In a church in Aldworth there are 4 Crusader tombs - the de la Beche family giants. The legend says they met the devil on the road to Jerusalem who asked them what they're fighting for, and they had to think quickly to avoid damnation. The youngest brother admitted he was frightened of the coming fighting - the devil immediately claimed his cowardly soul if he were to be buried 'within or without' ...the brother's inspired solution saved him and the tombs in the church bear this out. It must be true!
Brothers de la Beche
Brothers de la Beche went to war
Up jumped the devil and said
What's worth fighting for?
Brothers de la Beche clothed in mail
Strove with Old Nick and lived to tell the tale
Long John said I fight for my king
To protect my lands, and my living
And Strong John said I fight for my faith
To declare God's judgement And his holy wrath
And brothers de la Beche...
And John Ever-ready said I fight for fame
So the world will hear and remember my name
But John All-afraid said I fear the foe
And I just want to go home
And brothers de la Beche...
And the devil says I have you
If you fall this day
For a coward thou art, and thy soul
Your soul will come my way
But John All-afraid
Took up his sword
And he fought in the battle and his courage was assured
And brothers de la Beche...
But the devil jumped up and said
I'll have you all the same
Wherever you die I'll be there
To stake my claim
And if you're buried within or without
I will find you Johnny Boy,
I will find you out.
And brothers de la Beche...
But John All-afraid became John the Old
And he said to his sons
Listen, I will make so bold
When I die for the sake of us all
Brick my body up inside the church wall
And brothers de la Beche...
And then he died and they buried him there
And the devil sought high and low
But found him nowhere
For he lay not within
Or without
And for all I know Old Nick's still searching about.
