by A. D. Crake
thousand men. No, their design wassimpler: they had learned where Edgar was residing, and that the forcesaround him were small. One bold stroke might secure his person, and thenEdwy might make his own terms. This was the secret of the advice theyboth gave to the young king.
Redwald had, as we shall see, deep designs of his own to serve also, butthey had been locked for years in his own breast, and no servant couldseem more trusty and faithful than he did, or act with more energy inhis master's cause.
The forces of Edwy, as we have related, left St. Alban's on the secondmorning, and travelled, horse and foot, very rapidly all that day.
Crossing the Icknield Street at Dunstable, where the remains of a hugetemple, once sacred to Diana, were visible, they entered Mercia, andsoon reached Towcester, a town which had been walled round by KingAthelstane; here they found no force prepared to receive them, and thetown opened its gates at once.
They tarried here for a day, while they sent scouts and spies in alldirections, many of whom never returned. The troops were quarteredfreely upon the inhabitants, who were evidently very hostile; and, inreturn, the soldiers of Edwy insulted the women and bullied the men.Every hour some quarrel arose, and generally ended in bloodshed; thecitizens being commonly the victims.
Late at night messengers arrived at the royal quarters, bringinginformation that Edgar was at Alcester, the ancient Alauna, beyond theAvon, and that Osric, the great Earl of Mercia, was with him collectingtroops.
A council was held at once, and it was decided to leave the WatlingStreet and to march for the Avon by cross-country routes. They restedthat night amidst the ruins of the ancient Brinavae, and here anothercouncil was held, to deliberate on their future movements, and it wasdecided to march westward at once, for tidings came that Edgar's forceswere rapidly increasing, and prudence suggested prompt measures. Edwywas becoming very anxious.
The route for the next day was then made out and, with beating heart,Elfric learned that they purposed crossing the river not far fromAescendune.
"Elfric, my friend," said Edwy, "there will be a chance for you to visitAescendune, and to obtain the old man's forgiveness."
He said this with a slight sneer.
"I cannot go there; I would die first."
Edwy started at the tone of deep feeling with which the words were said;he knew nothing of the rencontre of Elfric with his brother.
"Still I think that I must spend this coming night there, and I will tryand act the Christian for the occasion: perhaps I may do you a goodturn, while I renew my acquaintance with your people."
In his very heart Elfric wished that Edwy might never arrive there, yethe knew not what to say.
"Well," said the prince, observing his hesitation, "you may go on withCynewulf and the main body of the army, which will cross the Avon higherup, and I will make excuse that your duties detain you. I must go--Ihave special reasons, I wish at least to secure the fidelity of the few--and Redwald will accompany me; we join the army on the morrow,without losing any time by the move."
And so the matter was settled.
CHAPTER XV. THE ROYAL GUEST.
It was the morning of the first of August, and the sun, dispersing theearly mists, gave promise of a bright summer day.
The inhabitants of Aescendune, lord and vassals alike, were astir fromthe early daybreak; for that day the harvest was to be commenced, andthe crops were heavier than had been known for many a year. A goodharvest meant peace and prosperity in those times, a bad harvest famine,and perhaps rebellion; for if the home crop failed, commerce did not, asnow, supply the deficiency.
So it was with joy and gladness that the people went forth that day toreap with their sharp sickles in their hands, while the freshness of theearly morn filled each heart insensibly with energy and life. The cornfell on the upland before their sharp strokes, while behind each reaperthe younger labourers gathered it into sheaves.
Old Ella stood in their midst looking on the familiar scene, while hispious heart returned many a fervent thanksgiving to the Giver of allgood. Under the shade of some spreading beeches, which bordered thefield, the domestics from the manor house were spreading the banquet forthe reapers--mead and ale, corn puddings prepared in various modeswith milk, huge joints of cold roast beef--for the hour when toilshould have sharpened the appetite of the whole party.
By the side of his father stood young Alfred administering with filialaffection to all his wants, as if he felt constrained to supply a doubleservice in his own person now that Elfric was no more, or, at least,dead to home ties.
Thicker and thicker fell the wheat, and they thought surely such heavysheaves had never fallen to their lot before.
At last the blowing of a horn summoned all the reapers to their dinner,and when Father Cuthbert had said grace, the whole party fell to--thethane at the head of them; and when the desire of eating and drinkingwas appeased, the labourers lay on the grass, in the cool shade, to passaway the hour of noontide heat, before resuming their toil.
"Father," said Alfred, "a horseman is coming."
"My old eyes are somewhat dim; I do not see any one approaching."
"Nor I, as yet, but I hear him; listen, he is just crossing the brook; Ican hear the splashing."
"Some royal messenger, perhaps, from Edgar or from Edwy, my son. I fearsuch may be the case; yet I wish I could be left in peace, afar from thestrife which must convulse the land, if the ill-advised brothers cannotagree to reign--the one over Mercia, the other over Wessex."
"We have repeatedly said that we should be quite neutral, father."
"And yet, my son, we offend both parties, and, I fear me, we shall beforced to defend ourselves in the end. But God is our refuge andstrength, a very present help in trouble. And now that I am old I canlean more and more upon Him. He will be a father to you, my Alfred, whenthese hoary hairs are hidden in the grave."
It was seldom that the old thane expressed his devotion in this strain;it seemed to Alfred as if there were a foreboding of coming trial in it,and he felt as when a cloud veils the face of the sun in early spring.
The messenger now came in sight--a tall, resolute looking man, wellarmed and well mounted, and evidently bound for the hall. But when hesaw the party beneath the trees he bent his course aside, and salutingthe thane with all deference, inquired if he spoke to Ella of Aescendune.
"I am he," replied Ella. "I trust you are not the bearer of other thangood tidings; but will you first refresh yourself, since it is illtalking between the full and the fasting?"
"With gladness do I accept your bounty; for I have ridden since earlydawn, and rider and horse are both exhausted."
"There is corn for your horse, and food and wine for his master.
"Uhred, take charge of the steed.
"Alfred, my son, place that best joint of beef before the stranger, andthose wheaten cakes.
"I drink to you, fair sir."
The messenger seemed in no hurry to open his tale until he had eaten anddrunk, and it was with the greatest patience that the thane, who was oneof nature's gentlemen, awaited his leisure.
At length the messenger looked up, and pushed his wooden platter aside.
"I have come to be the bearer of good tidings to you, noble thane. Edwy,your king, with a small troop of horse, his royal retinue, proposeshonouring your roof with his presence, and asks bed and board of hisloyal subject, Ella of Aescendune."
"The king's will is my law; and since it pleases the son of my latebeloved master, King Edmund, to visit me, he shall find no lack ofhospitality. But may I ask what sudden event has brought him into theheart of our country?"
"He comes to chastise rebellion. A large force of several thousand mencrosses the river a few miles higher this evening, and, not to incommodeyou with numbers, King Edwy comes apart from his followers."
Although he foresaw grave inconvenience, and even danger, in theproposal, yet Ella could not appear churlish and inhospitable;therefore, learning from the messenger that the king might be expectedbefore
sunset, he returned home to make such preparations as shouldsuggest themselves for the entertainment of his royal master, for so hestill would have styled Edwy, deeply as he felt he had been wronged by him.
"Father," said Alfred, as he walked homeward by his side, "think youElfric will be in his train? I wish he may be."
"Alas, my son! I fear I shall never see poor Elfric again. My mindalways seems to misgive me when I think of him; and I have so strong aforeboding that he has received my last blessing, that I cannot overcomeit. No, Alfred, I fear we shall not see Elfric tonight."
No more was said upon the subject; they reached the hall in good time,and startled the lady Edith by their tidings.
Instantly all was in preparation: the best casks of wine were broached,fowls and wild birds alike had cause to lament that their lives wereshortened, chamberlain and cook were busy, clean rushes were brought into adorn the
