to save your body in so numerous
and deadly perils, but to bring you into my hands, that have no dearer
wish than to assist your father's son. Be but true to me--and I see y'
are true--and betwixt you and me we shall bring that false-heart traitor
to the death."

"Will ye assault the house?" asked Dick.

"I were mad, indeed, to think of it," returned Ellis. "He hath too much
power; his men gather to him; those that gave me the slip last night,
and by the mass came in so handily for you--those have made him safe.
Nay, Dick, to the contrary, thou and I and my brave bowmen, we must all
slip from this forest speedily, and leave Sir Daniel free."

"My mind misgiveth me for Jack," said the lad.

"For Jack!" repeated Duckworth. "O, I see, for the wench! Nay, Dick! I
promise you, if there come talk of any marriage we shall act at once;
till then, or till the time is ripe, we shall all disappear, even like
shadows at morning; Sir Daniel shall look east and west, and see none
enemies; he shall think, by the mass, that he hath dreamed a while, and
hath now awakened in his bed. But our four eyes, Dick, shall follow him
right close, and our four hands--so help us all the army of the
saints!--shall bring that traitor low!"

<tb>

Two days later Sir Daniel's garrison had grown to such a strength that
he ventured on a sally, and at the head of some two score horsemen
pushed without opposition as far as Tunstall hamlet. Not an arrow flew,
not a man stirred in the thicket; the bridge was no longer guarded, but
stood open to all comers; and as Sir Daniel crossed it, he saw the
villagers looking timidly from their doors.

Presently one of them, taking heart of grace, came forward, and with the
lowliest salutations, presented a letter to the knight.

His face darkened as he read the contents. It ran thus:

"_To the most untrue and cruel gentylman, Sir Daniel Brackley,
Knyght--These:_

"I fynde ye were untrue and unkynd fro the first. Ye have my father's
blood upon your hands; let be, it will not wasshe. Some day ye shall
perish by my procurement, so much I let you to wytte; and I let you to
wytte farther, that if ye seek to wed to any other the gentyl-woman,
Mistresse Joan Sedley, whom that I am bound upon a great oath to wed
myself, the blow will be very swift. The first step therinne will be
thy first step to the grave.

"RIC. SHELTON."

BOOK III

MY LORD FOXHAM

CHAPTER I

THE HOUS