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to beyond the church； making a quarter of a circle about the village； and at
the western end of it were the butts whence the folk were coming from
shooting when I first came into the village street。
Altogether； to me who knew nothing of war the place seemed
defensible enough。 I have said that the road down which Long Gregory
came with his tidings went north； and that was its general direction； but its
first reach was nearly east； so that the low sun was not in the eyes of any
of us； and where Will Green took his stand； and I with him； it was nearly
at our backs。
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CHAPTER VI
THE BATTLE AT THE TOWNSHIP'S END
Our men had got into their places leisurely and coolly enough； and
with no lack of jesting and laughter。 As we went along the hedge by the
road； the leaders tore off leafy twigs from the low oak bushes therein； and
set them for a rallying sign in their hats and headpieces； and two or three
of them had horns for blowing。
Will Green； when he got into his place； which was thirty yards from
where Jack Straw and the billmen stood in the corner of the two hedges；
the road hedge and the hedge between the close and field； looked to right
and left of him a moment； then turned to the man on the left and said：
〃Look you； mate； when you hear our horns blow ask no more
questions； but shoot straight and strong at whatso cometh towards us； till
ye hear more tidings from Jack Straw or from me。 Pass that word
onward。〃
Then he looked at me and said：
〃Now； lad from Essex； thou hadst best sit down out of the way at once：
forsooth I wot not why I brought thee hither。 Wilt thou not back to the
cross； for thou art little of a fighting…man？〃
〃Nay；〃 said I； 〃I would see the play。 What shall come of it？〃
〃Little；〃 said he； 〃we shall slay a horse or twain maybe。 I will tell
thee； since thou hast not seen a fight belike； as I have seen some； that these
men…at…arms cannot run fast either to the play or from it； if they be a…foot；
and if they come on a… horseback； what shall hinder me to put a shaft into
the poor beast？ But down with thee on the daisies； for some shot there
will be first。〃
As he spoke he was pulling off his belts and other gear； and his coat；
which done； he laid his quiver on the ground； girt him again； did his axe
and buckler on to his girdle； and hung up his other attire on the nearest tree
behind us。 Then he opened his quiver and took out of it some two dozen
of arrows； which he stuck in the ground beside him ready to his hand。
Most of the bowmen within sight were doing the like。
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As I glanced toward the houses I saw three or four bright figures
moving through the orchards； and presently noted that they were women；
all clad more or less like the girl in the Rose； except that two of them wore
white coifs on their heads。 Their errand there was clear； for each carried
a bundle of arrows under her arm。
One of them came straight up to Will Green； and I could see at once
that she was his daughter。 She was tall and strongly made； with black
hair like her father； somewhat comely； though no great beauty； but as they
met； her eyes smiled even more than her mouth； and made her face look
very sweet and kind； and the smile was answered back in a way so
quaintly like to her father's face； that I too smiled for goodwill and
pleasure。
〃Well； well； lass；〃 said he； 〃dost thou think that here is Crecy field
toward； that ye bring all this artillery？ Turn back； my girl； and set the pot
on the fire； for that shall we need when we come home； I and this ballad…
maker here。〃
〃Nay；〃 she said； nodding kindly at me； 〃if this is to be no Crecy； then
may I stop to see； as well as the ballad…maker； since he hath neither sword
nor staff？〃
〃Sweetling；〃 he said； 〃get thee home in haste。 This play is but little；
yet mightest thou be hurt in it； and trust me the time may come； sweetheart；
when even thou and such as thou shalt hold a sword or a staff。 Ere the
moon throws a shadow we shall be back。〃
She turned away lingering； not without tears on her face； laid the sheaf
of arrows at the foot of the tree； and hastened off through the orchard。 I
was going to say something； when Will Green held up his hand as who
would bid us hearken。 The noise of the horse…hoofs； after growing nearer
and nearer； had ceased suddenly； and a confused murmur of voices had
taken the place of it。
〃Get thee down； and take cover； old lad；〃 said Will Green； 〃the dance
will soon begin； and ye shall hear the music presently。〃
Sure enough as I slipped down by the hedge close to which I had been
standing； I heard the harsh twang of the bow…strings； one； two； three；
almost together； from the road； and even the whew of the shafts； though
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that was drowned in a moment by a confused but loud and threatening
shout from the other side； and again the bowstrings clanged； and this time
a far…off clash of arms followed； and therewithal that cry of a strong man
that comes without his will； and is so different from his wonted voice that
one has a guess thereby of the change that death is。 Then for a while was
almost silence； nor did our horns blow up； though some half…dozen of the
billmen had leapt into the road when the bows first shot。 But presently
came a great blare of trumpets and horns from the other side； and
therewith as it were a river of steel and bright coats poured into the field
before us； and still their horns blew as they spread out toward the left of
our line； the cattle in the pasture…field； heretofore feeding quietly； seemed
frightened silly by the sudden noise； and ran about tail in air and lowing
loudly； the old bull with his head a little lowered； and his stubborn legs
planted firmly； growling threateningly； while the geese about the brook
waddled away gobbling and squeaking； all which seemed so strange to us
along with the threat of sudden death that rang out from the bright array
over against us； that we laughed outright； the most of us； and Will Green
put down his head in mockery of the bull and grunted like him； whereat
we laughed yet more。 He turned round to me as he nocked his arrow； and
said：
〃I would they were just fifty paces nigher； and they move not。 Ho！
Jack Straw； shall we shoot？〃
For the latter…named was nigh us now； he shook his head and said
nothing as he stood looking at the enemy's line。
〃Fear not but they are the right folk； Jack；〃 quoth Will Green。
〃Yea； yea；〃 said he； 〃but abide awhile； they could make nought of the
highway； and two of their sergeants had a message from the grey…goose
feather。 Abide； for they have not crossed the road to our right hand； and
belike have not seen our fellows on the other side； who are now for a
bushment to them。〃
I looked hard at the man。 He was a tall； wiry； and broad… shouldered
fellow； clad in a handsome armour of bright steel that certainly had not
been made for a yeoman； but over it he had a common linen smock…frock
or gabardine； like our field workmen wear now or used to wear； and in his
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helmet he carried instead of a feather a wisp of wheaten straw。 He bore a
heavy axe in his hand besides the sword he was girt with； and round his
neck hung a great horn for blowing。 I should say that I knew that there
were at least three 〃Jack Straws〃 among the fellowship of the discontented；
one of whom was over in Essex。
As we waited there； every bowman with his shaft nocked on the string；
there was a movement in the line opposite； and presently came from it a
little knot of three men； the middle one on horseback； the other two armed
w