The burgomaster was himself able to speak French, and summoning several of the councilors of the town, he requested Cuthbert to give a narrative of his adventures; which he did.  The councilors agreed with the burgomaster that Cuthbert must be received hospitably; but the latter saw that there was among many of them considerable doubt as to the expediency of quarreling with a powerful neighbor.  He therefore said to the burgomaster: 

“I have no intention, honorable sir, of taking up any prolonged residence here.  I only ask to be furnished with a charger and arms, and in payment of these I will leave this gold chain, the gift of King Richard himself, as a gage, and will on my return to my country forward to you the value of the arms and horse, trusting that you will return the chain to me.”

The burgomaster, however, said that the city of Basle was not so poor that it need take the gage of an honorable knight, but that the arms and charger he required should be given him in a few hours, and that he might pay the value in London to a Jew merchant there who had relations with one at Basle.  Full instructions were given to him, and he resolved to travel down upon the left bank of the Rhine, until he reached Lorraine, and thence to cross into Saxony.  The same afternoon the promised horse and arms were provided, and Cuthbert, delighted again to be in harness, and thanking courteously the burgomaster and council for their kindness, started with his followers on his journey north.  These latter had been provided with doublets and other garments suitable to the retinue of a knight, and made a better show than they had done since they first left England.

Leaving Basle, they traveled along the left side of the Rhine by easy stages.  The country was much disturbed, owing to the return and disbandment of so many of the troops employed in the Crusades.  These, their occupation being gone, scattered over the country, and France and Germany alike were harassed by bands of military robbers.  The wild country between the borders of Switzerland and Lorraine was specially vexed, as the mountains of the Vosges afforded shelter, into which the freebooters could not be followed by the troops of the duke.

Upon the evening of the third day they reached a small inn standing in a lonely position near the foot of the mountains.

“I like not the look of this place,” Cuthbert said; “but as we hear that there is no other within a distance of another ten miles, we must e’en make the best of it.”

The host received them with extreme and even fawning civility, which by no means raised him in the estimation of Cuthbert or Cnut.  A rough meal was taken, and they then ascended to the rude accommodation which had been provided.  It was one large room barely furnished.  Upon one side straw was thickly littered down—­for in those days beds among the common people were unknown.  In a sort of alcove at the end was a couch with a rough mattress and coverlet.  This Cuthbert took possession of, while his followers stretched themselves upon the straw.