"
"Then you must be as bold as you are tall, sirs, for the woods are full
of these wild Welsh."
"Of that we are aware, sir, and we had some difficulty in making our
way through them, unobserved. I would not answer the guard, when we
entered; for we are going farther, and had it been mentioned, in the
hearing of a Welshman, news might have been sent on ahead."
"I think not that you can reach the king. When we last heard, his
foremost divisions were marching forward, and devastating the country
on both sides of their line of march. We have heard reports that some
of the parties have been attacked, and well-nigh destroyed; and certain
it is that Glendower's men are scattered all over the country.
"We were three days without news, but this morning a strong party came,
in escorting sick and wounded. They had to fight hard, but beat off
their opponents, and got in with the loss of a third of their number.
They had started at night, and fortunately arrived within five miles of
here, before they were attacked."
"And where is the king now, sir?"
"The king himself is at Capel Bangor, and the army lies between that
place and Yspetty Cynfyn."
"Then 'tis but a day's march from here!"
"It would be but a short day's march, could you follow the road; but it
would be impossible to do so, for 'tis beset everywhere, and 'tis so
rough and hilly that, in places, the men-at-arms had to dismount.
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