20 PROLOGUE
bound it into a bundle. Then, carefully placing his scythe-head
under the bundle, he slowly raised it from the ground amidst the
r encouraging cries of the onlookers. Others were not so fortunate,
and some through greed or lack of skill were unable to raise the
load without letting the scythe-handle touch the ground, or still
more unfortunate, without breaking the handle altogether. Ac-
companied by the laughter and rude criticisms of their fellows,
they retired in confusion. So the ceremony went on till all had
had a sporting chance. Once this was over the farm servants
rapidly forked the remainder into a small cart, and accompanied
by the reeve and hayward left the field. John and his friends,
bearing their trophies aloft in victory, started happily for home.
For them it was a moment for rejoicing: the three " boons '* were
over, and they knew that there were no further calls to be made
on them beyond the weekly service that went on from year end
till year end. Not before the Gules of August would any extra
works be again demanded of them.
Their happiness, however, was a little dashed within a few
minutes, for as they rounded a corner a small cavalcade rapidly
drew towards them. As the riders came nearer, John and his
friends recognised them, and when the party reached them all
the peasants doffed their hats and louted low, for the imperious
looking man who rode at their head, clothed in flowing garments
of fine black cloth, was none other than the cellarer himself. Two
others of the brethren rode just behind him, followed by two
servants. A few moments later John overtook old Margery who
had been at work at the Manor Court all day strewing the rooms
with rushes, and making the beds with sheets and counterpanes
—for these great ones demanded every comfort* On the morrow
the Manor Court would be held, and much time would be lost,
so John and his friends hurried on to do what they could
overnight.
On the next morning John was up and about his close from an
early hour, and this kept him busy until it was time to go to the
Manor Court. He called his two sons, for it was no ordinary