"No natural lord of mine," said the man in the smock. "I followed the

Walsinghams; so we all did down Brierly way, till two years ago, come

Candlemas. And now I must side with Brackley! It was the law that did

it; call ye that natural? But now, what with Sir Daniel and what with

Sir Oliver--that knows more of law than honesty--I have no natural lord

but poor King Harry the Sixt, God bless him!--the poor innocent that

cannot tell his right hand from his left."

Ye speak with an ill tongue, friend," answered Dick, "to miscall your

good master and my lord the king in the same libel. But King

Harry--praised be the saints!--has come again into his right mind, and

will have all things peaceably ordained. And as for Sir Daniel, y' are

very brave behind his back. But I will be no tale-bearer; and let that

suffice."

"I say no harm of you, Master Richard," returned the peasant. "Y' are a

lad; but when ye come to a man's inches, ye will find ye have an empty

pocket. I say no more: the saints help Sir Daniel's neighbours, and the

Blessed Maid protect his wards!"

"Clipsby," said Richard, "you speak what I cannot hear with honour. Sir

Daniel is my good master, and my guardian."

Come, now, will ye read me a riddle?" returned Clipsby. "On whose side

is Sir Daniel?"

"I know not," said Dick, colouring a little; for his guardian had changed

The Black Arrow