So, as aforesaid, the time wore till Marymass was over, and then came
fresh tidings, to wit that the men of the Small Crafts and the lesser
commons were risen against the Porte and the King, and had gotten to
them the North Gate of the City, and were holding it against their
foemen, together with that quarter of the city which lay round about
it. The news hereof was sure, for it was brought to Longshaw one night
by three of the weavers who had ridden on the spur to tell it to Sir
Godrick, and these three men he knew well, and that they were trusty.
Now so it was both that it had not been easy at any time that war
should find Longshaw not duly prepared, and also that at this time
there was no tidings which Sir Godrick looked for more that this.
Speedy therefore was his rede. For he gave into Osberne's hands
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 wayleaders 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 of 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 a 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 them within the
North Gate, and deemed that as for them they had enough on their hands
to keep them within their walls, and least of all things did they look
for any onfall from without.
Thereon the Red Lad called to him his captains and hostleaders and
asked them of rede, and to be short therewith. Some said one thing,
some another, as to send back news hereof to Sir Godrick, or to array
them in the best wise to fall on these men on the morrow. Nay, some
were for hanging about till they should have news of Sir Godrick.
But when they were done, spake the Red Lad: "Sirs, many of these
things are good to be done, and some not; for sure am I that we be not
sent hither to do nothing. But now if ye will, hearken my rede: it is
now well-nigh dark, and in two hours or somewhat more it will be
pit-mirk, and these men outside the walls will be going to their rest
with no watch and ward set outward toward the upland. Wherefore I say,
let us leave our horses here and do off so much of our armour as we
may go afoot lightly; for if we win we shall soon get other horses and
gear, and if we lose, we shall need them not. But meseemeth if we do
deftly and swiftly, all these men we shall have at our will."
Now they all saw that it would do; so there was no more said, but they
fell to arraying their men on foot, and in an hour they were on the
way; and going wisely and with little noise, in two hours thence they
were amidst the foe and doing their will upon them; and when they were
well entered in amongst them and had slain many, they fell to the
blowing of horns and crying out, The Red Lad! the Red Lad! Longshaw
for the Small Crafts! Then both there was no aid to come to the men of
the Porte, whereas they were far away from the East Gate, and also
they of the North Gate heard the horns and the cries, and guessed what
was toward; so they issued out with torches and cressets and fell upon
the foe crying their cries, and so it befel that none of that host of
the Porte escaped save they who might make the night their cloak. Then
was the gate thrown open, and the Red Lad and his entered, and ye may
think whether the townsmen were joyous and made much of them. But when
the tale of his men was told, Osberne found that but three of his were
missing. And so soon as it was light, he sent back a band of his men
to bring on their horses and armour. Thuswise first came Osberne to
the City of the Sundering Flood.