being a good fisherman, my lord?"

"Oh! not at all; I shall buy your fish. And now speak
frankly; for whom did you destine them?"

"My lord, I will conceal nothing from you. I was going to
Newcastle, following the coast, when a party of horsemen who
were passing along in an opposite direction made a sign to
my bark to turn back to your honor's camp, under penalty of
a discharge of musketry. As I was not armed for fighting,"
added the fisherman, smiling, "I was forced to submit."

"And why did you go to Lambert's camp in preference to
mine?"

"My lord, I will be frank; will your lordship permit me?"

"Yes, and even if need be shall command you to be so."

"Well, my lord, I was going to M. Lambert's camp because
those gentlemen from the city pay well -- whilst your
Scotchmen, Puritans, Presbyterians, Covenanters, or whatever
you choose to call them, eat but little, and pay for
nothing."

Monk shrugged his shoulders, without, however, being able to
refrain from smiling at the same time. "How is it that,
being from the south, you come to fish on our coasts?"

"Because I have been fool enough to marry in Picardy."