“Yousaytruly，Hugh，“saidBambro’。”Iknowhimandthosewhoridebehindhim。ThirtystoutermenormoreskilledinarmsarenottobefoundinChristendom。Itisinmymindthatcomewhatmaytherewillbemuchhonorforallofusthisday。EverinmyheadIhavearhymewhichthewifeofaWelsharchergavemewhenIcrossedherhandwithagoldenbraceletaftertheintakingofBergerac。ShewasoftheoldbloodofMerlinwiththepowerofsight。Thusshesaid-
“’Twixttheoak-treeandtheriverKnightlyfameaidbraveendeavorMakeanhonorednameforever。’
MethinksIseetheoak-tree，andyonderistheriver。Surelythisshouldbetidesomegoodtous。”
ThehugeGermanSquirebetrayedsomeimpatienceduringthisspeechofhisleader。Thoughhisrankwassubordinate，nomanpresenthadmoreexperienceofwarfareorwasmorefamousasafighterthanhe。Henewbrokebrusquelyintothetalk。”WeshouldbebetteremployedinorderingourlineandmakingourplansthanintalkingoftherhymesofMerlinorsucholdwives’tales，“saidhe。”Itistoourownstrongarmsandgoodweaponsthatwemusttrustthisday。AndfirstIwouldaskyou，SirRichard，whatisyourwillifperchanceyoushouldfallinthemidstofthefight？”
Bambro’turnedtotheothers。”Ifsuchshouldbethecase，fairsirs，IdesirethatmySquireCroquartshouldcommand。”