As the night fell it grew colder, and Blanche crept into his arms, laid her head confidingly against his shoulder and slept. The sleep of all three was, however, somewhat broken by the noises made by the peasantry searching with torches for the bodies of the slain.
In the morning, all danger having passed, John helped the women down and the three returned to their home which was in great disorder and bare of everything of value. It was a sad homecoming for the women, but it was useless to repine, so they set to work to clean the house and put it in order. John was informed that the Earl of Warwick desired his immediate attendance. “Is it true,” the Earl demanded, “that you led the archers up the stairway?”
“Yes, your Lordship,” said John, “I knew of the door and the stairway of old.”
“It was a great deed and shall not be forgotten, choose thy reward!”
“To serve your Lordship,” said John.
“Well said,” returned the Earl, “thou shalt be my page.”
“An your Lordship please, I would first bury Jabez Short who was killed beside me.”
“So do,” replied the Earl, “I will send for thee anon.”
John encountered Jed on his return; “do thou look after the women folk,” said Jed, “I must straight to London with the Earl.”
That morning the Duke of Norfolk marched into St. Albans with 6,000 men and the army started for London with the wounded King, who had been struck on the neck with an arrow.