e 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 instan