DEATH OF ALCA
It was in the autumn of the year 603 that the battle was fought which
finally settled the question of supremacy between Scots and English.
Sivel had already introduced the system of counting time _Anno Domini_
among the associates of the Coelred-_Gemót_, which was a valuable
help to them, both in discussing the past and forecasting the future.
This year was a great epoch in their lives. Lilla and Bassus were
comparatively veterans. All the rest were about to fight in their first
battle.
Ethelfrith's army was in the upper part of the Eden valley. It was
known that a mighty host was being led by Ædan and by Hering the son
of Hussa up the course of the river. Bassus had arranged with his
friends that strong parties of scouts should be thrown out to watch the
movements of the enemy. They were led by Forthere, Godric, and Sivel.
After a few days Forthere came back with the news that a large body of
the enemy, apparently nearly half their army, had been detached, and
was marching up the hills to the west. "Our plan works," said Bassus
to Lilla, "just as the plan of Narses worked, our great master in the
art of war." "But," said Lilla, "the King's brother is not another John
the Prefect. The reckless Theobald will never avoid an action." An hour
afterwards Ethelfrith sent a message to his brother with reiterated
commands to retreat before the advancing foe. Then the English host,
by rapid marches, hurried down the valley and attacked the weakened
army of Ædan with overwhelming force. The result was never doubtful.
The Scots were nearly exterminated, and Ædan fled almost alone from the
field. After two days to rest and recruit their strength, the English
warriors were fresh and ready to complete their work. Then a messenger
arrived with the news that Theobald had refused to obey his brother's
orders. He would retreat before no man, he declared. He attacked the
superior force of the enemy when weather and ground and everything was
against him. He gave himself no chance. There was a desperate fight,
followed by the death of Theobald and a prodigious slaughter of the
Bernicians. But the Scots were reported to be much weakened and worn
out with long marches.
"Now for the final blow," said Bassus. The scouts, under the direction
of Forthere, kept him well informed of the movements of the enemy and
the nature of the ground. The Scots were marching so as to expose their
flank. At the right moment the English army was set in motion and came
upon the enemy at a place which was long famous, called Degsastan. The
remnant of the army of the Scots was here literally annihilated.
The news of this great victory spread over the island. It was thought
that no leader so skilful and prudent, so wise and valorous, had
ever been known in England as Ethelfrith the Wild. The fame of his
generalship continued long. A hundred years afterwards the Venerable
Bede declared that Ethelfrith "ravaged the Britons more than all the
great men of the English, insomuch that he might be compared to Saul.
To him might justly be applied the saying of the Patriarch, 'Benjamin
shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and
at night he shall divide the spoil.' He was a most worthy king, and
ambitious of glory." Lilla and Bassus, the real generals, had far more
precious fame in the praise of the Queen, and the full and ample reward
of all the friends was in the approval and smiles of Alca. Bede says
that "from that time no King of the Scots dared to come into Britain to
make war on the English to this day."
For the next few years all the leaders in the service of Ethelfrith
had much harassing work in repelling incursions from the direction
of Strathclyde, and it became known that the King of Gwynedd was
assembling a great army to stake his fortune where the Scots had
failed. His standard was raised at Chester. Bassus was deeply impressed
with the maxim that knowledge was power. He acquired a minute personal
acquaintance with the routes across the moors to Chester. Forthere
again commanded the bands of scouts, and kept Lilla and Bassus well
informed of the numbers and movements of the enemy. There was no
difficulty in marching through Elmet, as old Certicus was neutral,
indeed he had only too good an understanding with Ethelfrith. The
English army was assembled at York. The Deiran chiefs were at the head
of their people, who were more numerous than the Bernicians, the latter
having suffered severely in the war with the Scots.
Lilla and Bassus explained their plans to the Queen, and a few days
afterwards Ethelfrith announced them in council as his own. That wild
King was managed with consummate tact. The march was made direct over
the moors to Chester. The men of Gwynedd were found drawn up outside
the old Roman camp of the 20th Legion. It was their colony of Deva. As
battle was about to be joined, Ethelfrith observed a crowd of priests,
who had come from the adjacent monastery of Bangor-Iscoed to offer up
prayers for the soldiers, standing apart in a place of more safety.
The King asked who they were, and Forthere told him that they were
monks praying for his defeat, and that there was a guard to protect
them, commanded by a British chief named Brochvael. "If, then," said
Ethelfrith, "they cry to their God against us, though they do not
bear arms, yet they fight against us because they oppose us by their
prayers." He ordered them to be attacked first, and then the chiefs
of Deira charged the host of Gwynedd, and, after a long and desperate
fight, the English gained a complete victory. About two hundred priests
were slaughtered, and only fifty escaped, their defender Brochvael
having decamped at the first appearance of danger. Their great
monastery of Bangor-Iscoed was destroyed. The holy monks of Canterbury
taught that the massacre of British priests at Chester was a sign
of Divine vengeance on them for presuming to differ in opinion from
Augustine on the subject of the time of keeping Easter. That charitable
prelate, who died in 604, had already cursed them on the same account.
The victory of Chester was gained in 607, and from that time there
was peace in Northumbria for many years. The Deiran thegns returned to
their homes. Coelred and Porlor were at Stillingfleet, and Hereric was
generally with them. Lilla and Bassus abode at Hemingborough, Forthere
and Sivel at Ulfskelf, and Godric was now at Markham, near the banks of
the Idle, his father, Ulchel, having died. Queen Alca, in these latter
years, passed most of her time at her old home at Aldby. She had her
little child Oswald, and the charge of Osric the Atheling, both future
kings. There were also several sons of Ethelfrid, fine little fellows,
to whom she was very kind--Eanfrid, Oslac, Oswudu, Oslaf, and Offa, who
adored her, and a little child named Oswy, recently born to Ethelfrith,
but who was not her son. The King was almost always near the northern
frontier of his dominions, making raids into the country of the Picts.
The friends often met at their respective homes, and discussed schemes
for the benefit of their countrymen, who under their auspices were
making considerable advances in many ways. But they always remembered
the broad lines of conduct laid down by Porlor at Canterbury, and the
friends frequently met to hold consultations. Coelred and Porlor having
ascertained from Alca that, after investigation, she was convinced that
Coifi was not guilty in the matter of her father's death, received
their old friend, who was now too great a man to act as gleeman at
their feasts. His was not an estimable character. He asked innumerable
questions, but the friends were not inclined to be communicative. He
had to go on praying to his own gods, who never gave him inspirations,
nor even made his spells work with effect.
Lilla's fondness for Bergliot had ripened into love. The fearless
warrior was married to the Princess in the hall of Aldby in the
presence of the Queen. They lived at Hemingborough, where the buildings
had been enlarged and improved, and they were soon blessed with two
sons, who were named Trondhere and Trumhere. At the same time Osric
the Atheling married Elfleda, the daughter of Ingeld, chief of the
Hemingas. They had a son named Oswin, destined like his father to be
king in troublous times. From childhood a devoted friendship sprang up,
and became stronger with years, between the Atheling Oswin and the two
sons of Lilla. A year passed away, and there were two more marriages.
Godric's prophecy came true. Hereric had really cherished his love for
Braga all through his long exile. He was diffident, but when he saw
Lilla boldly seek the hand of Bergliot, he also told the story of his
love. The Atheling Hereric was married in the hall at Aldby to Braga,
the sister of Coelred and Porlor. He tried to persuade her to become
a Christian, but she clung to the worship of Nehalennia, her mother's
deity, and when the noble-minded Prince saw that the subject distressed
her he desisted. They had two fair daughters, Hereswith and Hilda.
Lastly, young Godric succeeded in winning the heart of little Nanna,
and they also were married, going to live at Markham, near the Idle,
in the country of the Gainas. Hereric and Braga lived at Stillingfleet
with their brothers.
Alca became the guardian and inspiring influence of the
Coelred-_Gemót_, which now included three wives among its members. At
first, and indeed for some years, she had conversed little respecting
the mass of information brought to her by her friends. But after
the marriages she began to talk more on the subject, and asked many
searching questions of Porlor and the others. One summer day they were
all in attendance upon the Queen, under that spreading ash tree at the
foot of Garraby Hill where she had talked to the boys so impressively
long, long ago. She then began to speak freely about the manifold
wonders she had heard, and on the impressions they had made on her
mind. "The Son of God has indeed risen to save sinners," she said with
conviction, "as I have believed so long, and as the good man told
you all outside the gate of Amiens. Balder has risen, for I see much
goodness and true bravery coming back into the world," and she looked
round at her warriors with an ineffably winning smile. "But I cannot
think that Balder and Krishna were Christ, as the learned Guru told
you, though I believe there was some truth in what he said. All that
leads to good actions, from belief in the beautiful story of Balder, in
the traditions about Krishna, or in the worship of Nehalennia, my sweet
Braga, is of Christ, but it is not Christ. It is of Christ, because our
Hereric tells us that Christ is all love and truth. By these sacred
stories, in all languages, the peoples of the world, when they follow
what is good and true in them, are led to the Son of God, and are
prepared to receive him. I think that all this is working, but very
slowly, and that some day, when God wills it, all people will worship
Christ. We cannot hasten this event, at least not much; but we can
follow resolutely and humbly all that is good and true and beautiful
in our own religious tales, which is following Christ, and some day we
or our children will be called to enter into the full light." They all
listened breathlessly, but did not speak.
Alca next turned to other subjects, and spoke, among many things that
she touched upon, of the journey of the Pandus to reach Heaven. She
reverted to this legend some days afterwards, and told them to keep
the names of Draupadi and Suparaka always sacred in their _Gemót_.
"The one is an emblem of the experience of all of us. We strive for
higher things, but are borne down by our besetting sin. The other is
a lesson how the humblest may find grace." Porlor asked her what the
Guru intended to convey when he said that Suparaka was Yama. "Yama,
or Adam," she said, "was the first man, and represents humanity. I
think he intended you to understand that the faithful dog, like human
beings, had a soul to be saved." That day she ended the conversation by
expressing thanks to the Guru. "He told you many beautiful tales," she
said. "Always remember his kindly gift to me, and let 'Bdellium' be the
watchword of your _Gemót_."
On another day she pleased Lilla by telling him how fond she was
of the story of the Simùrg. "We yearn for knowledge beyond our own
experience, yet we can know little of what happened before our birth,
and nothing of what will befall after our death. That there should
be a being, coeval with the world, who has seen and knows all that
ever happened, and who imparts her wisdom for the good of man, is a
beautiful conception. This too is a seeking for the Son of God, and
must work for good." Many other conversations of the same kind were
held at Aldby, sometimes in the hall, at others under the shade of
trees; and though at first absorbed in listening to the Queen, the
friends gradually began to take more part, making suggestions and
asking questions. All remembered these meetings to the last day of
their lives. The happiness seemed too great to continue. On one of the
last evenings Coelred and Porlor asked the Queen whether she received
their cloud message. "Yes," she said simply. "I heard the words in my
sleep, and I think it must have been on the same day. They were--'We
are well. We have never forgotten. We will return.'" They started with
astonishment and awe, for they had not told her. "There are many things
that we can never understand here," she went on; "but we shall know
hereafter." Then came the far-away look they knew so well. She rose to
retire, saying, "For me it will not be long."
They went home with some forebodings. Not long afterwards, towards
the end of the year 612 A.D., the Queen gave birth to a daughter, who
was named Ebba. In the following spring she was taken ill, and soon
her attendants began to despair of her life. She said that she was
dying, and sent for her friends. All her warriors were called into the
presence. "When I die," she said to them, "Ethelfrith will be false to
his promise. He will be under no restraint. All his evil passions will
break loose. He will try to exterminate the house of Deira. Swear to
serve Edwin and to make him King." They all swore. "That is good," she
said. "When I die, go to him with the Athelings. I think you will find
him in Mercia; perhaps at Repton. Tell him I loved him to the end. Tell
him that you are my dearest friends, and that you will be his servants
until death. Farewell, my more than brothers." They bowed their heads
in grief, and left the room silently.
On the next day Alca was sinking fast. At the last there were present
with her Lilla, Coelred, Porlor, Hereric, Bergliot, Braga, and Nanna.
They watched her pale but beautiful face while she slept. At noon she
awoke and smiled. She looked at them all, and then her gaze rested
on the Atheling. She said in a scarcely audible voice, but quite
clearly--"My sweet cousin Hereric, let me be received into the fold
of Christ." He quickly performed the rite of baptism. Soon after he
finished she passed away. Her face was indescribably lovely in death.
A veil must be passed over the intense grief of the mourners. If
immediate action had not been necessary, they could not have borne it.
Alca slept the last sleep at Aldby by the side of her father, Ella the
King.
Ethelfrith arrived two days afterwards, like a wild man as he was,
all restraint cast aside. He roughly snatched little Oswald out of the
arms of Bergliot, and sent all his sons to Bambrough. But he did not
ask for Ebba, and Bergliot took the Princess with her to Hemingborough.
Ethelfrith then swore that he would exterminate the royal house of
Deira. "If Edwin is King," he shouted, "a dead man shall soon be King."
Osric and his little son Oswin were concealed by Saebald near the crags
above Nehalennia's ford. Hereric was in greater danger. As the eldest
scion of the house of Deira, the usurper thirsted for his blood. He was
at York. Coelred and Porlor, with Godric, who was their guest, remained
for some days on their guard at Stillingfleet; Lilla and Bassus were in
the same attitude at Hemingborough; Forthere and Sivel at Ulfskelf. One
evening Hereric galloped into the court at Stillingfleet, accompanied
by a single servant, his faithful Ingebrand. He said that an attempt
had been made to seize him, and that he and Ingebrand had fought their
way through his assailants. But he believed he was followed. He was
bleeding from a slight flesh-wound. He had determined to take refuge
for a time in Elmet. His friends tried in vain to dissuade him. Taking
a tender farewell of Braga and his two little daughters, he continued
his flight with a strong escort of Stillingas led by Tanwin. But
he dismissed it at the Roman road. Coelred had the rest of his men
under arms. Next day a large body of Bernicians rode up to the gate,
and demanded, in the name of King Ethelfrith, that Hereric should be
surrendered. On receiving a defiant refusal, they assaulted the hedge.
A fierce combat ensued, and the superior number of the Bernicians was
beginning to tell, when they were suddenly attacked in rear. They broke
and fled, closely followed by the Stillingas, who did execution upon
them as far as Moreby. This diversion was caused by the return of the
escort under Tanwin.
Next day there was a consultation with Lilla and Bassus. It was
decided that the wishes of Alca should be carried out to the letter.
They must seek for Edwin at Repton. There was no reason to fear for
their loved ones. The Angles, even Ethelfrith, did not make war upon
women. The brothers opened the "_uvaru_" by Shuprak's grave and
provided themselves with treasure. Bidding farewell to sisters and
wives, full of high hopes and noble aspirations, Coelred, Porlor,
Lilla, Bassus, and Godric crossed the Ouse and fared southwards into
Mercia, well armed and mounted. They sent a messenger to Forthere and
Sivel, arranging to wait for them at Godric's home near the river Idle,
in the country of the Gainas.
Hereric and his escort had crossed the Ouse, by swimming at slack
tide below the junction with the Wharfe. At the Roman road he dismissed
the Stillingas, telling Tanwin that he would be wanted soon to defend
his master's home. The Atheling and his servant then rode westward to
the banks of the little river Cock, a tributary of the Wharfe, which
they crossed by a bridge, consisting of a semicircular arch, a little
above Tadcaster. Beyond, at a short distance from its left bank,
there was a range of wooded heights where the territory of Certicus
of Elmet commenced. The range was a high bank rather than a line of
hills, and the two fugitives made their way up it, and rode over some
level country until they came to another bank covered with ferns and a
great variety of wild flowers. The winding little Cock beck was again
at their feet. Here the Atheling resolved to pass the night, and his
servant made a hut of boughs for him. The place was afterwards called
Beck-heigh (Becca)--"the hill by the stream." Next morning Hereric
sent Ingebrand, who knew the language of the Britons, with a message
to the King of Elmet at Barwick, which was about a mile distant. The
Atheling announced his arrival, requesting protection and hospitality.
The answer was a cordial welcome, and when Hereric reached Barwick,
he found Certicus waiting to receive him with a crowd of natives. His
palace was a large circular hut raised on a platform of earth, and
the town consisted of a number of smaller huts scattered over the
valley. One of these near the King's residence was assigned to Hereric.
Certicus was a little man with a scanty white beard, brown complexion,
and small black eyes, which generally had a cunning, and sometimes a
malignant, expression, in spite of his efforts to appear frank and
affable to his guest. Hereric regretted that he had not remained at
Stillingfleet. He had insisted on the course he had taken, lest his
presence should bring trouble on his friends, and their efforts to
dissuade him had been in vain. He now determined, on the first excuse,
to take leave of Certicus and fare southwards in fulfilment of the wish
of Alca.
Certicus sent meals and horns of mead to the Atheling from his own
hut. A few days were passed in hunting. One morning Ingebrand reported
that he had seen Coifi riding away before dawn. He had noticed a
muffled stranger near the King's residence on the previous evening.
This seemed very strange, almost unaccountable. Hereric remembered
the suspicions of the gleeman after the death of King Ella. He had
melancholy forebodings, without being able to assign any tangible
cause for entertaining them. So he tried to shake them off, and went
out hunting with Ingebrand and a few natives of Elmet to attend him.
Returning tired and thirsty to his hut late in the evening, some
servants soon brought the usual meal and the cup of mead. The mead had
a curious taste, and soon the Prince was seized with violent pains.
"Ingebrand," he said, "my faithful friend, the treacherous Briton has
poisoned me at the instigation of Ethelfrith. The Priest of Woden, the
plausible Coifi, was not here for nothing." Ingebrand was devoted to
his master, but, surrounded by enemies, he knew not what to do. There
was a period of insensibility, followed by convulsions. Hereric spoke
with difficulty. "Tell Braga," he said, "that I entreat her to be
baptized with my children. Take my message of love to my dear friends.
Tell them to remember the words of Alca, and to be loyal warriors of
King Edwin." These were his last words. He died in the night. Next day
the body was hastily buried, and Ingebrand was kept a close prisoner
in the hut. But he effected his escape during the night, and reached
Ulfskelf.
Hereric had been foully murdered, and in two days Ethelfrith was
openly glorying over the crime. Forthere was nearly mad with rage. He
vowed that his avenging hand should rid the earth of both Certicus and
Ethelfrith. But he could not bring himself to believe in the guilt of
Coifi. Forthere and Sivel assembled all their followers and plunged
into the wilds of Elmet, killing and destroying. They fought their way
to Barwick, whence old Certicus had fled. Here they raised a small
tumulus over the remains of the beloved Prince, and pressed onwards in
pursuit of the murderer. At last Forthere overtook him, resting after
a long journey, with a small escort. The old wretch then received his
deserts. His skull was cleft by the avenger. The two loyal subjects of
Edwin then led back their followers to Ulfskelf, bade them farewell,
and fared southwards to join their friends at the home of Godric,
taking Ingebrand with them. The peerless Atheling was partly avenged.
Next it would be the turn of Ethelfrith to meet the avenger of blood.
Coelred and his friends had scarcely crossed the Ouse when the wild
King arrived at Stillingfleet with an overwhelming force, and searched
both the court and the various buildings for the Deiran Athelings.
Edwin was beyond his reach, but he thirsted for the blood of the other
three--Hereric, Osric, and Oswin. He then proceeded to Hemingborough
and made a similar search in person, returning to York to receive news
from Certicus, with whom he had long had a secret understanding, that
Hereric was in his power. None of the ladies were ill treated, and
though Ethelfrith saw his own daughter Ebba in the arms of Bergliot, he
took no notice of her.