ther: Thou art as valiant as the Dalesmen when
they fought in the war of Eastcheaping."

Then all men gave a great shout, and were well-nigh weeping-ripe for
high heart and for love of him, though a minute before their faces
were all agrin, so wise and valiant and kind they deemed his words and
the manner of his speaking.

Therewith the Mote brake up, and the men were busy arraying them for
departure: and as for Osberne, he had his hands full of work, in
giving and taking commandments, and in learning from Sir Medard the
beginnings of the lore of battle; so that what hopes he had of making
his way to the trysting-place once more were speedily swept aside. And
the next morning betimes they set out together, the Dalesmen and the
Eastcheapers, in all good fellowship, and in two days' time came to
Eastcheaping; and they were lodged full well by the crafts-masters of
the good town. But Sir Medard took Osberne with him up into the Castle
and guested him there, that he might the closer teach him his new
craft, and an apt scholar he found. Also from the morrow after their
coming, the captain, by bidding of the Porte, furnished and arrayed
the Dalesmen with weapons, as long spears and good swords and bows and
arrows, and jacks and sallets and shields, and they went out into the
mead under the Castle to be better assured thereby, and fell to
learning how best to handle their weapons. And both their captains and
they themselves deemed it best that they should fight a-foot; for
though they were good horsemen after their fashion, they would have to
learn all in the craft of fighting a-horseback.

Chapter XXIV. A Skirmish with the Baron of Deepdale in the Marshes

Now I have nought to do to write a chronicle of the good town of
Eastcheaping, or a history of this war of them of the town with the
Baron of Deepdale, or else a long tale I might make of it. So here
follows all that shall be told of the said war.

In somewhat less than a month from their coming to Eastcheaping they
had sure news that the Baron was on the way to the town with a great
company of knights and men-at-arms; and thereafter it was known that
he was riding with a light heart and little heed. Wherefore Sir Medard
turned the matter over in his mind, and, whereas if any one knew well
the roads and the fields about Eastcheaping, he, Sir Medard, knew them
better, he deemed he might give this great lord a brush by the way. So
he rode out a-gates with but a small