been too proud to take his death wound from an English yeoman's
shaft； and that nobles of England have been glad enough to stand
by and see it done。〃
Nigel shook his head sadly。 〃It is sooth you say； archer； and
indeed it is no new thing； for that good knight Richard of the
Lion Heart met his end in such a lowly fashion； and so also did
Harold the Saxon。 But this is a private matter； and I would not
have you draw your bow against him。 Neither can I ride at him
myself； for he is weak in body； though dangerous in spirit。
Therefore； we will go upon our way； since there is neither profit
nor honor to be gained； nor any hope of advancement。〃
Aylward； having unstrung his bow； had remounted his horse during
this conversation； and the two rode swiftly past the little squat
Chapel of the Martyr and over the brow of the hill。 From the
summit they looked back。 The injured archer lay upon the ground；
with several of his comrades gathered in a knot around him。
Others ran aimlessly up the hill； but were already far behind。
The leader sat motionless upon his horse； and as he saw them look
back he raised his hand and shrieked his curses at them。 An
instant later the curve of the ground had hid them from view。 So；
amid love and hate； Nigel bade adieu to the home of his youth。
And now the comrades were journeying upon that old； old road which
runs across the south of England and yet never turns toward
London； for the good reason that the place was a poor hamlet when
first the road was laid。 From Winchester； the Saxon capital； to
Canterbury； the holy city of Kent； ran that ancient highway； and
on from Canterbury to the narrow straits where； on a clear day；
the farther shore can be seen。 Along this track as far back as
history can trace the metals of the west have been carried and
passed the pack…horses which bore the goods which Gaul sent in
exchange。 Older than the Christian faith and older than the
Romans； is the old road。 North and south are the woods and the
marshes； so that only on the high dry turf of the chalk land could
a clear track be found。 The Pilgrim's Way； it still is called；
but the pilgrims were the last who ever trod it； for it was
already of immemorial age before the death of Thomas a Becket gave
a new reason why folk should journey to the scene of his murder。
》From the hill of Weston Wood the travelers could see the long
white band which dipped and curved and rose over the green
downland； its course marked even in the hollows by the line of the
old yew…trees which flanked it。 Neither Nigel nor Aylward had
wandered far from their own country； and now they rode with light
hearts and eager eyes taking note of all the varied pictures of
nature and of man which passed before them。 To their left was a
hilly country； a land of rolling heaths and woods； broken here and
there into open spaces round the occasional farm…house of a
franklin。 Hackhurst Down； Dunley Hill； and Ranmore Common swelled
and sank； each merging into the other。 But on the right； after
passing the village of Shere and the old church of Gomshall； the
whole south country lay like a map at their feet。 There was the
huge wood of the Weald； one unbroken forest of oak…trees
stretching away to the South Downs； which rose olive…green against
the deep blue sky。 Under this great canopy of trees strange folk
lived and evil deeds were done。 In its recesses were wild tribes；
little changed from their heathen ancestors； who danced round the
altar of Thor； and well was it for the peaceful traveler that he
could tread the high open road of the chalk land with no need to
wander into so dangerous a tract； where soft clay； tangled forest
and wild men all barred his progress。
But apart from the rolling country upon the left and the great
forest…hidden plain upon the right； there was much upon the road
itself to engage the attention of the wayfarers。 It was crowded
with people。 As far as their eyes could carry they could see the
black dots scattered thickly upon the thin white band； sometimes
single； sometimes several abreast； sometimes in moving crowds；
where a drove of pilgrims held together for mutual protection； or
a nobleman showed his greatness by the number of retainers who
trailed at his heels。 At that time the main roads were very
crowded； for there； were many wandering people in the land。 Of
all sorts and kinds； they passed in an unbroken stream before the
eyes of Nigel and of Aylward； alike only in the fact that one and
all were powdered from their hair to their shoes with the gray
dust of the chalk。
There were monks journeying from one cell to another； Benedictines
with their black gowns looped up to show their white skirts；
Carthusians in white； and pied Cistercians。 Friars also of the
three wandering orders … Dominicans in black； Carmelites in white
and Franciscans in gray。 There was no love lost between the
cloistered monks and the free friars； each looking on the other as
a rival who took from him the oblations of the faithful； so they
passed on the high road as cat passes dog； with eyes askance and
angry faces。
Then besides the men of the church there were the men of trade；
the merchant in dusty broadcloth and Flanders hat riding at the
head of his line of pack…horses。 He carried Cornish tin；
Welt…country wool； or Sussex iron if he traded eastward； or if his
head should be turned westward then he bore with him the velvets
of Genoa； the ware of Venice； the wine of France； or the armor of
Italy and Spain。 Pilgrims were everywhere； poor people for the
most part； plodding wearily along with trailing feet and bowed
heads； thick staves in their hands and bundles over their
shoulders。 Here and there on a gaily caparisoned palfrey； or in
the greater luxury of a horse…litter； some West…country lady might
be seen making her easy way to the shrine of Saint Thomas。
Besides all these a constant stream of strange vagabonds drifted
along the road： minstrels who wandered from fair to fair； a foul
and pestilent crew； jugglers and acrobats； quack doctors and
tooth…drawers； students and beggars； free workmen in search of
better wages； and escaped bondsmen who would welcome any wages at
all。 Such was the throng which set the old road smoking in a haze
of white dust from Winchester to the narrow sea。
But of all the wayfarers those which interested Nigel most were
the soldiers。 Several times they passed little knots of archers
or men…at…arms； veterans from France； who had received their
discharge and were now making their way to their southland homes。
They were half drunk all of them； for the wayfarers treated them
to beer at the frequent inns and ale…stakes which lined the road；
so that they cheered and sang lustily as they passed。 They roared
rude pleasantries at Aylward； who turned in his saddle and shouted
his opinion of them until they were out of hearing。
Once； late in the afternoon； they overtook a body of a hundred
archers all marching together with two knights riding at their
head。 They were passing from Guildford Castle to Reigate Castle；
where they were in garrison。 Nigel rode with the knights for some
distance； and hinted that if either was in search of honorable
advancement； or wished to do some small deed； or to relieve
himself of any vow； it might be possible to find some means of
achieving it。 They were both； however； grave and elderly men；
intent upon their business and with no mind for fond wayside
adventures； so Nigel quickened his pace and left them behind。
They had left Boxhill and Headley Heath upon the left； and the
towers of Reigate were rising amid the trees in front of them；
when they overtook a large； cheery； red…faced man； with a forked
beard； riding upon a good horse and exchanging a nod or a merry
word with all who passed him。 With him they rode nearly as far as
Bletchingley； and Nigel laughed much to hear him talk； but always
under the raillery there was much earnestness and much wisdom in
all his words。 He rode at his ease about the country； he said；
having sufficient money to keep him from want and to furnish him
for the road。 He could speak all the three languages of England；
the north； the middle and the south； so that he was at home with
the people of every shire and could hear their troubles and their
joys。 In all parts in town and in country there was unrest； he
said； for the poor folk were weary of their masters both of the
Church and State； and soon there would be such doings in England
as had never been seen before。
But above all this man was earnest against the Church its enormous
wealth； its possession of nearly one…third of the whole land of
the country； its insatiable greed for more at the very time when
it claimed to be poor and lowly。 The monks and friars； too； he
lashed with his tongue： their roguish ways； their laziness and
their cunning。 He showed how their wealth and that of the haughty
lord must always be founded upon the toil of poor humble Peter the
Plowman； who worked and strove in rain and cold out in the fields；
the butt and laughing…stock of everyone； and still bearing up the
whole world upon his weary shoulders。 He had set it all out in a