We shall feel their loss when we meet the
Normans. Against their heavily-armed troops and their squadrons of knights
and horsemen one of the Thingmen was worth three untried peasants. Had we
but half the number of our foe, and that half all housecarls, I should not
for a moment doubt the issue."
"London will put a strong body in the field, and though we have not the
training of the Thingmen you may trust us to fight sternly, Master Wulf;
and if we are beaten I will warrant that there will not be many of us to
bring the tidings back."
"Of that I am sure, Ulred. The citizens have more to lose and better know
what they are fighting for than the country levies, and as you say, I am
sure they will do their part stoutly. Well, I must stay here no longer. I
shall sleep for two or three hours, and then take a fresh horse from the
king's stable and to-morrow shall be at Steyning. By nightfall I shall be
on my way back with every man on the estate, a hundred and fifty besides
the housecarls, and two days' march will bring us here again. Ulf is well,
I hope? I do not see him."
"He has but carried home some arms I have been mending. We are working
night and day; since the news that the Normans had landed came, there has
been no thought of bed among the armourers and smiths of Westminster and
London. Each man works until he can work no longer, then throws himself
down for two or three hours' sleep, and then wakes up to work again; and so
it will be till the army has moved south with most of us in its ranks.
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