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"They will catch us in a cleft stick," he snarled. "If we must stay pent within waiting for them, the king will have time to gather money and still more men. Moreover, if Richard refuses to fall in with Lord Llewelyn's plans, he is like to . . ." Bassett left the words "turn traitor" unsaid, remembering that Simon, although tied by the bond of fostering to Pembroke, was Llewelyn's man by fealty. "And we cannot attack them,'' he went on bitterly. "Manned as Monmouth is now, we could more easily break ourselves against its walls than break them." |
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"Let us see what Siorl has to say," Simon offered soothingly. |
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Neither he nor Walter was much disturbed by Bassett's seeming despair. Gilbert had a habit of describing the worst view of the situation and trying to convince himself and others that there was no other possible course of events. For him, this had the happy effect of making anything that happened no worse than expected and, usually, a great deal better. Those who knew him either ignored his gloomy prognostications or had similar natures and reactions so that they did not suffer from his peculiarity. Occasionally, of course, someone who did not know his ways was exposed and badly shaken. |
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This time, however, the gloom did seem to have some basis. Siorl's report confirmed the worst assumptions. Two of Simon's men had actually been inside Monmouth, having taken the place of a couple of Welsh serfs. There could no longer be any doubt that John of Monmouth was preparing to attack, and preparing carefully. War towers and machines were being built in sections so that they could be transported and set up quickly at their destination. Cattle were being collected, no doubt to be driven along with the army for the double purpose of having green hides to shield the towers and rams, and feeding the men. In addition, men and supplies were still coming into Monmouth, and this time they were coming by the safest roads, well protected by armed escorts. |
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Since he had already predicted this, Bassett seemed almost grimly pleased. "Well, well," he said, as Simon and Walter mounted up the next day to bring the unwelcome tidings to the party at Builth, "I suppose we will have to do something, perhaps make a feint at Gloucester itself." |
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To this, neither Simon nor Walter made any reply. Bassett was an honorable man, but he regarded his outlawry in a |
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