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diff --git a/19070-h/19070-h.htm b/19070-h/19070-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b96551b --- /dev/null +++ b/19070-h/19070-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15023 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Both Sides the Border, by G. A. Henty</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + body {background:#ffffff; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size:14pt; + margin-top:70px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + caption { font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial"; + text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; } + div { text-align: center} + em {font-weight: bold} + h1 {text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em} + h1.pg {text-align: center; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: 0em} + h2 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3.pg {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0em} + hr {height: 5px} + p {text-indent: 4% } + table {text-align: center} + td { font-family: "Arial"; text-align: left} + td.ltoc { letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; + text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; vertical-align: top } + td.rtoc { font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left} + thead { font-weight: bold;} + div.c1 {text-align: center} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + border: solid black; + height: 5px; } + pre {font-size: small;} +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Both Sides the Border, by G. A. Henty, +Illustrated by Ralph Peacock</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Both Sides the Border</p> +<p> A Tale of Hotspur and Glendower</p> +<p>Author: G. A. Henty</p> +<p>Release Date: August 17, 2006 [eBook #19070]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTH SIDES THE BORDER***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Martin Robb</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1>Both Sides the Border:</h1> + +<h2>A Tale of Hotspur and Glendower<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +By G. A. Henty.</h2> +<p> </p> +<h3>Illustrated by Ralph Peacock</h3> +<p> </p> + +<hr /> +<p> </p> +<center> +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<caption>Contents<br /> </caption> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"></td> +<td class="rtoc"><a href="#Preface">Preface</a>.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch1">Chapter 1</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Border Hold.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch2">Chapter 2</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Across The Border.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch3">Chapter 3</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">At Alnwick.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch4">Chapter 4</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">An Unequal Joust.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch5">Chapter 5</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Mission.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch6">Chapter 6</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">At Dunbar.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch7">Chapter 7</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Back To Hotspur.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch8">Chapter 8</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Ludlow Castle.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch9">Chapter 9</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Welsh Rising.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch10">Chapter 10</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Breach Of Duty.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch11">Chapter 11</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Bad News.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch12">Chapter 12</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Dangerous Mission.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch13">Chapter 13</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Escape.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch14">Chapter 14</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">In Hiding.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch15">Chapter 15</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Another Mission To Ludlow.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch16">Chapter 16</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Letter For The King.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch17">Chapter 17</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Knighted.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch18">Chapter 18</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Glendower.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch19">Chapter 19</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Battle Of Homildon Hill.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch20">Chapter 20</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Percys' Discontent.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch21">Chapter 21</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Shrewsbury.</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<br /> +<p> </p> +<table summary="Illustrations"> +<caption>Illustrations<br /> </caption> + +<tr><td><a href="#PicA"> +"This is the nephew of Alwyn Forster" +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicB"> +It was with the greatest difficulty that he guarded his head +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicC"> +They journeyed pleasantly along +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicD"> +"Who is going to teach me?" +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicE"> +Oswald threw his arms round two of them +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicF"> +To Oswald's astonishment, two young women stood before him +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicG"> +Armstrong took his place by his son's pallet +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicH"> +"Let the rope pass gradually through your hands" +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicI"> +"I am well pleased with you, Oswald" +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicJ"> +"Now, I think we shall do, Roger" +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicK"> +"How glad I am to have an opportunity of thanking you" +</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PicL"> +"Do not speak of such a thing, I pray you, master" +</a></td></tr> + +</table> +</center> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="Preface">Preface</a>.</h2> + +<p>The four opening years of the fifteenth century were among the +most stirring in the history of England. Owen Glendower carried +fire and slaughter among the Welsh marches, captured most of the +strong places held by the English, and foiled three invasions, led +by the king himself. The northern borders were invaded by Douglas; +who, after devastating a large portion of Northumberland, +Cumberland, and Durham, was defeated and taken prisoner at the +battle of Homildon, by the Earl of Northumberland, and his son +Hotspur. Then followed the strange and unnatural coalition between +the Percys, Douglas of Scotland, Glendower of Wales, and Sir Edmund +Mortimer--a coalition that would assuredly have overthrown the +king, erected the young Earl of March as a puppet monarch under the +tutelage of the Percys, and secured the independence of Wales, had +the royal forces arrived one day later at Shrewsbury, and so +allowed the confederate armies to unite.</p> + +<p>King Henry's victory there, entailing the death of Hotspur and +the capture of Douglas, put an end to this formidable insurrection; +for, although the Earl of Northumberland twice subsequently raised +the banner of revolt, these risings were easily crushed; while +Glendower's power waned, and order, never again to be broken, was +at length restored in Wales. The continual state of unrest and +chronic warfare, between the inhabitants of both sides of the +border, was full of adventures as stirring and romantic as that in +which the hero of the story took part.</p> + +<p>G. A. Henty.</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch1">Chapter 1</a>: A Border Hold.</h2> + +<p>A lad was standing on the little lookout turret, on the top of a +border fortalice. The place was evidently built solely with an eye +to defence, comfort being an altogether secondary consideration. It +was a square building, of rough stone, the walls broken only by +narrow loopholes; and the door, which was ten feet above the +ground, was reached by broad wooden steps, which could be hauled up +in case of necessity; and were, in fact, raised every night.</p> + +<p>The building was some forty feet square. The upper floor was +divided into several chambers, which were the sleeping places of +its lord and master, his family, and the women of the household. +The floor below, onto which the door from without opened, was +undivided save by two rows of stone pillars that supported the +beams of the floor above. In one corner the floor, some fifteen +feet square, was raised somewhat above the general level. This was +set aside for the use of the master and the family. The rest of the +apartment was used as the living and sleeping room of the +followers, and hinds, of the fortalice.</p> + +<p>The basement--which, although on a level with the ground +outside, could be approached only by a trapdoor and ladder from the +room above--was the storeroom, and contained sacks of barley and +oatmeal, sides of bacon, firewood, sacks of beans, and trusses of +hay for the use of the horses and cattle, should the place have to +stand a short siege. In the centre was a well.</p> + +<p>The roof of the house was flat, and paved with square blocks of +stone; a parapet three feet high surrounded it. In the centre was +the lookout tower, rising twelve feet above it; and over the door +another turret, projecting some eighteen inches beyond the wall of +the house, slits being cut in the stone floor through which +missiles could be dropped, or boiling lead poured, upon any trying +to assault the entrance. Outside was a courtyard, extending round +the house. It was some ten yards across, and surrounded by a wall +twelve feet high, with a square turret at each corner.</p> + +<p>Everything was roughly constructed, although massive and solid. +With the exception of the door, and the steps leading to it, no +wood had been used in the construction. The very beams were of +rough stone, the floors were of the same material. It was clearly +the object of the builders to erect a fortress that could defy +fire, and could only be destroyed at the cost of enormous +labour.</p> + +<p>This was indeed a prime necessity, for the hold stood in the +wild country between the upper waters of the Coquet and the Reed +river. Harbottle and Longpikes rose but a few miles away, and the +whole country was broken up by deep ravines and valleys, fells and +crags. From the edge of the moorland, a hundred yards from the +outer wall, the ground dropped sharply down into the valley, where +the two villages of Yardhope lay on a little burn running into the +Coquet.</p> + +<p>In other directions the moor extended for a distance of nearly a +mile. On this two or three score of cattle, and a dozen shaggy +little horses, were engaged in an effort to keep life together, +upon the rough herbage that grew among the heather and blocks of +stones, scattered everywhere.</p> + +<p>Presently the lad caught sight of the flash of the sun, which +had but just risen behind him, on a spearhead at the western edge +of the moor. He ran down at once, from his post, to the principal +room.</p> + +<p>"They are coming, Mother," he exclaimed. "I have just seen the +sun glint on a spearhead."</p> + +<p>"I trust that they are all there," she said, and then turned to +two women by the fire, and bade them put on more wood and get the +pots boiling.</p> + +<p>"Go up again, Oswald; and, as soon as you can make out your +father's figure, bring me down news. I have not closed an eye for +the last two nights, for 'tis a more dangerous enterprise than +usual on which they have gone."</p> + +<p>"Father always comes home all right, Mother," the boy said +confidently, "and they have a strong band this time. They were to +have been joined by Thomas Gray and his following, and Forster of +Currick, and John Liddel, and Percy Hope of Bilderton. They must +have full sixty spears. The Bairds are like to pay heavily for +their last raid hither."</p> + +<p>Dame Forster did not reply, and Oswald ran up again to the +lookout. By this time the party for whom he was watching had +reached the moor. It consisted of twelve or fourteen horsemen, all +clad in dark armour, carrying very long spears and mounted on +small, but wiry, horses. They were driving before them a knot of +some forty or fifty cattle, and three of them led horses carrying +heavy burdens. Oswald's quick eye noticed that four of the horsemen +were not carrying their spears.</p> + +<p>"They are three short of their number," he said to himself, "and +those four must all be sorely wounded. Well, it might have been +worse."</p> + +<p>Oswald had been brought up to regard forays and attacks as +ordinary incidents of life. Watch and ward were always kept in the +little fortalice, especially when the nights were dark and misty, +for there was never any saying when a party of Scottish borderers +might make an attack; for the truces, so often concluded between +the border wardens, had but slight effect on the prickers, as the +small chieftains on both sides were called, who maintained a +constant state of warfare against each other.</p> + +<p>The Scotch forays were more frequent than those from the English +side of the border; not because the people were more warlike, but +because they were poorer, and depended more entirely upon plunder +for their subsistence. There was but little difference of race +between the peoples on the opposite side of the border. Both were +largely of mixed Danish and Anglo-Saxon blood; for, when William +the Conqueror carried fire and sword through Northumbria, great +numbers of the inhabitants moved north, and settled in the district +beyond the reach of the Norman arms.</p> + +<p>On the English side of the border the population were, in time, +leavened by Norman blood; as the estates were granted by William to +his barons. These often married the heiresses of the dispossessed +families, while their followers found wives among the native +population.</p> + +<p>The frequent wars with the Scots, in which every man capable of +bearing arms in the Northern Counties had to take part; and the +incessant border warfare, maintained a most martial spirit among +the population, who considered retaliation for injuries received to +be a natural and lawful act. This was, to some extent, heightened +by the fact that the terms of many of the truces specifically +permitted those who had suffered losses on either side to pursue +their plunderers across the border. These raids were not +accompanied by bloodshed, except when resistance was made; for +between the people, descended as they were from a common stock, +there was no active animosity, and at ordinary times there was free +and friendly intercourse between them.</p> + +<p>There were, however, many exceptions to the rule that +unresisting persons were not injured. Between many families on +opposite sides of the border there existed blood feuds, arising +from the fact that members of one or the other had been killed in +forays; and in these cases bitter and bloody reprisals were made, +on either side. The very border line was ill defined, and people on +one side frequently settled on the other, as is shown by the fact +that several of the treaties contained provisions that those who +had so moved might change their nationality, and be accounted as +Scotch or Englishmen, as the case might be.</p> + +<p>Between the Forsters and the Bairds such a feud had existed for +three generations. It had begun in a raid by the latter. The +Forster of that time had repulsed the attack, and had with his own +hand killed one of the Bairds. Six months later he was surprised +and killed on his own hearthstone, at a time when his son and most +of his retainers were away on a raid. From that time the animosity +between the two families had been unceasing, and several lives had +been lost on both sides. The Bairds with a large party had, three +months before, carried fire and sword through the district +bordering on the main road, as far as Elsdon on the east, and +Alwinton on the north. News of their coming had, however, preceded +them. The villagers of Yardhope had just time to take refuge at +Forster's hold, and had repulsed the determined attacks made upon +it; until Sir Robert Umfraville brought a strong party to their +assistance, and drove the Bairds back towards the frontier.</p> + +<p>The present raid, from which the party was returning, had been +organized partly to recoup those who took part in it for the loss +of their cattle on that occasion, and partly to take vengeance upon +the Bairds. As was the custom on both sides of the border, these +expeditions were generally composed of members of half a dozen +families, with their followers; the one who was, at once, most +energetic and best acquainted with the intricacies of the country, +and the paths across fells and moors, being chosen as leader.</p> + +<p>Presently, Oswald Forster saw one of the party wave his hand; +and at his order four or five of the horsemen rode out, and began +to drive the scattered cattle and horses towards the house. Oswald +at once ran down.</p> + +<p>"Father is all right, Mother. He has just given orders to the +men, and they are driving all the animals in, so I suppose that the +Bairds must be in pursuit. I had better tell the men to get on +their armour."</p> + +<p>Without waiting for an answer, he told six men, who were eating +their breakfast at the farther end of the room, to make an end of +their meal, and get on their steel caps and breast and back pieces, +and take their places in the turret over the gate into the yard. In +a few minutes the animals began to pour in, first those of the +homestead, then the captured herd, weary and exhausted with their +long and hurried journey; then came the master, with his +followers.</p> + +<p>Mary Forster and her son stood at the top of the steps, ready to +greet him. The gate into the yard was on the opposite side to that +of the doorway of the fortalice, in order that assailants who had +carried it should have to pass round under the fire of the archers +in the turrets, before they could attack the building itself.</p> + +<p>She gave a little cry as her husband came up. His left arm was +in a sling, his helmet was cleft through, and a bandage showed +beneath it.</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid, wife," he said cheerily. "We have had hotter +work than we expected; but, so far as I am concerned, there is no +great harm done. I am sorry to say that we have lost Long Hal, and +Rob Finch, and Smedley. Two or three others are sorely wounded, and +I fancy few have got off altogether scatheless.</p> + +<p>"All went well, until we stopped to wait for daybreak, three +miles from Allan Baird's place. Some shepherd must have got sight +of us as we halted, for we found him and his men up and ready. They +had not had time, however, to drive in the cattle; and seeing that +we should like enough have the Bairds swarming down upon us, before +we could take Allan's place, we contented ourselves with gathering +the cattle and driving them off. There were about two hundred of +them.</p> + +<p>"We went fast, but in two hours we saw the Bairds coming in +pursuit; and as it was clear that they would overtake us, hampered +as we were with the cattle, we stood and made defence. There was +not much difference in numbers, for the Bairds had not had time to +gather in all their strength. The fight was a stiff one. On our +side Percy Hope was killed, and John Liddel so sorely wounded that +there is no hope of his life. We had sixteen men killed outright, +and few of us but are more or less scarred. On their side Allan +Baird was killed; and John was smitten down, but how sorely wounded +I cannot say for certain, for they put him on a horse, and took him +away at once. They left twenty behind them on the ground dead; and +the rest, finding that we were better men than they, rode off +again.</p> + +<p>"William Baird himself had not come up. His hold was too far for +the news to have reached him, as we knew well enough; but doubtless +he came up, with his following, a few hours after we had beaten his +kinsmen. But we have ridden too fast for him to overtake us. We +struck off north as soon as we crossed the border, travelled all +night by paths by which they will find it difficult to follow or +track us, especially as we broke up into four parties, and each +chose their own way.</p> + +<p>"I have driven all our cattle in, in case they should make +straight here, after losing our track. Of course, there were many +who fought against us who know us all well; but even were it other +than the Bairds we had despoiled, they would hardly follow us so +far across the border to fetch their cattle.</p> + +<p>"As for the Bairds, the most notorious of the Scottish raiders, +for them to claim the right of following would be beyond all +bearing. Why, I don't believe there was a head of cattle among the +whole herd that had not been born, and bred, on this side of the +border. It is we who have been fetching back stolen goods."</p> + +<p>By this time, he and his men had entered the house, and those +who had gone through the fray scatheless were, assisted by the +women, removing the armour from their wounded comrades. Those who +had been forced to relinquish their spears were first attended +to.</p> + +<p>There was no thought of sending for a leech. Every man and woman +within fifty miles of the border was accustomed to the treatment of +wounds, and in every hold was a store of bandages, styptics, and +unguents ready for instant use. Most of the men were very sorely +wounded; and had they been of less hardy frame, and less inured to +hardships, could not have supported the long ride. John Forster, +before taking off his own armour, saw that their wounds were first +attended to by his wife and her women.</p> + +<p>"I think they will all do," he said, "and that they will live to +strike another blow at the Bairds, yet.</p> + +<p>"Now, Oswald, unbuckle my harness. Your mother will bandage up +my arm and head, and Elspeth shall bring up a full tankard from +below, for each of us. A draught of beer will do as much good as +all the salves and medicaments.</p> + +<p>"Do you take the first drink, Jock Samlen, and then go up to the +watchtower. I see the men have been posted in the wall turrets. One +of them shall relieve you, shortly."</p> + +<p>As soon as the wounds were dressed, bowls of porridge were +served round; then one of the men who had remained at home was +posted at the lookout; and, after the cattle had been seen to, all +who had been on the road stretched themselves on some rushes at one +end of the room, and were, in a few minutes, sound asleep.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether we shall ever have peace in the land, Oswald," +his mother said with a sigh; as, having seen that the women had all +in readiness for the preparation of the midday meal, she sat down +on a low stool, by his side.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how we ever can have, Mother, until either we +conquer Scotland, or the Scotch shall be our masters. It is not our +fault. They are ever raiding and plundering, and heed not the +orders of Douglas, or the other Lords of the Marches."</p> + +<p>"We are almost as bad as they are, Oswald."</p> + +<p>"Nay, Mother, we do but try to take back our own; as father well +said, the cattle that were brought in are all English, that have +been taken from us by the Bairds; and we do but pay them back in +their own coin. It makes but little difference whether we are at +war or peace. These reiving caterans are ever on the move. It was +but last week that Adam Gordon and his bands wasted Tynedale, as +far as Bellingham; and carried off, they say, two thousand head of +cattle, and slew many of the people. If we did not cross the border +sometimes, and give them a lesson, they would become so bold that +there would be no limit to their raids."</p> + +<p>"That is all true enough, Oswald, but it is hard that we should +always require to be on the watch, and that no one within forty +miles of the border can, at any time, go to sleep with the surety +that he will not, ere morning, hear the raiders knocking at his +gate."</p> + +<p>"Methinks that it would be dull, were there nought to do but to +look after the cattle," Oswald replied.</p> + +<p>It seemed to him, bred up as he had been amid constant forays +and excitements, that the state of things was a normal one; and +that it was natural that a man should need to have his spear ever +ready at hand, and to give or take hard blows.</p> + +<p>"Besides," he went on, "though we carry off each others' cattle, +and fetch them home again, we are not bad friends while the truces +hold, save in the case of those who have blood feuds. It was but +last week that Allan Armstrong and his two sisters were staying +here with us; and I promised that, ere long, I would ride across +the border and spend a week with them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but that makes it all the worse. Adam Armstrong married my +sister Elizabeth, whom he first met at Goddington fair; and, +indeed, there are few families, on either side of the border, who +have not both English and Scotch blood in their veins. It is +natural we should be friends, seeing how often we have held +Berwick, Roxburgh, and Dumfries; and how often, in times of peace, +Scotchmen come across the border to trade at the fairs. Why should +it not be so, when we speak the same tongue and, save for the +border line, are one people? Though, indeed, it is different in +Kirkcudbright and Wigtown, where they are Galwegians, and their +tongue is scarce understood by the border Scots. 'Tis strange that +those on one side of the border, and those on the other, cannot +keep the peace towards each other."</p> + +<p>"But save when the kingdoms are at war, Mother, we do keep the +peace, except in the matter of cattle lifting; and bear no enmity +towards each other, save when blood is shed. In wartime each must, +of course, fight for his nation and as his lord orders him. We have +wasted Scotland again and again, from end to end; and they have +swept the Northern Counties well nigh as often.</p> + +<p>"I have heard father say that, eight times in the last hundred +years, this hold has been levelled to the ground. It only escaped, +last time, because he built it so strongly of stone that they could +not fire it; and it would have taken them almost as long, to pick +it to pieces, as it took him to build it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that was when you were an infant, Oswald. When we heard +the Scotch army was marching this way, we took refuge with all the +cattle and horses among the Pikes; having first carried out and +burnt all the forage and stores, and leaving nothing that they +could set fire to. Your father has often laughed at the thought of +how angry they must have been, when they found that there was no +mischief that they could do; for, short of a long stay, which they +never make, there was no way in which they could damage it. Ours +was the only house that escaped scot free, for thirty miles +round.</p> + +<p>"But indeed, 'tis generally but parties of pillagers who trouble +this part of the country, even when they invade England. There is +richer booty, by far, to be gathered in Cumberland and Durham; for +here we have nought but our cattle and horses, and of these they +have as many on their side of the border. It is the plunder of the +towns that chiefly attracts them, and while they go past here empty +handed, they always carry great trains of booty on their backward +way."</p> + +<p>"Still, it would be dull work if there were no fighting, +Mother."</p> + +<p>"There is no fighting in Southern England, Oswald, save for +those who go across the sea to fight the French; and yet, I suppose +they find life less dull than we do. They have more to do. Here +there is little tillage, the country is poor; and who would care to +break up the land and to raise crops, when any night your ricks +might be in flames, and your granaries plundered? Thus there is +nought for us to do but to keep cattle, which need but little care +and attention, and which can be driven off to the fells when the +Scots make a great raid. But in the south, as I have heard, there +is always much for farmers to attend to; and those who find life +dull can always enter the service of some warlike lord, and follow +him across the sea."</p> + +<p>Oswald shook his head. The quiet pursuits of a farmer seemed to +him to be but a poor substitute for the excitement of border +war.</p> + +<p>"It may be as you say, Mother; but for my part, I would rather +enter the service of the Percys, and gain honour under their +banner, than remain here day after day, merely giving aid in +driving the cattle in and out, and wondering when the Bairds are +coming this way, again."</p> + +<p>His mother shook her head. Her father and two brothers had both +been slain, the last time a Scottish army had crossed the border; +and although she naturally did not regard constant troubles in the +same light in which a southern woman would have viewed them, she +still longed for peace and quiet; and was in constant fear that +sooner or later the feud with the Bairds, who were a powerful +family, would cost her husband his life.</p> + +<p>Against open force she had little fear. The hold could resist an +attack for days, and long ere it yielded, help would arrive; but +although the watch was vigilant, and every precaution taken, it +might be captured by a sudden night attack. William Baird had, she +knew, sworn a great oath that Yardhope Hold should one day be +destroyed; and the Forsters wiped out, root and branch. And the +death of his cousin Allan, in the last raid, would surely fan the +fire of his hatred against them.</p> + +<p>"One never can say what may happen," she said, after a pause; +"but if at any time evil should befall us, and you escape, remember +that your uncle Alwyn is in Percy's service; and you cannot do +better than go to him, and place yourself under his protection, and +act as he may advise you. I like not the thought that you should +become a man-at-arms; and yet methinks that it is no more dangerous +than that of a householder on the fells. At least, in a strong +castle a man can sleep without fear; whereas none can say as much, +here."</p> + +<p>"If aught should happen to my father and you, Mother, you may be +sure that I should share in it. The Bairds would spare no one, if +they captured the hold. And although Father will not, as yet, take +me with him on his forays, I should do my share of fighting, if the +hold were attacked."</p> + +<p>"I am sure that you would, Oswald; and were it captured I have +no doubt that, as you say, you would share our fate. I speak not +with any thought that it is likely things will turn out as I say; +but they may do so, and therefore I give you my advice, to seek out +your uncle. As to a capture of our hold, of that I have generally +but little fear; but the fact that your father has been wounded, +and three of his men killed, and that another Baird has fallen, has +brought the possibility that it may happen more closely to my mind, +this morning, than usual.</p> + +<p>"Now, my boy, you had best spend an hour in cleaning up your +father's armour and arms. The steel cap must go to the armourer at +Alwinton, for repair; but you can get some of the dints out of his +breast and back pieces, and can give them a fresh coat of black +paint;" for the borderers usually darkened their armour so that, in +their raids, their presence should not be betrayed by the glint of +sun or moon upon them.</p> + +<p>Oswald at once took up the armour, and went down the steps into +the courtyard, so that the sound of his hammer should not disturb +the sleepers. As, with slight but often repeated blows, he got out +the dents that had been made in the fray, he thought over what his +mother had been saying. To him also the death of three of the men, +who had for years been his companions, came as a shock. It was +seldom, indeed, that the forays for cattle lifting had such serious +consequences. As a rule they were altogether bloodless; and it was +only because of the long feud with the Bairds, and the fact that +some warning of the coming of the party had, in spite of their +precaution, reached Allan Baird; that on the present occasion such +serious results had ensued.</p> + +<p>Had it not been for this, the cattle would have been driven off +without resistance, for Allan Baird's own household would not have +ventured to attack so strong a party. No attempt would have been +made to assault his hold; for he had often heard his father say +that, even in the case of a blood feud, he held that houses should +not be attacked, and their occupants slain. If both parties met +under arms the matter was different; but that, in spite of the +slaying of his own father by them, he would not kill even a Baird +on his hearthstone.</p> + +<p>Still, a Baird had been killed, and assuredly William Baird +would not be deterred by any similar scruples. His pitiless +ferocity was notorious, and even his own countrymen cried out +against some of his deeds, and the Earl of Douglas had several +times threatened to hand him over to the English authorities; but +the Bairds were powerful, and could, with their allies, place four +or five hundred men in the field; and, in the difficult country in +which they lived, could have given a great deal of trouble, even to +Douglas. Therefore nothing had come of his threats, and the Bairds +had continued to be the terror of that part of the English border +that was the most convenient for their operations.</p> + +<p>Oswald was now past sixteen, and promised to be as big a man as +his father, who was a fine specimen of the hardy Northumbrian +race--tall, strong, and sinewy. He had felt hurt when his father +had refused to allow him to take part in the foray.</p> + +<p>"Time enough, lad, time enough," he had said, when the lad had +made his petition to do so. "You are not strong enough, yet, to +hold your own against one of the Bairds' moss troopers, should it +come to fighting. In another couple of years it will be time enough +to think of your going on such an excursion as this. You are clever +with your arms, I will freely admit; as you ought to be, seeing +that you practise for two hours a day with the men. But strength +counts as well as skill, and you want both when you ride against +the Bairds; besides, at present you have still much to learn about +the paths through the fells, and across the morasses. If you are +ever to become a leader, you must know them well enough to traverse +them on the darkest night, or through the thickest mist."</p> + +<p>"I think that I do know most of them, Father."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think you do, on this side of the border; but you must +learn those on the other side, as well. They are, indeed, of even +greater importance in case of pursuit, or for crossing the border +unobserved. Hitherto, I have forbidden you to cross the line, but +in future Mat Wilson shall go with you. He knows the Scotch passes +and defiles, better than any in the band; and so that you don't go +near the Bairds' country, you can traverse them safely, so long as +the truce lasts."</p> + +<p>For years, indeed, Oswald, on one of the hardy little horses, +had ridden over the country in company with one or other of the +men; and had become familiar with every morass, moor, fell, and +pass, down to the old Roman wall to the south, and as far north as +Wooler, being frequently absent for three or four days at a time. +He had several times ridden into Scotland, to visit the Armstrongs +and other friends of the family; but he had always travelled by the +roads, and knew nothing of the hill paths on that side. His life +had, in fact, been far from dull, for they had many friends and +connections in the villages at the foot of the Cheviots, and he was +frequently away from home.</p> + +<p>His journeys were generally performed on horseback, but his +father encouraged him to take long tramps on foot, in order that he +might strengthen his muscles; and would, not infrequently, give him +leave to pay visits on condition that he travelled on foot, instead +of in the saddle.</p> + +<p>Constant exercise in climbing, riding, and with his weapons; and +at wrestling and other sports, including the bow, had hardened +every muscle of his frame, and he was capable of standing any +fatigues; and although his father said that he could not hold his +own against men, he knew that the lad could do so against any but +exceptionally powerful ones; and believed that, when the time came, +he would, like himself, be frequently chosen as leader in border +forays. He could already draw the strongest bow to the arrowhead, +and send a shaft with a strength that would suffice to pierce the +light armour worn by the Scotch borderers. It was by the bow that +the English gained the majority of their victories over their +northern neighbours; who did not take to the weapon, and were +unable to stand for a moment against the English archers, who not +only loved it as a sport, but were compelled by many ordinances to +practise with it from their childhood.</p> + +<p>Of other education he had none, but in this respect he was no +worse off than the majority of the knights and barons of the time, +who were well content to trust to monkish scribes to draw up such +documents as were required, and to affix their seal to them. He +himself had once, some six years before, expressed a wish to be +sent for a year to the care of the monks at Rothbury, whose +superior was a distant connection of his father, in order to be +taught to read and write; but John Forster had scoffed at the +idea.</p> + +<p>"You have to learn to be a man, lad," he had said, "and the +monks will never teach you that. I do not know one letter from +another, nor did my father, or any of my forebears, and we were no +worse for it. On the marches, unless a man means to become a monk, +he has to learn to make his sword guard his head, to send an arrow +straight to the mark, to know every foot of the passes, and to be +prepared, at the order of his lord, to defend his country against +the Scots.</p> + +<p>"These are vastly more important matters than reading and +writing; which are, so far as I can see, of no use to any fair man, +whose word is his bond, and who deals with honest men. I can reckon +up, if I sell so many cattle, how much has to be paid, and more of +learning than that I want not. Nor do you, and every hour spent on +it would be as good as wasted. As to the monks, Heaven forfend that +you should ever become one. They are good men, I doubt not, and I +suppose that it is necessary that some should take to it; but that +a man who has the full possession of his limbs should mew himself +up, for life, between four walls, passing his time in vigils and +saying masses, in reading books and distributing alms, seems to me +to be a sort of madness."</p> + +<p>"I certainly do not wish to become a monk, Father, but I thought +that I should like to learn to read and write."</p> + +<p>"And when you have learnt it, what then, Oswald? Books are +expensive playthings, and no scrap of writing has ever been inside +the walls of Yardhope Hold, since it was first built here, as far +as I know. As to writing, it would be of still less use. If a man +has a message to send, he can send it by a hired man, if it suits +him not to ride himself. Besides, if he had written it, the person +he sent it to would not be able to read it, and would have to go to +some scribe for an interpretation of its contents.</p> + +<p>"No, no, my lad, you have plenty to learn before you come to be +a man, without bothering your head with this monkish stuff. I doubt +if Hotspur, himself, can do more than sign his name to a parchment; +and what is good enough for the Percys, is surely good enough for +you."</p> + +<p>The idea had, in fact, been put into Oswald's head by his +mother. At that time the feud with the Bairds had burned very +hotly, and it would have lessened her anxieties had the boy been +bestowed, for a time, in a convent. Oswald himself felt no +disappointment at his father's refusal to a petition that he would +never have made, had not his mother dilated to him, on several +occasions, upon the great advantage of learning.</p> + +<p>No thought of repeating the request had ever entered his mind. +His father had thought more of it, and had several times expressed +grave regret, to his wife, over such an extraordinary wish having +occurred to their son.</p> + +<p>"The boy has nothing of a milksop about him," he said; "and is, +for his age, full of spirit and courage. How so strange an idea +could have occurred to him is more than I can imagine. I should as +soon expect to see an owlet, in a sparrow hawk's nest, as a monk +hatched in Yardhope Hold."</p> + +<p>His wife discreetly kept silence as to the fact that she, +herself, had first put the idea in the boy's head; for although +Mary Forster was mistress inside of the hold, in all other matters +John was masterful, and would brook no meddling, even by her. The +subject, therefore, of Oswald's learning to read and write, was +never renewed.</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch2">Chapter 2</a>: Across The Border.</h2> + +<p>A most vigilant watch was kept up, for the next week, at +Yardhope Hold. At night, three or four of the troopers were posted +four or five miles from the hold, on the roads by which an enemy +was likely to come; having under them the fleetest horses on the +moor. When a week passed there was some slight relaxation in the +watch, for it was evident that the Bairds intended to bide their +time for a stroke, knowing well that they would not be likely to be +able to effect a surprise, at present. The outlying posts were, +therefore, no longer maintained; but the dogs of the hold, fully a +dozen in number, were chained nightly in a circle three or four +hundred yards outside it; and their barking would, at once, apprise +the watchers in the turrets on the walls of the approach of any +body of armed men.</p> + +<p>Two days later, Oswald started for his promised visit to the +Armstrongs. It was not considered necessary that he should be +accompanied by any of the troopers, for Hiniltie lay but a few +miles across the frontier. In high spirits he galloped away and, +riding through Yardhope, was soon at Alwinton; and thence took the +track through Kidland Lee, passed round the head of the Usmay +brook, along the foot of Maiden Cross Hill, and crossed the +frontier at Windy Guile. Here he stood on the crest of the Cheviots +and, descending, passed along at the foot of Windburgh Hill; and by +noon entered the tiny hamlet of Hiniltie, above which, perched on +one of the spurs of the hill, stood the Armstrongs' hold. It was +smaller than that of Yardhope, and had no surrounding wall; but, +like it, was built for defence against a sudden attack.</p> + +<p>Adam Armstrong was on good terms with his neighbours across the +border. Although other members of his family were frequently +engaged in forays, it was seldom, indeed, that he buckled on +armour, and only when there was a general call to arms. He was, +however, on bad terms with the Bairds, partly because his wife was +a sister of Forster's, partly because of frays that had arisen +between his herdsmen and those of the Bairds, for his cattle +wandered far and wide on the mountain slopes to the south, and +sometimes passed the ill-defined line, beyond which the Bairds +regarded the country as their own. Jedburgh was but ten miles away, +Hawick but six or seven, and any stay after the sun rose would +speedily have brought strong bodies of men from these towns, as +well as from his still nearer neighbours, at Chester, Abbotrule, +and Hobkirk.</p> + +<p>Oswald's approach was seen, and two of his cousins--Allan, who +was a lad of about the same age, and Janet, a year younger--ran out +from the house to meet him.</p> + +<p>"We have been expecting you for the last ten days," the former +exclaimed, "and had well nigh given you up."</p> + +<p>"I hold you to be a laggard," the girl added, "and unless you +can duly excuse yourself, shall have naught to say to you."</p> + +<p>"My excuse is a good one, Janet. My father made a foray, a +fortnight since, into the Bairds' country, to rescue some of the +cattle they had driven off from our neighbours, some days before. +There was a sharp fight, and Allan Baird was killed; and since then +we have been expecting a return visit from them, and have been +sleeping with our arms beside us. Doubtless they will come someday, +but as it is evident they don't mean to come at present, my father +let me leave."</p> + +<p>"In that case we must forgive you," the girl said. "Some rumours +of the fray have reached us, and my father shook his head gravely, +when he heard that another Baird had been killed by the +Forsters."</p> + +<p>"It was not only us," Oswald replied. "There were some of the +Liddels, and the Hopes, and other families, engaged. My father was +chosen as chief; but this time it was not our quarrel, but theirs, +for we had lost no cattle, and my father only joined because they +had aided us last time, and he could not hold back now. Of course, +he was chosen as chief because he knows the country so well."</p> + +<p>"Well, come in, Oswald. It is poor hospitality to keep you +talking here, outside the door."</p> + +<p>A boy had already taken charge of Oswald's horse and, after +unstrapping his valise, had led it to a stable that formed the +basement of the house.</p> + +<p>"Well, laddie, how fares it with you, at home?" Adam Armstrong +said, heartily, as they mounted the steps to the main entrance. "We +have heard of your wild doings with the Bairds. 'Tis a pity that +these feuds should go on, from father to son, ever getting more and +more bitter. But there, we can no more change a borderer's nature +than you can stop the tide in the Solway. I hear that it was well +nigh a pitched battle."</p> + +<p>"There was hard fighting," Oswald replied. "Three of our +troopers, and eight or ten of the others were killed. My father was +twice wounded, one of the Hopes was killed, and a Liddel severely +wounded. But from what they say, the Bairds suffered more. Had they +not done so, there would have been a hot pursuit; but as far as we +know there was none."</p> + +<p>"The Bairds will bide their time," Armstrong said gravely. "They +are dour men, and will take their turn, though they wait ten years +for it."</p> + +<p>"At any rate they won't catch us sleeping, Uncle; and come they +however strong they may, they will find it hard work to capture the +Hold."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, lad, but I don't think they will try to knock their +heads against your wall. They are more like to sweep down on a +sudden, and your watchman will need keen eyes to make them out +before they are thundering at the gate, or climbing up the wall. +However, your father knows his danger, and it is of no use talking +more of it. What is done is done."</p> + +<p>"And how is your mother, Oswald?" Mistress Armstrong asked.</p> + +<p>"She is well, Aunt, and bade me give her love to you."</p> + +<p>"Truly I wonder she keeps her health, with all these troubles +and anxieties. We had hoped that, after the meeting last March of +the Commissioners on both sides, when the Lords of the Marches +plighted their faith to each other, and agreed to surrender all +prisoners without ransom, and to forgive all offenders, we should +have had peace on the border. As you know, there were but three +exceptions named; namely Adam Warden, William Baird, and Adam +French, whom the Scotch Commissioners bound themselves to arrest, +and to hand over to the English Commissioners, to be tried as being +notorious truce breakers, doing infinite mischief to the dwellers +on the English side of the border. And yet nothing has come of it, +and these men still continue to make their raids, without check or +hindrance, either by the Earl of March or Douglas."</p> + +<p>"There are faults on both sides, wife," her husband said.</p> + +<p>"I do not deny it, gudeman; but I have often heard you say these +three men are the pests of the border; and that, were it not for +them, things might go on reasonably enough, for no one counts a few +head of cattle lifted, now and again. It is bad enough that, every +two or three years, armies should march across the border, one way +or the other; but surely we might live peaceably, between times. +Did not I nearly lose you at Otterburn, and had you laid up on my +hands, for well-nigh six months?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, that was a sore day, for both sides."</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me about it, Uncle?" Oswald asked. "My father +cares not much to talk of it; and though I know that he fought +there, he has never told me the story of the battle."</p> + +<p>"We are just going to sit down to dinner, now," Adam Armstrong +said, "and the story is a long one; but after we have done, I will +tell you of it. Your father need not feel so sore about it; for, +since the days of the Bruce, you have had as many victories to +count as we have."</p> + +<p>After dinner, however, Armstrong had to settle a dispute between +two of his tenants, as to grazing rights; and it was not until +evening that he told his story.</p> + +<p>"In 1388 there were all sorts of troubles in England, and France +naturally took advantage of them, and recommenced hostilities, and +we prepared to share in the game. Word was sent round privately, +and every man was bidden to gather, in Jedburgh forest. I tell you, +lad, I went with a heavy heart, for although men of our name have +the reputation of being as quarrelsome fellows as any that dwell on +the border, I am an exception, and love peace and quiet; moreover, +the children were but young, and I saw that the fight would be a +heavy business, and I did not like leaving them, and their mother. +However, there was no help for it, and we gathered there, over +40,000 strong. The main body marched away into Cumberland; but +Douglas, March, and Moray, with 300 spears and 2000 footmen, +including many an Armstrong, entered Northumberland.</p> + +<p>"We marched without turning to the right or left, or staying to +attack town, castle, or house, till we crossed the river Tyne and +entered Durham. Then we began the war; burning, ravaging, and +slaying. I liked it not, for although when it comes to fighting I +am ready, if needs be, to bear my part, I care not to attack +peaceful people. It is true that your kings have, over and over +again, laid waste half Scotland; killing, slaying, and hanging; but +it does not seem to me any satisfaction, because some twenty of my +ancestors have been murdered, to slay twenty people who were not +born until long afterwards, and whose forbears, for aught I know, +may have had no hand in the slaughter of mine.</p> + +<p>"However, having laden ourselves with plunder from Durham, we +sat down for three days before Newcastle, where we had some sharp +skirmishes with Sir Henry and his brother, Sir Ralph Percy; and in +one of these captured Sir Henry's pennant.</p> + +<p>"Then we marched away to Otterburn, after receiving warning from +Percy that he intended to win his pennant back again, before we +left Northumberland. We attacked Otterburn Castle, but failed to +carry it, for it was strong and well defended. There was a council +that night, and most of the leaders were in favour of retiring at +once to Scotland, with the abundance of spoil that we had gained. +But Douglas persuaded them to remain two or three days, and to +capture the castle, and not to go off as if afraid of Percy's +threats. So we waited all the next day; and at night the Percys, +with 600 spears and 8000 infantry, came up. Our leaders had not +been idle, for they had examined the ground carefully, and arranged +how the battle should be fought, if we were attacked.</p> + +<p>"Having heard nothing of the English, all day, we lay down to +sleep, not expecting to hear aught of them until the morning. It +was a moonlight night, and being in August, there was but a short +darkness between the twilights; and the English, arriving, at once +made an attack, falling first on the servants' huts, which they +took for those of the chiefs. This gave us time to form up in good +order, as we had lain down each in his proper position.</p> + +<p>"A portion of the force went down to skirmish with the English +in front, but the greater portion marched along the mountain side, +and fell suddenly upon the English flank. At first there was great +confusion; but the English, being more numerous, soon recovered +their order and pushed us back, though not without much loss on +both sides.</p> + +<p>"Douglas shouted his battle cry, advanced his banner, fighting +most bravely; as did Sir Patrick Hepburn, but for whose bravery the +Douglas banner would have been taken, for the Percys, hearing the +cry of 'a Douglas! a Douglas!' pressed to that part of the field, +and bore us backwards. I was in the midst of it, with ten of my +kinsmen; and though we all fought as became men, we were pressed +back, and began to think that the day would be lost.</p> + +<p>"Then the young earl, furious at seeing disaster threaten him, +dashed into the midst of the English ranks, swinging his battle-axe +and, for a time, cutting a way for himself. But one man's strength +and courage can go for but little in such a fray. Some of his +knights and squires had followed him, but in the darkness it was +but few who perceived his advance.</p> + +<p>"Presently three knights met him, and all their spears pierced +him, and he was borne from his horse, mortally wounded. Happily the +English were unaware that it was Douglas who had fallen. Had they +known it, their courage would have been mightily raised, and the +day would assuredly have been lost. We, too, were ignorant that +Douglas had fallen, and still fought on.</p> + +<p>"In other parts of the field March and Moray were holding their +own bravely. Sir Ralph Percy, who had, like Douglas, charged almost +alone into Moray's ranks, was sorely wounded and, being surrounded, +surrendered to Sir John Maxwell. Elsewhere many captures were made +by both parties; but as the fight went on the advantage turned to +our side; for we had rested all the day before, and began the +battle fresh, after some hours of sleep; while the English had +marched eight leagues, and were weary when they began the +fight.</p> + +<p>"Sir James Lindsay and Sir Walter Sinclair, with some other +knights who had followed Douglas, found him still alive. With his +last words he ordered them to raise his banner, and to shout +'Douglas!' so that friends and foes should think that he was of +their party. These instructions they followed. We and others +pressed forwards, on hearing the shout; and soon, a large party +being collected, resumed the battle at this point. Moray and March +both bore their arrays in the direction where they believed Douglas +to be battling, and so, together, we pressed upon the English so +hardly that they retreated, and for five miles we pursued them very +hotly. Very many prisoners were taken, but all of quality were at +once put to ransom, and allowed to depart on giving their knightly +word of payment within fifteen days.</p> + +<p>"It was a great victory, and in truth none of us well knew how +it had come about, for the English had fought as well and valiantly +as we did ourselves; but it is ill for wearied men to fight against +fresh ones. Never was I more surprised than when we found that the +battle, which for a time had gone mightily against us, was yet won +in the end. Methinks that it was, to a great extent, due to the +fact that each Englishman fought for himself; while we, having on +the previous day received the strictest orders to fight each man +under his leader, to hold together, and to obey orders in all +respects, kept in our companies; and so, in the end, gained the day +against a foe as brave, and much more numerous, than +ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Uncle Armstrong. I have often wondered how it was +that the Percys, being three to one against you, were yet defeated; +fighting on their own ground, as it were. 'Tis long, indeed, since +we suffered so great a reverse."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough, Oswald. In the days of Wallace and Bruce, +we Scots often won battles with long odds against us; but that was +because we fought on foot, and the English for the most part on +horseback--a method good enough on an open plain, but ill fitted +for a land of morass and hill, like Scotland. Since the English +also took to fighting on foot, the chances have been equal; and we +have repulsed invasions not so much by force, as by falling back, +and so wasting the country that the English had but the choice of +retreating or starving.</p> + +<p>"There is reason, indeed, why, when equal forces are arrayed +against each other, the chances should also be equal; for we are +come of the same stock, and the men of the northern marches of +England, and those of Scotland, are alike hardy and accustomed to +war. Were we but a united people, as you English are, methinks that +there would never have been such constant wars between us; for +English kings would not have cared to have invaded a country where +they would find but little spoil, and have hard work to take it. +But our nobles have always been ready to turn traitors. They are +mostly of Norman blood and Norman name, and no small part of them +have estates in England, as well as in Scotland. Hence it is that +our worst enemies have always been in our midst.</p> + +<p>"And now it is time for bed, or you will be heavy in the +morning; and I know that you intend starting at dawn, with the +dogs, and have promised to bring in some hares for dinner."</p> + +<p>Not only Oswald and Allan, but Janet also was afoot early; and, +after taking a basin of porridge, started for the hills, +accompanied by four dogs. They carried with them bows and arrows, +in case the dogs should drive the hares within shot.</p> + +<p>Six hours later they returned, carrying with them five hares and +a brace of birds. These had both fallen to Oswald's bow, being shot +while on the ground; for in those days the idea that it was +unsportsmanlike to shoot game, except when flying, was unknown.</p> + +<p>For a week they went out every day, sometimes with the dogs, but +more often with hawks; which were trained to fly, not only at birds +in their flight, but at hares, on whose heads they alighted, +pecking them and beating them so fiercely with their wings, that +they gave time for the party on foot to run up, and despatch the +quarry with an arrow.</p> + +<p>Once or twice they accompanied Adam Armstrong, when he rode to +some of the towns in the neighbourhood, and spent the day with +friends of the Armstrongs there. For a fortnight, the time passed +very pleasantly to the English lad; but, at the end of that time, +Adam Armstrong returned from a visit to Jedburgh with a grave +face.</p> + +<p>"I have news," he said, "that your King Richard has been +deposed; that Henry, the Duke of Lancaster, having landed in +Yorkshire, was joined by Percy and the Earl of Westmoreland, and +has been proclaimed king. This will cause great troubles in +England, for surely there must be many there who will not tamely +see a king dethroned by treasonable practices; and another, having +no just title to the crown, promoted to his place.</p> + +<p>"Such a thing is contrary to all reason and justice. A king has +the same right to his crown as a noble to his estates, and none may +justly take them away, save for treasonable practices; and a king +cannot commit treason against himself. Therefore it is like that +there will be much trouble in England, and I fear that there is no +chance of the truce that concludes, at the end of this month, being +continued.</p> + +<p>"The fact that the two great northern lords of England are both, +with their forces, in the south will further encourage trouble; and +the peace that, with small intermissions, has continued since the +battle of Otterburn, is like to be broken. Therefore, my lad, I +think it best that you should cut short your visit, by a week, and +you shall return and finish it when matters have settled down.</p> + +<p>"Here in Scotland we are not without troubles. Ill blood has +arisen between March and Douglas, owing to the Duke of Ramsay +breaking his promise to marry the Earl of March's daughter, and +taking Douglas's girl to wife. This, too, has sorely angered one +more powerful than either Douglas or March--I mean, of course, +Albany, who really exercises the kingly power.</p> + +<p>"But troubles in Scotland will in no way prevent war from +breaking out with England. On the contrary, the quarrel between the +two great lords of our marches will cause them to loose their hold +of the border men, and I foresee that we shall have frays and +forays among ourselves again, as in the worst times of old. +Therefore, it were best that you went home. While these things are +going on, the private friendship between so many families on either +side of the border must be suspended, and all intercourse; for +maybe every man on either side will be called to arms, and +assuredly it will not be safe for one of either nation to set foot +across the border, save armed, and with a strong clump of spears at +his back."</p> + +<p>"I shall be sorry, indeed, to go," Oswald said, "but I see that +if troubles do, as you fear, break out at the conclusion of the +peace, a fortnight hence--"</p> + +<p>"They may not wait for that," Adam Armstrong interrupted him. "A +truce is only a truce so long as there are those strong enough to +enforce it, and with Douglas and March at variance on our side, and +Northumberland and Westmoreland absent on yours, there are none to +see that the truce is not broken; and from what I hear, it may not +be many days before we see the smoke of burning houses rising, upon +either side of the border."</p> + +<p>"The more reason for my going home," Oswald said. "My father is +not likely to be last in a fray, and assuredly he would not like me +to be away across the border when swords are drawn. I am very +sorry, but I see that there is no help for it; and tomorrow, at +daybreak, I will start for home."</p> + +<p>That evening was the dullest Oswald had spent, during his visit. +The prospect that the two nations might soon be engaged in another +desperate struggle saddened the young cousins, who felt that a long +time might elapse before they again met; and that in the meantime +their fathers, and possibly themselves, might be fighting in +opposite ranks. Although the breaches of the truces caused, as a +rule, but little bloodshed, being in fact but cattle lifting +expeditions, it was very different in time of war, when wholesale +massacres took place on both sides, towns and villages were burned +down, and the whole of the inhabitants put to the sword. Ten years +had sufficed to soften the memory of these events, especially among +young people, but each had heard numberless stories of wrong and +slaughter, and felt that, when war once again broke out in earnest, +there was little hope that there would be any change in the manner +in which it would be conducted.</p> + +<p>Oswald rode rapidly, until he had crossed the border. The truce +would not expire for another thirteen days, but the raiders might +be at work at any moment; for assuredly there would be no chance of +complaints being made, on the eve of recommencement of general +hostilities. He met no one on the road, until he reached the first +hamlet on the English side. Here he stopped to give his horse half +an hour's rest, and a feed. As he dismounted, two or three of the +villagers came up.</p> + +<p>"Have you heard aught, lad, of any gatherings on the other side +of the border?"</p> + +<p>"None from where I came; but there was a talk that notices had +been sent, through the southern Scottish marches, for all to be in +readiness to gather to the banner without delay, when the summons +was received."</p> + +<p>"That is what we have heard," a man said. "We have made +everything in readiness to drive off our cattle to the fells; the +beacons are all prepared for lighting, from Berwick down to +Carlisle; and assuredly the Scotch will find little, near the +border, to carry back with them.</p> + +<p>"You are the son of stout John Forster of Yardhope Keep, are you +not? I saw you riding by his side, two months since, at Alwinton +fair."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was there with him."</p> + +<p>"He will have hot work, if a Scotch army marches into Tynedale. +The Bairds will be sure to muster strongly, and they won't forgive +the last raid on them; and whichever way they go, you may be sure +that your father's hold will receive a visit."</p> + +<p>"It was but a return raid," Oswald said. "The Bairds had been +down our way, but a short time before, and lifted all the cattle +and horses that they could lay hands on, for miles round."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough. We all know the thieving loons. But men +remember the injuries they have suffered, better than those they +have inflicted; and they will count Allan Baird's death as more +than a set-off for a score of their own forays."</p> + +<p>"If we have only the Bairds to settle with, we can hold our +walls against them," Oswald said; "but if the whole of the Scotch +army come our way, we must do as you are doing, drive the cattle to +the hills, and leave them to do what harm they can to the stone +walls, which they will find it hard work to damage."</p> + +<p>"Aye, I have heard that they are stronger than ordinary; and so +they need be, seeing that you have a blood feud with the Bairds. +Well, they are not like to have much time to waste over it, for our +sheriff has already sent word here, as to the places where we are +to gather when the beacon fires are lighted; and you may be sure +that the Percys will lose no time in marching against them, with +all their array; and the Scots are like to find, as they have found +before, that it is an easier thing to cross the border than it is +to get back."</p> + +<p>Late that evening, Oswald returned home. After the first +greetings, his father said:</p> + +<p>"It is high time that you were back, Oswald. Rumour is busy, all +along the border; but for myself, though I doubt not that their +moss troopers will be on the move, as soon as the truce ends, I +think there will not be any invasion in force, for some little +time. The great lords of the Scotch marches are ill friends with +each other; and, until the quarrel between Douglas and Dunbar is +patched up, neither will venture to march his forces into England. +It may be months, yet, before we see their pennons flying on +English soil.</p> + +<p>"My brother Alwyn has been over here, for a day or two, since +you were away. The Percys are down south, so he was free to ride +over here. He wants us to send you to him, without loss of time. He +says that there is a vacancy in Percy's household, owing to one of +his esquires being made a knight, and a page has been promoted to +an esquireship. He said that he spoke to Hotspur, before he went +south, anent the matter; and asked him to enroll you, not exactly +as a page, but as one who, from his knowledge of the border, would +be a safe and trusty messenger to send, in case of need. As he has +served the Percys for thirty years, and for ten has been the +captain of their men-at-arms; and has never asked for aught, either +for himself or his relations, Percy gave him a favourable answer; +and said that if, on his return, he would present you to him, and +he found that you were a lad of manners that would be suitable for +a member of his household, he would grant his request; partly, too, +because my father and myself had always been stanch men, and ready +at all times to join his banner, when summoned, and to fight +doughtily. So there seems a good chance of preferment for you.</p> + +<p>"Your mother is willing that you should go. She says, and truly +enough, that if you stay here it will be but to engage, as I and my +forebears have done, in constant feuds with the Scots; harrying and +being harried, never knowing, when we lie down to rest, but that we +may be woke up by the battle shout of the Bairds; and leaving +behind us, when we die, no more than we took from our fathers.</p> + +<p>"I know not how your own thoughts may run in the matter, Oswald, +but methinks that there is much in what she says; though, for +myself, I wish for nothing better than what I am accustomed to. +Percy would have knighted me had I wished it, years ago; but plain +Jock Forster I was born, and so will I die when my time comes; for +it would alter my condition in no way, save that as Jock Forster I +can lead a raid across the border, but as Sir John Forster it would +be hardly seemly for me to do so, save when there is open war +between the countries.</p> + +<p>"It is different, in your case; You are young, and can fit +yourself to another mode of life; and can win for yourself, with +your sword, a better fortune than you will inherit from me. +Besides, lad, I am like enough, unless a Baird spear finishes me +sooner, to live another thirty years yet; and it is always sure to +lead to trouble, if there are two cocks in one farmyard. You would +have your notions as to how matters should be done, and I should +have mine; and so, for many reasons, it is right that you should go +out into the world. If matters go well with you, all the better; if +not, you will always be welcome back here, and will be master when +I am gone.</p> + +<p>"What say you?"</p> + +<p>"It comes suddenly upon me, Father; but, as I have always +thought that I should like to see something of the world beyond our +own dales, I would gladly, for a time at least, accept my uncle's +offer; which is a rare one, and far beyond my hopes. I should be +sorry to leave you and my mother but, save for that it seems to me, +as to you, that it would be best for me to go out into the world, +for a time."</p> + +<p>"Then that is settled, and tomorrow you shall ride to Alnwick +and see, at any rate, if aught comes of the matter.</p> + +<p>"Do not cry, Wife. It is your counsel that I am acting upon, and +you have told me you are sure that it is best that he should go. It +is not as if he were taking service with a southern lord. He will +be but a day's ride away from us, and doubtless will be able to +come over, at times, and stay a day or two with us; and once a +year, when times are peaceable, you shall ride behind me, on a +pillion, to see how things go with him at the Percys' castle. At +any rate it will be better, by far, than if he had carried out that +silly fancy of his, for putting himself in the hands of the monks +and learning to read and write; which would, perchance, have ended +in his shaving his crown and taking to a cowl, and there would have +been an end of the Forsters of Yardhope.</p> + +<p>"Now, put that cold joint upon the table, again. Doubtless the +lad has a wolf's appetite."</p> + +<p>There was no time lost. The next day was spent in looking out +his clothes and packing his valise, by his mother; while he rode +round the country, to say goodbye to some of his friends. The next +morning, at daybreak, he started; and, at nightfall, rode into the +castle of Alnwick, and inquired for Alwyn Forster. The two +men-at-arms, who had regarded his appearance, on his shaggy border +horse, with scarce concealed contempt; at once answered, civilly, +that the captain would be found in his room, in the north turret. +They then pointed out to him the stables, where he could bestow his +horse; and, having seen some hay placed before it, and a feed of +barley, to which the animal was but little accustomed, Oswald made +his way up the turret, to the room in which his uncle lodged.</p> + +<p>The stately castle, and the beauty, as well as the strength, of +the Percys' great stronghold, had in no small degree surprised, and +almost awed the lad, accustomed only to the rough border holds. It +was situated on rising ground, on the river Aln; and consisted of a +great keep, which dated back to the times of the Saxons; and three +courts, each of which were, indeed, separate fortresses, the +embattled gates being furnished with portcullises and strong +towers. Within the circuit of its walls, it contained some five +acres of ground, with sixteen towers, the outer wall being +surrounded by a moat.</p> + +<p>The Percys were descended from a Danish chief, who was one of +the conquerors of Normandy, and settled there. The Percy of the +time came over with William the Norman, and obtained from him the +gift of large possessions in the south of England, and in +Yorkshire; and, marrying a great Saxon heiress, added to his wide +lands in the north.</p> + +<p>One of the Percys, in the reign of Henry the Second, made a +journey to Jerusalem, and died in the Holy Land. None of his four +sons survived him. His eldest daughter Maud married the Earl of +Warwick; but, dying childless, her sister Agnes became sole heir to +the broad lands of the Percys. She married the son of the Duke of +Brabant, the condition of her marriage being that he should either +take the arms of the Percys, instead of his own; or continue to +bear his own arms, and take the name of Percy. He chose the latter +alternative. Their son was one of the barons who forced King John +to grant the Magna Carta.</p> + +<p>The Percys always distinguished themselves, in the wars against +the Scot; and received, at various times, grants of territory in +that country; one of them being made Earl of Carrick, when Robert +the Bruce raised the standard of revolt against England.</p> + +<p>Upon the other hand, they not unfrequently took a share in +risings against the Kings of England; and their estates were +confiscated, for a time, by their taking a leading part in the +action against Piers Gaveston, the royal favourite.</p> + +<p>It was in the reign of Henry the Second that the Percy of the +time obtained, by purchase, the Barony of Alnwick; which from that +date became the chief seat of the family. The present earl was the +first of the rank, having been created by Richard the Second. He +was one of the most powerful nobles in England, and it was at his +invitation that Henry of Lancaster had come over from France, and +had been placed on the throne by the Percys, and some other of the +northern nobles; and, as a reward for his service, the earl was +created High Constable of England.</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch3">Chapter 3</a>: At Alnwick.</h2> + +<p>"You are rarely changed, Oswald," his uncle said, as the lad +entered his apartment. "'Tis three years since I last saw you, and +you have shot up nigh a head, since then. I should not have known +you, had I met you in the street; but as I was expecting you, it is +easy to recall your features. I made sure that you would come; for, +although your father was at first averse to my offer, I soon found +that your mother was on my side, and I know that, in the long run, +my brother generally gives in to her wishes; and I was sure that, +as you were a lad of spirit, you would be glad to try a flight from +home.</p> + +<p>"You are growing up mightily like your father, and promise to be +as big and as strong as we both are. Your eyes speak of a bold +disposition, and my brother tells me that you are already well +practised with your arms.</p> + +<p>"You understand that it is Sir Henry, whom they call Hotspur, +that you are to serve. As to the earl, he is too great a personage +for me to ask a favour from, but Sir Henry is different. I taught +him the first use of his arms, and many a bout have I had with him. +He treats me as a comrade, rather than as the captain of his +father's men-at-arms, here; and when I spoke to him about you, he +said at once:</p> + +<p>"'Bring him here, and we will see what we can do for him. If he +is a fellow of parts and discretion, I doubt not that we can make +him useful. You say he knows every inch of our side of the border, +and something of the Scottish side of it, his mother's sister being +married to one of the Armstrongs. There is like to be trouble +before long. You know the purpose for which I am going away; and +the Scots are sure to take advantage of changes in England, and a +youth who can ride, and knows the border, and can, if needs be, +strike a blow in self defence, will not have to stay idle in the +castle long. His father is a stout withstander of the Scots, and +the earl would have given him knighthood, if he would have taken +it; and maybe, in the future, the son will win that honour. He is +too old for a page, and I should say too little versed in our ways +for such a post; but I promise you that, when he is old enough, he +shall be one of my esquires.'</p> + +<p>"So you may soon have an opportunity of showing Hotspur what you +are made of. And now, I doubt not that you are hungry. I will send +down to the buttery, for a couple of tankards and a pasty. I had my +supper two hours ago, but I doubt not that I can keep you company +in another."</p> + +<p>He went to the window, and called out, "John Horn!"</p> + +<p>The name was repeated below, and in two minutes a servant came +up. The captain gave him directions, and they shortly sat down to a +substantial meal.</p> + +<p>"The first thing to do, lad, will be to get you garments more +suitable to the Percys' castle than those you have on; they are +good enough to put on under armour, or when you ride in a foray; +but here, one who would ride in the train of the Percys must make a +brave show. It is curfew, now; but tomorrow, early, we will sally +into the town, where we shall find a good choice of garments, for +men of all conditions. You hold yourself well, and you have +something of your mother's softness of speech; and will, I think, +make a good impression on Sir Henry, when suitably clad.</p> + +<p>"You see, there are many sons of knights, of good repute and +standing, who would be glad, indeed, that their sons should obtain +a post in Hotspur's personal following; and who might grumble, were +they passed over in favour of one who, by his appearance, was of +lower condition than themselves.</p> + +<p>"John Forster is well known, on the border, as a valiant +fighter, and a leading man in Coquetdale. It is known, too, that he +might have been knighted, had he chosen; and doubtless there are +many who, having heard that his hold is one of the strongest on the +border, give him credit for having far wider possessions than that +bit of moor round the hold, and grazing rights for miles beyond it. +If, then, you make a brave show, none will question the choice that +Hotspur may make; but were you to appear in that garb you have on, +they might well deem that your father is, after all, but a moss +trooper.</p> + +<p>"He told me that you had, once, a fancy to learn to read and +write. What put that idea into your head? I do not say that it was +not a good one, but at least it was a strange one, for a lad +brought up as you have been."</p> + +<p>"I think, Uncle, that it was rather my mother's idea than my +own; she thought that it might conduce to my advancement, should I +ever leave the hold and go out into the world."</p> + +<p>"She was quite right, Oswald; and 'tis a pity that you did not +go, for a couple of years, to a monastery. It is a good thing to be +able to read an order, or to write one, for many of the lords and +knights can do no more than make a shift to sign their names. As +for books I say nothing, for I see not what manner of good they +are; but father Ernulf, who is chaplain here, tells me that one who +gives his mind to it can, in a year, learn enough to write down, +not in a clerkly hand, but in one that can be understood, any +letter or order his lord may wish sent, or to read for him any that +he receives.</p> + +<p>"In most matters, doubtless, an order by word of mouth is just +as good as one writ on vellum; but there are times when a messenger +could not be trusted to deliver one accurately, as he receives it; +or it might have to be passed on, from hand to hand. Otherwise, a +spoken message is the best; for if a messenger be killed on the +way, none are the wiser as to the errand on which he is going; +while, if a parchment is found on him, the first priest or monk can +translate its purport.</p> + +<p>"The chaplain has two younger priests with him; and, should you +be willing, I doubt not that one of these would give you +instruction, for an hour or two of a day. The Percys may not be +back for another month or two, and if you apply yourself to it +honestly, you might learn something by that time."</p> + +<p>"I should like it very much, Uncle."</p> + +<p>"Then, so it shall be, lad. For two or three hours a day you +must practise in arms--I have some rare swordsmen among my +fellows--but for the rest of the time, you will be your own master. +I will speak with father Ernulf, in the morning, after we have seen +to the matter of your garments."</p> + +<p>A straw pallet was brought up to the chamber; and, after +chatting for half an hour about his visit to the Armstrongs, Oswald +took off his riding boots and jerkin, the total amount of disrobing +usual at that time on the border, and was soon asleep.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid, Uncle," he said in the morning, "that the +furnishment of the purse my father gave me, at starting, will not +go far towards what you may consider necessary for my outfit."</p> + +<p>"That need not trouble you at all, lad. I told your father I +should take all charges upon myself, having no children of my own, +and no way to spend my money; therefore I can afford well to do as +I like towards you. Once the war begins, you will fill your purse +yourself; for although the peoples of the towns and villages suffer +by the Scotch incursions, we men-at-arms profit by a war. We have +nought that they can take from us, but our lives, while we take our +share of the booty, and have the ransom of any knights or gentlemen +we may make prisoners."</p> + +<p>Accordingly they went into Alnwick, and Alwyn Forster bought for +his nephew several suits of clothes, suitable for a young gentleman +of good family; together with armour, of much more modern fashion +than that to which Oswald was accustomed. When they returned to the +castle, the lad was told to put on one of these suits, at once.</p> + +<p>"Make your old ones up in a bundle," his uncle said. "There may +be occasions when you may find such clothes useful; though here, +assuredly, they are out of place. Now, I will go with you to Father +Ernulf."</p> + +<p>The priest's abode was in what was called the Abbots' Tower, +which was the one nearest to the large monastery, outside the +walls.</p> + +<p>"I told you, father," the captain said, "that belike my nephew +would join me here, as I was going to present him to Sir Henry +Percy. The good knight will not be back again, mayhap, for some +weeks; and the lad has a fancy to learn to read and write, and I +thought you might put him in the way of his attaining such +knowledge."</p> + +<p>"He looks as if the sword will suit his hand better than the +pen," the priest said, with a smile, as his eye glanced over the +lad's active figure. "But surely, if he is so inclined, I shall be +glad to further his wishes. There is a monk at the monastery who, +although a good scholar, is fitted rather for the army than the +Church. He was one of our teachers, but in sooth had but little +patience with the blunders of the children; but I am sure that he +would gladly give his aid to a lad like this, and would bear with +him, if he really did his best. I have nought to do at present, and +will go down with him, at once, and talk to Friar Roger.</p> + +<p>"If the latter would rather have nought to do with it, one of my +juniors shall undertake the task; but I am sure that the friar +would make a better instructor, if he would take it in hand.</p> + +<p>"He is a stout man-at-arms--for, as you know, when the Scots +cross the border, the abbot always sends a party of his stoutest +monks to fight in Percy's ranks; as is but right, seeing that the +Scots plunder a monastery as readily as a village. Friar Roger was +the senior in command, under the sub-prior, of the monks who fought +at Otterburn, and all say that none fought more stoutly, and the +monks were the last to fall back on that unfortunate day. They say +that he incurred many penances for his unchurchly language, during +the fight; but that the abbot remitted them, on account of the +valour that he had shown."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the priest went off with Oswald to the monastery, +while Alwyn Forster remained, to attend to his duties as captain of +the men-at-arms. On his saying that he wished to see the friar +Roger, the priest was shown into a waiting room, where the monk +soon joined them.</p> + +<p>He was a tall, powerful man, standing much over six feet in +height, and of proportionate width of shoulders. He carried his +head erect, and looked more like a man-at-arms, in disguise, than a +monk. He bent his head to the priest, and then said in a hearty +tone:</p> + +<p>"Well, Father Ernulf, what would you with me, today? You have no +news of the Scots having crossed the border, and I fear that there +is no chance, at present, of my donning a cuirass over my +gown?"</p> + +<p>"None at present, brother, though it may well be so, before +long. I hope that we shall soon have the earl and his son back +again, for the Scots are sure to take advantage of their absence, +now that the truce is expired.</p> +<a id="PicA" /> +<center> +<img src="images/a.jpg" alt= +"This is the nephew of Alwyn Forster" +/> </center> + +<p>"No, I want you on other business. This young gentleman is the +nephew of Alwyn Forster, whom you know."</p> + +<p>"Right well, Father; a good fellow, and a stout fighter."</p> + +<p>"He is about to enter Sir Henry's household," the priest went +on; "but, seeing that the knight is still away, and may be absent +for some weeks yet, the young man is anxious to learn to read and +write--</p> + +<p>"Not from any idea of entering the Church," he broke off, with a +smile, at the expression of surprise on the monk's face; "but that +it may be useful to him in procuring advancement.</p> + +<p>"I have, therefore, brought him to you; thinking that you would +make a far better teacher, for a lad like him, than your brothers +in the school. I thought perhaps that, if I spoke to the abbot, he +might release you from your attendance at some of the services, for +such a purpose."</p> + +<p>"That is a consideration," the monk laughed.</p> + +<p>"Well, young sir, I tell you fairly that among my gifts is not +that of patience with fools. If you are disposed to work right +heartily, as I suppose you must be, or you would not make such a +request, I on my part will do my best to teach you; but you must +not mind if, sometimes, you get a rough buffet to assist your +memory."</p> + +<p>"I should doubt whether a buffet, from you, would not be more +likely to confuse my memory than to assist it," Oswald said, with a +smile; "but at any rate, I am ready to take my chance, and can +promise to do my best to avoid taxing your patience, to that +point."</p> + +<p>"That will do, Father," the monk said. "He is a lad of spirit, +and it is a pleasure to train one of that kind. As to the puny boys +they send to be made monks because, forsooth, they are likely to +grow up too weak for any other calling, I have no patience with +them; and I get into sore disgrace, with the abbot, for my +shortness of temper."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid, from what I hear," the priest said, shaking his +head, but unable to repress a smile, "that you are often in +disgrace, Brother Roger."</p> + +<p>"I fear that it is so, and were it not that I am useful, in +teaching the lay brothers and the younger monks the use of the +carnal weapons, I know that, before this, I should have been +bundled out, neck and crop. 'Tis hard, Father, for a man of my +inches to be shut up, here, when there is so much fighting to be +done, abroad."</p> + +<p>"There is good work to be done, everywhere," the priest said +gravely. "Many of us may have made a mistake in choosing our +vocations; but, if so, we must make the best we can of what is +before us."</p> + +<p>"What time will you come?" the monk asked Oswald.</p> + +<p>"My uncle said that he would suit my hours to yours; but that, +if it was all the same to you, I should practise in arms from six +o'clock till eight, and again for an hour or two in the evening; so +that I could come to you either in the morning or afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Come at both, if you will," the monk said. "If the good father +can get me off the services, from eight till six, you can be with +me all that time, save at the dinner hour. You have but a short +time to learn in, and must give yourself heartily to it.</p> + +<p>"There is the chapel bell ringing, now, and I must be off. The +abbot will not be present at this service, Father; and if you will, +you can see him now. I doubt not that he will grant your request, +for I know that I anger him, every time I am in chapel. I am fond +of music, and I have a voice like a bull; and, do what I will, it +will come out in spite of me; and he says that my roaring destroys +the effect of the whole choir."</p> + +<p>So saying, he strode away.</p> + +<p>"Do you wait outside the gates, my son," the priest said. "I +shall be only a few minutes with the abbot; who, as Friar Roger +says, will, I doubt not, be glad enough to grant him leave to +abstain from attendance at the services."</p> + +<p>In a short time, indeed, he rejoined Oswald at the gate.</p> + +<p>"That matter was managed, easily enough," he said. "The abbot +has, himself, a somewhat warlike disposition, which is not to be +wondered at, seeing that he comes from a family ever ready to draw +the sword; and he has, therefore, a liking for Friar Roger, in +spite of his contumacies, breaches of regulations, and quarrels +with the other monks. He is obliged to continually punish him, with +sentences of seclusion, penance, and fasting; but methinks it goes +against the grain. He said, at once, that he was delighted to hear +that he had voluntarily undertaken some work that would keep him +out of trouble, and that he willingly, and indeed gladly, absolved +him from attendance in chapel, during the hours that he was +occupied with you.</p> + +<p>"'He is not without his uses,' he said. 'He is in special charge +of the garden, and looks after the lay brothers employed in it. I +will put someone else in charge, while he is busy, though I doubt +if any will get as much work out of the lay brothers as he does; +and indeed, he himself labours harder than any of them. With any +other, I should say that tucking his gown round his waist, and +labouring with might and main was unseemly; but as it works off +some of his superabundant energy, I do not interfere with +him.'"</p> + +<p>"How ever did he become a monk, Father?"</p> + +<p>"It seems that he was a somewhat sickly child, and his father +sent him to the monastery to be taught, with a view to entering the +Church. He was quick and bright in his parts, but as his health +improved he grew restless, and at fifteen refused to follow the +vocation marked out for him, and returned home; where, as I have +heard, he took part in various daring forays across the border. +When he was five-and-twenty, he was wounded well-nigh to death in +one of these, and he took it as a judgment upon him, for deserting +the Church; so he returned here, and became a lay brother. He was a +very long time, before he recovered his full strength, and before +he did so he became a monk, and I believe has bitterly regretted +the fact, ever since.</p> + +<p>"Some day, I am afraid, he will break the bounds altogether, +throw away his gown, assume a breast plate and steel cap, and +become an unfrocked monk. I believe he fights hard against his +inclinations, but they are too strong for him. If war breaks out I +fear that, some day, he will be missing.</p> + +<p>"He will, of course, go down south, where he will be unknown; +and where, when the hair on his tonsure has grown, he can well pass +as a man-at-arms, and take service with some warlike lord. I trust +that it may not be so, but he will assuredly make a far better +man-at-arms than he will ever make a good monk."</p> + +<p>The next morning, after practising for two hours with sword and +pike, Oswald went down, at eight o'clock, to the monastery, and was +conducted to friar Roger's cell. The latter at once began his +instruction, handing him a piece of blackened board, and a bit of +chalk.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said, "you must learn to read and write, together. +There are twenty-six letters, and of each there is a big one and a +little one. The big ones are only used at the beginning of a +sentence--that is where, if you were talking, you would stop to +take breath and begin afresh--and also at the first letter of the +names of people, and places.</p> + +<p>"The first letter is 'A'. There it is, in that horn book, you +see. It looks like two men, or two trees, leaning against each +other for support; with a line, which might be their hands, in the +middle.</p> + +<p>"Now, make a letter like that, on your board. The little 'a' is +a small circle with an upright, with a tail to it; you might fancy +it a fish, with its tail turned up.</p> + +<p>"Now, write each of those, twelve times."</p> + +<p>So he continued with the first six letters.</p> + +<p>"That will be as much as you will remember, at first," he said. +"Now we will begin spelling with those letters, and you will see +how they are used. You see, it is a mixture of the sounds of the +two: 'b a' makes ba, and 'b e' be, 'c a' ca, 'd a' da, 'd e' de, and +so on. Now, we will work it out."</p> + +<p>Oswald was intelligent, and anxious to learn. He had been +accustomed, when riding, to notice every irregularity of ground, +every rock and bush that might serve as a guide, if lost in a fog, +and he very quickly took in the instruction given him; and, by the +time the convent bell rung to dinner, he had made a considerable +progress with the variations that could be formed with the six +letters that he had learned; and the friar expressed himself as +highly satisfied with him.</p> + +<p>"You have learned as much, in one morning, as many of the boys +who attend schools would learn in a month," he said. "If you go on +like this, I will warrant that, if Percy delays his return for two +months, you will know as much as many who have been two years at +the work. I have always said that it is a mistake to teach children +young; their minds do not take in what you say to them. You may +beat it into them, but they only get it by rote; and painfully, +because they don't understand how one thing leads to another, and +it is their memory only, and not their minds, that are at +work."</p> + +<p>The next day came news that the Scotch had crossed the border, +and there was great excitement in the castle; but it was soon +learned that the invasion was not on a great scale, neither the +Douglases nor the Earl of March having taken part in it.</p> + +<p>"There is no fear of our being attacked, here," Alwyn Forster +said to Oswald. "The sheriffs of the county will call out their +levies, and will soon make head against them. At the same time, we +shall make preparations against any chance of their coming +hither."</p> + +<p>This was done. Vast quantities of arrows were prepared, stones +collected and carried up to the points on the wall most exposed to +attack; and orders sent out, by the governor of the castle in the +Percys' absence, to the people for many miles round, that on the +approach of the Scots all were to retire to refuge, the women and +children taking to the hills, while the men capable of bearing arms +were to hasten to the defence of the castle.</p> + +<p>For a time, the Scots carried all before them, wasting and +devastating the country. Oswald heard that they had captured, +without resistance, his father's hold. He rejoiced at the news, for +he feared that, not knowing the strength of the invading force, +resistance might have been attempted; in which case all in the hold +might have been put to the sword. He had no doubt, now, that his +father and mother had retired with their followers to the hills, as +they had always determined to do, in case of an invasion by a force +too strong to resist.</p> + +<p>Had the Percys been at home, they might have held out, confident +that the Scotch would be attacked before they could effect its +capture; but as all the northern lords, with their retainers, were +away in the south, it would be some time before a force could be +collected that could make head against the Scots.</p> + +<p>A portion of the Scottish army laid siege to the castle of Wark, +on the Tweed. This castle had always played a conspicuous part in +the border wars. It had been besieged and captured by David of +Scotland, in the reign of Stephen; and two or three years later was +again besieged, but this time repulsed all attacks. David, after +his defeat at the battle of the Standard, resumed the siege. It +again repulsed all attacks, but at last was reduced to an extremity +by famine, and capitulated.</p> + +<p>The castle was demolished by the Scots, but was rebuilt by Henry +the Second. In 1215 it was again besieged, this time by King John, +who resented the defection of the northern barons; and it was +captured, and again destroyed. In 1318 it was captured and +destroyed by Robert Bruce. In 1341 it was besieged by David Bruce, +but held out until relieved by King Edward, himself. In 1383 it was +again besieged by the Scots, and part of its fortifications +demolished. On the present occasion it was again captured, and +razed to the ground.</p> + +<p>Another portion of the Scottish army, plundering and burning, +advanced along the valley of the Coquet. As they approached, the +inhabitants of the district round Alnwick began to pour into the +castle; but orders were issued that all the fighting men should +join the force of Sir Robert Umfraville, the sheriff of the +district, who was gathering a force to give the Scots battle.</p> + +<p>"I fear that there is small chance of the Scots making their way +hither," Oswald's instructor said, in lugubrious tones. "Sir Robert +is a stout fighter, and the Scots, laden as they must be with +booty, and having hitherto met with no resistance, will be careless +and like to be taken by surprise. Methinks the abbot ought to send +off a contingent, to aid Sir Robert."</p> + +<p>Oswald laughed.</p> + +<p>"I suppose he wants to keep them for more urgent work, and +thinks that the Church should only fight when in desperate straits. +However, Father, you may have an opportunity yet; for we cannot +regard it as certain that Sir Robert will defeat the Scots."</p> + +<p>Three days later, however, the news arrived that Sir Robert had +attacked the Scots, at Fulhetlaw, and utterly defeated them; taking +prisoner Sir Richard Rutherford and his five sons, together with +Sir William Stewart, John Turnbull, a noted border reiver, and many +others; and that those who had escaped were in full flight for the +border.</p> + +<p>The Scotch incursion had made no change in Oswald's work. He +continued to study hard with the monk. As a rule, he fully +satisfied his teacher; but at times, when he failed to name the +letters required to make up a certain sound, the latter lost all +patience with him; and, more than once, with difficulty restrained +himself from striking him. Spelling in those days, however, had by +no means crystallized itself into any definite form, and there was +so large a latitude allowed that, if the letters used gave an +approximate sound to the word, it was deemed sufficient.</p> + +<p>The consequence was that Oswald's education progressed at a +speed that would, in these more rigid days, be deemed impossible. +He was intensely interested in the work, and even his martial +exercises were, for the time, secondary to it in his thoughts. He +felt so deeply grateful to his instructor that, even if he had +struck him, he would have cared but little. In those days rough +knocks were readily given, and the idea that there was anything +objectionable, in a boy being struck, had never been entertained by +anyone. Wives were beaten not uncommonly, servants frequently; and +from the highest to the lowest, corporal punishment was regarded as +the only way to ensure the carrying out of orders.</p> + +<p>Oswald was slower in learning to write down the letters than he +was to read them. His hands were so accustomed to the rein, the +bow, and the sword that they bungled over the work of forming +letters. Nevertheless, by the time the Percys returned, three +months and a half after his arrival at the castle, he could both +read and write short and simple words; and as these formed a large +proportion of English speech, at the time, he had made a +considerable step in the path of learning, and the monk was highly +pleased with his pupil.</p> + +<p>"I shall not be able to come tomorrow, Father," he said to the +monk, one day. "The earl and Sir Henry will be back tonight, and my +uncle says that I must keep near him, tomorrow; so that, if +opportunity offers, he may present me to the knight."</p> + +<p>"I feared it would come to that," the monk said. "I wish they +had all stopped away, another three or four months; then you would +have got over your difficulty of piecing together syllables, so as +to make up a long word. 'Tis a thousand pities that you should stop +altogether, just when you are getting on so well."</p> + +<p>"I will come as often as I can, Father, if you will let me."</p> + +<p>"No, no, lad. I know what it is, when the family are at home. It +will be, 'Here, Oswald, ride with such a message;' or Hotspur, +himself, may be going out with a train, and you will have to +accompany him. There will always be something.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, save but for your teaching, it is high time that the +Percys were back again; for there has already been a great deal of +hot work, on the border, and report says that the Scots are +mustering strongly, and that there is going to be a great raid into +Cumberland; so you will be busy, and so shall I. The lay brothers +have made but a poor hand of it, while I have been busy. I went +down in the evening, yesterday, to see them drill; and it was as +much as I could do to prevent myself from falling upon them, and +giving them a lesson of a different sort.</p> + +<p>"As it was, I gave it to their instructor heartily, and was had +up before the abbot on his complaint, this morning; and am to eat +Lenten fare for the next ten days, which accords but ill either +with my liking or needs."</p> + +<p>In the evening, the courtyard was ablaze with torches as, amid +the cheers of the garrison, the Earl of Northumberland and his son +rode in, with a strong body of men-at-arms. The greater portion of +the following with which they had met Henry of Lancaster on his +landing, and escorted him to London, had long since returned to +their homes; being released from service, when it was seen that no +opposition was to be looked for from the adherents of Richard. The +followings of the various nobles and knights of the northern +counties had left the main body on the way home, and Northumberland +had brought with him, to Alnwick, only the men-at-arms who formed +the regular force retained under his standard.</p> + +<p>Oswald was greatly struck with the splendid appearance, and +appointments, of the earl and the knights who attended him, and +with the martial array of his followers. Hitherto, he had seen but +the roughest side of war; the arms and armour carried not for show, +but for use, and valued for their strength, without any reference +to their appearance. On the border there was not the smallest +attempt at uniformity in appearance, polished armour was regarded +with disfavour, and that worn was of the roughest nature, the local +armourer's only object being to furnish breast and back pieces +that would resist the strongest spear thrust. Of missiles they made +little account, for the Scots had but few archers, and their bows +were so inferior in strength, to those carried by the English +archers, that armour strong enough to resist a spear thrust was +amply sufficient to keep out a Scottish arrow.</p> + +<p>There was not, even in the array of the Earl of Northumberland's +men-at-arms, any approach to the uniformity that now prevails among +bodies of soldiers. The helmets, breast and back pieces, were, +however, of similar form, as the men engaged for continued service +were furnished with armour by the earl; but there was a great +variety in the garments worn under them, these being of all +colours, according to the fancy of their wearers. All, however, +carried spears of the same length, while some had swords, and +others heavy axes at their girdles. The helmets and armour were all +brightly polished, and as the lights of the torches flashed from +them and from the spearheads; Oswald, for the first time, witnessed +something of the pomp of war.</p> + +<p>His uncle, as captain of the men-at-arms left in the castle, was +invited to the banquet held after the arrival of the force. Oswald, +therefore, was free to wander about among the soldiers, listening +to their talk of what they had seen in London, and of the +entertainments there in honour of the new king; exciting, thereby, +no small amount of envy among those who had been left behind in +garrison.</p> + +<p>Oswald already knew that the earl had been appointed Constable +of England, for life, and now heard that the lordship of the Isle +of Man had since been conferred on him.</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch4">Chapter 4</a>: An Unequal Joust.</h2> + +<p>"You must don your best costume tomorrow, Oswald," his uncle +said, when he returned from the banquet. "Sir Henry Percy's first +question, after asking as to the health of the garrison, was:</p> + +<p>"'Has this nephew of yours, of whom you were speaking to me, +come yet?'</p> + +<p>"I told him that you had been here well-nigh four months, that +you had been practising in arms with my best swordsmen, who spoke +highly of you, and that the whole of your spare time had been spent +at the monastery, where you had been studying to acquire the art of +reading and writing, thinking that such knowledge must be useful to +you in his service. I told him that brother Roger had reported that +you had shown marvellous sharpness there, and could already read +from a missal, barring only some of the long words.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, he had the fighting monk for his master!' Sir Henry said, +laughing. 'Truly he must have been a good pupil, if he has come out +of it without having his head broken, a dozen times. The friar is a +thorn in the abbot's flesh, and more than once I have had to beg +him off, or he would have been sent to the monastery of Saint John, +which is a place of punishment for refractory monks. But in truth +he is an honest fellow, though he has mistaken his vocation. He is +a valiant man-at-arms, and the abbot's contingent would be of small +value, without him.</p> + +<p>"'Well, I will see your nephew in the morning. His perseverance +in learning, and his quickness in acquiring it, show him to be a +youth of good parts, and intelligent; but until I see him, I cannot +say what I will make of him.'"</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the next morning the lad accompanied his uncle to +Sir Henry's private apartment, and found the knight alone. Sir +Henry, Lord Percy, was now about forty years old. He had received +the order of knighthood at the coronation of Richard the Second, +when his father was created earl; and, nine years later, he was +made governor of Berwick and Warden of the Marches; in which office +he displayed such activity in following up and punishing raiders, +that the Scots gave him the name of Hotspur. He was then sent to +Calais, where he showed great valour. Two years later he was made +Knight of the Garter, and was then appointed to command a fleet, +sent out to repel a threatened invasion by the French. Here he +gained so great a success that he came to be regarded as one of the +first captains of the age.</p> + +<p>At Otterburn, his impetuosity cost him his freedom; for, +pressing forward into the midst of the Scotch army, he and his +brother Ralph were taken prisoners, and carried into Scotland. He +had just been appointed, by King Henry, sheriff of Northumberland, +and governor of Berwick and Roxburgh, and received other marks of +royal favour.</p> + +<p>Although of no remarkable height, his broad shoulders and long, +sinewy arms testified to his remarkable personal strength. His face +was pleasant and open, and showed but small sign of his impetuous +and fiery disposition.</p> + +<p>"So this is the young springal," he said, with a smile; as, with +a quick glance, he took in every detail of Oswald's figure and +appearance. "By my troth, you have not overpraised him. He bears +himself well, and is like to be a stout fighter, when he comes to +his full strength. Indeed, as the son of John Forster of Yardhope, +and as your nephew, good Alwyn, he could scarce be otherwise; +although I have not heard that either his father, or you, ever +showed any disposition for letters."</p> + +<p>"No indeed, Sir Henry; nor have we, as far as I have ever seen, +been any the worse for our lack of knowledge on that head. But with +the lad here, it is different. Under your good patronage he may +well hope to attain, by good conduct and valour, a promotion where +book learning may be of use to him; and therefore, when he +expressed a desire to learn, I did my best to favour his +design."</p> + +<p>"And you did well, Alwyn. And since he has gained so much, in so +short a time, it were a pity he should not follow it up; and he +shall, if it likes him, so long as he is in this castle, have two +hours every morning in which he can visit the fighting monk, until +he can read and write freely.</p> + +<p>"Now, young sir, the question is, how can we best employ you? +You are too old for a lady's bower, but not old enough, yet, for an +esquire."</p> + +<p>"Nor could I aspire to such a position, my lord, until I have +proved myself worthy of it. My uncle told me that he had suggested +that I might be useful as a bearer of messages, and orders; and as +I know every foot of the border, from near Berwick to Cumberland, +methinks that I might serve you in that way. I ride lightly, know +every morass and swamp, and every road through the fells; and have +at times, when there was peace, crossed the Cheviots by several of +the passes, to pay visits to my mother's sister, who is married to +one of the Armstrongs, near Jedburgh. If your lordship will deign +to employ me in such service, I can promise to do so safely, and to +justify my uncle's recommendation; and shall be ready, at all +times, to risk my life in carrying out your orders."</p> + +<p>"Well spoken, lad. I like the tone of your voice, and your +manner of speech. They are such as will do no discredit to my +household, and I hereby appoint you to it; further matters I will +discuss with your uncle."</p> + +<p>Oswald expressed his thanks in suitable terms, and then, bowing +deeply, retired.</p> + +<p>"A very proper lad, Alwyn. I would have done much for you, old +friend, and would have taken him in some capacity, whatever he +might have turned out; but, frankly, I doubted whether John +Forster, valiant moss trooper as he is, would have been like to +have had a son whom I could enroll in my household, where the pages +and esquires are all sons of knights and men of quality. It is true +that his father might have been a knight, had he chosen, since the +earl offered him that honour after Otterburn; for three times he +charged, at the head of a handful of his own men, right into the +heart of the Scottish army, to try and rescue me; but he has always +kept aloof in his own hold, going his own way and fighting for his +own hand; and never once, that I can recall, has he paid a visit to +us here, or at our other seats. I feared that under such a training +as he would be likely to have, the lad would have been but a rough +diamond. However, from his appearance and bearing, he might well +have come of a noble family."</p> + +<p>"'Tis his mother's doing, methinks, Sir Henry. She is of gentle +birth. Her father was Sir Walter Gillespie. He was killed by the +Scots, when she was but a girl, or methinks he would scarcely have +given her in marriage to my brother John. She went with a sister to +live with an old aunt, who let the girls have their way, without +murmur; and seeing that they had no dowry, for their father was but +a poor knight, there were not many claimants for their hands; and +when she chose John Forster, and her sister Adam Armstrong, she did +not say them nay. She has made a good wife to him, though she must +have had many an anxious hour, and doubtless it is her influence +that has made the lad what he is."</p> + +<p>"How think you I had best bestow him, among the pages or the +esquires?"</p> + +<p>"I should say, Sir Henry, as you are good enough to ask my +opinion, that it were best among the esquires. It would be like +putting a hunting dog among a lady's pets, to put him with the +pages. Moreover, boys think more of birth than men do. The latter +judge by merit, and when they see that the lad has something in +him, would take to him; whereas were he with the pages there might +be quarrels, and he might fall into disgrace."</p> + +<p>"I think that you are right, Alwyn. He might get a buffet or +two, from the esquires, but he will be none the worse for that; +while with the pages it might be bickering, and ill will. He shall +take his chance with the squires. Bring him to me at twelve +o'clock, and I will myself present him to them, with such words as +may gain their goodwill, and make the way as easy as may be for +him."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, at twelve o'clock, Oswald went to Hotspur's room, +and was taken by him to the hall where the esquires, six in number, +had just finished a meal. They varied in age from eighteen to +forty. They all rose, as their lord entered.</p> + +<p>"I wish to present to you this young gentleman, my friends. He +is the son of John Forster of Yardhope, whose name is familiar to +you all, as one of the most valiant of the defenders of the border +against the Scottish incursions. None distinguished themselves more +at the battle of Otterburn, where he performed feats of prodigious +valour, in his endeavours to rescue me and my brother from the +hands of the Scots. The earl my father offered him knighthood, but +he said bluntly that he preferred remaining, like his father, plain +John Forster of Yardhope. The lad's mother is a daughter of Sir +Walter Gillespie, and he is nephew of Alwyn, captain of the +men-at-arms here.</p> + +<p>"He knows every foot of the border, its morasses, fells, and +passes; and will prove a valuable messenger, when I have occasion +to send orders to the border knights and yeomen. I have attached +him to my household. You will find him intelligent, and active. He +comes of a fighting stock; and will, I foresee, do no discredit to +them in the future. I hesitated whether I should place him with the +pages or with you, and have decided that, with your goodwill, he +will be far more comfortable in your society, if you consent to +receive him."</p> + +<p>"We will do so willingly, on such recommendation," the senior of +the esquires said; "as well as for the sake of his brave uncle, +whom we all respect and like, and of his valiant father. The +addition of young blood to our party will, indeed, not be +unwelcome; and while, perchance, he may learn something from us, he +will assuredly be able to tell us much that is new of the doings on +the border, of which nothing but vague reports have reached our +ears."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Allonby," Hotspur said. "I expected nothing less from +you. He will, of course, practise at arms regularly, when not +occupied in carrying messages; and you will be surprised to hear +that he will go for two hours daily to the monastery, where he has, +for the last three months, been learning reading and writing at the +hands of Brother Roger, the fighting monk. It is his own desire, +and a laudable one; and when I say that he has succeeded in giving +Brother Roger satisfaction, you may well imagine that he must have +made great progress."</p> + +<p>A smile ran round the faces of the esquires, for Brother Roger's +pugnacious instincts were widely known.</p> + +<p>"Truly, Sir Henry, if brother Roger did not lose patience with +him, it would be hard, indeed, if we could not get on with him; and +in truth, this desire to improve himself speaks well for the lad's +disposition."</p> + +<p>When Hotspur left, Allonby said, "Take a seat, Master Oswald. +But first, have you dined?"</p> + +<p>"I took my meal an hour since, with my uncle," Oswald +replied.</p> + +<p>"Ay, I remember that your uncle sticks to the old hours. Tell +us, were you with your father in that foray he headed, to carry off +some cattle that had been lifted by the Bairds? We heard a report +of it, last night."</p> + +<p>"I was not with him, to my great disappointment; for he said +that another year must pass, before I should be fit to hold my own +in a fray. The affair was a somewhat hot one. Three of my father's +men were killed, and some ten or twelve of those under other +leaders; and my father and several of the band were wounded, some +very sorely. It happened thus."</p> + +<p>And he then told the details of the affair.</p> + +<p>"It might well have been worse," Allonby said, "for, had the +Bairds had time to assemble, it would have gone hardly with your +father's party; especially as there is, as I have heard, a blood +feud between him and them."</p> + +<p>"They have scored the last success," Oswald said, "seeing that +they accompanied Sir Richard Rutherford in his raid, nigh two +months ago; and, as I hear, while the rest came on harrying and +plundering Croquetdale, the Bairds and their gathering remained at +our hold, which they found deserted, for indeed my father could not +hope to defend it successfully, against so large a force; and there +they employed themselves in demolishing the outer wall, and much of +the hold itself; and would have completed their task, had it not +been for the defeat inflicted upon the rest of the Scots by Sir +Robert Umfraville, when they were forced to hasten back across the +border. My father sent me a message afterwards, saying that he and +my mother, with their followers, had been forced to take to the +fells; and that, on their return, they found the place well-nigh +destroyed; but that he was going to set to work to rebuild it as +before, and that he hoped, some time, to demolish the Bairds' hold +in like fashion. It will be some time before the place is restored; +for, my father's means being limited, he and his retainers would +have to turn masons; but as the materials were there, he doubted +not that, in time, they would make a good job of it."</p> + +<p>"Truly, it is a hard life on the border," the squire said, "and +it is wonderful that any can be found willing to live within reach +of the Scotch raiders. I myself have done a fair share of fighting, +under our lord's banner; but to pass my life, never knowing whether +I may not awake to find the house assailed, would be worse than the +hardest service against an open foe.</p> + +<p>"Now, Master Oswald, we will go down to the courtyard, and see +what your instructors have done for you, in the matter of arms. +With whom have you been practising, since you came here?"</p> + +<p>"Principally with Godfrey Harpent, Dick Bamborough, and William +Anell; but I have had a turn with a great many of the other +men-at-arms."</p> + +<p>"The three men you name are all stout fellows, and good +swordsmen. As a borderer, I suppose that you have practised with +the lance?"</p> + +<p>"We call it by no such knightly term. With us it is a spear, and +nought else; but all borderers carry it, both for fighting and for +pricking up cattle; and from the time that I could sit a horse I +have always practised for a while, every day, with some of my +father's troopers, or with himself, using blunt weapons whitened +with chalk, so as to show where the hits fell. Although in a charge +upon footmen, our border spearmen would couch their weapons and +ride straight at their foe; in skirmishes, where each can single +out an enemy, and there is a series of single combats, they do not +so fight, but circle round each other, trusting to the agility of +their horses to avoid a thrust, and to deliver one when there is an +opening. Our spears are nothing like so heavy as the knightly +lances, and we thrust with them as with the point of a sword."</p> + +<p>"But in that way you can hardly penetrate armour," one of the +other esquires said.</p> + +<p>"No, it is only in a downright charge that we try to do so. When +we are fighting as I speak of, we thrust at the face, at the +armpit, the joints of the armour, which in truth seldom fits +closely, or below the breastplate. The Scotch use even less armour +than do our borderers, their breast pieces being smaller, and they +seldom wear back pieces. It is a question chiefly of the activity +of the horses, as of the skill of their riders, and our little moor +horses are as active as young goats; and although neither horse nor +rider can stand a charge of a heavily-armed knight or squire, +methinks that if one of our troopers brought him to a stand, he +would get the better of him, save if the knight took to mace or +battle-axe."</p> + +<p>"Have you your horse with you, Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is in the stable. I have gone out with it, every +morning, as soon as the castle gates were opened, and have ridden +for a couple of hours before I began my exercises."</p> + +<p>"Do you take him in hand first, Marsden," Allonby said to one of +the younger esquires, a young man of two or three and twenty.</p> + +<p>Light steel caps with cheeks, gorgets, shoulder and arm pieces, +and padded leathern jerkins were put on; and then, with blunted +swords, they took their places facing each other. The squire took +up a position of easy confidence. He was a good swordsman, and +good-naturedly determined to treat the lad easily, and to play with +him for a time before scoring his first hit.</p> + +<a id="PicB" /> +<center> +<img src="images/b.jpg" alt= +"It was with the greatest difficulty that he guarded his head" +/> </center> + +<p>He soon, however, found that the game was not to be conducted on +the lines that he had laid down. Oswald, after waiting for a minute +or two, finding his opponent did not take the offensive, did so +himself; and for a time Marsden had all his work to do, to defend +himself. Several times, indeed, it was with the greatest difficulty +that he guarded his head. The activity of his assailant almost +bewildered him, as he continually shifted his position, and with +cat-like springs leapt in and dealt a blow, leaping back again +before his opponent's arm had time to fall.</p> + +<p>Finding at last that, quick as he might be, Marsden's blade +always met his own, Oswald relaxed his efforts, as he was growing +fatigued; and as he did so Marsden took the offensive, pressing him +backwards, foot by foot. Every time, however, that he found himself +approaching a barrier, or other obstacle, that would prevent his +further retreat, Oswald, with a couple of springs, managed to shift +his ground. When he saw that Marsden was growing breathless from +his exertions, he again took the offensive, and at last landed a +blow fairly on his opponent's helm.</p> + +<p>"By my faith," the squire said, with a laugh that had +nevertheless a little mortification in it, "I would as soon fight +with a wildcat; and yet your breath scarce comes fast, while I have +not as much left in me as would fill an eggshell."</p> + +<p>"It was an excellent display," Allonby said.</p> + +<p>"Truly, lad, your activity is wonderful, and you might well +puzzle the oldest swordsman, by such tactics. Marsden did +exceedingly well, too. Many times I thought that your sword would +have gone home, but up to the last, his guard was always ready in +time. As for yourself, we had scarce the opportunity of seeing how +your sword would guard your head, for you trusted always to your +legs, rather than your arms.</p> + +<p>"Well, lad, you will do. Your arm is like iron, or it would have +tired long before, with that sword, which is a little over heavy +for you. As to your wind, you would tire out the stoutest swordsman +in the Percys' train. I do not say that, in the press of a battle, +where your activity would count for little, a good man-at-arms +would not get the better of you; but in a single combat, with +plenty of room, it would be a good man, indeed, who would tackle +you; especially were he clad in armour, and you fighting without +it. His only chance would be to get in one downright blow, that +would break down your guard. As Marsden says, you fight like a +wildcat, rather than as a man-at-arms; but as the time may come +when you will ride in heavy armour, and so lose the advantage of +your agility, you had best continue to practise regularly with us, +and the men-at-arms, and learn to fight in the fashion that would +be needed, were you engaged in a pitched battle when on horseback, +and in armour."</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad, indeed, to do so," Oswald said modestly. "I +know that I am very ignorant of real swordsmanship, and the +men-at-arms have me quite at their mercy, when they insist upon my +not shifting my ground. At home, I have only practised with my +father's troopers, and we always fight on foot, and with stout +sticks instead of swords, and without defences save our head +pieces; but fighting in knightly fashion I knew nothing of, until I +came here."</p> + +<p>"You will soon acquire that, lad. With your strength of arm, +length of wind, quickness of eye, and activity, you will make a +famous swordsman, in time.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Here is Sir Henry."</p> + +<p>"Have you been trying the lad's metal?" Hotspur asked, as he saw +Oswald in the act of taking off his steel cap. Marsden had already +done so.</p> + +<p>"That have we, Sir Henry, and find it as of proof. Marsden here, +who is no mean blade, has taken him in hand; and the lad has more +than held his own against him, not so much by swordsmanship as by +activity, and wind. It was a curious contest. Marsden compared +Oswald to a wildcat, and the comparison was not an ill one; for, +indeed, his springs and leaps were so rapid and sudden that it was +difficult to follow him, and the fight was like one between such an +animal, and a hound. Marsden defended himself well against all his +attacks, until his breath failed him, and he was dealt a downright +blow on his helm, on which I see it has made a shrewd dent. As for +his blows, they fell upon air, for the lad was ever out of reach +before the ripostes came. In his own style of fighting, I would +wager on him against any man-at-arms in the castle."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear it," Hotspur said. "I shall feel the less +scruple, in sending him on missions which are not without danger. +He will need training, to fit him for combat in the ranks. No doubt +he has had no opportunity for such teaching, and would go down +before a heavy-armed man, with a lance, like a blade of grass +before a millstone."</p> + +<p>"He thinks not, Sir Henry, at least not in a single combat, for +by his accounts his horse is as nimble as himself; but of course, +in charges he and his horse would be rolled over, as you say."</p> + +<p>"He thinks not? Oh, well, we will try him! I have an hour to +spare.</p> + +<p>"Do you put on a suit of full armour, Sinclair, and we will ride +out to the course beyond the castle.</p> + +<p>"What will you put on, lad?"</p> + +<p>"I will put on only breast piece and steel cap; but I only said +I should have a chance against a lance, Sir Henry. I do not pretend +that I could stand against any man-at-arms, armed with sword and +mace; but only that I thought that, with my horse, I could evade +the shock of a fully-accoutred man, and then harass and maybe wound +him with my spear."</p> + +<p>"Well, we will try, lad. Put on what you will, and get your +horse saddled. It will be rare amusement to see so unequal a +course. We shall be ready in a quarter of an hour."</p> + +<p>Oswald went up to his uncle, and told him what was proposed. +Alwyn, who had witnessed his exercises with the rough riders of his +father, smiled grimly.</p> + +<p>"If you can evade his first charge, which I doubt not that you +can, you will have him at your mercy, with your light spear against +his lance, and your moor horse against his charger; but put on the +heaviest of your two steel caps, and strong shoulder pieces. 'Tis +like enough that, in his temper, he may throw away his lance and +betake him to his sword. I will demand that he carries neither mace +nor battle-axe, and that you should only carry sword and spear. +Your horse's nimbleness may keep you out of harm, which is as much +as you can expect, or hope for. Put on a light breast plate, too, +for in spite of the wooden shield to his lance head, he may hurt +you sorely if he does chance to strike you."</p> + +<p>Oswald saw that his horse was carefully saddled. He procured +from his uncle a piece of cloth; and, removing the spearhead, +wrapped this round the head of the shaft, until it formed a ball +the size of his fist. This he whitened thickly with chalk.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Sinclair, who was the heaviest and strongest of +the esquires, rode out into the courtyard in full armour. Sir +Henry, with his own esquires, and several of the gentlemen of the +earl's household, came down; and Hotspur laughed at the contrast +presented by the two combatants: the one a mass of steel, with +shield and lance, on a warhorse fully caparisoned; the other a +slight, active-looking figure, with but little defensive armour, on +a rough pony which had scarce an ounce of superfluous flesh.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen," he said, "we may be engaged in warfare with +the Scots, before long; and you will here have an opportunity of +seeing the nature of border fighting. The combat may seem to you +ridiculously unequal, but I know the moss trooper, and I can tell +you that, in a single combat like this, activity goes far to +counterbalance weight and armour. You remember how Robert Bruce, +before Bannockburn, mounted on but a pony, struck down Sir Robert +Bohun, a good knight and a powerful one."</p> + +<p>As the party went out, through the gates, to the tilting ground +outside the walls, the men-at-arms, seeing that something unusual +was going to take place, crowded up to the battlements, looking +down on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen," Percy said, "you will take your places at +opposite ends of the field; and when I drop my scarf, you will +charge. It is understood that you need not necessarily ride +straight at each other; but that it is free, to each of you, to do +the best he can to overthrow his opponent."</p> + +<p>As he gave the signal, the two riders dashed at full speed at +each other; and, for a moment, the spectators thought that Oswald +was going to be mad enough to meet his opponent in full course. +When, however, the horses were within a length of each other, the +rough pony swerved aside with a spring like that of a deer; and, +wheeling round instantly, Oswald followed his opponent. The latter +tried to wheel his charger, but as he did so, Oswald's spear struck +him in the vizor, leaving a white mark on each side of the slit; +and then he too wheeled his horse, maintaining his position on the +left hand, but somewhat in rear, of his opponent; who was, thereby, +wholly unable to use his lance, while Oswald marked the junction of +gorget and helmet with several white circles. Furious at finding +himself incapable of either defending himself, or of striking a +blow, the squire threw away his lance, and drew his sword.</p> + +<p>Hotspur shouted, at the top of his voice:</p> + +<p>"A breach of the rules! A breach of the rules! The combat is at +an end."</p> + +<p>But his words were unheard, in the helmet. Making his horse +wheel round on his hind legs, Sinclair rode at Oswald with uplifted +sword. The latter again couched his spear under his arm and, +touching his horse with his spur, the animal sprung forward; and +before the sword could fall, the point of the spear caught the +squire under the armpit, and hurled him sideways from his +saddle.</p> + +<p>Hotspur and those round him ran forward. Sinclair lay without +moving, stunned by the force with which he had fallen. Oswald had +already leapt from his horse, and raised Sinclair's head, and began +to unlace the fastenings of his helmet. Hotspur's face was flushed +with anger.</p> + +<p>"Do not upbraid him, my lord, I pray you," Oswald said. "He +could scarce have avoided breaking the conditions, helpless as he +felt himself; and he could not have heard your voice, which would +be lost in his helmet. I pray you, be not angered with him."</p> + +<p>Hotspur's face cleared.</p> + +<p>"At your request I will not, lad," he said; "and, indeed, he has +been punished sufficiently."</p> + +<p>By the time that the helmet was removed, one of the soldiers +from the battlements ran out from the castle, with a ewer of water. +This was dashed into the squire's face. He presently opened his +eyes. A heavy fall was thought but little of in those days; and as +Sinclair was raised to his feet, and looked round in bewilderment +at those who were standing round him, Hotspur said good +temperedly:</p> + +<p>"Well, Master Sinclair, the lad has given us all a lesson that +may be useful to us. I would scarce have believed it, if I had not +seen it; that a stout soldier, in full armour, should have been +worsted by a lad on a rough pony; but I see now that the advantage +is all on the latter's side, in a combat like this, with plenty of +room to wheel his horse.</p> + +<p>"Why, he would have slain you a dozen times, Sinclair. Look at +your vizor. That white mark is equal on both sides of the slit, and +had there been a spear head on the shaft, it would have pierced you +to the brain. Every joint of your armour, behind, is whitened; and +that thrust, that brought you from your horse, would have spitted +you through and through.</p> + +<p>"Now, let there be no ill feeling over this. It is an +experiment, and a useful one; and had I, myself, been in your +place, I do not know that I could have done aught more than you +did."</p> + +<p>Sinclair was hot tempered, but of a generous disposition, and he +held out his hand to Oswald, frankly.</p> + +<p>"It was a fair fight," he said, "and you worsted me, altogether. +No one bears malice for a fair fall, in a joust."</p> + +<p>"The conditions were not at all even," Oswald said. "On a pony +like mine, unless you had caught me in full career, it was +impossible that the matter could have turned out otherwise."</p> + +<p>"I often wondered," Hotspur said, as they walked towards the +gate, "that our chivalry should have been so often worsted by the +rough Scottish troopers; but now I understand it. The Scotch always +choose broken ground, and always scatter before we get near them; +and, circling round, fall upon our chivalry when their weight and +array are of no use to them. Happily, such a misadventure has never +happened to myself; but it might well do so. The Scotch, too, have +no regard for the laws of chivalry; and once behind will spear the +horse, as indeed happened to me, at Otterburn. 'Tis a lesson in war +one may well take to heart; and when I next fight the Scots, I will +order that on no account, whatever, are the mounted men to break +their ranks; but, whatever happens, are to move in a solid body, in +which case they could defy any attacks upon them by light-armed +horse, however numerous."</p> + +<p>At the gate of the castle, Alwyn Forster met them.</p> + +<p>"You have given me a more useful addition to my following than I +dreamt of, Alwyn," Hotspur said. "Did you see the conflict?"</p> + +<p>"I watched it from the wall, Sir Henry. I felt sure how the +matter would end. The lad is quick and sharp at border exercises. I +have seen him work with his father's troopers. There were not many +of them who could hold their own against him, and in fighting in +their own way, I would back the moss troopers against the best +horsemen in Europe. They are always accustomed to fight each man +for himself, and though a score of men-at-arms would ride through a +hundred of them, if they met the charge; in single combat their +activity, and the nimbleness of their horses, would render them +more than a match for a fully-caparisoned knight."</p> + +<p>"So it seems," Hotspur said; "and yet, if Sinclair had but known +that the lad was about to swerve in his course, which indeed he +ought to have known--for it would have been madness to meet his +charge--he too should have changed his course to his left, when a +couple of lengths away; for he might be sure that the lad would +turn that way, so as to get on his left hand, and in that case he +would have ridden over him like a thunderbolt."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sir Henry, but Oswald would have had his eye on knee and +bridle; and the moment the horse changed his direction, he would +have been round the other way, like an arrow from a bow; and would +have planted himself, as he did, in the squire's rear."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," Hotspur said thoughtfully. "At any rate, Alwyn, +the boy has given us all a lesson, and you have done me good +service, by presenting him to me."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch5">Chapter 5</a>: A Mission.</h2> + +<p>For the next three or four months, Oswald was but little at the +castle; Percy utilizing his services, in the manner most agreeable +to him, by sending him on errands to various knights and gentlemen, +in different parts of Northumberland, and to the fortified places +held by the English across the Border. A fortnight after his +contest with Sinclair, Sir Henry formally appointed him one of his +esquires.</p> + +<p>"You are young," he said, "for such a post; but as you have +shown that you are well able to take care of yourself in arms, and +as I perceive you to be shrewd and worthy of confidence, your age +matters but little. As my messenger, you will be more useful +travelling as one of my esquires, than as one without settled rank; +and I can not only send written communications by you, but can +charge you to speak fully in my name, and with my authority."</p> + +<p>Oswald was not slow in finding out the advantages that the +position gave him. On the first errands on which he had been sent, +he had been treated as but an ordinary messenger, had been placed +at dinner below the salt, and herded with the men-at-arms. As an +esquire of Lord Percy, he was treated with all courtesy, was +introduced to the ladies of the family, sat at the high table, and +was regarded as being in the confidence of his lord. His youth +excited some little surprise, but acted in his favour, because it +was evident that Percy would not have nominated him as one of his +esquires, had he not shown particular merit. In his journeys, he +often passed near Yardhope, where the rebuilding of the wall and +keep was being pushed on with much vigour; the inhabitants of the +villages in the valley lending their assistance to restore the +fortalice, which they regarded as a place of refuge, in case of +sudden invasion by the Scots. His parents were both greatly pleased +at his promotion, especially his mother, who had always been +anxious that he should not settle down to the adventurous, and +dangerous, life led by his father.</p> + +<p>"By our Lady," John Forster said, "though it be but six months +since you first left us, you have changed rarely. I speak not of +your fine garments, but you have grown and widened out, and are +fast springing from a boy into a man; and it is no small thing that +Percy should have thought so well of you as to make you one of his +esquires, already."</p> + +<p>"It was from no merit of mine, Father, but because he thought +that, as his messenger, I should be able to speak in his name with +more authority than had I been merely the bearer of a letter from +him."</p> + +<p>"'Tis not only that," his father replied. "I received a letter +but two days since from my brother Alwyn, written by the hand of a +monk of his acquaintance, telling me that Lord Percy was mightily +pleased with you; not only because you had set yourself to read and +write, but from the way in which you had defeated one of his +esquires in a bout at arms. Alwyn said that he doubted not that you +would win knightly spurs, as soon as you came to full manhood. So +it is clear that merit had something to do with your advancement, +though this may be also due, to some extent, to the cause you +assign for it. The monk who wrote the letter added, on his own +account, that he had been your preceptor; and that, though he had +often rated you soundly, you had made wonderful progress."</p> + +<p>"The monk is a good teacher," Oswald laughed; "but he would have +made a better man-at-arms than he will ever make a monk. I believe +it pleased him more that I worsted Sinclair--which indeed was a +small thing to do, seeing that he had no idea of fighting, save of +charging straight at a foe--than at the progress I made at my +books. He commands the contingent that the monastery sends, when +Percy takes the field to repel an invasion; and, could he have his +own will, would gladly exchange a monk's robes for the harness of a +man-at-arms. I would wish for no stouter companion in the +fray."</p> + +<p>The speed with which he had performed his journeys, and the +intelligence which he showed in carrying out his missions and +reporting on their issue, earned for the lad an increasing amount +of liking and confidence, on the part of his lord. It was not only +that he delivered the replies to Hotspur's messages accurately; but +his remarks, upon the personal manner and bearing of those to whom +he was sent, were of still greater value to Percy. Naturally, all +had promised to have their contingent of fighting men ready, in +case of serious invasion by the Scots; but Oswald was able to +gather, from their manner, whether the promises would surely be +fulfilled; or whether, in case of trouble, the knights were more +likely to keep their array for the defence of their own castles +than to join Percy in any general movement.</p> + +<p>One day, when Oswald had been engaged six months at this work, +which had taken him several times into Cumberland and Westmoreland, +as well as the north, Lord Percy summoned him to his private +apartment.</p> + +<p>"Hitherto you have done well, Oswald, and I feel now that I can +trust you with a mission of far higher importance than those you +have hitherto performed. 'Tis not without its dangers, but I know +that you will like it none the less for that reason. You are young, +indeed, for business of such importance; but it seems to me that, +of those around me, you would be best fitted to carry it out. Your +manner of speech has changed much, since you came here; but +doubtless you can fall at will into the border dialect, which +differs little from that on the other side; and you can pass, well +enough, as coming from Jedburgh, or any other place across the +border.</p> + +<p>"All the world knows, lad, that George, Earl of March and +Dunbar, was mightily offended at Rothesay breaking off the match +with his daughter, and marrying the child of his rival Douglas; but +now I am going to tell you what the world does not know, and which +is a secret that would cost many a life, were it to be blabbed +abroad, and which I should not tell you, had I not a perfect +confidence in your discretion. The anger of March--as he is mostly +called on this side of the border, while in Scotland they more +often call him Earl of Dunbar--goes beyond mere displeasure with +the Douglas, and sullen resentment against Rothesay. He has sent a +confidential messenger to me, intimating that he is ready to +acknowledge our king as his sovereign, and place himself and his +forces at his disposal.</p> + +<p>"I see you are surprised, as is indeed but natural; but the +Marches have ever been rather for England than for Scotland, +although they have never gone so far as to throw off their +allegiance to the Scottish throne. It is not for us to consider +whether March is acting treacherously, to James of Scotland; but +whether he is acting in good faith, towards us.</p> + +<p>"It was easy for him to send a messenger to me, since Scotland +trades with England, and a ship bound for London might well touch +at one of our ports on the way down; but the presence of an +Englishman, at Dunbar, would not be so readily explained. His +messenger especially enjoined on me not to send any communication +in writing, even by the most trustworthy hand; since an accident +might precipitate matters, and drive him to take up arms, before we +were in a position to give him aid. Therefore, in the first place, +I wish you to journey to Dunbar, to see the earl, and deliver to +him the message I shall give you, and endeavour to inform yourself +how far he is to be trusted. Say what he will, I can scarce bring +myself to believe that he will really throw off his allegiance to +Scotland; save in the event of a great English army marching north, +when doubtless he would do what most Scotch nobles have always +done, namely, hasten to give in his submission, and make the best +terms he can, for himself. 'Tis a business which I like not, +although it is my duty to accept a proposal that, if made in good +faith, would be of vast value to the king.</p> + +<p>"You must, after seeing the earl, return here with all speed, to +bear me any message March may give you, and to report your +impressions as to his sincerity, and good faith. 'Tis a month since +I received his message. Since then, I have communicated with the +king, and have received his authority to arrange terms with March, +to guarantee him in the possession of his lordships, to hand over +to him certain tracts of the Douglas country which he bargained +for, and to assure him of our support. But he must be told that the +king urges him to delay, at present, from taking any open steps; +as, in the first place, he is bound by the truce just arranged, for +the next two years; and in the second because, having no just cause +of quarrel with Scotland, and being at present but newly seated on +the throne, he would have difficulty in raising an army for the +invasion of that country. The king is ready to engage himself not +to renew the truce, and to collect an army, in readiness to act in +concert with him, as soon as it is terminated.</p> + +<p>"The earl has sent, by his messenger, a ring; which, on being +presented at Dunbar, will gain for the person who carries it +immediate access to him; and I shall also give you my signet, in +token that you are come from me. You will carry, also, a slip of +paper that can be easily concealed, saying that you have my full +authority to speak in my name. You yourself can explain to him that +I have selected you for the mission because of your knowledge of +border speech, and because a youth of your age can pass unobserved, +where a man might excite attention and remark, and possibly be +detained, until he could render a satisfactory account of +himself.</p> + +<p>"Here are the conditions, set down upon paper. Take it, and +commit them to heart, and then tear the paper into shreds, and burn +them. As far as Roxburgh you can, of course, ride as my squire; but +beyond, you must travel in disguise. This you had better procure +here, and take with you; for although the Governor of Roxburgh is a +trusty knight, it were best that no soul should know that you go on +a mission to March; and I shall simply give you a letter to him, +stating that you are engaged in a venture in my service, and that +your horse and armour are to be kept for you, until your +return."</p> + +<p>Thanking Lord Percy for the honour done him, in selecting him +for the mission, and promising him to carry it out, to the best of +his power, Oswald retired and, making his way up to an inner room, +set about learning the contents of the paper given him, which was, +indeed, a copy of the royal letter to Percy. When he had thoroughly +mastered all the details, and could repeat every word, he followed +Sir Henry's instructions, tore the letter up, and carefully burned +every fragment. Then he went out into the town, and bought garments +suited for travelling unnoticed in Scotland, the dress being almost +identical on both sides of the border, save for the lowland Scotch +bonnet.</p> + +<p>On his return, he found that Lord Percy had sent for him during +his absence, and he at once went to his apartments.</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking over this matter further," Sir Henry said. +"The abbot came in, just as you left me; and, among other things, +he mentioned that friar Roger had again fallen into disgrace, +having gone so far as to strike the sub-prior on the cheek, almost +breaking the jaw of that worthy man; and that, finding discipline +and punishment of no avail with him, he was about to expel him, in +disgrace, from the community. He said that he had only retained him +so long on account of my goodwill for the fellow, and from the fact +that he would, as I had often urged, be most valuable as leader of +the abbot's forces, in case of troubles with the Scots, but that +his last offence has passed all bearing.</p> + +<p>"For the time I could say nothing, for discipline must be +maintained, in a monastery as well as in the castle; but after the +abbot had left me, and I was walking up and down in vexation over +the affair--for I like the rascal, in spite of his ways, and there +is no one else who could so well lead the contingent of the +monastery--a thought occurred to me. I like not your going +altogether alone, for the times are lawless, and you might meet +trouble on the road; and yet I did not see whom I could send with +you. Now it seems to me that this stout knave would make an +excellent companion for you.</p> + +<p>"In the first place, you like him, and he likes you; secondly, a +monk travelling north on a mission, say from the abbot to the prior +of a monastery near Dunbar, could pass anywhere unheeded; and in +the third place, although as a peaceful man he could carry no +military arms, he might yet take with him a staff, with which I +warrant me he would be a match for two or three ordinary men; and +lastly, I may be able to convince the abbot that he can thus get +rid of him from the monastery, for some time, and avoid the +scandals he occasions, and yet hold him available on his return for +military service.</p> + +<p>"What say you, lad?"</p> + +<p>"I should like it much, Sir Henry. I could wish for no stouter +companion; and although he may be quarrelsome with his fellows, it +is, methinks, solely because the discipline of the monastery frets +him, and he longs for a more active life; but I believe that he +could be fully trusted to behave himself discreetly, were he +engaged in outdoor work, and there can be no doubt that he is a +stout man-at-arms, in all ways."</p> + +<p>"I should not trust him, in any way, with the object of your +mission. If I obtain the abbot's consent, I shall simply send for +him, rate him soundly for his conduct, but telling him I make all +allowances for his natural unfitness for his vocation; and that I +have, as a matter of grace, obtained from the abbot permission to +use his services for a while, and to suspend his sentence upon him, +until it be seen how he comports himself; and, with that view, I am +about to send him as your companion, on a commission with which I +have intrusted you, to the town of Dunbar. I shall hint that, if he +behaves to my satisfaction, I may persuade the abbot to allow him +to remain in my service, until the time comes when he may be useful +to the convent for military work; he still undertaking to drill the +lay brothers, and keep the abbot's contingent in good order; and +that, when the troubles are at an end, I will obtain for him full +absolution from his vows, so that he may leave the monastery +without the disgrace of being expelled, and may then take service +with me, or with another, as a man-at-arms.</p> + +<p>"I wish you to be frank with me. If you would rather go alone, +matters shall remain as they are."</p> + +<p>"I would much rather that he went with me, my lord. From the +many conversations that I have had with him, I am sure that he is +shrewd and clever, and that, once beyond the walls of the monastery +and free to use his weapon, he would be full of resource. There is +doubtless much lawlessness on both sides of the border, and +although I should seem but little worth robbing, two travel more +pleasantly than one; and the monk has taken such pains with me, and +has been so kind, that there is no one with whom I would travel, +with greater pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Then I will go across to the monastery, at once, and see the +abbot; and I doubt not that he will grant my request, for, much and +often as brother Roger has given him cause for anger, I know that +he has a sort of kindness for him, and will gladly avoid the +necessity for punishing and disgracing him. If all is arranged, the +monk shall come over here, and see you."</p> + +<p>An hour later, Brother Roger came in to the captain's +quarters.</p> + +<p>"So you have been in trouble again, Brother Roger," Alwyn +Forster said with a laugh, as he held out his hand to him.</p> + +<p>"That have I, and an hour ago I was lying in a prison cell, +cursing my hot temper; and with, as it seemed, the certainty of +being publicly unfrocked, and turned out like a mangy dog from a +pack. It was not, mind you, that the thought of being unfrocked was +altogether disagreeable; for I own that I am grievously ill fitted +for my vocation, and that fasts and vigils are altogether hateful +to me; but it would not be a pleasant thing to go out into the +world as one who had been kicked out, and though I might get +employment as a man-at-arms, I could never hope for any promotion, +however well I might behave. However, half an hour ago the cell +door was opened, and I was taken before the abbot, whom I found +closeted with Hotspur.</p> + +<p>"The latter rated me soundly, but said that, for the sake of +Otterburn, he had spoken for me to the abbot; and that as he would, +for the present, be able to make use of me in work that would be +more to my liking, the abbot had consented to reconsider his +decision, and would lend me to him for a time, in hopes that my +good conduct would, in the end, induce him to overlook my offences; +and that, in that case, he might even be induced to take steps, of +a less painful description than public disgrace, for freeing me of +my gown.</p> + +<p>"I naturally replied that I was grateful for his lordship's +intercession; and that, outside monkish offices, there was nothing +I would not do to merit his kindness. He told me that I was to +report myself to your nephew, who would inform me of the nature of +the service upon which I was, at first, to be employed."</p> + +<p>"It is to undertake a journey with me," Oswald said. "I am going +on a mission for our lord, to Dunbar. The object of my mission is +one that concerns me only, but it is one of some importance; and as +the roads are lonely, since March and Douglas quarrelled, and order +is but badly kept on the other side of the border, he thought that +I should be all the better for a companion. Assuredly, I could wish +for none better than yourself, for in the first place you have +proved a true friend to me; in the second, you have so much +knowledge, that we shall not lack subjects for conversation upon +the journey; and lastly, should I get into any trouble, I could +reckon upon you as a match for two or three border robbers."</p> + +<p>"Nothing could be more to my taste," the monk said joyfully. "I +did not feel quite sure, before, whether I was glad or sorry that +my expulsion was put off, for I always thought that it would come +to that some day; but now that I learn for what service Hotspur +intends me, I feel as if I could shout for joy.</p> + +<p>"Get me a flagon of beer, good Alwyn. I have drunk but water for +the last twenty-four hours, and was in too great haste, to learn +what was before me, even to pay a visit to brother Anselm, the +cellarer, who is a stanch friend of mine.</p> + +<p>"And do I go as a man-at-arms, Master Oswald? For, as your +mission is clearly of a private character, disguise may be +needful."</p> + +<p>"No, Roger, you will go in your own capacity, as a monk, +journeying on a mission from the abbot to the head of some +religious community, near Dunbar. I doubt not that Lord Percy will +obtain a letter from the abbot, and though it may be that there +will be no need to deliver it, still it may help us on the way. As +you are going with me, I shall attire myself as a young lay +servitor of the convent."</p> + +<p>"I would that it had been otherwise," the monk said, with a +sigh. "I should have travelled far more lightly, in the heaviest +mail harness, than in this monk's robe. Besides, how can I carry +arms, for use in case of necessity?"</p> + +<p>"You can carry a staff," Oswald said, laughing; "and being so +big a man, you will assuredly require a long and heavy one; and, +even if it is heavily shod with iron, no one need object."</p> + +<p>"That is not so bad, Master Oswald. A seven-foot staff, of the +thickness of my wrist; with an iron shoe, weighing a pound or two, +is a carnal weapon not to be despised. As you doubtless know, our +bishops, when they ride in the field, always carry a mace instead +of a sword, so that they may not shed blood; though I say not that +the cracking of a man's skull is to be accomplished, without some +loss thereof. However, if a bishop may lawfully crack a man's head, +as an eggshell, I see not that blame can attach to me, a humble and +most unworthy son of the church, if some slight harm should come to +any man, from the use of so peaceful an instrument as a staff. And +how about yourself, young master?"</p> + +<p>"I can carry a sword," Oswald replied. "In times like these, no +man travels unarmed; and as I go as a servitor, and an assistant to +your reverence, there will be nothing unseemly in my carrying a +weapon, to defend you from the attack of foes."</p> + +<p>"You can surely take a dagger, too. A dagger is a meet companion +to a sword, and is sometimes mighty useful, in a close fight. And, +mark me, take a smaller dagger also, that can be concealed under +your coat. I myself will assuredly do the same. There are many +instances in which a trifle of that kind might come in useful, such +as for shooting the lock of a door, or working out iron bars."</p> + +<p>"I will do so," Oswald said, "though I hope there will be no +occasion, such as you say, for its use."</p> + +<p>"When do we start, Master Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow, at daybreak. We shall ride as far as Roxburgh. I +shall go on my own horse, which, though as good an animal as was +ever saddled, has but a poor appearance. You had best purchase a +palfrey, as fat and sleek as may be found, but with strength enough +to carry your weight. I shall be amply provided with money; and if +you find a bargain, let me know, and I will give you the means. +Mind, buy nothing that looks like a warhorse, but something in +keeping with your appearance."</p> + +<p>That evening, Oswald had another interview with Percy, and +received his final instructions, and a bag of money.</p> + +<p>"Be careful with it, lad," he said; "not so much because of the +use that it may be to you, but because, were you seized and +searched by robbers, and others, the sight of the gold might awake +suspicions that you were not what you seemed, and might lead to a +long detention. Keep your eye on Brother Roger, and see that he +does not indulge too much in the wine cups, and that he comports +himself rather in keeping with his attire, than with his natural +disposition; and if you have any difficulty in restraining him, or +if he does not obey your orders, send him back, at once. Will you +see him again this evening?"</p> + +<p>"He is waiting for me in my apartment, now, my lord, having come +for the money for the purchase of a palfrey, which I bade him +get."</p> + +<p>"Send him to me, when you get there."</p> + +<p>When the monk appeared before Hotspur, the latter said, "See +here, monk, I have saved you from punishment, and become, as it +were, your surety. See that you do not discredit me. You will +remember that, although my young esquire may ask your advice, and +benefit by your experience, he is your leader; and his orders, when +he gives them, are to be obeyed as promptly as if it were I myself +who spoke, to one of my men-at-arms. He is my representative in the +matter, and is obeying my orders, as you will obey his. The mission +is one of importance, and if it fails from any fault of yours, you +had better drown yourself in the first river you come to, than +return to Northumberland."</p> + +<p>"I think that you can trust me, my lord," the monk said, calmly. +"I am a very poor monk, but methinks that I am not a bad soldier; +and although I go in the dress of the one, I shall really go as the +other. I know that my duty, as a soldier, will be to obey. Even as +regards my potations, which I own are sometimes deeper than they +should be, methinks that, as a soldier, I shall be much less +thirsty than I was as a monk. If the enterprise should fail from +any default of mine, your lordship may be sure that I shall bear +your advice in mind."</p> + +<p>"I doubt not that you will do well, Roger. I should not have +sent you with my esquire, on such a business, had I not believed +that you would prove yourself worthy of my confidence. I know that +a man may be a good soldier, and even a wise counsellor, though he +may be a very bad monk."</p> + +<p>The next morning the pair rode out from the castle, at daybreak. +Roger was dressed in the usual monkish attire of the time, a long +loose gown with a cape, and a head covering resembling a small +turban. He rode a compactly built little horse, which seemed scarce +capable of carrying his weight, but ambled along with him as if it +scarcely felt it. Oswald was dressed as a lay servitor, in +tightly-fitting high hose, short jerkin girt in by a band at the +waist, and going half-way down to the knee. He rode his own +moorland horse, and carried on his arm a basket with provisions for +a day's march. He wore a small cloth cap, which fell down to his +neck behind. His uncle accompanied him to the gate, which was, by +his orders, opened to give them egress.</p> + +<p>"Goodbye, lad," he said. "I know not, and do not wish to know, +the object of your journey. It is enough for me that it is a +confidential mission for Hotspur, and I am proud that you should +have been chosen for it, and I feel convinced that you will prove +you have merited our lord's confidence.</p> + +<p>"Goodbye, friend Roger! Don't let your love of fisticuffs and +hard knocks carry you away, but try and bear yourself as if you +were still in the monastery, with the abbot keeping his eye upon +you."</p> + +<p>Brother Roger laughed.</p> + +<p>"You make a cold shiver run down my back, Alwyn. I was feeling +as if I had just got out of a cold cellar, into the sunshine, and +could shout with very lightness of heart. I am not in the least +disposed to quarrel with anyone, so let your mind be easy as to my +doings. I shall be discretion itself; and even if I am called upon +to strike, will do so as gently as may be, putting only such +strength into the blow as will prevent an opponent from troubling +us further."</p> + +<p>So, with a wave of the hand, they rode on.</p> + +<p>"I had better strap that staff beside your saddle, and under +your knee," Oswald said, when they had ridden a short distance. +"You carry it as if it were a spear, and I have seen already three +or four people smile, as we passed them."</p> + +<p>Roger reluctantly allowed Oswald to fasten the staff beside +him.</p> + +<p>"One wants something in one's hands," he said. "On foot it does +not matter so much, but now I am on horseback again, I feel that I +ought to have a spear in hand, and a sword dangling at my +side."</p> + +<p>"You must remember that you are still a monk, Roger, although +enlarged for a season. Some day, perhaps, you will be able to +gratify your desires in that way. You had best moderate the speed +of your horse, for although he ambles along merrily, at present, he +can never carry that great carcase of yours, at this pace, through +our journey."</p> + +<p>"I should like one good gallop," Roger sighed, as he pulled at +the rein, and the horse proceeded at a pace better suited to the +appearance of its rider.</p> + +<p>"A nice figure you would look, with your robes streaming behind +you," Oswald laughed. "There would soon be a story going through +the country, of a mad monk.</p> + +<p>"Now, we take this turning to the right, and here leave the main +north road, for we are bound, in the first place, to Roxburgh."</p> + +<p>"I thought that it must be that, or Berwick, though I asked no +questions."</p> + +<p>"We shall not travel like this beyond Roxburgh, but shall +journey forward on foot."</p> + +<p>"I supposed that we should come to that, Master Oswald, for +otherwise you would not have told me to provide myself with a +staff."</p> + +<a id="PicC" /> +<center> +<img src="images/c.jpg" alt= +"They journeyed pleasantly along" +/> </center> + +<p>They journeyed pleasantly along. Whenever they approached any +town or large village, Oswald reined back his horse a little, so +that its head was on a level with Roger's stirrup. They slept that +night at Kirknewton, where they put up at a small hostelry. Oswald +had intended going to the monastery there, but Roger begged so +earnestly that they should put up elsewhere, that he yielded to +him.</p> + +<p>"I should have no end of questions asked, as to our journey +across the border, and its object," Roger said; "and it always goes +against my conscience to have to lie, unless upon pressing +occasions."</p> + +<p>"And, moreover," Oswald said, with a laugh, "you might be +expected to get up to join the community at prayers, at midnight; +and they might give you a monk's bed, instead of a more comfortable +one in the guest chambers."</p> + +<p>"There may be something in that," Roger admitted, "and I have so +often to sleep on a stone bench, for the punishment of my offences, +that I own to a weakness for a soft bed, when I can get one."</p> + +<p>However, Oswald was pleased to see that his follower behaved, at +their resting place, with more discretion than he could have hoped +for; although he somewhat surprised his host, by the heartiness of +his appetite; but, on the other hand, he was moderate in his +potations, and talked but little, retiring to a bed of thick +rushes, at curfew.</p> + +<p>"In truth, I was afraid to trust myself," he said to Oswald, as +they lay down side by side. "Never have I felt so free, since +Otterburn--never, indeed, since that unfortunate day when I was +wounded, and conceived the fatal idea of becoming a monk. Two or +three times, the impulse to troll out a trooper's song was so +strong in me, that I had to clap my hand over my mouth, to keep it +in."</p> + +<p>"'Tis well you did, Roger, for assuredly if you had so committed +yourself, on the first day of starting, I must have sent you back +to Alnwick, feeling that it would not be safe for you to proceed +with me farther. When we get upon the Cheviots, tomorrow, you may +lift your voice as you choose; but it were best that you confined +yourself to a Latin canticle, even there, for the habit of breaking +into songs of the other kind might grow upon you."</p> + +<p>"I will do so," Roger said, seriously. "Some of the canticles +have plenty of ring and go, and the words matter not, seeing that I +do not understand them."</p> + +<p>The next morning they resumed their journey, crossed the +Cheviots, which were here comparatively low hills; and, after four +hours' riding, arrived at Roxburgh.</p> + +<p>"Why do we come here?" Roger asked. "It would surely have been +much shorter had we travelled through Berwick, and along the coast +road."</p> + +<p>"Much shorter, Roger; but Sir Henry thought it better that we +should go inland to Haddington, and thence east to Dunbar; as, thus +entering the town, it would seem that we came from Edinburgh, or +from some western monastery; whereas, did we journey by the coast +road, it might be guessed that we had come from England."</p> + +<p>As before, they put up at a hostelry; and Oswald then proceeded, +on foot, to the governor's house. Some soldiers were loitering at +the door.</p> + +<p>"What do you want, lad?" one of them asked, as he came up.</p> + +<p>"I have a letter, which I am charged to deliver into the +governor's own hands."</p> + +<p>"A complaint, I suppose, from some worthy prior, who has lost +some of his beeves?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe the governor will inform you, if you ask him," Oswald +replied.</p> + +<p>"I shall pull your ear for you, when you come out, young +jackanapes," the soldier said, hotly.</p> + +<p>"That danger I must even risk. Business first, and pleasure +afterwards."</p> + +<p>And while the other soldiers burst into a fit of laughter, at +the astonishment of their comrade at what he deemed the insolence +of this young servitor of a monastery, he quietly entered. The +guard at the door, who had heard the colloquy, led him into the +governor's room.</p> + +<p>"A messenger with a letter desires speech with you, Sir Philip," +he said.</p> + +<p>"Bid him enter," the knight said, briefly.</p> + +<p>Oswald entered, and bowed deeply. He waited until the door +closed behind the attendant, and then said:</p> + +<p>"I am the bearer of a letter, sir, from Lord Percy to you."</p> + +<p>The knight looked at him in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Hotspur has chosen a strange messenger," he muttered to +himself, as he took the missive Oswald held out to him, cut the +silk that bound it with a dagger, and read its contents. As he laid +it down, he rose to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Excuse my want of courtesy," he said. "Lord Percy tells me that +you are one of his esquires--no slight recommendation--and that you +are intrusted with somewhat important a mission, on his part, to +Dunbar, a still higher recommendation--for assuredly he would not +have selected you for such a purpose, had you not stood high in his +regard. But, indeed, at first I took you for what you seemed, as +the bearer of a complaint from some abbot; for in truth, such +complaints are not uncommon, for whenever a bullock is lost, they +put it down to my men.</p> + +<p>"Where are your horses that Percy speaks of? You will, I hope, +take up your abode here, as long as you stay in the town."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Sir Philip; but I shall go forward in the morning. I +have already put up at the Golden Rose. It would attract attention, +were I to come here, and it were best that I remain as I am; and +indeed, I have brought no clothes with me, save those I stand +in."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps, as you do not wish to attract attention, it were +best so; and I pray you inform Lord Percy of the reason why you +declined my entertainment."</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad, Sir Philip, if you will send down a couple of +your men to fetch the horses up to your stables; as I shall start, +as soon as the gates are open, tomorrow morning."</p> + +<p>"I will do so, at once."</p> + +<p>And the governor rang a handbell on the table.</p> + +<p>"Send two of the men up here," he said, as an attendant +entered.</p> + +<p>A minute later a door opened, and two soldiers came in, and +saluted. One of them, to Oswald's amusement, was the man with whom +he had exchanged words, below.</p> + +<p>"You will accompany this gentleman to the Golden Rose, and bring +back two horses, which he will hand over to you, and place them in +the stables with mine.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure, Master Forster, that there is nothing more that I +can do for you?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, whatever, I thank you, sir; and I am greatly obliged +by your courtesy, and with your permission I will take my leave. I +hope to return here in the course of a week, or ten days."</p> + +<p>So saying, Oswald shook hands with the governor and went +downstairs, followed by the soldiers, who had not yet recovered +from their surprise at seeing Oswald seated, and evidently on +familiar terms with their lord. Oswald said nothing to them, until +he arrived at the Golden Rose. Then he led the way to the stables, +and handed the horses over to them.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that that pulling of the ear will be deferred, for a +time?" he said, with a smile, to the soldier who had made the +remark.</p> + +<p>The man sheepishly took hold of the bridle.</p> + +<p>"I could not tell, sir--" he began.</p> + +<p>"Of course you could not," Oswald interrupted. "Still, it may be +a lesson, to you, that it is just as well not to make fun of +people, until you are quite sure who they are. There, I bear no +malice; get yourselves a stoup of wine, in payment for your +services."</p> + +<p>"I thought that there was something out of the way about him," +the other man said, as they walked up the street with the two +horses; "or he would never have turned upon you, as he did. It is +evident that he is someone of consequence, and is here on some +secret business or other, with Sir Philip. It is well that he did +not bear malice, for you would have got it hot, from the governor, +had he reported what you said to him."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch6">Chapter 6</a>: At Dunbar.</h2> + +<p>The journey passed without any incident of importance, but +Oswald had reason to congratulate himself on having taken the monk +with him. On one occasion, as they were passing over a wild heath, +a party of eight or ten men, on rough ponies, rode up. They were +armed with spears and swords. They reined up with exclamations of +disappointment as Roger, who had rolled up his robe round his +waist, for convenience of walking, let it fall round him.</p> + +<p>"You have played us a scurvy trick, monk," the leader said, +angrily. "Who was to guess it was a monk, who was thus striding +along?"</p> + +<p>"You would find it difficult to walk, yourself, with this robe +dangling about your heels," Roger said.</p> + +<p>"Whither are you bound, and whence are you going?"</p> + +<p>"We are travelling to Dunbar, being sent to the convent of Saint +Magnus there, and come from Roxburgh."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a shame that so stalwart a fellow as you are should be +leading a drone's life, in a convent; when every true Scotsman is +sharpening his spear, in readiness for what may come when the truce +with England expires."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear that you are so well employed," Roger +replied; "but methinks that, in days like these, it is sometimes +useful to have a few men of thews and sinews, even in a religious +house; for there are those who sometimes fail in the respect they +owe to the Church."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough," the men laughed. "Well, go thy way. There +is naught to be gained from a travelling monk."</p> + +<p>"Naught, good friend, save occasionally hard blows, when the +monk happens to be of my strength and stature, and carries a staff +like this."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a goodly weapon, in sooth, and you look as if you knew how +to wield it."</p> + +<p>"Even a monk may know that, seeing that a staff is not a carnal +weapon."</p> + +<p>And rolling up his sleeves, Roger took the staff in the middle +with both hands, in the manner of a quarterstaff, and made it play +round his head; with a speed, and vigour, that showed that he was a +complete master of the exercise.</p> + +<p>"Enough, enough!" the man said, while exclamations of admiration +broke from the others. "Truly from such a champion, strong enough +to wield a weapon that resembles a weaver's beam, rather than a +quarterstaff, there would be more hard knocks than silver to be +gained; but it is all the more pity that such skill and strength +should be thrown away, in a convent. Perhaps it is as well that you +are wearing a monk's gown, for methinks that, eight to one as we +are, some of us might have got broken heads, before we gained the +few pence in your pocket.</p> + +<p>"Come on, men. Better luck next time. It is clear that this man +is not the one we are charged to capture."</p> + +<p>And, with his followers, he rode off across the moor.</p> + +<p>"I do not think that they are what they seem," Oswald said, as +they resumed their journey. "The man's speech was not that of a +border raider, and his followers would hardly have sat their horses +so silently, and obeyed his orders so promptly, had they been +merely thieving caterans; besides, you marked that he said you were +not the man they were watching for."</p> + +<p>"Whom think you that they are, then, Master Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"I think it possible that they may be a party of Douglas's +followers, led by a knight. It may be that Douglas has received +some hint of March's being in communication with England; and that +he has sent a party to seize, and search, any traveller who looked +like a messenger from the south. Of course, this may be only fancy. +Still, I am right glad that you were wearing your monkish robe; +for, had I been alone, I might have been cross-questioned so +shrewdly as to my purpose in travelling, that I might have been +held on suspicion, and means employed to get the truth out of +me."</p> + +<p>At the small town where they stopped, next night, they learned +that many complaints had been made, by travellers from the south, +of how they had been stopped by a party of armed men on the border, +closely questioned, and searched, and in some cases robbed. This +had been going on for some weeks, and the sheriff of the county had +twice collected an armed force, and ridden in search of the +robbers, but altogether without success. It was believed that they +were strangers to the district, and the description given of them +had not agreed with those of any noted bad characters, in the +neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Master Oswald," the monk said, "all this seems to +support your idea. Money and valuables are soon found; but by what +these men say of the way in which the clothes and belongings of +these travellers were searched, it would seem to show that money +was not the object of the band, but rather the discovery of +correspondence, and that money was only taken as a cloak."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt that they were there to intercept someone, +Roger, though it may not have been Percy's messengers; still, we +are well rid of them, and I hope that we shall meet no more, on our +way."</p> + +<p>The hope was fulfilled, and they reached Dunbar without further +interruption. Here they deemed it better to separate. The monk went +to a convent, and gave out there that he was on the way to +Edinburgh, being on a journey thither to see his aged father, who +was in his last sickness. Oswald went to a shop, and bought clothes +suited for the son of a trader in a fair position; and, changing +his things at the inn where he had put up, made his way to the +castle.</p> + +<p>"I would have speech with the earl," he said, to the warder at +the gate. "I have his orders to wait upon him."</p> + +<p>"What is your name and condition?"</p> + +<p>"That matters not. I am here by the earl's orders. He sent me a +ring, by which it might be known that I am authorized to have +access to him."</p> + +<p>On seeing the ring, the warder at once called to one of the +servitors, and bade him conduct Oswald to the earl's apartment.</p> + +<p>"Whom shall I say?" he asked, when he reached the door.</p> + +<p>"Give this ring to him, and say that the bearer awaits +admittance to him."</p> + +<p>The man entered the room and then, opening the door again, +motioned to Oswald to enter. The earl, a tall and powerfully-built +man, looked with a keen scrutiny at him.</p> + +<p>"From whom come you, young sir?"</p> + +<p>"From the holder of that ring, my Lord Earl," Oswald said, +presenting the ring that Percy had given him. "My name is Oswald +Forster, and I have the honour to be one of Lord Percy's +esquires."</p> + +<p>"Come you alone?" the earl asked.</p> + +<p>"I came with a companion, a monk. I was in the disguise of a +young servitor of his convent. We came on foot from Roxburgh."</p> + +<p>He then unscrewed the handle of a dagger Percy had given him, +for the purpose, and pulled out a small roll of paper, which he +handed to the earl. It contained only the following words:</p> + +<p>"Do not intrust undue confidence in the bearer. The matters you +wot of are in good train; of them my messenger knows nothing."</p> + +<p>"This was so writ by Sir Henry Percy," said Oswald, "in order +that, if I were detained and searched on the way, and this paper +found on me, I might not be forced, by torture, to say aught of my +message."</p> + +<p>"But this signet ring would have shown to whom you were +coming."</p> + +<p>"It was concealed in my staff, my lord, and could not have been +discovered, had not that been split open. Had it been so, I should +have admitted that Lord Percy had indeed committed the signet and +the writing to me to carry, and had bid me travel as the servitor +of a monk on his journey north; but that, more than that these were +to be delivered to you, I knew nothing. Lord Percy selected me as +his messenger partly because, from my youth, I should not be likely +to be suspected of being a messenger between two great lords; and +in the second place because, if arrested, and these matters found +on me, the statement in the letter would be readily believed. It +would not be supposed that important state secrets would be +committed to a lad, like myself."</p> + +<p>The earl made no reply, for a time, but sat with his eyes fixed +on Oswald's face, as if he were reading him thoroughly.</p> + +<p>"Then you do know the matters in question?"</p> + +<p>"I do, my lord. I am the bearer of a further communication to +you."</p> + +<p>"Say on, then."</p> + +<p>"Lord Percy bids me say that, on the receipt of your message to +him, he forwarded it by one of his knights to the king at +Westminster; and that the matter was discussed, by his majesty, +with two or three of his most trusted councillors. After full +consideration, the king has accepted your offer, and will grant all +its conditions. He sent, my lord, also a document with his royal +seal attached, engaging to observe all the conditions of the +compact. This document Lord Percy holds, to be given to you on a +convenient occasion; but he deemed it of so important a nature that +it would be too hazardous to send it to you. The king, in a letter +to Lord Percy, begged him to tell you that, so long as the truce +continued, he could not collect an army to support you; but that, +as the time for its termination approached, he would begin to do +so, and would be in readiness to take the field, in the north, +immediately you move in the matter."</p> + +<p>The earl sat for some time, in thought.</p> + +<p>"Do you know the conditions of the compact?" he asked, +suddenly.</p> + +<p>Oswald had expected this question, and felt sure that the earl, +who was, when not inflamed by anger, a cool and cautious man, would +highly disapprove of Hotspur's frankness; and might possibly detain +him, if he knew that he possessed so important a secret. He +therefore replied:</p> + +<p>"As to such grave matters, it was not necessary that I should +know more than I have said to you, my Lord Earl. As it is no secret +that you and the Douglases have personal enmity, I deemed that the +compact referred to our king giving you aid, should you need it +against the Douglases."</p> + +<p>The answer was apparently satisfactory. The earl asked no +further questions, on this head.</p> + +<p>"Were there other reasons than those you have stated why he +chose you as his messenger?"</p> + +<p>"Another reason he gave me, my lord, was that, as I came of a +family who reside within a few miles of the border, and had +relatives on this side whom I sometimes visited, my language was +similar to that spoken in Roxburghshire; so that I could therefore +pass as a Lowland Scot, without difficulty. No one, in fact, at the +various places at which we have stopped, has taken me for aught but +a countryman; though the monk with me was often taxed with being an +Englishman, though belonging to a monastery at Roxburgh."</p> + +<p>Again the earl was silent for some time.</p> + +<p>"I must think over the message that I shall give you, for +Percy," he said. "I like not the delay, though I see that there is +good reason for it. As one of Hotspur's esquires, I would fain +treat you with all courtesy, and lodge you here; but this might +cause question as to who you are, and it were, therefore, better +that you should lodge in the town. Have you put up anywhere?"</p> + +<p>"I rested for an hour at the sign of the Lion, my lord; engaging +a room there, in order to effect a change in my clothes. I left by +the back entrance, in order that the change should not be +observed."</p> + +<p>"It were best that you fetched those you travelled in away, or +rather that you returned unnoticed; and, as it is getting dark now, +this can doubtless be managed; and, when you sally out, place that +cloak over your shoulders to hide your dress as a servitor, and go +to the other inn, the Falcon. Say, there, that you are staying for +a few days in Dunbar, having come here on business with me; and +that I bade you go there, so that I might know where to send for +you, if necessary. You can pass for what you seem, a young trader +who has come from Edinburgh to arrange, on the part of your father, +a cloth merchant there, for a supply of stuffs for the clothing of +my retainers."</p> + +<p>Oswald carried out his instructions, walked about until it was +quite dark, then entered the inn, made his way unobserved to the +chamber where he had left his clothes, put these on, made the +others up into a bundle, and then went downstairs again and paid +his bill; saying, as he did so, that he had found the friends he +came to see, and that they had room to take him in. After leaving +the house he threw the cloak, which he had carried on his arm, over +his shoulders; and put on the cap that belonged to his other dress, +and then went to the Falcon Inn, and repeating to the landlord the +statement the earl had made, was at once shown to a chamber, with +some deference.</p> + +<p>"Will your worship have supper here, or in the room below?"</p> + +<p>"I will come down," he said. "It is dull work, sitting +alone."</p> + +<p>Having ordered his supper, with a flask of wine, Oswald again +donned his attire as a trader, and went downstairs. Just as he +entered the room, in which several persons were sitting, a soldier +came in from the outer door. He looked round the room.</p> + +<p>"I have a message, from the earl, for the person who was with +him, this afternoon."</p> + +<p>Oswald at once rose, and went across to him.</p> + +<p>"The earl bade me tell you," the soldier said, in a low voice, +"that his present furnisher is Robert Micklethwaite, and that his +place of business is near the castle gate, at Edinburgh."</p> + +<p>"Please thank the earl for the information," Oswald replied, and +then returned to his seat.</p> + +<p>He had indeed, while dressing, been wondering what name he +should give. It was like enough that, in Dunbar, many might know +the names of the principal traders in Edinburgh; and that, were he +to give an unknown one, he might be questioned as to his place of +business. The message, therefore, relieved him of this +difficulty.</p> + +<p>After he had finished his supper, which was an excellent one, he +beckoned to the landlord.</p> + +<p>"I am a stranger here, landlord," he said. "I pray you to drink +a cup with me, and tell me the news of the place.</p> + +<p>"You may know the name of Micklethwaite," he went on, as the +landlord sat down, "and that he comes, or sends regularly, to +arrange for the supply of cloth, its quality and price, required +for the earl's retainers."</p> + +<p>"Master Micklethwaite always puts up here, when he visits +Dunbar," the landlord said. "I must have misunderstood him, for one +day, when he was talking with me, he said that it was a trouble to +him that he had no sons."</p> + +<p>"Nor has he," Oswald said; "luckily for me, who am but a +nephew."</p> + +<p>"He is a good customer," the landlord went on, "and good +company, too; but he cares not for French wines, and does not +trouble my cellarer, much."</p> + +<p>"He is a careful man," Oswald said, with a smile; "and though he +is a good trencherman, he does not waste his money on such matters. +However, he lets me have a freer hand than he uses himself; and +asks not, when I return, for a close account of my outgoings.</p> + +<p>"What do they say, here, as to the chances of another war with +England?"</p> + +<p>"I fear the worst," the landlord replied. "These wars are ruin +to us, and we have had the English at the gates of Dunbar over many +times, already; and the town sacked, and burnt over our heads, more +than once. Though I do not say that it might not have been worse, +for our earls have ever stood aloof, as much as possible, and have +often inclined towards the English side. Still, even then it is bad +enough, for the whole country, from Berwick, has often been wasted +to check the progress of the armies, and our trade well-nigh +ruined. A pest on all wars, say I!"</p> + +<p>"And which way, think you, that the present earl's leanings +would go?"</p> + +<p>"I think not about it, one way or the other. My business is to +sell food and liquor, the earl's to take part in affairs of state. +In days like these, it is quite enough for each man to attend to +his own business, without troubling about that of other people; +more especially when that other is a powerful noble, who thinks +little enough of slitting a tongue that wags too freely.</p> + +<p>"No, no, lad; John Sanderson is no fool, and knows better than +to open his mouth, touching the affairs of great nobles. I know not +how it may be with you, and the burghers of Edinburgh, but here we +are content to cool our own porridge, and let others take their +food hot or cold, as they choose."</p> + +<p>"I was not wishing you to give me so much your own ideas, as the +common talk of the town; but I see that my question was indiscreet, +and I ask your pardon."</p> + +<p>"I know you meant no harm, lad, and that your question was just +one that any young man of your age might ask, without thinking that +there was harm in it, or that the answering of it might lead to +harm. I can tell you that, whatever folk may think here in Dunbar, +they say naught about it to their nearest neighbour. We can talk of +war with England, that is too common a thing for there to be harm +in it; and as no one knows aught, one man's opinion is as good as +another's; but the talk is general, and assuredly no man asks his +neighbour what this great lord will do, or how matters will go. +There is no harm in two gossips wondering whether, if the English +come, the town will hold out till help comes, or whether they will +batter down the walls first.</p> + +<p>"It is a kind of riddle, you see, and all the more that no one +knows who may be by the king's side, when the storm breaks. A +generation back, men might make a fair guess; but now it were +beyond the wisest head to say and, for my part, I leave the +thinking to those whom it concerns. You from Edinburgh ought to +know more than we do, for in great cities men can talk more freely, +seeing that no one lord has the place in his hands, and that the +citizens have rights, and hold to them.</p> + +<p>"The general thought is that we shall have war, directly the +truce is over. Among us who live by peaceful trade, we still hope +for peace; for we see not what good comes of war, save to those who +make raids in England, and as often as not these get more hard +knocks than plunder; but to the quiet trader it means loss, and may +well mean ruin, if the English army again marches through Scotland. +We can discover no reason why the two countries should not live +peaceably together, each going about its own business. I have heard +it said, before now, that it would be a good thing for both +countries if the border districts on both sides were stripped +altogether of their people, and allowed to lie desolate.</p> + +<p>"Ay, it would be a rare thing, that. It is thieving loons, on +both sides of the border, that keep up the ill feeling; and the +loss would not be great, seeing that there are plenty of waste +tracts where the people might be bestowed, and pass their time more +profitably, in raising crops and cattle, than in destroying or +carrying off those of their neighbours. However, young sir, that is +not like to be, in our time."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not, Sanderson, and we must needs make the best we +can of things, as they stand. I think that 'twould be well, if the +English do come north again and capture Edinburgh, and ruin trade +for years, to cross the seas to France, and take service +there."</p> + +<p>"Scarce spoken like a peaceful trader," the landlord laughed; +"but I doubt not you would make a good soldier, and that a sword +would suit your hand to the full as well as a yard measure.</p> + +<p>"Well, it makes not so much difference, to me. Men must eat and +drink, and though my wine would be drunk up without payment, and I +should have to run the risk of being killed on the walls, if the +English came; I should know that, in a short time, men would come +and go as before, and that they will drink good wine if they have +money to pay for it, and in six months my trade would be as brisk +as ever; but men seem to think that, this time, it will be the +Scots who will invade England, for the English barons have had +enough of wars in France, and will be slow in furnishing their +quota when called on; and that we shall carry fire and sword +through the northern counties."</p> + +<p>"That we may do, though Northumberland and Hotspur will +doubtless have something to say to it. I fear it will be as it has +been, many a time before. Our armies will march back with their +plunder, the news of the damage done will inflame all England, and +then a great army will march north. The nobles will hasten to make +terms for themselves, and the harm and damage will fall upon quiet +people, who had nought whatever to do with the invasion."</p> + +<p>"True enough, young sir, true enough, though it is a shame that +it should be said. Had the cities a voice in the matter of peace +and war, you may be right sure that we should hear no more of +invasions and troubles, from this side of the Border. I say not +that there would be peace, for the claims of the English kings to +authority in Scotland, although we have not heard so much of them +since Bannockburn, are but in abeyance; and the first time that +there is really peace, between them and France, you may be sure +that we shall hear of them again, and then the towns as well as the +country would join, heartily, in repelling an invasion."</p> + +<p>"They never did so in the past time, Sanderson. They generally +opened their gates at once, or if they closed them, it was because +there was a strong garrison, under some knight or noble who, and +not the townspeople, had the say in the matter. Now, methinks I +will to bed, for I have had a long day's travel."</p> + +<p>The next day passed without any message from the earl, but on +the following morning one of the retainers from the castle came in, +with the message that the earl desired the presence of Mr. +Micklethwaite.</p> + +<p>Oswald went up, at once. The earl was, as before, alone.</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking, Master Forster, that it would be safer, +both for you and for me, were you to tarry here for a while. You +came through safely, it is true, but you might not have such good +fortune on your return; and even though I sent no written answer, +it would be enough, were Percy's signet found upon you, to ensure +your imprisonment, and perhaps death. At any rate, they would have +the means of wringing from you the mission of which you were in +charge; while I could send equally well a message by sea, as I did +before."</p> + +<p>"I see that there might be some slight danger, my Lord Earl," +Oswald said quietly; "but I, as well as another, might take passage +down by ship touching at Berwick, or other port."</p> + +<p>The earl's brow clouded.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a matter to be thought over," he said, moodily. "A ship +might be captured, seeing that there are often French freebooting +vessels on the coast. And what were your orders from Lord +Percy?"</p> + +<p>"That I was to return, immediately I had conveyed his message to +you."</p> + +<p>"I would gladly hasten your departure," the earl said, after a +moment's pause, "but you see, great issues hang upon this affair. +However, I will think the matter over again, and will see how it +can be best managed."</p> + +<p>After leaving the castle, Oswald went to the convent where the +monk was lodged, and asked for speech with Brother Roger. In a +minute or two the latter came out.</p> + +<p>"Are we off, young master?" he asked. "In truth, it is as bad +here as at Alnwick; and, after a taste of liberty, I am longing to +be out again; and indeed, I have had some trouble in accounting for +my stay here, instead of continuing my journey to see my aged +father."</p> + +<p>"If it depended upon me, I would say that we would start +forthwith; but what I have somewhat feared, all along, has come to +pass. I was the bearer of a certain message of much importance, +from Hotspur to the earl, and I fear that the latter will detain +me. He thinks that I know more than I have said, which indeed is +true, and likes not that one who is so entirely cognisant of his +secret counsels, and intentions, should go free. He put it down to +the fact that I might be captured, on my way back, and forced to +confess the whole details of the mission with which I am charged. +It is possible that this is so, but it is more likely that he +dislikes that anyone should know secrets that concern his safety; +and although he has not said as much, at present, I believe that it +is his intention to hold me here as prisoner; though doubtless with +due courtesy, as befits Percy's messenger and esquire; until +affairs come to a head, which may not be for a year or two, +yet."</p> + +<p>"Is there a guard over you, at present?"</p> + +<p>"Not that I know of, Roger, but it may be that the inn is +watched. At any rate, he would try to overtake me, did I attempt to +leave without his permission."</p> + +<p>"Then, Master Oswald, I should say let us be off, at once."</p> + +<p>"But how, Roger? On foot we should be speedily overtaken, and if +not watched at present, doubtless I shall be, after my interview +with the earl this morning. Were I to try and buy horses, I might +be arrested at once. However, I have been thinking that the best +plan would be for you to go round to the port, and to bargain for a +passage for us to Edinburgh. Then we would slip on board quietly, +half an hour before she sailed.</p> + +<p>"Methinks it were as well that you did not go in your robes. I +will purchase a dress suitable to a cattle drover, for you, and a +similar one for myself. I will bring yours for you here, in an +hour's time, if you will wait a hundred yards from the gate for me. +Then you can go to some quiet spot and change your garments, and +then go down to the port. I will be standing at the door of my inn, +and as you pass say, without checking your pace, the hour at which +a boat sails, today or tomorrow; and then do you be near the hotel, +again, an hour before that time.</p> + +<p>"Do not speak to me as I come out, but keep a short distance +behind me; and if you see that I am followed by anyone, you must do +your best to rid me of him. You had better bring your present +garments along with you. They may be useful."</p> + +<p>Roger assented joyously. The thought that, at any rate for a +time, he was to get rid of his robes filled him with joy; and the +possibility that there might be danger in the enterprise only added +to his pleasure.</p> + +<p>Feeling the need for great care, Oswald walked for some little +time before entering a shop, passing through several quiet streets; +and, when assured that he was not followed, he went into the booth +of a clothier.</p> + +<p>"I have occasion for two suits of clothes, such as would be worn +by cattle drovers," he said. "I am about to travel and, having +money about me, can best do so safely in such a garment. I want one +suit to fit me, and another for a companion, who is a big stout +man, a good deal above the ordinary height."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a wise precaution, your honour, for the roads are by no +means safe, at present. I can fit you, with ease, and will pick out +the largest clothes I have in stock, for your companion."</p> + +<p>The purchase was soon made. It consisted of a rough smock of +blue cloth, reaching to the knees, and girded in by a strap at the +waist; and breeches of the same material, reaching below the knees, +with strips of gray cloth to be wound round and round the leg, from +the knee to the ankle. In addition, Oswald bought two pairs of +rough sandals, and two lowland bonnets. Each suit was done up, at +his request, in a separate parcel; and then, retracing his steps, +he joined Roger and handed his clothes to him.</p> + +<p>"I will go outside the gates and change my things," Roger said, +"and then go down to the port. I will then come to your hotel, as +you said. If no ship sails until tomorrow, I have only to put my +robe on over these garments, and return to the convent. If there is +one sailing this evening, I shall not go back there again; but will +be on the lookout for you, half an hour before the boat leaves the +port."</p> + +<p>"The nearer the time of sailing, the better, Roger; for if I am +watched, and there is any trouble with the man who follows me, the +sooner we are on board before any alarm is raised, the better. But +I should hardly think a boat would start, in the evening."</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Master Oswald. I was down at the port, yesterday, +and the tide was high at three o'clock; and methinks that a boat +would put out an hour or two before low tide, so as to take the +water with it as far as New Berwick, and there catch the flood +flowing into the Firth. In that case, the boat would put out at +six, or maybe seven o'clock."</p> + +<p>"I would that it had been two hours later, Roger. After dark, it +were easy enough to silence a man without attracting much +attention; but in broad daylight, it would not be so easily +done."</p> + +<p>"Not if we went straight from the inn to the port, Master, but +there is no need for you to take that route."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Roger. Indeed, it would be better not to do so, +for were they to have an idea that we had escaped by water, the +earl might send a fast boat after us. Therefore, when I come out I +will turn off and go, by unfrequented streets and lanes, in the +opposite direction. In that way you will be better able to see if I +am followed, and may find some quiet place, where you can give a +man a clout on the head that will rid us of him."</p> + +<p>"Will you come out, Master Oswald, in your present attire, or in +your disguise?"</p> + +<p>"I will wear this cloak and headgear, and will put these +leggings over the others, so that I shall have but to take them off +and fling them aside, and to throw off my cloak and cap and put on +this bonnet, all of which will not take a minute and can be done in +a doorway or passage without attracting observation. I should be +afraid to go out, in the drover's attire. The servants at the inn +know me, now; and moreover, a man of such condition would not think +of going to the Falcon. Were I to be noticed, coming out, it might +be thought that I had entered it for some evil purpose."</p> + +<p>"I shall be on hand, master. I had thought of not returning to +the monastery, but I must do so, for I have left my staff there, +and it will be as suitable for a drover as a monk. I shall go to +the harbour, as soon as I have seen you; and if it is this evening +a boat sails, I shall go back at once and bid them farewell, saying +that a ship is sailing for Leith, and that I have taken passage in +her."</p> + +<p>Oswald returned to the inn and, half an hour later, went down to +the doorway, where he stood as if idly watching the flow of +traffic. A quarter of an hour later, he saw Roger approaching. He +looked the character that he had assumed, to the life. He had +dirtied his hands and face, and smudged his smock with stains of +mud. He strolled along, with a free step and head erect. He did not +look at Oswald as he passed, but said, "Boat sails at seven, +tonight."</p> + +<p>Oswald stood for some time longer. A short distance down the +street, he observed two of the earl's retainers. They were +standing, apparently looking at the goods in a mercer's window. +After a time, they moved on a short distance, passed the inn, and +stopped again to look in another shop, twenty or thirty yards +away.</p> + +<p>Then Oswald left the door. The landlord was standing in the +passage, and beckoned to him to enter his private room.</p> + +<p>"Young sir," he said, "I know not whether you have done anything +that has displeased the earl, nor is it any business of mine; but +you are a fair-spoken young gentlemen, and I would not that any ill +came to you. I like not to meddle in the earl's affairs, for he +would think nothing of ordering my house to be burnt over my head. +However, I may warn you that he is making inquiries about you. One +of his retainers has been here, two hours ago, with a confidential +message from the earl, to inquire whether you had said anything +about leaving, and to bid me send a message to him, secretly, +should you do so."</p> + +<p>"I thank you warmly, my good host," Oswald replied. "I have had +no quarrel with the earl, but we have differed as to the value of +the goods he requires. He would fain have them at last year's +prices; but wool has gone up, and we could not sell them, save at a +loss. It may be that he thinks I shall go away, and that if he +finds I am about to do so he will send for me, and agree to my +terms, which indeed are so low that they leave but little profit. +However, it were well that you should let me know how much I owe +you, and I will pay that, at once. Do not make up the account, but +tell me roundly there or thereabouts; and then, should I leave +suddenly, you can say truly that I had not asked for my bill, and +that you were altogether ignorant of my intention of leaving."</p> + +<p>"There can be no occasion for that," the host said. "You can pay +me the next time you come, should you decide to leave +suddenly."</p> + +<p>"Nay, I would rather settle obligations, for if I do not do +business with the earl, it may be some time before I return."</p> + +<p>The landlord made rapid calculations, and named a sum, which +Oswald at once handed to him, with warm thanks for the warning he +had given him.</p> + +<p>"I may stay here three or four days longer," he said meaningly, +"as the earl may, at the last moment, come to an agreement as to +the price of the goods. I should be sorry to return to my uncle +without getting an order, for the earl has, for years, been one of +our best customers."</p> + +<p>The landlord nodded.</p> + +<p>"I understand," he said. "It would be as well, perhaps, that you +should say as much in the hearing of one of the drawers; so that, +if questioned, I shall have a witness who can bear me out."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch7">Chapter 7</a>: Back To Hotspur.</h2> + +<p>It was still broad daylight when, at half-past six, Oswald left +the inn and sauntered, at a leisurely pace, down the street. His +eye at once fell on Roger's tall figure, and he also saw two +retainers of the earl, loitering about. They were not the same men +he had seen in the morning, but doubtless had relieved those on +watch.</p> + +<p>He took the first turning off the main street and, after passing +through several lanes, found himself at the foot of the town wall. +A narrow lane ran between it and a row of small houses. No one was +about, and he thought that Roger would take advantage of the +loneliness of the spot, to endeavour to rid him of his followers, +whose footsteps he could hear some distance behind him. Presently, +he glanced carelessly round. The men were some thirty or forty +yards behind him; and coming up with them, at a rapid step, was +Roger. A minute later, he heard a voice raised in anger.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, fellow? There is plenty of room to pass, +without pushing between us. You want teaching manners."</p> + +<p>Roger gave a loud laugh.</p> + +<p>"Who is going to teach me?" he said.</p> + +<a id="PicD" /> +<center> +<img src="images/d.jpg" alt= +"Who is going to teach me?" +/> </center> + +<p>"I will!" one of the men said, angrily placing his hand upon his +sword hilt.</p> + +<p>As he did so, he was levelled to the ground by a tremendous blow +from Roger's staff. With a shout, the other soldier drew his sword; +but, before he could guard himself, the staff again descended, and +he fell senseless beside his comrade.</p> + +<p>Roger at once knelt beside them, tore off strips of their +garments and, rolling them up, pressed them into their mouths; and, +with string which he had brought for the purpose, tied them in +their place. Then, taking out a few pieces of cord he tied their +hands behind them, and their ankles together; dragged them into a +dark entry, and left them lying there.</p> + +<p>The whole transaction had occupied but two or three minutes, and +had attracted no attention, whatever. The soldiers' shout might +have been heard; but there was no clashing of weapons, and a shout +was too unimportant a matter for anyone within hearing to take any +trouble about.</p> + +<p>Oswald, seeing that Roger needed no assistance, had occupied +himself with stripping off the outer pair of leggings; and had made +these, with his cloak and cap, into a bundle; and, pressing the +drover's cap down over his eyes, was ready by the time Roger came +up to him.</p> + +<p>"It was splendidly managed, Roger."</p> + +<p>"It did well enough," the other said, carelessly. "It may be an +hour before anyone stumbles over them; and, long before that, we +shall be at sea."</p> + +<p>They made their way back through quiet lanes until near the +port, and then boldly went down to the side of a small craft.</p> + +<p>"You are just in time, my men," the skipper said. "In another +five minutes, we should be throwing off the ropes and hoisting +sails. Now that you have come, we shall do so, at once. The tide is +just right for us, and we have nothing further to stop for."</p> + +<p>The boat was a large fishing smack, and had put into Dunbar but +that afternoon, with the intention of disposing of the catch. Two +others had, however, come in still earlier. The market being +glutted, the skipper had determined to take his catch, which was a +heavy one, on to Leith; and had agreed, for a very small sum, to +carry the two drovers to that port.</p> + +<p>Oswald and Roger aided in getting up the sails, and in a few +minutes the smack was at sea. The wind was from the southwest, and +the boat ran rapidly up the coast.</p> + +<p>"The earl will be in a nice way, when he finds that you have +gone," Roger said, as he stood in the stern to watch the rapidly +receding towers of Dunbar. "There will be a hot hue and cry for +you. The earl is not accustomed to be thwarted, and they say that +he is a mighty hot-tempered man. I have no doubt that, as soon as +his fellows bring him word of what has happened to them, and he +finds that you have quitted the inn, he will send parties of horse +out to scour the roads to Berwick and Haddington; and to search the +country, far and near."</p> + +<p>"He is welcome to do that," Oswald said. "My fear is that he +will send down to the port, to inquire if any craft put out about +the hour at which his men were attacked. But even if he does so, +there is no great chance of our being overtaken. We are travelling +fast, and in another hour it will be dark; and long before daybreak +we shall reach Leith, having both wind and tide in our favour, all +the way."</p> + +<p>They kept an anxious watch, as long as there was light enough +for them to make out if a vessel left Dunbar. Both fancied that +they could see a sail, just as twilight was falling, but neither +could be sure that it was not the effect of imagination. They were +already ten miles away, and as the tide had now begun to make along +the shore, it was certain that for some time, at least, a ship, +however fast she might be, would gain but little upon them, until +she had fairly entered the Firth. There would be no moon and, even +should she overtake them, she might well pass them in the dark.</p> + +<p>When they lay down, they agreed that they would keep awake in +turns; and that, if they made out a ship apparently pursuing them, +they would offer the skipper the full value for his boat, and +betake themselves to it, and row for shore.</p> + +<p>"The greatest danger," Roger said, "would be of their passing +us, unseen; and then lying-to near the entrance of the port, and +overhauling us as we came in."</p> + +<p>"That is a danger that we cannot guard against. Can you swim, +Roger?"</p> + +<p>"It is years since I have done so," the monk replied, "but I +used to do so, in the old days."</p> + +<p>"There is an empty cask here, by my side," Oswald went on. "If +we are challenged, the best plan would be to lower it down, +quietly, into the water; and to hold on by it. The boat would +certainly go some distance, before she had lost her way and brought +up; and we should be out of sight of both ships, before they came +together."</p> + +<p>"That is a good idea. If we hear a hail, I will at once cut a +good length of rope, and twist it round a barrel for us to hold on +by. But I don't think there is any chance of our being +overhauled."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you in that respect; still, it is just as well to +have our plans prepared, in case it should happen."</p> + +<p>They kept a vigilant watch through the night, without catching +sight of any craft proceeding in the same direction as +themselves.</p> + +<p>It was still dark when the helmsman hailed the skipper: "I see +the lights of Leith ahead," and later they passed the beacon fire +that marked the entrance to the port. Five minutes later Oswald and +his companion, after paying the sum agreed on, stepped on +shore.</p> + +<p>"That danger is over. I did not think that there was any real +cause for fear. I should like to see the earl, as his bands of +horsemen ride in, today, with the news that they can hear nothing +of us."</p> + +<p>"I should like to hit him just such a clout, with my staff, as I +gave his two retainers," Roger said. "Earl as he is, it was +scandalous, and contrary to all usages, to arrest a messenger; +especially when that messenger is an esquire of one of equal rank +to himself, and his message, as I suppose, a friendly one."</p> + +<p>"I don't so much blame him. He had no means of judging my +discretion; and the consequences, to him and others, had I fallen +into the hands of Douglas, or those of a marauding leader, might +have been serious, indeed. I doubt not that, had I been content to +stay with him, he would have treated me with all honour. I might +even have done so, and have got him to send another messenger to +Percy; but the latter bade me to return at once, and moreover said +that he had another mission, as soon as I had carried the present +one to a successful termination."</p> + +<p>"And have you done so, Master Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think so, Roger. I was to ascertain the earl's real +intentions regarding certain matters, and I think that he means +honestly to adhere to an offer he made. The very fear that he has +shown, lest his intentions should be betrayed, seems to prove that +he is most anxious that naught should occur to interfere with his +plans."</p> + +<p>"The Earls of Dunbar have ever been a treacherous race," Roger +said earnestly, "and ready to betray their own countrymen, in order +to curry favour with England, and continue in possession of their +estates. However, as we have benefited from it, we need not +grumble, if the Scots are contented.</p> + +<p>"Now, Master Oswald, what are we to do next?"</p> + +<p>"I should say that we had better find a corner to lie down, +until daybreak. I don't think that either of us have slept. Then we +will go into a tavern and breakfast, and afterwards go on to +Edinburgh. I should like to see the town and castle, and the chance +may never come again to me.</p> + +<p>"Then, tomorrow morning, we will start in earnest. We shall have +plenty of opportunities to talk over our plans, so let us lose no +time, now, in looking for a bed."</p> + +<p>Fortunately, they soon came upon some fishing nets, carelessly +piled under the lee of a stack of timber. Here they threw +themselves down, and were soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>When they woke, the sun was well up. Fishermen were preparing to +get up sail; and those who had, like themselves, come in during the +night, were commencing to unload their cargoes.</p> + +<p>"Look there!" Oswald exclaimed, as he pointed to a vessel, from +whose masthead floated a flag with the arms of the Earl of March. +"She is just entering the port. They did chase us after all, you +see, but they did not gain on our fishing boat."</p> + +<p>"Well, methinks that we had better be off, at once," Roger said. +"They will soon learn which boat has come from Dunbar, and find out +from the men what were the disguises worn by us. So we had best +lose no time in getting out of Leith."</p> + +<p>"They would never dare to seize us, here," Oswald said.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that. If they have strict orders to bring us back, +they would not feel much hesitation in seizing us, wherever they +found us; knowing well enough that the burghers of Leith would not +concern themselves greatly about the capture of two drovers, who +would probably be charged with all sorts of crime. Were it one of +their own citizens, it would be different; but it is scarce likely +that the burghers would care to quarrel, with a powerful noble, for +the sake of two strangers of low degree. The gates will be open +before this, and we shall be safer in Edinburgh than we are +here."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, they postponed their breakfast and, passing through +the town without a pause, issued out by the south gate, and walked +briskly to Edinburgh. As soon as they arrived, they found a small +tavern, and partook of a hearty meal. Listening while they ate to +the conversation going on around them, they found that the young +Duke of Rothesay was, at present, staying at the castle.</p> + +<p>"Men say that the disputes between him and his uncle, the Duke +of Albany, have of late grown hotter."</p> + +<p>"That might well be," another said. "Rothesay is a man, now. He +has shown himself a brave soldier, and it is not likely that he +would support, with patience, the haughtiness and overbearing +manner of Albany. It was an evil day for Scotland when our good +king, who was then but prince, lamed himself for life; and so was +forced, on his accession, to leave the conduct of affairs to +Albany, then Earl of Fife. The king, as all men know, is just and +good, and has at heart the welfare of his subjects; but his +accident has rendered him unfit to take part in public affairs, and +he loves peace and quiet as much as Albany loves intrigues, and +dark and devious ways. 'Tis a sore pity that the king cannot make +up his mind to throw himself into the arms of Douglas, and call +upon the nobility to join in expelling Albany from his councils; +and to give the charge of affairs into the hands of Rothesay, or +even to bestow upon him the kingly dignity, while he himself +retires to the peaceful life he loves."</p> + +<p>"That would have been better done," the other said, "before the +young duke married; for many of the nobles, who would have +otherwise supported him, would hold aloof, seeing that the +accession of Rothesay would be but handing over the real power of +the state from Albany to Douglas. Men say that the feud between +March and Douglas grows hotter and hotter, and that the boldness +with which March upbraided the king, for the breaking off by +Rothesay of his marriage with Elizabeth of Dunbar, has so angered +him, Rothesay, and Albany, who had aided in bringing about the +match with Elizabeth Douglas, that 'tis like that March will, ere +long, be arraigned for his conduct, and the threats that he uttered +in his passion."</p> + +<p>"Well, gossips, it matters little to us," an elderly man said. +"Whether king or prince or duke is master, we have to pay; and +assuredly, were Rothesay king, our taxes would not abate; seeing +that he is extravagant and reckless, though I say not that he has +not many good qualities. But these benefit, in no way, men like +ourselves; while the taxation to support extravagance touches us +all."</p> + +<p>There was a murmur of assent from the little group who were +talking, who struck Oswald as being farmers, who had come in from +the country to sell cattle to the butchers of the town. They were +interrupted in their talk by the landlord, who came across to +them.</p> + +<p>"My good friends," he said, "I pray you talk not so loudly +concerning princes and nobles. It is true that we are a royal city, +and that the burghers of Edinburgh have their rights and their +liberties; nevertheless, it were dangerous to talk loud concerning +nobles. We are quiet people all, and none here wear the cognizance +of Douglas or Albany. Still, it would do me much harm, were it +reported that there had been talk here concerning such powerful +nobles; and though the Douglas might care little what was said of +him, methinks that there are others--I name no names--who would +spare neither great nor small who incurred their resentment."</p> + +<p>"I knew not that we were talking loudly, John Ker; and methinks +that none, save the two men at the near table, have heard our +words; and they look honest fellows enough. Still, what you say is +right, and while we may talk of these things by our firesides, 'tis +best to keep a silent tongue, while abroad."</p> + +<p>"You need not disquiet yourself about us," Roger broke in. "We +have no communion with lords or princes; and, so that we can drive +our herds safely down into Cumberland, we care not whether one +noble or another has the king's ear. We have but just returned, +from England."</p> + +<p>"Well, man, I may put you in the way of getting a job, if you +want one," the eldest of the party said. "I myself have a small +farm, near Lavingston, and but breed cattle for the Edinburgh +market; but I have a brother, at Lanark, who buys cattle up in the +north; and, when there is peace between the countries, sends the +droves down to Carlisle, and makes a good profit on their sales. I +saw him but two hours ago, and he told me that he was daily +expecting a lot of cattle from the north; and that he intended to +send them on, without delay, to Carlisle. If you say to him that +you have seen me, and that I recommended you to call on him, and +see if he wanted any drovers to aid in taking them down; I doubt +not he will take you on, unless he has already engaged men."</p> + +<p>"I thank you for the offer," Roger said, "but our home lies near +Roxburgh, and we intend to abide there for a time; for the roads +are by no means safe, at present. Douglas is thinking more of his +quarrel with Dunbar than of keeping down border freebooters. We +escaped them this time; but we heard of their taking heavy toll +from some herds that followed us, and of their killing two or three +drovers who offered objection; so we have determined to abide at +home, for a time, to see how matters go."</p> + +<p>After taking a brief view of the town they started, in the +afternoon, to walk to Dalkeith, where they slept; and, leaving +there at daybreak, crossed a lofty range of hills, and came down +into Lauderdale. They had no fear of any interruption such as they +had experienced before--as, had Douglas news of negotiations going +on between March and England, he would not think it necessary to +watch the road between Edinburgh and the border--and late in the +evening they arrived at Ancrum, on the Teviot, having done fully +fifty miles, since starting.</p> + +<p>Ten miles in the morning took them to Roxburgh. Here they put up +at a small tavern, and Oswald donned the servitor's suit that he +had brought with him from Dunbar; while Roger, to his great +disgust, resumed his monk's gown, which he put on over the drover's +suit.</p> + +<p>Oswald then went to the governor's. His former acquaintance +happened to be at the door, and endeavoured to atone for his former +rudeness, by at once ushering him to the governor's room.</p> + +<p>"Welcome back, Master Forster!" the latter said. "Your mission, +whatever it was, is speedily terminated. From what you said, I had +not looked for you for another fortnight."</p> + +<p>"If I had not come when I did," Oswald said, "my absence might +have been prolonged, for months. However, all has gone well, and I +purpose starting at once for Alnwick, and would fain reach Wooler +by nightfall."</p> + +<p>"That you can do, easily enough. I will order the horses to be +saddled, at once."</p> + +<p>"I thank you, Sir Philip. I will mount here in the courtyard. I +care not, now, what notice may be taken of me; seeing that there is +but some ten miles to be ridden, to the frontier."</p> + +<p>"Nor, I warrant me, will you meet with interference on the +road," the knight said. "I have not heard of anyone being stopped +for toll, for the past year, between this and the border."</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later they left Roxburgh; and, travelling +at an easy pace, arrived at Wooler before sunset; and on the +following evening entered Alnwick. They could have reached it +earlier, but Oswald thought it as well not to enter the castle +until after dark, as he did not wish to be noticed in his present +attire.</p> + +<p>Fastening the horses to hooks in the courtyard, Oswald ran up to +his apartment, which was next to that of his uncle.</p> + +<p>"Welcome back, Oswald!" the latter said, as he opened his door +on hearing his footsteps. "I had thought that you would be longer +away."</p> + +<p>"I am back sooner than I expected, Uncle. Will you order supper +to be brought up here, for Roger and myself? We are both hard set; +though, indeed, we had a meal of bread and cheese, at noon, at a +wayside tavern."</p> + +<p>"Brother Roger has behaved well?"</p> + +<p>"Excellently. He has cracked but two sconces since we left, and +these were on my behalf. He will sleep on some rushes in my room, +tonight. He hates the thought of returning to the monastery, and +has begged me, most earnestly, to ask Percy to continue him in his +employment."</p> + +<p>As soon as Oswald had donned his ordinary attire, he went to +Lord Percy's quarters.</p> + +<p>"You are back sooner than I had expected, Oswald," Hotspur said, +as he entered. "Nothing has gone wrong, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, my lord, but I was forced to leave Dunbar, after but +three days' stay there; for the earl was so fearful that I might be +detected, on my way back, that he would have retained me with him +until the time for action came; sending down another messenger, by +sea, to you. As your orders were to return with all speed, I gave +him the slip, and made my way back as quickly as possible."</p> + +<p>"And March?"</p> + +<p>"I think that the earl is in earnest in his professions, my +lord; and that you can rely upon him for such aid as he can render. +But, from what I heard in Edinburgh--"</p> + +<p>"In Edinburgh!" Hotspur said, in surprise; "what took you +there?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you, my lord; but the point is that men said +openly, there, that there was a report that he would be attainted, +and deprived of his land, for treasonable words spoken by him to +the king, the Duke of Albany, and the Duke of Rothesay. If this is +so, he will have to fly; for assuredly he has, at present, no force +gathered that could resist those of the king and Douglas."</p> + +<p>"Give me an account of what has happened," Hotspur said, +frowning. "I feared that March's impetuous temper would lead him +into trouble, before we were in a position to march to his +assistance; and I heard rumours of a stormy scene between him and +Rothesay, when he learned that he had been fooled; but I knew not +that the king, himself, was present."</p> + +<p>Oswald related the story of his journey, and the interruption on +the moor; and the reports, that he had afterwards heard, of the +stoppage of all travellers coming from the south, by the same +band.</p> + +<p>"The leader was evidently above the rank of an ordinary +marauder, and his followers obeyed him as men-at-arms would obey an +officer; and it seemed to me, my lord, that Douglas must have heard +a vague report that the earl was in communication with England; and +sought to intercept some messenger, on whom he might find a letter, +or from whom he could extract proofs of the earl's treachery."</p> + +<p>"'Tis like enough," Hotspur said. "When a man is so rash as to +upbraid the king, and still more Albany, he must needs fall under +suspicion. Now, go on with your story."</p> + +<p>When Oswald had brought his narration to an end, Percy said:</p> + +<p>"You have done very well, Oswald, and have deserved the +confidence that I placed in you. You have shown much +circumspection, and you did well in escaping from Dunbar, as you +did. The mad monk, too, seems to have behaved well. I doubted your +wisdom in taking him, but he has certainly proved a useful +fellow."</p> + +<p>"I would petition, my lord, that you should continue him in your +service; and that, should you employ me upon another mission, you +will again allow me to take him with me. He is a shrewd fellow, as +well as a stout one, and I could wish for no better companion; +though I own that, since he put on his gown again at Roxburgh, and +rode hither, his spirits have greatly failed him."</p> + +<p>"I will arrange that with the abbot," Hotspur said; "but tell +him that, while he is here, he must continue to wear his robe. His +face is too well known for him to pass as a man-at-arms, without +being recognized by half the garrison. The Lord Abbot would well +object to one of his monks turning into a swaggering man-at-arms, +at his very door.</p> + +<p>"At any rate, I shall tell the abbot that, if he will consent +quietly to the monk's unfrocking himself, until he can obtain for +him release from his vows; I will scud him away to one of the other +castles, whence I can fetch him, if you need him to accompany you +on any errand, and where he can form part of the regular garrison. +But the knave must be informed that it were best that he say nought +about his former profession, and that he comport himself as quietly +as is in his nature.</p> + +<p>"I will give him a small command, as soon as may be; for +although a very bad monk, he has proved himself to be a good +soldier."</p> + +<p>"I thank you greatly, my lord," Oswald said; "and will talk +seriously to the monk, who will be delighted when he hears that the +abbot will take steps to allow him to lay aside his gown."</p> + +<p>Roger was, indeed, delighted when he heard the news; and still +more so when, three days later, Oswald informed him that Hotspur +had obtained, from the abbot, what was practically a release from +his vows. The good abbot said that he felt that harm, rather than +good, would ensue from keeping the monk a member of the +monastery.</p> + +<p>"He infects the lay brothers, with his talk," he said. "He is a +good instructor in arms, but he teaches not as one who feels that +it is a dire necessity to carry arms, but as one who delights in +it. Moreover, he causes scandals by his drinking bouts, and does +not add to the harmony of the place. At a time like this, when the +Scots may, at any moment, fall across the border, such a fellow may +do good service to his country; and it is surely better that a man +should be a good soldier, than that he should be a bad monk. +Therefore I will let him go, my lord; but keep him away from here. +It would be a grave scandal, were he to be brawling in the town +where he is known. Therefore, I pray you, take him elsewhere. I +have striven long to make him a worthy member of his order, but I +feel that it is beyond me; and it would be best, therefore, that he +should go his own way. He may come to be a worthy soldier, and so +justify me in allowing him to unfrock himself.</p> + +<p>"As he is abiding in your castle, I pray you bid him present +himself here, tomorrow. I would fain speak to him, and give him +such advice, concerning his future conduct, as may be of benefit to +him."</p> + +<p>When Roger returned from the monastery, the next day, he wore a +much more serious face than usual.</p> + +<p>"The abbot has done me more good, by his talk this morning," he +said to Oswald, "than by all the lectures and penances he has ever +imposed on me. In truth, he is a good man, and I had half a mind to +say that I would return to the convent, and do my best to comport +myself mildly and becomingly.</p> + +<p>"But I felt that it would not do, Oswald. The thing is too +strong for me and, however I might strive, I know that when the +temptation came I should break out again; and so, I held my +peace."</p> + +<p>"What did he say to you, Roger?"</p> + +<p>"He said many things, but the gist of it was that there were as +good men outside the walls of a monastery as there were within it, +and that a soldier has as many opportunities--indeed many more +opportunities--of showing himself a good man as a monk has. In +battle, he said, a soldier must act as such, and fight stoutly +against the enemy, and take life as well as risk his own; but after +the fight is over he should show himself merciful, and if he cannot +follow out the precept to love his enemies, he should at least be +compassionate and kind to them. But above all, he should never +oppress the helpless, should comport himself honourably and kindly +to women and children, and, if necessary, draw sword in their +defence against those who would ill use them. And, though the +spoils of war were honourable and necessary, when captured in fair +fight, yet the oppression and robbery of the poor were deadly +crimes.</p> + +<p>"'Comport yourself always, Roger, as if, though a soldier in +arms, you were still a monk at heart. You are brave and strong, and +may rise to some honour; but, whether or no, you may bear yourself +as if you were of gentle blood, and wore knightly spurs. Not all +who are so are honourable and merciful, as they have vowed to be. +Remember, I shall hear of you from time to time, through my Lord +Percy; and that it will gladden me to have a good account of you, +and to feel that I have not done wrong in letting you go forth, +from this house of rest, to take part in the turmoil and strife of +the world.'</p> + +<p>"He said more than this, but this is the pith of it. I knelt +down, and swore that I would strive, to the utmost in my power, to +do as he bade me; and he put his hands on my head, and bade me go +in peace; and I tell you, I mean to prove to him that his words +have not been in vain."</p> + +<p>Two days later, Oswald started with Roger, and rode to Warkworth +Castle, some ten miles away; bearing an order to the governor to +add Roger to the strength of the garrison, telling him that he had +shown himself to be a brave soldier, and a skilful one, and that he +could place confidence in him, and appoint him to any sub-command +that might become vacant.</p> + +<p>On the way, they entered a wood. Here Roger took off his +monastic garb, and clad himself in armour such as was worn by the +garrison of Alnwick. The monk's clothes were made up into a bundle, +and left in the wood, Oswald saying:</p> + +<p>"I will carry them back with me, on my return, Roger. It may be +that they may come in useful, yet, if you and I travel together +again in the Percys' service."</p> + +<p>A month passed, and then the Earl of March came, by sea, to +Alnwick. Douglas and the regent had marched against him with an +overwhelming force; and, as they were both personal enemies, he +knew that his fate would be sealed if he fell into their hands, and +he had therefore been driven to declare himself, openly, as a +vassal of the English king.</p> + +<p>On the day after his arrival he happened to be in Hotspur's +room, when Oswald entered.</p> + +<p>"Ah! ah!" he said, "This is your messenger, Percy.</p> + +<p>"You left me with scant notice, sir."</p> + +<p>And he smiled.</p> + +<p>"I was forced to do so, my lord earl; for, in truth, I was not +sure that you would not prevent me from following my lord's orders, +to return after seeing you."</p> + +<p>"You were right. In the first place, I was not sure that you +were a true messenger; and in the second place, I feared that you +might, on return, fall into the hands of the Douglases; who would +speedily find means to wring from you an account of your mission. +Therefore, I thought that it were best that you should tarry a +while with me, at Dunbar.</p> + +<p>"The young fellow has a good head, Lord Percy, and is as hard to +hold as a wildcat. I put the matter of watching him into the hands +of two or three of my men, whose wits I have tried more than once, +and know them to be among the most trustworthy of my followers. +This lad, however, outwitted them. How, they have never been able +to explain; but my fellows were found, trussed up like fowls for +roasting, in an alley into which they had been thrown; having, as +they declared, been knocked down by a giant fellow, who sprung from +they knew not where, just as they were about to lay hands upon your +messenger. After they had vanished, none had seen him pass the +walls, and we judged that he must have started in a craft that +sailed up the Forth. Fearing that, if they landed, he might +speedily fall into the hands of Douglas, I sent a vessel in chase; +but they missed him, and indeed, from that time to this I knew not, +save by your letter to me, whether he had reached here safely."</p> + +<p>After a short stay, the Earl of March was about to return to +Dunbar; when he heard that the king, himself, was coming north with +an army for the invasion of Scotland, and would then confer with +him, and consider the terms on which he proposed to transfer his +allegiance to him. A month later the king arrived at Alnwick, and +there George Dunbar, Earl of March, entered into an agreement with +him; in which he renounced all fealty to the King of Scotland, in +consideration for which he was granted an estate in Lincolnshire, +and other revenues. It was also agreed that the subjects of the +King of England should support the earl, in time of necessity; and +should be supported by him, and received into his fortresses.</p> + +<p>He was not, now, in a position to render any very efficient aid +to the king; for Robert Maitland, his nephew, to whom he had +committed the castle of Dunbar, had been summoned by Douglas, who +had marched there with a strong force, by order of the king, and +had surrendered the stronghold to him. However, he brought Dunbar's +wife and family, and a considerable force of his retainers, safely +across the border.</p> + +<p>He and Percy, together, then made a raid into the Douglas +territory; and penetrated as far as Haddington, and collected much +spoil from the country round. Douglas, however, came suddenly upon +them in great force, and they were obliged to retreat hastily +across the frontier again, abandoning their baggage and booty.</p> + +<p>The king's invasion was no more satisfactory. The Earl of March +was unable to place Dunbar in his hands; and, as the Scots declined +battle in the open, he laid siege to Edinburgh, but without +success. Dunbar being closed to him, he was unable to obtain +provisions, and was forced to fall back to England, having +accomplished nothing.</p> + +<p>During his invasion, he had shown much more leniency than had +been the custom with his predecessors. He had taken what was +necessary to support the army, but had abstained from wasting the +country, destroying villages and towns, and slaughtering the +country people; and, so far from embittering the animosity between +the two nations, he had produced a better state of feeling; and a +truce was, in consequence, concluded for a year, at Kelso, by +special commissioners from both kings, on the 21st of December, +1400.</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch8">Chapter 8</a>: Ludlow Castle.</h2> + +<p>Oswald Forster had not been present when, in June, 1400, the +king arrived at Alnwick. A few days after the coming of the Earl of +March, Hotspur received a letter from Sir Edmund Mortimer, the +brother of his wife; asking him to send a body of men-at-arms, +under an experienced captain who could aid him to drill +newly-raised levies; for that one Owen Glendower had taken up arms +against the Lord Grey de Ruthyn, and that turbulent men were +flocking to his standard, and it was feared that serious trouble +might ensue. Percy was in a position to send but few men, for with +war with the Scotch imminent, he could not weaken himself by +sending off a large force. However, he sent for Alwyn Forster.</p> + +<p>"I need twenty picked men, for the service of Sir Edmund +Mortimer, Alwyn. I would send more, were it not for the position of +affairs here. What say you to taking the command of them?"</p> + +<p>"I would gladly do so, my lord, if it be that there is a chance +of something more lively than drilling hinds, and turning them into +men-at-arms, which has been my business for years now, without a +chance of striking a blow in earnest."</p> + +<p>"I think that there will be a certainty of fighting, Alwyn. The +Welshmen are growing troublesome again, and Sir Edmund thinks that +there may be tough work, on the Welsh marches, and has written to +me for aid.</p> + +<p>"With the king coming hither, there is a chance that the Earl of +March, and myself, will open the war by harrying the Douglas's +lands. I can spare no great force, but even twenty tried +men-at-arms would, no doubt, be welcome. As the king is going to +march into Scotland, there is no fear that there will be any +serious invasion by the Scots, and therefore you can be spared for +a while. I think not that any of my knights would care to go in +command of so small an array, but I thought that you might like to +take it."</p> + +<p>"I shall be right glad to do so, my lord."</p> + +<p>"I shall send your nephew with you. He is a shrewd and gallant +young fellow, and I know he would far rather be taking part in +active service, against the Welsh, than spending his time in +idleness, here. He has been too long used to a life on horseback to +rest contented to be cooped up in a castle. Besides, there will be +a good opportunity of distinguishing himself, and of learning +something of a warfare even wilder, and more savage, than that in +these northern marches."</p> + +<p>"I should like much to have him with me, my lord. Methinks that +he has the making of a right good knight; and, young as he is, I am +sure that his head is better than mine, and I should not be too +proud to take counsel of him, if needs be."</p> + +<p>"That is settled then, Alwyn. Choose your men, and set off +tomorrow morning. Ralph Peyton, your lieutenant, shall take the +command of the garrison until you return."</p> + +<p>Oswald was delighted when his uncle told him of the mission with +which he was charged, and that he himself was to accompany him.</p> + +<p>"You are to have the choice of the men-at-arms, Uncle?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Oswald. I know what you are going to say. You would like +to have that mad monk of yours, as one of them."</p> + +<p>"That should I, Uncle. You have no stouter man-at-arms in all +your band, and he has proved that he can be discreet when he +chooses, and did me good service in my last expedition."</p> + +<p>"Very well, lad, we will take him. I will send one of the men +over, at once, for him to join us on the road tomorrow. I shall +choose young and active fellows, of whom we have plenty. I have +never fought against the Welsh; but they are light footed, and +agile, and their country is full of hills and swamps. The older men +would do as good service here, were the castle besieged in our +absence; of which, however, there is but slight chance; but for +work against the Welsh, they would be of little use."</p> + +<p>Hotspur himself spoke to Oswald, that evening.</p> + +<p>"Here is a missive to give to Sir Edmund Mortimer. I have +commended you to him, telling him that, though young, there is not +one of my squires in whom I could more implicitly trust; and that +you had carried out a delicate mission for me, with rare discretion +and courage. Your uncle, as an old retainer, and a good fighter, +and the captain of my garrison, goes in command of the men-at-arms, +and in regular fighting one could need no better officer; but in +such warfare as that against the Welsh is like to be, yours will be +the better head to plan, and as my squire you will represent me. I +have specially commended you to him, as one always to be depended +upon."</p> + +<p>"I am greatly beholden to your lordship," Oswald said, "and will +try to justify the commendations that you have given me."</p> + +<p>At daybreak on the following morning, the little party rode out +from the castle. Oswald with his uncle rode in front; the former in +the highest spirits, while the sturdy old soldier was himself +scarce less pleased, at this change from the monotony of life in +garrison.</p> + +<p>"Years seem to have fallen off my shoulders, lad," he said, "and +I feel as young as I did when I fought at Otterburn."</p> + +<p>"That was a bad business, Uncle; and I trust that no such +misfortune as that will befall us, this time."</p> + +<p>"I hope not, indeed, Oswald. It was a sore fight, and we are +scarce likely to have a pitched battle with these Welsh carls. They +fight not much in our fashion, as I have heard; but dash down from +their hills, and carry fire and sword through a district, and are +off again before a force can be gathered to strike a blow. Then +there are marches to and fro among their hills, but it is like +chasing a will-o'-the-wisp; and like enough, just when you think +you have got them cooped up, and prepare to strike a heavy blow, +they are a hundred miles away, plundering and ravaging on our side +of the frontier. They are half-wild men, short in stature, and no +match for us when it comes to hand-to-hand fighting; but broad in +the shoulder, tireless, and active as our shaggy ponies, and +well-nigh as untamable. 'Tis fighting in which there is little +glory, and many hard knocks to be obtained; but it is a good school +for war. It teaches a man to be ever watchful and on his guard, +prepared to meet sudden attacks, patient under difficulties; and, +what is harder, to be able to go without eating or drinking for a +long time, for they say that you might as well expect to find corn +and ale on the crest of the Grampians, as you would on the Welsh +hills."</p> + +<p>"The prospect doesn't look very pleasant, Uncle," Oswald +laughed. "However, their hills can scarcely be more barren than +ours, nor can they be quicker on the stroke than the border +raiders; and for such work, we of the northern marches have proved +far more useful than the beefy men of the south."</p> + +<p>"No doubt, no doubt; and maybe that, for that reason, Sir Edmund +prayed Hotspur to send a detachment to his aid; for he would know +that we are accustomed to a country as rough, and to a foe as +active as he has now to meet.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what has stirred up the Welsh now, knowing as they do +that, although they may gain successes at first, it always ends in +the harrying of their lands, and the burning of their castles and +villages. They have been quiet for some years. But they are always +like a swarm of bees. They will work, quietly enough, till they +take offence at something; then they will pour out in a fury, +attacking all they come across, and caring nothing about death, so +that they can but prick an enemy with their stings. Maybe it is the +report that the king is engaging in another Scotch war, and they +think that it is a good time to gather spoil from their neighbours. +They used to be mightily given to warring among themselves, but of +late I have heard but little of this.</p> + +<p>"It is a hundred years, now, since they were really troublesome, +and rose under Morgan ap Madoc; and Edward the Second had himself +to reduce them to submission, and build strong castles at Conway, +Beaumaris, and other places. There have been one or two partial +risings, since then, but nothing of much consequence. It may well +be that the present generation, who have not themselves felt the +power of English arms, may have decided to make another stroke for +independence; and if so, it will need more than Mortimer's force, +or that of the other border barons, to bring them to reason; and as +for our little detachment, it will be but a drop in the ocean. +However, it may be that this is a mere quarrel, between Mortimer +and some of his neighbours.</p> + +<p>"I have heard somewhat of the Welshman Owen Glendower, who lives +in those parts. He has a grievance against Lord Grey of Ruthyn; +who, as he says, unjustly seized a small estate of his. I know that +he petitioned Parliament for redress, but that his petition was +lately refused."</p> + +<p>"'Tis strange that such a man should have known enough of +English law to have made a petition to our parliament."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but he is no common man. He went to England and studied at +our universities, and even lived in the inns of court, and learned +the laws of this country. Then, strangely enough, he became an +esquire in the household of King Richard, and did good service to +him; and when the court was broken up, on Richard being dethroned, +he went away to his estate in Wales. Since then I have not heard of +him, save as to this dispute with Lord Grey and his petition to +Parliament thereon; but men who were at Richard's court have told +me that he was a courteous gentleman, of excellent parts and, it +was said, of much learning."</p> + +<p>"Such a man might be a formidable enemy," Oswald said; "and if +he has been robbed by Lord Grey, he might well head an +insurrection, to recover his estates from that noble."</p> + +<p>In the course of their ride they were joined by Roger, who +warmly thanked Alwyn for having selected him as one of his band. +The other soldiers received him heartily, for the fighting monk had +been a familiar personage at Alnwick, and his mighty strength and +jovial disposition rendered him very popular among the soldiers of +the garrison. There had been general satisfaction among them, when +it was known that he had laid aside his monk's gown, and had become +one of the Percys' men-at-arms; and there had been many expressions +of regret that he had been sent off, instead of forming one of the +garrison of Alnwick. Two or three of them addressed him, as usual, +as monk, but he said:</p> + +<p>"Look here, comrades, I have been a monk, and a bad one, and the +less said about it the better. I am no longer a monk, but a +man-at-arms; and as I am not proud of my doings as a monk, I have +given up the title, as I have given up the garb. Therefore I give +fair notice that whosoever, in future, shall address me as monk, +will feel the weight of my arm. My name is Roger, and as Roger let +me be called, henceforth."</p> + +<p>So saying, he fell into his place in the line, when the +cavalcade continued their way.</p> + +<p>The journey was a long one. Oswald had been well supplied with +funds, and seldom found difficulty in obtaining lodgings for the +party. The sight of an esquire, with a small troop of men-at-arms +wearing the Percy cognizance, excited no curiosity as they rode +south; but when they turned westward it was otherwise, and at their +halting places Oswald and his uncle, who dined apart from the +others, were always questioned as to their destination.</p> + +<p>But when it was known that they were travelling to the castle of +Mortimer, whose sister was the wife of their lord, none were +surprised; for rumours were already current of troubles on the +Welsh border; and when they entered Shropshire they heard that Owen +Glendower, with a considerable force, had fallen suddenly upon the +retainers of Lord Grey de Ruthyn, had killed many, and had +reoccupied the estates of which he had been deprived by that +nobleman.</p> + +<p>On the fifteenth day after leaving Alnwick they arrived at +Ludlow Castle, of which Mortimer was the lord. Oswald was at once +conducted to the hall where the knight was sitting.</p> + +<p>"I am bearer of a message from Sir Henry Percy," he said; "he +has sent hither a party of twenty men-at-arms, under the command of +the captain of his garrison, at Alnwick."</p> + +<p>"I had hoped for more," the knight said, taking the missive and +opening it; "but I can understand that, now the king is marching +against Scotland, Percy cannot spare troops to despatch so long a +distance. I trust that he and my sister, his wife, and the earl are +in good health?"</p> + +<p>"I left them so, sir."</p> + +<p>The knight read Hotspur's letter.</p> + +<p>"He speaks in terms of high commendation of you, young sir," he +said, as he laid the letter down on the table. "Such commendation +is rarely bestowed on one so young. I marvelled somewhat, when you +entered, that Sir Henry Percy should have sent so young a squire; +but from what he says, I doubt not that his choice is a good one; +and indeed, it is plain that your muscles have had rare exercise, +and that you can stand fatigue and hardship better than many older +men. It is like that you will have your share, for the whole border +seems to be unsettled. You have heard that this Glendower has +boldly attacked, and driven out, Lord Grey's retainers from the +estates he had taken.</p> + +<p>"As to the rights of that matter, I have nought to say. Lord +Grey manages the affairs with the Welsh in his own county of +Denbighshire, and along the north; and I keep their eastern border, +and I meddle not with his affairs, nor he with mine. I know that +this Glendower is a supporter of King Richard, of whom there are +many tales current; some saying that he escaped from Pomfret, and +is still alive, though I doubt not that the report that he died +there is true. We know that there is, in Scotland, a man whom it +pleases Albany to put forward as Richard; but this, methinks, is +but a device to trouble our king. Whether this Glendower believes +in this man, or not, I know not; but certain it is that he would +embrace any opportunity to prove his hostility to Henry, whom he +professes to regard as a usurper. Whether it is on account of his +holding such opinions, and foolishly giving expression to them, +that Lord Grey thought fit to seize his estates I know not; nor, +indeed, do I care. Now, however, that the man has taken up arms, +and by force has dispossessed Lord Grey, the matter touches all of +us who are responsible for the keeping of peace in the Welsh +marches.</p> + +<p>"Were it only a quarrel between Lord Grey and this man, it would +matter but little; but, from all I hear, he exercises a strange +influence over his countrymen, who deem that he has mysterious +powers, and can call up spirits to aid him. For myself, I have +never known an instance where necromancy or spirits have availed, +in any way, against stout arms and good armour; but such is not, +assuredly, the opinion of the unlearned, either in this country or +in Wales. But these mountaineers are altogether without learning, +and are full of superstitions. Even with us, a man more learned +than the commonalty is deemed, by them, to dabble in the black art; +and it may well be that this reputation Glendower has obtained is +altogether due to the fact that he has much knowledge, whereas the +people have none. However that may be, there is no doubt that the +Welsh people are mostly ignorant; and that, at the call of this +Glendower, men from all parts are hastening to join his banner. +Even on this side of the border there are complaints that the Welsh +servants are leaving, not openly and after a due termination of +service, but making off at night, and without a word of +warning.</p> + +<p>"All this would seem to show that there is trouble on hand, and +it behoves us to be watchful, and to hold ourselves in readiness; +lest at any time they should, as in the days of old, cross the +border, and carry fire and sword through Shropshire and Hereford. +The royal castles in Wales could, doubtless, hold out against all +attacks; but the garrisons would have to remain pent up within +their walls, until succour reached them. Fortunately, most of them +are situated near the sea, and could be relieved without the troops +having to march through places where a heavily armed man can scarce +make his way, and where these active and half-clad Welshmen can +harass them, night and day, without ever giving them a chance of +coming to close quarters.</p> + +<p>"A messenger from Lord Grey arrived here, yesterday. Indeed, +since the attack on his retainers, we have been in constant +communication. At first he made light of the matter, and said that +he should like to have the Welshman hanging from the battlements of +his castle; but, during the last week, his messages have been less +hopeful. Glendower had disappeared from the neighbourhood +altogether, leaving a sort of proclamation to Lord Grey affixed to +the door of his house; saying that, next time he heard of him, no +mercy would be shown, and every man would be slain. He now says +that rumours reach him of large gatherings, and that there are +bonfires, nightly, on the hilltops. He doubts not that the troubles +will soon be suppressed, but admits that much blood may have to be +spilt, ere it is done.</p> + +<p>"I can bear testimony to the bonfires, for from the top of the +keep a dozen can be seen, any night, blazing among the hills."</p> + +<p>"Of course, sir, your messenger, asking Lord Percy to send a +body of men-at-arms here, was despatched before Glendower's attack +on Lord Grey?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly; but it is three months, now, since Parliament +refused Glendower's appeal for justice against Lord Grey; and +rumours have been busy, ever since. Some said that he was +travelling through the valleys, accompanied by some of the harpers, +who have always taken a leading part in stirring up the Welsh to +insurrection. Some avow that he has retired to a fortress, and was +there weaving designs for the overthrow of Lord Grey, and even of +the whole of the English castles. Some say that he claims to be a +descendant of Llewellyn, and the rightful king of Wales.</p> + +<p>"There is some foundation for this, for I have talked to some of +the better class of Welsh; who have, like Glendower, studied in our +universities. The Welsh are, above all things, fond of long +pedigrees, and can trace, or pretend to trace, the lineage of all +their principal families up to Noah; and some of them admit that +there is some ground for the claim Glendower is said to have +made.</p> + +<p>"Still, all these rumours make me feel uneasy. As we have had +many years of quiet here, it has not been necessary to keep up more +than a sufficient number of men-at-arms for the defence of this +castle. I might have increased the force, for the people of these +parts bear a deep animosity against the Welsh, and dread them +greatly; as they may well do, from the many wrongs and outrages +they have suffered at their hands. One reason why I have not taken +on many men, since the talk of coming troubles began, is that, +close to the border as we are, many have connections with the Welsh +by business or marriage; and these, if enrolled in the garrison, +might serve as spies, and give warning of any movement we might +undertake. I had hoped that Percy could have spared me a hundred +good men-at-arms. I would rather have had his men than others, +because they have been trained in border warfare, by the constant +troubles in Scotland; and would, moreover, come to me with a better +heart than others, since Sir Henry's wife is my sister, and it is, +therefore, almost a family quarrel upon which they have +entered.</p> + +<p>"Had I known, when I wrote, that the king was on his way north, +I should have taken steps to raise my strength elsewhere, as of +course Percy would have occasion to use every lance he could +muster. Lord Grey has sent off a messenger to the king, begging him +to denounce this fellow as an outlaw; and should he be troublesome, +he himself may, after he has done with the Scots, send hither a +force; for although we may hope, with the aid of the levies of the +border counties, to drive back the Welsh in whatever force they may +come, 'tis another thing to march into the mountains. The matter +has been tried, again and again, and has always taxed the power of +England to the utmost.</p> + +<p>"'Tis of no use lamenting over spilt milk but, for my part, I +regret that Parliament did not give a fair hearing to Glendower's +complaint against Lord Grey. The refusal to do so was a high-handed +one. It has driven this man to desperation, and has enlisted the +sympathies of all Welshmen who have English neighbours; for they +cannot but say, among themselves, 'If he is to be plundered and +despoiled, and his complaints refused a hearing, what is to prevent +our being similarly despoiled? 'Tis surely better to take up the +sword, at once, and begin again the fight for our +independence.'</p> + +<p>"As it is, it may cost thousands of lives, immense efforts, and +vast trouble before things are placed on their former footing.</p> + +<p>"Doubtless, the captain of the men-at-arms you have brought is a +good soldier, since Percy says that he is captain of his garrison +at Alnwick!"</p> + +<p>"He bears a high reputation in Northumberland, Sir Edmund. I may +say that he is my uncle, and 'tis from his recommendation that Lord +Percy, in the first place, took me into his household."</p> + +<p>"I will go down and speak with him," the knight said. "I gave +orders, as soon as I heard who had arrived, that proper +entertainment should be given to all; yet it is but right that I +should, myself, go down to thank them for having come so far; and +to welcome their captain, whose experience will be of no small use +to my own men, who have never been engaged in border war. Some have +fought in France, but under conditions so different that their +experience will aid them but little; save, indeed, if the Welsh +grow so strong and so bold that they venture to attack this +castle."</p> + +<p>Percy's men, when the knight descended, had indeed sat down to +supper with the retainers of the castle, while Alwyn was being +entertained by the captain of his men-at-arms. All rose to their +feet when Sir Edmund entered, but he waved his hand to them, to be +seated.</p> + +<p>"Finish your meal," he said, "and afterwards, if you will muster +in the courtyard, I will inspect you, and see what stout +Northumberland men Lord Percy has sent me."</p> + +<p>He then went up to the top of the keep with Oswald, pointed out +the distant hills, and told him what valleys and villages lay among +them, and the direction in which such roads as there were ran. By +the time they had descended, Percy's men were drawn up in the +courtyard.</p> + +<p>"This is my uncle, Captain Alwyn Forster," Oswald said, "of whom +Lord Percy has written to you."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see so stout a soldier here," the knight said, +holding out his hand to Alwyn; "and I am grateful to Lord Percy for +sending, in answer to my request, one in whom he has such perfect +confidence; and I specially thank you for having willingly +relinquished so important a post, to head so small a +following."</p> + +<p>"I was glad to come, Sir Edmund, for I had rested so long, at +Alnwick, that I longed for some brisk action, and fell gladly into +my lord's view, when he requested me to come hither. I can answer +for my men, for they are all picked, by myself, from among the +stoutest of Sir Henry's following."</p> + +<p>"That I can well believe," the knight said, as he looked at the +twenty troopers. "Tall, strong men all; and as brave as they are +strong, I doubt not. I shall be glad to have so stout a band to +ride behind me, if these Welshmen break out.</p> + +<p>"You are all accustomed to border warfare, but this differs a +good deal from that in Northumberland. While the northern forays +are mostly made by horsemen, it is rare that your Welshman +adventures himself on horseback. But they are as active as your +wild ponies, and as swift; and, if the trouble increases, they will +give you plenty to do.</p> + +<p>"I learn from your lord's letter that you will be, as usual, +under pay from him while you are with me. I shall pay you as much +more. 'Tis meet that, if you render me service, I should see that +you are comfortable, and well contented."</p> + +<p>There was a murmur of satisfaction among the men and, after +recommending them to the care of the captain of the garrison, and +bidding Alwyn speak in the name of his men, fearlessly, for +anything that should be lacking, Sir Edmund left the courtyard.</p> + +<p>The seneschal of the castle, Sir John Wyncliffe, requested +Oswald to follow him. He first showed him the chamber, in one of +the turrets, that he was to occupy; and then took him down to the +hall, where two other knights, four esquires, and two or three +pages were assembled, in readiness for the supper.</p> + +<p>Mortimer, with his wife and two daughters, presently came down +and took his place at the head of the table; at which the others +sat down, in order of their rank. As a guest, Oswald was placed +among the knights. Before sitting down, Sir Edmund presented him to +his wife and daughters.</p> + +<p>"This is one of Sir Henry Percy's esquires," he said, "and can +give you more news of Sir Percy's wife; of whom, beyond saying that +she sends her greetings to you all, Hotspur tells us nothing."</p> + +<p>"Have you been long a member of Sir Henry Percy's +household?"</p> + +<p>"But a year, my lady."</p> + +<p>"Hotspur speaks of him in very high terms, and says that he has +rendered him great services, and that he has the highest confidence +in him."</p> + +<p>"To what family do you belong, sir?" the dame asked. "From my +husband's sister, who was staying here some months since, I learned +much of your northern families."</p> + +<p>"I am the son of John Forster of Yardhope, who has the +reputation of being as hard a fighter as any on the border. He is +not a knight, though of fair estates; for, although Earl Percy +offered him knighthood, for his services at the battle of +Otterburn, he said that he preferred remaining plain John Forster, +as his fathers had been before him. My mother was a daughter of Sir +Walter Gillespie, and my uncle is captain of the garrison of +Alnwick; and it was for his goodwill towards him, and my father, +that Sir Henry appointed me one of his esquires, thinking, +moreover, that I might be more useful than some, because I know +every foot of the border, having relations on the Scottish side of +it."</p> + +<p>They now sat down to supper. After it was over, Sir Edmund took +Oswald with him to his wife's bower.</p> + +<p>"There," he said, "you can talk at your ease, and tell us how my +sister, your mistress, is, and the children."</p> + +<p>"Did you not say, Sir Edmund," his wife asked, "that it was the +captain of his men-at-arms that Sir Hotspur sent hither, in command +of the band?"</p> + +<p>"That is so, dame."</p> + +<p>"Then, surely, he should have been at our table."</p> + +<p>"I asked him," Sir Edmund replied, "but he said that he would +rather, with my permission, lodge with John Baldry; who is, like +himself, a stout soldier, but who likes better his own society than +that of the high table. He said that, except upon rare and special +occasions, he always has been accustomed to take his meals alone, +or with some comrades whom he could take to his room. As this is +also John Baldry's habit, he prayed me to allow him to accept his +invitation to share his room."</p> + +<p>"What he says about his habits is true, my lady. I can well +understand my uncle cares not for company where it would not be +seemly for him to raise his voice, or to enter into a hot argument, +on some point of arms."</p> + +<p>"What were the services of which Sir Henry speaks?"</p> + +<p>"It was a mission with which he charged me, and which involved +some danger."</p> + +<p>"By the way," Dame Mortimer said, "my sister-in-law wrote to me, +some time since, telling us of a strange conflict that was held +between one of the squires, and another who had been newly +appointed; and who, on one of the mountain ponies, worsted his +opponent, although the latter was much older, and moreover clad in +full armour, and riding a heavy warhorse. Was it you who were the +victor on that occasion?"</p> + +<p>"I can scarce be said to have been the victor, my lady. It was, +indeed, hardly a combat. But I maintained that one accustomed to +the exercises in use among our border men, and mounted on one of +our ponies, accustomed to move with great rapidity, and to turn and +twist at the slightest movement of the rider's knee, would be a +match for a heavy-armed knight in single combat; although a number +would have no chance, against the charge of a handful of mailed +knights; and Sir Henry put it to the proof, at once."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch9">Chapter 9</a>: The Welsh Rising.</h2> + +<p>For a time the garrison at the castle had but little to do. Lord +Grey had taken no steps to recover the estates from which his +retainers had been so unceremoniously ejected. He had, indeed, +marched a strong force through them; but the Welsh had entirely +withdrawn, and it would be necessary to keep so large a force +unemployed, were he to reoccupy the land, that he abstained from +taking any decisive action, prior to the return of the messenger +whom he had despatched to inform the king of the forcible measures +that Glendower had taken to recover the estate. It would have been +no trifling step to take, to carry his arms into Wales, and so +bring on a fresh struggle after so many years of peace; and he +would not move in the matter, until he had the royal authority.</p> + +<p>Henry lost no time in replying. Glendower had been an open +supporter of Richard, and had retired from court rather than own +his successor as king. He had made his complaints against Lord Grey +before Parliament, and his appeal had been rejected by an +overwhelming majority. His attack upon Lord Grey was, therefore, +viewed in the light of an insult to the royal power; and, a +fortnight after Oswald and his party arrived at Sir Edmund's, a +messenger arrived with a royal order, to all barons holding castles +on the border, to proclaim Owen Glendower an outlaw, and to take +all measures necessary to capture him.</p> + +<p>Sir Edmund shook his head, as he read the proclamation, copies +of which were to be fixed to the castle gate, and in other +conspicuous places.</p> + +<p>"Lord Grey has stirred up a fire that it will be difficult to +extinguish. It were as wise to kick over a hive of bees, when naked +to the waist, as to set Wales in a ferment again. Had this +proclamation been sent to me, only, I would have taken it upon +myself to hold it over until I had, myself, made a journey north to +see the king, and to submit to him my views on the subject; and to +point out how dire might be the consequences, to the inhabitants of +our marches, and how great would be the effort required, if +Glendower should be supported by the whole of his countrymen, as I +believe he will be. However, as it has been sent to all the keepers +of the marches this cannot be done; and I shall, at once, send +orders to the sheriffs of Shropshire, and Hereford, to warn the +militia that they may be called out at any moment, and must hold +themselves in preparedness, having every man his arms and +accoutrements in good condition, and fit for service, according to +the law. I shall also issue orders to my own tenants to be ready to +take up arms, and to drive their herds away, and bring their wives +and families into the castle, as soon as the beacon fire is lighted +on the summit of the keep."</p> + +<p>This was said to Oswald, to whom Sir Edmund had taken a strong +liking, and to whom he spoke more freely than he might have done to +his own knights and officers, as being in Earl Percy's service, and +having no personal interest in the matters in debate.</p> + +<p>"You yourself have heard the tales that have been brought in to +me, showing how greatly the people have been stirred by the belief +in Glendower's powers of necromancy; how blue flames have been seen +to issue from every window and loophole of his house; how red +clouds, of various strange shapes, hover over it; and mysterious +sounds are heard throughout the night. For myself, I believe not +these tales, though I would not take upon myself to say they are +false, since everyone knows that there are men who have dealings +with the powers of darkness. Still, I should have, myself, to see +these things, before I gave credence to them. That, however, makes +no difference in the matter; true or not, they seem to be believed +by the Welsh, and cannot but increase his power.</p> + +<p>"Well, we shall soon hear what reply he makes to the +proclamation, of which he will certainly hear, within a few hours +of its posting."</p> + +<p>The answer, indeed, was not long in coming; for, within a week, +a copy of the reply sent by Glendower to the king appeared, side by +side with every proclamation put up, none knowing who were daring +enough to affix them. In this, Glendower no longer spoke of his +grievance against Lord Grey; but declared that, with the will of +the people, he had assumed the sovereignty of Wales, to which he +was legally entitled, by his descent from her kings. He called upon +every Welshman in England to resort, at once, to his standard.</p> + +<p>"The die is cast, now," Sir Edmund said, as he read the paper +affixed to the castle gate. "It is no longer a question whether +Glendower is wrongfully treated by Lord Grey; it is a matter +touching the safety of the realm, and the honour of our lord the +king. There is, I have now learned, some foundation for Owen's +claim to be the representative of the kings of Wales, through his +mother, Elinor. She was the eldest daughter of Elinor the Red, who +was daughter and heiress of Catharine, one of the daughters of +Llewellyn, the last Prince of Wales. For aught I know, there may be +others who have a better claim than he; but at least he has royal +blood in his veins.</p> + +<p>"At present, that matters little. He has usurped the title of +King of Wales, and is evidently a most ambitious and dangerous +fellow; and none can doubt that this scheme has not just sprung +from his brain, but has long been prepared, and that his quarrel +with Lord Grey has but hastened the outbreak.</p> + +<p>"I shall myself ride to Ruthyn, and consult with Lord Grey as to +the measures to be taken. It may be that our forces may be +sufficient to crush the movement, ere it gains strength; though I +greatly doubt it. Still, it would be well that we should act in +concert.</p> + +<p>"Sir John Burgon and Sir Philip Haverstone, do you take half a +dozen men-at-arms, and ride through the country, bidding all the +tenants assemble here, next Saturday, in their arms and harness, +that I myself may inspect them. You may tell them that a third of +their number must be in readiness tonight, and must ride hither by +morning. The others must, on an alarm being given, gather in strong +houses, selected by themselves as the most defensible in their +district, with their wives and families, so as to repel any attack +the Welsh may make; leaving behind them the boys and old men, to +drive out their flocks and herds, either towards the nearest +castle, or to Hereford or Shrewsbury, as may be nearest to +them."</p> + +<p>When the knights had left, messengers were sent out to all the +owners of castles in Radnor, Hereford, and Shropshire; bidding them +assemble, in four days' time, at Ludlow. On the day of the meeting, +nearly three hundred tenants and vassals presented themselves. To +them Sir Edmund, having first inspected them and their arms, +explained the situation. Then, each man was asked how many he could +bring into the field, in accordance with the terms of his holding, +and it was found the total amounted to nigh eight hundred men.</p> + +<p>"I know not when the affair is likely to begin; and will, +therefore, call only for a quarter of your force. Send your sons +and unmarried men. At the end of a month they can return to you +and, if needs be, you can send as many more in their places. It may +be that I shall not require these; but, possibly, every man may +have to come out; but you must bear in mind it is not for the +defence of this town and castle that men are required, for the +garrison and burghers can hold out against any attack, but to save +your homesteads from destruction."</p> + +<p>The news had created a deep sensation. Although none of those +present had experienced the horrors of border warfare, there was +not one but had heard, from their fathers, tales of burning, +massacre, and wholesale destruction by the Welsh forays. But so +long a time had passed, since the last serious insurrection, that +the news that Wales might shortly be in arms, again, came as a +terrible blow to them. All agreed to send in their proportion of +men, at once, and to see that the rest were all ready to assemble, +immediately the summons came.</p> + +<p>The next day some forty knights, owners of the castles thickly +scattered through the border counties, assembled in Ludlow Castle. +There was a long consultation. Arrangements were made for the +despatch of messengers, by those nearest to the frontier, with news +of any Welsh raid. Points were fixed upon where each should +assemble, with what force he could gather; thence to march to any +threatened place, or to assemble at Ludlow Castle, Mortimer being +the warden of the marches along that line of the border.</p> + +<p>On the following day Sir Edmund rode, with two of his knights, +to hold council with Lord Grey, at Ruthyn. The distance was +considerable, and he was absent six days from his castle. Before he +returned, an event happened that showed Glendower was in earnest, +and intended to maintain his pretensions by the sword.</p> + +<p>At daybreak, on the third day after Mortimer had left, a +messenger arrived at the castle; with news that a large body of +Welsh had, the evening before, entered Radnor by the road across +the hills from Llanidloes, and were marching towards Knighton, +burning the villages as they went, and slaying all who fell into +their hands.</p> + +<p>The horn was at once sounded, and Sir John Wyncliffe and the +other knights hastily assembled in the courtyard. Here, after a +short consultation, it was determined that a mounted party should +be, at once, despatched to endeavour to harass the advance of the +Welsh; the troop consisting of Alwyn's men-at-arms, twenty men of +the garrison, and fifty mounted men who formed part of the new +levy. Four hundred footmen were to follow, at once.</p> + +<p>Sir John Wyncliffe at first thought of taking the command +himself, but it was pointed out to him that his presence would be +required, in Ludlow, to marshal the forces that would speedily +arrive from all the country round. Sir John Burgon, therefore, a +valiant knight, who had greatly distinguished himself against the +French, was unanimously chosen by his companions as leader of the +whole party; while with him rode Sir Philip Haverstone, and Sir +William Bastow.</p> + +<p>"This reminds one of one's doings at home, Oswald," his uncle +said, as he formed up his little troop. "I trust the Welsh will not +retreat, until we have had a taste of their quality; but I doubt +much if they will prove as formidable foes as the Scotch +borderers."</p> + +<p>For a considerable portion of the distance, the roads led +through forests, which at that time covered the greater part of the +country. Oswald, at the invitation of the knights, rode with them +at the head of the cavalcade. The way was beguiled by anecdotes, +that had been passed down from mouth to mouth, of the last Welsh +war.</p> + +<p>They reached Knighton by nine o'clock. The enemy had not, as +yet, come within sight of the town; but, throughout the night, the +sky to the west had been red with the flames of the burning +villages and homesteads.</p> + +<p>The male inhabitants were all under arms. Many had already sent +their wives and children, in waggons, towards Ludlow; but, as the +town had a strong wall, the men were determined upon making a stout +defence.</p> + +<p>They crowded round the newly arrived troops, with loud cheers; +which were raised, again and again, when they heard that, by +midday, four hundred footmen would arrive to their assistance. It +had been arranged that Sir Philip Haverstone should remain in the +town, to take charge of the defence; and that the mounted men +should, under Sir John Burgon, endeavour to check the Welsh +plundering parties in the open. Sir William Bastow was to remain, +to assist Haverstone in the defence of the town. There was no great +fear of this falling; as, before the day was out, four or five +thousand men would be assembled at Ludlow, and would be able to +march to its relief. These matters being arranged, Sir John Burgon +led his little troop out of the town.</p> + +<p>The accounts of the Welsh forces were very conflicting, but the +balance of opinion was that there were not less than four or five +thousand of them. Beyond the fact that they were skirting the +hills, and advancing towards Knighton, the terrified fugitives +could say nothing, save of their own experiences. It was evident, +however, that the Welsh force was not keeping together; but, after +crossing the border, had broken up and scattered over the country, +burning and slaying. Some of the bands had approached to within +five miles of the town; and they might, not improbably, come in +contact with fresh bands of the enemy, crossing the hills near the +source of the Severn. As soon as they had sallied from the castle, +and left the town behind them, Sir John halted his party.</p> + +<p>"Now, men," he said, "there is one thing that you should +remember--these Welshmen are not to be despised. Doubtless you will +be able to ride over them, but do not think that, when you have +done so, you have defeated them. They will throw themselves down on +the ground, leap up as you pass over them, stab your horses from +below, seize your legs and try to drag you from your saddles, leap +up on to the crupper behind you, and stab you to the heart. This is +what makes them so dangerous a foe to horsemen, and at Crecy they +did terrible execution among the French chivalry.</p> + +<p>"Therefore be careful, and wary. Spit all you see on the ground, +with your lances; and hold your swords ever in readiness, to strike +them down as they rise up beside you. Keep in as close order as you +can, for thus you will make it more difficult for them to rise from +the ground, as you pass over."</p> + +<p>He then formed his troop into two lines. In the centre of the +front line he placed the twenty men-at-arms from the castle, with +fifteen of the tenants on either hand. Oswald's troop formed the +centre of the second line, with ten of the tenants on either flank. +Another of the knights was in command in this line. They were to +ride some fifty paces behind the first, to cut down all who rose to +their feet after the first line had passed; and if the resistance +were strong, and the first line brought to a stand, they were to +ride up and reinforce them.</p> + +<p>They had ridden some three miles, when they saw a column of +smoke rise, half a mile away. The pace was quickened, and they had +gone but a short distance when some panic-stricken men came running +down the road.</p> + +<p>"How many Welshmen have attacked your village?" Sir John +asked.</p> + +<p>"Hundreds of them, Sir Knight," one of the men panted out; "at +least, so it seemed to me; but indeed, we were this side of the +village when they rushed into it; and, seeing that nought could be +done to resist them, we fled at once."</p> + +<p>When within three hundred yards of the village they entered open +ground, and at once formed up in the order the knight had directed. +Oswald took his place by the side of his uncle, a couple of lengths +in advance of their own troop.</p> + +<p>Scarce a word was spoken in the ranks. Here and there dead +bodies were scattered over the ground, showing that the pursuit of +the fugitives had been maintained thus far. From the village the +wild shouts of the triumphant Welsh sounded plainly; but mingled +with these came, occasionally, a cry of pain, that seemed to show +that either the work of slaughter was not yet completed, or that +some of the villagers still held one of the houses, and were +defending themselves until the last.</p> + +<p>Every face was set and stern. The tenants knew that, at any +moment, similar scenes might be enacted in their own villages; +while the men-at-arms were eager to get at the foe, and take +vengeance for the murders they had perpetrated.</p> + +<p>"Be sure you keep your ranks," Sir John said; "remember that any +who straggle may be attacked by a score of these wild men, and +slain before others can come to their help. Ride forward in perfect +silence, till we are within striking distance."</p> + +<p>At a gallop, the troop swept down upon the village. As they +reached the first houses, they saw that the road was full of wild +figures. Some were emerging from the houses, laden with such spoil +as could be gathered there, chiefly garments; others, with torches, +were setting fire to the thatched roofs; while, in the middle of +the village, a number were attacking a house somewhat larger and +more massively built than the rest.</p> + +<p>Sir John raised his sword, with the shout of "A Mortimer! A +Mortimer!"</p> + +<p>The shout was re-echoed by his followers, and a moment later +they dashed into the midst of the Welsh. At first they swept all +before them; but speedily the mountaineers, running out from the +houses, gathered thickly on each side of the road and, as the first +line passed, closed in behind it; and, running even more swiftly +than the charging horses, strove to leap up behind. Some struck at +the horses with their swords, hamstringing several of them, and +slaying their riders as they fell.</p> + +<p>"Ride, ride!" the knight in command of the second line shouted, +and at even greater speed than before his followers rode hotly +forward; and came, ere long, on the struggling mass, for the first +line were now endeavouring to turn, so as to face their +assailants.</p> + +<p>With a great shout, the second line fell upon them, the war +cries of "A Percy! A Percy!" being mingled with those of "A +Mortimer!" Their approach had been unnoticed by the Welsh, and +their onslaught was irresistible. The Welsh were hurled to the +ground by the impetus of the charge, and the two lines joined +hands.</p> + +<p>"Forward again!" Sir John shouted, and the troop, dashing +forward, were soon hotly engaged with the enemy, who were in strong +force at the point where they were attacking the house. The orders +of their commander were now impossible to follow. It was a fierce +melee, where each fought for himself.</p> + +<p>"Face round!" Oswald shouted. "Now, men, lay about you.</p> + +<p>"A Percy! A Percy!"</p> + +<p>The active little horses swung round instantly, and faced the +crowd surging up against them. This was the style of fighting to +which the border men were accustomed. Active as the Welsh were, the +border ponies were as quick in their movements, wheeling and +turning hither and thither, but keeping ever within a short +distance of each other. The troopers hewed down the foe with their +heavy swords; and, being partly protected by their armour, they +possessed a great advantage over their opponents.</p> + +<p>Oswald and his uncle fought slightly in advance of the others, +lending a helping hand to each other, when the pressure was +greatest. On one occasion a Welshman seized Alwyn's leg, while he +was engaged with a foeman on the other side, and strove to throw +him from his horse. Oswald wheeled his pony, and with a sweeping +blow rid his uncle of his foe; but, at the same moment, a man leapt +up behind him, while two others assailed him in front.</p> + +<p>The Welshman's sinewy arms prevented him from again raising his +sword, and he would have been slain by those in front, had he not, +at the moment, slipped his right foot from his stirrup and thrown +himself from his horse, his leg sweeping off the man who held him +behind, and hurled him to the ground beneath him.</p> + +<a id="PicE" /> +<center> +<img src="images/e.jpg" alt= +"Oswald threw his arms round two of them" +/> </center> + +<p>The Welshman's grasp instantly relaxed; but, as Oswald tried to +rise, a blow fell upon his helmet, and four Welshmen threw +themselves upon him. He threw his arms around two of them, and +rolled over and over with them, thereby frustrating the efforts of +their companions to strike or stab him, through some unguarded +point in his armour; when suddenly there was a mighty shout, two +tremendous blows were struck in quick succession, then there was a +shout, "Hold them still, Master Oswald, hold them still!"</p> + +<p>Oswald tightened his grasp on his assailants, who were now +striving to rise. There was another crashing blow, and then his +last opponent slipped from his grasp, and fled.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Roger," he said, as he leapt to his feet, "you were but +just in time; another minute, and those fellows would have got +their knives into me."</p> + +<p>"I have had my eye upon you, master, all the time; and while +doing a little on my own account, have kept myself in readiness to +come to your aid, if need be."</p> + +<p>Roger was fighting with a heavy mace, and the number of men +lying round, with their skulls crushed in, showed with what +terrible effect he had been using it. Oswald again leapt on to his +horse, which had been too well trained to leave his master's side; +and had indeed in no small degree aided him, by kicking furiously +at the Welsh, as they strove to aid their comrades on the +ground.</p> + +<p>By this time the combat was well-nigh over. The protection +afforded by Alwyn's band, against any attack on their rear, had +enabled Sir John's men-at-arms and the tenants to clear the street +in front of them; but the Welsh, though unable to hold their own in +open fight, had now betaken themselves to their bows and arrows, +and from behind every house shot fast.</p> + +<p>The door of the house that had still resisted had been thrown +open, and eight men had come out, followed by some twenty women and +children.</p> + +<p>"Do each of you leap up behind one of us!" Sir John shouted.</p> + +<p>"Help the women up, men, then right-about, and ride out of the +village. It is getting too hot for us, here."</p> + +<p>The order was quickly obeyed and, placing the horses carrying a +double burden in the centre, the troop rode out in a compact body. +The Welsh poured out into the road behind them.</p> + +<p>"Level your spears!" Alwyn shouted to his men; who had, by his +orders, fallen in in the rear of the others.</p> + +<p>The long spears were levelled and, with a shout, the twenty men +rode down on their pursuers, bursting their way through them as if +they had been but a crowd of lay figures; then, wheeling, they +returned again, none venturing to try to hinder them, and rejoined +the main body.</p> + +<p>"Well done, indeed!" Sir John Burgon exclaimed, "and in knightly +fashion. Verily, those long border spears of yours are right good +weapons, when so stoutly used."</p> + +<p>Once outside the village, the troop rode quietly on to the spot +at which they had first charged. Then the villagers dismounted.</p> + +<p>"You made a stout defence, men," Sir John said. "It was well +that you had time to gain that house."</p> + +<p>"It was agreed that all should take to it, Sir Knight," one of +the men said; "but the attack was so sudden that only we, and these +women, had time to reach it before they were on us; and, had it not +been for your arrival, they must soon have mastered us, for they +were bringing up a tree to burst in the door; and as none of us had +time to catch up our bows and arrows, we had no way of hindering +them. Still, methinks many would have fallen, before they forced +their way in."</p> + +<p>The men now fell in again. Their numbers were counted. The +losses were by far the heaviest in the front line. Five of the +castle men-at-arms, and fourteen of the levy were killed. Several +others had gashes from the long knives and light axes of the Welsh. +Five of the tenants in the second line had fallen, but none of +Alwyn's band, although most of the latter had received wounds, more +or less serious, in their combat with the Welsh.</p> + +<p>"The loss is heavy," Sir John said, "but it is as nought to that +inflicted upon the Welsh. I did not count them, as we rode back, +but assuredly over a hundred have fallen, not counting those who +were slain in that last charge of yours, Alwyn. Truly your men have +fought gallantly, as was shown by the pile of dead, where your +men-at-arms defended our rear.</p> + +<p>"The Welsh will be moving, ere long. Half the village is already +burning, and you may be sure that there is nothing left to sack, in +the other houses. If they come this way we must fall back, for in +the forest we shall be no match for them. If they move across the +open country, we may get an opportunity of charging them, +again."</p> + +<p>He told two of his men to dismount, and to crawl cautiously +along, one on each side of the burning village; and to bring back +news, the moment the Welsh began to leave it. In twenty minutes +both returned, saying that the enemy were streaming out at the +other end of the village, laden with plunder of all kinds. There +seemed to be no order or discipline among them, each trooping along +at his pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Good!" the knight said. "We will give them another lesson, and +this time on more favourable terms than the last."</p> + +<p>The troops formed into column, and galloped at a canter through +the burning village. At the other end they came upon a number of +stragglers, who were at once killed. Then they emerged into the +fields beyond, and formed line. The plain was dotted with men, the +nearest but a hundred yards away, the farthest nearly half a +mile.</p> + +<p>In a single line the horsemen swept along. The rearmost Welshmen +turned round at the tramp of the horses, and at once, throwing to +the ground the bundles that they carried, took to their heels with +shouts of warning. As these were heard, the alarm spread among the +rest, who, believing that their foes had ridden away through the +forest, were taken completely by surprise.</p> + +<p>A panic seized them. Leaders in vain shouted orders, their +voices were unheard among the cries of the men. Some, indeed, +gathered together as they ran; but the greater portion fled in +various directions, to escape the line of spears vengefully +following them.</p> + +<p>Those unable to avoid the charge stood at bay, like wild +animals. First shooting their arrows, they drew their short axes or +their knives, as the horsemen came within a short distance of them. +Few had a chance of striking, most of them falling, pierced through +and through by the spears. Those who, by swiftness of eye, escaped +this fate, sprung at the horses like wildcats, clinging to the +saddles, while they strove to bury their knives in the riders' +bodies.</p> + +<p>Their back pieces now served the troopers in good stead, as did +their superior personal strength. Some beat their assailants down +on to the pommel of their saddles, and throttled or stabbed them; +while in many cases, where they were hard pressed, the sword of a +comrade rid them from their foes.</p> + +<p>So the line held on its way, until they reached the head of the +body of fugitives. Then in obedience to the shout of Sir John +Burgon they turned, broke up into small bodies, and scoured the +plain, cutting down the flying foe; and did not draw bridle, until +what remained of the enemy had gained the shelter of the wood. +Then, at the sound of their leader's trumpet, they gathered around +him in the centre of the plain.</p> + +<p>Two or three had fallen from the Welsh arrows, and not a few had +received ugly slashes from their knives; but, with these +exceptions, all had come scatheless through the fray. At least two +hundred dead Welshmen were scattered on the plain.</p> + +<p>"You have done your work well, men," Sir John said, "and taught +them a lesson that they will not forget. Now, let us ride back to +Knighton, and see how matters go there."</p> + +<p>On arriving at the little town, they found that all was quiet, +and that no bodies of Welsh had approached the town. The party of +horse were again sent out, in various directions, the smoke serving +them as a guide. The villages were found to be entirely deserted; +but, pushing farther on, many fugitives came out from hiding +places.</p> + +<p>Their reports were all of the same character. The Welsh were in +full retreat for their own country.</p> + +<p>By the time the troops returned with the news to Knighton, the +footmen from Ludlow had marched in, and were being entertained by +the inhabitants; who, now that the danger had passed, had +returned.</p> + +<p>"Retired have they, Sir John?" his two fellow knights said, as +he arrived with his following. "It was but a raid for plunder, +then, and not an invasion. Doubtless, Glendower merely wished to +warm their blood, and to engage them so far in his enterprise that +they could no longer draw back. They must have carried off some +hundreds of cattle and sheep, to say nothing of other plunder; and, +had it not been for our having the news soon enough to get here +before they retired, they would have got off scatheless. As it is, +they have learned that even a well-planned foray cannot be carried +out with impunity; but the loss of three hundred lives will not +affect them greatly, when it is clear that they have murdered twice +that number, as well as enriched themselves with plunder."</p> + +<p>"I think not that we shall hear of them, again," Sir John said. +"Glendower has shown us, without doubt, what are his intentions; +and he may now wait to see what comes of last night's work. I +expect that he will keep among the hills, where he can fight to +better advantage; for horsemen are of little use, where there are +mountains and forests."</p> + +<p>After a consultation between the knights, it was agreed that two +hundred of the footmen were to remain, for two or three days, at +Knighton; in case the retreat of the Welsh might be a feigned one, +intended to lull the inhabitants into a state of security, and then +to make a sudden night attack upon the walls. The whole force +remained until the next morning, and then, leaving Sir Philip +Haverstone in command of the party remaining at Knighton, the rest, +horse and foot, marched back to Ludlow.</p> + +<p>"Your band have indeed distinguished themselves, Oswald," Sir +John had said, on the previous evening, as they talked on the +events of the day. "Truly they are as stout men as I have ever seen +fighting. And you have escaped without a wound, though I marked +that your armour and clothes were covered with mire, as if you had +been rolling in the road."</p> + +<p>"That is just what I have been doing, Sir John. One of them +leaped on to the horse behind me, and pinioned my arms; while two +or three others made at me, with axes and staves. The clasp of the +fellow was like an iron band and, seeing that my only chance was to +rid myself of him, I slung my leg over my horse, and we came down +together, he undermost. Whether the fall killed him or not, I +cannot say, but his arms relaxed. Half a dozen sprang on me, and in +another minute I should have been killed, had not that big trooper +of mine come to my aid, and with a mighty mace dashed out their +brains, well-nigh before they knew that they were attacked."</p> + +<p>"A stout fellow, indeed," Sir John said, "and one I should like +to have to ride behind me, on the day of battle. I had marked him +before, and thought that I had never seen a more stalwart knave; +though methinks that he would look better, did he not crop his hair +so wondrously short."</p> + +<p>Oswald laughed.</p> + +<p>"He does it not to beautify himself, Sir John, but to hide the +fact that the hair on his crown is but of six weeks' growth."</p> + +<p>And then he related the circumstances under which Roger came to +be a member of his troop.</p> + +<p>"By my faith, he has done well!" Sir John said. "A man with such +sinews as that is lost in a cloister. He is a merry fellow, too. I +have often marked him at the castle, and his laugh is a veritable +roar, that would sound strange echoing along the galleries of a +monastery. The abbot did well to let him go, for such a fellow +might well disturb the peace and quiet of a whole convent.</p> + +<p>"You say that he has skill in war?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sir John. He has been the instructor in arms of the lay +brothers, and of some of the monks, too; and he led the contingent +of the abbey at Otterburn; and, although the day went against the +English, he and his followers greatly distinguished +themselves."</p> + +<p>"If you would part with him, I would better his condition, +Master Oswald; for, on my recommendation, Sir Edmund would, I am +sure, make him captain of a company."</p> + +<p>"I should be sorry, indeed, to part with him, Sir John, and the +more so since he has saved my life today; but, even were I willing, +I feel sure he would not leave me, as we have gone through some +adventures together, and he believes that it is to me that he owes +his escape from the convent."</p> + +<p>"What were these adventures, Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"It was a matter touching the Earl of March--not Sir Edmund's +nephew, now in the care of the king, but the Scottish earl, George, +Earl of Dunbar, also bearing the title of Earl of March. Now that +he has taken the oath to King Henry, there is no reason why I +should not speak of it."</p> + +<p>And he then gave them an account of his visit to Dunbar, and of +his escape.</p> + +<p>"And why did the earl wish to keep you?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe, sir, that he had not then made up his mind, and thought +that affairs might yet have been accommodated between himself, +Douglas, and the Scottish king."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps that was so," Sir John agreed. "He is a crafty, as well +as a bold man. However, you were well out of Dunbar, and you and +your monk managed the affair well. Think you that the earl is to be +trusted?"</p> + +<p>"I should say so. These great Scottish nobles deem themselves +well-nigh the king's equal, and carry on their wars against each +other as independent lords. His castle of Dunbar is in the hands of +his bitterest enemy, and Douglas will come into no small portion of +his estates. Without the aid of England he could not hope to +recover them, and his interests, therefore, are wholly bound up +with ours."</p> + +<p>"'Tis strange that there should be two Earls of March, of +different families and names; and, now that Dunbar has become a +vassal of the king, it will make the matter stranger. However, at +present no mistakes can arise, seeing that the one is an able +warrior, and the other a mere boy. But in the future, were the two +Earls of March at the same time at the court of our king, mistakes +might well be made, and strange complications take place.</p> + +<p>"Doubtless you are aware that Sir Edmund's nephew is, by right +of birth, King of England. He was, you know, sprung from the Duke +of Clarence, the elder brother of the Duke of Lancaster. The duke +died without male issue, and his rights fell to Edmund Mortimer, +Earl of March, the husband of his daughter Philippa. From their +marriage was born the Roger Mortimer who was lord lieutenant of +Ireland, during a part of King Richard's reign, and was killed in +the wars of that country. He left two sons, of whom the elder was +but eight or nine years old, when Richard was dethroned; and he and +his brother are now living at Windsor, and are well treated there +by the king.</p> + +<p>"Had my lord's nephew attained the age of manhood, at the +deposition of Richard, many would doubtless have supported his +right to the throne; but for a child of eight to rule this realm, +and keep in check the turbulence of the great lords, would be so +absurd that no one even mentioned his name; and Henry, of course, +ascended the throne as if by right of conquest."</p> + +<p>"I have heard something of this before, Sir John; but as the +Percys were among the chief supporters of Henry, the fact that +there was one who had greater rights to the throne was never talked +of, at Alnwick; although, by Percy's marriage with Sir Edmund's +sister, he became uncle of the young Earl of March."</p> + +<p>"I can understand that, and indeed Sir Edmund himself has never, +in the most intimate conversation with us, expressed any opinion +that the young earl would, if he had his rights, be King of +England."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch10">Chapter 10</a>: A Breach Of Duty.</h2> + +<p>Two or three hours after the return of the force to Ludlow, Sir +Edmund Mortimer returned, having ridden almost without a halt, +since be received the news of the Welsh incursion. His knights met +him in the courtyard.</p> + +<p>"Well, my friends, I hear you have sent the Welsh back again, as +fast as they came."</p> + +<p>"We cannot say that, Sir Edmund," Sir John Wyncliffe replied. +"Sir John Burgon went out, with ninety horse; and, coming upon a +party of five or six hundred of them, killed half their number, and +put the rest to flight; but their main body left of their own free +will, and without any urging. 'Tis a pity that they were so +hurried, for in another twenty-four hours we should have had some +four thousand men on the march against them, besides those who +first went on."</p> + +<p>"Have they done much damage?"</p> + +<p>"There is scarce a house left standing, between the hills on +this side of Llanidloes, and Knighton. From what we can gather, +they must have slain three or four hundred, at least. At first the +total was put much higher; but, as soon as they retired, many +fugitives made their way into Knighton; having slipped away in the +darkness, when their villages were attacked, and concealed +themselves in the woods, or among the rocks."</p> + +<p>"There has been fighting up in the north, too," Sir Edmund said. +"When I got to Ruthyn, I found that Lord Grey was away; but I +talked over matters with his knights. I was to have left on the +morning of the fifth day after leaving here, but at night +Glendower's men raided almost up to the gates of the castle. Their +plans were well laid; for, just at midnight, an alarm was given by +a sentry on the walls. Everyone ran to arms, the instant the +warder's horn was sounded; but when I reached the top of the walls, +fires were bursting out in twenty places. It was not long before +the knights rode out, with a hundred and fifty men-at-arms, but the +Welsh were already gone. It seems that they had laid an ambuscade +round every village and, on the signal being given, fell at once +upon the sleeping inhabitants, put all to the sword, fired the +houses; and in ten minutes from the first alarm made off, driving +horses, cattle, and sheep before them.</p> + +<p>"I was with the party, and we rode hard and fast, but we came up +with none of them. Each party must have gone its own way, striking +off into the hills. As soon as we returned to the castle I started, +with my four men-at-arms, and we have lost no time on the road; +especially after the rumour reached us that there had been a Welsh +raid here, also.</p> + +<p>"Now, Sir John Burgon, will you give me an account of the doings +of your party?"</p> + +<p>The knight reported their proceedings, after leaving Ludlow, and +concluded:</p> + +<p>"It is like that the story would not have so run, Sir Edmund, +had it not been for the bravery shown by the northern men, under +the young squire Oswald and his captain, Alwyn. So furiously did +the Welsh assail us, in rear, that we should have suffered heavily, +indeed, even if we had not met with a grave disaster; had it not +been that this band covered our rear, while we charged forward, +fighting so stoutly that the spot where they posted themselves was +thickly covered with dead. I found time to look round, now and +then, for they made but a poor resistance to our advance. Never did +I see stronger fighting.</p> + +<p>"I have questioned the men. All say that none fought more +bravely than young Oswald, and his uncle gives him warm praise. The +lad, however, would have lost his life, had it not been for that +stout fellow, who stands half a head above his comrades, and is a +very giant in strength. Oswald, himself, told me how it came +about," and he repeated the account of the incident.</p> + +<p>"It was a quick thought, to throw himself and the fellow who +held him off the horse; though it would not have availed him, much, +had not this stout man-at-arms been at hand. Still, in no case +could he have defended himself, single handed, against five of +these knaves; though doubtless he would have given a good account +of some of them, had not his arms been held.</p> + +<p>"Alwyn said that, three times during the fray, the young esquire +saved his life, by cutting down men who were attacking him from +behind, while he was occupied by other opponents in front."</p> + +<p>"He will make a valiant knight, some day, Sir John. Sir Henry +Percy would not have written so strongly about him, had he not good +reason for feeling that he would not do discredit to his +recommendation.</p> + +<p>"Well, Sir Knights, you have all merited my thanks, for the +manner in which you have discharged your duties, during my +absence.</p> + +<p>"Of course, you were perfectly right, Wyncliffe, in remaining +here; until, at any rate, the knights brought in their following +from the country round. It was important to save Knighton, but +vastly more so to prevent their overspreading the whole country; +which might, for aught we can tell, have been Glendower's object; +and it is as well that Haverstone and Bastow should have remained +at Knighton.</p> + +<p>"Now, as I have not broken my fast, and have ridden since +midnight without a stop, I will breakfast; and we can then talk +over the plans to be pursued, for there is no disguising the fact +that the Welsh are up in arms, and that we have long and heavy work +before us.</p> + +<p>"However, it is a matter too serious for us to undertake by +ourselves, but is for the king himself to take in hand. A raid can +be punished by a counter-raid; but now that Glendower has declared +himself sovereign of Wales, and that everything points to the fact +that the men of his nation are all ready to support him, it is a +matter that touches his majesty very closely; and I doubt not that, +as soon as he has finished this war with the Scots, he will march +hither, at the head of his army.</p> + +<p>"However, I shall send out a summons to the tenants of all my +nephew's estates, in Herefordshire, and order them to hold +themselves in readiness, should Glendower venture to invade us. But +I think not that he will do so. He knows that these counties +bristle with castles, in which the people could find refuge; and +that, if he undertook to besiege them, he would speedily lose the +best part of his army.</p> + +<p>"None of his people have experience of war, and to besiege a +strong place needs machines of all kinds, and of these Glendower +has none, nor is it likely that he can construct them. Besides, +while marching out he would be exposed to an attack, by the +garrisons of these castles sallying out in his rear. Therefore, I +think not that he will be foolish enough to undertake any great +enterprises; though he may make raids, and carry off booty and +cattle, as he has now done.</p> + +<p>"Moreover, I cannot keep the vassals in the field longer than +their feudal obligations compel them to stay, unless I pay and feed +them; which might be done readily enough, for two or three months. +But the war may last for years, and I must reserve my means, and +strength, till they are urgently needed.</p> + +<p>"Lord Grey will doubtless be of my opinion, but is sure to do +what he can to capture Glendower; as he will consider him, not only +as an enemy of the king, but as a personal foe. However, powerful +as he is, I think not that he will venture, alone, to lead an army +into the Welsh hills; until he receives assistance from the +king."</p> + +<p>Two days later, news came that the king, as soon as he heard of +Glendower's proclamation, had sent orders to Lord Grey and Lord +Talbot, to punish him.</p> + +<p>"They will reach Chester, two days hence," Sir Edmund said. +"After the raid they made here, I would gladly take some small +share in punishing this rebel.</p> + +<p>"You, Sir John Burgon, have had a full share of honour, by your +defeat of him, the other day; therefore, I will send Sir William +Bastow.</p> + +<p>"Do you, Sir William, take thirty of the best mounted men of the +garrison, together with Lord Percy's troop, and ride to Chester. I +will give you a letter to Lord Talbot, saying that, being anxious +to aid in the punishment of the rebel who has just raided my +marches, I have sent you in all haste, with fifty stout men, to aid +him in striking a blow; and, if possible, in effecting Glendower's +capture, before he can do further harm to the king's loyal +subjects."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, the troop mounted. Oswald was in high +spirits, for Sir Edmund had spoken a few words to him, when telling +him of the service to which he had appointed him.</p> + +<p>"I am sending your troop with Sir William Bastow," he said, +"chiefly in order that I may give you another opportunity of +distinguishing yourself; and also because I am sure that Percy +would be glad that his men should take part in an enterprise in +which there may be honour, and credit. Lastly, because I would that +my party should do me credit; and the fighting, the other day, +showed me that your followers better understand warfare, of this +kind, than do mine."</p> + +<p>The troop arrived at Chester the second day after leaving, and +rested their horses for twenty-four hours. On the arrival of the +Earl of Talbot, and Lord Grey, Sir William Bastow called, at the +inn where they put up, and delivered the letter from Sir Edmund +Mortimer.</p> + +<p>"'Tis well done of Sir Edmund," the Earl of Talbot said; "and +although Ruthyn lies beyond his government of the marches, he is +defending his own command, by aiding Lord Grey and myself against +this presumptuous traitor. I will gladly take your clump of spears +with me, among whom are, I see, a small party of Lord Percy's +men-at-arms.</p> + +<p>"I hear that Sir Edmund's men inflicted a sharp blow upon the +Welsh, near Knighton. I met his messenger, bearing his report to +the king, as we came along; and he gave me the particulars, from +which it seems that the fight was, for a time, a hard one, and that +the Welshmen fought, as they used to do, with much bravery."</p> + +<p>"They did, my lord. I was not with the party that defeated them, +having been left at Knighton to aid in the defence there, should +the Welsh attack the town; but Sir John Burgon, who commanded, said +that, in the village, they fought as if they cared not for their +lives; though they made scarce any defence, when he fell upon them +as they retired, in disorder. The success he gained he attributes, +in no small degree, to Percy's little troop; led by their captain, +a stout soldier who commands the garrison of Alnwick, and by a +young squire of Sir Henry Percy, who, though but a lad, fought with +extreme bravery.</p> + +<p>"He is with me now. Sir Henry places great trust in him, and +wrote most warmly, concerning him, to Sir Edmund Mortimer."</p> + +<p>"We are just going to supper, sir," the earl said. "I hope that +you will join us. And I pray you, tell me where this young squire +is lodging, that I may send for him, at once; as I would fain +learn, from his lips, some closer account of the fighting, which +may be of utility to us, in our adventure."</p> + +<p>Oswald arrived just as supper was brought in, and was introduced +to the earl, and Lord Grey, by Sir William Bastow.</p> + +<p>"Sit down with us, young sir," the earl said, kindly. "You are +an esquire, I hear, of my good friend Sir Henry Percy. As you eat, +I pray you tell me about this fight with the Welsh. Sir Edmund +himself was not in command, I hear."</p> + +<p>"No, my lord, he was away at the time, having ridden to Ruthyn, +to hold council with Lord Grey."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I had not heard that he had been there," Earl Grey +said.</p> + +<p>"He arrived the day before the Welsh raid on your estate, sir. +Finding that you were absent, he intended to return home the next +morning; but the matter delayed him, for a day, as he rode out with +your knights to punish the marauders; who, however, made off before +they could be overtaken."</p> + +<p>"When you see him, I pray you give him my thanks, for so doing; +and now, tell us what happened."</p> + +<p>"Sir William Bastow can better inform you, sir, of what took +place until we rode away from Knighton; where he remained, with Sir +Philip Haverstone, to take command of the townspeople, in case the +Welsh should arrive before strong aid should come."</p> + +<p>Sir William then related the measures that had been decided +upon, and the steps taken to call out the levies; and how he and +his brother knights had ridden to Knighton, with the intent to +hinder, as far as possible, the Welsh advance; until the footmen +could reach the town, to be followed, shortly afterwards, by the +troops that would come in from the castles of Radnor.</p> + +<p>Oswald then continued the story, and gave an account of the +fight in the village, and the manner in which the Welsh were +attacked, while retiring with their booty, and completely +routed.</p> + +<p>"Their tactics have in nowise changed, then," the earl said, +"since the days of Griffith and Llewellyn. Against a direct charge +they were unable to stand; but they attacked, with fury, whenever +there was an opportunity of fighting under circumstances when our +weight and discipline gave us little advantage. I hear, from Sir +William Bastow, that your little band covered the rear of Sir John +Burgon's troop, and succeeded in keeping them at bay, until he had +broken the resistance in front, and carried off a small party of +villagers who were still defending themselves."</p> + +<p>"That was so, my lord. Our men were all accustomed to border +warfare; and had for the most part, before entering Percy's +service, been often engaged in border forays; and had taken to +soldiering after their own homes had been burnt, and their cattle +driven off, by Scottish raiders. Therefore they were accustomed to +fight each for himself, instead of in close order. Their horses, +too, bred on the moors, are far more active and nimble than are the +heavier horses of the south; and enter heart and soul into a fray, +kicking and plunging and striking with their forelegs at any who +approach to assail their riders. Thus it was that they were able to +hold the Welsh carles at bay, far better than men otherwise trained +and mounted would have been. Another thing is, that in these Border +conflicts each man is accustomed to keep his eye on his neighbour; +and, if he sees him hard pressed, to give him aid. Therefore it is +not surprising that, while the men slew many of the Welsh, they +themselves escaped with but a few cuts from blows and +hatchets."</p> + +<p>"But you yourself were unhorsed, Sir William tells me, and were +in great peril. How did that come about?"</p> + +<p>"Both my unhorsing, sir, and my rescue, were the result of what +I just said, our habit of keeping an eye on our neighbours. A +Welshman was on the point of attacking Captain Alwyn, when he was +engaged with two others in front. I struck the man down but, as I +did so, a Welshman sprang on to my horse, behind, and pinned my +arms to my side; while four others rushed at me."</p> + +<p>He then related how he had thrown himself and his assailant off +his horse, and had been saved by Roger.</p> + +<p>"It was a good device, and quickly carried into effect," Earl +Talbot said; "though it was well that the man-at-arms next to you +was watching you, just as you had watched his captain; else it must +have gone hard with you. It is evident that, if you continue as you +have begun, you will turn out a right valiant knight.</p> + +<p>"Your narrative is useful, and I see that, when we fall in with +the Welsh, it will be necessary to have a picked body of +men-at-arms, whose duty shall be to cover the rear of the main +attack; for it seems that this is the real point of danger. Should +we come into conflict with them, I will assign to you a body of +men-at-arms, who with Percy's men shall, under your command, fulfil +that duty. This would at once be of signal benefit to us, and will +give you another opportunity of distinguishing yourself, and +winning your spurs when the time comes."</p> + +<p>"I thank you greatly, my lord, and trust that I may so bear +myself as to merit your approbation."</p> + +<p>The next morning the force mounted, at daybreak. It consisted of +two hundred horse, that the earl had brought with him; and which +was to be joined, at Chirk, by a hundred and fifty of Lord Grey's +men from Ruthyn, orders having been already sent on for them to +hold themselves in readiness. This was to be done quietly, and +without stir, as word would be sure to be sent to Glendower, were +it to be known in the town that preparations had been made for an +expedition. They were to start from the castle at ten o'clock at +night, when the town would be wrapped in sleep, and would arrive at +Chirk before daybreak.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the castle, it was found that the troops from +Ruthyn had duly come in. They were received by the seneschal of +William Beauchamp, Lord of Abergavenny. Chirk Castle had passed +through many hands, having been several times granted to royal +favourites; being a fine building, standing on a lofty eminence, +which afforded a view of no less than seventeen counties. It was +square and massive, with five flanking towers, and its vast +strength was calculated to defy the utmost efforts of the Welsh to +capture it. It was but a short distance thence to the valley of the +Dee, in which was the estate of Glendower, extending for some eight +miles north, into what is now the neighbourhood of Llangollen.</p> + +<p>As one of the detachments had arrived before daybreak, and the +other two hours after dark, it was improbable that their advent had +been noticed; and, at the request of the knight who commanded the +troop from Ruthyn, the gates of the castle had been kept closed all +day, no one being allowed to enter or leave.</p> + +<p>At daybreak the next morning, the whole force sallied out. +Three-quarters of an hour later, they dashed down into the valley +at a point about half a mile distant from Glendower's dwelling.</p> + +<p>This was a very large and stately building. Near it stood a +guest house and a church, and all the appurtenances of a man of +high rank. It was called Sycharth. Here Glendower maintained an +almost princely hospitality; for, in addition to this estate, he +possessed others in South Wales.</p> + +<p>More especially bards were welcomed here. Some resided for +months; others, who simply paused on their rambles through the +country, remained but for a few days; but all were received with +marked honour by Glendower, who was well aware of the important +services that they could render him. Indeed, it was on them that he +relied, to no small extent, to arouse the feelings of the populace; +and his hospitality was well repaid by the songs they sung, in hall +and cottage, in his praise; and by their prophecies that he was +destined to restore the ancient glories of the country.</p> + +<p>The house was surrounded by a moat and wall, but had otherwise +no defensive works; as, for a hundred years, the English and Welsh +had dwelt peaceably, side by side. Many of the castles were, +indeed, held by Welshmen, and there were few garrisons but had a +considerable proportion of Welsh in their ranks.</p> + +<p>It was singular that Glendower should, after his defiance of the +king, and the raids that had lately been made, have continued to +dwell in a spot so open to attack, and within striking distance of +the three great castles of Ruthyn, Chirk, and Holt. Certain it is +that he kept no garrison that would suffice to offer a stout +defence against a strong band, although the precaution was taken of +keeping a watchman, night and day, in one of the turrets. The sound +of his horn was heard by the horsemen, as soon as they began to +descend the hill.</p> + +<p>"A pest on the knave!" Lord Grey exclaimed. "He will slip +through our fingers, yet."</p> + +<p>It was scarce a minute later when a mounted man was seen to dash +out, at full speed, from the other side of the building. He was +evidently well mounted; and although the pursuit was hotly kept up, +for two miles, he gained the forest while they were still a quarter +of a mile behind him, and was lost to view; for although they beat +the wood for some distance, they could find no traces of him.</p> + +<p>When passing by the house, a detachment of a hundred men were +ordered to surround it, and to suffer none to enter or leave it. On +the return of the pursuing party the house was entered, and +ransacked from end to end. The male retainers found in it were +ruthlessly killed. The furniture, which showed at once the good +taste and wealth of the owner, was smashed into pieces, the +hangings torn down, and the whole place dismantled. Only two female +attendants were found, and these were suffered, by Earl Talbot's +orders, to go free.</p> + +<p>"This is evidently the ladies' bower, when they happen to be +here," Lord Grey said; as, an hour later, he entered a room in one +of the turrets, which had been already plundered by the soldiers. +"'Tis a pity that we did not find one or two of Glendower's +daughters here. They would have been invaluable as hostages.</p> + +<p>"We were too hasty, Talbot. We should have closely questioned +some of the men, or those two women, and should have found means to +learn whether they were staying here. It may be that it was so, and +that they are, even now, concealed in some secret hiding place, +hard by."</p> + +<p>He at once called up several of his men, and set them to search +every room in the turret, for some sign of an entrance to a secret +chamber; but although the walls were all tapped, and the floors +examined, stone by stone, no clue was found to such an entrance, if +it existed.</p> + +<p>The house, which was built entirely of stone, offered no +facilities for destroying it by fire. The doors were all hewn down; +the gates in the wall taken off their hinges, and thrown into the +moat, being too massive to be destroyed by the arms of the +soldiers. The outlying buildings were all burned down, the vineyard +rooted up, and the water turned out of the fish pond. Then, greatly +vexed at their failure to seize Glendower himself, the two nobles +rode back to Chirk; leaving a hundred men, of whom the band from +Ludlow formed part, under two of Earl Talbot's knights, to retain +possession of the house, until it should be decided whether it +should be levelled stone by stone; or left standing, to go, with +the estate, to whomsoever the king might assign it.</p> + +<p>By Lord Grey's advice, sentries were posted outside the walls, +from nightfall till daybreak, to prevent any risk of surprise by +Glendower, whose spies might take him word that the main body of +the assailants had left. One of the great halls had been left +untouched, to serve for the use of the garrison; and as an +abundance of victuals were found in the house, and the cellar was +well stocked with wines, it was but a short time before the +garrison made themselves thoroughly comfortable.</p> + +<p>As soon as it became dark, twenty men were placed on watch. +Oswald, with his party, were to take the third watch, at midnight; +and Mortimer's men-at-arms the second. The captain of each band was +to place the men, at such points as he might select. Alwyn talked +the matter over with his nephew.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," the former said, "that there is but a small +chance of anyone trying to leave the castle; and at any rate, if +they did so, it would scarcely be over the wall, for a splash in +the moat would at once betray them. Moreover, I love not killing in +cold blood, and should any poor fellows be stowed away somewhere, I +should be willing enough to let them go free."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you altogether, Alwyn," Oswald, who had not heard +the talk between Grey and Talbot, concerning Glendower's daughters, +replied heartily. "I would have gladly saved the men who were +killed today. It is one thing to slay in battle, but to slaughter +unresisting men goes altogether against my grain."</p> + +<p>"Then as we are agreed on that, Oswald, I should say that we had +best place the greater portion of our men well away from the wall. +We can leave two at the gate, and set two others to march round and +round the moat. I should say we had best plant the others, in +pairs, a quarter of a mile round the house. It is vastly more +important to prevent Glendower from recapturing his house, by +surprise, than it is to take prisoners two or three fellows making +their escape."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Alwyn."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, when they filed out from the gate, four were posted +as Alwyn had suggested. The rest were disposed, in pairs, in a +circle at a distance round the house.</p> + +<p>"I will keep watch with Roger," Oswald said. "'Tis some time +since I have had an opportunity for a talk with him. I will take +the next post, if you like. The wood comes closer to the house, +there, than at any other point; and there are patches, behind which +an enemy might creep up. My eyes and ears are both good; and as for +Roger, if he lifts that mighty voice of his in tones of alarm, it +will reach the ears of all the others, and be the signal for them +to run back to the gate, at the top of their speed."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Oswald. I shall walk round the ground, and see that +all are vigilant. We know not where Glendower's men were lying. It +may hap they were twenty miles away, but even so he would have had +plenty of time to have brought them up, by now. I don't think there +is much chance of any of our men being surprised; most of them +having, in their time, been so used to midnight rides across moor +and hill, and so accustomed to see in the dark that, crafty as the +Welshmen may be, I do not think there is a chance of their getting +within a hundred yards of any of our posts, without being seen; +especially as the moon is still half full."</p> + +<p>"Do you think that there is any chance of our being disturbed, +Master Oswald?" Roger said, as they took up their post under a low, +stunted tree.</p> + +<p>"I do not think so. If Glendower's spies have told him that the +main body, of those who surprised him this morning, have returned +to Chirk; he may be sure that enough have been left, to hold the +place successfully against him and his wild followers, till +assistance can reach us; and he would have nothing to gain by +recapturing his house, for he could not hold it long against the +force assembled at Chirk. Besides, he must know, well enough, that +if he is to fight successfully, it must be in the woods. Whether he +has studied the black art, or no, there is little doubt that he has +turned his attention greatly to military matters, and that he is a +foe who is not to be despised. He is playing a deep game, and will +give us a deal of trouble, unless I am greatly mistaken, before we +have done with him."</p> + +<p>"I hear all sorts of strange stories of his powers, Master +Oswald."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but you see, Roger, the spirits who, as they say, serve +him, cannot be of much use; or they would have warned him of the +coming of Talbot, and we should not have taken him unawares, this +morning."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough," Roger said, in a tone of relief. "For my +part, I am not greatly alarmed at spirits. The good abbot used to +threaten me that I should be carried off by them, unless I mended +my ways; but I always slept soundly enough, and never saw aught to +frighten me. They used to say that the spirits of some of the dead +monks used to walk in the convent garden, but though my cell looked +down upon it, and I have often stood there by the hour, never did I +see anything to frighten me.</p> + +<p>"If the Welsh do come, what are we to do, master--fight +them?"</p> + +<p>"By no means, Roger. Our duty is to watch, and not to fight. You +must lift up your voice, and shout as loud as you can, and then we +must run to the gate. There we can make a fight, till the rest join +us. But, whatever you do, do not shout until I tell you. A false +alarm would raise the whole garrison; and, if naught came of it, +would make us a laughing stock."</p> + +<p>While they were talking, both were keeping a close lookout on +the ground in front of them, and also to the right and left, for +the watches were two hundred yards apart, and they had to make sure +that no party of the enemy slipped unseen between them. Suddenly +Roger plucked Oswald's sleeve, and said in a whisper:</p> + +<p>"Unless my eyes deceive me, master, I saw two dark figures flit +from that clump of bushes, some forty yards away, to those next to +them. There they go again!"</p> + +<p>"I see them, Roger. It may be that they are spies, who have +crept up close. Let us give chase to them."</p> + +<p>"Shall I shout, master?"</p> + +<p>"No, no. This is not an attack. Stoop as low as you can or, if +they look back, they will see that great figure of yours, and be +off like hares. Run as softly as you can."</p> + +<p>Stooping low, they set off at a run and, being certain that the +figures were making straight for the forest, they did not pause to +get another glimpse of them, but ran straight on. They had gone +some seventy or eighty yards, when they heard a stifled +exclamation; and then, without further attempt at concealment, two +figures rose from a bush twenty yards ahead, and fled for the +forest. There was no more occasion for stooping and, at the top of +their speed, Oswald and Roger pursued the fugitives.</p> + +<p>These ran fast, but Oswald, who had outpaced his heavier +companion, came up to them when within fifty yards of the edge of +the forest; and, passing them, drew his sword and faced them.</p> + +<p>"Surrender," he said, "or I will cut you down."</p> + +<a id="PicF" /> +<center> +<img src="images/f.jpg" alt=" +To Oswald's astonishment, two young women stood before him" +/> </center> + +<p>Instead of the fierce spring that he had anticipated, the two +figures stopped suddenly, exchanged a word in Welsh, and then +dropped their cloaks. To Oswald's astonishment, two young women +stood before him. They evidently belonged to the upper class. Both +were richly dressed. They wore heavy gold chains round their necks, +and bracelets of the same metal; set, as Oswald noticed by the +reflection of the moon, with jewels. They had also brooches, and +their girdles were held in with massive gold clasps.</p> + +<p>By this time Roger had come up, and stood staring with +astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Take these, good fellows," the girl said in English, as she +began to unfasten her necklace. "Take these, and let us go. They +will make you rich."</p> + +<p>"I am an esquire of Sir Henry Percy," Oswald said, "and I rob +not women. By your appearance, I should judge you to be daughters +of Glendower."</p> + +<p>"It would be useless to deny it," one of the girls said, +proudly.</p> + +<p>"Why do you come spying here?" Oswald said. "Surely, among your +father's warriors, others better suited for such work might have +been found."</p> + +<p>"We were not spying," the girl replied. "We have lain hidden all +day, and were but making our escape."</p> + +<p>"How can that be, madam? We had a guard all round the castle, +and know that none can have escaped."</p> + +<p>"Being an esquire, you are a gentleman, sir, and will not +disclose what I am about to tell you; though, indeed, now that our +father's house is in your hands, it boots not much whether the +secret is known. There is a secret passage from the castle that +opens into these bushes, and it was through that that we issued +out; having been in hiding all day, in the secret chamber from +which it leads.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, we are your prisoners; and shall, I suppose, be sent +to London, there to be held until our father is in the usurper's +hands, which will not be, believe me, for years yet."</p> + +<p>Oswald was silent. The two girls, some seventeen or eighteen +years of age, both possessed singular beauty they had inherited +from their father; and bore themselves with an air of fearlessness +that won his admiration. He was still but a lad and, thinking of +the years these fair girls might pass in a prison, he felt a deep +pity for them. He drew Roger aside.</p> + +<p>"What think you, Roger? Must we send these fair young girls to +prison?"</p> + +<p>"In faith, I know not, master. Having been shut up many a time +in a cell, I have a sort of fellow feeling for prisoners; and +indeed, two fairer maidens I have never seen. Our orders were to +look after Welshmen, and see that they did not attack us. No word +was said of Welsh women. And besides, they were running away, and +not thinking of attacking us."</p> + +<p>"That is all very well, Roger, but I cannot deceive myself. +There is no doubt that it is our duty to take these two maidens +prisoners, but my heart aches at the thought that they might pass +years of their lives in a prison. They are not responsible for +their father's misdeeds and ambition, and it may be that, if they +are restored, Glendower may be induced to treat those who fall into +his hands mercifully. None but ourselves know of this, and no one +need ever know.</p> + +<p>"I will risk it, anyhow," he said after a short pause. "I know +that I am not doing my duty in letting them go; and that, were it +ever known, I should lose all chance of further advancement, if +indeed I did not lose my life. However, it need never be known, and +my conscience would sorely trouble me, whenever I thought of them +shut up in one of King Henry's prisons."</p> + +<p>He turned to the girls again.</p> + +<p>"Think you, ladies," he asked, "that were you in the king's +hands, your father would make terms and submit himself?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," the one who had spoken before said. "He has +other children--sons and daughters--and he would not dream of +abandoning his rights, and betraying his country, to obtain the +liberty of two of us."</p> + +<p>"In that case, then, your imprisonment would in no degree stop +this war, or bring about a renewal of peace between the two +countries?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not; and as for us, we would strangle ourselves in +prison, did we think that any thought of us would turn our father +from his noble purpose."</p> + +<p>"Then in that case," Oswald said quietly, "it is clear that your +captivity would do nought to bring about peace, or to allay the +troubles that have now begun. Therefore I will take on me to let +you go, though in so doing I may be failing somewhat in my duty. +Only promise me that, in the future, you will use what influence +you may possess with your father, to obtain kind treatment for +prisoners who may fall into his hands."</p> + +<p>The expression of haughty defiance, that they had hitherto worn, +faded from the girls' faces.</p> + +<p>"We shall never forget your kindness, sir," one said, in a low +voice. "We thank you, with all our hearts; not so much for our own +sake, as for our father's. He has been cruelly ill used. He has +much to trouble him, and although I know that our captivity would +not turn him from his purpose, it could not but greatly grieve and +trouble him, and he has already troubles enough on his +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Will you accept one of these jewels, as a token only of our +gratitude for your kindness, shown this night to us?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks, lady, but no gift will I take. I am failing in my duty, +but at least it shall not be said that I received aught for doing +so."</p> + +<p>"Then at least--" the girl began, turning to Roger.</p> + +<p>"No, lady," the man-at-arms said. "I am neither knight nor +esquire, but a simple soldier; but I take no presents for saving +two maidens from capture and captivity. I have been a monk all my +life, though now a man-at-arms. Never before have I had an +opportunity of doing aught of kindness for a woman, and I am glad +that the chance has fallen in my way."</p> + +<p>"May I ask the name of one who has done us such kindness?" the +girl said, turning to Oswald.</p> + +<p>"It were best not, lady. It is a service that might cost me my +head, were it to be bruited about. 'Tis best, then, that even you +should not know it. I doubt not that you would preserve the secret; +but you would perhaps mention it to your father, and it were best +that it were known to none."</p> + +<p>The girls were silent for a minute.</p> + +<p>"Sir," the elder said, after exchanging a word or two with her +sister, "we would ask a boon of you. The successes in a war are not +always on one side. My sister and I will think often of one who has +so greatly befriended us; and were you, by any accident of war, to +fall into the Welsh hands, and should evil befall you, it would be +a deep grief to us. We pray you then, sir, to accept this little +gold necklet. Its value is small, indeed, but it was given to me +when a child by my father. My name and his are engraved on the +clasp. Should you, at any time of stress, send this to my father; +right sure am I that, on recognizing it, he would treat as dear +friends those who have done so much for his daughters. I pray you +to accept it, and to wear it always round your neck or wrist; and +if it should never prove useful to you, it will at least recall us +to your thoughts."</p> + +<p>"I cannot be so churlish, lady, as to refuse your token so +offered; and though I hope that it will not be needful to use it as +you say--for, indeed, I expect to return very shortly to my lord in +Northumberland--it will be a pleasant remembrance of the service +that a good fortune has enabled me to render, to two fair maidens. +Be assured that I shall ever keep your necklet, for the sake of the +givers.</p> + +<p>"And now, farewell! We must be back at our post, for the captain +of the guard will be going his round, and we might be missed."</p> + +<p>"We shall never forget you, sir. May the blessing of God fall on +you, for your kind deed!"</p> + +<p>"May all good fortune attend you!" Oswald answered; and then, +with Roger, he made his way back to his post; while the girls +hurried on, and entered the forest.</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch11">Chapter 11</a>: Bad News.</h2> + +<p>"This has been a strange adventure, Roger."</p> + +<p>"A very strange one, master. Lord Grey would tear his hair, if +he knew that those two pretty birds had been hiding in the cage all +day, and he never knew it. However, I see not that it can do us +harm. Nay, more, there is a probability that it may even benefit +us, for if it should happen, by ill fortune, we should ever fall +into the hands of the Welsh, and they should abstain from cutting +our throats then and there, perchance these young ladies would +repay the service we have rendered them, by taking us under their +protection."</p> + +<p>"It may be so, indeed, Roger, though I hope that I shall never +hear more of tonight's adventure. We may reason as we will, but +there is no doubt that, although we had no instructions touching +the capture of women, we have failed in our duty."</p> + +<p>"That will in no way trouble me, Master Oswald. When I was a +monk, I failed in my duty scores of times, and am no whit the worse +for it; rather the better, indeed, since it is owing to my failures +that I am now a free man-at-arms, instead of being mewed up for +life in a convent. I shall not sleep one wink less, for having +saved two of the prettiest girls I ever saw from having been shut +up, for years, in a prison."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid your sense of duty is not strong, Roger."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not, master, saving in the matter of doing my duty +in face of an enemy."</p> + +<p>"You mean, Roger, that you will do your duty when it so pleases +you, and not otherwise."</p> + +<p>"I expect that is the way with a good many of us," Roger +laughed. "I wonder whether Lord Grey had any idea that Glendower's +daughters were in the house when we arrived there?"</p> + +<p>"I know not, but I remember now that they had men searching, for +some time, for signs of secret passages. Whether it was from any +idea that Glendower's daughters might be hidden away, I know +not."</p> + +<p>"Truly it might have been," Roger said, "for I saw, among the +spoil that was carried off when the others rode for Chirk, some +silks and stuffs that looked like feminine garments.</p> + +<p>"There is somebody coming across from the next post," he broke +off. "Doubtless it is the captain. You would not tell him what we +have done?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, Roger. My uncle is an old soldier, and though he +would not, for my sake, say anything about it, I think not that he +would approve of what has been done. 'Tis best, at any rate, to +keep it entirely to ourselves."</p> + +<p>"All quiet here, as elsewhere?" Alwyn asked as he came up.</p> + +<p>"All quiet, Uncle."</p> + +<p>"'Tis well; for although methinks that we could hold the place +against the Welshmen, we could hardly hope that some of our posts +would not be cut off, before they could reach the house. It is well +to keep watch, but the more I think of it, the more I feel that +Glendower will scarce attack us. He could not hold the place, did +he gain it; and it might well be that, after we were turned out +again, the place would be destroyed, seeing that it would need two +or three hundred men to be shut up here, in garrison."</p> + +<p>After waiting half an hour, Alwyn again made the round of the +posts, and then went in to rouse the party that were to relieve +them. As soon as these issued out, the sentries were called in, and +stretched themselves for three hours' sleep.</p> + +<p>Before day dawned, a messenger rode in from Chirk, bearing Earl +Talbot's orders for the evacuation of the house, as there could be +no advantage in retaining it; and, were it empty, Glendower might +return there, and afford them another opportunity for capturing +him.</p> + +<p>On the following day the party broke up. Lord Grey rode with his +men to Ruthyn, and the forty men-at-arms from Ludlow returned to +that town; where, a few days later, the news arrived that +Glendower, with a large following, had established himself on the +rugged height of Corwen, and was engaged in strengthening the +ancient fortifications on its summit.</p> + +<p>For a time there was quiet on the border, and then came the +startling news that Glendower had suddenly surprised, plundered, +and burnt to the ground the town of Ruthyn, where a fair was being +held at the time. Then, having obtained great booty, and greatly +injured his enemy Lord Grey, he again retired. It was evident that +no local force of sufficient strength could be found to pursue +Glendower into his fastnesses on the ranges of Berwyn and Snowdon, +and nothing was done until, three months later, the king, on his +return from Scotland, marched into Wales with the levies of +Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and eight other adjacent counties, +while orders were issued to the people of Shrewsbury, and other +towns on the eastern border, to hold themselves in readiness to +repel any movement of the Welsh in that direction.</p> + +<p>The king, however, accomplished nothing. Glendower, with his +following, took refuge among the forests of Snowdon; and the +English army marched along the north coast, putting to the sword a +few bands of peasantry, who ventured to oppose them; crossed to the +Isle of Anglesey and, entering the Franciscan monastery of +Llanfaes, slew some of the monks and carried the rest to England, +and established a community of English monks in the convent. This +was done because the Franciscans had been supporters of the late +king, and were believed to have given aid and encouragement to +Glendower.</p> + +<p>The Welsh expedition was, therefore, no more successful than the +Scotch had been.</p> + +<p>For a time, matters settled down. Glendower was occupied in +strengthening his position. So much had his reputation spread, that +large numbers of Welshmen who had settled in England now sold their +property, gave up their positions and abandoned their careers, and +made their way across the border to join him. Still, for some +months no operations were undertaken, on either side; and, a week +after the return of the king and his forces, Sir Edmund Mortimer +said to Oswald:</p> + +<p>"I will no longer keep you and your following from your lord's +side. I have largely strengthened my garrison, and twenty men, +however valiant, are no longer of importance. As you know, I should +not have asked Percy to aid me, had I not thought that, perchance, +he might have come himself, bringing with him two or three hundred +men; and that my sister might have accompanied him. Maybe, if +matters go on quietly on the northern marches, he may be able to do +so yet; but I fear that the Scotch will take advantage of the +troubles here, and may, for aught I know, have entered into +communication with Glendower, so that they may together harass the +kingdom. I have written several times to him, telling him what good +service you and his men have rendered; and that I would I had five +hundred such good fighters with me, in which case I would +undertake, single handed, to bring this fellow to reason.</p> + +<p>"I have written a letter which I will hand you to deliver, +saying that, as at present things are quiet and Glendower is in +hiding among the mountains, I have sent you back to him; not +without the hope that, should greater events take place, he himself +will come hither, for a while, to give me the benefit of his +knowledge of border warfare, even if he comes accompanied only by +my sister and a dozen spears. I may tell you that, some two months +since, he wrote saying that he should be glad to have you, and the +captain of his garrison of Alnwick, back again; and I then wrote to +him, saying that while the king was in Wales I would hold you, +seeing that Glendower might make a great foray here, while the king +was hunting for him in the north; but that, as soon as he left with +his army, I would send you home."</p> + +<p>Alwyn and the men were all well pleased when they heard that +they were to return; for, since the raid on Glendower's house, +their life had been a dull one, to which even the fact that they +were receiving pay from Sir Edmund, as well as from Percy, was +insufficient to reconcile them; and it was with light hearts that +they started, on the following morning, for the north, arriving at +Alnwick ten days after leaving. Sir Hotspur came down into the +courtyard, as they rode into the castle.</p> + +<p>"Welcome back, Oswald; and you, my trusty Alwyn!</p> + +<p>"I thank you all, my men, for the manner in which you have borne +yourselves, and that you have shown the men of the west how stoutly +we Northumbrians can hold our own, in the day of battle. I am glad, +indeed, to find that all that went have returned home; some bearing +scars, indeed, but none disabled. I will instruct your captain to +grant all of you a month's leave, to pay a visit to your +families.</p> + +<p>"You must sup with us tonight, Alwyn, and give us a full account +of your doings, and also your frank opinion as to the state of +things in the west, and the probability of long trouble with this +strange Welshman, who has so boldly taken up arms, and defied the +strength of England."</p> + +<p>It was nearly a year since the party had left Alnwick, and +Oswald had, in that time, greatly increased in height and strength. +He was now eighteen, and as he was nearly six feet in height, and +his figure had filled out greatly since he had left his home, he +might well have passed as three or four years older than his real +age. That evening, Alwyn gave a full account of their fray with the +Welsh.</p> + +<p>"These men fight stoutly, Alwyn," Percy said, when he had +concluded his story.</p> + +<p>"Right stoutly, Sir Henry, and were their discipline equal to +their bravery, they would be formidable opponents, indeed; but as +it is, they are quite unable to stand against men-at-arms in a set +battle. In this respect they are by no means equal to the Scotch, +but for surprises, or irregular fighting, I could wish to see no +better men."</p> + +<p>"It is an unfortunate affair," Percy said. "It seemed that we +had finished with Wales, at Llewellyn's death, and that the two +nations had become one. In London, and many other places, they were +settled among us. Numbers of them studied at our universities, and +in Shropshire, Radnor, Flint, and other border counties I have +heard that most of the labouring men were Welsh, and have come to +speak our language; and indeed, they form no small portion of the +garrisons of the castles; so much so that I fear that, should the +Welsh really ravage the border counties, 'tis like that not a few +of the castles will fall into their hands by the treachery of their +fellow countrymen in the garrisons.</p> + +<p>"Sir Edmund speaks very highly of you, Oswald, not only for your +behaviour in the fight, which was reported to him by Sir James +Burgon, a knight well fitted to judge in such matters, but as an +inmate of his castle. He said that, from your conversation, he has +conceived a high opinion of you.</p> + +<p>"At present things are somewhat quiet here, and it were well +that you should, like your uncle, take a holiday for a time, and +visit your father and mother. They have sent over, several times, +for news of you."</p> + +<p>The next morning Oswald mounted and rode off, attended by Roger, +who had asked Oswald to take him with him, as he had no relations +he cared to visit. Alwyn was going for a few days only, and indeed, +would probably have declined to take a holiday at all, had not +Oswald earnestly begged him to go with him.</p> + +<p>"'Tis two years since you have been there," Oswald said.</p> + +<p>"That is so, Oswald, but I have often been longer without seeing +my brother; and, in truth, of late I have had so little to do, with +but twenty men to look after, that I long for regular work and +drill again. Still, it were best that I went with you. There are +turbulent times on hand, both on this border, in Wales, and maybe +in France. I may get myself killed, and your father's house may be +harried again by the Bairds, and he may not succeed in getting off +scatheless, as he did last time; and I should blame myself, +afterwards, if I had not seen him, and shaken his hand, when I had +an opportunity such as the present."</p> + +<p>Oswald had seen so much, during the two years that had passed +since he first left the hold that, as he rode towards it, it seemed +strange that everything should be going on as if it was but the day +before that he had ridden away--the only difference being that the +hold looked strangely small, and of little account, after the many +strong castles he had seen.</p> + +<p>As soon as they reached the moor, within sight of the hold, a +horseman was seen to leave it, and ride at a gallop towards +them.</p> + +<p>"That is ever the way," Oswald said; "we like to know, when a +visitor is seen, whether he comes as friend or foe."</p> + +<p>As the moss trooper rode up, and was about to put the customary +question, he recognized Oswald; and, wheeling his pony without a +word, dashed off at full gallop, waving his spear and shouting, as +he approached the hold.</p> + +<p>They rode at a canter after him and, as they reached the +entrance, his father and mother appeared at the door at the top of +the steps. The latter ran down the steps and, as Oswald leapt from +his horse, threw her arms round his neck.</p> + +<p>"Thank God you are back again, my boy!" she cried; "though as +yet, I can hardly believe that this tall fellow is my Oswald. But +otherwise you are in no way changed."</p> + +<p>"I think, Mother, that you are looking better than when I saw +you last."</p> + +<p>"I am well, dear," she said. "We have had a quiet year, and no +cause for anxiety, and things have gone well with us; and it has +been pleasant, indeed, for us to have received such good news of +your doings, and to know that you stood so well with Hotspur."</p> + +<p>Oswald now ran up the steps to greet his father, who was already +talking with Alwyn, who had slipped off his horse and run to speak +to his brother, while Oswald was occupied with his mother.</p> + +<p>"Well, lad," John Forster said, laying his hand upon his +shoulder, and looking him up and down, "you have grown well nigh +into manhood. I always said that you would over top me, and though +methinks that I have still three inches of advantage, you have yet +time to grow up to look down on me.</p> + +<p>"Well, you have done credit to us, boy, and your monkish reading +and writing has not harmed you, as I was afraid it would. Alwyn +tells me that no man of Percy's troop did better than you, in that +fight with the Welsh; save, mayhap, that big man-at-arms down +there, who, he tells me, cracked the skulls of four Welshmen who +were trying to stab you, besides those he disposed of on his own +account."</p> + +<p>"I owe him my life, indeed, Father. He is a man after your own +heart, strong and brave and hearty, even jovial when occasion +offers. He can troll out a border lay with the best, and can yet +read and write as well as an abbot. His name is Roger."</p> + +<p>"Come up, Roger," John Forster shouted, "and give me a grip of +your hand. You have saved my son's life, as he tells me; and, so +long as you live, there will be a nook by the fire, here, and a +hearty welcome, when you are tired of soldiering."</p> + +<p>"In truth, you are a mighty man," he went on, after he and Roger +had exchanged a grip that would have well nigh broken the bones of +an ordinary man. "I have been looked upon as one able to strike as +hard a blow as any on the border; but assuredly, you would strike a +heavier one. Why, man, you must be five or six inches bigger, round +the chest, than I am."</p> + +<p>"You have been an active man from your youth," Roger replied, +"ever on horseback and about, while I spent years with nought to do +but eat and drink, and build up my frame, in a monastery."</p> + +<p>"Oswald told us, in his letters, that you had been a monk; but +had, with the consent of the abbot, unfrocked yourself."</p> + +<p>"It was so," Roger replied, with a laugh. "Methinks that it was +a happy day for the abbot, as well as for myself, when I laid aside +my gown; for I fear that I gave him more trouble than all the rest +of his convent. Besides, it was as if a wolf's cub had been brought +up among a litter of ladies' lapdogs--it was sure to be an ill time +for both."</p> + +<p>"And for how long are you at home with us, brother Alwyn?" John +Forster asked, presently.</p> + +<p>"I am here for a week only, John; but Oswald has leave for a +month, seeing that, at present, there is no great chance of Hotspur +needing his services. The Scotch are quiet since the king returned, +I hear."</p> + +<p>"Ay, they are as quiet as is their nature to be, but 'tis not +likely to last long. I went not with the army, but I hear that +Henry behaved so gently that the Scotch feel that it would be +almost an act of ingratitude to meddle with us, for a time. +However, that will not last long. Next spring they will doubtless +be storming down over the hills again."</p> + +<p>The holiday passed delightfully to Oswald. Roger enjoyed it even +more. It was so long since the latter had been permitted the +freedom of riding at will, over mountain and moor, that he was like +a schoolboy enjoying an altogether unwonted holiday. He and Oswald +scoured the country, sometimes returning late in the afternoon, but +often staying for the night at the houses of one or other of +Oswald's friends. Once they crossed the border, and rode to the +Armstrongs', where they stopped for a couple of days, bringing +Allan and Janet back with them; for Roxburgh was still held by the +English, and unless when hostilities were actively going on, the +people of the border, save the marauders, who were always ready to +seize any opportunity that offered of carrying off booty, were on +friendly terms, and maintained frequent intercourse with each +other.</p> + +<p>Alwyn had returned to Alnwick when his leave was up. He had +spent his time quietly at the hold. He and his brother had +discussed many plans by which its defences could be strengthened, +but arrived at the same conclusion: that it could defend itself, at +present, against any small party, but must yield, however much its +defences were increased, at the approach of an invading army; +since, even with the assistance of the inhabitants of the +surrounding districts, it could not maintain itself until an army +was gathered, and the invaders driven out.</p> + +<p>Occasionally an afternoon was devoted to sports on the moor; +and, on one occasion, John Forster sent messengers down to +Yardhope, and other villages on the Coquet, and to the holds of his +neighbours; inviting them to come to a gathering, at which there +would be prizes for riding, wrestling, running, shooting, and feats +of arms on horseback and foot, and at which all comers would be +entertained.</p> + +<p>The result was a gathering such as had not taken place, in that +part of the country, for years. Over a thousand people assembled, +comprising women as well as men. The sports began early, and the +various events were all eagerly contested. Ralph Gray won the horse +race, a horse which he had brought from the south being far +superior, in speed, to any of the smaller border horses; although, +had the trial been for endurance, it would have had but small +chance with them. The shooting was close, one of Percy Hope's men +winning at last. The quarterstaff prize was awarded to Long +Hackett, one of John Forster's retainers. At wrestling Roger bore +off the palm. Some of his opponents were, in the opinion of lookers +on, more skilled at the sport; but his weight and strength more +than counterbalanced this, and one after another tried, in vain, to +throw him to the ground; succumbing, themselves, as soon as he put +out his strength, and theirs began to be exhausted; when, drawing +them up to him with irresistible strength, he laid them quietly on +the ground.</p> + +<p>Oswald himself carried off the palm in a mile foot race.</p> + +<p>At one o'clock the sports were concluded. While they had been +going on, a score of men were attending to the great joints +roasting over bonfires, six bullocks having been slaughtered the +day before. Ducks, geese, and chickens innumerable were also +cooking; while, for the table in the hold, at which the principal +guests sat down, were trout, game, and venison pasties. Here wine +was provided, while outside a long row of barrels of beer were +broached, for the commonalty.</p> + +<p>Dinner over, there was singing and dancing. Alwyn had engaged, +and sent from Alnwick, a score of musicians. These were divided +into five parties, stationed at some little distance apart, and +round these the younger portion of the gathering soon grouped +themselves; while the elders listened to border lays sung by +wandering minstrels. The days were shortening fast and, as many of +those present had twenty miles to ride, by six o'clock the +amusements came to an end, and the gathering scattered in all +directions, delighted with the day's proceedings; which, although +they would have been thought of but small account in the southern +counties, were rare, indeed, in a district so thinly populated, and +so frequently engaged in turmoil and strife.</p> + +<p>Except in the running match, Oswald had engaged in none of the +contests, he being fully occupied in aiding his mother in welcoming +the guests, and seeing to their comfort; while his father, assisted +by his friends, Hope, Gray, and Liddel, superintended the +arrangements for the sports, and acted as judges. In the afternoon, +Oswald and his cousins had joined heartily in the dances, and +enjoyed the day to the full as much as their visitors.</p> + +<p>Gatherings of this kind were not uncommon. Shooting, wrestling, +and sword-playing for the men, and dancing on the green for the +young people, took place at most of the village fairs; but the +gathering at Yardhope was long talked about, as a special occasion, +from the hospitality in which all were included, and the number of +the heads of the border families who were present, and took part in +the proceedings.</p> + +<p>Oswald's mother had been the prime mover in the matter. She was +proud of her son, and thought that it was a good occasion to +present him to the countryside, as one who was now arriving at +manhood, and was likely, in time, to make a figure on the border. +John Forster had at first declared that it was wholly unnecessary, +and that such a thing had never taken place in his time, or in his +father's before him.</p> + +<p>"That may be, husband," she said, "but Oswald has been away from +us for two years, and it may be as much more before he returns. He +is like to become a knight, before long--Alwyn said that the lad +was sure to win his spurs--and it would be well that he should not +slip out of the memory of folks here. Besides, we have his cousins, +and it is well that they should carry back news that, in spite of +the troublous times, we can yet be merry on suitable occasions.</p> + +<p>"The cost will not be very great. The meat can scarcely be +counted, seeing that we have as many cattle on the moor as can pick +up a living there. Moreover, our neighbours all gave us a helping +hand, to repair the hold after it was sacked last year, and 'tis +but right that we should hold some sort of gathering, and this will +do for the two purposes."</p> + +<p>The last argument had more weight with John Forster than the +former ones. Once having consented, he took as much interest in it +as did his wife; and dug up the pot in which he stowed away any +sums that remained, at the end of each year, over and above the +expenses of the hold; and provided all that was required, without +stinting.</p> + +<p>Three days after the gathering, the Armstrongs returned home, +and Oswald rode with Roger to Alnwick. The next three months passed +quietly and uneventfully. Snow was lying deep on the Cheviots, and +until spring there was little chance of the Scotch making a +foray.</p> + +<p>Oswald worked hard in the hall, where the knights kept +themselves in exercise, practised with the young squires, and +superintended the drilling and practice of the men-at-arms, of whom +the number at the castle had been much increased; for none doubted +that in the spring the Scots would, after Henry's invasion, pay a +return visit to England, and that the northern counties would need +a very strong force to hold them in check.</p> + +<p>He was, several times, sent by Percy with messages to the +governors of Roxburgh and Jedburgh, and to other commanders; +calling upon them to be vigilant, and to send in lists of arms and +stores required, so that all should be in good order to make a +stout resistance, when the need came.</p> + +<p>When he had received no special orders to return with speed to +Alnwick, Oswald generally found time to pay a visit of a few hours +to the Armstrongs. On these excursions Roger and another +man-at-arms always rode with him, for it would not have been +becoming for a squire, and messenger of Hotspur, to ride without +such escort.</p> + +<p>Alwyn had picked out, for Roger's use, one of the strongest +horses in the castle. It was not a showy animal, having a big ugly +head, and being vicious in temper; therefore, after some trial, it +had been handed over to the men-at-arms, instead of being retained +for the service of the knights. It had, at first, tried its best to +establish a mastership over the trooper; but it soon found that its +efforts were as nothing against the strength of its rider, and that +it might as well try to shake off its saddle as to rid itself of +the trooper, the grip of whose knees almost stopped its breathing. +Oswald, too, was very well mounted, Sir Edmund Mortimer having +presented him with one of the best horses in the stable, upon his +leaving him.</p> + +<p>Upon nearing Hiniltie one day, just as the new year had begun, +Oswald was alarmed at seeing smoke wreaths ascending from the knoll +behind the village upon which the Armstrongs' hold stood. Galloping +on, he soon saw that his first impressions were correct, and that +his uncle's tower was on fire. He found the village in +confusion.</p> + +<p>"What has happened?" he asked, reining in his horse for a +moment.</p> + +<p>"The hold was suddenly attacked, two hours ago," a man said. "A +party of reivers rode through here. None had seen them coming, and +there was no time for us to take our women and children, and hurry +to the shelter of the hold. Adam Armstrong is away at Roxburgh. +Young Allan, with what few men there were at the hold, had but just +time to shut the gates; but these were hewed down, in a short time, +by the troopers. There was a stout fight as they entered. Allan was +cut down and left for dead, and the troopers were all killed. Dame +Armstrong was slain, and her daughters carried off by the reivers; +and these, as soon as they had sacked the house, set it alight and +galloped off. Most of the men here were away in the fields, or with +the flocks in the valleys, and we were too few to hinder them, and +could but shut ourselves up in the houses, until they had +gone."</p> + +<p>Oswald had dropped his reins, in speechless dismay.</p> + +<p>"It is terrible," he said, at last. "Aunt killed, Janet and +Jessie carried away, and Allan wounded, perhaps to death!"</p> + +<p>"Whence came these villains?" he asked suddenly. "From beyond +the Cheviots? It can hardly be so, for this part is under the +governor of Roxburgh, and no English raiders would dare to meddle +with any here. Besides, my uncle has always been on good terms with +them, holding himself aloof from all quarrels, and having friends +and relations on both sides of the border."</p> + +<p>"We believe that it was the Bairds," a man said. "There has long +been a standing quarrel between them and the Armstrongs, partly +about stolen cattle, but more, methinks, because of the +relationship between the Armstrongs and your people"--for Oswald's +visits to his uncle had made his face familiar to the +villagers--"and they say that the Bairds have sworn that they will +never rest, until they have slain the last of the Forsters."</p> + +<p>"Where is Allan Armstrong?"</p> + +<p>"They have carried him down to the last house in the village. +The priest and Meg Margetson, who knows more of wounds and simples +than anyone here, are with him."</p> + +<p>"Has his mother's body been recovered?"</p> + +<p>The man shook his head.</p> + +<p>"The hold was on fire, from roof to cellar, before they left," +he said. "I and others ran up there, directly they had galloped +away. The house was like a furnace. And indeed, we knew not of her +death until a boy, who had seen her slain, and had dropped from a +window and hidden himself till they had gone, came out and told us. +He, and two or three others, are the only ones left alive of those +in the hold, when we arrived and saved young Allan; and indeed, +whether he lives now, or not, I know not. The priest said, when we +carried him in, that his state was almost beyond hope."</p> + +<p>Oswald galloped on to the end of the village, leapt from his +horse, and threw the reins to Roger, who had been muttering words +that he certainly would not have found in the missals, or the +books, of the monastery.</p> + +<p>"Is there nothing to be done, Master Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"Not at present. We must wait till my uncle returns."</p> + +<p>Then he entered the house. He had met the priest frequently, +during his stay with the Armstrongs; as he entered the room, he was +standing by a pallet on which Allan was laid, while a very old +woman was attending to a decoction that was boiling over the +fire.</p> + +<p>"Is there any hope, father?"</p> + +<p>"I know not," the priest replied, shaking his head sorrowfully. +"We have stanched the wounds, but his head is well nigh cleft open. +I have some skill in wounds, for they are common enough in this +unfortunate country, and I should say that there was no hope; but +Meg here, who is noted through the country round for her knowledge +in these matters, thinks that it is possible he may yet recover. +She is now making a poultice of herbs that she will lay on the +wound; or rather on the wounds, for he has no less than four."</p> + +<p>"I think that he will live, young master," the old woman said in +a quavering, high-pitched voice. "'Tis hard to kill an Armstrong. +They have ever been a hardy race and, save the lad's father, have +ever been prone to the giving and taking of blows. I watched by his +grandfather's bed, when he was in as sore a strait as this; but he +came round, and was none the worse for it, though the blow would +have killed any man with a softer skull.</p> + +<p>"A curse upon the Bairds, I say. They have ever been a race of +thieves and raiders, and it is their doings that have brought +trouble on the border, as long as I can remember."</p> + +<p>"Has any gone to bear the news to Adam Armstrong, father?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I sent off a messenger on horseback, as soon as they had +gone. Adam left early, and the man will meet him on his way +back."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, indeed, Adam Armstrong rode in. Oswald met +him outside. His face was set and hard, and Oswald would scarce +have recognized the kindly, genial man who had always received him +so heartily.</p> + +<p>"There are hopes that he will live," Oswald said.</p> + +<p>There was a slight change in the expression of Armstrong's +face.</p> + +<p>"'Tis well," he said, "that one should be saved, to take revenge +for this foul business. All the others are gone."</p> + +<p>"I hope we may rescue my cousins."</p> + +<p>"We might as well try to rescue a young lamb, that had been +carried off by an eagle," he said bitterly. "Even could an archer +send a shaft through the bird's breastbone, the lamb would be +bleeding and injured, beyond all hope, ere it touched the ground. +We may revenge, Oswald, but I have no hope of rescue."</p> + +<p>Then he went into the house, without further word.</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch12">Chapter 12</a>: A Dangerous Mission.</h2> + +<p>Half an hour later, Adam Armstrong came out of the cottage where +his son was lying. His mood had changed. He had gathered hope from +Meg Margetson's confident assurances that there was ground for +it.</p> + +<p>"Now, let us talk of what had best be done, Oswald," he said, as +he led the way into the next cottage, where the woman at once +turned her children out, and cleared a room for him.</p> + +<p>"What force could you gather, Uncle?"</p> + +<p>"In my grandfather's time," he said, "two hundred Armstrongs, +and their followers, could gather in case of need; but the family +was grievously thinned, in the days when Edward carried fire and +sword through Scotland; and for the last fifty years Roxburgh and +these parts have been mostly under English rule, and in that time +we have never gathered as a family. Still, all my kin would, I +know, take up this quarrel; and I should say that, in twelve hours, +we could gather fifty or sixty stout fighting men.</p> + +<p>"But the Bairds would be expecting us, and can put, with the +families allied to them and their retainers, nigh three hundred men +under arms. Their hold is so strong a one that it took fifteen +hundred Englishmen, under Umfraville, three weeks to capture it. It +was destroyed then, but it is stronger now than ever.</p> + +<p>"Could we get aid from Roxburgh, think you?"</p> + +<p>"I fear not, Uncle. I know that the governor has strict orders +not to give Douglas any pretext for invading us, and to hold his +garrison together; since the earl may, at any moment, endeavour to +capture the town before help could arrive. And even were he to send +four or five hundred men, the Bairds could hold out for a +fortnight, at least; and long before this Douglas would be down, +with an army, to his rescue.</p> + +<p>"I have been talking it over with my trusty companion, here, and +he agrees with me that, unless a body of men-at-arms that would +avail to capture the fortalice by a sudden assault can be raised, +we must trust to guile rather than force; and I propose that he and +I shall, at once, start for the hold and see how matters stand, and +where the prisoners are confined, and what hope there is of getting +them free. I propose to send my other man to Yardhope, to tell my +father what has happened, and to ask him to warn his friends to be +ready to cross the border, and to join any force you can gather for +an attack on the Bairds. It is true that stringent orders have been +issued that there is to be no raiding in Scotland, but my father +would not heed that for a moment. The attack that has been made +upon you, the killing of his wife's sister, the wounding of Allan, +and carrying off of his nieces would be deemed, by him, a grievance +sufficient to justify his disregarding all orders. Besides which, +he has the old grievance against the Bairds, which is all the more +bitter since they led the Scots to attack Yardhope. I can guarantee +that, when he gets word from you as to the day and place, he will +meet you there with at least a hundred spears. It is true that, +with this force and that which you can bring, he could not hope to +capture the Bairds' hold; but together you could carry sword and +fire through his district, before he could gather a force to meet +you in the field."</p> + +<p>"I fear that would not do, Oswald. William Baird would be +capable of hanging the girls from the battlements, when the first +fire was lit."</p> + +<p>Oswald was silent. From the tales he had heard of the ferocity +of these dreaded marauders, he felt that it was more than probable +that his uncle was right.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," he said, after a pause, "that it were best for +you to send two men to Parton; which is, as I have heard, though I +have never been there, ten miles south of the Bairds'. Let them +give the name of Johnstone; and, at the tavern where they put up, +say they expect a relative of the same name. As soon as I can find +out how the affair had best be managed, I will give them +instructions as to the plans I propose. One will carry them to you, +and the other to my father. Will Parton be a good place for you to +join forces?"</p> + +<p>"As well as any other, Oswald. Your plan seems to me a good one. +At any rate, I can think of nothing better. My brain is deadened by +this terrible misfortune. Had I my own will, I would ride straight +to the Bairds' hold and challenge him and his brothers and sons to +meet me, one after another, in fair combat; and should be well +contented if I could slay one or two of them, before being myself +killed."</p> + +<p>"I can quite understand that, Uncle. But your death would be, in +no way, an advantage to the girls; nay, would rather render them +more helpless, therefore I pray you to let me carry things out as I +have planned."</p> + +<p>His uncle nodded.</p> + +<p>"I shall send out a dozen runners to my friends," he said, "and +beg them to be here tomorrow morning, early. Then, when I have +talked matters over with them, I shall ride to Roxburgh and lay the +matter before the governor. I know that I shall get no help from +him; but at least, when he hears of a gathering here, he will know +that 'tis with no evil intention against the English."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later, Oswald's messenger started for Yardhope, with +a full account of the step he was taking, and of the arrangements +that had been made. This done, he had a long talk with Roger.</p> + +<p>"Now, Roger," he said, "this will be the most dangerous business +in which we have been concerned; and I should not venture to +undertake it, did I not know that I could rely, absolutely, upon +you."</p> + +<p>"I will do my best, master, and will adventure my life all the +more willingly, since it is in the service of Allan and Janet +Armstrong. They were always pleasant and friendly with me, at +Yardhope, and I like them for themselves, as well as because they +are your cousins. Now, master, what is to be done?"</p> + +<p>"Have you your gown with you, Roger?"</p> + +<p>"No, master. I know you always told me to take it with me, +thinking that it might come in useful, and I carried it under my +saddle all the time we were in Wales; but, seeing that this was but +a ride to Jedburgh and back, I thought that there would be no +occasion for it."</p> + +<p>"That is unfortunate, Roger, for it is upon this that we must +depend to get an entry into the Bairds' hold."</p> + +<p>"Well, master, I can doubtless get some rough cloth of the +colour, at Jedburgh; and indeed, there is a small monastery about +three miles hence on the road, and it may be that, if Adam +Armstrong will go with us and say wherefore it is wanted, the prior +will let him have one."</p> + +<p>"I will see him at once. No time must be lost. While he is away, +you must shave your head again."</p> + +<p>Roger's face fell.</p> + +<p>"'Tis hard, master, after it has grown so well to match the +rest. Still, for so good a purpose I must even give in."</p> + +<p>On hearing what was wanted, Armstrong mounted and rode off at +once and, while he was away, one of the villagers shaved the top of +Roger's head again. In an hour, Armstrong brought back a monk's +gown.</p> + +<p>"He was loath to let me have it even, for such a purpose, though +I told him that you were once a monk of the order. Finally he said +that his conscience would not allow him to lend it, but that he +would sell it to me for six pennies, which I gladly gave him."</p> + +<p>"It is dark now," Oswald said, "and I know not the road. Can you +give me some man to put me on the way? We will not make straight +for the Bairds', but will strike the road from Glasgow, some ten or +twelve miles north of his place, so that we can come down from that +direction. Then our guide, after taking us on to the road, had best +take charge of the horses and lead them to Parton, there to remain +with them until your messenger, and the one from Yardhope, arrive. +It would be as well to have the horses there, for we cannot know +what need we may have of them."</p> + +<p>"That I will arrange at once, Oswald. Is there aught else?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle, I must leave my armour and clothes here, and borrow +others that will pass as a disguise."</p> + +<p>"How would you go, Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"In truth, it is a difficult matter. That of a minstrel would be +the best passport, but I know nought of harp or other instrument. I +might go as a vendor of philters and charms, a sort of half-witted +chap, whose mother concocted such things."</p> + +<p>"They would never let you into the Bairds' castle, Oswald."</p> + +<p>"Then I must be a rough man-at-arms, one who had been in the +service of the Earl of March; and who, when he turned traitor and +went over to the English, found himself without employment; and +asked nothing better than to enter the service of someone who will +give him bread and meat, in return for any services that he can +render, whether in hunting up any cattle among the hills, or +striking a shrewd blow in the service of his employer, if needs +be."</p> + +<p>"That must do, if we can think of nothing better, Oswald. I will +speedily bring you the things you require, as they will be found in +every house in the village; and some, alas! will be needed no more +by those who wore them."</p> + +<p>"They must be of good size, Uncle."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, lad. There must have been some tall fellows, among +those they slew today."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, Roger and Oswald mounted. His uncle sent two +of his men with them, saying that it would look strange were one +man to come, with two horses, to Parton; but that two, saying that +their masters would follow, would seem a more probable tale.</p> + +<p>"They will, if they can, find some quiet farmhouse a mile out of +the village, and there get lodgings for themselves and beasts. You +can arrange with them to take up their station on the road, so that +you can, if needs be, find them."</p> + +<p>It was with a sigh that Roger flung himself into the saddle. It +was not the horse on which he had ridden there, but a strong, +shaggy pony.</p> + +<p>"He does not look much," one of the men said, "but there is no +better horse, of the sort, in the country. He has both speed and +bottom, and can carry you up or down hill, and is as sure-footed as +a goat."</p> + +<p>Roger had assented to the change, for his own horse was as +unlike one that a monk would have bestrode as could be well +imagined. He had obtained a stout staff, to which the village smith +had added two or three iron rings at each end, rendering it a +formidable weapon, indeed, in such hands.</p> + +<p>"It reminds me of our start for Dunbar, master," he said. "One +might have a worse weapon than this;" and he swung it round his +head, in quarterstaff fashion; "still, I prefer a mace."</p> + +<p>"That staff will do just as well, Roger. A man would need a hard +skull, indeed, to require more than one blow from such a +weapon."</p> + +<p>Now that Adam Armstrong had done all that there was to do, he +went again to the cottage where Allan lay. He had paid several +visits there, in the afternoon; but there was nought for him to do, +and no comfort to be gained from the white face of the insensible +lad. Meg assured him, however, that he was going on as well as +could be expected.</p> + +<p>"He is in a torpor, at present," she said; "and may so lie for +two or three days; but so long as there is no fever he will, I +hope, know you when he opens his eyes. There is nought to do but to +keep wet cloths round his head, and to put on a fresh poultice over +the wound, every hour."</p> + +<a id="PicG" /> +<center> +<img src="images/g.jpg" alt= +"Armstrong took his place by his son's pallet" +/> </center> + +<p>Now Armstrong took his place by his son's pallet. For a time, +the work of making preparations for Oswald's departure, and of +sending off messages to his friends, had prevented his thoughts +from dwelling upon his loss. Throughout the night, the picture of +his home, as he had left it when he rode out that morning; and the +thought that it was now an empty shell, his wife dead, his +daughters carried off, and his son lying between life and death, +came to him with full force, and well nigh broke him down.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the little party were making across the hills, +and before morning they came upon the northern road, fifteen miles +from the Bairds' hold. Here Oswald and Roger dismounted. It was +arranged that the men should return with the horses into the hills, +and should there rest until late in the afternoon, and then mount +and ride for Parton. One or other of them was to come down, at +seven o'clock each evening, to the road half a mile from the +village; and was there to watch till nine. If no one came along, +they were then to return to their lodging.</p> + +<p>"I feel stiff in the legs, master," Roger said; "a fifty-mile +ride, up and down the hills, is no joke after a hard day's +work."</p> + +<p>"They will soon come right again, Roger. I feel stiff, myself, +though pretty well accustomed to horse exercise. However, when we +present ourselves at the hold, dusty and footsore, we shall look +our characters thoroughly."</p> + +<p>Neither were sorry when they arrived at a small village, a +quarter of a mile from the Bairds' hold. They went in together to +the little ale house, and vigorously attacked the rough fare set +before them.</p> + +<p>"Hast thou travelled far?" their host asked, as he watched them +eating.</p> + +<p>"Indifferently far," the monk said: "'tis five-and-twenty miles +hence to Moffat, and it would have seemed farther to me, had not +this good fellow overtaken me, and fell in with my pace. He is good +company, though monkish gowns have but little in common with steel +pot and broadsword; but his talk, and his songs, lightened the +way."</p> + +<p>"Whither are you going, father?"</p> + +<p>"I am making my way to Carlisle," he said. "I have a brother who +is prior in a small monastery, there, and it is long since I have +seen him. Who lives at the stronghold I saw on the hills, but a +short distance away?"</p> + +<p>"It is the hold of William Baird, the head of that family; of +whom, doubtless, you may have heard."</p> + +<p>"I have heard his name, as that of a noted raider across the +border," the monk said; "a fierce man, and a bold one. Has he +regard for the church? If so, I would gladly take up my abode +there, for a day or two; for in truth I am wearied out, it being +some years since my feet have carried me so long a journey."</p> + +<p>"As to that, I say nothing," the host said. "It would depend on +his humour whether he took you in, or shut the gates in your face +without ceremony; but methinks, at present, the latter were more +likely than the former; for his hold is full of armed men, and I +should say it were wisest to leave him alone, even if you had but +the bare moor to sleep upon."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, I can but try," the monk said. "He may be in one +of those good tempers you spoke of. And I suppose he has also a +priest, in his fortalice?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, the Bairds are not--but I would rather not talk of them. +They are near neighbours, and among my very best customers."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, four armed men came in at the door.</p> + +<p>"Good day, Wilson! Whom have you here? An ill-assorted couple, +surely. A monk, though a somewhat rough one, and a +man-at-arms."</p> + +<p>"Fellow travellers of a day," Roger said calmly. "We met on the +road, and as I love not solitude, having enough and to spare of it, +I accosted him. He turned out a good companion."</p> + +<p>"You are a man of sinew yourself, monk, and methinks that you +would have made a better soldier than a shaveling."</p> + +<p>"I thought so sometime, myself," the monk said; "but my parents +thought otherwise, and it is too late to take up another vocation, +now."</p> + +<p>"Is that staff yours?" the soldier asked, taking it up, and +handling it.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my son. In these days even a quiet religious man, like +myself, may meet with rough fellows by the way; and while that +staff gives support to my feet, it is an aid to command decent +behaviour from those I fall in with. I have not much to lose, +having with me but sufficient to buy me victuals for my journey to +Carlisle; where, as I have just told our host, I am journeying to +see a brother, who is prior at a convent there."</p> + +<p>"This fellow--where did you fall in with him?"</p> + +<p>"He overtook me some twenty miles north, on the road to +Glasgow."</p> + +<p>"And are you travelling to Carlisle, too?" the man said to +Oswald.</p> + +<p>"Nay," he said, "I purpose not going beyond the border. I have +lost my employment, and have tried, in vain, to find another as +much to my liking. I have come south to seek service, with one who +will welcome a strong arm to wield a sword."</p> + +<p>"Hast tried the Douglas?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said, "the Douglas has men enough of his own, and +methinks I should not care to be mewed up in one of his castles. I +have had enough of that already, seeing that I was a man-at-arms +with George Dunbar, till he turned traitor and went over to the +English."</p> + +<p>"You look a likely fellow; but, you know, we do not pay men, +here, to do our fighting for us. 'Tis all very well for great +nobles, like Dunbar and Douglas, to keep men always in arms, and +ready to ride, at a moment's notice, to carry fire and sword where +they will. War is not our business, save when there is trouble in +the air, or mayhap we run short of cattle or horses, and have to go +and fetch them from across the border. It is true that there are +always a score or two of us up there, for somehow the Bairds have +enemies, but most of the followers of the house live on their +holdings, raise cattle and mountain sheep, grow oats, and live as +best they can."</p> + +<p>"For myself, I would rather live with others," Oswald said. "I +am used to it, and to live in a hut on the moors would in no way be +to my fancy; and if I cannot get a place where I have comrades to +talk to, and crack a joke with, I would rather cross the seas, take +service with an Irish chieftain, or travel to Wales, where I hear +men say there is fighting."</p> + +<p>"You need not go very far, if it is fighting that you want," the +man said. "Those who ride with the Bairds have their share, and +more, of it. If you like to stop here a day or two, I will take an +opportunity to talk to William Baird, or to one of his sons, if I +find a chance; but I cannot take you up there, now. At the best of +times they are not fond of visitors, and would be less so than +usual, now."</p> + +<p>Other armed men had come in, while the conversation was going +on. No further attention was paid to the travellers. The others, +sitting down at a table across the room, talked among +themselves.</p> + +<p>"I care not for the work," one said presently, raising his voice +to a higher pitch than that in which the others had spoken. "Across +the border, I am as ready for work as another; but when it comes to +Scot against Scot, I like it not."</p> + +<p>"Why, man," another said, "what qualms are these? Isn't Scot +always fighting against Scot? Ay, and has been so, as far back as +one has ever heard. It does not take much for a Douglas or a Dunbar +to get to loggerheads; and as to the wild clans of the north, they +are always fighting among themselves."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is all very well," the other said, "and there is no +reason why neighbours should not quarrel, here; but I would rather +that they each summoned their friends, and met in fair fight and +had it out, than that one should pounce upon the other when not +expected, and slay and burn unopposed."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," two or three others of the men agreed. "It were +doubtless better so, when it is Scot against Scot."</p> + +<p>"'Tis border fashion," another put in. "There is no law on the +border, and we fight in our own fashion. Today it is our turn, +tomorrow it may be someone else's. We follow our chiefs, just as +the northern clansmen do; and whether it is a Musgrave or a Baird, +a Fenwick or an Armstrong, he is chief in his own hold, and cares +neither for king nor earl, but fights out his quarrel as it may +please him. I am one of William Baird's men, and his quarrel is +mine; and whether we ride against the King of Scotland or the King +of England, against a Douglas or a Percy, an Armstrong or a +Musgrave, it matters not the value of a stoup of ale."</p> + +<p>"That is so, Nigel, and so say we all. But methinks that one may +have a preference for one sort of fighting over another; and I, +myself, would rather fight a matter out, man against man, than fall +suddenly on a hold, where none are ready to encounter us."</p> + +<p>Roger, during a pause in the conversation at the other table, +got up from his seat and stretched himself.</p> + +<p>"Well, friend," he said to Oswald, "I will go up and see if they +will make me welcome, at the hold. If they do, I may see you no +more. If not, I shall return here to sleep. Therefore I bid you +good day, and hope that you may find such service as will suit you. +Benedicite!"</p> + +<p>And, paying for his refreshment, Roger took his staff from the +corner, and went out.</p> + +<p>"A hearty fellow, and a stalwart one," the man who had spoken to +him said. "I should not care to have a crack over the crown, with +that staff of his. You met him coming down from the north, +comrade?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, some twenty miles away. It was near Moffat that I overtook +him. I would rather drink with him than fight with him. Seldom have +I seen a stronger-looking man."</p> + +<p>"I am of your opinion, comrade; and some of these monks are not +bad fighters, either. There have been bishops who have led the +monks to battle, before now, and they proved themselves stout +men-at-arms."</p> + +<p>After the others had gone out, Oswald strolled through the +village, and then mounted an eminence whence he could take a view +across the valley, and of some of the hilltops to the northeast. On +one of these, two miles away, he could make out a man standing by a +horse. He watched him for some little time, but beyond taking a few +steps backwards and forwards, the man did not move.</p> + +<p>"He is a lookout," he said to himself, "and is no doubt watching +some road from Kelso and Jedburgh. Baird will hardly think that the +Armstrongs can have so soon gathered a force sufficient to attack +him, but he may have thought it as well to place one of his men on +the watch.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how Roger is getting on! I think they must have taken +him in, or he would have been back before this."</p> + +<p>Roger had walked quietly up the hill on which the Bairds' hold +was perched. A man stepped forward from the gate, as he neared +it.</p> + +<p>"None enter here," he said, "without permission from the +master."</p> + +<p>"Will you tell him that a poor monk, of the order of Saint +Benedict, on his way from his convent at Dunbar to one near +Carlisle, of which his brother is prior, prays hospitality for a +day or two, seeing that he is worn out by long travel?"</p> + +<p>The sentry spoke to a man behind him, and the latter took the +message to William Baird. The latter was in a good humour. He +himself had not taken part in the raid on the Armstrongs, which had +been led by Thomas Baird, a cousin; but the fact that the latter +had been entirely successful, and had burned down Armstrong's +house, and brought back his daughters, had given him the greatest +satisfaction. There was a long-standing feud between the two +families, and the fact that the Armstrongs were on good terms with +their English neighbours, and still more that one of them had +married the sister-in-law of a Forster of Yardhope, had greatly +embittered the feeling, on his side. He had long meditated striking +a blow at them, and the present time had been exceptionally +favourable.</p> + +<p>Douglas had his hands full. He was on ill terms with Rothesay, +whose conduct to his daughter had deeply offended him. The +newly-acquired land of the Earl of March gave him much trouble. He +was jealous of the great influence of Albany, at court; and was, +moreover, making preparations for a serious raid into England. It +was not likely, then, that he would pay any attention to the +complaints the Armstrongs might make, of any attack upon them; +especially as their aid was of small use to him, while the Bairds +could, at any moment, join him, in an invasion across the border, +with three hundred good fighting men.</p> + +<p>William Baird had not, as yet, even considered what he should do +with his captives. He might give them in marriage to some of the +younger men of his family, or he might hold them as hostages. As to +injuring them personally, he did not think of it. Slaughter in a +raid was lightly regarded, but to ill-treat female prisoners would +arouse a general feeling of dissatisfaction along the border. +Reprisals might be made by the Armstrongs and their friends, and in +any case, there would be such widespread reprobation excited, as +William Baird, reckless as he was, could hardly afford to +despise.</p> + +<p>Therefore, when Roger's request was brought to him, he said at +once:</p> + +<p>"Take him up to Father Kenelm. Tell him to look after the monk's +comfort. This evening he can bring him down to the hall, and I will +question him as to his journey."</p> + +<p>Roger followed the man through the courtyard. He paid, +apparently, no attention to what was going on there, but a quick +glance enabled him to perceive that the hold was full of men. He +followed his guide up a winding stair, to a turret on the wall, the +lower story of which was inhabited by the priest.</p> + +<p>The soldier knocked at the door, and on its being opened by the +priest, he gave Baird's message to him. He was a tall man, spare +and bony. He himself was a Baird, and report said that, in his +youth, he had ridden on many a foray in England. But fighting men +were common in the family, and it had been thought well that one +should enter the church, as it was always good to have a friend who +could represent them there and, should any complaint be made, +explain matters, and show that the family were in no wise to blame. +And moreover, as it was necessary to have a priest at the chief +fortalice of the family, it was best that it should be one who +would not be too strict in his penances, and could be conveniently +silent as to the doings within its walls.</p> + +<p>The priest had accepted the role not unwillingly. He was an +ambitious man, and saw that, as one of the fighting Bairds, there +was but small opportunity of rising to aught beyond the command of +one of the holds. Douglas regarded them with no friendly eye, for +their breaches of the truces brought upon him constant complaints +from the English wardens, who might, some day or other, lead a +force to punish the family, which had been one of the few exempted +from the general pardon, at the last truce. As a priest he would +have better opportunities, for the Bairds had much influence along +the border; and might, some day or other, exert it in his +favour.</p> + +<p>So far, no such opportunity had occurred. It had been a +disappointment to him that Henry, in his last invasion, had kept +along the eastern coast; and he hoped that the war, which assuredly +would, ere long, break out violently, would give him the chance he +longed for; and he might be sent by his uncle to Douglas, with +offers of service, or might even go north, and have an interview +with Albany.</p> + +<p>Once fairly away from Liddesdale, he was resolved that it would +be a long time, indeed, before he returned. He was now some thirty +years of age, with a hard, keen face.</p> + +<p>"Well, brother," he said, "it is not often that any of your +order sojourn here. I am glad to have one with whom I can converse, +of other matters than arms and armour, forays and wars."</p> + +<p>"These matters are, indeed, too much in men's mouths," Roger +said; "though I own that I, myself, in some degree am interested in +them; for, had I had the choice of a vocation, I would rather have +been a man-at-arms than a monk."</p> + +<p>"I wonder not at that," the other said, "seeing that nature has +been bountiful to you, in the matter of height and strength; and I +doubt not that you could, in case of need, use that staff you carry +with good effect."</p> + +<p>"Methinks that I might do so, but happily none have molested me +on my way, seeing perhaps that my wallet was not likely to be a +full one; and that, mayhap, it was hardly worthwhile to meddle with +me, with so small a prospect of plunder."</p> + +<p>"But come in, and sit down," the priest said. "My uncle has +consigned you to my care. We shall sup in half an hour."</p> + +<p>"I shall not be sorry," Roger replied, "for though I broke my +fast on black bread and small beer, down in the village, 'tis but +poor nourishment for a man who has travelled far, and who has a +large frame to support."</p> + +<p>"But how come you to be here?"</p> + +<p>Roger again repeated his story.</p> + +<p>"It would have been shorter for you to have travelled down +through Berwick, brother."</p> + +<p>"The difference was not great," Roger replied; "and I had to +carry a message to Edinburgh, and from there it was shorter to keep +west of the Pentlands, and come down to Lanark, and thence through +Moffat."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose it is as short. And you had no trouble on your +way?"</p> + +<p>Roger shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No; I generally join some traveller or other, and that makes +the journey pass all the quicker. I came down here today with a +stout young fellow, who overtook me this side of Moffat. He was +somewhat out at elbow, and I looked askance at him at first; but he +turned out a blithe companion, and we got on well together. He +could troll a good song, and my own voice is not wanting in power. +It was curious that he also was from Dunbar, though not +immediately; having, it would seem, wandered for some time, on the +lookout for service."</p> + +<p>"What was he, a cattle drover?"</p> + +<p>"No, he had been a man-at-arms, of George of Dunbar--at least, +so I understood--and when the earl fled, and Douglas took +possession of Dunbar, he lost his living. He told me that he had +made his way down here in hopes of finding employment on the +border, where blows were common, and a good blade was of more use +than it was farther north. I said that he might have found +employment under Albany, or under some other great lord; but he +said that he had seen the Earl of March a fugitive, and that he +cared not to enter the service of another noble, who might, in +turn, be ousted from his place and lose his life; but as for +Albany, he thought, from what he heard, that he would rather serve +him than any other master.</p> + +<p>"I said, 'Why not Rothesay, who would be King of Scotland?'</p> + +<p>"He laughed lightly, and said as Rothesay had managed to get +upon ill friendship, not only with the Earl of March but with +Douglas, and, as he heard, with Albany, he thought that his chances +of becoming King of Scotland were not worth considering."</p> + +<p>"He must be a bold varlet, thus to speak irreverently of great +ones."</p> + +<p>"I think not that he was bold," Roger said, "but only a merry, +thoughtless young fellow, who in such company as mine let his +tongue loose, and said what first came into his head. As to the +matter, methought he spoke not without warrant."</p> + +<p>"And he came from the north, now?"</p> + +<p>"I know not whence he came last, but I think that he was at +Edinburgh, and had taken service there, when the English king sat +down before it; but, as you know, nought came of the siege."</p> + +<p>At this moment a horn blew.</p> + +<p>"There is supper," the priest said. "We will go down."</p> + +<p>The meal was laid in the hall; which, however, was not large +enough to contain more than the ordinary retainers of the hold. +These, and the men who had come in at the summons of Baird, were +provided for in the courtyard, the table being occupied entirely by +members of the Baird family, and others who always acted with them. +These had not yet taken their seats, when the priest entered with +his companion, whom he at once took up to Sir William Baird.</p> + +<p>"By Saint Andrew! Monk, I have seen no finer figure, for many a +day. A pity that a monk's gown should clothe such limbs as +yours."</p> + +<p>"That has always been mine own opinion," Roger said, with a +heartiness that raised a smile on the hard faces of the men +standing round.</p> + +<p>"You look as if you had carried arms."</p> + +<p>"I did so, in my wild youth," Roger said, "and had no thought of +ever donning monk's hood; but I was grievously wounded, in a foray +in Northumberland, and when I reached my home at Lauder, I well +nigh died of the fever of the wound; and I swore that, if my life +was saved, I would become a monk. I got well, and I kept my vow; +but methinks, had I but known how dull the life was, I would rather +have died of the fever."</p> + +<p>As this story was perfectly true, save the name of his +birthplace, Roger spoke so heartily that no one doubted his +story.</p> + +<p>"And your monastery is at Dunbar?</p> + +<p>"You have been at Dunbar, Rotherglen. Ask him where the convent +stood."</p> + +<p>As Roger had stayed there, when with Oswald he was at Dunbar, he +was able to answer this, and other questions, satisfactorily. The +party then took their places at table, the priest and Roger sitting +at the bottom of it. The conversation at the upper end naturally +turned on the foray, and a general disbelief was expressed, as to +the chance of the Armstrongs retaliating.</p> + +<p>"'Tis out of the question," one of the Bairds said, "they could +not raise fifty men. Doubtless they will send a complaint to +Douglas, but he has his hands well full; and is not likely to +quarrel with us about such a trifle, when he may want our aid, at +any moment, either against Albany or against the English."</p> + +<p>"What do you intend to do with the girls?"</p> + +<p>"I have not settled yet," William Baird said, shortly. "At any +rate, for the present I shall hold them as hostages. I don't think +that anything is likely to come of the affair; but if we should +hear of any force approaching, likely to give us trouble, we could +send word to them that, if an arrow is loosened at our walls, we +will hang the girls out as marks for their archers. I fancy that +will send them trooping off again, at once."</p> + +<p>As soon as the meal was over, and the carousal began, the priest +rose and, accompanied by Roger, retired to his chamber.</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch13">Chapter 13</a>: Escape.</h2> + +<p>Oswald, who was thoroughly fatigued with the events of the last +thirty-six hours, slept soundly, on an armful of rushes that his +host threw down in a corner of the room for him. At eight o'clock, +the man who had spoken to him on the previous evening came in.</p> + +<p>"I have spoken to William Baird," he said. "I told him that you +seemed a likely fellow. He called down the monk, and asked him +several questions about you; and he told me, at last, that I could +bring you up to see him. So come along, at once."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, comrade," Oswald said, as he slung his long two-handed +sword from his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"A likely-looking young fellow, indeed," Baird said to +Rotherglen, whom he had sent for to be present; "over six feet and, +I should fancy, has not attained his full width.</p> + +<p>"So you would fain take service with me?" he said.</p> + +<p>"I want a master," Oswald replied, "and from what I hear, I am +more likely to see fighting, under you, than under any other on the +border."</p> + +<p>"And you were with George Dunbar?"</p> + +<p>"I was," Oswald replied. "But indeed, the service was not +altogether to my taste, for we were always pent up in Dunbar; and, +save in a street broil, there was no need to draw a sword. I was +glad enough to leave his service, though in truth, I have fared but +badly, since."</p> + +<p>"Now do you question him, Rotherglen."</p> + +<p>A number of questions were put to Oswald, concerning the names +of the streets, the direction, the name of the principal inns, and +the approaches to the castle. All these were satisfactorily replied +to.</p> + +<p>"He knows Dunbar, there is no question about that.</p> + +<p>"And you can use your arms?"</p> + +<p>"I think so."</p> + +<p>"We will have a trial," Baird said. "A man is no use to me, who +cannot use his weapon. Send Robert here."</p> + +<p>In a minute, one of the young Bairds entered. He was a man of +about twenty-five, tall and sinewy, and was accounted the best +swordsman of his family.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Robert," William Baird said, "this young fellow would +enter our service; but before I take him, I must see that he knows +his business. Do you take a turn with the sword with him.</p> + +<p>"No, no, not a two-handed sword; I don't want him to be slain. +Take a couple of swords from the wall. Give him another steel cap, +and full body armour. That of his own would not keep out a good, +downright stroke."</p> + +<p>By the time that Oswald was armed, a number of the Bairds and +their friends had assembled in the hall, hearing of what was going +to take place.</p> + +<p>"A fine young fellow, truly," Rotherglen said. "In height and +width, he matches Robert well, though of course your cousin must be +the more powerful, seeing that he is some four or five years older +than this young fellow; who, when he reaches his age, bids fair to +be well-nigh as strong a man as that monk."</p> + +<p>Roger had just entered, with the priest.</p> + +<p>"Well, monk," Baird said, "we are going to try the mettle of +your companion of yesterday."</p> + +<p>"I answer not for his mettle," Roger said; "but if he fights as +well as he talks, he will not do discredit to himself."</p> + +<p>As they took their places, facing each other, the lookers on, +men well qualified to judge of strength and sinew, murmured to each +other that it would be difficult to find a better-matched pair. +They were about the same height, both stood lightly on their feet, +and their figures seemed full of life and activity. Both were +smiling, Robert Baird with a smile of confidence, and of assurance +in his skill; while Oswald's face expressed only good temper and, +as the others took it, a belief that he would, at any rate, be able +to make such a defence as would assure his being taken into the +Bairds' service.</p> + +<p>The first rally, indeed, proved more than this. Robert Baird had +at once taken the offensive, and showered his blows heavily down, +while springing backwards and forwards with wonderful quickness and +activity; but Oswald's blade ever met his, and he did not give way +an inch, even when Baird most fiercely attacked him. Then suddenly +he adopted the same tactics as his opponent, and pressed him so +hotly that he was, several times, obliged to give ground. Oswald +could twice have got in a heavy blow, but he abstained from doing +so. He could see that his antagonist was a favourite among his +kinsmen, and felt that, were he to discomfit him, he would excite a +feeling of hostility against himself. Both, panting from their +exertions, drew a step backwards and lowered their swords.</p> + +<p>"Enough!" William Baird said, "The matter need be pushed no +further. 'Tis long since I have seen so good a bout of swordplay. +This young fellow has learned his business, and if, in other +respects, he does as well, he will make a good recruit, indeed.</p> + +<p>"What say you, lad? Will you join us for a month, till you see +whether you like our service, and we can judge how your service +will suit us? For that time you will have your living here, and +drink money. After that, if we agree, you can either be a retainer +here, or we will give you a holding on the moor, build you a +shelter, give you a horse, and, after our next foray, a clump of +cattle."</p> + +<p>"That will suit me well," Oswald said; "and I like well the +month of trial you propose."</p> + +<p>"I will take him, if you will let me, Uncle, as my own man," +Robert Baird said. "If, at the end of the month, he chooses service +with us, and likes better to follow a master, with half a dozen +men, than to live alone on the moors. Methinks he would make a +cheery companion, and one I could take to, heartily; and indeed, +during the long winters, 'tis no slight thing to have one merry +fellow, who can keep one alive, and of whose mettle and skill you +are well assured."</p> + +<p>"So let it be, then, Robert. You have tried him, and yours +should be the advantage. But for the month he shall remain here, +under Malcolm's eye."</p> + +<p>Oswald went down with the man, who was Baird's right hand in the +hold.</p> + +<p>"What will be my duties?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"To keep your arms and armour ready for service."</p> + +<p>"That will be an easy task, methinks; for I see that instead of +being polished and bright, as were ours at Dunbar, the others keep +their steel caps and back pieces painted a sombre colour."</p> + +<p>The other nodded.</p> + +<p>"Yes, our arms are for use and not for show; and when we ride by +moonlight, we care not to have our presence shown, miles away, by +the glint of the moon on our armour.</p> + +<p>"You will do your turn of keeping watch and ward. Just at +present there will be a good deal of that, for we have been +stirring up a wasps' nest, and mayhap they may come and try to +sting. When you are off duty, you will be your own master, save +that you had best be within sound of the warder's horn.</p> + +<p>"I will hand over a horse to you. For the present, it is at that +croft on the opposite hill. Each of the tenants keeps two or three +at our service. We have only the Bairds' own horses kept in the +hold. It would be too much trouble to gather forage for those of +the twenty men who always live here, and indeed, we have no room +for such number.</p> + +<p>"Mind that you drink not too much, over in the village there; +for though the Bairds care not, on feast days, if the whole +garrison gets drunk, so that there are enough sober to keep watch +and ward, they set their faces against it at other times, seeing +that it leads to broils and quarrels."</p> + +<p>"I will take care. I like my cup, occasionally; and can drink +with others, without my head getting addled, but as a rule I care +not overmuch for it."</p> + +<p>After being roughly introduced to several of the retainers as a +new comrade, Oswald was left to follow his own devices. Presently, +Roger came out into the courtyard.</p> + +<p>"So you have got service, comrade," he said, in a voice that +could be heard by any of those standing near. "You had better +fortune than I had expected."</p> + +<p>"That have I," he replied. "Still, I thought that it would be +hard, if one who could use his sword indifferently well, and puts +no great value on his life, could not find service on the border. +How long do you stay here?"</p> + +<p>This was a question that had been arranged, for had they been +seen speaking privately together, it might have aroused +suspicion.</p> + +<p>"Methinks I shall stay here two days, to get rid of my leg +weariness. I am not so accustomed to long marching as you are."</p> + +<p>The real meaning of the question, as arranged, was, "Have you +found out where the prisoners are kept?"</p> + +<p>The answer meant "Yes, and it will not be difficult to get at +them."</p> + +<p>The evening before, indeed, when he returned with the priest to +his chamber, they had broached a bottle together. The priest, on +his part, had asked many questions as to the state of things in +Edinburgh, and Dunbar; what were the opinions of people with regard +to the Duke of Albany, and the Prince; and what would probably come +of the coldness that was said to exist between them.</p> + +<p>Roger was able to conceal his ignorance of these matters by +saying that he knew little of what was passing, for that he had +been the cellarer in the convent, and went out but little. +Nevertheless, he had kept his ears open; as they rode north to +Jedburgh, he had heard a good deal of talk and speculation, and was +able to give various pieces of news that had not before reached the +ears of the priest. He was not long in discovering that the latter +was ill satisfied with his present position, and was ambitious to +take part in more important affairs, and he presently said:</p> + +<p>"I wonder, father, that a man of your ability should be content +to remain as chaplain in a border hold, when there are so many +opportunities beyond, for one like you, to make his way in the +church."</p> + +<p>"In truth," the priest said, "I have had such thoughts myself; +and hope, some day, to see a little more of the world.</p> + +<p>"By the way, can you read and write, brother?" he asked +suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly," Roger replied.</p> + +<p>He guessed, at once, that the question had been put at the +instigation of William Baird; who perhaps still had some doubts +whether he was really a monk, and an affirmative answer would be an +almost conclusive proof that he was so, for very few outside the +walls of the convents, even among the nobles and knights, possessed +any knowledge of letters.</p> + +<p>"I have a missal here," the priest said carelessly, "that has +somewhat troubled me, being written in a cramped hand. Perhaps you +could read it for me," and, getting up, he took a roll from a +closet.</p> + +<p>Roger smiled quietly, as he turned it over. By a private mark +upon it, he knew that it had been written at Alnwick, and was +doubtless the proceed of some foray upon a monastery across the +border. He ran his eye over it; and then, in a sonorous voice, +proceeded to read it aloud.</p> + +<p>"I thank you," the priest said, when he had finished. "Truly you +are an admirable reader, and well skilled in deciphering. I wonder +that you held not some more important post than that of +cellarer."</p> + +<p>Roger laughed.</p> + +<p>"I might have done so," he said, "but in truth, I am not strict +enough in matters of discipline to suit our prior, and am somewhat +over fond of the wine cup. More than once, when it seemed that I +might have been chosen as reader to the monastery, I fell into +disgrace, and lost my chance; and indeed, I was far better pleased +with my post, there, than if they had appointed me sub-prior."</p> + +<p>Any vestige of doubt there might have been in the priest's mind +had vanished, as Roger read; for he was conscious that he, himself, +could not have picked up a manuscript and have deciphered it so +easily and fluently.</p> + +<p>"It must be trying to you, good father," Roger went on, "to be +among men who, if reports speak truly, are somewhat lawless, and +hold even the church in but slight respect. Surely, among them +there can be but little scope for your abilities?"</p> + +<p>"'Tis true, brother; but they are, you know, kinsmen of mine. +They have many foes across the border, and some on this side, and +are forced to hold their own as they may. It was but two days ago +that they were obliged to punish a family that have long been at +feud with them, and who might well have fallen upon their holds, if +they marched into England with Douglas. However, they have brought +off two hostages for the good behaviour of these people."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I heard a chance word, in the village, that a party had +just returned from a foray, and had brought back a number of +prisoners."</p> + +<p>"Not a number, brother, but two girls."</p> + +<p>"I have seen no women in the castle," Roger said.</p> + +<p>"No. William Baird lost his wife years ago, and cares not to +have women in the hold. There is not a married man among the +garrison. If a man takes him a wife, he must go and settle on the +lands.</p> + +<p>"The women are in a safe place of keeping. They are overhead. +There are wild young fellows among the Bairds, and the girls are +good looking; therefore he thought it best to place them in my +charge, and that is why you see two sentries marching on the +battlements, one on each side of this turret. He himself keeps the +key of their chamber, handing it over to me every morning, and +receiving it again at night--a precaution wholly unnecessary, +methinks."</p> + +<p>"Surely, surely," Roger said. "I wonder that you are not +offended."</p> + +<p>"I told him that it was strange he could not trust me, a priest, +with the charge of them; but he laughed and said, 'As a priest you +are well enough, Father Kenelm, but remember also that you are a +Baird. Though a priest, I would trust you to ride with me on a +foray across the border; but as a Baird, I would not entrust you +with the custody of women. You may take it as a compliment that I +have trusted you as far as I do.'"</p> + +<p>Roger's answer to Oswald had been eminently satisfactory to the +latter. Still more pleased was he when, later on in the day, Roger +repeated, as he passed him, "They are lodged in the turret, over my +chamber."</p> + +<p>Oswald was scarcely surprised, for he had noticed that two +sentries were on the wall on that side, although it was the one +farthest removed from the direction in which any foes were likely +to appear. He had, moreover, just before dinner, observed one of +the kitchen men go up, with two dishes in his hand, by the steps +leading to the top of the wall, on that side. There was no +hindrance to the men going freely in and out of the hold, and as no +duty had been assigned to him that evening, he strolled out of the +gate when it became dusk, soon after six o'clock, for it was now +the beginning of April, 1401, and walked down through the village; +and then, taking off his armour and steel cap, and laying them down +under a bush by the roadside, set off at the top of his speed in +the direction of Parton. He did the ten miles in under an hour, and +nearly ran against a man who was standing in the middle of the +road, a short distance from the little town.</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Fergus?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am John, master. Fergus will take the watch tomorrow +evening."</p> + +<p>"Good. Keep the horses saddled at this time, every evening; and +hold them in readiness all night. Things are going on well, and I +may be here any night. Which is the house?"</p> + +<p>"That is it, master, where you see the light, a quarter of a +mile farther up the hill."</p> + +<p>"Where are you sleeping?"</p> + +<p>"In the stables, with the horses. It is some ten yards off the +right of the house."</p> + +<p>"Then you must keep watch through the night, by turns, and get +your sleep in the daytime. I hope we shall get them away without +waiting for a force to come. The hold is a very strong one, and a +strict watch is kept at night; and, before we could carry it, we +should have all the Bairds on the countryside down upon us.</p> + +<p>"Can you get me a rope? I want a long and a strong one."</p> + +<p>"There are some ropes in the stable, master, but they are in +use, and would be missed."</p> + +<p>"Then run, at the top of your speed, down to the town; and buy a +rope strong enough to hold the weight of half a dozen men. I shall +want a hundred feet of it. Here is money."</p> + +<p>The man shot away into the darkness and, in a little over a +quarter of an hour, was back again with the rope. Oswald took off +his doublet.</p> + +<p>"Wind it round and round me," he said. "Begin under the arms. +Wind it neatly, and closely, so that it will make no more show than +necessary."</p> + +<p>This was soon done, and then Oswald started on his way; and an +hour later entered the tavern, and took his seat with three or four +of the men from the hold, and called for wine for the party. He sat +there for some time, and then one said:</p> + +<p>"It is half-past eight; we had best be going. At seven o'clock +the gates are shut; but they are opened, for those who belong to +the hold, till nine, after which none are admitted till morning, +and any who come in then are reported to Baird, and they are lucky +if they get off with half a dozen extra goes of sentry duty. Baird +is a good master in many things, but he is a bad man to deal with, +when he is angry; and if anyone was to be out a second time, and he +did it too soon after the first offence, he would have his skin +nearly flayed off his back, with a stirrup leather. There is no +fooling with the Bairds."</p> + +<p>Oswald arranged with Roger that, if the latter remained in the +castle, he should always come down half an hour before the garrison +were moving, as they might then exchange a word or two unseen; and +accordingly, he took his place at an angle of a building, where he +could keep his eye on the steps leading up to the battlements, on +the north side.</p> + +<p>Presently he saw Roger descending. He waved his hand, and caught +his follower's eye; and the latter, on reaching the courtyard, at +once joined him.</p> + +<p>"I have a rope, Roger," Oswald began, "that will reach from the +turret to the foot of the craig. I took it off during the night, +and have just hidden it away behind a pile of rubbish, in the +stable. Are the girls locked up?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Is there any getting the key?"</p> + +<p>"No, William Baird himself keeps it."</p> + +<p>"Then we must have something to force the door open, or to saw +round the lock."</p> + +<p>"The door is studded with iron."</p> + +<p>"Are the windows barred?"</p> + +<p>"No; but they are mere loopholes, and there is no getting +through them."</p> + +<p>"I suppose there are steps from their room on to the platform +above?"</p> + +<p>"No doubt. In fact, there are sure to be."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that you will have no difficulty in silencing the +priest?"</p> + +<p>Roger smiled.</p> + +<p>"No; I think I can answer for him."</p> + +<p>"Could you speak to the girls through the keyhole, Roger?"</p> + +<p>"There would be no difficulty about that, master. I have but to +choose a time when the priest is out."</p> + +<p>"Then tell them that we are here, Roger, and they are to be +ready to escape, whenever we give the signal. Ask them if the +trapdoor leading on to the platform is fastened, and whether they +can unfasten it. If not, we must break it in, from above. We can +get on to the top of the turret, easily enough, by throwing the +rope up with a hook attached.</p> + +<p>"Of course, the two sentries must be first silenced. I would +wait till I, myself, should be on sentry there; but that might not +occur for a week, and you cannot prolong your stay here more than +another day; therefore, we will try it tonight. I have given the +men with the horses notice.</p> + +<p>"Do you get the priest bound and gagged, by ten o'clock; +everything will be quiet by that time. I will come noiselessly up +the steps. At that hour, do you be at the door, and on the lookout +for me. The sentries will have to be silenced--that is the most +difficult part of the business."</p> + +<p>"We can manage that," Roger said, confidently. "One blow with my +quarterstaff, on the back of the head under the steel cap, will do +that noiselessly enough."</p> + +<p>"That would not do, Roger. The man would go down with such a +crash, that the fall of his armour on the flags would be heard all +over the castle. He must be gripped by the throat, so that he +cannot holloa; and then bound tightly, and gagged before he has +time to get breath."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that would be the best way," Roger said regretfully; +"but I should like to have struck two good blows; one for the sake +of Dame Armstrong, and one for Allan. However, your plan is the +best. The only difficulty will be the trapdoor."</p> + +<p>"Well, we must look about today, and get a couple of bits of +iron that we can use as a prise. Still, I hope that it will not be +needed. I saw a bit of iron, in the stables, that I think I can +bend into a hook for the rope; and if I can't, I have no doubt that +you can.</p> + +<p>"That is all. You had better move away now. People will be +stirring, directly."</p> + +<p>That night, at ten o'clock, when all in the hold had been asleep +half an hour, Oswald rose quietly from the rushes, on which he and +a dozen of his comrades were sleeping, and made his way noiselessly +out of the room; went into the stables and fetched the piece of +iron, which he had, during the day, placed so that he could feel it +in the dark; took the coil of rope in his hands, and ascended the +steps. The top was but some ten feet from the turret. He stood +quiet, until he heard the sentry moving away from him, then he +mounted the last steps, and in a moment reached the foot of the +turret stairs. Roger was standing there.</p> + +<p>"All right, master!" he whispered. "I took the priest by +surprise, and he was gagged before he knew what was happening. I +tore the blanket up into strips, and tied him down onto his pallet +with them. He is safe enough.</p> + +<p>"Now for the sentries. I will take the one to the right, first. +I will go out and stand in the angle. It is a dark night, and there +is no chance of his seeing me. When you hear his walk cease, you +will know that I have got him. I have managed to bring up a rope, +that I have cut into handy lengths. Here are two of them.</p> + +<p>"There, he has just turned, so I will go at once."</p> + +<p>"How about the trapdoor?"</p> + +<p>"It is all right, master. It is bolted on the inside. They have +tried the bolts, and find they can move them;" and with these +words, he at once stepped noiselessly out.</p> + +<p>Oswald stood listening. Presently he heard the returning steps +of the sentry. They came close up to the turret, and then suddenly +ceased.</p> + +<p>He at once hurried round. The sentry hung limp in Roger's grasp. +Oswald bound his hands tightly, and twisted the rope three or four +times round his body, and securely knotted it. Then he tied the +ankles tightly together.</p> + +<p>"I will lay him down," Roger whispered, when he had done so.</p> + +<p>Oswald bent the man's legs and, trussing him up, fastened the +rope from the ankles to that which bound the wrists. Roger now +relaxed his grip of the man's throat, thrust a piece of wood +between his teeth, and fastened it, by a string going round the +back of the head. He then took off his steel cap, and laid it some +distance away.</p> + +<p>"That will do for him, master. I reckon that he will be an hour +or two, before he will get breath enough to holloa, even without +that gag."</p> + +<p>The other man was captured as silently as the former had been. +When he was bound, Roger said:</p> + +<p>"Now for the hook, master."</p> + +<p>"Here is the iron. It was too strong for me to bend."</p> + +<p>Roger took it and, exerting his great strength, bent it across +his knee. Then he took the coil of rope, and tied a knot at the +end, and with some smaller cord lashed it securely along the whole +length of the hook.</p> + +<p>"Now, Master, do you get on to my shoulders, and I think you +will be able to hook it to the battlements. It is not above twelve +feet. If you find that you cannot, step on my head."</p> + +<p>"I am sure I can reach it without that, Roger."</p> + +<p>And indeed, he found that he could do so easily; and having +fixed it firmly, he got hold of the rope, and hoisted himself to +the top of the turret. In a minute, Roger was beside him.</p> + +<p>Feeling about, they soon discovered the trapdoor, on which Roger +knocked three times. Then they heard a grating sound below and, +shortly, one end of the heavy trapdoor was slightly raised. The two +men got their fingers under it, and pulled it up, and Janet and +Jessie ran out, both crying with joy and excitement.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" Oswald whispered. "Do not utter a sound. There are +sentries on other parts of the walls, and the slightest noise might +be heard.</p> + +<p>"Now, we will knot this rope."</p> + +<p>He and Roger set to work, and before long knots were tied, a +foot apart, along the whole length of the rope.</p> + +<p>"I will take you down first, Jessie, for you are the lightest," +Oswald said.</p> + +<p>"Now, Roger, tie us together."</p> + +<p>One of the pieces of rope Roger had brought was passed round and +round them, tying them firmly, face to face.</p> + +<p>"Now, Jessie, you had best take hold of the rope, too, and take +as much of your weight off me as you can. It is a long way down; +and, though I think that I could carry your weight that distance, +it is best that you should help me as much as you are able."</p> + +<p>The rope was shifted to the outside of the turret. Roger, after +fixing it firmly, helped them over the battlements, holding Oswald +by the collar, until he had a firm grasp of the rope in his hands, +and obtained a hold with his feet.</p> + +<a id="PicH" /> +<center> +<img src="images/h.jpg" alt= +"Let the rope pass gradually through your hands" +/> </center> + +<p>"That is right, Jessie," he whispered, as the girl also took a +firm hold of the rope. "You are no weight, like that. Now, let the +rope pass gradually through your hands and, when I tell you, hold +tight by one of the knots."</p> + +<p>After lowering himself forty feet, Oswald found that he was +standing on a ledge of rock, three inches wide, at the foot of the +wall.</p> + +<p>"Now, dear, it will be more difficult," he said. "You must use +one of your hands, to push yourself off from any rugged points. +There are not many of them. I had a look at the rock today, and its +face is almost smooth. I will do the best I can to keep you from +it."</p> + +<p>In another three minutes, they stood at the foot of the craig. +Oswald shook the rope violently, to let those above know that they +were down. Then he untied the cord that bound him to his cousin, +who at once sat down, sobbing hysterically. Oswald put his hand +upon her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Steady, Jessie, steady. You have been brave and quiet, coming +down. The danger is over now, but we have a long walk and a longer +ride before us, and you will need all your strength."</p> + +<p>In a very short time, Roger and Janet joined them. As soon as +she was untied, Janet threw her arms round Oswald's neck, and spoke +for the first time.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Oswald, from what have you saved us! How brave and good of +you to risk so much!"</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut, Janet, as if we should leave you here, in the hands +of the Bairds, without making an effort to free you! Now, come +along, dear. Be very careful how you walk, till we get down to the +bottom. It is pretty steep and, if you were to set a stone rolling, +we might have them after us, in no time. As it is, we shall only +have an hour and a half start, for the sentries will be relieved at +midnight. However, by that time we shall be on horseback, and of +course they won't know which road we have taken."</p> + +<p>As soon as they came to level ground, they set off at a run. +They were but a mile from the village when they heard, on the still +night air, distant shouts, followed half a minute later by the +winding of a horn; then, almost immediately, a glimmering light +appeared on the highest turret of the hold, and this rapidly +broadened out into a sheet of flame.</p> + +<p>"They have discovered our escape, by some misfortune or other," +Oswald exclaimed, "and they will be after us, before many minutes +have passed. You must run in earnest now, girls."</p> + +<p>"Do you run on, Oswald," Janet said, "you and Roger. We will +turn and walk back. They will do us no harm."</p> + +<p>Oswald thought of the murder of the girls' mother, and knew +that, in their fury at having been tricked, the Bairds were capable +of anything.</p> + +<p>"It is not to be thought of," he said. "Such a watch would +henceforth be kept that there would be no possibility, whatever, of +effecting your rescue. We must take our chance together.</p> + +<p>"What think you had best be done, Roger?"</p> + +<p>"In sooth, I know not. I am ready to do whatever you think +best."</p> + +<p>"We cannot hope to reach Parton, before they overtake us," +Oswald said. "Besides, the Bairds are sure to have many friends +there, and the lighted beacon will warn all the countryside that +something unusual has happened. No, we cannot think of going +there."</p> + +<p>"But you said that there were horses," Janet said.</p> + +<p>"They are but a short distance on this side of the town. We +could not hope to get there before the Bairds; and, even if we did, +it would be a quarter of an hour before we could mount and be +off."</p> + +<p>"Could we not hide and get the horses after they have passed, +master?" Roger suggested.</p> + +<p>"It would be useless, Roger. The road leads up and down this +valley, and there would be no possibility of riding the horses +across the hills, at night; so that we should have either to ride +down through Parton, or up past the Bairds' hold. No, the horses +must be given up, for the present. The only thing that I can see is +to cross the Esk, and to take refuge in the hills. I know not if +there are any fords, or where they are; but, were we to turn to the +right, we should be getting farther and farther away. The Esk is no +great width, and we can carry them across it, easily enough."</p> + +<p>"The water will be dreadfully cold," Jessie said, with a shiver, +for it was now the beginning of April.</p> + +<p>"Hush, Jessie!" her sister said. "What matters a little cold, +when our lives are at stake?"</p> + +<p>"No, that is our only hope," Oswald said. "Quick, girls, there +is no time to lose."</p> + +<p>The river was but some fifty yards from the road, and they ran +down to it.</p> + +<p>"Now, girls," Oswald said when they reached it, "you must take +off your cloaks, and all upper garments. Were you to get these wet +you would, before morning, die of cold. Don't lose a moment. +Undress under the shelter of these bushes.</p> + +<p>"Now, Roger, let us move a few yards away, and then take off our +doublets and shirts, and swim across, holding them above the water. +By the time that we are back, the girls will be ready."</p> + +<p>"I will carry them across, master. It is of no use two of us +going, with so light a burden. I shall make nothing of it."</p> + +<p>Oswald made no opposition and, a minute later, the shirts and +doublets were made into a bundle, and bound on Roger's head. He +waded into the water until it reached his chin, and then swam out. +The distance to be traversed was but some fifteen yards, and a few +strokes of his brawny arms brought him to the opposite bank. Having +laid down his bundle there, he swam quickly back again.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready, girls?" Oswald asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Janet replied, and two white figures came out from the +bushes, each carrying a bundle.</p> + +<p>"Do you go into the bushes again, for a minute. We cannot take +you and the bundles over together; and it is better that you should +stand here, in dry things, than wait in wet ones, over there."</p> + +<p>A minute sufficed to tie the bundles on the heads of the two +men. They soon swam across to the other side, left them there, and +returned.</p> + +<p>"The water is bitterly cold for the girls," Oswald said, as they +swam across together.</p> + +<p>"It is, master, but they will only be in it for a minute, and +they will soon be warm again."</p> + +<p>"Now, girls."</p> + +<p>"We have just heard the sound of horses in the distance, +Oswald," Janet said.</p> + +<p>He listened.</p> + +<p>"Sound travels far, this still night," he said; "they can only +just have started. We shall be across long before they come +along.</p> + +<p>"Now, Jessie, we will take you first. The stream runs strongly, +and it were best that you went over separately. All you have to do +is to put a hand on a shoulder of each of us. Come along."</p> + +<p>"I will carry her till we get into deep water," Roger said, +catching the girl up in his arms, and running into the stream.</p> + +<p>Jessie gasped, as the water reached her.</p> + +<p>"It will be over in a minute," Oswald said encouragingly. "Now, +we are going to swim. Put your hands upon our shoulders. That is +right."</p> + +<p>Striking out strongly, they easily carried her until she was in +her depth.</p> + +<p>"Now, dear, get ashore, and stand behind those bushes, and take +off your wet things and put on your dry ones. We will have Janet +across, in no time."</p> + +<p>The girl was carried across as easily as her sister had +been.</p> + +<p>"Here is your bundle, dear. Jessie has taken hers. Dress as +quickly as you can. Stoop down, as soon as you reach the bushes. +They will be here, directly."</p> + +<p>Janet ran to the thicket, and Oswald and Roger threw themselves +down behind a great stone. Two minutes later, they could hear the +thunder of hoofs go along the road opposite, but could not make out +the figures.</p> + +<p>"How many are there of them, do you think, Roger?"</p> + +<p>"A dozen or so, master."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I should think you are right. However, it makes no +difference; were there ten times as many, they would not catch us, +tonight."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch14">Chapter 14</a>: In Hiding.</h2> + +<p>The moment the horsemen had gone by, Oswald and Roger hastily +dressed again. It was three or four minutes before the girls joined +them.</p> + +<p>"We have been a long time, Oswald, but our fingers are so cold +that we could not tie the strings."</p> + +<p>"You will soon be warm. Climbing the hill will set your blood in +motion."</p> + +<p>There was no hurry now. They were safe until the morning.</p> + +<p>"We will make up the hill until you are thoroughly warm, and +then we will discuss matters."</p> + +<p>Before they were very far up the ascent, both girls declared +that they were comfortably warm again.</p> + +<p>"Well, Roger, what do you think our best course will be? The +Bairds have, of course, sent horsemen along the other road. They +will have heard, from the priest, that we have but a few minutes' +start; and will know that we cannot have gone far. The party who +passed us will doubtless stop at Parton, the other at the next +village higher up; and they will be sure that either we concealed +ourselves as they passed, or have taken to the hills on one side or +other of the valley. They will naturally suppose that it is this +side, as it would be madness for us to plunge farther into the +country to the west; and you may be sure there will be scores of +men out on these hills, tomorrow, searching for us; and some of +them may ride nearly to Hiniltie, to cut us off there in case we +escape the searchers on the hills.</p> + +<p>"I think that the only plan will be to hide up for a couple of +days, or so; then to make our way down again to where the horses +are, and then make a dash through Parton."</p> + +<p>"That would certainly be far the best way," Roger said; "but how +are we to manage for food for the ladies?"</p> + +<p>"We will go on until we get to the top of the hill, Roger, and +then find a sheltered spot, where they can stop. It is of no use +trying to go on much farther, for the night is cloudy, and there +are no stars to be seen, and we should lose our way directly, for +there is no wind that would serve as a guide as to which way we +were travelling. When we find a good shelter, we must stop with +them; and I will make my way down to the place where the horses +are, and warn the men as to what has happened, and tell them to lie +quiet till I come again. I will bring back whatever food they may +have with them, a big jug of water, and the four horse cloths."</p> + +<p>"I will go, master."</p> + +<p>"I would rather go myself, Roger. I am accustomed to traverse +the moors at night, and am sure that I can find this place again, +without difficulty."</p> + +<p>On nearing the top of the hill, they came upon a number of rough +stones.</p> + +<p>"We cannot do better than stop here," Oswald said. "It will be +bare on the top of the hill. Now, Roger, help me to pile a few of +these stones together, so as to make a sort of shelter."</p> + +<p>They set to work at once, Roger's strength enabling him to lift +stones that ordinary men could scarcely have moved. In a quarter of +an hour a little inclosure, six feet long by four wide and three +high, had been constructed. An armful of dry heather was then +pulled up, and laid on the ground.</p> + +<p>"There, girls, I think you will be able to manage to keep +yourselves warm, by lying close together."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"We shall be all right; and we can, if we like, make another +shelter; and, if we feel cold, can walk about to warm ourselves. +Now, Roger, get half a dozen sticks and lay across the top."</p> + +<p>While Roger was away getting the sticks, Oswald helped the girls +over the wall, for no entrance had been left.</p> + +<p>"Now, Janet, give me those two wet smocks; I see that you have +brought them with you."</p> + +<p>"What do you want them for, Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"I want them for the roof, Janet. It is beginning to freeze +hard, and it is of no use having walls, if you have not a +roof."</p> + +<p>"Won't you take my cloak, instead?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, Janet, you will want your cloak for a covering. +Don't be silly, but hand them over."</p> + +<p>By this time, Roger had returned with the sticks. They were laid +across the top, and the girls' smocks spread over them.</p> + +<p>"Now, go to sleep," Oswald said; "we must be on foot, an hour +before dawn."</p> + +<p>Oswald then started down the hill for Parton. When he got within +a mile of the town, he could see lights moving about on the road; +and guessed that the Bairds had got torches, and were making sure +that the fugitives had not hidden themselves anywhere close to the +road; for they must have felt certain that they could not have +reached the town, before being overtaken. When the lights had gone +along the road, he descended to the river, took off his doublet and +shirt, as before, and swam over; crossed the road, and was not long +in finding the trees that marked the spot where he was to turn off +to the farmhouse.</p> + +<p>He made his way to the stable, raised the latch, and entered. A +lamp was burning, and the two men sitting and talking together. +They leapt up, with an exclamation of pleasure, as Oswald +entered.</p> + +<p>"We were afraid that something might have gone wrong; for, as I +was waiting for you in the road, I heard a body of horsemen coming +along, and hid behind the trees. As they went by, one of them said, +'We must have passed them long ago, if they came by this road. They +had not more than a quarter of an hour's start.'</p> + +<p>"I heard no more, but it suggested that, maybe, you had managed +to escape with the ladies, and that the Bairds were in pursuit of +you."</p> + +<p>"That was exactly the case. We have got them out of the hold, +and methought that we should have got two hours' start, at least, +in which case they would not have overtaken us before we had +crossed the Liddel, at the ford, six miles above the junction of +the Esk with it, and were well on our road towards Longtown; but by +some accident, I know not what, the matter was discovered before we +have been gone ten minutes. As it was certain that they would +overtake us, long before we got to Parton, we swam the Esk, and I +have left the ladies on the hill over there, in charge of Roger, +while I came here. We know that, by morning, the countryside will +be up and searching the hills; and that, with the two lasses, it +would be hopeless for us to try and make our way on to +Hiniltie.</p> + +<p>"Therefore, we decided to hide up for two or three days, then to +make our way down here at night, mount, and ride through. By that +time the search down in the valley here will have slackened, and we +shall get through Parton all right, and our only danger will be at +the ford across the Liddel; where, possibly, the Bairds may set a +guard, lest we find our way down there. I had intended that we +should take the four horses, and that you should make your way to +Hiniltie across the hills; but as there will now be no great +occasion for speed, one of you had best ride with us, while the +other bears the news to Hiniltie that we have carried off the +girls.</p> + +<p>"You had better settle between yourselves which shall go with +us. You may take it that there is about equal danger, both ways, +for the one that goes to Hiniltie must travel cautiously, as it +will be a week before the Bairds give up the search among the +hills."</p> + +<p>"We had best decide by lot."</p> + +<p>Oswald picked up a piece of straw, and broke off two fragments, +one an inch longer than the other; and, closing his hand on them, +he held the two ends out.</p> + +<p>"Do you draw," he said, holding it out to Fergus. "The longest +straw goes to Hiniltie, and shortest with us."</p> + +<p>The man drew.</p> + +<p>"I have the longest," he said, "and perhaps it were best that it +should be so, for I know the way thoroughly, having often been over +the hills in search of missing cattle."</p> + +<p>"You will both remain here, till we come. Now, what food have +you?"</p> + +<p>"We bought a supply in Parton, yesterday evening, and have +enough for a week; for we thought that some might be needed by the +whole party, on our way; and moreover, we care not to go down often +to the town, as we might attract attention."</p> + +<p>"That is good. Keep enough for tomorrow, for yourselves; I will +take the rest."</p> + +<p>"There is no need for that. We can get what we want from the +house and, tomorrow evening, one of us will go down into Parton +again."</p> + +<p>"Or better still," Oswald said, "give the money to the hind +here. I suppose there is one."</p> + +<p>"Yes; he sleeps in the house."</p> + +<p>"Give him money, then, and a present for himself, and get him to +fetch it for you. Some of the Bairds may remain there, and you may +be sure that every stranger will be strictly questioned. I want +also the four horse cloths, which please make into a bundle. Is +your water skin full?"</p> + +<p>"We filled it this afternoon, thinking it possible that we might +make a hasty start tonight."</p> + +<p>"How much does it hold?"</p> + +<p>"About two gallons."</p> + +<p>"It would have been better had it been four. However, we must +manage with it. Now, do you know of any ford across the river? for +I certainly could not swim across, with this load."</p> + +<p>"There is one half a mile farther up. We were asking the hind +about it, the other day, thinking that it might be useful should we +have to fly suddenly. I will go down with you; and indeed, I shall +be glad to go the whole way with you, for the provisions and those +blankets and the skin will be no light weight; and, as I am going +to Hiniltie, it will cheer Armstrong if I could tell him that I saw +his daughters."</p> + +<p>"It would be a good plan, Fergus, though in truth the weight +would be no great burden; but certainly, Armstrong would be pleased +to know that you had seen his daughters."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later they set out, forded the river breast high, +carrying the loads on their heads; and then, climbing the hill, +made their way to the shelter, whose exact position Oswald had +marked, on starting, by a huge boulder that stood on the crest of +the hill, some fifty feet above it.</p> + +<p>Roger was on the lookout. Seeing two figures approaching, when +he expected but one, he grasped his staff firmly.</p> + +<p>"Who comes there?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It is I, Roger. I have brought one of the men with me, to help +carry the things. He is going to Hiniltie, and thought that +Armstrong would be pleased to know he had seen his daughters. I +have got plenty of food, and a skin of water."</p> + +<p>"That is capital," Roger said cheerfully. "I was fearing that, +having so many things to think of, you might forget water."</p> + +<p>Oswald went to the shelter.</p> + +<p>"Are you awake, Janet?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied. "I have been anxious, while you were +away."</p> + +<p>"Are you cold?"</p> + +<p>"I am not very warm," she answered; "but do not trouble about +it, we shall do very well."</p> + +<p>"I have two blankets here," he said, as he removed the covering. +"One of these I will put over you both, and tuck it well in, each +side, to keep out the wind that comes in between the stones. Then I +will lay your smocks over that. I wrung them well, before putting +them on the sticks; and although I cannot say they are dry, yet +they are not damp enough to matter, and will help keep you warm. +The other blanket I will put over the sticks."</p> + +<p>"Thank you indeed, Oswald," the girl said, gratefully. "That +feels very much more comfortable."</p> + +<p>"Now, Roger, there is a blanket for you, and one for me, to wrap +round us, plaid fashion."</p> + +<p>"I do not need one, master. In faith, I have more respect for +this gown than I ever had before--it is wondrously warm and, with +the hood over my head, I want nothing more."</p> + +<p>"That is all very well, Roger. If you don't need it for your +shoulders, you need it for your legs; for being without hose, and +with nought but those sandals, you must be freezing. We will walk +up and down here, for a bit, and do you wrap it round your legs, +like a Highlander's petticoat. When we have tired ourselves, we +will lie down and try to get a sleep, for an hour or two."</p> + +<p>As they walked, they talked over their plans; and Oswald decided +that, before daybreak, he would set out on the search for a place +of concealment.</p> + +<p>"I will leave my helmet and breast and back piece behind me," he +said, "and will take your staff. Then, if I am caught sight of by +any party in the distance, I shall look like a shepherd; while, had +I on my iron harness, they would at once suspect me of being of the +party, even though I were alone. As for you, your monk's robe would +be detected, miles off."</p> + +<p>"I could leave it behind me," Roger said.</p> + +<p>"You have not much on underneath, Roger; and your bareness, in +such weather as this, would be as noticeable as your gown. Mind, +before it gets light, get the ladies up, and carry our bag of +victuals and the water skin over the crest. You may be sure that, +as soon as it is light, there will be many sharp eyes watching the +hillside, all along here."</p> + +<p>The man who had come up with them had already wrapped himself in +the blanket he had brought with him, had crawled in among the +bushes, and was, as they could hear by his heavy breathing, already +sound asleep. After a time Oswald said that, as they had nothing +more to settle, he would try and get a few hours' rest. There was +not the slightest fear of surprise, and Roger and he were not long +before they were both sound asleep. Oswald woke two or three times +and, at first sign of dawn, shook Roger.</p> + +<p>"You had better wake the ladies, in a few minutes, Roger, and +get them over the crest. Let their man, as soon as he has seen +them, start at once, keeping along behind the ridge, and warn him +not to go down into the valley until he is fully a mile beyond +Parton. Tell him to look carefully along the road, before he begins +to descend, and to see that it is clear. Even then, let him hide as +much as may be, behind brushwood and rock, until he gets down. When +he has swum the river, let him make a wide detour round Parton, so +as to come down to the stables without being noticed.</p> + +<p>"I shall not be very long away. 'Tis scarce likely, among these +hills, that I shall find any place that we can crawl into; and I +think we shall have to content ourselves with lying down among the +heather. I must find a spot where no one, on any hill above, can +look down on us. We shall be quite safe from any party moving along +on the same level as ourselves."</p> + +<p>Oswald had gone but a little distance, when he determined that +no better place could be found than the plateau itself. This +extended, for two or three hundred yards from the edge, looking +down into the valley. Beyond, the ground sloped sharply down again +into a deep hollow; and beyond, it was broken into rounded swells, +rising one above another. A party lying among the heather, where he +was standing, could not be seen by watchers from any other point. +Moreover, it was most important that all should be in shelter +before it was fairly daylight. He therefore, as soon as it was +light enough to take in the principal features of the scene, +hurried back to his companions.</p> + +<p>"We can do no better, girls, than to lie down together, two +hundred yards away. Pick your way through the bushes where they are +thinnest, so as not to disturb them. Please be off at once, and +choose a spot close to where the ground falls away, on the other +side. Roger and I must tumble this shelter down, and scatter the +sticks; for if anyone searching the hillside came along, he would +guess that we had slept here, and there would be a hue and cry at +once."</p> + +<p>The man had left, sometime before, for the valley; having gone +off as soon as he had spoken to the girls. Oswald and Roger ran +down to the shelter, speedily threw the stones into a heap, and +scattered the sticks; then, after glancing round to see that +nothing had been left, they collected the blankets, provisions, and +water skin; and, taking up these and Oswald's armour, ran in the +direction that Oswald had pointed out to the girls.</p> + +<p>The ground was thickly covered with heather, and they had to +step carefully to avoid pressing it down. They reached the edge of +the plateau without seeing the girls and, after looking round for a +minute or two, Oswald called aloud.</p> + +<p>He was answered by a merry laugh, and Jessie's head rose above +the heather. They had, indeed, passed within five or six yards of +the girls.</p> + +<p>"That is good, indeed," Oswald said, as he lay down beside them. +"If I could not see you, when I was sure that you were quite near, +there is no fear of any searchers lighting upon you.</p> + +<p>"The sun has just risen, and a mist still hangs on the top of +the hills," he went on; "and I am convinced that we cannot have +been seen, for men placed on the watch are sure to be high up on +the hills, and it will be some time yet before the sun rises high +enough to drive away the mist."</p> + +<p>Although it was freezing sharply, they felt by no means cold as +they lay, wrapped in their blankets, with the heather rising well +above them, and sheltering them from a light breeze that had sprung +up at sunrise. After chatting with the girls for a time, Roger and +Oswald left them and, crawling along on their stomachs, got to the +edge of the descent.</p> + +<p>By this time the sun was well above the hills, the mist had +cleared off, and they had an extensive view. From time to time they +caught sight of groups of three or four mounted men moving about, +searching the valleys; while single men, on foot, rambled over the +hills.</p> + +<p>"They are keeping up an active search, Roger. 'Tis well that we +went no farther. They will scarce suspect us of lying close to the +valley we left. I expect the main body has gone much farther. I +have no doubt the Bairds have a couple of hundred men and boys out. +They would call out every man and boy from their holdings, and most +likely get a couple of score of men from their village, and perhaps +twice as many from Parton. No doubt they will think that, if we +came in this direction, we should, last night, have found our way +to one of the tracks across the hills, and it is near these that +their search will be the keenest. Fortunately, they cannot know +that I am here, nor guess that it is to Yardhope that we intend to +take them, and not to Hiniltie. Still, they may expect that we +shall try to cross the border, and I fancy we shall scarcely get +through without a fight."</p> + +<p>"All the better," Roger grumbled. "My fingers tingle to bring +down this staff on the head of some of the Bairds, after all the +trouble they have given us."</p> + +<p>They remained watching until it became dusk, except that, twice +during the day, they crawled back and partook of a meal with the +girls. The last time they joined them, Oswald said:</p> + +<p>"Now, in half an hour it will be quite dark, and then we can +safely get up and walk about for a bit. I am sure you must feel +stiff, lying still so long."</p> + +<p>"I have never kept quiet for so long a time, since I can +remember," Jessie said, laughing.</p> + +<p>"That shows that you have had no illnesses, Jessie. However, I +shall be glad to get up and stretch my limbs, myself. Half an hour +will be enough, and then we will have a good, long night. Another +day of it, and I think it will be safe to start."</p> + +<p>The next afternoon they saw a number of parties searching the +hills, in all directions.</p> + +<p>"I expect they have become convinced that we have not tried to +get straight through, Roger, and are hunting back for us. It is as +well that it will be dark in another half hour, and they will then +have to give up their search, for the night. If there were a couple +of hours more light, I should feel very uneasy."</p> + +<p>"So should I, master. You and I would have little chance of +mercy, if we fell into their hands. It might well be that, in their +anger, they might slay the ladies, also."</p> + +<p>"That would be like enough, Roger. However, there can be no +chance of their coming here, before it is dark."</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock they started, and made their way down, with some +difficulty and many slips and falls, into the valley. Then they +kept along near the river, till Oswald was sure they were close to +the ford. He bade them halt here, and went forward alone. Before he +had gone fifty yards, he nearly stumbled against a man.</p> + +<p>"Is it you, John?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is I."</p> + +<p>"Is all well?"</p> + +<p>"It is all well, but I had a fright, yesterday morning. The +Bairds searched every cottage and hut over the hills, on this side, +and they say their men rode almost as far as Galloway; but they +gave up the search before they got here, feeling assured that they +must have passed you, very soon after you left the hold, and you +could never have got as far down as this."</p> + +<p>"'Tis well they did not search, indeed," Oswald said. "Your +story about the horses might do well enough, for those who have no +interest in the matter, but it would never have done for the +Bairds. All has been quiet today?"</p> + +<p>"They seem to have given up searching on this side. I hear that +they feel sure, now, the ladies have made for Hiniltie; and they +have had great forces out among the hills, and feel confident that +they must catch them soon."</p> + +<p>"Have you got the horses saddled?"</p> + +<p>"They are saddled, and brought down close to the road. Fergus is +with them."</p> + +<p>"Then bring them across, at once. The sooner we are off now, the +better. Are there any of the Bairds' men in the town?"</p> + +<p>"There are a few of them, but as no one has any idea that you +are like to pass through there, they will not be on the lookout. +Besides, all will have been among the hills, from daybreak this +morning; and I expect, by this time, there is scarce a soul awake +in Parton."</p> + +<p>Oswald returned to the girls, and they went out together to the +ford. In a couple of minutes the men were seen making their way +across, riding two horses, and leading the others.</p> + +<p>"We thank you heartily," Janet said, "for having so risked your +lives for us; for, had you been caught with the four horses, they +would at once have connected you with us, and it would have gone +hard with you."</p> + +<p>"We have been keeping away from the horses, yesterday and today, +just going to a distance and lying down where, without being seen +ourselves, we could watch anyone who went up to the farm. We could +have done no good, and thought that it was better that we should be +able to warn you, if they had come and taken the horses away."</p> + +<p>After crossing the river, Fergus at once started, on foot, for +Hiniltie.</p> + +<p>They had already discussed how they should ride, and it had been +settled that, at starting, Janet should ride the fourth horse; and +that Jessie should ride behind the others, by turns. If an attack +was threatened, Jessie was to mount behind her sister, and they +were to take their place between Oswald and Roger, while their own +man rode close behind them.</p> + +<p>It was just ten o'clock as they rode through Parton. Not a light +was to be seen. The whole place appeared wrapt in sleep. They went +through at a walk, so that, if any heard them, they would suppose +that it was a belated party of the searchers, and would give the +matter no further thought.</p> + +<p>After riding for a short distance, they put the horses into a +trot. Four hours later they halted, at the point where the road +down the Esk valley divided, one going to the ferry a few hundred +yards farther on, while the other turned to the left, and followed +the bank of the Liddel.</p> + +<p>John had inquired about the ferry, and learned that the +ferryboat no longer plied, as, since the troubles began, there was +so little traffic that it did not pay the ferryman to remain there. +As they had already decided to cross by the ford, four miles higher +up, this did not matter. As none of them was aware of its exact +position, they decided to wait where they were, until daylight.</p> + +<p>Searching about, they found a deserted hut, with a shed +adjoining it. The horses were led into this, and the party then +gathered in the hut, and John struck a light, while Oswald and +Roger broke up a fallen gate, and the fire was soon blazing. +Although there was not the slightest chance of anyone travelling +the road, at this hour, they hung one of the thick blankets across +the window, thus keeping out the cold air, as well as preventing +the light from being seen. Then the party lay down, the men taking +it by turns to stand guard outside, being relieved every two +hours.</p> + +<p>As soon as day dawned they again mounted. It was about four +miles' ride to the point where the road divided, one branch going +towards the river, some seventy or eighty yards away. Here stood a +square building of some size, used as a refuge by travellers who +arrived when the Liddel was swollen, and the ford +impracticable.</p> + +<p>When the riders had come within a few yards of this building, +two men, hearing the sound of horses' hoofs, came out. As their eye +fell upon the party they gave a shout, ran out into the road, and +drew their swords.</p> + +<p>Roger and Oswald rode at them. Parrying a thrust of one of the +men, Oswald cut him down; while Roger, with a tremendous blow from +his staff, stretched the other man on the road.</p> + +<p>"Ride on, girls! We will follow you," Oswald shouted.</p> + +<p>Jessie was sitting behind John, and they and Janet dashed +forward, and rode into the water. Oswald and Roger followed, as six +men, armed with spear and sword, ran out from the house. Seeing +that they were too late, the leader shouted to the others: "Fetch +out the horses, and chase them!" and, before the party had gained +the opposite bank, their pursuers dashed into the water.</p> + +<p>"Don't press your horses too hardly," Oswald said, as they +galloped along. "They are too close behind us for us to get help +from any of the small villages, but they dare not follow us into +Longtown, and we have barely a ten miles' ride."</p> + +<p>They had some two hundred yards' start, and for the first four +miles held their own; then their pursuers began to gain upon them. +One of the horses was carrying double, and Roger and Oswald were +both heavier than any of the moss troopers.</p> + +<p>"We shall have a fight for it, Roger."</p> + +<p>"That is just what I was thinking, master. Well, there are three +of us; and, as there are only six of them, we ought not to have +much trouble. John will be a match for one. Methinks you and I can +each make short work of a man when they first come up; and with but +three of them against two, it will be mere child's play."</p> + +<p>The road was a narrow one, and little used; and, when they came +to the foot of a sharp rise, Oswald called to those ahead to +stop.</p> + +<p>"Jump down, Jessie, and mount behind Janet, and ride on ahead. +We will soon get rid of these fellows. Be quick!"</p> + +<p>The moss troopers were now but seventy or eighty yards +behind.</p> + +<p>"I shall fight on foot," Roger said, as he leapt off his horse. +"I want both hands, for this staff."</p> + +<p>Turning his horse, and bidding John to do the same, Oswald +reined back his animal three or four lengths; and when the Bairds' +party were within twenty yards, touched it with his spur and dashed +at them, meeting them just abreast of Roger. The first man he met +thrust at him with his spear, but Oswald parried with his sword, +and with a back-handed blow smote the man just under the chin, and +he fell with a crash from his horse. At the same moment he heard a +blow like that of a smith's hammer, as Roger's staff fell upon the +steel cap of the first who attacked him.</p> + +<p>John was less fortunate, for his opponent's spear struck him in +the throat, and he fell heavily from his saddle.</p> + +<p>"Well stricken, Jock!" one of them shouted. "Ride on after the +women. We will settle with these fellows."</p> + +<p>But before the moss trooper could obey the order, Oswald, with a +touch of the spur and the bridle, caused his horse to curvet round, +and smote the man so mighty a blow on the shoulder as well-nigh to +sever his arm from his body. As he wheeled his horse again he was +nigh unseated, by a spear thrust that struck him on the breast +piece; but, upon recovering, he struck his opponent, as he passed, +so heavy a blow in the face, with the pommel of his sword, that he +sent him senseless to the ground.</p> + +<p>The other two men had furiously attacked Roger, but, whirling +his staff round his head, he had kept them both at bay; then the +staff descended between the ears of one of the horses, which fell +headlong; and before the rider could get his foot from the stirrup, +the staff struck him below the steel cap, just in front of the ear, +and without a cry he fell dead beside his horse. At that the last +of the moss troopers turned his horse, and galloped off at full +speed.</p> + +<p>"We have not taken long over that, master," Roger said, with a +grim smile. "Five men in a minute is not so bad."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid John is killed, Roger. See to him."</p> + +<p>"Ay, he is sped," Roger replied, as he turned the body over. +"The spear struck him full in the throat. That is what comes of not +learning to use your weapons. What shall we do with him?"</p> + +<p>"He was a faithful fellow, Roger, and as there is no need for +haste now, we will give him some sort of burial, and not let him +lie here in the road."</p> + +<p>"We have nought to dig a grave with," Roger remarked.</p> + +<p>"No, but there are plenty of stones about."</p> + +<p>He dismounted, and with Roger's help carried the dead man a +short distance away, laid him down by the side of a great boulder, +and then piled stones around and over him.</p> + +<p>"That will do, Roger. 'Tis not like that anyone will disturb +those stones, for years to come. He will rest as well there as if +he lay in a grave. Now, let us look to the others."</p> + +<p>The man he had struck across the throat, and the last Roger had +hit, were both dead. Two of the others were but stunned, while the +one upon whose shoulder Roger's blow had fallen was lying +insensible, and evidently was fast bleeding to death.</p> + +<p>"We can do naught for him," Oswald said. "Even had we the king's +leech here, we could not save him. Now let us be off."</p> + +<p>"Shall we take the horses, master?"</p> + +<p>"No, they will be but an encumbrance; and now that poor fellow +has gone, we have one apiece. Bring his horse along with you."</p> + +<p>Mounting, they rode quickly on, and at the top of the hill came +up with the girls; who, having seen the result of the combat, had +waited for them.</p> + +<p>"Now we are safe and free, thanks to you both," Janet said. +"Jessie looked back, and saw the fight as we rode. How quickly it +was over! But I am grieved, indeed, that John has fallen. We saw +you carrying off his body, and covering it. Jessie had noticed him +fall, and we feared 'twas all over with him. He was an old retainer +of our father's, and a faithful one."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, indeed, that he has been slain, Janet; but we could +hardly expect to come out altogether scatheless."</p> + +<p>"Are all the others killed?" Jessie asked.</p> + +<p>"No. Two of them are but stunned; and will, ere long, be able to +mount and ride off again."</p> + +<p>"Master Oswald has gained the most honours in the fight. I +killed one, and stunned another. He has stunned one also, but has +slain two."</p> + +<p>"I had a better arm, Roger."</p> + +<p>"I know not that," Roger replied. "A quarterstaff, of that +weight, is a fine weapon. I say not that it is to be compared to a +mace but, when on foot, I would as lief have it as a sword."</p> + +<p>"Now, Jessie, do you mount John's horse. We can ride quietly, +for Longtown is but some three miles ahead."</p> + +<p>They rested there for a couple of hours, then mounted again, and +crossed the Pentlands by a horse track between Cristindury and Gele +Craigs. Coming down into Tynedale, they put up for the night at the +first place they came to. At daybreak they set off northwards, +crossed Reddesdale, and came down, in the afternoon, into the +valley of the Coquet, within two miles of Yardhope.</p> + +<p>Great indeed was the surprise and joy of John Forster and his +wife, when they made out the two girls riding, with Oswald, towards +the hold.</p> + +<p>"What miracle is this, lad?" the former said, while his wife was +embracing her nieces. "We heard, but two days since, of the raid on +the Armstrongs, and how the girls were carried off by the +Bairds."</p> + +<p>Here Oswald put his finger to his lips, to stop him from saying +aught of Jane Armstrong's death. He had, after dismounting, +whispered in his mother's ear, before she had time to speak to the +girls, that as yet they knew nought of their mother's death, and +that he had left it to her to break it to them.</p> + +<p>"I have been, since, scouring the country," his father went on, +"to try to get my friends to take the matter up; but in truth, they +were not over willing to do so. All know that it is no slight +enterprise to attack the Bairds in their stronghold. We fared but +badly, last time we went there, though that was but a blow and a +retreat; but all know that the Bairds' hold is not to be taken like +a country tower. 'Tis greatly bigger and stronger than ours, and +scarce to be attempted save by a royal army; especially as the +whole countryside would be swarming round us, in a few hours after +we crossed the border. This time, too, it is no quarrel of my +people; and, as they say, the risk would be indeed great, and the +loss very heavy.</p> + +<p>"I sent off a messenger this morning to Armstrong, to tell him +that I feared I could not raise more than sixty spears; but with +these I would ride to Hiniltie, and join any force he could +collect, and try with him to surprise the Bairds' hold and rescue +the girls, though it seemed to be a mighty dangerous +enterprise."</p> + +<p>"He will have learnt, yesterday morning, Father, that we have +carried them off. We could have brought you the news last night, +but to do so we must have ridden fast and, the girls being with us, +we thought it were better to take two days over the journey. So we +slept in Tynedale last night."</p> + +<p>"And how did you manage it? For unless you and Roger flew into +the Bairds' hold, and carried them off on your backs, I see not how +it could be managed. Why, the place is so strong that even the +Douglases have not cared to carry out the terms of the treaty, for +the arrest of William Baird as a notorious breaker of the truce +between the two countries."</p> + +<p>"It was because I knew Armstrong deemed that it was scarce +likely a force could be gathered, by you and his friends, strong +enough to undertake such an enterprise, that we decided to rescue +them by strategy. The affair turned out to be easy enough."</p> + +<p>And he then related, in detail, the manner in which he and Roger +had obtained entry into the hold, and had succeeded in rescuing his +cousins.</p> + +<p>"By the bones of Saint Oswald, from whom you got your name, +lad," John Forster exclaimed, when he had finished his story, "you +have carried out the matter marvellously well! Hotspur himself +could not have contrived it better; and I own that I was wrong, and +that that fancy of yours, to be able to read and write, has not +done you the damage that I feared it would. Henceforth I will +maintain, with all my might, that these things in no way tend to +soften a man; but on the contrary, in some way sharpen his wits, +and enable him to carry out matters with plans, and contrivances, +such as would scarce be conceived by men who had not such +advantage.</p> + +<p>"But why do we not go inside?"</p> + +<p>"I have been keeping you here, Father, because I doubt not that +my mother has been breaking the news to the girls, of their +mother's slaughter. I said nought to them about it. They knew the +hold was burnt, and I told them that Allan was wounded; but I +thought that, if I gave them the worst part of the news, it would +throw them into such deep grief as to unfit them for the journey. +It might not have been discovered till two hours after we had +started that they had escaped, and in that case we should have been +mounted before the Bairds overtook us, and it would have been a +ride for life, and the girls would have needed all their strength +and courage to keep them up."</p> + +<p>"It was as well so, Oswald, and doubtless your mother will break +it more easily to them than you could have done. Women are better +at such things than men, who are given to speak, bluntly and +straight, what has to be told."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch15">Chapter 15</a>: Another Mission To Ludlow.</h2> + +<p>While Oswald was talking with his father, Roger had taken the +four horses round to the long shed, that ran along one side of the +wall; and had there been telling the moss troopers the same story +Oswald had been relating to his father, whom he now joined.</p> + +<p>"Well, friend Roger," John Forster said as he came up, shaking +him heartily by the hand; "by my faith, my son is fortunate in +having so stout a fellow as his henchman."</p> + +<p>"'Tis rather that I am fortunate in having him as a master," +Roger replied. "I have but to strike as he bids me, and there is no +need for me to think, for my brain bears no proportion to my bulk; +and indeed, even in the matter of strength he bids fair to equal +me, for he seems to me to grow taller and stronger every month; +which is not surprising, seeing that you are, yourself, much beyond +the common. In all this matter there is no credit due to me, save +that I have, as faithfully as I could, carried out his orders."</p> + +<p>"All men can try to carry out orders, Roger, but it is not all +who can do it with intelligence. Doubtless, it has something to do +with the book learning that you have, and in which you were his +instructor."</p> + +<p>"I think not that it is so, in any way, Master Forster," Roger +replied quickly, for he liked not the thought that he had gained +any advantage, whatever, from his stay in the convent. "It might +likely be useful to a man of small stature, whose thoughts would +naturally turn to being a scribe, and to making his living by such +finicking ways instead of by bearing himself as a man should; but +for one like myself, 'tis but time thrown away. Yet I say not that +it may not be useful to Master Oswald, who will some day be a +knight, and go to court, and have occasion to write letters, when +he has no scribe at hand to do it for him; but a good downright +blow is more advantage, to the man that strikes it, than all the +book learning that he can get."</p> + +<p>"I have done well enough without it, Roger; but I think that it +must be of some use, else why is it that Oswald is so good at +devising plans? Had I been in his place, when he heard the news of +the harrying of Hiniltie, and the carrying off of Armstrong's +daughters, I should never have thought of starting on such an +adventure as he did."</p> + +<p>"It may be that it may improve the mind, Master Forster, just as +wielding a mace strengthens the muscles of the arm. I only speak +from my own experience; and, so far as I can see, all the hours I +spent on these matters have been as good as wasted."</p> + +<p>"Nay, Roger," Oswald, who had been an amused listener to the +conversation, broke in, "you have had evidence, but lately, that it +is not so. Had you not been able to read the priest's missal, he +would have seen, at once, that you were not a monk; but the fact +that you did so, and that much better and more fluently than he +could, himself, have read a strange manuscript, was to him a +confirmation of your story; which not only enabled us to rescue my +cousins, but probably saved your own skin, to say nothing of mine; +for had Baird learned that you were deceiving him, he would as +likely as not have hung us both over the gateway of his hold, as +spies."</p> + +<p>Roger scratched his head, in some embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"I cannot gainsay it, Master Oswald, though I did not think of +it before; and it is certainly a proof that the time I spent in +learning was not thrown away; for, as you say, had I not been able +to read that missal, doubtless it would have gone hard with both of +us. I am not ashamed to own when I am wrong. It would not be +English, or honest, not to do so. Reading certainly came in +mightily useful, there."</p> + +<p>"And you must also remember, Roger," Oswald said with a smile, +"that if it had not been that you read and wrote, better than most +of the other monks, the abbot would not have picked you out as my +instructor, I should not have asked for you to come with me to +Scotland, and Sir Henry Percy would never have begged the abbot to +allow you to go forth into the world."</p> + +<p>"Say no more, Master Oswald--never again will I say a word +against reading and writing--I see that they are excellent things, +and it never entered my thick head how greatly I have benefited by +acquiring them--but will maintain, against all who say the +contrary, that they are of great value; and that they in no way +tend to soften a man, as I can prove in my own person, and also in +yours."</p> + +<p>At this moment, Mary Forster appeared at the top of the +steps.</p> + +<p>"Supper is ready," she said. "I have broken the news to the +girls. They are quite broken hearted, poor things, and I have sent +them to bed.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are not leaving us, tomorrow morning, +Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"No, I shall be off at daybreak, the next day. I must not stay +longer, for I ought to have been back three days ago, and Sir Henry +will be wondering what has befallen me."</p> + +<p>Talking the matter over, that evening, as to what had best be +done with the girls, Mary Forster said that they had expressed +great anxiety to get back, as soon as they could, in order that +they might try and comfort their father, and nurse Allan; and John +Forster said that he would ride with them, with four of his men, to +Hiniltie, in a day or two. The next evening, however, there was a +knock at the outside gate; and on its being opened, Adam Armstrong +himself entered.</p> + +<p>"I could not rest, for thinking of the girls," he said, as he +entered the house. "The man arrived safely, yesterday morning, +after having, with great difficulty, made his way unobserved +through the Bairds, who had some fifty or sixty men scattered, all +over the hills."</p> + +<p>"Do you go to them, Wife, and tell them that their father has +arrived.</p> + +<p>"They have been terribly upset," John went on, as his wife left +the room. "They were only told of the loss of their mother after +they arrived, yesterday. Oswald thought that they would need all +their strength for the journey, and that it were better that Mary +should break the news to them, when they got here. We have all felt +for you sorely, Adam, since your messenger brought the news."</p> + +<p>Armstrong pressed his hand, silently.</p> + +<p>"She was a good wife to me, John, a right good wife. We buried +what seemed to be her remains, yesterday morning. It was that, that +kept me from starting the moment the man came in with the news that +Oswald had got the girls out of the hands of the Bairds."</p> + +<p>"And how is Allan?"</p> + +<p>"I trust he will get right, now. He has come partly to his +senses, though he is still dazed. We had him carried, in a litter, +to the monastery where I obtained the monk's robe for your man; for +I feared to leave him in the village, lest the Bairds, furious at +the escape of the girls, might return to finish their work."</p> + +<p>He was about to speak to Oswald, when the door opened, and the +girls ran in, and it was some time before Adam Armstrong again +turned to him.</p> + +<p>"Now, lad," he said, "do not think, because I am a long time +coming to the point, that I think lightly of the service you have +rendered me. Ah, lad! I could scarce believe my ears, when Fergus +told me that you and your henchman had got the lasses out of the +Bairds' hands, and had gone off on horseback with them. I had to +put the question, again and again, as to whether he was sure that +it was really the girls you had with you. It seemed to me to be +altogether impossible; but I had to believe him, at last, though +how it came about he could not tell me."</p> + +<p>"We had no time for talking," Oswald said. "Every moment was of +importance. But the matter was simple enough, and worth but a few +words' telling."</p> + +<p>And he then related the manner in which he and Roger had +obtained entrance to the hold, and had succeeded in getting the +girls away.</p> + +<p>"It sounds simple enough, in the telling," Armstrong said; "but +it needed stout hearts, and good nerves, to enter the Bairds' den +on such an errand. You carried your lives in your hands, and well +must you have borne out your story, to have passed without +suspicion. It was well thought of, indeed, and well carried out, +and would have done credit to the boldest and craftiest leader on +the border.</p> + +<p>"What say you, John?"</p> + +<p>"I am proud of him, Adam. As for myself, I should never have +thought of such a plan. If I had had the matter in hand, I might +have taken twenty stout fellows, and tried to scale the walls +unseen, and to fall upon them with spear and sword, and in the +confusion carry the girls off; but it would have been a desperate +plan, with but small hope of success."</p> + +<p>"Small indeed, John, small indeed," Armstrong said, shaking his +head. "With prisoners in the hold, the Bairds were not likely to be +caught sleeping; and had they been, accustomed to surprises as they +are, the whole garrison would have been afoot in a minute, and not +a man of ye would have lived to tell the story. Some such mad +thought passed through my brain, when I first heard the news, but +it was not for long. Even with your spears, and others you might +gather, and all my friends in Tweeddale, we should have had but a +small chance of capturing the Bairds' hold. We should have had all +Annandale and Nithsdale down on us, before we could have done it. +At any rate, we should have had to bide our time, and wait until +the Bairds were away to England with all their dalesmen; and by +that time, none could say what would have become of the girls. In +fact, there was but one way of doing it, and that is the way Oswald +hit upon.</p> + +<p>"Well, lad, I fear I shall never have an opportunity of repaying +the debt I owe you; but after this, there is not an Armstrong on +the border, on our side or yours--for we are half English and half +Scotch--but will hold you as among our closest of kin, and will +give you welcome and aid, whensoever you may need it. And where is +your man Roger?"</p> + +<p>"I will call him," Oswald said and, stepping to the door, he +shouted to his follower; who came out, at once, from one of the +outhouses occupied by the retainers of the hold.</p> + +<p>"Come up, Roger!" Oswald said; "Master Armstrong wishes to see +you."</p> + +<p>Roger came up and, as he entered, Adam grasped him by the +hand.</p> + +<p>"Whenever your time for fighting is over, my brave fellow, +remember that there is a home for you at Hiniltie, so long as an +Armstrong dwells there. I thought, when I fetched that monk's gown +for you, that you and my nephew Oswald might be able to gather some +news; and let me know, possibly, how the girls were faring; but +little did I think that, alone and unaided, you would rescue them +from the hands of the Bairds."</p> + +<p>"It was a merry business, Master Armstrong, and pleased me +hugely, save that it went against my heart to have this bald patch +on my head again, just when the hair had so well grown and covered +it; but it was well nigh as good as fighting, to trick the Bairds +in their own hold, when they, as they thought, were so mightily +sure that I was but a harmless brother of a monastery. For the +rest, it was an easy business, and scarce worth talking of."</p> + +<p>"It was done easily because it was done well, Roger. It was well +planned, and well carried out."</p> + +<p>"I had nought to do with the planning, and the carrying out was +simple enough. There were those there who tested me, as to my +knowledge of Dunbar, and of the monastery I came from, and who +further tested my knowledge of reading. Once assured that my story +was true, they paid no further attention to me, believing that I +should stay but a day or two, to rest myself on my way south."</p> + +<p>"You had occasion, however, to use that heavy staff you +carried."</p> + +<p>"Some slight occasion, but I would that I had had the chance to +have used it on the heads of some of the Bairds. For what little I +did, master Armstrong, your daughters thanked me very prettily, and +more than enough; and therefore, I pray thee, say no more of +it.</p> + +<p>"And how is your son?"</p> + +<p>"He is going on well, and both Meg Margetson and the monks, in +whose hands I have put him, say that they hope he is out of +danger."</p> + +<p>The next morning Oswald and Roger mounted, soon after daybreak, +and rode to Alnwick. It had, the night before, been arranged that +the girls should, for the present, remain at Yardhope; until the +hold at Hiniltie was repaired, and put in a state of stronger +defence. It was agreed, too, that it was as well that no word +should be said by Armstrong, on his return, as to the whereabouts +of his daughters, as the Bairds might then, in their anger, make an +attack on Yardhope; whereas, at present, they could have no reason +whatever for suspecting that they were there, and, if they obtained +news that they were not with their father at Hiniltie, would +suppose that they had been lodged with some of the family +elsewhere, or perhaps placed for safety in Jedburgh.</p> + +<p>"I had wondered what had become of you," Hotspur said, when +Oswald entered his apartments, to report his return. "I expected +you two or three days since, and I indeed wanted you, for other +business."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, my lord; but after having fulfilled the orders you +gave me, to the governors of Roxburgh and Jedburgh, I became +engaged in an affair of my uncle, Adam Armstrong, of so pressing a +character that I deemed you would excuse me, when you heard its +nature."</p> + +<p>And he then briefly related how he had been occupied, since +leaving Jedburgh.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a good excuse, indeed," Hotspur said, "and you must tell +me more of it this evening, when the earl and my wife can also hear +it. As to the business I spoke of, it is of no consequence at all; +it was but to carry a message to the Earl of Westmoreland. This I +have now sent, by another hand."</p> + +<p>The winter passed quietly. Oswald's work was light. He more than +once rode home for a few days, and once paid a visit to +Hiniltie.</p> + +<p>Here a number of men were at work. The exterior walls had in no +way suffered, and the shell of the central building had so far +resisted the fire, that it was not necessary to rebuild it. The +roof and floors had been replaced, and the defences considerably +strengthened. A portcullis had been placed above the door; so that, +in case of the outer wall being carried, or the gate forced, it +could at once be lowered. A projecting battlement had been thrown +out over this, with openings below, through which boiling lead and +pitch could be poured on an enemy trying to break in. Flanking +turrets, for archers, had been built at each corner of the house; +and the exterior walls had been strengthened by towers, in the +centre of each face, and on either side of the gateway.</p> + +<p>"We shall be safe now, I think, Oswald," said Allan, who had +almost recovered. "The place can hardly be taken by a sudden +attack, even by all the forces the Bairds could bring against it; +and we could get help from Jedburgh, long before they could gain +even the outside wall. My father and I are going, in a fortnight, +to fetch the girls. I rode over there a week or two since, and +found them looking very well and happy, with your people; but of +course they are anxious to get back again, especially as you are so +seldom at home."</p> + +<p>"If you will fix the day before I go, I will try to be there to +meet you. I suppose, as soon as spring sets in fairly, we shall be +having troubles again, and it is certainly as well that Janet and +Jessie should be at home again before they begin; for although +Yardhope is strong enough to resist any attack by the Bairds, or +any other border rangers, it can scarcely hold out against a +regular invasion."</p> + +<p>Four days after his return to Alnwick, Oswald was sent for by +Percy.</p> + +<p>"The Scots do not seem to be moving yet," the latter said, "but +Glendower is ever increasing in strength, and boldness. I have +received startling news this morning. A party of Welshmen were seen +near Ruthyn, and Earl Grey, with a body of mounted men, rode out +against them. They retired at once, and he, briskly pursuing, fell +into an ambush and was captured.</p> + +<p>"'Twould have been thought that Glendower would have put his +chief enemy to death, at once, but it was not so, and it is said he +holds the earl to ransom. Glendower has plenty of men, but no doubt +needs money sorely. He can draw no revenue from his estates in +Denbigh, and those in South Wales cannot suffice for the expenses +of feeding the body of men, always under arms. Doubtless he will +ask for a great sum, and 'tis like that he will get it. Grey is a +favourite of the king, and the latter will doubtless aid him, for +he needs his services to hold Flint and Denbighshire against the +Welsh.</p> + +<p>"Moreover, methinks that the king would, for another reason, +make every effort to buy Lord Grey's freedom; for it is no secret +that he has no great love for Mortimer; for although he holds the +young Earl of March a prisoner, at Windsor, he cannot forget that +the lad is the rightful heir to the throne, and that the friends of +Richard would place him there, had they the opportunity. Mortimer +is the boy's uncle and, not only from his own estates, but as +guardian of the young earl's wide possessions in Hereford and in +Shropshire, is a very powerful noble.</p> + +<p>"The king has no real reason for doubting him, for I know that +Mortimer has no thought of supporting the Earl of March's claim to +the throne; having held, with the rest of the kingdom, that Henry, +who is wise and politic, is a far fitter ruler than the lad could +be. Doubtless, Henry is well aware of this, but he sees that when +the young earl grows to manhood he might become dangerous; and +might supplant him, as he supplanted Richard. Thus, then, I have no +doubt the king will use every effort to obtain the release of Lord +Grey, in order that he may act as a counterpoise, in the Welsh +marches, to the influence of Mortimer.</p> + +<p>"However, that is not now the question. It is evident, by this +daring deed of Glendower, that he will be busy this year; and the +success of his first attempt will assuredly add to his following. +Therefore, as the Scots are, at present, quiet, I would that you +ride again to Ludlow, and sojourn there a while.</p> + +<p>"Sir Edmund sends me but scant news, and I would fain know more +closely how matters are going there, and how great this +insurrection is like to grow. It may well be that the Scots, seeing +how powerful Glendower is becoming, will enter into agreement with +him, that while he invades the west country, they shall pour across +the border with all their forces; in which case we should be hard +pressed, for the king's power in the south might be fully engaged +against the Welsh, and we should have to battle with the whole +strength of Scotland, alone. Therefore, write at length, giving me +full reports of the talk of the country as to the bearing of the +Welsh, not only beyond the border, but those settled in the west +counties.</p> + +<p>"You will, of course, take the fighting monk with you; and he +can aid you in this matter, being a good scholar, though a bad +monk; so, when you are weary of holding the pen, you can dictate +the matter to him. I will send two well-mounted couriers with you, +and will have relays of horses placed on the road, so that you can +despatch me a letter once a week; and they will also, of course, +carry any letters Sir Edmund Mortimer may wish to send."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Sir Henry. Shall I start today?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, the matter is not so urgent as all that."</p> + +<p>"Then I will ride tomorrow morning."</p> + +<p>"Good.</p> + +<a id="PicI" /> +<center> +<img src="images/i.jpg" alt= +"I am well pleased with you, Oswald" +/> </center> + +<p>"I am well pleased with you, Oswald. That affair, in which you +rescued your cousins, showed that you have discretion and ability, +as well as skill and courage; and you see, the knowledge that you +gained at the monastery is coming in useful to you, now. As a mark +of my approbation, I will order that one of my warhorses shall be +saddled, and be in readiness for you, in the morning. The steed +that Mortimer gave you is a good one, but you have need of another; +for one may fall lame, or be killed or wounded, and 'tis well to +have a second string to the bow. Moreover, riding as you do in my +service, 'tis but meet that I should provide you with +horseflesh.</p> + +<p>"I marked you on your horse today, the one you rode when you +came here; and in truth, you have outgrown it altogether; and +though I doubt not that the sturdy little beast would, even yet, +carry you for a long day's journey, 'tis scarce in accordance with +your position as our representative."</p> + +<p>Oswald thanked Hotspur heartily for the gift, for he, himself, +had felt that he needed a second charger, but had been reluctant to +ask his father for the money required to buy one; for the expenses +of repairing the hold, after the last Scotch invasion, had been +heavy, and gold was a scarce commodity at Yardhope.</p> + +<p>He started at daybreak the next morning, riding the fine horse +Hotspur had given him. Roger rode behind him, and was followed by +the two lightly-armed men, who were to act as messengers. One of +these led Oswald's second horse. As soon as they had left the +castle, Oswald called Roger up to his side.</p> + +<p>"Well, Roger, I dare say you are as pleased as I am, that we are +on the move again. 'Tis nigh five months since we returned from +Ludlow and, save for our adventure with the Bairds, we have had a +quiet time, since."</p> + +<p>"Think you there will be work with the Welsh again, master?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, indeed, Roger. They say that Glendower's forces are +greatly increasing, and he has captured Lord Grey, and holds him to +ransom. The king must regret, now, that Parliament refused to +listen to Glendower's complaints, because he had been one of +Richard's men, and had perhaps spoken more hotly than was prudent, +touching the king's murder."</p> + +<p>"But they say that Richard is still alive, and that he is with +the Scots."</p> + +<p>"They may say so, Roger, but think you that it is likely? The +king's figure was well known to hundreds of men. Why does he not +show himself? Even in Scotland there are many nobles who, during +the truces between the kingdoms, have been to London, and have +known King Richard; and had this man been he, they would have +recognized him, at once. Besides, think you that when the king had +Richard caged, in Pomfret, there was any chance of his getting free +again? It may suit Albany, at present, to set up some puppet or +other, in order to cause uneasiness to Henry, and to render +Richard's friends here unwilling to obey the orders of the king, +and to take the field against the Scots; but had he been Richard, +'tis not in Scotland that he would have shown himself, but in +France, where he would gladly have been received, as Anne of +Bohemia's husband, and would have had aid and support to urge his +claims."</p> + +<p>"Well, master, I care not what takes us to Wales. At any rate, I +am glad to journey thither; for it seems, at present, as if there, +only, is there a chance of giving and taking hard knocks. How is it +that you do not take a party of men-at-arms, as you did last +time?"</p> + +<p>"Mortimer has plenty of men, without them, and the handful that +Percy can spare would be of little use. I am going principally +because Hotspur is anxious to be kept well informed of what happens +in the west, for he feels sure that, if Glendower's power +increases, it will be needful to send a strong English army there. +The Scots will make a great invasion, and it will behove all the +northern counties, and lords, to hold themselves in readiness."</p> + +<p>They travelled fast and, in five days after leaving Alnwick, +arrived at Ludlow.</p> + +<p>"Welcome back again, Master Oswald!" Sir Edmund said, when he +arrived. "I thought that maybe Sir Henry Percy would send you +hither. Matters here are becoming serious, and 'tis said that there +have been Scotch emissaries with Glendower, though for the truth of +this I cannot answer; but Percy will certainly wish to know, well, +what passes in the west; and I am but a poor hand with the pen, and +moreover, too much busied to write often. He knows that right well, +and I doubt not you are instructed to inform him of all that +passes."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Sir Edmund. It is for that purpose that he has +sent me hither, charging me to write to him, frequently, as to the +situation and the power of Glendower; which must needs be on the +increase, since nought has been done to bring him to reason. And I +have also his commands, to place myself at your service, and to +obey you, in all respects, as if I had been your squire."</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad for you to ride with my knights," Sir Edmund +replied, courteously. "I have not forgotten that you did good +service, last year, and trust that you may find opportunity for +winning your spurs."</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad, indeed, to do so, Sir Edmund. May I ask where +Glendower is supposed to be, at present?"</p> + +<p>"He has his headquarters on the summit of Plinlimmon, a great +hill on the borders of Montgomery; and thence ravages and plunders +all the country round him, slaying all who are supposed to be +attached to the English cause. Unfortunately, he meets with but +little resistance, for the castles have, for the most part, been +suffered to get into a bad state; since, for a hundred years, it +has seemed that they would no longer be required against the Welsh, +who appeared to have become as peaceful as the people in our own +counties. Many of the knights have built themselves more convenient +houses, and have let the castles become almost ruins.</p> + +<p>"Then, too, the garrisons, where garrisons are kept, are for the +most part composed of Welshmen. These can be no longer trusted, and +it is no easy matter to obtain Englishmen in their places, for so +great is the terror caused by the slaughter, by Glendower, of those +who fall into his hands, that few even of adventurous spirit would, +at present, care to leave their homes beyond the Severn, to take up +such desperate service. Glendower's movements are so rapid that +there is no notice of his coming, and it is not until he and his +band suddenly appear, burning and slaughtering, that any know of +his approach."</p> + +<p>"Surely it must be difficult to victual so large a force, on the +summit of a mountain?"</p> + +<p>"It would assuredly be so, only he keeps but a hundred and fifty +chosen men with him. But, were his beacon fires to be lighted, +there would in a few hours be ten thousand men on the mountain. +Then again, as the whole population are with him, were I to start +with five hundred men from here, the news would reach him, by means +of smokes on the hills, before I had marched five miles away. 'Tis +a warfare in which there is no credit to be gained, and much loss +to be sustained; and I see not that, with anything less than an +army large enough to march through Wales from end to end, burning +the towns and villages, and putting to the sword all who resist, +the affair can be brought to an end.</p> + +<p>"It was only thus that Harold brought Wales to reason, and that +so strongly that it was two generations ere they ventured again to +cross the border. It was so that Edward finally stamped out their +rebellions, and methinks that the work will have to be done again, +in the same manner. So far from doing good, the king's invasion +last autumn has but encouraged them; for, though so numerous, his +army effected nothing, and showed the Welsh how powerless the +troops were to enter the mountains, or to take the offensive +anywhere save on level ground."</p> + +<p>Oswald's life, at Ludlow, differed in no way from that at +Alnwick. He took his meals at the high table, sitting below the +knights, with Sir Edmund's squires. He practised arms with them; +tilted in the courtyard of the castle; occasionally rode out, +hunting and hawking, with a party of knights and ladies; helped to +drill the bodies of tenants who, a hundred at a time, came in to +swell the garrison. Sometimes he carried Mortimer's orders to the +governors of the castles, or rode with a strong party into Hereford +or Radnor.</p> + +<p>A short time after his arrival, Montgomery was taken by storm by +Glendower; and all Englishmen, and Welshmen suspected of friendship +for the English, slain. Shortly afterwards, the suburbs of +Welshpool were burnt by him, to the great loss of the Earl of +Powys; whose annoyance was all the greater, since most of his own +tenants were under arms, with Glendower. Following hard upon these +pieces of bad news came word that he had fallen upon the Abbey of +Cwmhir, six miles from Rhayader, in Radnorshire, which he entirely +destroyed. The news caused great indignation, and the reason for +this sacrilegious act was warmly discussed at the castle.</p> + +<p>"The reason, methinks," Sir Edmund said, after he had listened +to the knights for some time, "is twofold. In the first place the +ecclesiastics, for the most part, and the monks of all the orders +save the Franciscans, favoured King Henry against Richard; but the +chief reason is the long animosity between the Church and the +Bards, of whom Glendower is a great patron; and who have done him +great service, by stirring up the people with their songs. The +bards have ever been foremost in instigating insurrections in +Wales. Edward the First attempted to suppress them altogether, and +his edict for executing them, by martial law, is still unrepealed; +and they dare not venture to show themselves, in any castle or town +held by us. But they have, to a man, rallied round Glendower. His +house was always open to them, and he was even distinguished by +some Welsh name, meaning the protector of the bards. Now, after +being hunted fugitives for so many years, they have, no doubt, used +their influence with him to stir him up against the religious +houses."</p> + +<p>But a heavier blow still was struck by Glendower, and the +feeling at Ludlow was nothing short of consternation, when a +fugitive arrived from the town of New Radnor, saying that the +strong castle there had been carried by assault, the garrison of +three-score men all beheaded, and the town laid in ashes. This was +the heaviest blow yet struck by Glendower. The castle was of great +strength, and the town had been walled by the Lords of the Marches. +That such a place should have been carried by Welsh kerns seemed +well-nigh incredible, and the execution of the whole of the +garrison aroused the most lively indignation.</p> + +<p>"This is war to the knife, indeed," Sir Edmund Mortimer said; +"and yet, abhorrent as is this wholesale murder of the garrison, I +cannot but own that it is a politic step, on the part of Glendower. +The news will spread throughout Wales, and if so strong a place as +New Radnor could not defend itself, how can lesser castles hope to +do so? Nor, indeed, will garrisons care to man the walls, since +resistance means death. Doubtless there were many Welsh among these +men who were murdered, and you may be sure that their compatriots, +in other castles, will hasten to desert and join Glendower."</p> + +<p>This, indeed, proved to be the case, the garrisons of the +castles dwindled away, and hold after hold fell without resistance. +Even in Ludlow, every precaution was taken; all Welshmen were +expelled from the town, and the garrison was also purged of them, +although some of the men-at-arms had served for many years. These +men were told that, after the troubles were over, they should again +be taken into the service if they chose; but that, in the present +state of things, one traitor might endanger the safety of the +castle and town; and that, as it was impossible to tell who were +true men and who had been corrupted by Glendower's agents, it was +necessary that all should suffer, even if innocent.</p> + +<p>Among the tenants of Mortimer's estate, and those of the young +earl, were many Welsh. Against them no measures were taken. They +and their fathers, sometimes indeed three generations of them, had +lived peaceably; and had rendered military service, when required, +in the troubles of England; and Mortimer was reluctant to treat +them harshly, especially as all declared their readiness to serve, +and prove their devotion to their English lord.</p> + +<p>"They are not sufficiently numerous," he said, "to be a source +of any danger. Were Glendower to invade England in great force +doubtless they would join him, to save their lives and those of +their families; but being but one to four or five of the English +tenants, I see not that they can be a source of danger to us."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch16">Chapter 16</a>: A Letter For The King.</h2> + +<p>A large number of Flemings had settled in Wales, having left +their own country in consequence of the constant troubles there; +and many of these had set up cloth mills, at Welshpool and other +places. Having suffered great destruction of property at the hands +of Glendower, and seeing no hope of the insurrection being put down +by the English, they resolved to take the matter into their own +hands. Fifteen hundred of them gathered, secretly, and surrounded +Glendower in one of his mountain intrenchments.</p> + +<p>He repulsed their attacks, but the situation was desperate. +Provisions ran short. He was unable to summon help, and at last +determined, with his little body of followers, to endeavour to cut +his way out through the besiegers. The attack was sudden and +fierce. The Flemings, who, knowing the smallness of his force, had +made no preparations to repel an attack, were seized with a panic +at the fierce appearance and the wild cries of the Welsh, who fell +upon them with such fury that two hundred of the Flemings were +slain, and the Welsh cut their way through the beleaguering +line.</p> + +<p>The news of this feat was received with immense enthusiasm, +throughout the principality. Great numbers flocked to Glendower's +standard; the bards sung songs of his victory, at every village in +Wales; and so formidable did his position become that the Lords of +the Marches wrote to the king, saying that the matter had gone +altogether beyond them, and that his presence, with an army, was +urgently needed.</p> + +<p>Even in Ludlow, extra sentries were placed upon the walls, the +garrison was kept in a constant state of vigilance, and mounted men +were stationed, miles out, to bring in the news of the approach of +any hostile force.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a thousand pities," Sir Edmund said, when the news of the +defeat of the Flemings reached him, "that these fellows did not +send news to me, a day or two before they undertook this business; +for in that case I would have myself headed a force of a couple of +hundred of my best men-at-arms, and joined them at some spot in the +mountains; and had we been there, you may be sure that Glendower +would never have fought his way out. The Flemings are doubtless +stout fighters, as they have proved over and over again, in their +own country; but they are all unused to mountain warfare, or to +fight with wild men, and were doubtless scared by the shrill cries +with which the Welsh always advance to battle. Doubtless, too, +these men Glendower keeps with him are his best fighters, and they +knew that, if they did not succeed in making their way out, no +mercy would be shown to them, seeing that they have shown none +themselves. Had the battle been on a plain, I doubt not that the +Flemings would have stood against many times the number of Welshmen +that Owen had with him; but this hill warfare was altogether +strange to them, and of course they had not the habit of quickly +rallying, and meeting the attack, that is second nature with our +men-at-arms. The affair is serious, and unless the king comes +hither with an army, Glendower is likely to have it all his own way +on his side of the border; and, ere long, there won't be an +Englishman left west of the Severn."</p> + +<p>However Henry, when informed of the danger, lost no time in +assembling another great army; and in the beginning of June +advanced into Wales, and ravaged a wide extent of country, carrying +his arms into Cardiganshire, and destroying the Abbey of Strata +Florida, one of the most venerable and famous abbeys in Wales. +Founded in 1164, it was burnt down in 1294, during the wars of King +Edward the First with the Welsh, but was soon rebuilt. Here +Llewellyn, in 1237, convened all the chieftains of Wales to take +the oath of allegiance. There were two copies of the national +records, one of which was kept at this abbey, and the other at that +of Conway.</p> + +<p>The abbey having fallen, Henry's army met with scarcely any +resistance, Glendower knowing that his wild followers were no match +for the royal troops. He therefore contented himself with harassing +them continually, and the army suffered greatly by this continued +annoyance, as well as from fatigue and famine. Thus the king +returned across the border without having achieved any success, +whatever.</p> + +<p>The Lords of the Marches were not now ordered to contribute any +troops, but were to hold their castles strongly; lest, when the +army was fairly entangled among the mountains, Glendower should +make a great incursion into England. The only advantage gained by +the English invasion was that the king, by promises of pardon and +rewards, drew away a number of the leading men who had hitherto +acted with Glendower. Their defection, however, was more than made +up by the enthusiasm excited by the spectacle of the second +retirement of a great English army, without having effected +anything of importance.</p> + +<p>So evident was this, that in October Henry again advanced, with +the contingents of no fewer than twenty-two counties. The season, +however, was already unfavourable for operations and, after +enduring great hardships and suffering, the army again fell back, +having effected even less than the two which had preceded it.</p> + +<p>Things, however, turned out fortunately for Oswald. The army had +advanced a week across the border when a messenger arrived at +Ludlow, with a letter from London for the king.</p> + +<p>"It will be no easy matter to forward it," Sir Edmund said, as +the despatch was handed to him. "Indeed, I see not how it is to be +done. Beyond the fact that the king intended to march west, I know +nothing whatever of his intentions, or of the exact road he was +likely to take. His orders were strict, that we were to keep our +forces well in hand; and to send the letter forward would need two +hundred men, at least, as an escort. It places me in an awkward +position, indeed."</p> + +<p>"If it so please you, Sir Edmund," said Oswald, who was one of +the group standing round, when the messenger handed the letter to +Mortimer; "I will endeavour to carry the despatch for you. Methinks +that, while fifty men would not succeed in getting through to the +army, two might, perchance, manage to do so. I shall, of course, +ride first to Shrewsbury, through which the king passed; and so +follow up the course he took. There should be no great difficulty +in doing that, for the march of so great a body of men must have +left many traces behind. They will, doubtless, have harried the +country, for some distance each side of the line they followed; and +it is not likely that I should meet any of the Welsh, until I was +near the army. Then, of course, great caution would have to be +used; for it is like enough that there are parties of Glendower's +men hanging on its skirts, to cut off stragglers, and plunder any +waggons whose horses may have fallen by the way."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a terribly dangerous service," Sir Edmund said, gravely; +"but in truth, I see no other way of forwarding this letter; which, +for aught I know, may be of high importance. But if this is a +desperate enterprise, it is also one that will bring you great +credit, if safely carried through. I will myself, if you go, give +you a letter to the king, saying that you have volunteered for this +desperate undertaking, from your loyalty to his person, and because +it is possible that the letter may contain matter of the highest +importance, to him and the realm in general. I shall add that you +have already greatly distinguished yourself, in service against the +Welsh, and are the trusty esquire of my brother-in-law, Sir Henry +Percy."</p> + +<p>"I quite feel, Sir Edmund, that the enterprise is a dangerous +one; but I am nevertheless determined, with your permission, to +undertake it. My henchman and myself have, together, gone through +dangers as great; and may pass through this, as well."</p> + +<p>"I will give you my answer in half an hour, Master Oswald, when +I have talked it over with my knights, and heard their opinions as +to whether any better plan can be devised."</p> + +<p>Oswald bowed and retired and, seeking out Roger, told him of the +offer that he had made.</p> + +<p>"Well, master, if you are bent upon this enterprise, you will +not find me backward; and indeed, I am so sick of this six months +of idleness, and of seeing others marching to Wales to fight, while +we do nothing here; that, by Saint Bride, were you to ask me to go +into Glendower's stronghold, and pluck him by the beard, I would +willingly go with you."</p> + +<p>Oswald laughed.</p> + +<p>"'Tis not so bad as that, Roger, and yet 'tis a service of great +danger. How think you that we had best set about it, on horse or on +foot?"</p> + +<p>Roger looked surprised at the question.</p> + +<p>"It would surely be better to go on horseback, master; for if we +met too many Welshmen to fight, we might at least ride away from +them."</p> + +<p>"There is truth in that, Roger; but, on the other hand, our feet +will carry us up and down mountains, and fells, where our horses +could not go. If mounted, we must travel by beaten tracks, and +might be seized by parties of Welsh, lurking in the woods, before +we knew of their presence. Without horses, we could ourselves keep +within shelter of the trees, and could so evade the observation of +any who might be stationed on lofty hills, to watch if any body of +troops were following the track of the army. Moreover, we should +have no trouble about forage and water for our steeds."</p> + +<p>"Enough, master, I see which way your inclinations lie; and as +my legs have had a long holiday, it is but right that they should +carry me for a bit; and assuredly, 'tis easier for footmen to hide +than it is for horsemen."</p> + +<p>"I should say, Roger, that it would be best to leave armour, as +well as horses behind. If we are attacked by numbers, our armour +will serve us but little; while if without it, we may be able, even +if chased, to avoid the hands of these Welshmen. They say that they +are swift of foot; but, as we can hold our own with the +Northumbrian border men, we ought to be able to do so against these +Welsh, especially as our legs are nigh a foot longer than those of +the greater part of them."</p> + +<p>"Very well, master. I myself have no great love for travelling +in armour, and would almost as soon march in a monk's gown, again, +as in breastplate and back piece."</p> + +<p>"Very well, so we will arrange it. We shall have to carry our +provisions, for you may be sure that we shall get nothing, +whatever, while we are following the army. They will strip the +country clean. You know how terribly they have suffered by famine, +on the two previous expeditions; and it will assuredly be no +better, now. Food, however, we can procure at Shrewsbury, from +which point we shall take our start."</p> + +<p>A retainer, at this moment, came out from the hall, and informed +Oswald that Sir Edmund would speak with him. When he entered, +Mortimer said:</p> + +<p>"My knights and I agree that this letter ought to be sent +forward to the king; for if it contains matters of importance, +great harm might result from delay, and the king's anger be excited +against us, for not having sent it to him. His orders to me were +strict, that neither I nor any of my force should join him; +therefore I accept your offer, with thanks. Have you formed any +plan for your proceeding?"</p> + +<p>Oswald repeated the substance of what he had said to Roger.</p> + +<p>"I think, perhaps, you are right," Mortimer said, "and that you +may have more chance of getting safely through, on foot, than if +you rode with but a small force to escort you. When you are ready +to start, I will speak to you in private, touching some things +connected with your journey."</p> + +<p>When Oswald returned, Mortimer said to him:</p> + +<p>"You see, Master Oswald, the position is by no means simple. +There can be no doubt that the king regards me with no favourable +eye. He holds my nephews in his keeping, and doubtless imagines +that I bear him ill will. As their uncle, he supposes that, should +at any time a party be formed to place the Earl of March on the +throne, I should be the leader in the matter; though assuredly I +have never given him any reason to doubt my loyalty.</p> + +<p>"I say not that I approved of the deposition of King Richard; +and indeed I have not, like Lord Grey and many other nobles, among +them the Percys, been a warm supporter of King Henry's cause. I +hold myself altogether neutral, in that matter. I saw that nothing +would be more ruinous, for the country, than that a boy like my +nephew should mount the throne; and had a party been formed to make +him king, instead of Henry, I would have taken no share in it. +Nevertheless, there is no getting over the fact that, by right, the +Earl of March is King of England, and there is no saying what may +come about in the future; but assuredly, at the present time, I am +as ready to do my duty towards King Henry as are those who are +louder in their expressions of attachment to him.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, I am well aware that the king distrusts me. As +you see, he has not, these three times that he has invaded Wales, +come near Ludlow. He has not summoned me to join his banner; nay, +more, has strictly ordered me not to send a man-at-arms to join +him.</p> + +<p>"I own that this letter troubles me, somewhat. Why should it not +have been carried to Shrewsbury, instead of being brought hither? +It has, indeed, come from London, and those who sent it may not +know that the king would move by Shrewsbury, and not by this line; +which would, indeed, be more direct for him in advancing into +Montgomery and Cardiganshire. On the other hand, it may be a snare. +If I send it not forward, he might blame me greatly for holding it +back. If I send it forward, and perchance it falls, on the way, +into the hands of the Welsh, he might harbour the thought, even if +he did not accuse me openly, of conniving with Glendower. One +pretext is as good as another, however unlikely it may be, when a +king desires to make a quarrel with one of his vassals. Your offer +to carry it is, then, a very seasonable one, and goes far to get me +out of the difficulty.</p> + +<p>"In the first place, by sending it by you, I afford no ground +for him to say that I have disobeyed his orders, to send no one of +my following to his army; and in the next place, whatever suspicion +he may have of me, assuredly he can have none of the Percys, to +whom he so largely owes his crown; and that a trusted squire of +Hotspur should be the bearer of the letter, is sufficient proof +that all that could be done, was done, for its safe carriage. +Should you fail to deliver it, he can, at least, not put it down to +any fault of mine.</p> + +<p>"Sir James Burgon and Sir Philip Haverstone both offered to +carry it, urging that the danger should fall on them; and not upon +you, who are still an esquire, and have no duty towards me in the +affair; and that it were a shame that they should remain here, +idle, while you rode, perhaps, to your death.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly, my feelings were with them and, were it not for the +circumstances in which I am placed, I should certainly intrust the +enterprise to them; but on my laying the whole matter before them, +and pointing out that the coming of two of my knights to him would +be a breach of the king's orders, they saw that, since you were +willing to undertake it, it were best that it should be so.</p> + +<p>"I doubt not that Henry would, not unwillingly, fasten some +quarrel on me. He has his army at hand and, did he march hither, he +could seize my lands, and those of my nephew, and partition them +out among his friends; for I am in no condition to strike a single +blow in my defence. We know, well enough, that when a king wishes +to get rid of one of his nobles, there is never any great +difficulty in finding a pretext for his arrest, and execution."</p> + +<p>"I quite understand, Sir Edmund; and for my part, I will +assuredly do my best to place this letter in the hands of the king. +I shall say that, being of Sir Henry Percy's household, and knowing +that my lord would be glad that I should have the opportunity of +striking a blow under the king's leading, I volunteered at once, +when the letter arrived, to bear it to him; and that, seeing his +majesty had laid his orders on you, to keep all your force in +readiness to repel Glendower, should he issue out in this quarter, +you granted my request that I should be its bearer."</p> + +<p>"That will do well, Oswald. I know that the danger is by no +means small, but I trust that you may surmount it. I shall send off +a letter, today, to Hotspur. Doubtless you will, yourself, be +writing to him, and explain to him why I have suffered you to +undertake so dangerous an enterprise."</p> + +<p>Two hours later, Oswald, having despatched the messenger to +Hotspur with his own letter, and that of Mortimer, mounted, and +with Roger rode to Shrewsbury. Here he was able to gather but +little news, as to the present position of the army. For four days +no messengers had arrived from the king.</p> + +<p>The last news was to the effect that the army was marching +forward, through Montgomeryshire. On first starting, they had made +a long march to Welshpool, and thence had proceeded to Newtown. On +the way, the Welsh had rushed down from the hills, and had fallen +on the baggage, slain many of the drivers, and killed so many +horses that it had been necessary to leave some of the waggons +behind.</p> + +<p>At Newtown they halted, and parties had been sent out in all +directions to harry the country, while a part of the force left at +Welshpool marched upon Llanfair. This was the last news that had +come through from the king.</p> + +<p>But from Welshpool they heard, next day, that there had been +several skirmishes with the Welsh, and that heavy rains had made +the roads all but impassable. No more messages had come. This was +not surprising, as it was certain that the Welsh would close in +behind the army, as it advanced; and as there would be no great +occasion to send news back, the king would not care to weaken +himself, by detaching escorts of sufficient strength to make their +way down.</p> + +<p>"If we could have been sure which way the king had been going, +Roger, it would have been much shorter for us to have made direct +for Llanidloes."</p> + +<p>"Certainly it would, Master Oswald; but you see, he might have +turned more to the north, in which case we should have, perhaps, +been unable to gather news of his whereabouts, while we should have +run no small risk of getting our throats cut."</p> + +<p>"It is evident, Roger, that the king is marching, at present, in +the direction of Plinlimmon. No doubt he hopes that Glendower will +come down and give him battle, but methinks he will not be foolish +enough to do so. The weather, and the hills, will fight far better +for him than the Welsh, themselves, can do; and he has but to leave +the army to wander about through the mountains and forests, as he +did last time, to ensure that they must, ere long, fall back."</p> + +<p>At daybreak the next morning, they set out and rode to +Welshpool. This being a walled town, and the population almost +entirely English, they could leave their horses here, in safety. +They first went to the governor's, and upon Oswald's explaining +that they were the bearers of a letter for the king, and asking +whether he could give them any information as to the direction they +had best take, he shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No news has come hither, for the last five days," he said. "A +herd of bullocks arrived here, three days since, and were to have +been forwarded on to the army; but the Welsh are out in force, and +every road beset. Parties have come down from the hills overlooking +us, and have fired several houses, that escaped when they last +attacked us. My force is sufficient to hold the town against any +attacks, but I cannot spare so many men as would be required to +convoy the cattle. I told the king so, before he went on; but he +said that no Welshman would dare show himself, when the army had +once passed on; and that every Welsh house and village would be +destroyed, and all within them put to the sword, so that I should +have no difficulty in sending forward cattle, and other +supplies.</p> + +<p>"That the villages have been destroyed I have no doubt, for the +messengers who came in from Llanfair told me that, as they passed +over the hills, they could see smoke rising from the forests in all +directions; but whether the inhabitants remained, quietly awaiting +the arrival of the troops, is more than doubtful. There were beacon +fires on all the hills, the night before the army left Shrewsbury, +and again on the next night. Since then, we have seen no more from +here, but those who came from Llanfair told us that they were +burning, on every hill, the night they got there; so I have no +doubt that the old men, women, and children were at once sent off, +probably to shelter in the Plinlimmon district, or mayhap in the +forests of Cader Idris. At any rate, we may be sure that very few +will be found at their villages. It was so the last time the king's +army marched along, and the same when he made his way through +Denbigh to Anglesey.</p> + +<p>"The Welsh care little for the burning of their houses. It takes +but two or three days' work to rebuild them. The harrying of the +villages will not bring the matter a day nearer to a conclusion. It +is by destroying the castles and houses of the better class that an +effect will be produced. The peasants have little to lose. The +Welsh gentry have houses and estates, and the fear of losing these +may drive them to abandon Glendower, and to come over to us. Many +did so, after the king's last invasion. Methinks the best policy +would be to spare the villagers, and give the peasants no cause for +complaint, and to war only against their leaders.</p> + +<p>"But as to yourself, sir, there is not the most remote chance of +your getting through; and you had best wait here until the army +returns, or some levies, who may have arrived late at Shrewsbury, +come up on their way to join the king."</p> + +<p>"I inquired at Shrewsbury, last night, sir; but I heard that no +more parties were expected, the contingents from all the counties +having joined the king, at Worcester, on the day ordered. My +intention is that I and my man-at-arms will leave our horses here, +and go forward on foot. In that way we can travel, for the most +part, through the forests; and may escape being seen. We have +already left our armour behind us, at Ludlow, so as to be able to +move more rapidly. We are both Northumbrians, and are accustomed to +traverse moors and fells; and, even should we be seen by any +straggling party of the enemy, we shall have a fair chance of +outrunning them, and throwing them off our track. At any rate, it +is my duty to endeavour to carry the letter to the king."</p> + +<p>"Is it a matter of life and death?"</p> + +<p>"That I know not, sir. A royal messenger brought it, from +London, to Ludlow. He had ridden with relays of horses, but had no +means of getting farther, and begged Sir Edmund Mortimer to forward +it. I myself, an esquire of Sir Henry Percy, was staying as a guest +with Sir Edmund--who is, as you know, my lord's brother-in-law--and +I volunteered to carry it, being anxious to have an opportunity of +doing service to the king."</p> + +<p>"It was a bold offer, young man, and doubtless, when you made +it, you were scarce aware how dangerous was the business that you +undertook. Did I think that it would be of any use, I would furnish +you with twenty men-at-arms to ride with you; but I know that such +a force would, in no way, add to your safety. You might get as far +as Llanidloes, or Llanfair, whichever route you might choose, +though I think not that you would do so; but beyond that, it would +be hopeless for any force, of less than five hundred good fighting +men, to attempt to make their way through.</p> + +<p>"From what I hear, there are at least fifteen thousand Welshmen +in arms. Many, doubtless, are with Glendower himself. The rest will +be scattered among the hills, ready to pounce upon any party who +may be moving up the valleys to join the king; and there are plenty +of places where a couple of hundred men could check the advance of +an army."</p> + +<p>"Then it is all the more necessary, sir, that we should trust to +good fortune, and to making our way unseen. May I pray you to take +care of our horses, till we return to claim them? Should we never +do so, there are doubtless many upon whom you could bestow them; +and they are both rarely good animals, for one was presented to me +by Sir Henry Percy, and the other by Sir Edmund Mortimer."</p> + +<p>"I will take care of them, willingly. If you do not return, +before the king marches back; and I find, when he comes, that you +did not reach him; I will use the horses myself, holding them +always as your property should you, at any time, return to claim +them. Is there aught else that I can do to help you?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; what would, of all other things, be most valuable to +us would be a guide; but, from what I have seen and heard of the +Welsh, I fear that no reliance, whatever, can be placed on one of +them."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not at present. Did you take one, he would but slip +away at the first opportunity; and there is no Englishman, so far +as I know, who could guide you through the mountains."</p> + +<p>"In that case, sir, we must perforce travel close to the roads, +so as to be sure that we do not wander from the track, but keeping +in the shelter of the forest."</p> + +<p>"That is the only possible course," the governor agreed; "to be +lost, among those hills, would be certain death. If you failed to +fall in with anyone, you would die of hunger. If you did meet +anyone, you would be killed. Glendower spares no Englishman who +falls into his hands."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that he can be greatly blamed for that, sir," +Oswald said with a smile, "seeing that the Welsh meet with such +scant mercy, from us."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a savage war," the governor said, shrugging his shoulders, +"and it seems to me that it will continue, until the last Welshman +is exterminated."</p> + +<p>"That will be a difficult thing, indeed, to effect," Oswald +laughed; "as difficult as was the extermination of wolves in +England; but I hope that matters will arrange themselves, long +before that. Surely, in time, the Welsh leaders will see that the +struggle is a hopeless one; and that they will lose their homes, +and their possessions, and their lives, if they continue it.</p> + +<p>"Brave as the Welsh may be, they cannot withstand the whole +strength of England. They may exist in the forests, for a time; +but, with all the valleys and fertile lands in English hands, they +will at last be forced to submit."</p> + +<p>"It would seem so; but Edward said the same thing, of Scotland. +He carried fire and sword through it, time after time; and yet +Scotland has still its king, and holds its own on the border."</p> + +<p>"That is so, sir; but Scotland is a large country, whereas Wales +is a small one; and the towns and castles are English, as are all +the ports; and the people themselves, although brave, are wholly +without discipline, and are able to fight only in the mountains; +while the Scots are strong enough to give battle to us on level +ground, and have defeated us, more than once."</p> + +<p>"My advice to you is to leave the town at night," the governor +said, as Oswald rose to leave. "There may be many of the Welsh +lying round us now; and doubtless they learn, from their countrymen +here, all that is doing. I will give you a scroll, ordering that +you are allowed to pass out at any time, by night or day."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. I had intended to start tomorrow morning, two +hours before daybreak, so as to get well into the forest before +sunrise. I shall, of course, go first to Llanidloes; where, +doubtless, a strong guard will have been left. As far as that I +cannot well miss my way, as I shall have but to keep along the side +of the valley."</p> + +<p>"That is so. Beyond that, the river is a mere streamlet, and you +will have to make across the hills."</p> + +<p>"Do you know, sir, whether the force that went to Llanfair was +to effect a junction with the king?"</p> + +<p>"No, I believe not; at any rate, not for the present. The party +was to march west; the king's force was to move south of +Plinlimmon; Lord Talbot's to cross the range of hills, and come +down upon the river Dovey and, if possible, prevent Glendower, if +he is still on Plinlimmon, from making his way to Dinas Mowddwy, or +Cader Idris, or up to Snowdon again. The plan is doubtless as good +as another, but I doubt whether Talbot's force, if ten times as +numerous as it is, could prevent Glendower from slipping away."</p> + +<p>That evening Oswald bought a supply of bread and meat, +sufficient to last Roger and himself for three days. This was +divided in halves and placed in bags, which would be slung over +their shoulders. The horses had already been sent up to the castle +and, after sleeping for a few hours, the two left the town and, +turning to the right, ascended the hill.</p> + +<p>Oswald carried his sword and dagger. Roger, in addition to +these, had a heavy oaken quarterstaff.</p> + +<p>"This," he said, "may be of service in mountain work, and may +suffice to crack the skulls of any half-dozen Welshmen we may fall +in with."</p> + +<p>Both had put on plain leather jerkins and cloth caps, and wore, +underneath, their own suits with the Percy cognizance embroidered +on them, in order that they might present themselves in proper +attire, should they arrive at the king's camp. The weather was +already becoming cold, and the double suit was therefore not +uncomfortable. As the dress of the Welsh, in the towns and valleys, +was very similar to that worn by English villagers; they would +attract but little attention, should they have cause to take to the +road, for any short distance.</p> + +<p>Keeping within the edge of the belt of trees, they followed the +valley down past the ruins of Montgomery, and passed Newtown +without entering it. Many times during the morning they heard loud +shouts, from the woods in which they were, answered by similar +cries from the other side of the valley; and were obliged to move +with great caution, for it was evident that a considerable number +of Welsh were in ambush in the woods, in readiness to attack any +party who might be proceeding up or down the valley.</p> + +<p>Towards noon, they were obliged to leave the edge of the forest, +and to ascend to the brow of the hills; as it was certain that any +parties of the enemy, who might be in the forest, would be +assembled near its edge, in readiness to pour suddenly down.</p> + +<p>More than once they heard voices, but a short distance away; and +paused, for a time, to allow parties of men to cross ahead of them. +Their greatest danger lay in crossing the side valleys, but as the +Welsh would be expecting no one to come down these, they succeeded +in crossing without being observed.</p> + +<p>They were well content when, just as night was falling, they +came down upon Llanidloes. Crossing the wooden bridge over the +stream, they entered the town boldly; for, looking down upon it, +they had seen many men in armour in the streets, and knew that the +place was occupied by the English.</p> + +<p>At the gate at the end of the bridge they were asked their +business, but they replied that they could only answer that to the +officer commanding, and were taken before him.</p> + +<p>"Whence come you, friends?" the latter said. "Surely you must be +English, by your height; but what you are doing here, in times like +the present, I know not. Come you from the king's army, or from the +north?"</p> + +<p>"We left Welshpool before daybreak," Oswald said, "and have +travelled through the forest."</p> + +<p>"Then you must be as bold as you are tall, sirs, for the woods +are full of these wild Welsh."</p> + +<p>"Of that we are aware, sir, and we had some difficulty in making +our way through them, unobserved. I would not answer the guard, +when we entered; for we are going farther, and had it been +mentioned, in the hearing of a Welshman, news might have been sent +on ahead."</p> + +<p>"I think not that you can reach the king. When we last heard, +his foremost divisions were marching forward, and devastating the +country on both sides of their line of march. We have heard reports +that some of the parties have been attacked, and well-nigh +destroyed; and certain it is that Glendower's men are scattered all +over the country.</p> + +<p>"We were three days without news, but this morning a strong +party came, in escorting sick and wounded. They had to fight hard, +but beat off their opponents, and got in with the loss of a third +of their number. They had started at night, and fortunately arrived +within five miles of here, before they were attacked."</p> + +<p>"And where is the king now, sir?"</p> + +<p>"The king himself is at Capel Bangor, and the army lies between +that place and Yspetty Cynfyn."</p> + +<p>"Then 'tis but a day's march from here!"</p> + +<p>"It would be but a short day's march, could you follow the road; +but it would be impossible to do so, for 'tis beset everywhere, and +'tis so rough and hilly that, in places, the men-at-arms had to +dismount. You will have to wait here till a large force sets out, +with provisions; for those who came in declare that they will not +attempt to return, so great is the number of Welshmen along there, +and so fierce and reckless are they.</p> + +<p>"But you have not yet told me who you are, and why you would +push on to the army thus rashly."</p> + +<p>Oswald opened his jerkin, and showed the handsome attire beneath +it, embroidered with the Percy cognizance.</p> + +<p>"I am an esquire of Sir Henry Percy," he said, "and have been +staying for a while with Sir Edmund Mortimer, whose sister is my +lord's wife. A royal messenger arrived at Ludlow, with a letter for +the king; and as there was no other way of bringing it forward, I +volunteered to carry it, with my man-at-arms, here."</p> + +<p>"It was a brave offer, young sir, but I fear that you will +scarce be able to carry it into effect. The men who came here +report that it is unsafe to stir a yard from the camp; for those +who wander away, for however short a distance, are sure to be slain +by the lurking Welshmen. No resistance is offered when strong +parties go out, but less than two hundred men-at-arms cannot hope +to move, unattacked."</p> + +<p>"'Tis for that reason that I have come on foot," Oswald said. "I +saw that it would be hopeless for two horsemen to get through, but +on foot we may travel through the woods without being discovered; +while if we are seen, methinks it would need speedy feet to catch +us."</p> + +<p>"Well, since you bear a royal letter I cannot stop you; but it +seems to me that your chance of getting through is small, +indeed."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch17">Chapter 17</a>: Knighted.</h2> + +<p>Rain was coming down in torrents, when Oswald and Roger started +the next morning. On leaving the town they turned to the left, with +the intention of making a considerable detour; keeping well away +from the road, as it was near this that the Welsh would be most +likely watching. They chose this side because, to the right of the +road, the country was more broken, rising swell after swell towards +Plinlimmon; and it was likely that the largest portion of the Welsh +would be on that side, so that they could, at any time, retire to +their fastnesses.</p> + +<p>They were soon in the woods. The streams they met with were +turbid, and full to the brim.</p> + +<p>"We shall have trouble with this water, Roger," Oswald said, as +they waded across one, waist deep. "This is but a little stream, +but if there are larger ones, as is like enough, we shall have to +swim before we are done. There is one advantage; in such weather as +this, even the Welsh will scarce be active."</p> + +<p>"They have not got much clothing to wet," Roger said. "Their +dress is better suited than ours for such weather."</p> + +<p>The way was a rough one. Hills, although of no great height, had +to be crossed, and many streams to be waded. Fortunately, they met +with few larger than that they had first crossed; for the water +from that side of the hills made its way, for the most part, direct +into the Severn; while that which came down from the slopes of +Plinlimmon, towards the road, fell into a stream; dry in fine +weather, but now a raging torrent, which ran past Llandulas and +into the Severn, at Llanidloes.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that we are going right, Roger?" Oswald said, +after they had been walking for six or seven hours; "for, what with +these ups and downs, and turnings and windings, there is no saying +which is east and which is west. If the sun were shining we should +be sure of our direction, but with these dull leaden clouds there +is no saying."</p> + +<p>"I have no idea, master. If we were out on a moor we should be +able to judge, and to make a fairly straight course, keeping the +wind and rain on one side of us; but in this thick forest, though +most of the leaves have fallen, those that remain on the branches +break up the rain, and it seems to come straight down upon us."</p> + +<p>Presently they came to another watercourse.</p> + +<p>"Why, Roger, the water is going in the other direction!"</p> + +<p>"So it is, master. How can that be?"</p> + +<p>"It is just possible that we have crossed some dividing point, +and the water is making its way towards the south, and will fall +into some other river; but I am very much afraid that the real +explanation is, that we have entirely lost our way, and are going +in the opposite direction to that in which we started. The question +is, shall we cross it or shall we follow it down?"</p> + +<p>"Just as you like," Roger said. "For myself, I think that the +best way would be to find some place where we could shelter. +Tomorrow the sun may be out again, and that will tell us which way +to go. If we start at daybreak, and keep it to our back, we can't +go far wrong."</p> + +<p>"Except that we may pass the army altogether, Roger. They told +us that the rearmost division was not more than ten miles +ahead."</p> + +<p>"We must have walked double that already, I should say, +master."</p> + +<p>"Not so much as that. We have been a long time over it, but it +is slow travelling over this broken ground, and thick wood. I am +sure I hope that we have not gone twenty miles, or anything like +it; for in that case, if we have been keeping fairly in the right +direction, we must have passed the army. If we have been going in +the wrong direction, there is no saying where we may be.</p> + +<p>"Still, I think that your suggestion is a good one. It is of no +use our going on, when we may be getting farther away at every +step. It is lucky that we bought these thick cloaks, at Welshpool; +for without them we should have been soaked to the skin, hours +ago."</p> + +<p>"Well, as we have been wetted to the waist a score of times, in +the streams, I don't see that it would have mattered much, if the +rest of us had been wet through."</p> + +<p>"Well, now let us look for a shelter."</p> + +<p>After searching for half an hour, they found a spot where a wall +of shaly rock barred their way. At one spot some of this had fallen +in, forming a sort of shallow cave, some three feet deep.</p> + +<p>"This is not a bad beginning, Roger, but we must try and make it +a great deal more snug."</p> + +<p>They first cut down some young fir poles, and placed them so as +to form a sort of penthouse against the wall. On these they piled a +number of branches, of the same trees, until it was over a foot in +thickness.</p> + +<p>"So far, so good," Oswald said. "Now, Roger, look about for a +fallen tree. We have passed scores on our way. You must get a +thoroughly rotten one, and cut away a portion of the under side; it +will be dry enough, there."</p> + +<p>"You might get a little of that to start with," Roger said; "but +the ground is covered everywhere with fir cones, and there is no +better stuff for fires."</p> + +<p>Taking off his cloak he laid it down, and they both piled the +fir cones on this, until a great heap was collected. This they +carried into their shelter, through an opening they had left in the +penthouse.</p> + +<p>"We must have something dry to start it with. These cones are a +great deal too wet to burn, without a good heat to start them. +There is nothing better than the fir needles, master, if we can +find some dry ones."</p> + +<p>After some searching, a considerable number of these needles +were collected; some lying under fallen trees, and others swept by +the wind into rocky corners, where the rain had not reached +them.</p> + +<a id="PicJ" /> +<center> +<img src="images/j.jpg" alt= +"Now, I think we shall do, Roger" +/> </center> + +<p>"Now I think that we shall do, Roger."</p> + +<p>As soon as they were inside, Roger produced a large lump of dry +fungus he had found, on the other side of the Severn; and, by the +aid of his flint and steel, soon succeeded in striking sparks upon +it. As soon as these began to spread, he put a little pile of fir +needles on it; and, blowing gently, bright flames soon darted up. A +few more handfuls of fuel were added, and fir cones placed at the +top; and in a quarter of an hour, a clear, bright fire was +burning.</p> + +<p>The dripping cloaks were hung up to the fir poles, to dry; and +the jerkins, which were also damp, although the water had not +penetrated through them, were spread near the fire.</p> + +<p>"It was well that I bought this little skin of wine, last +night," Roger said. "You thought it was better to be without such a +burden, but the weight of a gallon of wine doesn't count for much, +and it makes all the difference in our comfort, here."</p> + +<p>The rain had soaked through their provision bags, but the bread +and meat in the centre were dry; and of these they made a hearty +meal and, laying the wetted food round the fire to dry, they wound +up the repast with a long draught of wine.</p> + +<p>"Now, as soon as our breeches are dry, Master Oswald, we shall +be thoroughly comfortable."</p> + +<p>"Yes, one can wish for nothing better. But we must not forget +that some Welshmen may come along, and if so, will be sure to want +to know what is inside."</p> + +<p>"Then, unless there happen to be more than a dozen of them, +their curiosity may cost them dear," Roger said grimly. "I don't +think there is much fear of it. We have neither seen nor heard of +any, since we started; and it would be evil fortune, indeed, if a +party happened to come along just at this spot."</p> + +<p>"The fact that we have heard no one is a bad sign, Roger; for it +would seem to show that we must have gone a long way out of our +course."</p> + +<p>The rain continued to fall heavily, all that afternoon and +throughout the night, and no change of the weather was discernible +the next morning.</p> + +<p>"We had best stop here for another day, Roger, unless the sky +clears; we are not likely to find so good a place for shelter, and +it is of no use to wander about, when every step may be taking us +farther away. However, we can climb up to the top of this hill, at +whose foot we are, and endeavour to get a view over the +country."</p> + +<p>Roger shook his head.</p> + +<p>"In this heavy mist we should not see a quarter of a mile away. +We have got all our clothes dry, now, and it would be a pity to get +them wet again, without need or profit. Anyhow, we will find some +more of those fir cones. Our supply is nearly gone."</p> + +<p>In half an hour they had got sufficient to last them all day. +There was nothing for them then to do but sleep, one or other +keeping watch, so as to prevent the chance of their being +surprised.</p> + +<p>Before lying down for the night, Roger looked out.</p> + +<p>"Methinks that the rain has stopped, though it would be +difficult to say, for the drops keep pattering down from the trees. +Well, I mightily hope that it will be a fine morning."</p> + +<p>Oswald was first upon his feet and, on going out, uttered an +exclamation of satisfaction. The morning was breaking and, though +light clouds were moving across the sky, glimpses of the blue were +visible, here and there. Already the light showed where the sun +would presently rise.</p> + +<p>Food was hastily eaten, and they then started on their way +again. There could be no mistake, now, as to the general direction; +and, keeping the sun on their right hand, they made their way +north. From the top of a hill, somewhat higher than the others, +they caught a view of Plinlimmon.</p> + +<p>"If we make straight for it," Oswald said, "we ought to come +down on the road near the camp. We can go on fearlessly for some +time, for the Welsh were hardly likely to be moving about, +yesterday or the day before; and I have no doubt they sheltered +themselves, as best they could, in arbours like ours."</p> + +<p>After walking for another two hours, they heard the distant +sound of a trumpet.</p> + +<p>"That cannot be more than two or three miles away, Roger. Now, +we shall have to be careful."</p> + +<p>They had walked a mile when, as they descended into a glen, they +came suddenly on a party of twenty Welshmen, sitting round a fire. +These had been concealed from them by the thick undergrowth, and +were not twenty yards away, when they first saw them. The Welsh had +evidently heard them coming, by the rustle of leaves and the +breaking of twigs; and two or three were standing up, looking in +their direction, when they caught sight of them. These gave a loud +yell, which brought the rest to their feet.</p> + +<p>"Run, Roger, run. It is a question of legs, now;" and, turning, +they darted up the hill they had just descended.</p> + +<p>Looking back for a moment as, after running for about a mile, +they reached the crest of a swell; Oswald saw that five of their +pursuers had distanced their comrades, but were no nearer than when +they started.</p> + +<p>"I think we can hold them, Roger. Take it a little more easily +now. We are all right as far as speed goes. It is simply a question +of bottom."</p> + +<p>Their pursuers, however, still stuck to them and, after running +for another half-mile, the five men were still but some thirty +yards behind; while their comrades' shouts could be heard through +the forests and, from time to time, the men close behind them +joined in a loud quavering cry.</p> + +<p>"We must stand and rid ourselves of these fellows, Roger; or we +shall have half the Welsh nation down on us."</p> + +<p>"So I have been thinking, for some time."</p> + +<p>"Don't stop suddenly. We will slacken our pace, and they will +think that our strength is failing, and will redouble their +efforts. Then, when they are close to us, we will turn +suddenly."</p> + +<p>They heard a yell of exultation, as their pursuers found that +they were gaining upon them.</p> + +<p>"Choose a clear space, Roger, with room to swing our +weapons."</p> + +<p>The Welsh were running in a close body, but ten yards behind +them, when they arrived at a spot clear of trees.</p> + +<p>"Now, Roger!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, Oswald drew his sword and swung round, facing his +pursuers, while Roger did the same. The Welsh, taken by surprise, +endeavoured to check themselves; but before they could do so, +Roger's staff fell upon the head of one of them, while Oswald cleft +another to the chin. With the quickness of an adroit player with +the quarterstaff, Roger followed up his blow by almost +instantaneously driving the other end of the staff, with all his +force, against the chest of another, who was at the point of +leaping upon him; and the man fell, as if struck with a +thunderbolt. So swift had been the movements that the remaining two +men were paralysed, by the sudden fall of their companions; but +before they could turn to fly, the weapons descended again, with as +fatal result as before.</p> + +<p>"To the right!" Oswald exclaimed, and he dashed off into the +forest again, at a right angle to the line that they had before +taken. A minute later they heard an outburst of yells of fury, from +the spot they had quitted.</p> + +<p>"I don't think they will be quite so ready to follow, now," +Roger said. "They are like to be some time, before they take up our +track again."</p> + +<p>"We will break into a walk, in a few minutes, Roger; and then go +along quietly, and keep our ears open. Their yells will be bringing +others down, from all directions, and we might run right into the +middle of another party, if we kept on at this rate."</p> + +<p>In another five minutes they dashed down a steep descent, at +whose foot a streamlet, swelled now into a rushing stream, five or +six feet wide, was running.</p> + +<p>"We will follow this down," Oswald said, as he stepped into +it.</p> + +<p>It was a little over two feet deep, and they waded along it for +a couple of hundred yards, and then stepped out, where some rock +cropped out by the side of the stream. It had not yet dried after +the rain, and their feet therefore left no marks on it.</p> + +<p>"That was a sharp run, Roger," Oswald said as, with rapid but +stealthy steps, they strode along.</p> + +<p>"Ay, it was. My breath was coming short, when you gave the word +to stop. Another half mile would have finished me. Those Welshmen +run well."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt we should have beaten them, easily enough, on +the open ground, Roger; but they are more accustomed to this forest +work than we are.</p> + +<p>"Mind where you tread, and don't put your foot on fallen sticks. +There must be scores of them in the forest behind, yet, though I +don't think that they have struck our track. The nearest must be a +quarter of a mile away. I am not afraid of their overtaking us. It +is the risk of falling in with other parties that I am afraid +of."</p> + +<p>They now bore away to the right again. More than once they heard +parties moving near them, and stood quiet until their voices died +away; which they quickly did, as all were hurrying towards the spot +whence the shouting still continued.</p> + +<p>For an hour they kept straight onward, and then the trees +thinned; and as they stepped out from the edge of the forest they +saw, to their delight, a few tents in front of them, and a large +number of soldiers scattered about. As they were seen, some of the +soldiers caught up their arms; but when they saw that but two men +were approaching, they laid them down again, and proceeded with the +work on which most of them were engaged; in polishing up their arms +and armour, whose brightness had been grievously dimmed by the +rain. A sub-officer with four men came up to them, as they reached +the line.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, sirs?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I am an esquire of Sir Henry Percy, and have brought hither a +letter for the king."</p> + +<p>The man looked doubtfully at him, and Oswald continued, "I know +not whether the Earl of Talbot is in the camp, but if so he will, I +think, recognize me."</p> + +<p>"The earl arrived, with five hundred of his men, yesterday," the +officer said, with a tone of more respect than he had before used. +"I will take you to his tent;" and he led the way to a tent, +pitched a short distance away from that before which the royal +standard waved.</p> + +<p>Oswald took off his cloak, which was rolled up over his +shoulder, and handed it to Roger, and then opened his jerkin. As +they came up to the tent the front opened, and the earl himself +came out.</p> + +<p>"Whom have we here?" he asked the officer.</p> + +<p>"They have just come out of the forest, my lord, and this +gentleman asked to be taken to you, saying that you would recognize +him."</p> + +<p>The earl looked scrutinizingly at Oswald.</p> + +<p>"I seem to know your face, sir," he said, "but I cannot recall +where I have seen it."</p> + +<p>"My name is Oswald Forster, an esquire of Sir Henry Percy. I +joined you at Chester, my Lord Talbot, with a band of his men; and +some of Sir Edmund Mortimer's, led by one of his knights."</p> + +<p>"I remember now," the earl said. "Yes, I see you wear the Percy +badge; but how have you got here, and why have you come?"</p> + +<p>"I come as a simple messenger, my lord. A royal courier arrived +at Ludlow, with a letter from London for the king. His majesty had +laid his commands on Sir Edmund Mortimer, that he was not to weaken +his force by a single lance; and as, for aught Sir Edmund knew, the +letter might be of great importance, I volunteered to endeavour to +carry it through; taking with me only this man-at-arms, on whom I +could wholly rely, whatever might happen, he having accompanied me +on more than one dangerous expedition.</p> + +<p>"Sir Edmund consented. We rode first to Shrewsbury, to obtain +information as to the course the king had taken. At Welshpool we +left our horses behind us, thinking it easier to make our way +through the woods on foot, seeing that the roads were said to be +beset by the Welsh. So we reached Llanidloes; and then, hearing +where the king was then posted, from a convoy of wounded that had +been brought in that day, and who had been attacked and very hardly +treated as they came along, we thought to make a detour through the +woods, so as to get behind any Welshmen who might be watching the +road.</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately, in the storm of rain, having no guide, we lost +our way; and were so detained, near two days, in the forest. This +morning, the weather having changed and the sun come out, we +learned the direction that we must take. On the way we fell in with +a party of some twenty Welshmen, who pursued us hotly. We outran +all but five. As their shouts would have brought large numbers upon +us, we stopped and slew them; and though search was hot for us, we +succeeded in making our way through, without adventure, until we +came out from the forest, close by."</p> + +<p>"Truly it was an adventure of great peril," the earl said, "for +the Welsh are swarming round us; though we see nought of them, when +we are once in the saddle. Assuredly you would never have got +through, even as far as Llanidloes, if you had followed the road on +horseback; for the last party that came along brought word that the +Welsh had felled trees across it, in many places, and had broken +down the bridges.</p> + +<p>"It was a gallant exploit, sir. I will, myself, take you in to +the king."</p> + +<p>Oswald took off his jerkin.</p> + +<p>"I am but in poor plight to show myself before his majesty," he +said, as he handed it to Roger.</p> + +<p>"Ah! I remember this good fellow," the earl said. "He is not one +easily forgotten, for 'tis seldom one sees so stout a +man-at-arms.</p> + +<p>"As to your dress, 'tis nought; and indeed, it is in better +order than most in camp, for the soldiers have no tents, and have, +for the last forty-eight hours, been over their ankles in mud and +water.</p> + +<p>"Have you been with Mortimer ever since we harried Glendower's +valley?"</p> + +<p>"No, my lord. I returned after that to the north, and was at +Alnwick for nine months. Then Sir Henry sent me back again to +Ludlow, in order that I might keep him well informed of the extent +of this rebellion, concerning which but few tidings came to +him."</p> + +<p>They had, by this time, arrived at the entrance of the king's +tent. The two sentries on duty there stood back and saluted, as the +earl entered, followed by Oswald.</p> + +<p>"This, sire, is a messenger, one Master Oswald Forster, an +esquire of Sir Henry Percy's. He had been sent by his lord to +Ludlow, to keep him acquainted with the extent of this rebellion. +Some few days since, a royal messenger reached the town, with a +letter for you; as doubtless, in London, they cannot have known +which way you were marching, and directed it there, so that it +might be forwarded to you thence. Sir Edmund, having your royal +order not to send any force away, would have been at a loss how to +forward it; deeming that it would need a strong body of men-at-arms +to penetrate to you, as he knew, from what had happened on the two +last expeditions, that the Welsh, being unable to oppose your +advance, would swarm behind you, so as to prevent reinforcements or +convoys of provisions from reaching you. He was, therefore, +doubtful as to what course to adopt, when this gentleman +volunteered to carry it to you; and this he has accomplished, +attended by but a single follower. Knowing that he could only hope +to reach you on foot, he and his man-at-arms left their horses at +Welshpool; and have made their way through the woods on foot, not +without adventure, having lost their way in the storm, and having +slept in the wood for two days, and killed five Welshmen, scarcely +escaping a crowd of others as they came in."</p> + +<p>"A very gallant deed, sir," the king said to Oswald, as the +latter bent upon one knee and handed the letter to him. "By Our +Lady, it was no slight thing to venture through the woods, swarming +with these wild Welshmen. How long have you been an esquire to +Percy?"</p> + +<p>"Over three years, sire."</p> + +<p>"I met Master Forster at Chester," the earl said. "He commanded +a score of Percy's men, and rode with us when we captured +Glendower's house. The knights with him told me that he and his +little band had done excellent service, in the fight when the Welsh +made their first irruption; and that Sir Henry Percy had written in +the warmest terms to Mortimer, saying that the gentleman stood high +in his regard, and that he had the most perfect confidence in him, +and had selected him for the service since he was able to write +well, and could, therefore, communicate freely with him as to the +troubles on the Welsh border."</p> + +<p>"And have you been at Mortimer's ever since that time?" the king +asked.</p> + +<p>Oswald noticed that each time Mortimer's name was mentioned, the +king's brow was somewhat clouded.</p> + +<p>"Not so, your majesty. I returned to the north, with Percy's +men, a few days after the capture of Glendower's house. I came back +to Ludlow in the spring."</p> + +<p>"Why did Sir Henry Percy despatch you there again?" the king +asked, sharply.</p> + +<p>"From what he said, sire, it was because he was anxious to know +whether the rebellion was growing, fearing that there might be some +correspondence between Glendower and the Scots; and that, if it +should come to a point when you might have to lead the whole force +of the south to put the Welsh down, the Scots might make a great +irruption into the northern counties, and it would be needful for +him to keep a larger body of men than usual under arms; as the +earl, his father, and the Earl of Westmoreland, would have to stand +the whole brunt of the matter, for a time, without aid from the +south."</p> + +<p>The king's brow cleared.</p> + +<p>"It was a thoughtful act of Sir Henry," he said; "and 'tis like +enough that the Scots will, as you say, take advantage of our +troubles here; and it is well, therefore, that the Lords of the +Northern Marches should hold themselves in readiness.</p> + +<p>"What think you, Talbot? It seems to me that the bold service +this esquire has performed merits reward."</p> + +<p>"I think so, indeed," the earl said. "It was a singular act of +courage."</p> + +<p>The king drew his sword from his scabbard.</p> + +<p>"Kneel, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>And, as Oswald knelt, the king laid the sword across his +shoulder, and said, "Rise, Sir Oswald Forster."</p> + +<p>Oswald rose.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, my Lord King," he said, "and trust that I may live +for many years to do worthy knightly service to my liege, who has +so highly honoured me."</p> + +<p>"My lord," the king said to Talbot, "I leave it to you to see +that this young knight is provided with horse and armour. +Unfortunately there is more than one suit without an owner, at +present. You will do well to wait with me while I open this letter; +which, maybe, contains matter of moment."</p> + +<p>Feeling that his audience was over, Oswald bowed deeply, and +left the tent to rejoin Roger.</p> + +<p>"What said the king, master?"</p> + +<p>"He spoke much more highly of what we had done, Roger, than it +deserved; and as a reward for the service, he has just knighted +me."</p> + +<p>"I think that he has done well, master!" Roger exclaimed, +joyously. "I had hoped that Hotspur would have done it, after that +adventure with the Bairds; of which, as Alwyn told me, he spoke to +him in tones of wondrous praise."</p> + +<p>"That was a private business, Roger, and he would know that I +would much rather that, when knighthood came, I should receive it +for service in the field. The king regards our coming here as a +service to himself, and therefore rewarded me; but I would rather +that it should have been for service in the field, against the +enemy, than for tramping through the forest."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but a forest full of Welshmen," Roger said, "who are more +to be feared, in that way, than when met in open fight."</p> + +<p>"Earl Talbot spoke very kindly of me, and said that he had heard +that, with Percy's men, I had done good service in that fight with +the Welsh, near Knighton."</p> + +<p>"That was certainly pretty hot work, master--I shall get to say +Sir Oswald, in time; but at present my tongue is not used to it. +What are we to do now?"</p> + +<p>"The king asked Lord Talbot to provide me with armour, and a +horse; so we must wait until he comes this way."</p> + +<p>It was half an hour before the earl came out.</p> + +<p>"The letter was of importance," he said, "and it is well that it +was brought on.</p> + +<p>"Now, Sir Oswald, let us see to your matter. Two days ago Sir +William Baxter was killed, by a sudden attack of the Welsh, while +he was burning a village. His men rallied, beat off the Welsh, and +brought his body in; and methinks his armour will fit you, though +he was shorter, by two or three inches, than yourself."</p> + +<p>He accompanied Oswald to one of a small group of tents, standing +a quarter of a mile farther down the road.</p> + +<p>"Is Sir William Baxter's squire here?"</p> + +<p>A young man at once came up.</p> + +<p>"I was his esquire, my lord."</p> + +<p>"I have the king's orders," the earl said, "that his arms, +armour, and horses are to be handed over, forthwith, to Sir Oswald +Forster here, who will take command of his troop. He will take over +all the other belongings of the knight."</p> + +<p>The young squire bowed.</p> + +<p>"I will hand them over to you, sir."</p> + +<p>"You will, of course, take possession of the tent also, Sir +Oswald. Sir William was one of my knights. He was unwedded, and has +no male kin; therefore, you need have no hesitation in taking his +belongings; which indeed we should, in any case, have little chance +of taking back with us, for our waggons are but few, and will daily +become fewer: for on such roads as these, both waggons and horses +break down, and it will be as much as we can do to carry even +necessities with us.</p> + +<p>"Come to my tent at noon, it lacks but an hour of it, and I will +present you at dinner to some of my knights; among whom, for the +present, I shall rank you."</p> + +<p>So saying, he turned away. The young squire held open the +entrance of the tent, for Oswald to enter, and followed him in.</p> + +<p>"It seems a strange thing to be thus possessed of another man's +goods," he said.</p> + +<p>"It is often so," the squire said, "and sometimes even his +estates go with them, also. As the earl said, Sir William Baxter +had none to whom these things could have been given; seeing that he +had, so far as I know, only one sister, to whom armour and horses +could be of no use. She is one of the Countess of Talbot's +ladies."</p> + +<p>"And what are you going to do, yourself?"</p> + +<p>"For the present, I know not," the squire said. "I had been with +Sir William Baxter but three years. The knight I served with, +before, was thrown from his horse and killed; and Sir William, who +had been just knighted, took me into his service."</p> + +<p>"How long have you been a squire?"</p> + +<p>"Six years, and I hoped that, in this campaign, I might have +done something to win my spurs."</p> + +<p>"I am but a poor knight, Master--" and he paused.</p> + +<p>"Henry Pemberton," the squire said.</p> + +<p>"And being but knighted today, and having no lands to keep up my +knighthood, it may be that the earl will appoint you to another of +his knights; but should he not do so, I shall be glad if, for the +rest of this campaign, you will ride with me; and trust that you, +too, may have an opportunity of gaining knighthood, before it is +over. But whether or no, as soon as we cross the border again, I +doubt not that you will be able to find some lord under whom you +may gain advancement."</p> + +<p>"I will gladly do so, Sir Oswald. 'Tis strange that I should not +have seen your face before; for, since we left Worcester, I have +come to know the greater part of the esquires here."</p> + +<p>"I arrived but an hour ago," Oswald replied, "having made my way +through the Welsh, on foot, with that tall fellow you saw +without."</p> + +<p>"That was a dangerous deed, truly," Pemberton said, in tones of +surprise. "May I ask why you essayed so perilous a feat?"</p> + +<p>"I was the bearer of a despatch for the king. I was an esquire +to Sir Henry Percy, but have for some time been staying with his +brother-in-law, Sir Edmund Mortimer.</p> + +<p>"Had Sir William a man-at-arms, who served as his servant? For I +shall make my man-at-arms, who has gone through many adventures +with me, has fought by my side, and saved my life, my second +squire."</p> + +<p>"Yes, a very good and trusty fellow."</p> + +<p>"Then of course I shall keep him on. Now, will you tell my man +to come in?</p> + +<p>"Roger," he said, "You doubtless heard the earl's words, and I +am now master of this tent, together with the armour, horses, and +clothes of Sir William Baxter. Master Henry Pemberton will act as +my squire, during the campaign. You will be my second squire."</p> + +<p>"Well, master, I never looked so high as to become an esquire; +and would rather remain a simple man-at-arms, were it not that it +will keep me near you."</p> + +<p>"You will find Roger a good comrade, Master Pemberton. He has +been a man-at-arms at his own choice; for, as he can read and write +as well as any clerk, he might have done better for himself."</p> + +<p>Pemberton looked, with some surprise, at Roger. He himself had +not these accomplishments, and he was surprised at finding a +man-at-arms so well endowed.</p> + +<p>"As you may tell by his speech," Oswald went on, "he is, like +myself, a Northumbrian; and has done good service in the wars with +the Scots."</p> + +<p>"That I can well imagine," the squire said, with a smile. "I +would certainly wish for no stouter comrade."</p> + +<p>"We must see about arms and armour for you, Roger," Oswald +said.</p> + +<p>"There will be no difficulty about that. None whatever, Sir +Oswald. We have lost fully three hundred men, since we crossed the +border, and a hundred and fifty since we came here, four days +since. There is a pile of harness and arms, lying by the roadside; +and there, methinks, it is likely it will lie. You have but to go +with him, when you have attired yourself and buckled on spurs, and +you can pick and choose among it. Assuredly, no one will gainsay +you."</p> + +<p>Oswald now changed his attire. The clothes were handsome, and +fitted him well. Then he buckled on the golden spurs, put on the +knightly armour--for he had observed that the earl, and the knights +that he had seen in the camp, all kept on full armour, being ever +in expectation of sudden attack.</p> + +<p>"Truly you make a handsome figure, Sir Oswald," said Roger, who +had been assisting him. "Little did I think, when I used to rail at +you at your books, that you would grow into so stalwart a man; and +that I should follow you in the field, as your squire. Your armour +fits you as if made for you, save that these cuishes scarce meet +your body armour. In truth, though bad for him, it was lucky for +you that the master of this tent came to his death when he +did."</p> + +<p>"I like a steel cap better than this helmet, though I say not +that it looks so well."</p> + +<p>"Not by a long way," Roger said. "Nought could become you +better. What cognizance do you mean to take?"</p> + +<p>"I have not thought about it, yet. There will be time enough for +that, after the war is over."</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate, master, I will today set about getting Sir +William Baxter's off the shield. Methinks that, with some sand from +the river bed, I shall be able to manage it with an hour's +rubbing."</p> + +<p>"Now, come along, Roger. There is no time to be lost, for I dine +at midday with the Earl of Talbot. Master Pemberton will show us +where the armour is lying."</p> + +<p>There was, indeed, a large pile.</p> + +<p>Oswald then said, "As you are known, Master Pemberton, you had +better stop here; for it will take some picking before Roger is +suited. As it is but two minutes to twelve, I must hurry back to +Lord Talbot's tent."</p> + +<p>Some seven or eight knights were already there. Lord Talbot +introduced him to them and, as they dined, Oswald related, at their +request, more particularly how he had got through the Welsh--a task +that seemed to them well-nigh impossible, since the soldiers dared +not venture even to the edge of the forest, so thickly were the +Welsh posted there.</p> + +<p>"That man-at-arms must be a stalwart fellow, indeed," said one, +"to kill three Welshmen with nought but a quarterstaff."</p> + +<p>"If you had seen the man, and the staff, Sir Victor, you would +not be surprised," Lord Talbot said. "He stands some six feet four, +and has shoulders that might rival Samson's. As to his +quarterstaff, I marked it. It was of oak, and full two inches +across; and a blow with it, from such arms, would crack an iron +casque, to say nothing of a Welsh skull."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch18">Chapter 18</a>: Glendower.</h2> + +<p>For the next ten days the weather was so bad that no operations +could be carried on. Every little stream was swollen to a raging +torrent. Horses, carrying men in full armour, could scarce keep +their feet on the slippery moor; and even the footmen had the +greatest difficulty in getting about; and all excursions were given +up, for the Welsh, barefooted and unweighted with armour, would +have been able to fall upon them to great advantage, and could then +evade pursuit, with ease.</p> + +<p>The number of sick increased rapidly, and it became necessary to +send another convoy back to Llanidloes; where the guard were to +join the force that had gone there, ten days before, and to escort +some waggons of flour and a number of cattle, that had been brought +there from Welshpool by a strong levy from Shropshire.</p> + +<p>Ten knights, a hundred mounted men-at-arms, as many on foot, and +fifty archers were considered sufficient to escort the sick; who, +to the number of two hundred, were closely packed in the ten +waggons that were to return with flour. Three of Lord Talbot's +knights were to form part of the escort, and among these Oswald was +chosen by the earl.</p> + +<p>It was hoped that the convoy would reach the town without being +attacked, for great pains had been taken to prevent the news of its +approaching departure getting about; for there were many Welshmen +in the camp, employed in looking after the baggage animals, and in +other offices. They had all been hired for the service on the other +side of the border; but it was believed that some of them, at +least, must be in communication with the enemy; who were thereby +enabled to gather in force, to oppose any parties who sallied out +from the camp.</p> + +<p>The consequence was that, until half an hour before it left, +none save a few of the leaders were aware of the starting of the +convoy. Then orders were rapidly issued. The knights and +men-at-arms who had been selected for the service had but a few +minutes to prepare themselves. The horses were harnessed to the +waggons, and the sick and wounded carried out and placed in them, +with the greatest expedition, and the party set out in less than +half an hour after the first order had been given. It had gone but +a quarter of a mile when the shouts among the woods, on either +side, showed that the Welsh were vigilant. Horns were blown in all +directions, the sound growing fainter and fainter, in the +hills.</p> + +<p>"We shall not get through undisturbed," one of the knights said +to Oswald, who was riding next to him.</p> + +<p>"No, I think we shall have fighting. It would have been better +had we and the men-at-arms been told to leave our horses behind. In +this deep soil they will be of little use in a fight, and we should +do better on foot."</p> + +<p>"It would be terrible, marching in our heavy armour."</p> + +<p>"Doubtless it would have been so, but I should not have minded +that. The distance is but six miles; and although, in this slippery +plain, the toil would have been great, methinks that we could have +made a better fight than on horseback; and as these waggons travel +but slowly, we could have kept up with them."</p> + +<p>"We can dismount, if necessary," the knight said; "but, for my +part, I would rather ride than tramp through this deep mud."</p> + +<p>Their progress was indeed slow, the waggons frequently sank +almost up to their axles in the mud, and it needed all the efforts +of the dismounted men to get them out. A deep silence had succeeded +the outcry in the woods.</p> + +<p>"I like not this silence, Sir Oswald," the knight said; when, +after an hour's hard work, they were still but two miles from the +camp.</p> + +<p>"Nor do I," Oswald said. "It seems unnatural. Do you not think, +Sir William, that it would be well if all were to take the picket +ropes from their horses' necks, and knot them two and two, +fastening one end to a waggon and the other to a horse's girth. In +that way fifty men-at-arms might be roped on to the waggons, and +would aid those drawing them, greatly."</p> + +<p>"The idea is a very good one," the knight said.</p> + +<p>He rode forward to Sir Eustace de Bohun, who was in command, and +informed him of Oswald's suggestion, which was at once adopted. As +soon as it was carried out, the dismounted men were ordered to push +behind the waggons, which now proceeded at a much faster rate than +before.</p> + +<p>They were just half-way to the town, and beginning to entertain +hopes that they should get through without being attacked, when a +horn sounded; and from the forest on both sides, a crowd of men +rushed out, and poured a volley of arrows into the convoy. Hasty +orders were shouted by Sir Eustace, the ropes were thrown off, and +the troops formed up in a double line on each side of the +waggons.</p> + +<p>The knights and mounted men formed the outside line, and the +footmen stood a pace or two behind them; so as to cover them from +attack, should the Welsh break through. Oswald's esquire was on one +side of him, Roger on the other.</p> + +<p>The waggons continued to move forward, for at this point the +road was better, running across a bare rock, and the horses were +therefore able to draw them along without any assistance. Sir +Eustace therefore gave the order for the escort to continue their +way, marching on each side of the train.</p> + +<p>"We must fight our way through, men," he shouted; "every minute +will doubtless add to their numbers."</p> + +<p>For a short time the arrows flew fast. But the Welsh bows were +not to be compared, in point of strength, with those used by the +English archers; and the arrows fell harmlessly upon the armour of +the men-at-arms, while on the other hand, the English archers shot +so strongly and truly that, after a short time, the Welsh bowmen +fell back. As they did so, however, a crowd of footmen poured out +from the forest; and, with loud shouts and yells, rushed +forward.</p> + +<p>"Halt the waggons!" Sir Eustace cried. "Keep good order, men, +and we shall soon drive this rabble off."</p> + +<p>The archers had time but to send three flights of arrows among +their assailants, when these threw themselves upon the line. They +were armed with short axes, heavy clubs, and other rough weapons; +and for a time, the horsemen kept their order and beat them back; +but as the horns continued to sound, the Welsh swarmed down in such +numbers that they broke in between their mounted foes; some trying +to tear them from their saddles, while others crept beneath the +horses and drove their long knives into their stomachs, or tried to +hamstring them with their axes.</p> + +<p>Then the dismounted men-at-arms joined in the fight, and drove +the enemy back beyond the line. Many of the horsemen were, however, +dismounted. These joined their mounted comrades when Sir Eustace +gave the word to charge the multitude, before they could rally for +a fresh attack.</p> + +<p>The Welsh went down in numbers before their lances, but so close +was the throng that the horsemen were brought to a stand and, +slinging their spears behind them, betook themselves to sword and +mace. Great was the slaughter of their opponents, but these pursued +their former tactics. Horse after horse rolled over in mortal agony +and, as they fell, the riders were stabbed before they could +recover their feet. Soon they were broken up into knots; and their +dismounted companions, with one accord, left the waggons and rushed +into the fray, for a time beating back the Welsh.</p> + +<p>"It were best to dismount," Oswald cried, and he swung himself +from the saddle, just as one of the enemy hamstrung his horse. +Roger and the squire did the same, and joined the ranks of the +footmen.</p> + +<p>"Keep together!" Oswald shouted, to those within hearing; "we +can cut ourselves a passage through, in that way, while separately +we shall perish."</p> + +<p>Ten or twelve men followed his orders and, gathering in a ring, +for a time beat off every attack. Looking round, Oswald saw that +scarce a man remained mounted. The shouts of the English, and the +wild war cries of the Welsh, rang through the air. In a dozen +places fierce contests were raging--swords and axes rose and fell, +on helmet and steel cap.</p> + +<p>In obedience to the shouts of Sir Eustace, who, with three or +four men-at-arms around him, was still mounted, the English bands +tried to join each other, and in several cases succeeded. Oswald +had been near the rear of the convoy when the fight began, and the +party with whom he fought were separated by some distance from the +others, and the prospect became more and more hopeless. His squire +had fallen, and fully half the men who had joined him; and although +the loss of the Welsh had been many times as great, the number of +their assailants had in no way diminished.</p> + +<p>He and Roger strove, in vain, to cut a way through; and their +height and strength enabled them to maintain a forward movement, +their opponents shrinking from the terrible blows of Roger's mace, +and the no less destructive fall of Oswald's sword; but the +men-at-arms behind them fared worse, having to retreat with their +face to the foe; and more than one, falling over the bodies of +those slain by their leaders, were stabbed before they could rise. +Several times the two men turned and covered the rear, but at last +they stood alone.</p> + +<p>"Now, make one effort to break through, Roger;" and they flung +themselves with such fury upon the Welsh that, for some twenty +yards, they cut their way through them.</p> + +<p>Then Roger exclaimed, "I am done for, master," and fell.</p> + +<p>Oswald stood over him and, for a time, kept a clear circle; then +he received a tremendous blow on the back of his helmet, with a +heavy club, and fell prostrate over Roger.</p> + +<p>When he recovered his senses, the din of battle had moved far +away. The other groups had gathered together and, moving down, had +joined those who still resisted on the other side of the road; and, +keeping in a close body, were fighting their way steadily +along.</p> + +<p>A number of the Welsh were going over the battlefield, stabbing +all whom they found to be still living. The sick men in the waggons +had already been murdered.</p> + +<p>A Welshman, whose appearance denoted a higher rank than the +others, approached Oswald, as soon as he sat up, and called to four +or five of his countrymen. Oswald, with difficulty, rose to his +feet. He still wore, round his wrist, the chain that Glendower's +daughter had given him; and he now pulled this off and held it up, +loudly calling out the name of Glendower, several times. The Welsh +leader waved his followers back.</p> + +<p>Oswald was unarmed, and evidently incapable of defending +himself. He came up to him. Oswald held out the chain:</p> + +<p>"Glendower, Glendower," he repeated.</p> + +<p>The man took the chain, and examined it carefully. Some Welsh +words were engraved upon the clasp. Oswald was unaware what they +were, but the words were, "Jane Glendower, from her father."</p> + +<p>The Welshman looked much surprised, and presently called to +another, some distance away. The man came up, and he spoke to him +in Welsh.</p> + +<p>"How did you obtain this?" the man asked Oswald, in English.</p> + +<p>"It was given in token of service, rendered by me and my squire +here, to Glendower's daughter. She told me that it would be of +service if, at any time, I were taken prisoner by her father's +followers."</p> + +<p>This was translated to the Welshman, who said:</p> + +<p>"These men must be taken to Glendower. The story may be true, or +not. The chain may have been stolen. At any rate, the prince must +decide as to their fate."</p> + +<p>He now bade the men round him take off Oswald's armour. As soon +as this was done, the latter knelt down by Roger's side, and +removed his helmet.</p> + +<p>An arrow, shot from behind, had struck Roger just above the back +piece--which, being short for him, did not reach to his helmet--and +had gone through the fleshy part of his neck; while, at the same +moment, a blow with an axe had cleft the helmet in sunder, and +inflicted a deep gash on the back of the head.</p> + +<p>At a word from their leader, the men at once aided Oswald, who +drew out the arrow. The wound bled but slightly, and one of the +Welshmen, tearing off a portion of his garment, bandaged it up. +Water was fetched from the stream below, and a pad of wet cloth +laid on the wound at the back of the head, and kept in its place by +bandages. As this was done Roger gave a faint groan and, a minute +after, opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Do not try to move, Roger," Oswald said. "You are wounded; but +not, I trust, to death. We are prisoners in the hands of the Welsh, +but that chain Glendower's daughter gave me has saved our +lives."</p> + +<p>A rough litter was constructed of boughs. On this Roger, after +his armour had been taken off, was laid. At their leader's orders +six Welshmen took it up, while two placed themselves, one on each +side of Oswald. Then the leader took the head of the party, and +moved away into the forest.</p> + +<p>Oswald's head still swam from the effects of the blow, but as +they went on the feeling gradually ceased, and he was able to keep +up with his captors. Their course was ever uphill, and after an +hour's walking they arrived at a farmhouse, situated just at the +upper edge of the forest.</p> + +<p>The litter was laid down outside the house. The Welshman went +in, saying something to his men, who at once sat down on the +ground; for the journey, with Roger's weight, had been a toilsome +one. He made signs for Oswald to seat himself by the side of Roger. +The latter was now perfectly sensible.</p> + +<p>"What has happened, master?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We have been badly beaten, Roger; but when I last saw them our +men had got together, and were fighting their way along the road. I +fancy more than half have been killed; but, as far as I could see +of the field, I should say that three or four times as many Welsh +had fallen."</p> + +<p>"That was a lucky thought of yours, Sir Oswald, about that +chain."</p> + +<p>"I had always an idea that it might be found useful; and it at +once occurred to me, as soon as I recovered my senses."</p> + +<p>"Are you wounded, too?" Roger asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No. I was beaten down by a heavy club, and my head still rings +from the blow. Otherwise, I am uninjured."</p> + +<p>"What has happened to me, master?"</p> + +<p>"You had an arrow through your neck, Roger; but fortunately it +was on one side. An inch to the right, and it would have struck +your spine, or perhaps gone through your windpipe. As it is, it +does not seem to have done much harm. Very little blood flowed when +I pulled the arrow out. You have got a bad gash on the back of the +head, but your head piece broke the force of the blow. It has laid +your skull bare, but has not, so far as I can see, penetrated +it."</p> + +<p>"Then we need think no more about it," Roger said.</p> + +<p>"Well, that was a fight! The one we had at Knighton was as +nothing to it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think that even you could not want a harder one, +Roger."</p> + +<p>"No; this was quite enough for one day's work. I should like a +drink of water, if I could get one."</p> + +<p>Oswald made signs to one of the men, who went into the house and +returned with a large jug of water, of which Roger took a deep +draught; and Oswald then finished the contents, for he, too, was +parched with thirst.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later a tall man, in full armour, followed by a +number of Welsh chiefs, issued from the forest. He was some +five-and-forty years old, and of noble presence. The leader of the +party who had brought Oswald up advanced to meet him; and, saluting +him most respectfully, spoke to him for a moment, and then produced +the chain. Glendower--for it was the prince--examined it, and then +at once walked up to Oswald, who had risen to his feet.</p> + +<p>"How became you possessed of this, Sir Knight?"</p> + +<p>"It was given me by one of your daughters, sir. I and my squire, +here, were on guard round your house, on the night after the Earl +of Talbot took it. We were at some distance from the other guards, +when two figures rose from the bushes near us. We pursued them and, +coming up to them, found they were two ladies; and they at once +avowed that they were your daughters. My instructions were to watch +and see that no Welshmen approached the house; and nought had been +said to me of arresting any leaving it, seeing that it was not +supposed that any were there.</p> + +<p>"I war not with women. Being myself from Northumbria, I have no +enmity with your people. Therefore I let them proceed on their +way--a breach of duty for which, doubtless, I should have suffered, +had it been known. Happily, none but my follower here, who was then +but a man-at-arms, and I a squire, knew of it; and to this moment I +have spoken of it to no one. As they left us, one of the ladies +gave me this chain, saying that some day it might be of use to me, +should I ever fall into the hands of their people. I have carried +it on my wrist, ever since; and when your follower came up, and I +saw the necessity had arisen, I showed it to him."</p> + +<p>"I have heard the story from my daughters," Glendower said +warmly, holding out his hand. "They told me how courteously you had +treated them, and that you had refused to accept the jewels they +offered you. They said that you had also declined to tell them your +name, as it might do you injury, should it become known; and I have +often regretted that I did not know the name of the gentleman who +had behaved so nobly to them, and had saved them from an English +prison. Had they been captured, it would have been a sore blow to +me, not only in my affections but to my cause; for, had he held +them in his power, Henry could have put a heavy pressure upon me. +May I ask, now, what is your name, Sir Knight?"</p> + +<p>"Sir Oswald Forster. I was, at that time, a squire of Sir Henry +Percy's."</p> + +<p>"Of Hotspur!" Glendower said, in surprise. "I did not know that +we had levies from the north fighting against us."</p> + +<p>"You have not, sir. I had simply been sent, with twenty +men-at-arms, by Sir Henry to Sir Edmund Mortimer--who is, as you +are doubtless aware, of kin to Sir Henry, who had married his +sister--and was sent by Sir Edmund to join the Earl of Talbot and +Lord Grey, when they made that foray upon your house. After that I +returned to the north; but was, some months since, again sent to +Ludlow, to keep Sir Henry informed of the doings on this +border."</p> + +<p>"But I had heard that Mortimer had sent no troops to Henry's +army."</p> + +<p>"That is so, sir. I am here by an accident. A despatch came from +London to Ludlow for the king, and as there was no other way of +forwarding it, I volunteered to carry it here, and succeeded in +doing so: for which service the king conferred knighthood upon me, +upon my arrival, ten days since."</p> + +<p>"Ah, then, it was you that I heard of! I was told that two great +men had been seen in the woods, some distance south of the camp; +and that they had succeeded in making their escape, after slaying +five of my followers; and that, though none knew for certain, it +was supposed they had reached Henry's camp."</p> + +<p>"You are right, sir. The two men were my companion, here, and +myself."</p> + +<p>"It was a notable feat. I think not that any other messenger has +got through my scouts, since the king left Welshpool. You must be +swift of foot, as well as brave and courteous; for I heard that you +had outrun the greatest part of those who followed you."</p> + +<p>"We in the north have to be swift of foot," Oswald said, with a +smile, "for the Scots keep us in practice; either in escaping them, +when they come in too great a force to be resisted; or in following +them, when it is our turn to pursue.</p> + +<p>"I trust, sir, that you will put myself and my squire to ransom, +and will take my word for the payment; for, until I go north, I +have no means of satisfying it."</p> + +<p>"That will I not," Glendower said. "Or rather, I will take a +ransom; since, were I to release you without one, it might cause +surprise and inquiry; and it were well that your noble conduct to +my daughters should not be known, for Henry would not be likely to +regard it favourably. Therefore we will put you to ransom at the +sum of a crown for yourself, and a penny for your squire."</p> + +<p>"I thank you, indeed, sir, and shall ever feel beholden to you; +and I will, moreover, give you my knightly word that, whatever +service I may have to perform, I will never again war with the +Welsh.</p> + +<p>"May I ask if any of our party succeeded in reaching +Llanidloes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, some sixty or seventy of them got in. They fought very +well; and indeed, in close combat my Welshmen cannot, at present, +hold their own against your armour-clad men. Still, though it would +have pleased me better had we annihilated the force, our success +has been sufficient to give Henry another lesson that, though he +may march through Wales, he holds only the ground on which he has +encamped.</p> + +<p>"Now, Sir Oswald, I pray you to enter my abode. 'Tis a poor +place, indeed, after my house in the Vale of the Bards; but it +suffices for my needs."</p> + +<p>Before entering, he gave orders that Roger should be carried to +an upper room, and despatched a messenger to order his own leech, +as soon as he had done with the wounded, to come up and attend to +him. Then he led the way into a room, where a meal was prepared. In +a few words in Welsh he explained to his chiefs, who had been much +surprised at the manner in which he had received Oswald, that the +young knight had, at one time, rendered a great service to his +daughters, Jane and Margaret; but without mentioning its precise +nature. His experience had taught him that even those most attached +to his cause might yet turn against him; and were they to relate +the story, it might do serious injury to Oswald.</p> + +<p>"You must, on your way back," he said presently to the young +knight, "call and see my daughters; who are at present staying with +their sister, who is married to Adda ap Iorwerth Ddu. They would be +aggrieved, indeed, if they heard that you had been here, and that I +had not given them the opportunity of thanking you, in person."</p> + +<p>Oswald remained for a fortnight with Glendower, while Roger's +wound was healing. At the end of that time he learned that Henry, +having marched into Cardigan and ravaged the country there, was +already retiring; his army having suffered terribly from the +effects of the weather, the impossibility of obtaining supplies, +and the constant and harassing attacks by the Welsh.</p> + +<p>Glendower was often absent, but when at the house he conversed +freely with Oswald, who was no longer surprised at the influence +that he had obtained over his countrymen. His manners were +courteous in the extreme, and his authority over his followers +absolute. They not only reverenced him as their prince, the +representative of their ancient kings, and their leader in war, but +as one endowed with supernatural power.</p> + +<p>The bards had fanned this feeling to the utmost, by their songs +of marvels and portents at his birth, and by attributing to him a +control even over the elements. This belief was not only of great +importance to him, as binding his adherents closer to him; but it +undoubtedly contributed to his success, from the fact of its being +fully shared in by the English soldiery; who assigned it as the +cause of the exceptionally bad weather that had been experienced, +in each of the three expeditions into the country, and of the +failure to accomplish anything of importance against him.</p> + +<p>This side of the character of Glendower puzzled Oswald. Several +times, when talking to him, he distinctly claimed supernatural +powers; and from the tone in which he spoke, and the strange +expression his face at this time assumed, Oswald was convinced that +he sincerely believed that he did possess these powers. Whether he +originally did so; or whether it had arisen from the adulation of +the bards, the general belief in it, and the successes he had +gained; Oswald could not determine. Later, when Glendower sullied +his fair fame by the most atrocious massacres, similar to that +which had already taken place at the storming of New +Radnor--atrocities that seemed not only purposeless, but at utter +variance with the courtesy and gentleness of his bearing--Oswald +came to believe that his brain had, to some extent, become unhinged +by excitement, flattery, and superstition.</p> + +<p>At the end of the fortnight Roger's wound, although not +completely healed, was in such a state that it permitted his +sitting on horseback, and Oswald became anxious to be off. +Glendower, who was about to set out to harass the rear of the army, +as it retired from Cardiganshire, at once offered to send a strong +escort with him; as it would have been dangerous, in the extreme, +to have attempted to traverse the country without such a +protection. Two excellent horses, that had been captured in the +engagement with the English, were handed over to him, for his own +use and that of Roger. Oswald's own armour was returned to him, and +he was pleased to find that it had been carefully attended to, and +was as brightly burnished as when it came into his possession.</p> + +<p>When Glendower bid them adieu, he presented each of them with +rings, similar to those he himself wore.</p> + +<p>"You have promised that you will not fight against me again; but +it may be that, on some errand or other, you may ride into Wales; +or that you may be staying, as you did before, at some castle or +town near the border, when we attack it. You have but to show these +rings to any Welshman you may come across, and you may be sure of +being well treated, as one of my friends.</p> + +<p>"I trust that, when we meet again, the war will be over; and +that my title to the kingdom of Wales may be recognized, by your +king and people, as it is on this side of the border."</p> + +<p>"Well, Sir Oswald," Roger said, as they rode away, accompanied +by twenty of Glendower's followers, under the orders of an officer; +"we have got out of that scrape better than could have been +expected. When you and I were alone, in the midst of that crowd of +Welshmen, I thought that it was all over with us."</p> + +<p>"So did I, Roger. You see, that matter of our getting +Glendower's daughters away, uninjured, has borne good fruit."</p> + +<p>"It has indeed," Roger agreed. "I thought it much more likely, +too, that it would have gone the other way."</p> + +<p>"Be sure you keep a silent tongue as to that, Roger; and +remember that our story is, that I have been put at knightly +ransom, and on the condition that I will never serve in Wales +again. When we once get across the border we will ride straight for +Northumberland, without going near Ludlow. I observed that the king +much doubted the Mortimers, and were we to return there, and the +news came to his ears, he might take it as a proof that there was +an understanding between Glendower and Mortimer; and that it was to +this that leniency, such as had been shown to no other prisoners, +was due; whereas, if we go straight to Percy, 'tis not likely that +the matter will ever come to his hearing, and at any rate, if it +did so, he would scarce connect Mortimer with our escape."</p> + +<p>"I understand, Sir Oswald; and will, you may be sure, keep +silent as to aught beyond what you have bade me say."</p> + +<p>Two days' journey brought them to the house of Glendower's +married daughter. On the officer stating that the knight with him +had been sent, under his escort, by Glendower himself, she +requested that he should be shown in. Her husband was away.</p> + +<p>"What is the knight's name?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Sir Oswald Forster, Lady."</p> + +<p>"I have never, so far as I know, heard it before. Methought that +he might be one whom I may have met, in the houses of my two +sisters married to Englishmen, in Hereford; but I have no memory of +the name. Show him in, sir."</p> + +<p>Roger had removed Oswald's helmet, while the officer was +away.</p> + +<p>"Come with me, Roger," he said, "since we were both concerned in +this affair."</p> + +<p>He bowed deeply to the Lady Isabel; who, as she returned his +salute, saw with surprise that his face was quite strange to +her.</p> + +<p>"It seems, Sir Oswald," she said, "from the tenor of the message +given me by the officer, that you have come to me as a visitor; and +that 'tis as an escort, only, that he has been sent with you?"</p> + +<p>"That is so, Lady; but 'tis as a visitor rather to your sisters, +the Ladies Jane and Margaret, that I am here. I had, once, the +pleasure of meeting them."</p> + +<p>Glendower's daughter at once told a maid, who was working with +her when the officer had entered, to request her sisters to come to +her; and these entered the room a minute later.</p> + +<p>Isabel, seeing that they did not appear to recognize the young +knight, said:</p> + +<p>"Our father has sent this gentleman, Sir Oswald Forster, whom +you know, to visit you."</p> + +<p>The two girls looked with surprise at Oswald.</p> + +<p>"Do you not know this gentleman?" their sister asked, in equal +surprise.</p> + +<p>"He is not known to us," Jane replied. "I have never seen him +before--at least, that I can remember."</p> + +<p>"We have met before, nevertheless, Lady," Oswald said, with a +smile; "though it may well be that you do not remember my face, or +that of my squire there; seeing that we were together but a few +minutes, and that in the moonlight."</p> + +<p>The girls looked up at him puzzled, and then their eyes fell +upon Roger.</p> + +<p>"Now I know!" Margaret exclaimed. "Look at the squire's height. +Surely, Jane, these are the two soldiers who allowed us to pass +them, that night when we fled from Sycharth."</p> + +<p>"That is so," Oswald said. "I thought that you were more likely +to recognize my squire than myself, seeing that I have grown +several inches since then, and have but lately assumed this +knightly armour in which you see me."</p> + +<a id="PicK" /> +<center> +<img src="images/k.jpg" alt= +"How glad I am to have an opportunity of thanking you" +/> </center> + +<p>"Oh, sir," Jane said, going swiftly up to him and holding out +her hand, which he raised to his lips; as he did that of Margaret, +as she followed her sister; "we have thought of you so often, and +have prayed that you should both be rewarded for your kindness to +us! How glad I am to see you again, and have an opportunity of +thanking you!</p> + +<p>"You have heard, Isabel, of our adventure, and how we escaped, +by the kindness of two Englishmen on guard near the edge of the +forest, from being carried as prisoners to London; where, but for +them, we should now be lodged in some dungeon of the usurper; but +till now, I have never known the name of our preserver.</p> + +<p>"Thanks also to you, good squire," she said, turning to +Roger.</p> + +<p>"I but carried out the orders of my master," Roger said, +colouring like a boy, as she held out her hand to him. "There is no +credit due to me."</p> + +<p>"But how came you here?" Lady Isabel asked Oswald.</p> + +<p>"Your sisters have, although they know it not, more than repaid +their obligations to me; for while they may perhaps owe their +liberty to me, I owe my life to them.</p> + +<p>"See, ladies," and he turned to Jane, "there is the chain you +gave me. I have worn it, always, on my wrist. I and my squire were +beaten down by, your father's followers; my squire grievously +wounded and insensible, while I had been left for dead, though but +stunned from a blow. I luckily recovered my senses, just as those +employed in despatching the wounded came up; and, happily +remembering your bracelet, I took it off and held it up, calling +out your father's name.</p> + +<p>"Struck, I suppose, by the action and words, an officer examined +the bracelet closely; and, making out the inscription on the clasp, +had my squire and myself taken to the house where your father +lodged, so that the manner of my being possessed of the trinket +might be explained. On your father's return he recognized it; and, +having heard from you the circumstances of our meeting, treated us +with the greatest kindness and hospitality; and freed us without +ransom, save a nominal one in order that, on my return, I could say +that I had been put to ransom. On the recovery of my squire from +his wounds, he restored our armour to us, presented us with horses, +and sent us here under escort, deeming that you might be glad to +see us."</p> + +<p>"There he was indeed right," Jane said. "We have oft regretted +that you would not accept a more valuable jewel than that little +chain, which was given to me by my father, when I was but a child. +But 'tis well, indeed, that you so withstood us; for had it been +any other of our jewels but this, it would not have been +recognized."</p> + +<p>"That is so, Lady and, since my capture, I often thought that it +was strange it so happened."</p> + +<p>After staying a day there, Oswald continued his journey; to the +regret of the ladies, who were glad to hear that he would never +again fight against the Welsh. His escort accompanied him, as near +the border as it was safe for them to go. The next day they rode +into Chester, and then, by easy stages, up to Alnwick.</p> + +<p>Oswald went to Hotspur's apartments, as soon as he entered the +castle.</p> + +<p>"I congratulate you heartily," Hotspur said, as he entered. "I +see that you have won your spurs. I said to myself, when I received +your letter, saying that you were starting to carry a letter to the +king, that your enterprise would bring you either death or a pair +of gold spurs. I am glad, indeed, to see that it was the +latter.</p> + +<p>"I hear that the king's army is falling back. A messenger +brought me news from my kinsman. He said that it was but a rumour +that had reached him; but that it seemed likely enough, for it was +said that they had suffered terribly, both from the weather and the +attacks of the Welsh."</p> + +<p>"That rumour is true, Sir Henry, and also that the army is +retiring."</p> + +<p>"And they have done no more than they did before?"</p> + +<p>"No more, indeed, Sir Henry. They have burnt many villages, and +slain many Welshmen; but they have done nothing, whatever, towards +subduing Glendower."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch19">Chapter 19</a>: The Battle Of Homildon +Hill.</h2> + +<p>"But how have you made your way back, ahead of the army?" +Hotspur asked, after Oswald had given him full information as to +the military operations.</p> + +<p>"Roger and I were left for dead, in that fight I have told you +of, near Llanidloes; and we fell into the hands of the Welsh, and +were taken before Glendower, who treated us well, and put me to +ransom, with the engagement that I was not again to bear arms, in +Wales."</p> + +<p>"That was a strange leniency, on his part," Hotspur exclaimed; +"for I hear he puts to the sword all who fall into his hands, +without any regard for the rules of civilized war."</p> + +<p>"He is a strange man, Sir Henry, and subject, I fancy, to +changeable moods. When I was brought before him he was in a happy +one, over the success he had gained; and it may be that he took a +liking for me. At any rate, he fixed my ransom at a very small +sum."</p> + +<p>"Which I will, of course, pay," Hotspur said, "since you were my +squire, and were at Ludlow on my service."</p> + +<p>"I thank you much, Sir Henry, but 'tis so small a sum that I +myself discharged it, without difficulty."</p> + +<p>"'Tis strange, most strange, that you should have gone into the +lion's den, and have come out unscathed. Strange, indeed, that +Glendower, who, as we know, is greatly in want of money, should +have fixed your ransom at a low sum. How much was it, Sir +Oswald?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you the story, Sir Henry, though I would tell no +one else; for my freedom is due to something that happened, nigh +two years ago, when I was first with Sir Edmund Mortimer. I failed +in what was my strict duty, although I disobeyed no orders that I +had received, and my conscience altogether acquits me of +wrong."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure, Sir Oswald, that the matter will go no +further; and knowing you as I do, I feel sure that, whatever the +matter was, it was not to your discredit."</p> + +<p>"So I trust, myself, my lord; but it might have cost me my head, +had the king come to know it. I will first tell you that my ransom +was fixed at a crown, and that of Roger at a penny."</p> + +<p>Hotspur, who had been looking a little grave, laughed.</p> + +<p>"Surely never before was so much bone and sinew appraised at so +small a sum."</p> + +<p>"It was so put, simply that I might, with truth, avow that I was +put to ransom. However, I paid the crown and the penny, and have so +discharged my obligations.</p> + +<p>"This was how the matter came about;" and he related the whole +circumstances to Sir Henry; and the manner in which the little +chain, given to him by Glendower's daughter, had been the means of +saving his life.</p> + +<p>"I blame you in no way, Sir Oswald," Hotspur said cordially, +when he had heard the story; "though I say not that the king would +have viewed the matter in the same light. Still, you held to the +letter of your orders. You were placed there to give warning of the +approach of any hostile body, and naught was said to you as to +letting any man, still less any women, depart from the place. But +indeed, how could I blame you? Since heaven itself has assoiled +you. For assuredly it was not chance that placed on your arm the +little trinket that, alone, could have saved your life from the +Welsh.</p> + +<p>"Now to yourself, Sir Oswald. You will, I hope, continue my +knight, as you have been my squire."</p> + +<p>"Assuredly, Sir Henry, I have never thought of anything +else."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then; I will, as soon as may be, appoint to you a +double knight's feu. I say a double feu, because I should like to +have you as one of the castle knights, and so have much larger +service from you, than that which a knight can be called upon to +render, for an ordinary feu. I will bid Father Ernulf look through +the rolls, and see what feus are vacant. One of these I will make +an hereditary feu, to pass down from you to your heirs, +irrevocably; the other will be a service feu, to support the +expenses caused by your extra services, and revocable under the +usual conditions."</p> + +<p>A week later there was a formal ceremonial at the castle, and in +the presence of the earl, Hotspur, and the knights and gentlemen of +their service, Oswald took the oath of allegiance to Sir Henry +Percy; and afterwards, as required by law, to the king; and +received from Hotspur deeds appointing him to two knight's feus, +including the villages of Stoubes and Rochester, in Reddesdale. +There were, at the time, six knight's feus vacant; and as Percy had +left it to him to choose which he liked, he had selected these, as +they lay but a twelve miles' ride, over the hills, from his +father's place in Coquetdale.</p> + +<p>The oath of allegiance to the king, as well as to the feudal +lord, was enacted by Henry the Second; with the intention of +curbing, to some extent, the power of the great vassals; but +although taken by all knights, on being presented with a feu, it +was deemed of no effect in the case of the immediate lord being at +war with the king; and whenever troubles arose, the lord's vassals +always sided with him, it being universally understood that the +oath to him, from whom they had received their land, was paramount +over that to the king.</p> + +<p>There having been several formalities to be observed, and +matters to be discussed, Oswald was unable to ride home until after +this ceremony had taken place; but upon the following morning he +and Roger started early, and arrived, that evening, at Yardhope. +His welcome was a warm one, and the satisfaction of his father, and +the delight of his mother, at seeing him in knightly armour was +great, indeed; and it increased when he told them that he had +received knighthood at the hands of the king himself, and that +Hotspur had granted him the feus of Stoubes and Rochester.</p> + +<p>"Then we shall have you within a ride of us," his mother +exclaimed. "That will be pleasant, indeed."</p> + +<p>"The feus have always gone together," John Forster said, "and +Stoubes castle, although small, is a strong one. How many tenants +will you have?"</p> + +<p>"Twenty-three. That, at least, was the number of names set down +in the parchments."</p> + +<p>"That is not bad, as a beginning. Of course, you will keep some +ten or twelve retainers in the castle; and with such men as will +come in from the villages, at the approach of danger, you will be +able to muster fifty or sixty in all for the defence."</p> + +<p>"I shall live chiefly at Alnwick, Father. Rochester is given to +me as an hereditary feu, but I shall hold Stoubes for extra service +at the castle; and I have little doubt that Percy will, if I do him +good service, make it also hereditary. He as much as said so."</p> + +<p>"It will make a good portion, lad. Yardhope is a knight's feu, +though I have never taken up the knighthood; and the Percys know +that I should fight just as stoutly, as John Forster, as if I wore +knightly armour; but though the lands are wide they are poor, while +yours are fertile, lying down by the river. Moreover, Coquetdale is +more liable to Scotch incursions than Reddesdale, as the road into +Scotland runs along it. If needs be we can lend a hand to each +other; though, both together, we could not hold either your place +or mine against a strong invasion.</p> + +<p>"Now, tell us how it was that you won your spurs; and how it was +that the king, himself, knighted you."</p> + +<p>"After I have eaten and drank I will do so, Father; for indeed, +Roger and I are well-nigh famishing."</p> + +<p>After the meal, he related the whole story of his +adventures.</p> + +<p>"Well, lad, you were in luck," his father said, when he had +finished. "The help you gave those maidens might have brought your +head to the block; but it turned out well, and was the saving of +your life, so I will say nought against the deed; especially as you +owed no allegiance either to Mortimer or to Talbot, and were, save +for the orders that Hotspur had given you, your own master."</p> + +<p>Two days later, having sent over, on the morning after his +arrival, a message to the tenants to present themselves at Stoubes +to take their oaths to him, Oswald, accompanied by his father, rode +into Reddesdale. He found the castle a much stronger place than +Yardhope, which was but a fortified house; while this was a moated +building, with strong walls and flanking towers, and a keep that +could be held successfully, even if the walls were captured by a +sudden assault.</p> + +<p>At twelve o'clock the tenants assembled. Oswald read to them the +two parchments, and they then took the oaths to him. They were well +satisfied to have a young knight as their lord; for the feus had +been held by a minor, who had died two years before; and had not +been at the castle since he was taken away, as a child, to be +brought up at the town of Alnwick, where he had remained under the +eye of the Percys. It had long been understood, however, that the +feu would not be granted to him; for he was weakly from his birth, +and wholly unfitted for the charge of a castle, so near the +Scottish border.</p> + +<p>According to feudal usage, each tenant expected that he would be +called upon to pay a heavy sum, under the name of a relief, as was +customary in the case of a new lord taking possession; and they +were greatly relieved when Oswald told them that, as he already +possessed armour and horses, he would quit them for a fourth part +of the usual amount; although he should, of course, require their +services to enable him to repair such dilapidations as the castle +had suffered, during the long term that it had stood empty.</p> + +<p>For the next three months, he stayed in Stoubes. Roger had been +sent off at once, with two men-at-arms, to bring the horses and +armour that had been left at Welshpool; bearing a letter to the +governor from Oswald, thanking him much for having taken care of +them, and saying briefly that he had been left on the field for +dead, after the fight near Llanidloes; but had recovered, and been +well treated by Glendower, who had put him to ransom. He took money +with him, to pay the expenses for the keep of the horses; and +returned, with them and the armour, after an absence of three +weeks.</p> + +<p>Passing through Worcester on his way back, he had, at Oswald's +order, purchased for himself clothes suitable for his position as +an esquire. As for armour, it had been arranged that he should have +it made for him at Alnwick, as it would be difficult to obtain a +suit sufficiently large for him.</p> + +<p>At the end of the three months the necessary repairs to the +castle were finished. The gates had been greatly strengthened with +thick bands of iron, the moat cleared out, and at various points +the defences had been strengthened. The small amount of furniture +then deemed necessary still remained there and, where needful, had +been repaired and put in good order. Eight men-at-arms had been +taken by Oswald into his service, and a trusty man appointed as +seneschal.</p> + +<p>Then, after paying another visit to Yardhope, Oswald rode, with +Roger and two well-mounted men-at-arms, to Alnwick.</p> + +<p>It was now April, and bad news had just arrived. Glendower had +commenced the campaign with great vigour, as the appearance of a +comet had been interpreted, by the bards, as an omen most +favourable to him, and his force had greatly increased during the +winter. He had destroyed the houses and strong places of all +Welshmen who had not taken up arms at his orders, and had closely +blockaded Carnarvon. He marched to Bangor, levelled the cathedral, +and that of Saint Asaph, by fire, burnt the episcopal palaces and +canons' houses. So formidable did he become that the king issued +writs, to the lieutenants of no fewer than thirty-four counties, to +assemble their forces at Lichfield, to crush Glendower.</p> + +<p>The latter had now taken the offensive, and advanced towards +Hereford, and carried fire and sword through Mortimer's lands. Sir +Edmund gathered his own and his nephew's tenants and retainers, +from Herefordshire and Radnorshire, and advanced against Glendower. +The armies met on the 22nd of June, 1402, at a short distance from +Knighton. The battle was obstinately fought, but was decided by the +desertion of the Welsh tenants, and by the Welsh bowmen in +Mortimer's service turning their bows against his men-at-arms; and, +finally, the English were defeated, with the loss of eleven hundred +men, Sir Edmund himself being made a prisoner.</p> + +<p>After the battle the Welsh behaved with the greatest savagery; +killing all the wounded, stripping the fallen, and horribly +mutilating their bodies. The news created great excitement at +Alnwick and, had not the situation in the north been critical, +Percy would have gathered his forces and marched, with all speed, +to avenge the defeat and capture of his brother-in-law.</p> + +<p>The Earl of Dunbar, with many of the tenants of his former +estates, and numbers of the English borderers, had entered Scotland +and carried out considerable raids. In revenge for this, Douglas +despatched Thomas Halliburton and Patrick Hepburn, each with a +considerable force, to invade Northumberland. Halliburton ravaged +the country as far as Bamborough, collected great spoils, and +returned with them. Hepburn, who had a still larger force, +penetrated farther into England, carried his ravages to within a +few miles of Alnwick; and then retired north, with an enormous +amount of booty.</p> + +<p>When, however, he had crossed the border into the country known +as the Merse, north of Berwick, the Earl of Dunbar fell upon him at +West Nesbit, and completely defeated him. Hepburn himself, with a +large number of his men, fell in the battle; and many important +prisoners were captured. This battle was fought on the same day +that Glendower defeated Mortimer.</p> + +<p>The victory caused great exultation on the border; but Alwyn +said to his nephew:</p> + +<p>"Although this is good, as far as it goes, Oswald, you may be +sure that Douglas will not brook this disaster with patience, but +will gather the Scottish forces; and we may expect him, ere long, +at the head of twenty thousand men, and we shall have a fight as +stiff as that of Otterburn. We shall have Northumberland ablaze, +and you will see that the earl and Hotspur will soon be preparing +to meet the storm.</p> + +<p>"These last forays took them by surprise; and, as lords of the +marches, they have suffered serious humiliation, for this victory +was not theirs, but the work of Dunbar; and had he not intercepted +the Scots, on their own side of the border, they would have +returned, scatheless, with the spoils of our northern districts. +This disgrace will spur them on to make great efforts, and these +will be needed, or we shall see Northumberland, Cumberland, and +Durham in flames."</p> + +<p>Alwyn was not mistaken. Messengers were sent off to all those +holding knights' feus, throughout the county, bidding them to +prepare to answer to the Percy's call; and to hold themselves, and +their tenants, in readiness to march to any point fixed upon for a +general rendezvous. They were to warn all the countryside that, +directly news arrived that the Scots were in motion, they were to +drive their cattle and horses to the nearest fortified town, or to +take them to hiding places among the hills. Everything of value was +to be taken away, or hidden, so that the enemy should find but +empty houses.</p> + +<p>Oswald rode to Yardhope, with the message to his father.</p> + +<p>"I know, Father," he said, "that it needed not to warn you; but +as it was but a short distance out of my way to come round here, I +thought that I would pay you a day's visit."</p> + +<p>"No, lad; directly I heard of the victory of Dunbar, I said to +myself, this will bring the Scots upon us in force. Douglas will +never put up with the defeat, and will make every effort to turn +the tables. I shall send all there is worth taking away, to a +shepherd's hut among the fells; and shall, as soon as I hear that +Douglas's preparations are well-nigh complete, journey with your +mother to Alnwick, and leave her there. I shall return, and with my +men will drive the cattle and horses to places where there is +little chance of the Scots finding them; and will then, after +leaving three or four men to look after them, come back to +Alnwick.</p> + +<p>"What do you propose to do?"</p> + +<p>"I shall do much the same, Father. Stoubes is strong enough to +hold out against any ordinary raid, but not against an army led by +Douglas. I shall remove the furnishing and tapestry, and shall send +the most valuable into Alnwick, and have the rest of them hidden in +the woods. These are the orders that have been sent, all along the +border. Any whose places are so strong that they may well defend +themselves, for some time, are to gather all their neighbours +there. The rest are to repair to Alnwick, to join Percy's +force.</p> + +<p>"You see, there is no knowing where the storm may break. The +Scots may cross the Cheviots anywhere between Berwick and Carlisle; +and, until their movements are known, the earl and Hotspur must +keep their forces at Alnwick, in readiness to march wheresoever +required.</p> + +<p>"Hotspur has sent messengers down to the Midlands, to engage as +many archers as he can get. Of course, we have many here; but the +borderers are spearmen rather than archers, and it were well to +strengthen our force. Still, however large a force he may raise, we +cannot hope to check their first incursion. The whole country is +open to them and, if they enter near Carlisle, they may be in the +heart of Cumberland, or Durham, before we are fairly in motion. We +may count, however, on meeting them as they retire, if not +before."</p> + +<p>Oswald then rode to his own place, bade all the tenants prepare +to ride with him to Alnwick, at an hour's notice; and either to +send their women and children on there, as soon as it was known +that the Scotch army was gathering strongly on the border; or else +to gather stores of provisions, up in the hills, and to send the +women and children there, the moment word came that the Scots were +on the move.</p> + +<p>The news of Mortimer's defeat and capture had been received, by +the time Oswald returned to Alnwick.</p> + +<p>"'Tis bad news, indeed," Percy said to him, "and I know that, as +you have been staying so long at Ludlow, you will be deeply grieved +at the misfortune that has befallen Mortimer. However, I doubt not +that he will soon be ransomed. I know that the king appointed a +commission of knights, to treat at once with Glendower for Lord +Grey's ransom, and has given orders for the raising of the great +sum demanded. It is to be gathered from a tax on church properties, +and in other ways; and doubtless he will do the same for Mortimer, +whose lands have been so harried, by the Welsh, that it will be +impossible to raise any large sum from the tenants."</p> + +<p>"I fear, Sir Henry," Oswald said, "that the king will be +lukewarm on the subject. During his three invasions, he has never +once summoned Sir Edmund to join him; nor has he passed through +Ludlow, as he might well have done, seeing that it is a central +position, and the nearest way for an army marching towards +Plinlimmon. I remarked, too, that when I mentioned Mortimer's name +in my discourse with him, the king's brow clouded, as if ill +pleased at the name."</p> + +<p>"Then he acts wrongly," Hotspur said angrily. "Mortimer has +given no cause for offence. He has never, in any way, upheld the +cause of the young Earl of March; and knows, well enough, that it +would be madness to set up his claim to the throne, when Henry has +given no cause for complaint, and that the boy's existence seems to +be well-nigh forgotten by the country.</p> + +<p>"However, as soon as this business is over I will, myself, to +London; and will beg the king to exercise the same benevolence, in +the case of Mortimer, as he has shown on behalf of Lord Grey. Why, +he might as well suspect us, to whom he largely owes his kingdom, +as Mortimer, seeing that my wife is aunt to the young earl."</p> + +<p>Early in August it became known that preparations were being +made, upon a great scale, by Douglas for the invasion of England; +and that, as Military Governor of Scotland, he had summoned all the +great nobles to join, with their forces; and it was even said that +numbers of French knights were, on account of the long friendship +between France and Scotland, crossing the seas, to fight under +Douglas against their old enemies.</p> + +<p>"Methinks," Hotspur said to his knights, "there can be little +doubt that there is an agreement between Scotland and Glendower; +and this would account for the fury the Welshmen have been showing, +and the manner in which they have destroyed the cathedrals, +churches, and castles alike; and so forced Henry to march against +them, with the forces of the greater part of England, just when +Douglas is preparing to assail us here.</p> + +<p>"The forces of Westmoreland, Cumberland, Durham, and +Northumberland, if together, might hope to make a stout resistance, +even against so large a force as Douglas is collecting; but we +cannot so gather. The Earl of Westmoreland, who commands the forces +of his own county and Cumberland, must needs hold them together; +lest the Scots pour down, besiege Carlisle, and carry fire and +sword through those counties.</p> + +<p>"From here up to Berwick the country has been so plundered, and +devastated, that it is almost a desert; and I can draw no strength +from there. As to Durham, they urge, and with some truth that, as +the Scots have, before now, laid portions of their county waste, +they cannot send their forces so far north as this place; as it +would leave them unprotected, should the enemy march through +Tynedale into their county.</p> + +<p>"The king has entered Wales with the fighting men of thirty-four +counties, so from him no aid can be expected; and it seems to me +that we shall be quite unable to make head against the invasion; +though assuredly, when we have gathered our forces, and are joined +by those Dunbar will bring us, we will meet them as they return, +spoil laden, to the border."</p> + +<p>Well-mounted messengers had been placed on every road by which +the Scots could cross the border; and on the 18th of August, one +came with the news that, twelve hours before, they had crossed into +Cumberland at Kirksop Foot; that they were reported to be ten +thousand strong; and that a dozen villages were already in flames. +Another portion of their army had crossed near Tynehead, and were +pouring into Tynedale.</p> + +<p>John Forster and his wife had arrived, some days before. Oswald +had found comfortable lodgings for his mother in the town, which +was already crowded with women and children from the border. His +father had left again, at once; but returned, with twenty spears, +twelve hours after the messenger had brought the news.</p> + +<p>"I had two or three of my men out," he said to Oswald, as he +rode in and dismounted in the castle yard; "but as soon as I heard +that the Scots had entered Tynedale, I knew that it was time to be +off, for they are sure to send over strong parties to ravage +Coquetdale. The road was well-nigh blocked, in some places, with +fugitives. In spite of the warnings that have been issued, most of +the people seem to have thought that the Scots could never come in +their direction, and the news has caused a panic.</p> + +<p>"However, near the border the Scots will find but little +plunder. We have had so many invasions that no man is foolish +enough to spend money on aught that he cannot easily carry away, +and the raiders will, there, find but empty houses. They may sweep +in some of the cattle from the hills, to supply them with food on +their march; but more than this they will not take, as they go +south, as it would be but an encumbrance."</p> + +<p>In a few days a strong force was collected at Alnwick; but, +though chafing at the news of the terrible devastations, that were +being made by the Scots in Cumberland and Durham, the Earl and +Hotspur could, at present, do nothing. The invasion was, indeed, +one of the most disastrous that had ever taken place; and after +having almost devastated the two counties, Douglas, with the united +force, and an enormous train of waggons laden with plunder, great +quantities of cattle, and other spoil, turned north again, at the +end of the second week of September.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, Percy's force had been steadily growing. He +had early resolved that upon the return of the Scots the battle +must be fought, and contented himself with sending small bodies, of +well-mounted knights and horsemen, to hover in the neighbourhood of +the Scotch army; and to keep him informed of their intentions, and +the route they seemed disposed to take.</p> + +<p>Douglas had carried his devastations up to the walls of +Newcastle, but had not attempted to attack that strongly-defended +town. He had, indeed, gathered as much spoil as could possibly be +taken along; and he moved north in a quiet and leisurely way, being +greatly hampered by the enormous train of loaded waggons.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Earl of Northumberland and his son saw that he +intended to march up through Northumberland, instead of returning +by the line that he had come through Tynedale, they set their force +in motion and marched out; leaving a sufficient strength to hold +Alnwick, should Douglas attack it. Being joined, two days later, by +the Earl of Dunbar, they posted themselves in a position whence +they could march to intercept the Scots, upon any road they might +follow on their way north.</p> + +<p>On the 12th, they learned for certain that the Scots were +following the road that would take them through Wooler. Moving +instantly, the Earl with his forces came up to them, posted on a +hill, a mile to the northwest of Homildon. He at once seized a hill +facing it, and disposed his knights, men-at-arms, and spearmen +along the crest.</p> + +<p>Hotspur would straightway have charged down, and attacked the +Scots in their position; but Dunbar put his hand on his bridle, and +urged him, strongly, to await the assault; and to provoke the Scots +into taking the offensive by galling them with his archers, in +which he was far superior to them; while, on the other hand, they +were much stronger in spears and horsemen.</p> + +<p>Hotspur, seeing the goodness of the advice, assented to it; and +ordered the archers to descend, at once, into the valley between +the two hills; and to launch their arrows against the Scots. On +descending, it was found that the Scottish bowmen were already in +the valley. These they speedily drove up the hill, and then sent +their arrows thick and fast among the Scottish men-at-arms.</p> + +<p>Douglas had, like the Earl of Dunbar, perceived at what +disadvantage the party who took the offensive would have to fight; +and had determined to stand on the defensive, especially as, if he +moved forward, the English could detach bodies of horsemen to work +round the hill, and fall upon his immense train of waggons.</p> + +<p>For a time, he refused to accede to the earnest entreaties of +his knights to advance. But as man after man fell under the English +arrows, their impatience increased; until one of his best knights, +Sir John Swinton, rode a few paces out of the ranks, and in a loud +voice said:</p> + +<p>"My brave comrades, what fascinates you today, that you stand +like deer and fawns in a park to be shot; instead of showing your +ancient valour, and meeting your foes hand to hand? Let those who +will descend with me and, in the name of God, we will break that +host and conquer; or if not, we will at least die with honour, like +soldiers."</p> + +<p>A mighty shout followed his words, and the whole Scottish host +dashed down the hill. The English archers fell back a little, still +shooting as they did so; but halted a short way up the hill, and +shot so hotly and strongly that they pierced helmet and armour with +their arrows.</p> + +<p>Nothing could withstand these missiles, shot by the finest and +strongest bowmen in the world. The Scots rolled over in heaps. +Douglas, although clad in the most perfect steel armour, was +wounded in five places, one arrow destroying the sight of one of +his eyes. He fell from his horse, and utter confusion reigned in +the Scottish ranks.</p> + +<p>Swinging their bows behind them, the archers drew their axes and +rushed into the crowd, effecting a terrible slaughter. Douglas was +made prisoner, as was the Earl of Fife, a son of the Regent Albany, +the Earls of Moray and Angus and Orkney. Two barons, eighty +knights, among whom were several Frenchmen, and several other +persons of rank were also captured; while Swinton, Gordon, and many +other knights and gentlemen were slain, together with seven hundred +of the commonalty. With the exception only of Flodden, no battle on +the Border was so fatal to the Scottish nobility, whose defeat was +effected by the archers only.</p> + +<p>The confusion was so terrible that the Earl of Northumberland +refused to allow his knights and men-at-arms to charge, seeing that +they must trample down both friend and foe; therefore they stood as +passive spectators of the desperate fight, not a lance being +couched nor a blow struck by any of them. When all was over they +took up the pursuit of the fugitives; many of these were overtaken +and killed, and the pursuit was continued to the Tweed, where, not +knowing the fords, many of the fugitives were drowned while +endeavouring to swim the river.</p> + +<p>"Roger, what say you to that?" Oswald asked, as he and his +squire drew rein, after pursuing the enemy for some distance.</p> + +<p>Roger's face expressed the strongest disgust.</p> + +<p>"Well, Sir Oswald, I don't call it a battle, at all. Who ever +heard of a battle where neither knight nor man-at-arms drew sword? +'Tis out of all reason to fight in that manner."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, Roger, as we have won a great victory, what +matter is it whether we or the archers bore the chief hand in it? +The last battle we fought in was a different matter. We had plenty +of fighting, but no victory."</p> + +<p>"It was more to my taste, nevertheless," Roger grumbled, "even +though the Welsh well nigh made an end of me; and, for myself, I +could not help hoping that the archers would be beaten, and leave +it to us to take our part in the fighting. They had done more than +their share when they had broken the Scottish ranks, and slain I +know not how many; and it would have been fair of them, after that, +to draw back, and leave it to us to finish the business."</p> + +<p>"'Tis well as it is, Roger, and for one I am well satisfied. We +have given the Scots a lesson that will keep them quiet for a long +time. We have recovered all the spoil they were carrying off, and +we could have won nothing more, had we been in the thick of the +melee, and come out of it, perhaps, sorely wounded again."</p> + +<p>Roger, however, was by no means satisfied; and, to the end of +his life, always fell into a bad temper when the battle of Homildon +was spoken of.</p> + +<p>All the prisoners of consequence were taken to Alnwick, where +the army fell back; much to the disgust of some of the more eager +spirits, who would fain have crossed the frontier, and made +reprisals for the woes the Scots had inflicted. Northumberland, +however, was well satisfied with what had been won, and did not +wish to provoke the Scots to extremities; feeling that with so many +of their leaders in his hands, he might be able to arrange terms +that would ensure peace, for a considerable time, on the +border.</p> + +<p>The prisoners were all treated with great kindness and +consideration. They were lodged in the castle, and were treated as +guests rather than as prisoners.</p> + +<p>Oswald and his father were both pleased to hear, two days after +the battle, that when the Scottish dead were examined, the bodies +of William Baird and ten of his kinsmen were found, lying together. +They had resisted desperately to the last, refusing to surrender +themselves; well knowing that their misdeeds and many depredations, +in England, would bring them to the gallows, if taken alive.</p> + +<p>"Well, Father, we shall be able to live in peace for a time, +now. No doubt the Bairds have brought with them every spear they +could muster, for none would willingly have stayed at home, when +there was a promise of gathering so much booty; therefore their +strength must be altogether broken, and it will be long, indeed, +before the Bairds ride in a raid into Northumberland."</p> + +<p>His father nodded.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a good thing, Oswald, assuredly; though I would rather +that we had had the attacking of them in their own hold. Still, at +any rate, there is an end of the feud for years to come; and I +shall be able to lie down to sleep, without wondering whether they +will be knocking at the gate, before morning."</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch20">Chapter 20</a>: The Percys' Discontent.</h2> + +<p>During the time that had elapsed, between his receiving the news +of Mortimer's capture by Glendower, and the battle of Homildon +Hill, Percy had written several times to the king, with reference +to his taking the same steps to ransom Mortimer that he had taken +on behalf of Lord Grey. The king, however, answered very coldly; +and one of his letters more than hinted that he believed that +Mortimer had voluntarily placed himself in Glendower's hands, and +that an agreement existed between them. Not only was Hotspur +furious at such an accusation, but the earl, himself, was deeply +angered.</p> + +<p>"'Tis past all belief," Hotspur said, "that such a charge should +be made. Had Mortimer wished to join Glendower, he could have gone +to him, not as a prisoner, but at the head of three thousand good +fighting men. Why should he have thrown away the lives of twelve +hundred of his own vassals, and those of his nephew? Nay, more, had +Mortimer intended treachery, he might have marched and fallen on +the rear of the king's army, entangled among the Welsh mountains +and forests, while Glendower fell upon him from in front. 'Tis a +lie, and bears its mark on its face; 'tis but an excuse for +refusing to ransom Mortimer, who he hopes will be kept a prisoner +for years, and whose estates he will thus be able to appropriate. +'Tis an insult not only to Mortimer but to us, to whom he owes his +crown.</p> + +<p>"But let him beware! Those who built up, can pull down."</p> + +<p>The knights standing round put their hands on their sword hilts, +significantly. The king was, to the followers of great barons, a +person of but small consequence in comparison with their lord; and +they would draw their swords, at the latter's order, as willingly +against a king as against a foreign foe. That it was their duty to +do so was so fully recognized that, in the troubles between the +king and his nobles, while the latter were, if defeated, executed +for treason, their vassals were permitted to return home +unmolested; and it was not until the battle of Barnet that Edward, +enraged at the humiliation that he had suffered, when he had been +obliged to fly to France, gave orders that no quarter was to be +shown to Warwick's vassals and retainers.</p> + +<p>Northumberland and Hotspur were still smarting under this +treatment of Mortimer when, eight days after the battle, the +messenger they had despatched to the king, in Wales, with the +report of their great victory, and the capture of Douglas and other +important nobles, returned with an order from the king that these +prisoners were not to be ransomed.</p> + +<p>This order was received with passionate indignation by the earl +and Hotspur. Although not altogether contrary to the usages of the +age, since similar orders had, more than once been, issued by +Edward the Third; the ransom of prisoners taken in battle was +regarded as one of the most important sources of revenue, and as +the means of defraying the expenses that nobles and knights were +put to in aiding, with their vassals, the king in his wars. +Occasionally, however, in the case of prisoners of importance, +monarchs deemed it necessary, for political reasons, to forbid the +ransom of prisoners.</p> + +<p>The Scottish nobles were as indignant as the Percys. They had +regarded it as a matter of course that they would be shortly +liberated. Their ransom, however heavy, would be soon forthcoming; +for it was one of the conditions on which land was held that, in +case of the lord being taken prisoner, each of his tenants must +contribute largely, in proportion to his holding, towards the +payment of his ransom.</p> + +<p>The order of the king clearly meant that they were to be taken +to London and held there as hostages, perhaps for years; and so not +only to ensure England against another invasion, but to further any +designs of conquest that the king might entertain. With three of +the great earls of Scotland--one of them the son of the Regent--and +Douglas, the military leader of the Scots, in his hands; and with +the Earl of Dunbar as his ally, Scotland would be practically at +his mercy.</p> + +<p>An important meeting was held at Alnwick, at which the Scottish +nobles, the Earl of Northumberland, and Hotspur were alone present, +and here matters of vital interest to the kingdom were +arranged.</p> + +<p>For six months things remained in the same state. The king's +fourth expedition into Wales had effected no more than the +preceding. Glendower was still virtually master of Wales. Cardiff +had been burned by him, with its numerous priories and convents, +with the exception of that of the Franciscans; the castle of +Penmarc, and the town and castle of Abergavenny had been burned, +and other strong places captured.</p> + +<p>The Percys remained, during this time, sullen and inactive; +although somewhat mollified by the thanks voted them by Parliament. +The king, as a reward for their services, bestowed upon them the +estates of Douglas. This, however, they treated with scorn, for as +well might he have presented to them the city of Naples or Paris; +since, unless all Scotland was conquered, they could not come into +peaceful mastership of the Douglas estates. Nor, indeed, could the +king have intended it in earnest; for he was far too politic to +think of adding so great an increase of territory to the estates of +the Percys, who had already shown their power by placing him on the +throne, and who might some day take back what they had given him, +by declaring in favour of the Earl of March.</p> + +<p>One day in February, 1403, Oswald was summoned from Stoubes to +Alnwick and, on his arrival there, was requested to go to the +earl's chamber. Such a summons was extremely unusual. Hotspur had +his own estates, and his own retinue and following; and was, +jointly with his father, warden of the marches; and though he +dwelt, generally, with him at Alnwick, he had his own portion of +the castle. Thus it was seldom that the earl had any communication +with Hotspur's knights.</p> + +<p>Hastening to obey, Oswald found Hotspur with his father.</p> + +<p>"I have a mission for you, Sir Oswald," Hotspur said, "on the +part of the earl and myself. You know that, for a long time, there +has been a disputation between my father and the Earl of +Westmoreland, respecting the Scottish prisoners. The earl sent a +small force to fight under me at Homildon, but it was a mere +handful; and on the strength of this he advanced a claim to a +considerable share of the ransoms of the prisoners; or, since they +could not be ransomed, to the custody of the persons of the Earls +of Moray and Angus. The king has now, contrary to all reason, +inflicted upon us the indignity of appointing four commissioners, +two of whom are but knights and the other two men of no +consequence, to inquire into the question between my father and my +uncle, the Earl of Westmoreland.</p> + +<p>"Does he think that two of his earls are going to submit +themselves to so gross an indignity?--we, who are as much masters +in the north of England as he is in the south--and even that he +owes to us. I have ridden over and seen Westmoreland, who is as +indignant as we are, and we at once arranged the little matter in +which we are at variance, and agreed upon common measures.</p> + +<p>"But this is not all. Seeing that the king absolutely refused to +do to Mortimer the same service that he did to Lord Grey, whose +ransom he has now paid--and who, by the way, has married +Glendower's daughter, Jane--Mortimer's vassals, with some aid from +ourselves, have raised the money required to free Mortimer. Now the +king has interfered, and has given orders that such ransom shall +not be paid. 'Tis evident that he determines to drive us to +extremities.</p> + +<p>"I tell you these things, in order that you may see how +intolerable the condition of affairs has become. My father and +myself believe that it is the judgment of heaven upon us, for +having helped to dethrone King Richard, the lawful sovereign of +this country, and to place this usurper on the throne. Even had +Richard's conduct rendered his deposition necessary, we did wrong +in passing over the lawful heir, the young Earl of March. 'Tis true +he was but a child, at that time; but he is older now, and we feel +shame that he should be kept as a prisoner, by Henry. Had not the +king perjured himself, we should not have been led into this error; +for, before we assisted him, he swore a great oath that he had no +intention of gaining the throne, but only to regain his own dukedom +of Lancaster. It was on that ground that we lent him our aid; and +now, forsooth, this perjured usurper treats us, who made him, as +dirt under his feet!</p> + +<p>"We are resolved to suffer it no longer; and since we may not +ransom Mortimer, we will secure his freedom in other ways, and for +this you may give us your aid."</p> + +<p>"Assuredly, Sir Henry, and my Lord Earl," Oswald, who was deeply +indignant at the unworthy treatment of his lords, replied hotly. +"My life is at your service."</p> + +<p>"I expected nothing else," Hotspur said, warmly. "The matter +stands thus. Owen Glendower was a warm partisan of King Richard, +and was one of the few who remained faithful to the end; thereby +incurring the deep hostility of Henry, and of his adherent Lord +Grey. It was for this his lands were unjustly seized, for this that +Henry's parliament refused to accede to his complaints, and so +drove him to take up arms. Thus, then, in an enterprise against +Henry, Glendower is our natural ally; and we intend to propose to +him that alliance, undertaking that, if he will give us aid, his +claim to the crown of Wales shall be acknowledged, and that he +shall govern his country without interference from England.</p> + +<p>"There is none who could carry out this negotiation so well as +yourself, since you can, by virtue of that ring he gave you, pass +unarmed to him; while any other knight would be assuredly slain. +You will bear a letter, signed by the earl and myself, offering him +our friendship and alliance, on those terms; and explain to him, +more fully, the manner in which we have been driven to throw off +Henry's authority. You can tell him that we shall proclaim the Earl +of March lawful king; and if he agrees to join in our project, +which would be clearly both to his liking and advantage, it would +be as well that he should, as soon as we move, which may not be for +some time yet, release Sir Edmund Mortimer; who, as the boy's +uncle, will assuredly raise his vassals on his behalf, now that +Henry has shown such animosity against him."</p> + +<p>"I will gladly undertake the mission, my lord; and all the more +gladly, since it may lead to the liberation of Sir Edmund Mortimer, +who treated me with the greatest kindness and condescension, during +my stay at Ludlow."</p> + +<p>"Prepare to start tomorrow, then," the earl said. "The letter +shall be ready for you tonight; and beyond what my son has told +you, you can tell Glendower that we have good hopes of large help +from Scotland; with whom, it is said, he is already in +alliance."</p> + +<p>The next morning Oswald started, taking no one but Roger with +him. He had, the evening before, told his squire only that he was +starting on a journey; promising to tell him more, as they rode. +Accordingly, when well away from Alnwick, he beckoned to Roger to +bring up his horse alongside of him.</p> + +<p>"Where think you that we are going, Roger? I will give you fifty +guesses, and would warrant that you would not come at the +truth."</p> + +<p>"It matters nothing to me, master; so that I ride with you, I am +content."</p> + +<p>"You know, Roger, how grievously the king has treated the +Percys; how he has prevented their taking ransom for their +prisoners, and has refused to ransom Sir Edmund Mortimer; how he, +in bitter jest, offered the earl the estates of Douglas; and how he +has put upon them the indignity of sending four men, of no import, +to decide upon their difference with Westmoreland?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, Sir Oswald, everyone knows this, and not a few have +wondered that the Percys have suffered these things, in +quietness."</p> + +<p>"A fresh thing has happened, Roger. The tenants of Mortimer, +with aid from the earl and Hotspur, have raised the sum that +Glendower demanded as ransom; and now the king has laid on them his +order, that this money is not to be paid."</p> + +<p>"By our Lady," Roger exclaimed wrathfully, "this is too much! +Sir Edmund is a noble gentleman, and that the king should refuse to +allow his friends to ransom him passes all bounds."</p> + +<p>"So the earl and Hotspur consider," Oswald said, "and, ere long, +you will see that they will hoist the banner of the young Earl of +March, and proclaim him King of England."</p> + +<p>"'Tis good," Roger exclaimed, slapping his hand on his leg. "To +me it matters nought who is King of England, but I always held that +it was hard that King Richard should be deposed, and murdered, by +one who was not even his lawful successor. I am not one to question +the conduct of my lord, but I always thought that the Percys were +wrong in bringing this usurper over."</p> + +<p>"They feel that themselves, Roger, and consider the ingratitude +of the king to be a punishment upon them, for having aided him to +the throne."</p> + +<p>"But what has this to do with your journey, master?"</p> + +<p>"It has much to do with it, Roger, seeing that I am on my way to +Glendower, to offer him alliance with the Percys."</p> + +<p>"A good step!" Roger exclaimed. "We know that these Welsh can +fight."</p> + +<p>"Moreover, Roger, it may bring about the freeing of Mortimer; +for the evil feeling the king has shown against him will surely +drive him to raise all his vassals, and those of the young earl, in +Herefordshire and elsewhere; and thus the Percys will gain two +powerful allies, Glendower and Mortimer; and as they advance from +the north, the Welsh and Mortimer will join them from the west. +When victory is gained, there will be peace on the Welsh marches. +Owen will be recognized for what he is, the King of Wales; and +doubtless he will then suffer the English to live quietly there, +just as the Welsh have lived quietly in England.</p> + +<p>"Then, too, all the western counties will see that it is their +interest to side with Mortimer and Glendower. Four times, during +the last three years, have they been called out, and forced to +leave their homes to follow the king into Wales; and as often have +had to return, leaving behind them many of their number. They will +see that, if Glendower is acknowledged King of Wales, this hard and +grievous service will no longer be required of them."</p> + +<p>"That is so, Sir Oswald, and in truth I like the project well. +It matters not a straw to me who is king; but if a king treats my +lords scurvily, I am ready to shout 'Down with him!' and to do my +best to put another up in his place; though, indeed, 'tis a salve +to my conscience to know that the man I am fighting against is a +usurper, and one who has set himself up in the place of the lawful +king."</p> + +<p>"My conscience in no way pricks me, Roger. I fight at my lord's +order, against his foes. That is the duty I have sworn to. As +between him and the king, 'tis a matter for him alone. At the same +time, I am glad that the business is likely to end in the rescue of +a knight who has been very kind to me. Between Henry and the young +Earl of March I have no opinion; but it seems to me that, since +Henry ascended to the throne by might, and by the popular voice, he +has no cause to complain, if he is put out of it by the same +means."</p> + +<p>"But, should the war go against the Percys, master?"</p> + +<p>"That, again, is a matter for the earl and Hotspur. They know +what force they and the Earl of Westmoreland can put in the field. +They know that Glendower can aid with ten thousand Welshmen, and +that Mortimer can raise three or four thousand men from his +vassals. They should know what help they can count on from +Scotland; and doubtless, during the last six months, have made +themselves acquainted with the general feeling respecting the king. +It is upon them that the risk chiefly falls. We knights and +men-at-arms may fall in the field of battle; but that is a risk +that we know we have to face, when we take to the calling of arms. +If our cause is lost, and we escape from the battlefield, we have +but to depart to our holds or our villages, and we shall hear +nought more of the affair; while our lords, if taken, would lose +their heads. It will be a grief for us to lose masters we love, and +to have to pay our quittance with money or service to a new lord; +but beyond that, we risk nought save our lives in battle. Therefore +I trouble myself, in no way, as to the matter between the Percys +and the king, which I take it in no way concerns me; and am content +to do my duty, and to render my service, as I have sworn to +do."</p> + +<p>"It is well, Sir Oswald," Roger said, after a long pause, "that +Glendower gave us those rings; for from all accounts he and his +Welshmen are more furious than ever, and there would be small +chance of our ever reaching him, without them. The chain did its +work, last time. 'Tis not every Welshman who would stop to examine +it before striking, and few who could read the inscription, if they +did so; while 'tis like that most of them are well acquainted with +Glendower's signet."</p> + +<p>"That is so; but nevertheless, Roger, it will be better, when we +have once crossed the border, that you should ride behind me with a +white flag displayed; as a token that we come, not for war, but on +a peaceful mission. 'Tis probable, at any rate, that any band of +Welshmen who may meet us will, in that case, before attacking, stop +to inquire on what errand we come."</p> + +<p>They rode fast, for the earl had said that he needed to have the +news of Glendower's decision, before proceeding further in the +matter, and in four days arrived on the border. At Shrewsbury +Oswald inquired, carelessly, of the host of the inn where he put +up, where Glendower was now thought to be; as he intended to +journey south to Hereford, and would fain know whether there was +any risk of falling in with bands of the marauders.</p> + +<p>"Methinks, Sir Knight, that you may travel without uneasiness; +seeing that the country between this and Hereford has been so +harassed, by them, that there is nought to tempt them to cross the +border, save with so large a force that they can invade Gloucester +or Worcestershire. Men say, moreover, that Glendower is, at +present, in Cardiganshire. There are still a few Welsh inhabitants +here. They declare that they are loyal to the king, and love not +their wild countrymen. Whether it is so, or not, I cannot say; but +they certainly manage to keep up communications with the Welsh. +This may be for a treacherous purpose, or it may be as they say; +that, knowing that they and all belonging to them would be slain, +should Glendower capture the town; they, for their own safety, try +to learn his intentions and movements, in order to warn us, should +a surprise be intended."</p> + +<p>Starting early the next morning, Oswald crossed into +Montgomeryshire, by a road through Worktree Forest, so as to avoid +both Ludlow and Welshpool; and kept along by a country track, near +the border of Radnor, so passing south of Llanidloes. As soon as +they had left Radnorshire, Roger fastened to his spear a white +cloth they had brought from Shrewsbury; then they continued their +journey west.</p> + +<p>It was not until they had crossed the Wye, here an insignificant +stream, that they came upon a native of the country. They were +following a track, between two rough hills covered with brushwood, +when a man, evidently of the better class, stepped out before +them.</p> + +<p>"Sir Knight," he said in English, "'tis a strange sight to see +an Englishman, with one esquire, travelling alone by so wild and +lonely a road as this; and strange, indeed, that he should bear a +flag of truce; for were you here on your king's business, you would +surely be attended with a braver show. I had notice, two hours ago, +brought by one who had seen you cross the Wye; and in the bushes +round lie fifty men who, did I raise my hand, would let fly their +arrows against you. But if you have reason for your coming this +way, assuredly we should not hinder you."</p> + +<p>Oswald held out his hand.</p> + +<p>"This signet ring, sir, was given me by Glendower, who said that +any Welshman to whom I might show it would act as my guide and +escort to him. I come on an important mission, not from the king, +but from one from whom Glendower may be glad to hear; therefore I +pray you take me to him, or at least send a party of your men; for +I might, peradventure, fall in with some who would shoot before +they questioned."</p> + +<p>"'Tis assuredly the prince's signet," the man said, after +carefully examining it, "and right gladly will I escort you to him. +He is, at present, at Aberystwith."</p> + +<p>"Thanks for your courtesy, sir. To whom am I speaking?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Howel ap Ryddyn. You passed my abode, which cannot +be seen from the road; and I would, were you not pressed for time, +gladly entertain you; but if we push forward, we may reach +Aberystwith before nightfall, and I make no question that would +better suit your wishes."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, sir. My business is somewhat urgent, and I shall be +glad to meet the prince, as soon as possible. Indeed, I should not +be sorry to reach a spot where we can sup and sleep, seeing that we +have twice slept in the woods, since we left Shrewsbury."</p> + +<p>The man called out an order, in Welsh. Four men at once issued +from the bushes, and under their guidance the horsemen soon reached +Aberystwith.</p> + +<p>"I had scarce expected this pleasure, Sir Oswald," Glendower +said warmly, as the young knight entered. "To what good fortune do +I owe your visit?</p> + +<p>"But no, 'tis but poor hospitality questioning thus, when it +will be time enough to talk of such things, later."</p> + +<p>"And 'tis a matter that is best discussed in private," Oswald +replied, in an undertone.</p> + +<p>"And how have you fared since we parted?"</p> + +<p>"Since I saw you, over a year ago, the time has passed quietly, +save for the battle with the Scots; where, although we beat them, +there was no credit gained by the knights and men-at-arms; seeing +that the archers, alone, did the fighting."</p> + +<p>"So I heard. On our side, we have been busy ever since."</p> + +<p>"And successful, too, as I have heard."</p> + +<p>"Yes, fortune has been in our favour. Lord Grey's ransom has +been of much use to us and, having married my daughter Jane, he can +no longer be considered a foe. Yet, to do him justice, he would not +promise even to stand neutral; though, unless under special orders +from the king, he will not draw his sword again. I love a stanch +man; and though Grey has taken, as I consider, the wrong side, he +stands to it faithfully. I offered him freedom, without ransom, if +he would promise neutrality, and that, when I had put down all +other opposition, he would hold his Welsh lands from me; but he +refused, and said that he would rather remain in chains, all his +life, than be false to his vows to Henry.</p> + +<p>"That was good, and I would that all Welshmen were as faithful. +They take the oath to me one week, and make their peace with Henry +the next. Nay, some, to please him, would go so far as to try to +assassinate me. Two such plots have there been this year, and it +was only that I wore a good mail shirt under my garments, that my +life was saved from a bow shot, and from one who professed to be my +warm friend, and who had taken bread with me, half an hour +before.</p> + +<p>"It is destiny, Sir Oswald. The powers watch over me, and keep +me from harm; and these will, I know, protect me to the end, +against the stroke of English foes, or of Welsh traitors."</p> + +<p>After supper was over, Glendower led Oswald to his private +chamber.</p> + +<p>"Now, Sir Oswald, you can speak freely. I have placed a guard +outside the door, and there is no fear of interruption. Do you come +on your own account, or from another?"</p> + +<p>"I come from the Earl of Northumberland, and his son Sir Henry +Percy; and am charged, in the first place, to deliver this letter +to you; and then to give you such further intelligence, as to the +matter, as it may be needful for you to know."</p> + +<p>"From the Percys!" Glendower said, in surprise, as he cut the +silk that held the roll together.</p> + +<p>His countenance expressed great surprise, as he read the +contents.</p> + +<p>"There is no snare in this?" he said suddenly, after reading it +through two or three times, and looking sharply at Oswald. "'Tis +not from the Percys, who, more than any other, assisted the usurper +to the throne, that I should have looked for such an offer."</p> + +<p>"I should be the last to bring such a letter to you, Glendower, +were there aught behind what is written. The earl and Hotspur spoke +of the matter at length to me. They regret, now, the part they took +in enthroning Henry; at whose hands they have now received such +indignities that they are resolved, if it may be, to undo their +work, and to place the lawful king, the young Earl of March, on the +throne."</p> + +<p>He then related the various complaints that the Percys had +against the king, and told Glendower that the matter had been +brought to a head by Henry's refusal to allow them to pay the +ransom that had been collected for Sir Edmund Mortimer.</p> + +<p>"Whom have they with them?" Glendower asked, after listening in +silence.</p> + +<p>"They have the Earl of Westmoreland, who, like themselves, is +greatly offended at the appointment of four commissioners, men of +no standing or position, to judge between two of the great barons +of England; blood relations, too, whose difference is on a matter +of but small importance. No other name was mentioned before me, but +the earl stated that he looked for much assistance from +Scotland."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay! As they hold in their hands Douglas, and the Regent's +son, Moray, and Angus, they may well make terms with Scotland. Yes, +it is a very great plot, and since I can get no ransom for +Mortimer, and he can raise some three or four thousand men, he +would be of more value to us free than as a prisoner."</p> + +<p>"It is not only that," Oswald said. "The fact that he, as young +March's uncle, should head his following and raise his banner, will +show that the Percys and you are not using young March's name as a +mere pretext for taking up arms. If Mortimer, the head of his house +during his minority, and guardian of his estates, were with them, +men would see that 'tis really a struggle to place the lawful king +on the throne; and many would join who, did they think it was but +an affair between the Percys, of whom they know but little in the +south, and you, whom they have been taught to consider a rebel, +would stand aloof."</p> + +<p>"'Tis well thought of, and the project pleases me. Even without +such allies, I may hold my mountains and continue my warfare, but +there could be neither peace nor prosperity for years; but with the +overthrow of the usurper, and my acknowledgment as King of Wales, +and of the entire independence of the country, from the Dee to the +Severn, the freedom of my country might be permanently secured.</p> + +<p>"But I will give no certain answer, tonight. 'Tis a matter to be +turned over in my mind, as it seems to me that I may gain much good +by the alliance; and that, even if the Percys fail in their +enterprise, I can be no worse off than I am, at present."</p> + +<p>It was not until the following evening that Glendower gave a +decided answer.</p> + +<p>"I accept Percy's offer," he said. "I have thought it over in +every way; even putting aside the benefits, to my country and +myself, I would enter upon it; were it but for the satisfaction of +seeing the usurper, and murderer of my dear master, King Richard, +have the same measure meted out to him that he gave to his +sovereign. Tonight I will write an answer to the Percys, for you to +bear to them. Tomorrow morning I will ride, with you, to the +stronghold where Mortimer is at present held in durance; and if he +consents to join us, I will give him his freedom, without +ransom."</p> + +<p>They started the next morning, early; and at noon arrived at a +strong house, lying in the heart of the hills.</p> + +<p>"It were best that you should see him first, Sir Oswald, and +explain the matter to him. After that, I will meet him with +you."</p> + +<p>Great was the astonishment of Sir Edmund, when Oswald was +ushered into the little room in which he was confined. It was some +ten feet square, furnished with a pallet, chair, and small table. +The window was very strongly barred, and Oswald observed, with +pain, that his ten months' imprisonment had told very heavily upon +Mortimer.</p> + +<p>"Why, Oswald! Ah! I see I should say Sir Oswald. What brings you +here? Some good news, I trust. Has my ransom been collected?"</p> + +<p>"It has been collected, Sir Edmund," Oswald said, as they shook +hands, "but the king, who refused altogether to pay your ransom, as +he did Lord Grey's, has forbidden the money, raised partly by your +tenants and partly by the tenants of your nephew, to be handed +over. 'Tis clear that he views you as an enemy; and has, indeed, +ventured to declare his belief that your capture by Glendower was a +thing arranged, beforehand."</p> + +<p>"He lies!" Sir Edmund exclaimed angrily. "We fought stoutly and, +had it not been for the treachery of the Welsh bowmen, should have +won the day.</p> + +<p>"Then how stands the matter, Sir Oswald, and how is it that you +are here?"</p> + +<p>Oswald then related the purport of his mission, and gave +Mortimer some messages with which Hotspur had charged him, on the +evening before he started.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly I will join," Sir Edmund exclaimed, when Oswald +brought his story to a conclusion. "Have I not suffered enough by +keeping a force on foot, by having my lands harried and my vassals +slain, in order to support Henry's claims to the kingdom of Wales, +only to be suspected of treachery? Had I intended to join +Glendower, I should have done so a year before; and with my force +and his, we could have kept Henry at bay. Why should I have kept up +the pretext of loyalty, when there was nought to have prevented my +joining Glendower? Why should I have fought him, at the cost of the +lives of some twelve hundred of my men, when I could have marched +them into his camp, as friends? Why should I suffer nine months of +close imprisonment, at the hands of an ally?</p> + +<p>"Henry lied, and knew that he lied, when he brought such a +charge against me. He wished to be able to work his will on the +young earl, and maybe to murder him as he murdered Richard, without +there being one powerful enough to lift his voice to condemn the +murder. All is at an end between us, and henceforth I am his open +enemy, as he is mine; and would be heart and soul with the Percys +in the overthrow of Henry, even if my nephew were not concerned, +and did the earl purpose, himself, to grasp the crown."</p> + +<p>"Glendower is below, Sir Edmund, and will himself speak to you; +but he thought that it were best that I should first open the +matter to you."</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later the keeper of the hold came up, and +said that the prince bade Sir Edmund to descend and speak with him. +As they entered the room where Glendower was waiting, the latter +glanced at Oswald, inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"The matter is settled," the latter said. "Sir Edmund will join +us, with heart and hand."</p> + +<p>"I am indeed glad to hear it, Sir Oswald.</p> + +<p>"Sir Edmund Mortimer," he went on, courteously, "hitherto we +have regarded each other as enemies; henceforth we are friends, and +you are my guest and not my prisoner. I have thought it over, and +methinks that you must tarry here, till we have certain news of the +day on which the Percys will set on foot their enterprise. It would +not be safe for you to return to your estates, until you are in a +position to call your vassals to arms at once; for the king, were +he to hear that you were at Ludlow, might call on the lieutenants +of the western counties, and the owners of all the castles, to +attack you at once. Therefore, until it is time to strike, it were +best that you should remain with me.</p> + +<p>"I do not propose that you should accompany me on my +expeditions, for to do so might do harm across the border. I will, +therefore, assign you a suitable house at Aberystwith, with such +attendance and furnishing as are due to a guest of your +quality.</p> + +<p>"The prospect seems to be a fair one. The northern lords, aided +by the Scots, should by themselves be a match for any gathering +Henry could collect at short notice; and, joined by my forces and +yours, should surely be able to overthrow all opposition."</p> + +<p>"So it appears to me," Sir Edmund said. "'Tis indeed a powerful +confederation and, if all goes well, ought to leave no option to +the usurper but to die in battle, or to fly to France."</p> + +<p>"Will you return with us to Aberystwith, Sir Oswald?" Glendower +presently asked the young knight.</p> + +<p>"I will ride straight for England, with your permission," Oswald +said. "I am already thirty miles on my way, and the Percys urged me +to return as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>"So be it. As soon as we have dined, an officer and four +horsemen will be in readiness to ride with you, as an escort."</p> + +<p>A week later Oswald reached Alnwick. He was the bearer of +letters from Glendower and Mortimer, and was able to report the +complete success of his mission. As a mark of his satisfaction, the +earl ordered a deed of gift to be made to him, of a large strip of +land extending over the hills between Stoubes and Yardhope.</p> + +<p>"Some day," he said, as he handed the document to him, "you +will be master of Yardhope, and by thus joining that feu to that of +Stoubes, you will have an estate that will make you a power in the +upper glades of Reddesdale and Coquetdale; and will support the +dignity of a knight banneret, which I now bestow upon you, and also +appoint you a deputy warden of the marches, with power of life and +death over all marauders, reivers, and outlaws. I have long felt +that it would be well that there should be one who, in case of +necessity, could raise a hundred spears; and so prevent bodies of +marauders, from the other side of the border, making sudden +irruptions into the dales; and from what I have heard of you, from +Sir Henry, I am sure that you will carry out the charge most +worthily."</p> + +<p>The new acquisition would not very largely increase Oswald's +revenues, for the greater portion of the grant was hill and moor. +Nevertheless, there were a good many houses and small villages +scattered in the dales, and it was these that raised the tract of +land to the value of a knight's feu.</p> + +<p>In point of position, however, it was a large addition. As a +knight banneret, with the castle of Stoubes at one end of his +holding, and the hold of Yardhope at the other, he would occupy an +important position on the border; and could raise at least a +hundred spears among his tenants, in addition to the men-at-arms of +the two strongholds.</p> + +<p>Three days later Hotspur released the whole of his Scottish +prisoners; and sent them, under escort, to the border. The Percys +now began, in earnest, their preparations for war. For greater +convenience Hotspur went down to Morpeth, while the earl betook +himself to Berwick-on-Tweed, where he could confer more easily with +his Scottish allies; who, on their part, were carrying out the +condition on which they had been released without ransom; namely, +that they would join their forces to those of the Percys.</p> + +<p>Oswald made another journey to Wales, this time by ship from +Carlisle to Aberystwith, and there acquainted Glendower and +Mortimer with the preparations that had been made, assuring them +that the rising would take place at the end of May. He also asked +Glendower to raise as large an army as possible, without delay; and +Sir Edmund Mortimer to betake himself at once to Hereford, there to +raise his banner and summon his vassals, and those of the Earl of +March, to join him--the king having, on his return from his last +expedition, entered Ludlow, seized Mortimer's plate and other +property, and appointed to the governorship of Ludlow a knight on +whose devotion he could rely.</p> + +<h2><a name="Ch21">Chapter 21</a>: Shrewsbury.</h2> + +<p>The Percys' preparations could not be carried on without +exciting attention; and in March the king, seeing that the open +defiance of his authority, by the release of the Scottish +prisoners, would assuredly be followed by armed rebellion, which +the Douglas would probably have pledged himself to aid as the +condition of his release, began, on his side, to make similar +preparations. Levies were called out, and the Prince of Wales was +appointed to the command of the Welsh marches, and the governorship +of Wales.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of June Douglas, faithful to his agreement, +crossed the frontier; and was at once joined by Hotspur, with the +force he had gathered. Hotspur's father was lying sick at Berwick, +but was to follow, as speedily as possible, with the army collected +in the north of the county, and from Dunbar's estates.</p> + +<p>It had been arranged that Glendower should meet the allies at +Lichfield; and on his being joined by his uncle, the Earl of +Westmoreland, with his following, Hotspur marched south. His +intention was, after effecting a junction with Glendower, to march +and give battle to the army with which Henry and the Prince of +Wales were advancing against him. At Lichfield, however, he learned +that Glendower had not completed his preparations in sufficient +time to join him. He therefore changed his direction, and made for +Shrewsbury, towards which place Glendower was marching.</p> + +<p>Percy's array had swollen as he went south. He had been joined +by a number of archers, from Cheshire, and by other adherents of +the late king; these regarding the war as an attempt, not to place +the Earl of March upon the throne, but to overthrow the usurper who +had dethroned their king.</p> + +<p>Oswald rode with sixty spearmen from his own estate; while his +father, with thirty men from Yardhope, rode in his company. Both +regarded the failure of Glendower to come to the place appointed as +a serious misfortune.</p> + +<p>"Of course," Oswald said, "if he joins us at Shrewsbury, before +the king comes up, it will not matter much; and indeed would be, in +one respect, the better. Mortimer with his force will be coming on; +and though he is scarce likely to arrive at Shrewsbury in time for +the battle, for he could not leave Wales, to summon his levies to +the field, until the Prince of Wales had drawn off his force and +marched to join his father; his reinforcement, afterwards, will +fill up the gaps in our ranks, and be a great assistance, should +Henry be able to rally another army in the Midlands. He cannot hope +to do so before we reach London."</p> + +<p>"That sounds fairly, Oswald, but 'tis always better to carry out +the plans you have made; and this absence of Glendower, at the +point arranged, to my mind augurs ill."</p> + +<p>Henry was an able general. Believing that the Percys would make +for the Welsh border, he had posted himself at Burton-on-Trent; but +as soon as he heard that they had changed their course he started +for Shrewsbury, and marched so quickly that he arrived there before +Hotspur, thus throwing himself between the Percys and the +Welsh.</p> + +<p>Hotspur, on arriving near the town, was enraged at hearing that +Glendower had not arrived, according to his promise. The king's +army was encamped on the eastern side of the town, and the northern +forces took post a short distance away. That night Hotspur sent a +document into the royal camp, declaring Henry to be forsworn and +perjured: in the first place because he had sworn, under Holy +Gospel, that he would claim nothing but his own proper inheritance, +and that Richard should reign to the end of his life; secondly, +because he had raised taxes and other impositions, contrary to his +oath, and by his own arbitrary power; thirdly, because he had +caused King Richard to be kept in the castle of Pontefract, without +meat, drink, or fire, whereof he perished of hunger, thirst, and +cold. There were other clauses, some of them regarding his conduct +to Sir Edmund Mortimer. The claims of the young Earl of March to +the throne were also set forward, and the document ended with a +defiance.</p> + +<p>Henry simply sent, as reply, that he had no time to lose in +writing; but that he would, in the morning, prove in battle whose +claims were false and feigned.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, in the morning, when the two armies were arrayed +in the order of battle, the king sent the Abbot of Shrewsbury to +propose an amicable arrangement. Hotspur and Douglas, however, +rejected the offer. The trumpets then blew on either side, and the +armies joined battle.</p> + +<p>Their numbers were about equal. Each consisted of some fourteen +thousand men. Douglas and Hotspur had taken their place in the +centre of their line, having behind them a party of their best +knights. These charged with fury down upon the king's standard, +which stood in the centre of his array. Hotspur and Douglas, his +former rival, were accounted two of the best knights in +Christendom, and the fury of their charge was irresistible. The +centre of the royal line was cleft in sunder, the king's guards +were at once dispersed; and, had not Henry taken the precaution of +arraying himself in plain armour, while two of his knights had put +on royal surcoats, the battle would at once have been decided.</p> + +<p>As it was, the two knights were both killed, as were the Earl of +Stafford and Sir Walter Blount. The royal standard was overthrown, +and the young Prince of Wales sorely wounded in the face.</p> + +<p>He had already shown signs of great military talent; and, in +spite of his wound, now showed a courage and presence of mind that +justified the confidence his father had shown, in giving him +important commands. He rode hither and thither among the +disorganized troops, saw that the gap in the centre was again +closed up, and was ever to be met where the fight was hottest.</p> + +<p>The impetuous charge of Hotspur and Douglas was the ruin of +themselves, and their army. Had they paused until their troops had +advanced close to the enemy, and the mounted men-at-arms were all +ranged closely behind them, and in a position to support them, the +fight would assuredly have speedily terminated in their favour; but +before these arrived the royal army had closed its ranks, and the +rebel leaders, with all their principal knights, were cut off from +the main body. In vain the men of the north tried to cut their way +through the southern ranks, and to come to the assistance of their +chiefs; who, surrounded now by the English knights and men-at-arms, +were fighting desperately against overwhelming numbers.</p> + +<p>An hour after the battle began, many parties of Welshmen came up +and joined in the conflict; but the absence of leaders, and the +loss of their respective captains, Hotspur and Douglas, paralysed +the efforts of the Northumbrians and the Scottish contingent. Yet +both fought stoutly, and suffered very heavy losses.</p> + +<p>For upwards of two hours Hotspur maintained the unequal fight; +but at length an arrow pierced Hotspur's visor, and he fell dead +from his horse. Further resistance was useless, and the survivors +of the group, which had been reduced to a mere handful, +surrendered. For another half hour the main battle raged; then came +the news that Hotspur was killed, and Douglas and Westmoreland +prisoners; the English horsemen dashed down on the flanks of the +northern line, the spearmen pressed forward, and the Scotch and +Northumbrians broke and fled.</p> + +<p>When the knights first charged, Oswald had been with his own +following, and a hundred other horsemen, on the left flank. As soon +as he saw what had happened, he endeavoured to ride round the right +flank of the royal army; but was met by a much larger force of +men-at-arms and, after hard fighting, driven back. Oswald himself, +with Roger on one hand and his father on the other, had several +times hewed his way deep into the enemy's squadron; and would have +been cut off, had not the Yardhope moss troopers spurred furiously +in to the rescue, and brought them all off again.</p> + +<p>Several times the charge was renewed, but ineffectually. Half +the rebel army had been killed; and when, at last, the infantry +broke, and it was clear that there was no more to be done, Oswald, +who was wounded in half a dozen places, called the survivors of his +troop to follow him; and, with his party, rode off in good +order.</p> + +<p>A mile from the field they halted for a few minutes. Not one of +them but had been more or less severely wounded in the desperate +melee. They now took off their armour, and bandaged each other's +wounds; and then, mounting again, they rode off.</p> + +<p>"What do you say, Father," Oswald asked; "shall we circle round, +and join Glendower? We know that his army is close at hand and, +were they to attack tonight, they should win an easy victory; for +the king's men have suffered well nigh as sorely as we have."</p> + +<p>"No, Oswald; we have done enough. We have not been fighting for +the Earl of March. We have been simply following our feudal lord, +as we were bound to do. He is dead, and we have nought to do with +this quarrel. What is it to us whether March or Henry is king?"</p> + +<p>They were not pursued. The greater part of the English cavalry +were exhausted by their exertions against Hotspur and Douglas. +Their loss was extremely heavy, and those in a condition to pursue +took up the comparatively easy work of cutting down the flying +footmen.</p> + +<p>The battle had been a disastrous one, for both sides. Their +losses were about even, the number who fell altogether being put at +ten thousand men. With Douglas, the Earl of Westmoreland, Baron of +Kinderton, Sir Richard Vernon, and other knights were captured. +Westmoreland, Kinderton, and Vernon were at once executed on the +field of battle, as rebels; but Douglas, as a foreign knight, was +simply viewed as a prisoner of war, and was kindly treated.</p> + +<p>Glendower took no advantage of the opportunity for striking a +blow at the royal army; and instead of attacking it, when spent by +fatigue and encumbered with wounds, retired at once to Wales. Had +he, instead of doing this, marched to meet Sir Edmund Mortimer, who +was hurrying forward with a powerful array, the united force would +have been fully double the strength of the English army; and a +great commander would, at once, have fought a battle that would +probably have altered the whole course of events in England. +Glendower's conduct here showed that, although an able partisan +leader in an irregular warfare, he had no claim whatever to be +considered a great general.</p> + +<p>Travelling rapidly, Oswald and his party crossed the Tyne; and +hearing that the earl, now recovered from his illness, was marching +down with his army to join his son, they rode to meet him. It was a +painful duty that Oswald had to discharge, and the old earl, when +he heard of the defeat of the army, the death of the son to whom he +was deeply attached, and the capture of his brother, the Earl of +Westmoreland, gave way to despair, dismissed his army to their +homes at once, and retired, completely broken down in body and +spirit, to his castle at Warkworth.</p> + +<p>So depressed was he that when royal messengers arrived, +summoning him in the king's name to surrender, and journey with him +to London, he instantly obeyed. When questioned by the king why he +had displayed the banner of revolt against him, he said he had done +so on the urging of Hotspur; and the king, who was always inclined +to leniency, when leniency was safe, pardoned him, and permitted +him to retain his dignity and estates.</p> + +<p>Oswald speedily recovered from his wounds, but his father +suffered much.</p> + +<p>"I have fought my last fight, Oswald," he said, when his son +rode over to see him, a few days after their return from the south. +"I say not that I am about to die, but only that methinks I shall +never be able to wield sword manfully again. I have talked the +matter over with your mother, and she agrees with me that it were +well that I handed over Yardhope to you. I do not mean that I +should leave the old place--for generations my fathers have lived +and died here, and I would fain do the same--but that I should hand +over to you the feu, and you should take oath for it to +Northumberland, and lead its retainers in the field. Were it that +there was a chance of another raid by the Bairds, I would still +maintain my hold myself; but their power was altogether broken, at +Homildon.</p> + +<p>"Moreover, the border Scots and we are at peace now, as we have +not been so long as memories run; seeing that we have fought side +by side against the King of England, and have suffered the same +misfortune in defeat; therefore, I can hang up my sword.</p> + +<p>"But for you there may be more fighting. From what I know of the +old earl, I am sure that he will never forgive Hotspur's death; and +although, at present, he is reinstated in his estates, there can be +no doubt that the king will strike further blows against the power +of the Percys. Northumberland is a valiant soldier, tenacious in +his purposes, and lasting in his hatreds. Had it not been that he +was utterly broken by the news that we brought him, he would +assuredly have marched down with his army, and tried to join +Glendower and Mortimer; and at least have died fighting, the end +that he would best like. I doubt not that we shall see his banner +raised again, ere long."</p> + +<p>"I hope not, Father. The undertaking would be desperate."</p> + +<p>"However that may be, Oswald, as I can no longer render service +for the feu, I wish to hand it over to you. 'Tis but a nominal +change, but I should like to see the estate yours. I and my fathers +have held our own, and were content to do so, adding somewhat to +our means by such plunder as we could carry off from Scotland; but +you have greatly advanced the family, and as a deputy warden of the +marches, it is as well that Yardhope should be added to your +holding. I should be glad, too, to have you known as Sir Oswald +Forster of Yardhope, and not as Sir Oswald Forster of Stoubes; and +in time, if things go well with you, I charge you to build a castle +here, in place of this hold; which has been good enough for plain +men like myself and my father, but which is no fit residence for +the estate you now hold.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean to say that I wish you always to live here, for, +maybe, Stoubes is a more pleasant abode, standing in a fair +country, and with the climate somewhat less hard than this; but I +should like you to come up here, at times, and to be known as +Forster of Yardhope."</p> + +<p>"I will carry out your wishes, Father; but it would please me +more for things to remain as they have been."</p> + +<p>"My plan is best, lad. I shall be seneschal here for you, and +little will be changed; save that you will ride at the head of the +retainers, instead of myself. 'Tis not meet that I should hold the +feu, when I can no longer render due service.</p> + +<p>"Your mother is wholly of opinion that I have done enough of +fighting for my life, and should trouble myself no longer with +raidings and wars. Your mother has shown sound judgment, and her +advice has generally been good; though I never fully recognized +this, till I saw what great good had come of her wishing you to +learn to read and write; for it is to that, to no small extent, +that you owe your rapid rise and present dignity."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, a few days later, Oswald rode with his father to +Warkworth, to which castle the earl had returned after his visit to +England. At the request of John Forster he received back the feu +from him, and appointed his son to it. This done, Oswald rode to +pay a visit to his cousins; while his father returned to Yardhope, +with two retainers he had brought with him.</p> + +<p>Oswald had not seen Adam Armstrong, since the latter had come to +Yardhope after the rescue of his daughters; and he was received by +him with the greatest warmth, as also by Allan, who, although now +nearly recovered from his wounds, had, fortunately for himself, not +gained sufficient strength to be able to accompany Douglas, either +to Homildon or in his march into England to join Percy.</p> + +<p>The girls were out when he rode up; but, upon their return, both +showed the greatest pleasure, Jessie being the most demonstrative +in her welcome.</p> + +<p>"It has always been a sore subject with me, Oswald," Allan said, +"that you should have ridden away in that gallant enterprise to +rescue my sisters, while I was lying here helpless; and knew, +indeed, nought of it, until after you had taken them safely to +Yardhope.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Roger, I am glad to see you again; and to thank you, too, +for the share you took in it."</p> + +<p>"In faith, Master Allan, there are no great thanks due. It was +but a poor affair, and I had but one opportunity, and that not +worth naming, of striking a hearty blow. It seems to me that these +things are never fairly divided. Both in that adventure, and at +Homildon, I scarce struck a blow; while in that affair in Wales, +and at Shrewsbury, there was even more fighting than I cared for. I +had to be nursed like a child after the first, and I am still stiff +from the wounds that I got in the second.</p> + +<p>"There should be reason in such matters. It vexed me sorely that +we had to ride away from the Bairds, without striking a few good +blows in part payment of their raid here."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad that you did not have to do so," Janet said. "I +think there was quite enough excitement in it, and especially as we +went down that rope; though indeed, you are so strong that I felt +that I was quite safe with you."</p> + +<p>Roger laughed.</p> + +<p>"I could have carried two of you; and sooth, you did not show +your confidence at the time, for you held on so tightly to the rope +that I began to think that we should never get to the bottom."</p> + +<p>"You told me to hold tight," Janet said, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, that was natural enough. The difficulty was, that you +would not let go, and at each knot it was as much as I could do to +get you to let it slide through your fingers."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Master Roger. Then I shall take care not to let you +lower me down a rope again."</p> + +<p>"I trust there will never be the need," Roger laughed; "but +indeed, although your weight was as nothing, I felt uneasy myself +as we went down; for I feared that I might grip you too tightly, +seeing that I am altogether unaccustomed to the handling of +girls."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose, Roger," Jessie said, "that now the wars are +over, you will be marrying and settling down."</p> + +<p>"I don't know how that might be," Roger replied, slowly. "I do +not say that the matter has never entered my mind; and seeing that +I am now seven-and-thirty, 'tis one that should not be much longer +delayed. I mean not that I have ever thought as to who should be +the woman, but I have thought whether, when the time comes that Sir +Oswald takes him a wife, it would not be well that I should do the +same.</p> + +<p>"But I know not how I stand. The abbot of Alnwick has, so far, +allowed me to go out into the world, to unfrock myself, and to +become a man-at-arms instead of a peaceful monk; but I have not +been dispensed from my vows of celibacy and, were I to marry, the +matter might be taken up by the Church, and I might be put to many +and sore penances, and punishments, for the breach of them."</p> + +<p>The others all laughed at the seriousness with which Roger had +answered the girl's jesting remark.</p> + +<p>"It is a matter that I have never thought of before, Roger," +Oswald said; "but assuredly it would, as you say, be fitting and +right that, when I take a mistress, you should do so also--like +master like man, you know. Since your thoughts have been turned +that way, I will see the abbot, next time I go to Alnwick, and lay +the case before him. Of a truth you have made a most excellent +man-at-arms, and 'tis equally certain that you were an exceedingly +bad monk. It would doubtless be well that you should obtain a +complete absolution from your vows; for although I am sure that the +good abbot regards you, now, as altogether beyond his control, and +would take no steps against you were he to hear of your marriage, +it might not be so in the case of his successor. He is an old man, +and the next abbot may be of a very different character; and, +looking through the books of the convent, he might say, 'What has +become of Brother Roger? I see no record of his death.'</p> + +<p>"Then, pushing matters further, he might discover your +backsliding, and might summon you before him, and there is no +saying what pains and penalties he might inflict upon you."</p> + +<p>Roger moved uneasily in his seat.</p> + +<a id="PicL" /> +<center> +<img src="images/l.jpg" alt= +"Do not speak of such a thing, I pray you, master" +/> </center> + +<p>"Do not speak of such a thing, I pray you, master--imprisonment +in a cell, flagellation, nay, even worse might befall me at the +hands of a rigorous abbot; for in truth, nought could well be more +serious than the offences that I have already committed; and he +might hold that, even though the present abbot had been backward in +taking notice of the matter, this in no way would absolve him from +doing his duty.</p> + +<p>"And indeed, as it is, it was to Hotspur that he gave permission +for me to go out into the world. Hotspur is dead, and there is +nought but my own word in the matter."</p> + +<p>"That, at any rate, I can put right, Roger, by going myself to +the abbot; and learning, from his lips, that he did give that +permission to Hotspur. Moreover, I received it from Hotspur's own +lips. Still, it would be useful for me to obtain, from the abbot, a +letter giving full absolution for all offences committed, up to the +present time."</p> + +<p>"That would be a great thing," Roger said eagerly. "'Tis a +matter that I have often turned over in my mind, when on a long +day's ride, and I have thought of what might happen were a new man +to become abbot of Alnwick; but such an absolution would assuredly +go for much. No one can doubt, more especially an abbot, that +absolution by an abbot is most effectual; and that the offences +committed before it are wholly wiped out, and cannot be +revived."</p> + +<p>"It would be best to obtain total absolution from your vows. Can +the abbot grant that, Roger?"</p> + +<p>"'Tis a moot question," Roger replied. "Many affirm that he can +do so, and assuredly many abbots have exercised that power; others +again hold that, although abbots cannot lawfully do so, bishops +can; while a few maintain that even these are incapable, and that +nothing short of the absolution by the Holy Father himself is of +avail. Still, whatever be the true state of things, I should be +well satisfied with an abbot's absolution, and still more so by a +bishop's; for though, were a great prince concerned, someone +interested might contest the matter, none would be likely to do so +in the case of a man-at-arms or an esquire."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Roger. Then I will endeavour to obtain a full +absolution from your vows, by the abbot; and should he decline to +give them I will, when I next see the earl, pray him, in +consideration of the good services that you have rendered, to +obtain it for you from the bishop."</p> + +<p>"And you have not yourself thought of marrying, Oswald?" Adam +Armstrong said.</p> + +<p>"Nay, Uncle. I came of age but a few days since, and it will be +time to think of taking me a wife four or five years hence. So, +until these troubles have wholly ceased, it were better, methinks, +for a knight to remain unwed than to take a wife, with the risk of +leaving her a young widow."</p> + +<p>"In that case, Oswald, methinks there would be little marrying +in Northumberland; for, saving short truces, and these but ill +observed, there is ever trouble on the border."</p> + +<p>"I speak not of that," Oswald replied. "Doubtless we shall +always be subject to border raids, on both sides, and even to +serious wars between the two countries; but I speak not of that, +but of troubles in England. 'Tis natural to fight when Englishmen +and Scotchmen meet, arrayed in battle; but when Englishmen meet +Englishmen, 'tis terrible indeed; and though the slaughter at +Shrewsbury was great beyond measure, who yet can say that the fire +is extinguished? As long as one may be called to arms again, by the +earl, it is, in good sooth, better to remain single than to have to +ride to the wars, leaving the young wife behind."</p> + +<p>"Spoken very wisely and well, Oswald," Adam Armstrong laughed. +"'Tis well to argue as to policy; but such arguments go for nought, +as soon as a man's heart is fixed on any particular woman."</p> + +<p>"It may be so, Uncle; but as I have never thought of marriage, I +am able to look at the matter dispassionately."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Well, the time will come, Oswald, and you will then +speedily come to consider that there are other things than the +reasonableness of waiting to be considered.</p> + +<p>"By the way, I trust that, should England invade Scotland again +by the valley of the Esk, you will not forget our debt to the +Bairds. Though I lamented the disaster at Homildon, where many of +my friends and acquaintances fell; I could not but feel that the +death of William Baird, and so many of his kin, was a relief, +indeed, to me. I have strengthened my hold, as you see, but I +should have been ever obliged to remain on guard. The Bairds never +forgive nor forget, and the manner in which they were tricked out +of their captives must have discomposed them sorely, and rankled in +their minds; and, sooner or later, they would have tried to wipe +out the memory in blood. I wonder that they had not done it before +Homildon, but doubtless they had other matters in hand.</p> + +<p>"Now I can live in peace; but I, too, have not forgotten the +injuries I have suffered at their hands, and should rejoice, +greatly, did I hear that their stronghold had been levelled to the +ground."</p> + +<p>"I hope that it will be long before our kings march against +Scotland again. The ill success of all our efforts should have +taught them that, do what they will, they will never conquer +Scotland; and Henry is not likely to court another failure, such as +he met with two years since. 'Tis not like the wars with the Welsh. +They are a different people, speaking in a different language, +while we and the lowland Scots are of one blood and one +language--scarce a noble in Scotland who is not of Norman +descent--and a quarrel between us seems, to me, almost as bad as a +civil war."</p> + +<p>"I hope that all will come to think so, some day, Oswald; but as +long as the two kingdoms stand apart, with various interests and +different alliances, it will hardly be likely that there will be a +permanent peace between them."</p> + +<p>"That is so," Oswald agreed. "'Tis the part that Scotland plays +by her alliance with France, and the aid she gives her by always +choosing the time when we are fighting there to fall upon us, that +keeps the trouble afoot. If Scotland would hold herself aloof from +France, I see no reason why we should interfere with her in any +way."</p> + +<p>"No good has ever come to us from such alliance. No French army +has ever gone to Scotland, to aid her when pressed by Englishmen. +France uses Scotland but as a cat's paw, with which to annoy and +weaken England."</p> + +<p>"That may be so; but you must remember that France does aid +Scotland, when she keeps the main army of England busily +occupied."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but she does not fight England with that intent. She +simply fights to gain back the provinces she has lost, and is ready +to make peace when it suits, wholly regardless of the interest of +Scotland."</p> + +<p>"France is never to be trusted," Oswald said. "Glendower made a +treaty with her, a few years ago, and what good has it done to him? +Why, when he needed her aid the most, she had made a truce with +England. 'Tis whispered that she made a treaty with the Percys, and +what good came of it? She is ever ready to make treaties, but never +observes them, unless it is to her plain interest to do so."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is with nations as it is with individuals, Oswald. +Selfishness has a large share in the management of affairs. France, +being a powerful country, is glad enough, when pressed by the +English, to have diversions made for her, whether in Scotland or +Ireland; but she has no idea of putting herself out, for the sake +of her allies, when she desires peace with England."</p> + +<p>France had indeed been quick to take advantage of the trouble +caused to Henry by the rising in the north. While he was gathering +his army, although there was a truce with England, a French +expedition, in which many of the royal princes took part, had +invaded Guienne, captured several castles held by the English +adherents, made frequent descents on our coast, plundered every +ship they met with, captured a whole fleet of merchantmen, taken +the islands of Guernsey and Jersey and, while Henry was fighting at +Shrewsbury, landed near Plymouth and plundered the whole country +round. On the news reaching them of the result of the battle of +Shrewsbury, they at once burned Plymouth to the ground, and then, +re-embarking, sailed for France. All remonstrances on the part of +Henry were met by declarations that these raids were carried on +without the knowledge of the French king, and were greatly against +his inclinations, which were wholly for the strictest observance of +the truce.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, a few months later, the Count of Saint Pol landed +a force in the Isle of Wight; but the people of the island rose in +arms, and defeated the invaders, who sailed hastily away.</p> + +<p>Although, having other matters in hand, Henry professed to +believe the French king's assurances; the sailors and ship masters +were in no way content to suffer unresistingly, and the men of the +seaports of the east coast, and of Plymouth and Fowey, banded +themselves together, and carried on war on their own account; +capturing several fleets of ships, loaded with wine and other +valuable commodities; burning the coast towns; and making several +raids into the interior of France, and carrying off much +plunder.</p> + +<p>Enraged at this retaliation, the French incited the Flemings, +Dutch, and Hollanders to cruise against the English; and these, +sailing in great ships, executed so many atrocities upon English +crews and ships that, later, Henry himself sent out a fleet, under +his second son, who executed his commission, effectually destroying +ships, burning towns, and putting the people to the sword without +mercy.</p> + +<p>Thus the breaches of the peace by the French recoiled terribly +upon themselves, and they suffered vastly greater loss than they +had inflicted upon the English.</p> + +<p>From the time when he let slip the opportunities, both of +joining Hotspur and of falling on the royal army after their +victory, Glendower's power declined. For a time he continued to +capture castles, and to carry out raids across the border, but +gradually he was driven back to his mountain strongholds. His +followers lost heart. He became a fugitive, and died on the 20th of +September, 1415, in the sixty-first year of his age, at the house +of one of his married daughters, whether at Scudamore or Mornington +is unknown.</p> + +<p>Mortimer died in Harlech Castle, during the time it was besieged +by the English. It is said that his death was caused by depression +and grief at the misfortunes that had befallen him.</p> + +<p>The Earl of Northumberland, as John Forster had anticipated, +raised the standard of revolt in 1405, in concert with the +Archbishop of York and some other nobles; but before he could join +these with his forces, they had been forced to surrender to the +king, who had marched north with a great army. The archbishop and +some of his associates were executed, and the earl, finding himself +unable to oppose so great a force, fled into Scotland. Alnwick +surrendered without resistance, and Warkworth after a siege of +eight days. Berwick was captured, and its governor and several +knights executed.</p> + +<p>Escaping from Scotland, where he feared that he might be seized +and surrendered to England, the earl sailed to Wales, and for some +little time stayed with Glendower; then he crossed to the +Continent, and in 1408 landed in Yorkshire and again raised his +standard. The sheriff of the county called out the levies, and +attacked him at Branham Moor, where the old earl was killed and his +followers defeated.</p> + +<p>In 1415 the king, being on the eve of war with France, and +anxious to obtain the goodwill and support of the Northumbrians, +restored Hotspur's son, who had been for years a fugitive in +Scotland, to the estates and honours of his father and +grandfather.</p> + +<p>Fortunate it was, for Oswald, that the capture of his fellow +conspirators caused the earl to retreat, in 1405, without giving +battle. The young knight had, at his summons, called out his +tenants, and with them and his retainers had joined Percy. As soon +as the latter decided to fly to Scotland, his force scattered, and +Oswald returned home with his following.</p> + +<p>He took no part in the final rising. Before this took place he +had married his cousin, Janet. His father lived to be present at +the wedding, but died the following year; and, in accordance with +his wishes, Oswald took up his abode at Yardhope, which he largely +added to, and strongly fortified. Here his mother lived with him +until her death, ten years later.</p> + +<p>Oswald offered to Roger the command of his castle at Stoubes, +but the burly squire preferred staying at Yardhope, with his +master. He himself had taken a wife, the daughter of one of the +principal tenants on the estate, on the same day that Oswald +married Janet.</p> + +<p>His uncle, after the surrender of Alnwick, lived at Yardhope +until, at the return of Hotspur's son as Earl of Northumberland, he +resumed his old position as captain of the garrison, and maintained +it until his death.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTH SIDES THE BORDER***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 19070-h.txt or 19070-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/0/7/19070">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/0/7/19070</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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