For a time the natives turned and fought
desperately in defence of their homes, but they were unable to withstand
the skill and discipline of the Saxon troops, and the measure that they had
so frequently dealt out to the Saxon villagers now fell on them. No quarter
was given. Every man, woman, and child was slaughtered, and the houses
given to the flames. Village after village was captured and burnt, but the
resistance became fainter and fainter, and the last three villages at the
head of the valley were found to be entirely deserted. Then, just as the
sun set, the force bivouacked for the night, the horns calling in the
scattered levies, who gradually rejoined them.
The next morning the force was broken up into five or six columns, each
having a proportion of the regular soldiers and a body of the levies. These
penetrated side valleys and climbed the hills. In many cases they
encountered resistance, stones being rolled down upon them, and the Welsh
defending strong barricades of felled trees. But everywhere the Saxons were
successful, and day after day continued the work, until at the end of five
days they were able to move where they would without encountering any
resistance. The force now marched forward from the head of the valley,
crossed a range of hills, and descended into another valley. They had now
grown more confident in themselves, and while a third of the force
proceeded to lay waste the valley, the rest, broken up into small columns,
ascended the hills on either side, carrying fire and sword into every
hamlet they came upon.
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