Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/267

 war should find Longshaw not duly prepared, and also that at this time there was no tidings which Sir Godrick looked for more than this. Speedy therefore was his rede. For he gave into Osberne's hand fifteen hundreds of his best men, and bade him ride to the City and the North Gate and see what the fields without the City looked like, and the very next morning the Red Lad and his rode out of Longshaw, having with them two of the said weaver-carles, but the third abode with Sir Godrick.

Now so good were the Red Lad's way-leaders and knew all the passages and roads so inly, and so diligent was the Red Lad himself and his men so good and trusty, that by the second day about sunset he was but five miles from the North Gate, and he and his covered by some scattering woodland that lay thereabout.

Straightway Osberne sends a half score of spies to get them to the City and see what was toward, and come back, they that were not slain, and tell him thereof. Straightway they went, and had such hap that all they came back unscathed, and this was their story: That the men of the Small Crafts were not by seeming hard pressed, for still their banners hung out from the North Gate and the wall and towers thereabout; but that both within the City had been bitter battle against them all day long, and also an host of men of their foes had come out from the East Gate, and were now lying round the North Gate in no very good order, because they looked for no peril save from