The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-15
WASHINGTON, ID. G..
~ according 70 act of Congress, IN the year 1854 by
PHrr, ANrsoN, IN the Clerks once oi he DISTRICT
" s,- the Southern District OF New York.
FOR THE NATIONAL ERA.
SHERWOOD FOREST,
WAGER BY B ATTLE.
A Tale OF Saxon Slavery in the Twelfth century.
BY HENRY WILLIAM HERBERT.
CHAP. XIX.
The Sherif.
rals Of Saxon Slavery in the Twelfth csntur
CHAP XIX.
The Sh eriF.

lie '"''''' - King Henry "
Two hours hard riding, considering that the
riders were men armed in heavy mail, brought
the marty into the narrow, ill-paved streets OF
Kendall at least two hours earlier than the
TIM. specjtied bv Sir Foulke dolly, and it was
MOT above ten o'clock of the night when they
pulled ND before long. low, matched cabin,
above the door of which, 4 bush and bottle,
SUSPENDED from pole, gave note that it was a
house Of entertainment Flinging his rein to
one of hafa-dOzen grooms and horse-boys,
who were lounging about the gate, the knight
raised the latch, and entered long, smoky
anarnnent. which seemed to occupy the whole
ground floor OF the building, affording room for
the accommodation of fifty or sixty guests, on
OCCASION Of feasts, fairs, or holydays.
Il vas an area of thirty or forty feet in length,
b. ten or twelve in width, with bare rough least
walls. and bare rafters overhead, blackened by
the smoke which escaped from the ill-construct-
81 chimnevs at either end, and eddied over
hralin perennial canopy of sable. The floor
however was strewed with fresh green rushes,
green wreathS and branches were hung on the
rourh-cast walls, and large earthen vase or
two Of water lilies and other snowy wild flow
ers adorned the board, which was covered with
clean white napery of domestic fabric. At
the upper end of this long table, half dozen
n eight men were supping on chine of hill
lid. with roasted moor fowl and wild ducks,
the landlord of the tavern being the bailiff of
,he town. and having his lords license to take
AL small game, save bustard, heron, woodcock,
and partridge, for the benefit of his guest-table.
On the entrance of Sir Foulke, these men
rose to their feet and one, the best-armed and
best-ooking of the party, seeming to be Sec
oad esquire or equerry, asked him, in sub
duel voice
What fortune Sir Foulke have you got
the villeyn?"
Safe enough, Fitz Hugh" replied the
knight; but he is no mere brute, as you fell
lows told me- but perilous, shrewd, intelIi-
gent, clearheaded Saxon. He has been adj
yised too, in this matter, by some one well
skilled in the law, and was, think, expecting
our coming. ] should not marvel much, if de
Ialebois have notice of us. We must be in
the saddle again as soon as possible. But
must have a morsel ere we start / have not
tasted aught since high noon, and then it was
but beggarly DAT cake and flask of mead
What have you there?"
Some right good treble ale, beausre; let
NE I'LL YOU a tankard, and play cup-bearer for
once Aud s,Jiting the aetioa to the word, ne,
filled ont mighty horn of the liquid amber,
capped with It's snowy foam, and handed it to
the knight, adding the supper is but frag-
ments. but there Is more at the fire now. l
"i.' 20 to the stables, and see the fresh horses
sadiied and capariSOned and as ! pass the
hu;'ery aud tap, viii stir the lettering knaves"
Do 50, Fitz Hugh" replied the other !;
I'm hasten, Jesu Maria hasten / reckon but
hal. done until we are out of this beggarly
hole. AMI under way for merry Yorkshire. And
lark Won, Fiz Hugh, let them bring in the
prisoner. We must have him along with us
and ten Of the best mon, lightly armed, and
mounted on the pick of our stud. Ten more
may tarry with the tired beasts we have Just
Used. and bring them on with the baggage and
sampler horses tomorrow"
Then, as his officer left the hall to attend to
ms muliliarious duties, he quaffed another huge
a'on OF the strong, heady ale and, casting
hmSeL INTO settle in the chimney corner.
what between the warmth of the fire, grateful
AFTER his hard ride in the chilly night air, and
'ar 'umes Of the heady tankard, he sunk into
toze from which he only aroused himself,
"AeH, half an boar afterward, in came dozen
clumsy village servants, stamping and clatter-
m5 IN their heavy clouted shoes. and loaded
he table with smoking platters and huge joints,
" which, however coarse the cookery, the odors
were anything but unsavOry.
10 supper accordingly he now applied him.
'r'' I"o or three of the men who had been with
ihi al the seizure Of kenric crowding into the
'9'm and taking the lower end of the table,
"A'Ie another great fire was blazing, and others
coming IN and out in succession, until all were
. satisfied.
II IS however remarkable, as in character
VIVA Tie sensual, selfindulgent, and unre-
S'uel temperament of this most unworthy
a"' IhAnghtiy Norman, his race being, of all
.'' northern tribes, that least addicted to glut-
anl drankenness, and priding itself on
a'ion and decOrum at the table, that,
ne" iancus his earnest desire to depart
,. ''i i'l' somewhat perious situation, he yet
-.''5d 10 his appetites, and fingered over the
- - o-ogsh 1t offered nothing beyond coarse
anus ana strong ale, long after the horses
"'.e announced to be in readiness.
~ lengh he rose, washed his hands, and
Y1."Hg ms page to replace such portions of his
a'moT as ne had laid aside, was preparing to
move IN earnest when the welLknown clash of
man coats and the thick trampling of a numer-
squadron coming up the village street gave
"'. .r uia' ne was surprised.
~ next moment, man-at-arms rushed
'',o me room, with dismay in his face.
''"'l'S' my Lord Of dolly" he cried
cs ,4'i'S ICES ana broad banner! There are full
nj ~ 'Iem coming up the street from the
o, t' and some of the grooms who were
OUTLOOK report more spears to the south.
"S are sUrrOuniedn
,5,, "a" III the men hither from the stables,
anil mem cut short their lances to six feet,
nsLa-''r Their maces and battle-axes we can
rerr,. stout stand here, and command good
20 s al the worst"
lime b,, ..
vara however, was short, and his orders
lv,,s partially obeyed, the men coming in
hot;, ana threes from the stables in the rear,
va, sooiny and dispirited, when trumpet
hsl6,., ! clearly without, and, tho cavalcade
line a. III mass, in front of the hosiery, a
e. Nj voice was heard to cry
or d;s,'IaI men be these Who dare lift spears,
ont - BANNERS, in my town Of Kendall, with
-. Incense Of me ?"
la,bS : ae Iailebois," said dolly, Ut avails
p I5as to resist Throw the doors onen.u
-, ilr as he spoke, the reply of his lieutenant
@W IgaTd to the summons
e., ne re be Sir Foulke dOillv's men. and we
c-r ~. spear and display banner, wheresoever
M Itora order u.s."
e-frl "ea SAID, good fellow!n answered the pow
lra o 'otee OF the old knight. $50 in, there
cs,,o. a;1 lell your Lord that the Sheriff of Ian
frce ~. At 5, The door, with fifty lances, to en-
lis M ne hings peace; and that he draw in
show at once, or ere worse come of it, and
var j. e''uSe what he makes here, in effeir of
count =. nay y. manor of Kendall, and the Kings
NO. Westmoreland.r
lie Wy SCI his teeth hard, and smote the Ia
him "i'l his gauntleted hand. "Curses on
Iber nc muttered, "he hath me at advantage
Lord :. as 81 ne received the summons, "Pray the
eoUrtaa. laliebois, he said, he will have the
kSIesy to set foot 70 ground. and enter in