lifted
his hand against me. Wherefore now I will keep it for thee against thou
comest back safe to me in the morning betimes, as I deem thou wilt, if
thou wilt behight to St. Julian the helping of some poor body on the
road. Go therefore, but send hither the guard; for I am weary now, and
would go to sleep without slaying any man else."

So departed the man full of joy, and Christopher gathered his money
together again, and so fared to his bed peacefully.

CHAPTER XXXVI. KING CHRISTOPHER COMES TO OAKENHAM.

But on the morrow the first man who came to the King was the man-at-arms
aforesaid; and he told that he had done the King's errand, and ridden a
five miles on the road to Oakenham before he had left the horse with his
felon load, and that he had found nought stirring all that way when he
had passed through their own out-guards, where folk knew him and let
him go freely. "And," quoth he, "it is like enough that this gift to
Oakenham, Lord King, has by now come to the gate thereof." Then the King
gave that man the gold which he had promised, and he kissed the King's
hand and went his ways a happy man.

Thereafter sent Christopher for Jack of the Tofts, and told him in few
words what had betid, and that Rolf the traitor was dead. Then spake
Jack: "King and fosterling, never hath so mighty a warrior as thou waged
so easy a war for so goodly a kingdom as thou hast done; for surely thy
war was ended last night, wherefore will we straight to Oakenham, if so
thou wilt. But if it be thy pleasure I will send a chosen band of riders
to wend on the spur thereto, and bid them get ready thy kingly house,
and give word to the Barons and the Prelates, and the chiefs of the
Knighthood, and the Mayor and the Aldermen, and the Masters of the
Crafts, to show themselves of what mind they be towards thee. But I
doubt it not that they will deem of thee as thy father come back again
and grown young once more."

Now was Christopher eager well nigh unto weeping to behold his people
that he should live amongst, and gladly he yea-said the word of Jack of
the Tofts. So were those riders sent forward; and the host was ordered,
and Christopher rode amidst it with Goldilind by his side; and the
sun was not yet gone down when they came within sight of the gate of
Oakenham, and there before the gate and in the fields on either side
of it was gathered a very great and goodly throng, and there went forth
from it to meet the King the Bisho