“What need hast thou of a wife forsworn?”
“Say naught ill of her,” replied Lamme.
“Here,” said Nele, “here is balsam; I was keeping it for Ulenspiegel; put it upon the wound.”
Lamme, having dressed his wound, was joyous, for the balsam put an end to the keen anguish; and they went up again to the ship all three.
Seeing the monk who was walking to and fro there with his hands bound:
“Who is that one?” she said. “I have seen him already and I think I know him.”
“He is worth a hundred florins ransom,” replied Lamme.
XXII
That day aboard the fleet there was a feast. In spite of the sharp December wind, despite the rain, despite the snow, all the Beggars of the fleet were on the decks of the ships. The silver crescents gleamed lurid upon the bonnets of Zealand.