But he and all his comrades carried themselves bravely.
Now there was long converse between the king and these chiefs, and it seemed that peace would be made.
Yet Alfred's face was hard as he spoke to them--not like the bright looks with which he had jested with us just now, or the earnest kingly regard which had gone with his words of thanks.
Presently the Danes said that the whole force would retire into Mercia beyond Thames, harming none by the way, and keeping peace thereafter, if the conditions were honourable.
Then the king flashed out into scorn: "What honour is to be looked for by oath breakers ?" "We are not oath breakers, King Alfred," Osmund said, looking him in the face.
"Once did the Danes swear to me on their holy ring, which seems to me to be their greatest oath, and they broke the peace so made.
What is that but that they are forsworn ?" "We swore nought to you, lord king," Osmund said.

"Half of the men with us came newly from across the sea but a week or so since.
Guthrum and those who swore are in their own land." Then the king glanced at me, suddenly, as it would seem, remembering what I had told him of the freedom of the chiefs.
"Ha! now I mind me of a word spoken in time," he said.

"It has seemed to me that there was oath breaking; maybe I was wrong.

I will take your words that you have not done so.

Is that amends enough ?" "It is well said, lord king," Osmund answered gravely.
"But," Alfred went on, "I must have the word of every chief who is in Exeter, and they must speak for every man.