Next morning about nine o'clock the King sent a messenger to Hugh,bidding him and his servant Richard wait upon them. They went withthis messenger, who led them to a little chamber, where his Grace sat,attended only by the clerk, Brother Peter, and a dark-browed minister,whose name he never learned.
"Hugh de Cressi and Richard Archer," said Edward, motioning to theminister to hand Hugh a parchment to which hung a great seal, "here isthe pardon which I promised you. No need to stay to read it, since itis as wide as Windsor Keep, and woe betide him who lifts hand againsteither of you for aught you may have done or left undone in the pastcontrary to the laws of our realm. Yet remember well that this graceruns not to the future. Now that matter is ended, and we come to onethat is greater. Because of the faith put in you by our loyal andbeloved subject, Sir Andrew Arnold, your godsire, and because we likethe fashion of you, Hugh de Cressi, and hold you brave and honest, ithas pleased us to give you a commission under which we direct the Mayorof Dunwich and all true and lawful men of that town and hundred to aidyou in the taking or, if need be, in the slaying of our subject, SirEdmund Acour, Count of Noyon and Seigneur of Cattrina. We command you tobring this man before us alive or dead, that his cause may be judgedof our courts and the truth of the matter alleged against him by theReverend Father Sir Andrew Arnold therein determined. Nevertheless, wecommand you not to wound or kill the said knight unless he resists theauthority of us by you conveyed and you cannot otherwise hold himsafe from escaping from out this our realm. This commission you willpresently go forth to execute, keeping its tenor and your aim secretuntil the moment comes to strike, and, as you perform your duty, ofwhich you will return and make report to us, so shall we judge andreward you. Do you understand?"
"Sire," answered Hugh, bowing, "I understand, and I will obey to my lastbreath."
"Good! When the parchments are engrossed my officer here will read themto you and explain aught that may need it. Meanwhile, we have an hour ortwo during which your horses can eat, for there are no fresh beasts hereto give you, and it is best, to avoid doubts, that you should return asyou came, only showing your powers if any should attempt to arrestyou. So let us have done with these heavy matters, and disport us fora while. This servant of yours has made a common boast that he willoutshoot any of our picked archers, and now we are ready to go forthand put him to the proof of the butts. Let him know, however, that,notwithstanding our words of yesterday, we shall not hold him to blameif he fails, since many a man of higher degree promises more at nightthan he can perform in the morning."
"Sire, I'll do my best. I can no more," said Grey Dick. "Only I praythat none may be suffered to hang about or pester me at the butts, sinceI am a lonely man who love not company when I use my art."
"That shall be so," said the King. "And now to the sport."
"The sport!" grumbled Grey Dick, when he and Hugh were alone together."Why, it is other sport we should be seeking, with Acour and his knavesfor targets. Go to the King, master, and show him that while we lingerhere the Frenchman may slip away, or work more and worse treasons."
"I cannot, Dick; the parchments are not written out, and his Graceis bent upon this pleasure match. Moreover, man, all these archershere--yes, and their betters also--would say that you had fled becauseyou were an empty boaster who dared not face the trial."
"They'd say that, would they?" snarled Grey Dick. "Yes, they'd say that,which would be bitter hearing for you and me. Well, they shall not sayit. Yet I tell you, master," he added in a burst of words, "althoughI know not why, I'd rather bear their scorn and be away on the road toDunwich."
"It may not be, Dick," replied Hugh, shaking his head doubtfully. "See,here they come to fetch us."