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little knot of three men； the middle one on horseback； the other two armed
with long…handled glaives； all three well muffled up in armour。 As they
came nearer I could see that the horseman had a tabard over his armour；
gaily embroidered with a green tree on a gold ground； and in his hand a
trumpet。
〃They are come to summon us。 Wilt thou that he speak； Jack？〃 said
Will Green。
〃Nay；〃 said the other； 〃yet shall he have warning first。 Shoot when
my horn blows！〃
And therewith he came up to the hedge； climbed over； slowly because
of his armour； and stood some dozen yards out in the field。 The man on
horseback put his trumpet to his mouth and blew a long blast； and then
took a scroll into his hand and made as if he were going to read； but Jack
Straw lifted up his voice and cried out：
〃Do it not； or thou art but dead！ We will have no accursed lawyers
and their sheep…skins here！ Go back to those that sent thee〃
But the man broke in in a loud harsh voice：
〃Ho！ YE PEOPLE！ what will ye gathering in arms？〃
Then cried Jack Straw：
〃Sir Fool； hold your peace till ye have heard me； or else we shoot at
once。 Go back to those that sent thee； and tell them that we free men of
Kent are on the way to London to speak with King Richard； and to tell him
that which he wots not； to wit； that there is a certain sort of fools and
traitors to the realm who would put collars on our necks and make beasts
of us； and that it is his right and his devoir to do as he swore when he was
crowned and anointed at Westminster on the Stone of Doom； and gainsay
these thieves and traitors； and if he be too weak； then shall we help him；
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and if he will not be king； then shall we have one who will be； and that is
the King's Son of Heaven。 Now； therefore； if any withstand us on our
lawful errand as we go to speak with our own king and lord； let him look
to it。 Bear back this word to them that sent thee。 But for thee； hearken；
thou bastard of an inky sheep…skin！ get thee gone and tarry not； three times
shall I lift up my hand； and the third time look to thyself； for then shalt
thou hear the loose of our bowstrings； and after that nought else till thou
hearest the devil bidding thee welcome to hell！〃
Our fellows shouted； but the summoner began again； yet in a
quavering voice：
〃Ho！ YE PEOPLE！ what will ye gathering in arms？ Wot ye not
that ye are doing or shall do great harm； loss； and hurt to the king's lieges
〃
He stopped； Jack Straw's hand was lowered for the second time。 He
looked to his men right and left； and then turned rein and turned tail； and
scuttled back to the main body at his swiftest。 Huge laughter rattled out
all along our line as Jack Straw climbed back into the orchard grinning
also。
Then we noted more movement in the enemy's line。 They were
spreading the archers and arbalestiers to our left； and the men… at…arms and
others also spread some； what under the three pennons of which Long
Gregory had told us； and which were plain enough to us in the dear
evening。 Presently the moving line faced us； and the archers set off at a
smart pace toward us； the men…at…arms holding back a little behind them。
I knew now that they had been within bowshot all along； but our men were
loth to shoot before their first shots would tell； like those half…dozen in the
road when； as they told me afterwards； a plump of their men…at…arms had
made a show of falling on。
But now as soon as those men began to move on us directly in face；
Jack Straw put his horn to his lips and blew a loud rough blast that was
echoed by five or six others along the orchard hedge。 Every man had his
shaft nocked on the string； I watched them； and Will Green specially； he
and his bow and its string seemed all of a piece； so easily by seeming did
he draw the nock of the arrow to his ear。 A moment； as he took his aim；
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and thenO then did I understand the meaning of the awe with which the
ancient poet speaks of the loose of the god Apollo's bow； for terrible
indeed was the mingled sound of the twanging bowstring and the whirring
shaft so close to me。
I was now on my knees right in front of Will and saw all clearly； the
arbalestiers （for no long…bow men were over against our stead） had all of
them bright headpieces； and stout body…armour of boiled leather with
metal studs； and as they came towards us； I could see over their shoulders
great wooden shields hanging at their backs。 Further to our left their
long…bow men had shot almost as soon as ours； and I heard or seemed to
hear the rush of the arrows through the apple…boughs and a man's cry
therewith； but with us the long…bow had been before the cross…bow； one of
the arbalestiers fell outright； his great shield clattering down on him； and
moved no more； while three others were hit and were crawling to the rear。
The rest had shouldered their bows and were aiming； but I thought
unsteadily； and before the triggers were drawn again Will Green had
nocked and loosed； and not a few others of our folk； then came the
wooden hail of the bolts rattling through the boughs； but all overhead and
no one hit。
The next time Will Green nocked his arrow he drew with a great shout；
which all our fellows took up； for the arbalestiers instead of turning about
in their places covered by their great shields and winding up their cross…
bows for a second shot； as is the custom of such soldiers； ran huddling
together toward their men…at…arms； our arrows driving thump…thump into
their shields as they ran： I saw four lying on the field dead or sore
wounded。
But our archers shouted again； and kept on each plucking the arrows
from the ground； and nocking and loosing swiftly but deliberately at the
line before them； indeed now was the time for these terrible bowmen； for
as Will Green told me afterwards they always reckoned to kill through
cloth or leather at five hundred yards； and they had let the cross…bow men
come nearly within three hundred； and these were now all mingled and
muddled up with the men…at…arms at scant five hundred yards' distance；
and belike； too； the latter were not treating them too well； but seemed to be
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belabouring them with their spear…staves in their anger at the poorness of
the play； so that as Will Green said it was like shooting at hay…ricks。
All this you must understand lasted but a few minutes； and when our
men had been shooting quite coolly； like good workmen at peaceful work；
for a few minutes more； the enemy's line seemed to clear somewhat； the
pennon with the three red kine showed in front and three men armed from
head to foot in gleaming steel； except for their short coats bright with
heraldry； were with it。 One of them （and he bore the three kine on his
coat） turned round and gave some word of command； and an angry shout
went up from them； and they came on steadily towards us； the man with
the red kine on his coat leading them； a great naked sword in his hand： you
must note that they were all on foot； but as they drew nearer I saw their
horses led by grooms and pages coming on slowly behind them。
Sooth said Will Green that the men…at…arms run not fast either to or fro
the fray； they came on no faster than a hasty walk； their arms clashing
about them and the twang of the bows and whistle of the arrows never
failing all the while； but going on like the push of the westerly gale； as
from time to time the men…at…arms shouted； 〃Ha！ ha！ out！ out！ Kentish
thieves！〃
But when they began to fall on； Jack Straw shouted out； 〃Bills to the
field！ bills to the field！〃
Then all our billmen ran up and leapt over the hedge into the meadow
and stood stoutly