But on the morrow the first man who came to the King was the man-at-arms aforesaid; and he told that he had done the King's errand, andridden a five miles on the road to Oakenham before he had left the horsewith his felon load, and that he had found nought stirring all that waywhen he had passed through their own out-guards, where folk knew himand let him go freely. "And," quoth he, "it is like enough that this gift toOakenham, Lord King, has by now come to the gate thereof." Then theKing gave that man the gold which he had promised, and he kissed theKing's hand and went his ways a happy man.
Thereafter sent Christopher for Jack of the Tofts, and told him in fewwords what had betid, and that Rolf the traitor was dead. Then spakeJack: "King and fosterling, never hath so mighty a warrior as thouwaged so easy a war for so goodly a kingdom as thou hast done; for surelythy war was ended last night, wherefore will we straight to Oakenham, ifso thou wilt. But if it be thy pleasure I will send a chosen band of ridersto wend on the spur thereto, and bid them get ready thy kingly house, andgive word to the Barons and the Prelates, and the chiefs of the Knighthood,and the Mayor and the Aldermen, and the Masters of the Crafts, to showthemselves of what mind they be towards thee. But I doubt it not thatthey will deem of thee as thy father come back again and grown youngonce more."
Now was Christopher eager well nigh unto weeping to behold hispeople that he should live amongst, and gladly he yea-said the word ofJack of the Tofts. So were those riders sent forward; and the host wasordered, and Christopher rode amidst it with Goldilind by his side; and thesun was not yet gone down when they came within sight of the gate ofOakenham, and there before the gate and in the fields on either side of itwas gathered a very great and goodly throng, and there went forth from itto meet the King the Bishop of Oakenham, and the Abbot of St. Mary'sand the Priors of the other houses of religion, all fairly clad in broidered copes, with the clerks and the monks dight full solemnly; and they camesinging to meet him, and the Bishop blessed him and gave him thehallowed bread, and the King greeted him and craved his prayers. Thencame the Burgreve of Oakenham, and with him the Barons and theKnights, and they knelt before him, and named him to king, and theBurgreve gave him the keys of the city. Thereafter came the Mayor andthe Aldermen, and the Masters of the Crafts, and they craved his favour,and warding of his mighty sword; and all these he greeted kindly andmeekly, rather as a friend than as a great lord.