midnight
`` Well , Sir Knights , you have all merited my thanks , for the manner in which you have discharged your duties , during my absence . `` Of course , you were perfectly right , Wyncliffe , in remaining here ; until , at any rate , the knights brought in their following from the country round . It was important to save Knighton , but vastly more so to prevent their overspreading the whole country ; which might , for aught we can tell , have been Glendower 's object ; and it is as well that Haverstone and Bastow should have remained at Knighton . `` Now , as I have not broken my fast , and have ridden since midnight without a stop , I will breakfast ; and we can then talk over the plans to be pursued , for there is no disguising the fact that the Welsh are up in arms , and that we have long and heavy work before us . `` However , it is a matter too serious for us to undertake by ourselves , but is for the king himself to take in hand . A raid can be punished by a counter-raid ; but now that Glendower has declared himself sovereign of Wales , and that everything points to the fact that the men of his nation are all ready to support him , it is a matter that touches his majesty very closely ; and I doubt not that , as soon as he has finished this war with the Scots , he will march hither , at the head of his army . `` However , I shall send out a summons to the tenants of all my nephew 's estates , in Herefordshire , and order them to hold themselves in readiness , should Glendower venture to invade us .