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shall pay for all。〃
He let his bow fall on to his shoulder； caught my right hand in his and
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gave it a great grip； while his left hand fell among the gear at his belt； and
I could see that he half drew his knife。
〃Well； brother；〃 said he； 〃stand not here hungry in the highway when
there is flesh and bread in the Rose yonder。 Come on。〃
And with that he drew me along toward what was clearly a tavern door；
outside which men were sitting on a couple of benches and drinking
meditatively from curiously shaped earthen pots glazed green and yellow；
some with quaint devices on them。
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CHAPTER II
THE MAN FROM ESSEX
I entered the door and started at first with my old astonishment； with
which I had woke up； so strange and beautiful did this interior seem to me；
though it was but a pothouse parlour。 A quaintly…carved side board held
an array of bright pewter pots and dishes and wooden and earthen bowls； a
stout oak table went up and down the room； and a carved oak chair stood
by the chimney…corner； now filled by a very old man dim…eyed and white…
bearded。 That； except the rough stools and benches on which the
company sat； was all the furniture。 The walls were panelled roughly
enough with oak boards to about six feet from the floor； and about three
feet of plaster above that was wrought in a pattern of a rose stem running
all round the room； freely and roughly done； but with （as it seemed to my
unused eyes） wonderful skill and spirit。 On the hood of the great
chimney a huge rose was wrought in the plaster and brightly painted in its
proper colours。 There were a dozen or more of the men I had seen
coming along the street sitting there； some eating and all drinking； their
cased bows leaned against the wall； their quivers hung on pegs in the
panelling； and in a corner of the room I saw half…a… dozen bill…hooks that
looked made more for war than for hedge… shearing； with ashen handles
some seven foot long。 Three or four children were running about among
the legs of the men； heeding them mighty little in their bold play； and the
men seemed little troubled by it； although they were talking earnestly and
seriously too。 A well…made comely girl leaned up against the chimney
close to the gaffer's chair； and seemed to be in waiting on the company：
she was clad in a close…fitting gown of bright blue cloth； with a broad
silver girdle daintily wrought； round her loins； a rose wreath was on her
head and her hair hung down unbound； the gaffer grumbled a few words
to her from time to time； so that I judged he was her grandfather。
The men all looked up as we came into the room； my mate leading me
by the hand； and he called out in his rough； good…tempered voice； 〃Here；
my masters； I bring you tidings and a tale； give it meat and drink that it
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may be strong and sweet。〃
〃Whence are thy tidings； Will Green？〃 said one。
My mate grinned again with the pleasure of making his joke once
more in a bigger company： 〃It seemeth from heaven； since this good old
lad hath no master；〃 said he。
〃The more fool he to come here；〃 said a thin man with a grizzled beard；
amidst the laughter that followed； 〃unless he had the choice given him
between hell and England。〃
〃Nay；〃 said I； 〃I come not from heaven； but from Essex。〃
As I said the word a great shout sprang from all mouths at once； as
clear and sudden as a shot from a gun。 For I must tell you that I knew
somehow； but I know not how； that the men of Essex were gathering to
rise against the poll…groat bailiffs and the lords that would turn them all
into villeins again； as their grandfathers had been。 And the people was
weak and the lords were poor； for many a mother's son had fallen in the
war in France in the old king's time； and the Black Death had slain a many；
so that the lords had bethought them： 〃We are growing poorer； and these
upland…bred villeins are growing richer； and the guilds of craft are waxing
in the towns； and soon what will there be left for us who cannot weave and
will not dig？ Good it were if we fell on all who are not guildsmen or
men of free land； if we fell on soccage tenants and others； and brought
both the law and the strong hand on them； and made them all villeins in
deed as they are now in name； for now these rascals make more than their
bellies need of bread； and their backs of homespun； and the overplus they
keep to themselves； and we are more worthy of it than they。 So let us get
the collar on their necks again； and make their day's work longer and their
bever…time shorter； as the good statute of the old king bade。 And good it
were if the Holy Church were to look to it （and the Lollards might help
herein） that all these naughty and wearisome holidays were done away
with； or that it should be unlawful for any man below the degree of a
squire to keep the holy days of the church； except in the heart and the
spirit only； and let the body labour meanwhile； for does not the Apostle
say； ‘If a man work not； neither should he eat'？ And if such things were
done； and such an estate of noble rich men and worthy poor men upholden
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for ever； then would it be good times in England； and life were worth the
living。〃
All this were the lords at work on； and such talk I knew was common
not only among the lords themselves； but also among their sergeants and
very serving…men。 But the people would not abide it； therefore； as I said；
in Essex they were on the point of rising； and word had gone how that at
St。 Albans they were wellnigh at blows with the Lord Abbot's soldiers；
that north away at Norwich John Litster was wiping the woad from his
arms； as who would have to stain them red again； but not with grain or
madder； and that the valiant tiler of Dartford had smitten