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every motion of his late companion； against whom he began now to
nourish a quarrel on his own account； which he trusted to avenge
by the execution of his new master Varney's directions。 The hour
of supper arrived； and was followed by that of repose； when
Tressilian； like others； retired to his sleeping apartment。
He had not been in bed long； when the train of sad reveries；
which supplied the place of rest in his disturbed mind； was
suddenly interrupted by the jar of a door on its hinges； and a
light was seen to glimmer in the apartment。 Tressilian； who was
as brave as steel； sprang from his bed at this alarm； and had
laid hand upon his sword； when he was prevented from drawing it
by a voice which said； 〃Be not too rash with your rapier； Master
Tressilian。 It is I； your host； Giles Gosling。〃
At the same time； unshrouding the dark lantern； which had
hitherto only emitted an indistinct glimmer； the goodly aspect
and figure of the landlord of the Black Bear was visibly
presented to his astonished guest。
〃What mummery is this； mine host？〃 said Tressilian。 〃Have you
supped as jollily as last night； and so mistaken your chamber？
or is midnight a time for masquerading it in your guest's
lodging？〃
〃Master Tressilian；〃 replied mine host； 〃I know my place and my
time as well as e'er a merry landlord in England。 But here has
been my hang…dog kinsman watching you as close as ever cat
watched a mouse； and here have you； on the other hand； quarrelled
and fought； either with him or with some other person； and I fear
that danger will come of it。〃
〃Go to； thou art but a fool； man；〃 said Tressilian。 〃Thy kinsman
is beneath my resentment； and besides； why shouldst thou think I
had quarrelled with any one whomsoever？〃
〃Oh； sir；〃 replied the innkeeper； 〃there was a red spot on thy
very cheek…bone； which boded of a late brawl； as sure as the
conjunction of Mars and Saturn threatens misfortune； and when you
returned； the buckles of your girdle were brought forward； and
your step was quick and hasty； and all things showed your hand
and your hilt had been lately acquainted。〃
〃Well； good mine host； if I have been obliged to draw my sword；〃
said Tressilian； 〃why should such a circumstance fetch thee out
of thy warm bed at this time of night？ Thou seest the mischief
is all over。〃
〃Under favour； that is what I doubt。 Anthony Foster is a
dangerous man； defended by strong court patronage； which hath
borne him out in matters of very deep concernment。 And； then； my
kinsmanwhy； I have told you what he is； and if these two old
cronies have made up their old acquaintance； I would not； my
worshipful guest； that it should be at thy cost。 I promise you；
Mike Lambourne has been making very particular inquiries at my
hostler when and which way you ride。 Now； I would have you think
whether you may not have done or said something for which you may
be waylaid； and taken at disadvantage。〃
〃Thou art an honest man； mine host；〃 said Tressilian； after a
moment's consideration； 〃and I will deal frankly with thee。 If
these men's malice is directed against meas I deny not but it
mayit is because they are the agents of a more powerful villain
than themselves。〃
〃You mean Master Richard Varney； do you not？〃 said the landlord；
〃he was at Cumnor Place yesterday； and came not thither so
private but what he was espied by one who told me。〃
〃I mean the same； mine host。〃
〃Then； for God's sake； worshipful Master Tressilian；〃 said honest
Gosling； 〃look well to yourself。 This Varney is the protector
and patron of Anthony Foster； who holds under him； and by his
favour； some lease of yonder mansion and the park。 Varney got a
large grant of the lands of the Abbacy of Abingdon； and Cumnor
Place amongst others； from his master； the Earl of Leicester。
Men say he can do everything with him； though I hold the Earl too
good a nobleman to employ him as some men talk of。 And then the
Earl can do anything （that is； anything right or fitting） with
the Queen； God bless her！ So you see what an enemy you have made
to yourself。〃
〃Wellit is done； and I cannot help it；〃 answered Tressilian。
〃Uds precious； but it must be helped in some manner；〃 said the
host。 〃Richard Varneywhy； what between his influence with my
lord； and his pretending to so many old and vexatious claims in
right of the abbot here； men fear almost to mention his name；
much more to set themselves against his practices。 You may judge
by our discourses the last night。 Men said their pleasure of Tony
Foster； but not a word of Richard Varney； though all men judge
him to be at the bottom of yonder mystery about the pretty wench。
But perhaps you know more of that matter than I do； for women；
though they wear not swords； are occasion for many a blade's
exchanging a sheath of neat's leather for one of flesh and
blood。〃
〃I do indeed know more of that poor unfortunate lady than thou
dost； my friendly host； and so bankrupt am I； at this moment； of
friends and advice； that I will willingly make a counsellor of
thee； and tell thee the whole history； the rather that I have a
favour to ask when my tale is ended。〃
〃Good Master Tressilian；〃 said the landlord； 〃I am but a poor
innkeeper； little able to adjust or counsel such a guest as
yourself。 But as sure as I have risen decently above the world；
by giving good measure and reasonable charges； I am an honest
man； and as such； if I may not be able to assist you； I am； at
least； not capable to abuse your confidence。 Say away therefore；
as confidently as if you spoke to your father； and thus far at
least be certain； that my curiosityfor I will not deny that
which belongs to my callingis joined to a reasonable degree of
discretion。〃
〃I doubt it not； mine host；〃 answered Tressilian； and while his
auditor remained in anxious expectation； he meditated for an
instant how he should commence his narrative。 〃My tale；〃 he at
length said； 〃to be quite intelligible； must begin at some
distance back。 You have heard of the battle of Stoke； my good
host； and perhaps of old Sir Roger Robsart； who； in that battle；
valiantly took part with Henry VII。； the Queen's grandfather； and
routed the Earl of Lincoln； Lord Geraldin and his wild Irish； and
the Flemings whom the Duchess of Burgundy had sent over； in the
quarrel of Lambert Simnel？〃
〃I remember both one and the other；〃 said Giles Gosling； 〃it is
sung of a dozen times a week on my ale…bench below。 Sir Roger
Robsart of Devonoh； ay； 'tis him of whom minstrels sing to this
hour；
'He was the flower of Stoke's red field；
When Martin Swart on ground lay slain；
In raging rout he never reel'd；
But like a rock did firm remain。'
＇This verse； or something similar； occurs in a long ballad； or
poem； on Flodden Field； reprinted by the late Henry Weber。＇
Ay； and then there was Martin Swart I have heard my grandfather
talk of； and of the jolly Almains whom he commanded； with their
slashed doublets and quaint hose； all frounced with ribands above
the nether…stocks。 Here's a song goes of Martin Swart； too； an I
had but memory for it：
'Martin Swart and his men；
Saddle them； saddle them；
Martin Swart and his men；
Saddle them well。'〃
＇This verse of an old song actually occurs in an old play where
the singer boasts；
〃Courteously I can both counter and knack
Of Martin Swart and all his merry men。〃＇
〃True； good mine hostthe day was long talked of； but if you
sing so loud； you will awake more listeners than I care to commit
my confidence unto。〃
〃I crave pardon； my worshipful guest；〃 said mine host； 〃I was
oblivious。 When an old song comes across us merry old knights of
the spigot； it runs away with our discretion。〃
〃Well； mine host； my grandfather； like some other Cornishmen；
kept a warm affection to the House of York； and espoused the
quarrel of this Simnel； assuming the title of Earl of Warwick； as
the county afterwards； in great numbers； countenanced the cause
of Perkin Warbeck； calling himself the Duke of York。 My
grandsire joined Simnel's standard； and was taken fighting
desperately at Stoke； where most of the leaders of that unhappy
army were slain in their harness。 The good knight to whom he
rendered himself； Sir Roger Robsart； protected him from the
immediate vengeance of the king； and dismissed him without
ransom。 But he was unable to guard him from other penalties of
his rashness； being the heavy fines by which he was impoverished；
according to Henry's mode of weakening his enemies。 The good
knight did what he might to mitigate the distresses of my
ancestor； and their friendship became so strict； that my father
was bred up as the sworn brother and intimate of the present Sir
Hugh Robsart； the only son of Sir Roger； and the heir of his
honest； and generous； and hospitable temper； though not equal to
him in martial achievements。〃
〃I have heard of good Sir Hugh Robsart；〃 interrupted the host；
〃many a time and oft； his huntsman and sworn servant； Will
Badger； hath spoken of him an hundred times in this very house。
A jovial knight he is； and hath loved hospitality and open
housekeeping more than the present fashion； which lays as much
gold lace on the