KENILWORTH - Penn State University

Kenilworthwith sword and buckler. Nay, I am even one of those whohold the end of a feast better than the beginning of a fray. ButI know that I can serve your worship better, in such quest asyours, than any of these sword-and-dagger men, and that myhead will be worth an hundred of their hands.”Tressilian still hesitated. He knew not much of this strangefellow, and was doubtful how far he could repose in him theconfidence necessary to render him a useful attendant uponthe present emergency. Ere he had come to a determination,the trampling of a horse was heard in the courtyard, and MasterMumblazen and Will Badger both entered hastily intoTressilian’s chamber, speaking almost at the same moment.“Here is a serving-man on the bonniest grey tit I ever see’din my life,” said Will Badger, who got the start—”having onhis arm a silver cognizance, being a fire-drake holding in hismouth a brickbat, under a coronet of an Earl’s degree,” saidMaster Mumblazen, “and bearing a letter sealed of the same.”Tressilian took the letter, which was addressed “To the worshipfulMaster Edmund Tressilian, our loving kinsman—These—ride, ride, ride—for thy life, for thy life, for thy life.“He then opened it, and found the following contents:—“Master Tressilian, our good Friend and Cousin,“We are at present so ill at ease, and otherwise so unhappilycircumstanced, that we are desirous to have around us thoseof our friends on whose loving-kindness we can most especiallyrepose confidence; amongst whom we hold our goodMaster Tressilian one of the foremost and nearest, both ingood will and good ability. We therefore pray you, with yourmost convenient speed, to repair to our poor lodging, at SayesCourt, near Deptford, where we will treat further with youof matters which we deem it not fit to commit unto writing.And so we bid you heartily farewell, being your loving kinsmanto command,“Ratcliffe, Earl of Sussex.”“Send up the messenger instantly, Will Badger,” saidTressilian; and as the man entered the room, he exclaimed,“Ah, Stevens, is it you? how does my good lord?”“Ill, Master Tressilian,” was the messenger’s reply, “and havingtherefore the more need of good friends around him.”“But what is my lord’s malady?” said Tressilian anxiously; I152