Sentence:  ... the angelic squadron...began to hem him round with <WSD>ported</WSD> spears. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To hold or carry (a weapon) with both hands so that it lays diagonally across the front of the body, with the barrel or similar part near the left shoulder and the right hand grasping the small of the stock; or, to throw (the weapon) into this position on command.