CHAPTER III
ST. BRIDE'S CROSS
St. Bride's Cross stood a little way back from Shoreby, on the skirts ofTunstall Forest. Two roads met: one, from Holywood across the forest;one, that road from Risingham down which we saw the wrecks of aLancastrian army fleeing in disorder. Here the two joined issue, andwent on together down the hill to Shoreby; and a little back from thepoint of junction, the summit of a little knoll was crowned by theancient and weather-beaten cross.
Here, then, about seven in the morning, Dick arrived. It was as cold asever; the earth was all grey and silver with the hoar-frost, and the daybegan to break in the east with many colours of purple and orange.
Dick set him down upon the lowest step of the cross, wrapped himselfwell in his tabard, and looked vigilantly upon all sides. He had notlong to wait. Down the road from Holywood a gentleman in very rich andbright armour, and wearing over that a surcoat of the rarest furs, camepacing on a splendid charger. Twenty yards behind him followed a clumpof lances; but these halted as soon as they came in view of thetrysting-place, while the gentleman in the fur surcoat continued toadvance alone.
His visor was raised, and showed a countenance of great command anddignity, answerable to the richness of his attire and arms. And it waswith some confusion of manner that Dick arose from the cross and steppeddown the bank to meet his prisoner.
"I thank you, my lord, for your exactitude," he said, louting very low."Will it please your lordship to set foot to earth?"
"Are ye here alone, young man?" inquired the other.
"I was not so simple," answered Dick; "and, to be plain with yourlordship, the woods upon either hand of this cross lie full of minehonest fellows lying on their weapons."
"Y' 'ave done wisely," said the lord. "It pleaseth me the rather, sincelast night ye fought foolhardily, and more like a savage Saracen lunaticthan any Christian warrior. But it becomes not me to complain that hadthe undermost."
"Ye had the undermost indeed, my lord, since ye so fell," returned Dick;"but had the waves not holpen me, it was I that should have had theworst. Ye were pleased to make me yours with several dagger marks, whichI still carry. And in fine, my lord, methinks I had all the danger, aswell as all the profit, of that little blind-man's mellay on the beach."
"Y'are shrewd enough to make light of it, I see," returned the stranger.
"Nay, my lord, not shrewd," replied Dick, "in that I shoot at noadvantage to myself. But when, by the light of this new day, I see howstout a knight hath yielded, not to my arms alone, but to fortune, andthe darkness, and the surf--and how easily the battle had goneotherwise, with a soldier so untried and rustic as myself--think it notstrange, my lord, if I feel confounded with my victory."
"Ye speak well," said the stranger. "Your name?"
"My name, an't like you, is Shelton," answered Dick.
"Men call me the Lord Foxham," added the other.
"Then, my lord, and under your good favour, ye are guardian to thesweetest maid in England," replied Dick; "and for your ransom, and theransom of such as were taken with you on the beach, there will be nouncertainty of terms. I pray you, my lord, of your good-will andcharity, yield me the hand of my mistress, Joan Sedley; and take ye,upon the other part, your liberty, the liberty of these your followers,and (if ye will have it) my gratitude and service till I die."
"But are ye not ward to Sir Daniel? Methought, if y'are Harry Shelton'sson, that I had heard it so reported," said Lord Foxham.
"Will it please you, my lord, to alight? I would fain tell you fully whoI am, how situate, and why so bold in my demands. Beseech you, my lord,take place upon these steps, hear me to a full end, and judge me withallowance."
And so saying, Dick lent a hand to Lord Foxham to dismount; led him upthe knoll to the cross; installed him in the place where he had himselfbeen sitting; and standing respectfully before his noble prisoner,related the story of his fortunes up to the events of the eveningbefore.
Lord Foxham listened gravely, and when Dick had done, "Master Shelton,"he said, "ye are a most fortunate-unfortunate young gentleman; but whatfortune y' 'ave had, that ye have amply merited; and what unfortune, yehave noways deserved. Be of a good cheer; for ye have made a friend whois devoid neither of power nor favour. For yourself, although it fitsnot for a person of your birth to herd with outlaws, I must own ye areboth brave and honourable; very dangerous in battle, right courteous inpeace; a youth of excellent disposition and brave bearing. For yourestates, ye will never see them till the world shall change again; solong as Lancaster hath the strong hand, so long shall Sir Daniel enjoythem for his own. For my ward, it is another matter; I had promised herbefore to a gentleman a kinsman of my house, one Hamley; the promise isold----"
"Ay, my lord, and now Sir Daniel hath promised her to my Lord Shoreby,"interrupted Dick. "And his promise, for all it is but young, is stillthe likelier to be made good."
"'Tis the plain truth," returned his lordship. "And considering,moreover, that I am your prisoner, upon no better composition than mybare life, and over and above that, that the maiden is unhappily inother hands, I will so far consent. Aid me with your good fellows----"
"My lord," cried Dick, "they are these same outlaws that ye blame me forconsorting with."
"Let them be what they will, they can fight," returned Lord Foxham."Help me, then; and if between us we regain the maid, upon my knightlyhonour, she shall marry you!"
Dick bent his knee before his prisoner; but he, leaping up lightly fromthe cross, caught the lad up and embraced him like a son.
"Come," he said, "an y'are to marry Joan, we must be early friends."