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ter followed the direction of Richard's staring eyes. Then Walter stared, too, unmoving for just a moment because he did not believe what he saw. |
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The garrison of Monmouth was not streaming out toward the town, from which smoke was already rising as Bassett's troops accidentally or deliberately set on fire the houses and shops they were invading. Instead, the men of Monmouth were forming up for a chargeat them! |
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Behind Richard, one of the men cried, "In God's name, my lord, let us go. There are two or three thousand of them." |
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"Do not be a fool," Richard roared. "If we flee, they will pick us off in small groups that can make no defense. Philip, Martin, Giles, ride for the town. Tell Gilbert we are beset. Bid him come back, but tell him first to break that bridge we saw between the town and the castle." |
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Galvanized by Richard's voice, Walter pulled on his helmet and lifted his shield to his arm. He had no lanceno one had, because they had had no intention or expectation of fighting, except perhaps to defend themselves against groups of stragglers from the main force. Richard was calling the crossbowmen forwardprobably a useless gesture since there were not more than twenty of thembut if they could bring down the front riders, confusion would make wider gaps in the phalanx of lances directed at them. |
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Pembroke moved slightly forward, his sword in his hand ready to strike aside any lance. Instinctively, Walter drew his horse to Richard's left, to the place vacated by Richard's senior squire, who had been sent off to warn Bassett. Quietly but firmly, Walter ordered the younger boys to fall back, and they did sonot for lack of courage but with the understanding that Walter's greater strength would be a better protection for their master. |
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The crossbowmen bobbed up and down as they wound or pulled the bowstrings back and loaded the bows with quarrels. Walter heard the earl ordering them to hold their fire until the oncoming army crossed the little stream at the foot of the rise on which they stood. Walter judged that the distance would permit no more than two, or for the quickest loaders, three volleys, but it was useless to expend arrows earlier. There would be little chance of doing much damage at a greater distance, and with a nearly solid block of targets rushing |
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