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single； sometimes several abreast； sometimes in moving crowds；
where a drove of pilgrims held together for mutual protection； or
a nobleman showed his greatness by the number of retainers who
trailed at his heels。 At that time the main roads were very
crowded； for there； were many wandering people in the land。 Of
all sorts and kinds； they passed in an unbroken stream before the
eyes of Nigel and of Aylward； alike only in the fact that one and
all were powdered from their hair to their shoes with the gray
dust of the chalk。
There were monks journeying from one cell to another； Benedictines
with their black gowns looped up to show their white skirts；
Carthusians in white； and pied Cistercians。 Friars also of the
three wandering orders … Dominicans in black； Carmelites in white
and Franciscans in gray。 There was no love lost between the
cloistered monks and the free friars； each looking on the other as
a rival who took from him the oblations of the faithful； so they
passed on the high road as cat passes dog； with eyes askance and
angry faces。
Then besides the men of the church there were the men of trade；
the merchant in dusty broadcloth and Flanders hat riding at the
head of his line of pack…horses。 He carried Cornish tin；
Welt…country wool； or Sussex iron if he traded eastward； or if his
head should be turned westward then he bore with him the velvets
of Genoa； the ware of Venice； the wine of France； or the armor of
Italy and Spain。 Pilgrims were everywhere； poor people for the
most part； plodding wearily along with trailing feet and bowed
heads； thick staves in their hands and bundles over their
shoulders。 Here and there on a gaily caparisoned palfrey； or in
the greater luxury of a horse…litter； some West…country lady might
be seen making her easy way to the shrine of Saint Thomas。
Besides all these a constant stream of strange vagabonds drifted
along the road： minstrels who wandered from fair to fair； a foul
and pestilent crew； jugglers and acrobats； quack doctors and
tooth…drawers； students and beggars； free workmen in search of
better wages； and escaped bondsmen who would welcome any wages at
all。 Such was the throng which set the old road smoking in a haze
of white dust from Winchester to the narrow sea。
But of all the wayfarers those which interested Nigel most were
the soldiers。 Several times they passed little knots of archers
or men…at…arms； veterans from France； who had received their
discharge and were now making their way to their southland homes。
They were half drunk all of them； for the wayfarers treated them
to beer at the frequent inns and ale…stakes which lined the road；
so that they cheered and sang lustily as they passed。 They roared
rude pleasantries at Aylward； who turned in his saddle and shouted
his opinion of them until they were out of hearing。
Once； late in the afternoon； they overtook a body of a hundred
archers all marching together with two knights riding at their
head。 They were passing from Guildford Castle to Reigate Castle；
where they were in garrison。 Nigel rode with the knights for some
distance； and hinted that if either was in search of honorable
advancement； or wished to do some small deed； or to relieve
himself of any vow； it might be possible to find some means of
achieving it。 They were both； however； grave and elderly men；
intent upon their business and with no mind for fond wayside
adventures； so Nigel quickened his pace and left them behind。
They had left Boxhill and Headley Heath upon the left； and the
towers of Reigate were rising amid the trees in front of them；
when they overtook a large； cheery； red…faced man； with a forked
beard； riding upon a good horse and exchanging a nod or a merry
word with all who passed him。 With him they rode nearly as far as
Bletchingley； and Nigel laughed much to hear him talk； but always
under the raillery there was much earnestness and much wisdom in
all his words。 He rode at his ease about the country； he said；
having sufficient money to keep him from want and to furnish him
for the road。 He could speak all the three languages of England；
the north； the middle and the south； so that he was at home with
the people of every shire and could hear their troubles and their
joys。 In all parts in town and in country there was unrest； he
said； for the poor folk were weary of their masters both of the
Church and State； and soon there would be such doings in England
as had never been seen before。
But above all this man was earnest against the Church its enormous
wealth； its possession of nearly one…third of the whole land of
the country； its insatiable greed for more at the very time when
it claimed to be poor and lowly。 The monks and friars； too； he
lashed with his tongue： their roguish ways； their laziness and
their cunning。 He showed how their wealth and that of the haughty
lord must always be founded upon the toil of poor humble Peter the
Plowman； who worked and strove in rain and cold out in the fields；
the butt and laughing…stock of everyone； and still bearing up the
whole world upon his weary shoulders。 He had set it all out in a
fair parable； so now as he rode he repeated some of the verses；
chanting them and marking time with his forefinger； while Nigel
and Aylward on either side of him with their heads inclined inward
listened with the same attention； but with very different feelings
… Nigel shocked at such an attack upon authority； and Aylward
chuckling as he heard the sentiments of his class so shrewdly
expressed。 At last the stranger halted his horse outside the
〃Five Angels〃 at Gatton。
〃It is a good inn； and I know the ale of old；〃 said he。 〃When I
had finished that ‘Dream of Piers the Plowman from which I have
recited to you； the last verses were thus：
〃‘Now have I brought my little booke to an ende
God's blessing be on him who a drinke will me sende' …
I pray you come in with me and share it。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Nigel； 〃we must on our way； for we have far to go。
But give me your name； my friend； for indeed we have passed a
merry hour listening to your words。〃
〃Have a care！〃 the stranger answered； shaking his head。 〃You and
your class will not spend a merry hour when these words are turned
into deeds and Peter the Plowman grows weary of swinking in the
fields and takes up his bow and his staff in order to set this
land in order。〃
〃By Saint Paul！ I expect that we shall bring Peter to reason and
also those who have put such evil thoughts into his head；〃 said
Nigel。 〃So once more I ask your name； that I may know it if ever
I chance to hear that you have been hanged？〃
The stranger laughed good…humoredly。 〃You can call me Thomas
Lackland；〃 said he。 〃I should be Thomas Lack…brain if I were
indeed to give my true name； since a good many robbers； some in
black gowns and some in steel； would be glad to help me upwards in
the way you speak of。 So good…day to you； Squire； and to you
also； archer； and may you find your way back with whole bones from
the wars！〃
That night the comrades slept in Godstone Priory； and early next
morning they were well upon their road down the Pilgrim's Way。