noon
THEY made not so much way that they came to the Five Crafts on the fourth day , but lay under the bare heavens in a dale below the big swell of the downland , whereof Gerard spake . But betimes in the morning Birdalone arose and stirred up her men , and they gat to horse , and rode the hill before them till they came on to the crest thereof . Then Birdalone cried aloud with joy to see the lovely land before her , and the white walls and the towers of the great city , whereas Greenford was but small beside it . So they rode down into the frank , and entered the gates of the city a little after noon , and again was Birdalone in all amaze at the going to and fro in the streets and the thronging of the markets , and the divers folk , as chapmen and men-at-arms , and craftsmen and lords , who used the said city ; and to say sooth , somewhat her heart sank within her , and it seemed to her that it would be hard and troublous to have to deal with so much folk , and that they must needs go past her on the right hand and the left without heeding her life . Howsoever , Gerard , who knew the city , brought her to a fair hostel , where she was well lodged , she and her men . Straightway , then , before she went out into the streets again , she fell to getting together what she had of fine broidered work and of fair script , and to finishing what she had unfinished . And she sent forth Gerard and his sons to find out where was the market for such goods , and if she would have leave to sell the same therein , or anywhere in the town ; and Gerard found the hall of the embroiderers , and therein the master of the craft , and he received the carle courteously when he heard that there was fine work come to town , and did him to wit that none in any such craft might have freedom of the market save by leave of the guild of the craft ; but , said he , the guilds were open-handed and courteous , and were nowise wont to refuse the said leave , were the work good and true ; and he bade Gerard withal tell his mistress that she were best to bring samplings of her work to the Guildhall so soon as she might .