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not the road。
So over the mead and over the hithe； And
away to the wild…wood wend we forth； There dwell we yeomen
bold and blithe Where the Sheriff's word is nought of
worth。 Bent is the bow on the lily lea
Betwixt the thorn and the oaken tree。
But here the song dropped suddenly； and one of the men held up his
hand as who would say； Hist！ Then through the open window came the
sound of another song； gradually swelling as though sung by men on the
march。 This time the melody was a piece of the plain…song of the church；
familiar enough to me to bring back to my mind the great arches of some
cathedral in France and the canons singing in the choir。
All leapt up and hurried to take their bows from wall and corner； and
some had bucklers withal； circles of leather； boiled and then moulded into
shape and hardened： these were some two hand… breadths across； with iron
or brass bosses in the centre。 Will Green went to the corner where the
bills leaned against the wall and handed them round to the first…comers as
far as they would go； and out we all went gravely and quietly into the
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village street and the fair sunlight of the calm afternoon； now beginning to
turn towards evening。 None had said anything since we first heard the
new…come singing； save that as we went out of the door the ballad…singer
clapped me on the shoulder and said： 〃Was it not sooth that I said； brother；
that Robin Hood should bring us John Ball？〃
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CHAPTER III
THEY MEET AT THE CROSS
The street was pretty full of men by then we were out in it； and all
faces turned toward the cross。 The song still grew nearer and louder； and
even as we looked we saw it turning the corner through the hedges of the
orchards and closes； a good clump of men； more armed； as it would seem；
than our villagers； as the low sun flashed back from many points of bright
iron and steel。 The words of the song could now be heard； and amidst
them I could pick out Will Green's late challenge to me and my answer；
but as I was bending all my mind to disentangle more words from the
music； suddenly from the new white tower behind us clashed out the
church bells； harsh and hurried at first； but presently falling into measured
chime； and at the first sound of them a great shout went up from us and
was echoed by the new… comers； 〃John Ball hath rung our bell！〃 Then
we pressed on； and presently we were all mingled together at the cross。
Will Green had good…naturedly thrust and pulled me forward； so that I
found myself standing on the lowest step of the cross； his seventy…two
inches of man on one side of me。 He chuckled while I panted； and said：
〃There's for thee a good hearing and seeing stead； old lad。 Thou art
tall across thy belly and not otherwise； and thy wind； belike； is none of the
best； and but for me thou wouldst have been amidst the thickest of the
throng； and have heard words muffled by Kentish bellies and seen little
but swinky woollen elbows and greasy plates and jacks。 Look no more
on the ground； as though thou sawest a hare； but let thine eyes and thine
ears be busy to gather tidings to bear back to Essexor heaven！〃
I grinned good…fellowship at him but said nothing； for in truth my eyes
and ears were as busy as he would have them to be。 A buzz of general
talk went up from the throng amidst the regular cadence of the bells；
which now seemed far away and as it were that they were not swayed by
hands； but were living creatures making that noise of their own wills。
I looked around and saw that the newcomers mingled with us must
have been a regular armed band； all had bucklers slung at their backs； few
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lacked a sword at the side。 Some had bows； some 〃staves〃that is； bills；
pole…axes； or pikes。 Moreover； unlike our villagers； they had defensive
arms。 Most had steel…caps on their heads； and some had body armour；
generally a 〃jack；〃 or coat into which pieces of iron or horn were quilted；
some had also steel or steel…and…leather arm or thigh pieces。 There were
a few mounted men among them； their horses being big…boned hammer…
headed beasts； that looked as if they had been taken from plough or
waggon； but their riders were well armed with steel armour on their heads；
legs； and arms。 Amongst the horsemen I noted the man that had ridden
past me when I first awoke； but he seemed to be a prisoner； as he had a
woollen hood on his head instead of his helmet； and carried neither bill；
sword； nor dagger。 He seemed by no means ill…at…ease； however； but was
laughing and talking with the men who stood near him。
Above the heads of the crowd； and now slowly working towards the
cross； was a banner on a high…raised cross…pole； a picture of a man and
woman half…clad in skins of beasts seen against a background of green
trees； the man holding a spade and the woman a distaff and spindle rudely
done enough； but yet with a certain spirit and much meaning； and
underneath this symbol of the early world and man's first contest with
nature were the written words：
When Adam delved and Eve span Who
was then the gentleman？
The banner came on and through the crowd； which at last opened
where we stood for its passage； and the banner…bearer turned and faced the
throng and stood on the first step of the cross beside me。
A man followed him； clad in a long dark…brown gown of coarse
woollen； girt with a cord； to which hung a 〃pair of beads〃 （or rosary； as we
should call it to…day） and a book in a bag。 The man was tall and big…
boned； a ring of dark hair surrounded his priest's tonsure； his nose was big
but clear cut and with wide nostrils； his shaven face showed a longish
upper lip and a big but blunt chin； his mouth was big and the lips closed
firmly； a face not very noteworthy but for his grey eyes well opened and
wide apart； at whiles lighting up his whole face with a kindly smile； at
whiles set and stern； at whiles resting in that look as if they were gazing at
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something a long way off； which is the wont of the eyes of the poet or
enthusiast。
He went slowly up the steps of the cross and stood at the top with one
hand laid on the shaft； and shout upon shout broke forth from the throng。
When the shouting died away into a silence of the human voices； the bells
were still quietly chiming with that far…away voice of theirs； and the long…
winged dusky swifts； by no means scared by the concourse； swung round
about the cross with their wild squeals； and the man stood still for a little；
eyeing the throng； or rather looking first at one and then another man in it；
as though he were trying to think what such an one was thinking of； or
what he were fit for。 Sometimes he caught the eye of one or other； and
then that kindly smile spread over his face； but faded off it into the
sternness and sadness of a man who has heavy and great thoughts hanging
about him。 But when John Ball first mounted the steps of the cross a lad at
some one's bidding had run off to stop the ringers； and so presently the
voice of the bells fell dead； leaving on men's minds that sense of blankness
or even disappointment which is always caused by the sudden stopping of
a sound one has got used to and found pleasant。 But a great expectation
had fallen by now on all that throng； and no word was spoken even in a
whisper； and all men's