er of a message from Sir Henry Percy," he said; "he has sent
hither a party of twenty men-at-arms, under the command of the captain
of his garrison, at Alnwick."

"I had hoped for more," the knight said, taking the missive and opening
it; "but I can understand that, now the king is marching against
Scotland, Percy cannot spare troops to despatch so long a distance. I
trust that he and my sister, his wife, and the earl are in good
health?"

"I left them so, sir."

The knight read Hotspur's letter.

"He speaks in terms of high commendation of you, young sir," he said,
as he laid the letter down on the table. "Such commendation is rarely
bestowed on one so young. I marvelled somewhat, when you entered, that
Sir Henry Percy should have sent so young a squire; but from what he
says, I doubt not that his choice is a good one; and indeed, it is
plain that your muscles have had rare exercise, and that you can stand
fatigue and hardship better than many older men. It is like that you
will have your share, for the whole border seems to be unsettled. You
have heard that this Glendower has boldly attacked, and driven out,
Lord Grey's retainers from the estates he had taken.

"As to the rights of that matter, I have nought to say. Lord Grey
manages the affairs with the Welsh in his own county of Denbighshire,
and along the north; and I keep their eastern border, and I meddle not
with his affairs, nor he with mine. I know that this Glendower is a
supporter of King Richard, of whom there are many tales current; some
saying that he escaped from Pomfret, and is still alive, though I doubt
not that the report that he died there is true. We know that there is,
in Scotland, a man whom it pleases Albany to put forward as Richard;
but this, methinks, is but a device to trouble our king. Whether this
Glendower believes in this man, or not, I know not; but certain it is
that he would embrace any opportunity to prove his hostility to Henry,
whom he professes to regard as a usurper. Whether it is on account of
his holding such opinions, and foolishly giving expression to them,
that Lord Grey thought fit to seize his estates I know not; nor,
indeed, do I care. Now, however, that the man has taken up arms, and by
force has dispossessed Lord Grey, the matter touches all of us who are
responsible for the keeping of peace in the Welsh marches.

"Were it only a quarrel between Lord Grey and this man, it would matter
but little; but, from all I