"That is plunder one may ask a Saxon to share without offence.

Fall to, I pray you." There was a rough courtesy in this, at the least intended, and we were hungry, so we did not delay.

And as we ate, the chief spoke with us plainly.
"I had hoped," he said, "to manage this raid without fighting, but I never met so headstrong a man as your sheriff.

Truly, I would have sent him home in peace, if in a hurry, had we been given a chance, but, as you saw, we had none.

Now, if you will, I will send one of you home to say that if your folk will pay us fair ransom in coined silver or weighed gold, we will harry no more, and will not burn the town.