第 4 页

"I am afraid you will find it but dull time with me, Leof," Wulf

said as they came up abreast of him, "for the earl says that he has

charged you to remain with me at Steyning."

"I shall not be sorry for that," the soldier said bluntly, "for I

shall be right glad to be away from these Normans who fill every

place at court and swagger there as if Englishmen were but dirt

under their feet. Moreover, I love not London nor its ways, and

shall be glad to be down again among honest country folk, though I

would still rather be following my lord the earl in the field."

"And you, Master Gurth, will your stay down at Steyning be a long

one?"

"No, indeed. I have but to bear my master's wishes and instructions

to the steward, and to stay for a few days to see that they are

carried out according to his desires. I am not like Leof, for I

prefer life in London, where one meets with learned monks and others,

can obtain sometimes the use of a choice manuscript, and can hear

the news from beyond the seas, whereas in the country there is

nought to talk about save beeves and sheep. I like the journey well

enough, though I would that the animal I bestrode were more gentle

in his paces. He has for the last half-hour been fretting on the

rein to place himself by the side of yours. Horses are well enough

for nobles and fighting men, but for a peaceful scrivener like

myself a chair makes a far more comfortable seat."

The soldier gave a contemptuous grunt, and Wulf laughed. "It is

well that we have not all the same tastes, but for my part a seat

in a chair tires me more than one in a saddle, and I am never more

happy than when galloping briskly along," and he shook the reins,

a signal which the horse had been expecting for a considerable time,

and at once responded to by breaking into a canter.

"Stay you, I pray, Master Wulf," the scrivener cried in great

tribulation as his horse followed the example of its companion.

"Even if the animal does not break my neck he will jolt the life

out of me. I pray you curb him in if you would not see me prone in

the dust; and if I am disabled, who is to carry the earl's message

to the steward?"

Wulf reined in his horse. "Pardon me, good Gurth. I had forgotten

that you are not accustomed to journey on horseback. I was scarce

conscious, indeed, that I touched my horse, but he is used to travel

more rapidly, and was so eager to be off at the slightest hint that

I was willing that he should do so. We will try and journey soberly

for the rest of the distance."

Osgod was overtaken, plodding steadily along the road, fifteen miles

from town. Leof took him up on his horse, and they reached Guildford

just as the sun was setting. The inn, which stood in the principal

street of the town, was a low building built with a massive framework

filled in with bricks. The ground-floor was occupied by a single

room. At one end was the great fireplace where, over a pile of

blazing logs, were hung many cauldrons and pots. Round the room ran

a raised bench some six feet wide on which the guests disposed

themselves for sleep at night; rough tables and benches occupied

the rest of the room. Some twenty or thirty travellers were seated

at these. Few were eating, but the greater portion had horns of

beer or mead before them. As Wulf and his companions entered, after

giving over their horses to one of the helpers, the host, seeing

by his attire that he was of condition above the ordinary, came

forward and led him to the end of the room nearest the fire, where

the floor was raised a foot and a half above the general level,

forming a sort of dais where travellers of distinction could take

their meals apart from the rest of the guests. Leof was now spokesman.

"We will have supper, and of your best, master host, for we have

ridden from London. We are in the service of Earl Harold, and are

riding with this young thane, Wulf of Steyning."

The name of Earl Harold was sufficient to gain for them the best

attentions of their host, and in twenty minutes supper was served,

consisting of trout broiled over the fire, swine's flesh, and a

stew of fowls and smoked bacon flavoured with herbs. Wulf took the

head of the table, and the other three sat a short distance below

him. The dishes were handed round, and each with his dagger cut off

his portion and ate it on his wooden platter with the assistance

of dagger and fingers only, for the utility of forks was at that

time a matter undreamt of. After the meal was over, the host brought

a ewer of water with a napkin, and each dipped his fingers into the

water, an operation necessary even for the most dainty feeder.

Presently a glee singer came in, and for an hour amused the guests

with songs, for the most part of a patriotic character.

Wulf was then conducted by the host to a small chamber upstairs,

where there was the luxury of a bed stuffed with straw. The rest

of the travellers, including Wulf's companions, merely wrapped

themselves in their cloaks and lay down on the raised bench which

ran round the room.

On the afternoon of the third day the party arrived at Steyning.

It was four years since Wulf had been at home, and he gave a shout

of pleasure as his eye fell on the long low house with its background

of trees, and touching his horse with his heel he left his companions

behind and galloped towards the door. An old servitor came out.

"Why, Cedric, do you not know me? I am Wulf, whom you first taught

to play single-stick and to draw a bow."

"Why, surely it is my young master," Cedric said, taking the hand

that Wulf held out to him and placing it to his lips; "this is a

glad day indeed for us all. We have longed sorely for a sight of

you, for though I say nought against Master Egbert the steward, who

is well liked by all, it is not the same as having our lord with

us. You have come to stay, I trust."

"For a time at any rate, Cedric. Earl Harold wishes me to learn my

duties as a thane and to fit myself to lead my people in the field

if it be necessary."

"I trust that it never will be so," Cedric said, "but as we fought

under your father so will we all be ready to fight under you should

it be needful. The men of Steyning were never backward when there

was fighting to be done, and in my young days there was no lack of

that, though we have had quiet times since King Edward came to the

throne."

The house was not built for the purpose of resistance, for, unlike

the Normans, the Saxons did not deem it necessary to convert their

houses into castles. It was, however, massively framed, the windows

on the ground-floor were barred, the door was strong and solid, and

after nightfall none could come in or go out without the knowledge

and consent of the master. Wulf's companions came up just as the

steward himself appeared at the door. He knew both Gurth and Leof,

having himself been in the service of Harold before being deputed

by him to manage the estates of Steyning during the earl's guardianship

of its thane.

"The earl sends his greetings to you, Egbert," Gurth said, and he

has sent us hither with the young thane, who, as the letter I bring

from the earl will inform you, has come down to take up his position

as lord here, and to learn from you all things connected with his

estate."

"Welcome to Steyning, thane," the steward said, doffing his cap;

"it is well that you should be here. I have done my best to carry

out the earl's commands to keep all things in readiness for your

coming, and to be just and fair to the tenants, seeing that they

pay their dues, and yet not pressing too hardly upon them if things

go not well with them; but it is always best that the master should

be in his own place, and right willingly do I give over my authority

to you."

"The authority has been in good hands, I know well," Wulf said,"

and right heartily do I thank you for having so well filled my

place; but I would not take up my thaneship as yet I am but a boy,

and have to learn my duties from you, and shall account myself but

as your pupil. I know something of the ways of court, but nothing

at all of those of the country, and it will be long before I am fit

to take the control of things into my own hands."

They had by this time entered the great hall which formed the common

room of the establishment. Its arrangement was similar to that of

the room at the inn, with its raised dais for the master, his family,

and guests, while the rest of the room was devoted to the retainers

and servants. The cooking, however, was carried on in a room apart.

There were two fireplaces, one upon the dais and the other in the

body of the hall. On the walls hung trophies of the chase and arms

of all sorts. The wooden roof was supported by massive beams, and

with the exception of the trophies on the walls there was no attempt

at decoration of any kind. During the residence of the family at

the house, however, the hangings of tapestry, the work of generations

of dames of Steyning, their daughters and maids, hung upon the walls

round the dais.

The news quickly spread of the arrival of the young thane, and a

score of men and eight or ten women and maids flocked into the hall

to welcome him, and as he stood on the dais each in turn came forward

to kiss his hand and salute him.

"I think my first order must be," he said to the steward, "that a

cask of your best ale be broached."

"That shall be done at once," Egbert replied; "there is never a

lack of drink here, but the best is none too good for the occasion.

And who is this youth with you?" he went on when he had given the

necessary orders, pointing to Osgod, who was standing somewhat shyly

apart.

"He is my friend, and is going to be my body attendant and squire,"

Wulf said. "He, like myself, knows nothing as yet of his duties,

but that he will be faithful and trusty I know full well, and the

earl himself said that I did wisely to bring him with me."

"I will myself instruct him in his duties," Egbert said, "which

indeed are not hard to learn by one of willing mind. He will stand

behind you at table, will hand you your cup and take your orders.

In the old times it would have been his duty to see that you were

not struck down by a traitorous blow while you drank, but those

days are passed. When in the field he will carry your helmet till

you need to put it on; will keep close to you in the fight and guard

you with his shield from arrows, and with his sword from attacks

from behind; he will carry your banner, and see that as long as he

has strength to hold it, it floats fairly out as a rallying point

for your men. In the field indeed his duties are numerous, but at

home in peace, beyond seeing that your arms are bright and clean,

and that your orders are carried out properly, he will have but

little to do. It is well that you brought him with you, for otherwise

you would have had to choose one of the sons of your tenants, and

the choice would have been a difficult one, for each would have

desired the honour, and whichever you chose there would have been

sore jealousy among the others."

The next day there was a great gathering in the hall. The whole of

the tenants attended, and took the oath to be Wulf's men, as they

had been those of his father, to obey his orders, and to follow him

in the field with the due number of men according to the size of

their holdings; while Wulf on his part swore to protect them from

all wrong and oppression, to be a just master, calling upon them

only for such service as he was entitled to demand, and exacting

no feus or payments beyond those customary. A bullock had been

killed, and after the ceremony was over all present sat down to a

banquet at which much ale was drunk and feasting went on till

nightfall.

The next morning Wulf, accompanied by Leof and Egbert, rode round

the estate, choosing among the sons of the tenants thirty stout

young men willing to enrol themselves as house-carls, receiving a

regular rate of pay, and ready at all times to give service under

arms, and to remain in the field as long as they might be required,

whereas the general levy could only be kept under arms for a limited

time. He had already gone into the matter with Leof, who pointed

out that, as at present he had no wish to keep up any show or to

have a body of armed men in the house, it would suffice if the men

were exercised every day for a month, and after that merely practised

with sword and battle-axe for two or three hours once a week. On

these terms he had no difficulty in obtaining considerably more

than the number he asked for, and finally fifty men were enrolled.

For those carls helmets were bought and coats of ringed armour made,

and for a month they exercised daily. Of manoeuvring there was

little indeed. The Saxons and Danes alike fought in line, with but

room enough between them to swing their battle-axes. Each carried

a spear as well as an axe, and when repelling the assault of an

enemy closed up so that their shields well-nigh touched each other.

Their exercise was generally either to engage in combats between

chosen pairs, or, dividing into two parties, to fight line against

line with blunted poles for spears and with stout cudgels for axes.

Leof in these combats acted as judge, decided which side had gained

the victory, praised the skilful, and chided the careless and

sluggish. He gave lessons in the use of the sword and battle-axe

to Wulf and Osgod, sometimes pitting them against each other,

sometimes fighting himself against Wulf, and teaching Osgod how to

assist his master by covering him with his shield.

Sometimes he would order three or four of the men to shoot with

blunted arrows at Wulf, whom he taught to catch them on his shield

or to sever the shafts with a blow of his sword, while Osgod standing