The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-02
Mercy Of Ny
Lord HungerfOrd

gerfOrd had burst out OF the west uch-
ing up the country like i dagodrins ii'e.
The western parts of Sussex had been well
ransacked by the Earl's men, and the
augmented garrisons found themselves
sorely straitened for proyisIols; there
fore Sir John Shelley. who commanded in
those parts for the White Rose, must
needs throw out foraging parties into
Hampshire. to be beforehand, if it might
be, with Lord HungerfGrd's people.
Upon a day OF shower AMI sunshine. one
of these parties had strayed farther afeld
than ordinary To say truth, the country
was poor one for foraging. being for the
most part forest: and the outlying farm
steads that they had raided, yielded but
q scanty supply of fowls, and hog or
two. The unhappy owners knew better
than to gainsay the foragers acquisitions;
moreover. my Lord Hungerford was, not
likely TO be more delicate in the matter.
But with all the goodwill in the world,
the farmers could do but little; therefore
it behooved the troops to work hard fot
their victuals from fear as much as of an
empty belly as of Sir Johns displeasure.
Tae company had been abroad since
daylight: and it was now about two of the
afternoon, when they drew out of a hang
ing woodland OF the forest Of Bere upon
space of down set sparsely with yew
trees. There were some dozen mounted
archers and men-at-arms, and perhaps
twice as many bowmen and billmen on
foot-a handful of footsore and rain sod
den fellows. The sun shone warmly after
the last storm and the larks sprang sing
ing out OF the wet grass. To the footmen
the sun was welcome enugh, to dry their
wet clothes: but the men-at- arms, suIfo-
eating in their steel sheathing. and being
now, as they thought in their own coun-
try, began to strip off their gauntlets and
headpieces. Their leader. an old man,
was himself the first TO unburden his head
of the heavy salade. then looked into the
blue above him. whistling contentedly.
There was but little talk, for they were
all well weary and tramped stolidly along,
with no sound but the juggling of har-
ness. the singing of the larks, and the
vacant whistling of the leader
The track led eastward across the open,
and into another hanger of beeches that
chung to the precipitous bank. Suddenly,
as they struggled over the down, from the
wood in front there came sound that
brought the whistling to an end,
and each mans hand to his weapon. An
arrow sang out of the trees, and grazed
the Leaders, scalp; another struck his
horse. and horse and rider went down like
a felled beech. The arrows from the front
thicksned into a shower, and single shots
came dropping from the yew trees. The
bowmen fastened to string their bows and
reply at random. while the men-at-arms
made sniff to set their arInor in order.
But the unseen archers were master
marksmen. Besides many footmen, four
of the Earl's horsemen fell, shot in the
head before they found time to replace
their helmets. Then as the fight of ar
rows slackened. shout arose from the
wood and there poured out upon the shat
tered company a rabble Of bowmen and
billmen. bearing en- their cassocks the
badge of the Wheatsheaf. But little quar-
ter was wont to be given in that bloody
war; but if the Earl's men had had any
hope OF ii. they were now assured that
they were come to grips with death. The
surviving men-at-arms rode desperately
at the Lancastrians: but one after the
other their horses were struck down, and
the riders rolling helpless in their armor.
The fight was already become a butehery,
wheI: a squadron Of horse came up at
gsllop. and the leader called upon the vic
tore in Lord Hungerford's name to give
T.
accordingly, the men-at-arms were strip
ped of their armor. and the remnant Of
the Yorkist company. their arms bound,
were driven miserably back into the
woodland path from which they had
emerged but a few minutes before.
There were only some twenty prisoners /
in all: and their prospects were none Of
the brightest, seeing into whose hand they /
were fallen. But. If the leader had let /
himself be taken unawares, he redeemed /
his error by stout example Of courag-
eous bearing: so that they all strobe along (
with the stubborn courage of despair.
The way led through a wild and undu-
lsting country. in the low-Iying portions
clothed darkiy with forest, on the upIands
sometimes into seas OF towering
gorse. Higher still. the bare green bosom 4
OF the downs shOne out. guarded here and I
there by groups Of sombre yews. The day
exhaled for the prisoners the scent of I
gorse and young beech leaves; the woods
throbbsd for them with the very pulse of
spring. At length they trailed YEARLY !
over the close turf Of hill, looking down
upon valley watered by little stream
Beyond. the hills reared themselves into
3 shaggy head Of woodland In the bot
Tom of the valley was green space of
water meadows among the trees; and up
d
fed manor house. with a moat defending
the other sides of it. Above the gateway
coated the Wheatsheaf of Hungerford;
but the charred and smoldering farm
steadiugs, and a row OF corpses that |
swung from the lower branches of a beech,
showed that ny lord was but lately come
into possession. Between the house and
the wood lay a meadow or park. senti-
neled by trees like outposts Of the forest.
The afternoon. which was now advanced /
toward ; O'Clock. had fallen fine and still,
and as the prisoners were marched ACROSS
the park. the sianting sun drew upwards
he fragrance Of young grass. The noble
oeeches. standing singly on the sward,
we're as yet clad only in a slight and goI-
len garment OF buds. so that they threw
eastward the shadow of a mesh OF
branches like a net: but one that was
adorned with my Lord Hungerford's
landiwork threw upon the prisoners the
Teritable shadow of Death.
They were led straight into the hall.
where the Lord HunEerford sat at meat
With two Of his gentlemen. He was at
his time in his thirtieth year but so
worn with the stress CT living that ne
night have passed for half as old again:
| tall. lean, swarthy man, with the fire OF
ireIess energy burning deep-set under a
icowl Of thought He had put of his ar
nor but still wore his corselet with the
ed roses wrought indelibly In enamel in
he steel: for it was his boast that ne was
lot one Of them that changed their badge
N a stricken field. when the fight went
.gainst them.
Not a word passed as the prisoners
yere drawn up in line at the bottom of
he hall; but nv Lord sprang TO his feet.
nd began pacing restlessly up and down