"by my troth, even they escape not scot-free. The thane of Linbye was fined, in spite of his right to hunt, for chasing the deer before sun-rise, when it was past the fourth hour, and the sun far advanced; but the morning was hazy, and the sun had not broken forth; and this was held good judgment by the Normans, because the sun was not seen, though it had been light five hours by the day, and yet the thane was qualified.”

"By my hope in the saints," said the clubbearer," we are all cowards but the outlaws, and have bowed our necks to this bondage, until it becomes a pain to hold them erect; and yet, methinks, a few blows might thin the numbers of these Agisters, Verdurers, Regarders, and Foresters, who live by tolls, trespass, and oppressions. But-"

"Hark ye, friend," said the keeper already alluded to, who had held the brindled staghound in the leash, and wore the badge of De Marchmont, "great boast small roast,' they say, my man of the club. But by what right do you claim to keep this greyhound. Methinks you neither look like a freeholder, nor one possessed of chattels or lands, worth two

hundred marks by the year; and, certes, you neither look like baron or knight, my man of the gaberdine, though you talk as proudly of blows as if you were Robin Hood himself."

"And can as readily deal them upon any Norman slave as ever an outlaw in the forest," answered the club-bearer; " and touching my right of keeping this greyhound," continued he, "know that it is my pleasure, and that I neither seek permission of De Marchmont, nor crave the leave of his footgelds. Art thou answered ?"

"Ha! answered, saidst thou?" echoed the keeper; "by St. Christopher, am I, as it regardeth the matter of dragging thee before the head-keeper, and thy dog too. Nay, thou needest not frown; thou must with me to the court, and there tell them thy pleasure;" saying which, he seized the prisoner by the doublet, with the intention of compelling him to obey, without consulting his will.

"Loose thy hold, fellow," exclaimed the man, in a loud voice. "Loose thy hold, varlet, or, by the eternal doom! I will compel thee. Nay, then," added he, uplifting his clenched fist, as if he scorned to make use of his ponderous

club, "take that for thy hardihood," saying which, he struck the arm of the keeper with such force as caused it to fall stunned by his side.

Just then a horn sounded, and King John, mounted on a superb charger, and followed by his nobles, issued from the court-yard of the palace.

Beside the king rode Geoffrey de Marchmont, with a countenance unusually melancholy, regarding not the stirring scene without, but seemed absorbed in deep thought, from which he was only aroused by the voice of his sovereign, exclaiming, "How now knaves! what quarrel is this that ye maintain so near our presence?"

"Answer his majesty, sir keeper," said De Marchmont, observing that one of his vassals was in the affray.

"I was but doing my duty, my lord," replied the keeper, "in demanding by what right this fellow kept a greyhound, who replied, by no other right than his own pleasure; and, when I attempted to take him before the chief keeper, he struck me over the arm, with such force, that I fear me he hath broken it."

"By the thunder of God!" exclaimed

King John, his face kindling with anger, 66 every bone in his skin shall be broken for this deed. Seize the knave, De Marchmont, he shall know our pleasure in this matter. Marry, things have come to some pass at length. Ah! does he resist thee?"

The man had hitherto stood motionless, and seemed in nowise daunted by the presence of the king; but when De Marchmont approached, and was about to capture him, he uplifted his massy club and swinging it round his head with as much ease as though it had been a feather, he said, "Keep thy distance, false Norman, or, by the foul fiend, I will drive thee far from me." Saying which, he turned quietly around, and began to move away with a slow careless step in the direction of the forest, followed by the noble hound.

By God's teeth! an' ye suffer him to escape," said the king, "I hold ye all cowards. Nay, it shall not be said, De Marchmont, that I bid you do that of which I was myself afraid," saying which, he unsheathed his sword, and planting his spurs deep into his steed, was in an instant beside the club-bearer. The man turned suddenly round, and saw the uplifted sword, and as

it was in the act of descending, he sprang back two paces, swung his massy weapon around his head, and without attempting to injure the king, struck the weapon from his grasp, with such force, that it flew several yards in the air, and glittered in the sunshine like a bar of silver.

A loud shout of applause was raised by the assembled crowd, but above all was heard the voice of King John, exclaiming, while his face was crimson with rage. "Pursue the traitor! hew him down; a thousand marks for his head; loose the stag hounds; tear him asunder!" As it most frequently occurs in all similar cases, such a variety of commands, issued so rapidly upon each other, only increased the confusion; and the nobles and inferiors, instead of obeying, looked bewildered upon one another, each expecting, that the next to him would obey, and yet, not one stirring to execute the King's orders.

"Speed, knaves! rush forth and capture the traitor!" shouted the stormy king. De Marchmont, and the constable of Chester, sprang forward to obey this second, and more peremptory bidding; for the monarch fixed his angry glance upon them as he spoke. In the meantime the