"But in the French Jacquerie there were as many as that, Sir Ralph, and
yet they were put down."

"They were so, but only after they had done vast damage. Besides, lad,
your English villein differs from your French serf. An Englishman, of
whatever rank, holds by what he considers his rights, and is ready to
fight for them. Our archers have proved that the commonalty are as brave
as the knights, and though badly armed, this rascaldom may fight sturdily.
The French peasant has no rights, and is a chattel, that his lord may
dispose of as he chooses. As long as they met with no opposition all who
fell into their hands were destroyed, and the castles ravaged and
plundered, the peasants behaving like a pack of mad wolves. Our fellows
are of sterner stuff, and they will have a mind to fight, if it be but to
show that they can fight as well as their betters. Plunder is certainly
not their first object, and it is probable that whatever may be done that
way will be the work of the scum of the towns, who will join them solely
with that object.

"I doubt whether less than five thousand men-at-arms and archers would be
able to show face to such an array as is said to be approaching,
especially as there will be many archers among them who, although not to
compare with those who fought at Poictiers, are yet capable of using their
weapons with effect. I see no prospect of gathering such a force, and the
matter is all the worse, as the rascaldom of London will be with them, and
we shall have these to keep in order, as well as cope with those in the
field. Besides, one must remember that in a matter like this we cannot
fully depend on any force that we may gather. The archers and men-at-arms
would be drawn largely from the same class as the better portion of these
rioters, and would be slack in fighting against them. Certainly, those of
the home counties could not be depended upon, and possibly even in the