and they were four days about the business albeit
the men of the Porte and the King were scarce so stubborn and enduring
as they looked to find them.

But Osberne did all he might to keep good order and good heart amongst
his men, and they made their strongholds strong to the letter, and
looked to it that all their forward places should be ready for battle
at a moment's notice.

Chapter XLVIII. Sir Godrick Is Chosen Burgreve of the City

But on the third of those four days came a man to Osberne early in the
morning, and told him that the foe were holding the East Gate somewhat
heedlessly, and that they had lost many in those last battles.
Wherefore Osberne looked to it, and gat three hundreds of picked men,
and passing through byways of the streets came to the townward end of
the said gate but a little after sunrise, and without more ado made at
the doors of the gate, which were but half shut. There they drave the
few guards in, and followed on them pell-mell; and to make a long
story short, they presently won the gate utterly with but little loss,
and all those inside, who were scarce three hundreds, slain or taken.
Now you may judge if this were good news for Sir Godrick, when with
mickle labour and not a little loss he had won the town on the east
side of the Sundering Flood.

But now, when they had won so much, they had yet to carry the war into
the west side of the Flood, where was forsooth the chief strength of
the King and the Porte. For there was the King's palace and the great
gildhall, both whereof were buildings defensible, and moreover they
had full command of all the haven and the ships therein, for they had
all the quays and landing-places and warehouses; so that both the sea
and the river was under their wielding. Two bridges, made of great
barges linked together, crossed the Flood, one near to the haven, the
other a good way higher up; nor had the King and his thought it good
to break either of them down. Both had fair and great castles to guard
them at either side.

So now when Sir Godrick and the Council of the Lesser Crafts had met
in divers motes with Osberne and other captains of the Longshaw host,
it yet seemed a great matter that they had to deal with; and that if
they had won many victories, they had yet to win the great one. And
all men saw what would have befallen if the Barons' League had not
been so utterly broken up the year before. But now the greatest gain
which Sir Godrick and