William Morris

“ Now he hove up Board-cleaver, and before him was a tall man in gilded armour and a gay yellow surcoat of silk, and his armour was little rent and his sword unscathed in his hand; a stark man he was of aspect, but terror was come into his soul because of the slaughter and the press and that there was no escape therefrom. So when he saw Board-cleaver arising he cried out: O Red Lad, Red Lad, O thou seeker, let me live, that I may tell thee what thou wouldst give many lives to know! Then Osberne restrained Board-cleaver and let him fall to his wrist, and stretched out his hand to the gilded man. ”

“ But even therewith his hand was thrust aside, for many a man there was mad and drunk with the slaying: and a short, dark, long-armed man of the weavers' craft, armed with nought else save a heavy sword cutting on the inner edge, drew him on to the gilded man's horse, and brought his short sword back-handed across his face and neck, and fell with him as he fell, and mangled him that he was more than dead, and then got up again amidst the horses and fell to work again. ”

“ Now after this Osberne and his drew not back from the carfax, but by the rede of him the townsmen made trenches and walls to strengthen them right up to the said carfax. And for three days the King's men durst not fall upon them there, save that they tried a little arrow-shot from afar, but did not much hurt thereby.
But the next day thereafter comes Sir Godrick with his host to the help of the townsmen, and rides into the North Gate amidst the joy of all men. And the next day they push on to their outworks and fall on. ”