CHAPTER III.
TRAITORS IN COUNCIL.
"Treason doth never prosper. What's the reason? Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason."
_Epigram._
We pass over the details of the sturdy struggle and victory over theDanes at Battle-bridge, and the disastrous defeat of Hastings, exceptjust to note that the young chieftain Oswald left his father dead on thebattle-field. The next three years were ones of immunity from therapacity of the Normans, so far as we were concerned, for they neverventured so far north. But in the year 1069, whilst William was absentin Normandy, there was a powerful conspiracy entered into for thepurpose of wresting the kingdom from him. The Danes landed in theHumber. The Saxons rallied throughout the North. York was taken, and itsgarrison of three thousand Normans put to the sword.
Immediately after the wonderful successes which attended theinsurrectionary movement, the leaders of the rebellion hastily calledtogether at York what was known as a "Thing," or council. All theleaders of note were summoned. A somewhat motley company they were,their aims being far from identical, and the elements of disruption anddisunion were on the surface. All of them were excessively elated andflushed with the complete and wonderful victories achieved--I am sorryto say, also, very much demoralised by them. The Danish leaders inparticular were so, for they had taken much spoil, plundering friend orfoe pretty much as they listed--plunder being, in fact, their solereason for taking part in the movement. Very conspicuous, both by theirdress and demeanour, were these Danish leaders. They were deeply bronzedand hardy-looking, rough and fierce as warrior seamen who had been wontall their lives to do battle with foes on land, and often with thefiercer and still more deadly foe of old ocean. They carried daggers attheir belts, and heavy swords dangled by their sides. The youngchieftain Oswald, whom we have already introduced to the readers, wasthere. The few years of stress and struggle since last we met him hadhad a marked effect upon him. He had stood by Harold's side at StanfordBridge, and marched with him to Hastings, and stood in the forefront ofthat historic "wedge" of sturdy Saxons, who defied the utmost efforts ofWilliam's horse and foot to dislodge them. The playfulness of youth hadgiven place to the stern thoughtfulness of manhood; whilst the tallfigure had broadened in sturdy proportions. He was of commandingpresence, young, handsome, and daring, yet wise as any elder, knownintimately by me, and a very great favourite with me also, anddestined to figure prominently in these records. By his side,as a near neighbour, as well as a compatriot, sat the young ThaneBeowulf--aforementioned--of another lineage, but still identified withthe Saxon cause, being native born, though by his father's side adescendant of the Danes who settled in the north of England threegenerations earlier. Other leaders also there were, of whom it is notnecessary to speak, as they occupy no further place in these pages.
At the appointed hour Waltheof, the leader of the Saxon forces, entered.He was a man gifted by nature with the physical proportions whichattract attention. But there was a hesitancy, irresolution, and lack offorce depicted in his countenance, and a wariness and suspicion abouthis small, shrinking grey eyes, that were the reverse of reassuring.Accompanying Waltheof was a Norman knight at whose appearance manysprang to their feet in amazement. Seeing which, Waltheof introduced theNorman to the company.
"Worthy thanes and nobles," said he, "this gallant Norman is BaronVigneau, one of William's bravest knights, who has been assigned somelands bordering on the Fen country, and had tacked on to the beggarlygift, the duty of defending that coast against our allies the Danes, aswell as to assist in keeping in check our brave countryman Hereward. Aweighty charge, I warrant, for such a beggar's dole of barren acres.This gallant knight comes as emissary of a still more famous Norman, theCount de Montfort, whose lance wrought such havoc in our ranks atHastings. Count de Montfort has good and weighty reasons against theking, or his councillors, for the base ingratitude with which hisservices have been rewarded; and he offers to join hands with us, andwill lead into the field seventeen knights, fully equipped andaccoutred, together with three hundred of foot; all of them men-at-arms,trained and stout. This worthy knight, Baron Vigneau, of whose prowessalso I have ample proof, is bearer of letters--which I have carefullyexamined--from the Count de Montfort, duly signed and sealed, andbearing ample evidence of good faith. Under the circumstances, I havetaken the liberty to introduce this worthy knight to our council."
This speech was received by many in blank astonishment, and there wasloud and angry murmuring amongst the company, but no one seemed willingto voice the discontent. Oswald, however, sprang to his feet and said,"Noble sir, no doubt the credentials presented by this Norman knight aresuch as meet with your approval, but I would respectfully urge that noone should sit at our Council who has not attested his fidelity to ourcause by services rendered in the field of battle; for when this is thecase we have pledges which cannot be shaken off at pleasure."
"A plague on your impudence, boy! You are too ready of the tongue! Letthe elders speak if they have any objections to make!--but I am not inthe habit of having my conduct called in question by a mere youth; andwhat is sufficient for me must be sufficient for such as you, andwithout cavil. What say our Danish allies? No objection, I see. Then letus proceed to business." So saying, he took his place at the head of theboard, and the bulky Norman slid into a back seat.
The question to deliberate upon was how to prosecute the war soauspiciously begun. The Council, however, proceeded to discuss thequestion in a very unpromising fashion, the discussion beingcharacterised by a good deal of blatant braggadocio, and accompanied bya very free use of the wine-cup.
The chief of the Danes reared aloft his stalwart form and said,--
"My lord, we Danes are wanting to know when we are to make a move south?We have wasted four good days in drivel and talk, when we should havebeen making good our vantage. We might by this time have sackedShepfield, Leacaster, and Birmingam, where they tell me thegold-smiths', armourers', and weavers' crafts are flourishing, andwhere, to boot, the Normans have built themselves many pretty houseplaces full of dainty stuff. All of which we might have pouched whilstthis dog's whelp is abroad!"
"Worthy thane," replied Waltheof, "we are waiting for Malcolm ofScotland and the young Prince Atheling, for we expect the Saxons of thesouth will rally to the standard of the Prince. We also have to rememberthat the Normans are more thickly posted farther south, and we musttherefore have all our forces up."
"Tut, tut! Cowardice is at the bottom of it all, as I thought. But whatcare we for the Norman dogs? and what care we for a baby prince whocannot be brought to the fray? We want the spoils, and there is none tobe had cowering here like a fox in his hole. If we are not to move southat once, why then we take the tide the morn's even, and leave you toface the bear when he comes to his lair as best you can."
At this juncture the attention of every member of the council wassuddenly arrested by the advent of a messenger who suddenly burst intothe room, with the perspiration pouring off him by reason of the hothaste with which he had ridden.
"How now, fellow! what news hast thou which calls for such haste?" saidWaltheof.
"My lords," exclaimed the messenger, "I have ridden all speed to makeknown unto you that the Norman is back again in England, and that he israpidly marching northwards at the head of an army; he being not morethan two days' march to the south."
If a thunderbolt had dashed into the room instead of this messenger, theeffect could not have been greater. Waltheof turned pale as death, andpeered nervously about the room, as though he expected to be instantlyconfronted by the dreaded presence of the king. Several also rose fromtheir seats and promptly slid out of the room in dismay at the tidings.The Danish rovers were not slow to note this arrant cowardice, and oneof them immediately jumped to his feet in fierce exasperation at thisconduct, and sneeringly shouted, "Ha, ha! the Saxon caitiffs areslinking off at the mention of this dog of a Norman! Never mind, let thecowards go. I pledge me a health to the Danish warriors, who will dar
eto fight the cowardly Saxons' battle for them; but we'll see to't thatthe Danish war-ships shall bear away the spoil," and as he spoke hegulped down a huge draught of wine.
"Excuse me, worthy thane," said Oswald, the young Saxon chieftain,starting to his feet at these taunts; "let me tell you the Saxons havetheir virtues, and valour too, not one whit behind that of yourcountrymen."
"Whew! Virtues say you?" bawled the quarrelsome and half-drunken Dane."Aye, marry! Saxons can preach you a homily with any shaveling priest inthe land, or simper as chastely as any wench. Virtues! Ha, ha! Ho, ho!_Maugre!_ Virtues by the bushel, I warrant you, sirs. Marry, anything,in fact, but fight. Ha, ha! Virtues! Thou hast well said it, and aptlytoo, young suckling! If I were a Saxon I'd don my mother's petticoats."
"Hear me, thane," retorted Oswald, repressing with great difficulty therising choler. "You are our ally, and that shall be some excuse for yourunseemly mouthing; but hark you to this for a moment. Your memory doesnot seem quite long enough to remember Battle-bridge and the preciousfigure cut by your countrymen on that occasion against the Saxon; andyet it is not more than four years agone. Hark you to this also, friend;I warrant you will find, ere this war be done, that Saxons can fight asbravely as any Dane that ever wielded sword."
But the Dane persisted in his irritating and quarrelsome jesting."Saxons fight?" he bawled, "Why, come, that is a joke, anyhow! I say,young Milkfed, tell me, if you can, what of this? How comes it to passthat either Norman or Dane, or even the tricky Scot, come when they listto crow on the Saxons' dunghill? How comes it also, my valiant Saxoncub, that you should ask us to come and help you fight this dog of aNorman? Read me that riddle, can you, boy? You besought us to come andhelp you, and here we are. I wish you joy of it. You'll be well rid whenwe go; for if we get not Norman booty, I warrant we will have Saxon, ifwe skin every Saxon churl in the island for it. What think you to that,young Sixfoot, eh?"
The altercation seemed likely to develop into a serious quarrel, but atthis juncture a Danish messenger crept slily into the room, and, nudginghis leader's elbow, whispered something in his ear, at which he jumpedto his feet and turned to his comrade, and between them a brief andexcited conversation was carried on in an undertone; the result beingthat immediately the pair hurriedly withdrew from the room. Oswald, whohad been watching these Danes with a suspicious eye, immediately turnedto the leader, Waltheof; but he beheld with astonishment that theleader's chair was empty; Waltheof, amid the clamour of voices, havingnoiselessly slipped out of the room.
"Ah, ah! what now?" he ejaculated, leaping to his feet and dragging hiscomrade Beowulf to the door. "There is something ominous in all this,Beowulf. It bodes no good to the Saxon cause, mark me."
"What is it, think you, Oswald, that breeds this fear and distrust inthe breasts of our leaders?"
"I know not, Beowulf, but, by the rood! I cannot believe that the meremention of the Norman's name breeds this cowardice and panic in thebreasts of our leaders. 'Tis not fear that has overtaken these Danes,mark me, but something more potent. They are at best but hirelings, andare as treacherous as the foul fiend. They will not scruple to betray usfor a paltry bribe if it be offered; and this Norman is astute enough toknow that they have their price."
"That is not the extent of the mischief, Oswald. I marked this Waltheofclosely, and I like not his looks at all. The coward's blood forsook hischeek instantly at the mention of the Norman's name. I warrant him acoward and traitor at heart, or I know not a coward when I see him."
"What is to be done, Beowulf!"
"We must stand to it like men. We know our duty, and to turn tail like awhipped hound ere we have seen this Norman's face would be worse thancowardice."
"Then we must place ourselves at the head of our men forthwith; for ifany idle rumours reach their ears, I would not answer for it. Indeed, ifWilliam be within striking distance we must bestir ourselves, for if hefind us unprepared, he knows well how to push his vantage against anunready foe."
Thus this ill-starred Council came to an end, and it left the Saxons asa rope of sand, without cohesion, without any definite plan of attack orof defence--a ready prey for a wily and daring commander. In bitterdejection, and with forebodings of impending disaster, one by one themembers passed out, each one to pursue his own course.
When the Saxon members of the Council had one and all left the room,then uprose the bulky and sinister-looking figure of the Normanemissary, from a seat in a shaded corner, where, unobserved, he had beenquietly taking note of the wretched divisions of the Saxon Council. Ashe came forward he burst into a hoarse and derisive laugh, andexclaimed, "Here's a go anyhow--ha, ha! A precious revolt it is! A manwould be an ass to pin his fortunes to a quarrelsome rabble like this.Why, I warrant me they would cut one another's throats at a word! Andthen how the bubble burst up at the mere mention of the Conqueror'sname! But where are my precious letters?" said he, fumbling in hisdoublet for something, and eventually pulling out a packet carefullyfolded with a silken band, and sealed in several places by a huge sealwith the crest and quarterings of the famous Count De Montfort. "Ha, ha,my precious!" said he, turning the missive over and eyeing it withsavage delight. "I'm glad I kept possession of you. You are a treasure!I'll not part with you yet awhile," and he carefully thrust the letterback again within his doublet. "Ha, ha!" said he, scowling demoniacally,"De Montfort will finger that missive no more until he makes good hisbargain with me. I'll have his proud daughter as the price of this, orwe'll see what will come to pass. I have my own belt to buckle as wellas De Montfort; and I'll do it now after my own humour. I'll no longerdangle like a moonstruck suitor at my lady's skirts, and wag my taillike any spaniel if I should chance to get a word or a smile. I havebeen meek and humble long enough; but now Vigneau shall be first, for Ihave got him! Trapped, by ----! He thought he would play the traitor,did he? fool and dolt that he is! One would have thought him wiser thanto do his treason second-hand. He makes pretence of wisdom, but he actsthe fool at times as roundly as any clown. But I'll no more of thisanyhow. I do believe the Saxon clowns have scurried off to their holeslike a parcel of rats already. I must be off too, for if the _tanner's_son should catch me at my present business, it will go bad with my hideI'm feared; and I should like to keep my skin whole a little longer,come what may. Ho, ho!" said he, bursting again into hoarse laughter. "Iwonder what Odo or Fitz-Osborne would give to know of this little freakof De Montfort's! The wily Odo has ousted him from William's councilsalready, and if he had possession of this"--thumping his chest where themissive lay--"he'd have De Montfort's head in a trice. Enough! that willdo for me." So saying, he vanished from the hall.
Meanwhile, the second messenger, at whose communication the Danishsea-rovers had vanished from the Council, proved to be an emissary ofthe wily Conqueror--his purpose being to negotiate with the Danes, andwith Waltheof, conditions on which they would retire from the fray.Scarcely were they outside than he said to these Danes,--
"My master offers to you five hundred ounces of beaten gold, and a freepassage for your vessels, together with such plunder as you can wrestfrom the Saxons."
"Five hundred ounces of gold is a sorry price for a wealthy king likeyour master to offer for such a service," said one of the Danes. "Butcome now, if your master will make it one thousand ounces, to bedelivered over by sunset to-morrow; together with our plunder, and suchas we can further gather; why then, within twenty-four hours our vesselsshall be ploughing the northern seas for home."
"Done!" said the messenger. "My hand on it. The gold shall be deliveredover to you by sunset to-morrow, as you say."
No sooner was this bargain made than the spy turned his attention toWaltheof, a man treacherous by instinct, and cowardly by nature. It isscarcely necessary to say, he grasped only too eagerly at the promisedfree pardon, coupled as it was with large grants of land and estates.With the Saxon forces thus weakened and demoralised, William knew theremnant of this powerful conspiracy would be crushed with the utmostease by him.