" "What has the change been?" said Ralph.
Hugh said: "In time past my Lord Abbot was indeed a mighty man,
and both this town of Higham was well garnished of men-at-arms,
and also many of his manors had castles and strong-houses on them,
and the yeomen were ready to run to their weapons whenso the gathering
was blown. In short, Higham was as mighty as it was wealthy;
and the Abbot's men had naught to do with any, save with thy friends
here who bear the Tree Leafless; all else feared those holy walls
and the well-blessed men who warded them. But the Dry Tree feared,
as men said, neither man nor devil (and I hope it may be so still
since they are become thy friends), and they would whiles lift
in the Abbot's lands when they had no merrier business on hand,
and not seldom came to their above in their dealings with his men.
But all things come to an end; for, as I am told, some year and a
half ago, the Abbot had debate with the Westland Barons, who both
were and are ill men to deal with, being both hungry and doughty.
The quarrel grew till my Lord must needs defy them, and to make a long
tale short, he himself in worldly armour led his host against them,
and they met some twenty miles to the west in the field of the
Wry Bridge, and there was Holy Church overthrown; and the Abbot,
who is as valiant a man as ever sang mass, though not over-wise in war,
would not flee, and as none would slay him, might they help it,
they had to lead him away, and he sits to this day in their
strongest castle, the Red Mount west-away.
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