h his men. But all things come to an end; for, as I
am told, some year and a half ago, the Abbot had debate with the
Westland Barons, who both were and are ill men to deal with, being both
hungry and doughty. The quarrel grew till my Lord must needs defy
them, and to make a long tale short, he himself in worldly armour led
his host against them, and they met some twenty miles to the west in
the field of the Wry Bridge, and there was Holy Church overthrown; and
the Abbot, who is as valiant a man as ever sang mass, though not
over-wise in war, would not flee, and as none would slay him, might
they help it, they had to lead him away, and he sits to this day in
their strongest castle, the Red Mount west-away. Well, he being gone,
and many of his wisest warriors slain, the rest ran into gates again;
but when the Westlanders beset Higham and thought to have it good
cheap, the monks and their men warded it not so ill but that the
Westlanders broke their teeth over it. Forsooth, they turned away
thence and took most of the castles and strong-houses of the Abbot's
lands; burned some and put garrisons into others, and drave away a
mighty spoil of chattels and men and women, so that the lands of Higham
are half ruined; and thereby the monks, though they be stout enough
within their walls, will not suffer their men to ride abroad. Whereby,
being cooped up in a narrow place, and with no deeds to hand to cheer
their hearts withal, they are grown sour and churlish."

"But, brother," said Ralph, "howsoever churlish they may be, and howso
timorous, I cannot see why they should shut their gates in our faces, a
little band, when there is no foe anear them."

"Ralph," said Hugh, "thou must think of this once more, that the Dry
Tree is no good let-pass to flourish in honest men's faces; specialiter
if they be monks. Amongst the brothers of Higham the tale goes that
those Champions have made covenant with the devil to come to their
above whensoever they be not more than one to five. Nay, moreover, it
is said that there be very devils amongst them; some in the likeness of
carles, and some (God help us) dressed up in women's flesh; and fair
flesh also, meseemeth. Also to-day they say in Higham that no
otherwise might they ever have overcome the stark and cruel carles of
the Burg of the Four Friths and chased them out of their town, as we
know they have done. Hah! what sayest thou?"

"I say, Hugh," quoth Ralph angrily, "that thou art