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WULF THE SAXON

A Story of the Norman Conquest

By G. A. HENTY

PREFACE.

Although the immediate results of the Battle of Hastings may have

been of less importance to the world than were those of some other

great battles, the struggle has, in the long run, had a greater

influence upon the destiny of mankind than any other similar event

that has ever taken place. That admixture of Saxon, Danish, and

British races which had come to be known under the general name of

English, was in most respects far behind the rest of Europe. The

island was, as it had always been,--except during the rule of two

or three exceptionally strong kings,--distracted by internal

dissensions. Broad lines of division still separated the North

from the South, and under weak Kings the powerful Earls became

almost independent. The enterprise that had distinguished their

Saxon and Danish ancestors seems to have died out. There was a

general indisposition to change, and except in her ecclesiastical

buildings, England made but little progress in civilization from

the time of Alfred to that of Harold. Its insular position cut it

off from taking part in that rapid advance which, beginning in

Italy, was extending throughout Europe. The arrival, however, of

the impetuous Norman race, securing as it did a close connection

with the Continent, quickened the intellect of the people, raised

their intelligence, was of inestimable benefit to the English, and

played a most important part in raising England among the nations.

Moreover, it has helped to produce the race that has peopled Northern

America, Australia, and the south of Africa, holds possession of

India, and stands forth as the greatest civilizer in the world. The

Conquest of England by the Normans was achieved without even a

shadow of right or justice. It was at the time an unmixed curse to

England; but now we can recognize the enormous benefits that accrued

when in his turn the Englishman conquered the Norman, and the foreign

invaders became an integral portion of the people they had overcome.

For the historical details of the story, I have only had to go to

Freeman's magnificent _History of the Norman Conquest of England_,

which I hope will be perused by all of my readers who are able to

obtain it.

G. A. HENTY

CONTENTS.

CHAP.

I. A QUARREL

II. COUNTRY LIFE

III. AT COURT

IV. A STORM

V. ROUEN

VI. RELEASE OF THE EARL

VII. THE OATH

VIII. TROUBLE WITH WALES

IX. IN THE WELSH VALLEYS

X. PORTHWYN

XI. THE SECRET PASSAGE

XII. EDITH

XIII. HAROLD, THE KING

XIV. WULF'S SUSPICIONS

XV. A MEETING BY THE RIVER

XVI. A VOYAGE NORTH

XVII. AN ATTEMPT AT ASSASSINATION

XVIII. THE NORTHERN INVASION

XIX. STAMFORD BRIDGE

XX. THE LANDING OF THE FOE

XXI. HASTINGS

XXII. THE LORD OF BRAMBER

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE LAST STAND AT HASTINGS

THE YOUNG THANE COMES BACK TO STEYNING

WULF AND HIS FOLLOWERS STORM LLEWELLYN'S STRONGHOLD

WULF LEAPT FORWARD AND CAUGHT THE UPLIFTED WRIST

WULF THE SAXON.

CHAPTER I.

A QUARREL.

The great Abbey of Westminster was approaching its completion; an

army of masons and labourers swarmed like bees upon and around it,

and although differing widely in its massive architecture, with

round Saxon windows and arches, from the edifice that was two or

three generations later to be reared in its place,--to serve as a

still more fitting tomb for the ashes of its pious founder,--it was

a stately abbey, rivalling the most famous of the English fanes of

the period.

From his palace hard by King Edward had watched with the deepest

interest the erection of the minster that was the dearest object

of his life. The King was surrounded by Normans, the people among

whom he had lived until called from his retirement to ascend the

throne of England, and whom he loved far better than those over

whom he reigned. He himself still lived almost the life of a recluse.

He was sincerely anxious for the good of his people, but took small

pains to ensure it, his life being largely passed in religious

devotions, and in watching over the rise of the abbey he had founded.

A town had risen around minster and palace, and here the workmen

employed found their lodgings, while craftsmen of all descriptions

administered to the wants both of these and of the nobles of Edward's

court.

From one of the side doors of the palace a page, some fifteen or

sixteen years of age, ran down the steps in haste. He was evidently

a Saxon by his fair hair and fresh complexion, and any observer of

the time would have seen that he must, therefore, be in the employment

of Earl Harold, the great minister, who had for many years virtually

ruled England in the name of its king.

The young page was strongly and sturdily built. His garb was an

English one, but with some admixture of Norman fashions. He wore

tightly-fitting leg coverings, a garment somewhat resembling a

blouse of blue cloth girded in by a belt at the waist, and falling

in folds to the knee. Over his shoulders hung a short mantle of

orange colour with a hood. On his head was a cap with a wide brim

that was turned up closely behind, and projected in a pointed shovel

shape in front. In his belt was a small dagger. He wore shoes of

light yellow leather fastened by bands over the insteps. As he ran

down the steps of the palace he came into sharp contact with another

page who had just turned the corner of the street.

"I crave your pardon, Walter Fitz-Urse," he said hurriedly, "but I

was in haste and saw you not."

The other lad was as clearly Norman as the speaker was

Saxon. He was perhaps a year the senior in point of age, and

taller by half a head, but was of slighter build. The expression

of his face differed as widely from that of the Saxon as did

his swarthy complexion and dark hair, for while the latter

face wore a frank and pleasant expression, that of the Norman

was haughty and arrogant.

"You did it on purpose," he said angrily, "and were we not

under the shadow of the palace I would chastise you as you

deserve."

The smile died suddenly out from the Saxon's face. "Chastise

me!" he repeated. "You would find it somewhat difficult,

Master Fitz-Urse. Do you think you are talking to a Norman

serf? You will please to remember you are in England; but if

you are not satisfied with my apology, I will ride with you a

few miles into the country, and we will then try with equal

arms where the chastisement is to fall."

The Norman put his hand to his dagger, but there was an

ominous growl from some men who had paused to listen to the

quarrel.

"You are an insolent boor, Wulf of Steyning, and some day

I will punish you as you deserve."

"Some day," the Saxon laughed, "we shall, I hope, see you

and all your tribe sent across the Channel. There are few of

us here who would not see your backs with pleasure."

"What is this?" an imperious voice demanded; and turning

round, Wulf saw William, the Norman Bishop of London, who,

followed by several monks and pages, had pushed his way

through the crowd. "Walter Fitz-Urse, what means this altercation?"

"The Saxon ran against me of set purpose, my lord," Walter Fitz-Urse

said, in tones of deep humility, "and because I complained he

challenged me to ride with him into the country to fight, and then

he said he hoped that some day all the Normans would be sent across

the Channel."

"Is this so?" the prelate said sternly to Wulf; "did you

thus insult not only my page, but all of us, his countrymen?"

"I ran against him by accident," Wulf said, looking up fearlessly

in the prelate's face. "I apologized, though I know not that I was

more in fault than he; but instead of taking my apology as one of

gentle blood should do, he spoke like a churl, and threatened me

with chastisement, and then I did say that I hoped he and all other

Normans in the land would some day be packed across the Channel."

"Your ears ought to be slit as an insolent varlet."

"I meant no insolence, my Lord Bishop; and as to the slitting of

my ears, I fancy Earl Harold, my master, would have something to

say on that score."

The prelate was about to reply, but glancing at the angry faces of

the growing crowd, he said coldly:

"I shall lay the matter before him. Come, Walter, enough of this.

You are also somewhat to blame for not having received more courteously

the apologies of this saucy page."

The crowd fell back with angry mutterings as he turned, and, followed

by Walter Fitz-Urse and the ecclesiastics, made his way along the

street to the principal entrance of the palace. Without waiting

to watch his departure, Wulf, the Saxon page, pushed his way through

the crowd, and went off at full speed to carry the message with

which he had been charged.

"Our king is a good king," a squarely-built man,--whose bare arms

with the knotted muscles showing through the skin, and hands begrimed

with charcoal, indicated that he was a smith,--remarked to a gossip

as the little crowd broke up, "but it is a grievous pity that he

was brought up a Norman, still more that he was not left in peace

to pass his life as a monk as he desired. He fills the land with

his Normans; soon as an English bishop dies, straightway a Norman

is clapped into his place. All the offices at court are filled

with them, and it is seldom a word of honest English is spoken in

the palace. The Norman castles are rising over the land, and his

favourites divide among them the territory of every English earl

or thane who incurs the king's displeasure. Were it not for Earl

Harold, one might as well be under Norman sway altogether."

"Nay, nay, neighbour Ulred, matters are not so bad as that. I dare

say they would have been as you say had it not been for Earl Godwin

and his sons. But it was a great check that Godwin gave them when

he returned after his banishment, and the Norman bishops and nobles

hurried across the seas in a panic. For years now the king has left

all matters in the hands of Harold, and is well content if only he

can fast and pray like any monk, and give all his thoughts and

treasure to the building of yonder abbey."

"We want neither a monk nor a Norman over us," the smith said

roughly, "still less one who is both Norman and monk I would rather

have a Dane, like Canute, who was a strong man and a firm one, than

this king, who, I doubt not, is full of good intentions, and is a

holy and pious monarch, but who is not strong enough for a ruler.

He leaves it to another to preserve England in peace, to keep in

order the great Earls of Mercia and the North, to hold the land

against Harold of Norway, Sweyn, and others, and, above all, to

watch the Normans across the water. A monk is well enough in a

convent, but truly 'tis bad for a country to have a monk as its

king."

"There have been some war-loving prelates, Ulred; men

as ambitious as any of the great earls, and more dangerous,

because they have learning."

"Ay, there have been great prelates," the smith agreed. "Look at

Lyfing of Worcester, to whom next only to Godwin the king owed his

throne. He was an Englishman first and a bishop afterwards, and was

a proof, if needed, that a man can be a great churchman and a great

patriot and statesman too. It was he rather than Godwin who overcame

the opposition of the Danish party, and got the Witan at last to

acquiesce in the choice of London and Wessex, and to give their

vote to Edward.

"Well was it he did so. For had he failed we should have had as

great a struggle in England as when Alfred battled against the

Danes. We of London and the men of Wessex under the great Earl were

bent upon being ruled by a prince of our own blood. The last two

Danish kings had shown us that anything is better than being governed

by the Northmen. It was Lyfing who persuaded the Earl of Mercia to

side with Wessex rather than with Northumbria, but since Lyfing,

what great Englishman have we had in the church? Every bishopric

was granted by Edward to Norman priests, until Godwin and his sons

got the upper hand after their exile. Since then most of them have

been given to Germans. It would seem that the king was so set against

Englishmen that only by bringing in foreigners can Harold prevent

all preferment going to Normans. But what is the consequence? They

say now that our church is governed from Rome, whereas before

Edward's time we Englishmen did not think of taking our orders from

Italy.

"There will trouble come of it all, neighbour. Perhaps not so long

as Edward reigns, but at his death. There is but one of the royal

race surviving, and he, like Edward, has lived all his life abroad.

There can be no doubt what the choice of Englishmen will be. Harold

has been our real ruler for years. He is wise and politic as well

as brave, and a great general. He is our own earl, and will assuredly

be chosen. Then we shall have trouble with the Normans. Already

they bear themselves as if they were our masters, and they will not

give up their hold without a struggle. Men say that William, their

duke, makes no secret of his hope to become master of England, in

which case God help us all. But that won't come as long as Harold

lives and Englishmen can wield sword and battle-axe. As for myself,

I have patched many a Norman suit of armour, but, by St. Swithin,

I shall have far more pleasure in marring than I have ever had in

mending them."

"Know you who were the boys who had that contention just now?"

"The Norman is a page of William, our Norman bishop; I know no more