But our nobles have always been ready to
turn traitors. They are mostly of Norman blood and Norman name, and no
small part of them have estates in England, as well as in Scotland.
Hence it is that our worst enemies have always been in our midst.

"And now it is time for bed, or you will be heavy in the morning; and I
know that you intend starting at dawn, with the dogs, and have promised
to bring in some hares for dinner."

Not only Oswald and Allan, but Janet also was afoot early; and, after
taking a basin of porridge, started for the hills, accompanied by four
dogs. They carried with them bows and arrows, in case the dogs should
drive the hares within shot.

Six hours later they returned, carrying with them five hares and a
brace of birds. These had both fallen to Oswald's bow, being shot while
on the ground; for in those days the idea that it was unsportsmanlike
to shoot game, except when flying, was unknown.

For a week they went out every day, sometimes with the dogs, but more
often with hawks; which were trained to fly, not only at birds in their
flight, but at hares, on whose heads they alighted, pecking them and
beating them so fiercely with their wings, that they gave time for the
party on foot to run up, and despatch the quarry with an arrow.

Once or twice they accompanied Adam Armstrong, when he rode to some of
the towns in the neighbourhood, and spent the day with friends of the
Armstrongs there. For a fortnight, the time passed very pleasantly to
the English lad; but, at the end of that time, Adam Armstrong returned
from a visit to Jedburgh with a grave face.

"I have news," he said, "that your King Richard has been deposed; that
Henry, the Duke of Lancaster, having landed in Yorkshire, was joined by
Percy and the Earl of Westmoreland, and has been proclaimed king. This
will cause great troubles in England, for surely there must be many
there who will not tamely see a king dethroned by treasonable
practices; and another, having no just title to the crown, promoted to
his place.

"Such a thing is contrary to all reason and justice. A king has the
same right to his crown as a noble to his estates, and none may justly
take them away, save for treasonable practices; and a king cannot
commit treason against himself. Therefore it is like that there will be
much trouble in England, and I fear that there is no chance of the
truce that concludes, at the end of this month, being continued.

"The fact that t