or to be together was still as great an enjoyment to them as
in Forest days. And on the way, Ambrose told what he had not been
willing to utter in full assembly in the hall. He had been sent by his
master with a letter of condolence to the fallen Cardinal, and likewise
of inquiry into some necessary business connected with the
chancellorship. Wolsey had not time to answer before embarking, but as
Sir Thomas had vouched for the messenger's ability and trustiness, he
had bidden Ambrose come into his barge, and receive his instructions.
Thus Ambrose had landed with him, just as a messenger came riding in
haste from the King, with a kind greeting, assuring his old friend that
his seeming disgrace was only for a time, and for political reasons, and
sending him a ring in token thereof. The Cardinal had fallen on his
knees to receive the message, had snatched a gold chain and precious
relic from his own neck to reward the messenger, and then, casting about
for some gift for the King, "by ill-luck," said Ambrose, "his eye lit
upon our uncle, and he instantly declared that he would bestow Patch, as
the Court chooses to call him, on the King. Well, as thou canst guess,
Hal is hotly wroth at the treatment of his lord, whom he truly loveth;
and he flung himself before the Cardinal, and besought that he might not
be sent from his good lord. But the Cardinal was only chafed at aught
that gainsaid him; and all he did was to say he would have no more ado,
he had made his gift. `Get thee gone,' he said, as if he had been
ordering off a horse or dog. Well-a-day! it was hard to brook the
sight, and Hal's blood was up. He flatly refused to go, saying he was
the Cardinal's servant, but no villain nor serf to be thus made over
without his own will."

"He was in the right there," returned Stephen, hotly.

"Yea, save that by playing the fool, poor fellow, he hath yielded up the
rights of a wise man. Any way, all he gat by it was that the Cardinal
bade two of the yeomen lay hands on him and bear him off. Then there
came on him that reckless mood, which, I trow, banished him long ago
from the Forest, and brought him to the motley. He fought with them
with all his force, and broke away once--as if that were of any use for
a man in motley!--but he was bound at last and borne off by six of them
to Windsor!"

"And thou stoodst by, and beheld it!" cried Stephen.

"Nay, what could I have done, save to make his plight worse, and forfeit