affair these two or three years since； fled the country with a
pursuivant's warrant at his heels； and has never since been heard
of。〃
〃Nay； after these baulks；〃 said Michael Lambourne； 〃I need hardly
inquire after Tony Foster； for when ropes； and crossbow shafts；
and pursuivant's warrants； and such…like gear； were so rife； Tony
could hardly 'scape them。〃
〃Which Tony Foster mean you？〃 said the innkeeper。
〃Why； him they called Tony Fire…the…Fagot； because he brought a
light to kindle the pile round Latimer and Ridley； when the wind
blew out Jack Thong's torch； and no man else would give him light
for love or money。〃
〃Tony Foster lives and thrives；〃 said the host。 〃But； kinsman； I
would not have you call him Tony Fire…the…Fagot； if you would
not brook the stab。〃
〃How！ is he grown ashamed on't？〃 said Lambourne； 〃Why； he was
wont to boast of it； and say he liked as well to see a roasted
heretic as a roasted ox。〃
〃Ay； but； kinsman； that was in Mary's time；〃 replied the
landlord； 〃when Tony's father was reeve here to the Abbot of
Abingdon。 But since that； Tony married a pure precisian； and is
as good a Protestant； I warrant you； as the best。〃
〃And looks grave； and holds his head high； and scorns his old
companions；〃 said the mercer。
〃Then he hath prospered； I warrant him；〃 said Lambourne； 〃for
ever when a man hath got nobles of his own； he keeps out of the
way of those whose exchequers lie in other men's purchase。〃
〃Prospered； quotha！〃 said the mercer； 〃why； you remember Cumnor
Place； the old mansion…house beside the churchyard？〃
〃By the same token； I robbed the orchard three times what of
that？ It was the old abbot's residence when there was plague or
sickness at Abingdon。〃
〃Ay；〃 said the host； 〃but that has been long over； and Anthony
Foster hath a right in it； and lives there by some grant from a
great courtier； who had the church…lands from the crown。 And
there he dwells； and has as little to do with any poor wight in
Cumnor； as if he were himself a belted knight。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the mercer； 〃it is not altogether pride in Tony
neither； there is a fair lady in the case； and Tony will scarce
let the light of day look on her。〃
〃How！〃 said Tressilian； who now for the first time interfered in
their conversation； 〃did ye not say this Foster was married； and
to a precisian？〃
〃Married he was； and to as bitter a precisian as ever ate flesh
in Lent； and a cat…and…dog life she led with Tony； as men said。
But she is dead； rest be with her！ and Tony hath but a slip of a
daughter； so it is thought he means to wed this stranger； that
men keep such a coil about。〃
〃And why so？I mean； why do they keep a coil about her？〃 said
Tressilian。
〃Why； I wot not；〃 answered the host； 〃except that men say she is
as beautiful as an angel； and no one knows whence she comes； and
every one wishes to know why she is kept so closely mewed up。
For my part； I never saw heryou have； I think； Master
Goldthred？〃
〃That I have； old boy；〃 said the mercer。 〃Look you； I was riding
hither from Abingdon。 I passed under the east oriel window of
the old mansion； where all the old saints and histories and such…
like are painted。 It was not the common path I took； but one
through the Park； for the postern door was upon the latch； and I
thought I might take the privilege of an old comrade to ride
across through the trees； both for shading； as the day was
somewhat hot； and for avoiding of dust； because I had on my
peach…coloured doublet； pinked out with cloth of gold。〃
〃Which garment；〃 said Michael Lambourne； 〃thou wouldst willingly
make twinkle in the eyes of a fair dame。 Ah！ villain； thou wilt
never leave thy old tricks。〃
〃Not so…not so；〃 said the mercer； with a smirking laugh〃not
altogether sobut curiosity； thou knowest； and a strain of
compassion withal； for the poor young lady sees nothing from morn
to even but Tony Foster； with his scowling black brows； his
bull's head； and his bandy legs。〃
〃And thou wouldst willingly show her a dapper body； in a silken
jerkina limb like a short…legged hen's； in a cordovan boot
and a round； simpering； what…d'ye…lack sort of a countenance；
set off with a velvet bonnet； a Turkey feather； and a gilded
brooch？ Ah！ jolly mercer； they who have good wares are fond to
show them！Come； gentles； let not the cup standhere's to long
spurs； short boots； full bonnets； and empty skulls！〃
〃Nay； now； you are jealous of me； Mike；〃 said Goldthred； 〃and yet
my luck was but what might have happened to thee； or any man。〃
〃Marry confound thine impudence；〃 retorted Lambourne； 〃thou
wouldst not compare thy pudding face； and sarsenet manners； to a
gentleman； and a soldier？〃
〃Nay； my good sir；〃 said Tressilian； 〃let me beseech you will not
interrupt the gallant citizen； methinks he tells his tale so
well； I could hearken to him till midnight。〃
〃It's more of your favour than of my desert；〃 answered Master
Goldthred； 〃but since I give you pleasure； worthy Master
Tressilian； I shall proceed； maugre all the gibes and quips of
this valiant soldier； who； peradventure； hath had more cuffs than
crowns in the Low Countries。 And so； sir； as I passed under the
great painted window； leaving my rein loose on my ambling
palfrey's neck； partly for mine ease； and partly that I might
have the more leisure to peer about； I hears me the lattice open；
and never credit me； sir； if there did not stand there the person
of as fair a woman as ever crossed mine eyes； and I think I have
looked on as many pretty wenches； and with as much judgment； as
other folks。〃
〃May I ask her appearance； sir？〃 said Tressilian。
〃Oh； sir；〃 replied Master Goldthred； 〃I promise you； she was in
gentlewoman's attirea very quaint and pleasing dress； that
might have served the Queen herself； for she had a forepart with
body and sleeves； of ginger…coloured satin； which； in my
judgment； must have cost by the yard some thirty shillings； lined
with murrey taffeta； and laid down and guarded with two broad
laces of gold and silver。 And her hat； sir； was truly the best
fashioned thing that I have seen in these parts； being of tawny
taffeta； embroidered with scorpions of Venice gold； and having a
border garnished with gold fringeI promise you； sir； an
absolute and all…surpassing device。 Touching her skirts； they
were in the old pass…devant fashion。〃
〃I did not ask you of her attire； sir；〃 said Tressilian； who had
shown some impatience during this conversation； 〃but of her
complexionthe colour of her hair； her features。〃
〃Touching her complexion；〃 answered the mercer； 〃I am not so
special certain； but I marked that her fan had an ivory handle；
curiously inlaid。 And then again； as to the colour of her hair；
why； I can warrant； be its hue what it might； that she wore above
it a net of green silk； parcel twisted with gold。〃
〃A most mercer…like memory！〃 said Lambourne。 〃The gentleman
asks him of the lady's beauty； and he talks of her fine clothes！〃
〃I tell thee；〃 said the mercer； somewhat disconcerted； 〃I had
little time to look at her； for just as I was about to give her
the good time of day； and for that purpose had puckered my
features with a smile〃
〃Like those of a jackanape simpering at a chestnut；〃 said Michael
Lambourne。
〃Up started of a sudden；〃 continued Goldthred； without heeding
the interruption； 〃Tony Foster himself； with a cudgel in his
hand〃
〃And broke thy head across； I hope； for thine impertinence；〃 said
his entertainer。
〃That were more easily said than done；〃 answered Goldthred
indignantly； 〃no； nothere was no breaking of heads。 It's true；
he advanced his cudgel； and spoke of laying on； and asked why I
did not keep the public road； and such like； and I would have
knocked him over the pate handsomely for his pains； only for the
lady's presence； who might have swooned； for what I know。〃
〃Now； out upon thee for a faint…spirited slave！〃 said Lambourne；
〃what adventurous knight ever thought of the lady's terror； when
he went to thwack giant； dragon； or magician； in her presence；
and for her deliverance？ But why talk to thee of dragons； who
would be driven back by a dragon…fly。 There thou hast missed the
rarest opportunity！〃
〃Take it thyself； then； bully Mike；〃 answered Goldthred。 〃Yonder
is the enchanted manor； and the dragon； and the lady； all at thy
service； if thou darest venture on them。〃
〃Why； so I would for a quartern of sack；〃 said the soldier 〃or
stay： I am foully out of linenwilt thou bet a piece of
Hollands against these five angels； that I go not up to the Hall
to…morrow and force Tony Foster to introduce me to his fair
guest？〃
〃I accept your wager；〃 said the mercer； 〃and I think； though thou
hadst even the impudence of the devil； I shall gain on thee this
bout。 Our landlord here shall hold stakes； and I will stake down
gold till I send the linen。〃
〃I will hold stakes on no such matter；〃 said Gosling。 〃Good now；
my kinsman； drink your wine in quiet； and let such ventures
alone。 I promise you； Master Foster hath interest enough to lay
you up in lavender in the Castle at Oxford； or to get your legs
made acquainted with the town…stocks。〃
〃That would be but