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three red kine； and whose they be I know not。＇1＇
＇1＇ Probably one of the Calverlys； a Cheshire family； one of whom
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was a noted captain in the French wars。
〃There tied I my horse in the middle of the wood； and myself I crept
along the dyke to see more and to hear somewhat； and no talk I heard to
tell of save at whiles a big knight talking to five or six others； and saying
somewhat； wherein came the words London and Nicholas Bramber； and
King Richard； but I saw that of men…at…arms and sergeants there might be
a hundred； and of bows not many； but of those outland arbalests maybe a
fifty； and so； what with one and another of servants and tipstaves and lads；
some three hundred； well armed； and the men…at…arms of the best。
Forsooth； my masters； there had I been but a minute； ere the big knight
broke off his talk； and cried out to the music to blow up； ‘And let us go
look on these villeins；' said he； and withal the men began to gather in a
due and ordered company； and their faces turned hitherward； forsooth； I
got to my horse； and led him out of the wood on the other side； and so to
saddle and away along the green roads； neither was I seen or chased。 So
look ye to it； my masters； for these men will be coming to speak with us；
nor is there need for haste； but rather for good speed； for in some twenty
or thirty minutes will be more tidings to hand。〃
By this time one of our best…armed men had got through the throng
and was standing on the cross beside John Ball。 When the long man had
done； there was confused noise of talk for a while； and the throng spread
itself out more and more； but not in a disorderly manner； the bowmen
drawing together toward the outside； and the billmen forming behind them。
Will Green was still standing beside me and had hold of my arm； as
though he knew both where he and I were to go。
〃Fellows；〃 quoth the captain from the cross； 〃belike this stour shall not
live to be older than the day； if ye get not into a plump together for their
arbalestiers to shoot bolts into； and their men…at…arms to thrust spears into。
Get you to the edge of the crofts and spread out there six feet between man
and man； and shoot； ye bowmen； from the hedges； and ye with the staves
keep your heads below the level of the hedges； or else for all they be thick
a bolt may win its way in。〃
He grinned as he said this； and there was laughter enough in the throng
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to have done honour to a better joke。
Then he sung out； 〃Hob Wright； Rafe Wood； John Pargetter； and thou
Will Green； bestir ye and marshal the bowshot； and thou Nicholas
Woodyer shall be under me Jack Straw in ordering of the staves。
Gregory Tailor and John Clerk； fair and fine are ye clad in the arms of the
Canterbury bailiffs； ye shall shine from afar； go ye with the banner into
the highway； and the bows on either side shall ward you； yet jump； lads；
and over the hedge with you when the bolts begin to fly your way！ Take
heed； good fellows all； that our business is to bestride the highway； and not
let them get in on our flank the while； so half to the right； half to the left of
the highway。 Shoot straight and strong； and waste no breath with noise；
let the loose of the bowstring cry for you！ and look you！ think it no loss of
manhood to cover your bodies with tree and bush； for one of us who know
is worth a hundred of those proud fools。 To it； lads； and let them see
what the grey goose bears between his wings！ Abide us here； brother
John Ball； and pray for us if thou wilt； but for me； if God will not do for
Jack Straw what Jack Straw would do for God were he in like case； I can
see no help for it。〃
〃Yea； forsooth；〃 said the priest； 〃here will I abide you my fellows if ye
come back； or if ye come not back； here will I abide the foe。 Depart； and
the blessing of the Fellowship be with you。〃
Down then leapt Jack Straw from the cross； and the whole throng set
off without noise or hurry； soberly and steadily in outward seeming。 Will
Green led me by the hand as if I were a boy； yet nothing he said； being
forsooth intent on his charge。 We were some four hundred men in all；
but I said to myself that without some advantage of the ground we were
lost men before the men…at… arms that long Gregory Tailor had told us of；
for I had not seen as yet the yard…long shaft at its work。
We and somewhat more than half of our band turned into the orchards
on the left of the road； through which the level rays of the low sun shone
brightly。 The others took up their position on the right side of it。 We
kept pretty near to the road till we had got through all the closes save the
last； where we were brought up by a hedge and a dyke； beyond which lay
a wide…open nearly treeless space； not of tillage； as at the other side of the
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A DREAM OF JOHN BALL
place； but of pasture； the common grazing ground of the township。 A
little stream wound about through the ground； with a few willows here and
there； there was only a thread of water in it in this hot summer tide； but its
course could easily be traced by the deep blue…green of the rushes that
grew plenteously in the bed。 Geese were lazily wandering about and
near this brook； and a herd of cows； accompanied by the town bull； were
feeding on quietly； their heads all turned one way； while half a dozen
calves marched close together side by side like a plump of soldiers； their
tails swinging in a kind of measure to keep off the flies； of which there
was great plenty。 Three or four lads and girls were sauntering about；
heeding or not heeding the cattle。 They looked up toward us as we
crowded into the last close； and slowly loitered off toward the village。
Nothing looked like battle； yet battle sounded in the air； for now we heard
the beat of the horse…hoofs of the men…at…arms coming on towards us like
the rolling of distant thunder； and growing louder and louder every minute；
we were none too soon in turning to face them。 Jack Straw was on our
side of the road； and with a few gestures and a word or two he got his men
into their places。 Six archers lined the hedge along the road where the
banner of Adam and Eve； rising above the grey leaves of the apple…trees；
challenged the new…comers； and of the billmen also he kept a good few
ready to guard the road in case the enemy should try to rush it with the
horsemen。 The road； not being a Roman one； was； you must remember；
little like the firm smooth country roads that you are used to； it was a mere
track between the hedges and fields； partly grass…grown； and cut up by the
deep…sunk ruts hardened by the drought of summer。 There was a stack of
fagot and small wood on the other side； and our men threw themselves
upon it and set to work to stake the road across for a rough defence against
the horsemen。
What befell more on the road itself I had not much time to note； for
our bowmen spread themselves out along the hedge that looked into the
pasture…field； leaving some six feet between man and man； the rest of the
billmen went along with the bowmen； and halted in clumps of some half…
dozen along their line； holding themselves ready to help the bowmen if the
enemy should run up under their shafts； or to run on to lengthen the line in
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case they should try to break in on our flank。 The hedge in front of us
was of quick。 It had been strongly plashed in the past February； and was
stiff and stout。 It stood on a low bank； moreover； the level of the orchard
was some thirty inches higher than that of the field。 and the ditch some
two foot deeper than the face of the field。 The field went winding round
to beyond the church； making a quarter of a circle about the village； and at
the western end