midday
The enemy had not , as yet , come within sight of the town ; but , throughout the night , the sky to the west had been red with the flames of the burning villages and homesteads . The male inhabitants were all under arms . Many had already sent their wives and children , in waggons , towards Ludlow ; but , as the town had a strong wall , the men were determined upon making a stout defence . They crowded round the newly arrived troops , with loud cheers ; which were raised , again and again , when they heard that , by midday , four hundred footmen would arrive to their assistance . It had been arranged that Sir Philip Haverstone should remain in the town , to take charge of the defence ; and that the mounted men should , under Sir John Burgon , endeavour to check the Welsh plundering parties in the open . Sir William Bastow was to remain , to assist Haverstone in the defence of the town . There was no great fear of this falling ; as , before the day was out , four or five thousand men would be assembled at Ludlow , and would be able to march to its relief .