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 Foxham . `` Will it please you , my lord , to alight ? I would fain tell you fully who I am , how situate , and why so bold in my demands . Beseech you , my lord , take place upon these steps , hear me to a full end , and judge me with allowance . '' And so saying , Dick lent a hand to Lord Foxham to dismount ; led him up the knoll to the cross ; installed him in the place where he had himself been sitting ; and standing respectfully before his noble prisoner , related the story of his fortunes up to the events of the evening before . Lord Foxham listened gravely , and when Dick had done , `` Master Shelton , '' he said , `` ye are a most fortunate-unfortunate young gentleman ; but what fortune y ' ` ave had , that ye have amply merited ; and what unfortune , ye have noways deserved . Be of a good cheer ; for ye have made a friend who is devoid neither of power nor favour . For yourself , although it fits not for a person of your birth to herd with outlaws , I must own ye are both brave and honourable ; very dangerous in battle , right courteous in peace ; a youth of excellent disposition and brave bearing . For your estates , ye will never see them till the world shall change again ; so long as Lancaster hath the strong hand , so long shall Sir Daniel enjoy them for his own . For my ward , it is another matter ; I had promised her before to a gentleman , a kinsman of my house , one Hamley ; the promise is old -- '' `` Ay , my lord , and now Sir Daniel hath promised her to my Lord Shoreby , '' interrupted Dick . `` And his promise , for all it is but young , is still the likelier to be made good . '' '' 'T is the plain truth , '' returned his lordship . `` And considering , moreover , that I am your prisoner , upon no better composition than my bare life , and over and above that , that the maiden is unhappily in other hands , I will so far consent . Aid me with your good fellows '' -- `` My lord , '' cried Dick , `` they are these same outlaws that ye blame me for consorting with . '' `` Let them be what they will , they can fight , '' returned Lord Foxham . `` Help me , then ; and if between us we regain the maid , upon my knightly honour , she shall marry you ! '' Dick bent his knee before his prisoner ; but he , leaping up lightly from the cross , caught the lad up and embraced him like a son . `` Come , '' he said , `` an y ' are to marry Joan , we must be early friends . ''
CHAPTER IV -- THE GOOD HOPE An hour thereafter , XXXXX was back at the Goat and Bagpipes , breaking his fast , and receiving the report of his messengers and sentries .
Ay Daniel Dick Hamley Lancaster Methought Sedley before dismount right