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。”