Then the Squires Came to the Table and Shook Their Beavers and Drank It Down Their Throats.

Three goodly knights in complete armour, with squires behind them, came clattering up to my rest house. From what i gathered, they were on their way to war, and war upon that fair, fertile country yonder over the narrow seas. They began talking of king edward's forces presently, and that every man who could spin a sword or sit a war horse was needed for the coming onset. And though just then i lacked a quarrel, i would willingly espouse their cause if they would put me in the way of it in my interest and sympathy. So it was settled. If i could wear harness as fitly as i could wear silk, and had a squire