Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/165

 score of my servants, come hither to me to abide with me for my aid and service while I tarry in East Cheaping. Now this is my will and pleasure, and I shall be no wiser later on; wherefore do thou, Sir Degore, go straightway and tell my will to the captains and sergeants and the knights, so that the hosts may presently break up.

Ye may deem how Sir Degore and the other Deepdalers were abashed when they knew that their lord was a captive in the hands of the foemen; yet they seemed to think that the terms of the good town were not so hard as might have been looked for, since they had gotten this so great advantage.

Now Sir Degore spake and said: Sir Medard, wilt thou suffer me to come up to thee, so that I may speak with my lord privily? To what end, said Sir Medard, since thou hast heard thy lord's commandment? wilt thou not obey him? Yea, said Degore, if I have heard his last word; nevertheless I were fain to come up and speak with him. Come up then, said Sir Medard; yet I must warn thee that it may be easier for thee to come in to East Cheaping to-day than to go out therefrom. Moreover, bethink ye if ye dally how it would be were we to open our gates and fall upon you with all ours, and ye disarrayed and leaderless.

Therewith he gave word to open the postern to Sir Degore, who entered and was brought to the top of the tower, and there he went up to the Baron and bent the knee to him and might