Get ye to your knees for to pray:

Ye are ded theeves, by yea and nay!

"JON AMEND-ALL

of the Green Wood,

And his jolly fellaweship.

"Item, we have mo arrowes and goode hempen cord for otheres of your

following."

"Now, well-a-day for charity and the Christian graces!" cried Sir

Oliver, lamentably. "Sirs, this is an ill world, and groweth daily

worse. I will swear upon the cross of Holywood I am as innocent of

that good knight's hurt, whether in act or purpose, as the babe

unchristened. Neither was his throat cut; for therein they are

again in error, as there still live credible witnesses to show."

"It boots not, sir parson," said Bennet. "Here is unseasonable

talk."

"Nay, Master Bennet, not so. Keep ye in your due place, good

Bennet," answered the priest. "I shall make mine innocence appear.

I will, upon no consideration, lose my poor life in error. I take

all men to witness that I am clear of this matter. I was not even

in the Moat House. I was sent of an errand before nine upon the

clock" -

"Sir Oliver," said Hatch, interrupting, "since it please you not to

stop this sermon, I will take other means. Goffe, sound to horse."

And while the tucket was sounding, Bennet moved close to the

bewildered parson, and whispered violently in his ear.

Dick Shelton saw the priest's eye turned upon him for an instant in

a startled glance. He had some cause for thought; for this Sir

Harry Shelton was his own natural father. But he said never a

word, and kept his countenance unmoved.

Hatch and Sir Oliver discussed together for a while their altered

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