nglishman, though belonging to a
monastery at Roxburgh."

Again the earl was silent for some time.

"I must think over the message that I shall give you, for Percy," he
said. "I like not the delay, though I see that there is good reason for
it. As one of Hotspur's esquires, I would fain treat you with all
courtesy, and lodge you here; but this might cause question as to who
you are, and it were, therefore, better that you should lodge in the
town. Have you put up anywhere?"

"I rested for an hour at the sign of the Lion, my lord; engaging a room
there, in order to effect a change in my clothes. I left by the back
entrance, in order that the change should not be observed."

"It were best that you fetched those you travelled in away, or rather
that you returned unnoticed; and, as it is getting dark now, this can
doubtless be managed; and, when you sally out, place that cloak over
your shoulders to hide your dress as a servitor, and go to the other
inn, the Falcon. Say, there, that you are staying for a few days in
Dunbar, having come here on business with me; and that I bade you go
there, so that I might know where to send for you, if necessary. You
can pass for what you seem, a young trader who has come from Edinburgh
to arrange, on the part of your father, a cloth merchant there, for a
supply of stuffs for the clothing of my retainers."

Oswald carried out his instructions, walked about until it was quite
dark, then entered the inn, made his way unobserved to the chamber
where he had left his clothes, put these on, made the others up into a
bundle, and then went downstairs again and paid his bill; saying, as he
did so, that he had found the friends he came to see, and that they had
room to take him in. After leaving the house he threw the cloak, which
he had carried on his arm, over his shoulders; and put on the cap that
belonged to his other dress, and then went to the Falcon Inn, and
repeating to the landlord the statement the earl had made, was at once
shown to a chamber, with some deference.

"Will your worship have supper here, or in the room below?"

"I will come down," he said. "It is dull work, sitting alone."

Having ordered his supper, with a flask of wine, Oswald again donned
his attire as a trader, and went downstairs. Just as he entered the
room, in which several persons were sitting, a soldier came in from the
outer door. He looked round the room.

"I have a message, from the earl, for the person