But I knew that they were worthy of praise, so I said: "Well have ye done, every man of you, even as I knew ye would when once ye turned to bay.

And if the Danes come again, as I think they will not speedily, fight as ye fought at Stert, and there will be victory again." Then they cheered and shouted again, louder than before; and I made to leap down, but they would not suffer me.
Then said I: "Let me go, for I have an errand." Whereupon the men who held the shield, and could hear me amid the slackening uproar, asked where I would go, and being dazed by the noise and tumult, like an owl in daylight, I must needs answer, without thinking; "To the great nunnery." And the end of that foolishness was that they bore me thither, for it was not far, with a great crowd of all sorts following and shouting.

And there must I stand with all that tail after me while they beat on the gates in such sort that the poor nuns must have thought the Danes at their doorstep.
But I held up my hand for silence, not thinking it would come; but as it were by nature longing for it.

And instantly all the crowd was hushed, and that surprised me, though when I told Wulfhere thereof he said it was no wonder.
Seeing which I begged them all to go away and not scare the holy women, who were used to quiet in the place.

And then I remembered the honour the honest warriors had meant this for, and thanked them, bidding them make allowances for my being put out at first.
Then took they off their helms and shouted thrice; and then fled rapidly, for the gates opened behind me, and there was the abbess herself, with her cheeks red, and her eyes burning bright in anger, as I thought, while behind her peeped all her nuns at the crowded street, and at myself standing shamefaced on the steps, doffing my helm as I saw her.
But instead of being angry, she held out both her hands, and spoke kindly, saying; "Never has our quiet place heard such clamour before; but we women will not be behind the men in welcoming Heregar;" and so she bade the nuns come forward, laying her hands on my shoulder, and adding; "See, daughters, this is he who dared to warn the land of its danger, saving the lives of our sisters of Bridgwater, and many others, and who has even now led the host and conquered, giving us safety and peaceful rest again." But I knelt and kissed her hand, while there went a little murmur among the nuns.
Then the lady abbess touched gently my bound shoulder, and said that the hurt was but rudely tended and that she must bind it afresh; so should she show her gratitude to one who had bled for the land.