CHAPTER VII. HOW THE THREE COMRADES JOURNEYED THROUGH THE WOODLANDS.

ClaudeLatourshouldsendmeallthewayacrossseaswithnoughtmoreweightythanapsalm-verse.Youhavecleanovershotthebuttsthistime,moncamarade.Giveittothelittleone.Iwillwagermyfeather-bedthathemakesmoresenseofit.” “Why,itiswrittenintheFrenchtongue,”saidAlleyne,“andinarightclerklyhand.Thisishowitruns:'Alemoultpuissantetmoulthonorablechevalier,SirNigelLoringdeChristchurch,desontresfideleamiSirClaudeLatour,capitainedelaCompagnieblanche,chatelaindeBiscar,grandseigneurdeMontchateau,vavaseurdelerenommeGaston,ComtedeFoix,tenantlesdroitsdelahautejustice,delamilieu,etdelabasse.'Whichsignifiesinourspeech:'Totheverypowerfulandveryhonorableknight,SirNigelLoringofChristchurch,fromhisveryfaithfulfriendSirClaudeLatour,captainoftheWhiteCompany,chatelainofBiscar,grandlordofMontchateauandvassaltotherenownedGaston,CountofFoix,whoholdstherightsofthehighjustice,themiddleandthelow.'” “Lookatthatnow!”criedthebowmanintriumph.“Thatisjustwhathewouldhavesaid.” “Icanseenowthatitisevenso,”saidJohn,examiningtheparchmentagain.“ThoughIscarceunderstandthishigh,middleandlow.” “Bymyhilt!youwouldunderstanditifyouwereJacquesBonhomme.Thelowjusticemeansthatyoumayfleecehim,andthemiddlethatyoumaytorturehim,andthehighthatyoumayslayhim.Thatisaboutthetruthofit.ButthisistheletterwhichIamtotakeandsincetheplatteriscleanitistimethatwetrussedupandwereafoot.Youcomewithme,mongrosJeanandastoyou,littleone,wheredidyousaythatyoujourneyed?” “ToMinstead.” “Ah,yes.Iknowthisforestcountrywell,thoughIwasbornmyselfintheHundredofEasebourne,intheRapeofChichester,hardbythevillageofMidhurst.YetIhavenotawordtosayagainsttheHamptonmen,fortherearenobettercomradesortruerarchersinthewholeCompanythansomewholearnedtoloosethestringintheseveryparts.WeshalltravelroundwithyoutoMinsteadlad,seeingthatitislittleoutofourway.” “Iamready,”saidAlleyne,rightpleasedatthethoughtofsuchcompanyupontheroad. “SoamnotI.Imuststoremyplunderatthisinn,sincethehostessisanhonestwoman.Hola!macherie,Iwishtoleavewithyoumygold-work,myvelvet,mysilk,myfeatherbed,myincense-boat,myewer,mynapinglinen,andalltherestofit.Itakeonlythemoneyinalinenbag,andtheboxofrosecoloredsugarwhichisagiftfrommycaptaintotheLadyLoring.Wiltguardmytreasureforme?” “Itshallbeputinthesafestloft,goodarcher.Comewhenyoumay,youshallfinditreadyforyou.” “Now,thereisatruefriend!”criedthebowman,takingherhand.“Thereisabonneamie!EnglishlandandEnglishwomen,sayI,andFrenchwineandFrenchplunder.Ishallbebackanon,monange.Iamalonelyman,mysweeting,andImustsettlesomedaywhenthewarsareoveranddone.MayhapyouandI——Ah,mechante,mechante!Thereislapetitepeepingfrombehindthedoor.Now,John,thesunisoverthetreesyoumustbebriskerthanthiswhenthebuglemanblows'BowsandBills.'” “Ihavebeenwaitingthistimeback,”saidHordleJohngruffly. “Thenwemustbeoff.Adieu,mavie!Thetwolivresshallsettlethescoreandbuysomeribbonsagainstthenextkermesse.DonotforgetSamAylward,forhisheartshalleverbethinealone—andthine,mapetite!So,marchons,andmaySt.Juliangrantusasgoodquarterselsewhere!” ThesunhadrisenoverAshurstandDennywoods,andwasshiningbrightly,thoughtheeasternwindhadasharpflavortoit,andtheleaveswereflickeringthicklyfromthetrees.IntheHighStreetofLyndhurstthewayfarershadtopicktheirway,forthelittletownwascrowdedwiththeguardsmen,grooms,andyeomenprickerswhowereattachedtotheKing'shunt.TheKinghimselfwasstayingatCastleMalwood,butseveralofhissuitehadbeencompelledtoseeksuchquartersastheymightfindinthewoodenorwattle-and-daubcottagesofthevillage.Hereandthereasmallescutcheon,peepingfromaglasslesswindow,markedthenight'slodgingofknightorbaron.Thesecoats-of-armscouldberead,whereascrollwouldbemeaningless,andthebowman,likemostmenofhisage,waswellversedinthecommonsymbolsofheraldry. “ThereistheSaracen'sheadofSirBernardBrocas,”quothhe.“IsawhimlastattheruffleatPoictierssomet