His head ached and his left shoulder felt as though it had been severed. Gradually his mind recalled the fight and the blow that felled him. He tried to sit up but the ground whirled and he fell back, was he mortally wounded? His right hand explored his body and felt the cut on his shoulder. He remembered walking through the wood with his friend Roger when four men appeared in front of them, John could see that they were armed with bows and swords. Roger confronted them demanding to know what they were doing in his father’s wood and accused them of poaching. The leader of the group glared at Roger. “That will be enough from you my lad, we are honest men and have no need to steal,” he said. “Then what is in that bag your friend is carrying?” responded Roger. The man’s reply was to draw his sword. “Methinks ’tis time you were taught some manners,” he said as he advanced on Roger. The other three also drew weapons and a short melee ensued in which the two young men were easily defeated.
