"Surely," said the worthy churchman; "you shall have mine own ambling jennet, and I would it ambled as easy for your sake as that of the Abbot of Saint Albans. Yet this will I say for Malkin, for so I call her, that unless you were to borrow a ride on the juggler's steed that paces a hornpipe amongst the eggs, you could not go a journey on a creature so gentle and smooth-paced. I have composed many a homily on her back, to the edification of my brethren of the convent, and many poor Christian souls."
"I pray you, reverend father, let Malkin be got ready instantly, and bid Gurth attend me with mine arms."
"Nay, but fair sir, I pray you to remember that Malkin hath as little skill in arms as her master, and that I warrant not her enduring the sight or weight of your full panoply.—O, Malkin, I promise you, is a beast of judgment, and will contend against any undue weight—I did but borrow the Fructus Temporum from the priest of Saint Bees, and I promise you she would not stir from the gate until I had exchanged the huge volume for my breviary."
