Foxham," added the other.

"Then, my lord, and under your good favour, ye are guardian to the
sweetest maid in England," replied Dick; "and for your ransom, and the
ransom of such as were taken with you on the beach, there will be no
uncertainty of terms. I pray you, my lord, of your good-will and
charity, yield me the hand of my mistress, Joan Sedley; and take ye,
upon the other part, your liberty, the liberty of these your followers,
and (if ye will have it) my gratitude and service till I die."

"But are ye not ward to Sir Daniel? Methought, if y'are Harry Shelton's
son, that I had heard it so reported," said Lord Foxham.

"Will it please you, my lord, to alight? I would fain tell you fully who
I am, how situate, and why so bold in my demands. Beseech you, my lord,
take place upon these steps, hear me to a full end, and judge me with
allowance."

And so saying, Dick lent a hand to Lord Foxham to dismount; led him up
the knoll to the cross; installed him in the place where he had himself
been sitting; and standing respectfully before his noble prisoner,
related the story of his fortunes up to the events of the evening
before.

Lord Foxham listened gravely, and when Dick had done, "Master Shelton,"
he said, "ye are a most fortunate-unfortunate young gentleman; but what
fortune y' 'ave had, that ye have amply merited; and what unfortune, ye
have noways deserved. Be of a good cheer; for ye have made a friend who
is devoid neither of power nor favour. For yourself, although it fits
not for a person of your birth to herd with outlaws, I must own ye are
both brave and honourable; very dangerous in battle, right courteous in
peace; a youth of excellent disposition and brave bearing. For your
estates, ye will never see them till the world shall change again; so
long as Lancaster hath the strong hand, so long shall Sir Daniel enjoy
them for his own. For my ward, it is another matter; I had promised her
before to a gentleman a kinsman of my house, one Hamley; the promise is
old----"

"Ay, my lord, and now Sir Daniel hath promised her to my Lord Shoreby,"
interrupted Dick. "And his promise, for all it is but young, is still
the likelier to be made good."

"'Tis the plain truth," returned his lordship. "And considering,
moreover, that I am your prisoner, upon no better composition than my
bare life, and over and above that, that the maiden is unhappily in
other hands, I will so far consent. Aid me with your good fellows--