On the morning of September 27, it was overcast, and a large cloud hanging overhead seemed to herald the arrival of heavy rain. However, the sky in the north is gradually brightening, and it is believed that the sky will soon be clear after the rain. At this moment, to the east of a large pond south of the village of Ramsgill, which is under the jurisdiction of the town of Harrogate, two armed armed forces of a completely different nature are all staying in a flat area near the pond.

While the hussars and sergeants of the two armies were resting outside a grove by the pond, their temporary commanders, Sir Francis and Miss Isabelle, were walking slowly on the grass by the pond. It was clear that the reason for the two of them to talk alone was not only for the battle that had taken place by the pond last night, but also for the fact that the two had other things they wanted to talk about that they did not want to be heard by the others.

Looking sideways at the calm waters of the pond, Sir Francis, who was pacing with his hands behind his back, had a smile on his face, "Isabel, why did it take you so long to reply to me last time I wrote to you?" ”

Isabel walked slowly with her arms folded over her chest, "There were so many letters that I had to reply to one by one, so I forgot to reply to your letters for a while. ”

"Thankfully, it was only a few months ago, Isabel."

"Francis, what do you mean?"

Sir turned to look at her, a little solemn, "Isabel, I... I'm getting married. ”

"Married? Are you sure? Well, I should congratulate you, sir. Isabel spoke with a sense of loss or jealousy.

"I am grateful for your blessings, Isabel. You know, Carolyn once told me about your... Marriage. ”

"Francis, I think... Marriage wasn't quite for me. Isabel walked from Sir Sir to the pond, "You see, if I had been fit to get married, have children, and be a respectable lady of knighthood or noblemanship, I would not have personally led an army here to exterminate the thieves." ”

Sir Francis was also a member of the "Black Friars" group, and he certainly knew what the other party meant. He just didn't understand how the leader of the "Black Friars" was still keen on adventure, killing, dueling and war, which only men would like to do. Staring at the other person's back, he walked to her side, "Isabel, I don't think what you said will conflict with whether you want to get married or not. ”

Isabel turned her head and glanced at him, "Wouldn't it?" Sir, you are a judge in the service of His Majesty, and are you not aware of the various privileges accorded by the laws of the kingdom to nobles and knights in the marital family? ”

Sir nodded, "I know. However, not all nobles and knights are willing to dominate their beloved wives. ”

Isabel didn't speak, she knew the other party just hadn't spoken herself. In other words, if she had agreed to marry Sir Francis, Sir would not have exercised her husband's control and dominance over his wife after marriage. It's just that she has been living an independent life for as long as she can remember.

She didn't know if she could say such a thing to Sir, but after a silence she said gently, "Sir, the matter of my marriage may be settled in a few more years." ”

"Well, Isabel, you know I have a lot of respect for you. Now, I officially invite you to my wedding. Sir Francis could only temporarily dispel his expectations of Isabel.

"Sir, I wish I could attend your wedding." Isabel's attitude appeared sincere. Later, as they walked back, they talked about the battle to clear the thieves last night, and Sir Francis listened quietly to what the other had to say, and then looked sideways at the other, "Miss Isabel, since you have volunteered to come to Harrogate in place of your father, Sir Augustine, to arrest the outlaws, why don't you inform us beforehand?" ”

Isabel knew he would ask that, but just smiled faintly, "Advance notice?" Your Excellency, my father and Sir William, another judge, had no idea where the thieves would flee. So, who are you going to have the two judges in Richmond County report to? To you and your fellow judges, or to the whole Yorkshire Magistrate, or to the entire Northern Shires? ”

Sir stroked his beard and remained silent, admitting that he was right. However, the exercise of the power of arrest by the county is still required to be notified to the local magistrate's court in advance. On the flip side, Isabel's unauthorized actions show signs of neglect and lack of dedication to his duties as a magistrate in the town of Harrogate.

In addition, Matthew and his gang members have set up a thief camp in the area under his jurisdiction, which can lead to a great misunderstanding of his role as a judge. Of course, Francis also had his own problems, as a magistrate he dealt with all kinds of cases every day like a handyman.

Not only that, but he and another judge were also responsible for observing the rebellion against the king and the royal family; supervise bridges and highways, and strengthen the implementation of wage and price control laws; The use of coercive means to collect special local taxes and the enforcement of laws and regulations on agriculture, industry and commerce were innumerably decreed by the king and the Privy Council. Even tavern fights, illegal knightly athletic activities, theft, begging, vagrants, quarrels between masters and servants, and other aspects of people's life had to be dealt with personally.

In terms of local policing, he should be grateful to Isabel for being nosy. After being silent for a long time, he looked at the other party with an apologetic smile, "Miss, I know you are right. Still, I need a letter from Sir Augustine and Sir William to prove that the victim had sought redress in neighbouring Richmondshire. ”

"Well, I'll ask my father and Sir William to write you this letter when I get back."

"Thank you Miss Isabel for her magnanimity. Well, you and your military met with violent resistance last night as we exercised our power to arrest, didn't you? ”

Isabel walked to the side of her horse, took a sip of ale from her saddlebag, and nodded, "Of course, except for women and children, the rest of the men participated in the violent battle against the French. ”

Francis didn't believe that everyone would desperately resist an arrest warrant from the court, and there must be people who are greedy for life and afraid of death. After thinking to himself for a while, he smiled kindly, "Now that the outlaws have been exterminated, then I can save myself the trouble of dealing with an open rebellion case. ”

"Alright, sir, my men and I are going back to Richmondshire. Is there anything else you'd like to say? ”

Francis glanced at the hussars and sergeants not far away, and whispered, "Isabel, I would like to invite you to Harrogate to take a bath in the hot springs." ”