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look ever narrowly to see what lord is profited thereby。 Now； Sir
Daniel； having once more joined him to the Queen's party； is in ill
odour with the Yorkist lords。 Thence； Bennet； comes the blow … by
what procuring； I yet seek； but therein lies the nerve of this
discomfiture。〃
〃An't please you； Sir Oliver；〃 said Bennet； 〃the axles are so hot
in this country that I have long been smelling fire。 So did this
poor sinner； Appleyard。 And； by your leave； men's spirits are so
foully inclined to all of us； that it needs neither York nor
Lancaster to spur them on。 Hear my plain thoughts： You； that are
a clerk； and Sir Daniel； that sails on any wind； ye have taken many
men's goods； and beaten and hanged not a few。 Y' are called to
count for this； in the end； I wot not how； ye have ever the
uppermost at law； and ye think all patched。 But give me leave； Sir
Oliver： the man that ye have dispossessed and beaten is but the
angrier； and some day； when the black devil is by； he will up with
his bow and clout me a yard of arrow through your inwards。〃
〃Nay； Bennet； y' are in the wrong。 Bennet； ye should be glad to be
corrected；〃 said Sir Oliver。 〃Y' are a prater； Bennet； a talker； a
babbler； your mouth is wider than your two ears。 Mend it； Bennet；
mend it。〃
〃Nay； I say no more。 Have it as ye list；〃 said the retainer。
The priest now rose from the stool； and from the writing…case that
hung about his neck took forth wax and a taper； and a flint and
steel。 With these he sealed up the chest and the cupboard with Sir
Daniel's arms； Hatch looking on disconsolate； and then the whole
party proceeded； somewhat timorously； to sally from the house and
get to horse。
〃'Tis time we were on the road； Sir Oliver；〃 said Hatch； as he held
the priest's stirrup while he mounted。
〃Ay； but； Bennet； things are changed；〃 returned the parson。 〃There
is now no Appleyard … rest his soul！ … to keep the garrison。 I
shall keep you； Bennet。 I must have a good man to rest me on in
this day of black arrows。 'The arrow that flieth by day；' saith
the evangel； I have no mind of the context； nay； I am a sluggard
priest； I am too deep in men's affairs。 Well； let us ride forth；
Master Hatch。 The jackmen should be at the church by now。〃
So they rode forward down the road； with the wind after them；
blowing the tails of the parson's cloak； and behind them； as they
went； clouds began to arise and blot out the sinking sun。 They had
passed three of the scattered houses that make up Tunstall hamlet；
when； coming to a turn； they saw the church before them。 Ten or a
dozen houses clustered immediately round it； but to the back the
churchyard was next the meadows。 At the lych…gate； near a score of
men were gathered； some in the saddle； some standing by their
horses' heads。 They were variously armed and mounted； some with
spears； some with bills； some with bows； and some bestriding
plough…horses； still splashed with the mire of the furrow； for
these were the very dregs of the country； and all the better men
and the fair equipments were already with Sir Daniel in the field。
〃We have not done amiss； praised be the cross of Holywood！ Sir
Daniel will be right well content；〃 observed the priest； inwardly
numbering the troop。
〃Who goes？ Stand！ if ye be true！〃 shouted Bennet。 A man was seen
slipping through the churchyard among the yews； and at the sound of
this summons he discarded all concealment； and fairly took to his
heels for the forest。 The men at the gate； who had been hitherto
unaware of the stranger's presence； woke and scattered。 Those who
had dismounted began scrambling into the saddle； the rest rode in
pursuit； but they had to make the circuit of the consecrated
ground； and it was plain their quarry would escape them。 Hatch；
roaring an oath； put his horse at the hedge； to head him off； but
the beast refused； and sent his rider sprawling in the dust。 And
though he was up again in a moment； and had caught the bridle； the
time had gone by； and the fugitive had gained too great a lead for
any hope of capture。
The wisest of all had been Dick Shelton。 Instead of starting in a
vain pursuit； he had whipped his crossbow from his back； bent it；
and set a quarrel to the string； and now； when the others had
desisted； he turned to Bennet and asked if he should shoot。
〃Shoot！ shoot！〃 cried the priest； with sanguinary violence。
〃Cover him； Master Dick；〃 said Bennet。 〃Bring me him down like a
ripe apple。〃
The fugitive was now within but a few leaps of safety； but this
last part of the meadow ran very steeply uphill； and the man ran
slower in proportion。 What with the greyness of the falling night；
and the uneven movements of the runner； it was no easy aim； and as
Dick levelled his bow； he felt a kind of pity； and a half desire
that he might miss。 The quarrel sped。
The man stumbled and fell； and a great cheer arose from Hatch and
the pursuers。 But they were counting their corn before the
harvest。 The man fell lightly； he was lightly afoot again； turned
and waved his cap in a bravado； and was out of sight next moment in
the margin of the wood。
〃And the plague go with him！〃 cried Bennet。 〃He has thieves'
heels； he can run； by St Banbury！ But you touched him； Master
Shelton； he has stolen your quarrel； may he never have good I
grudge him less！〃
〃Nay； but what made he by the church？〃 asked Sir Oliver。 〃I am
shrewdly afeared there has been mischief here。 Clipsby； good
fellow； get ye down from your horse； and search thoroughly among
the yews。〃
Clipsby was gone but a little while ere he returned carrying a
paper。
〃This writing was pinned to the church door；〃 he said； handing it
to the parson。 〃I found naught else； sir parson。〃
〃Now； by the power of Mother Church；〃 cried Sir Oliver； 〃but this
runs hard on sacrilege！ For the king's good pleasure； or the lord
of the manor … well！ But that every run…the…hedge in a green
jerkin should fasten papers to the chancel door … nay； it runs hard
on sacrilege； hard； and men have burned for matters of less weight。
But what have we here？ The light falls apace。 Good Master
Richard； y' have young eyes。 Read me； I pray； this libel。〃
Dick Shelton took the paper in his hand and read it aloud。 It
contained some lines of very rugged doggerel； hardly even rhyming；
written in a gross character； and most uncouthly spelt。 With the
spelling somewhat bettered； this is how they ran：
〃I had four blak arrows under my belt；
Four for the greefs that I have felt；
Four for the nomber of ill menne
That have opressid me now and then。
One is gone； one is wele sped；
Old Apulyaird is ded。
One is for Maister Bennet Hatch；
That burned Grimstone； walls and thatch。
One for Sir Oliver Oates；
That cut Sir Harry Shelton's throat。
Sir Daniel； ye shull have the fourt；
We shall think it fair sport。
Ye shull each have your own part；
A blak arrow in each blak heart。
Get ye to your knees for to pray：
Ye are ded theeves； by yea and nay！
〃JON AMEND…ALL
of the Green Wood；
And his jolly fellaweship。
〃Item； we have mo arrowes and goode hempen cord for otheres of your
following。〃
〃Now； well…a…day for charity and the Christian graces！〃 cried Sir
Oliver； lamentably。 〃Sirs； this is an ill world； and groweth daily
worse。 I will swear upon the cross of Holywood I am as innocent of
that good knight's hurt； whether in act or purpose； as the babe
unchristened。 Neither was his throat cut； for therein they are
again in error； as there still live credible witnesses to show。〃
〃It boots not； sir parson；〃 said Bennet。 〃Here is unseasonable
talk。〃
〃Nay； Master Bennet； not so。 Keep ye in your due place； good
Bennet；〃 answered the priest。 〃I shall make mine innocence appear。
I will； upon no consideration； lose my poor life in error。 I take
all men to witness that I am clear of this matter。 I was not even
in the Moat House。 I was sent of an errand before nine upon the
clock〃 …
〃Sir Oliver；〃 said Hatch； interrupting； 〃since it please you not to
stop this sermon； I will take other means。 Goffe； sound to horse。〃
And while the tucket was sounding； Bennet moved close to the
bewildered parson； and whispered violently in his ear。
Dick Shelton saw the priest's eye turned upon him for an instant in
a startled glance。 He had some cause for thought； for this Sir
Harry Shelton was his own natural father。 But he said never a
word； and kept his countenance unmoved。
Hatch and Sir Oliver discussed together for a while their altered
situation； ten men； it was decided between them； should be
reserved； not only to garrison the Moat House； but to escort the
priest across the wood。 In the meantime； as Bennet was to remain
behind； the command of the reinforcement was given to Master
Shelton。 Indeed； there w