merciful in the battle:  but at last the murder was stayed:  and then the men of the Wheat-wearers went from house to house in the town to find the women of their folk who had been made thralls by the Burgers.  There then was many a joyful meeting betwixt those poor women and the men of their kindred:  all was forgotten now of the days of their thralldom, their toil and mocking and stripes; and within certain days all the sort of them came before the host clad in green raiment, and garlanded with flowers for the joy of their deliverance; and great feast was made to them.

“As for them of the Burg, the battle and chase over, no more were slain, save that certain of the great ones were made shorter by the head.  But the Champions and the Wheat-wearers both, said that none of that bitter and cruel folk should abide any longer in the town; so that after a delay long enough for them to provide stuff for their wayfaring, they were all thrust out a-gates, rich and poor, old and young, man, woman and child.  Proudly and with a stout countenance they went, for now was their valour come again to them.  And it is like that we shall hear of them oft again; for though they had but a few weapons amongst them when they were driven out of their old home, and neither hauberk nor shield nor helm, yet so learned in war be they and so marvellous great of pride, that they will somehow get them weapons; and even armed but with headless staves, and cudgels of the thicket, woe betide the peaceful folk whom they shall first fall on.  Yea, fair sir, the day shall come meseemeth when folk shall call on thee to lead the hunt after these famished wolves, and when thou dost so, call on me to tell thee tales of their doings which shall make thine heart hard, and thine hand heavy against them.”

“Meantime,” said Ralph, “what has betid to the Fellowship of the Dry Tree? for I see that thou hast some grief on thy mind because of them.”

Roger kept silence a little and then he said:  “I grieve because Hampton is no more a strong place of warriors; two or three carles and a dozen of women dwell now in the halls and chambers of the Scaur.  Here on earth, all endeth.  God send us to find the world without end!”

“What then,” said Ralph, “have they then had another great overthrow, worse than that other?” “Nay,” said Roger doggedly, “it is not so.”  “But where is the Fellowship?” said Ralph.  “It is scattered abroad,” quoth Roger.  “For some of the Dry Tree had no heart to leave the women whom they had wooed in the Wheat-wearer’s land:  and some, and a great many, have taken their dears to dwell in the Burg of the Four Friths, whereas a many of the Wheat-wearers have gone to beget children on the old bondwomen of the Burgers; of whom there were some two thousand alive after the Burg was taken; besides that many women also came with the carles from their own land.

“So that now a mixed folk are dwelling in the Burg, partly of those women-thralls, partly of carles and queans come newly from the Wheat-wearers, partly of men of our Fellowship the more part of whom are wedded to queans of the Wheat-wearers, and partly of men, chapmen and craftsmen and others who have drifted into the town, having heard that there is no lack of wealth there, and many fair women unmated.”