My son is grieving that he is not old enough to ride with us; but should aught befall me in the strife, I have bade him ride and take his place among you." Another cheer arose, and Harry went round the table taking down the names and numbers of the men, and when his total was added up, it was found that those present believed that they could bring a hundred men with them into the field.
"This is beyond my hopes," Sir Harry said, as amid great cheering he announced the result.

"I myself will raise another fifty from my grooms, gardeners, and keepers, and from brave lads I can gather in the village, and I shall be proud indeed when I present to his majesty two hundred men of Furness, ready to die in his defense." After this there was great arrangement of details.

Each tenant gave a list of the arms which he possessed and the number of horses fit for work, and as in those days, by the law of the land each man, of whatsoever his degree, was bound to keep arms in order to join the militia, should his services be required for the defense of the kingdom, the stock of arms was, with the contents of Sir Henry's armory, found to be sufficient for the number of men who were to be raised.

It was eight o'clock in the evening before all was arranged, and the party broke up and separated to their homes.
For the next week there was bustle and preparation on the Furness estates, as, indeed, through all England.

As yet, however, the Parliament were gathering men far more rapidly than the king.