The Percys are down south, so he was free to ride over here. He
wants us to send you to him, without loss of time. He says that there
is a vacancy in Percy's household, owing to one of his esquires being
made a knight, and a page has been promoted to an esquireship. He said
that he spoke to Hotspur, before he went south, anent the matter; and
asked him to enroll you, not exactly as a page, but as one who, from
his knowledge of the border, would be a safe and trusty messenger to
send, in case of need. As he has served the Percys for thirty years,
and for ten has been the captain of their men-at-arms; and has never
asked for aught, either for himself or his relations, Percy gave him a
favourable answer; and said that if, on his return, he would present
you to him, and he found that you were a lad of manners that would be
suitable for a member of his household, he would grant his request;
partly, too, because my father and myself had always been stanch men,
and ready at all times to join his banner, when summoned, and to fight
doughtily. So there seems a good chance of preferment for you.
"Your mother is willing that you should go. She says, and truly enough,
that if you stay here it will be but to engage, as I and my forebears
have done, in constant feuds with the Scots; harrying and being
harried, never knowing, when we lie down to rest, but that we may be
woke up by the battle shout of the Bairds; and leaving behind us, when
we die, no more than we took from our fathers.
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