“The watchword?”

“I have it not—­twelve hours have not passed since I landed in England after an absence of years.”

“Stand while I summon the guard.”

In a little while a small troop approached, their leader the young Lord Walter of Hereford, who had been present, as it chanced, when our hero was knighted.  He recognised him with joy.

“The Earl of Leicester will be overjoyed to see you.  He has long given you up for lost.”

“He has not forgotten me?”

“Even yesternight he wished you were present to fight by his side.”

Our poor Hubert felt his heart throb with joy and pride.

As they descended into the camp Hubert perceived the Bishop of Worcester, Walter de Cantilupe, riding through the ranks, and exhorting the soldiers to confess their sins, and to receive absolution and the Holy Communion; assuring them that such as fell would fall in God’s cause, and suffer on behalf of the truth.  Behind him his followers distributed white crosses to the soldiers, as if they were crusaders, which they attached to their breasts and backs.  In this war of Englishmen against Englishmen there was need of some such mark to distinguish the rival parties.

All through the camp religious exercises were proceeding, and when at last Walter of Hereford brought our hero to the tent of Earl Simon, they found him prostrate in fervent prayer.

“Father and leader,” said the young earl with deep reverence, “I have brought thee a long-lost son.”

The earl rose.

“My son!  Hubert!  Can it be thou, risen from the dead?”

“Come to share thy fate for weal or woe, my beloved lord.  From thy hands I received knighthood:  at thy side will I conquer or die.”

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The dawn was at hand.  The birds began their matin songs, when the stern blast of the trumpet drowned their tiny warblings.

The army arose as one man.  At first all was confusion, as when bees swarm, which was rapidly reduced into order, as the leaders went up and down with the standard bearers, and the men fell into their ranks.  When all was still the earl, the great earl, came forth, armed cap-a-pie, mounted on his charger.  The herald proclaimed silence.  The deep, manly voice was heard: 

“Beloved brethren!  We are about to fight this day for the liberty of this realm, in honour of God, His blessed Mother, and all the Saints, for the defence of our Mother Church of England, and for the faith of Christ.

“Let us therefore pray to our Lord God, that since we are His, He would grant us victory in the battle, and commend ourselves to Him, body, soul, and spirit.”

Then the Bishop of Worcester gave the Benediction, after which the vast multitude arose as a man, took their places, and began their onward march.  Scouts of the royal army, out foraging, saw them, and bore the tidings to King Henry and Prince Edward at the priory and the castle, and the opposing forces arose in their turn.