my life, this is a sad pass that I
should get my hurt in a little ferreting skirmish, and die here, in a
foul, cold ship upon the sea, among broken men and churls."

"Nay, my lord," said Dick, "I pray rather to the saints that ye will
recover you of your hurt, and come soon and sound ashore."

"How?" demanded his lordship. "Come sound ashore? There is, then, a
question of it?"

"The ship laboureth--the sea is grievous and contrary," replied the lad;
"and by what I can learn of my fellow that steereth us, we shall do
well, indeed, if we come dryshod to land."

"Ha!" said the baron gloomily, "thus shall every terror attend upon the
passage of my soul! Sir, pray rather to live hard, that ye may die
easy, than to be fooled and fluted all through life, as to the pipe and
tabor, and, in the last hour, be plunged among misfortunes! Howbeit, 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 room 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 ye 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 c