But on his
way he met his shepherd as he was going to the fold.
"Welcome home, Lord Abbot," quoth the shepherd; "what news from good
King John?"
"Sad news, sad news, my shepherd," said the Abbot, and told him all that
had happened.
"Now, cheer up, Sir Abbot," said the shepherd. "A fool may perhaps
answer what a wise man knows not. I will go to London in your stead;
grant me only your apparel and your retinue of knights. At the least I
can die in your place."
"Nay, shepherd, not so," said the Abbot; "I must meet the danger in my
own person. And to that, thou canst not pass for me."
"But I can and I will, Sir Abbot. In a cowl, who will know me for what I
am?"
So at last the Abbot consented, and sent him to London in his most
splendid array, and he approached King John with all his retinue as
before, but dressed in his simple monk's dress and his cowl over his
face.
"Now welcome, Sir Abbot," said King John; "thou art prepared for thy
doom, I see."
"I am ready to answer your Majesty," said he.
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