"Nay," said Myles, "I take no such coward's part as that. I say an they
hunger to fight, give them their stomachful."

The others were very reluctant for such extreme measures, but Myles, as
usual, carried his way, and so a pitched battle was decided upon. It was
Gascoyne who suggested the plan which they afterwards followed.

Then Wilkes started away to gather together those of the Knights of the
Rose not upon household duty, and Myles, with the others, went to the
armor smith to have him make for them a set of knives with which to meet
their enemies--knives with blades a foot long, pointed and double-edged.

The smith, leaning with his hammer upon the anvil, listened to them as
they described the weapons.

"Nay, nay, Master Myles," said he, when Myles had ended by telling the
use to which he intended putting them. "Thou art going all wrong in this
matter. With such blades, ere this battle is ended, some one would be
slain, and so murder done. Then the family of him who was killed would
haply have ye cited, and mayhap it might e'en come to the hanging, for
some of they boys ha' great folkeys behind them. Go ye to Tom Fletcher,
Master Myles, and buy of him good yew staves, such as one might break a
head withal, and with them, gin ye keep your wits, ye may hold your own
against knives or short swords. I tell thee, e'en though my trade be
making of blades, rather would I ha' a good stout cudgel in my hand than
the best dagger that ever was forged."

Myles stood thoughtfully for a moment or two; then, looking up,
"Methinks thou speaketh truly, Robin," said he; "and it were ill done to
have blood upon our hands."