{"product_id":"2940013106451","title":"THE BLACK ARROW--A TALE OF THE TWO ROSES","description":"BOOK I--THE TWO LADS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER I--AT THE SIGN OF THE SUN IN KETTLEY\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSir Daniel and his men lay in and about Kettley that night, warmly\u003cbr\u003equartered and well patrolled.  But the Knight of Tunstall was one who\u003cbr\u003enever rested from money-getting; and even now, when he was on the brink\u003cbr\u003eof an adventure which should make or mar him, he was up an hour after\u003cbr\u003emidnight to squeeze poor neighbours.  He was one who trafficked greatly\u003cbr\u003ein disputed inheritances; it was his way to buy out the most unlikely\u003cbr\u003eclaimant, and then, by the favour he curried with great lords about the\u003cbr\u003eking, procure unjust decisions in his favour; or, if that was too\u003cbr\u003eroundabout, to seize the disputed manor by force of arms, and rely on his\u003cbr\u003einfluence and Sir Oliver's cunning in the law to hold what he had\u003cbr\u003esnatched.  Kettley was one such place; it had come very lately into his\u003cbr\u003eclutches; he still met with opposition from the tenants; and it was to\u003cbr\u003eoverawe discontent that he had led his troops that way.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy two in the morning, Sir Daniel sat in the inn room, close by the\u003cbr\u003efireside, for it was cold at that hour among the fens of Kettley.  By his\u003cbr\u003eelbow stood a pottle of spiced ale.  He had taken off his visored\u003cbr\u003eheadpiece, and sat with his bald head and thin, dark visage resting on\u003cbr\u003eone hand, wrapped warmly in a sanguine-coloured cloak.  At the lower end\u003cbr\u003eof the room about a dozen of his men stood sentry over the door or lay\u003cbr\u003easleep on benches; and somewhat nearer hand, a young lad, apparently of\u003cbr\u003etwelve or thirteen, was stretched in a mantle on the floor.  The host of\u003cbr\u003ethe Sun stood before the great man.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Now, mark me, mine host,\" Sir Daniel said, \"follow but mine orders, and\u003cbr\u003eI shall be your good lord ever.  I must have good men for head boroughs,\u003cbr\u003eand I will have Adam-a-More high constable; see to it narrowly.  If other\u003cbr\u003emen be chosen, it shall avail you nothing; rather it shall be found to\u003cbr\u003eyour sore cost.  For those that have paid rent to Walsingham I shall take\u003cbr\u003egood measure--you among the rest, mine host.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Good knight,\" said the host, \"I will swear upon the cross of Holywood I\u003cbr\u003edid but pay to Walsingham upon compulsion.  Nay, bully knight, I love not\u003cbr\u003ethe rogue Walsinghams; they were as poor as thieves, bully knight.  Give\u003cbr\u003eme a great lord like you.  Nay; ask me among the neighbours, I am stout\u003cbr\u003efor Brackley.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It may be,\" said Sir Daniel, dryly.  \"Ye shall then pay twice.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe innkeeper made a horrid grimace; but this was a piece of bad luck\u003cbr\u003ethat might readily befall a tenant in these unruly times, and he was\u003cbr\u003eperhaps glad to make his peace so easily.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Bring up yon fellow, Selden!\" cried the knight.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd one of his retainers led up a poor, cringing old man, as pale as a\u003cbr\u003ecandle, and all shaking with the fen fever.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Sirrah,\" said Sir Daniel, \"your name?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"An't please your worship,\" replied the man, \"my name is Condall--Condall\u003cbr\u003eof Shoreby, at your good worship's pleasure.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I have heard you ill reported on,\" returned the knight.  \"Ye deal in\u003cbr\u003etreason, rogue; ye trudge the country leasing; y' are heavily suspicioned\u003cbr\u003eof the death of severals.  How, fellow, are ye so bold?  But I will bring\u003cbr\u003eyou down.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Right honourable and my reverend lord,\" the man cried, \"here is some\u003cbr\u003ehodge-podge, saving your good presence.  I am but a poor private man, and\u003cbr\u003ehave hurt none.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The under-sheriff did report of you most vilely,\" said the knight.\u003cbr\u003e\"'Seize me,' saith he, 'that Tyndal of Shoreby.'\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Condall, my good lord; Condall is my poor name,\" said the unfortunate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Condall or Tyndal, it is all one,\" replied Sir Daniel, coolly.  \"For, by\u003cbr\u003emy sooth, y' are here and I do mightily suspect your honesty.  If ye\u003cbr\u003ewould save your neck, write me swiftly an obligation for twenty pound.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"For twenty pound, my good lord!\" cried Condall.  \"Here is midsummer\u003cbr\u003emadness!  My whole estate amounteth not to seventy shillings.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Condall or Tyndal,\" returned Sir Daniel, grinning, \"I will run my peril\u003cbr\u003eof that loss.  Write me down twenty, and when I have recovered all I may,\u003cbr\u003eI will be good lord to you, and pardon you the rest.\"","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47147461509360,"sku":"2940013106451","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013106451_p0.jpg?v=1763588035","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013106451","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}