These, their occupation being gone, scattered over the country, and France and Germany alike were harassed by bands of military robbers.

The wild country between the borders of Switzerland and Lorraine was specially vexed, as the mountains of the Vosges afforded shelter, into which the freebooters could not be followed by the troops of the duke.
Upon the evening of the third day they reached a small inn standing in a lonely position near the foot of the mountains.
"I like not the look of this place," Cuthbert said; "but as we hear that there is no other within a distance of another ten miles, we must e'en make the best of it." The host received them with extreme and even fawning civility, which by no means raised him in the estimation of Cuthbert or Cnut.

A rough meal was taken, and they then ascended to the rude accommodation which had been provided.

It was one large room barely furnished.

Upon one side straw was thickly littered down--for in those days beds among the common people were unknown.