"And now I could see that despite the bills and bows behind us the king was
going to fall on with his folk; and to say sooth I feared but little and my
heart rose high within me, and I wished I had a sword in my hand to strike
once for life and love. But lo! just as the king was raising his sword,
and his trumpet was lifting the brass to his lips, came a sound of singing,
and there was come the Bishop and the Abbot of St. Peter's and his monks
with him, and cross bearers and readers and others of the religious:
and the Bishop bore in his hand the Blessed Host (as now I know it was)
under a golden canopy, and he stood between the two companies and faced
the king, while his folk sang loud and sweet about him.
"Then the spears went up and from the rest, and swords
were sheathed, and there went forth three ancient knights from
out of the king's host and came up to him and spake with him.
Then he gat him away unto his High House; and the three old
knights came to our folk, and spake with the chiefs;
but not with my lord, and I heard not what they said.
But my lord came to me in all loving-kindness and brought
me into the house of one of the Lineage, and into a fair
chamber there, and kissed me, and made much of me;
and brought me fair raiment and did it on me with his own hands,
even as his wont was to be for my tire-maiden.
"Then in a little while came those chiefs of ours and said that truce had been
hanselled them for this time, but on these terms, that my lord and I and all
those who had been in arms, and whosoever would, that feared the king's wrath,
should have leave to depart from his city so that they went and abode no
nearer than fifty miles thereof till they should know his further pleasure.
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