RalphFallethinWithFriendsandRidethtoWhitwallRalphlooksontothefordandseesfolkridingthroughthethorpaforesaidanddowntotheriver，andtheytakethewaterandaremanyincompany，sometwoscorebyhisdeeming，andheseesthesunglitteringontheirweapons。
Nowhethoughtthathewouldabidetheircomingandseeifhemightjointheircompany，sinceifhecrossedthewaterhewouldbeonthebackwardway：
anditwasbutalittlewhileeretheheadofthemcameupoverthehill，andwerepresentlygoingpastRalph，whoroseuptolookonthem，andbeseenofthem，buttheytooklittleheedofhim。Soheseesthatthoughtheyallboreweapons，theywerenotallmen-at-arms，nay，notmorethanahalfscore，butthosepropermenenough。Oftheothers，somehalf-dozenseemedbytheirattiretobemerchants，andtheresttheirlads；andwithaltheyhadmanysumpterhorsesandmuleswiththem。
Theygreetedhimnot，norhethem，nordidheheedthemmuchtilltheywereallgonebysavethree，andthenheleaptintotheroadwithacry，forwhoshouldberidingtherebutBlaise，hiseldestbrother，andRichardtheRedwithhim，bothingoodcasebyseeming；forBlaisewascladinablackcoatweltedwithgold，androdeagoodgreypalfrey，andRichardwasarmedwellandknightly。
Theyknewhimatonce，anddrewrein，andBlaiselighteddownfromhishorseandcasthisarmsaboutRalph，andsaid：