and a half score of them crossed over their dyke bearing a white banner with them, and came close under the tower whereon stood Sir Medard; and the chiefest of them, an old hoar man and very wise, hight Sir Degore, stood before the others all unhelmed and said: Is it Sir Medard that standeth up there? Yea verily, said the Knight; and what art thou? art thou a leader of the host that sitteth about us? Said the other: I am Sir Degore, of whom thou wilt have heard; under my lord the Baron of Deepdale I am the leader of this host. And I have come to ask what thou wouldst of us. Said Sir Medard: I would see the Baron of Deepdale. He is sick this morning, said Sir Degore, and may not rise; but if thou wouldst render the town and the castle unto him, it is all one, thou mayest make me serve thy turn; I know his mind full well. Sir Medard laughed: Nay, said he, we will wait for that till we may see the Baron himself. But tell me, Sir Knight, what is all this stir and hubbub in thine host this morning? Said Sir Degore, without tarrying the word one moment: There is a great aid and refreshment come to us out of the East Country, both of victual and men, and our folk be welcoming the men and sharing the victual. There is nothing in this then that we have heard, that ye cannot find your Duke, and are seeking him up and down? Nay, nothing, said the greybeard, wagging his head. But the folk that were with him looked on each other and thought within themselves how wise the old man was.
