All is at an
end between us, and henceforth I am his open enemy, as he is mine; and
would be heart and soul with the Percys in the overthrow of Henry, even
if my nephew were not concerned, and did the earl purpose, himself, to
grasp the crown."
"Glendower is below, Sir Edmund, and will himself speak to you; but he
thought that it were best that I should first open the matter to you."
A quarter of an hour later the keeper of the hold came up, and said
that the prince bade Sir Edmund to descend and speak with him. As they
entered the room where Glendower was waiting, the latter glanced at
Oswald, inquiringly.
"The matter is settled," the latter said. "Sir Edmund will join us,
with heart and hand."
"I am indeed glad to hear it, Sir Oswald.
"Sir Edmund Mortimer," he went on, courteously, "hitherto we have
regarded each other as enemies; henceforth we are friends, and you are
my guest and not my prisoner. I have thought it over, and methinks that
you must tarry here, till we have certain news of the day on which the
Percys will set on foot their enterprise. It would not be safe for you
to return to your estates, until you are in a position to call your
vassals to arms at once; for the king, were he to hear that you were at
Ludlow, might call on the lieutenants of the western counties, and the
owners of all the castles, to attack you at once.
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