the forest, and loved a bow better than thy beads; we must make thee our interpreter."

Will of the Cloister took the letter, and drawing nearer to the fire-light, first mumbled it over to himself, then translating its contents, he read aloud the following:

"To our beloved Subject, Geoffrey de March

mont:

“We summon thee to appear two days hence from next sun-rise, with thy bowmen, to aid us in hunting the deer in our royal forest of Sherwood, according to the tenure by which thou holdest the castle of Nottingham, and the lands adjacent. We would also that thou shouldest bring with thee a prisoner, named Walter-the-one-handed, whom we are given to understand has long been notorious in this neighbourhood; in which it is our intention to execute him publicly, as a warning to all evildoers, who invade our forest-rights. Several complaints have been made to our person, respecting thy severity in putting in force the power with which we have entrusted thee; and, albeit, we have promised to make inquiry into

these things; nevertheless, we do not wish thee to abate one jot of thy severity, as we would have the forest boundaries free from all inhabitants, saving those whom we are pleased to appoint to watch over the game. Touching the matter of thy marriage with Edith of Lincoln, and her possessions, we feel bounden to fulfil our promise in thy behalf, notwithstanding the maiden hath had access to our person this day, and promised to pay a thousand marks that she may be free. She abideth at present in the Priory of Newstead, whither she went this evening, attended only by her kinsman Hugh de Lacy. It were well if thou hadst her in thy possession-we will be blind in the matter, for the damsel is comely, and we like not to be severe with her. Regarding the lands of Hereward the Saxon, and the fief of Papplewick, we will summon him to show his claim thereto. We owe thee our thanks for hanging the two outlaws, and agree with thee that there was no need of trial, trusting that thou wilt pursue the same course until not one remaineth. We have much to communicate to thine own ear, which we shall reserve until our meeting."

"May all the curses of the fiends alight upon the head of the crowned tyrant!" exclaimed the captain, when he had heard the termination of the letter;" here is the justice of a Norman king! but, by the Holy Virgin, I'll mar his plot, an' he come with all his mailed barons at his back!"

"And, Walter-the-one-handed," said the tall outlaw, "an' I draw not a bow in his behalf, I am no true Englishman. Is it not enough that he hath lost his hand by these devilish laws, but he must now be made food for rooks and ravens?"

"Marry! but I will shed a few red drops in the cause of Hereward the Saxon," said the harper, "ere they take from him the few acres which have descended to him by birth-right, and leave his dark-eyed daughter portionless!"

"And may Sathanas fly away with me!" exclaimed Will of the Cloister, "if I shoot not a shaft for the bright-eyed beauty who rode through the forest this evening. Her marry the ugly old Norman! by my troth, it would be pairing the carrion-crow with the white dove!"

"An' I had no other cause," said Stephen of Tuxford, "I'd fight to the death, in revenge of

my old comrades, whose bones are now bleaching under the battlements of the blood-thirsty baron's castle."

May I be marked like a target," said Thomas-the-Carter, "an' I leave you until this game is played out; an' I cannot hit the bull's eye, I may strike to an inch with a broadsword."

66 We may not lose an arrow-flight of time," said the leader; "strip that knave of his gaudy dress, and do thou, George-o'-the-Green, wear for once the gilt trappings of a Norman slave, and speed to De Marchmont's castle with this cursed document. Tell Walter his friends are in readiness near the blasted oak. A little fire will replace this seal, we leave the rest to thyself. Keep thine eye on the weakest points of the dragon's den, an' we should have to draw him." Then pausing a moment, he exclaimed, "By Him that died on the tree! I will carry it myself, though I am torn by the tusks of this Norman boar."

"Nay, master, that may not be," said his tall companion, "I will first peril my life in this matter; an' thou dost fall into his hands, it

would be but sorry revenge, though we razed his castle above him for sepulture."

"We should be cunning men," said the captain, "an' we got more than the half of thee into this knave's garments; besides, men say this Norman hath the eye of an hawk; and trust me, so large a mass as thyself would not pass toll-free. Thou, Arthur, wilt, in the meantime, acquaint Hereward-the-Ready, with what it behoveth him to know; and thou mayest tell him, that he shall not lack an hundred strong arms, if he is hard bestead. And thou, Will of the Cloister," continued the leader, "who art so ready to enlist thyself in this fair lady's cause, wilt take a score of bowmen and apprise her of King John's kindness. Thou must not be afraid of arousing the drowsy friars of Newstead; and hear me, the less her attendant knight knows of this secret, the better for ourselves. Be careful how thou passest the rangers' lodges, and quarrel not with the porter, for he is worthy of our kindness."

"Leavest thou me no share of this enterprise," said the tall outlaw.

"Yea, marry, I do," replied the leader; "I leave thee the greatest trust-thou must await