"Edmund Talbot, art thou traitor to thy kin?" said Sir Thomas, from the
crowd. "Let me pass; 'tis thy father commands thee. 'Tis not thy king,
he is a coward and a usurper."
"I care not," said the retreating and faithful Edmund. "My arm shall not
compass with traitors. Cowards attack unarmed men at their meals."
"Then take thy reward." It was the eldest brother of Edmund who said
this, whilst he aimed a terrific blow; but the dwarf caught his arm ere
it descended, and a swinging stroke from a missile which he had picked
up in the fray would have settled accounts between the heir of Bashall
and posterity had he not stepped aside.
This unequal contest, however, could not long continue, though time, the
principal object, was gained, and the king was fast hastening again
towards the cavern. In the courtyard he met Elizabeth, who implored him
to step aside into another place of concealment; but he was too much
terrified to comprehend her meaning. Fear seemed to have bewildered him,
and the poor persecuted monarch sped on to his own destruction. In the
hurry and uncertainty of his flight, he unfortunately took the wrong
path, which led by a circuitous route to the ford; and, as he stepped
out of the wood, two of his enemies, having broken through the gallant
defence of his adherents, had already gained, and were guarding, the
stepping-stones over the river, called "Brunckerley Hippens.
Pages:
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935