herefore, write at
length, giving me full reports of the talk of the country as to the
bearing of the Welsh, not only beyond the border, but those settled in
the west counties.

"You will, of course, take the fighting monk with you; and he can aid
you in this matter, being a good scholar, though a bad monk; so, when
you are weary of holding the pen, you can dictate the matter to him. I
will send two well-mounted couriers with you, and will have relays of
horses placed on the road, so that you can despatch me a letter once a
week; and they will also, of course, carry any letters Sir Edmund
Mortimer may wish to send."

"Very well, Sir Henry. Shall I start today?"

"Nay, the matter is not so urgent as all that."

"Then I will ride tomorrow morning."

"Good.

"I am well pleased with you, Oswald. That affair, in which you rescued
your cousins, showed that you have discretion and ability, as well as
skill and courage; and you see, the knowledge that you gained at the
monastery is coming in useful to you, now. As a mark of my approbation,
I will order that one of my warhorses shall be saddled, and be in
readiness for you, in the morning. The steed that Mortimer gave you is
a good one, but you have need of another; for one may fall lame, or be
killed or wounded, and 'tis well to have a second string to the bow.
Moreover, riding as you do in my service, 'tis but meet that I should
provide you with horseflesh.

"I marked you on your horse today, the one you rode when you came here;
and in truth, you have outgrown it altogether; and though I doubt not
that the sturdy little beast would, even yet, carry you for a long
day's journey, 'tis scarce in accordance with your position as our
representative."

Oswald thanked Hotspur heartily for the gift, for he, himself, had felt
that he needed a second charger, but had been reluctant to ask his
father for the money required to buy one; for the expenses of repairing
the hold, after the last Scotch invasion, had been heavy, and gold was
a scarce commodity at Yardhope.

He started at daybreak the next morning, riding the fine horse Hotspur
had given him. Roger rode behind him, and was followed by the two
lightly-armed men, who were to act as messengers. One of these led
Oswald's second horse. As soon as they had left the castle, Oswald
called Roger up to his side.

"Well, Roger, I dare say you are as pleased as I am, that we are on the
move again. 'Tis nigh five months since we