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And Alftruda went with her, taking a goodly company of knights to be her escort, while Hereward remained at Bourne with few to guard it. And knowing this, to Bourne came Ascelin and Taillebois, Evermue, Raoul de Dol, and many another Norman, and burst in upon Hereward in some such fashion as he had done himself some ten years earlier. "Felons," he shouted, "your king has given me his truce!

Cardinal Ascelin de Montaigu, Bishop of Laon, the first to be interrogated upon this subject, replied that, in his opinion, the king was quite in a condition, as well as in a legal position, to take the government of his kingdom upon himself, and, without naming anybody, he referred to the king's uncles, and especially to the Duke of Burgundy, as being no longer necessary for the government of France.

Take it as it is meant, beau Sire; be proud to pay the money; and we will throw you Sir Ascelin into the bargain, as he seems a friend of Siward's." Thorold hoped that Hereward was drunk, and might forget, or relent; but he was so sore at heart that he slept not a wink that night. But in the morning he found, to his sorrow, that Hereward had been as sober as himself.

A third proposition was to whip them through the camp and then put them to death. But Baithnoy, the general, had no fancy for delay, and issued orders that the whole party should at once be executed. In this frightful predicament, into which Ascelin and his party had brought themselves, a woman's pity came to the rescue.

"So he has been told before. And, therefore, having no intention that Sir Ascelin, however worthy of any and every fair lady, should marry this one; he took care to cut off the stream at the fountain-head. If he hears that the suit is still pushed, he may cut off another head beside the fountain's." "There will be no need," said Ascelin, laughing again.

Anon a war with Holland claimed attention, but in the meantime Hereward had fallen in love with a most beautiful damsel named Torfrida, niece of the Abbot of St. Berlin, reputed a sorceress. Her favour he won in the lists from Sir Ascelin, to whom she had committed it, and upon him she bestowed it, together with her love and a suit of magic armour, through which no sword could pierce.

Ascelin told him all about her, not forgetting to say what, according to the chronicler, was a common report that she had compassed Hereward's love by magic arts. She used to practise sorcery, he said, with her sorceress mistress, Richilda of Hainault. All men knew it. Arnoul, Richilda's son, was as a brother to her.

Torfrida turned pale as ashes; first with wild delight, and then with wild fear. "Ha? does he know who Sir Ascelin?" "He knows well enough. Why not? Every one knows. Are you afraid that he is not a match for that great bullock?" "Afraid? Who said I was afraid? Sir Ascelin is no bullock either; but a courteous and gallant knight." "You are as pale as death, and so "

"Eh? How, most courteous victor?" said Sir Ascelin. "Sir Ascelin is not a very wealthy gentleman?" Ascelin laughed assent. "Nudus intravi, nudus exeo England; and I fear now this mortal life likewise." "But he looked to his rich uncle the abbot to further a certain marriage project of his.

But never did they see coming out of the forest the men who had gone in. A shout from his nephew, Sir Ascelin, made all turn their heads. Behind them, on the open lawn, in the throat between the woods by which they had entered, were some forty knights, galloping toward them. "Ivo?" "No!" almost shrieked the Abbot. "There is the white-bear banner. It is Hereward."