RalphEnterethIntotheBurgoftheFourFrithsWhentheycameuptothewalltheysawthatitwaswellbuildedofgoodashlar，andsohighthattheymightnotseetheroofsofthetownbecauseofit；butthereweretalltowersonit，amanyofthem，strongandwhite。Theroadledupstraighttothemaster-gateoftheBurg，andtherewasabaileybeforeitstronglywalled，andmannedwithweaponedmen，andacaptaingoingaboutamongstthem。
Buttheyentereditalongwithmenbringingwaresintothetown，andnoneheededthemmuch，tilltheycametotheverygate，onthefurthersideofamoatthatwasbothdeepandclean；
butasnowthebridgewasdownandtheportcullisup，sothatthemarket-peoplemightpassineasily，foritwasyetearlyintheday。
Butbeforethedooroneithersidestoodmen-at-armswellweaponed，andontherightsidewastheircaptain，atallmanwithbaregrizzledhead，butotherwiseall-armed，whostoppedeveryonewhomheknewnot，andaskedtheirbusiness。
AsRalphcameridingupwithRogerbesidehim，oneoftheguardlaidhisspearacrossandbadethemstand，andthecaptainspakeinadrycoldvoice：
“Whencecomestthou，man-at-arms？”“FromtheAbbeyofSt。MaryatHigham。”
saidRalph。“Yea。”saidthecaptain，smilinggrimly，“evensoI
mighthavedeemed：thouwiltbeoneoftheLordAbbot’slilylads。”
“NoIamnot。”quothRalphangrily。“Well，well。”saidthecaptain，“whatisthyname？”
“RalphMotherson。”quothRalph，knittinghisbrow。Saidthecaptain“Andwhitherwiltthou？”SaidRalph，“Onmineownerrands。”
“Thouanswerestnotoverfreely。”quoththecaptain。
SaidRalph，“Thenisiteven；forthouaskestfreelyenough。”
“Well，well。”saidthecaptain，grinninginnounfriendlywise，“thouseemestastoutladenough；andastomyasking，itismycraftascaptainoftheNorthGate：butnowtellmefriendly，goestthoutoanykinsmanorfriendintheBurg？”
ThenRalph’sbrowclearedandhesaid，“Nay，fairsir。”
“Wellthen。”saidthecaptain，“artthoubutridingstraightthroughtoanothergate，andsoawayagain？”“Nay。”saidRalph，“ifImay，Iwouldabideherethenightover，ormay-happenlonger。”
“Thereinthoushaltdowell，youngman。”saidthecaptain；
“thenIsupposethouwilttosomehostelry？tellmewhichone。”
SaidRalph，“Nay，Iwotnottowhichone，knowingnotthetown。”
ButRogerclosebyhimspakeandsaid：“MylordshallgototheFlowerdeLuce，whichisinthebigsquare。”
“Truly。”saidthecaptain，“hegoestoagoodharbour；andmoreover，fairsir，to-morrowthoushaltseeagoodlysightfromthineinn；
thoumaystdonobetter，lord。Butthou，carle，whoartthou，whoknowesttheinsideofourBurgsowell，thoughIknowtheenot，foraswellasIknowourcraftsmenandvavassors？”
ThenRoger’swordshungonhislipsawhile，andtheknightbenthisbrowonhim，tillatlasthesaid，“SirCaptain，Iwasmindedtolie，andsaythatIamthisyoungknight’sserving-man。”
Thecaptainbrokeinonhimgrimly，“Thouwertbestnotlie。”
“Yea，sir。”quothRoger，“Ideemed，asitwasonmytongue’send，thatthouwouldstfindmeout，soIhavenoughttodobuttelltheetheverysooth：
thisitis：IamamanmademasterlessbythethievesoftheDryTree。
FrommylandatHamptonunderScaurhaveIbeendriven，mychattelshavebeenlifted，andmyfriendsslain；andthereforebyyourleavewouldI
rideinthehostoftheBurg，thatImaypaybacktheharmwhichIhad，accordingtothesaw，’betterbalebybreedingbale。’So，lord，Iasktheewiltthoulendmetheswordandgivemetheloaf，thatImayhelpboththee，andtheBurg，andme？”
Thecaptainlookedathimcloselyandsharply，whilethecarlefacedhimwithopensimpleeyes，andatlasthesaid：
“Well，carle，thouwertabouttonamethyselfthisyoungknight’sserving-man；bethouevensowhilesheabidethintheBurg；
andwhenheleaveththeBurgthencomebacktomehereanydaybeforenoon，andmaybeIshallthenputaswordinthyfistandhorsebetweenthythighs。But。”(andhewaggedhisheadthreateninglyatRoger)“seethatthouartattheFlowerdeLucewhenthouartcalledfor。”
Rogerheldhispeaceandseemedsomewhatabashedatthisword，andthecaptainturnedtoRalphandsaidcourteously：“Youngknight，ifthouartseekingadventures，thoushaltfindtheminourhost；
andifthoubebuthalfaswiseasthouseemestbold，thouwiltnotfailtogainhonourandwealthboth，intheserviceoftheBurg；
forwebeovermuchbesetwithfoementhatweshouldnotwelcomeanywightandwarywarrior，thoughhebeanalienofbloodandland。
Ifthouthinkestwellofthis，thensendmethymanhereandgivemewordofthymind，andIshallleadtheetothechiefsofthePort，andmakethewayeasyforthee。”
Ralphthankedhimandrodethroughthegateintothestreet，andRogerstillwentbesidehisstirrup。
PresentlyRalphturnedtoRogerandspaketohimsomewhatsourly，andsaid：“Thouhadstonelieinthymouthanddidstswallowit；
buthowshallIknowthatanotherdidnotcomeoutthence？
Withalthoumustneedsbemyfellowhere，willI，nillI；
forthouitwasthatdidstputthatwordintothecaptain’smouththatthoushouldstservemewhileIabideintheBurg。
SoIwillsayhereandnow，thatmymindmisgivesmeconcerningthee，whetherthoubenotofthoseverythievesandtyrantswhomthoudidstmis-saybutalittlewhileago。”
“Yea。”saidRoger，“thouartwiseindeedtosetmedownasoneoftheDryTree；doubtlessthatiswhyIdeliveredtheefromtheirambushevennow。
Andasformyservice，thoumaystneedit；forindeedIdeemtheenotsosafeasthoudeemestthyselfinthisBurg。”
“What！”saidRalph，“Dostthoublowhotandcold？whyevennow，whenwewereinthewood，thouwerttellingmethatI
hadnoughtatalltofearintheBurgoftheFourFriths，andthatallwasdonetherebyreasonandwithjustice。
Whatisthisnewthingthenwhichthouhastfoundout，orwhatisthatIhavetofear？”
Rogerchangedcountenancethereatandseemedsomewhatconfused，asonewhohasbeencaughtunawares；buthegathisownfacepresently，andsaid：“Nay，SirKnight，Iwilltelltheethetruthrightout。
InthewoodyonderthydangerwasgreatthatthoumightestrunintothehandsofthemoftheDryTree；thereforetrueitisthatIspakesomewhatbeyondmywarrantconcerningthelifeofthefolkoftheBurg，ashowcouldIhelpit？Butsurelywhateverthyperilmaybehere，itisnoughttothatwhichawaitedtheeatHampton。”
“Nay，butwhatistheperil？”saidRalph。QuothRoger，“Ifthouwiltbecometheirmanandenterintotheirhost，thereisnone；fortheywillaskfewquestionsofsogoodaman-at-arms，whentheyknowthatthouarttheirs；
butifthounaysaythat，itmaywellbethattheywillbeforturningthekeyontheetillthoutellestthemwhatandwhencethouart。”
Ralphanswerednought，thinkinginhismindthatthiswaslikeenough；
soherodeonsoberly，tillRogersaid：
“Anyhow，thoumaystturnthecoldshoulderonmeifthouwilt。
YetwereIthee，Iwouldnot，forsoitis，boththatIcanhelpthee，asIdeem，intimetocome，andthatIhavehelpedtheesomewhatintimepast。”
NowRalphwasyoungandcouldnotabidetheblameofthanklessness；
sohesaid，“Nay，nay，fellow，goweontogethertotheFlowerdeLuce。”
Rogernoddedhisheadandgrumbledsomewhat，andtheymadenostayexceptthatnowandagainRalphdrewreintolookatgoodlythingsinthestreet，forthereweremanyopenboothstherein，sothatthewholestreetlookedlikeamarket。
Thehousesweregoodlyofbuilding，butnotverytall，thewayswideandwell-paved。Manyfolkwereinthestreet，goingupanddownontheirerrands，andbothmenandwomenofthemseemedtoRalphstoutandstrong，butnotveryfairoffavour。
Withaltheyseemedintentontheirbusiness，andpayedlittleheedtoRalphandhisfellow，thoughhewasbyhisattireplainlyastranger。
NowRalphseesahousemoregailyadornedthanmost，andasignhungoutfromitwhereonwasdoneanimageofSt。Loy，andunderneaththesameaboothonwhichwassetoutweaponsandwar-gearexceedinggoodly；
andtwoknavesofthearmourerwerestandingbytoservefolk，andcryingtheirwareswith“whatd’yelack？”fromtimetotime。
Sohestayedandfelltolookingwistfullyatthegleamandglitterofthosefairthings，tilloneoftheaforesaidknavescametohissideandsaid：
“FairSir，surelythoulackestsomewhat；whathavewehereforthyneeds？”SoRalphthoughtandcalledtomindthatstronglittlesteelaxeofthemanwhomhehadslainyesterday，andaskedforthesightofsuchaweapon，ifhemightperchancecheapenit。Andtheladbroughtaverygoodlysteelaxe，gold-inlaidabouttheshaft，andgavehimthepricethereof，whichRalphdeemedhemightcompass；sohebroughtroundhisscriptohishand，thathemighttakeoutthemoney。
Butwhilehishandwasyetinthebag，outcomesthemaster-armourer，atallandverystarkcarle，andsaidincourteouswise：
“SirKnight，thouartastrangertomeandIknowtheenot；
soImustneedsaskforasightofthylicensetobuyweapons，underthesealoftheBurg。”
“Hearawonder。”saidRalph，“thatafreemanforhismoneyshallnotbuywaressetouttobebought，unlesshehavetheBurg-Reeve’shandandsealforit！Nay，takethyflorins，master，andgivemetheaxeandletthejestendthere。”
“Ijestnot，youngrider。”quoththearmourer。“WhenweknowtheeforaliegemanoftheBurg，thoushaltbuywhatthouwiltwithoutquestion；butotherwiseIhavetoldtheethelaw，andhowmayI，themasterofthecraft，breakthelaw？
Benotwrath，fairsir，Iwillsetasidethineaxeforthee，tillthoubringmethelicense，orbidmecomeseeit，andthoushaltgetthesaidlicenseattheTownHallstraight-way，whentheymaycertifytheenofoemanoftheBurg。”
Ralphsawthatitavailednothingtobickerwiththesmith，andsowenthiswaysomewhatcrestfallen，andthatthemoreashesawRogergrinningalittle。
Nowtheycomeintothemarket-place，ononesidewhereofwasthemasterchurchofthetown，whichwasstronglybuiltandwithatalltowertoit，butwasnotverybig，andbutlittleadorned。OveragainstittheysawthesignoftheFlowerdeLuce，agoodlyhouseandgreat。
Thitherwardtheyturned；butinthefaceofthehostelryamidmosttheplacewasathingwhichRogerpointedatwithagrinthatspokeaswellaswords；
andthiswasahighgallows-treefurnishedwithfourforksorarms，eachcarvedandwroughtinthefashionoftheveryboughofatree，fromwhichdangledfournooses，andabovethemallwasaboardwhereonwaswritteninbiglettersTHEDRYTREE。Andatthefootofthisgallowswerediversfolklaughingandtalking。
SoRalphunderstoodatoncethatthosefourmenwhomhehadseenledawayboundyesterdayshouldbehangedthereon；
sohestayedafranklinwhowaspassingby，andsaidtohim，“Sir，Iamastrangerinthetown，andIwouldknowifjusticeshallbedoneonthefourwoodmento-day。”“Nay。”saidtheman，“butto-morrow；theyareevennowbeforethejudges。”
ThensaidRogerinasurlyvoice，“Whyartthounottheretolookon？”
“Because。”quoththeman，“thereislittletoseethere，andnotmuchmoretohearken。Thethievesshallbespeedilyjudged，andnotquestionedwithtorments，sothattheymaybethelustiertofeelwhatthehangmanshallworkonthemto-morrow；thenforsooththeshowshallbegoodly。
Butfarbetterhaditbeenifwehadhadinourhandsthegreatwitchofthesedastards，aswelookedtohaveher；butnowfolksaythatshehasnotbeenbroughtwithingates，anditistobefearedthatshehathslippedthroughourfingersoncemore。”
Rogerlaughed，andsaid：“SimpleareyefolkoftheBurgandknownoughtofhershifts。ItelltheeitisnotunlikethatsheisintheBurgevennow，andhathinhandtotakeoutofyourprisonthefourwhomyehavecaught。”
Thefranklinlaughedscornfullyinhisturnandsaid：
“Ifwebesimple，thouartafoolmerely：arewenotstrongerandmorethantheDryTree？Howshouldshenotbetaken？
Howshouldshenotbeknownifshewerewalkingaboutthesestreets？
Havewenoeyes，fool-carle？”Andhelaughedagain，forhewaswroth。
Ralphhearkened，andakindoffearseemedgripinghisheart，soheaskedthefranklin：“Tellme，sir，areyetwospeakingofawomanwhoisQueenofthesestrong-thieves？”“Yea。”saidhe，“oritmightbetterbesaidthatsheistheirgoddess，theirmawmet，theirdevil，theveryheartandsouloftheirwickedness。
Butonedayshallwehaveherbodyandsoul，andthenshallherbodyhavebutanevildayofittillshediethinthisworld。”
“Yea，forsooth，ifshecandieatall。”quothRoger。
Thefranklinlookedsourlyonhimandsaid：“Goodman，thouknowestmuchofher，meseemeth——Whenceartthou？”
SaidRogerspeedily：“FromHamptonunderScaur；
andherrebelIam，andherdastard，andherrunaway。
ThereforeIknowherforsooth。”
