to prevent their coming out thereof, or return. Whereupon, calling together his Nobles and Counsellors, he told them his thought; alledging, that now he was to march against the army of the Danes, and soon after of necessity to go into Normandy, it would not be safe to leave such an enemy behind him in the midst of the land, at his back. But some of his Nobles, then present, and which were most of his Privy Council, dissuaded him from so doing; urging, that if he dealt thus favourably with those that had em. broiled his kingdom for so long a time, others would not be afraid to do the like,

To whom the king in anger replied, that he was not able to conquer them, considering the place naturally so defensible. Whereupon, one Ivotael le Bois, moved with some indignation told him, that he had long known a certain old witch, who, if she were there, would by her art soon destroy their whole strength, and plac of defence; and drive them out as cowards from the island which was no sooner said, but that all who stood by became earnest suitors to the king, that he would make no delay to encourage and well reward whomsoever that could by any art or skill vanquish his enemies. The king

therefore yielding to these their persuasions, caused this old woman to be privately sent for that it might not be talked of; and brought his army together again, placing it on all parts of the isle, making fortifications on every side thereof, and appointing strict guards, to prevent the issuing forth of any that were within, lest they should know what was in hand, and any means.

to hinder the same.

All which being done, and understood by those. that were within, it put them to no little distur bance of mind, and likewise fear; they not know-. ing what to do, because the king had learned. some new way of warring against them: they therefore consulting what was best to be done, concluded to send out some fit person to make a discovery what it was that their enemies were in hand with: but finding no man fit for such a task, the valiant Hereward resolved to undergo it himself, either as a scout or traveller; or to alter his habit, though all were against it; and at length did set forwards, taking with him only his mare called Swallow, which was always very lean,, and ill shapen, but of pace exceeding swift, and nimble for action.

And when he went out, he changed his cloaths

cut his hair and beard; and being so clad, met with a potter, whose pots he took from him ; and feigning himself a potter, took his way to the king's court, then at Brandon in Suffolk. And being got thither, it happened that he lodg. ed at the house of a widow, where that old witch was entertained, who was to be brought privily, for the destruction of all those in the isle; where he heard them discourse in Latin, what art was to be used for the subduing thereof, they deeming him to be a plain country fellow, and ignorant of what they then discoursed. And, about the dead time of the night, discerning the woman of the house and that old sorceress to go out of doors, he secretly followed them, and saw, that they went to a certain spring, which was by the side of a garden, and ran towards the east; and hearing them discourse, he understood that they designed to murther him; but, to prevent their purpose, he got away very early in the morning with his pots and wandering about the king's court on every side, le cried (as potters used to do) "pots, pots, good pots and pitchers; all good earthen ware." Whereupon, being called into. the king's kitchen, that they might buy some of his pots, there came in one of the constables of

:

the town, and looking upon him, said, that he never saw any man in favour of face and stature so like Hereward, as a poor man might be like to a rich, and a country man to a soldier; inso→ much as divers came about him, desiring to see a man like so much famed a person; and thereupon brought nim into the king's hall, amongst the knights and soldiers, that they might behold him but some, when they saw him, said, that a man of no greater limbs could not be of that valour and courage as Hereward was said to be. Others asked him, if he knew, or had ever seen, that wicked fellow, meaning, "Hereward." To whom he answered; "I wish that he were now here amongst us, he being the greatest enemy that I have; for he took a cow and four sheep from me, which were all the goods in the world that I had, except my pots, and this mare; and the only livelihood for my self and my two sons."

About this time, the King's dinner being making ready, Hereward retired into the Kitchen, and, after dinner, the servants, cooks and grooms of the Kitchen gave him wine and beer, that they might make him drunk, and laugh at him, scoffing at him diversly, having a purpose to shave his crown, and pull off the hair of his beard, and

then to hood wink him, to the intent that he might break his own pots, which they had set about him. But refusing to be thus abused, one of them struck him, whom he requited presently with a blow that knocked him down, in so much as the rest took up tongs and other things to beat him; which he discerning, forthwith snatched up a fire-shove!; and laying about him stoutly, killed one and wounded divers of them. Whereupon, it being made known in the house they apprehended him, and put him in ward; and soon after, the King being gone out to hunt, one of the Keepers came, and brought a naked sword in one hand, and a pair of fetters in the other, which he threatened to put upon him—but Hereward being too nimble for him, wrested the sword out of his hand and slew him; and so over hedges and ditches hastened to the King's outer court, where he found his mare; and though some pursued him, he got safe to Somersham wood, where he hid himself till the moon shone after midnight, and then came into the isle.

But while he was thus in the wood, he chanced to meet with a person whose horse was tired, and himself too, and demanding of him who he was, he told him that he was one of the King's servants.