Jocelyn made no reply to the sarcasm, and the knight was preparing to depart with his followers, when a loud and tumultuous uproar proclaimed the approach of the apprentices.  The posse of victorious youths made their way to the bowling-green by the principal entrance, situated, as before mentioned, at a different point from the door by which the others had gained it.  More apprehensive of losing his prisoner, than concerned for his personal safety (for though the aggressive party greatly exceeded his own in numbers, he knew well how to deal with them, being accustomed to such encounters), Sir Giles gave some orders respecting Jocelyn to Clement Lanyere, and then prepared to resist the onslaught, by causing his band to form a solid square; those armed with bills and staves being placed in the foremost ranks.  This disposition being quickly made, he drew his sword, and in a loud authoritative tone commanded the apprentices to stand back.  Such was the effect produced by his voice, and the terrors of his countenance, which seldom failed to strike awe into beholders, that the intending rescuers came to a halt, and showed some hesitation in engaging him.

“What means this disturbance?” thundered Sir Giles; “and why do you offer to molest me in the execution of my duty?  Know you not that assemblages like yours are unlawful, and that you are liable to severe punishment, unless you immediately disperse yourselves, and peaceably depart to your own habitations?  About your business, I say, and trouble me no longer!  But first, I command you to deliver up your ringleaders, and especially those who, as I am told, have perpetrated the gross outrage and violence upon the person of Sir Francis Mitchell.  An example shall be made of them.”

“You waste your breath, Sir Giles, and your big words will avail you nothing with us,” Dick Taverner replied.  “Now hear me in return.  We, the bold and loyal ’prentices of London, who serve our masters and our masters’ master, the king’s highness, well and truly, will not allow an unlawful arrest to be made by you or by any other man.  And we command you peaceably to deliver up your prisoner to us; or, by the rood! we will take him forcibly from your hands!”

“Out, insolent fellow!” cried Sir Giles; “thou wilt alter thy tune when thou art scourged at the cart’s-tail.”

“You must catch me first, Sir Giles,” replied Dick; “and two words will go to that.  We have read Sir Francis Mitchell a lesson he is not likely to forget; and we will read you one, an you provoke us.  We have a few old scores to wipe off.”

“Ay, marry! have we,” cried an embroiderer’s apprentice; “these extortioners have ruined my master’s trade by their gold-and-silver-thread monopoly.”

“Hundreds of worthy men have been thrown out of employment by their practices,” said a vintner’s ’prentice.  “We sell not half the wine we used to do.  And no wonder! seeing two-thirds of the inns in London are shut up.”