er hour the drove approached Winn's
Farm which had been spoken of, when Deane walked on before that he might
explain to the farmer what had happened, and make arrangements for
remaining there during the night. The names of Mr Strelley of
Nottingham and his old drover were well-known along the road, and
accordingly a kindly welcome was given to the whole party. The kine
were turned into some good grazing-ground, and the wounded drovers were
carefully placed on a bed, and their hurts looked to by Dame Winn, the
farmer's wife. The good woman prided herself on her surgical knowledge,
having received instructions from her mother, who in her younger days
had had unhappily, during the Civil Wars, too much opportunity of
gaining experience in the art of attending to gunshot wounds.

"We must have better laws, Master Brinsmead; these sort of things cannot
be allowed in the country," observed Farmer Winn, when his guests were
seated round his hospitable board, at which all his family, as well as
the drovers and his old farm-servants, were also assembled. "I have
suffered from some of these caterans from the north, so I have a
fellow-feeling with you, I can tell you."

"The laws are not so bad," answered Brinsmead, "but we want people to
carry them out. The king is willing enough, but it is hard to get
people to assist him. However, things are improving in many respects,
and depend upon it these gentlemen have not a much longer course to
run."

Will Brinsmead had no objection to the good things of life, and while
enjoying the substantial fare set before him by Farmer Winn and his good
dame, soon forgot the annoyance he had suffered.

CHAPTER NINE.

STOURBRIDGE FAIR--ADVENTURES AT CAMBRIDGE.

As Will Brinsmead and John Deane with their charge approached Cambridge,
they found the roads, always far from good, becoming worse and worse, in
consequence of the vast amount of traffic which had passed over them;
while crowds of other small dealers and purchasers from all parts of the
country would account for the vast concourse of people who were to be
seen both in the town of Cambridge, along the banks of the river, and
thickly scattered over the meadows. From all directions were seen
moving on carts, waggons, caravans, and vehicles of all sorts, from
London and elsewhere, as well as innumerable trains of pack-horses laden
with Yorkshire goods from Leeds, Halifax, and other towns in an
apparently endless succession, boun