So they went up a stair therein a good way till they came into
a gallery over the western door; and looking forth thence Ralph
deemed that he could have seen a long way had daylight been,
for it was higher than the tops of the highest houses.
So there they abode a space looking down on the square and its throng,
and the bells, which had been ringing when they came up, now ceased a while.
But presently there arose great shouts and clamour amongst the folk below,
and they could see men with torches drawing near to the pile of wood,
and then all of a sudden shot up from it a great spiring flame,
and all the people shouted together, while the bells broke out again
over their heads.
Then the brother pointed aloof with his finger and said:
"Lo you! fair lord, how bale speaks to bale all along the headlands
of the down-country, and below there in the thorps by the river!"
Forsooth Ralph saw fire after fire break out to the westward;
and the brother said: "And if we stood over the high altar and looked east,
ye would see more of such fires and many more; and all these bales
are piled up and lighted by vassals and villeins of my lord Abbot:
now to-night they are but mere Midsummer bale-fires; but doubt ye
not that if there came war into the land each one of these bales would
mean at least a half-score of stout men, archers and men-at-arms,
all ready to serve their lord at all adventure. All this the tyrants
round about, that hate holy Church and oppress the poor, know full well;
therefore we live in peace in these lands.
Pages:
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53