noon before
And when one honest shepherd came forward with the money to buy some of the cakes , a rude cake-baker struck him a rude lash with a whip . Thereupon some farmers and their men , who were watching their walnuts close by , ran up with their great poles and long staves , and thrashed the cake-bakers as if they had been green rye . When they were returned to Lerné , the cake-makers complained to their king , Picrochole , saying that all the mischief was done by the shepherds of Grangousier . Picrochole incontinently grew angry and furious , and without making any further question , he had it cried throughout his country that every man , under pain of hanging , should assemble in arms at noon before his castle . Thereupon , without order or measure , his men took the field , ravaging and wasting everything wherever they passed through . All that they said to any man that cried them mercy , was : `` We will teach you to eat cakes ! '' Having pillaged the town of Seuillé , they went on with the horrible tumult to an abbey .