Chapter 8 No.8

Four men-at-arms came at their backs,

With halbert, bill, and battle-axe:

They bore Lord Marmion's lance so strong,

And led his sumpter-mules along,

And ambling palfrey, when at need

Him listed ease his battle-steed.

The last and trustiest of the four,

On high his forky pennon bore;

Like swallow's tail, in shape and hue,

Fluttered the streamer glossy blue,

Where, blazoned sable, as before,

The towering falcon seemed to soar.

Last, twenty yeomen, two and two,

In hosen black, and jerkins blue,

With falcons broidered on each breast,

Attended on their lord's behest:

Each, chosen for an archer good,

Knew hunting-craft by lake or wood;

Each one a six-foot bow could bend,

And far a clothyard shaft could send;

Each held a boar-spear tough and strong,

And at their belts their quivers rung.

Their dusty palfreys, and array,

Showed they had marched a weary way.