Therefore my rede it is, that no man ask any more concerning
this, but let it lie with the War-leader to bring us face to face
with the foe as speedily as he may.'
All men said that this was well counselled. But Face-of-god arose
and said: 'Ye Men of the Dale, ye Shepherds and Woodlanders,
meseemeth the Fiddle hath spoken wisely. Now therefore I answer him
and say, that I have so ordered everything since the Gate-thing was
holden at Burgstead, that we may come face to face with the foemen by
the shortest of roads. Every man shall be duly summoned to the
Hosting, and if any man fail, let it be accounted a shame to him for
ever.'
A great shout followed on his words, and he sat down again. But Fox
of Upton came forth and said:
'O Alderman, we have yeasaid the fellowship of the valiant men who
have come to us from out of the waste; but this we have done, not
because we have known them, otherwise than by what our kinsman Face-
of-god hath told us concerning them, but because we have seen clearly
that they will be of much avail to us in our warfare. Now,
therefore, if the tall chieftain who sitteth beside thee were to do
us to wit what he is, and whence he and his are come, it were well,
and fain were we thereof; but if he listeth not to tell us, that also
shall be well.
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