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between hell and England。〃
〃Nay；〃 said I； 〃I come not from heaven； but from Essex。〃
As I said the word a great shout sprang from all mouths at once； as
clear and sudden as a shot from a gun。 For I must tell you that I knew
somehow； but I know not how； that the men of Essex were gathering to
rise against the poll…groat bailiffs and the lords that would turn them all
into villeins again； as their grandfathers had been。 And the people was
weak and the lords were poor； for many a mother's son had fallen in the
war in France in the old king's time； and the Black Death had slain a many；
so that the lords had bethought them： 〃We are growing poorer； and these
upland…bred villeins are growing richer； and the guilds of craft are waxing
in the towns； and soon what will there be left for us who cannot weave and
will not dig？ Good it were if we fell on all who are not guildsmen or
men of free land； if we fell on soccage tenants and others； and brought
both the law and the strong hand on them； and made them all villeins in
deed as they are now in name； for now these rascals make more than their
bellies need of bread； and their backs of homespun； and the overplus they
keep to themselves； and we are more worthy of it than they。 So let us get
the collar on their necks again； and make their day's work longer and their
bever…time shorter； as the good statute of the old king bade。 And good it
were if the Holy Church were to look to it （and the Lollards might help
herein） that all these naughty and wearisome holidays were done away
with； or that it should be unlawful for any man below the degree of a
squire to keep the holy days of the church； except in the heart and the
spirit only； and let the body labour meanwhile； for does not the Apostle
say； ‘If a man work not； neither should he eat'？ And if such things were
done； and such an estate of noble rich men and worthy poor men upholden
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for ever； then would it be good times in England； and life were worth the
living。〃
All this were the lords at work on； and such talk I knew was common
not only among the lords themselves； but also among their sergeants and
very serving…men。 But the people would not abide it； therefore； as I said；
in Essex they were on the point of rising； and word had gone how that at
St。 Albans they were wellnigh at blows with the Lord Abbot's soldiers；
that north away at Norwich John Litster was wiping the woad from his
arms； as who would have to stain them red again； but not with grain or
madder； and that the valiant tiler of Dartford had smitten a poll…groat
bailiff to death with his lath…rending axe for mishandling a young maid；
his daughter； and that the men of Kent were on the move。
Now； knowing all this I was not astonished that they shouted at the
thought of their fellows the men of Essex； but rather that they said little
more about it； only Will Green saying quietly； 〃Well； the tidings shall be
told when our fellowship is greater； fall…to now on the meat； brother； that
we may the sooner have thy tale。〃 As he spoke the blue…clad damsel
bestirred herself and brought me a clean trencherthat is； a square piece of
thin oak board scraped cleanand a pewter pot of liquor。 So without
more ado； and as one used to it； I drew my knife out of my girdle and cut
myself what I would of the flesh and bread on the table。 But Will Green
mocked at me as I cut； and said； 〃Certes； brother； thou hast not been a
lord's carver； though but for thy word thou mightest have been his reader。
Hast thou seen Oxford； scholar？〃
A vision of grey…roofed houses and a long winding street and the
sound of many bells came over me at that word as I nodded 〃Yes〃 to him；
my mouth full of salt pork and rye…bread； and then I lifted my pot and we
made the clattering mugs kiss and I drank； and the fire of the good Kentish
mead ran through my veins and deepened my dream of things past； present；
and to come； as I said： 〃Now hearken a tale； since ye will have it so。
For last autumn I was in Suffolk at the good town of Dunwich； and thither
came the keels from Iceland； and on them were some men of Iceland； and
many a tale they had on their tongues； and with these men I foregathered；
for I am in sooth a gatherer of tales； and this that is now at my tongue's
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end is one of them。〃
So such a tale I told them； long familiar to me； but as I told it the
words seemed to quicken and grow； so that I knew not the sound of my
own voice； and they ran almost into rhyme and measure as I told it； and
when I had done there was silence awhile； till one man spake； but not
loudly：
〃Yea； in that land was the summer short and the winter long； but men
lived both summer and winter； and if the trees grew ill and the corn throve
not； yet did the plant called man thrive and do well。 God send us such
men even here。〃
〃Nay；〃 said another； 〃such men have been and will be； and belike are
not far from this same door even now。〃
〃Yea；〃 said a third； 〃hearken a stave of Robin Hood； maybe that shall
hasten the coming of one I wot of。〃 And he fell to singing in a clear
voice； for he was a young man； and to a sweet wild melody； one of those
ballads which in an incomplete and degraded form you have read perhaps。
My heart rose high as I heard him； for it was concerning the struggle
against tyranny for the freedom of life； how that the wildwood and the
heath； despite of wind and weather； were better for a free man than the
court and the cheaping…town； of the taking from the rich to give to the
poor； of the life of a man doing his own will and not the will of another
man commanding him for the commandment's sake。 The men all
listened eagerly； and at whiles took up as a refrain a couplet at the end of a
stanza with their strong and rough； but not unmusical voices。 As they
sang； a picture of the wild…woods passed by me； as they were indeed； no
park…like dainty glades and lawns； but rough and tangled thicket and bare
waste and heath； solemn under the morning sun； and dreary with the rising
of the evening wind and the drift of the night…long rain。
When he had done； another began in something of the same strain； but
singing more of a song than a story ballad； and thus much I remember of
it：
The Sheriff is made a mighty lord； Of
goodly gold he hath enow； And many a sergeant girt with sword；
But forth will we and bend the bow。 We shall bend the
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bow on the lily lea Betwixt the thorn and the oaken
tree。
With stone and lime is the burg wall built；
And pit and prison are stark and strong； And many a true man
there is spilt； And many a right man doomed by wrong。
So forth shall we and bend the bow
And the king's writ never the road shall know。
Now yeomen walk ye warily； And heed ye
the houses where ye go； For as fair and as fine as they may be；
Lest behind your heels the door clap to。 Fare forth
with the bow to the lily lea Betwixt the thorn and the
oaken tree。
Now bills and bows I and out a…gate！ And
turn about on the lily lea！ And though their company be great
The grey…goose wing shall set us free。 Now bent is the
bow in the green abode And the king's writ knoweth
not the road。