and had retired from court rather than own his successor as
king. He had made his complaints against Lord Grey before Parliament,
and his appeal had been rejected by an overwhelming majority. His
attack upon Lord Grey was, therefore, viewed in the light of an insult
to the royal power; and, a fortnight after Oswald and his party arrived
at Sir Edmund's, a messenger arrived with a royal order, to all barons
holding castles on the border, to proclaim Owen Glendower an outlaw,
and to take all measures necessary to capture him.

Sir Edmund shook his head, as he read the proclamation, copies of which
were to be fixed to the castle gate, and in other conspicuous places.

"Lord Grey has stirred up a fire that it will be difficult to
extinguish. It were as wise to kick over a hive of bees, when naked to
the waist, as to set Wales in a ferment again. Had this proclamation
been sent to me, only, I would have taken it upon myself to hold it
over until I had, myself, made a journey north to see the king, and to
submit to him my views on the subject; and to point out how dire might
be the consequences, to the inhabitants of our marches, and how great
would be the effort required, if Glendower should be supported by the
whole of his countrymen, as I believe he will be. However, as it has
been sent to all the keepers of the marches this cannot be done; and I
shall, at once, send orders to the sheriffs of Shropshire, and
Hereford, to warn the militia that they may be called out at any
moment, and must hold themselves in preparedness, having every man his
arms and accoutrements in good condition, and fit for service,
according to the law. I shall also issue orders to my own tenants to be
ready to take up arms, and to drive their herds away, and bring their
wives and families into the castle, as soon as the beacon fire is
lighted on the summit of the keep."

This was said to Oswald, to whom Sir Edmund had taken a strong liking,
and to whom he spoke more freely than he might have done to his own
knights and officers, as being in Earl Percy's service, and having no
personal interest in the matters in debate.

"You yourself have heard the tales that have been brought in to me,
showing how greatly the people have been stirred by the belief in
Glendower's powers of necromancy; how blue flames have been seen to
issue from every window and loophole of his house; how red clouds, of
various strange shapes, hover over it; and mysterious sounds