"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 bear