CHAPTER 29
They Go Down to Battle in Upmeads
Before it was light were all men come into the market-place,
and Ralph and Richard and Clement and Stephen a-Hurst fell to and
arrayed them duly; and now, what with the company which Ralph
had led into Wulstead, what with the men of the town, and them
that had fled from Upmeads (though these last were mostly old
men and lads), they were a thousand and four score and three.
Ralph would go afoot as he went yesterday; but today he bore
in his hand the ancient staff of war, the gold-written guisarme;
and he went amongst the Shepherds, with whom were joined
the feeble folk of Upmeads, men whom he had known of old
and who knew him, and it was as if their hearts had caught
fire from his high heart, and that whatever their past days
had been to them, this day at least should be glorious.
Withal anon comes Ursula from St. Austin's with the Sage
of Swevenham, whose face was full smiling and cheerful.
Ursula wore that day a hauberk under her gown, and was helmed
with a sallet; and because of her armour she rode upon
a little horse. Ralph gave her into the warding of the Sage,
who was armed at all points, and looked a valiant man of war.
But Ralph's brother, Hugh, had gotten him a horse, and had fallen
into the company of the Champions, saying that he deemed they
would go further forth than a sort of sheep-tending churls
and the runaways of Upmeads.
As for Ralph, he walked up and down the ranks of the stout men of
the Down-country, and saw how they had but little armour for defence,
though their weapons for cutting and thrusting looked fell and handy.
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