"These men fight stoutly, Alwyn," Percy said, when he had concluded his
story.
"Right stoutly, Sir Henry, and were their discipline equal to their
bravery, they would be formidable opponents, indeed; but as it is, they
are quite unable to stand against men-at-arms in a set battle. In this
respect they are by no means equal to the Scotch, but for surprises, or
irregular fighting, I could wish to see no better men."
"It is an unfortunate affair," Percy said. "It seemed that we had
finished with Wales, at Llewellyn's death, and that the two nations had
become one. In London, and many other places, they were settled among
us. Numbers of them studied at our universities, and in Shropshire,
Radnor, Flint, and other border counties I have heard that most of the
labouring men were Welsh, and have come to speak our language; and
indeed, they form no small portion of the garrisons of the castles; so
much so that I fear that, should the Welsh really ravage the border
counties, 'tis like that not a few of the castles will fall into their
hands by the treachery of their fellow countrymen in the garrisons.
"Sir Edmund speaks very highly of you, Oswald, not only for your
behaviour in the fight, which was reported to him by Sir James Burgon,
a knight well fitted to judge in such matters, but as an inmate of his
castle.
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