Sowhentheyhadeatenanddrunk，RalphbadetheShepherdsarraythemduly，andappointedthemleadersoftensandhundredswiththehelpofGiles，whowasnowcladinahauberkandmail-coifandlookedaproperman-at-arms。
Thentheytoldovertheircompany，andnumberedoftheDryTreeonehundredandfiftychampions，outtakenStephenandRoger；ofthemenofGartonweretwentyandtwo，andoftheShepherdsthreehundredandseventyandsevenstoutcarles，someeightyofwhomhadbows，andtherestglaivesandspearsandotherstaff-weapons。Therewasnotmucharmourofdefenceamongstthem，buttheywereoneandallstarkcarlesanddoughty。
Sowhentheyweretoldoverandmadefivehundredandfiftyandfour，theygatthemintoarrayfortheroad；
andRalphwentafootwithnoarmourbuthissallet，andalightcoatoffencewhichhehadgottenhimintheBurg。
HewouldhavehadUrsularideonherpalfreywiththeSage，butshewouldnot，andhelditformirthandpleasurethatsheshouldgoafootthroughtheland，nowshewassonighcomehometoherlord’shouse；soshewentforthbyRalph’ssidewithherbroideredgowntrussedthroughhergirdlesothatthetrimnessofherfeetdrewtheeyesofallmentothem。
AsforRichard，hetookahalfscoreofthechampions，andtheyrodeonaheadtoseethatallwasclearbeforethemainhost；
whichhemightwelldo，asheknewthecountrysowell。
TheyCometoWulsteadThuswentthey，andnoughtbefellthemtotelloftilltheycameanighthegatesofWulsteadhardonsunset。
Thegates，ithasbeensaid；forwhereasRalphleftWulsteadatownunwalled，henowfounditfencedwithpales，andwithtwotowersstronglyframedoftimber，oneoneithersidethegate，andonthebattlementsofthesaidtowerstheysawspearsglittering；beforethegatetheysawabarrierofbigbeamsalso，andthegleamingofarmourtherein。
Ralphwasgladwhenhesawthattheymeantsomedefence；
forthoughWulsteadwasnotinthelandsofUpmeads，yetitwasalwaysafriendlyneighbour，andhelookedtoekeouthishosttherein。
Wulsteadstandethonalittlehillorswellingoftheearth，andtheroadthatthecompanyofRalphtookwentuptothegateacrosstheplainmeadows，whichhadbuthereandthereatreeuponthem，sothatthegoingofthecompanywasbeheldclearlyfromthegate；
aswaswellseen，becauseanoncamethesoundoftheblowingofgreathorns，andthespearsthickenedinthetowers。
ThenRalphstayedhiscompanytwobowshotsfromthebarriers，whilehehimself，withhisswordinhissheath，tookUrsula’shandandsetforthaneasypacetowardthegate。Someofhiscompany，andspeciallyRogerandStephen，wouldhavelettedhim；
buthelaughedandsaid，“Why，lads，why？thesebefriends。”
“Yea。”quothRoger，“butanarrowknowethnokindrednorwell-willers：haveacare，lord。”SaidtheSageofSwevenham：
“Yespeakbutafterthefollyofmenofwar；thehandsandtheeyesthatbebehindthebowshaveotherhandsandeyesbehindthemwhichshallnotsufferthataFriendoftheWellshallbehurt。”
SoRalphandUrsulawentforth，andcamewithinastone’scastofthebarrier，whenRalphlifteduphisvoiceandsaid：
“Isthereacaptainofthetownsfolkwithinthetimberthere？”
Acheeryvoiceansweredhim：“Yea，yea，lad；sparethybreath；
Iamcomingtothee。”
AndtherewithamancamefromoutthebarrieranddidoffhisheadpieceandranstraighttowardRalph，whosawatoncethatitwasClementChapman；hemadenomoreado，butcominguptoRalphfelltoclippinghiminhisarms，whilethetearsrandownhisface。
Thenhestoodaloofandgazeduponhimspeechlessalittlewhile，andthenspake：“Hail，andahundredtimeshail！butnowI
lookontheeIseewhathathbetid，andthatthouarttoonobleandhighthatIshouldhavecastminearmsaboutthee。
Butnowasforthisone，Iwillbebettermanneredwithher。”
TherewithhekneltdownbeforeUrsula，andkissedherfeet，butreverently。
Andshestoopeddownandraisedhimup，withamerrycountenancekissedhisface，andstrokedhischeekswithherhandandsaid：
“Hail，friendofmylord！WasitnotratherthouthanhewhodeliveredmefromthepainandshameofUtterbol，whereasthoudidstbringhimsafethroughthemountainsuntoGoldburg？
AndbutforthattherehadbeennoWell，eitherforhimorforme。”
ButClementstoodwithhisheadhangingdown，andhisfacereddening。
TillRalphsaidtohim：“Hail，friend！manyatimewethoughtofthismeetingwhenwewerefarawayandhardbestead；butthisisbetterthanallwethoughtof。Butnow，Clement，holdupthineheadandbeastoutmanofwar，forthouseestthatwearenotalone。”
SaidClement：“Yea，fairlord，andtimelyyecome，boththouandthycompany；andnowthatIhavemyspeechagainwhichjoyhathtakenawayfrommeatthefirst，Ishalltelltheethis，thatifyegofurtherthanthegoodtownyeshallbemetandfoughtwithalbymenwhoareover-manyandover-fierceforus。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andhowmanybethey？”QuothClement：
“HowmanymenmaybeamongstthemIwotnot，butIdeemtherebesometwothousanddevils。”
NowRalphreddened，andhetookClementbytheshoulder，andsaid：
“Tellme，Clement，aretheyyetinUpmeads？”“Soothtosay。”
saidClement，“bythiswhiletheymaybetherein；butthismornitwasyetfreeofthem；butwhenthouarthomeinourhouse，thygossipshallbeliketelltheemuchmorethanIcan；forsheisforeseeing，andhathtoldusmuchinthismatteralsothathathcometopass。”
ThenspakeRalph：“Wherearemyfatherandmymother；andshallIgoafterthematoncewithoutresting，throughthedarknightandall？”
SaidClement，andtherewithhisfacebrightened：“Nay，thouneedestgonofurthertolookforthemthantheHouseofBlackCanonswithinourwalls：
therearetheydwellinginallhonouranddignitythesetwodayspast。”
“What！”saidRalph，“havetheyfledfromUpmeads，andlefttheHighHouseempty？Ipraythee，Clement，bringmetothemasspeedilyasmaybe。”
“Verily。”saidClement，“theyhavefled，withmanyanother，womenandchildrenandoldmen，whoshouldbuthinderthecarleswhohaveabidedbehind。
NicholasLongshanksistheleaderofthemdownthere，andtheHighHouseistheirstrongholdinaway；thoughforsooththeirstoutheadsandstronghandsarebetterdefence。”
HereRalphbrakein：“SweetlingUrsula，thoughthyfeethavewornamanymilesto-day，IbidtheehastenbacktothecompanyandtellRichardthatitisasIsaid，towit，thatfriends，andgoodguestingawaitthem；soletthemhastenhitherandcomewithingatesatonce。
Forasforme，IhaveswornitthatIwillnotgoonestepbacktillIhaveseenmyfatherandmotherintheirhouseofUpmeads。
Isitwellsaid，Clement？”“Yea，forsooth。”saidClement；
buthecouldnottakehiseyesoffUrsula’sloveliness，asshekiltedherskirtsandranherwayslikeoneofDiana’sladiesinthewildwood。
Atlasthesaid，“Thoushaltwot，fairsir，thatyewillhavealittlebandtogowiththeefromusofWulstead；forsoothwehadgoneto-morrowmorninanycase，butsincethouarthere，alliswell。”
EvenashespakeagreatshoutbrokeoutfromthecompanyasUrsulahadgivenhermessage，andthencamethetrampofmenandhorsesandtheclashofweaponsastheysetforward；andClementlookedandbeheldhowfirstofallthearraycameUrsula，bearingthehallowedstaffinherhand；
forherheartalsowassetonwhatwastocome。ThencriedoutClement：
“Happyartthou，lord，andhappyshaltthoube，andwhoshallwithstandthee？
Lo！whatawar-dukeitis！andwhataleaderthatmarcheswithfateinherhandsbeforethinehost！”
Therewithweretheyalljoinedtogether，andUrsulagavetheguisarmeintoRalph’shand，andwithhisotherhandhetookhers，andthebarofthebarrierwasliftedandthegatesthrownopen，andtheyallstreamedintothestreet，thechampionscominglastandtoweringoverthefootmenastheysat，bigmenontheirbighorses，asiftheywereverybodyguardsoftheGodofWar。
RalphSeesHisFatherandMotherAgainThuscametheyintothemarket-placeofWulsteadnightoClement’shouse，andtherethecompanystoodinorderedranks。
Ralphlookedroundabouthalfexpectingtoseehisgossipstandinginthedoor；butClementsmiledandsaid：
“Thouartlookingroundforthygossip，fairsir；
butsheisuponthenorthgateinwar-gear；forwebetoofewinWulsteadtosparesoclean-limbedandstrong-armedadamefromourmuster；butsheshallbehereagainstthoucomestbackfromtheAustinCanons，witherforsooththoumaystgoatonceifthouwiltletmebemasterinthematteroflodging。”
SaidRalph，smiling：“Well，RingofWulstead，sincethougivestleaveIwille’entakeit，norneedestthougivemeanyguidetotheHouseofSt。Austin，forIknowitwell。
Sweetheart。”saidhe，turningtoUrsula，“whatsayestthou：
wiltthoucomewithme，orabidetillto-morrow，whenI
shallshowtheetomykinsmen？”“Nay。”shesaid，“Iwillwiththeeatonce，mylord，ifthouwiltbekindandtakeme；
formeseemethIalsohaveawordtosaytothyfather，andthemotherthatborethee。”
“Andthou，Hugh。”saidRalph，“whatsayestthou？”“Why，brother。”
saidHugh，“Ithinkmyblessingwillabidethemorrow’smorn，forI
havenoughtsofairanddeartoshowourfatherandmotherasthouhast。
Alsoto-morrowthouwilthavemoretodo；sincethouartacaptain，andIbutasinglevarlet。”AndhesmiledalittlesourlyonRalph；
whoheededitlittle，buttookUrsula’shandandwenthiswaywithher。
ItwasbutafewminutesforthemtocometotheHouseoftheCanons，whichwaswellwalledtowardthefieldsatthewestofthetown，sothatitwasitschiefdefenceofthatside。
Itwasafairhousewithachurchbutjustfinished，andRalphcouldseedownthestreetitsnewwhitepinnaclesandthecrossonitseasterngablerisingovertheridgeofthedortoir。
Theycametothegate，androundaboutitwerestandingmen-at-armsnotafew，whoseemeddoughtyenoughatfirstsight；
butwhenRalphlookedonthemheknewsomeofthem，thattheywereoldmen，andsomewhatpastwarlikedeeds，forinsooththeywerecarlesofUpmeads。Himtheyknewnot，forhehadsomewhatcastdownthevisorofhishelm；buttheylookedeagerlyonthefairladyandthegoodlyknight。
SoRalphspaketotheporterandbadehimshowhimwherewasKingPeterofUpmeadsandhisLadywife；andtheportermadehimobeisanceandtoldhimthattheywereinthechurch，whereinwasservicetoward；
andbadehimenter。Sotheywentinandenteredthechurch，anditwassomewhatdim，becausethesunwasset，andthereweremanypictures，andknotsofflowersintheglassofthewindows。
Sotheywenthalfwaydownthenave，andstoodtogetherthere；
andthewholechurchwasfullofthemusicthattheminstrelsweremakingintherood-loft，andmostheavenlysweetitwas；
andasRalphstoodtherehisheartheavedwithhopeandloveandthesweetnessofhisyouth；andhelookedatUrsula，andshehungherhead，andhesawthathershoulderswereshakenwithsobs；butheknewthatitwaswithheraswithhim，sohespakenowordtoher。
Nowwhenhiseyesclearedandhewasusedtothetwilightofthechurch，helookedtowardthechoir，andsawneartotheJesusaltaramanandawomanstandingtogetherevenastheywerestanding，andtheyweresomewhatstrickeninyears。
Sopresentlyheknewthatthiswouldbehisfatherandmother；
sohestoodstillandwaitedtilltheserviceshouldbeover；
andbythenitwasdonethetwilightwasgrowingfastinthechurch，andthesacristanwaslightingalamphereandthereinsomeofthechapels，andtheaislesofthechoir。
SoKingPeterandhiswifeturnedandcameslowlydownthenave，andwhentheywerecomeanigh，Ralphspakealoud，andsaid：
“Hail，KingPeterofUpmeads！”Andtheoldmanstoppedandsaiduntohim：
“Yea，forsooth，mynameisPeter，andmybusinessistobeaking，orakingletrather；andonceitseemednosuchhardcraft；
butnowitallgoesotherwise，andbelikemycrafthasleftme；
evenasitfareswithaleechwhenfolkareeithertoowellortooilltoneedhisleech-craft。”
