ROUEN.
For the next two days the lives of the two young Saxons were well-nigh
unbearable. At meals the count by turns abused and jeered at them,
and his companions, following his example, lost no opportunity of
insulting them in every way.
"If this goes on, Wulf," Beorn said as they threw themselves down
on the ground late that night, when the carousal was ended, "I shall
snatch the count's dagger from his belt and bury it in his heart,
though they put me to death by torture afterwards."
"I thought of doing so myself, Beorn, to-night, when he threw a cup
of wine over me. But I said to myself my life is not my own, Harold's
rescue depends on it. We are bound as his men to suffer in patience
whatever may befall us. In another hour I shall try to make my
escape. When it was your turn to wait this evening I stole away for
a time, and went to the shed where they keep the war-engines and
took thence a coil of rope, which I have hidden in the courtyard.
You know that we noticed last night where the sentries were placed,
and decided where I might best drop from the wall unobserved.
Fortunately the moat is dry at present, though they can turn water
into it from the stream at will, so that once down I shall have no
difficulty in getting away. Now I want you to go to sleep directly,
I shall not stir until you do so, then when you are questioned in
the morning you can say that I was by your side when you went to
sleep, and that when you woke in the morning the place was vacant.
You can say that I told you during the day that I could not suffer
these insults much longer, and that you suppose that after you had
gone to sleep I must have got up and either killed myself or in
some way made my escape."
Beorn lay quiet for a time and then Wulf said suddenly, "I have
changed my mind, Beorn; we will go together. I feel it is likely
that in his wrath at my escape the count may slay you, and thus the
object with which you remained behind would come to nothing, therefore
it is best that you go with me."
"I was thinking so myself, Wulf, though I would not say it; but in
truth I think the risks we may run in making our way to Rouen are
small compared to those of staying here."
"We must lose no time, Beorn. The castle is quiet now, and we must
be many miles away from here before morning, for you may be sure
the count's horsemen will scour the country far and wide in pursuit
of us."
They had that morning, before the count was up and their services
were required, wandered about the fortress, apparently paying no
attention to anything, but really closely observing the approaches
to the walls and the general features of the country outside. They
now stole out, keeping in the shadow of the building, until they
reached the staircase leading up to the battlements, close to the
point Wulf had fixed upon for making their descent. This had been
chosen chiefly because no sentry was placed on that part of the
wall, the watch generally being careless, as Normandy was at present
at peace with its neighbours. When they reached the top of the steps
they listened for a short time, but everything was silent. Then
they stepped out on to the narrow pathway along the battlements,
fastened one end of the rope round a piece of stonework and let the
other end drop down into the fosse.
"Shall we both go down together, the rope is strong enough?" Beorn
asked.
"It is strong enough, but we had better go separately, Beorn; we
are neither of us accustomed to climb ropes, and if the upper one
were to slip down too fast he might knock the other off the rope.
It makes no matter who goes first. I will if you like, only mind
if you hear a footstep approaching let yourself down at once whether
I am off the rope or not. Be sure and twist your legs tightly round
it, or it will run through your fingers."
Taking hold of the rope he at once swung himself over, and without
much difficulty reached the bottom in safety. He had scarcely done
so when Beorn came down beside him with a rush.
"What made you come down like that, you narrowly missed coming on
my head?"
"I believe I have cut my fingers to the bone," Beorn groaned; "I
feel as if I were holding a bar of hot iron. You had scarcely started
before I heard voices; they were evidently those of men going their
rounds, so I caught hold of the rope and swung myself off, but
before I got my legs fairly round the rope I began to slip, and
though I gripped it as hard as I could I could not stop myself, but
slid down like lightning."
"Hush!" Wulf whispered, "they are coming along above." The voices
came nearer until they sounded directly overhead Wulf knew that it
was very unlikely they would notice the rope in the dark, but he
felt much relieved as he heard them pass on. He waited until they
could no longer be heard.
"Now, Beorn, we can safely be off."
It was muddy at the bottom of the fosse, but not so deep as they
thought it would be, and they scrambled up the opposite side and
then struck across the country south. Presently they came upon a
road, which they followed, until after three hours' walking they
reached the Authie river, at a spot where the bank was broken down.
"This must be a ford, we had best try to wade across. Anyhow there
cannot be very many yards to swim, and we can both manage that."
They found that the bottom was pebbly, and that even in the middle
the water was not much above their waists.
"That is something done, at any rate," Beorn said. "Now which way
shall we go? This road we are on seems to lead south and we cannot
do better than follow it, the stars give us light enough, now that
our eyes are accustomed to the darkness."
"Yes, we can keep this road, which is no doubt that by which we
travelled before, as far as the village which I heard them call
Noyelle, then we shall have to strike off to the left, for that
place was not far from Abbeville, and shall have to follow the Somme
up some distance, unless we can find means of crossing it."
"I should think we had better leave the road before we get to the
village, so as to be well away from it. If any peasant were going
to work early and caught sight of us he would be sure to mention
it to any horseman who might come along searching for us. I noticed
that there were several woods on our right as we rode along."
"That would be the safest way, no doubt," Wulf agreed. "Fortunately
we can do without food for to-morrow"--for both had managed to get
some supper after they had finished in the hall,--"and having made
up my mind to escape to-night I hid away a large piece of bread
under my smock. We can manage very well on that."
Accordingly after an hour's walking they left the road and bore to
the south-west. But little of the land was cultivated, and they
were fortunate in not coming upon any woodland until light began
to break in the sky. Then they made their way to the nearest wood,
went in for some distance and then threw themselves down, and in a
few minutes were fast asleep. Accustomed to judge time by the
position of the sun, they saw when they awoke that it was already
past noon, and after eating a few mouthfuls of bread they continued
their journey. For the most part their course lay among woods, and
they did not venture across an open piece of country until after a
careful examination to see that no one was in sight.
Shortly after starting they caught sight of a village in the distance,
which they afterwards learned was St. Riguier, but with these
exceptions saw no human habitation. Late in the afternoon they came
down on the bank of the Somme. This was thickly covered with long
reeds and rushes, and among these they sat down and ate the rest
of their bread, confident that however vigilant the search they
would not be traced.
"This is a very different matter to the last crossing," Beorn said.
"This is a wide river, and I fear that I could not swim across it."
"Nor should I like to try. But fortunately there is no occasion for
us to trust to swimming; for we can pull up or break off a number
of these great rushes and make them into two bunches; these will
give us ample support for our passage."
"So they will, Wulf; I should never have thought of that."
Two large bundles were soon made, the reeds being tied together by
a tough climber that wreathed itself everywhere among them, and as
soon as it was quite dark they went down to the water's edge, and
found to their satisfaction that the reeds possessed ample buoyancy
for their purpose. Wading in they started swimming, resting their
chests on the reeds and striking out with their legs, and in a few
minutes were on the southern bank of the river.
"Now we must make to the east of south," Wulf said. "I should say
if we walk steadily all night we shall be beyond the territory of
this vile count. I hope before long we shall strike on some road
leading in the right direction, for if we get among the woods again
we shall be able to make no progress. But any road we may come upon
going at all in the right direction is likely to lead to Rouen."
"How far is it, do you think?"
"I have a very vague idea. The prior had a map of Normandy, and on
this he pointed out to me how the duchy had grown since William
came as a boy to be its duke. I can remember the general position
of the town, but not more than that. I should think from the Somme
to Rouen must be over seventy miles and less than a hundred, but
more closely than that I cannot guess."
They came upon no road before morning, but as the country was open
they made good progress, and when they lay down in a thicket as the
day was breaking they calculated that they must be nearly thirty
miles south of the Somme.
"I feel that I want sleep," Beorn said, "but still more that I want
food. If it is another sixty miles to Rouen I know not how we are
going to travel the distance fasting."
"No, we must get some food to morrow or rather to day, Beorn. We
have nothing of any value to offer for it. They searched us too
closely for anything to escape them. We dare not go into any town
or village until we are quite sure that we are beyond the count's
territories, but we might enter some solitary hut and pray for a
piece of bread for charity, or we can walk all day, by which time
we shall surely be well beyond the Count of Ponthieu's territory,
and could boldly go into a town. If we are seized, we can demand
to be sent to Rouen, saying we are bearers of an important message
to Duke William, and even if they do not send us straight on, they
would hardly keep us without food."
After sleeping for four or five hours they again started, and after
walking some miles came upon a herdsman's cottage The man was out,
and his wife looked with surprise at the two lads, whose garments,
though stained by sea water and travel, were evidently those of
youths of a class above the common. Beorn addressed her in her own
language, and told her that they were wayfarers who had lost their
road and were grievously in need of food. She at once invited them
to come in, and set before them some black bread and some cheese
made from goats' milk. They learned to their satisfaction that they
had long passed the limits of Ponthieu, and that Rouen was distant
about fifty miles.
"The road from Amiens lies five miles to the east," she said; "but
it would be shorter for you to keep due south, for it inclines in
that direction. You will strike it after seven miles' walking, and
after that you cannot miss your way."
After warmly thanking the woman for her hospitality the lads again
started, feeling greatly strengthened and refreshed by their meal;
but want of sleep told upon them, and when they got within sight
of the road they again lay down, and slept until the sun was setting.
Resuming their journey they followed the road, and before morning
crossed over a range of hills, and presently arrived at a small
hamlet close to which was a monastery. Towards this they directed
their steps, and seating themselves on the ground near the door,
waited until it was unbarred.
"You are early wayfarers, my sons," the monk who opened the gates
said as they went up, "and you seem to have travelled far."
"That have we, father, and are sorely in need of food."
The hospitality of the monasteries was unbounded, and the monk at
once led them into the kitchen, where bread, meat, and wine were
placed before them.
"Truly you were hungry," the monk said smilingly as he watched their
onslaught upon the joint.
"We were well-nigh starving, father. For two days we have had nought
to eat save a crust of bread we had brought with us, and some that
a shepherd's wife bestowed upon us out of charity, and we have
walked from near Hesdin."
"I do not ask out of curiosity, my sons," the monk said after a
pause, "and you know it is not our custom to question wayfarers who
come in to ask our hospitality; but it is strange to see two youths,
who by their dress and manner seem to belong to a superior station,
in so pitiable a state as you are, and wandering alone, as it would
seem, penniless through the country. I ask not your confidence, but
if you chose to give it maybe we might aid or advise you. Our prior
is a kindly man and very gentle with the faults of others."
"We are Saxons, father. We were wrecked four days since near St.
Valery, and are now bound on an errand of high importance to Duke
William, to whom it is urgent we should arrive as soon as possible.
We have run sore peril on the way, and have been stripped of our
money and valuables."
"Is your mission of importance to the duke as well as to yourselves?"
the monk asked gravely.
"It is of great importance to him. I am sure that he would consider
that any one who assisted us on our way had done him good service."
The monk look earnestly at them. "I will speak to the prior," he
said. He returned in a few minutes and bade them follow him.
The prior was a tall, gentle old man. "I have heard your story from
brother Gregory," he said, "and I wished to see you that I might
judge for myself whether so strange a tale, as that two shipwrecked
boys should have important business with our duke, could be believed,
before I did aught to help you forward. You look to me honest of
purpose and of gentle blood, and not, I am sure, belonging to the
class of wayfarer who will trump up any story for the purpose of
gaining alms. Whether your errand with the duke is of the importance
you deem it I cannot say, but if you give me your word that you
consider it an urgent matter, I will aid you to proceed at once."
"We do indeed consider it most urgent, father, and we are sure that
the duke will so regard it. We should not have walked well-nigh a
hundred miles in two days and nights, and that almost without food,
had we not deemed it so."
"Brother Gregory," the prior said, "bid lay-brother Philip at once
prepare three palfreys, and tell him he is to ride himself with
these two Saxon youths to Rouen. The distance is thirty miles," he
went on as the monk left the room. "It is not yet six o'clock, and
though our palfreys are not accustomed to travel at rapid speed,
you will be there this afternoon in time to have audience with the
duke."
The lads returned their warm thanks to the prior. "We would gladly
tell you the purport of our mission," Beorn said, "but we are only
the bearers of news, and the duke might be displeased did he know
that we had confided to any before it reached his own ear."
"I wish not to learn it, my son. It is sufficient for me that you
have a mission to our duke, and that I am possibly furthering his
interest by aiding you to reach him. But, in sooth, I am more moved
by the desire to aid two stranger youths, whom the sea and man alike
seem to have treated hardly. Is it long since you left England?"
"We have well-nigh lost account of time, father, so much has taken
place in a few days. 'Tis but a week since we were sailing along
the English coast with a large company in three ships, when a sudden
tempest arose, carried away our sail, blew us off the shore, and
then increasing in fury drove us before it until we were wrecked
on the coast of Ponthieu, near St. Valery. Since then we have been
prisoners, have escaped, and have journeyed here on foot."
"Truly a bad week's work for you," the prior said. "Were all your
ships wrecked?"
"No; our two consorts, being lighter and more easily rowed, regained
the land when we were blown off it."
"Conrad of Ponthieu is an evil man," the prior said. "Had you come
ashore twenty miles farther south you would have been beyond his
jurisdiction. I fear that all the seacoast people view the goods
obtained from vessels cast ashore as a lawful prey, but your company
would assuredly have received fair hospitality if cast on the shores
of Normandy itself. But now methinks I hear the patter of the
palfreys' hoofs. Farewell, my sons, and may God who has protected
you through these dangers give you his blessing."
The lads knelt before him as he placed his hands on their heads and
gave them his benediction. As they rose brother Gregory entered to
say that the horses were ready, and with renewed thanks to the prior
they followed him to the courtyard, mounted, and rode off with the
lay-brother, glad indeed to find their journey on foot thus abridged.
Impatient as they were to reach Rouen, the gentle pace at which the
palfreys ambled along fretted them very much. Brother Philip kept
up a constant string of talk on the monastery, its estates, the
kindness of the prior, the strictness of the subprior, and other
matters of great interest to himself, but of none to the boys, whose
thoughts were with Harold, chained and in prison. The palfreys,
however, made very fair progress, and it was but three o'clock when
they rode into the streets of Rouen, whose size and grandeur would
at any other time have impressed them much, for it was an incomparably
finer city than London.
"That is the duke's palace," brother Philip said, as they approached
a stately building. "I will put up the horses at the convent at the
farther corner of this square, and will then go with you to the
palace, as I have orders to tell any officer who may make a difficulty
about you entering, that I am bid by the prior of Forges to say
that you are here on urgent business with the duke, and to pray
that you may have immediate audience with him."
In those days great men were easy accessible, and one of the ushers,
on receiving the message from the prior, at once led the boys to
an apartment in which the duke was sitting. He looked up in some
surprise on seeing the two lads standing bareheaded at the door,
while the usher repeated the message he had received.
"Advance," he said. "What is this business of which the prior of
Forges has sent me word?"
The two boys advanced and knelt before the duke. He was a man of
about the same age as Harold, with dark hair and complexion, less
tall than the earl, but of a powerful figure, and a stern, resolute
face. The boys had discussed among themselves which should be the
speaker. Wulf had desired that Beorn, being the elder, should deliver
the message, but Beorn insisted that as Wulf himself had received
it from Harold, it was he who should be the one to deliver it to
the duke.
"My Lord Duke," Wulf said, "we are Saxons, pages of Earl Harold,
and we bring you by his orders the news that the vessel in which
he was sailing along his coast had been blown off by a tempest and
cast on the shore of Ponthieu, near St. Valery, and that he and
his companions have been villainously ill-treated by Conrad, Count
of Ponthieu, who has seized them and cast them into dungeons in his
fortress of Beaurain, Harold and his companions being fettered like
malefactors."
The duke was astounded at the news. No greater piece of good fortune
could have befallen him, for he had it in his power to lay his great
rival under an obligation to him, to show himself a generous prince,
and at the same time to obtain substantial benefits. He rose at
once to his feet.
"By the Host," he exclaimed, "but this is foul treatment indeed of
the noble earl, and brings disgrace alike upon the Count of Ponthieu
and upon me, his liege lord. This wrong shall be remedied, and
speedily. You shall see that I waste no moment in rescuing your
lord from this unmannerly count." He struck his hand on the table,
and an attendant entered, "Pray the knights Fitz-Osberne and Warren
to come hither at once. And how is it, boys," he went on, as the
attendant hurried away, "that you were enabled to bear this message
to me?"
"While Harold and his thanes were cast into prison," Wulf said, "the
count kept us to wait upon him; not for our services, but that he
might flout and ill-treat us. We obtained possession of a rope, and
let ourselves down at night from the battlements, and made our way
on foot as far as Forges, where the good prior, learning from us
that we had a message of importance to you, though nothing of its
import, sent us forward on palfreys, so that no time might be lost."
"When did you leave Beaurain?"
"It will be three days come midnight," Wulf said.
"And how did you live by the way?"
"We took a piece of bread with us, and once obtained food at a
shepherd's hut, and this morning we were well entertained at the
convent of Forges."
"You have proved yourselves good and trusty messengers," the duke
said. "Would I were always as well served. As you are the earl's
pages you are of course of gentle blood?"
"We are both his wards, my lord, and shall be thanes when we come
of age."
"And how is it that you, young sir, who seem to be younger than
your companion, are the spokesman?"
"It happened thus," Wulf said modestly. "Some fishermen came up
just after we had gained the shore with the loss of many of our
company. I marked that one of them started on seeing Earl Harold,
and whispered to a companion, and feeling sure that he had recognized
my lord, I told the earl of it as we walked towards St. Valery. He
then charged me if he was taken prisoner by the count to endeavour
to bear the news to you, and to give the same orders to my comrade
Beorn, saying it was likely that we might not be so strictly watched
as the men of the company, and might therefore succeed in slipping
away, as indeed turned out to be the case. I was desirous that Beorn
should tell you the tale, being older and more accustomed to the
speech of the court than I was, but he held that the message, being
first given to me, it was I who should deliver it."
"He judged rightly," the duke said, "and deserves credit for thus
standing aside."
At this moment two knights entered. "Fitz-Osberne, Warren," the
duke said, "a foul wrong has been done by Conrad of Ponthieu to
Earl Harold of Wessex, the foremost of Englishmen next to the king
himself, who has, with a company of his thanes, been cast ashore
near St. Valery. Instead of receiving honourable treatment, as was
his due, he has been most foully seized, chained, and with his
friends thrown into prison by the count, who has sent no intimation
of what has taken place to me, his lord, and had it not been for
these two brave and faithful youths, who effected their escape over
the battlements of Beaurain in order to bring me the news, the earl
might have lingered in shameful captivity. I pray you take horse
at once, with twenty chosen spears, and ride at the top of your
speed to Beaurain. There express in fitting terms to Conrad my
indignation at his foul treatment of one who should have been
received as a most honoured guest. Say that the earl and his company
must at once be released, and be accorded the treatment due not
only to themselves, but to them as my guests, and bid the count
mount with them and ride to my fortress of Eu, to which I myself
will at once journey to receive them. Tell Conrad that I will account
to him for any fair ransom he may claim, and if he demur to obey
my orders warn him that the whole force of Normandy shall at once
be set on foot against him. After having been for two years my
prisoner, methinks he will not care to run the risk of again being
shut up within my walls."
"We will use all haste," Fitz-Osberne said. "Conrad's conduct is a
disgrace to every Norman noble, for all Europe will cry shame when
the news of the earl's treatment gets abroad. That Conrad should
hold him to ransom is only in accordance with his strict rights,
but that he should imprison and chain him is, by the saints, almost
beyond belief."
As soon as the knights had left, the duke sent for his chamberlain,
and ordered him to conduct Beorn and Wulf to an apartment and to
see that they were at once furnished with garments befitting young
nobles, together with a purse of money for their immediate wants.
Then taking a long and heavy gold chain from his neck he placed it
on the table, and with a blow with his dagger cut it in sunder, and
handed half to each of the lads.
"Take this," he said, "in token of my thanks for having brought me
this news, and remember, that if at any time you should have a boon
to ask that it is within my power to grant, I swear to you upon my
ducal honour that it shall be yours. Never have I received more
joyful news than that the great Earl of Wessex will shortly be my
guest."
The lads bowed deeply, and then followed the chamberlain from the
apartment.
"Well, what think you of it, Beorn?" Wulf said, when they found
themselves alone in a handsome chamber.
"So far as rescuing Harold from the power of the Count of Ponthieu
we have surely succeeded even beyond our hopes. As to the rest, I
know not. As you were speaking I marked the satisfaction and joy
on the duke's face, and I said to myself that it was greater than
need have been caused by the thought that Earl Harold was to be his
guest."
"So I thought myself, Beorn. There can be no doubt that, as he said,
he deemed it the best news he had ever received, and I fear greatly
that Harold will but exchange one captivity for another. It will
doubtless be a more pleasant one, but methinks Harold will find
himself as much a prisoner, although treated as an honoured guest
by William, as he was while lying in the dungeon of Conrad. It is
a bad business, and I greatly fear indeed that Harold will long rue
the unfortunate scheme of hunting along the coast that has brought
him to this pass."
In a short time an attendant arrived with ewers, water, and four
suits of handsome garments, belts embroidered with gold thread, and
daggers, together with two plumed caps and purses, each containing
ten gold pieces; he informed them that two horses had been provided
for their use, and that they were to take their meals with the
duke's household, and to consider themselves in all respects as his
guests.
"We look finer birds than we did when we rode in with brother
Philip," Beorn laughed when they had attired themselves in their
new garments. "The more sober of these suits are a good deal gayer
than those we wore at home even at court ceremonies."
"King Edward objects to show," Wulf said, "and his own pages are
so sober in their attire that the earl likes not that we should
outshine them, and we usually cut a poor figure beside those of
William of London and the other Normans of his court."
In a short time the chamberlain came in and informed them that
supper was served, and conducted them to the hall, where he presented
them to the duke's gentlemen and pages as William's guests, and
wards and pages of the Earl of Wessex. The news of Harold's shipwreck
and imprisonment travelled quickly, for orders had already been
issued for the court to prepare to start early the next morning to
accompany the duke to Eu, in order to receive with due honour
William's guest and friend, Harold of England; and while the meal
went on many questions were asked as to the shipwreck and prisonment
of the earl, and the liveliest indignation was expressed at the
conduct of Conrad of Ponthieu.
"Truly all Normans will be reckoned churls," one of the gentlemen
exclaimed indignantly. "The fame of Harold's bravery, wisdom, and
courtesy to all men is known in every court in Europe, and that the
duke's vassal should have dared to imprison and chain him will
excite universal indignation. Why, the rudest of our own Norse
ancestors would not have so foully treated one so noble whom fate
had cast into his hands. Had we been at war with England it would
be shameful, but being at peace there are no words that can fitly
describe the outrage."
When the meal was over, one of the duke's pages who was about the
same age as Beorn asked him what they were going to do with themselves.
"If you have nothing better," he said, "will you ride with me to
my father's castle, it is but five miles away? My name is De Burg.
I can promise you a hearty welcome. My father was one of the knights
who accompanied the duke when he paid his visit to England some
fifteen years ago, and he liked the country much, and has ever since
spoken of the princely hospitality with which they were received
by your king. He did not meet Earl Harold then."
"No, the earl with his father and brothers was away in exile," Wulf
said rather shortly, for that visit had been a most unpleasant one
to Englishmen. It had happened when the Norman influence was
altogether in the ascendant. The king was filling the chief places
at court and in the church with Normans, had bestowed wide domains
upon them, and their castles were everywhere rising to dominate the
land. Englishmen then regarded with hostility this visit of the
young Norman duke with his great train of knights, and although at
the return of Godwin and his sons the greater portion of the intruders
had been driven out, their influence still remained at court, and
it was even said that Edward had promised the duke that he should
be his successor.
It was true that Englishmen laughed at the promise. The King of
England was chosen by the nation, and Edward had no shadow of right
to bequeath the throne even to one of his sons much less to a foreign
prince, who, although related to himself by marriage, had no drop
of English blood in his veins. Still, that the promise should ever
have been made rankled in the minds of the English people, the more
so as the power of Normandy increased, and the ambition as well as
the valour of its duke became more and more manifest According to
English law the promise was but an empty breath, absolutely without
effect or value. According to Norman law it constituted a powerful
claim, and Duke William was assuredly not a man to let such a claim
drop unpressed.
Wulf had heard all this again and again, and the prior of Bramber
had explained it to him in all its bearings, showing him that little
as Englishmen might think of the promise given by Edward so long
ago, it would be likely to bring grievous trouble on the land at
his death. He might perhaps have said more in reference to William's
visit had not Beorn at once accepted the invitation to ride with
young De Burg to his father's castle.