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diff --git a/19070.txt b/19070.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7facc2 --- /dev/null +++ b/19070.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13972 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Both Sides the Border, by G. A. Henty, +Illustrated by Ralph Peacock + + +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 www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Both Sides the Border + A Tale of Hotspur and Glendower + + +Author: G. A. Henty + + + +Release Date: August 17, 2006 [eBook #19070] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTH SIDES THE BORDER*** + + +E-text prepared by Martin Robb + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 19070-h.htm or 19070-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/0/7/19070/19070-h/19070-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/0/7/19070/19070-h.zip) + + + + + +BOTH SIDES THE BORDER: + +A Tale of Hotspur and Glendower + +by + +G. A. HENTY. + +Illustrated by Ralph Peacock + + + + + + + +Contents + Preface. + Chapter 1: A Border Hold. + Chapter 2: Across The Border. + Chapter 3: At Alnwick. + Chapter 4: An Unequal Joust. + Chapter 5: A Mission. + Chapter 6: At Dunbar. + Chapter 7: Back To Hotspur. + Chapter 8: Ludlow Castle. + Chapter 9: The Welsh Rising. + Chapter 10: A Breach Of Duty. + Chapter 11: Bad News. + Chapter 12: A Dangerous Mission. + Chapter 13: Escape. + Chapter 14: In Hiding. + Chapter 15: Another Mission To Ludlow. + Chapter 16: A Letter For The King. + Chapter 17: Knighted. + Chapter 18: Glendower. + Chapter 19: The Battle Of Homildon Hill. + Chapter 20: The Percys' Discontent. + Chapter 21: Shrewsbury. + + + +Preface. + + +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. + +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. + +G. A. Henty. + + + +Chapter 1: A Border Hold. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"They are coming, Mother," he exclaimed. "I have just seen the sun +glint on a spearhead." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"I think they will all do," he said, "and that they will live to strike +another blow at the Bairds, yet. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"We are almost as bad as they are, Oswald." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Methinks that it would be dull, were there nought to do but to look +after the cattle," Oswald replied. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"Still, it would be dull work if there were no fighting, Mother." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"I think that I do know most of them, Father." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"I certainly do not wish to become a monk, Father, but I thought that I +should like to learn to read and write." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + + + +Chapter 2: Across The Border. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"We have been expecting you for the last ten days," the former +exclaimed, "and had well nigh given you up." + +"I hold you to be a laggard," the girl added, "and unless you can duly +excuse yourself, shall have naught to say to you." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Well, come in, Oswald. It is poor hospitality to keep you talking +here, outside the door." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"And how is your mother, Oswald?" Mistress Armstrong asked. + +"She is well, Aunt, and bade me give her love to you." + +"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." + +"There are faults on both sides, wife," her husband said. + +"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?" + +"Ay, that was a sore day, for both sides." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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--" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"Have you heard aught, lad, of any gatherings on the other side of the +border?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"Yes, I was there with him." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +Late that evening, Oswald returned home. After the first greetings, his +father said: + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"What say you?" + +"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." + +"Then that is settled, and tomorrow you shall ride to Alnwick and see, +at any rate, if aught comes of the matter. + +"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. + +"Now, put that cold joint upon the table, again. Doubtless the lad has +a wolf's appetite." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + +Chapter 3: At Alnwick. + + +"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. + +"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. + +"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: + +"'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.' + +"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." + +He went to the window, and called out, "John Horn!" + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"I should like it very much, Uncle." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +The priest's abode was in what was called the Abbots' Tower, which was +the one nearest to the large monastery, outside the walls. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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: + +"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?" + +"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. + +"No, I want you on other business. This young gentleman is the nephew +of Alwyn Forster, whom you know." + +"Right well, Father; a good fellow, and a stout fighter." + +"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-- + +"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. + +"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." + +"That is a consideration," the monk laughed. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"What time will you come?" the monk asked Oswald. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +So saying, he strode away. + +"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." + +In a short time, indeed, he rejoined Oswald at the gate. + +"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. + +"'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.'" + +"How ever did he become a monk, Father?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Now, write each of those, twelve times." + +So he continued with the first six letters. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +Oswald laughed. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"I will come as often as I can, Father, if you will let me." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + +Chapter 4: An Unequal Joust. + + +"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: + +"'Has this nephew of yours, of whom you were speaking to me, come yet?' + +"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. + +"'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. + +"'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.'" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +Oswald expressed his thanks in suitable terms, and then, bowing deeply, +retired. + +"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." + +"'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." + +"How think you I had best bestow him, among the pages or the esquires?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +A smile ran round the faces of the esquires, for Brother Roger's +pugnacious instincts were widely known. + +"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." + +When Hotspur left, Allonby said, "Take a seat, Master Oswald. But +first, have you dined?" + +"I took my meal an hour since, with my uncle," Oswald replied. + +"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." + +"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." + +And he then told the details of the affair. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"The three men you name are all stout fellows, and good swordsmen. As a +borderer, I suppose that you have practised with the lance?" + +"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." + +"But in that way you can hardly penetrate armour," one of the other +esquires said. + +"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." + +"Have you your horse with you, Oswald?" + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"It was an excellent display," Allonby said. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"Ah! Here is Sir Henry." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"He thinks not? Oh, well, we will try him! I have an hour to spare. + +"Do you put on a suit of full armour, Sinclair, and we will ride out to +the course beyond the castle. + +"What will you put on, lad?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +Hotspur shouted, at the top of his voice: + +"A breach of the rules! A breach of the rules! The combat is at an +end." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +Hotspur's face cleared. + +"At your request I will not, lad," he said; "and, indeed, he has been +punished sufficiently." + +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: + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +Sinclair was hot tempered, but of a generous disposition, and he held +out his hand to Oswald, frankly. + +"It was a fair fight," he said, "and you worsted me, altogether. No one +bears malice for a fair fall, in a joust." + +"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." + +"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." + +At the gate of the castle, Alwyn Forster met them. + +"You have given me a more useful addition to my following than I dreamt +of, Alwyn," Hotspur said. "Did you see the conflict?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + + + +Chapter 5: A Mission. + + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"'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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +On his return, he found that Lord Percy had sent for him during his +absence, and he at once went to his apartments. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"What say you, lad?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"I wish you to be frank with me. If you would rather go alone, matters +shall remain as they are." + +"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." + +"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." + +An hour later, Brother Roger came in to the captain's quarters. + +"So you have been in trouble again, Brother Roger," Alwyn Forster said +with a laugh, as he held out his hand to him. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"I will do so," Oswald said, "though I hope there will be no occasion, +such as you say, for its use." + +"When do we start, Master Oswald?" + +"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." + +That evening, Oswald had another interview with Percy, and received his +final instructions, and a bag of money. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Send him to me, when you get there." + +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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +Brother Roger laughed. + +"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." + +So, with a wave of the hand, they rode on. + +"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." + +Roger reluctantly allowed Oswald to fasten the staff beside him. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"I thought that it must be that, or Berwick, though I asked no +questions." + +"We shall not travel like this beyond Roxburgh, but shall journey +forward on foot." + +"I supposed that we should come to that, Master Oswald, for otherwise +you would not have told me to provide myself with a staff." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"'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." + +"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." + +The next morning they resumed their journey, crossed the Cheviots, +which were here comparatively low hills; and, after four hours' riding, +arrived at Roxburgh. + +"Why do we come here?" Roger asked. "It would surely have been much +shorter had we travelled through Berwick, and along the coast road." + +"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." + +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. + +"What do you want, lad?" one of them asked, as he came up. + +"I have a letter, which I am charged to deliver into the governor's own +hands." + +"A complaint, I suppose, from some worthy prior, who has lost some of +his beeves?" + +"Maybe the governor will inform you, if you ask him," Oswald replied. + +"I shall pull your ear for you, when you come out, young jackanapes," +the soldier said, hotly. + +"That danger I must even risk. Business first, and pleasure +afterwards." + +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. + +"A messenger with a letter desires speech with you, Sir Philip," he +said. + +"Bid him enter," the knight said, briefly. + +Oswald entered, and bowed deeply. He waited until the door closed +behind the attendant, and then said: + +"I am the bearer of a letter, sir, from Lord Percy to you." + +The knight looked at him in surprise. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"I will do so, at once." + +And the governor rang a handbell on the table. + +"Send two of the men up here," he said, as an attendant entered. + +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. + +"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. + +"Are you sure, Master Forster, that there is nothing more that I can do +for you?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +The man sheepishly took hold of the bridle. + +"I could not tell, sir--" he began. + +"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." + +"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." + + + +Chapter 6: At Dunbar. + + +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. + +"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?" + +"You would find it difficult to walk, yourself, with this robe dangling +about your heels," Roger said. + +"Whither are you bound, and whence are you going?" + +"We are travelling to Dunbar, being sent to the convent of Saint Magnus +there, and come from Roxburgh." + +"'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." + +"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." + +"That is true enough," the men laughed. "Well, go thy way. There is +naught to be gained from a travelling monk." + +"Naught, good friend, save occasionally hard blows, when the monk +happens to be of my strength and stature, and carries a staff like +this." + +"'Tis a goodly weapon, in sooth, and you look as if you knew how to +wield it." + +"Even a monk may know that, seeing that a staff is not a carnal +weapon." + +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. + +"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. + +"Come on, men. Better luck next time. It is clear that this man is not +the one we are charged to capture." + +And, with his followers, he rode off across the moor. + +"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." + +"Whom think you that they are, then, Master Oswald?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"I would have speech with the earl," he said, to the warder at the +gate. "I have his orders to wait upon him." + +"What is your name and condition?" + +"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." + +On seeing the ring, the warder at once called to one of the servitors, +and bade him conduct Oswald to the earl's apartment. + +"Whom shall I say?" he asked, when he reached the door. + +"Give this ring to him, and say that the bearer awaits admittance to +him." + +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. + +"From whom come you, young sir?" + +"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." + +"Come you alone?" the earl asked. + +"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." + +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: + +"Do not intrust undue confidence in the bearer. The matters you wot of +are in good train; of them my messenger knows nothing." + +"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." + +"But this signet ring would have shown to whom you were coming." + +"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." + +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. + +"Then you do know the matters in question?" + +"I do, my lord. I am the bearer of a further communication to you." + +"Say on, then." + +"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." + +The earl sat for some time, in thought. + +"Do you know the conditions of the compact?" he asked, suddenly. + +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: + +"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." + +The answer was apparently satisfactory. The earl asked no further +questions, on this head. + +"Were there other reasons than those you have stated why he chose you +as his messenger?" + +"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." + +Again the earl was silent for some time. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"Will your worship have supper here, or in the room below?" + +"I will come down," he said. "It is dull work, sitting alone." + +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. + +"I have a message, from the earl, for the person who was with him, this +afternoon." + +Oswald at once rose, and went across to him. + +"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." + +"Please thank the earl for the information," Oswald replied, and then +returned to his seat. + +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. + +After he had finished his supper, which was an excellent one, he +beckoned to the landlord. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Nor has he," Oswald said; "luckily for me, who am but a nephew." + +"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." + +"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. + +"What do they say, here, as to the chances of another war with +England?" + +"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!" + +"And which way, think you, that the present earl's leanings would go?" + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +Oswald went up, at once. The earl was, as before, alone. + +"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." + +"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." + +The earl's brow clouded. + +"'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?" + +"That I was to return, immediately I had conveyed his message to you." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Is there a guard over you, at present?" + +"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." + +"Then, Master Oswald, I should say let us be off, at once." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"'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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Not if we went straight from the inn to the port, Master, but there is +no need for you to take that route." + +"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." + +"Will you come out, Master Oswald, in your present attire, or in your +disguise?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +Then Oswald left the door. The landlord was standing in the passage, +and beckoned to him to enter his private room. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Nay, I would rather settle obligations, for if I do not do business +with the earl, it may be some time before I return." + +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. + +"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." + +The landlord nodded. + +"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." + + + +Chapter 7: Back To Hotspur. + + +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. + +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. + +"Where are you going, fellow? There is plenty of room to pass, without +pushing between us. You want teaching manners." + +Roger gave a loud laugh. + +"Who is going to teach me?" he said. + +"I will!" one of the men said, angrily placing his hand upon his sword +hilt. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"It was splendidly managed, Roger." + +"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." + +They made their way back through quiet lanes until near the port, and +then boldly went down to the side of a small craft. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"That is a danger that we cannot guard against. Can you swim, Roger?" + +"It is years since I have done so," the monk replied, "but I used to do +so, in the old days." + +"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." + +"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." + +"I agree with you in that respect; still, it is just as well to have +our plans prepared, in case it should happen." + +They kept a vigilant watch through the night, without catching sight of +any craft proceeding in the same direction as themselves. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"And have you done so, Master Oswald?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"Now, Master Oswald, what are we to do next?" + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"They would never dare to seize us, here," Oswald said. + +"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." + +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. + +"Men say that the disputes between him and his uncle, the Duke of +Albany, have of late grown hotter." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"That you can do, easily enough. I will order the horses to be saddled, +at once." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +Fastening the horses to hooks in the courtyard, Oswald ran up to his +apartment, which was next to that of his uncle. + +"Welcome back, Oswald!" the latter said, as he opened his door on +hearing his footsteps. "I had thought that you would be longer away." + +"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." + +"Brother Roger has behaved well?" + +"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." + +As soon as Oswald had donned his ordinary attire, he went to Lord +Percy's quarters. + +"You are back sooner than I had expected, Oswald," Hotspur said, as he +entered. "Nothing has gone wrong, I hope?" + +"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." + +"And March?" + +"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--" + +"In Edinburgh!" Hotspur said, in surprise; "what took you there?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"'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." + +When Oswald had brought his narration to an end, Percy said: + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +When Roger returned from the monastery, the next day, he wore a much +more serious face than usual. + +"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. + +"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." + +"What did he say to you, Roger?" + +"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. + +"'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.' + +"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." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +On the day after his arrival he happened to be in Hotspur's room, when +Oswald entered. + +"Ah! ah!" he said, "This is your messenger, Percy. + +"You left me with scant notice, sir." + +And he smiled. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + +Chapter 8: Ludlow Castle. + + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"I shall be right glad to do so, my lord." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +Oswald was delighted when his uncle told him of the mission with which +he was charged, and that he himself was to accompany him. + +"You are to have the choice of the men-at-arms, Uncle?" + +"Yes, Oswald. I know what you are going to say. You would like to have +that mad monk of yours, as one of them." + +"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." + +"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." + +Hotspur himself spoke to Oswald, that evening. + +"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." + +"I am greatly beholden to your lordship," Oswald said, "and will try to +justify the commendations that you have given me." + +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. + +"Years seem to have fallen off my shoulders, lad," he said, "and I feel +as young as I did when I fought at Otterburn." + +"That was a bad business, Uncle; and I trust that no such misfortune as +that will befall us, this time." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"'Tis strange that such a man should have known enough of English law +to have made a petition to our parliament." + +"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." + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + +So saying, he fell into his place in the line, when the cavalcade +continued their way. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"I left them so, sir." + +The knight read Hotspur's letter. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'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.' + +"As it is, it may cost thousands of lives, immense efforts, and vast +trouble before things are placed on their former footing. + +"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!" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"This is my uncle, Captain Alwyn Forster," Oswald said, "of whom Lord +Percy has written to you." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"Have you been long a member of Sir Henry Percy's household?" + +"But a year, my lady." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +They now sat down to supper. After it was over, Sir Edmund took Oswald +with him to his wife's bower. + +"There," he said, "you can talk at your ease, and tell us how my +sister, your mistress, is, and the children." + +"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?" + +"That is so, dame." + +"Then, surely, he should have been at our table." + +"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." + +"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." + +"What were the services of which Sir Henry speaks?" + +"It was a mission with which he charged me, and which involved some +danger." + +"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?" + +"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." + + + +Chapter 9: The Welsh Rising. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"How many Welshmen have attacked your village?" Sir John asked. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +Sir John raised his sword, with the shout of "A Mortimer! A Mortimer!" + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Face round!" Oswald shouted. "Now, men, lay about you. + +"A Percy! A Percy!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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!" + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Do each of you leap up behind one of us!" Sir John shouted. + +"Help the women up, men, then right-about, and ride out of the village. +It is getting too hot for us, here." + +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. + +"Level your spears!" Alwyn shouted to his men; who had, by his orders, +fallen in in the rear of the others. + +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. + +"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." + +Once outside the village, the troop rode quietly on to the spot at +which they had first charged. Then the villagers dismounted. + +"You made a stout defence, men," Sir John said. "It was well that you +had time to gain that house." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Good!" the knight said. "We will give them another lesson, and this +time on more favourable terms than the last." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +Their reports were all of the same character. The Welsh were in full +retreat for their own country. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +Oswald laughed. + +"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." + +And then he related the circumstances under which Roger came to be a +member of his troop. + +"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. + +"You say that he has skill in war?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"What were these adventures, Oswald?" + +"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." + +And he then gave them an account of his visit to Dunbar, and of his +escape. + +"And why did the earl wish to keep you?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"'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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + + + +Chapter 10: A Breach Of Duty. + + +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. + +"Well, my friends, I hear you have sent the Welsh back again, as fast +as they came." + +"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." + +"Have they done much damage?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"Now, Sir John Burgon, will you give me an account of the doings of +your party?" + +The knight reported their proceedings, after leaving Ludlow, and +concluded: + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"Well, Sir Knights, you have all merited my thanks, for the manner in +which you have discharged your duties, during my absence. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"'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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"He is with me now. Sir Henry places great trust in him, and wrote most +warmly, concerning him, to Sir Edmund Mortimer." + +"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." + +Oswald arrived just as supper was brought in, and was introduced to the +earl, and Lord Grey, by Sir William Bastow. + +"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." + +"No, my lord, he was away at the time, having ridden to Ruthyn, to hold +council with Lord Grey." + +"Ah! I had not heard that he had been there," Earl Grey said. + +"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." + +"When you see him, I pray you give him my thanks, for so doing; and +now, tell us what happened." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"But you yourself were unhorsed, Sir William tells me, and were in +great peril. How did that come about?" + +"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." + +He then related how he had thrown himself and his assailant off his +horse, and had been saved by Roger. + +"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. + +"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." + +"I thank you greatly, my lord, and trust that I may so bear myself as +to merit your approbation." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"A pest on the knave!" Lord Grey exclaimed. "He will slip through our +fingers, yet." + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"I agree with you, Alwyn." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"I hear all sorts of strange stories of his powers, Master Oswald." + +"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." + +"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. + +"If the Welsh do come, what are we to do, master--fight them?" + +"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." + +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: + +"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!" + +"I see them, Roger. It may be that they are spies, who have crept up +close. Let us give chase to them." + +"Shall I shout, master?" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"Surrender," he said, "or I will cut you down." + +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. + +By this time Roger had come up, and stood staring with astonishment. + +"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." + +"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." + +"It would be useless to deny it," one of the girls said, proudly. + +"Why do you come spying here?" Oswald said. "Surely, among your +father's warriors, others better suited for such work might have been +found." + +"We were not spying," the girl replied. "We have lain hidden all day, +and were but making our escape." + +"How can that be, madam? We had a guard all round the castle, and know +that none can have escaped." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"What think you, Roger? Must we send these fair young girls to prison?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +He turned to the girls again. + +"Think you, ladies," he asked, "that were you in the king's hands, your +father would make terms and submit himself?" + +"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." + +"In that case, then, your imprisonment would in no degree stop this +war, or bring about a renewal of peace between the two countries?" + +"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." + +"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." + +The expression of haughty defiance, that they had hitherto worn, faded +from the girls' faces. + +"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. + +"Will you accept one of these jewels, as a token only of our gratitude +for your kindness, shown this night to us?" + +"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." + +"Then at least--" the girl began, turning to Roger. + +"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." + +"May I ask the name of one who has done us such kindness?" the girl +said, turning to Oswald. + +"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." + +The girls were silent for a minute. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"We shall never forget you, sir. May the blessing of God fall on you, +for your kind deed!" + +"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. + + + +Chapter 11: Bad News. + + +"This has been a strange adventure, Roger." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"I am afraid your sense of duty is not strong, Roger." + +"I am afraid not, master, saving in the matter of doing my duty in face +of an enemy." + +"You mean, Roger, that you will do your duty when it so pleases you, +and not otherwise." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"All quiet here, as elsewhere?" Alwyn asked as he came up. + +"All quiet, Uncle." + +"'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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The Welsh expedition was, therefore, no more successful than the Scotch +had been. + +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: + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Welcome back, Oswald; and you, my trusty Alwyn! + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"These men fight stoutly, Alwyn," Percy said, when he had concluded his +story. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"'Tis two years since you have been there," Oswald said. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"That is ever the way," Oswald said; "we like to know, when a visitor +is seen, whether he comes as friend or foe." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"I think, Mother, that you are looking better than when I saw you +last." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Oswald told us, in his letters, that you had been a monk; but had, +with the consent of the abbot, unfrocked yourself." + +"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." + +"And for how long are you at home with us, brother Alwyn?" John Forster +asked, presently. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Oswald himself carried off the palm in a mile foot race. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"What has happened?" he asked, reining in his horse for a moment. + +"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." + +Oswald had dropped his reins, in speechless dismay. + +"It is terrible," he said, at last. "Aunt killed, Janet and Jessie +carried away, and Allan wounded, perhaps to death!" + +"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." + +"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." + +"Where is Allan Armstrong?" + +"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." + +"Has his mother's body been recovered?" + +The man shook his head. + +"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." + +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. + +"Is there nothing to be done, Master Oswald?" + +"Not at present. We must wait till my uncle returns." + +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. + +"Is there any hope, father?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"Has any gone to bear the news to Adam Armstrong, father?" + +"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." + +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. + +"There are hopes that he will live," Oswald said. + +There was a slight change in the expression of Armstrong's face. + +"'Tis well," he said, "that one should be saved, to take revenge for +this foul business. All the others are gone." + +"I hope we may rescue my cousins." + +"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." + +Then he went into the house, without further word. + + + +Chapter 12: A Dangerous Mission. + + +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. + +"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. + +"What force could you gather, Uncle?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"Could we get aid from Roxburgh, think you?" + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +His uncle nodded. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Have you your gown with you, Roger?" + +"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." + +"That is unfortunate, Roger, for it is upon this that we must depend to +get an entry into the Bairds' hold." + +"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." + +"I will see him at once. No time must be lost. While he is away, you +must shave your head again." + +Roger's face fell. + +"'Tis hard, master, after it has grown so well to match the rest. +Still, for so good a purpose I must even give in." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"That I will arrange at once, Oswald. Is there aught else?" + +"Yes, Uncle, I must leave my armour and clothes here, and borrow others +that will pass as a disguise." + +"How would you go, Oswald?" + +"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." + +"They would never let you into the Bairds' castle, Oswald." + +"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." + +"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." + +"They must be of good size, Uncle." + +"Ay, ay, lad. There must have been some tall fellows, among those they +slew today." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"Hast thou travelled far?" their host asked, as he watched them eating. + +"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." + +"Whither are you going, father?" + +"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?" + +"It is the hold of William Baird, the head of that family; of whom, +doubtless, you may have heard." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Ay, the Bairds are not--but I would rather not talk of them. They are +near neighbours, and among my very best customers." + +As he spoke, four armed men came in at the door. + +"Good day, Wilson! Whom have you here? An ill-assorted couple, surely. +A monk, though a somewhat rough one, and a man-at-arms." + +"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." + +"You are a man of sinew yourself, monk, and methinks that you would +have made a better soldier than a shaveling." + +"I thought so sometime, myself," the monk said; "but my parents thought +otherwise, and it is too late to take up another vocation, now." + +"Is that staff yours?" the soldier asked, taking it up, and handling +it. + +"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." + +"This fellow--where did you fall in with him?" + +"He overtook me some twenty miles north, on the road to Glasgow." + +"And are you travelling to Carlisle, too?" the man said to Oswald. + +"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." + +"Hast tried the Douglas?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Ay, ay," two or three others of the men agreed. "It were doubtless +better so, when it is Scot against Scot." + +"'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." + +"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." + +Roger, during a pause in the conversation at the other table, got up +from his seat and stretched himself. + +"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!" + +And, paying for his refreshment, Roger took his staff from the corner, +and went out. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"I wonder how Roger is getting on! I think they must have taken him in, +or he would have been back before this." + +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. + +"None enter here," he said, "without permission from the master." + +"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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Therefore, when Roger's request was brought to him, he said at once: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"But come in, and sit down," the priest said. "My uncle has consigned +you to my care. We shall sup in half an hour." + +"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." + +"But how come you to be here?" + +Roger again repeated his story. + +"It would have been shorter for you to have travelled down through +Berwick, brother." + +"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." + +"Yes, I suppose it is as short. And you had no trouble on your way?" + +Roger shook his head. + +"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." + +"What was he, a cattle drover?" + +"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. + +"I said, 'Why not Rothesay, who would be King of Scotland?' + +"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." + +"He must be a bold varlet, thus to speak irreverently of great ones." + +"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." + +"And he came from the north, now?" + +"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." + +At this moment a horn blew. + +"There is supper," the priest said. "We will go down." + +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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"You look as if you had carried arms." + +"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." + +As this story was perfectly true, save the name of his birthplace, +Roger spoke so heartily that no one doubted his story. + +"And your monastery is at Dunbar? + +"You have been at Dunbar, Rotherglen. Ask him where the convent stood." + +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. + +"'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." + +"What do you intend to do with the girls?" + +"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." + +As soon as the meal was over, and the carousal began, the priest rose +and, accompanied by Roger, retired to his chamber. + + + +Chapter 13: Escape. + + +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. + +"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." + +"Thanks, comrade," Oswald said, as he slung his long two-handed sword +from his shoulder. + +"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. + +"So you would fain take service with me?" he said. + +"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." + +"And you were with George Dunbar?" + +"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." + +"Now do you question him, Rotherglen." + +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. + +"He knows Dunbar, there is no question about that. + +"And you can use your arms?" + +"I think so." + +"We will have a trial," Baird said. "A man is no use to me, who cannot +use his weapon. Send Robert here." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +Roger had just entered, with the priest. + +"Well, monk," Baird said, "we are going to try the mettle of your +companion of yesterday." + +"I answer not for his mettle," Roger said; "but if he fights as well as +he talks, he will not do discredit to himself." + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"That will suit me well," Oswald said; "and I like well the month of +trial you propose." + +"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." + +"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." + +Oswald went down with the man, who was Baird's right hand in the hold. + +"What will be my duties?" he asked. + +"To keep your arms and armour ready for service." + +"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." + +The other nodded. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +This was a question that had been arranged, for had they been seen +speaking privately together, it might have aroused suspicion. + +"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." + +The real meaning of the question, as arranged, was, "Have you found out +where the prisoners are kept?" + +The answer meant "Yes, and it will not be difficult to get at them." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +"In truth," the priest said, "I have had such thoughts myself; and +hope, some day, to see a little more of the world. + +"By the way, can you read and write, brother?" he asked suddenly. + +"Assuredly," Roger replied. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +"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." + +Roger laughed. + +"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." + +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. + +"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?" + +"'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." + +"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." + +"Not a number, brother, but two girls." + +"I have seen no women in the castle," Roger said. + +"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. + +"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." + +"Surely, surely," Roger said. "I wonder that you are not offended." + +"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.'" + +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." + +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. + +"Is that you, Fergus?" + +"No, I am John, master. Fergus will take the watch tomorrow evening." + +"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?" + +"That is it, master, where you see the light, a quarter of a mile +farther up the hill." + +"Where are you sleeping?" + +"In the stables, with the horses. It is some ten yards off the right of +the house." + +"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. + +"Can you get me a rope? I want a long and a strong one." + +"There are some ropes in the stable, master, but they are in use, and +would be missed." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"Yes." + +"Is there any getting the key?" + +"No, William Baird himself keeps it." + +"Then we must have something to force the door open, or to saw round +the lock." + +"The door is studded with iron." + +"Are the windows barred?" + +"No; but they are mere loopholes, and there is no getting through +them." + +"I suppose there are steps from their room on to the platform above?" + +"No doubt. In fact, there are sure to be." + +"I suppose that you will have no difficulty in silencing the priest?" + +Roger smiled. + +"No; I think I can answer for him." + +"Could you speak to the girls through the keyhole, Roger?" + +"There would be no difficulty about that, master. I have but to choose +a time when the priest is out." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"That is all. You had better move away now. People will be stirring, +directly." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"There, he has just turned, so I will go at once." + +"How about the trapdoor?" + +"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. + +Oswald stood listening. Presently he heard the returning steps of the +sentry. They came close up to the turret, and then suddenly ceased. + +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. + +"I will lay him down," Roger whispered, when he had done so. + +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. + +"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." + +The other man was captured as silently as the former had been. When he +was bound, Roger said: + +"Now for the hook, master." + +"Here is the iron. It was too strong for me to bend." + +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. + +"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." + +"I am sure I can reach it without that, Roger." + +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. + +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. + +"Hush!" Oswald whispered. "Do not utter a sound. There are sentries on +other parts of the walls, and the slightest noise might be heard. + +"Now, we will knot this rope." + +He and Roger set to work, and before long knots were tied, a foot +apart, along the whole length of the rope. + +"I will take you down first, Jessie, for you are the lightest," Oswald +said. + +"Now, Roger, tie us together." + +One of the pieces of rope Roger had brought was passed round and round +them, tying them firmly, face to face. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Oh, Oswald, from what have you saved us! How brave and good of you to +risk so much!" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"Do you run on, Oswald," Janet said, "you and Roger. We will turn and +walk back. They will do us no harm." + +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. + +"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. + +"What think you had best be done, Roger?" + +"In sooth, I know not. I am ready to do whatever you think best." + +"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." + +"But you said that there were horses," Janet said. + +"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." + +"Could we not hide and get the horses after they have passed, master?" +Roger suggested. + +"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." + +"The water will be dreadfully cold," Jessie said, with a shiver, for it +was now the beginning of April. + +"Hush, Jessie!" her sister said. "What matters a little cold, when our +lives are at stake?" + +"No, that is our only hope," Oswald said. "Quick, girls, there is no +time to lose." + +The river was but some fifty yards from the road, and they ran down to +it. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"Are you ready, girls?" Oswald asked. + +"Yes," Janet replied, and two white figures came out from the bushes, +each carrying a bundle. + +"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." + +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. + +"The water is bitterly cold for the girls," Oswald said, as they swam +across together. + +"It is, master, but they will only be in it for a minute, and they will +soon be warm again." + +"Now, girls." + +"We have just heard the sound of horses in the distance, Oswald," Janet +said. + +He listened. + +"Sound travels far, this still night," he said; "they can only just +have started. We shall be across long before they come along. + +"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." + +"I will carry her till we get into deep water," Roger said, catching +the girl up in his arms, and running into the stream. + +Jessie gasped, as the water reached her. + +"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." + +Striking out strongly, they easily carried her until she was in her +depth. + +"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." + +The girl was carried across as easily as her sister had been. + +"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." + +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. + +"How many are there of them, do you think, Roger?" + +"A dozen or so, master." + +"Yes, I should think you are right. However, it makes no difference; +were there ten times as many, they would not catch us, tonight." + + + +Chapter 14: In Hiding. + + +The moment the horsemen had gone by, Oswald and Roger hastily dressed +again. It was three or four minutes before the girls joined them. + +"We have been a long time, Oswald, but our fingers are so cold that we +could not tie the strings." + +"You will soon be warm. Climbing the hill will set your blood in +motion." + +There was no hurry now. They were safe until the morning. + +"We will make up the hill until you are thoroughly warm, and then we +will discuss matters." + +Before they were very far up the ascent, both girls declared that they +were comfortably warm again. + +"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. + +"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." + +"That would certainly be far the best way," Roger said; "but how are we +to manage for food for the ladies?" + +"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." + +"I will go, master." + +"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." + +On nearing the top of the hill, they came upon a number of rough +stones. + +"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." + +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. + +"There, girls, I think you will be able to manage to keep yourselves +warm, by lying close together." + +"What are you going to do, Oswald?" + +"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." + +While Roger was away getting the sticks, Oswald helped the girls over +the wall, for no entrance had been left. + +"Now, Janet, give me those two wet smocks; I see that you have brought +them with you." + +"What do you want them for, Oswald?" + +"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." + +"Won't you take my cloak, instead?" + +"Certainly not, Janet, you will want your cloak for a covering. Don't +be silly, but hand them over." + +By this time, Roger had returned with the sticks. They were laid across +the top, and the girls' smocks spread over them. + +"Now, go to sleep," Oswald said; "we must be on foot, an hour before +dawn." + +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. + +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. + +"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.' + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"We had best decide by lot." + +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. + +"Do you draw," he said, holding it out to Fergus. "The longest straw +goes to Hiniltie, and shortest with us." + +The man drew. + +"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." + +"You will both remain here, till we come. Now, what food have you?" + +"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." + +"That is good. Keep enough for tomorrow, for yourselves; I will take +the rest." + +"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." + +"Or better still," Oswald said, "give the money to the hind here. I +suppose there is one." + +"Yes; he sleeps in the house." + +"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?" + +"We filled it this afternoon, thinking it possible that we might make a +hasty start tonight." + +"How much does it hold?" + +"About two gallons." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +Roger was on the lookout. Seeing two figures approaching, when he +expected but one, he grasped his staff firmly. + +"Who comes there?" he asked. + +"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." + +"That is capital," Roger said cheerfully. "I was fearing that, having +so many things to think of, you might forget water." + +Oswald went to the shelter. + +"Are you awake, Janet?" + +"Yes," she replied. "I have been anxious, while you were away." + +"Are you cold?" + +"I am not very warm," she answered; "but do not trouble about it, we +shall do very well." + +"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." + +"Thank you indeed, Oswald," the girl said, gratefully. "That feels very +much more comfortable." + +"Now, Roger, there is a blanket for you, and one for me, to wrap round +us, plaid fashion." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"I could leave it behind me," Roger said. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + +"I have never kept quiet for so long a time, since I can remember," +Jessie said, laughing. + +"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." + +The next afternoon they saw a number of parties searching the hills, in +all directions. + +"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." + +"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." + +"That would be like enough, Roger. However, there can be no chance of +their coming here, before it is dark." + +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. + +"Is it you, John?" + +"Yes, it is I." + +"Is all well?" + +"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." + +"'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?" + +"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." + +"Have you got the horses saddled?" + +"They are saddled, and brought down close to the road. Fergus is with +them." + +"Then bring them across, at once. The sooner we are off now, the +better. Are there any of the Bairds' men in the town?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +After crossing the river, Fergus at once started, on foot, for +Hiniltie. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Ride on, girls! We will follow you," Oswald shouted. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"We shall have a fight for it, Roger." + +"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." + +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. + +"Jump down, Jessie, and mount behind Janet, and ride on ahead. We will +soon get rid of these fellows. Be quick!" + +The moss troopers were now but seventy or eighty yards behind. + +"I shall fight on foot," Roger said, as he leapt off his horse. "I want +both hands, for this staff." + +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. + +John was less fortunate, for his opponent's spear struck him in the +throat, and he fell heavily from his saddle. + +"Well stricken, Jock!" one of them shouted. "Ride on after the women. +We will settle with these fellows." + +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. + +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. + +"We have not taken long over that, master," Roger said, with a grim +smile. "Five men in a minute is not so bad." + +"I am afraid John is killed, Roger. See to him." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"We have nought to dig a grave with," Roger remarked. + +"No, but there are plenty of stones about." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"Shall we take the horses, master?" + +"No, they will be but an encumbrance; and now that poor fellow has +gone, we have one apiece. Bring his horse along with you." + +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. + +"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." + +"I am sorry, indeed, that he has been slain, Janet; but we could hardly +expect to come out altogether scatheless." + +"Are all the others killed?" Jessie asked. + +"No. Two of them are but stunned; and will, ere long, be able to mount +and ride off again." + +"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." + +"I had a better arm, Roger." + +"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." + +"Now, Jessie, do you mount John's horse. We can ride quietly, for +Longtown is but some three miles ahead." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"But why do we not go inside?" + +"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." + +"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." + + + +Chapter 15: Another Mission To Ludlow. + + +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. + +"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." + +"'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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +Roger scratched his head, in some embarrassment. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +At this moment, Mary Forster appeared at the top of the steps. + +"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. + +"I suppose you are not leaving us, tomorrow morning, Oswald?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"Do you go to them, Wife, and tell them that their father has arrived. + +"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." + +Armstrong pressed his hand, silently. + +"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." + +"And how is Allan?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"What say you, John?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"Come up, Roger!" Oswald said; "Master Armstrong wishes to see you." + +Roger came up and, as he entered, Adam grasped him by the hand. + +"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." + +"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." + +"It was done easily because it was done well, Roger. It was well +planned, and well carried out." + +"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." + +"You had occasion, however, to use that heavy staff you carried." + +"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. + +"And how is your son?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +And he then briefly related how he had been occupied, since leaving +Jedburgh. + +"'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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +Four days after his return to Alnwick, Oswald was sent for by Percy. + +"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. + +"'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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"Very well, Sir Henry. Shall I start today?" + +"Nay, the matter is not so urgent as all that." + +"Then I will ride tomorrow morning." + +"Good. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"Think you there will be work with the Welsh again, master?" + +"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." + +"But they say that Richard is still alive, and that he is with the +Scots." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +They travelled fast and, in five days after leaving Alnwick, arrived at +Ludlow. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"I shall be glad, indeed, to do so, Sir Edmund. May I ask where +Glendower is supposed to be, at present?" + +"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. + +"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." + +"Surely it must be difficult to victual so large a force, on the summit +of a mountain?" + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + + + +Chapter 16: A Letter For The King. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"'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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"'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." + +"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." + +"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." + +Oswald bowed and retired and, seeking out Roger, told him of the offer +that he had made. + +"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." + +Oswald laughed. + +"'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?" + +Roger looked surprised at the question. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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: + +"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?" + +Oswald repeated the substance of what he had said to Roger. + +"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." + +When Oswald returned, Mortimer said to him: + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Is it a matter of life and death?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"'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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"That is so. Beyond that, the river is a mere streamlet, and you will +have to make across the hills." + +"Do you know, sir, whether the force that went to Llanfair was to +effect a junction with the king?" + +"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." + +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. + +Oswald carried his sword and dagger. Roger, in addition to these, had a +heavy oaken quarterstaff. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"We left Welshpool before daybreak," Oswald said, "and have travelled +through the forest." + +"Then you must be as bold as you are tall, sirs, for the woods are full +of these wild Welsh." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"And where is the king now, sir?" + +"The king himself is at Capel Bangor, and the army lies between that +place and Yspetty Cynfyn." + +"Then 'tis but a day's march from here!" + +"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. + +"But you have not yet told me who you are, and why you would push on to +the army thus rashly." + +Oswald opened his jerkin, and showed the handsome attire beneath it, +embroidered with the Percy cognizance. + +"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." + +"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." + +"'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." + +"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." + + + +Chapter 17: Knighted. + + +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. + +They were soon in the woods. The streams they met with were turbid, and +full to the brim. + +"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." + +"They have not got much clothing to wet," Roger said. "Their dress is +better suited than ours for such weather." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +Presently they came to another watercourse. + +"Why, Roger, the water is going in the other direction!" + +"So it is, master. How can that be?" + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Except that we may pass the army altogether, Roger. They told us that +the rearmost division was not more than ten miles ahead." + +"We must have walked double that already, I should say, master." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Well, now let us look for a shelter." + +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. + +"This is not a bad beginning, Roger, but we must try and make it a +great deal more snug." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Now I think that we shall do, Roger." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Now, as soon as our breeches are dry, Master Oswald, we shall be +thoroughly comfortable." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +The rain continued to fall heavily, all that afternoon and throughout +the night, and no change of the weather was discernible the next +morning. + +"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." + +Roger shook his head. + +"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." + +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. + +Before lying down for the night, Roger looked out. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +After walking for another two hours, they heard the distant sound of a +trumpet. + +"That cannot be more than two or three miles away, Roger. Now, we shall +have to be careful." + +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. + +"Run, Roger, run. It is a question of legs, now;" and, turning, they +darted up the hill they had just descended. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"We must stand and rid ourselves of these fellows, Roger; or we shall +have half the Welsh nation down on us." + +"So I have been thinking, for some time." + +"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." + +They heard a yell of exultation, as their pursuers found that they were +gaining upon them. + +"Choose a clear space, Roger, with room to swing our weapons." + +The Welsh were running in a close body, but ten yards behind them, when +they arrived at a spot clear of trees. + +"Now, Roger!" + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"We will follow this down," Oswald said, as he stepped into it. + +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. + +"That was a sharp run, Roger," Oswald said as, with rapid but stealthy +steps, they strode along. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"Who are you, sirs?" he asked. + +"I am an esquire of Sir Henry Percy, and have brought hither a letter +for the king." + +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." + +"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. + +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. + +"Whom have we here?" he asked the officer. + +"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." + +The earl looked scrutinizingly at Oswald. + +"I seem to know your face, sir," he said, "but I cannot recall where I +have seen it." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"It was a gallant exploit, sir. I will, myself, take you in to the +king." + +Oswald took off his jerkin. + +"I am but in poor plight to show myself before his majesty," he said, +as he handed it to Roger. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Have you been with Mortimer ever since we harried Glendower's valley?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Over three years, sire." + +"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." + +"And have you been at Mortimer's ever since that time?" the king asked. + +Oswald noticed that each time Mortimer's name was mentioned, the king's +brow was somewhat clouded. + +"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." + +"Why did Sir Henry Percy despatch you there again?" the king asked, +sharply. + +"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." + +The king's brow cleared. + +"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. + +"What think you, Talbot? It seems to me that the bold service this +esquire has performed merits reward." + +"I think so, indeed," the earl said. "It was a singular act of +courage." + +The king drew his sword from his scabbard. + +"Kneel, sir," he said. + +And, as Oswald knelt, the king laid the sword across his shoulder, and +said, "Rise, Sir Oswald Forster." + +Oswald rose. + +"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." + +"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." + +Feeling that his audience was over, Oswald bowed deeply, and left the +tent to rejoin Roger. + +"What said the king, master?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Yes, but a forest full of Welshmen," Roger said, "who are more to be +feared, in that way, than when met in open fight." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"The king asked Lord Talbot to provide me with armour, and a horse; so +we must wait until he comes this way." + +It was half an hour before the earl came out. + +"The letter was of importance," he said, "and it is well that it was +brought on. + +"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." + +He accompanied Oswald to one of a small group of tents, standing a +quarter of a mile farther down the road. + +"Is Sir William Baxter's squire here?" + +A young man at once came up. + +"I was his esquire, my lord." + +"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." + +The young squire bowed. + +"I will hand them over to you, sir." + +"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. + +"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." + +So saying, he turned away. The young squire held open the entrance of +the tent, for Oswald to enter, and followed him in. + +"It seems a strange thing to be thus possessed of another man's goods," +he said. + +"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." + +"And what are you going to do, yourself?" + +"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." + +"How long have you been a squire?" + +"Six years, and I hoped that, in this campaign, I might have done +something to win my spurs." + +"I am but a poor knight, Master--" and he paused. + +"Henry Pemberton," the squire said. + +"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." + +"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." + +"I arrived but an hour ago," Oswald replied, "having made my way +through the Welsh, on foot, with that tall fellow you saw without." + +"That was a dangerous deed, truly," Pemberton said, in tones of +surprise. "May I ask why you essayed so perilous a feat?" + +"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. + +"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." + +"Yes, a very good and trusty fellow." + +"Then of course I shall keep him on. Now, will you tell my man to come +in? + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"That I can well imagine," the squire said, with a smile. "I would +certainly wish for no stouter comrade." + +"We must see about arms and armour for you, Roger," Oswald said. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"I like a steel cap better than this helmet, though I say not that it +looks so well." + +"Not by a long way," Roger said. "Nought could become you better. What +cognizance do you mean to take?" + +"I have not thought about it, yet. There will be time enough for that, +after the war is over." + +"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." + +"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." + +There was, indeed, a large pile. + +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." + +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. + +"That man-at-arms must be a stalwart fellow, indeed," said one, "to +kill three Welshmen with nought but a quarterstaff." + +"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." + + + +Chapter 18: Glendower. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"We shall not get through undisturbed," one of the knights said to +Oswald, who was riding next to him. + +"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." + +"It would be terrible, marching in our heavy armour." + +"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." + +"We can dismount, if necessary," the knight said; "but, for my part, I +would rather ride than tramp through this deep mud." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"The idea is a very good one," the knight said. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"We must fight our way through, men," he shouted; "every minute will +doubtless add to their numbers." + +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. + +"Halt the waggons!" Sir Eustace cried. "Keep good order, men, and we +shall soon drive this rabble off." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Keep together!" Oswald shouted, to those within hearing; "we can cut +ourselves a passage through, in that way, while separately we shall +perish." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +Then Roger exclaimed, "I am done for, master," and fell. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Oswald was unarmed, and evidently incapable of defending himself. He +came up to him. Oswald held out the chain: + +"Glendower, Glendower," he repeated. + +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." + +The Welshman looked much surprised, and presently called to another, +some distance away. The man came up, and he spoke to him in Welsh. + +"How did you obtain this?" the man asked Oswald, in English. + +"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." + +This was translated to the Welshman, who said: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"What has happened, master?" he asked. + +"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." + +"That was a lucky thought of yours, Sir Oswald, about that chain." + +"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." + +"Are you wounded, too?" Roger asked anxiously. + +"No. I was beaten down by a heavy club, and my head still rings from +the blow. Otherwise, I am uninjured." + +"What has happened to me, master?" + +"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." + +"Then we need think no more about it," Roger said. + +"Well, that was a fight! The one we had at Knighton was as nothing to +it." + +"Yes, I think that even you could not want a harder one, Roger." + +"No; this was quite enough for one day's work. I should like a drink of +water, if I could get one." + +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. + +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. + +"How became you possessed of this, Sir Knight?" + +"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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Sir Oswald Forster. I was, at that time, a squire of Sir Henry +Percy's." + +"Of Hotspur!" Glendower said, in surprise. "I did not know that we had +levies from the north fighting against us." + +"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." + +"But I had heard that Mortimer had sent no troops to Henry's army." + +"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." + +"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." + +"You are right, sir. The two men were my companion, here, and myself." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"May I ask if any of our party succeeded in reaching Llanidloes?" + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +When Glendower bid them adieu, he presented each of them with rings, +similar to those he himself wore. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"So did I, Roger. You see, that matter of our getting Glendower's +daughters away, uninjured, has borne good fruit." + +"It has indeed," Roger agreed. "I thought it much more likely, too, +that it would have gone the other way." + +"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." + +"I understand, Sir Oswald; and will, you may be sure, keep silent as to +aught beyond what you have bade me say." + +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. + +"What is the knight's name?" she asked. + +"Sir Oswald Forster, Lady." + +"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." + +Roger had removed Oswald's helmet, while the officer was away. + +"Come with me, Roger," he said, "since we were both concerned in this +affair." + +He bowed deeply to the Lady Isabel; who, as she returned his salute, +saw with surprise that his face was quite strange to her. + +"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?" + +"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." + +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. + +Isabel, seeing that they did not appear to recognize the young knight, +said: + +"Our father has sent this gentleman, Sir Oswald Forster, whom you know, +to visit you." + +The two girls looked with surprise at Oswald. + +"Do you not know this gentleman?" their sister asked, in equal +surprise. + +"He is not known to us," Jane replied. "I have never seen him +before--at least, that I can remember." + +"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." + +The girls looked up at him puzzled, and then their eyes fell upon +Roger. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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! + +"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. + +"Thanks also to you, good squire," she said, turning to Roger. + +"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." + +"But how came you here?" Lady Isabel asked Oswald. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"That is so, Lady and, since my capture, I often thought that it was +strange it so happened." + +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. + +Oswald went to Hotspur's apartments, as soon as he entered the castle. + +"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. + +"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." + +"That rumour is true, Sir Henry, and also that the army is retiring." + +"And they have done no more than they did before?" + +"No more, indeed, Sir Henry. They have burnt many villages, and slain +many Welshmen; but they have done nothing, whatever, towards subduing +Glendower." + + + +Chapter 19: The Battle Of Homildon Hill. + + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Which I will, of course, pay," Hotspur said, "since you were my +squire, and were at Ludlow on my service." + +"I thank you much, Sir Henry, but 'tis so small a sum that I myself +discharged it, without difficulty." + +"'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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +Hotspur, who had been looking a little grave, laughed. + +"Surely never before was so much bone and sinew appraised at so small a +sum." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Now to yourself, Sir Oswald. You will, I hope, continue my knight, as +you have been my squire." + +"Assuredly, Sir Henry, I have never thought of anything else." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Then we shall have you within a ride of us," his mother exclaimed. +"That will be pleasant, indeed." + +"The feus have always gone together," John Forster said, "and Stoubes +castle, although small, is a strong one. How many tenants will you +have?" + +"Twenty-three. That, at least, was the number of names set down in the +parchments." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"Now, tell us how it was that you won your spurs; and how it was that +the king, himself, knighted you." + +"After I have eaten and drank I will do so, Father; for indeed, Roger +and I are well-nigh famishing." + +After the meal, he related the whole story of his adventures. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Then, after paying another visit to Yardhope, Oswald rode, with Roger +and two well-mounted men-at-arms, to Alnwick. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The victory caused great exultation on the border; but Alwyn said to +his nephew: + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +Oswald rode to Yardhope, with the message to his father. + +"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." + +"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. + +"What do you propose to do?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +The news of Mortimer's defeat and capture had been received, by the +time Oswald returned to Alnwick. + +"'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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Roger, what say you to that?" Oswald asked, as he and his squire drew +rein, after pursuing the enemy for some distance. + +Roger's face expressed the strongest disgust. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"'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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +His father nodded. + +"'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." + + + +Chapter 20: The Percys' Discontent. + + +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. + +"'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. + +"But let him beware! Those who built up, can pull down." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Hastening to obey, Oswald found Hotspur with his father. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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! + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"It matters nothing to me, master; so that I ride with you, I am +content." + +"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?" + +"Ay, ay, Sir Oswald, everyone knows this, and not a few have wondered +that the Percys have suffered these things, in quietness." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"'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." + +"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." + +"But what has this to do with your journey, master?" + +"It has much to do with it, Roger, seeing that I am on my way to +Glendower, to offer him alliance with the Percys." + +"A good step!" Roger exclaimed. "We know that these Welsh can fight." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"But, should the war go against the Percys, master?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +Oswald held out his hand. + +"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." + +"'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." + +"Thanks for your courtesy, sir. To whom am I speaking?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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? + +"But no, 'tis but poor hospitality questioning thus, when it will be +time enough to talk of such things, later." + +"And 'tis a matter that is best discussed in private," Oswald replied, +in an undertone. + +"And how have you fared since we parted?" + +"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." + +"So I heard. On our side, we have been busy ever since." + +"And successful, too, as I have heard." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +After supper was over, Glendower led Oswald to his private chamber. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"From the Percys!" Glendower said, in surprise, as he cut the silk that +held the roll together. + +His countenance expressed great surprise, as he read the contents. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"Whom have they with them?" Glendower asked, after listening in +silence. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"'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. + +"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." + +It was not until the following evening that Glendower gave a decided +answer. + +"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." + +They started the next morning, early; and at noon arrived at a strong +house, lying in the heart of the hills. + +"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." + +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. + +"Why, Oswald! Ah! I see I should say Sir Oswald. What brings you here? +Some good news, I trust. Has my ransom been collected?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"Then how stands the matter, Sir Oswald, and how is it that you are +here?" + +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. + +"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? + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"The matter is settled," the latter said. "Sir Edmund will join us, +with heart and hand." + +"I am indeed glad to hear it, Sir Oswald. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Will you return with us to Aberystwith, Sir Oswald?" Glendower +presently asked the young knight. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + +Chapter 21: Shrewsbury. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Oswald speedily recovered from his wounds, but his father suffered +much. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"I hope not, Father. The undertaking would be desperate." + +"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. + +"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." + +"I will carry out your wishes, Father; but it would please me more for +things to remain as they have been." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Ah! Roger, I am glad to see you again; and to thank you, too, for the +share you took in it." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +Roger laughed. + +"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." + +"You told me to hold tight," Janet said, indignantly. + +"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." + +"Very well, Master Roger. Then I shall take care not to let you lower +me down a rope again." + +"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." + +"Well, I suppose, Roger," Jessie said, "that now the wars are over, you +will be marrying and settling down." + +"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. + +"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." + +The others all laughed at the seriousness with which Roger had answered +the girl's jesting remark. + +"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.' + +"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." + +Roger moved uneasily in his seat. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"It would be best to obtain total absolution from your vows. Can the +abbot grant that, Roger?" + +"'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." + +"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." + +"And you have not yourself thought of marrying, Oswald?" Adam Armstrong +said. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"It may be so, Uncle; but as I have never thought of marriage, I am +able to look at the matter dispassionately." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"That may be so; but you must remember that France does aid Scotland, +when she keeps the main army of England busily occupied." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOTH SIDES THE BORDER*** + + +******* This file should be named 19070.txt or 19070.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/0/7/19070 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +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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