell summoned
Sir Daniels household to the board Dick was planted very stiffly against the
wall at a place where a division in the tapestry permitted him to breathe the
more freely and even to see into the room
He had not been long in this position when he was somewhat strangely
disturbed The silence in that upper story of the house was only broken by the
flickering of the flames and the hissing of a green log in the chimney but
presently to Dicks strained hearing there came the sound of some one walking
with extreme precaution and soon after the door opened and a little
blackfaced dwarfish fellow in Lord Shorebys colours pushed first his head
and then his crooked body into the chamber His mouth was open as though to
hear the better and his eyes which were very bright flitted restlessly and
swiftly to and fro He went round and round the room striking here and there
upon the hangings but Dick by a miracle escaped his notice Then he looked
below the furniture and examined the lamp and at last with an air of cruel
disappointment was preparing to go away as silently as he had come when down
he dropped upon his knees picked up something from among the rushes on the
floor examined it and with every signal of delight concealed it in the
wallet at his belt
Dicks heart sank for the object in question was a tassel from his own
girdle and it was plain to him that this dwarfish spy who took a malign
delight in his employment would lose no time in bearing it to his master the
baron He was halftempted to throw aside the arras fall upon the scoundrel
and at the risk of his life remove the telltale token And while he was still
hesitating a new cause of concern was added A voice hoarse and broken by
drink began to be audible from the stair and presently after uneven
wandering and heavy footsteps sounded without along the passage
»What make ye here my merry men among the greenwood shaws« sang the
voice »What make ye here Hey sots what make ye here« it added with a
rattle of drunken laughter and then once more breaking into song
»If ye should drink the clary wine
Fat Friar John ye friend o mine
If I should eat and ye should drink
Who shall sing the mass dye think«
Lawless alas rolling drunk was wandering the house seeking for a corner
wherein to slumber off the effect of his potations Dick inwardly raged The
spy at first terrified had grown reassured as he found he had to deal with an
intoxicated man and now with a movement of catlike rapidity slipped from the
chamber and was gone from Richards eyes
What was to be done If he lost touch of Lawless for the night he was left
impotent whether to plan or carry forth Joannas rescue If on the other hand
he dared to address the drunken outlaw the spy might still be lingering within
sight and the most fatal consequences ensue
It was nevertheless upon this last hazard that Dick decided Slipping from
behind the tapestry he stood ready in the doorway of the chamber with a
warning hand upraised Lawless flushed crimson with his eyes injected
vacillating on his feet drew still unsteadily nearer At last he hazily caught
sight of his commander and in despite of Dicks imperious signals hailed him
instantly and loudly by his name
Dick leaped upon and shook the drunkard furiously
»Beast« he hissed »beast and no man It is worse than treachery to be so
witless We may all be shent for thy sotting«
But Lawless only laughed and staggered and tried to clap young Shelton on
the back
And just then Dicks quick ear caught a rapid brushing in the arras He
leaped towards the sound and the next moment a piece of the wallhanging had
been torn down and Dick and the spy were sprawling together in its folds Over
and over they rolled grappling for each others throat and still baffled by
the arras and still silent in their deadly fury But Dick was by much the
stronger and soon the spy lay prostrate under his knee and with a single
stroke of the long poniard ceased to breathe
Chapter III
The Dead Spy
Throughout this furious and rapid passage Lawless had looked on helplessly and
even when all was over and Dick already rearisen to his feet was listening
with the most passionate attention to the distant bustle in the lower stories of
the house the old outlaw was still wavering on his legs like a shrub in a
breeze of wind and still stupidly staring on the face of the dead man
»It is well« said Dick at length »they have not heard us praise the
saints But now what shall I do with this poor spy At least I will take my
tassel from his wallet«
So saying Dick opened the wallet within he found a few pieces of money
the tassel and a letter addressed to Lord Wensleydale and sealed with my Lord
Shorebys seal The name awoke Dicks recollection and he instantly broke the
wax and read the contents of the letter It was short but to Dicks delight
it gave evident proof that Lord Shoreby was treacherously corresponding with the
House of York
The young fellow usually carried his inkhorn and implements about him and
so now bending a knee beside the body of the dead spy he was able to write
these words upon a corner of the paper
»My Lord of Shoreby ye that writt the letter wot ye why your man is
ded But let me rede you marry not
JON AMENDALL«
He laid this paper on the breast of the corpse and then Lawless who had been
looking on upon these last manoeuvres with some flickering returns of
intelligence suddenly drew a black arrow from below his robe and therewith
pinned the paper in its place The sight of this disrespect or as it almost
seemed cruelty to the dead drew a cry of horror from young Shelton but the
old outlaw only laughed
»Nay I will have the credit for mine order« he hiccuped »My jolly boys
must have the credit ont the credit brother« and then shutting his eyes
tight and opening his mouth like a precentor he began to thunder in a
formidable voice
»If ye should drink the clary wine «
»Peace sot« cried Dick and thrust him hard against the wall »In two words
if so be that such a man can understand me who hath more wine than wit in him
in two words and aMarys name begone out of this house where if ye continue
to abide ye will not only hang yourself but me also Faith then up foot be
yare or by the mass I may forget that I am in some sort your captain and in
some your debtor Go«
The sham monk was now in some degree recovering the use of his
intelligence and the ring in Dicks voice and the glitter in Dicks eye
stamped home the meaning of his words
»By the mass« cried Lawless »an I be not wanted I can go« and he turned
tipsily along the corridor and proceeded to flounder downstairs lurching
against the wall
So soon as he was out of sight Dick returned to his hidingplace
resolutely fixed to see the matter out Wisdom indeed moved him to be gone
but love and curiosity were stronger
Time passed slowly for the young man bolt upright behind the arras The
fire in the room began to die down and the lamp to burn low and to smoke And
still there was no word of the return of any one to these upper quarters of the
house still the faint hum and clatter of the supperparty sounded from far
below and still under the thick fall of the snow Shoreby town lay silent upon
every side
At length however feet and voices began to draw near upon the stair and
presently after several of Sir Daniels guests arrived upon the landing and
turning down the corridor beheld the torn arras and the body of the spy
Some ran forward and some back and all together began to cry aloud
At the sound of their cries guests menatarms ladies servants and in
a word all the inhabitants of that great house came flying from every
direction and began to join their voices to the tumult
Soon a way was cleared and Sir Daniel came forth in person followed by the
bridegroom of the morrow my Lord Shoreby
»My lord« said Sir Daniel »have I not told you of this knave Black Arrow
To the proof behold it There it stands and by the rood my gossip in a man
of yours or one that stole your colours«
»In good sooth it was a man of mine« replied Lord Shoreby hanging back
»I would I had more such He was as keen as a beagle and secret as a mole«
»Ay gossip truly« asked Sir Daniel keenly »And what came he smelling up
so many stairs in my poor mansion But he will smell no more«
»Ant please you Sir Daniel« said one »here is a paper written upon with
some matter pinned upon his breast«
»Give it me arrow and all« said the knight And when he had taken into his
hand the shaft he continued for some time to gaze upon it in a sullen musing
»Ay« he said addressing Lord Shoreby »here is a hate that followeth hard and
close upon my heels This black stick or its just likeness shall yet bring me
down And gossip suffer a plain knight to counsel you and if these hounds
begin to wind you flee Tis like a sickness it still hangeth hangeth upon
the limbs But let us see what they have written It is as I thought my lord
y are marked like an old oak by the woodman tomorrow or next day by will
come the axe But what wrote ye in a letter«
Lord Shoreby snatched the paper from the arrow read it crumpled it between
his hands and overcoming the reluctance which had hitherto withheld him from
approaching threw himself on his knees beside the body and eagerly groped in
the wallet
He rose to his feet with a somewhat unsettled countenance
»Gossip« he said »I have indeed lost a letter here that much imported and
could I lay my hand upon the knave that took it he should incontinently grace a
halter But let us first of all secure the issues of the house Here is enough
harm already by St George«
Sentinels were posted close around the house and garden a sentinel on every
landing of the stair a whole troop in the main entrancehall and yet another
about the bonfire in the shed Sir Daniels followers were supplemented by Lord
Shorebys there was thus no lack of men or weapons to make the house secure or
to entrap a lurking enemy should one be there
Meanwhile the body of the spy was carried out through the falling snow and
deposited in the abbey church
It was not until these dispositions had been taken and all had returned to
a decorous silence that the two girls drew Richard Shelton from his place of
concealment and made a full report to him of what had passed He upon his
side recounted the visit of the spy his dangerous discovery and speedy end
Joanna leaned back very faint against the curtained wall
»It will avail but little« she said »I shall be wed tomorrow in the
morning after all«
»What« cried her friend »And here is our paladin that driveth lions like
mice Ye have little faith of a surety But come friend liondriver give us
some comfort speak and let us hear bold counsels«
Dick was confounded to be thus outfaced with his own exaggerated words but
though he coloured he still spoke stoutly
»Truly« said he »we are in straits Yet could I but win out of this house
for half an hour I do honestly tell myself that all might still go well and
for the marriage it should be prevented«
»And for the lions« mimicked the girl »they shall be driven«
»I crave your excuse« said Dick »I speak not now in any boasting humour
but rather as one inquiring after help or counsel for if I get not forth of
this house through these sentinels I can do less than naught Take me I pray
you rightly«
»Why said ye he was rustic Joan« the girl inquired »I warrant he hath a
tongue in his head ready soft and bold is his speech at pleasure What would
ye more«
»Nay« sighed Joanna with a smile »they have changed me my friend Dick
tis sure enough When I beheld him he was rough indeed But it matters little
there is no help for my hard case and I must still be Lady Shoreby«
»Nay then« said Dick »I will even make the adventure A friar is not much
regarded and if I found a good fairy to lead me up I may find another belike
to carry me down How call they the name of this spy«
»Rutter« said the young lady »and an excellent good name to call him by
But how mean ye liondriver What is in your mind to do«
»To offer boldly to go forth« returned Dick »and if any stop me to keep
an unchanged countenance and say I go to pray for Rutter They will be praying
over his poor clay even now«
»The device is somewhat simple« replied the girl »yet it may hold«
»Nay« said young Shelton »its no device but mere boldness which serveth
often better in great straits«
»Ye say true« she said »Well go aMarys name and may Heaven speed you
Ye leave here a poor maid that loves you entirely and another that is most
heartily your friend Be wary for their sakes and make not shipwreck of your
safety«
»Ay« added Joanna »go Dick Ye run no more peril whether ye go or stay
Go ye take my heart with you the saints defend you«
Dick passed the first sentry with so assured a countenance that the fellow
merely fidgeted and stared but at the second landing the man carried his spear
across and bade him name his business
»Pax vobiscum« answered Dick »I go to pray over the body of this poor
Rutter«
»Like enough« returned the sentry »but to go alone is not permitted you«
He leaned over the oaken balusters and whistled shrill »One cometh« he cried
and then motioned Dick to pass
At the foot of the stair he found the guard afoot and awaiting his arrival
and when he had once more repeated his story the commander of the post ordered
four men out to accompany him to the church
»Let him not slip my lads« he said »Bring him to Sir Oliver on your
lives«
The door was then opened one of the men took Dick by either arm another
marched ahead with a link and the fourth with bent bow and the arrow on the
string brought up the rear In this order they proceeded through the garden
under the thick darkness of the night and the scattering snow and drew near to
the dimly illuminated windows of the abbey church
At the western portal a picket of archers stood taking what shelter they
could find in the hollow of the arched doorways and all powdered with the snow
and it was not until Dicks conductors had exchanged a word with these that
they were suffered to pass forth and enter the nave of the sacred edifice
The church was doubtfully lighted by the tapers upon the great altar and by
a lamp or two that swung from the arched roof before the private chapels of
illustrious families In the midst of the choir the dead spy lay his limbs
piously composed upon a bier
A hurried mutter of prayer sounded along the arches cowled figures knelt in
the stalls of the choir and on the steps of the high altar a priest in
pontifical vestments celebrated mass
Upon this fresh entrance one of the cowled figures arose and coming down
the steps which elevated the level of the choir above that of the nave demanded
from the leader of the four men what business brought him to the church Out of
respect for the service and the dead they spoke in guarded tones but the
echoes of that huge empty building caught up their words and hollowly repeated
and repeated them along the aisles
»A monk« returned Sir Oliver for he it was when he had heard the report
of the archer »My brother I looked not for your coming« he added turning to
young Shelton »In all civility who are ye and at whose instance do ye join
your supplications to ours«
Dick keeping his cowl about his face signed to Sir Oliver to move a pace
or two aside from the archers and so soon as the priest had done so »I cannot
hope to deceive you sir« he said »My life is in your hands«
Sir Oliver violently started his stout cheeks grew pale and for a space he
was silent
»Richard« he said »what brings you here I know not but I much misdoubt
it to be evil Nevertheless for the kindness that was I would not willingly
deliver you to harm Ye shall sit all night beside me in the stalls ye shall
sit there till my Lord of Shoreby be married and the party gone safe home and
if all goeth well and ye have planned no evil in the end ye shall go whither
ye will But if your purpose be bloody it shall return upon your head Amen«
And the priest devoutly crossed himself and turned and louted to the altar
With that he spoke a few words more to the soldiers and taking Dick by the
hand led him up to the choir and placed him in the stall beside his own
where for mere decency the lad had instantly to kneel and appear to be busy
with his devotions
His mind and his eyes however were continually wandering Three of the
soldiers he observed instead of returning to the house had got them quietly
into a point of vantage in the aisle and he could not doubt that they had done
so by Sir Olivers command Here then he was trapped Here he must spend the
night in the ghostly glimmer and shadow of the church and looking on the pale
face of him he slew and here in the morning he must see his sweetheart
married to another man before his eyes
But for all that he obtained a command upon his mind and built himself up
in patience to await the issue
Chapter IV
In the Abbey Church
In Shoreby Abbey Church the prayers were kept up all night without cessation
now with the singing of psalms now with a note or two upon the bell
Rutter the spy was nobly waked There he lay meanwhile as they had
arranged him his dead hands crossed upon his bosom his dead eyes staring on
the roof and hard by in the stall the lad who had slain him waited in sore
disquietude the coming of the morning
Once only in the course of the hours Sir Oliver leaned across to his
captive
»Richard« he whispered »my son if ye mean me evil I will certify on my
souls welfare ye design upon an innocent man Sinful in the eye of Heaven I do
declare myself but sinful as against you I am not neither have been ever«
»My father« returned Dick in the same tone of voice »trust me I design
nothing but as for your innocence I may not forget that ye cleared yourself
but lamely«
»A man may be innocently guilty« replied the priest »He may be set
blindfolded upon a mission ignorant of its true scope So it was with me I did
decoy your father to his death but as Heaven sees us in this sacred place I
knew not what I did«
»It may be« returned Dick »But see what a strange web ye have woven that
I should be at this hour at once your prisoner and your judge that ye should
both threaten my days and deprecate my anger Methinks if ye had been all your
life a true man and good priest ye would neither thus fear nor thus detest me
And now to your prayers I do obey you since needs must but I will not be
burthened with your company«
The priest uttered a sigh so heavy that it had almost touched the lad into
some sentiment of pity and he bowed his head upon his hands like a man borne
down below a weight of care He joined no longer in the psalms but Dick could
hear the beads rattle through his fingers and the prayers apattering between
his teeth
Yet a little and the grey of the morning began to struggle through the
painted casements of the church and to put to shame the glimmer of the tapers
The light slowly broadened and brightened and presently through the
southeastern clerestories a flush of rosy sunlight flickered on the walls The
storm was over the great clouds had disburdened their snow and fled farther on
and the new day was breaking on a merry winter landscape sheathed in white
A bustle of church officers followed the bier was carried forth to the
deadhouse and the stains of blood were cleansed from off the tiles that no
such illomened spectacle should disgrace the marriage of Lord Shoreby At the
same time the very ecclesiastics who had been so dismally engaged all night
began to put on morning faces to do honour to the merrier ceremony which was
about to follow And further to announce the coming of the day the pious of the
town began to assemble and fall to prayer before their favourite shrines or
wait their turn at the confessionals
Favoured by this stir it was of course easily possible for any man to avoid
the vigilance of Sir Daniels sentries at the door and presently Dick looking
about him wearily caught the eye of no less a person than Will Lawless still
in his monks habit
The outlaw at the same moment recognised his leader and privily signed to
him with hand and eye
Now Dick was far from having forgiven the old rogue his most untimely
drunkenness but he had no desire to involve him in his own predicament and he
signalled back to him as plain as he was able to be gone
Lawless as though he had understood disappeared at once behind a pillar
and Dick breathed again
What then was his dismay to feel himself plucked by the sleeve and to find
the old robber installed beside him upon the next seat and to all appearance
plunged in his devotions
Instantly Sir Oliver arose from his place and gliding behind the stalls
made for the soldiers in the aisle If the priests suspicions had been so
lightly wakened the harm was already done and Lawless a prisoner in the
church
»Move not« whispered Dick »We are in the plaguiest pass thanks before
all things to thy swinishness of yestereven When ye saw me here so strangely
seated where I have neither right nor interest what a murrain could ye not
smell harm and get ye gone from evil«
»Nay« returned Lawless »I thought ye had heard from Ellis and were here
on duty«
»Ellis« echoed Dick »Is Ellis then returned«
»For sure« replied the outlaw »He came last night and belted me sore for
being in wine so there ye are avenged my master A furious man is Ellis
Duckworth He hath ridden me hotspur from Craven to prevent this marriage and
Master Dick ye know the way of him do so he will«
»Nay then« returned Dick with composure »you and I my poor brother are
dead men for I sit here a prisoner upon suspicion and my neck was to answer
for this very marriage that he purposeth to mar I had a fair choice by the
rood to lose my sweetheart or else lose my life Well the cast is thrown it
is to be my life«
»By the mass« cried Lawless half arising »I am gone«
But Dick had his hand at once upon his shoulder
»Friend Lawless sit ye still« he said »An ye have eyes look yonder at
the corner by the chancel arch see ye not that even upon the motion of your
rising yon armed men are up and ready to intercept you Yield ye friend Ye
were bold aboard ship when ye thought to die a seadeath be bold again now
that y are to die presently upon the gallows«
»Master Dick« gasped Lawless »the thing hath come upon me somewhat of the
suddenest But give me a moment till I fetch my breath again and by the mass
I will be as stouthearted as yourself«
»Here is my bold fellow« returned Dick »And yet Lawless it goes hard
against the grain with me to die but where whining mendeth nothing wherefore
whine«
»Nay that indeed« chimed Lawless »And a fig for death at worst It has
to be done my master soon or late And hanging in a good quarrel is an easy
death they say though I could never hear of any that came back to say so«
And so saying the stout old rascal leaned back in his stall folded his
arms and began to look about him with the greatest air of insolence and
unconcern
»And for the matter of that« Dick added »it is yet our best chance to keep
quiet We wot not yet what Duckworth purposes and when all is said and if the
worst befall we may yet clear our feet of it«
Now that they ceased talking they were aware of a very distant and thin
strain of mirthful music which steadily grew nearer louder and merrier The
bells in the tower began to break forth into a doubling peal and a greater and
greater concourse of people to crowd into the church shuffling the snow from
off their feet and clapping and blowing in their hands The western door was
flung wide open showing a glimpse of sunlit snowy street and admitting in a
great gust the shrewd air of the morning and in short it became plain by every
sign that Lord Shoreby desired to be married very early in the day and that
the weddingtrain was drawing near
Some of Lord Shorebys men now cleared a passage down the middle aisle
forcing the people back with lancestocks and just then outside the portal
the secular musicians could be descried drawing near over the frozen snow the
fifers and trumpeters scarlet in the face with lusty blowing the drummers and
the cymbalists beating as for a wager
These as they drew near the door of the sacred building filed off on either
side and marking time to their own vigorous music stood stamping in the snow
As they thus opened their ranks the leaders of this noble bridal train appeared
behind and between them and such was the variety and gaiety of their attire
such the display of silks and velvet fur and satin embroidery and lace that
the procession showed forth upon the snow like a flowerbed in a path or a
painted window in a wall
First came the bride a sorry sight as pale as winter clinging to Sir
Daniels arm and attended as bridesmaid by the short young lady who had
befriended Dick the night before Close behind in the most radiant toilet
followed the bridegroom halting on a gouty foot and as he passed the threshold
of the sacred building and doffed his hat his bald head was seen to be rosy
with emotion
And now came the hour of Ellis Duckworth
Dick who sat stunned among contrary emotions grasping the desk in front of
him beheld a movement in the crowd people jostling backward and eyes and arms
uplifted Following these signs he beheld three or four men with bent bows
leaning from the clerestory gallery At the same instant they delivered their
discharge and before the clamour and cries of the astounded populace had time
to swell fully upon the ear they had flitted from their perch and disappeared
The nave was full of swaying heads and voices screaming the ecclesiastics
thronged in terror from their places the music ceased and though the bells
overhead continued for some seconds to clang upon the air some wind of the
disaster seemed to find its way at last even to the chamber where the ringers
were leaping on their ropes and they also desisted from their merry labours
Right in the midst of the nave the bridegroom lay stonedead pierced by two
black arrows The bride had fainted Sir Daniel stood towering above the crowd
in his surprise and anger a clothyard shaft quivering in his left forearm and
his face streaming blood from another which had grazed his brow
Long before any search could be made for them the authors of this tragic
interruption had clattered down a turnpike stair and decamped by a postern door
But Dick and Lawless still remained in pawn they had indeed arisen on the
first alarm and pushed manfully to gain the door but what with the narrowness
of the stalls and the crowding of terrified priests and choristers the attempt
had been in vain and they had stoically resumed their places
And now pale with horror Sir Oliver rose to his feet and called upon Sir
Daniel pointing with one hand to Dick
»Here« he cried »is Richard Shelton alas the hour blood guilty Seize
him bid him be seized For all our lives sakes take him and bind him
surely He hath sworn our fall«
Sir Daniel was blinded by anger blinded by the hot blood that still
streamed across his face
»Where« he bellowed »Hale him forth By the cross of Holywood but he
shall rue this hour«
The crowd fell back and a party of archers invaded the choir laid rough
hands on Dick dragged him head foremost from the stall and thrust him by the
shoulders down the chancel steps Lawless on his part sat as still as a mouse
Sir Daniel brushing the blood out of his eyes stared blinkingly upon his
captive
»Ay« he said »treacherous and insolent I have thee fast and by all
potent oaths for every drop of blood that now trickles in mine eyes I will
wring a groan out of thy carcass Away with him« he added »Here is no place
Off with him to my house I will number every joint of thy body with a
torture«
But Dick putting off his captors uplifted his voice
»Sanctuary« he shouted »Sanctuary Ho there my fathers They would drag
me from the church«
»From the church thou hast defiled with murder boy« added a tall man
magnificently dressed
»On what probation« cried Dick »They do accuse me indeed of some
complicity but have not proved one tittle I was in truth a suitor for this
damsels hand and she I will be bold to say it repaid my suit with favour
But what then To love a maid is no offence I trow nay nor to gain her love
In all else I stand here free from guiltiness«
There was a murmur of approval among the bystanders so boldly Dick
declared his innocence but at the same time a throng of accusers arose upon the
other side crying how he had been found last night in Sir Daniels house how
he wore a sacrilegious disguise and in the midst of the babel Sir Oliver
indicated Lawless both by voice and gesture as accomplice to the fact He in
his turn was dragged from his seat and set beside his leader The feelings of
the crowd rose high on either side and while some dragged the prisoners to and
fro to favour their escape others cursed and struck them with their fists
Dicks ears rang and his brain swam dizzily like a man struggling in the eddies
of a furious river
But the tall man who had already answered Dick by a prodigious exercise of
voice restored silence and order in the mob
»Search them« he said »for arms We may so judge of their intentions«
Upon Dick they found no weapon but his poniard and this told in his favour
until one man officiously drew it from its sheath and found it still uncleansed
of the blood of Rutter At this there was a great shout among Sir Daniels
followers which the tall man suppressed by a gesture and an imperious glance
But when it came to the turn of Lawless there was found under his gown a sheaf
of arrows identical with those that had been shot
»How say ye now« asked the tall man frowningly of Dick
»Sir« replied Dick »I am here in sanctuary is it not so Well sir I see
by your bearing that ye are high in station and I read in your countenance the
marks of piety and justice To you then I will yield me prisoner and that
blithely foregoing the advantage of this holy place But rather than to be
yielded into the discretion of that man whom I do here accuse with a loud
voice to be the murderer of my natural father and the unjust detainer of my
lands and revenues rather than that I would beseech you under favour with
your own gentle hand to despatch me on the spot Your own ears have heard him
how before that I was proven guilty he did threaten me with torments It
standeth not with your own honour to deliver me to my sworn enemy and old
oppressor but to try me fairly by the way of law and if that I be guilty
indeed to slay me mercifully«
»My lord« cried Sir Daniel »ye will not hearken to this wolf His bloody
dagger reeks him the lie into his face«
»Nay but suffer me good knight« returned the tall stranger »your own
vehemence doth somewhat tell against yourself«
And here the bride who had come to herself some minutes past and looked
wildly on upon this scene broke loose from those that held her and fell upon
her knees before the last speaker
»My Lord of Risingham« she cried »hear me in justice I am here in this
mans custody by mere force reft from mine own people Since that day I had
never pity countenance nor comfort from the face of man but from him only
Richard Shelton whom they now accuse and labour to undo My lord if he was
yesternight in Sir Daniels mansion it was I that brought him there he came
but at my prayer and thought to do no hurt While yet Sir Daniel was a good
lord to him he fought with them of the Black Arrow loyally but when his foul
guardian sought his life by practices and he fled by night for his souls
sake out of that bloody house whither was he to turn he helpless and
penniless Or if he be fallen among ill company whom should ye blame the lad
that was unjustly handled or the guardian that did abuse his trust«
And then the short young lady fell on her knees by Joannas side
»And I my good lord and natural uncle« she added »I can bear testimony
on my conscience and before the face of all that what this maiden saith is
true It was I unworthy that did lead the young man in«
Earl Risingham had heard in silence and when the voices ceased he still
stood silent for a space Then he gave Joanna his hand to arise though it was
to be observed that he did not offer the like courtesy to her who had called
herself his niece
»Sir Daniel« he said »here is a right intricate affair the which with
your good leave it shall be mine to examine and adjust Content ye then your
business is in careful hands justice shall be done you and in the meanwhile
get ye incontinently home and have your hurts attended The air is shrewd and
I would not ye took cold upon these scratches«
He made a sign with his hand it was passed down the nave by obsequious
servants who waited there upon his smallest gesture Instantly without the
church a tucket sounded shrill and through the open portal archers and
menatarms uniformly arrayed in the colours and wearing the badge of Lord
Risingham began to file into the church took Dick and Lawless from those who
still detained them and closing their files about the prisoners marched forth
again and disappeared
As they were passing Joanna held both her hands to Dick and cried him her
farewell and the bridesmaid nothing downcast by her uncles evident
displeasure blew him a kiss with a »Keep your heart up liondriver« that for
the first time since the accident called up a smile to the faces of the crowd
Chapter V
Earl Risingham
Earl Risingham although by far the most important person then in Shoreby was
poorly lodged in the house of a private gentleman upon the extreme outskirts of
the town Nothing but the armed men at the doors and the mounted messengers
that kept arriving and departing announced the temporary residence of a great
lord
Thus it was that from lack of space, Dick and Lawless were clapped into the
same apartment
»Well spoken Master Richard« said the outlaw »it was excellently well
spoken and for my part I thank you cordially Here we are in good hands we
shall be justly tried and some time this evening decently hanged on the same
tree«
»Indeed my poor friend I do believe it« answered Dick
»Yet have we a string to our bow« returned Lawless »Ellis Duckworth is a
man out of ten thousand he holdeth you right near his heart both for your own
and for your fathers sake and knowing you guiltless of this fact he will
stir earth and heaven to bear you clear«
»It may not be« said Dick »What can he do He hath but a handful Alack
if it were but tomorrow could I but keep a certain tryst an hour before noon
tomorrow all were I think otherwise But now there is no help«
»Well« concluded Lawless »an ye will stand to it for my innocence I will
stand to it for yours and that stoutly It shall naught avail us but an I be
to hang it shall not be for lack of swearing«
And then while Dick gave himself over to his reflections the old rogue
curled himself down into a corner pulled his monkish hood about his face and
composed himself to sleep Soon he was loudly snoring so utterly had his long
life of hardship and adventure blunted the sense of apprehension
It was long after noon and the day was already failing before the door was
opened and Dick taken forth and led upstairs to where in a warm cabinet Earl
Risingham sat musing over the fire
On his captives entrance he looked up
»Sir« he said »I knew your father who was a man of honour and this
inclineth me to be the more lenient but I may not hide from you that heavy
charges lie against your character Ye do consort with murderers and robbers
upon a clear probation ye have carried war against the kings peace ye are
suspected to have piratically seized upon a ship ye are found skulking with a
counterfeit presentment in your enemys house a man is slain that very evening
«
»An it like you my lord« Dick interposed »I will at once avow my guilt
such as it is I slew this fellow Rutter and to the proof« searching in his
bosom »here is a letter from his wallet«
Lord Risingham took the letter and opened and read it twice
»Ye have read this« he inquired
»I have read it« answered Dick
»Are you for York or Lancaster« the earl demanded
»My lord it was but a little while back that I was asked that question and
knew not how to answer it« said Dick »but having answered once I will not
vary My lord I am for York«
The earl nodded approvingly
»Honestly replied« he said »But wherefore then deliver me this letter«
»Nay but against traitors my lord are not all sides arrayed« cried Dick
»I would they were young gentleman« returned the earl »and I do at least
approve your saying There is more youth than guile in you I do perceive and
were not Sir Daniel a mighty man upon our side I were half tempted to espouse
your quarrel For I have inquired and it appears that you have been hardly
dealt with and have much excuse But look ye sir I am before all else a
leader in the queens interest and though by nature a just man as I believe
and leaning even to the excess of mercy yet must I order my goings for my
partys interest and to keep Sir Daniel I would go far about«
»My lord« returned Dick »ye will think me very bold to counsel you but do
ye count upon Sir Daniels faith Methought he had changed sides intolerably
often«
»Nay it is the way of England What would ye have« the earl demanded »But
ye are unjust to the knight of Tunstall and as faith goes in this unfaithful
generation he hath of late been honourably true to us of Lancaster Even in our
last reverses he stood firm«
»An it please you then« said Dick »to cast your eye upon this letter ye
might somewhat change your thought of him« and he handed to the earl Sir
Daniels letter to Lord Wensleydale
The effect upon the earls countenance was instant he lowered like an angry
lion and his hand with a sudden movement clutched at his dagger
»Ye have read this also« he asked
»Even so« said Dick »It is your lordships own estate he offers to Lord
Wensleydale«
»It is my own estate even as ye say« returned the earl »I am your
bedesman for this letter It hath shown me a foxs hole Command me Master
Shelton I will not be backward in gratitude and to begin with York or
Lancaster true man or thief I do now set you at freedom Go aMarys name
But judge it right that I retain and hang your fellow Lawless The crime hath
been most open and it were fitting that some open punishment should follow«
»My lord I make it my first suit to you to spare him also« pleaded Dick
»It is an old condemned rogue thief and vagabond Master Shelton« said
the earl »He hath been gallowsripe this score of years And whether for one
thing or another whether tomorrow or the day after where is the great
choice«
»Yet my lord it was through love to me that he came hither« answered
Dick »and I were churlish and thankless to desert him«
»Master Shelton ye are troublesome« replied the earl severely »It is an
evil way to prosper in this world Howbeit and to be quit of your importunity
I will once more humour you Go then together but go warily and get swiftly
out of Shoreby town For this Sir Daniel whom may the saints confound
thirsteth most greedily to have your blood«
»My lord I do now offer you in words my gratitude trusting at some brief
date to pay you some of it in service« replied Dick as he turned from the
apartment
Chapter VI
Arblaster Again
When Dick and Lawless were suffered to steal by a back way out of the house
where Lord Risingham held his garrison the evening had already come
They paused in shelter of the garden wall to consult on their best course
The danger was extreme If one of Sir Daniels men caught sight of them and
raised the viewhallo they would be run down and butchered instantly And not
only was the town of Shoreby a mere net of peril for their lives but to make
for the open country was to run the risk of the patrols
A little way off upon some open ground they spied a windmill standing
and hard by that a very large granary with open doors
»How if we lay there until the night fall« Dick proposed
And Lawless having no better suggestion to offer they made a straight push
for the granary at a run and concealed themselves behind the door among some
straw The daylight rapidly departed and presently the moon was silvering the
frozen snow Now or never was their opportunity to gain the Goat and Bagpipes
unobserved and change their telltale garments Yet even then it was advisable
to go round by the outskirts and not run the gauntlet of the marketplace
where in the concourse of people they stood the more imminent peril to be
recognised and slain
This course was a long one It took them not far from the house by the
beach now lying dark and silent and brought them forth at last by the margin
of the harbour Many of the ships as they could see by the clear moonshine had
weighed anchor and profiting by the calm sky proceeded for more distant
parts answerably to this the rude alehouses along the beach although in
defiance of the curfew law they still shone with fire and candle were no
longer thronged with customers and no longer echoed to the chorus of seasongs
Hastily halfrunning with their monkish raiment kilted to the knee they
plunged through the deep snow and threaded the labyrinth of marine lumber and
they were already more than halfway round the harbour when as they were
passing close before an alehouse the door suddenly opened and let out a gush of
light upon their fleeting figures
Instantly they stopped and made believe to be engaged in earnest
conversation
Three men one after another came out of the alehouse and the last closed
the door behind him All three were unsteady upon their feet as if they had
passed the day in deep potations and they now stood wavering in the moonlight
like men who knew not what they would be after The tallest of the three was
talking in a loud lamentable voice
»Seven pieces of as good Gascony as ever a tapster broached« he was saying
»the best ship out o the port o Dartmouth a Virgin Mary parcelgilt thirteen
pounds of good gold money «
»I have bad losses too« interrupted one of the others »I have had losses
of mine own gossip Arblaster I was robbed at Martinmas of five shillings and a
leather wallet well worth ninepence farthing«
Dicks heart smote him at what he heard Until that moment he had not
perhaps thought twice of the poor skipper who had been ruined by the loss of the
Good Hope so careless in those days were men who wore arms of the goods and
interests of their inferiors But this sudden encounter reminded him sharply of
the highhanded manner and illending of his enterprise and both he and Lawless
turned their heads the other way to avoid the chance of recognition
The ships dog had however made his escape from the wreck and found his
way back again to Shoreby He was now at Arblasters heels and suddenly
sniffing and pricking his ears he darted forward and began to bark furiously at
the two sham friars
His master unsteadily followed him
»Hey shipmates« he cried »Have ye ever a penny piece for a poor old
shipman clean destroyed by pirates I am a man that would have paid for you
both o Thursday morning and now here I be o Saturday night begging for a
flagon of ale Ask my man Tom if ye misdoubt me Seven pieces of good Gascon
wine a ship that was mine own and was my fathers before me a Blessed Mary of
planetree wood and parcelgilt and thirteen pounds in gold and silver Hey
what say ye A man that fought the French too for I have fought the French I
have cut more French throats upon the high seas than ever a man that sails out
of Dartmouth Come a penny piece«
Neither Dick nor Lawless durst answer him a word lest he should recognise
their voices and they stood there as helpless as a ship ashore not knowing
where to turn nor what to hope
»Are ye dumb boy« inquired the skipper »Mates« he added with a
hiccup »they be dumb I like not this manner of discourtesy for an a man be
dumb so be as hes courteous he will still speak when he was spoken to
methinks«
By this time the sailor Tom who was a man of great personal strength
seemed to have conceived some suspicion of these two speechless figures and
being soberer than his captain stepped suddenly before him took Lawless
roughly by the shoulder and asked him with an oath what ailed him that he
held his tongue To this the outlaw thinking all was over made answer by a
wrestling feint that stretched the sailor on the sand and calling upon Dick to
follow him took to his heels among the lumber
The affair passed in a second Before Dick could run at all Arblaster had
him in his arms Tom crawling on his face had caught him by one foot and the
third man had a drawn cutlass brandishing above his head
It was not so much the danger it was not so much the annoyance that now
bowed down the spirits of young Shelton it was the profound humiliation to have
escaped Sir Daniel convinced Lord Risingham and now fall helpless into the
hands of this old drunken sailor and not merely helpless but as his
conscience loudly told him when it was too late actually guilty actually the
bankrupt debtor of the man whose ship he had stolen and lost
»Bring me him back into the alehouse till I see his face« said Arblaster
»Nay nay« returned Tom »but let us first unload his wallet lest the
other lads cry share«
But though he was searched from head to foot not a penny was found upon him
nothing but Lord Foxhams signet which they plucked savagely from his finger
»Turn me him to the moon« said the skipper and taking Dick by the chin he
cruelly jerked his head into the air »Blessed Virgin« he cried »it is the
pirate«
»Hey« cried Tom
»By the Virgin of Bordeaux it is the man himself« repeated Arblaster
»What seathief do I hold you« he cried »Where is my ship Where is my wine
Hey have I you in my hands Tom give me one end of a cord here I will so
truss me this seathief hand and foot together like a basting turkey marry
I will so bind him up and thereafter I will so beat so beat him«
And so he ran on winding the cord meanwhile about Dicks limbs with the
dexterity peculiar to seamen and at every turn and cross securing it with a
knot and tightening the whole fabric with a savage pull
When he had done the lad was a mere package in his hands as helpless as
the dead The skipper held him at armslength and laughed aloud Then he
fetched him a stunning buffet on the ear and then turned him about and
furiously kicked and kicked him Anger rose up in Dicks bosom like a storm
anger strangled him and he thought to have died but when the sailor tired of
this cruel play dropped him all his length upon the sand and turned to consult
with his companions he instantly regained command of his temper Here was a
momentary respite ere they began again to torture him he might have found some
method to escape from this degrading and fatal misadventure
Presently sure enough and while his captors were still discussing what to
do with him he took heart of grace and with a pretty steady voice addressed
them
»My masters« he began »are ye gone clean foolish Here hath Heaven put
into your hands as pretty an occasion to grow rich as ever shipman had such as
ye might make thirty oversea adventures and not find again and by the mass
what do ye Beat me nay so would an angry child But for longheaded
tarryJohns that fear not fire nor water and that love gold as they love beef
methinks ye are not wise«
»Ay« said Tom »now y are trussed ye would cozen us«
»Cozen you« repeated Dick »Nay if ye be fools it would be easy But if
ye be shrewd fellows as I trow ye are ye can see plainly where your interest
lies When I took your ship from you we were many we were well clad and armed
but now bethink you a little who mustered that array One incontestably that
hath made much gold And if he being already rich continueth to hunt after
more even in the face of storms bethink you once more shall there not be a
treasure somewhere hidden«
»What meaneth he« asked one of the men
»Why if ye have lost an old skiff and a few jugs of vinegary wine«
continued Dick »forget them for the trash they are and do ye rather buckle to
an adventure worth the name that shall in twelve hours make or mar you for
ever But take me up from where I lie and let us go somewhere near at hand and
talk across a flagon for I am sore and frozen and my mouth is half among the
snow«
»He seeks but to cozen us« said Tom contemptuously
»Cozen cozen« cried the third man »I would I could see the man that could
cozen me He were a cozener indeed Nay I was not born yesterday I can see a
church when it hath a steeple on it and for my part gossip Arblaster methinks
there is some sense in this young man Shall we go hear him indeed Say shall
we go hear him«
»I would look gladly on a pottle of strong ale good Master Pirret«
returned Arblaster »How say ye Tom But then the wallet is empty«
»I will pay« said the other »I will pay I would fain see this matter
out I do believe upon my conscience there is gold in it«
»Nay if ye get again to drinking all is lost« cried Tom
»Gossip Arblaster ye suffer your fellow to have too much liberty« returned
Master Pirret »Would ye be led by a hired man Fy fy«
»Peace fellow« said Arblaster addressing Tom »Will ye put your oar in
Truly a fine pass when the crew is to correct the skipper«
»Well then go your way« said Tom »I wash my hands of you«
»Set him then upon his feet« said Master Pirret »I know a privy place
where we may drink and discourse«
»If I am to walk my friends ye must set my feet at liberty« said Dick
when he had been once more planted upright like a post
»He saith true« laughed Pirret »Truly he could not walk accoutred as he
is Give it a slit out with your knife and slit it gossip«
Even Arblaster paused at this proposal but as his companion continued to
insist and Dick had the sense to keep the merest wooden indifference of
expression and only shrugged his shoulders over the delay the skipper
consented at last and cut the cords which tied his prisoners feet and legs
Not only did this enable Dick to walk but the whole network of his bonds being
proportionately loosened he felt the arm behind his back begin to move more
freely and could hope with time and trouble to entirely disengage it So much
he owed already to the owlish silliness and greed of Master Pirret
That worthy now assumed the lead and conducted them to the very same rude
alehouse where Lawless had taken Arblaster on the day of the gale It was now
quite deserted the fire was a pile of red embers radiating the most ardent
heat and when they had chosen their places and the landlord had set before
them a measure of mulled ale both Pirret and Arblaster stretched forth their
legs and squared their elbows like men bent upon a pleasant hour
The table at which they sat like all the others in the alehouse consisted
of a heavy square board set on a pair of barrels and each of the four
curiously assorted cronies sat at one side of the square Pirret facing
Arblaster and Dick opposite to the common sailor
»And now young man« said Pirret »to your tale It doth appear indeed
that ye have somewhat abused our gossip Arblaster but what then Make it up to
him show him but this chance to become wealthy and I will go pledge he will
forgive you«
So far Dick had spoken pretty much at random but it was now necessary
under the supervision of six eyes to invent and tell some marvellous story
and if it were possible get back into his hands the all signet To squander
time was the first necessity The longer his stay lasted the more would his
captors drink and the surer should he be when he attempted his escape
Well Dick was not much of an inventor and what he told was pretty much the
tale of Ali Baba with Shoreby and Tunstall Forest substituted for the East and
the treasures of the cavern rather exaggerated than diminished As the reader is
aware it is an excellent story and has but one drawback that it is not true
and so as these three simple shipmen now heard it for the first time their
eyes stood out of their faces and their mouths gaped like codfish at a
fishmongers
Pretty soon a second measure of mulled ale was called for and while Dick
was still artfully spinning out the incidents a third followed the second
Here was the position of the parties towards the end
Arblaster threeparts drunk and onehalf asleep hung helpless on his
stool Even Tom had been much delighted with the tale and his vigilance had
abated in proportion Meanwhile Dick had gradually wormed his right arm clear of
its bonds and was ready to risk all
»And so« said Pirret »y are one of these«
»I was made so« replied Dick »against my will but an I could but get a
sack or two of gold coin to my share I should be a fool indeed to continue
dwelling in a filthy cave and standing shot and buffet like a soldier Here be
we four good Let us then go forth into the forest tomorrow ere the sun be
up Could we come honestly by a donkey it were better but an we cannot we
have our four strong backs and I warrant me we shall come home staggering«
Pirret licked his lips
»And this magic« he said »this password whereby the cave is opened how
call ye it friend«
»Nay none know the word but the three chiefs« returned Dick »but here is
your great good fortune that on this very evening I should be the bearer of a
spell to open it It is a thing not trusted twice a year beyond the captains
wallet«
»A spell« said Arblaster half awakening and squinting upon Dick with one
eye »Aroint thee no spells I be a good Christian Ask my man Tom else«
»Nay but this is white magic« said Dick »It doth naught with the devil
only the powers of numbers herbs and planets«
»Ay ay« said Pirret »tis but white magic gossip There is no sin
therein I do assure you But proceed good youth This spell in what should
it consist«
»Nay that I will incontinently show you« answered Dick »Have ye there the
ring ye took from my finger Good Now hold it forth before you by the extreme
fingerends at the arms length and over against the shining of these embers
Tis so exactly Thus then is the spell«
With a haggard glance Dick saw the coast was clear between him and the
door He put up an internal prayer Then whipping forth his arm he made but
one snatch of the ring and at the same instant levering up the table he sent
it bodily over upon the seaman Tom He poor soul went down bawling under the
ruins and before Arblaster understood that anything was wrong or Pirret could
collect his dazzled wits Dick had run to the door and escaped into the moonlit
night
The moon which now rode in the midheavens and the extreme whiteness of
the snow made the open ground about the harbour bright as day and young
Shelton leaping with kilted robe among the lumber was a conspicuous figure
from afar
Tom and Pirret followed him with shouts from every drinkingshop they were
joined by others whom their cries aroused and presently a whole fleet of
sailors was in full pursuit But Jack ashore was a bad runner even in the
fifteenth century and Dick besides had a start which he rapidly improved
until as he drew near the entrance of a narrow lane he even paused and looked
laughingly behind him
Upon the white floor of snow all the shipmen of Shoreby came clustering in
an inky mass and tailing out rearward in isolated clumps Every man was
shouting or screaming every man was gesticulating with both arms in air some
one was continually falling and to complete the picture when one fell a dozen
would fall upon the top of him
The confused mass of sound which they rolled up as high as to the moon was
partly comical and partly terrifying to the fugitive whom they were hunting In
itself, it was impotent for he made sure no seaman in the port could run him
down But the mere volume of noise in so far as it must awake all the sleepers
in Shoreby and bring all the skulking sentries to the street did really
threaten him with danger in the front So spying a dark doorway at a corner he
whipped briskly into it and let the uncouth hunt go by him still shouting and
gesticulating and all red with hurry and white with tumbles in the snow
It was a long while indeed before this great invasion of the town by the
harbour came to an end and it was long before silence was restored For long
lost sailors were still to be heard pounding and shouting through the streets in
all directions and in every quarter of the town Quarrels followed sometimes
among themselves sometimes with the men of the patrols knives were drawn
blows given and received and more than one dead body remained behind upon the
snow
When a full hour later the last seaman returned grumblingly to the harbour
side and his particular tavern it may fairly be questioned if he had ever known
what manner of man he was pursuing but it was absolutely sure that he had now
forgotten By next morning there were many strange stories flying and a little
while after the legend of the devils nocturnal visit was an article of faith
with all the lads of Shoreby
But the return of the last seaman did not even yet set free young Shelton
from his cold imprisonment in the doorway
For some time after there was a great activity of patrols and special
parties came forth to make the round of the place and report to one or other of
the great lords whose slumbers had been thus unusually broken
The night was already well spent before Dick ventured from his hidingplace
and came safe and sound but aching with cold and bruises to the door of the
Goat and Bagpipes As the law required there was neither fire nor candle in the
house but he groped his way into a corner of the icy guestroom found an end
of a blanket which he hitched around his shoulders and creeping close to the
nearest sleeper was soon lost in slumber
Book V Crookback
Chapter I
The Shrill Trumpet
Very early the next morning before the first peep of the day Dick arose
changed his garments armed himself once more like a gentleman and set forth
for Lawlesss den in the forest There it will be remembered he had left Lord
Foxhams papers and to get these and be back in time for the tryst with the
young Duke of Gloucester could only be managed by an early start and the most
vigorous walking
The frost was more rigorous than ever the air windless and dry and
stinging to the nostril The moon had gone down but the stars were still bright
and numerous and the reflection from the snow was clear and cheerful There was
no need for a lamp to walk by nor in that still but ringing air the least
temptation to delay
Dick had crossed the greater part of the open ground between Shoreby and the
forest and had reached the bottom of the little hill some hundred yards below
the Cross of St Bride when through the stillness of the black morn there
rang forth the note of a trumpet so shrill clear and piercing that he
thought he had never heard the match of it for audibility It was blown once
and then hurriedly a second time and then the clash of steel succeeded
At this young Shelton pricked his ears and drawing his sword ran forward
up the hill
Presently he came in sight of the cross and was aware of a most fierce
encounter raging on the road before it There were seven or eight assailants
and but one to keep head against them but so active and dexterous was this one
so desperately did he charge and scatter his opponents so deftly keep his
footing on the ice that already before Dick could intervene he had slain one
wounded another and kept the whole in check
Still it was by a miracle that he continued his defence and at any moment
any accident the least slip of foot or error of hand his life would be a
forfeit
»Hold ye well sir Here is help« cried Richard and forgetting that he was
alone and that the cry was somewhat irregular »To the Arrow to the Arrow« he
shouted as he fell upon the rear of the assailants
These were stout fellows also for they gave not an inch at this surprise
but faced about and fell with astonishing fury upon Dick Four against one the
steel flashed about him in the starlight the sparks flew fiercely one of the
men opposed to him fell in the stir of the fight he hardly knew why then he
himself was struck across the head and though the steel cap below his hood
protected him the blow beat him down upon one knee with a brain whirling like
a windmillsail
Meanwhile the man whom he had come to rescue instead of joining in the
conflict had on the first sign of intervention leaped aback and blown again
and yet more urgently and loudly on that same shrillvoiced trumpet that began
the alarm Next moment indeed his foes were on him and he was once more
charging and fleeing leaping stabbing dropping to his knee and using
indifferently sword and dagger foot and hand with the same unshaken courage
and feverish energy and speed
But that earpiercing summons had been heard at last There was a muffled
rushing in the snow and in a good hour for Dick who saw the swordpoints
glitter already at his throat there poured forth out of the wood upon both
sides a disorderly torrent of mounted menatarms each cased in iron and with
visor lowered each bearing his lance in rest or his sword bared and raised
and each carrying so to speak a passenger in the shape of an archer or page
who leaped one after another from their perches and had presently doubled the
array
The original assailants seeing themselves outnumbered and surrounded threw
down their arms without a word
»Seize me these fellows« said the hero of the trumpet and when his order
had been obeyed he drew near to Dick and looked him in the face
Dick returning this scrutiny was surprised to find in one who had
displayed such strength skill and energy a lad no older than himself
slightly deformed with one shoulder higher than the other and of a pale
painful and distorted countenance2 The eyes however were very clear and
bold
»Sir« said this lad »ye came in good time for me and none too early«
»My lord« returned Dick with a faint sense that he was in the presence of
a great personage »ye are yourself so marvellous a good swordsman that I
believe ye had managed them singlehanded Howbeit it was certainly well for me
that your men delayed no longer than they did«
»How knew ye who I was« demanded the stranger
»Even now my lord« Dick answered »I am ignorant of whom I speak with«
»Is it so« asked the other »And yet ye threw yourself head first into this
unequal battle«
»I saw one man valiantly contending against many« replied Dick »and I had
thought myself dishonoured not to bear him aid«
A singular sneer played about the young noblemans mouth as he made answer
»These are very brave words But to the more essential are ye Lancaster or
York«
»My lord I make no secret I am clear for York« Dick answered
»By the mass« replied the other »it is well for you«
And so saying he turned towards one of his followers
»Let me see« he continued in the same sneering and cruel tones »let me
see a clean end of these brave gentlemen Truss me them up«
There were but five survivors of the attacking party Archers seized them by
the arms they were hurried to the borders of the wood and each placed below a
tree of suitable dimensions the rope was adjusted an archer carrying the end
of it hastily clambered overhead and before a minute was over and without a
word passing upon either hand the five men were swinging by the neck
»And now« cried the deformed leader »back to your posts and when I summon
you next be readier to attend«
»My lord duke« said one man »beseech you tarry not here alone Keep but a
handful of lances at your hand«
»Fellow« said the duke »I have forborne to chide you for your slowness
Cross me not therefore I trust my hand and arm for all that I be crooked Ye
were backward when the trumpet sounded and ye are now too forward with your
counsels But it is ever so last with the lance and first with the tongue Let
it be reversed«
And with a gesture that was not without a sort of dangerous nobility he
waved them off
The footmen climbed again to their seats behind the menatarms and the
whole party moved slowly away and disappeared in twenty different directions
under the cover of the forest
The day was by this time beginning to break and the stars to fade The
first grey glimmer of dawn shone upon the countenances of the two young men who
now turned once more to face each other
»Here« said the duke »ye have seen my vengeance which is like my blade
both sharp and ready But I would not have you for all Christendom suppose me
thankless You that came to my aid with a good sword and a better courage
unless that ye recoil from my misshapeness come to my heart«
And so saying the young leader held out his arms for an embrace
In the bottom of his heart Dick already entertained a great terror and some
hatred for the man whom he had rescued but the invitation was so worded that it
would not have been merely discourteous but cruel to refuse or hesitate and
he hastened to comply
»And now my lord duke« he said when he had regained his freedom »do I
suppose aright Are ye my Lord Duke of Gloucester«
»I am Richard of Gloucester« returned the other »And you how call they
you«
Dick told him his name and presented Lord Foxhams signet which the duke
immediately recognised
»Ye come too soon« he said »but why should I complain Ye are like me
that was here at watch two hours before the day But this is the first sally of
mine arms upon this adventure Master Shelton shall I make or mar the quality
of my renown There lie mine enemies under two old skilled captains Risingham
and Brackley well posted for strength I do believe but yet upon two sides
without retreat enclosed betwixt the sea the harbour and the river Methinks
Shelton here were a great blow to be stricken an we could strike it silently
and suddenly«
»I do think so indeed« cried Dick warming
»Have ye my Lord Foxhams notes« inquired the duke
And then Dick having explained how he was without them for the moment made
himself bold to offer information every jot as good of his own knowledge
»And for mine own part my lord duke« he added »an ye had men enough I
would fall on even at this present For look ye at the peep of day the watches
of the night are over but by day they keep neither watch nor ward only scour
the outskirts with horsemen Now then when the nightwatch is already unarmed
and the rest are at their morning cup now were the time to break them«
»How many do ye count« asked Gloucester
»They number not two thousand« Dick replied
»I have seven hundred in the woods behind us« said the duke »seven hundred
follow from Kettley and will be here anon behind these and farther are four
hundred more and my Lord Foxham hath five hundred half a day from here at
Holywood Shall we attend their coming or fall on«
»My lord« said Dick »when ye hanged these five poor rogues ye did decide
the question Churls although they were in these uneasy times they will be
lacked and looked for and the alarm be given Therefore my lord if ye do
count upon the advantage of a surprise ye have not in my poor opinion one
whole hour in front of you«
»I do think so indeed« returned Crookback »Well before an hour ye shall
be in the thick ont winning spurs A swift man to Holywood carrying Lord
Foxhams signet another along the road to speed my laggards Nay Shelton by
the rood it may be done«
Therewith he once more set his trumpet to his lips and blew
This time he was not long kept waiting In a moment the open space about the
cross was filled with horse and foot Richard of Gloucester took his place upon
the steps and despatched messenger after messenger to hasten the concentration
of the seven hundred men that lay hidden in the immediate neighbourhood among
the woods and before a quarter of an hour had passed all his dispositions
being taken he put himself at their head and began to move down the hill
towards Shoreby
His plan was simple He was to seize a quarter of the town of Shoreby lying
on the right hand of the highroad and make his position good there in the
narrow lanes until his reinforcements followed
If Lord Risingham chose to retreat Richard would follow upon his rear and
take him between two fires or if he preferred to hold the town he would be
shut in a trap there to be gradually overwhelmed by force of numbers
There was but one danger but that was imminent and great Gloucesters
seven hundred might be rolled up and cut to pieces in the first encounter and
to avoid this it was needful to make the surprise of their arrival as complete
as possible
The footmen therefore were all once more taken up behind the riders and
Dick had the signal honour meted out to him of mounting behind Gloucester
himself For as far as there was any cover the troops moved slowly and when
they came near the end of the trees that lined the highway stopped to breathe
and reconnoitre
The sun was now well up shining with a frosty brightness out of a yellow
halo and right over against the luminary Shoreby a field of snowy roofs and
ruddy gables was rolling up its columns of morning smoke
Gloucester turned round to Dick
»In that poor place« he said »where people are cooking breakfast either
you shall gain your spurs and I begin a life of mighty honour and glory in the
worlds eye or both of us as I conceive it shall fall dead and be unheard of
Two Richards are we Well then Richard Shelton they shall be heard about
these two Their swords shall not ring more loudly on mens helmets than their
names shall ring in peoples ears«
Dick was astonished at so great a hunger after fame expressed with so great
vehemence of voice and language and he answered very sensibly and quietly
that for his part he promised he would do his duty and doubted not of victory
if every one did the like
By this time the horses were well breathed and the leader holding up his
sword and giving rein the whole troop of chargers broke into the gallop and
thundered with their double load of fighting men down the remainder of the
hill and across the snowcovered plain that still divided them from Shoreby
Chapter II
The Battle of Shoreby
The whole distance to be crossed was not above a quarter of a mile But they had
no sooner debouched beyond the cover of the trees than they were aware of people
fleeing and screaming in the snowy meadows upon either hand Almost at the same
moment a great rumour began to arise and spread and grow continually louder in
the town and they were not yet halfway to the nearest house before the bells
began to ring backward from the steeple
The young duke ground his teeth together By these so early signals of alarm
he feared to find his enemies prepared and if he failed to gain a footing in
the town he knew that his small party would soon be broken and exterminated in
the open
In the town however the Lancastrians were far from being in so good a
posture It was as Dick had said The nightguard had already doffed their
harness the rest were still hanging unlatched unbraced all unprepared for
battle about their quarters and in the whole of Shoreby there were not
perhaps fifty men full armed or fifty chargers to be mounted
The beating of the bells the terrifying summons of men who ran about the
streets crying and beating upon the doors aroused in an incredibly short space
at least two score out of that half hundred These got speedily to horse and
the alarm still flying wild and contrary galloped in different directions
Thus it befell that when Richard of Gloucester reached the first house of
Shoreby he was met in the mouth of the street by a mere handful of lances whom
he swept before his onset as the storm chases the bark
A hundred paces into the town Dick Shelton touched the dukes arm the
duke in answer gathered his reins put the shrill trumpet to his mouth and
blowing a concerted point turned to the right hand out of the direct advance
Swerving like a single rider his whole command turned after him and still at
the full gallop of the chargers swept up the narrow bystreet Only the last
score of riders drew rein and faced about in the entrance the footmen whom
they carried behind them leapt at the same instant to the earth and began
some to bend their bows and others to break into and secure the houses upon
either hand
Surprised at this sudden change of direction and daunted by the firm front
of the rearguard the few Lancastrians after a momentary consultation turned
and rode farther into town to seek for reinforcements
The quarter of the town upon which by the advice of Dick Richard of
Gloucester had now seized consisted of five small streets of poor and
illinhabited houses occupying a very gentle eminence and lying open towards
the back
The five streets being each secured by a good guard the reserve would thus
occupy the centre out of shot and yet ready to carry aid wherever it was
needed
Such was the poorness of the neighbourhood that none of the Lancastrian
lords and but few of their retainers had been lodged therein and the
inhabitants with one accord deserted their houses and fled squalling along
the streets or over garden walls
In the centre where the five ways all met a somewhat illfavoured alehouse
displayed the sign of the Chequers and here the Duke of Gloucester chose his
headquarters for the day
To Dick he assigned the guard of one of the five streets
»Go« he said »win your spurs Win glory for me one Richard for another I
tell you if I rise ye shall rise by the same ladder Go« he added shaking
him by the hand
But as soon as Dick was gone he turned to a little shabby archer at his
elbow
»Go Dutton and that right speedily« he added »Follow that lad If ye
find him faithful ye answer for his safety a head for a head Woe unto you if
ye return without him But if he be faithless or for one instant ye misdoubt
him stab him from behind«
In the meantime Dick hastened to secure his post The street he had to guard
was very narrow and closely lined with houses which projected and overhung the
roadway but narrow and dark as it was since it opened upon the marketplace of
the town the main issue of the battle would probably fall to be decided on that
spot
The marketplace was full of townspeople fleeing in disorder but there was
as yet no sign of any foeman ready to attack and Dick judged he had some time
before him to make ready his defence
The two houses at the end stood deserted with open doors as the
inhabitants had left them in their flight and from these he had the furniture
hastily tossed forth and piled into a barrier in the entry of the lane A
hundred men were placed at his disposal and of these he threw the more part in
the houses where they might lie in shelter and deliver their arrows from the
windows With the rest under his own immediate eye he lined the barricade
Meanwhile the utmost uproar and confusion had continued to prevail
throughout the town and what with the hurried clashing of bells the sounding
of trumpets the swift movement of bodies of horse the cries of the commanders
and the shrieks of women the noise was almost deafening to the ear Presently
little by little the tumult began to subside and soon after files of men in
armour and bodies of archers began to assemble and form in line of battle in the
marketplace
A large portion of this body were in murrey and blue and in the mounted
knight who ordered their array Dick recognised Sir Daniel Brackley
Then there befell a long pause which was followed by the almost
simultaneous sounding of four trumpets from four different quarters of the town
A fifth rang in answer from the marketplace and at the same moment the files
began to move and a shower of arrows rattled about the barricade and sounded
like blows upon the walls of the two flanking houses
The attack had begun by a common signal on all the five issues of the
quarter Gloucester was beleaguered upon every side and Dick judged if he
would make good his post he must rely entirely on the hundred men of his
command
Seven volleys of arrows followed one upon the other and in the very thick
of the discharges Dick was touched from behind upon the arm and found a page
holding out to him a leathern jack strengthened with bright plates of mail
»It is from my Lord of Gloucester« said the page »He hath observed Sir
Richard that ye went unarmed«
Dick with a glow at his heart at being so addressed got to his feet and
with the assistance of the page donned the defensive coat Even as he did so
two arrows rattled harmlessly upon the plates and a third struck down the page
mortally wounded at his feet
Meantime the whole body of the enemy had been steadily drawing nearer across
the marketplace and by this time were so close at hand that Dick gave the
order to return their shot Immediately from behind the barrier and from the
windows of the houses a counterblast of arrows sped carrying death But the
Lancastrians as if they had but waited for a signal shouted loudly in answer
and began to close at a run upon the barrier the horsemen still hanging back
with visors lowered
Then followed an obstinate and deadly struggle hand to hand The
assailants wielding their falchions with one hand strove with the other to
drag down the structure of the barricade On the other side the parts were
reversed and the defenders exposed themselves like madmen to protect their
rampart So for some minutes the contest raged almost in silence friend and foe
falling one upon another But it is always the easier to destroy and when a
single note upon the tucket recalled the attacking party from this desperate
service much of the barricade had been removed piecemeal and the whole fabric
had sunk to half its height and tottered to a general fall
And now the footmen in the marketplace fell back at a run on every side
The horsemen who had been standing in a line two deep wheeled suddenly and
made their flank into their front and as swift as a striking adder the long
steelclad column was launched upon the ruinous barricade
Of the first two horsemen one fell rider and steed and was ridden down by
his companions The second leaped clean upon the summit of the rampart
transpiercing an archer with his lance Almost in the same instant he was
dragged from the saddle and his horse despatched
And then the full weight and impetus of the charge burst upon and scattered
the defenders The menatarms surmounting their fallen comrades and carried
onward by the fury of their onslaught dashed through Dicks broken line and
poured thundering up the lane beyond as a stream bestrides and pours across a
broken dam
Yet was the fight not over Still in the narrow jaws of the entrance Dick
and a few survivors plied their bills like woodmen and already across the
width of the passage there had been formed a second a higher and a more
effectual rampart of fallen men and disembowelled horses lashing in the agonies
of death
Baffled by this fresh obstacle the remainder of the cavalry fell back and
as at the sight of this movement the flight of arrows redoubled from the
casements of the houses their retreat had for a moment almost degenerated
into flight
Almost at the same time those who had crossed the barricade and charged
farther up the street being met before the door of the Chequers by the
formidable hunchback and the whole reserve of the Yorkists began to come
scattering backward in the excess of disarray and terror
Dick and his fellows faced about fresh men poured out of the houses a
cruel blast of arrows met the fugitives full in the face while Gloucester was
already riding down their rear in the inside of a minute and a half there was
no living Lancastrian in the street
Then and not till then did Dick hold up his reeking blade and give the
word to cheer
Meanwhile Gloucester dismounted from his horse and came forward to inspect
the post His face was as pale as linen but his eyes shone in his head like
some strange jewel and his voice when he spoke was hoarse and broken with the
exultation of battle and success He looked at the rampart which neither friend
nor foe could now approach without precaution so fiercely did the horses
struggle in the throes of death and at the sight of that great carnage he
smiled upon one side
»Despatch these horses« he said »they keep you from your vantage
Richard Shelton« he added »ye have pleased me Kneel«
The Lancastrians had already resumed their archery and the shafts fell
thick in the mouth of the street but the duke minding them not at all
deliberately drew his sword and dubbed Richard a knight upon the spot
»And now Sir Richard« he continued »if that ye see Lord Risingham send me
an express upon the instant Were it your last man let me hear of it
incontinently I had rather venture the post than lose my stroke at him For
mark me all of ye« he added raising his voice »if Earl Risingham fall by
another hand than mine I shall count this victory a defeat«
»My lord duke« said one of his attendants »is your grace not weary of
exposing his dear life unneedfully Why tarry we here«
»Catesby« returned the duke »here is the battle not elsewhere The rest
are but feigned onslaughts Here must we vanquish And for the exposure if ye
were an ugly hunchback and the children gecked at you upon the street ye would
count your body cheaper and an hour of glory worth a life Howbeit if ye will
let us ride on and visit the other posts Sir Richard here my namesake he
shall still hold this entry where he wadeth to the ankles in hot blood Him can
we trust But mark it Sir Richard ye are not yet done The worst is yet to
ward Sleep not«
He came right up to young Shelton looking him hard in the eyes and taking
his hand in both of his gave it so extreme a squeeze that the blood had nearly
spurted Dick quailed before his eyes The insane excitement the courage and
the cruelty that he read therein filled him with dismay about the future This
young dukes was indeed a gallant spirit to ride foremost in the ranks of war
but after the battle in the days of peace and in the circle of his trusted
friends that mind it was to be dreaded would continue to bring forth the
fruits of death
Chapter III
The Battle of Shoreby concluded
Dick once more left to his own counsels began to look about him The
arrowshot had somewhat slackened On all sides the enemy were falling back and
the greater part of the marketplace was now left empty the snow here trampled
into orange mud there splashed with gore scattered all over with dead men and
horses and bristling thick with feathered arrows
On his own side the loss had been cruel The jaws of the little street and
the ruins of the barricade were heaped with the dead and dying and out of the
hundred men with whom he had begun the battle there were not seventy left who
could still stand to arms
At the same time the day was passing The first reinforcements might be
looked for to arrive at any moment and the Lancastrians already shaken by the
result of their desperate but unsuccessful onslaught were in an ill temper to
support a fresh invader
There was a dial in the wall of one of the two flanking houses and this in
the frosty winter sunshine indicated ten of the forenoon
Dick turned to the man who was at his elbow a little insignificant archer
binding a cut in his arm
»It was well fought« he said »and by my sooth they will not charge us
twice«
»Sir« said the little archer »ye have fought right well for York and
better for yourself Never hath man in so brief space prevailed so greatly on
the dukes affections That he should have entrusted such a post to one he knew
not is a marvel But look to your head Sir Richard If ye be vanquished ay
if ye give way one footsbreadth axe or cord shall punish it and I am set
if ye do aught doubtful I will tell you honestly here to stab you from
behind«
Dick looked at the little man in amaze
»You« he cried »And from behind«
»It is right so« returned the archer »and because I like not the affair I
tell it you Ye must make the post good Sir Richard at your peril O our
Crookback is a bold blade and a good warrior but whether in cold blood or in
hot he will have all things done exact to his commandment If any fail or
hinder they shall die the death«
»Now by the saints« cried Richard »is this so And will men follow such a
leader«
»Nay they follow him gleefully« replied the other »for if he be exact to
punish he is most openhanded to reward And if he spare not the blood and
sweat of others he is ever liberal of his own still in the first front of
battle still the last to sleep He will go far will Crookback Dick o
Gloucester«
The young knight if he had before been brave and vigilant was now all the
more inclined to watchfulness and courage His sudden favour he began to
perceive had brought perils in its train And he turned from the archer and
once more scanned anxiously the marketplace It lay empty as before
»I like not this quietude« he said »Doubtless they prepare us some
surprise«
And as if in answer to his remark the archers began once more to advance
against the barricade and the arrows to fall thick But there was something
hesitating in the attack They came not on roundly but seemed rather to await a
further signal
Dick looked uneasily about him spying for a hidden danger And sure enough
about halfway up the little street a door was suddenly opened from within and
the house continued for some seconds and both by door and window to disgorge
a torrent of Lancastrian archers These as they leaped down hurriedly stood to
their ranks bent their bows and proceeded to pour upon Dicks rear a flight of
arrows
At the same time the assailants in the marketplace redoubled their shot
and began to close in stoutly upon the barricade
Dick called down his whole command out of the houses and facing them both
ways and encouraging their valour both by word and gesture returned as best he
could the double shower of shafts that fell about his post
Meanwhile house after house was opened in the street and the Lancastrians
continued to pour out of the doors and leap down from the windows shouting
victory until the number of enemies upon Dicks rear was almost equal to the
number in his face It was plain that he could hold the post no longer what was
worse even if he could have held it it had now become useless and the whole
Yorkist army lay in a posture of helplessness upon the brink of a complete
disaster
The men behind him formed the vital flaw in the general defence and it was
upon these that Dick turned charging at the head of his men So vigorous was
the attack that the Lancastrian archers gave ground and staggered and at last
breaking their ranks began to crowd back into the houses from which they had so
recently and so vaingloriously sallied
Meanwhile the men from the marketplace had swarmed across the undefended
barricade and fell on hotly upon the other side and Dick must once again face
about and proceed to drive them back Once again the spirit of his men
prevailed they cleared the street in a triumphant style but even as they did
so the others issued again out of the houses and took them a third time upon
the rear
The Yorkists began to be scattered several times Dick found himself alone
among his foes and plying his bright sword for life several times he was
conscious of a hurt And meanwhile the fight swayed to and fro in the street
without determinate result
Suddenly Dick was aware of a great trumpeting about the outskirts of the
town The warcry of York began to be rolled up to heaven as by many and
triumphant voices And at the same time the men in front of him began to give
ground rapidly streaming out of the street and back upon the marketplace Some
one gave the word to fly Trumpets were blown distractedly some for a rally
some to charge It was plain that a great blow had been struck and the
Lancastrians were thrown at least for the moment into full disorder and some
degree of panic
And then like a theatre trick there followed the last act of Shoreby
Battle The men in front of Richard turned tail like a dog that has been
whistled home and fled like the wind At the same moment there came through the
marketplace a storm of horsemen fleeing and pursuing the Lancastrians turning
back to strike with the sword the Yorkists riding them down at the point of the
lance
Conspicuous in the mellay Dick beheld the Crookback He was already giving
a foretaste of that furious valour and skill to cut his way across the ranks of
war which years afterwards upon the field of Bosworth and when he was
stained with crimes almost sufficed to change the fortunes of the day and the
destiny of the English throne Evading striking riding down he so forced and
so manoeuvred his strong horse so aptly defended himself and so liberally
scattered death to his opponents that he was now far ahead of the foremost of
his knights hewing his way with the truncheon of a bloody sword to where Lord
Risingham was rallying the bravest A moment more and they had met the tall
splendid and famous warrior against the deformed and sickly boy
Yet Shelton had never a doubt of the result and when the fight next opened
for a moment the figure of the earl had disappeared but still in the first of
the danger Crookback Dick was launching his big horse and plying the truncheon
of his sword
Thus by Sheltons courage in holding the mouth of the street against the
first attack and by the opportune arrival of his seven hundred reinforcements
the lad who was afterwards to be handed down to the execration of posterity
under the name of Richard III had won his first considerable fight
Chapter IV
The Sack of Shoreby
There was not a foe left within striking distance and Dick as he looked
ruefully about him on the remainder of his gallant force began to count the
cost of victory He was himself now that the danger was ended so stiff and
sore so bruised and cut and broken and above all so utterly exhausted by his
desperate and unremitting labours in the fight that he seemed incapable of any
fresh exertion
But this was not yet the hour for repose Shoreby had been taken by assault
and though an open town and not in any manner to be charged with the
resistance it was plain that these rough fighters would be not less rough now
that the fight was over and that the more horrid part of war would fall to be
enacted Richard of Gloucester was not the captain to protect the citizens from
his infuriated soldiery and even if he had the will it might be questioned if
he had the power
It was therefore Dicks business to find and to protect Joanna and with
that end he looked about him at the faces of his men The three or four who
seemed likeliest to be obedient and to keep sober he drew aside and promising
them a rich reward and a special recommendation to the duke led them across the
marketplace now empty of horsemen and into the streets upon the farther side
Every here and there small combats of from two to a dozen still raged upon
the open street here and there a house was being besieged the defenders
throwing out stools and tables on the heads of the assailants
The snow was strewn with arms and corpses but except for these partial
combats the streets were deserted and the houses some standing open and some
shuttered and barricaded had for the most part ceased to give out smoke
Dick threading the skirts of these skirmishers led his followers briskly
in the direction of the abbey church but when he came the length of the main
street a cry of horror broke from his lips Sir Daniels great house had been
carried by assault The gates hung in splinters from the hinges and a double
throng kept pouring in and out through the entrance seeking and carrying booty
Meanwhile in the upper stories some resistance was still being offered to the
pillagers for just as Dick came within eyeshot of the building a casement was
burst open from within and a poor wretch in murrey and blue screaming and
resisting was forced through the embrasure and tossed into the street below
The most sickening apprehension fell upon Dick He ran forward like one
possessed forced his way into the house among the foremost and mounted without
pause to the chamber on the third floor where he had last parted from Joanna It
was a mere wreck the furniture had been overthrown the cupboards broken open
and in one place a trailing corner of the arras lay smouldering on the embers of
the fire
Dick almost without thinking trod out the incipient conflagration and
then stood bewildered Sir Daniel Sir Oliver Joanna all were gone but
whether butchered in the rout or safe escaped from Shoreby who should say
He caught a passing archer by the tabard
»Fellow« he asked »were ye here when this house was taken«
»Let be« said the archer »A murrain let be or I strike«
»Hark ye« returned Richard »two can play at that Stand and be plain«
But the man flushed with drink and battle struck Dick upon the shoulder
with one hand while with the other he twitched away his garment Thereupon the
full wrath of the young leader burst from his control He seized the fellow in
his strong embrace and crushed him on the plates of his mailed bosom like a
child then holding him at armslength he bid him speak as he valued life
»I pray you mercy« gasped the archer »An I had thought ye were so angry I
would a been charier of crossing you I was here indeed«
»Know ye Sir Daniel« pursued Dick
»Well do I know him« returned the man
»Was he in the mansion«
»Ay sir he was« answered the archer »but even as we entered by the yard
gate he rode forth by the garden«
»Alone« cried Dick
»He may a had a score of lances with him« said the man
»Lances No women then« asked Shelton
»Troth I saw not« said the archer »But there were none in the house if
that be your quest«
»I thank you« said Dick »Here is a piece for your pains« But groping in
his wallet Dick found nothing »Inquire for me tomorrow« he added »Richard
Shel Sir Richard Shelton« he corrected »and I will see you handsomely
rewarded«
And then an idea struck Dick He hastily descended to the courtyard ran
with all his might across the garden and came to the great door of the church
It stood wide open within every corner of the pavement was crowded with
fugitive burghers surrounded by their families and laden with the most
precious of their possessions while at the high altar priests in full
canonicals were imploring the mercy of God Even as Dick entered the loud
chorus began to thunder in the vaulted roofs
He hurried through the groups of refugees and came to the door of the stair
that led into the steeple And here a tall churchman stepped before him and
arrested his advance
»Whither my son« he asked severely
»My father« answered Dick »I am here upon an errand of expedition Stay me
not I command here for my Lord of Gloucester«
»For my Lord of Gloucester« repeated the priest »Hath then the battle
gone so sore«
»The battle father is at an end Lancaster clean sped my Lord of
Risingham Heaven rest him left upon the field And now with your good
leave I follow mine affairs« And thrusting on one side the priest who seemed
stupefied at the news Dick pushed open the door and rattled up the stairs four
at a bound and without pause or stumble till he stepped upon the open platform
at the top
Shoreby Church tower not only commanded the town as in a map but looked
far on both sides over sea and land It was now near upon noon the day
exceeding bright the snow dazzling And as Dick looked around him he could
measure the consequences of the battle
A confused growling uproar reached him from the streets and now and then
but very rarely the clash of steel Not a ship not so much as a skiff
remained in harbour but the sea was dotted with sails and rowboats laden with
fugitives On shore too the surface of the snowy meadows was broken up with
bands of horsemen some cutting their way towards the borders of the forest
others who were doubtless of the Yorkist side stoutly interposing and beating
them back upon the town Over all the open ground there lay a prodigious
quantity of fallen men and horses clearly defined upon the snow
To complete the picture those of the footsoldiers as had not found place
upon a ship still kept up an archery combat on the borders of the port and from
the cover of the shoreside taverns In that quarter also one or two houses had
been fired and the smoke towered high in the frosty sunlight and blew off to
sea in voluminous folds
Already close upon the margin of the woods and somewhat in the line of
Holywood one particular clump of fleeing horsemen riveted the attention of the
young watcher on the tower It was fairly numerous in no other quarter of the
field did so many Lancastrians still hold together thus they had left a wide
discoloured wake upon the snow and Dick was able to trace them step by step
from where they had left the town
While Dick stood watching them they had gained unopposed the first fringe
of the leafless forest and turning a little from their direction the sun fell
for a moment full on their array as it was relieved against the dusky wood
»Murrey and blue« cried Dick »I swear it murrey and blue«
The next moment he was descending the stairway
It was now his business to seek out the Duke of Gloucester who alone in
the disorder of the forces might be able to supply him with a sufficiency of
men The fighting in the main town was now practically at an end and as Dick
ran hither and thither seeking the commander the streets were thick with
wandering soldiers some laden with more booty than they could well stagger
under others shouting drunk None of them when questioned had the least
notion of the dukes whereabouts and at last it was by sheer good fortune
that Dick found him where he sat in the saddle directing operations to
dislodge the archers from the harbour side
»Sir Richard Shelton ye are well found« he said »I owe you one thing that
I value little my life and one that I can never pay you for this victory
Catesby if I had ten such captains as Sir Richard I would march forthright on
London But now sir claim your reward«
»Freely my lord« said Dick »freely and loudly One hath escaped to whom I
owe some grudges and taken with him one whom I owe love and service Give me
then fifty lances that I may pursue and for any obligation that your
graciousness is pleased to allow it shall be clean discharged«
»How call ye him« inquired the duke
»Sir Daniel Brackley« answered Richard
»Out upon him doubleface« cried Gloucester »Here is no reward Sir
Richard here is fresh service offered and if that ye bring his head to me a
fresh debt upon my conscience Catesby get him these lances and you sir
bethink ye in the meanwhile what pleasure honour or profit it shall be mine
to give you«
Just then the Yorkist skirmishers carried one of the shoreside taverns
swarming in upon it on three sides and driving out or taking its defenders
Crookback Dick was pleased to cheer the exploit and pushing his horse a little
nearer called to see the prisoners
There were four or five of them two men of my Lord Shorebys and one of
Lord Risinghams among the number and last but in Dicks eyes not least a
tall shambling grizzled old shipman between drunk and sober and with a dog
whimpering and jumping at his heels
The young duke passed them for a moment under a severe review
»Good« he said »Hang them«
And he turned the other way to watch the progress of the fight
»My lord« said Dick »so please you I have found my reward Grant me the
life and liberty of yon old shipman«
Gloucester turned and looked the speaker in the face
»Sir Richard« he said »I make not war with peacocks feathers but steel
shafts Those that are mine enemies I slay and that without excuse or favour
For bethink ye in this realm of England that is so torn in pieces there is
not a man of mine but hath a brother or a friend upon the other party If then
I did begin to grant these pardons I might sheathe my sword«
»It may be so my lord and yet I will be overbold and at the risk of your
disfavour recall your lordships promise« replied Dick
Richard of Gloucester flushed
»Mark it right well« he said harshly »I love not mercy nor yet
mercymongers Ye have this day laid the foundations of high fortune If ye
oppose to me my word which I have plighted I will yield But by the glory of
heaven there your favour dies«
»Mine is the loss« said Dick
»Give him his sailor« said the duke and wheeling his horse he turned his
back upon young Shelton
Dick was nor glad nor sorry He had seen too much of the young duke to set
great store on his affection and the origin and growth of his own favour had
been too flimsy and too rapid to inspire much confidence One thing alone he
feared that the vindictive leader might revoke the offer of the lances But
here he did justice neither to Gloucesters honour such as it was nor above
all to his decision If he had once judged Dick to be the right man to pursue
Sir Daniel he was not one to change and he soon proved it by shouting after
Catesby to be speedy for the paladin was waiting
In the meanwhile Dick turned to the old shipman who had seemed equally
indifferent to his condemnation and to his subsequent release
»Arblaster« said Dick »I have done you ill but now by the rood I think
I have cleared the score«
But the old skipper only looked upon him dully and held his peace
»Come« continued Dick »a life is a life old shrew and it is more than
ships or liquor Say ye forgive me for if your life is worth nothing to you it
hath cost me the beginnings of my fortune Come I have paid for it dearly be
not so churlish«
»An I had had my ship« said Arblaster »I would a been forth and safe on
the high seas I and my man Tom But ye took my ship gossip and Im a beggar
and for my man Tom a knave fellow in russet shot him down Murrain quoth he
and spake never again Murrain was the last of his words and the poor spirit of
him passed A will never sail no more will my Tom«
Dick was seized with unavailing penitence and pity he sought to take the
skippers hand but Arblaster avoided his touch
»Nay« said he »let be Y have played the devil with me and let that
content you«
The words died in Richards throat He saw through tears the poor old man
bemused with liquor and sorrow go shambling away with bowed head across the
snow and the unnoticed dog whimpering at his heels and for the first time
began to understand the desperate game that we play in life and how a thing
once done is not to be changed or remedied by any penitence
But there was no time left to him for vain regret Catesby had now collected
the horsemen and riding up to Dick he dismounted and offered him his own
horse
»This morning« he said »I was somewhat jealous of your favour it hath not
been of a long growth and now Sir Richard it is with a very good heart that I
offer you this horse to ride away with«
»Suffer me yet a moment« replied Dick »This favour of mine whereupon was
it founded«
»Upon your name« answered Catesby »It is my lords chief superstition
Were my name Richard I should be an earl tomorrow«
»Well sir I thank you« returned Dick »and since I am little likely to
follow these great fortunes I will even say farewell I will not pretend I was
displeased to think myself upon the road to fortune but I will not pretend
neither that I am oversorry to be done with it Command and riches they are
brave things to be sure but a word in your ear yon duke of yours he is a
fearsome lad«
Catesby laughed
»Nay« said he »of a verity he that rides with Crooked Dick will ride deep
Well God keep us all from evil Speed ye well«
Thereupon Dick put himself at the head of his men and giving the word of
command rode off
He made straight across the town following what he supposed to be the route
of Sir Daniel and spying around for any signs that might decide if he were
right
The streets were strewn with the dead and the wounded whose fate in the
bitter frost was far the more pitiable Gangs of the victors went from house to
house pillaging and stabbing and sometimes singing together as they went
From different quarters as he rode on the sounds of violence and outrage
came to young Sheltons ears now the blows of the sledgehammer on some
barricaded door and now the miserable shrieks of women
Dicks heart had just been awakened He had just seen the cruel consequences
of his own behaviour and the thought of the sum of misery that was now acting
in the whole of Shoreby filled him with despair
At length he reached the outskirts and there sure enough he saw straight
before him the same broad beaten track across the snow that he had marked from
the summit of the church Here then he went the faster on but still as he
rode he kept a bright eye upon the fallen men and horses that lay beside the
track Many of these he was relieved to see wore Sir Daniels colours and the
faces of some who lay upon their back he even recognised
About halfway between the town and the forest those whom he was following
had plainly been assailed by archers for the corpses lay pretty closely
scattered each pierced by an arrow And here Dick spied among the rest the body
of a very young lad whose face was somehow hauntingly familiar to him
He halted his troop dismounted and raised the lads head As he did so
the hood fell back and a profusion of long brown hair unrolled itself At the
same time the eyes opened
»Ah liondriver« said a feeble voice »She is farther on Ride ride
fast«
And then the poor young lady fainted once again
One of Dicks men carried a flask of some strong cordial and with this Dick
succeeded in reviving consciousness Then he took Joannas friend upon his
saddlebow and once more pushed toward the forest
»Why do ye take me« said the girl »Ye but delay your speed«
»Nay Mistress Risingham« replied Dick »Shoreby is full of blood and
drunkenness and riot Here ye are safe content ye«
»I will not be beholden to any of your faction« she cried »set me down«
»Madam ye know not what ye say« returned Dick »Y are hurt «
»I am not« she said »It was my horse was slain«
»It matters not one jot« replied Richard »Ye are here in the midst of open
snow and compassed about with enemies Whether ye will or not I carry you with
me Glad am I to have the occasion for thus shall I repay some portion of our
debt«
For a little while she was silent Then very suddenly she asked
»My uncle«
»My Lord Risingham« returned Dick »I would I had good news to give you
madam but I have none I saw him once in the battle and once only Let us hope
the best«
Chapter V
Night in the Woods Alicia Risingham
It was almost certain that Sir Daniel had made for the Moat House but
considering the heavy snow the lateness of the hour and the necessity under
which he would lie of avoiding the few roads and striking across the wood it
was equally certain that he could not hope to reach it ere the morrow
There were two courses open to Dick either to continue to follow in the
knights trail and if he were able to fall upon him that very night in camp
or to strike out a path of his own and seek to place himself between Sir Daniel
and his destination
Either scheme was open to serious objection and Dick who feared to expose
Joanna to the hazards of a fight had not yet decided between them when he
reached the borders of the wood
At this point Sir Daniel had turned a little to his left and then plunged
straight under a grove of very lofty timber His party had then formed to a
narrower front in order to pass between the trees and the track was trod
proportionately deeper in the snow The eye followed it under the leafless
tracery of the oaks running direct and narrow the trees stood over it with
knotty joints and the great uplifted forest of their boughs there was no
sound whether of man or beast not so much as the stirring of a robin and
over the field of snow the winter sun lay golden among netted shadows
»How say ye« asked Dick of one of the men »to follow straight on or
strike across for Tunstall«
»Sir Richard« replied the manatarms »I would follow the line until they
scatter«
»Ye are doubtless right« returned Dick »but we came right hastily upon the
errand even as the time commanded Here are no houses neither for food nor
shelter and by the morrows dawn we shall know both cold fingers and an empty
belly How say ye lads Will ye stand a pinch for expeditions sake or shall
we turn by Holywood and sup with Mother Church The case being somewhat
doubtful I will drive no man yet if ye would suffer me to lead you ye would
choose the first«
The men answered almost with one voice that they would follow Sir Richard
where he would
And Dick setting spur to his horse began once more to go forward
The snow in the trail had been trodden very hard and the pursuers had thus
a great advantage over the pursued They pushed on indeed at a round trot two
hundred hoofs beating alternately on the dull pavement of the snow and the
jingle of weapons and the snorting of horses raising a warlike noise along the
arches of the silent wood
Presently the wide slot of the pursued came out upon the highroad from
Holywood it was there for a moment indistinguishable and where it once more
plunged into the unbeaten snow upon the farther side Dick was surprised to see
it narrower and lighter trod Plainly profiting by the road Sir Daniel had
begun already to scatter his command
At all hazards one chance being equal to another Dick continued to pursue
the straight trail and that after an hours riding in which it led into the
very depth of the forest suddenly split like a bursting shell into two dozen
others leading to every point of the compass
Dick drew bridle in despair The short winters day was near an end the
sun dull red orange shorn of rays swam low among the leafless thickets the
shadows were a mile long upon the snow the frost bit cruelly at the
fingernails and the breath and steam of the horses mounted in a cloud
»Well we are outwitted« Dick confessed »Strike we for Holywood after
all It is still nearer us than Tunstall or should be by the station of the
sun«
So they wheeled to their left turning their backs on the red shield of sun
and made across country for the abbey But now times were changed with them
they could no longer spank forth briskly on a path beaten firm by the passage of
their foes and for a goal to which that path itself conducted them Now they
must plough at a dull pace through the encumbering snow continually pausing to
decide their course continually floundering in drifts The sun soon left them
the glow of the west decayed and presently they were wandering in a shadow of
blackness under frosty stars
Presently indeed the moon would clear the hilltops and they might resume
their march But till then every random step might carry them wider of their
march There was nothing for it but to camp and wait
Sentries were posted a spot of ground was cleared of snow and after some
failures a good fire blazed in the midst The menatarms sat close about this
forest hearth sharing such provisions as they had and passing about the flask
and Dick having collected the most delicate of the rough and scanty fare
brought it to Lord Risinghams niece where she sat apart from the soldiery
against a tree
She sat upon one horsecloth wrapped in another and stared straight before
her at the firelit scene At the offer of food she started like one awakened
from a dream and then silently refused
»Madam« said Dick »let me beseech you punish me not so cruelly Wherein I
have offended you I know not I have indeed carried you away but with a
friendly violence I have indeed exposed you to the inclemency of night but
the hurry that lies upon me hath for its end the preservation of another who is
no less frail and no less unfriended than yourself At least madam punish not
yourself and eat if not for hunger then for strength«
»I will eat nothing at the hands that slew my kinsman« she replied
»Dear madam« Dick cried »I swear to you upon the rood I touched him
not«
»Swear to me that he still lives« she returned
»I will not palter with you« answered Dick »Pity bids me to wound you In
my heart I do believe him dead«
»And ye ask me to eat« she cried »Ay and they call you sir Y have won
your spurs by my good kinsmans murder And had I not been fool and traitor
both and saved you in your enemys house ye should have died the death and he
he that was worth twelve of you were living«
»I did but my mans best even as your kinsman did upon the other party«
answered Dick »Were he still living as I vow to Heaven I wish it he would
praise not blame me«
»Sir Daniel hath told me« she replied »He marked you at the barricade
Upon you he saith their party foundered it was you that won the battle Well
then it was you that killed my good Lord Risingham as sure as though ye had
strangled him And ye would have me eat with you and your hands not washed
from killing But Sir Daniel hath sworn your downfall He tis that will avenge
me«
The unfortunate Dick was plunged in gloom Old Arblaster returned upon his
mind and he groaned aloud
»Do ye hold me so guilty« he said »you that defended me you that are
Joannas friend«
»What made ye in the battle« she retorted »Y are of no party y are but
a lad but legs and body without government of wit or counsel Wherefore did
ye fight For the love of hurt pardy«
»Nay« cried Dick »I know not But as the realm of England goes if that a
poor gentleman fight not upon the one side perforce he must fight upon the
other He may not stand alone tis not in nature.«
»They that have no judgment should not draw the sword« replied the young
lady »Ye that fight but for a hazard what are ye but a butcher War is but
noble by the cause and y have disgraced it«
»Madam« said the miserable Dick »I do partly see mine error I have made
too much haste I have been busy before my time Already I stole a ship
thinking I do swear it to do well and thereby brought about the death of
many innocent and the grief and ruin of a poor old man whose face this very day
hath stabbed me like a dagger And for this morning I did but design to do
myself credit and get fame to marry with and behold I have brought about the
death of your dear kinsman that was good to me And what besides I know not
For alas I may have set York upon the throne and that may be the worser
cause and may do hurt to England O madam I do see my sin I am unfit for
life I will for penance sake and to avoid worse evil once I have finished
this adventure get me to a cloister I will forswear Joanna and the trade of
arms I will be a friar and pray for your good kinsmans spirit all my days«
It appeared to Dick in this extremity of his humiliation and repentance
that the young lady had laughed
Raising his countenance he found her looking down upon him in the
firelight with a somewhat peculiar but not unkind expression
»Madam« he cried thinking the laughter to have been an illusion of his
hearing but still from her changed looks hoping to have touched her heart
»madam will not this content you I give up all to undo what I have done amiss
I make heaven certain for Lord Risingham And all this upon the very day that I
have won my spurs and thought myself the happiest young gentleman on ground«
»O boy« she said »good boy«
And then to the extreme surprise of Dick she first very tenderly wiped the
tears away from his cheeks and then as if yielding to a sudden impulse threw
both her arms about his neck drew up his face and kissed him A pitiful
bewilderment came over simpleminded Dick
»But come« she said with great cheerfulness »you that are a captain ye
must eat Why sup ye not«
»Dear Mistress Risingham« replied Dick »I did but wait first upon my
prisoner but to say truth penitence will no longer suffer me to endure the
sight of food I were better to fast dear lady and to pray«
»Call me Alicia« she said »are we not old friends And now come I will
eat with you bit for bit and sup for sup so if ye eat not neither will I but
if ye eat hearty I will dine like a ploughman«
So there and then she fell to and Dick who had an excellent stomach
proceeded to bear her company at first with great reluctance but gradually as
he entered into the spirit with more and more vigour and devotion until at
last he forgot even to watch his model and most heartily repaired the expenses
of his day of labour and excitement
»Liondriver« she said at length »ye do not admire a maid in a mans
jerkin«
The moon was now up and they were only waiting to repose the wearied
horses By the moons light the still penitent but now wellfed Richard beheld
her looking somewhat coquettishly down upon him
»Madam « he stammered surprised at this new turn in her manners
»Nay« she interrupted »it skills not to deny Joanna hath told me but
come Sir Liondriver look at me am I so homely come«
And she made bright eyes at him
»Ye are something smallish indeed « began Dick
And here again she interrupted him this time with a ringing peal of
laughter that completed his confusion and surprise
»Smallish« she cried »Nay now be honest as ye are bold I am a dwarf or
little better but for all that come tell me for all that passably fair
to look upon ist not so«
»Nay madam exceedingly fair« said the distressed knight pitifully trying
to seem easy
»And a man would be right glad to wed me« she pursued
»O madam right glad« agreed Dick
»Call me Alicia« said she
»Alicia« quoth Sir Richard
»Well then liondriver« she continued »sith that ye slew my kinsman and
left me without stay ye owe me in honour every reparation do ye not«
»I do madam« said Dick »Although upon my heart I do hold me but
partially guilty of that brave knights blood«
»Would ye evade me« she cried
»Madam not so I have told you at your bidding I will even turn me a
monk« said Richard
»Then in honour ye belong to me« she concluded
»In honour madam I suppose « began the young man
»Go to« she interrupted »ye are too full of catches In honour do ye
belong to me till ye have paid the evil«
»In honour I do« said Dick
»Hear then« she continued »Ye would make but a sad friar methinks and
since I am to dispose of you at pleasure I will even take you for my husband
Nay now no words« cried she »They will avail you nothing For see how just
it is that you who deprived me of one home should supply me with another And
as for Joanna she will be the first believe me to commend the change for
after all as we be dear friends what matters it with which of us ye wed Not
one whit«
»Madam« said Dick »I will go into a cloister an ye please to bid me but
to wed with any one in this big world besides Joanna Sedley is what I will
consent to neither for mans force nor yet for ladys pleasure Pardon me if I
speak my plain thoughts plainly but where a maid is very bold a poor man must
even be the bolder«
»Dick« she said »ye sweet boy ye must come and kiss me for that word
Nay fear not ye shall kiss me for Joanna and when we meet I shall give it
back to her and say I stole it And as for what ye owe me why dear simpleton
methinks ye were not alone in that great battle and even if York be on the
throne it was not you that set him there But for a good sweet honest heart
Dick y are all that and if I could find it in my soul to envy your Joanna
anything I would even envy her your love«
Chapter VI
Night in the Woods concluded
Dick and Joan
The horses had by this time finished the small store of provender and fully
breathed from their fatigues At Dicks command the fire was smothered in snow
and while his men got once more wearily to saddle he himself remembering
somewhat late true woodland caution chose a tall oak and nimbly clambered to
the topmost fork Hence he could look far abroad on the moonlit and snowpaven
forest On the southwest dark against the horizon stood those upland heathy
quarters where he and Joanna had met with the terrifying misadventure of the
leper And there his eye was caught by a spot of ruddy brightness no bigger than
a needles eye
He blamed himself sharply for his previous neglect Were that as it
appeared to be the shining of Sir Daniels campfire he should long ago have
seen and marched for it above all he should for no consideration have
announced his neighbourhood by lighting a fire of his own But now he must no
longer squander valuable hours The direct way to the uplands was about two
miles in length but it was crossed by a very deep precipitous dingle
impassable to mounted men and for the sake of speed it seemed to Dick
advisable to desert the horses and attempt the adventure on foot
Ten men were left to guard the horses signals were agreed upon by which
they could communicate in case of need and Dick set forth at the head of the
remainder Alicia Risingham walking stoutly by his side
The men had freed themselves of heavy armour and left behind their lances
and they now marched with a very good spirit in the frozen snow and under the
exhilarating lustre of the moon The descent into the dingle where a stream
strained sobbing through the snow and ice was effected with silence and order
and on the farther side being then within a short halfmile of where Dick had
seen the glimmer of the fire the party halted to breathe before the attack
In the vast silence of the wood the lightest sounds were audible from far
and Alicia who was keen of hearing held up her finger warningly and stooped
to listen All followed her example but besides the groans of the choked brook
in the dingle close behind and the barking of a fox at a distance of many miles
among the forest to Dicks acutest hearkening not a breath was audible
»But yet for sure I heard the clash of harness« whispered Alicia
»Madam« returned Dick who was more afraid of that young lady than of ten
stout warriors »I would not hint ye were mistaken but it might well have come
from either of the camps«
»It came not thence It came from westward« she declared
»It may be what it will« returned Dick »and it must be as Heaven please
Reck we not a jot but push on the livelier and put it to the touch Up
friends enough breathed«
As they advanced the snow became more and more trampled with hoofmarks
and it was plain that they were drawing near to the encampment of a considerable
force of mounted men Presently they could see the smoke pouring from among the
trees ruddily coloured on its lower edge and scattering bright sparks
And here pursuant to Dicks orders his men began to open out creeping
stealthily in the covert to surround on every side the camp of their opponents
He himself placing Alicia in the shelter of a bulky oak stole straight forth
in the direction of the fire
At last through an opening of the wood his eye embraced the scene of the
encampment The fire had been built upon a heathy hummock of the ground
surrounded on three sides by thicket and it now burned very strong roaring
aloud and brandishing flames Around it there sat not quite a dozen people
warmly cloaked but though the neighbouring snow was trampled down as by a
regiment Dick looked in vain for any horse He began to have a terrible
misgiving that he was outmanoeuvred At the same time in a tall man with a
steel salet who was spreading his hands before the blaze he recognised his old
friend and still kindly enemy Bennet Hatch and in two others sitting a little
back he made out even in their male disguise Joanna Sedley and Sir Daniels
wife
»Well« thought he to himself »even if I lose my horses let me get my
Joanna and why should I complain«
And then from the farther side of the encampment there came a little
whistle announcing that his men had joined and the investment was complete
Bennet at the sound started to his feet but ere he had time to spring
upon his arms Dick hailed him
»Bennet« he said »Bennet old friend yield ye Ye will but spill mens
lives in vain if ye resist«
»Tis Master Shelton by St Barbary« cried Hatch »Yield me Ye ask much
What force have ye«
»I tell you Bennet ye are both outnumbered and begirt« said Dick »Cæsar
and Charlemagne would cry for quarter I have two score men at my whistle and
with one shoot of arrows I could answer for you all«
»Master Dick« said Bennet »it goes against my heart but I must do my
duty The saints help you« And therewith he raised a little tucket to his mouth
and wound a rousing call
Then followed a moment of confusion for while Dick fearing for the ladies
still hesitated to give the word to shoot Hatchs little band sprang to their
weapons and formed back to back as for a fierce resistance In the hurry of
their change of place Joanna sprang from her seat and ran like an arrow to her
lovers side
»Here Dick« she cried as she clasped his hand in hers
But Dick still stood irresolute he was yet young to the more deplorable
necessities of war and the thought of old Lady Brackley checked the command
upon his tongue His own men became restive Some of them cried on him by name
others of their own accord began to shoot and at the first discharge poor
Bennet bit the dust Then Dick awoke
»On« he cried »Shoot boys and keep to cover England and York«
But just then the dull beat of many horses on the snow suddenly arose in the
hollow ear of the night and with incredible swiftness drew nearer and swelled
louder At the same time answering tuckets repeated and repeated Hatchs call
»Rally rally« cried Dick »Rally upon me Rally for your lives«
But his men afoot scattered taken in the hour when they had counted on
an easy triumph began instead to give ground severally and either stood
wavering or dispersed into the thickets And when the first of the horsemen came
charging through the open avenues and fiercely riding their steeds into the
underwood a few stragglers were overthrown or speared among the brush but the
bulk of Dicks command had simply melted at the rumour of their coming
Dick stood for a moment bitterly recognising the fruits of his precipitate
and unwise valour Sir Daniel had seen the fire he had moved out with his main
force whether to attack his pursuers or to take them in the rear if they should
venture the assault His had been throughout the part of a sagacious captain
Dicks the conduct of an eager boy And here was the young knight his
sweetheart indeed holding him tightly by the hand but otherwise alone his
whole command of men and horses dispersed in the night and the wide forest like
a paper of pins in a hay barn
»The saints enlighten me« he thought »It is well I was knighted for this
mornings matter this doth me little honour«
And thereupon still holding Joanna he began to run
The silence of the night was now shattered by the shouts of the men of
Tunstall as they galloped hither and thither hunting fugitives and Dick broke
boldly through the underwood and ran straight before him like a deer The silver
clearness of the moon upon the open snow increased by contrast the obscurity
of the thickets and the extreme dispersion of the vanquished led the pursuers
into widely divergent paths Hence in but a little while Dick and Joanna
paused in a close covert and heard the sounds of the pursuit scattering
abroad indeed in all directions but yet fainting already in the distance
»An I had but kept a reserve of them together« Dick cried bitterly »I
could have turned the tables yet Well we live and learn next time it shall go
better by the rood«
»Nay Dick« said Joanna »what matters it Here we are together once
again«
He looked at her and there she was John Matcham as of yore in hose and
doublet But now he knew her now even in that ungainly dress she smiled upon
him bright with love and his heart was transported with joy
»Sweetheart« he said »if ye forgive this blunderer what care I Make we
direct for Holywood there lieth your good guardian and my better friend Lord
Foxham There shall we be wed and whether poor or wealthy famous or unknown
what matters it This day dear love I won my spurs I was commended by great
men for my valour I thought myself the goodliest man of war in all broad
England Then first I fell out of my favour with the great and now have I
been well thrashed and clean lost my soldiers There was a downfall for
conceit But dear I care not dear if ye still love me and will wed I would
have my knighthood done away and mind it not a jot«
»My Dick« she cried »And did they knight you«
»Ay dear ye are my lady now« he answered fondly »or ye shall ere noon
tomorrow will ye not«
»That will I Dick with a glad heart« she answered
»Ay sir Methought ye were to be a monk« said a voice in their ears
»Alicia« cried Joanna
»Even so« replied the young lady coming forward »Alicia whom ye left for
dead and whom your liondriver found and brought to life again and by my
sooth made love to if ye want to know«
»Ill not believe it« cried Joanna »Dick«
»Dick« mimicked Alicia »Dick indeed Ay fair sir and ye desert poor
damsels in distress« she continued turning to the young knight »Ye leave them
planted behind oaks But they say true the age of chivalry is dead«
»Madam« cried Dick in despair »upon my soul I had forgotten you outright
Madam ye must try to pardon me Ye see I had new found Joanna«
»I did not suppose that ye had done it o purpose« she retorted »But I
will be cruelly avenged I will tell a secret to my Lady Shelton she that is
to be« she added curtseying »Joanna« she continued »I believe upon my
soul your sweetheart is a bold fellow in a fight but he is let me tell you
plainly the softesthearted simpleton in England Go to ye may do your
pleasure with him And now fool children first kiss me either one of you for
luck and kindness and then kiss each other just one minute by the glass and
not one second longer and then let us all three set forth for Holywood as fast
as we can stir for these woods methinks are full of peril and exceeding
cold«
»But did my Dick make love to you« asked Joanna clinging to her
sweethearts side
»Nay fool girl« returned Alicia »it was I made love to him I offered to
marry him indeed but he bade me go marry with my likes These were his words
Nay that I will say he is more plain than pleasant But now children for the
sake of sense, set forward Shall we go once more over the dingle or push
straight for Holywood«
»Why« said Dick »I would like dearly to get upon a horse for I have been
sore mauled and beaten one way and another these last days and my poor body
is one bruise But how thing ye If the men upon the alarm of the fighting had
fled away we should have gone about for nothing Tis but some three short
miles to Holywood direct the bell hath not beat nine the snow is pretty firm
to walk upon the moon clear how if we went even as we are«
»Agreed« cried Alicia but Joanna only pressed upon Dicks arm
Forth then they went through open leafless groves and down snowclad
alleys under the white face of the winter moon Dick and Joanna walking hand in
hand and in a heaven of pleasure and their lightminded companion her own
bereavements heartily forgotten followed a pace or two behind now rallying
them upon their silence and now drawing happy pictures of their future and
united lives
Still indeed in the distance of the wood the riders of Tunstall might be
heard urging their pursuit and from time to time cries or the clash of steel
announced the shock of enemies But in these young folk bred among the alarms
of war and fresh from such a multiplicity of dangers neither fear nor pity
could be lightly wakened Content to find the sounds still drawing farther and
farther away they gave up their hearts to the enjoyment of the hour walking
already as Alicia put it in a wedding procession and neither the rude
solitude of the forest nor the cold of the freezing night had any force to
shadow or distract their happiness
At length from a rising hill they looked below them on the dell of
Holywood The great windows of the forest abbey shone with torch and candle its
high pinnacles and spires arose very clear and silent and the gold rood upon
the topmost summit glittered brightly in the moon All about it in the open
glade campfires were burning and the ground was thick with huts and across
the midst of the picture the frozen river curved
»By the mass« said Richard »there are Lord Foxhams fellows still
encamped The messenger hath certainly miscarried Well then so better We
have power at hand to face Sir Daniel«
But if Lord Foxhams men still lay encamped in the long holm at Holywood it
was from a different reason from the one supposed by Dick They had marched
indeed for Shoreby but ere they were halfway thither a second messenger met
them and bade them return to their mornings camp to bar the road against
Lancastrian fugitives and to be so much nearer to the main army of York For
Richard of Gloucester having finished the battle and stamped out his foes in
that district was already on the march to rejoin his brother and not long
after the return of my Lord Foxhams retainers Crookback himself drew rein
before the abbey door It was in honour of this august visitor that the windows
shone with lights and at the hour of Dicks arrival with his sweetheart and her
friend the whole ducal party was being entertained in the refectory with the
splendour of that powerful and luxurious monastery
Dick not quite with his good will was brought before them Gloucester
sick with fatigue sat leaning upon one hand his white and terrifying
countenance Lord Foxham half recovered from his wound was in a place of
honour on his left
»How sir« asked Richard »Have ye brought me Sir Daniels head«
»My lord duke« replied Dick stoutly enough but with a qualm at heart »I
have not even the good fortune to return with my command I have been so please
your grace well beaten«
Gloucester looked upon him with a formidable frown
»I gave you fifty lances3 sir« he said
»My lord duke I had but fifty menatarms« replied the young knight
»How is this« said Gloucester »He did ask me fifty lances«
»May it please your grace« replied Catesby smoothly »for a pursuit we gave
him but the horsemen«
»It is well« replied Richard adding »Shelton ye may go«
»Stay« said Lord Foxham »This young man likewise had a charge from me It
may be he hath better sped Say Master Shelton have ye found the maid«
»I praise the saints my lord« said Dick »she is in this house«
»Is it even so Well then my lord the duke« resumed Lord Foxham »with
your good will tomorrow before the army march I do propose a marriage This
young squire «
»Young knight« interrupted Catesby
»Say ye so Sir William« cried Lord Foxham
»I did myself and for good service dub him knight« said Gloucester »He
hath twice manfully served me It is not valour of hands it is a mans mind of
iron that he lacks He will not rise Lord Foxham Tis a fellow that will
fight indeed bravely in a mellay but hath a capons heart Howbeit if he is to
marry marry him in the name of Mary and be done«
»Nay he is a brave lad I know it« said Lord Foxham »Content ye then
Sir Richard I have compounded this affair with Master Hamley and tomorrow ye
shall wed«
Whereupon Dick judged it prudent to withdraw but he was not yet clear of
the refectory when a man but newly alighted at the gate came running four
stairs at a bound and brushing through the abbey servants threw himself on one
knee before the duke
»Victory my lord« he cried
And before Dick had got to the chamber set apart for him as Lord Foxhams
guest the troops in the holm were cheering around their fires for upon that
same day not twenty miles away a second crushing blow had been dealt to the
power of Lancaster
Chapter VII
Dicks Revenge
The next morning Dick was afoot before the sun and having dressed himself to
the best advantage with the aid of the Lord Foxhams baggage and got good
reports of Joan he set forth on foot to walk away his impatience
For some while he made rounds among the soldiery who were getting to arms
in the wintry twilight of the dawn and by the red glow of torches but gradually
he strolled farther afield and at length passed clean beyond the outpost and
walked alone in the frozen forest waiting for the sun
His thoughts were both quiet and happy His brief favour with the duke he
could not find it in his heart to mourn with Joan to wife and my Lord Foxham
for a faithful patron he looked most happily upon the future and in the past
he found but little to regret
As he thus strolled and pondered the solemn light of the morning grew more
clear the east was already coloured by the sun and a little scathing wind blew
up the frozen snow He turned to go home but even as he turned his eye lit
upon a figure behind a tree
»Stand« he cried »Who goes«
The figure stepped forth and waved its hand like a dumb person It was
arrayed like a pilgrim the hood lowered over the face but Dick in an instant
recognised Sir Daniel
He strode up to him drawing his sword and the knight putting his hand in
his bosom as if to seize a hidden weapon steadfastly awaited his approach
»Well Dickon« said Sir Daniel »how is it to be Do ye make war upon the
fallen«
»I made no war upon your life« replied the lad »I was your true friend
until ye sought for mine but ye have sought for it greedily«
»Nay selfdefence« replied the knight »And now boy the news of this
battle and the presence of yon crooked devil here in mine own wood have broken
me beyond all help I go to Holywood for sanctuary thence overseas with what
I can carry and to begin life again in Burgundy or France«
»Ye may not go to Holywood« said Dick
»How May not« asked the knight
»Look ye Sir Daniel this is my marriage morn« said Dick »and yon sun
that is to rise will make the brightest day that ever shone for me Your life is
forfeit doubly forfeit for my fathers death and your own practices to
meward But I myself have done amiss I have brought about mens deaths and
upon this glad day I will be neither judge nor hangman An ye were the devil I
would not lay a hand on you An ye were the devil ye might go where ye will for
me Seek Gods forgiveness mine ye have freely But to go on to Holywood is
different I carry arms for York and I will suffer no spy within their lines
Hold it then for certain if ye set one foot before another I will uplift my
voice and call the nearest post to seize you«
»Ye mock me« said Sir Daniel »I have no safety out of Holywood«
»I care no more« returned Richard »I let you go east west or south
north I will not Holywood is shut against you Go and seek not to return For
once ye are gone I will warn every post about this army and there will be so
shrewd a watch upon all pilgrims that once again were ye the very devil ye
would find it ruin to make the essay«
»Ye doom me« said Sir Daniel gloomily
»I doom you not« returned Richard »If it so please you to set your valour
against mine come on and though I fear it be disloyal to my party I will take
the challenge openly and fully fight you with mine own single strength and
call for none to help me So shall I avenge my father with a perfect
conscience«
»Ay« said Sir Daniel »y have a long sword against my dagger«
»I rely upon Heaven only« answered Dick casting his sword some way behind
him on the snow »Now if your illfate bids you come and under the pleasure
of the Almighty I make myself bold to feed your bones to foxes«
»I did but try you Dickon« returned the knight with an uneasy semblance
of a laugh »I would not spill your blood«
»Go then ere it be too late« replied Shelton »In five minutes I will
call the post I do perceive that I am too longsuffering Had but our places
been reversed I should have been bound hand and foot some minutes past«
»Well Dickon I will go« replied Sir Daniel »When we next meet it shall
repent you that ye were so harsh«
And with these words the knight turned and began to move off under the
trees Dick watched him with strangely mingled feelings as he went swiftly and
warily and ever and again turning a wicked eye upon the lad who had spared him
and whom he still suspected
There was upon one side of where he went a thicket strongly matted with
green ivy and even in its winter state impervious to the eye Herein all of
a sudden a bow sounded like a note of music An arrow flew and with a great
choked cry of agony and anger the Knight of Tunstall threw up his hands and
fell forward in the snow
Dick bounded to his side and raised him His face desperately worked his
whole body was shaken by contorting spasms
»Is the arrow black« he gasped
»It is black« replied Dick gravely
And then before he could add one word a desperate seizure of pain shook
the wounded man from head to foot so that his body leaped in Dicks supporting
arms and with the extremity of that pang his spirit fled in silence
The young man laid him back gently on the snow and prayed for that
unprepared and guilty spirit and as he prayed the sun came up at a bound and
the robins began chirping in the ivy
When he rose to his feet he found another man upon his knees but a few
steps behind him and still with uncovered head he waited until that prayer
also should be over It took long the man with his head bowed and his face
covered with his hands prayed like one in a great disorder or distress of mind
and by the bow that lay beside him Dick judged that he was no other than the
archer who had laid Sir Daniel low
At length he also rose and showed the countenance of Ellis Duckworth
»Richard« he said very gravely »I heard you Ye took the better part and
pardoned I took the worse and there lies the clay of mine enemy Pray for me«
And he wrung him by the hand
»Sir« said Richard »I will pray for you indeed though how I may prevail
I wot not But if ye have so long pursued revenge and find it now of such a
sorry flavour bethink ye were it not well to pardon others Hatch he is
dead poor shrew I would have spared a better and for Sir Daniel here lies
his body But for the priest if I might anywise prevail I would have you let
him go«
A flash came into the eyes of Ellis Duckworth
»Nay« he said »the devil is still strong within me But be at rest the
Black Arrow flieth nevermore the fellowship is broken They that still live
shall come to their quiet and ripe end in Heavens good time for me and for
yourself go where your better fortune calls you and think no more of Ellis«
Chapter VIII
Conclusion
About nine in the morning Lord Foxham was leading his ward once more dressed as
befitted her sex and followed by Alicia Risingham to the church of Holywood
when Richard Crookback his brow already heavy with cares crossed their path
and paused
»Is this the maid« he asked and when Lord Foxham had replied in the
affirmative »Minion« he added »hold up your face until I see its favour«
He looked upon her sourly for a little
»Ye are fair« he said at last »and as they tell me dowered How if I
offered you a brave marriage as became your face and parentage«
»My lord duke« replied Joanna »may it please your grace I had rather wed
with Sir Richard«
»How so« he asked harshly »Marry but the man I name to you and he shall
be my lord and you my lady before night For Sir Richard let me tell you
plainly he will die Sir Richard«
»I ask no more of Heaven my lord than but to die Sir Richards wife«
returned Joanna
»Look ye at that my lord« said Gloucester turning to Lord Foxham »Here
be a pair for you The lad when for good services I gave him his choice of my
favour chose but the grace of an old drunken shipman I did warn him freely
but he was stout in his besottedness Here dieth your favour said I and he my
lord with a most assured impertinence Mine be the loss quoth he It shall be
so by the rood«
»Said he so« cried Alicia »Then well said liondriver«
»Who is this« asked the duke
»A prisoner of Sir Richards« answered Lord Foxham »Mistress Alicia
Risingham«
»See that she be married to a sure man« said the duke
»I had thought of my kinsman Hamley an it like your grace« returned Lord
Foxham »He hath well served the cause«
»It likes me well« said Richard »Let them be wedded speedily Say fair
maid will you wed«
»My lord duke« said Alicia »so as the man is straight « And there in a
perfect consternation the voice died on her tongue
»He is straight my mistress« replied Richard calmly »I am the only
crookback of my party we are else passably well shapen Ladies and you my
lord« he added with a sudden change to grave courtesy »judge me not too
churlish if I leave you A captain in the time of war hath not the ordering of
his hours«
And with a very handsome salutation he passed on followed by his officers
»Alack« cried Alicia »I am shent«
»Ye know him not« replied Lord Foxham »It is but a trifle he hath already
clean forgot your words«
»He is then the very flower of knighthood« said Alicia
»Nay but he mindeth other things« returned Lord Foxham »Tarry we no
more«
In the chancel they found Dick waiting attended by a few young men and
there were he and Joan united When they came forth again happy and yet
serious into the frosty air and sunlight the long files of the army were
already winding forward up the road already the Duke of Gloucesters banner was
unfolded and began to move from before the abbey in a clump of spears and
behind it girt by steelclad knights the bold blackhearted and ambitious
hunchback moved on towards his brief kingdom and his lasting infamy But the
wedding party turned upon the other side and sat down with sober merriment to
breakfast The father cellarer attended on their wants and sat with them at
table Hamley all jealousy forgotten began to ply the nowise loath Alicia with
courtship And there amid the sounding of tuckets and the clash of armoured
soldiery and horses continually moving forth Dick and Joan sat side by side
tenderly held hands and looked with ever growing affection in each others
eyes
Thenceforth the dust and blood of that unruly epoch passed them by They
dwelt apart from alarms in the green forest where their love began
Two old men in the meanwhile enjoyed pensions in great prosperity and peace
and with perhaps a superfluity of ale and wine in Tunstall hamlet One had been
all his life a shipman and continued to the last to lament his man Tom The
other who had been a bit of everything turned in the end towards piety and
made a most religious death under the name of Brother Honestus in the
neighbouring abbey So Lawless had his will and died a friar
Notes
1 At the date of this story Richard Crookback could not have been created Duke
of Gloucester but for clearness with the readers leave he shall so be
called
2 Richard Crookback would have been really far younger at this date
3 Technically the term lance included a not quite certain number of
footsoldiers attached to the manatarms