One afternoon in the late springtime, the Moat House bell begins to ring. A messenger arrived with a message from Sir Daniel Brackley for Sir Oliver Oates, his clerk. When the peasants gather at the summons of the bell, they are told that as many armed men as can be spared from the defense of Moat House are to join Sir Daniel at Kettley, where a battle is to be fought between the armies of Lancaster and York. There is some grumbling at this order, for Sir Daniel is a faithless man who fights first on one side and then on the other. He added to his own lands by securing the wardships of children left orphans in those troubled times, and it is whispered that he murdered good Sir Harry Shelton to make himself the guardian of young Dick Shelton and the lord of the Moat House estates.

As guardian, Sir Daniel plans to marry Dick to the orphaned heiress of Kettley, Joanna Sedley. He rides there to take charge of the girl. Dick, knowing nothing of these plans, remains behind as one of the garrison of the manor. Old Nick Appleyard, a veteran of Agincourt, grumbles at the weakness of the defense in a country overrun by stragglers from warring armies and insists that Moat House lies open to attack. His prophecy comes true. While he stands talking to Dick and Bennet Hatch, Sir Daniel?s bailiff, a black arrow whirs out of the woods and strikes Nick between the shoulder blades. A message on the shaft indicates that John Amend-All, a mysterious outlaw, kills old Nick.

Sir Oliver trembles when he reads the message on the arrow. Shortly afterward, he is further disturbed by a message pinned on the church door, announcing that John Amend-All will kill Sir Daniel, Sir Oliver, and Hatch. Dick learns from the message that the outlaw accuses Sir Oliver of killing Sir Harry, Dick?s father; but Sir Oliver swears that he had no part in the knight?s death. Dick decides to remain quiet until he learns more about the matter and in the meantime to act in all fairness to Sir Daniel.

It is decided that Hatch should remain to guard Moat House while the outlaws are in the neighborhood. Dick rides off with ten men-at-arms to find Sir Daniel. He carries a letter from Sir Oliver telling of John Amend-All?s threats.

At Kettley, Sir Daniel awaits the outcome of a battle already in progress, for he intends to join the winning side at the last minute. Sir Daniel is also upset by the outlaw?s threats, and he orders Dick to return to Moat House with a letter for Sir Oliver. He and his men leave to join the fighting; but not before he roundly curses his luck because Joanna, whom he held hostage, escaped in boy?s clothing. He orders a party of men-at-arms to search for the girl and then to proceed to Moat House and strengthen the defenses there.

On his return journey, Dick meets Joanna, still dressed as a boy, who tells him that her name is John Matcham. Dick, unaware that she is Sir Daniel?s prisoner, promises to help her reach the abbey at Holywood. As they hurry on, they come upon a camp of the outlaws led by Ellis Duckworth, another man ruined by Sir Daniel. Running from the outlaws, they see the party of Sir Daniel?s retainers shot down one by one. The cannonading Dick hears in the distance convinces him that the soldiers of Lancaster are faring badly in the day?s battle. Not knowing on which side Sir Daniel declares himself, he wonders whether his guardian is among the victors or the vanquished.