William Morris

“ NOW I have nought to do to write a chronicle of the good town of East Cheaping, or a history of this war of them of the town with the Baron of Deepdale, or else a long tale I might make of it. So here follows all that shall be told of the said war. In somewhat less than a month from their coming to East Cheaping they had sure news that the Baron was on the way to the town with a great company of knights and men-at-arms; and thereafter it was known that he was riding with a light heart and little heed. ”

“ Then forth from the ranks of the Dalesmen came a slim warrior in a long hauberk and bright basnet and a shield on his arm, and he put his hand to his left side and drew, and it was as if a beam of fell blue flame flashed in the sun ”

“ Speedily they befell; for anon they heard a confused noise of crying and shouting, and thundering of horse-hoofs, and clattering of weapons and war-gear, and then burst out from a corner of the causeway all the throng of fleers, spurring all they might, weaponless, many of them jostling and shoving each other, so that every now and then man and horse fell over into the marsh and wallowed there, till the Dalesmen came up and gave them choice of death or rendering. And came great cries of: East Cheaping! For the Porte! and A Medard, a Medard! ”