"We are not dogs, nor serfs, nor villains," it declared, "that we should be whipped for free speech. We are free men. If yonder man-at-arms layeth but a finger upon Guy the Bow or upon my Lord of Wartmont, I will send this shaft through his midriff."
"Richard Neville, what meaneth this?" exclaimed Sir Peter Legh. "Whose men are these?"
"We belong to the Wartmont, under the Earl of Warwick," spoke out Ben of Coventry, "and through the earl we are the king's men. Look thou well to that."
"Sir Peter," said Richard sturdily, "there was no cause of offense to thee."
"These, then, are yeomen?" asked Sir Peter, with a grim smile that meant much.
"Never was collar of serf upon the neck of an archer of Arden," replied Richard. "Free they were born, and free they will die. And I swear to thee that my father's son will die here with them ere they are harmed."
The knight was wiser than he had seemed, for he did but laugh loudly.
"I have no quarrel to pick with Earl Warwick or with thee, or with thy deerstealers," he said. "Bring them along. These were with thee when thou didst take La Belle Calaise? Pirates every man. But they are what thou wilt need to have with thee if thou art to follow Sir Thomas Holland and me. The old one-eyed Saracen fighter will lead where none but brave hearts may go."
All the men heard him, and bows were promptly lowered. Said Guy the Bow: