, the night march of
the troop under Lord Hastings, and the probability that the conflict
was already begun. "If so," muttered the rebel, "we can see how the tide
turns, before we endanger ourselves; and at the worst, our prisoners
will bring something of prize-money."

While thus soliloquizing, he spied one of those cumbrous vehicles of
the day called whirlicotes [Whirlicotes were in use from a very early
period, but only among the great, till, in the reign of Richard II., his
queen, Anne, introduced side-saddles, when the whirlicote fell out of
fashion, but might be found at different hostelries on the main roads
for the accommodation of the infirm or aged.] standing in the yard of
the hostelry; and seizing upon it, vi et armis, in spite of all the
cries and protestations of the unhappy landlord, he ordered his captives
to enter, and recommenced his march.

As the band proceeded farther on their way, they were joined by fresh
troops of the same class as themselves, and they pushed on gayly, till,
about the hour of eight, they halted before the hostelry the captain had
spoken of. It stood a little out of the high road, not very far from
the village of Hadley, and the heath or chase of Gladsmore, on which was
fought, some time afterwards, the battle of Barnet. It was a house of
good aspect, and considerable size, for it was much frequented by all
caravanserais and travellers from the North to the metropolis. The
landlord, at heart a stanch Lancastrian, who had served in the French
wars, and contrived, no one knew how, to save moneys in the course of an
adventurous life, gave to his hostelry the appellation and sign of the
Talbot, in memory of the old hero of that name; and, hiring a tract of
land, joined the occupation of a farmer to the dignity of a host. The
house, which was built round a spacious quadrangle, represented the
double character of its owner, one side being occupied by barns and
a considerable range of stabling, while cows, oxen, and ragged colts
grouped amicably together in a space railed off in the centre of
the yard. At another side ran a large wooden staircase, with an open
gallery, propped on wooden columns, conducting to numerous chambers,
after the fashion of the Tabard in Southwark, immortalized by Chaucer.
Over the archway, on entrance, ran a labyrinth of sleeping lofts for
foot passengers and muleteers; and the side facing the entrance was
nearly occupied by a vast kitchen, the common hall, and