“Here 's not the road to the Savoy.”
“We harbour not John of Gaunt nor his ilk i' the city.”
“Nay, we ha' not men at arms sufficient to keep him in safety.”
“I am not for John of Gaunt. Give way!” said Etienne.
“Ay, friends,” bawled a six-foot lad with a carpenter's mallet in his hand; “we mistook; the lording hath come hither to give himself as hostage for the safety o' Speaker Peter.”
A part of the crowd laughed at this speech, and others cursed, and some said:—
“Take him! Take him!”
“Yea, take him!” roared the throng, closing in; and above this sea of sound Etienne sent his voice shrilly:—
“Disperse! Disperse, I say! I come a peaceful errand. Who will point me the dwelling of one they call Long Will, I 'll give him three groat.”
“So, 't is Long Will must follow good Peter de la Mare?” shrieked a woman from a window.