"By Our Lady, it was no slight thing to venture through the woods, swarming with these wild Welshmen.

How long have you been an esquire to Percy ?" "Over three years, sire." "I met Master Forster at Chester," the earl said.

"He commanded a score of Percy's men, and rode with us when we captured Glendower's house.
The knights with him told me that he and his little band had done excellent service, in the fight when the Welsh made their first irruption; and that Sir Henry Percy had written in the warmest terms to Mortimer, saying that the gentleman stood high in his regard, and that he had the most perfect confidence in him, and had selected him for the service since he was able to write well, and could, therefore, communicate freely with him as to the troubles on the Welsh border." "And have you been at Mortimer's ever since that time ?" the king asked.
Oswald noticed that each time Mortimer's name was mentioned, the king's brow was somewhat clouded.
"Not so, your majesty.

I returned to the north, with Percy's men, a few days after the capture of Glendower's house.

I came back to Ludlow in the spring." "Why did Sir Henry Percy despatch you there again ?" the king asked, sharply.
"From what he said, sire, it was because he was anxious to know whether the rebellion was growing, fearing that there might be some correspondence between Glendower and the Scots; and that, if it should come to a point when you might have to lead the whole force of the south to put the Welsh down, the Scots might make a great irruption into the northern counties, and it would be needful for him to keep a larger body of men than usual under arms; as the earl, his father, and the Earl of Westmoreland, would have to stand the whole brunt of the matter, for a time, without aid from the south." The king's brow cleared.
"It was a thoughtful act of Sir Henry," he said; "and 'tis like enough that the Scots will, as you say, take advantage of our troubles here; and it is well, therefore, that the Lords of the Northern Marches should hold themselves in readiness.
"What think you, Talbot?
It seems to me that the bold service this esquire has performed merits reward." "I think so, indeed," the earl said.