THE SECRET PASSAGE.
Beorn called his men together and distributed them along the rear wall,
while Wulf made a fresh examination of the front. He had before noticed
that great piles of stone in blocks from fifty to a hundred pounds in
weight were piled along by the parapet, in readiness to hurl down upon any
foe attempting to ascend the road, while in the courtyard below was an
immense reserve of these missiles. He placed twenty of his men here, and
posted the other ten as sentries on the side walls, and then went down
through the passage to Osgod. The bridge was entirely demolished as he had
directed, with the exception of a single plank, which could be thrown over
in a moment. Osgod had closed the gate, and had fastened a rope from the
top of the turret to the plank, so that this could be hauled up, without
those engaged in the operation being exposed to missiles from the other
side of the chasm.
"One feels almost ashamed at being so safe," Osgod said, as Wulf joined him
on the turret. "It does not give one the chance of a fight."
"You have had one good fight to-day, Osgod, and can do without another. I
should be glad if we did not have to strike a blow till we see Gurth's
banner coming down the valley."
"We have done very well," Osgod agreed; "and I should be quite contented if
I had but come across that rascal who nearly smothered me in the bog."
"You need not bear malice against him, Osgod; for if he had not deserted us
and led Llewellyn's force away to the spot where he left us, we should not
be masters of the place as at present, and it would have been a terrible
business had we been obliged to take this stronghold by storm."
"That is true enough, master; except by hunger or by a surprise, such as we
carried out, I don't see how the place is to be taken if stoutly defended.
There is no reason why the Welsh should have been in such a hurry to
return, for they must know as well as we do that there is but little chance
of their getting in again. They have come to a halt now down there, and
half of them have thrown themselves on the ground like a pack of tired
hounds."
"I have no fear whatever of an open attack, Osgod. They can see for
themselves that the bridge is destroyed, and I do not think they will dream
of coming up that road, which, as they know, we can sweep with stones from
above. If they attack openly at all, it will be by the wall we scaled. If
they make twenty ladders such as we had they may think they might gain a
footing, especially as their archers high among the trees would be able to
fire down on the defenders of the wall. But what I am really afraid of is
that there may be some secret passage."
"Do you think so?" Osgod said, startled. "Where could it come from?"
"Well, Osgod, you see they have cut this winding road up the rock and have
made the tunnel hence to the courtyard, so the chiefs have had abundance of
labour at their disposal. They would naturally wish to provide a means of
escape if the castle were besieged, and like to fall by force or famine;
moreover it would enable them to send out messengers or receive messages
from without. A passage four feet high and two feet wide would suffice.
They may have driven such a passage from some place in the wood behind and
it may come up somewhere in the courtyard, perhaps in one of the little
huts along the side. Of course the entrance would be covered here by a
stone, and would be hidden among the bushes at the other end. Still I do
not think that this is likely, for a hostile force would almost certainly
take up its post in that wood, and attack the place in the rear. If there
is such a passage I think that it must open somewhere on the face of the
rock, on one side or the other. It looks to us almost perpendicular, but
there may be inequalities by which active men might ascend at some point or
other. For a considerable distance we could see there were tufts of shrubs
growing here and there, and one of these may conceal a small opening. From
this point a staircase may have been driven up into the castle."
"That would be very awkward, master, if it were so."
"It would indeed. To-night all the force except the sentries shall gather
in the castle, where ten men by turns shall keep guard, one or two being
placed in the lower chambers. In this way we shall be safe; for before more
than three or four can enter we should be all on foot, and as they can but
come up in single file, could repulse them without difficulty. Tomorrow we
will lower men down with ropes from the walls, and examine every clump of
bushes growing on the face of the rock If we find any signs of a path or
entrance we shall have no difficulty in discovering where it enters into
the castle, and can effectually block it up. I shall then feel much more
comfortable than I do at present."
"I was looking forward to a good night's sleep," Osgod grumbled, "but your
idea, master, has quite done away with that. If I went off I should dream
that I had one of those Welsh wolves at my throat. However, it is a good
thing that you thought of it."
"I think, my lord," one of the soldiers said, "there are a number of our
men among the Welsh. I can make out helmets and shields, and I think many
are clad in leather jerkins."
Wulf looked attentively.
"Yes, there are certainly shields and helmets," he said. "I fear there is
no doubt they have overtaken Oswald's levies."
"And have made them prisoners?"
Wulf shook his head. "They never take prisoners, you know. I fear they have
slain them all and possessed themselves of their arms and clothes. In no
other way can there be Saxon shields and helmets among them."
"By St. Nicholas!" Osgod exclaimed, "it is too bad that we should be
standing here doing nothing. Why doesn't Llewellyn attack us instead of
keeping his men gaping there at the castle?"
"Because at present he can do nothing, and is not fool enough to throw away
hundreds of lives; besides, he must know that his mother and children are
in our hands."
Presently a white flag was raised among the Welsh. Wulf had expected this,
and had ordered a white cloth to be held in readiness to raise in reply. As
soon as this flew out to the wind three men were seen to advance with the
flag towards the foot of the road up to the castle. Wulf at once sent for
the two interpreters to join him.
"Shall you let them come up, master?" Osgod asked. "They are as treacherous
as snakes. See how that boy led us astray in the bog."
"You cannot get that boy out of your head, Osgod," Wulf laughed. "There is
no conceivable way by which three men could recapture this castle. There is
nothing for them to learn. They know its strength and everything connected
with it, and they can see for themselves that we have destroyed the bridge.
I shall be glad to hear what they have to say. Llewellyn himself is, most
likely, one of the number."
The little party mounted the road until they stood on the platform from
which the bridge started. One of them was a tall figure, dressed in armour,
and with long black hair flowing down from under his helmet over his
shoulders. Wulf at once, from the descriptions he had heard of the chief's
appearance, recognized him as Llewellyn ap Rhys.
"I would speak with the commander of the Saxons who have, in my absence,
taken my castle by treachery."
"I am the commander," Wulf said.
The Welshman's fingers clenched, and he glanced furiously at the young
Saxon. By a great effort, however, he restrained his passion, and said
courteously: "I am Llewellyn ap Rhys. To whom have I the pleasure of
speaking?"
"I am Wulf of Steyning, prince. I don't know altogether that I have taken
your castle by treachery, indeed I claim to have won it by fair fighting.
You went out with your force to attack me among the hills, and during your
absence I attacked and captured your castle. I will do your garrison credit
to say they fought bravely in spite of the surprise. I would gladly have
given them quarter, but they refused my offers, and, save a few wounded,
whom I allowed the women to carry off, died to a man fighting bravely. No
women were hurt or insulted, save those who took up arms and fought among
the men, and it was no fault of ours that they were killed. Methinks that
in your incursions into England you have not always shown the same mercy."
Llewellyn was silent for a minute. He had indeed never shown any pity in
his forays, but had never expected that his castle and family would be in
the hands of the Saxons.
"I learn," he said at last, "from the women, that my mother and my children
are alive in your hands, and I thank you for the honorable treatment I hear
that they have received."
"They are safe and well," Wulf replied. "We Saxons do not massacre women
and children in cold blood. They will be honourably treated until I can
hand them over to the care of Earl Gurth, who will doubtless send them to
England as hostages."
"I shall try to win back my castle," Llewellyn said. "May I be sure that
whatever happens they will be safe?"
"You may. Even were you forcing your way into the castle I will guarantee
that no hair of their heads shall be injured. And now, prince, it is my
turn to question. I see Saxon helmets and shields among your followers.
Whence come they?"
A cloud passed over Llewellyn's face. He had not reckoned on their being
observed from the castle. Concealment was now out of question, and he said
boldly: "I defeated a party of your countrymen this morning. They came with
hostile intent into my territory, and they have been destroyed." Although
he had expected the answer, Wulf was shocked at the confirmation of his
fears. Llewellyn, indeed, had fallen on Oswald's levies and annihilated
them soon after daybreak. Having no idea that a party had separated from
them during the night, he was returning exulting in the idea that he had
destroyed the whole of the invaders, when the news had reached him of the
capture of his castle. Wulf was silent. "It is the fortune of war," he
said gravely. "It is not to me that you have to reckon for the deed, but
with Earl Gurth, for whom I hold this castle."
Llewellyn made no reply, but with a wave of his hand turned and went down
the hill again.
"I am even more than before convinced, Osgod, that there is a secret
passage. I was watching him closely when the interpreter told him that I
should hand his mother and children over to Gurth. He pressed his lips
together, and his face lighted up with exultation for a moment."
"What do you think he came here for, master?"
"He came here to assure himself if possible that their lives would not be
sacrificed in the event of his attacking."
"It is a pity you told him they would be safe," Osgod said.
"But they will be safe, and even if we are surprised and slain I would not
that Llewellyn should say that it was only the suddenness of his attack
that saved their lives. I will place two of our best men at their door with
orders that come what may they are to prevent anyone from entering. But I
don't think it will come to that. Should the passage enter into the castle,
as, if it exists, I have no doubt it does, we shall be prepared to deal
with them, if it opens elsewhere we shall have all our force save a few
sentries assembled, and though all the walls fall into their hands, we
ought to be able to hold it successfully till Gurth arrives to our rescue."
Wulf returned to the castle, and then joined Beorn at his post on the wall
facing the wood. He communicated to him his ideas as to the probable
existence of a secret passage.
"We must provide a mode of retreat for your men on guard here, Beorn, in
case the Welsh enter by either of these yards instead of by the castle.
These flanking towers at the angles of the walls cut off all passage. We
will construct bridges with two or three planks across these towers, so
that your sentries can retreat from the rear wall to the next, and again on
to the inner wall. The doors between the courtyards shall be closed, so
that should they enter either of these outer courts they will be delayed,
and your men will have plenty of time to join us in the defence of the last
wall. However, I am convinced the castle itself will be the scene of
action. Five sentries will be enough to place on this wall. I will put two
on each of the cross walls, so that if your men give the alarm it will be
passed along speedily. I shall remove the last plank of the bridge at
nightfall, and have Osgod and four men in the turret and two on the wall
above them. We shall therefore have fifty-five men in the castle, and that
should be ample. They can keep watch and watch, so there will be over
twenty-five men under arms, and ready to throw themselves upon the Welsh
wherever they may enter."
These arrangements were carried out. At ten o'clock all lights were
extinguished, save a torch burning in each room on the ground floor. The
floors and walls had been carefully examined and sounded, but nothing
suspicious had been discovered. Four men were told off to each room except
the great hall, where twenty were gathered in reserve. Half were to keep
watch, but all were to lie down. The orders to those who were to keep awake
were strict If they heard a noise or saw a stone move they were to keep
silent, until two or three men had stepped out, then they were to give the
alarm, leap up, and throw themselves upon them.
"Were the alarm given," he said, "before they fairly issued out the stone
might be moved back again, and it would give us immense trouble before we
could demolish it or find the secret of the spring. Therefore, let them get
a footing first."
From time to time either Beorn or Wulf got up and went noiselessly round to
the different rooms to see that the watch was vigilant. As had been
arranged, each of those on guard raised a hand as they entered a room, so
as to show that they were awake. Wulf did not expect that any attempt would
be made before midnight. After that hour he sat in a corner of the dais,
leaning as if asleep, but with his eyes wandering round the room watching
every stone, and his ears listening for the faintest sound. He had no
feeling of sleepiness whatever, his senses being all strung up to the
highest pitch.
From time to time he held up a hand, and ten others were at once elevated,
showing that the watchers were as vigilant as himself. It was, he thought,
about one o'clock when he heard a faint creaking sound. It did not seem to
him to be in the hall itself, but in a room adjoining it, the doors having
all been left open. He rose to his feet, touched Beorn, who lay a pace or
two away, and stole noiselessly out, grasping his sword in his hand. He
stopped before he got to the open door of the next room and listened. All
seemed perfectly quiet. He stood motionless, until a minute later there was
a sudden shout, followed almost instantly by a clash of arms.
With a shout to his followers Wulf ran into the room. The four Saxons were
on their feet, and were attacking three men, who, as he entered, were
joined by a fourth from behind. He and Beorn threw themselves into the fray
just as one of the Saxons fell with his head cloven by a sweeping blow from
the tall figure opposed to him. One after another in rapid succession the
Welsh poured in from a narrow opening, but the Saxons rushed up in
overwhelming numbers. There was a brief fierce fight, and the Welsh were
slain or overpowered. The men who last emerged turned to fly, but meeting
those crowding up from behind were unable to do so. Others ran in only to
be cut down as soon as they appeared; a sound of fierce shouting and angry
struggle came through the opening. When no more showed themselves, Wulf
called for torches, and a dozen were soon at hand. Seizing one he passed
through the narrow opening. A winding staircase met his view. With Beorn
and some Saxons following close behind him, he descended for a considerable
distance, then he found himself in a low and narrow passage, and following
this for twenty yards stepped out into the open air.
"We need do no more to-night, Beorn," he said. "We will see where this
comes out and block it up in the morning, though they are not likely to try
again. We can sleep now without fear of interruption."
His first step was to examine the bodies of the fallen Welshmen. He had
recognized in the tall man with whom he had crossed swords Llewellyn ap
Rhys, and found him lying beneath four of his followers, who had stood over
him and defended him to the last. He was glad to find that the Welsh prince
still lived, and directed that he should be at once carried to a room and
that every attention should be shown him. None of the other fourteen
Welshmen who had fallen showed any signs of life.
Ordering their bodies to be carried out into the courtyard, Wulf placed
four men on guard at the upper opening of the secret passage. They were to
be relieved every hour. He then went out and saw to the relief of the
sentries on the walls, and called down to Osgod that the attack had been
made and repulsed. He then went back and slept soundly till daybreak. On
going to the walls he learned that there had been a great commotion down in
the valley. Fierce shouts, loud wailing cries, and a confused sound of
running and talking had been heard. At daybreak the Welsh were still there,
and their fires had been lighted: one party were seen to march away as soon
as it was light, but others arrived, and their numbers appeared about the
same as on the previous evening. There was no general movement, but it
could be seen that they gathered in clusters, and listened to men who
addressed them with animated gestures.
"They don't know what to do," Wulf said to Osgod, whom he had joined in the
turret. "They believe their chief to be dead; they know that his mother and
children are prisoners in our hands; they can have little hope of capturing
this place, which they believe to be impregnable to open attack. At present
they must be without a leader, and yet they must be so animated by a spirit
of hate and revenge, and by the desire to wipe out their humiliation by
retaking this place, that they will not stir from in front of it."
As he spoke a messenger came from Beorn, saying that the Welsh were pouring
arrows and javelins from the hill upon his sentries on the walls, and that
these were unable to show a head above the parapet. In one of the sheds a
large quantity of hides had been found, and taking a party laden with them
Wulf proceeded to the wall at the rear. Here he directed the ladders that
were still lying there to be cut up into lengths of eight feet. These were
fixed at intervals upon the parapet, and a cord fastened along the top, the
men engaged in the operations being protected by the shields of their
comrades from the rain of missiles from the trees. Hides were thrown over
the ropes, and these hid those on the wall from the view of the enemy,
while they themselves could peep out from time to time between the hides to
see that no preparations were being made for an attack.
The secret passage was next investigated; it was found that the opening was
about half-way down the rock, and that the assailants must have climbed up
by a path that a goat could scarce traverse. Wulf set a party to work to
carry down stones from the courtyard, and to block up the passage solidly
for ten feet from the opening, a sentry being posted on the wall above.
After the erection of the shelter of hides the Welsh only sent an
occasional javelin from the trees, but by the loud yells that were from
time to time raised, there was no doubt they were still there in force.
"It is evident that they are going to besiege us, Beorn," Wulf said when
they sat down to breakfast together. "The question is, are we to remain
here until rumour carries the report of our capture of the place to Gurth,
or shall we despatch messengers to him?"
"As you yourself said yesterday, the messengers could never get away, Wulf.
I would give a year's revenue if we could do so, for it may be a long time
before news comes to Gurth's ears. He may possibly hear of the annihilation
of Oswald's force, for any Welsh woman taken captive might mention that in
triumph, but they would certainly say nothing of such a grievous blow to
the Welsh cause as the capture of Porthwyn and the death of Llewellyn in an
attempt to recapture it. Gurth, therefore, naturally supposing that we had
been involved in Oswald's disaster, may abandon all idea of moving against
this place until the greater part of the country was reduced to obedience."
"I see, Beorn, that the difficulty of a messenger getting through would be
indeed enormous; the Welsh must know that we are but a small band, and that
our first aim would be to communicate with Gurth. You may be sure,
therefore, that they will keep a vigilant guard all round the place at
night to see that no messenger makes his way out. Our two interpreters do
not know anything like enough Welsh to pass as natives, none of our people
know a word of the language, it would be sending anyone to almost certain
death. I think we must be content to depend upon ourselves. Gurth is sure
to learn the news sooner or later, for it will make a great stir all
through the country. I have just seen Llewellyn, he is very sorely wounded.
I think it would be a good thing to let the Welsh know that he is in our
hands, it will render them more chary of attacking us. We might hang out a
flag of truce, and when they come up in reply tell them that he is alive
but sorely wounded, and that they may send up a leech, who would better
attend to his wounds than we can do."
This was accordingly done. Two Welshmen of rank came up to the broken
bridge and were informed that their prince was sorely wounded, and that a
leech would be allowed to enter to attend upon him. An hour later a man
with a boy carrying a large basket came up the hill and crossed the plank
into the turret. The basket, which contained various herbs and medicaments,
was taken from the boy, who was then sent back again, while the leech was
taken up to the room where Llewellyn was lying, in the care of his mother
and her maids.
Three days passed without any change. The force in the valley was seen to
be considerably diminished, no hostile demonstration had taken place; but
twenty men always remained in the courtyard in the rear, in readiness to
run up to the wall in case the sentries gave an alarm.
On the fourth morning, just as day was breaking, a man ran into the castle
with the news that the Welsh were attacking the wall. Beorn and Wulf sprung
to their feet, and with every man except those on duty as sentries ran off
to the scene of attack. That it was a serious assault was evident by the
wild yells and shouts that were heard.
Wulf ran up the stairs to the wall. A storm of missiles was striking
against the hides; many of them failed to penetrate, but others did so, and
several of the men were lying wounded under shelter of the parapet, while
the rest were hurling down javelins between the openings of the hides.
"What are they doing?" he asked the sub-officer in command of the party.
"They are preparing to scale the wall, my lord; they have numbers of
ladders."
Wulf was about to look out between the hides, but the officer exclaimed,
"Do not so risk your life, my lord; you can see down without danger;" and
he pushed out the lower side of one of the skins from the wall, so that
Wulf could look down without being seen by the Welsh archers. The fosse in
the rock and the narrow platform at the foot of the wall were alike crowded
with foes, who were planting a number of ladders side by side. These were
strongly constructed, and were each wide enough for two men to mount
abreast. Eight or ten of these ladders were already planted against the
wall, and the enemy were climbing up them. Wulf turned, and waving his
sword shouted to the men running into the courtyard from the walls and
castle to hasten up. Already a dozen had joined him, and scarce had these
placed themselves along the battlements when the heads of the Welshmen
appeared above it.
For a minute or two it seemed that these would overmaster the defence.
Several succeeded in crossing the parapet, but they were either cut down or
cast headlong into the courtyard. By this time the whole of the Saxons,
save the guard in the turret by the bridge, were on the wall, and were able
to form a close line along the parapet against which the ladders were
placed. The Welsh fought with an utter disregard of life; as fast as those
at the top were cut down or hurled backwards others took their place. So
closely did they swarm up the ladders that several of these broke with
their weight, killing many of those clustered below as well as those on the
rungs. But for an hour there was no pause. It was well for the defenders
that they had the protection of the line of hides, and were therefore
screened from the arrows of the bowmen on the hill; but these soon ceased
to shoot, as many of their comrades were hit by their missiles, while they
were unable to see whether the arrows had any effect whatever upon the
hidden defenders. At length the leaders of the assailants saw that the task
could not be achieved, and gave the signal by the blowing of cow-horns that
the attack should cease; but so furious were their followers that many
disregarded the summons, and continued their efforts to gain a footing upon
the wall, or at least to kill one of its defenders, for some time after the
main body had withdrawn. As soon as the last of these was killed the
garrison hurled the ladders backwards and then gave a shout of triumph,
which was answered by renewed yells of defiance by the Welsh.
"It has been a hard fight, Wulf," Beorn said, as he removed his helmet.
"It has indeed. It was a well-planned attack, and was nearly successful. We
ought to have had a stronger guard there; but I did not think that they
would venture to attack at daylight, nor that they could have so quickly
run forward and placed their ladders. Had we been but a minute later in
arriving here they would have gained this wall and the courtyard. They
would, indeed, have got no farther, but their success would have so excited
them that we should have had to fight night and day. What has been our
loss?"
Five of the men were killed; many of the others had received severe wounds
on the head and shoulders from the knives of their assailants, and had it
not been for the protection afforded by the leathern helmets and jerkins
the number of killed would have been very much larger.
"I would as lief fight with a troop of wild cats," exclaimed Osgod--who, as
soon as he saw that there was no movement down on the plain, had run up
with half his little garrison to join in the defence of the wall,--as he
tried to staunch a deep wound that extended from his ear to his chin. "Over
and over again I saw a shock head come up above the wall, and before I had
time to take a fair blow at it the man would hurl himself over upon me like
a wild animal. Three times was I knocked down, and I am no chicken either;
if it had not been for my comrades on each side it would have gone hard
with me. I was able to return the service several times, but had the Welsh
been imps they could not have been more active or more fierce. There must
be a hundred lying slain along here or in the courtyard. I do not wonder
that Oswald's men were all killed by them, though after our previous fights
I held them in but small respect."
"It is a different thing, Osgod," Beorn said. "In the field we have always
had the advantage from our order and our discipline; but here it was man
against man. We had the advantage of position and they of numbers; but
discipline went for nothing on either side, and I doubt if we should have
done as well as they did had we been the assailants."
"I am ready to own that," Osgod agreed. "I like to fight with my feet on
firm ground, and should make but a poor figure balanced on the top of a
ladder."
When the tumult in the wood had died away Wulf raised a white flag, and
ordered one of the men who spoke Welsh to shout to the enemy that they
might approach without molestation and remove their wounded and dead from
the foot of the wall, and also said that the Saxon leaders desired to speak
to an officer of rank.
Two of these came out from the trees. "Hitherto," the interpreter cried
with a loud voice, "my lords, the noble thanes, Beorn of Fareham and Wulf
of Steyning, have given the most honourable treatment to your chief,
Llewellyn ap Rhys, wounded and a prisoner in their hands, and to his
family. Nor have they altered that treatment while you were attacking our
walls; but they bid me warn you and all others in arms against the
authority of our sovereign lord the king, that henceforth they will hold
them as hostages, and that their lives will be forfeited if any fresh
attack be made upon the castle."
Three days passed without any further acts of hostility by the Welsh. At
the end of that time Llewellyn was sufficiently recovered to sit up
supported by pillows on his couch. He had already heard of the defeat, with
terrible slaughter, of the attempt of his countrymen to recapture the
castle, and of the warning that had been given the Welsh that if the attack
was renewed the lives of himself and his family would be forfeited. Beorn
and Wulf paid him a visit as soon as they heard that he was in a condition
to talk to them.
"Prince," Wulf said through his interpreter, "it is, you must see, hopeless
for your followers to attempt to recapture this castle. The bridge is
destroyed, the secret passage by which you entered blocked up, and we can
resist any attack upon the rear wall. We have shown you and yours a mercy
such as you would certainly not have extended to English men and women
under similar circumstances, and grieved as we should be to be obliged to
proceed to extremities with prisoners, yet were the castle again attacked,
and were we to see that there was a prospect of its being recaptured, we
should not hesitate to slay you, as it would be treachery to the king to
allow so formidable an enemy as yourself to regain his freedom.
"Your cause is hopeless. Harold, Tostig, and Gurth are carrying fire and
sword through your valleys, and your people will have to choose between
submission and death. Why should so hopeless a struggle continue? Gurth
will be here shortly, and then the fate that has befallen the districts
already subdued will light upon yours. Surely it will be better for
yourself and your people that this should be averted. This can only be done
by your sending orders to your followers to scatter to their homes and to
lay down their arms. We will at once in that case send a messenger to the
earl to tell him that the district has submitted. I must request that in
order the message shall reach him you shall bid two officers of rank
accompany our messenger to Gurth's camp; we giving them our undertaking
that they shall be allowed to leave it unmolested."
"Your offer tallies with my own intentions," Llewellyn said. "Had I been
free I would have resisted to the last, but as a prisoner, and with my
mother and children in your hands, I am powerless. My harper tells me that
fully four hundred of my followers fell in the attack, and with my
stronghold in your power, my tribesmen without a leader, and your armies
desolating the land, I see that further resistance here would but add to
the misfortunes of my people. I am ready, therefore, to send down my harper
and doctor to bid four of my chiefs come up here, under your safe conduct.
I shall lay the matter before them, and tell them that I being a prisoner
can no longer give them orders, but shall point out to them that in my
opinion further resistance can but bring terrible disasters upon the
district. This, on their return, they will lay before their men, and if, as
I trust, these will agree to scatter to their homes, they will furnish the
escort you desire for your messenger."
Two hours later three of the chiefs summoned arrived, the fourth having
fallen in the assault. They had a private interview with Llewellyn and then
left. A great meeting was held down in the valley, and in the afternoon the
three chiefs and six others came up to the castle and formally made their
submission before Beorn and Wulf, and besought them to send a messenger to
the earl praying him to forgive past offences and to have mercy on the
people. An hour later two of the Saxons bearing a letter from Beorn and
Wulf to Gurth started under an escort provided by the chiefs.