William Morris

“ For there lay in their road, a mile and a half a-head, a thorpe so big that it was well-nigh a little town, but quite unfenced, though many of the houses were goodly and great as for such a place. But now all was going ill there, for they saw smoke and flames coming forth from the windows and roofs of many of the houses, and a confused crying and shrieking came down the wind to them, and Osberne the keen-eyed deemed he could see folk, some a-horseback, fleeing down the highway toward them. Then Sir Godrick cried out: Prick on, good men of mine! ”

“ And as Sir Godrick and his came within the thorpe they found a many of the Skimmers there (two hundreds of their carcasses were buried afterwards) , and all about by the houses lay mangled bodies of the country-folk, some few with weapons in their hands, but more of women and children. But when Godrick and his had slain the first plump that they had driven in from the road, the Knight cried out: Ye thorpe-dwellers, look to quenching the fires, while we slay you these wolf-swine. Thereon the countrymen began to run together with buckets wherever the riders were before them. ”

“ But now as they drew nigher there was no nay-saying but that folk were fleeing desperately along the highway, and some with their hands spread out to the newcomers as if praying for help, young men and old, women and children ”