The Black Arrow | Page 7

of ill menne That have opressid me now and
then.
One is gone; one is wele sped; Old Apulyaird is ded.
One is for Maister Bennet Hatch, That burned Grimstone, walls and
thatch.
One for Sir Oliver Oates, That cut Sir Harry Shelton's throat.
Sir Daniel, ye shull have the fourt; We shall think it fair sport.
Ye shull each have your own part, A blak arrow in each blak heart. Get
ye to your knees for to pray: Ye are ded theeves, by yea and nay!
"JON AMEND-ALL of the Green Wood, And his jolly fellaweship.
"Item, we have mo arrowes and goode hempen cord for otheres of your
following."
"Now, well-a-day for charity and the Christian graces!" cried Sir Oliver,
lamentably. "Sirs, this is an ill world, and groweth daily worse. I will
swear upon the cross of Holywood I am as innocent of that good
knight's hurt, whether in act or purpose, as the babe unchristened.
Neither was his throat cut; for therein they are again in error, as there
still live credible witnesses to show."
"It boots not, sir parson," said Bennet. "Here is unseasonable talk."
"Nay, Master Bennet, not so. Keep ye in your due place, good Bennet,"
answered the priest. "I shall make mine innocence appear. I will, upon

no consideration, lose my poor life in error. I take all men to witness
that I am clear of this matter. I was not even in the Moat House. I was
sent of an errand before nine upon the clock" -
"Sir Oliver," said Hatch, interrupting, "since it please you not to stop
this sermon, I will take other means. Goffe, sound to horse."
And while the tucket was sounding, Bennet moved close to the
bewildered parson, and whispered violently in his ear.
Dick Shelton saw the priest's eye turned upon him for an instant in a
startled glance. He had some cause for thought; for this Sir Harry
Shelton was his own natural father. But he said never a word, and kept
his countenance unmoved.
Hatch and Sir Oliver discussed together for a while their altered
situation; ten men, it was decided between them, should be reserved,
not only to garrison the Moat House, but to escort the priest across the
wood. In the meantime, as Bennet was to remain behind, the command
of the reinforcement was given to Master Shelton. Indeed, there was no
choice; the men were loutish fellows, dull and unskilled in war, while
Dick was not only popular, but resolute and grave beyond his age.
Although his youth had been spent in these rough, country places, the
lad had been well taught in letters by Sir Oliver, and Hatch himself had
shown him the management of arms and the first principles of
command. Bennet had always been kind and helpful; he was one of
those who are cruel as the grave to those they call their enemies, but
ruggedly faithful and well willing to their friends; and now, while Sir
Oliver entered the next house to write, in his swift, exquisite
penmanship, a memorandum of the last occurrences to his master, Sir
Daniel Brackley, Bennet came up to his pupil to wish him God-speed
upon his enterprise.
"Ye must go the long way about, Master Shelton," he said; "round by
the bridge, for your life! Keep a sure man fifty paces afore you, to draw
shots; and go softly till y' are past the wood. If the rogues fall upon you,
ride for 't; ye will do naught by standing. And keep ever forward,
Master Shelton; turn me not back again, an ye love your life; there is no
help in Tunstall, mind ye that. And now, since ye go to the great wars
about the king, and I continue to dwell here in extreme jeopardy of my
life, and the saints alone can certify if we shall meet again below, I give
you my last counsels now at your riding. Keep an eye on Sir Daniel; he

is unsure. Put not your trust in the jack-priest; he intendeth not amiss,
but doth the will of others; it is a hand-gun for Sir Daniel! Get your
good lordship where ye go; make you strong friends; look to it. And
think ever a pater-noster-while on Bennet Hatch. There are worse
rogues afoot than Bennet. So, God-speed!"
"And Heaven be with you, Bennet!" returned Dick. "Ye were a good
friend to me-ward, and so I shall say ever."
"And, look ye, master," added Hatch, with a certain embarrassment, "if
this Amend-All should get a shaft into me, ye might, mayhap, lay out a
gold mark or mayhap a pound for my poor soul; for it is like to go stiff
with me in purgatory."
"Ye shall have your will of it, Bennet," answered Dick.