Why should so hopeless a struggle continue? Gurth
will be here shortly, and then the fate that has befallen the districts
already subdued will light upon yours. Surely it will be better for
yourself and your people that this should be averted. This can only be done
by your sending orders to your followers to scatter to their homes and to
lay down their arms. We will at once in that case send a messenger to the
earl to tell him that the district has submitted. I must request that in
order the message shall reach him you shall bid two officers of rank
accompany our messenger to Gurth's camp; we giving them our undertaking
that they shall be allowed to leave it unmolested."
"Your offer tallies with my own intentions," Llewellyn said. "Had I been
free I would have resisted to the last, but as a prisoner, and with my
mother and children in your hands, I am powerless. My harper tells me that
fully four hundred of my followers fell in the attack, and with my
stronghold in your power, my tribesmen without a leader, and your armies
desolating the land, I see that further resistance here would but add to
the misfortunes of my people. I am ready, therefore, to send down my harper
and doctor to bid four of my chiefs come up here, under your safe conduct.
I shall lay the matter before them, and tell them that I being a prisoner
can no longer give them orders, but shall point out to them that in my
opinion further resistance can but bring terrible disasters upon the
district.
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