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How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts
AmerryfeastitwastowhichSirRichardcame,butasorrylotheleftbehindhim,andlittlehungerhadtheyfortheprincelyfoodspreadbeforethem.Onlythelearneddoctorwashappy,forhehadhisfee.
NowatwelvemonthandadaypassedsincePriorVincentofEmmetsatatfeast,andoncemorethemellowfallofanotheryearhadcome.Buttheyearhadbroughtgreatchange,Iwot,tothelandsofSirRichardoftheLea;for,wherebeforeshaggywildgrassesgrewuponthemeadowlands,nowallstretchawayingoldenstubble,betokeningthatarichandplentifulcrophadbeengatheredtherefrom.Ayearhadmadeagreatchangeinthecastle,also,for,wherewereemptymoatsandthecrumblingofneglect,allwasnoworderlyandwellkept.
Brightshonethesunonbattlementandtower,andintheblueairoverheadaHockofclatteringjackdawsflewaroundthegildedweathervaneandspire.Then,inthebrightnessofthemorning,thedrawbridgefellacrossthemoatwitharattleandclankofchains,thegateofthecastleswungslowlyopen,andagoodlyarrayofsteel-cladmen-at-arms,withaknightallclothedinchainmail,aswhiteasfrostonbrierandthornofawintermorning,cameflashingoutfromthecastlecourtyard.InhishandtheKnightheldagreatspear,fromthepointofwhichflutteredablood-redpennantasbroadasthepalmofone’shand.Sothistroopcameforthfromthecastle,andinthemidstofthemwalkedthreepackhorsesladenwithparcelsofdiversshapesandkinds.
