Saint George for England

ch their destination at Westminster before nightfall. Two men were rowing; in the stern sat a lady with a girl about elev

had not detained us so long at Richmond, and then after all he was

pirates. They say that boats are often picked up stove in and broken, and that none know what had

kes me shiver, Martha; I would you had said

lady said cheerfully; "we sha

journey now, and the great pile of the Abbey could be seen through the darkness. A boat with seve

at coming down stream shouted; "you

e there was a wild scene of confusion; the women shrieked, the watermen shouted, and, thinking that it was an accident, strove, as the boat sank from under them, to climb into that which had

oud shouts. As they rowed towards the spot their approach was heralded by a shower of arrows. Tw

leader shouted, "or w

r number being wounded before they reached the opposite shore. The pursuit was not continued, the newcomers ceasing to row at the spot where the catastrop

to the side of the girl, and he found, on throwing his arm round her, that she was still clasped in her mother's arms. S

his comrades endeavoured to stanch the blood which was flowing from a severe wound in her mother's head. When they had bound it up they rubbed her hands, and by the time they had reached t

weak to walk, to the dwelling of the Earl of Talbot, where she said she was expected. The apprentices rowed back to London Bridge, elated at the s

me related the whole ci

nture without my aid; but we must think now what had best be said and done. As the lady belongs to the court, there is sure to be a fine pother about the matter, and you and all who were there will be examined tou

ell it all?" Walter

This knight, who is doubtless a great villain, has maybe powerful friends, and it is as well, if it can be avoided, that you should not embroil yourself with these. Many a man has been knocked on h

best clothes. I will go with you before the mayor, and then you shall tell him your story. There is sure to be a

f we can catch the man of the hut in the swamp, likely enough the rack will wring from him the name of his employer, and in that case, if you are brought up as a witness against him you will of course say that you recognize his face; but 'tis better that the accusa

ws her enemy she may fal

eoffrey said, "and we will

revent it?" Walte

's work is known to several, and that if any harm should ever again be attempted against the lady or her daughter, he shall be denounced before Kin

, and making their way into the court, Geoffre

court what is you busines

id it would defeat

ed much that he had not at once told his master what he had heard; but that, although he deemed evil was intended, he did not know that murder

rom being done. Still, one cannot expect old heads upon young shoulders. Give me the names of those who were with you, for I shall doubtless receive a message from Westminster this morni

ld be told to you privately, since the men concerned might well have sent

dance to catch these rascals. I fear there have been many murders performed by them lately besides that

lingly," the s

he justice that if he will come to the meeting of the roads on Kennington Common,

who are used to hard blows, for, to tell you the truth, I have no great be

"and luck be with you, for these

e lonely road to Kennington. Half an hour after their arrival the magistrate, with ten men, rode up. He was well pleased at the sight of the reinforcement which awaited him, for the river pirates migh

He felt, however, tolerably sure of his locality, for he had noticed that two trees grew on the edge of the swamp just at the spot where he had left it.

Walter. "The marsh seems to stretch everywhere, and we migh

ushes, which you can just observe above the marsh, a quarter of a m

and that all were to step noiselessly and with caution, the party moved forward. It was

in a carouse," Geoffrey said. "We

t and shouted, "Who goes there?" He had apparently been placed as sentry, but had joined in the potatio

scrambling out, sword in hand. For two or three minutes there was a sharp fight, and had the constab

one succeeded in breaking through, the rest were knocked down and bound; not,

ealt them, and two or three were badly wounded; all were more or less injured in the struggle. When they recovered their senses they were

e them in the jail. Tomorrow is Sunday; on Monday they will be brought before me, and I shall want the evidence of Master Walter Fletcher and of those who were in the boat with him as to what took place on the river. Methinks the evidence on that score, and the resistance whic

other ends being attached to the saddles, and the party set off at a pace which taxed to the utm

nine ruffians, strongly guarded, were brought up in the justice room. Walter first gave his evidence, and related how he had ove

prisoners as being the man whom

im I was too far off to make out his f

the one who was addressed as s

suddenness of the affair and the growing darkness he noticed none of the figures distinctly enough t

still suffering from the effects of the wound and immersion. She had requested him to say that at some future occasion she would appear to testify, but th

then gave his evidence as to that affair, the arm

h could not have been come by honestly, and I doubt not that they form part of the gang which has so long been a terror to peaceful travelers alike by the road and river, and it may be that some who have been robbed will be able to identify the articles taken upon them. They are committed for trial: firstly, as having been concerned in the attack upon Dame Alice Vernon; secondly

th the message that the Lady Alice Vernon wished the attendance of Walter Fletcher, whose name she had learned from the Lord Mayor as

have a bit of excitement without being sent for, and thanked, and stared at. I would rather fight the

Westminster; but carry not independence too far. Remember that if you yourself had received a great service you would be hurt if the donor refused to receive your thanks; and it would be churlish indeed were you to put on sullen

curious that it is

for years a dependant on the family of Sir Roland Somers, who was killed in the troubles when the king took the reins of g

r said. "How was it that there was any troub

ompanied by her eldest son, and after a short struggle the king was dethroned. He had but few friends, and men thought that under the young Edward, who had already given promise of virtue and wisdom, some order might be introduced into the realm. He was crowned Edward III, thus, at the early age of fifteen, usurping the throne of his father. The real power, however, remained with Isabella, who was president of the council of regency, and who, in

end of the kingdom to the other. I can tell you, the city was a sight to see when she entered with the king. Such pageants and rejoicing were never known. They were so young, he not yet sixteen, and she but fourteen, and yet to bear on their shoulders the weight of the state. A br

bella. This act of severity against his uncle, no doubt, hastened the prince's determination to shake off the authority of his haughty mother and to assume the reins of government himself. The matter, however, was not easy to accomplish. Mortimer having the whole of the royal revenue at his disposal, had attached to himself by ties of interest a large number of barons, and had in his pay nearly tw

ng from the interior of the castle to the outer country, and by this, on the night of the 19th of October, 1330, he led nine resolute knights-the Lords Montague, Suffolk, Stafford, Molins, and Clinton, with three brothers of the name of Bohun, and Sir John Nevil-into the heart of the castle. Mortimer was found surrounded by a number of his friends. On the sudden entry of the knights known to be hostile

morrow, and the repairs are too delicate for me to entrust it to the men. It is good to assist the law, but this work of attending as a witness makes a grievous break in the time of a busy man. It is a pity, Walter, that your mind is so set on soldiering, for you would have made a marvellous good craftsman. However, I reckon that after you have seen a few years of fighting in France, and have got so

yors! I would a thousand times rather be a simp