Wherefore, let not thy father's errors stand in the way of thy advancement;' and therewith he made his confessor--for he was no penman himself, the worthy old knight!--indite a letter to his great kinsman, the Earl of Warwick, commending me to his protection.

He signed his mark, and set his seal to this missive, which I now have at mine hostelrie, and died the same day.
My brother judged me too young then to quit his roof; and condemned me to bear his humours till, at the age of twenty-three, I could bear no more! So having sold him my scant share in the heritage, and turned, like thee, bad land into good nobles, I joined a party of horse in their journey to London, and arrived yesterday at Master Sackbut's hostelrie in Eastchepe.

I went this morning to my Lord of Warwick; but he was gone to the king's, and hearing of the merry-makings here, I came hither for kill-time.

A chance word of my Lord of Montagu--whom Saint Dunstan confound!--made me conceit that a feat of skill with the cloth-yard might not ill preface my letter to the great earl.

But, pardie! it seems I reckoned without my host, and in seeking to make my fortunes too rashly, I have helped to mar them." Wherewith he related the particulars of his interview with Montagu.
Nicholas Alwyn listened to him with friendly and thoughtful interest, and, when he had done, spoke thus,-- "The Earl of Warwick is a generous man, and though hot, bears little malice, except against those whom he deems misthink or insult him; he is proud of being looked up to as a protector, especially by those of his own kith and name.