Ulenspiegel, giving his opperst kleed to the oldest of the band, replied:
“Come, I will fetch you as far as Mézières, but first of all we must strip these two troopers and take their horses with us.”
The doublets, breeches, boots, and headgear and cuirasses of the troopers were divided among the weakest and most ailing, and Ulenspiegel said:
“We shall go into the wood, where the air is thicker and milder. Let us run, brothers.”
Suddenly a man fell and said:
“I am cold and I am hungry, and I go before God to bear witness that the Pope is Antichrist on earth.”
And he died. And the others were fain to bear him away with them, in order to give him a Christian burial.
While they were journeying along a main road they perceived a countryman driving a wagon covered with its canvas tilt. Seeing the naked men, he took pity and made them get into the wagon. There they found hay to lie on and empty sacks to cover themselves with. Being warm, they gave thanks to God. Ulenspiegel, riding by the side of the wagon on one of the reiters’ horses, held the other by the bridle.
At Mézières they alighted: there they were given good soup, beer, bread, cheese, and meat, the old men and the women. They were lodged, clad, and weaponed afresh at the charge of the commune. And they all gave the embrace of blessing to Ulenspiegel, who received it rejoicing.
He sold the horses of the two reiters for forty-eight florins, of which he gave thirty to the Frenchmen.