"Edgar, son of Francis, Baron Mortimer, to the Count de Ferrers:
"The time granted for consideration of your offer to receive the surrender of Mortimer Castle having now expired, you are at liberty to renew the attack, which will be resisted to the last. But if the Count desires to spare the shedding of innocent blood, and to save life, Edgar, Lord Mortimer, would request that the Count set at liberty the unfortunate maiden whom he has caused to masquerade as the Lady Amabel Manners, since she has played her part well, and deserves some reward for her performance. No further truce or respite is desired, since all terms will be rejected.
In order to avoid any danger to any messenger, who might receive little mercy at the Count's hands, Hugh suggested that this reply could be sent by the same means he had adopted in warning Lord Edgar and Lady Amabel of the ambush against them before the siege began; and this suggestion being approved, the scroll bearing the letter was attached to an arrow which Hugh shot from the top of the tower nearest the enemy. In order that the arrow might not be unobserved, a bunch of tow dipped in oil was fastened to the head, and away it went leaving a long trail of fire
