There then ye might have seen great clumps of men making nodefence, but casting down their weapons and crying mercy; and forsoothso great was the throng, that no great many were slain; but on the otherhand, but few gat away across the water, and on them presently fell theBrimside riders, and hewed down and slew and took few to mercy. Andsome few besides the first laggards of the bowmen, it might be threehundreds in all, escaped, and gat to Woodwall, but when they of the townsaw them, they made up their minds speedily, and shut their gates, and thepoor fleers found but the points of shafts and the heads of quarrels beforethem.
But on the field of deed those captives were somewhat fearful as towhat should be done with them, and they spake one to the other about it,that they would be willing to serve the new King, since he was so mighty.And amidst of their talk came the captains of King Christopher, and theydrew into a ring around them, and the lords bade them look to it whetherthey would be the foemen of the King, the son of that King Christopher the Old. "If so ye be," said they, "ye may escape this time; but ye seehow valiant a man he is, and how lucky withal, and happy shall they bewhom he calleth friends. Now what say ye, will ye take up yourweapons again, and be under the best of kings and a true one, or will yedepart and take the chance of his wrath in the coming days? We say, howmany of you will serve King Christopher.
Then arose from them a mighty shout: "All! All! One and All!"Albeit some there were who slunk away and said nought; and none heededthem.
So then all the sergeants and the common folk swore allegiance toKing Christopher; but of the knights who were left alive, some said Yea,and some Nay; and these last were suffered to depart, but must needs rideunarmed.
Now by the time all was done, and the new men had dined along withthe rest of the host, and of the new-comers tale had been taken, the daywas wearing; so they set off for Woodwall, and on the way they met theMayor and Aldermen thereof, who came before King Christopher andknelt to him, and gave him the keys of their town; so he was gracious tothem, and thanked them, and bade see to the victual and lodging of thehost, and that all should be paid thereafter. And they said that they hadseen to all this before they came forth of the town, and that if the LordKing would ride forth, he would find fair lodging in the good town. SoKing Christopher was pleased, and bade the burgesses ride beside him,and he talked merrily with them on the way, so that their hearts rejoicedover the kindness of their lord.