ssault a captain of the
Queen's guard."

Ho! ho! There were a round dozen of them, and one on horseback. But I
knew of two dozen better than they within call.

So I shouted, "Clubs, clubs, to the rescue!" and began to lay about me.

CHAPTER TWO.

HOW I SERVED A DISORDERLY PRINTER.

My assailants were a mixed crew, some being lackeys of the half-drowned
gallant, some constables of the watch, others idle swashbucklers ready
to lend a hand to any cause and against any man for a pot of ale. But
they took no advantage from hiring themselves against a poor 'prentice
from without Temple Bar, for they got sore heads for their pains.

I myself could not do over much till my comrades arrived, for I was in
an open place and could not see all sides of me at once. So, after
three of them had gone down, I was well-nigh being mastered by the rest,
but for the timely help of my honest club-fellows.

Foremost among these who should come but honest Will Peake, my late
enemy, who, when it was a matter between 'prentices and Court bullies,
forgot all old sores, and laid about him like a man. Behind him came a
score or two of honest lads, some of my ward, some of others; and
between us all you may judge if the numskulls who set upon me had a
merry time of it. We left them mostly on the ground in a sorry plight,
and the rest we sent packing back to them that owned them, with a
message to send a few of better mettle than they if they wanted to catch
us.

Then, as the messengers did not return, we gave loud cheers for the
Queen, and went each our several ways.

As for me, I was in no humour for the noisy company even of my own
fellows, and excused myself from a march home through the wards. I made
a pretext to go and find my coat and cap, and let them depart without
me.

For I was haunted yet by the memory of that fair face and the sweet
music of her voice, and I wished to be alone.

Moreover, it vexed me grievously that any servant of so gracious a Queen
as ours could be base enough to offer a helpless maiden a discourtesy,
and that in chastising him I must needs put an affront on the dignity of
her Majesty's Court. But that weighed less when I remembered what I had
seen, and I would fain have had the doing of it all again, despite her
gentle protest.

So I waited till the crowd was gone, and then paced, moodily enough,
citywards.

But, at the entrance to the Fields, there overtook me a handful of
horsemen, brave