is 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. Albeit that whosoever would go home
peaceably might abide in the city still and need not fear the king's
wrath if he stirred no further: but that in any case the Sorceress
should get her gone from those walls.

"So we rode out of the gates that very day before sunset; for it was
now midsummer again, and it was three hours before noon that I was to
have been burned; and we were a gallant company of men-at-arms and
knights; yet did I be-think me of those who were slain on that other
day when we were taken, and fain had I been that they were riding with
us; but at least that fair young man was in our company, though still
weak with his hurts: for the prison and the process had worn away
wellnigh two months. True it is that I rejoiced to see him, for I had
deemed him dead.

"Dear friend, I pray thy pardon if I weary t