outrance/； and his servant； Richard the Archer； who accompanies
him； commonly known as Grey Dick； slew three men with as many
arrows； two of them being Normans whose names are unknown to us；
and the third a grieve to Sir John Clavering； called Thomas of
Kessland。 Also； he killed a horse； and when another Frenchman
tried to grasp his master； sent a shaft through the palm of his
hand。〃
〃By St。 George；〃 said the King； 〃but here is shooting！ Were they near
to you； Grey Dick？〃
〃Not so far away； Sire。 Only the light was very bad； or I should have
had the fourth。 I aimed low； Sire； fearing to miss his skull； and he
jerked up his horse's head to take the arrow。〃
〃A good trick！ I've played it myself。 Well； let us have done with the
letter； and then we'll come to archery。〃
〃Sire；〃 read on Hugh； 〃I ask your royal pardon to Hugh de Cressi
and Richard the Archer for these slayings； believing that when you
have read these letters it will be granted。〃
〃That remains to be seen；〃 muttered the King。
〃Sire； Sir Edmund Acour； who has lands here in Suffolk； Count de
Noyon in Normandy； and Seigneur of Cattrina in Italy〃
〃I know the man；〃 exclaimed Edward to the Queen； 〃and so do you。 A
handsome knight and a pleasant； but one of whom I have always
misdoubted me。〃
〃Is also enamoured of Eve Clavering； and with her father's will
seeks to make her his wife； though she hates him； and by the
charter of Dunwich； of which she is a citizen； has the right to
wed whom she will。〃
〃It is well there are not many such charters。 The old storybrave men
done to death for the sake of a woman who is rightly named Red Eve；〃
mused the King。
〃My Liege； I pray that you will read the letter herein enclosed。
Hugh de Cressi will tell you how it came to my hand； since I lack
time to write all the story。 If it seems good to your Grace； I
pray you scotch this snake while he is in your garden； lest he
should live to sting you when you walk abroad。 If it please you to
give your royal warrant to the bearer of this letter； and to
address the same to such of your subjects in Dunwich as you may
think good； I doubt not but that men can be found to execute the
same。 Thus would a great and traitorous plot be brought to
nothing； to your own glory and the discomfiture of your foes in
France； who hope to lay their murderous hands upon the throne of
England。
〃Your humble servant and subject；
〃Andrew Arnold。〃
〃What's this？〃 exclaimed the King starting from his seat。 〃To lay
hands upon the throne of England！ Quick with the other letter； man！〃
〃I was charged that it is for your Grace's eye alone；〃 said Hugh as he
unfolded the paper。 〃Is it your pleasure that I read it aloud； if I
can； for it is writ in French？〃
〃Give it me；〃 said the King。 〃Philippa； come help me with this crabbed
stuff。〃
Then they withdrew to the side of the dais； and； standing under a
lantern； spelled out Sir Edmund Acour's letter to the Duke of
Normandy； word by word。
The King finished the letter； and； still holding it in his hand； stood
for a minute silent。 Then his rage broke out。
〃'He of England；'〃 he quoted。 〃That's your husband； Edward； Lady； who
is to be overthrown and killed 'that Philip's son may take his seat
and be crowned King at Westminster；' which God is to bring about
before this year is out。 Yes； and my cities are to be sacked and my
people slain； and this French dog； Edmund Acour； who has sworn fealty
to me； is to be rewarded with wide English lands and high English
titles。 Well； by God's blood I swear that； dead or living； he shall be
lifted higher than he hopes； though not by Normandy or my brother of
France！ Let me think！ Let me think！ If I send men…at…arms he'll hear
of it and slip away。 Did not good old Sir Andrew call him a snake？
Now； where's this girl； Red Eve？〃
〃In sanctuary； Sire； at the Temple Church in Dunwich；〃 answered Hugh。
〃Ah； and she's a great heiress now； for you killed her brother； and
Acour； although he has wide possessions in sundry lands； was ever a
spendthrift and deep in debt。 No； he'll not leave unless he can get
the girl； and old Sir Andrew will guard her well with the power of the
Church； and with his own right arm if need be； for he's still more
knight than priest。 So there's no hurry。 Tell me all you know of this
story； Hugh de Cressi； omitting nothing； however small。 Nay； have no
fear； if you can vouch for your fellow there； all of us in this
chamber are loyal to England。 Speak out； man。〃
So Hugh began and told of the de Cressis and the Claverings and their
feud； and of how he and Eve had always loved each other。 He told of
their meeting in the reeds of Blythburgh Fen； and of the death of John
de Clavering at his hand and of the others at the hand of Grey Dick；
and of the escape of Acour from the fourth arrow。 He told how he and
Eve had swum the Blyth in flood though the ice cut them； and hid on
the moor while Grey Dick led the Claverings astray； and came at last
safe to sanctuary。 He told how Acour's letter had been won from his
messenger by Sir Andrew's loyal guile。 He told of the penance that Sir
Andrew had laid upon them because of the new…shed blood of John
Clavering； of the flight from Dunwich and the shooting of the horses
of the Clavering men； and of their ride to London and to Windsor。 He
told everything； save only the tale of what Sir Andrew had seen in the
House of Murgh in far Cathay。
When at last he had finished； and though it was long none there grew
weary of that story； the King turned to the clerk； and said：
〃Brother Peter； make out a full pardon to Hugh de Cressi of Dunwich
and Richard Archer his servant for all slayings or other deeds wrought
by them contrary to our general peace。 Draw it wide； and bring the
same to me for execution ere I sleep to…night。 Make out a commission
also to the Mayor of Dunwichnay； I'll think that matter over and
instruct you further。 Hugh de Cressi； you have our thanks； and if you
go on as you have begun you shall have more ere long； for I need such
men about me。 You also； strange and death…like man named Grey Dick；
shall not lack our favour if it proves that you can shoot but half as
well as you have boasted； and； unless you lie； both of you； as it
seems that you have done。 And now to supper； though in truth this news
does not kindle appetite。 Son； see that this gentleman is well served；
and that none mock him more about the fashion of his armour； above all
Sir Ambrose； for I'll not suffer it。 Plate and damascene do not make a
man； and this； it seems； was borrowed from as brave； ay； and as
learned； a knight as ever bestrode a horse in war。 Come； Lady；〃 and
taking the Queen by the hand； he left the chamber。
That evening Hugh ate his food seated among the knights of the
Household at a high table in the great hall； at the head of which； for
the King supped in private； was placed the young Prince Edward。 He
noted that now none laughed at him about the fashion of his mail or
his country ways。 Indeed； when after supper Sir Ambrose Lacey came to
him and asked his pardon for the talk that he had used to him in the
Windsor streethe was sure that some word had been sent round that
his business had brought him favour with the King and that he must be
treated with all courtesy。 Several of those who sat round him tried to
discover what that business was。 But of this he would say nothing；
parrying their questions with others about the wars in France； and
listening with open ears to the tales of great deeds done there。
〃Ah； would that I could see such things！〃 he said。
To which one of them answered：
〃Well； why not？ There'll be chance enough ere long； and many of us
would be glad of a square built like you。〃
Now； at lower tables； in that vast hall； Hugh's servants； and with
them Grey Dick； sat among the men…at…arms of the King's Guard； who
were all chosen for their courage； and skill in archery。 These
soldiers； noting the strange…faced； ashen…haired fellow who ate with
his bow resting on the bench beside him； inquired about him from the
other Dunwich men； and soon heard enough to cause them to open their
eyes。 When the ale had got hold of them they opened their mouths also；
and； crowding round Dick； asked if it were true that he could shoot
well。
〃As well as another；〃 he answered； and would say no more。
Then they looked at his bow； and saw that it was old…fashioned； like
his master's mail； and of some foreign make and wood； but a mighty
weapon such as few could handle and hold straight。 Lastly； they began
to challenge him to a match upon the morrow； to which he answered； who
also had been drinking ale and was growing angry； that he'd give the
best of them five points in fifty。
Now they mocked； for among them were some famous archers； and asked at
what range。
〃At any ye will；〃 answered Grey Dick； 〃from twelve score yards down to
one score yards。 Now trouble me no longer； who if I must shoot
to…morrow would sleep first and drink no more of your strong ale that
breeds bad humours in one reared upon dyke water。〃
Then； seizing his