Several half-drunken English archers, attracted, as the squires had been, by their singular appearance, were facing towards them, and peering at them through the dim light.
"By the three kings!" cried one, "here is an old dotard shrew to have so goodly a crutch! Use the leg that God hath given you, man, and do not bear so heavily upon the wench." "Twenty devils fly away with him!" shouted another.

"What, how, man! are brave archers to go maidless while an old man uses one as a walking-staff ?" "Come with me, my honey-bird!" cried a third, plucking at the girl's mantle.
"Nay, with me, my heart's desire!" said the first.

"By St.George! our life is short, and we should be merry while we may.

May I never see Chester Bridge again, if she is not a right winsome lass!" "What hath the old toad under his arm ?" cried one of the others.

"He hugs it to him as the devil hugged the pardoner." "Let us see, old bag of bones; let us see what it is that you have under your arm!" They crowded in upon him, while he, ignorant of their language, could but clutch the girl with one hand and the parcel with the other, looking wildly about in search of help.
"Nay, lads, nay!" cried Ford, pushing back the nearest archer.