wbeit, I
have that upon my mind that must not be delayed. We have no priest
aboard?"

"None," replied Dick.

"Here, then, to my secular interests," resumed Lord Foxham: "ye must be
as good a friend to me dead, as I found you a gallant enemy when I was
living. I fall in an evil hour for me, for England, and for them that
trusted me. My men are being brought by Hamley--he that was your rival;
they will rendezvous in the long holm at Holywood; this ring from off my
finger will accredit you to represent mine orders; and I shall write,
besides, two words upon this paper, bidding Hamley yield to you the
damsel. Will he obey? I know not."

"But, my lord, what orders?" inquired Dick.

"Ay," quoth the baron, "ay--the orders"; and he looked upon Dick with
hesitation. "Are ye Lancaster or York?" he asked, at length.

"I shame to say it," answered Dick, "I can scarce clearly answer. But
so much I think is certain: since I serve with Ellis Duckworth, I serve
the house of York. Well, if that be so, I declare for York."

"It is well," returned the other; "it is exceeding well. For, truly, had
ye said Lancaster, I wot not for the world what I had done. But sith ye
are for York, follow me. I came hither but to watch these lords at
Shoreby, while mine excellent young lord, Richard of Gloucester,[1]
prepareth a sufficient force to fall upon and scatter them. I have made
me notes of their strength, what watch they keep, and how they lie; and
these I was to deliver to my young lord on Sunday, an hour before noon,
at St. Bride's Cross beside the forest. This tryst I am not like to
keep, but I pray you, of courtesy, to keep it in my stead; and see that
not pleasure, nor pain, tempest, wound, nor pestilence withhold you from
the hour and place, for the welfare of England lieth upon this cast."

[1] At the date of this story, Richard Crookback could not have been
created Duke of Gloucester; but for clearness, with the reader's
leave, he shall so be called.

"I do soberly take this upon me," said Dick. "In so far as in me lieth,
your purpose shall be done."

"It is good," said the wounded man. "My lord duke shall order you
further, and if ye obey him with spirit and good-will, then is your
fortune made. Give me the lamp a little nearer to mine eyes, till that I
write these words for you."

He wrote a note "to his worshipful kinsman, Sir John Hamley"; and then a
second, which he left without external superscripture.

"Th