The Thames
nearest of his small official garrisons — that holding the castle of Northampton. They approached it up the Roman road through Towcester. They failed before it after two weeks of effort, and marched on to the next royal post at Bedford, which was by far the nearest of the national garrisons. It was betrayed to them. When they were within the gates they received a message from the wealthier citizens of London (who were in practice one with the Feudal Oligarchy), begging them to enter the capital.
What followed could only have been accomplished by cavalry, by cavalry in high training, by a force under ex- cellent generalship, and by one whose leaders appreciated the all-importance of London in the coming struggle. The rebels left Bedford immediately, marched all that day, all the succeeding night, and early on the Sunday morning, 24th May, entered London, and by the northern gate. Their entry was not even challenged.
From Bedford to St Paul's is — as the crow flies — between forty and fifty miles : whatever road a man may take would make it nearer fifty than forty. Bearing, as did this army, towards the east until it struck the Ermine Street, the whole march must have been well over fifty miles.
This fine feat was not a barren one : it was well worth the effort and loss which it must have cost. London could feed, recruit, and remount an army of even this magnitude with
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