The road is all spotted like a shambles at Martinmas.

Why should ye mishandle yourselves thus ?" "C'est pour vos peches--pour vos peches," they droned, looking at the travellers with sad lack-lustre eyes, and then bent to their bloody work once more without heed to the prayers and persuasions which were addressed to them.

Finding all remonstrance useless, the three comrades hastened on their way, leaving these strange travellers to their dreary task.
"Mort Dieu!" cried the bowman, "there is a bucketful or more of my blood over in France, but it was all spilled in hot fight, and I should think twice before I drew it drop by drop as these friars are doing.

By my hilt! our young one here is as white as a Picardy cheese.

What is amiss then, mon cher ?" "It is nothing," Alleyne answered.