had passed away since the burning of the Lady Marnell. A
new king had risen up, who was not a whit less harshly inclined towards
the Lollards than his predecessor had been. This monarch, Henry the
Fifth, of chivalrous memory, was riding over the field of Agincourt, the
day after the battle, surrounded by about twenty of his nobles. Behind
the nobles rode their squires, and all around them on the field lay the
dead and dying.

"Saw you yonder knight, Master Wentworth," inquired one of the squires
of his next neighbour, "that we marked a-riding down by the woody knoll
to the left, shortly afore the fight? I marvel if he meant to fight."

"He had it, if he meant it not," answered the other; "the knight, you
would say, who bore three silver arrows?"

"Ay, the same. What befell him?"

"A party of French skirmishers came down upon him and his squire, and
they were both forced to draw sword. The knight defended himself like a
gallant knight, but--our Lady aid us!--they were twelve to two, or
thereabouts: it was small marvel that he fell."

"He did fall? And the squire?"

"The squire fought so bravely, that he earned well his gilded spurs.
[Gilded spurs were the mark of a knight.] He stood over his master where
he fell, and I trow the French got not his body so long as the squire
was alive; but I saw not the end of it, for my master bade me thence."

"I pray you," interposed a third squire, "wit you who is yon youth that
rideth by the King's left hand?"

"The tall, pale, fair-haired youth on the white horse."

"He."

"That is the Lord Marnell--a new favourite."

"The Lord Marnell! Is he a kinsman of the Lady Marnell, who--"

"Hush! Yes, her son."

"His father is dead, also, then?"

"His father was beheaded about twelve years gone, on account of having
taken part in a rebellion, got up by the friends of King Richard; but it
was said at the time privily, that an' he had not been suspected of
Lollardism, his part in the rebellion might have been forgiven."

"Where, then, dwelt this youth, his son?"

"In the North, I ween, somewhere, with his grandmother, who hath died
not long since. Then the young Lord came down to seek his fortune in
London and the King's Grace saw him, and fancied him."

The squires' conversation, and themselves as well, came to a sudden
stop, for the King and his suite had halted in front of them.

Almost in their way, on the ground lay a wounded man. His visor was
raised, and