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〃Men of Kent； ye dwell fairly here； and your houses are framed of
stout oak beams； and your own lands ye till； unless some accursed lawyer
with his false lying sheepskin and forged custom of the Devil's Manor hath
stolen it from you； but in Essex slaves they be and villeins； and worse they
shall be； and the lords swear that ere a year be over ox and horse shall go
free in Essex； and man and woman shall draw the team and the plough；
and north away in the east countries dwell men in poor halls of wattled
reeds and mud； and the north…east wind from off the fen whistles through
them； and poor they be to the letter； and there him whom the lord spareth；
the bailiff squeezeth； and him whom the bailiff forgetteth； the Easterling
Chapman sheareth； yet be these stout men and valiant； and your very
brethren。
〃And yet if there be any man here so base as to think that a small
matter； let him look to it that if these necks abide under the yoke； Kent
shall sweat for it ere it be long； and ye shall lose acre and close and
woodland； and be servants in your own houses； and your sons shall be the
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lords' lads； and your daughters their lemans； and ye shall buy a bold word
with many stripes； and an honest deed with a leap from the gallows…tree。
〃Bethink ye； too； that ye have no longer to deal with Duke William；
who； if he were a thief and a cruel lord； was yet a prudent man and a wise
warrior； but cruel are these； and headstrong； yea； thieves and fools in one
and ye shall lay their heads in the dust。〃
A shout would have arisen again； but his eager voice rising higher yet；
restrained it as he said：
〃And how shall it be then when these are gone？ What else shall ye
lack when ye lack masters？ Ye shall not lack for the fields ye have tilled；
nor the houses ye have built； nor the cloth ye have woven； all these shall
be yours； and whatso ye will of all that the earth beareth； then shall no
man mow the deep grass for another； while his own kine lack cow…meat；
and he that soweth shall reap； and the reaper shall eat in fellowship the
harvest that in fellowship he hath won； and he that buildeth a house shall
dwell in it with those that he biddeth of his free will； and the tithe barn
shall garner the wheat for all men to eat of when the seasons are untoward；
and the rain…drift hideth the sheaves in August； and all shall be without
money and without price。 Faithfully and merrily then shall all men keep
the holidays of the Church in peace of body and joy of heart。 And man
shall help man； and the saints in heaven shall be glad； because men no
more fear each other； and the churl shall be ashamed； and shall hide his
churlishness till it be gone； and he be no more a churl； and fellowship shall
be established in heaven and on the earth。〃
CHAPTER V
THEY HEAR TIDINGS OF BATTLE AND MAKE THEM
READY
He left off as one who had yet something else to say； and； indeed； I
thought he would give us some word as to the trysting… place； and whither
the army was to go from it； because it was now clear to me that this
gathering was but a band of an army。 But much happened before John
Ball spoke again from the cross； and it was on this wise。
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When there was silence after the last shout that the crowd had raised a
while ago； I thought I heard a thin sharp noise far away； somewhat to the
north of the cross； which I took rather for the sound of a trumpet or horn；
than for the voice of a man or any beast。 Will Green also seemed to have
heard it； for he turned his head sharply and then back again； and looked
keenly into the crowd as though seeking to catch some one's eye。 There
was a very tall man standing by the prisoner on the horse near the outskirts
of the crowd； and holding his bridle。 This man； who was well…armed； I
saw look up and say something to the prisoner； who stooped down and
seemed to whisper him in turn。 The tall man nodded his head and the
prisoner got off his horse； which was a cleaner…limbed； better…built beast
than the others belonging to the band； and the tall man quietly led him a
little way from the crowd； mounted him； and rode off northward at a smart
pace。
Will Green looked on sharply at all this； and when the man rode off；
smiled as one who is content； and deems that all is going well； and settled
himself down again to listen to the priest。
But now when John Ball had ceased speaking； and after another shout；
and a hum of excited pleasure and hope that followed it； there was silence
again； and as the priest addressed himself to speaking once more； he
paused and turned his head towards the wind； as if he heard something；
which certainly I heard； and belike every one in the throng； though it was
not over…loud； far as sounds carry in clear quiet evenings。 It was the
thump…a… thump of a horse drawing near at a hand…gallop along the grassy
upland road； and I knew well it was the tall man coming back with tidings；
the purport of which I could well guess。
I looked up at Will Green's face。 He was smiling as one pleased； and
said softly as he nodded to me； 〃Yea； shall we see the grey… goose fly this
eve？〃
But John Ball said in a great voice from the cross； 〃Hear ye the tidings
on the way； fellows！ Hold ye together and look to your gear； yet hurry
not； for no great matter shall this be。 I wot well there is little force
between Canterbury and Kingston； for the lords are looking north of
Thames toward Wat Tyler and his men。 Yet well it is； well it is！〃
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The crowd opened and spread out a little； and the men moved about in
it； some tightening a girdle； some getting their side arms more within
reach of their right hands； and those who had bows stringing them。
Will Green set hand and foot to the great shapely piece of polished red
yew； with its shining horn tips； which he carried； and bent it with no
seeming effort； then he reached out his hand over his shoulder and drew
out a long arrow； smooth； white； beautifully balanced； with a barbed iron
head at one end； a horn nock and three strong goose feathers at the other。
He held it loosely between the finger and thumb of his right hand； and
there he stood with a thoughtful look on his face； and in his hands one of
the most terrible weapons which a strong man has ever carried； the
English long…bow and cloth…yard shaft。
But all this while the sound of the horse's hoofs was growing nearer；
and presently from the corner of the road amidst the orchards broke out
our long friend； his face red in the sun near sinking now。 He waved his
right hand as he came in sight of us； and sang out； 〃Bills and bows！ bills
and bows！〃 and the whole throng turned towards him and raised a great
shout。
He reined up at the edge of the throng； and spoke in a loud voice； so
that all might hear him：
〃Fellows； these are the tidings； even while our priest was speaking we
heard a horn blow far off； so I bade the sergeant we have taken； and who is
now our fellow…in…arms； to tell me where away it was that there would be
folk a…gathering； and what they were； and he did me to wit that
mayhappen Sir John Newton was stirring from Rochester Castle； or；
maybe； it was the sheriff and Rafe Hopton with him； so I rode off what I
might towards Hartlip； and I rode warily； and that was well； for as I came
through a little wood between Hartlip and Guildstead； I saw beyond it a
gleam of steel； and lo in the field there a company； and a pennon of Rafe
Hopton's arms； and that is blue and thereon three silver fish： and a pennon
of the sheriff's arms； and that is a green tree； and withal another pennon of
three red kine； and whose they be I know not。＇1＇
＇1＇ Probably one of the Calverlys； a