When morning was, there were horns sounding from the tower on thetoft, and all men hastening in their war-gear to the topmost of the othertoft, the bare one, whereon was no building; for thereon was ever themote-stead of these woodmen. But men came not only from the steadand houses of the Tofts, but also from the woodland cots and dwellingsanigh, of which were no few. And they that came there first found KingChristopher sitting on the mound amid the mote-stead, and Jack of theTofts and his seven sons sitting by him, and all they well-weaponed andwith green coats over their hauberks; and they that came last found threehundreds of good men and true gathered there, albeit this was but theHusting of the Tofts.
So when there were no more to come, then was the Mote hallowed,and the talk began; but short and sharp was their rede, for well did all menwot who had been in the hall the night before that there was now no timeto lose. For though nigh all the men that had been in the hall were wellknown to each other, yet might there perchance have been some spyunknown, who had edged him in as a guest to one of the good men.well if they might gather a little host ere their foeman might gather amickle.
First therefore arose Jack of the Tofts, and began shortly to put forththe sooth, that there was come the son of King Christopher the Old, andthat now he was seeking to his kingdom, not for lust of power and gain,but that he might be the friend of good men and true, and uphold them andbe by them upholden. And saith he: "Look ye on the face of this man,and tell me where ye shall find a friend friendlier than he, and moresingle-hearted?" And therewith he laid his hand on Christopher's head, andthe young man rose up, blushing like a maid, and thereafter a long timecould no lord be heard for the tumult of gladness and the clashing ofweapons.Withal, as the saw saith: The word flieth, the wight dieth. And it were
But when it was a little hushed, then spake Jack again: "Now need noman say more to man on this matter, for ye call this curly-headed lad theKing of Oakenrealm, even as some of ye did last night."
Mighty was the shout of yea-say that arose at that word; and when itwas stilled, a grey-head stood up and said: "King Christopher, and thou,our leader, whom we shall henceforth call Earl, it is now meet that weshear up the war-arrow, and send it forth to whithersoever we deem ourfriends dwell, and that this be done at once here in this Mote, and that thehosting be after three nights' frist in the plain of Hazeldale, which all yeknow is twelve miles nigher to Oakenrealm than this."