The Sundering Flood · Chapter
Sir Godrick Is Chosen Burgreve of the City explained
Osberne leads a successful assault on the East Gate, capturing it with minimal loss.
What happens
Osberne leads a successful assault on the East Gate, capturing it with minimal loss. Sir Godrick and the Council of the Lesser Crafts face the challenge of the King's forces holding the west side of the Sundering Flood. After a series of skirmishes, the King's side seeks peace, and negotiations lead to the appointment of a Burgreve chosen by all Craft Gilds. Sir Godrick is unanimously elected Burgreve, and the Longshaw host agrees to defend the city against an overseas threat.
Themes in this chapter
Community and Kinship
The Lesser Crafts unite with the Longshaw host to defend the city, showing solidarity among different groups.
Social Justice and Rebellion
The Lesser Crafts successfully negotiate for political representation and the election of a Burgreve, challenging the established power of the King and Porte.
Characters to notice
- Osberne Wulfgrimsson
Leads a surprise attack on the East Gate, capturing it with three hundred picked men and little loss.
- Sir Godrick
Commands the forces of the Lesser Crafts, leads councils, and is elected Burgreve of the city.
- Hardcastle
Not directly mentioned in this chapter.
Key passages
“But on the third of those four days came a man to Osberne early in the morning, and told him that the foe were holding the East Gate somewhat heedlessly, and that they had lost many in those last battles.”
On the third day, a messenger informed Osberne that the enemy was guarding the East Gate carelessly and had suffered heavy losses.
Sets the stage for Osberne's successful assault.
“Now you may judge if this were good news for Sir Godrick, when with mickle labour and not a little loss he had won the town on the east side of the Sundering Flood.”
This victory was excellent news for Sir Godrick, who had struggled to capture the eastern part of the town.
Highlights the significance of Osberne's capture of the gate.
“The heart of the matter was this: First that so many of the masters of the Small Crafts should sit on the Great Council of the City, and that enough of them to make them of due weight in the Council.”
The key demand was that the Small Crafts gain sufficient representation on the Great Council to have real influence.
Outlines the central political goal of the Lesser Crafts.
“Nor did they gainsay any one condition on which the Small Crafts had put forward, but added only this one thing, that the host of Longshaw should join with them in defending the City against the Outland men.”
The King and Porte accepted all the Small Crafts' conditions, only adding that the Longshaw host must help defend the city from foreign invaders.
Shows the urgency of the external threat in forcing the peace.