On one side of these three were five men, unarmed, clad in green coats,
with a leafless tree done on them in gold: they were stout carles,
bearded and fierce-faced: their hands were bound behind their backs
and their feet tied together under their horses' bellies. The company
of those about the Knight, Ralph deemed, would number ten score men.

So when those twain stayed Ralph before the Knight, he turned
to the old man and said:

"It is of no avail asking this lither lad if he be of them or no:
for no will be his answer. But what sayest thou, Oliver?"

The ancient man drew closer to Ralph and looked at him up
and down and all about; for those two turned him about
as if he had been a joint of flesh on the roasting-jack;
and at last he said:

"His beard is sprouting, else might ye have taken him for a maid
of theirs, one of those of whom we wot. But to say sooth I seem to know
the fashion of his gear, even as Duke Jacob knew Joseph's tabard.
So ask him whence he is, lord, and if he lie, then I bid bind
him and lead him away, that we may have a true tale out of him;
otherwise let him go and take his chance; for we will not waste
the bread of the Good Town on him."

The Knight looked hard on Ralph, and spake to him somewhat courteously:

"Whence art thou, fair Sir, and what is thy name? for we have many foes
in the wildwood."