arbalestiers and one archer slain, and a score and a half of others,
mostly men come back from the French wars, men of the Companions
there, knowing no other craft than fighting for gold; and this is the
end they are paid for. Well, brother, saving the lawyers who belike
had no souls, but only parchment deeds and libels of the same, God
rest their souls!"

He fell a-musing; but I said, "And of our Fellowship were any slain?"

"Two good men of the township," he said, "Hob Horner and Antony
Webber, were slain outright, Hob with a shaft and Antony in the
hand-play, and John Pargetter hurt very sore on the shoulder with a
glaive; and five more men of the Fellowship slain in the hand-play,
and some few hurt, but not sorely. And as to those slain, if God give
their souls rest it is well; for little rest they had on the earth
belike; but for me, I desire rest no more."

I looked at him and our eyes met with no little love; and I wondered
to see how wrath and grief within him were contending with the
kindness of the man, and how clear the tokens of it were in his face.

"Come now, old lad," said he, "for I deem that John Ball and Jack
Straw have a word to say to us at the cross yet, since these men broke
off the telling of the tale; there shall we know what we are to take
in hand to-morrow. And afterwards thou shalt eat and drink in my
house this once, if never again"

So we went through the orchard closes again; and others were about and
anigh us, all turned towards the cross as we went over the dewy grass,
whereon the moon was just beginning to throw shadows.