Cuthbert had begged permission of his mother to ask the earl to allow him to join as a volunteer, but she would not hear of it.
Neither would she suffer him to mingle with the foresters.

The utmost that he could obtain was that he might go as a spectator, with strict injunctions to keep himself out of the fray, and as far as possible beyond bow-shot of the castle wall.
It was a force of some 400 strong that issued from the wood early next morning to attack the stronghold at Wortham.

The force consisted of some ten or twelve knights and barons, some 150 or 160 Norman men-at-arms, a miscellaneous gathering of other retainers, 200 strong, and some eighty of the forest men.

These last were not to fight under the earl's banner, but were to act on their own account.

There were among them outlaws, escaped serfs, and some men guilty of bloodshed.