uster.

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.
So presently he turned about to Giles, who, as aforesaid, bore a long
hauberk, and said: "Friend, the walk we are on to-day is a long one
for carrying burdens, and an hour after sunrise it will be hot. Wilt
thou not do with thy raiment as I do?" And therewith he did off his
hauberk and his other armour save his sallet. "This is good," said he,
"for the sun to shine on, so that I may be seen from far; but these
other matters are good for folk who fight a-horseback or on a wall; we
striders have no need of them."

Then arose great shouting from the Shepherds, and men stretched out the
hand to him and called hail on his valiant heart.

Amidst of which cries Giles muttered, but so as Ralph might hear him:
"It is all down hill to Upmeads; I shall take off my iron-coat coming
back again." So Ralph clapped him on