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THE BLACK ARROW … A TALE OF THE TWO ROSES
PROLOGUE … JOHN AMEND…ALL
On a certain afternoon； in the late springtime； the bell upon
Tunstall Moat House was heard ringing at an unaccustomed hour。 Far
and near； in the forest and in the fields along the river； people
began to desert their labours and hurry towards the sound； and in
Tunstall hamlet a group of poor country…folk stood wondering at the
summons。
Tunstall hamlet at that period； in the reign of old King Henry VI。；
wore much the same appearance as it wears to…day。 A score or so of
houses； heavily framed with oak； stood scattered in a long green
valley ascending from the river。 At the foot； the road crossed a
bridge； and mounting on the other side； disappeared into the
fringes of the forest on its way to the Moat House； and further
forth to Holywood Abbey。 Half…way up the village； the church stood
among yews。 On every side the slopes were crowned and the view
bounded by the green elms and greening oak…trees of the forest。
Hard by the bridge； there was a stone cross upon a knoll； and here
the group had collected … half a dozen women and one tall fellow in
a russet smock … discussing what the bell betided。 An express had
gone through the hamlet half an hour before； and drunk a pot of ale
in the saddle； not daring to dismount for the hurry of his errand；
but he had been ignorant himself of what was forward； and only bore
sealed letters from Sir Daniel Brackley to Sir Oliver Oates； the
parson； who kept the Moat House in the master's absence。
But now there was the noise of a horse； and soon； out of the edge
of the wood and over the echoing bridge； there rode up young Master
Richard Shelton； Sir Daniel's ward。 He； at the least； would know；
and they hailed him and begged him to explain。 He drew bridle
willingly enough … a young fellow not yet eighteen； sun…browned and
grey…eyed； in a jacket of deer's leather； with a black velvet
collar； a green hood upon his head； and a steel cross…bow at his
back。 The express； it appeared； had brought great news。 A battle
was impending。 Sir Daniel had sent for every man that could draw a
bow or carry a bill to go post…haste to Kettley； under pain of his
severe displeasure； but for whom they were to fight； or of where
the battle was expected； Dick knew nothing。 Sir Oliver would come
shortly himself； and Bennet Hatch was arming at that moment； for he
it was who should lead the party。
〃It is the ruin of this kind land；〃 a woman said。 〃If the barons
live at war； ploughfolk must eat roots。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Dick； 〃every man that follows shall have sixpence a
day； and archers twelve。〃
〃If they live；〃 returned the woman； 〃that may very well be； but how
if they die； my master？〃
〃They cannot better die than for their natural lord；〃 said Dick。
〃No natural lord of mine；〃 said the man in the smock。 〃I followed
the Walsinghams； so we all did down Brierly way； till two years
ago； come Candlemas。 And now I must side with Brackley！ It was
the law that did it； call ye that natural？ But now； what with Sir
Daniel and what with Sir Oliver … that knows more of law than
honesty … I have no natural lord but poor King Harry the Sixt； God
bless him！ … the poor innocent that cannot tell his right hand from
his left。〃
〃Ye speak with an ill tongue； friend；〃 answered Dick； 〃to miscall
your good master and my lord the king in the same libel。 But King
Harry … praised be the saints！ … has come again into his right
mind； and will have all things peaceably ordained。 And as for Sir
Daniel； y' are very brave behind his back。 But I will be no tale…
bearer； and let that suffice。〃
〃I say no harm of you； Master Richard；〃 returned the peasant。 〃Y'
are a lad； but when ye come to a man's inches； ye will find ye have
an empty pocket。 I say no more： the saints help Sir Daniel's
neighbours； and the Blessed Maid protect his wards！〃
〃Clipsby；〃 said Richard； 〃you speak what I cannot hear with honour。
Sir Daniel is my good master； and my guardian。〃
〃Come； now； will ye read me a riddle？〃 returned Clipsby。 〃On whose
side is Sir Daniel？〃
〃I know not；〃 said Dick； colouring a little； for his guardian had
changed sides continually in the troubles of that period； and every
change had brought him some increase of fortune。
〃Ay；〃 returned Clipsby； 〃you； nor no man。 For； indeed； he is one
that goes to bed Lancaster and gets up York。〃
Just then the bridge rang under horse…shoe iron； and the party
turned and saw Bennet Hatch come galloping … a brown…faced；
grizzled fellow； heavy of hand and grim of mien； armed with sword
and spear； a steel salet on his head； a leather jack upon his body。
He was a great man in these parts； Sir Daniel's right hand in peace
and war； and at that time； by his master's interest； bailiff of the
hundred。
〃Clipsby；〃 he shouted； 〃off to the Moat House； and send all other
laggards the same gate。 Bowyer will give you jack and salet。 We
must ride before curfew。 Look to it： he that is last at the lych…
gate Sir Daniel shall reward。 Look to it right well！ I know you
for a man of naught。 Nance；〃 he added； to one of the women； 〃is
old Appleyard up town？〃
〃I'll warrant you；〃 replied the woman。 〃In his field； for sure。〃
So the group dispersed； and while Clipsby walked leisurely over the
bridge； Bennet and young Shelton rode up the road together； through
the village and past the church。
〃Ye will see the old shrew；〃 said Bennet。 〃He will waste more time
grumbling and prating of Harry the Fift than would serve a man to
shoe a horse。 And all because he has been to the French wars！〃
The house to which they were bound was the last in the village；
standing alone among lilacs； and beyond it； on three sides； there
was open meadow rising towards the borders of the wood。
Hatch dismounted； threw his rein over the fence； and walked down
the field； Dick keeping close at his elbow； to where the old
soldier was digging； knee…deep in his cabbages； and now and again；
in a cracked voice； singing a snatch of song。 He was all dressed
in leather； only his hood and tippet were of black frieze； and tied
with scarlet； his face was like a walnut…shell； both for colour and
wrinkles； but his old grey eye was still clear enough； and his
sight unabated。 Perhaps he was deaf； perhaps he thought it
unworthy of an old archer of Agincourt to pay any heed to such
disturbances； but neither the surly notes of the alarm bell； nor
the near approach of Bennet and the lad； appeared at all to move
him； and he continued obstinately digging； and piped up； very thin
and shaky：
〃Now； dear lady； if thy will be；
I pray you that you will rue on me。〃
〃Nick Appleyard；〃 said Hatch； 〃Sir Oliver commends him to you； and
bids that ye shall come within this hour to the Moat House； there
to take command。〃
The old fellow looked up。
〃Save you； my masters！〃 he said； grinning。 〃And where goeth Master
Hatch？〃
〃Master Hatch is off to Kettley； with every man that we can horse；〃
returned Bennet。 〃There is a fight toward； it seems； and my lord
stays a reinforcement。〃
〃Ay； verily；〃 returned Appleyard。 〃And what will ye leave me to
garrison withal？〃
〃I leave you six good men； and Sir Oliver to boot；〃 answered Hatch。
〃It'll not hold the place；〃 said Appleyard； 〃the number sufficeth
not。 It would take two score to make it good。〃
〃Why； it's for that we came to you； old shrew！〃 replied the other。
〃Who else is there but you that could do aught in such a house with
such a garrison？〃
〃Ay！ when the pinch comes； ye remember the old shoe；〃 returned
Nick。 〃There is not a man of you can back a horse or hold a bill；
and as for archery … St。 Michael！ if old Harry the Fift were back
again； he would stand and let ye shoot at him for a farthen a
shoot！〃
〃Nay； Nick； there's some can draw a good bow yet；〃 said Bennet。
〃Draw a good bow！〃 cried Appleyard。 〃Yes！ But who'll shoot me a
good shoot？ It's there the eye comes in； and the head between your
shoulders。 Now； what might you call a long shoot； Bennet Hatch？〃
〃Well；〃 said Bennet； looking about him； 〃it would be a long shoot
from here into the forest。〃
〃Ay； it would be a longish shoot；〃 said the old fellow； turning to
look over his shoulder； and then he put up his hand over his eyes；
and stood staring。
〃Why； what are you looking at？〃 asked Bennet； with a chuckle。 〃Do；
you see Harry the Fift？〃
The veteran continued looking up the hill in silence。 The sun
shone broadly over the shelving meadows； a few white sheep wandered
browsing； all was still but the distant jangle of the bell。
〃What is it； Appleyard？〃 asked Dick。
〃Why； the birds；〃 said Appleyard。
And； sure enough； over the top of the forest； where it ran down in
a tongue among the meadows； and ended in a pair of g