RELEASE OF THE EARL
In a few minutes the three horses were brought out. Wulf and Beorn
were much pleased with the animals that had been placed at their
service. They were powerful horses, which could carry a knight in
his full armour with ease, and seemed full of spirit and fire. They
were handsomely caparisoned, and the lads felt as they sprang on
to their backs that they had never been so well mounted before.
"You would have made the journey more quickly and easily if you had
had these horses three days ago," young De Burg laughed.
"Yes, indeed. There would have been no occasion to hide in the woods
then. With our light weight on their backs they would have made
nothing of the journey."
"You must not expect to see a castle," De Burg said presently,
"though I call it one. In his early days the duke set himself to
destroy the great majority of castles throughout Normandy, for as
you know he had no little trouble with his nobles, and held that
while the strength of these fortresses disposes men to engage either
in civil war or in private feuds with each other, they were of no
avail against the enemies of the country. My father, who is just
the age of the duke, was his loyal follower from the first, and of
his free will levelled his walls as did many others of the duke's
friends, in the first place because it gave the duke pleasure, and
in the second because, had only the castles of those opposed to the
duke been destroyed, there would have been such jealousy and animosity
on the part of their owners that matters would never have quieted
down in the country. Thus it is that throughout the land you will
find but few castles remaining. The nobles felt it strange at first
to be thus dwelling in houses undefended against attack, but they
soon learnt that it was far more convenient than to be shut up
within massive walls, and the present dwellings are much larger and
more comfortable than those of former days. The duke said rightly
that the abolition of fortresses well-nigh doubled his fighting
power, for that so many men were required to garrison them as to
greatly diminish the number their lords could take with them into
the field. You do not have castles in England, do you?"
"No, we live in open houses, and hold that it is far better and
more pleasant to do so. There is no fighting between neighbours
with us. The great earls may quarrel and lead their forces into the
field, or may gather them against Danish and Norwegian pirates, but
except on these occasions, which are rare, all dwell peaceably in
their homes."
The horses were fresh, and the five miles quickly passed over.
"There is the house," De Burg said, pointing to a large building
standing on an eminence. It was castellated in form, and much of
the old building had been incorporated with the additions, but the
outer wall had been pulled down and the moat filled up. Broad
casements had replaced the narrow loopholes, and though the flag
of the De Burgs still waved over the keep, which stood a little
apart from the rest, the family no longer dwelt in it.
"It is chiefly used as a storehouse now," Guy De Burg explained;
"but there, as you see, the old loopholes still remain, and in case
of trouble it might be held for a time. But of that, however, there
is little chance; the duke's hand is a heavy one, and he has shown
himself a great leader. He has raised Normandy well-nigh level with
France, and so long as he lives and reigns there is no fear of
domestic trouble."
The gate stood open and they rode into a courtyard, when several
men came out and took the horses. Guy de Burg ran up a broad staircase
to the entrance of the house itself, and passed beneath a noble
entrance with a lofty pointed arch supported by clustered pillars.
Inside was a spacious hall paved with stone, and from this De Burg
turned into an apartment whose walls were covered with rich hangings.
Here a lady was at work embroidering, surrounded by several of her
maids similarly engaged. A girl some fourteen years old was reading
a missal, while the master of the castle was sitting in a chair
with low arms, and was playing with the ears of a hound whose head
was lying on his knee.
"Well, Guy, what is your news?" he asked as his son entered. "Half
an hour since I received a message from the duke desiring me to
appear with ten men-at-arms in their best trappings to ride with
him to Eu. Is Conrad of Ponthieu giving trouble again, and who are
these young gentlemen with you?"
Guy went down on one knee to kiss his father's hand, and then did
the same to his mother, then he said, "I will with your permission
answer the last question first, father. My friends are young Saxon
thanes, pages to Earl Harold, and at present guests of the duke."
"You are bearers, doubtless, of some message from the king to our
duke?"
"No, my lord," Beorn said, "we were bearers of a message from Earl
Harold."
"It is to meet him, father, that we are to ride to Eu to-morrow.
He has been wrecked on the shores of Ponthieu, and has been foully
imprisoned and even fettered by Count Conrad. Beorn and Wulf escaped
from the prison and brought the news to the duke, who this afternoon
dispatched Fitz-Osberne and Warren at full speed to bid the count
at once free his prisoners, and deliver them over to him at Eu under
pain of his direst displeasure."
"Harold in Normandy and a prisoner! This is strange news indeed.
We shall surely make him welcome, for he is in all respects a great
man, and save our own duke has a reputation second to none in
Europe."
Wulf thought as he looked at the speaker that at least he had no
second thought in his mind. It was a frank honest face, martial in
its outline, but softened by a pleasant smile.
He had spoken in a genial tone of affection to his son, and Wulf
thought, that although no doubt he was ready to take the field at
the summons of his lord, he preferred a quiet life in this stately
home.
"This is news for you, wife," he went on. "You will have to furbish
up your gayest attire, for we shall be having grand doings in honour
of this great English earl, and our dames will have to look their
best in order that he may carry home a fair report of them to the
Saxon ladies. And how did you manage to escape, young sirs, and
when did you arrive with the news?"
Beorn, who as the elder was specially addressed, shortly related
the story of their escape and journey.
"You have done well," the baron said when he had concluded. "Guy,
you may learn from these young Saxons that even pages may be called
upon to do work of more importance than handing wine-cups and
standing behind their lord on state occasions. Had it not been for
their readiness and courage Harold might have lain weeks in prison,
maybe months, while the count was striving to wring the utmost
ransom from him. The lads would doubtless have been slain had they
been detected in making their escape or overtaken on the way, and
the attempt was therefore one that required courage as well as
devotion to their lord. I doubt not that you would exhibit both
qualities did opportunity offer, but I question whether you could
have walked the distance they did, and that on such scanty fare.
We Normans are too apt to trust wholly to our horses' legs to the
neglect of our own, and although I have no doubt that you could
ride as far as a horse could carry you, I warrant that you could
hardly have performed on foot the journey from Beaurain in twice
the time in which they did it. They must have exercised their legs
as well as their arms, and although in a campaign a Norman noble
depends upon his war horse both on the march and on the day of
battle, there may often be times when it is well that a knight
should be able to march as far as any of the footmen in the army.
Well, Agnes, and what have you to say to these Saxon youths? Methinks
your eyes are paying more attention to them than to your missal."
"I can read my missal at any hour, father, but this is the first
time that I have seen young Saxon nobles. I thought there would
have been more difference between them and us. Their hair is fairer
and more golden and their eyes bluer, but their dress differs in
no way from our own." She spoke in a matter-of-fact and serious
air, as if it were a horse or a dog that she was commenting upon,
and both Beorn and Wulf smiled, while Guy laughed outright.
"It is little wonder that their attire is like ours, Agnes," he
said, "seeing that they were furnished with it by the duke's orders.
You do not suppose that after being tossed about on the sea and
well-nigh drowned in landing, and being made prisoners, and then
travelling through the country and sleeping in the woods, Beorn and
Wulf would arrive here with their garments new and spotless. That
would indeed have been a miracle."
"But, indeed," Beorn said, "our garments differ not greatly from
those we now have on, for Norman fashions are prevalent at King
Edward's court, and we had no choice but to conform to them. Your
language is always spoken there, and methinks that were you to visit
Westminster you would see but little difference between King Edward's
court and that of your own duke."
"And your sisters, do they too dress like us?"
"Queen Edith's ladies dress like her in Norman fashion, but away
from the court the attire is different and more simple. Sisters,
Wulf and I have none; we are orphans both, and wards of Earl Harold,
who holds our estates until we are of age to take the oaths to him
and to lead our men in battle."
"And will you be barons like my father, or counts, or simple knights?"
"We shall be none of these things, Lady Agnes. We have our great
earls as in France you have your great dukes, but below that we
have no titles. We are thanes, that is land owners, who hold their
land direct from our earls. Some have wider lands than others, but
as free thanes we are all equal. As to knights, we have not in
England the titles and ceremonies which are so much thought of in
France and in other courts."
"That is a pity," the girl said gravely, "for the vows of knighthood
make a knight courteous and gentle to enemies and friends alike."
"Or rather, Agnes," her mother put in, "they should do so; but in
truth, looking round at the cruel wars we have had in Normandy, I
do not see that men have been more gentle or courteous than they
would have been had they never taken the vows or had knightly spurs
buckled on; and in truth it seems to me from the news of what has
taken place beyond the sea, that in the civil troubles they have
had in England men are much more gentle with each other, and foes
are far more easily reconciled than with us in Normandy, who are
supposed to be bound by the laws of chivalry. Had our duke been
cast upon the shores of England as Harold has been cast upon that
of Ponthieu, I think that he would not have been so dishonourably
treated by one of the English thanes as Harold has been by Count
Conrad. When Godwin and his sons returned from the exile into which
they had been driven, and again became all powerful, there was not,
as I have heard from your father, a single drop of blood shed, nor
any vengeance taken upon the men who had brought about their exile.
It would have been very different had such things happened here."
"You speak rightly, wife. The English are of a more gentle disposition
than we are, though nowise backward in battle. But now, Guy, it
is time that you were returning. You have already made a longer
stay than usual. I shall see you again to-morrow when we start for
Eu. Young sirs, I hope that on your return you will often ride over
here when your lord does not require you. We shall always be pleased
to see you, and although the forest lies some miles away, Guy can
show you good hunting, though not so good as that which, as I hear,
you can get in England, where the population is not so thick as it
is in this part of Normandy."
The horses were brought round, and the three lads rode into Rouen
just as night was falling.
Long before daybreak there was a stir in the streets of the city,
as parties of knights and nobles rode in with bodies of their
retainers in obedience to the orders of the duke. All in the palace
were awake early. A hasty breakfast was eaten, while just as the
sun rose the duke mounted his horse, and at the head of an array,
composed of some twenty barons and knights and four hundred
men-at-arms, rode out of the city.
"There is a good deal more pomp and show here than there was when
we rode with Harold from London," Wulf said. "In truth these Norman
nobles make a far braver appearance in their armour and robes, and
with their banners carried behind them, than we do. Were the king
himself to ride in state through London he would scarce be so gaily
attended."
"Duke William does not look as if he cared for show," Beorn said.
"Nor does he," Guy, who was riding beside them, put in. "For himself
he is simple in his tastes, but he knows that the people are impressed
by pomp, and love to see a brave cavalcade, therefore he insists
on the observance of outward forms; and his court here on state
occasions vies, as they tell me, with that of Henry of France."
"Where shall we rest tonight?" Wulf asked. "Methinks from the
appearance of the sky that we shall have rain, and unless we sleep
under shelter, many of these fine robes that we see are like to be
as much dabbled in mud as were those in which we arrived."
"We shall sleep in no town, for there is no place on the road between
this and Eu that could receive so large a party; but soon after we
rode out yesterday a train of waggons with tents and all else needful
started from Rouen, and half-way to Eu we shall find the camp erected
and everything in readiness for our reception."
This was indeed the case. The camp had been erected in a sheltered
valley, through which ran a stream that supplied the needs of man
and horses. The tents were placed in regular order, that of the
duke in the centre, those of his chief nobles in order of rank on
either side. Behind was a line for the use of the court officials,
pages, and knights of less degree, while the soldiers would sleep
in the open. As the party rode up a chamberlain with three or four
assistants met them. Each was provided with lists containing the
names of all the duke's following, and these were at once conducted
to the tents alloted to them, so that in a few minutes all were
housed without the slightest confusion or trouble. The squires of
the knights and nobles and the attendants of the officers and pages
at once took the horses and picketed them in lines behind the tents,
rubbing them down and cleaning them with the greatest care, and
then supplying them with forage from the piles that had that morning
been brought in from the neighbouring farms. Fuel in abundance had
also been stacked. A number of cooks had come on with the tent
equipage, and supper was already prepared for the duke and his
party, while animals had been slaughtered and cut up, and the
men-at-arms soon had the joints hanging over their bivouac fires.
"This is all wonderfully well managed, Beorn," Wulf said. "I doubt
whether it could be done so well and orderly with us at home."
"What does it matter?" Beorn said contemptuously. "It makes no
difference whether one sups five minutes after arrival or an hour."
"It matters nothing, Beorn; but what is but a question of an hour's
waiting in a small party is one of going altogether supperless to
bed when it is a large one. The Normans have been constantly fighting
for the last twenty years, and you see they have learned how important
it is that everything should be regular and orderly. If they manage
matters with a large force as well as they do with a small one, as
it is probable that they do, see what an advantage it gives to them.
Were two armies to arrive near each other with the intention of
fighting in the morning, and one knew exactly what to do, and could
get their food in comfort and then lie down to rest, while the other
was all in confusion, no one knowing where he should go or where
to bestow himself, and, being unable to obtain food, forced to lie
down supperless, the first army would obtain a great advantage when
they met the next morning, especially if it had breakfasted well
while the other went into the fight still fasting. Look at ourselves
how weak we were that morning when we had lain down hungry and got
up fasting, while on the morning when the woman gave us that food,
simple as it was, we stepped out boldly and in spirits."
"That is true enough, Wulf, but you know that among us it is said
that Earl Harold is always most careful for the comfort of his
soldiers."
"Yes, the earl always thinks of those around him. As I have never
been in the field I know not what the arrangements are, but I cannot
think they would be so well ordered in a great gathering of Englishmen,
or that we should manage matters as well as the Normans with all
their experience have learnt to do."
"Well, Wulf," Beorn laughed, "you had best study the matter, and
then ask the earl to appoint you to take charge of the arrangements
when he takes the field."
"One could hardly have a more useful office," Wulf said earnestly;
"but it would need a man of experience and of high rank and position,
for our Saxon thanes are not accustomed to discipline as are these
Norman barons, and only one of great authority could induce them
to observe regulations and carry out any plan in due order."
Beorn nodded. "That is true enough, Wulf, and it is therefore clear
that a good many years must pass before you can properly fill the
post of chief chamberlain to the army. For myself, I shall be well
content to do what fighting is required, and to leave all these
matters in your hands."
"Yes; but it can't be left in the hands of one officer," Wulf said
warmly, "unless all give their aid willingly to carry out his plans."
"Well, you need not be angry about it, Wulf. There will be time
enough for that when you get to be grand chamberlain. You know
what the Saxon thanes are--how ease-loving, and averse to trouble
themselves with aught save the chase. I would as soon marshal a
flock of sheep in military order and teach each to keep its place
as get the thanes to conform to strict orders and regulations."
"And yet, Beorn," said Baron De Burg, who had just entered the tent
unnoticed by them in order to speak to his son, who with another
page shared it with them, "unless all will conform to strict orders
and regulations an army is but a mere gathering of armed men,
animated not by one will, but by as many wills as it contains men.
Such an army may be valiant; every man may be a hero, and yet it
may be shattered to pieces by another which gives itself up wholly
to the direction of one will. That is why we Normans have so badly
beaten the French. Every mail has his place in battle. He charges
when he is ordered to charge, or he is held in reserve the whole
day, and the battle ended without his ever striking a blow. We may
fret under inaction, we may see what we think chances of falling
upon the enemy wasted, but we know that our duke is a great leader,
that he has a plan for the battle and will carry it through, and
that disobedience to his orders would be an offence as great as
that of riding from the field. Hence we have learned to obey, and
consequently we have always been victorious against men as brave
as ourselves, but each obeying his own feudal lord, and so fighting
in detached bodies rather than as a whole. Your young companion is
in the right. In a duel between two men strength and skill is
everything; in a struggle between two armies obedience to orders
is a virtue even higher than bravery and skill at arms. Where is
Guy?"
"He is in attendance on the duke, my lord," Beorn said. "We presented
ourselves also at his tent, but he told us that he required no duty
from us."
"Let him come to my tent when he returns," the baron said; "that
is as soon as he has finished supper. I shall be glad if you will
also come, unless the duke sends for you, which methinks he is not
likely to do. He is in thoughtful mood to-day, and will probably
be alone."
Two or three other knights were assembled in Baron de Burg's tent
when the three lads went in. De Burg said a few words to his
companions, explaining who they were, and then continued his
conversation with the others. Beorn and Wulf, as they stood behind
the chairs and listened to the talk, could not help being struck
with the difference between it and the conversations they had heard
at the houses of Saxon thanes.
With Harold they had been accustomed to hear matters of state touched
on. The church and the struggle going on between the Norman prelates
and monks on the one hand and the English clergy on the other was
one that was frequently talked over, as were also the projects
Harold had at heart for encouraging the spread of education and
raising the condition of people generally. At the houses of the
thanes, however, the evenings were passed in feasting and song, and
it was seldom that there was anything like discussion upon general
affairs. Indeed, between men heated with wine and accustomed to
state their opinions bluntly anything like friendly argument was
well nigh impossible. De Burg and his companions made no allusion
at all to public affairs, but discussed gravely and calmly, and
with a courteous respect for each other's opinions, questions
connected with the art of war, hunting, the changed conditions
brought about by the demolition of castles, the improvements gradually
being introduced in armour, and other kindred topics. The other
nobles were men of about the same age as De Burg, and although the
latter's page from time to time carried round wine the goblets were
rarely emptied.
Certain topics were touched upon only to be dropped at once, and
Wulf saw that subjects upon which there was any disagreement among
them were carefully avoided.
When the boys returned to their tent Wulf said, "Their talk reminds
me of the evenings I spent with the prior, his almoner, and two or
three other monks, rather than of those at the houses of Saxon
thanes."
Beorn nodded. "I am not so much against our customs of feasting and
merriment as you are, Wulf, and should not care to spend my evenings
often in listening to such grave talk, but truly these Norman barons
and knights are far more courteous in their speech than our own
thanes, and seem to care but little for the wine cup. I admit that
such men must be far wiser advisers for a king than are our Saxons,
saving of course Harold and his brothers."
"The Normans are not all so abstemious as my father and those you
saw with him," Guy laughed. "Listen. You can hear songs and loud
laughter from many of the tents, ay, and might hear quarrels too
did you listen long enough. But those you saw were all men high in
the confidence of the duke. They have fought together under his
banner in many a field, and are all powerful barons. They are content
to hold their own, and have nothing to gain at the expense of others.
Their value is well established, and I believe that all of them
would be well pleased were they never called upon to set lance in
rest again. Methinks this evening they avoided all public questions
chiefly because we were present; and you see no word was spoken of
the unexpected accident that has thrown Harold on our shores,
although it must have been in all their minds; and doubtless they
talked it over as they rode hither to-day. I should not be surprised
if my father had us in his tent for the very reason that your being
there would prevent more being said about it. I do not suppose any
of them know exactly what is in the duke's mind--possibly he has
not even made it up himself; and it is assuredly wise here in
Normandy to express no strong opinion until the duke's own mind is
manifest."
"I daresay you are right, Guy. I rather wondered why your father
had asked us as well as you to his tent when he had others with
him; but it is like enough that he thought our presence would prevent
any discussion on delicate topics."
The next morning the cavalcade mounted early, and in the afternoon
rode into the fortress of Eu. It stood upon the river Bresle, and
had, previous to the conquest of Ponthieu, been the frontier guard
of Normandy on the north. It lay only some ten miles from the spot
where the Saxon galley had been wrecked. A messenger had arrived
there early in the day from Fitz-Osberne saying that Conrad of
Ponthieu had assented to the demand of the duke for the surrender
of his captives, that these had been at once released from their
confinement, and were now honourably entertained. They would start
on the following morning from Beaurain, and would be accompanied
by Conrad, who desired to come to Eu to pay his respects to the
duke.
Although it had been certain that Conrad would not venture to refuse
the command of his powerful over-lord, Wulf and Beorn were greatly
delighted to hear that Harold and his companions had at once been
released from their imprisonment, and that they would so speedily
arrive at Eu. In the afternoon of the following day a messenger
arrived stating that the cavalcade was but an hour's ride away, and
preparations were at once made to receive it with all honour. The
garrison of the castle in their bravest attire lined the courtyard,
hangings brought from Rouen were disposed round the walls of the
great hall, two chairs of state were placed on the dais, the
men-at-arms who had come from Rouen were drawn up on either side
of the great entrance, and here William with his nobles assembled
when the cavalcade approached the castle.
The procession was headed by the Norman men-at-arms of Fitz-Osberne
and Warren. After them rode Conrad of Ponthieu with Harold by his
side. Both carried hawks on their wrists, and were, apparently, on
the most amiable terms. Behind them rode Harold's brother and nephew
and the two Norman barons; they were followed by the Saxon thanes
and the officers of the count's household. Behind these came on
foot the Saxons of inferior degree who had been left at St. Valery,
and who had by Conrad's orders been sent to join the cavalcade where
it crossed the Somme at Abbeville; the procession was closed by a
strong body of the count's men-at-arms. They rode through the double
line of spearmen until they reached the entrance. Then as Harold
dismounted, the duke descended the steps and embraced him with the
warmest expressions of satisfaction at thus meeting the most
illustrious of Englishmen.
Harold replied in suitable terms, and the duke then turned to Conrad
and thanked him warmly for having acceded to his request.
Ponthieu was but newly conquered, and might yet be a thorn in the
side of Normandy in the event of a renewal of war with France. It
was therefore to William's interest to treat Conrad's obedience to
his orders as if it had been a voluntary submission, and to ignore
his discourteous treatment of his captives. In order to eradicate
all sense of injury on the part of his vassal, he not only paid him
the ransom for Harold but gave him a considerable grant of territory.
The duke now presented his nobles and principal officers to Harold,
and then with his arm placed familiarly on his guest's shoulder led
him into the hall, and placed him in the chair of state beside his
own, other seats being placed for Wulfnoth and Hakon and for some
of the principal Norman barons, while the rest mingled with the
Saxon thanes in the body of the hall. As soon as the reception was
over Wulf hurried out into the courtyard to speak to Osgod.
"Right glad am I to see you again, Osgod; I have been troubled as
to how you were faring."
"In truth we have fared badly enough, master; we have been working
like beasts of burden, without having food that would suffice for
an ass. However, it was not for long, and will do us no harm, though
there are more than one of those fellows at St. Valery with whom I
would gladly have ten minutes play with cudgel or quarter-staff.
You may guess how surprised we were yesterday evening when we were
suddenly called out from the shed where we were sleeping, and with
many professions of regret and apology for our treatment conducted
to better quarters, where a good honest meal was set before us, and
we were then told that the duke himself had just arrived at Eu, and
that Harold and all his following were there to be given up to him.
We had fresh rushes for our beds, and a hearty breakfast this
morning, and were then placed in boats and taken up to Abbeville.
We had been there but an hour when the earl arrived with the thanes,
and glad were we, as you may imagine, to see his face again. They
stopped there for an hour to rest their steeds and to dine, and
then we marched hither as you saw. I had missed you and Beorn from
Harold's party, and made shift to approach the earl and humbly ask
him what had become of you. 'No harm has befallen your master and
his friend, good fellow,' the earl said. 'They have indeed done me
good service, for they made their escape from Beaurain and carried
the news of our detention to Duke William, and it is thus that we
have all obtained our liberty.' You seem to have fared bravely,
Wulf, judging from your attire."
"Yes, we were in sore plight when we arrived at Rouen, but the duke
saw that we were provided with clothes and with horses for our
journey here."
At this moment an attendant came out from the hall and informed
Wulf that the duke desired speech with him. Beorn was already at
the entrance, and they were conducted on to the dais.
"Here are your two pages," the duke said to Harold. "I hold myself
to be greatly their debtor for having carried me the news that has
brought about this meeting, and given me the pleasure of having you
as my guest. They are faithful lads and quick-witted, for no men
could have carried out the mission better or more promptly than
they did."
"Still more am I indebted to them," Harold said as he held out his
hand to the two lads, who bent on one knee while they kissed it.
"I knew not of their going until I learnt from your barons that
they had reached Rouen with the news. They are wards of mine, and
although at one time my pages they have ceased to be so for more
than a year, and have both been down upon their estates learning
the duties of their station, which I deemed better for them than
wasting their time and getting into mischief at court."
The duke nodded. "The result shows that your course was a wise one.
At court youths learn but little good. The atmosphere is not healthy
for men still less for boys, and these youths will shortly be of
an age when they will be fit to render men's service, as indeed
they have already done." The lads now retired from the dais.
"It has been a fortunate week's work for us," Beorn said. "We have
obtained the freedom of our lord and have gained his approbation
and that of Duke William; though, indeed, it matters not greatly
as to the duke."
"I don't know, Beorn; one cannot look into the future, and there
is no saying what may happen. Anyhow, even now it may be of advantage
to us. Honourably as the duke is treating Harold, the earl is still
wholly in his power, and until we hear something of his intentions
we are all just as much prisoners as we were to Conrad, although I
admit the captivity is a very much more pleasant one."