CHAPTER 5

Ralph Cometh to Higham-on-the-Way


Nought more befell Ralph to tell of till he came to the end
of the Downs and saw Higham lying below him overlooked by a white
castle on a knoll, and with a river lapping it about and winding
on through its fair green meadows even as Clement had told.
From amidst its houses rose up three towers of churches above their
leaden roofs, and high above all, long and great, the Abbey Church;
and now was the low sun glittering on its gilded vanes and the wings
of the angels high upon the battlements.

So Ralph rode down the slopes and was brisk about it, for it was drawing
toward sunset, and he knew not at what hour they shut their gates.
The road was steep and winding, and it was the more part of an hour ere
he came to the gate, which was open, and like to be yet, for many folk
were thronging in, which throng also had hindered him soon after he came
into the plain country. The gate was fair and strong, but Ralph saw no
men-at-arms about it that evening. He rode into the street unquestioned,
and therein was the throng great of people clad in fair and gay attire;
and presently Ralph called to mind that this was St. John's Eve,
so that he knew that there was some feast toward.

At last the throng was so thick that he was stayed by it;
and therewithal a religious who was beside him and thrust
up against his horse, turned to him and gave him good even,
and said: "By thy weapons and gear thou art a stranger here
in our burg, Sir Knight?"