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Updated: June 28, 2025
"How what do ye there?" cried the archer. "Wait for Red Pertolepe." "Why then, sweet Walkyn, good Walkyn come loose us of our bonds that we may wait with thee " "Nay," growled Walkyn, "ye are the bait. When the outlaws have slain enough of them, Pertolepe's men must flee this way: so will Red Pertolepe stay to take up his prisoners, and so shall I slay him in that moment with this mine axe.
I have this day heard thee doom the innocent to death and bitter shame, and, lord, as God seeth us, it is enough!" Sir Pertolepe's ruddy cheek showed pale, but his blue eyes stared upon Beltane wide and fearless. "Have ye then dragged me hither to die, messire?"
See how they order their pikes O master, they be sweet and doughty fellows! See how Jenkyn's archers shoot each man to the ear!" Awhile sat Beltane watching, wide-eyed, while Sir Benedict, fighting sword in hand, fell back and back before the furious onset of Sir Pertolepe's main battle until he had drawn the fight mid-way. Then, quick-breathing, my Beltane closed his vizor.
And lo! wheresoever his glance fell were men that crawled groaning, or lay very mute and still amid a huddle of fallen horses, and, beyond these again, were other men, a-horse and a-foot, that galloped and ran amain for the shelter of the green. Sir Pertolepe's array was scattered up and down the valley the battle was lost and won.
But now, above the din and tumult of the fight below, shrill and high rose the notes of a horn winded from the woods in the east, that was answered like an echo, out of the woods in the west; and, down the banks to right and left, behold Sir Pertolepe's archers came leaping and tumbling, pursued by a hissing arrow shower.
"Lord Pertolepe fell out with his neighbour Sir Gilles of Brandonmere upon the matter of some wench, methinks it was wherefore came Sir Gilles' men by night and burned down Shallowford with twenty hunting dogs of Sir Pertolepe's that chanced to be there: whereupon my lord waxed mighty wroth and, gathering his company, came into the demesne of Sir Gilles and burned down divers manors and hung certain rogues and destroyed two villages in quittance."
Then, turning his back upon the friar, Beltane questioned the blind man again, as thus: "Tell me, an ye will, how ye came to shed blood?" and the outlaw, kneeling at Beltane's feet answered with bowed head: "Noble sir, I had a daughter and she was young and fair, therefore came my lord Pertolepe's chief verderer to bear her to my lord.
Here cometh Gilles of Brandonmere, meseemeth!" And now from the road in front rose the sound of an approaching company, the tramp of weary horses climbing the ascent with the sound of cheery voices upraised in song; and ever the sinking sun glinted redly on helm and lance-point where sat Sir Pertolepe's mailed riders, grim and silent, while the cheery voices swelled near and more near, till, all at once, the song died to a hum of amaze that rose to a warning shout that was drowned in the blare of a piercing trumpet blast.
So came Beltane thither, bearing the torch, and stepped softly into the room beyond, a wide room, arras-hung and richly furnished, and looking around upon the voluptuous luxury of gilded couch and wide, soft bed, Beltane frowned suddenly upon a woman's dainty, broidered shoe. "Roger," he whispered, "what place is this?" "'Tis Red Pertolepe's bed-chamber, master."
"Above above!" cried Giles o' the Bow, "this is Sir Pertolepe's country look you heavenward, Sir Innocence!"
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