[Both Sides the Border by G. A. Henty]@TWC D-Link book
Both Sides the Border

CHAPTER 18: Glendower
19/28

You must be swift of foot, as well as brave and courteous; for I heard that you had outrun the greatest part of those who followed you." "We in the north have to be swift of foot," Oswald said, with a smile, "for the Scots keep us in practice; either in escaping them, when they come in too great a force to be resisted; or in following them, when it is our turn to pursue.
"I trust, sir, that you will put myself and my squire to ransom, and will take my word for the payment; for, until I go north, I have no means of satisfying it." "That will I not," Glendower said.

"Or rather, I will take a ransom; since, were I to release you without one, it might cause surprise and inquiry; and it were well that your noble conduct to my daughters should not be known, for Henry would not be likely to regard it favourably.

Therefore we will put you to ransom at the sum of a crown for yourself, and a penny for your squire." "I thank you, indeed, sir, and shall ever feel beholden to you; and I will, moreover, give you my knightly word that, whatever service I may have to perform, I will never again war with the Welsh.
"May I ask if any of our party succeeded in reaching Llanidloes ?" "Yes, some sixty or seventy of them got in.

They fought very well; and indeed, in close combat my Welshmen cannot, at present, hold their own against your armour-clad men.

Still, though it would have pleased me better had we annihilated the force, our success has been sufficient to give Henry another lesson that, though he may march through Wales, he holds only the ground on which he has encamped.
"Now, Sir Oswald, I pray you to enter my abode.


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