William Morris

“ That has befallen me which befalls most men: I have been overcome, and I believe that my foes are hard on my heels. Will they be a many? said Osberne. Not in this first stour, said the Lord. Well, said Osberne, I will go and look to it to get a few men together to show them out of the Dale. So he turned hand in hand with the Lord of Longshaw, and cried out to Stephen the Eater to gather forth; and in an hour or so they had enough men and to spare. ”

“ Hark ye, ye up-countrymen, if ye do not give up this man, then will we burn your house to the threshold. Yea, said Osberne, ye have all day long to do it in, make no delay therefore. Or did ye ever hear who I am? And they said: Nay, we know not. ”

“ Lightfoot men of Wethermel, here is a job for you: let not one of these men escape from out of the Dale. So they fell to, and hard they worked at it; and so they wrought that they slew them every one. Then Osberne went back to the Lord of Longshaw and said: See, master, it is still a name to conjure with. And now what wilt thou do? Wilt thou gather men in the Dale here? We can find thee a ten score or thereabout of as good men as need be. ”