"Master de Cressi," said Sir Andrew when he had heard it, "back with
some of your people to Dunwich and raise the burgesses, warning them
that the King's wrath will be great if these traitors escape the land.
Send swift messengers to all the ports; discover where Acour rides
and follow him in force and if you come up with him, take him dead or
living. Stop not to talk, man, begone! Nay, bide here, Richard, and
those who rode with you to London, for Acour may return again and some
must be left to guard the lady Eve and your master, quick or dead."
De Cressi, his two sons and servants went, and presently were riding for
Dunwich faster than ever they rode before. But, as it proved, Acour
was too swift for them. When at length a messenger galloped into Lynn,
whither they learned that he had fled, it was to find that his ship,
which awaited him with sails hoisted, had cleared the port three hours
before, with a wind behind her which blew straight for Flanders.
"Ah!" said Grey Dick when he heard the news, "this is what comes of
wasting arrows upon targets which should have been saved for traitors'
hearts! With those three hours of daylight in hand we'd have ringed the
rogues in or run them down. Well, the devil's will be done; he does but
spare his own till a better day."
But when the King heard the news he was very wroth, not with Hugh de
Cressi, but with the burgesses of Dunwich, whose Mayor, although he
was blameless, lost his office over the matter.
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