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wherefore betake thee to thy weapons presently。〃
〃I spoke but in jest； man；〃 said Goldthred； 〃I am an honest
shopkeeper and citizen； who scorns to leap forth on any man from
behind a hedge。〃
〃Then； by my faith； most puissant mercer；〃 answered Wayland； 〃I
am sorry for my vow； which was； that wherever I met thee I would
despoil thee of thy palfrey； and bestow it upon my leman； unless
thou couldst defend it by blows of force。 But the vow is passed
and registered； and all I can do for thee is to leave the horse
at Donnington； in the nearest hostelry。〃
〃But I tell thee； friend；〃 said the mercer； 〃it is the very horse
on which I was this day to carry Jane Thackham； of Shottesbrok；
as far as the parish church yonder； to become Dame Goldthred。
She hath jumped out of the shot…window of old Gaffer Thackham's
grange； and lo ye； yonder she stands at the place where she
should have met the palfrey； with her camlet riding…cloak and
ivory…handled whip； like a picture of Lot's wife。 I pray you； in
good terms； let me have back the palfrey。〃
〃Grieved am I；〃 said Wayland； 〃as much for the fair damsel as for
thee； most noble imp of muslin。 But vows must have their course；
thou wilt find the palfrey at the Angel yonder at Donnington。 It
is all I may do for thee with a safe conscience。〃
〃To the devil with thy conscience！〃 said the dismayed mercer。
〃Wouldst thou have a bride walk to church on foot？〃
〃Thou mayest take her on thy crupper； Sir Goldthred；〃 answered
Wayland； 〃it will take down thy steed's mettle。〃
〃And how if youif you forget to leave my horse； as you
propose？〃 said Goldthred； not without hesitation； for his soul
was afraid within him。
〃My pack shall be pledged for ityonder it lies with Giles
Gosling； in his chamber with the damasked leathern hangings；
stuffed full with velvet； single； double； treble…piledrash…
taffeta； and parapashag； damask； and mocado； plush； and
grogram〃
〃Hold！ hold！〃 exclaimed the mercer； 〃nay； if there be； in truth
and sincerity； but the half of these waresbut if ever I trust
bumpkin with bonny Bayard again！〃
〃As you list for that； good Master Goldthred； and so good morrow
to youand well parted；〃 he added； riding on cheerfully with the
lady； while the discountenanced mercer rode back much slower than
he came； pondering what excuse he should make to the disappointed
bride； who stood waiting for her gallant groom in the midst of
the king's highway。
〃Methought；〃 said the lady； as they rode on； 〃yonder fool stared
at me as if he had some remembrance of me； yet I kept my muffler
as high as I might。〃
〃If I thought so；〃 said Wayland； 〃I would ride back and cut him
over the pate； there would be no fear of harming his brains； for
he never had so much as would make pap to a sucking gosling。 We
must now push on； however； and at Donnington we will leave the
oaf's horse； that he may have no further temptation to pursue us；
and endeavour to assume such a change of shape as may baffle his
pursuit if he should persevere in it。〃
The travellers reached Donnington without further alarm； where it
became matter of necessity that the Countess should enjoy two or
three hours' repose； during which Wayland disposed himself； with
equal address and alacrity； to carry through those measures on
which the safety of their future journey seemed to depend。
Exchanging his pedlar's gaberdine for a smock…frock； he carried
the palfrey of Goldthred to the Angel Inn； which was at the other
end of the village from that where our travellers had taken up
their quarters。 In the progress of the morning； as he travelled
about his other business； he saw the steed brought forth and
delivered to the cutting mercer himself； who； at the head of a
valorous posse of the Hue and Cry； came to rescue； by force of
arms； what was delivered to him without any other ransom than the
price of a huge quantity of ale； drunk out by his assistants；
thirsty； it would seem； with their walk； and concerning the price
of which Master Goldthred had a fierce dispute with the
headborough； whom he had summoned to aid him in raising the
country。
Having made this act of prudent as well as just restitution；
Wayland procured such change of apparel for the lady； as well as
himself； as gave them both the appearance of country people of
the better class； it being further resolved； that in order to
attract the less observation； she should pass upon the road for
the sister of her guide。 A good but not a gay horse； fit to keep
pace with his own； and gentle enough for a lady's use； completed
the preparations for the journey； for making which； and for other
expenses； he had been furnished with sufficient funds by
Tressilian。 And thus； about noon； after the Countess had been
refreshed by the sound repose of several hours； they resumed
their journey； with the purpose of making the best of their way
to Kenilworth； by Coventry and Warwick。 They were not； however；
destined to travel far without meeting some cause of
apprehension。
It is necessary to premise that the landlord of the inn had
informed them that a jovial party； intended； as he understood； to
present some of the masques or mummeries which made a part of the
entertainment with which the Queen was usually welcomed on the
royal Progresses； had left the village of Donnington an hour or
two before them in order to proceed to Kenilworth。 Now it had
occurred to Wayland that； by attaching themselves in some sort to
this group as soon as they should overtake them on the road； they
would be less likely to attract notice than if they continued to
travel entirely by themselves。 He communicated his idea to the
Countess； who； only anxious to arrive at Kenilworth without
interruption； left him free to choose the manner in which this
was to be accomplished。 They pressed forward their horses；
therefore； with the purpose of overtaking the party of intended
revellers； and making the journey in their company； and had just
seen the little party； consisting partly of riders； partly of
people on foot； crossing the summit of a gentle hill； at about
half a mile's distance； and disappearing on the other side； when
Wayland； who maintained the most circumspect observation of all
that met his eye in every direction； was aware that a rider was
coming up behind them on a horse of uncommon action； accompanied
by a serving…man； whose utmost efforts were unable to keep up
with his master's trotting hackney； and who； therefore； was fain
to follow him at a hand gallop。 Wayland looked anxiously back at
these horsemen； became considerably disturbed in his manner；
looked back again； and became pale； as he said to the lady； 〃That
is Richard Varney's trotting gelding； I would know him among a
thousand nags。 This is a worse business than meeting the
mercer。〃
〃Draw your sword；〃 answered the lady； 〃and pierce my bosom with
it； rather than I should fall into his hands！〃
〃I would rather by a thousand times；〃 answered Wayland； 〃pass it
through his body； or even mine own。 But to say truth； fighting
is not my best point； though I can look on cold iron like another
when needs must be。 And indeed； as for my sword（put on； I p