tall squire, who had been addressed as Roger Harcomb. 'You must ever plague the new-comers. But it were shame if this went further. The lad hath shown a proper spirit.'
'But a blow! a blow!' cried several of the older squires. 'There must be a finish to this.'
'Nay; Tranter first laid hand upon his head,' said Harcomb. 'How say you, Tranter? The matter may rest where it stands?'
'My name is known in these parts,' said Tranter, proudly. 'I can let pass what might leave a stain upon another. Let him pick up his glove and say that he has done amiss.'
'I would see him in the claws of the devil first,' whispered Ford.
'You hear, young sir?' said the peacemaker. 'Our friend will overlook the matter if you do but say that you have acted in heat and haste.'
'I cannot say that,' answered Alleyne. 'It is our custom, young sir, when new squires come amongst us from England, to test them in some such way. Bethink you that if a man have a destrier or a new lance he will ever try it in time of peace, lest in days of need it may fail him. How much more then is it proper to test those who are our comrades in arms?'
'I should draw out if it may honourably be done,' murmured Norbury in Alleyne's ear. 'The man is a noted swordsman and far above your strength.'
Edricson came, however, of that sturdy Saxon blood which is very slowly heated, but once up not easily to be cooled. The hint of danger which Norbury threw out was the one thing needed to harden his resolution.
'I came here at the back of my master,' he said, 'and I looked on every man here as an Englishman and a friend. This gentleman hath shown me a rough welcome, and if I have answered him in the same spirit he has but himself to thank. I will pick the glove up; but, certes, I shall abide what I have done unless he first crave my pardon for what he hath said and done.'
