The small town of Shoreby-on-the-Till was full of the Lancastrian nobles of the neighbourhood . Earl Risingham was there , with three hundred men-at-arms ; Lord Shoreby , with two hundred ; Sir Daniel himself , high in favour and once more growing rich on confiscations , lay in a house of his own , on the main street , with three-score men . The world had changed indeed . It was a black , bitter cold evening in the first week of January , with a hard frost , a high wind , and every likelihood of snow before the morning . In an obscure alehouse in a by-street near the harbour , three or four men sat drinking ale and eating a hasty mess of eggs . They were all likely , lusty , weather-beaten fellows , hard of hand , bold of eye ; and though they wore plain tabards , like country ploughmen , even a drunken soldier might have looked twice before he sought a quarrel in such company . A little apart before the huge fire sat a younger man , almost a boy , dressed in much the same fashion , though it was easy to see by his looks that he was better born , and might have worn a sword , had the time suited . `` Nay , '' said one of the men at the table , `` I like it not . Ill will come of it . This is no place for jolly fellows . A jolly fellow loveth open country , good cover , and scarce foes ; but here we are shut in a town , girt about with enemies ; and , for the bull 's - eye of misfortune , see if it snow not ere the morning . '' '' 'T is for Master Shelton there , '' said another , nodding his head towards the lad before the fire . `` I will do much for Master Shelton , '' returned the first ; `` but to come to the gallows for any man -- nay , brothers , not that ! '' The door of the inn opened , and another man entered hastily and approached the youth before the fire . `` Master Shelton , '' he said , `` Sir Daniel goeth forth with a pair of links and four archers . '' Dick -LRB- for this was our young friend -RRB- rose instantly to his feet . `` Lawless , '' he said , `` ye will take John Capper 's watch . Greensheve , follow with me . Capper , lead forward . We will follow him this time , an he go to York . ''
The next moment they were outside in the dark street , and Capper , the man who had just XXXXX , pointed to where two torches flared in the wind at a little distance .
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