And so it was, for almost directly the bishop sent for us, and we were taken back to the same chamber.

But he was alone now, and motioned us to seats beside him to one side.
Then they brought in a thane whom I did not know, and he said he was a messenger from Osric, laying a letter on the table at the same time.

I saw that his armour was battle stained, and that he looked sorely downcast.
Not so the bishop as he read, for that which was written he had already expected, and he never changed his set look.

Once he read the letter through, and then again aloud for us to hear.

Thus it ran after fit greeting: "Now what befell in the first fight you know or shall know shortly from our trusty messenger Heregar, by whom the flight was stayed from that field, on the Hill of Cannington.