noon
All his captains rode today with Norman of Torn . Beside those whom we have met , there was Don Piedro Castro y Pensilo of Spain ; Baron of Cobarth of Germany , and Sir John Mandecote of England . Like their leader , each of these fierce warriors carried a great price upon his head , and the story of the life of any one would fill a large volume with romance , war , intrigue , treachery , bravery and death . Toward noon one day , in the midst of a beautiful valley of Essex , they came upon a party of ten knights escorting two young women . The meeting was at a turn in the road , so that the two parties were upon each other before the ten knights had an opportunity to escape with their fair wards . `` What the devil be this , '' cried one of the knights , as the main body of the outlaw horde came into view , `` the King 's army or one of his foreign legions ? '' `` It be Norman of Torn and his fighting men , '' replied the outlaw .