`` 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 Dick ; `` but had the waves not holpen me , it was I that should have had the worst . Ye were pleased to make me yours with several dagger marks , which I still carry . And in fine , my lord , methinks I had all the danger , as well as all the profit , of that little blind-man 's mellay on the beach . '' `` Y ' are shrewd enough to make light of it , I see , '' returned the stranger . `` Nay , my lord , not shrewd , '' replied Dick , `` in that I shoot at no advantage to myself . But when , by the light of this new day , I see how stout a knight hath yielded , not to my arms alone , but to fortune , and the darkness , and the surf -- and how easily the battle had gone otherwise , with a soldier so untried and rustic as myself -- think it not strange , my lord , if I feel confounded with my victory . '' `` Ye speak well , '' said the stranger . `` Your name ? '' `` My name , a n't like you , is Shelton , '' answered Dick . `` Men call me the Lord Foxham , '' added the other . `` Then , my lord , and under your good favour , ye are guardian to the sweetest maid in England , '' replied Dick ; `` and for your ransom , and the ransom of such as were taken with you on the beach , there will be no uncertainty of terms . I pray you , my lord , of your goodwill and charity , yield me the hand of my mistress , Joan Sedley ; and take ye , upon the other part , your liberty , the liberty of these your followers , and -LRB- if ye will have it -RRB- my gratitude and service till I die . '' `` But are ye not ward to Sir Daniel ?
Methought , if y ' are Harry Shelton 's son , that I had heard it so reported , '' said Lord XXXXX .
Christian England Foxham Sedley blind-man dagger day mellay methinks undermost