Here
the king stopped for the night, and the servants and baggage not having
yet come up, his temper was not improved by the lack of their service.
It was a great castle to which he had come, being one of the largest
and strongest in the north of England.
"And Cawood shall have no more for a neighbor the castle of De
Aldithely," said the king the next morning, when, after a somewhat
uncomfortable night owing to the late arrival of the servants, he rode
forth from its gate on his way to the home of the great and popular
baron.
Artisans from Selby who had been sent by the king's order, were already
on their way thither also. And these having risen very early and made
good speed, John found already arrived when he himself appeared. But no
one had ventured to set foot within the walls without the royal word.
As John drew near, he looked upon the castle in scowling silence. Still
in silence he rode to the edge of the moat and looked down. And there
he saw the armor and the bones as De Skirlaw had said. An attendant now
spoke to him, and he nodded his head in assent. At once three of the
artisans were hurried across the postern bridge and through the gate
with instructions to hasten to the front entrance and let down the
bridge and open the great gate for the king.
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