t is well," replied Richard, adding, "Shelton, ye may go."

"Stay!" said Lord Foxham. "This young man likewise had a charge from me.
It may be he hath better sped.--Say, Master Shelton, have ye found the
maid?"

"I praise the saints, my lord," said Dick, "she is in this house."

"Is it even so? Well, then, my lord the duke," resumed Lord Foxham,
"with your good will, to-morrow, before the army march, I do propose a
marriage. This young squire----"

"Young knight," interrupted Catesby.

"Say ye so, Sir William?" cried Lord Foxham.

"I did myself, and for good service, dub him knight," said Gloucester.
"He hath twice manfully served me. It is not valour of hands, it is a
man's mind of iron, that he lacks. He will not rise, Lord Foxham. 'Tis a
fellow that will fight indeed bravely in a mellay, but hath a capon's
heart. Howbeit, if he is to marry, marry him in the name of Mary, and be
done!"

"Nay, he is a brave lad--I know it," said Lord Foxham. "Content ye,
then, Sir Richard. I have compounded this affair with Master Hamley, and
to-morrow ye shall wed."

Whereupon Dick judged it prudent to withdraw; but he was not yet clear
of the refectory, when a man, but newly alighted at the gate, came
running four stairs at a bound, and brushing through the abbey servants,
threw himself on one knee before the duke.

"Victory, my lord," he cried.

And before Dick had got to the chamber set apart for him as Lord
Foxham's guest, the troops in the holm were cheering around their fires;
for upon that same day, not twenty miles away, a second crushing blow
had been dealt to the power of Lancaster.

FOOTNOTE:

[3] Technically, the term "lance" included a not quite certain number
of foot-soldiers attached to the man-at-arms.

CHAPTER VII

DICK'S REVENGE

The next morning Dick was afoot before the sun, and, having dressed
himself to the best advantage, with the aid of the Lord Foxham's
baggage, and got good reports of Joan, he set forth on foot to walk away
his impatience.

For some while he made rounds among the soldiery, who were getting to
arms in the wintry twilight of the dawn and by the red glow of torches;
but gradually he strolled farther afield, and at length passed clean
beyond the outpost, and walked alone in the frozen forest, waiting for
the sun.

His thoughts were both quiet and happy. His brief favour with the duke
he could not find it in his heart to mourn; with Joan to wife, and my
Lord