fear them; and there
they saw no men-at-arms, and but few carles that bore any weapons save
whittle or boar-spear. At the end of that land they came to a good
town walled and warded; and there none hindered them, for the Knight
had acquaintance with the captain of the Porte, who had gathered him a
half dozen of stout carles, and there they rested three days. Thence
they rode one day amidst the same fair country, and they entered a
forest through which was a way which led them a little west of south.
The said forest gave out in three days, and then they came into a wide
valley watered by a fair river running due west. The said valley was
more for pasture than tillage, so that it was not thickly housed,
albeit when they had crossed the river they came on to a big stead of
many houses (and it was evening) much peopled, and the folk, who had
seen their riding, were standing with weapons outside the houses.

But when Sir Godrick had ridden forward alone and given out his name
and errand, to wit, that he was riding to Longshaw with some good
fellows who were fain to be of his folk, they all cried out a fair
welcome to him and his; for they knew of his deeds and his fame, and
were well-willers to him, and were fain of seeing him this first time.
Then stood forth an old long-hoary man, but tall and stark, and gave
himself out for the master of the stead, which hight Riverlease, and
he named him David and said: "Sir Knight, I am father of ten of these
men and the grandsire of one score and five, and other good fellows I
have with me to the tale of ten score and ten, and all these thou wilt
make merry by thy presence here tonight."

So he brought the Knight and his into the hall, and fair greeting he
gave them; and to Osberne, though the land were other and the houses
far bigger, for this David was as it were a king of the meadows, it
was almost as if he were back at Wethermel, so yeomanly and free
seemed all about him. And the folk were a fair folk, the women goodly
and the men free and bold. So all men were merry and thought but
little of the morrow. But ere the feast was over the old David spake
to the good Knight and said: "Sir Godrick, meseems thou shalt have
many a foeman on thy back these coming seasons, wherefore if any of my
grandsons or the swains here have a longing to ride with thee and
become thy men, I will spare them to the number of a half score. How
say ye lads," cried he down the hall, "be there any here who de