With which worldly consolations and exhortations Goodwife Dolly brought him to rise and accept his bowl of pottage, though he could not swallow much, and soon put it aside and sought his bed.

It was not till late the next day that Simon Bunce was seen riding his rough pony over the moor.  Hal repaired to him at once, with the breathless inquiry, ‘Where is he?’

‘In safe hands!  Never you fear, sir!  But best know nought.’

’O Simon, was I—?  Did I do him any scathe?—­I—­I never knew—­I only told my lady mother it was a saint.’

’Ay, ay, lad, more’s the pity that he is more saint than king!  If my lady guessed aught, she would be loyal as became your father’s wife, and methinks she would not press you hard for fear she should be forced to be aware of the truth.’

‘But Sir Lancelot?’

‘As far as I can gather,’ explained Simon, ’Sir Lancelot is one that hath kept well with both sides, and so is able to be a protector.  But down came orders from York and his crew that King Harry is reported to be lurking in some of these moors, and the Countess Clifford being his wife, he fell under suspicion of harbouring him.  Nay, there was some perilous talk in his own household, so that, as I understand the matter, he saw the need of being able to show that he knew nothing; or, if he found that the King was living within these lands, of sending him a warning ere avowing that he had been there.  So I read what was said to me.’

‘He knew nothing from me!  Neither he nor my lady mother,’ eagerly said Hal.  ’When I mind me I am sure my mother cut me short when I described the hermit too closely, lest no doubt she should guess who he was.’

’Belike!  It would be like my lady, who is a loyal Lancastrian at heart, though much bent on not offending her husband lest his protection should be withdrawn from you.’

‘Better—­O, a thousand times better!—­he gave me up than the King!’

’Hush!  What good would that do?  A boy like you?  Unless they took you in hand to make you a traitor, and offered you your lands if you would swear allegiance to King Edward, as he calls himself.’

‘Never, though I were cut into quarters!’ averred Hal, with a fierce gesture, clasping his staff.  ’But the King?  Where and what have they done with him?’

‘Best not to know, my lord,’ said Simon.  ’In sooth, I myself do not know whither he is gone, only that he is with friends.’

‘But who—­what were they?  They looked like outlaws!’

’So they were; many a good fellow is of Robin of Redesdale’s train.  There are scores of them haunting the fells and woods, all Red Rose men, keeping a watch on the King,’ replied Simon.  ’We had made up our minds that he had been long enough in one place, and that he must have taken shelter the winter through, when I got notice of these notions of Sir Lancelot, and forthwith sent word to them to have him away before worse came of it.’