we cannot ransom ourselves."

"Poor!--tut!" said the captain, pointing significantly to the costly
robe of the maiden--"moreover his worship's wealth is well known.
Mount in haste,--we are pressed." And without heeding the
expostulations of Sibyll and the poor scholar, the rebel put his troop
into motion, and marched himself at their head, with his lieutenant.

Sibyll found the subalterns sterner than their chief; for as Warner
offered to resist, one of them lifted his gisarme, with a frightful
oath, and Sibyll was the first to persuade her father to submit. She
mildly, however, rejected the mule, and the two captives walked
together in the midst of the troop.

"Pardie!" said the lieutenant, "I see little help to Sir Geoffrey in
these recruits, captain!"

"Fool!" said the chief, disdainfully, "if the rebellion fail, these
prisoners may save our necks. Will Somers last night was to break
into the house of Sir John Bourchier, for arms and moneys, of which
the knight hath a goodly store. Be sure, Sir John slinked off in the
siege, and this is he and his daughter. Thou knowest he is one of the
greatest knights, and the richest, whom the Yorkists boast of; and we
may name our own price for his ransom."

"But where lodge them while we go to the battle?"

"Ned Porpustone hath a hostelry not far from the camp, and Ned is a
good Lancastrian, and a man to be trusted."