with some qualms of conscience for delivering up the animal on
such brief explanation。 〃I be right zure thou be'st the party；〃
said he； muttering to himself； 〃but thou shouldst ha zaid BEANS；
thou knawest。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 said Wayland； speaking at a venture； 〃and thou BACON；
thou knowest。〃
〃Noa； noa；〃 said the lad； 〃bide yebide yeit was PEAS a should
ha said。〃
〃Well； well；〃 answered Wayland； 〃Peas be it； a God's name！
though Bacon were the better password。〃
And being by this time mounted on his own horse； he caught the
rein of the palfrey from the uncertain hold of the hesitating
young boor； flung him a small piece of money； and made amends for
lost time by riding briskly off without further parley。 The lad
was still visible from the hill up which they were riding； and
Wayland； as he looked back； beheld him standing with his fingers
in his hair as immovable as a guide…post； and his head turned in
the direction in which they were escaping from him。 At length；
just as they topped the hill； he saw the clown stoop to lift up
the silver groat which his benevolence had imparted。 〃Now this
is what I call a Godsend；〃 said Wayland； 〃this is a bonny； well…
ridden bit of a going thing； and it will carry us so far till we
get you as well mounted； and then we will send it back time
enough to satisfy the Hue and Cry。〃
But he was deceived in his expectations； and fate； which seemed
at first to promise so fairly； soon threatened to turn the
incident which he thus gloried in into the cause of their utter
ruin。
They had not ridden a short mile from the place where they left
the lad before they heard a man's voice shouting on the wind
behind them； 〃Robbery！ robbery！Stop thief！〃 and similar
exclamations； which Wayland's conscience readily assured him must
arise out of the transaction to which he had been just accessory。
〃I had better have gone barefoot all my life；〃 he said； 〃it is
the Hue and Cry； and I am a lost man。 Ah！ Wayland； Wayland；
many a time thy father said horse…flesh would be the death of
thee。 Were I once safe among the horse…coursers in Smithfield； or
Turnbull Street； they should have leave to hang me as high as St。
Paul's if I e'er meddled more with nobles； knights； or
gentlewomen。〃
Amidst these dismal reflections； he turned his head repeatedly to
see by whom he was chased； and was much comforted when he could
only discover a single rider； who was； however； well mounted； and
came after them at a speed which left them no chance of escaping；
even had the lady's strength permitted her to ride as fast as her
palfrey might have been able to gallop。
〃There may be fair play betwixt us； sure；〃 thought Wayland；
〃where there is but one man on each side； and yonder fellow sits
on his horse more like a monkey than a cavalier。 Pshaw！ if it
come to the worse； it will be easy unhorsing him。 Nay； 'snails！
I think his horse will take the matter in his own hand； for he
has the bridle betwixt his teeth。 Oons； what care I for him？〃
said he； as the pursuer drew yet nearer； 〃it is but the little
animal of a mercer from Abingdon； when all is over。〃
Even so it was； as the experienced eye of Wayland had descried at
a distance。 For the valiant mercer's horse； which was a beast of
mettle； feeling himself put to his speed； and discerning a couple
of horses riding fast at some hundred yards' distance before him；
betook himself to the road with such alacrity as totally deranged
the seat of his rider； who not only came up with； but passed at
full gallop； those whom he had been pursuing； pulling the reins
with all his might； and ejaculating； 〃Stop！ stop！〃 an
interjection which seemed rather to regard his own palfrey than
what seamen call 〃the chase。〃 With the same involuntary speed；
he shot ahead （to use another nautical phrase） about a furlong
ere he was able to stop and turn his horse； and then rode back
towards our travellers； adjusting； as well as he could； his
disordered dress； resettling himself in the saddle； and
endeavouring to substitute a bold and martial frown for the
confusion and dismay which sat upon his visage during his
involuntary career。
Wayland had just time to caution the lady not to be alarmed；
adding； 〃This fellow is a gull； and I will use him as such。〃
When the mercer had recovered breath and audacity enough to
confront them； he ordered Wayland； in a menacing tone； to deliver
up his palfrey。
〃How？〃 said the smith； in King Cambyses' vein； 〃are we commanded
to stand and deliver on the king's highway？ Then out； Excalibur；
and tell this knight of prowess that dire blows must decide
between us！〃
〃Haro and help； and hue and cry； every true man！〃 said the
mercer。 〃I am withstood in seeking to recover mine own。〃
〃Thou swearest thy gods in vain； foul paynim；〃 said Wayland； 〃for
I will through with mine purpose were death at the end on't。
Nevertheless； know； thou false man of frail cambric and
ferrateen； that I am he； even the pedlar； whom thou didst boast
to meet on Maiden Castle moor； and despoil of his pack；
wherefore betake thee to thy weapons presently。〃
〃I spoke but in jest； man；〃 said Goldthred； 〃I am an honest
shopkeeper and citizen； who scorns to leap forth on any man from
behind a hedge。〃
〃Then； by my faith； most puissant mercer；〃 answered Wayland； 〃I
am sorry for my vow； which was； that wherever I met thee I would
despoil thee of thy palfrey； and bestow it upon my leman； unless
thou couldst defend it by blows of force。 But the vow is passed
and registered； and all I can do for thee is to leave the horse
at Donnington； in the nearest hostelry。〃
〃But I tell thee； friend；〃 said the mercer； 〃it is the very horse
on which I was this day to carry Jane Thackham； of Shottesbrok；
as far as the parish church yonder； to become Dame Goldthred。
She hath jumped out of the shot…window of old Gaffer Thackham's
grange； and lo ye； yonder she stands at the place where she
should have met the palfrey； with her camlet riding…cloak and
ivory…handled whip； like a picture of Lot's wife。 I pray you； in
good terms； let me have back the palfrey。〃
〃Grieved am I；〃 said Wayland； 〃as much for the fair damsel as for
thee； most noble imp of muslin。 But vows must have their course；
thou wilt find the palfrey at the Angel yonder at Donnington。 It
is all I may do for thee with a safe conscience。〃
〃To the devil with thy conscience！〃 said the dismayed mercer。
〃Wouldst thou have a bride walk to church on foot？〃
〃Thou mayest take her on thy crupper； Sir Goldthred；〃 answered
Wayland； 〃it will take down thy steed's mettle。〃
〃And how if youif you forget to leave my horse； as you
propose？〃 said Goldthred； not without hesitation； for his soul
was afraid within him。
〃My pack shall be pledged for ityonder it lies with Giles
Gosling； in his chamber with the damasked leathern hangings；
stuffed full with velvet； single； double； treble…piledrash…
taffeta； and parapashag； damask； and mocado； plush； and
grogram〃
〃Hold！ hold！〃 exclaimed the mercer； 〃nay； if there be； in truth
and sincerity； but the half of these waresbut if ever I trust
bumpkin with bonny Bayard again！〃
〃As you list for that； good Master Goldthred； and so good morrow
to youand well parted；〃 he added； riding on cheerfully with the
lady； while the discountenanced mercer rode back much slower than
he came； pondering what excuse he should make to the disappointed
bride； who stood waiting for her gallant groom in the midst of
the king's highway。
〃Methought；〃 said the lady； as they rode on； 〃yonder fool stared
at me as if he had some remembrance of me； yet I kept my muffler
as high as I might。〃
〃If I thought so；〃 said Wayland； 〃I would ride back and cut him
over the pate； there would be no fear of harming his brains； for
he never had so much as would make pap to a sucking gosling。 We
must now push on； however； and at Donnington we will leave the
oaf's horse； that he may have no further temptation to pursue us；
and endeavour to assume such a change of shape as may baffle his
pursuit if he should persevere in it。〃
The travellers reached Donnington without further alarm； where it
became matter of necessity that the Countess should enjoy two or
three hours' repose； during which Wayland disposed himself； with
equal address and alacrity； to carry through those measures on
which the safety of their future journey seemed to depend。
Exchanging his pedlar's gaberdine for a smock…frock； he carried
the palfrey of Goldthred to the Angel Inn； which was at the other
end of the village from that where our travellers had taken up
their quarters。 In the progress of the morning； as he travelled
about his other business； he saw the steed brought forth and
delivered to the cutting mercer himself； who； at the head of a
valorous posse of the Hue and Cry； came to rescue； by force of
arms； what was delivered to him without any other ransom than the
price of a huge quantity of ale； drunk out by his assistants；
thirsty； it would seem； with their walk； and concerning the price
of which Master Goldthred had a fierce dispute with the
headborough； whom he had summoned to aid him in raising the
country。
Having made this act of prudent