CHAPTER IX
Smithfield
N the dawn of Saturday London streets were all astir. On all the streets and amid the lanes close by Thames the Flemish widows bewailed their dead. On Cheapside and along Cornhill men were met together; some there were in bands with banners, and some singly. Also there ran up and down certain fellows that cried:—
“Go ye to Smithfield, good folk, 't is the King's will to meet with you in that place.”
Others shouted: “Wat Tyler biddeth you to Smithfield, all the Fellowship.”
Whereat there were a-many laughed; and they said: “Do we the bidding of Wat Tyler, or is the King our liege and lord?”
But there were others frowned.
“Heard ye Wat in Dame Emma's tavern last night?” they said, and their brows bent dark.
“In Norfolk do we dub so proud speech treason.”