When the women archers caught sight of Ulenspiegel in his pilgrim’s array, they set to work dancing about him in a ring, saying:
“Good morrow, handsome pilgrim; do you come from far away, youngling pilgrim?”
Ulenspiegel replied:
“I come from Flanders, a fine country rich in loving girls.”
And he thought sadly of Nele.
“What was your crime?” they asked him, desisting from their dancing.
“I would not dare to confess it,” said he, “so great a one it was. But I have other things that are not small.”
They smiled at that and asked why he must travel in this wise with staff and scrip and oyster shell.
“Because,” said he, lying a little, “I said that masses for the dead are of advantage to the priests.”
“They bring them in good coin,” replied they, “but they are of advantage to souls in purgatory.”