So he departed and rode to the House of St. Austin, and the folk gathered so about him in the street that at the gate of the Priory he had to turn about and speak to them; and he said:  “Good people, rejoice! there are no more foemen of Wulstead anigh you now; and take this word of me, that I will see to it in time to come that ye live in peace and quiet here.”

Folk shouted for joy, and the fathers who were standing within the gate heard his word and rejoiced, and some of them ran off to tell King Peter that his son was come back victorious already; so that by then he had dismounted at the Guest-house door, lo! there was the King and his wife with him, and both they alboun for departure.  And when they saw him King Peter cried out:  “There is no need to say a word, my son; unless thou wouldst tell the tale to the holy father Prior, who, as ye see, has e’en now come out to us.”

Said Ralph:  “Father and mother, I pray your blessing, and also the blessing of the father Prior here; and the tale is short enough:  that we have overthrown them and slain the more part, and the others are now being driven like a herd of swine into their stronghold of the Wood Debateable, where, forsooth, I shall be ere the world is one month older.  And in the doing of all this have but three of our men been slain and a few hurt, amongst whom is thy son Hugh, but not sorely.”

“O yea, son,” said his mother, “he shall do well enough.  But now with thy leave, holy Prior, we will depart, so that we may sleep in the High House to-night, and feel that my dear son’s hand is over us to ward us.”

Then Ralph knelt before them, and King Peter and his wife blessed their son when they had kissed and embraced each other, and they wept for joy of him.  The Prior also, who was old, and a worthy prelate, and an ancient friend of King Peter, might not refrain his tears at the joy of his friends as he gave Ralph his blessing.  And then, when Ralph had risen up and the horses were come, he said to him:  “One thing thou art not to forget, young conqueror, to wit, that thou art to come here early one day, and tell me all thy tale at full length.”

“Yea, Prior,” said Ralph, “or there is the High House of Upmeads for thee to use as thine own, and a rest for thee of three or four days while thou hearkenest the tale; for it may need that.”

“Hearken,” said King Peter softly to the Dame, “how he reckons it all his own; my day is done, my dear.”  He spake smiling, and she said:  “Soothly he is waxen masterful, and well it becometh the dear youngling.”

Now they get to horse and ride their ways, while all folk blessed them.  The two old folk rode fast and pressed their nags whatever Ralph might do to give them pastime of words; so they came into the plain field of Upmeads two hours before sunset; and King Peter said:  “Now I account it that I have had one day more of my life than was my due, and thou, son, hast added it to the others whereas thou didst not promise to bring me hither till morrow.”