Said the other: "I am Sir Degore,
of whom thou wilt have heard; under my lord the Baron of Deepdale I am
the leader of this host, and I have come to ask what thou wouldst of
us." Said Sir Medard: "I would see the Baron of Deepdale."

"He is sick this morning," said Sir Degore, "and may not rise; but if
thou wouldst render the town and the castle unto him, it is all one,
thou mayst make me serve thy turn; I know his mind full well."

Sir Medard laughed: "Nay," said he, "we will wait for that till we may
see the Baron himself. But tell me, Sir Knight, what is all this stir
and hubbub in thine host this morning?"

Said Sir Degore, without tarrying the word one moment: "There is a
great aid and refreshment come to us out of the East country, both of
victual and men, and our folk be welcoming the men and sharing the
victual."

"There is nothing in this, then, that we have heard, that ye cannot
find your Duke, and are seeking him up and down?"

"Nay, nothing," said the greybeard, wagging his head. But the folk
that were with him look on each other and thought within themselves
how wise the old man was. And Sir Medard spake when he might for his
laughter: "Sir, thy lord did well to make thee captain under him, for
thou art a wise and ready liar. But so it is that thou speakest with
one who knoweth the tale better than thou. Ho ye, bring forward my
lord."

Straightway came two squires, who led a lean dark man between them,
unarmed and clad in a long furred black gown. He took off his hat, and
thereupon Sir Degore and all they below knew him for their lord. He
spake at once and said: "Sir Degore and ye others, my lords and
captains, can ye hear me?"

"Yea, lord," said Sir Degore.

Then said the Baron: "This then is my word and commandment, that ye
give leave to all our folk-in-arms to depart each one to his own
house, and to bear away with him his weapons and armour and three
horses if he be of the knighthood, and one if he be of the sergeantry;
but the others, archers and villeins, may take one horse between three
to bear their baggage and ease them on the journey. But the flour and
wheat and wine, and all the neat and sheep, ye shall leave behind; for
the folk of this country-side and the good town have occasion for
them. But as to mine own matters which are of mine own person, as arms
and raiment and jewels and the like, ye shall bring them unto me here
in the good town, where I am minded to abide two or three days