The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-05
SHERWOOD FOREST,
WAGER BY B ATTLE e.
=, Tale Of Saxon Slavery in the Twelfth Centur,
BY HENRY WILLIAM HERBERT.

Il issues from the rancor OF a villain,
A recreani and most degenerate traitor;
Which, in my self boldly will defend;
And Interchangeable hur down my gage Z.
uyon this oYeTweenng traitors foot.
To prove myself loyal gentleman.
Even IN the best blood chambercd IN his bosom.
King Richard H.
So soon as the court was opened on the fol
lowing morning, to the astonishment of al
partes, and to that of no one, as it would seem
more than Of the grand justiciary himself, Ken
ne was again introduced-but this time heavil,
;roncd, and in the charge of two ordinary con
stables of the hundred.
Hal what is this? asked Ranulf de Clan
Vile. sharply. % For what is this man brough
here again in this guise? Judgment was rem
dered in his case, last night; and would have
All men TO know, that from this court there i.
noappeal. Oris there some new charge agains
hin ~
In some Sort new charge, my lord" re
rled the clerk Of the court "he was arrested
last night the moment he had left this court
on the complaint of Ralph Brito, next of kin
to the deceased. for the murder of Ralph Weth
eral, the seneschal of Waltheofstow, at the time
and in the place which your lordship wots of
having heard all about it. in the case decided
Yesterday de natiUo habendo :"
Now, by my halidom! F." said Granville, the
fire flashing to his dark eyes, "this is marvel
lous nsolence and outrecuidance, on the part
of Master Ralph Brito, who is himself, or should
be. under arrest for perjury -
So, please you, he hath entered bail for his
appearance, and is discharged of custody"
Who is his bondsman, and in what bail is
he held ?"
80 please You, III a hundred marks of silver.
Sir Foulke dolly is his bondsman."
The bail is well enough; the bondsman is
not sufficient Let the proper officer attach
the body Of Ralph Brito. Upon my life he
has the impudence to brave US here, in court ~
Who? not sufficient" cried Sir Foulke
dolly, fercely, rising to his feet, as if to defy
the court. " | not sufficient for a paltry bail
OF hundred marks of silver? would have
You to know, Sir Ranulf"-
And would have you to know. SIR thun.
dered the high justiciary, " that this is the
hings court in the precincts of which you
have dared to make your voice be heard and
that !, humble as | am, stand here in loco Reals,
and will be treated with the reverence due to
my master. For the rest, / will speak with
You anon, when | shall have dealt with this
case now before me, which seems one of shame.
ial persecution and oppression"
Sir Eoulke dolly had remained on his feet
during the time the iusticiary was speaking ;
ana now, Turning his sye 10 his barons and the
knights of his train, who took the cue, and rose
silently he began 10 move toward the door.
Tia IS 1t so? Close up, halberdiers guard
The doors Pursuivants, do your duty. Sheriff
OF Lancaster, have you guard at a hand to
protect the court?"
Surely my lord" replied Sir Yvo de Tail
ieoos. " Without, there! pass the word to the
proper officer, that he turn out the guard"
In moment, the call of the bugles of the
archery was heard, and was shortly succeeded
by the heavy, ordered march of infantry. clo-
sing up TO the doors, while the cavalry-trumpets
rang through the narrow streets of the old city.
ana the clash OF mail coats and the tramp of
chargers told that the men-at-arms were fall.
ing IN, IN great numbers.
Meanwhile, two Of the pursuivants, in waiting
on ,arencleux, had made their way to Sir
fouiAe d Oily, and whispered something in his
ear which, whatever it was, made him turn as
Pale as death, and sink down into his seat,
without saying word, while the pursuvants
renamed standing at his back. The mobiles
ana knights of his train looked at him, and
D'Aed at one another, with troubled chances !;
Out hndIng no solution to their doubts or an
s"er 10 Their question, seated themselves in sui
len discomfort.
Inc multitude which filed the courthouse,
meantime was in the widest state of confusion
ana CONSERVATION the call for the military
r ,O'yS MAO struck terror into ALL especially the
.se0ler part OF the crowd, the aged persons and
"g'nen many of whom were present; for none
anew IN those stormy times, how soon swords
Il eA' be drawn in the court itself, or the hall
feared by volley of cloth-yard arrows from
AZ sheriff Kendall archers.
:. AMER while, however, by the exertions of
a 'o proper officers, order was restored; and
I'm, I'm as nothing had occurred to interrupt the
- "a i Ol his thoughts, de Granville continued
- matter of kenric, who still waited in
''' 10y OF the sheriff's officers.
De here any other charges against this
n Nennc besides this one Of murder?"
,ts,,,n Oh deer-killing, my lord, against the
1sa'e' IN the forest court, at the same time,
h "A t"e same place, as stated yesterday"
MI -.nI on the same evidence, doubtless, on
Tl,1n 'he jury pronounced Yesterday. In fact.
~ can be no other. In the last charge, who
or oulke dolly, my lord.
an a. >ffoulke dolly! Sir FouIke d. Oillyln
,b ,sl or Kanulf, looking lightnings at him, and
$50 turning to the clerk. "Well. sir. This
not as yet in the province of this court.
80 II !, 20 TO the grand jury now in session, and
en- nat they have copies of the warrants, and
CO.. minutes OF ali the evidence rendered in the
~ e nat'co, and Of the jury's finding, that
eL., may have the power to Judge if these
De not pure malicious"
SOieinn pause followed, full of grave expect
- ~hhe the officers were removing Kenric
NE hall, and while the High Justiciary, his
F,,iTG' on the bench, the High Constable. the
Me- ,lareschal and the Sheriff of the county
4, .isaged IN close consultation.
If ne end of this conference, the High Sher-
Ia i, n5ally appointed Sir Hugo lie Norman to
AZ Is deputy, with full powers, by the consent
asg court, invested him with his chain and
in H. V, once, and, shortly afterwards, appeared
and private capacity, in the body of the hall ;
no,;oo, vas now observed, which had not been
tia, ~ while he wore his robes of his Office,
hal ne carried his right arm in a sling, and
cent n;SohSlderably in his gait, as if from re-
eycI, ,;ana forward now, Sir Foulke DOLLY
dom. eJusticiary. "Crier, call Sir Fouike
IN .i! INTO court"
the Lor c as the knight made his appearance at
M, followed by the two pursuivants-
"Wbat Or Foulke dolly" he proceeded,
United nave you to say, why you stand not COM
De M. ~ answer for the murder of Sir Philip
baselv me me and his esquire, Jehan de Morville,
unknov anu treacherously by you and others
iores, "f 81 on them done and committed, in the
Shire Of SSnerwood, by the river of Idle, in the
last ns ~ Nottingham, on the 9th day of August
evidences as charged, on good and sufficient
~p'e against your"
Vrahz-
The feo MON ION! is the charge put in ?" inquired
Of tho I'm Ahight, who, now that he was certain
age 70 I ;, had mustered all his ruffian cour-
Opposite 40 ald, and was ready to bear down all
ton. INV" " sheer brute force and determine