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。”