第11章

RalphEnterethIntotheBurgoftheFourFrithsWhentheycameuptothewalltheysawthatitwaswellbuildedofgoodashlar，andsohighthattheymightnotseetheroofsofthetownbecauseofit；butthereweretalltowersonit，amanyofthem，strongandwhite。Theroadledupstraighttothemaster-gateoftheBurg，andtherewasabaileybeforeitstronglywalled，andmannedwithweaponedmen，andacaptaingoingaboutamongstthem。

Buttheyentereditalongwithmenbringingwaresintothetown，andnoneheededthemmuch，tilltheycametotheverygate，onthefurthersideofamoatthatwasbothdeepandclean；

butasnowthebridgewasdownandtheportcullisup，sothatthemarket-peoplemightpassineasily，foritwasyetearlyintheday。

Butbeforethedooroneithersidestoodmen-at-armswellweaponed，andontherightsidewastheircaptain，atallmanwithbaregrizzledhead，butotherwiseall-armed，whostoppedeveryonewhomheknewnot，andaskedtheirbusiness。

AsRalphcameridingupwithRogerbesidehim，oneoftheguardlaidhisspearacrossandbadethemstand，andthecaptainspakeinadrycoldvoice：

“Whencecomestthou，man-at-arms？”“FromtheAbbeyofSt。MaryatHigham。”

saidRalph。“Yea。”saidthecaptain，smilinggrimly，“evensoI

mighthavedeemed：thouwiltbeoneoftheLordAbbot’slilylads。”

“NoIamnot。”quothRalphangrily。“Well，well。”saidthecaptain，“whatisthyname？”

“RalphMotherson。”quothRalph，knittinghisbrow。Saidthecaptain“Andwhitherwiltthou？”SaidRalph，“Onmineownerrands。”

“Thouanswerestnotoverfreely。”quoththecaptain。

SaidRalph，“Thenisiteven；forthouaskestfreelyenough。”

“Well，well。”saidthecaptain，grinninginnounfriendlywise，“thouseemestastoutladenough；andastomyasking，itismycraftascaptainoftheNorthGate：butnowtellmefriendly，goestthoutoanykinsmanorfriendintheBurg？”

ThenRalph’sbrowclearedandhesaid，“Nay，fairsir。”

“Wellthen。”saidthecaptain，“artthoubutridingstraightthroughtoanothergate，andsoawayagain？”“Nay。”saidRalph，“ifImay，Iwouldabideherethenightover，ormay-happenlonger。”

“Thereinthoushaltdowell，youngman。”saidthecaptain；

“thenIsupposethouwilttosomehostelry？tellmewhichone。”

SaidRalph，“Nay，Iwotnottowhichone，knowingnotthetown。”

ButRogerclosebyhimspakeandsaid：“MylordshallgototheFlowerdeLuce，whichisinthebigsquare。”

“Truly。”saidthecaptain，“hegoestoagoodharbour；andmoreover，fairsir，to-morrowthoushaltseeagoodlysightfromthineinn；

thoumaystdonobetter，lord。Butthou，carle，whoartthou，whoknowesttheinsideofourBurgsowell，thoughIknowtheenot，foraswellasIknowourcraftsmenandvavassors？”

ThenRoger’swordshungonhislipsawhile，andtheknightbenthisbrowonhim，tillatlasthesaid，“SirCaptain，Iwasmindedtolie，andsaythatIamthisyoungknight’sserving-man。”

Thecaptainbrokeinonhimgrimly，“Thouwertbestnotlie。”

“Yea，sir。”quothRoger，“Ideemed，asitwasonmytongue’send，thatthouwouldstfindmeout，soIhavenoughttodobuttelltheetheverysooth：

thisitis：IamamanmademasterlessbythethievesoftheDryTree。

FrommylandatHamptonunderScaurhaveIbeendriven，mychattelshavebeenlifted，andmyfriendsslain；andthereforebyyourleavewouldI

rideinthehostoftheBurg，thatImaypaybacktheharmwhichIhad，accordingtothesaw，’betterbalebybreedingbale。’So，lord，Iasktheewiltthoulendmetheswordandgivemetheloaf，thatImayhelpboththee，andtheBurg，andme？”

Thecaptainlookedathimcloselyandsharply，whilethecarlefacedhimwithopensimpleeyes，andatlasthesaid：

“Well，carle，thouwertabouttonamethyselfthisyoungknight’sserving-man；bethouevensowhilesheabidethintheBurg；

andwhenheleaveththeBurgthencomebacktomehereanydaybeforenoon，andmaybeIshallthenputaswordinthyfistandhorsebetweenthythighs。But。”(andhewaggedhisheadthreateninglyatRoger)“seethatthouartattheFlowerdeLucewhenthouartcalledfor。”

Rogerheldhispeaceandseemedsomewhatabashedatthisword，andthecaptainturnedtoRalphandsaidcourteously：“Youngknight，ifthouartseekingadventures，thoushaltfindtheminourhost；

andifthoubebuthalfaswiseasthouseemestbold，thouwiltnotfailtogainhonourandwealthboth，intheserviceoftheBurg；

forwebeovermuchbesetwithfoementhatweshouldnotwelcomeanywightandwarywarrior，thoughhebeanalienofbloodandland。

Ifthouthinkestwellofthis，thensendmethymanhereandgivemewordofthymind，andIshallleadtheetothechiefsofthePort，andmakethewayeasyforthee。”

Ralphthankedhimandrodethroughthegateintothestreet，andRogerstillwentbesidehisstirrup。

PresentlyRalphturnedtoRogerandspaketohimsomewhatsourly，andsaid：“Thouhadstonelieinthymouthanddidstswallowit；

buthowshallIknowthatanotherdidnotcomeoutthence？

Withalthoumustneedsbemyfellowhere，willI，nillI；

forthouitwasthatdidstputthatwordintothecaptain’smouththatthoushouldstservemewhileIabideintheBurg。

SoIwillsayhereandnow，thatmymindmisgivesmeconcerningthee，whetherthoubenotofthoseverythievesandtyrantswhomthoudidstmis-saybutalittlewhileago。”

“Yea。”saidRoger，“thouartwiseindeedtosetmedownasoneoftheDryTree；doubtlessthatiswhyIdeliveredtheefromtheirambushevennow。

Andasformyservice，thoumaystneedit；forindeedIdeemtheenotsosafeasthoudeemestthyselfinthisBurg。”

“What！”saidRalph，“Dostthoublowhotandcold？whyevennow，whenwewereinthewood，thouwerttellingmethatI

hadnoughtatalltofearintheBurgoftheFourFriths，andthatallwasdonetherebyreasonandwithjustice。

Whatisthisnewthingthenwhichthouhastfoundout，orwhatisthatIhavetofear？”

Rogerchangedcountenancethereatandseemedsomewhatconfused，asonewhohasbeencaughtunawares；buthegathisownfacepresently，andsaid：“Nay，SirKnight，Iwilltelltheethetruthrightout。

InthewoodyonderthydangerwasgreatthatthoumightestrunintothehandsofthemoftheDryTree；thereforetrueitisthatIspakesomewhatbeyondmywarrantconcerningthelifeofthefolkoftheBurg，ashowcouldIhelpit？Butsurelywhateverthyperilmaybehere，itisnoughttothatwhichawaitedtheeatHampton。”

“Nay，butwhatistheperil？”saidRalph。QuothRoger，“Ifthouwiltbecometheirmanandenterintotheirhost，thereisnone；fortheywillaskfewquestionsofsogoodaman-at-arms，whentheyknowthatthouarttheirs；

butifthounaysaythat，itmaywellbethattheywillbeforturningthekeyontheetillthoutellestthemwhatandwhencethouart。”

Ralphanswerednought，thinkinginhismindthatthiswaslikeenough；

soherodeonsoberly，tillRogersaid：

“Anyhow，thoumaystturnthecoldshoulderonmeifthouwilt。

YetwereIthee，Iwouldnot，forsoitis，boththatIcanhelpthee，asIdeem，intimetocome，andthatIhavehelpedtheesomewhatintimepast。”

NowRalphwasyoungandcouldnotabidetheblameofthanklessness；

sohesaid，“Nay，nay，fellow，goweontogethertotheFlowerdeLuce。”

Rogernoddedhisheadandgrumbledsomewhat，andtheymadenostayexceptthatnowandagainRalphdrewreintolookatgoodlythingsinthestreet，forthereweremanyopenboothstherein，sothatthewholestreetlookedlikeamarket。

Thehousesweregoodlyofbuilding，butnotverytall，thewayswideandwell-paved。Manyfolkwereinthestreet，goingupanddownontheirerrands，andbothmenandwomenofthemseemedtoRalphstoutandstrong，butnotveryfairoffavour。

Withaltheyseemedintentontheirbusiness，andpayedlittleheedtoRalphandhisfellow，thoughhewasbyhisattireplainlyastranger。

NowRalphseesahousemoregailyadornedthanmost，andasignhungoutfromitwhereonwasdoneanimageofSt。Loy，andunderneaththesameaboothonwhichwassetoutweaponsandwar-gearexceedinggoodly；

andtwoknavesofthearmourerwerestandingbytoservefolk，andcryingtheirwareswith“whatd’yelack？”fromtimetotime。

Sohestayedandfelltolookingwistfullyatthegleamandglitterofthosefairthings，tilloneoftheaforesaidknavescametohissideandsaid：

“FairSir，surelythoulackestsomewhat；whathavewehereforthyneeds？”SoRalphthoughtandcalledtomindthatstronglittlesteelaxeofthemanwhomhehadslainyesterday，andaskedforthesightofsuchaweapon，ifhemightperchancecheapenit。Andtheladbroughtaverygoodlysteelaxe，gold-inlaidabouttheshaft，andgavehimthepricethereof，whichRalphdeemedhemightcompass；sohebroughtroundhisscriptohishand，thathemighttakeoutthemoney。

Butwhilehishandwasyetinthebag，outcomesthemaster-armourer，atallandverystarkcarle，andsaidincourteouswise：

“SirKnight，thouartastrangertomeandIknowtheenot；

soImustneedsaskforasightofthylicensetobuyweapons，underthesealoftheBurg。”

“Hearawonder。”saidRalph，“thatafreemanforhismoneyshallnotbuywaressetouttobebought，unlesshehavetheBurg-Reeve’shandandsealforit！Nay，takethyflorins，master，andgivemetheaxeandletthejestendthere。”

“Ijestnot，youngrider。”quoththearmourer。“WhenweknowtheeforaliegemanoftheBurg，thoushaltbuywhatthouwiltwithoutquestion；butotherwiseIhavetoldtheethelaw，andhowmayI，themasterofthecraft，breakthelaw？

Benotwrath，fairsir，Iwillsetasidethineaxeforthee，tillthoubringmethelicense，orbidmecomeseeit，andthoushaltgetthesaidlicenseattheTownHallstraight-way，whentheymaycertifytheenofoemanoftheBurg。”

Ralphsawthatitavailednothingtobickerwiththesmith，andsowenthiswaysomewhatcrestfallen，andthatthemoreashesawRogergrinningalittle。

Nowtheycomeintothemarket-place，ononesidewhereofwasthemasterchurchofthetown，whichwasstronglybuiltandwithatalltowertoit，butwasnotverybig，andbutlittleadorned。OveragainstittheysawthesignoftheFlowerdeLuce，agoodlyhouseandgreat。

Thitherwardtheyturned；butinthefaceofthehostelryamidmosttheplacewasathingwhichRogerpointedatwithagrinthatspokeaswellaswords；

andthiswasahighgallows-treefurnishedwithfourforksorarms，eachcarvedandwroughtinthefashionoftheveryboughofatree，fromwhichdangledfournooses，andabovethemallwasaboardwhereonwaswritteninbiglettersTHEDRYTREE。Andatthefootofthisgallowswerediversfolklaughingandtalking。

SoRalphunderstoodatoncethatthosefourmenwhomhehadseenledawayboundyesterdayshouldbehangedthereon；

sohestayedafranklinwhowaspassingby，andsaidtohim，“Sir，Iamastrangerinthetown，andIwouldknowifjusticeshallbedoneonthefourwoodmento-day。”“Nay。”saidtheman，“butto-morrow；theyareevennowbeforethejudges。”

ThensaidRogerinasurlyvoice，“Whyartthounottheretolookon？”

“Because。”quoththeman，“thereislittletoseethere，andnotmuchmoretohearken。Thethievesshallbespeedilyjudged，andnotquestionedwithtorments，sothattheymaybethelustiertofeelwhatthehangmanshallworkonthemto-morrow；thenforsooththeshowshallbegoodly。

Butfarbetterhaditbeenifwehadhadinourhandsthegreatwitchofthesedastards，aswelookedtohaveher；butnowfolksaythatshehasnotbeenbroughtwithingates，anditistobefearedthatshehathslippedthroughourfingersoncemore。”

Rogerlaughed，andsaid：“SimpleareyefolkoftheBurgandknownoughtofhershifts。ItelltheeitisnotunlikethatsheisintheBurgevennow，andhathinhandtotakeoutofyourprisonthefourwhomyehavecaught。”

Thefranklinlaughedscornfullyinhisturnandsaid：

“Ifwebesimple，thouartafoolmerely：arewenotstrongerandmorethantheDryTree？Howshouldshenotbetaken？

Howshouldshenotbeknownifshewerewalkingaboutthesestreets？

Havewenoeyes，fool-carle？”Andhelaughedagain，forhewaswroth。

Ralphhearkened，andakindoffearseemedgripinghisheart，soheaskedthefranklin：“Tellme，sir，areyetwospeakingofawomanwhoisQueenofthesestrong-thieves？”“Yea。”saidhe，“oritmightbetterbesaidthatsheistheirgoddess，theirmawmet，theirdevil，theveryheartandsouloftheirwickedness。

Butonedayshallwehaveherbodyandsoul，andthenshallherbodyhavebutanevildayofittillshediethinthisworld。”

“Yea，forsooth，ifshecandieatall。”quothRoger。

Thefranklinlookedsourlyonhimandsaid：“Goodman，thouknowestmuchofher，meseemeth——Whenceartthou？”

SaidRogerspeedily：“FromHamptonunderScaur；

andherrebelIam，andherdastard，andherrunaway。

ThereforeIknowherforsooth。”