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Updated: June 22, 2025
"Ho, archers! shout and rend the skies, Bold archers shout amain Belsaye, Belsaye arise, arise! Pentavalon Beltane!" Then from tower and turret, from wall and keep and market-square a great and joyous shout was raised a cry fierce and loud and very purposeful, that rolled afar: "Arise, arise! ha, Beltane Pentavalon!"
"Thou once did show me a goodly chain, I mind me, Giles." "Aye, but I lost it I lost it, master!" he cried eagerly, "O verily I did lose it, so did it avail me nothing." "Moreover, Giles, thou didst with knowing laugh, vaunt that the women of Belsaye town were marvellous fair and methinks didst speak truly, Giles!" Now at this Giles bowed his head and turning him about, went heavily upon his way.
Quoth Sir Benedict placidly: "Nay, let them come, messires; they are a sea, but Belsaye is a rock. Duke Ivo is cunning in war, but is, mark me! a passionate man, and he who fighteth in blind anger, fighteth ill. So let them come, I say the time for us to beware is when Ivo's hot temper shall have cooled.
Quoth Giles the Bowman, eying his golden chain: "My lord Duke Ivo had a mind to a certain lady, who was yet but a merchant's daughter, look ye. But she was young and wondrous fair, for Duke Ivo hath a quick eye and rare judgment in such pretty matters. So Belsaye city shut its gates 'gainst my lord Duke and set out fighting-hoards upon its walls.
Quoth he: "Greatly welcome is thy news and greatly would I thank thee. Pray you now, how may I show my gratitude?" "Messire, fain would I shelter me in Belsaye, for there is fire and sword and battle on the marches. But the way is long, and on my road hither two rogues took from me purse and scrip. Give me, therefore, enough to bear me on my way." "Aye, verily! Roger, thou dost bear the purse.
"Aye, verily." "And told me not?" "For that she did so command, Beltane." "And wherefore came she hither?" "For thy dear sake in the first place, and " "Nay, mock me not, friend, for I do know myself of none account." "And in the second place, Beltane, to save this fair city of Belsaye." "Nay, how mean you?" "I mean that Belsaye cannot fall whiles it holdeth Helen the Proud.
Wherefore it was that though the market-traffic was well nigh done, the road was yet a-swarm with folk all eager to behold and watch how a white friar could face death by the flame. So, on horse and afoot, in creaking cart and wain, they thronged toward the goodly city of Belsaye.
Fast strode the friar, his white robe fluttering on before, through moonlight and shadow, until they reached a brook or freshet that ran bubbling betwixt flowery banks; beside this strode the tall friar, following its winding course, until before them, amid the shadow yet darker than the shadow loomed high an embattled flanking tower of the walls of Belsaye town; but ever before them flitted the friar's white gown, on and on until the freshet became a slow-moving river, barring their advance a broad river that whispered among the reeds on the one side and lapped against rugged wall on the other.
And in the silence, Giles spake: "Now, by the ever-blessed Saint Giles, there spake the summons of Robert of Hurstmanswyke I know his challenge of old ha, bows and bills!" So saying he bent and strung his bow. "Aye," nodded Roger, loosening sword in sheath, "and Sir Robert is a dour fighter I've heard." "So soon!" groaned the Reeve, "so very soon! Now God pity Belsaye!"
With ancient swords, with axe and dagger and fierce-rending teeth they fought, those fathers of Belsaye; thick and fast they fell, yet never alone, while ever they raved on, a company of madmen, behind the friar's white robe.
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