Then came they to a thorp of the smallest on a rising ground, from the
further end of which they could see the walls and towers of the Burg.
Thereafter right up to the walls were no more houses or cornfields,
nought but reaches of green meadows plenteously stored with sheep and kine,
and with a little stream winding about them.




CHAPTER 12

Ralph Entereth Into the Burg of the Four Friths


When they came up to the wall they saw that it was well builded of
good ashlar, and so high that they might not see the roofs of the town
because of it; but there were tall towers on it, a many of them,
strong and white. The road led up straight to the master-gate
of the Burg, and there was a bailey before it strongly walled,
and manned with weaponed men, and a captain going about amongst them.
But they entered it along with men bringing wares into the town,
and none heeded them much, till they came to the very gate,
on the further side of a moat that was both deep and clean;
but as now the bridge was down and the portcullis up, so that the
market-people might pass in easily, for it was yet early in the day.
But before the door on either side stood men-at-arms well weaponed,
and on the right side was their captain, a tall man with bare
grizzled head, but otherwise all-armed, who stopped every one whom
he knew not, and asked their business.