Now ye can see with your eyes that they are many more than we be,
even were Nicholas to issue out of the High House against them,
as doubtless he will do if need be. Brethren, though they be so many,
yet my heart tells me that we shall overcome them; yet if we leave
our strength and come down to them, both our toil shall be greater,
and some of us, belike many, shall be slain; and evil should I deem
it if but a score of my friends should lose their lives on this
joyous day when at last I see Upmeads again after many troubles.
Wherefore my rede is that we abide their onset on the hillside here; and needs
must they fall on us, whereas we have Wulstead and friends behind us,
and they nought but Nicholas and the bows and bills of the High House.
But if any have aught to say against it let him speak, but be speedy;
for already I see a stir in their array, and I deem that they will send
men to challenge us to come down to them."
Then spake Stephen a-Hurst: "I, and we all meseemeth,
deem that thou art in the right, Captain; though sooth to say,
when we first set eyes on these dogs again, the blood so stirred
in us that we were like to let all go and ride down on them."
Said Richard: "Thou biddest us wisdom of war; let them have the hill
against them." Said Clement: "Yea, for they are well learned and well armed;
another sort of folk to those wild men whom we otherthrew in the mountains."
And in like wise said they all.
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