about noon
In the progress of the morning , as he travelled about his other business , he saw the steed brought forth and delivered to the cutting mercer himself , who , at the head of a valorous posse of the Hue and Cry , came to rescue , by force of arms , what was delivered to him without any other ransom than the price of a huge quantity of ale , drunk out by his assistants , thirsty , it would seem , with their walk , and concerning the price of which Master Goldthred had a fierce dispute with the headborough , whom he had summoned to aid him in raising the country . Having made this act of prudent as well as just restitution , Wayland procured such change of apparel for the lady , as well as himself , as gave them both the appearance of country people of the better class ; it being further resolved , that in order to attract the less observation , she should pass upon the road for the sister of her guide . A good but not a gay horse , fit to keep pace with his own , and gentle enough for a lady 's use , completed the preparations for the journey ; for making which , and for other expenses , he had been furnished with sufficient funds by Tressilian . And thus , about noon , after the Countess had been refreshed by the sound repose of several hours , they resumed their journey , with the purpose of making the best of their way to Kenilworth , by Coventry and Warwick . They were not , however , destined to travel far without meeting some cause of apprehension . It is necessary to premise that the landlord of the inn had informed them that a jovial party , intended , as he understood , to present some of the masques or mummeries which made a part of the entertainment with which the Queen was usually welcomed on the royal Progresses , had left the village of Donnington an hour or two before them in order to proceed to Kenilworth . Now it had occurred to Wayland that , by attaching themselves in some sort to this group as soon as they should overtake them on the road , they would be less likely to attract notice than if they continued to travel entirely by themselves .