midday
It was he who had followed across the ladder after Shandy . The outlaw spent the night at the castle of Roger Leybourn ; for the first time within his memory a welcomed guest under his true name at the house of a gentleman . The following morning , he bade his host goodbye , and returning to his camp started on his homeward march toward Torn . Near midday , as they were approaching the Thames near the environs of London , they saw a great concourse of people hooting and jeering at a small party of gentlemen and gentlewomen . Some of the crowd were armed , and from very force of numbers were waxing brave to lay violent hands upon the party . Mud and rocks and rotten vegetables were being hurled at the little cavalcade , many of them barely missing the women of the party . Norman of Torn waited to ask no questions , but spurring into the thick of it laid right and left of him with the flat of his sword , and his men , catching the contagion of it , swarmed after him until the whole pack of attacking ruffians were driven into the Thames .