CHAPTER VII. HOW THE THREE COMRADES JOURNEYED THROUGH THE WOODLANDS.

Atearlydawnthecountryinnwasallalive,foritwasrareindeedthatanhourofdaylightwouldbewastedatatimewhenlightingwassoscarceanddear.Indeed,earlyasitwaswhenDameElizabegantostir,itseemedthatotherscouldbeearlierstill,forthedoorwasajar,andthelearnedstudentofCambridgehadtakenhimselfoff,withamindwhichwastoointentuponthehighthingsofantiquitytostooptoconsiderthefour-pencewhichheowedforbedandboard.Itwastheshrillout-cryofthelandladywhenshefoundherloss,andthecluckingofthehens,whichhadstreamedinthroughtheopendoor,thatfirstbrokeinupontheslumbersofthetiredwayfarers. Onceafoot,itwasnotlongbeforethecompanybegantodisperse.Asleekmulewithredtrappingswasbroughtroundfromsomeneighboringshedforthephysician,andheambledawaywithmuchdignityuponhisroadtoSouthampton.Thetooth-drawerandthegleemancalledforacupofsmallaleapiece,andstartedofftogetherforRingwoodfair,theoldjongleurlookingveryyellowintheeyeandswolleninthefaceafterhisovernightpotations.Thearcher,however,whohaddrunkmorethananymanintheroom,wasasmerryasagrig,andhavingkissedthematronandchasedthemaiduptheladderoncemore,hewentouttothebrook,andcamebackwiththewaterdrippingfromhisfaceandhair. “Hola!mymanofpeace,”hecriedtoAlleyne,“whitherareyoubentthismorning?” “ToMinstead,”quothhe.“MybrotherSimonEdricsonissocmanthere,andIgotobidewithhimforawhile.Iprythee,letmehavemyscore,gooddame.” “Score,indeed!”criedshe,standingwithupraisedhandsinfrontofthepanelonwhichAlleynehadworkedthenightbefore.“Say,ratherwhatitisthatIowetothee,goodyouth.Aye,thisisindeedapiedmerlin,andwithaleveretunderitsclaws,asIamalivingwoman.BytheroodofWaltham!butthytouchisdeftanddainty.” “Andseetheredeyeofit!”criedthemaid. “Aye,andtheopenbeak.” “Andtheruffledwing,”addedHordleJohn. “Bymyhilt!”criedthearcher,“itistheverybirditself.” Theyoungclerkflushedwithpleasureatthischorusofpraise,rudeandindiscriminateindeed,andyetsomuchheartierandlessgrudgingthananywhichhehadeverheardfromthecriticalbrotherJerome,ortheshort-spokenAbbot.Therewas,itwouldseem,greatkindnessaswellasgreatwickednessinthisworld,ofwhichhehadheardsolittlethatwasgood.Hishostesswouldhearnothingofhispayingeitherforbedorforboard,whilethearcherandHordleJohnplacedahanduponeithershoulderandledhimofftotheboard,wheresomesmokingfish,adishofspinach,andajugofmilkwerelaidoutfortheirbreakfast. “Ishouldnotbesurprisedtolearn,moncamarade,”saidthesoldier,asheheapedasliceoffishuponAlleyne'stranchoirofbread,“thatyoucouldreadwrittenthings,sinceyouaresoreadywithyourbrushesandpigments.” “ItwouldbeshametothegoodbrothersofBeaulieuifIcouldnot,”heanswered,“seeingthatIhavebeentheirclerkthistenyearsback.” Thebowmanlookedathimwithgreatrespect.“Thinkofthat!”saidhe.“Andyouwithnotahairtoyourface,andaskinlikeagirl.Icanshootthreehundredandfiftypaceswithmylittlepopperthere,andfourhundredandtwentywiththegreatwar-bowyetIcanmakenothingofthis,norreadmyownnameifyouweretoset'SamAylward'upagainstme.InthewholeCompanytherewasonlyonemanwhocouldread,andhefelldownawellatthetakingofVentadour,whichprovesthatthethingisnotsuitedtoasoldier,thoughmostneedfultoaclerk.” “Icanmakesomeshowatit,”saidbigJohn“thoughIwasscarcelongenoughamongthemonkstocatchthewholetrickofit. “Here,then,issomethingtotryupon,”quoththearcher,pullingasquareofparchmentfromtheinsideofhistunic.Itwastiedsecurelywithabroadbandofpurplesilk,andfirmlysealedateitherendwithalargeredseal.Johnporedlongandearnestlyovertheinscriptionupontheback,withhisbrowsbentasonewhobearsupagainstgreatmentalstrain. “Nothavingreadmuchoflate,”hesaid,“Iamlothtosaytoomuchaboutwhatthismaybe.Somemightsayonethingandsomeanother,justasonebowmanlovestheyew,andasecondwillnotshootsavewiththeash.Tome,bythelengthandthelookofit,IshouldjudgethistobeaversefromoneofthePsalms.” Thebowmanshookhishead.“Itisscarcelikely,”hesaid,“thatSir