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built of oak frame… work filled with cob or plaster well whitewashed；
though some had their lower stories of rubble…stone； with their windows
and doors of well…moulded freestone。 There was much curious and
inventive carving about most of them； and though some were old and
much worn； there was the same look of deftness and trimness； and even
beauty； about every detail in them which I noticed before in the field…work。
They were all roofed with oak shingles； mostly grown as grey as stone； but
one was so newly built that its roof was yet pale and yellow。 This was a
corner house； and the corner post of it had a carved niche wherein stood a
gaily painted figure holding an anchorSt。 Clement to wit； as the dweller
in the house was a blacksmith。 Half a stone's throw from the east end of
the churchyard wall was a tall cross of stone； new like the church； the head
beautifully carved with a crucifix amidst leafage。 It stood on a set of
wide stone steps； octagonal in shape； where three roads from other villages
met and formed a wide open space on which a thousand people or more
could stand together with no great crowding。
All this I saw； and also that there was a goodish many people about；
women and children； and a few old men at the doors； many of them
somewhat gaily clad； and that men were coming into the village street by
the other end to that by which I had entered； by twos and threes； most of
them carrying what I could see were bows in cases of linen yellow with
wax or oil； they had quivers at their backs； and most of them a short sword
by their left side； and a pouch and knife on the right； they were mostly
dressed in red or brightish green or blue cloth jerkins； with a hood on the
head generally of another colour。 As they came nearer I saw that the
cloth of their garments was somewhat coarse； but stout and serviceable。 I
knew； somehow； that they had been shooting at the butts； and； indeed； I
could still hear a noise of men thereabout； and even now and again when
the wind set from that quarter the twang of the bowstring and the plump of
the shaft in the target。
I leaned against the churchyard wall and watched these men； some of
whom went straight into their houses and some loitered about still； they
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were rough…looking fellows； tall and stout； very black some of them； and
some red…haired； but most had hair burnt by the sun into the colour of tow；
and； indeed； they were all burned and tanned and freckled variously。
Their arms and buckles and belts and the finishings and hems of their
garments were all what we should now call beautiful； rough as the men
were； nor in their speech was any of that drawling snarl or thick vulgarity
which one is used to hear from labourers in civilisation； not that they
talked like gentlemen either； but full and round and bold； and they were
merry and good…tempered enough； I could see that； though I felt shy and
timid amongst them。
One of them strode up to me across the road； a man some six feet high；
with a short black beard and black eyes and berry…brown skin； with a huge
bow in his hand bare of the case； a knife； a pouch； and a short hatchet； all
clattering together at his girdle。
〃Well； friend；〃 said he； 〃thou lookest partly mazed； what tongue hast
thou in thine head？〃 〃A tongue that can tell rhymes；〃 said I。
〃So I thought；〃 said he。 〃Thirstest thou any？〃
〃Yea； and hunger；〃 said I。
And therewith my hand went into my purse； and came out again with
but a few small and thin silver coins with a cross stamped on each； and
three pellets in each corner of the cross。 The man grinned。
〃Aha！〃 said he； 〃is it so？ Never heed it； mate。 It shall be a song for
a supper this fair Sunday evening。 But first； whose man art thou？〃
〃No one's man；〃 said I； reddening angrily； 〃I am my own master。〃
He grinned again。
〃Nay； that's not the custom of England； as one time belike it will be。
Methinks thou comest from heaven down； and hast had a high place there
too。〃
He seemed to hesitate a moment； and then leant forward and
whispered in my ear： 〃John the Miller； that ground small； small； small；〃
and stopped and winked at me； and from between my lips without my
mind forming any meaning came the words； 〃The king's son of heaven
shall pay for all。〃
He let his bow fall on to his shoulder； caught my right hand in his and
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gave it a great grip； while his left hand fell among the gear at his belt； and
I could see that he half drew his knife。
〃Well； brother；〃 said he； 〃stand not here hungry in the highway when
there is flesh and bread in the Rose yonder。 Come on。〃
And with that he drew me along toward what was clearly a tavern door；
outside which men were sitting on a couple of benches and drinking
meditatively from curiously shaped earthen pots glazed green and yellow；
some with quaint devices on them。
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CHAPTER II
THE MAN FROM ESSEX
I entered the door and started at first with my old astonishment； with
which I had woke up； so strange and beautiful did this interior seem to me；
though it was but a pothouse parlour。 A quaintly…carved side board held
an array of bright pewter pots and dishes and wooden and earthen bowls； a
stout oak table went up and down the room； and a carved oak chair stood
by the chimney…corner； now filled by a very old man dim…eyed and white…
bearded。 That； except the rough stools and benches on which the
company sat； was all the furniture。 The walls were panelled roughly
enough with oak boards to about six feet from the floor； and about three
feet of plaster above that was wrought in a pattern of a rose stem running
all round the room； freely and roughly done； but with （as it seemed to my
unused eyes） wonderful skill and spirit。 On the hood of the great
chimney a huge rose was wrought in the plaster and brightly painted in its
proper colours。 There were a dozen or more of the men I had seen
coming along the street sitting there； some eating and all drinking； their
cased bows leaned against the wall； their quivers hung on pegs in the
panelling； and in a corner of the room I saw half…a… dozen bill…hooks that
looked made more for war than for hedge… shearing； with ashen handles
some seven foot long。 Three or four children were running about among
the legs of the men； heeding them mighty little in their bold play； and the
men seemed little troubled by it； although they were talking earnestly and
seriously too。 A well…made comely girl leaned up against the chimney
close to the gaffer's chair； and seemed to be in waiting on the company：
she was clad in a close…fitting gown of bright blue cloth； with a broad
silver girdle daintily wrought； round her loins； a rose wreath was on her
head and her hair hung down unbound； the gaffer grumbled a few words
to her from time to time； so that I judged he was her grandfather。
The men all looked up as we came into the room； my mate leading me
by the hand； and he called out in his rough； good…tempered voice； 〃Here；
my masters； I bring you tidings and a tale； give it meat and drink that it
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may be strong and sweet。〃
〃Whence are thy tidings； Will Green？〃 said one。
My mate grinned again with the pleasure of making his joke once
more in a bigger company： 〃It seemeth from heaven； since this good old
lad hath no master；〃 said he。
〃The more fool he to come here；〃 said a thin man with a grizzled beard；
amidst the laughter that followed； 〃unless he had the choice given him
between hell and England。〃
〃Nay；〃 said I； 〃I come not from heaven； but from Essex。〃
As I said the word