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would bid us hearken。 The noise of the horse…hoofs； after growing nearer
and nearer； had ceased suddenly； and a confused murmur of voices had
taken the place of it。
〃Get thee down； and take cover； old lad；〃 said Will Green； 〃the dance
will soon begin； and ye shall hear the music presently。〃
Sure enough as I slipped down by the hedge close to which I had been
standing； I heard the harsh twang of the bow…strings； one； two； three；
almost together； from the road； and even the whew of the shafts； though
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that was drowned in a moment by a confused but loud and threatening
shout from the other side； and again the bowstrings clanged； and this time
a far…off clash of arms followed； and therewithal that cry of a strong man
that comes without his will； and is so different from his wonted voice that
one has a guess thereby of the change that death is。 Then for a while was
almost silence； nor did our horns blow up； though some half…dozen of the
billmen had leapt into the road when the bows first shot。 But presently
came a great blare of trumpets and horns from the other side； and
therewith as it were a river of steel and bright coats poured into the field
before us； and still their horns blew as they spread out toward the left of
our line； the cattle in the pasture…field； heretofore feeding quietly； seemed
frightened silly by the sudden noise； and ran about tail in air and lowing
loudly； the old bull with his head a little lowered； and his stubborn legs
planted firmly； growling threateningly； while the geese about the brook
waddled away gobbling and squeaking； all which seemed so strange to us
along with the threat of sudden death that rang out from the bright array
over against us； that we laughed outright； the most of us； and Will Green
put down his head in mockery of the bull and grunted like him； whereat
we laughed yet more。 He turned round to me as he nocked his arrow； and
said：
〃I would they were just fifty paces nigher； and they move not。 Ho！
Jack Straw； shall we shoot？〃
For the latter…named was nigh us now； he shook his head and said
nothing as he stood looking at the enemy's line。
〃Fear not but they are the right folk； Jack；〃 quoth Will Green。
〃Yea； yea；〃 said he； 〃but abide awhile； they could make nought of the
highway； and two of their sergeants had a message from the grey…goose
feather。 Abide； for they have not crossed the road to our right hand； and
belike have not seen our fellows on the other side； who are now for a
bushment to them。〃
I looked hard at the man。 He was a tall； wiry； and broad… shouldered
fellow； clad in a handsome armour of bright steel that certainly had not
been made for a yeoman； but over it he had a common linen smock…frock
or gabardine； like our field workmen wear now or used to wear； and in his
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helmet he carried instead of a feather a wisp of wheaten straw。 He bore a
heavy axe in his hand besides the sword he was girt with； and round his
neck hung a great horn for blowing。 I should say that I knew that there
were at least three 〃Jack Straws〃 among the fellowship of the discontented；
one of whom was over in Essex。
As we waited there； every bowman with his shaft nocked on the string；
there was a movement in the line opposite； and presently came from it a
little knot of three men； the middle one on horseback； the other two armed
with long…handled glaives； all three well muffled up in armour。 As they
came nearer I could see that the horseman had a tabard over his armour；
gaily embroidered with a green tree on a gold ground； and in his hand a
trumpet。
〃They are come to summon us。 Wilt thou that he speak； Jack？〃 said
Will Green。
〃Nay；〃 said the other； 〃yet shall he have warning first。 Shoot when
my horn blows！〃
And therewith he came up to the hedge； climbed over； slowly because
of his armour； and stood some dozen yards out in the field。 The man on
horseback put his trumpet to his mouth and blew a long blast； and then
took a scroll into his hand and made as if he were going to read； but Jack
Straw lifted up his voice and cried out：
〃Do it not； or thou art but dead！ We will have no accursed lawyers
and their sheep…skins here！ Go back to those that sent thee〃
But the man broke in in a loud harsh voice：
〃Ho！ YE PEOPLE！ what will ye gathering in arms？〃
Then cried Jack Straw：
〃Sir Fool； hold your peace till ye have heard me； or else we shoot at
once。 Go back to those that sent thee； and tell them that we free men of
Kent are on the way to London to speak with King Richard； and to tell him
that which he wots not； to wit； that there is a certain sort of fools and
traitors to the realm who would put collars on our necks and make beasts
of us； and that it is his right and his devoir to do as he swore when he was
crowned and anointed at Westminster on the Stone of Doom； and gainsay
these thieves and traitors； and if he be too weak； then shall we help him；
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and if he will not be king； then shall we have one who will be； and that is
the King's Son of Heaven。 Now； therefore； if any withstand us on our
lawful errand as we go to speak with our own king and lord； let him look
to it。 Bear back this word to them that sent thee。 But for thee； hearken；
thou bastard of an inky sheep…skin！ get thee gone and tarry not； three times
shall I lift up my hand； and the third time look to thyself； for then shalt
thou hear the loose of our bowstrings； and after that nought else till thou
hearest the devil bidding thee welcome to hell！〃
Our fellows shouted； but the summoner began again； yet in a
quavering voice：
〃Ho！ YE PEOPLE！ what will ye gathering in arms？ Wot ye not
that ye are doing or shall do great harm； loss； and hurt to the king's lieges
〃
He stopped； Jack Straw's hand was lowered for the second time。 He
looked to his men right and left； and then turned rein and turned tail； and
scuttled back to the main body at his swiftest。 Huge laughter rattled out
all alo