prologue-第2章

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Hatch；　visibly　ruffled　by　these　threats。　　〃Get　ye　to　your　arms

before　Sir　Oliver　come；　and　leave　prating　for　one　good　while。　　An

ye　had　talked　so　much　with　Harry　the　Fift；　his　ears　would　ha'　been

richer　than　his　pocket。〃



An　arrow　sang　in　the　air；　like　a　huge　hornet；　it　struck　old

Appleyard　between　the　shoulder…blades；　and　pierced　him　clean

through；　and　he　fell　forward　on　his　face　among　the　cabbages。

Hatch；　with　a　broken　cry；　leapt　into　the　air；　then；　stooping

double；　he　ran　for　the　cover　of　the　house。　　And　in　the　meanwhile

Dick　Shelton　had　dropped　behind　a　lilac；　and　had　his　crossbow　bent

and　shouldered；　covering　the　point　of　the　forest。



Not　a　leaf　stirred。　　The　sheep　were　patiently　browsing；　the　birds

had　settled。　　But　there　lay　the　old　man；　with　a　cloth…yard　arrow

standing　in　his　back；　and　there　were　Hatch　holding　to　the　gable；

and　Dick　crouching　and　ready　behind　the　lilac　bush。



〃D'ye　see　aught？〃　cried　Hatch。



〃Not　a　twig　stirs；〃　said　Dick。



〃I　think　shame　to　leave　him　lying；〃　said　Bennet；　coming　forward

once　more　with　hesitating　steps　and　a　very　pale　countenance。　　〃Keep

a　good　eye　on　the　wood；　Master　Shelton　…　keep　a　clear　eye　on　the

wood。　　The　saints　assoil　us！　here　was　a　good　shoot！〃



Bennet　raised　the　old　archer　on　his　knee。　　He　was　not　yet　dead；　his

face　worked；　and　his　eyes　shut　and　opened　like　machinery；　and　he

had　a　most　horrible；　ugly　look　of　one　in　pain。



〃Can　ye　hear；　old　Nick？〃　asked　Hatch。　　〃Have　ye　a　last　wish　before

ye　wend；　old　brother？〃



〃Pluck　out　the　shaft；　and　let　me　pass；　a'　Mary's　name！〃　gasped

Appleyard。　　〃I　be　done　with　Old　England。　　Pluck　it　out！〃



〃Master　Dick；〃　said　Bennet；　〃come　hither；　and　pull　me　a　good　pull

upon　the　arrow。　　He　would　fain　pass；　the　poor　sinner。〃



Dick　laid　down　his　cross…bow；　and　pulling　hard　upon　the　arrow；　drew

it　forth。　　A　gush　of　blood　followed；　the　old　archer　scrambled　half

upon　his　feet；　called　once　upon　the　name　of　God；　and　then　fell

dead。　　Hatch；　upon　his　knees　among　the　cabbages；　prayed　fervently

for　the　welfare　of　the　passing　spirit。　　But　even　as　he　prayed；　it

was　plain　that　his　mind　was　still　divided；　and　he　kept　ever　an　eye

upon　the　corner　of　the　wood　from　which　the　shot　had　come。　　When　he

had　done；　he　got　to　his　feet　again；　drew　off　one　of　his　mailed

gauntlets；　and　wiped　his　pale　face；　which　was　all　wet　with　terror。



〃Ay；〃　he　said；　〃it'll　be　my　turn　next。〃



〃Who　hath　done　this；　Bennet？〃　Richard　asked；　still　holding　the

arrow　in　his　hand。



〃Nay；　the　saints　know；〃　said　Hatch。　　〃Here　are　a　good　two　score

Christian　souls　that　we　have　hunted　out　of　house　and　holding；　he

and　I。　　He　has　paid　his　shot；　poor　shrew；　nor　will　it　be　long；

mayhap；　ere　I　pay　mine。　　Sir　Daniel　driveth　over…hard。〃



〃This　is　a　strange　shaft；〃　said　the　lad；　looking　at　the　arrow　in

his　hand。



〃Ay；　by　my　faith！〃　cried　Bennet。　　〃Black；　and　black…feathered。

Here　is　an　ill…favoured　shaft；　by　my　sooth！　for　black；　they　say；

bodes　burial。　　And　here　be　words　written。　　Wipe　the　blood　away。

What　read　ye？〃



〃'APPULYAIRD　FRO　JON　AMEND…ALL；'〃　read　Shelton。　　〃What　should　this

betoken？〃



〃Nay；　I　like　it　not；〃　returned　the　retainer；　shaking　his　head。

〃John　Amend…All！　　Here　is　a　rogue's　name　for　those　that　be　up　in

the　world！　　But　why　stand　we　here　to　make　a　mark？　　Take　him　by　the

knees；　good　Master　Shelton；　while　I　lift　him　by　the　shoulders；　and

let　us　lay　him　in　his　house。　　This　will　be　a　rare　shog　to　poor　Sir

Oliver；　he　will　turn　paper　colour；　he　will　pray　like　a　windmill。〃



They　took　up　the　old　archer；　and　carried　him　between　them　into　his

house；　where　he　had　dwelt　alone。　　And　there　they　laid　him　on　the

floor；　out　of　regard　for　the　mattress；　and　sought；　as　best　they

might；　to　straighten　and　compose　his　limbs。



Appleyard's　house　was　clean　and　bare。　　There　was　a　bed；　with　a　blue

cover；　a　cupboard；　a　great　chest；　a　pair　of　joint…stools；　a　hinged

table　in　the　chimney　corner；　and　hung　upon　the　wall　the　old

soldier's　armoury　of　bows　and　defensive　armour。　　Hatch　began　to

look　about　him　curiously。



〃Nick　had　money；〃　he　said。　　〃He　may　have　had　three　score　pounds　put

by。　　I　would　I　could　light　upon't！　　When　ye　lose　an　old　friend；

Master　Richard；　the　best　consolation　is　to　heir　him。　　See；　now；

this　chest。　　I　would　go　a　mighty　wager　there　is　a　bushel　of　gold

therein。　　He　had　a　strong　hand　to　get；　and　a　hard　hand　to　keep

withal；　had　Appleyard　the　archer。　　Now　may　God　rest　his　spirit！

Near　eighty　year　he　was　afoot　and　about；　and　ever　getting；　but　now

he's　on　the　broad　of　his　back；　poor　shrew；　and　no　more　lacketh；　and

if　his　chattels　came　to　a　good　friend；　he　would　be　merrier；

methinks；　in　heaven。〃



〃Come；　Hatch；〃　said　Dick；　〃respect　his　stone…blind　eyes。　　Would　ye

rob　the　man　before　his　body？　　Nay；　he　would　walk！〃



Hatch　made　several　signs　of　the　cross；　but　by　this　time　his　natural

complexion　had　returned；　and　he　was　not　easily　to　be　dashed　from

any　purpose。　　It　would　have　gone　hard　with　the　chest　had　not　the

gate　sounded；　and　presently　after　the　door　of　the　house　opened　and

admitted　a　tall；　portly；　ruddy；　black…eyed　man　of　near　fifty；　in　a

surplice　and　black　robe。



〃Appleyard〃　…　the　newcomer　was　saying；　as　he　entered；　but　he

stopped　dead。　　〃Ave　Maria！〃　he　cried。　　〃Saints　be　our　shield！　　What

cheer　is　this？〃



〃Cold　cheer　with　Appleyard；　sir　parson；〃　answered　Hatch；　with

perfect　cheerfulness。　　〃Shot　at　his　own　door；　and　alighteth　even

now　at　purgatory　gates。　　Ay！　there；　if　tales　be　true；　he　shall　lack

neither　coal　nor　candle。〃



Sir　Oliver　groped　his　way　to　a　joint…stool；　and　sat　down　upon　it；

sick　and　white。



〃This　is　a　judgment！　　O；　a　great　stroke！〃　he　sobbed；　and　rattled

off　a　leash　of　prayers。



Hatch　meanwhile　reverently　doffed　his　salet　and　knelt　down。



〃Ay；　Bennet；〃　said　the　priest；　somewhat　recovering；　〃and　what　may

this　be？　　What　enemy　hath　done　this？〃



〃Here；　Sir　Oliver；　is　the　arrow。　　See；　it　is　written　upon　with

words；〃　said　Dick。



〃Nay；〃　cried　the　priest；　〃this　is　a　foul　hearing！　　John　Amend…All！

A　right　Lollardy　word。　　And　black　of　hue；　as　for　an　omen！　　Sirs；

this　knave　arrow　likes　me　not。　　But　it　importeth　rather　to　take

counsel。　　Who　should　this　be？　　Bethink　you；　Bennet。　　Of　so　many

black　ill…willers；　which　should　he　be　that　doth　so　hardily　outface

us？　　Simnel？　　I　do　much　question　it。　　The　Walsinghams？　　Nay；　they

are　not　yet　so　broken；　they　still　think　to　have　the　law　over　us；

when　times　change。　　There　was　Simon　Malmesbury；　too。　　How　think　ye；

Bennet？〃



〃What　think　ye；　sir；〃　returned　Hatch；　〃of　Ellis　Duckworth？〃



〃Nay；　Bennet；　never。　　Nay；　not　he；〃　said　the　priest。　　〃There　cometh

never　any　rising；　Bennet；　from　below　…　so　all　judicious　chroniclers

concord　in　their　opinion；　but　rebellion　travelleth　ever　downward

from　above；　and　when　Dick；　Tom；　and　Harry　take　them　to　their　bills；

look　ever　narrowly　to　see　what　lord　is　profited　thereby。　　Now；　Sir

Daniel；　having　once　more　joined　him　to　the　Queen's　party；　is　in　ill

odour　with　the　Yorkist　lords。　　Thence；　Bennet；　comes　the　blow　…　by

what　procuring；　I　yet　seek；　but　therein　lies　the　nerve　of　this

discomfiture。〃



〃An't　please　you；　Sir　Oliver；〃　said　Bennet；　〃the　axles　are　so　hot

in　this　country　that　I　have　long　been　smelling　fire。　　So　did　this

poor　sinner；　Appleyard。　　And；　by　your　leave；　men's　spirits　are　so

foully　inclined　to　all　of　us；　that　it　needs　neither　York　nor

Lancaster　to　spur　them　on。　　Hear　my　plain　thoughts：　　You；　that　are

a　clerk；　and　Sir　Daniel；　that　sails　on　any　wind；　ye　have　taken　many

men's　goods；　and　beaten　and　hanged　not　a　few。　　Y'　are　called　to

count　for　this；　in　the　end；　I　wot　not　how；　ye　have　ever　the

uppermost　at　law；　and　ye　think　all　patched。　　But　give　me　leave；　Sir

Oliver：　　the　man　that　ye　have　dispossessed　and　beaten　is　but　the

angrier；　and　some　day；　when　the　black　devil　is　by；　he　will　up　with

his　bow　and　clout　me　a　yard　of　arrow　through　your　inwards。〃



〃Nay；　Bennet；　y'　are　in　the　wrong。　　Bennet；　ye　should　be　glad　to　be

corrected；〃　said　Sir　Oliver。　　〃Y'　are　a　prater；　Bennet；　a　talker；　a

babbler；　your　mouth　is　wider　than　your　two　ears。　　Mend　it；　Bennet；

mend　it。〃



〃Nay；　I　say　no　more。　　Have　it　as　ye　list；〃　said　the　retainer。



The　priest　now　rose　from　the　stool；　and　from　the　writing…case　that

hung　about　his　neck　took　forth　wax　and　a　taper；　and　a　flint　and

steel。　　With　these　he　sealed　up　the　chest　and　the　cupboard　with　Sir

Daniel's　arms；　Hatch　looking　on　disconsolate；　and　then　the　whole

party　proceeded；　somewhat　timorously；　to　sally　from　the　house　and

get　to　horse。



〃'Tis　time　we　were　on　the　road；　Sir　Oliver；〃　said　Hatch；　as　he　held

the　priest's　stirrup　while　he　mounted。



〃Ay；　but；　Bennet；　things　are　changed；〃　returned　the　parson。　　〃There

is　now　no　Appleyard　…　rest　his　soul！　…　to　keep　the　garrison。　　I

shall　keep　you；　Bennet。　　I　must　have　a　good　man　to　rest　me　on　in

this　day　of　black　arrows。　　'The　arrow　that　flieth　by　day；'　saith

the　evangel；　I　have　no　mind　of　the　context；　nay；　I　am　a　sluggard

priest；　I　am　too　deep　in　men's　affairs。　　Well；　let　us　ride　forth；

Master　Hatch。　　The　jackmen　should　be　at　the　church　by　now。〃



So　they　rode　forward　down　the　road；　with　the　wind　after　them；


blowing　the　tails　of　the　parson's　cloak；　and　behind　them；　as　they

went；　clouds　began　to　arise　and　blot　out　the　sinking　sun。　　They　had

passed　three　of　the　scattered　houses　that　make　up　Tunstall　hamlet；

when；　coming　to　a　turn；　they　saw　the　church　before　them。　　Ten　or　a

dozen　houses　clustered　immediately　round　it；　but　to　the　back　the

churchyard　was　next　the　meadows。　　At　the　lych…gate；　near　a　score　of

men　were　gathered；　some　in　the　saddle；　some　standing　by　their

horses'　heads。　　They　were　variously　armed　and　mounted；　some　with

spears；　some　with　bills；　some　with　bows；　and　some　bestriding

plough…horses；　still　splashed　with　the　mire　of　the　furrow；　for

these　were　the　very　dregs　of　the　country；　and　all　the　better　men

and　the　fair　equipments　were　already　with　Sir　Daniel　in　the　field。



〃We　have　not　done　amiss；　praised　be　the　cross　of　Holywood！　　Sir

Daniel　will　be　right　well　content；〃　observed　the　priest；　inwardly

numbering　the　troop。



〃Who　goes？　　Stand！　if　ye　be　true！〃　shouted　Bennet。　　A　man　was　seen

slipping　through　the　churchyard　among　the　yews；　and　at　the　sound　of

this　summons　he　discarded　all　concealment；　and　fairly　took　to　his

heels　for　the　forest。　　The　men　at　the　gate；　who　had　been　hitherto

unaware　of　the　stranger's　presence；　woke　and　scattered。　　Those　who

had　dismounted　began　scrambling　into　the　saddle；　the　rest　rode　in

pursuit；　but　they　had　to　make　the　circuit　of　the　consecrated

ground；　and　it　was　plain　their　quarry　would　escape　them。　　Hatch；

roaring　an　oath；　put　his　horse　at　the　hedge；　to　head　him　off；　but

the　beast　refused；　and　sent　his　rider　sprawling　in　the　dust。　　And

though　he　was　up　again　in　a　moment；　and　had　caught　the　bridle；　the

time　ha