Meanwhile , Dick and his men had returned to the ale-house of the Goat and Bagpipes to snatch some hours of sleep before the morning tryst . CHAPTER III -- ST. BRIDE 'S CROSS St. Bride 's cross stood a little way back from Shoreby , on the skirts of Tunstall Forest . Two roads met : one , from Holywood across the forest ; one , that road from Risingham down which we saw the wrecks of a Lancastrian army fleeing in disorder . Here the two joined issue , and went on together down the hill to Shoreby ; and a little back from the point of junction , the summit of a little knoll was crowned by the ancient and weather-beaten cross . Here , then , about seven in the morning , Dick arrived . It was as cold as ever ; the earth was all grey and silver with the hoarfrost , and the day began to break in the east with many colours of purple and orange . Dick set him down upon the lowest step of the cross , wrapped himself well in his tabard , and looked vigilantly upon all sides . He had not long to wait . Down the road from Holywood a gentleman in very rich and bright armour , and wearing over that a surcoat of the rarest furs , came pacing on a splendid charger . Twenty yards behind him followed a clump of lances ; but these halted as soon as they came in view of the trysting-place , while the gentleman in the fur surcoat continued to advance alone . His visor was raised , and showed a countenance of great command and dignity , answerable to the richness of his attire and arms . And it was with some confusion of manner that Dick arose from the cross and stepped down the bank to meet his prisoner . `` I thank you , my lord , for your exactitude , '' he said , louting very low . `` Will it please your lordship to set foot to earth ? '' `` Are ye here alone , young man ? '' inquired the other . `` I was not so simple , '' answered Dick ; `` and , to be plain with your lordship , the woods upon either hand of this cross lie full of mine honest fellows lying on their weapons . '' `` Y ' ` ave done wisely , '' said the lord . `` It pleaseth me the rather , since last night ye fought foolhardily , and more like a salvage Saracen lunatic than any Christian warrior . But it becomes not me to complain that had the undermost . ''
`` Ye had the undermost indeed , my lord , since ye so fell , '' returned XXXXX ; `` but had the waves not holpen me , it was I that should have had the worst .
Christian Dick Lancastrian Risingham Saracen colours exactitude night trysting-place undermost