weather-beaten cheek, mingling with
a complexion evidently sallow, gave a rich autumnal hue to his visage: a
slight furrow, extending from the outer angle of the nostril around each
corner of a narrow and retreating mouth, gave a careless expression of
scorn to the countenance when at rest; but, as he smiled, this sinister
aspect disappeared, and the soft gleam of benevolence which succeeded
looked the brighter from the portentous scowl that had just passed. His
beard was grey, and of a most reverent equipment, well calculated to
excite veneration and respect. He was above the middle size: his humble
garb but ill concealed a majesty of deportment indicating a disposition
rather to command than to solicit favours. He seated himself on a low
stool, and honest Giles, whose courage did not feel sufficiently
invigorated, in the presence of this proud palmer, to dare an open
warfare, began hostilities covertly, in manner as follows:--

"What ails ye, to disturb honest folks i' their beds at these hours? You
might ha' tarried in your last baiting-place--at any rate till the kye
were astir. I wonder the guard let you pass at the gate. But since these
evil days have o'ershadowed the land, every braggart has licence to do
as he list; and the monks and the friars, with their whole crew of dubs
and deputies, are the worst of all. Old Cliderhow here, the parson,
thought to have waged war with his betters; but he was a slight matter
mistaken: we whipt him up by the heels for his treason."

"Is Cliderhow alive?" inquired the stranger.

"Save us, pilgrim! where had you knowledge of the traitor?"

"Our good king Edward," continued the guest, apparently not attending to
Giles's question in reply, "is still sorely beset with his enemies. Had
a score of knaves such as Master Cliderhow been hanged long ago, his
reign had been less burdensome both to prince and people."

"It's twelve years--ay, twelve," said Giles, reckoning the lapse on his
fingers; "I know it by the great wind that beat down Master Markland's
barn wall at the Meadows, since Cliderhow's sermon, inciting the whole
parish to rebellion."

"I know it," replied the palmer: "he was in prison when I last knew of
the matter."

"Ay, ay," returned Giles knowingly; "but threescore marks, disbursed
discreetly to our good and loyal burgesses, made the doors as easy to
open as my wicket--that is, at timely hours, ye understand."

"Is he at large?" inquired the other.

"They sa