He is a merry fellow, too.

I have often marked him at the castle, and his laugh is a veritable roar, that would sound strange echoing along the galleries of a monastery.

The abbot did well to let him go, for such a fellow might well disturb the peace and quiet of a whole convent.
"You say that he has skill in war ?" "Yes, Sir John.

He has been the instructor in arms of the lay brothers, and of some of the monks, too; and he led the contingent of the abbey at Otterburn; and, although the day went against the English, he and his followers greatly distinguished themselves." "If you would part with him, I would better his condition, Master Oswald; for, on my recommendation, Sir Edmund would, I am sure, make him captain of a company." "I should be sorry, indeed, to part with him, Sir John, and the more so since he has saved my life today; but, even were I willing, I feel sure he would not leave me, as we have gone through some adventures together, and he believes that it is to me that he owes his escape from the convent." "What were these adventures, Oswald ?" "It was a matter touching the Earl of March--not Sir Edmund's nephew, now in the care of the king, but the Scottish earl, George, Earl of Dunbar, also bearing the title of Earl of March.

Now that he has taken the oath to King Henry, there is no reason why I should not speak of it." And he then gave them an account of his visit to Dunbar, and of his escape.
"And why did the earl wish to keep you ?" "Maybe, sir, that he had not then made up his mind, and thought that affairs might yet have been accommodated between himself, Douglas, and the Scottish king." "Perhaps that was so," Sir John agreed.