“But goe to the Court! yett, good my Lord, I my-selfe will ryde with thee; if any man will doe you wronge, your borow[25] I shalbee.” “But nay, now nay, my Lady gay, for soe it must not bee; for if I goe to the Court, Ladye, thou must me never see. But come hither, thou litle footpage, come thou hither unto mee, for thou shalt goe a message to Master Norton in all the hast that ever may bee. Comend me to that gentleman; bring him here this letter from mee, and say I pray him earnestlye that he will ryde in my companye.” But one while the foote page went, another while he rann; untill he came to Master Norton, the foot page never blanne.[26] And when he came to Master Norton, he kneled on his knee, And tooke the letter betwixt his hands, and lett the gentleman it see. And when the letter it was reade afore all his companye, I-wis, if you wold know the truth, there was many a weeping eye. He said, “Come hither, Kester[27] Norton, a fine fellow thou seemes to bee; Some good councell, Kester Norton, this day doe thou give to mee.” “Marry, I’ll give you councell, father, if you’ll councell take at mee, that if you have spoken the word, father, that backe againe you doe not flee.” “God amercy, Christopher Norton, I say, God amercy! if I doe live and scape with life, well avancèd shalt thou bee. But come you hither, my nine good sonnes, in men’s estate I thinke you bee; how many of you, my children deare, on my part that wilbe?” But eight of them did answer soone, and spake full hastilye, sayes, “We wilbe on your part, father, till the day that we doe dye.” “But God amercy, my children deare, and ever I say God amercy! and yet my blessing you shall have, whethersoever I live or dye. But what sayst thou, thou Francis Norton, mine eldest sonne and mine heyre trulye? some good councell, Francis Norton, this day thou give to me.” “But I will give you councell, father, if you will take councell at mee; for if you wold take my councell, father, against the crowne you shold not bee.” “But fye upon thee, Francis Norton! I say Fye upon thee! When thou was younge and tender of age I made full much of thee.” “But your head is white, father,” he sayes, “and your beard is wonderous gray; it were shame for your countrye if you shold rise and flee away.” “But fye upon thee, thou coward Francis! thou never tookest that of mee! when thou was younge and tender of age I made too much of thee.” “But I will goe with you, father, quoth hee, like a naked man will I be; he that strikes the first stroake against the crowne, an ill death may hee dye!”