We took seven marks from the messenger last night . A day ago we had fifty from the merchant . '' `` And to-day , '' said one of the men , `` I stopped a fat pardoner riding apace for Holywood . Here is his purse . '' Ellis counted the contents . `` Five score shillings ! '' he grumbled . `` Fool , he had more in his sandal , or stitched into his tippet . Y ' are but a child , Tom Cuckow ; ye have lost the fish . '' But , for all that , Ellis pocketed the purse with nonchalance . He stood leaning on his boar-spear , and looked round upon the rest . They , in various attitudes , took greedily of the venison pottage , and liberally washed it down with ale . This was a good day ; they were in luck ; but business pressed , and they were speedy in their eating . The first-comers had by this time even despatched their dinner . Some lay down upon the grass and fell instantly asleep , like boa-constrictors ; others talked together , or overhauled their weapons : and one , whose humour was particularly gay , holding forth an ale-horn , began to sing : `` Here is no law in good green shaw , Here is no lack of meat ; 'T is merry and quiet , with deer for our diet , In summer , when all is sweet . Come winter again , with wind and rain -- Come winter , with snow and sleet , Get home to your places , with hoods on your faces , And sit by the fire and eat . '' All this while the two lads had listened and lain close ; only Richard had unslung his cross-bow , and held ready in one hand the windac , or grappling-iron that he used to bend it . Otherwise they had not dared to stir ; and this scene of forest life had gone on before their eyes like a scene upon a theatre . But now there came a strange interruption . The tall chimney which over-topped the remainder of the ruins rose right above their hiding-place .
There XXXXX a whistle in the air , and then a sounding smack , and the fragments of a broken arrow fell about their ears .
came grumbled lain lay listened over-topped overhauled said took washed