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coming。 Then he said：
〃To…morrow we shall take the road for Rochester； and most like it
were well to see what Sir John Newton in the castle may say to us： for the
man is no ill man； and hath a tongue well…shapen for words； and it were
well that we had him out of the castle and away with us； and that we put a
word in his mouth to say to the King。 And wot ye well； good fellows；
that by then we come to Rochester we shall be a goodly company； and ere
we come to Blackheath a very great company； and at London Bridge who
shall stay our host？
〃Therefore there is nought that can undo us except our own selves and
our hearkening to soft words from those who would slay us。 They shall
bid us go home and abide peacefully with our wives and children while
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they； the lords and councillors and lawyers； imagine counsel and remedy
for us； and even so shall our own folly bid us； and if we hearken thereto
we are undone indeed； for they shall fall upon our peace with war； and our
wives and children they shall take from us； and some of us they shall hang；
and some they shall scourge； and the others shall be their yoke… beasts
yea； and worse； for they shall lack meat more。
〃To fools hearken not； whether they be yourselves or your foemen； for
either shall lead you astray。
〃With the lords parley not； for ye know already what they would say to
you； and that is； ‘Churl； let me bridle thee and saddle thee； and eat thy
livelihood that thou winnest； and call thee hard names because I eat thee
up； and for thee； speak not and do not； save as I bid thee。'
〃All that is the end of their parleying。
〃Therefore be ye bold； and again bold； and thrice bold！ Grip the bow；
handle the staff； draw the sword； and set on in the name of the
Fellowship！〃
He ended amid loud shouts； but straight…way answering shouts were
heard； and a great noise of the winding of horns； and I misdoubted a new
onslaught； and some of those in the throng began to string their bows and
handle their bills； but Will Green pulled me by the sleeve and said：
〃Friends are these by the winding of their horns； thou art quit for this
night； old lad。〃 And then Jack Straw cried out from the cross： 〃Fair and
softly； my masters！ These be men of our Fellowship； and are for your
guests this night； they are from the bents this side of Medway； and are
with us here because of the pilgrimage road； and that is the best in these
parts； and so the shortest to Rochester。 And doubt ye nothing of our
being taken unawares this night； for I have bidden and sent out watchers
of the ways； and neither a man's son nor a mare's son may come in on us
without espial。 Now make we our friends welcome。 Forsooth； I looked
for them an hour later； and had they come an hour earlier yet； some heads
would now lie on the cold grass which shall lie on a feather bed to…night。
But let be； since all is well！
〃Now get we home to our houses； and eat and drink and slumber this
night； if never once again； amid the multitude of friends and fellows； and
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yet soberly and without riot； since so much work is to hand。 Moreover
the priest saith； bear ye the dead men； both friends and foes； into the
chancel of the church； and there this night he will wake them： but after to…
morrow let the dead abide to bury their dead！〃
Therewith he leapt down from the cross； and Will and I bestirred
ourselves and mingled with the new…comers。 They were some three
hundred strong； clad and armed in all ways like the people of our township；
except some half…dozen whose armour shone cold like ice under the
moonbeams。 Will Green soon had a dozen of them by the sleeve to come
home with him to board and bed； and then I lost him for some minutes；
and turning about saw John Ball standing behind me； looking pensively on
all the stir and merry humours of the joyous uplanders。
〃Brother from Essex；〃 said he； 〃shall I see thee again to…night？ I
were fain of speech with thee； for thou seemest like one that has seen more
than most。〃
〃Yea；〃 said I； 〃if ye come to Will Green's house； for thither am I
bidden。〃
〃Thither shall I come；〃 said he； smiling kindly； 〃or no man I know in
field。 Lo you； Will Green looking for something； and that is me。 But in
his house will be song and the talk of many friends； and forsooth I have
words in me that crave to come out in a quiet place where they may have
each one his own answer。 If thou art not afraid of dead men who were
alive and wicked this morning； come thou to the church when supper is
done； and there we may talk all we will。〃
Will Green was standing beside us before he had done； with his hand
laid on the priest's shoulder； waiting till he had spoken out； and as I
nodded Yea to John Ball he said：
〃Now； master priest； thou hast spoken enough this two or three hours；
and this my new brother must tell and talk in my house； and there my
maid will hear his wisdom which lay still under the hedge e'en now when
the bolts were abroad。 So come ye； and ye good fellows； come！〃
So we turned away together into the little street。 But while John Ball
had been speaking to me I felt strangely； as though I had more things to
say than the words I knew could make clear： as if I wanted to get from
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other people a new set of words。 Moreover； as we passed up the street
again I was once again smitten with the great beauty of the scene； the
houses； the church with its new chancel and tower； snow…white in the
moonbeams now； the dresses and arms of the people； men and women （for
the latter were now mixed up with the men）； their grave sonorous
language； and the quaint and measured forms of speech； were again
become a wonder to me and affected me almost to tears。
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CHAPTER VIII