'
Then stood up Iron-face the Alderman and said: 'This is well asked,
and soon shall ye be as wise as I am on this matter. Know ye, O men
of Burgstead and the Dale, that we had not called this Gate-thing so
hard on the Great Folk-mote had not great need been to look into
troublous matters. Long have ye dwelt in peace, and it is years on
years now since any foeman hath fallen on the Dale: but, as ye will
bear in mind, last autumn were there ransackings in the Dale and
amidst of the Shepherds after the manner of deeds of war; and it
troubleth us that none can say who wrought these ill deeds. Next,
but a little while agone, was Wood-grey, a valiant goodman of the
Woodlanders, slain close to his own door by evil men. These men we
took at first for mere gangrel felons and outcasts from their own
folk: though there were some who spoke against that from the
beginning.
'But thirdly are new tidings again: for three days ago, while some
of the folk were hunting peaceably in the Wild-wood and thinking no
evil, they were fallen upon of set purpose by a host of men-at-arms,
and nought would serve but mere battle for dear life, so that many of
our neighbours were hurt, and three slain outright; and now mark
this, that those who there fell upon our folk were clad and armed
even as the two felons that slew Wood-grey, and moreover were like
them in aspect of body.
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