by G. A. Henty
Chapter 20: The Percys' Discontent.
During the time that had elapsed, between his receiving the news ofMortimer's capture by Glendower, and the battle of Homildon Hill, Percyhad written several times to the king, with reference to his taking thesame steps to ransom Mortimer that he had taken on behalf of Lord Grey.The king, however, answered very coldly; and one of his letters morethan hinted that he believed that Mortimer had voluntarily placedhimself in Glendower's hands, and that an agreement existed betweenthem. Not only was Hotspur furious at such an accusation, but the earl,himself, was deeply angered.
"'Tis past all belief," Hotspur said, "that such a charge should bemade. Had Mortimer wished to join Glendower, he could have gone to him,not as a prisoner, but at the head of three thousand good fighting men.Why should he have thrown away the lives of twelve hundred of his ownvassals, and those of his nephew? Nay, more, had Mortimer intendedtreachery, he might have marched and fallen on the rear of the king'sarmy, entangled among the Welsh mountains and forests, while Glendowerfell upon him from in front. 'Tis a lie, and bears its mark on itsface; 'tis but an excuse for refusing to ransom Mortimer, who he hopeswill be kept a prisoner for years, and whose estates he will thus beable to appropriate. 'Tis an insult not only to Mortimer but to us, towhom he owes his crown.
"But let him beware! Those who built up, can pull down."
The knights standing round put their hands on their sword hilts,significantly. The king was, to the followers of great barons, a personof but small consequence in comparison with their lord; and they woulddraw their swords, at the latter's order, as willingly against a kingas against a foreign foe. That it was their duty to do so was so fullyrecognized that, in the troubles between the king and his nobles, whilethe latter were, if defeated, executed for treason, their vassals werepermitted to return home unmolested; and it was not until the battle ofBarnet that Edward, enraged at the humiliation that he had suffered,when he had been obliged to fly to France, gave orders that no quarterwas to be shown to Warwick's vassals and retainers.
Northumberland and Hotspur were still smarting under this treatment ofMortimer when, eight days after the battle, the messenger they haddespatched to the king, in Wales, with the report of their greatvictory, and the capture of Douglas and other important nobles,returned with an order from the king that these prisoners were not tobe ransomed.
This order was received with passionate indignation by the earl andHotspur. Although not altogether contrary to the usages of the age,since similar orders had, more than once been, issued by Edward theThird; the ransom of prisoners taken in battle was regarded as one ofthe most important sources of revenue, and as the means of defrayingthe expenses that nobles and knights were put to in aiding, with theirvassals, the king in his wars. Occasionally, however, in the case ofprisoners of importance, monarchs deemed it necessary, for politicalreasons, to forbid the ransom of prisoners.
The Scottish nobles were as indignant as the Percys. They had regardedit as a matter of course that they would be shortly liberated. Theirransom, however heavy, would be soon forthcoming; for it was one of theconditions on which land was held that, in case of the lord being takenprisoner, each of his tenants must contribute largely, in proportion tohis holding, towards the payment of his ransom.
The order of the king clearly meant that they were to be taken toLondon and held there as hostages, perhaps for years; and so not onlyto ensure England against another invasion, but to further any designsof conquest that the king might entertain. With three of the greatearls of Scotland--one of them the son of the Regent--and Douglas, themilitary leader of the Scots, in his hands; and with the Earl of Dunbaras his ally, Scotland would be practically at his mercy.
An important meeting was held at Alnwick, at which the Scottish nobles,the Earl of Northumberland, and Hotspur were alone present, and herematters of vital interest to the kingdom were arranged.
For six months things remained in the same state. The king's fourthexpedition into Wales had effected no more than the preceding.Glendower was still virtually master of Wales. Cardiff had been burnedby him, with its numerous priories and convents, with the exception ofthat of the Franciscans; the castle of Penmarc, and the town and castleof Abergavenny had been burned, and other strong places captured.
The Percys remained, during this time, sullen and inactive; althoughsomewhat mollified by the thanks voted them by Parliament. The king, asa reward for their services, bestowed upon them the estates of Douglas.This, however, they treated with scorn, for as well might he havepresented to them the city of Naples or Paris; since, unless allScotland was conquered, they could not come into peaceful mastership ofthe Douglas estates. Nor, indeed, could the king have intended it inearnest; for he was far too politic to think of adding so great anincrease of territory to the estates of the Percys, who had alreadyshown their power by placing him on the throne, and who might some daytake back what they had given him, by declaring in favour of the Earlof March.
One day in February, 1403, Oswald was summoned from Stoubes to Alnwickand, on his arrival there, was requested to go to the earl's chamber.Such a summons was extremely unusual. Hotspur had his own estates, andhis own retinue and following; and was, jointly with his father, wardenof the marches; and though he dwelt, generally, with him at Alnwick, hehad his own portion of the castle. Thus it was seldom that the earl hadany communication with Hotspur's knights.
Hastening to obey, Oswald found Hotspur with his father.
"I have a mission for you, Sir Oswald," Hotspur said, "on the part ofthe earl and myself. You know that, for a long time, there has been adisputation between my father and the Earl of Westmoreland, respectingthe Scottish prisoners. The earl sent a small force to fight under meat Homildon, but it was a mere handful; and on the strength of this headvanced a claim to a considerable share of the ransoms of theprisoners; or, since they could not be ransomed, to the custody of thepersons of the Earls of Moray and Angus. The king has now, contrary toall reason, inflicted upon us the indignity of appointing fourcommissioners, two of whom are but knights and the other two men of noconsequence, to inquire into the question between my father and myuncle, the Earl of Westmoreland.
"Does he think that two of his earls are going to submit themselves toso gross an indignity?--we, who are as much masters in the north ofEngland as he is in the south--and even that he owes to us. I haveridden over and seen Westmoreland, who is as indignant as we are, andwe at once arranged the little matter in which we are at variance, andagreed upon common measures.
"But this is not all. Seeing that the king absolutely refused to do toMortimer the same service that he did to Lord Grey, whose ransom he hasnow paid--and who, by the way, has married Glendower's daughter,Jane--Mortimer's vassals, with some aid from ourselves, have raised themoney required to free Mortimer. Now the king has interfered, and hasgiven orders that such ransom shall not be paid. 'Tis evident that hedetermines to drive us to extremities.
"I tell you these things, in order that you may see how intolerable thecondition of affairs has become. My father and myself believe that itis the judgment of heaven upon us, for having helped to dethrone KingRichard, the lawful sovereign of this country, and to place thisusurper on the throne. Even had Richard's conduct rendered hisdeposition necessary, we did wrong in passing over the lawful heir, theyoung Earl of March. 'Tis true he was but a child, at that time; but heis older now, and we feel shame that he should be kept as a prisoner,by Henry. Had not the king perjured himself, we should not have beenled into this error; for, before we assisted him, he swore a great oaththat he had no intention of gaining the throne, but only to regain hisown dukedom of Lancaster. It was on that ground that we lent him ouraid; and now, forsooth, this perjured usurper treats us, who made him,as dirt under his feet!
"We are resolved to suffer it no longer; and since we may not ransomMortimer, we will secure his freedom in other ways, and for this youmay give us your aid."
"Assuredly, Sir Henry, and my Lord Earl," Oswald, who was
deeplyindignant at the unworthy treatment of his lords, replied hotly. "Mylife is at your service."
"I expected nothing else," Hotspur said, warmly. "The matter standsthus. Owen Glendower was a warm partisan of King Richard, and was oneof the few who remained faithful to the end; thereby incurring the deephostility of Henry, and of his adherent Lord Grey. It was for this hislands were unjustly seized, for this that Henry's parliament refused toaccede to his complaints, and so drove him to take up arms. Thus, then,in an enterprise against Henry, Glendower is our natural ally; and weintend to propose to him that alliance, undertaking that, if he willgive us aid, his claim to the crown of Wales shall be acknowledged, andthat he shall govern his country without interference from England.
"There is none who could carry out this negotiation so well asyourself, since you can, by virtue of that ring he gave you, passunarmed to him; while any other knight would be assuredly slain. Youwill bear a letter, signed by the earl and myself, offering him ourfriendship and alliance, on those terms; and explain to him, morefully, the manner in which we have been driven to throw off Henry'sauthority. You can tell him that we shall proclaim the Earl of Marchlawful king; and if he agrees to join in our project, which would beclearly both to his liking and advantage, it would be as well that heshould, as soon as we move, which may not be for some time yet, releaseSir Edmund Mortimer; who, as the boy's uncle, will assuredly raise hisvassals on his behalf, now that Henry has shown such animosity againsthim."
"I will gladly undertake the mission, my lord; and all the more gladly,since it may lead to the liberation of Sir Edmund Mortimer, who treatedme with the greatest kindness and condescension, during my stay atLudlow."
"Prepare to start tomorrow, then," the earl said. "The letter shall beready for you tonight; and beyond what my son has told you, you cantell Glendower that we have good hopes of large help from Scotland;with whom, it is said, he is already in alliance."
The next morning Oswald started, taking no one but Roger with him. Hehad, the evening before, told his squire only that he was starting on ajourney; promising to tell him more, as they rode. Accordingly, whenwell away from Alnwick, he beckoned to Roger to bring up his horsealongside of him.
"Where think you that we are going, Roger? I will give you fiftyguesses, and would warrant that you would not come at the truth."
"It matters nothing to me, master; so that I ride with you, I amcontent."
"You know, Roger, how grievously the king has treated the Percys; howhe has prevented their taking ransom for their prisoners, and hasrefused to ransom Sir Edmund Mortimer; how he, in bitter jest, offeredthe earl the estates of Douglas; and how he has put upon them theindignity of sending four men, of no import, to decide upon theirdifference with Westmoreland?"
"Ay, ay, Sir Oswald, everyone knows this, and not a few have wonderedthat the Percys have suffered these things, in quietness."
"A fresh thing has happened, Roger. The tenants of Mortimer, with aidfrom the earl and Hotspur, have raised the sum that Glendower demandedas ransom; and now the king has laid on them his order, that this moneyis not to be paid."
"By our Lady," Roger exclaimed wrathfully, "this is too much! SirEdmund is a noble gentleman, and that the king should refuse to allowhis friends to ransom him passes all bounds."
"So the earl and Hotspur consider," Oswald said, "and, ere long, youwill see that they will hoist the banner of the young Earl of March,and proclaim him King of England."
"'Tis good," Roger exclaimed, slapping his hand on his leg. "To me itmatters nought who is King of England, but I always held that it washard that King Richard should be deposed, and murdered, by one who wasnot even his lawful successor. I am not one to question the conduct ofmy lord, but I always thought that the Percys were wrong in bringingthis usurper over."
"They feel that themselves, Roger, and consider the ingratitude of theking to be a punishment upon them, for having aided him to the throne."
"But what has this to do with your journey, master?"
"It has much to do with it, Roger, seeing that I am on my way toGlendower, to offer him alliance with the Percys."
"A good step!" Roger exclaimed. "We know that these Welsh can fight."
"Moreover, Roger, it may bring about the freeing of Mortimer; for theevil feeling the king has shown against him will surely drive him toraise all his vassals, and those of the young earl, in Herefordshireand elsewhere; and thus the Percys will gain two powerful allies,Glendower and Mortimer; and as they advance from the north, the Welshand Mortimer will join them from the west. When victory is gained,there will be peace on the Welsh marches. Owen will be recognized forwhat he is, the King of Wales; and doubtless he will then suffer theEnglish to live quietly there, just as the Welsh have lived quietly inEngland.
"Then, too, all the western counties will see that it is their interestto side with Mortimer and Glendower. Four times, during the last threeyears, have they been called out, and forced to leave their homes tofollow the king into Wales; and as often have had to return, leavingbehind them many of their number. They will see that, if Glendower isacknowledged King of Wales, this hard and grievous service will nolonger be required of them."
"That is so, Sir Oswald, and in truth I like the project well. Itmatters not a straw to me who is king; but if a king treats my lordsscurvily, I am ready to shout 'Down with him!' and to do my best to putanother up in his place; though, indeed, 'tis a salve to my conscienceto know that the man I am fighting against is a usurper, and one whohas set himself up in the place of the lawful king."
"My conscience in no way pricks me, Roger. I fight at my lord's order,against his foes. That is the duty I have sworn to. As between him andthe king, 'tis a matter for him alone. At the same time, I am glad thatthe business is likely to end in the rescue of a knight who has beenvery kind to me. Between Henry and the young Earl of March I have noopinion; but it seems to me that, since Henry ascended to the throne bymight, and by the popular voice, he has no cause to complain, if he isput out of it by the same means."
"But, should the war go against the Percys, master?"
"That, again, is a matter for the earl and Hotspur. They know whatforce they and the Earl of Westmoreland can put in the field. They knowthat Glendower can aid with ten thousand Welshmen, and that Mortimercan raise three or four thousand men from his vassals. They should knowwhat help they can count on from Scotland; and doubtless, during thelast six months, have made themselves acquainted with the generalfeeling respecting the king. It is upon them that the risk chieflyfalls. We knights and men-at-arms may fall in the field of battle; butthat is a risk that we know we have to face, when we take to thecalling of arms. If our cause is lost, and we escape from thebattlefield, we have but to depart to our holds or our villages, and weshall hear nought more of the affair; while our lords, if taken, wouldlose their heads. It will be a grief for us to lose masters we love,and to have to pay our quittance with money or service to a new lord;but beyond that, we risk nought save our lives in battle. Therefore Itrouble myself, in no way, as to the matter between the Percys and theking, which I take it in no way concerns me; and am content to do myduty, and to render my service, as I have sworn to do."
"It is well, Sir Oswald," Roger said, after a long pause, "thatGlendower gave us those rings; for from all accounts he and hisWelshmen are more furious than ever, and there would be small chance ofour ever reaching him, without them. The chain did its work, last time.'Tis not every Welshman who would stop to examine it before striking,and few who could read the inscription, if they did so; while 'tis likethat most of them are well acquainted with Glendower's signet."
"That is so; but nevertheless, Roger, it will be better, when we haveonce crossed the border, that you should ride behind me with a whiteflag displayed; as a token that we come, not for war, but on a peacefulmission. 'Tis probable, at any rate, that any band of Welshmen who maymeet us will, in that case, before attacking, stop to inquire on whaterrand we come."
They rode fast, for the earl
had said that he needed to have the newsof Glendower's decision, before proceeding further in the matter, andin four days arrived on the border. At Shrewsbury Oswald inquired,carelessly, of the host of the inn where he put up, where Glendower wasnow thought to be; as he intended to journey south to Hereford, andwould fain know whether there was any risk of falling in with bands ofthe marauders.
"Methinks, Sir Knight, that you may travel without uneasiness; seeingthat the country between this and Hereford has been so harassed, bythem, that there is nought to tempt them to cross the border, save withso large a force that they can invade Gloucester or Worcestershire. Mensay, moreover, that Glendower is, at present, in Cardiganshire. Thereare still a few Welsh inhabitants here. They declare that they areloyal to the king, and love not their wild countrymen. Whether it isso, or not, I cannot say; but they certainly manage to keep upcommunications with the Welsh. This may be for a treacherous purpose,or it may be as they say; that, knowing that they and all belonging tothem would be slain, should Glendower capture the town; they, for theirown safety, try to learn his intentions and movements, in order to warnus, should a surprise be intended."
Starting early the next morning, Oswald crossed into Montgomeryshire,by a road through Worktree Forest, so as to avoid both Ludlow andWelshpool; and kept along by a country track, near the border ofRadnor, so passing south of Llanidloes. As soon as they had leftRadnorshire, Roger fastened to his spear a white cloth they had broughtfrom Shrewsbury; then they continued their journey west.
It was not until they had crossed the Wye, here an insignificantstream, that they came upon a native of the country. They werefollowing a track, between two rough hills covered with brushwood, whena man, evidently of the better class, stepped out before them.
"Sir Knight," he said in English, "'tis a strange sight to see anEnglishman, with one esquire, travelling alone by so wild and lonely aroad as this; and strange, indeed, that he should bear a flag of truce;for were you here on your king's business, you would surely be attendedwith a braver show. I had notice, two hours ago, brought by one who hadseen you cross the Wye; and in the bushes round lie fifty men who, didI raise my hand, would let fly their arrows against you. But if youhave reason for your coming this way, assuredly we should not hinderyou."
Oswald held out his hand.
"This signet ring, sir, was given me by Glendower, who said that anyWelshman to whom I might show it would act as my guide and escort tohim. I come on an important mission, not from the king, but from onefrom whom Glendower may be glad to hear; therefore I pray you take meto him, or at least send a party of your men; for I might,peradventure, fall in with some who would shoot before theyquestioned."
"'Tis assuredly the prince's signet," the man said, after carefullyexamining it, "and right gladly will I escort you to him. He is, atpresent, at Aberystwith."
"Thanks for your courtesy, sir. To whom am I speaking?"
"My name is Howel ap Ryddyn. You passed my abode, which cannot be seenfrom the road; and I would, were you not pressed for time, gladlyentertain you; but if we push forward, we may reach Aberystwith beforenightfall, and I make no question that would better suit your wishes."
"Thanks, sir. My business is somewhat urgent, and I shall be glad tomeet the prince, as soon as possible. Indeed, I should not be sorry toreach a spot where we can sup and sleep, seeing that we have twiceslept in the woods, since we left Shrewsbury."
The man called out an order, in Welsh. Four men at once issued from thebushes, and under their guidance the horsemen soon reached Aberystwith.
"I had scarce expected this pleasure, Sir Oswald," Glendower saidwarmly, as the young knight entered. "To what good fortune do I oweyour visit?
"But no, 'tis but poor hospitality questioning thus, when it will betime enough to talk of such things, later."
"And 'tis a matter that is best discussed in private," Oswald replied,in an undertone.
"And how have you fared since we parted?"
"Since I saw you, over a year ago, the time has passed quietly, savefor the battle with the Scots; where, although we beat them, there wasno credit gained by the knights and men-at-arms; seeing that thearchers, alone, did the fighting."
"So I heard. On our side, we have been busy ever since."
"And successful, too, as I have heard."
"Yes, fortune has been in our favour. Lord Grey's ransom has been ofmuch use to us and, having married my daughter Jane, he can no longerbe considered a foe. Yet, to do him justice, he would not promise evento stand neutral; though, unless under special orders from the king, hewill not draw his sword again. I love a stanch man; and though Grey hastaken, as I consider, the wrong side, he stands to it faithfully. Ioffered him freedom, without ransom, if he would promise neutrality,and that, when I had put down all other opposition, he would hold hisWelsh lands from me; but he refused, and said that he would ratherremain in chains, all his life, than be false to his vows to Henry.
"That was good, and I would that all Welshmen were as faithful. Theytake the oath to me one week, and make their peace with Henry the next.Nay, some, to please him, would go so far as to try to assassinate me.Two such plots have there been this year, and it was only that I wore agood mail shirt under my garments, that my life was saved from a bowshot, and from one who professed to be my warm friend, and who hadtaken bread with me, half an hour before.
"It is destiny, Sir Oswald. The powers watch over me, and keep me fromharm; and these will, I know, protect me to the end, against the strokeof English foes, or of Welsh traitors."
After supper was over, Glendower led Oswald to his private chamber.
"Now, Sir Oswald, you can speak freely. I have placed a guard outsidethe door, and there is no fear of interruption. Do you come on your ownaccount, or from another?"
"I come from the Earl of Northumberland, and his son Sir Henry Percy;and am charged, in the first place, to deliver this letter to you; andthen to give you such further intelligence, as to the matter, as it maybe needful for you to know."
"From the Percys!" Glendower said, in surprise, as he cut the silk thatheld the roll together.
His countenance expressed great surprise, as he read the contents.
"There is no snare in this?" he said suddenly, after reading it throughtwo or three times, and looking sharply at Oswald. "'Tis not from thePercys, who, more than any other, assisted the usurper to the throne,that I should have looked for such an offer."
"I should be the last to bring such a letter to you, Glendower, werethere aught behind what is written. The earl and Hotspur spoke of thematter at length to me. They regret, now, the part they took inenthroning Henry; at whose hands they have now received suchindignities that they are resolved, if it may be, to undo their work,and to place the lawful king, the young Earl of March, on the throne."
He then related the various complaints that the Percys had against theking, and told Glendower that the matter had been brought to a head byHenry's refusal to allow them to pay the ransom that had been collectedfor Sir Edmund Mortimer.
"Whom have they with them?" Glendower asked, after listening insilence.
"They have the Earl of Westmoreland, who, like themselves, is greatlyoffended at the appointment of four commissioners, men of no standingor position, to judge between two of the great barons of England; bloodrelations, too, whose difference is on a matter of but smallimportance. No other name was mentioned before me, but the earl statedthat he looked for much assistance from Scotland."
"Ay, ay! As they hold in their hands Douglas, and the Regent's son,Moray, and Angus, they may well make terms with Scotland. Yes, it is avery great plot, and since I can get no ransom for Mortimer, and he canraise some three or four thousand men, he would be of more value to usfree than as a prisoner."
"It is not only that," Oswald said. "The fact that he, as young March'suncle, should head his following and raise his banner, will show thatthe Percys and you are not using young March's name as a mere pretextfor taking up arms. If Mortimer, the head of
his house during hisminority, and guardian of his estates, were with them, men would seethat 'tis really a struggle to place the lawful king on the throne; andmany would join who, did they think it was but an affair between thePercys, of whom they know but little in the south, and you, whom theyhave been taught to consider a rebel, would stand aloof."
"'Tis well thought of, and the project pleases me. Even without suchallies, I may hold my mountains and continue my warfare, but therecould be neither peace nor prosperity for years; but with the overthrowof the usurper, and my acknowledgment as King of Wales, and of theentire independence of the country, from the Dee to the Severn, thefreedom of my country might be permanently secured.
"But I will give no certain answer, tonight. 'Tis a matter to be turnedover in my mind, as it seems to me that I may gain much good by thealliance; and that, even if the Percys fail in their enterprise, I canbe no worse off than I am, at present."
It was not until the following evening that Glendower gave a decidedanswer.
"I accept Percy's offer," he said. "I have thought it over in everyway; even putting aside the benefits, to my country and myself, I wouldenter upon it; were it but for the satisfaction of seeing the usurper,and murderer of my dear master, King Richard, have the same measuremeted out to him that he gave to his sovereign. Tonight I will write ananswer to the Percys, for you to bear to them. Tomorrow morning I willride, with you, to the stronghold where Mortimer is at present held indurance; and if he consents to join us, I will give him his freedom,without ransom."
They started the next morning, early; and at noon arrived at a stronghouse, lying in the heart of the hills.
"It were best that you should see him first, Sir Oswald, and explainthe matter to him. After that, I will meet him with you."
Great was the astonishment of Sir Edmund, when Oswald was ushered intothe little room in which he was confined. It was some ten feet square,furnished with a pallet, chair, and small table. The window was verystrongly barred, and Oswald observed, with pain, that his ten months'imprisonment had told very heavily upon Mortimer.
"Why, Oswald! Ah! I see I should say Sir Oswald. What brings you here?Some good news, I trust. Has my ransom been collected?"
"It has been collected, Sir Edmund," Oswald said, as they shook hands,"but the king, who refused altogether to pay your ransom, as he didLord Grey's, has forbidden the money, raised partly by your tenants andpartly by the tenants of your nephew, to be handed over. 'Tis clearthat he views you as an enemy; and has, indeed, ventured to declare hisbelief that your capture by Glendower was a thing arranged,beforehand."
"He lies!" Sir Edmund exclaimed angrily. "We fought stoutly and, had itnot been for the treachery of the Welsh bowmen, should have won theday.
"Then how stands the matter, Sir Oswald, and how is it that you arehere?"
Oswald then related the purport of his mission, and gave Mortimer somemessages with which Hotspur had charged him, on the evening before hestarted.
"Assuredly I will join," Sir Edmund exclaimed, when Oswald brought hisstory to a conclusion. "Have I not suffered enough by keeping a forceon foot, by having my lands harried and my vassals slain, in order tosupport Henry's claims to the kingdom of Wales, only to be suspected oftreachery? Had I intended to join Glendower, I should have done so ayear before; and with my force and his, we could have kept Henry atbay. Why should I have kept up the pretext of loyalty, when there wasnought to have prevented my joining Glendower? Why should I have foughthim, at the cost of the lives of some twelve hundred of my men, when Icould have marched them into his camp, as friends? Why should I suffernine months of close imprisonment, at the hands of an ally?
"Henry lied, and knew that he lied, when he brought such a chargeagainst me. He wished to be able to work his will on the young earl,and maybe to murder him as he murdered Richard, without there being onepowerful enough to lift his voice to condemn the murder. All is at anend between us, and henceforth I am his open enemy, as he is mine; andwould be heart and soul with the Percys in the overthrow of Henry, evenif my nephew were not concerned, and did the earl purpose, himself, tograsp the crown."
"Glendower is below, Sir Edmund, and will himself speak to you; but hethought that it were best that I should first open the matter to you."
A quarter of an hour later the keeper of the hold came up, and saidthat the prince bade Sir Edmund to descend and speak with him. As theyentered the room where Glendower was waiting, the latter glanced atOswald, inquiringly.
"The matter is settled," the latter said. "Sir Edmund will join us,with heart and hand."
"I am indeed glad to hear it, Sir Oswald.
"Sir Edmund Mortimer," he went on, courteously, "hitherto we haveregarded each other as enemies; henceforth we are friends, and you aremy guest and not my prisoner. I have thought it over, and methinks thatyou must tarry here, till we have certain news of the day on which thePercys will set on foot their enterprise. It would not be safe for youto return to your estates, until you are in a position to call yourvassals to arms at once; for the king, were he to hear that you were atLudlow, might call on the lieutenants of the western counties, and theowners of all the castles, to attack you at once. Therefore, until itis time to strike, it were best that you should remain with me.
"I do not propose that you should accompany me on my expeditions, forto do so might do harm across the border. I will, therefore, assign youa suitable house at Aberystwith, with such attendance and furnishing asare due to a guest of your quality.
"The prospect seems to be a fair one. The northern lords, aided by theScots, should by themselves be a match for any gathering Henry couldcollect at short notice; and, joined by my forces and yours, shouldsurely be able to overthrow all opposition."
"So it appears to me," Sir Edmund said. "'Tis indeed a powerfulconfederation and, if all goes well, ought to leave no option to theusurper but to die in battle, or to fly to France."
"Will you return with us to Aberystwith, Sir Oswald?" Glendowerpresently asked the young knight.
"I will ride straight for England, with your permission," Oswald said."I am already thirty miles on my way, and the Percys urged me to returnas soon as possible."
"So be it. As soon as we have dined, an officer and four horsemen willbe in readiness to ride with you, as an escort."
A week later Oswald reached Alnwick. He was the bearer of letters fromGlendower and Mortimer, and was able to report the complete success ofhis mission. As a mark of his satisfaction, the earl ordered a deed ofgift to be made to him, of a large strip of land extending over thehills between Stoubes and Yardhope.
"Some day," he said, as he handed the document to him, "you will bemaster of Yardhope, and by thus joining that feu to that of Stoubes,you will have an estate that will make you a power in the upper gladesof Reddesdale and Coquetdale; and will support the dignity of a knightbanneret, which I now bestow upon you, and also appoint you a deputywarden of the marches, with power of life and death over all marauders,reivers, and outlaws. I have long felt that it would be well that thereshould be one who, in case of necessity, could raise a hundred spears;and so prevent bodies of marauders, from the other side of the border,making sudden irruptions into the dales; and from what I have heard ofyou, from Sir Henry, I am sure that you will carry out the charge mostworthily."
The new acquisition would not very largely increase Oswald's revenues,for the greater portion of the grant was hill and moor. Nevertheless,there were a good many houses and small villages scattered in thedales, and it was these that raised the tract of land to the value of aknight's feu.
In point of position, however, it was a large addition. As a knightbanneret, with the castle of Stoubes at one end of his holding, and thehold of Yardhope at the other, he would occupy an important position onthe border; and could raise at least a hundred spears among histenants, in addition to the men-at-arms of the two strongholds.
Three days later Hotspur released the whole of his Scottish prisoners; andsent them, under escort, to the b
order. The Percys now began, in earnest,their preparations for war. For greater convenience Hotspur went down toMorpeth, while the earl betook himself to Berwick-on-Tweed, where he couldconfer more easily with his Scottish allies; who, on their part, werecarrying out the condition on which they had been released without ransom;namely, that they would join their forces to those of the Percys.
Oswald made another journey to Wales, this time by ship from Carlisleto Aberystwith, and there acquainted Glendower and Mortimer with thepreparations that had been made, assuring them that the rising wouldtake place at the end of May. He also asked Glendower to raise as largean army as possible, without delay; and Sir Edmund Mortimer to betakehimself at once to Hereford, there to raise his banner and summon hisvassals, and those of the Earl of March, to join him--the king having,on his return from his last expedition, entered Ludlow, seizedMortimer's plate and other property, and appointed to the governorshipof Ludlow a knight on whose devotion he could rely.