vainly brave in a wrong cause. Depart!"

"Ah, Montagu," said Hastings, touched, and in a whisper, "what pity
that so gallant a gentleman should leave a rebel's blot upon his
scutcheon!"

"When chiefs and suzerains are false and perjured, Lord Hastings,"
answered Montagu, "to obey them is not loyalty, but serfdom; and
revolt is not disloyalty, but a freeman's duty. One day thou mayst
know that truth, but too late." [It was in the midst of his own
conspiracy against Richard of Gloucester that the head of Lord
Hastings fell.]

Hastings made no reply, waved his hand to his fellow-defenders of the
bridge, and, followed by them, went slowly and deliberately on, till
clear of the murmuring and sullen foe; then putting spurs to their
steeds, these faithful warriors rode fast to rejoin their king;
overtook Hilyard on the way, and after a fierce skirmish, a blow from
Hastings unhorsed and unhelmed the stalwart Robin, and left him so
stunned as to check further pursuit. They at last reached the king,
and gaining, with him and his party, the town of Lynn, happily found
one English and two Dutch vessels on the point of sailing. Without
other raiment than the mail they wore, without money, the men a few
hours before hailed as sovereign or as peers fled from their native
land as outcasts and paupers. New dangers beset them on the sea: the
ships of the Easterlings, at war both with France and England, bore
down upon their vessels. At the risk of drowning they ran ashore near
Alcmaer. The large ships of the Easterlings followed as far as the
low water would permit, "intendeing at the fludde to have obtained
their prey." [Hall.] In this extremity, the lord of the province