e morrow he would attend
the king to Lewes with fifty lances, where he trusted to justify
the favour and honour which he had received.

Shall we once more go over the old story, and tell of the songs of
the gleemen, the music of the harpers, of wine and wassail, of
healths and acclaims, which made the roof, the oaken roof, ring
again and again? Nay, we have tired the reader's patience with
scenes of that sort enough already.

But while the two kings, so like each other in features, were yet
feasting, Edward, with his chief captains, held a council of war in
another chamber, and Drogo stood before them. They questioned him
closely of the state of the inhabitants of the forest: their
political sympathies and the like. They inquired which barons and
land holders were loyal, and which disaffected. They discussed the
morrow's journey, the roads, the chances of food and forage for the
multitude. In short, they acted like men of business who provide
for the morrow ere they close their eyes in sleep.

Then Drogo informed them that he had three prisoners, on whom he
claimed the royal judgment: traitors, and disaffected men whom he
had apprehended in the act of travelling the country, in order by
their harangues to stir up the peasantry to resist the royal arms.

"Who are these doughty foes?"

"Sir Ralph, son of the rebellious baron of Herstmonceux; the mayor
of the disaffected town of Hamelsham; and a young friar, formerly a
favourite page of the Earl of Leicester."

"Why didst thou not hang them on the first oak big enough to
sustain such acorns?"

"I reserved them for the royal judgment, so close at hand."

"Let us see them ere we depart in the morning, and we shall
doubtless make short work of them."

Night reigned without the occasional challenge of the sentinel
alone broke the hush which brooded during the hours of darkness
over the host encamped at Walderne.

Morning broke with roseate hues. All nature seemed to arise at
once. The trumpets gave their shrill signal, the troops arose to
life and action, like bees when they swarm; the birds filled the
woods with their songs, as the glorious orb of day arose over the
eastern hills.

Breakfast was the first consideration, which was heartily yet
hastily despatched. Then in the hall, their hands bound behind
them, stood the three prisoners; the knight dejected, the mayor and
friar pale with privation and suffering. Our Martin's health was
not strong enough to enab