AN ATTEMPT AT ASSASSINATION.
When Wulf met the armourer next morning in the cathedral close he was
accompanied by Beorn, who said, laughing, to the latter, "You have beaten
me fairly, friend Ulred, and it is well that I had no wager with you on the
race. But it was not by much, for I rode in here as the bells were chiming
eleven. I was glad to hear from Wulf when I roused him up that he had
learnt all the news from you, for indeed I was sore weary, and was right
pleased to wrap myself in my cloak and go straight to sleep instead of
having to sit up for an hour expounding my story."
"We have resolved in the first place, Ulred, to say nought of this matter
to the king," began Wulf. "He will have enough to occupy all his thoughts
in the affairs of the kingdom, and in the second place his nature is so
open that he will refuse to believe in such villainy unless upon strong
proof, and of actual proof we have none. Beorn's appearance here will
excite no surprise. He will say that having nought in particular to occupy
him he had ridden north to be at the wedding, and finding that he was too
late, would at any rate ride back with the king. With him and me and Osgod
ever on the watch, methinks there will be little fear of a surprise; and it
is by surprise only that they can succeed, for Harold himself is a match
for any four or five ordinary men if he has but time to draw his sword. I
will, however, on some excuse have half a score of Harold's housecarls
placed under my orders, and sleeping or waking the king shall never be a
moment unguarded.
"I should not think it is likely that Fitz-Urse will have more than five or
six men associated with him in such an enterprise. He would not take more
into his confidence than he could help, and six would suffice as well as a
score for a surprise; and that number could travel in disguise without
exciting attention, while twenty would assuredly do so; therefore I feel
sure that we shall not have to deal with more than six, including the two
leaders. Ulf, do you station yourself at the river-bank and mark any
vessels arriving. If the men come hither they will probably do as you did,
leave their ship at Hull and come up by a local trader. They would thus
avoid all questions they might be asked if passing through the country on
foot."
"And what is there for me to do, my lord Wulf?" the armourer said.
"Frankly, I have gone so far in this matter that I would fain see it
through."
"Of course we reckon upon you, Ulred. I have been talking it over with
Beorn, and it seemed to us that the best thing will be for you to ride with
Osgod. You can either make some slight change in your clothes and ride as a
man of mine, or you can ride as Osgod's father, who, having come up here on
matters connected with your business, have obtained permission to ride in
my train with him. I will see that you have that permission."
"I care not how I go so that I can be at hand if there is a blow to be
struck for the king."
"Then in that case, Ulred, it were best you went as my man, for you would
then have the entry of the houses where the king will stop and can aid us
in keeping guard."
"That will do well for me," Ulred replied. "Ulf had best journey back as he
came. He might go by ship after the king has left here."
"No, he shall travel with us. I will see the chamberlain who has charge of
the arrangements of the journey, and will get leave for him to ride in the
waggons with the servants."
During the three days before the king left York Ulf kept a vigilant watch
over the boats that came up the river, but he could see nothing of the men
he was searching for. Wulf had bought a horse for the armourer, and when
they started the latter took his place by Osgod's side, while Ulf was
seated in one of the waggons. The king rode with Bishop Wulfstan, next to
them rode the four thanes who had accompanied them through their journey,
and next to these Wulf and Beorn came on together. Behind came the queen's
litter, with a guard of housecarls, the main body of whom rode just behind,
while the waggons and servants brought up the rear.
"We need not trouble ourselves on the march, Beorn. It is not while the
king rides with so strong a following that the blow will be struck."
"I see not when they can ever get a chance," Beorn said. "The king will
stop always at religious houses, and they will scarcely storm a convent to
get at him."
"They would not attempt to storm it, Beorn, but they might enter it
secretly. But for my own part I think the most dangerous time is when he
mounts or dismounts. There is always a crowd assembled to see him, and two
or three reckless men might rush forward and stab him."
"It would be at the cost of their own lives," Beorn objected.
"It might be, but they would reckon much on the confusion that would
follow, and might think so to get away. They would probably have horses
somewhere close at hand, and might ride for the port where they had left
their ship. It is a great stake they are playing for, and doubtless they
are desperate men; though they would know the danger they might calculate
that some at least would escape to claim the reward. Then again, they
might manage to mingle with the servitors at one of the places where we
stop. This would not be difficult, for many beside the usual establishment
would be hired to aid in the preparations for the reception of the king.
That might be their safest plan, for were he stabbed suddenly at a meal the
assassins might very well escape in the confusion."
The first night they slept at a monastery at the village of Bautre. The
establishment was but a small one, and could entertain only the king and
queen, with the thanes and their personal attendants. The rest of the train
were lodged in the village. Although they had little fear that an attack
would be ventured in so quiet a village where the presence of strangers
would at once attract attention, Wulf, Beorn, and Osgod kept watch in turns
all night in the corridor. The night passed without cause of alarm, and the
next day they rode to Nottingham, where they were lodged in the bishop's
palace. Beorn and Wulf agreed that this was the place where there was the
greatest likelihood of an attack being made on Harold's life. The ship
might have sailed up the river and landed her passengers a few miles from
the town, where, among the number of country people who would flock in to
obtain sight of the king, no one would think of questioning strangers. The
armourer and Ulf were charged to wander about the streets, and to closely
scan every face. Wulf had with some difficulty obtained from Harold the
command of twelve of the soldiers.
"I have my reasons, my lord king, though I would rather not state them. I
would remind you that I have shown that it is not my habit to take alarm
lightly. Your brother Gurth laughed at me when I begged to watch over his
camp with my housecarls, and I saved him from a sudden attack by the Welsh
thereby."
"Then you think that there is danger of an attack upon me, Wulf?"
"I said not so, my lord. I have only begged you to appoint twelve of your
men to obey my orders solely, during your journey to London."
"You shall do as you like, Wulf," the king said at last. "You have proved
yourself brave as well as prudent before now, and are not given to vain
fears, therefore do as you please, but let me know nought about it. I shall
have to receive the visits of all the thanes of the neighbourhood when I
reach Nottingham, and the same in other towns. There will be many persons
coming in with petitions for the redress of grievances, and I would not
have my thoughts disturbed by other matters."
"You shall know nought about it, my lord," Wulf said. "It is like enough
that nothing will come of the matter, and none will be more glad than
myself to find that I am mistaken."
Orders accordingly had been given to the officer of the king's guard to
hand over twelve of his men to Wulf, and the latter had begged him to
choose twelve of his most intelligent men for this service. As soon as they
reached Nottingham Wulf took his small command aside.
"You have been chosen," he said, "for a special duty. I have learned that
there are disaffected men who may possibly make an attempt on the king's
life. You are to say no word of what I tell you to anyone. Meet me over by
that wall half an hour after sunset. Gather quietly one by one so as to
attract no attention. You will be posted round the palace, to keep watch
and ward during the night. As soon as it is daylight half of you will lie
down and sleep till mid-day, and then be in readiness for fresh duty. The
others I will instruct as to where to hold themselves. The king will remain
here two days, and watch must be kept over his safety night and day."
As soon as their apartments were assigned to the different guests Wulf went
outside and examined the windows of the rooms to be occupied by the king.
They were on the first floor, and looked into a garden surrounded by a high
wall.
"At any rate, there is little fear of a successful surprise from this
side," Wulf said to Beorn, who was with him. "It would need a ladder to
scale the wall; this would have to be pulled up for them to descend into
the garden, and then carried across to mount to the window. If we post
Ulred with two men here and let four others lie down near to change guard
every two hours, it will be ample, for on an alarm being given, the Normans
however numerous will see that their attempt must fail. We can therefore
send the other six to bed after supper is over, for we cannot suppose that
they would be so daring as to force their way into the palace at any other
point."
As soon as it was dark Ulred and six of the soldiers were placed in the
garden; the others were directed to hold themselves in readiness to take
their post in the banqueting-hall. Just before the bell sounded for supper
Wulf was told that a boy desired to speak to him at the gate. He hurried
out, and, as he expected, saw Ulf waiting there.
"What news, Ulf,--hast seen Walter Fitz-Urse?"
"I have not seen him, my lord, but I am sure that I heard him speak. There
was a great crowd in the square after the king had entered, and among those
round me I heard one man speak to another in a foreign tongue, and the
voice was assuredly that of Walter Fitz-Urse. It was but two or three words
he said, but having listened to him for well-nigh half an hour that night
by the river, I am certain I was not mistaken in the voice. Close beside me
were two cowled monks, and I believe that it was one of them who spoke. I
looked round at the faces of the other men standing near, but they all
seemed honest countrymen or town folk. I should have followed the monks to
see where they went, but at that moment there was a rush among the crowd to
see some mummers who had just commenced their antics, and I was swept along
by it; and though I have been searching ever since, and have so stared up
into the cowls of monks, that I have been cursed as an insolent boy many
times, I have not seen our man."
"Thanks, Ulf. It is something to have learned that he is here. As to his
disguise, he may by this time have changed it. Still, I will be on my
guard, and will take care that no cowled monk approaches too closely to the
king. Take your place here at the gate and watch all who come in and out,
and if you see aught suspicious send in a soldier, whom I will place by
your side, to fetch me out."
One of the men was accordingly placed with the boy with orders to come to
Wulf, whether at the table or in the king's room, the moment Ulf told him
to do so. When the others went into the banquet Wulf posted two men just
outside the door, and placed the other three back against the wall nearest
to the king's chair. Here, standing against the arras, they were concealed
from the sight of the guests by the crowd of servitors passing to and fro.
"Stand with your hands on your daggers," Wulf said to them, "and watch
every man who approaches the king, no matter of what degree he may appear.
Be ready to spring forward in an instant if you see his hand go to his
dagger."
The bishop and king sat next to each other in the centre of the table on
the dais; on either side were the king's thanes, abbots and other
dignitaries of the church, and the nobles of the country. Wulf and Beorn
had begged to be excused from supping, and permission had been readily
granted by the king, as he knew that the bishop would be glad at having two
extra seats at his disposal; and they also, standing back by the wall,
closely scrutinized the movements of the attendants. It was a relief to
them when supper was over and the bishop and his principal guests retired
to a private room. The five soldiers were then told that they would not be
required until morning.
Wulf went out to the gate, and learnt from Ulf that he had seen no one
enter whom he took for Fitz-Urse.
"He may have gone in by some other entrance, my lord," he said, "for there
are three or four ways into the palace."
"We shall be on watch inside, Ulf. You need stay no longer. Be here in the
morning at seven."
After the king and queen had retired to bed and the palace was quiet Wulf,
Beorn, and Osgod stole from their room, and noiselessly passed along the
corridors until they came to the king's apartment, and then lay down across
the door. They were to keep watch in turns, Osgod being told to keep the
first watch and to rouse Wulf at midnight. This he did, and Wulf lay for
some time listening intently. The corridor was faintly lit by two lamps,
one at either end. Wulf had chosen the middle watch, because he thought
that if any attempt was made it would be soon after midnight, as the
assassins would wish to have many hours of darkness in which to make their
escape. He knew that Beorn was a sound sleeper, and could scarcely be
trusted to keep awake from midnight until four o'clock, and that it were
best he himself watched during that time.
Half an hour passed, and then he heard a very slight noise. A moment later
four figures appeared at the end of the corridor. He dared not wake his
companions, for they might speak or move, but he grasped his sword-hilt,
having drawn the blade in readiness when Osgod woke him. The men advanced
stealthily, and as they approached he saw they had drawn swords in their
hands. They paused a few paces away, and in a whisper one said:
"Here are three fellows asleep; what shall we do with them?"
"Draw your daggers and stab them to the heart," another replied. "Each take
one, and do not bungle over it. As you strike I will open the door and rush
in. Now!"
Wulf had gathered his legs under him in readiness to spring to his feet as
soon as he saw the figures, and as they swiftly advanced he leapt up with a
shout and crossed swords with the man nearest to him.
"Cut him down! Kill him! It is too late to draw back now!" one of the men
cried. The others, who had recoiled a moment when Wulf sprang up, rushed at
him just as he cut down the man he had first engaged.
"Cut them down and fly!" the one who had before given orders exclaimed,
lunging furiously at Wulf.
"Easier said than done, Walter Fitz-Urse!" Wulf exclaimed, as he parried a
blow and dealt one in return. It lighted on his opponent's shoulder, but
the blade shivered in his hand, for it had fallen upon mail armour
concealed under the Norman's garment.
"It is my turn now!" Fitz-Urse exclaimed, and raised his sword to strike a
sweeping blow at Wulf's head, but before it could fall the latter leapt
forward and caught the uplifted wrist, the impetus of the spring throwing
his opponent backwards, while Wulf fell heavily upon him, and for a moment
they rolled over and over. But Wulf was by far the most powerful, and
speedily got the upper hand. He had not noticed that his opponent, while
holding his sword in his right hand, had his dagger already drawn in his
left. The sword had flown from Fitz-Urse's hand as he fell, and Wulf,
believing him to be powerless, glanced round to see how the fray went with
the others, when the Norman stabbed him deeply in the side. Before he could
repeat the blow Wulf snatched his own dagger from his girdle and buried it
in the assassin's throat Then he raised himself on his left hand. It was
but a matter of seconds since the fight had commenced, but it was already
over. Osgod had slain one man, Beorn was following a flying opponent down
the corridor, and Harold, sword in hand, had just rushed from his chamber.
Wulf saw no more, but fell over insensible by the side of his adversary.
"What is all this?" Harold shouted as he turned to Osgod, the only figure
standing, raising his sword as he spoke, for in the dim light he did not
recognize him.
"It means, my lord, that there has been an attempt on your life. I am
Osgod, Wulf's man. I fear my brave young master is killed!" and he dropped
on his knees by Wulf's side. By this time doors were opening all along the
corridor, and the king's thanes and other guests, awakened by Wulf's shout
and the clashing of swords, were pouring out, armed with the first weapon
they could snatch up.
"Bring lights!" Harold shouted. "My life has been attempted, and I fear
that the brave Thane of Steyning is killed."
The alarm spread fast, and the palace so lately hushed and silent was now
in an uproar, while the bishop with many other ecclesiastics, with
servants, retainers, and men-at-arms, mingled with the thanes.
"Keep all back!" Harold cried. "Let none approach these bodies until we
have examined them."
Torches were soon brought. Harold seized one, and bent over Wulf's body.
"Is he dead?"
"His heart beats, but feebly, my lord," Osgod replied.
"Where is he hurt?"
"There is a great patch of blood here on his right side just over the hip.
I see no other sign of a wound."
"We will carry him into my chamber," the king said. "But no; I forgot, the
queen is there. We will take him into the room opposite; it matters not
whose it is. Now, Osgod, aid me to lift him gently. Bishop, I pray you send
for the leeches most skilled in the treatment of sword wounds in the city."
Then he and Osgod carried Wulf into the chamber opposite his own, and laid
him on a pallet.
"Now see to the staunching of the flow of blood till the leeches arrive. I
must inquire into this matter. Who knows aught about it?" he asked as he
went out into the corridor.
"I do, my lord king," Beorn replied as he pushed his way through the
throng. "It was a plot to take your life. Wulf, his man Osgod, and myself
had no certain knowledge of it, but we had cause for suspicion, and
therefore lay outside your door. We were to take it in turns to watch.
Wulf was on guard, and as I awoke at his shout I saw him cut down that
villain who lies there with a cleft skull There were three others. I fell
upon one, Osgod took another, while Wulf engaged the man who seemed to be
the leader. Wulf's sword broke, but he closed with his opponent and they
fell together. Osgod ran his man through, and my opponent fled. I could not
catch him until he reached the door, but as that was closed he could fly no
farther, and I slew him there."
"Who and what are these men, good Beorn?"
"They are, I believe, Normans; but I know naught for certain beyond the
fact that the leader, he with whom Wulf was engaged, is Walter Fitz-Urse,
who was a page of the Bishop William of London, and was well known at the
court."
Exclamations of fury and indignation broke from those around, with the
cries of "Death to the Normans!"
Harold raised his hand. "Silence, my friends. Let us be fair and just as it
becomes Englishmen. There are villains of all nations, and it is not
because four caitiffs have thought to do a good service to their duke by
getting rid of me that we should blame men who will abhor this crime as
much as we can do. First let us see if Beorn is right as to this man. Hold
a torch to his face. It is Fitz-Urse truly. He was of knightly blood, but
has died in a most unknightly business. Wulf's dagger is still in his
throat. Let us see if we know anything of the others."
"I think that you will find them all strangers, my lord," Beorn said. "I
believe they came from beyond the sea to do this deed."
The man whom Wulf had first slain was evidently by his dress a person of
some rank; the other was of inferior station, as was also, as it was found,
the man Beorn had killed.
"Now, my lord bishop," the king said calmly, "we have a right next to ask
you how these men came to be in your palace. Know you aught of them?"
"I know nothing of them," the bishop replied. "So far as I am aware I have
never seen any of their faces before, and assuredly they were not here with
my cognizance. I will at once question all my people shrewdly, and woe be
to him who has admitted strangers here unknown to me at the time when you
were beneath my roof."
"And have this house searched from basement to roof, bishop. It may be that
there are others in hiding."
"With your permission, my lord," said Beorn, "I will at once take your men,
of whom we have posted six under your window, and will call up some more
and search the town. It is likely that there are others without with horses
held in readiness for these assassins to escape."
"Do so, Beorn. It will be well if we can catch some at least, so that we
can get to the bottom of this matter."
The bishop at once ordered his armed retainers to accompany Beorn, and then
proceeded to interrogate his officials and the domestics, and to see that
the latter made a complete search of the palace. All denied any knowledge
of strangers having entered, and the search revealed nothing but four
monks' gowns and hoods found wrapped up in a bundle in a small room
downstairs. Further questions had been then put. Some of the domestics
remembered that four monks had entered the palace late in the evening, and
one of the under chamberlains said that he had seen them, and they had told
him that they had just arrived from Flanders, and craved permission to
sleep in the palace for the night, as they were going on to Peterborough in
the morning. He had told them that this was impossible, as he could give no
permission without the leave of the bishop, who was at present with the
king and could not be disturbed, and that, moreover, every room in the
palace was occupied. He had given them the address of a citizen, who would
he was sure take them in. They had thanked him, and said that they would go
there, but doubtless instead of doing so they had slipped aside, and had
hidden themselves in the room where their gowns were found. It was one used
only for the storage of garments for poor travellers who came along, and no
one was likely to enter it on such an evening.
This discovery was a great relief to the bishop and all within the palace,
as it showed that they were not there with the connivance of any of the
prelate's people. Before the matter was fully unravelled Beorn returned.
They had in a quiet spot a short distance from the palace come upon two men
with six horses. Before they could run up and seize them the two men had
leapt up into the saddles and galloped furiously away. Unfortunately the
other four horses had followed, and immediate pursuit was therefore
impossible. The housecarls had run to the spot where their horses were
stabled and had gone off in pursuit, but Beorn feared that the men would
have far too great a start to be overtaken. One of the officers had ridden
with the housecarls, and Beorn had told him to keep by the river-bank, as
the men would assuredly make for a ship that was lying somewhere down the
river, though whether at a distance of two miles or of twenty he knew not.
Long before Beorn's return Wulf's wound had been examined. Unguents had
been poured into it and bandages applied. The surgeons were of opinion that
it was a very grave one, but that at present they could not say how the
matter would terminate.
"Your story will keep till the morning, Beorn," the king said. "It is still
five hours to daylight, and we may as well retire to rest, unless, indeed,
you know that there are others engaged in the affair in London or elsewhere
who should be arrested before the news of the night's business reaches
them."
"I know of none such," Beorn said, "and believe that these four and the two
who have escaped were alone concerned in it. I will bring with me in the
morning a man and a boy who know more than I do of the matter; they and
Osgod, with whom Wulf will assuredly have talked it over, will be able to
tell you all that was known up to the moment when these men entered the
palace."
The armourer and Ulf told their story in the morning, and Beorn took
Osgod's place by Wulf's bedside, while he too was questioned by the king.
The latter then went to Wulf's chamber.
"What say the leeches this morning, Beorn?
"They are somewhat more hopeful, my lord. They say that his heart beats
more strongly than it did last night, Osgod says that he has not moved or
opened his eyes, but they say that this is not a bad sign, and that it may
be anxiety has brought on an exhaustion, for his breathing is more like
that of one who sleeps than of a man wounded to death."
"His face has grieviously changed since yesterday," the king said sadly,
looking down upon Wulf. "I would give my right hand rather than that he
should die. You have of a surety saved my life among you, Beorn, you and
his stout man-at-arms and the worthy armourer and that shrewd apprentice of
his for had they entered my chamber and taken me unawares they would have
slain me without doubt."
"I have done the best I could since I learnt from the armourer the
suspicion that Wulf entertained, but the whole thing is Wulf's doing. Had I
heard that Walter Fitz-Urse was back in London I should have given the
matter no further thought than that it was one Norman the more. It was, as
he told me, some words that Baron de Burg said when he saw him over in
Normandy the other day that first set him thinking. Then, he could not
understand why Fitz-Urse should return to London at this time, when Normans
are not overwelcome there, and this caused him to have some sort of
suspicion as to his reasons for undertaking such a journey, and determined
him to set a watch on the fellow's movements. Had it been any other than
Wulf who had so acted I should have laughed at his suspicions. But he is as
a brother to me, and knowing how sharp are his wits I am always well
content to follow him without question. I first heard of the matter after
the discovery that the Norman was having secret meetings with some of his
countrymen who were concealed on board a ship, and I at once felt sure that
Wulf had not been running on a false trail, and so did the little I could
to aid those who had the matter in hand."
"You have done well, Beorn, though as you say it is doubtless Wulf to whom
the chief credit is due. I regretted at first that the other two men had
escaped, but had they been taken they might, to save their own lives, have
implicated others, and I might have been forced to lay a complaint against
the Duke of Normandy. As it is now, the matter is at an end. Four men have
tried to murder me, and have been killed. Their bodies have been buried
this morning, and there is no more to be said about it.
"I was obliged to go down and show myself to the people an hour since, for
they assembled in a great crowd, clamouring to see me so that they might
know I was safe. I told them that while I thanked them for their loyal
care, there was nought to be alarmed about. It was true that there had been
an attempt on my life by four men, of whom the leader had a private grudge
against me for a disservice I did him some years ago, but that all had been
killed by my guards without even penetrating my chamber, and that I had run
no sort of personal risk, nor had I any reason whatever to suppose that the
malefactors had accomplices either within or without the palace."
Late in the evening, when the surgeons were applying pungent salts to his
nostrils, Wulf opened his eyes. Osgod was standing beside him holding one
of his hands.
"It is all well, master," he said. "We finished them all off, and no harm
has happened to the king. You have been hurt, but I hope you will soon be
better. The leeches say that you are not to talk, and you had best sleep as
much as you can. They have got some stuff for you to drink here; do you
lie still and I will pour it between your lips."
A look of intelligence came into Wulf's eyes as Osgod spoke; he smiled
faintly, and murmured, "Thank God, the king is safe!" He swallowed a few
spoonfuls of the potion Osgod held to his lips, and then closing his eyes
his regular breathing soon showed that he was again asleep. On the
following day the king proceeded on his way to London, Beorn remaining to
nurse Wulf. The king would have loaded Ulred with presents, but the sturdy
armourer refused to receive anything save a small gold cup in remembrance.
"I want no reward for doing my duty," he said. "I have my trade that keeps
me, and should be no happier were I laden with money. All that I have done
in the matter has been to watch for a few hours at a window, and to make a
journey by ship to York, and I should be ashamed of myself indeed if I
could not take that slight trouble for my king without looking for a
reward."
As to Ulf he was thanked and praised, but the king decided to take no steps
to alter his condition until Wulf should be well enough to be consulted in
the matter. It was a fortnight before the doctors were able to state with
any confidence that the young thane was on the road towards recovery, and
still another month before he had gained sufficient strength to be carried
in a litter to London.