“Please Your Worship,” answered the man-at-arms, “a merry fair is held there today, and a great wrestling match, to which many folk have come, for a prize hath been offered of a pipe of red wine, a fair golden ring, and a pair of gloves, all of which go to the best wrestler.”
“Now, by my faith,” quoth Sir Richard, who loved good manly sports right well, “this will be a goodly thing to see. Methinks we have to stay a little while on our journey, and see this merry sport.” So he turned his horse’s head aside toward Denby and the fair, and thither he and his men made their way.
There they found a great hubbub of merriment. Flags and streamers were floating, tumblers were tumbling on the green, bagpipes were playing, and lads and lasses were dancing to the music. But the crowd were gathered most of all around a ring where the wrestling was going forward, and thither Sir Richard and his men turned their steps.