en speeding their
way to the scene of the encounter.

The journey was not a long one, for presently, as they threaded their
way through the fields, there appeared before them a great gray oak
which spread its gnarled leafless branches over the corner of a green
and level meadow. The tree was black with the peasants who had climbed
into it, and all round it was a huge throng, chattering and calling
like a rookery at sunset. A storm of hooting broke out from them at the
approach of the English, for Bambro' was hated in the country where he
raised money for the Montfort cause by putting every parish to ransom
and maltreating those who refused to pay. There was little amenity in
the warlike ways which had been learned upon the Scottish border. The
champions rode onward without deigning to take notice of the taunts of
the rabble, but the archers turned that way and soon beat the mob to
silence. Then they resolved themselves into the keepers of the ground,
and pressed the people back until they formed a dense line along the
edge of the field, leaving the whole space clear for the warriors.

The Breton champions had not yet arrived, so the English tethered their
horses at one side of the ground, and then gathered round their leader.
Every man had his shield slung round his neck, and had cut his spear to
the length of five feet so that it might be more manageable for fighting
on foot. Besides the spear a sword or a battle-ax hung at the side of
each. They were clad from head to foot in armor, with devices upon
the crests and surcoats to distinguish them from their antagonists.
At present their visors were still up and they chatted gayly with each
other.

"By Saint Dunstan!" cried Percy, slapping his gauntleted hands together
and stamping his steel feet. "I shall be right glad to get to work, for
my blood is chilled."

"I warrant you will be warm enough ere you get through," said Calverly.

"Or cold forever. Candle shall burn and bell toll at Alnwick Chapel if
I leave this ground alive, but come what may, fair sirs, it should be a
famous joust and one which will help us forward. Surely each of us will
have worshipfully won worship, if we chance to come through."

"You say truth, Thomas," said Knolles, bracing his girdle. "For my
own part I have no joy in such encounters when there is warfare to be
carried out, for it standeth not aright that a man should think of his
own pleasure and advancement rather than of the King's c