第46章

alsouponthepersonsofcertainfreebornmen，their_cnichts_；alsouponcertainserfs，theirbornbondsmen；alsouponacertainJew，namedIsaacofYork，togetherwithhisdaughter，aJewess，andcertainhorsesandmules：Whichnoblepersons，withtheir_cnichts_andslaves，andalsowiththehorsesandmules，JewandJewessbeforesaid，wereallinpeacewithhismajesty，andtravellingasliegesubjectsupontheking’shighway；thereforewerequireanddemandthatthesaidnoblepersons，namely，CedricofRotherwood，RowenaofHargottstandstede，AthelstaneofConingsburgh，withtheirservants，_cnichts_，andfollowers，alsothehorsesandmules，JewandJewessaforesaid，togetherwithallgoodsandchattelstothempertaining，be，withinanhourafterthedeliveryhereof，deliveredtous，ortothosewhomweshallappointtoreceivethesame，andthatuntouchedandunharmedinbodyandgoods。Failingofwhich，wedopronouncetoyou，thatweholdyeasrobbersandtraitors，andwillwagerourbodiesagainstyeinbattle，siege，orotherwise，anddoourutmosttoyourannoyanceanddestruction。WhereforemayGodhaveyouinhiskeeping——SignedbyusupontheeveofStWithold’sday，underthegreattrystingoakintheHart-hillWalk，theabovebeingwrittenbyaholyman，ClerktoGod，ourLady，andStDunstan，intheChapelofCopmanhurst。’’

Atthebottomofthisdocumentwasscrawled，inthefirstplace，arudesketchofacock’sheadandcomb，withalegendexpressingthishieroglyphictobethesign-manualofWamba，sonofWitless。

Underthisrespectableemblemstoodacross，statedtobethemarkofGurth，thesonofBeowulph。

Thenwaswritten，inroughboldcharacters，thewords，_LeNoirFaineant_。And，toconcludethewhole，anarrow，neatlyenoughdrawn，wasdescribedasthemarkoftheyeomanLocksley。

Theknightsheardthisuncommondocumentreadfromendtoend，andthengazeduponeachotherinsilentamazement，asbeingutterlyatalosstoknowwhatitcouldportend。DeBracywasthefirsttobreaksilencebyanuncontrollablefitoflaughter，whereinhewasjoined，thoughwithmoremoderation，bytheTemplar。Front-de-Buf，onthecontrary，seemedimpatientoftheirill-timedjocularity。

``Igiveyouplainwarning，’’hesaid，``fairsirs，thatyouhadbetterconsulthowtobearyourselvesunderthesecircumstances，thangivewaytosuchmisplacedmerriment。’’

``Front-de-Bufhasnotrecoveredhistempersincehislateoverthrow，’’saidDeBracytotheTemplar；``heiscowedattheveryideaofacartel，thoughitcomebutfromafoolandaswineherd。’’

``ByStMichael，’’answeredFront-de-Buf，``I

wouldthoucouldststandthewholebruntofthisadventurethyself，DeBracy。Thesefellowsdarednothaveactedwithsuchinconceivableimpudence，hadtheynotbeensupportedbysomestrongbands。

Thereareenoughofoutlawsinthisforesttoresentmyprotectingthedeer。Ididbuttieonefellow，whowastakenredhandedandinthefact，tothehornsofawildstag，whichgoredhimtodeathinfiveminutes，andIhadasmanyarrowsshotatmeastherewerelaunchedagainstyondertargetatAshby——Here，fellow，’’headded，tooneofhisattendants，``hastthousentouttoseebywhatforcethispreciouschallengeistobesupported?’’

``Thereareatleasttwohundredmenassembledinthewoods，’’answeredasqui