thou shalt know that this good town of Whitwall that
lieth behind us is the last of the lands we shall come to wherein folk
can any courtesy, or are ruled by the customs of the manor, or by due
lawful Earls and Kings, or the laws of the Lineage or the Port, or have
any Guilds for their guiding, and helping. And though these folks
whereunto we shall come, are, some of them, Christian men by name, and
have amongst them priests and religious; yet are they wild men of
manners, and many heathen customs abide amongst them; as swearing on
the altars of devils, and eating horse-flesh at the High-tides, and
spell-raising more than enough, and such like things, even to the
reddening of the doom-rings with the blood of men and of women, yea,
and of babes: from such things their priests cannot withhold them. As
for their towns that we shall come to, I say not but we shall find
crafts amongst them, and worthy good men therein, but they have little
might against the tyrants who reign over the towns, and who are of no
great kindred, nor of blood better than other folk, but merely
masterful and wise men who have gained their place by cunning and the
high hand. Thou shalt see castles and fair strong-houses about the
country-side, but the great men who dwell therein are not the natural
kindly lords of the land yielding service to Earls, Dukes, and Kings,
and having under them vavassors and villeins, men of the manor; but
their tillers and shepherds and workmen and servants be mere thralls,
whom they may sell at any market, like their horses or oxen. Forsooth
these great men have with them for the more part free men waged for
their service, who will not hold their hands from aught that their
master biddeth, not staying to ask if it be lawful or unlawful. And
that the more because whoso is a free man there, house and head must he
hold on the tenure of bow and sword, and his life is like to be short
if he hath not sworn himself to the service of some tyrant of a castle
or a town."

"Yea, master Clement," said Ralph, "these be no peaceful lands whereto
thou art bringing us, or very pleasant to dwell in."

"Little for peace, but much for profit," said Clement; "for these lands
be fruitful of wine and oil and wheat, and neat and sheep; withal
metals and gems are dug up out of the mountains; and on the other hand,
they make but little by craftsmanship, wherefore are they the eagerer
for chaffer with us merchants; whereas also there are m