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Then all our billmen ran up and leapt over the hedge into the meadow
and stood stoutly along the ditch under our bows； Jack Straw in the
forefront handling his great axe。 Then he cast it into his left hand； caught
up his horn and winded it loudly。 The men…at…arms drew near steadily；
some fell under the arrow…storm； but not a many； for though the target was
big； it was hard； since not even the cloth…yard shaft could pierce well…
wrought armour of plate； and there was much armour among them。
Withal the arbalestiers were shooting again； but high and at a venture； so
they did us no hurt。
But as these soldiers made wise by the French war were now drawing
near； and our bowmen were casting down their bows and drawing their
short swords； or handling their axes； as did Will Green； muttering； 〃Now
must Hob Wright's gear end this play〃 while this was a…doing； lo； on a
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sudden a flight of arrows from our right on the flank of the sergeants' array；
which stayed them somewhat； not because it slew many men； but because
they began to bethink them that their foes were many and all around them；
then the road…hedge on the right seemed alive with armed men； for
whatever could hold sword or staff amongst us was there； every bowman
also leapt our orchard…hedge sword or axe in hand； and with a great shout；
billmen； archers； and all； ran in on them； half…armed； yea； and half…naked
some of them； strong and stout and lithe and light withal； the wrath of
battle and the hope of better times lifting up their hearts till nothing could
withstand them。 So was all mingled together； and for a minute or two
was a confused clamour over which rose a clatter like the riveting of iron
plates； or the noise of the street of coppersmiths at Florence； then the
throng burst open and the steel…clad sergeants and squires and knights ran
huddling and shuffling towards their horses； but some cast down their
weapons and threw up their hands and cried for peace and ransom； and
some stood and fought desperately； and slew some till they were
hammered down by many strokes； and of these were the bailiffs and
tipstaves； and the lawyers and their men； who could not run and hoped for
no mercy。
I looked as on a picture and wondered； and my mind was at strain to
remember something forgotten； which yet had left its mark on it。 I heard
the noise of the horse…hoofs of the fleeing men…at… arms （the archers and
arbalestiers had scattered before the last minutes of the play）； I heard the
confused sound of laughter and rejoicing down in the meadow； and close
by me the evening wind lifting the lighter twigs of the trees； and far away
the many noises of the quiet country； till light and sound both began to
fade from me and I saw and heard nothing。
I leapt up to my feet presently and there was Will Green before me as I
had first seen him in the street with coat and hood and the gear at his
girdle and his unstrung bow in his hand； his face smiling and kind again；
but maybe a thought sad。
〃Well；〃 quoth I； 〃what is the tale for the ballad…maker？〃
〃As Jack Straw said it would be；〃 said he； 〃‘the end of the day and the
end of the fray；'〃 and he pointed to the brave show of the sky over the
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sunken sun； 〃the knights fled and the sheriff dead： two of the lawyer kind
slain afield； and one hanged： and cruel was he to make them cruel： and
three bailiffs knocked on the headstout men； and so witless； that none
found their brains in their skulls； and five arbalestiers and one archer slain；
and a score and a half of others； mostly men come back from the French
wars； men of the Companions there； knowing no other craft than fighting
for gold； and this is the end they are paid for。 Well； brother； saving the
lawyers who belike had no souls； but only parchment deeds and libels of
the same； God rest their souls！〃
He fell a…musing； but I said； 〃And of our Fellowship were any slain？〃
〃Two good men of the township；〃 he said； 〃Hob Horner and Antony
Webber； were slain outright； Hob with a shaft and Antony in the hand…play；
and John Pargetter hurt very sore on the shoulder with a glaive； and five
more men of the Fellowship slain in the hand…play； and some few hurt； but
not sorely。 And as to those slain； if God give their souls rest it is well； for
little rest they had on the earth belike； but for me； I desire rest no more。〃
I looked at him and our eyes met with no little love； and I wondered to
see how wrath and grief within him were contending with the kindness of
the man； and how clear the tokens of it were in his face。
〃Come now； old lad；〃 said he； 〃for I deem that John Ball and Jack
Straw have a word to say to us at the cross yet； since these men broke off
the telling of the tale； there shall we know what we are to take in hand to…
morrow。 And afterwards thou shalt eat and drink in my house this once；
if never again 〃
So we went through the orchard closes again； and others were about
and anigh us； all turned towards the cross as we went over the dewy grass；
whereon the moon was just beginning to throw shadows。
CHAPTER VII
MORE WORDS AT THE CROSS
I got into my old place again on the steps of the cross； Will Green
beside me； and above me John Ball and Jack Straw again。 The moon was
half…way up the heavens now； and the short summer night had begun； calm
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and fragrant； with just so much noise outside our quiet circle as made one
feel the world alive and happy。
We waited silently until we had heard John Ball and the story of what
was to do； and presently he began to speak。
〃Good people； it is begun； but not ended。 Which of you is hardy
enough to wend the road to London to…morrow？〃
〃All！ All！〃 they shouted。
〃Yea；〃 said he； 〃even so I deemed of you。 Yet forsooth hearken！
London is a great and grievous city； and mayhappen when ye come thither
it shall seem to you overgreat to deal with； when ye remember the little
townships and the cots ye came from。
〃Moreover； when ye dwell here in Kent ye think forsooth of your
brethren in Essex or Suffolk； and there belike an end。 But from London
ye may have an inkling of all the world； and over… burdensome maybe
shall that seem to you； a few and a feeble people。
〃Nevertheless I say to you； remember the Fellowship； in the hope of
which ye have this day conquered； and when ye come to London be wise
and wary； and that is as much as to say； be bold and hardy； for in these
days are ye building a house which shall not be overthrown； and the world
shall not be too great or too little to hold it： for indeed it shall be the world
itself； set free from evil…doers for friends to dwell in。〃
He ceased awhile； but they hearkened still； as if something more was
coming。 Then he said：
〃To…morrow we shall take the road for Rochester； and most like it
were well to see what Sir John Newton in the castle may say to us： for the
man is no ill man； and hath a tongue well…shapen for words； and it were
well that we had him out of the castle and away with us； and that we put a
word in his mouth to say to the King。 And wot ye well； good fellows；
that by then we come to Rochester we shall be a goodly company； and ere
we come to Blackheath a very great company； and at London Bridge who
shall stay our host？
〃Therefore there is nought that can undo us except our own selves and
our hearkening to soft words from those who would slay us。 They shall
bid us go home and abide peacefully with our wives and children while
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they； the lords and councillors and lawyers； imagine counsel and remedy
for us； and even