Edwy the Fair or the First Chronicle of Aescendune

by A. D. Crake

foundation of the prioryhard by?"

  "It is of recent date, my father built it."

  "Strange, for generally these old places are reared up by repentantsinners, mourning over the sins they have committed, or the day of gracethey have cast away; is there no tale attached to your foundation?"

  "Alas! there is; but it is one whose stain is all too recent, one wecannot recount, or suffer gleeman's harp to set to music, lest we harrowthe yet bleeding wound."

  Redwald could not ask more; the answer was too plain and distinct, andso he was forced to repress his curiosity.

  The conversation then became desultory and, finally, when the gleemenbegan the well known _piece de resistance_, the battle of Brunanburgh,Edwy yawned and Redwald looked sleepy, while the old thane actuallyslept in his huge armchair, and was awakened only by the cessation ofthe music and singing.

  Even in the presence of royalty itself Ella did not suffer the companyto disperse before the chaplain had said the customary compline service,after which the guard was doubled at the door, and soon the wholehousehold was buried in sweet and peaceful sleep.

  Yet, although they knew it not, they nourished the deadliest foe oftheir race in the bosom of the family. There was one at least who couldnot sleep that night who now paced his narrow chamber, now looked forthat the meadows, woods, and hills, sleeping in the summer twilight; now,unchecked, burst into the wildest excitement, and paced his chamber as awild beast might pace the floor of his cage; now calmed down into asarcastic smile.

  "Yes!" he said in soliloquy, "and here I am at last; here in the hallswhich should have been his and mine, and shall be mine yet; here! andthey know it not; here! and the reward of years of patient endurance isat hand; here! yes, here, in the halls of Aescendune--dreamed of,sighed after, prayed for at the shrine of such gods as promisevengeance; here, by Woden and Thor; here by Satan's help, if there be aSatan!--here! here! here!"

  CHAPTER XVI. NAKED THOUGH LOCKED IN STEEL.

  Early in the morning the whole household was astir, and the breakfastalone preceded the preparations for the departure of Edwy and hisretinue. Redwald did not appear, and they became uneasy at his prolongedabsence, until, sending to his room, they found him suffering fromsudden, but severe illness; which, as the leech shortly decided, wouldabsolutely prevent his travelling that day.

  It was evident that Edwy was annoyed by this, but it was not until aftera long conference with Redwald that he took Ella aside, and pointing outto him the exposed position of the hall, besought his permission toleave a garrison of fifty men under the command of this trusty officer,which would ensure their safety, in case of any sudden attack on thepart of Edgar's troops.

  "I can hardly feel that I need such protection, my royal master,"replied Ella; "I dwell among my own people, and am perhaps safer whenquite unprotected."

  "In that case, may I press my own poor claims?" replied the king. "Incase of the worst, I should have Aescendune to fall back upon, a retreatsecured by chosen men behind me, where one might halt and turn to bay;again, Redwald's sudden illness necessitates my leaving him to yourhospitality."

  Thus pressed on every side, Ella felt he could but yield to a requestwhich the speaker had not only the power but the right, as his feudalsuperior, to enforce; for Ella was not prepared to throw off hisallegiance, as most of his neighbours had done, and to make common causewith Edgar. Again, the conversation of the previous night had given himmore confidence in Edwy, and more hope of seeing Elfric again, like thereturning prodigal, than he had previously had.

  Edwy saw this, and continued:

  "And it is but a few days hence, ere I propose to return with Elfric--whom I could indeed put in command of such forces as are necessary tosecure you against our mutual foes, when I return southward. Redwald andhis troops will hold the place in trust for Elfric, till he arrives."

  The last lingering feeling of reluctance was now forcibly banished, andElla consented to receive Redwald as his guest, with a picked troop offifty men.

  "They shall be the best behaved warriors you have ever seen, my ownhus-carles--men who go to mass every morning, and shrift every week,"added the deceitful prince; "at least," he added, as he saw the look ofincredulity Ella could not suppress, "some of them do, I can't say howmany."

  In the course of an hour from this conversation, the royal party tookits departure, reduced to half its numbers.

  Edwy left amidst the regret of all, so amiable had been his manners, sowinning his ways.

  "I take a son's liberty," said he, as he saluted the venerable cheek ofthe lady Edith; "but I will bring your other son back with me in a fewdays."

  The road leading over the hill and through the forest had swallowed upthe retreating force, when Ella personally superintended thedistribution of quarters to the guard of Redwald, many of whomafterwards volunteered to follow him to the harvest field, and displayeduncommon alacrity in carrying the wheat safely to its granaries, sayingthe rebels should never have the reaping thereof.

  There was, however, a kind of gloom over the whole party through thatday. The thought that deadly strife impended close at hand weighed uponthe spirits of Ella, but they brightened again at the renewed hope ofmeeting his prodigal, and he now hoped repentant, son in peace.

  Meanwhile, very different scenes were on the point of being enacted onlytwice ten miles from the spot.

  The main body of the army left its quarters on the right bank of theAvon, at the same hour in which Edwy left Aescendune to join them ontheir march and they proceeded in safety all through the morning. Atmidday they lay down to feed and to rest, and while thus resigningthemselves to repose, with the guards posted carefully around, the soundof cavalry was heard in the distance, and shortly the royal partyappeared. Elfric was alert to receive them, but could not conceal hissurprise when he saw their diminished numbers, and perceived the absenceof Redwald.

  Edwy saw his look of embarrassment, and hastened to reply to thequestion it conveyed.

  "They are left at Aescendune, fifty under the command of Redwald, tofortify the house until we return. You must go home this time, and youneed not fear, for I have been a very saint at Aescendune, and they areexpecting Dunstan will speedily return and canonise me. Elfric, I haveused my sanctity for your advantage, since I have represented you assharing it at least in some degree."

  "I fear me, my father is too wise to be so easily deceived."

  "Nothing of the kind; he really seemed to believe in it; at all events,I have promised you shall return with me."

  "Did they really seem to wish to see me?"

  "They did really, especially your brother Alfred."

  Elfric started as if an arrow had struck him.

  "Alfred. Alfred!" he said.

  "Yes, why not Alfred?"

  "And you saw him alive and well?"

  "To be sure, why not? Did you think he was dead."

  Elfric became confused, and muttered some incoherent answer, but herejoiced in his very heart; he felt as if a mountain were removed fromhim, and a sweet longing for home, such as he had not felt since acertain Good Friday, sprang up in his mind, so strongly that he wouldhave gone then and there, had circumstances permitted.

  Alas, poor boy! his wish was not thus easily to be gratified: he hadsinned very deeply--his penance had yet to be accomplished; well hasthe poet written:

  "_Facilis descensus Averno . . . . Sed retrograre gradum,superasque evadere ad auras, Hoc opus--hic labor est._" [xxvii]

  The midday halt concluded, the troops resumed their march for Alcester,where they hoped to arrive about nightfall, and to surprise Edgar andhis few followers. All that afternoon they proceeded through a densewoodland country; and the evening was setting in upon them, whensuddenly the scouts in front came galloping back, and gave the startlinginformation that entrenchments were thrown up across their path, andthat a large force was evidently entrenched behind.

  At first Edwy could scarcely believe the report; but Cynewulf, theexperienced commander upon whom, as we have sai
d, the real command ofthe force devolved, rode forward, and soon returned, having previouslyordered a general halt, and that entrenchments should be thrown up fortheir own protection during the night.

  "Ealdorman," said Edwy, impatiently, "why throw up entrenchments? can wenot carry theirs by storm? we are all ready, are we not, for a valiantcharge?"

  "Nay, my lord, we are but ill prepared," was the reply, "for suchdesperate measures. I am not certain they do not outnumber us; even so,we probably excel them in discipline and skill, and have every chance ofvictory tomorrow, which we should lose by fighting in the dark."

  So Edwy, who did not lack personal courage, and would gladly have endedthe short raid then and there, was forced to be governed by wiser heads,and accordingly the bivouacs were made, the fires lighted, and the royaltent pitched upon the slope of a gentle