Wulf the Saxon: A Story of the Norman Conquest

by G. A. Henty

  CHAPTER XVII.

  AN ATTEMPT AT ASSASSINATION.

  When Wulf met the armourer next morning in the cathedral close he wasaccompanied by Beorn, who said, laughing, to the latter, "You have beatenme fairly, friend Ulred, and it is well that I had no wager with you on therace. But it was not by much, for I rode in here as the bells were chimingeleven. I was glad to hear from Wulf when I roused him up that he hadlearnt all the news from you, for indeed I was sore weary, and was rightpleased to wrap myself in my cloak and go straight to sleep instead ofhaving to sit up for an hour expounding my story."

  "We have resolved in the first place, Ulred, to say nought of this matterto the king," began Wulf. "He will have enough to occupy all his thoughtsin the affairs of the kingdom, and in the second place his nature is soopen that he will refuse to believe in such villainy unless upon strongproof, and of actual proof we have none. Beorn's appearance here willexcite no surprise. He will say that having nought in particular to occupyhim he had ridden north to be at the wedding, and finding that he was toolate, would at any rate ride back with the king. With him and me and Osgodever on the watch, methinks there will be little fear of a surprise; and itis by surprise only that they can succeed, for Harold himself is a matchfor any four or five ordinary men if he has but time to draw his sword. Iwill, however, on some excuse have half a score of Harold's housecarlsplaced under my orders, and sleeping or waking the king shall never be amoment unguarded.

  "I should not think it is likely that Fitz-Urse will have more than five orsix men associated with him in such an enterprise. He would not take moreinto his confidence than he could help, and six would suffice as well as ascore for a surprise; and that number could travel in disguise withoutexciting attention, while twenty would assuredly do so; therefore I feelsure that we shall not have to deal with more than six, including the twoleaders. Ulf, do you station yourself at the river-bank and mark anyvessels arriving. If the men come hither they will probably do as you did,leave their ship at Hull and come up by a local trader. They would thusavoid all questions they might be asked if passing through the country onfoot."

  "And what is there for me to do, my lord Wulf?" the armourer said."Frankly, I have gone so far in this matter that I would fain see itthrough."

  "Of course we reckon upon you, Ulred. I have been talking it over withBeorn, and it seemed to us that the best thing will be for you to ride withOsgod. You can either make some slight change in your clothes and ride as aman of mine, or you can ride as Osgod's father, who, having come up here onmatters connected with your business, have obtained permission to ride inmy train with him. I will see that you have that permission."

  "I care not how I go so that I can be at hand if there is a blow to bestruck for the king."

  "Then in that case, Ulred, it were best you went as my man, for you wouldthen have the entry of the houses where the king will stop and can aid usin keeping guard."

  "That will do well for me," Ulred replied. "Ulf had best journey back as hecame. He might go by ship after the king has left here."

  "No, he shall travel with us. I will see the chamberlain who has charge ofthe arrangements of the journey, and will get leave for him to ride in thewaggons with the servants."

  During the three days before the king left York Ulf kept a vigilant watchover the boats that came up the river, but he could see nothing of the menhe was searching for. Wulf had bought a horse for the armourer, and whenthey started the latter took his place by Osgod's side, while Ulf wasseated in one of the waggons. The king rode with Bishop Wulfstan, next tothem rode the four thanes who had accompanied them through their journey,and next to these Wulf and Beorn came on together. Behind came the queen'slitter, with a guard of housecarls, the main body of whom rode just behind,while the waggons and servants brought up the rear.

  "We need not trouble ourselves on the march, Beorn. It is not while theking rides with so strong a following that the blow will be struck."

  "I see not when they can ever get a chance," Beorn said. "The king willstop always at religious houses, and they will scarcely storm a convent toget at him."

  "They would not attempt to storm it, Beorn, but they might enter itsecretly. But for my own part I think the most dangerous time is when hemounts or dismounts. There is always a crowd assembled to see him, and twoor three reckless men might rush forward and stab him."

  "It would be at the cost of their own lives," Beorn objected.

  "It might be, but they would reckon much on the confusion that wouldfollow, and might think so to get away. They would probably have horsessomewhere close at hand, and might ride for the port where they had lefttheir ship. It is a great stake they are playing for, and doubtless theyare desperate men; though they would know the danger they might calculatethat some at least would escape to claim the reward. Then again, theymight manage to mingle with the servitors at one of the places where westop. This would not be difficult, for many beside the usual establishmentwould be hired to aid in the preparations for the reception of the king.That might be their safest plan, for were he stabbed suddenly at a meal theassassins might very well escape in the confusion."

  The first night they slept at a monastery at the village of Bautre. Theestablishment was but a small one, and could entertain only the king andqueen, with the thanes and their personal attendants. The rest of the trainwere lodged in the village. Although they had little fear that an attackwould be ventured in so quiet a village where the presence of strangerswould at once attract attention, Wulf, Beorn, and Osgod kept watch in turnsall night in the corridor. The night passed without cause of alarm, and thenext day they rode to Nottingham, where they were lodged in the bishop'spalace. Beorn and Wulf agreed that this was the place where there was thegreatest likelihood of an attack being made on Harold's life. The shipmight have sailed up the river and landed her passengers a few miles fromthe town, where, among the number of country people who would flock in toobtain sight of the king, no one would think of questioning strangers. Thearmourer and Ulf were charged to wander about the streets, and to closelyscan every face. Wulf had with some difficulty obtained from Harold thecommand of twelve of the soldiers.

  "I have my reasons, my lord king, though I would rather not state them. Iwould remind you that I have shown that it is not my habit to take alarmlightly. Your brother Gurth laughed at me when I begged to watch over hiscamp with my housecarls, and I saved him from a sudden attack by the Welshthereby."

  "Then you think that there is danger of an attack upon me, Wulf?"

  "I said not so, my lord. I have only begged you to appoint twelve of yourmen to obey my orders solely, during your journey to London."

  "You shall do as you like, Wulf," the king said at last. "You have provedyourself brave as well as prudent before now, and are not given to vainfears, therefore do as you please, but let me know nought about it. I shallhave to receive the visits of all the thanes of the neighbourhood when Ireach Nottingham, and the same in other towns. There will be many personscoming in with petitions for the redress of grievances, and I would nothave my thoughts disturbed by other matters."

  "You shall know nought about it, my lord," Wulf said. "It is like enoughthat nothing will come of the matter, and none will be more glad thanmyself to find that I am mistaken."

  Orders accordingly had been given to the officer of the king's guard tohand over twelve of his men to Wulf, and the latter had begged him tochoose twelve of his most intelligent men for this service. As soon as theyreached Nottingham Wulf took his small command aside.

  "You have been chosen," he said, "for a special duty. I have learned thatthere are disaffected men who may possibly make an attempt on the king'slife. You are to say no word of what I tell you to anyone. Meet me over bythat wall half an hour after sunset. Gather quietly one by one so as toattract no attention. You will be posted round the palace, to keep watchand ward during the night. As soon as it is daylight half of you will liedown and sleep till mid-day, and then be in readiness for fresh duty. Theother
s I will instruct as to where to hold themselves. The king will remainhere two days, and watch must be kept over his safety night and day."

  As soon as their apartments were assigned to the different guests Wulf wentoutside and examined the windows of the rooms to be occupied by the king.They were on the first floor, and looked into a garden surrounded by a highwall.

  "At any rate, there is little fear of a successful surprise from thisside," Wulf said to Beorn, who was with him. "It would need a ladder toscale the wall; this would have to be pulled up for them to descend intothe garden, and then carried across to mount to the window. If we postUlred with two men here and let four others lie down near to change guardevery two hours, it will be ample, for on an alarm being given, the Normanshowever numerous will see that their attempt must fail. We can thereforesend the other six to bed after supper is over, for we cannot suppose thatthey would be so daring as to force their way into the palace at any otherpoint."

  As soon as it was dark Ulred and six of the soldiers were placed in thegarden; the others were directed to hold themselves in readiness to taketheir post in the banqueting-hall. Just before the bell sounded for supperWulf was told that a boy desired to speak to him at the gate. He hurriedout, and, as he expected, saw Ulf waiting there.

  "What news, Ulf,--hast seen Walter Fitz-Urse?"

  "I have not seen him, my lord, but I am sure that I heard him speak. Therewas a great crowd in the square after the king had entered, and among thoseround me I heard one man speak to another in a foreign tongue, and thevoice was assuredly that of Walter Fitz-Urse. It was but two or three wordshe said, but having listened to him for well-nigh half an hour that nightby the river, I am certain I was not mistaken in the voice. Close beside mewere two cowled monks, and I believe that it was one of them who spoke. Ilooked round at the faces of the other men standing near, but they allseemed honest countrymen or town folk. I should have followed the monks tosee where they went, but at that moment there was a rush among the crowd tosee some mummers who had just commenced their antics, and I was swept alongby it; and though I have been searching ever since, and have so stared upinto the cowls of monks, that I have been cursed as an insolent boy manytimes, I have not seen our man."

  "Thanks, Ulf. It is something to have learned that he is here. As to hisdisguise, he may by this time have changed it. Still, I will be on myguard, and will take care that no cowled monk approaches too closely to theking. Take your place here at the gate and watch all who come in and out,and if you see aught suspicious send in a soldier, whom I will place byyour side, to fetch me out."

  One of the men was accordingly placed with the boy with orders to come toWulf, whether at the table or in the king's room, the moment Ulf told himto do so. When the others went into the banquet Wulf posted two men justoutside the door, and placed the other three back against the wall nearestto the king's chair. Here, standing against the arras, they were concealedfrom the sight of the guests by the crowd of servitors passing to and fro.

  "Stand with your hands on your daggers," Wulf said to them, "and watchevery man who approaches the king, no matter of what degree he may appear.Be ready to spring forward in an instant if you see his hand go to hisdagger."

  The bishop and king sat next to each other in the centre of the table onthe dais; on either side were the king's thanes, abbots and otherdignitaries of the church, and the nobles of the country. Wulf and Beornhad begged to be excused from supping, and permission had been readilygranted by the king, as he knew that the bishop would be glad at having twoextra seats at his disposal; and they also, standing back by the wall,closely scrutinized the movements of the attendants. It was a relief tothem when supper was over and the bishop and his principal guests retiredto a private room. The five soldiers were then told that they would not berequired until morning.

  Wulf went out to the gate, and learnt from Ulf that he had seen no oneenter whom he took for Fitz-Urse.

  "He may have gone in by some other entrance, my lord," he said, "for thereare three or four ways into the palace."

  "We shall be on watch inside, Ulf. You need stay no longer. Be here in themorning at seven."

  After the king and queen had retired to bed and the palace was quiet Wulf,Beorn, and Osgod stole from their room, and noiselessly passed along thecorridors until they came to the king's apartment, and then lay down acrossthe door. They were to keep watch in turns, Osgod being told to keep thefirst watch and to rouse Wulf at midnight. This he did, and Wulf lay forsome time listening intently. The corridor was faintly lit by two lamps,one at either end. Wulf had chosen the middle watch, because he thoughtthat if any attempt was made it would be soon after midnight, as theassassins would wish to have many hours of darkness in which to make theirescape. He knew that Beorn was a sound sleeper, and could scarcely betrusted to keep awake from midnight until four o'clock, and that it werebest he himself watched during that time.

  Half an hour passed, and then he heard a very slight noise. A moment laterfour figures appeared at the end of the corridor. He dared not wake hiscompanions, for they might speak or move, but he grasped his sword-hilt,having drawn the blade in readiness when Osgod woke him. The men advancedstealthily, and as they approached he saw they had drawn swords in theirhands. They paused a few paces away, and in a whisper one said:

  "Here are three fellows asleep; what shall we do with them?"

  "Draw your daggers and stab them to the heart," another replied. "Each takeone, and do not bungle over it. As you strike I will open the door and rushin. Now!"

  Wulf had gathered his legs under him in readiness to spring to his feet assoon as he saw the figures, and as they swiftly advanced he leapt up with ashout and crossed swords with the man nearest to him.

  "Cut him down! Kill him! It is too late to draw back now!" one of the mencried. The others, who had recoiled a moment when Wulf sprang up, rushed athim just as he cut down the man he had first engaged.

  "Cut them down and fly!" the one who had before given orders exclaimed,lunging furiously at Wulf.

  "Easier said than done, Walter Fitz-Urse!" Wulf exclaimed, as he parried ablow and dealt one in return. It lighted on his opponent's shoulder, butthe blade shivered in his hand, for it had fallen upon mail armourconcealed under the Norman's garment.

  "It is my turn now!" Fitz-Urse exclaimed, and raised his sword to strike asweeping blow at Wulf's head, but before it could fall the latter leaptforward and caught the uplifted wrist, the impetus of the spring throwinghis opponent backwards, while Wulf fell heavily upon him, and for a momentthey rolled over and over. But Wulf was by far the most powerful, andspeedily got the upper hand. He had not noticed that his opponent, whileholding his sword in his right hand, had his dagger already drawn in hisleft. The sword had flown from Fitz-Urse's hand as he fell, and Wulf,believing him to be powerless, glanced round to see how the fray went withthe others, when the Norman stabbed him deeply in the side. Before he couldrepeat the blow Wulf snatched his own dagger from his girdle and buried itin the assassin's throat Then he raised himself on his left hand. It wasbut a matter of seconds since the fight had commenced, but it was alreadyover. Osgod had slain one man, Beorn was following a flying opponent downthe corridor, and Harold, sword in hand, had just rushed from his chamber.Wulf saw no more, but fell over insensible by the side of his adversary.

  "What is all this?" Harold shouted as he turned to Osgod, the only figurestanding, raising his sword as he spoke, for in the dim light he did notrecognize him.

  "It means, my lord, that there has been an attempt on your life. I amOsgod, Wulf's man. I fear my brave young master is killed!" and he droppedon his knees by Wulf's side. By this time doors were opening all along thecorridor, and the king's thanes and other guests, awakened by Wulf's shoutand the clashing of swords, were pouring out, armed with the first weaponthey could snatch up.

  "Bring lights!" Harold shouted. "My life has been attempted, and I fearthat the brave Thane of Steyning is killed."

  The alarm spread fast, and the palace
so lately hushed and silent was nowin an uproar, while the bishop with many other ecclesiastics, withservants, retainers, and men-at-arms, mingled with the thanes.

  "Keep all back!" Harold cried. "Let none approach these bodies until wehave examined them."

  Torches were soon brought. Harold seized one, and bent over Wulf's body.

  "Is he dead?"

  "His heart beats, but feebly, my lord," Osgod replied.

  "Where is he hurt?"

  "There is a great patch of blood here on his right side just over the hip.I see no other sign of a wound."

  "We will carry him into my chamber," the king said. "But no; I forgot, thequeen is there. We will take him into the room opposite; it matters notwhose it is. Now, Osgod, aid me to lift him gently. Bishop, I pray you sendfor the leeches most skilled in the treatment of sword wounds in the city."Then he and Osgod carried Wulf into the chamber opposite his own, and laidhim on a pallet.

  "Now see to the staunching of the flow of blood till the leeches arrive. Imust inquire into this matter. Who knows aught about it?" he asked as hewent out into the corridor.

  "I do, my lord king," Beorn replied as he pushed his way through thethrong. "It was a plot to take your life. Wulf, his man Osgod, and myselfhad no certain knowledge of it, but we had cause for suspicion, andtherefore lay outside your door. We were to take it in turns to watch.Wulf was on guard, and as I awoke at his shout I saw him cut down thatvillain who lies there with a cleft skull There were three others. I fellupon one, Osgod took another, while Wulf engaged the man who seemed to bethe leader. Wulf's sword broke, but he closed with his opponent and theyfell together. Osgod ran his man through, and my opponent fled. I could notcatch him until he reached the door, but as that was closed he could fly nofarther, and I slew him there."

  "Who and what are these men, good Beorn?"

  "They are, I believe, Normans; but I know naught for certain beyond thefact that the leader, he with whom Wulf was engaged, is Walter Fitz-Urse,who was a page of the Bishop William of London, and was well known at thecourt."

  Exclamations of fury and indignation broke from those around, with thecries of "Death to the Normans!"

  Harold raised his hand. "Silence, my friends. Let us be fair and just as itbecomes Englishmen. There are villains of all nations, and it is notbecause four caitiffs have thought to do a good service to their duke bygetting rid of me that we should blame men who will abhor this crime asmuch as we can do. First let us see if Beorn is right as to this man. Holda torch to his face. It is Fitz-Urse truly. He was of knightly blood, buthas died in a most unknightly business. Wulf's dagger is still in histhroat. Let us see if we know anything of the others."

  "I think that you will find them all strangers, my lord," Beorn said. "Ibelieve they came from beyond the sea to do this deed."

  The man whom Wulf had first slain was evidently by his dress a person ofsome rank; the other was of inferior station, as was also, as it was found,the man Beorn had killed.

  "Now, my lord bishop," the king said calmly, "we have a right next to askyou how these men came to be in your palace. Know you aught of them?"

  "I know nothing of them," the bishop replied. "So far as I am aware I havenever seen any of their faces before, and assuredly they were not here withmy cognizance. I will at once question all my people shrewdly, and woe beto him who has admitted strangers here unknown to me at the time when youwere beneath my roof."

  "And have this house searched from basement to roof, bishop. It may be thatthere are others in hiding."

  "With your permission, my lord," said Beorn, "I will at once take your men,of whom we have posted six under your window, and will call up some moreand search the town. It is likely that there are others without with horsesheld in readiness for these assassins to escape."

  "Do so, Beorn. It will be well if we can catch some at least, so that wecan get to the bottom of this matter."

  The bishop at once ordered his armed retainers to accompany Beorn, and thenproceeded to interrogate his officials and the domestics, and to see thatthe latter made a complete search of the palace. All denied any knowledgeof strangers having entered, and the search revealed nothing but fourmonks' gowns and hoods found wrapped up in a bundle in a small roomdownstairs. Further questions had been then put. Some of the domesticsremembered that four monks had entered the palace late in the evening, andone of the under chamberlains said that he had seen them, and they had toldhim that they had just arrived from Flanders, and craved permission tosleep in the palace for the night, as they were going on to Peterborough inthe morning. He had told them that this was impossible, as he could give nopermission without the leave of the bishop, who was at present with theking and could not be disturbed, and that, moreover, every room in thepalace was occupied. He had given them the address of a citizen, who wouldhe was sure take them in. They had thanked him, and said that they would gothere, but doubtless instead of doing so they had slipped aside, and hadhidden themselves in the room where their gowns were found. It was one usedonly for the storage of garments for poor travellers who came along, and noone was likely to enter it on such an evening.

  This discovery was a great relief to the bishop and all within the palace,as it showed that they were not there with the connivance of any of theprelate's people. Before the matter was fully unravelled Beorn returned.They had in a quiet spot a short distance from the palace come upon two menwith six horses. Before they could run up and seize them the two men hadleapt up into the saddles and galloped furiously away. Unfortunately theother four horses had followed, and immediate pursuit was thereforeimpossible. The housecarls had run to the spot where their horses werestabled and had gone off in pursuit, but Beorn feared that the men wouldhave far too great a start to be overtaken. One of the officers had riddenwith the housecarls, and Beorn had told him to keep by the river-bank, asthe men would assuredly make for a ship that was lying somewhere down theriver, though whether at a distance of two miles or of twenty he knew not.Long before Beorn's return Wulf's wound had been examined. Unguents hadbeen poured into it and bandages applied. The surgeons were of opinion thatit was a very grave one, but that at present they could not say how thematter would terminate.

  "Your story will keep till the morning, Beorn," the king said. "It is stillfive hours to daylight, and we may as well retire to rest, unless, indeed,you know that there are others engaged in the affair in London or elsewherewho should be arrested before the news of the night's business reachesthem."

  "I know of none such," Beorn said, "and believe that these four and the twowho have escaped were alone concerned in it. I will bring with me in themorning a man and a boy who know more than I do of the matter; they andOsgod, with whom Wulf will assuredly have talked it over, will be able totell you all that was known up to the moment when these men entered thepalace."

  The armourer and Ulf told their story in the morning, and Beorn tookOsgod's place by Wulf's bedside, while he too was questioned by the king.The latter then went to Wulf's chamber.

  "What say the leeches this morning, Beorn?

  "They are somewhat more hopeful, my lord. They say that his heart beatsmore strongly than it did last night, Osgod says that he has not moved oropened his eyes, but they say that this is not a bad sign, and that it maybe anxiety has brought on an exhaustion, for his breathing is more likethat of one who sleeps than of a man wounded to death."

  "His face has grieviously changed since yesterday," the king said sadly,looking down upon Wulf. "I would give my right hand rather than that heshould die. You have of a surety saved my life among you, Beorn, you andhis stout man-at-arms and the worthy armourer and that shrewd apprentice ofhis for had they entered my chamber and taken me unawares they would haveslain me without doubt."

  "I have done the best I could since I learnt from the armourer thesuspicion that Wulf entertained, but the whole thing is Wulf's doing. Had Iheard that Walter Fitz-Urse was back in London I should have given thematter no further thought than that it was one Norman the more. I
t was, ashe told me, some words that Baron de Burg said when he saw him over inNormandy the other day that first set him thinking. Then, he could notunderstand why Fitz-Urse should return to London at this time, when Normansare not overwelcome there, and this caused him to have some sort ofsuspicion as to his reasons for undertaking such a journey, and determinedhim to set a watch on the fellow's movements. Had it been any other thanWulf who had so acted I should have laughed at his suspicions. But he is asa brother to me, and knowing how sharp are his wits I am always wellcontent to follow him without question. I first heard of the matter afterthe discovery that the Norman was having secret meetings with some of hiscountrymen who were concealed on board a ship, and I at once felt sure thatWulf had not been running on a false trail, and so did the little I couldto aid those who had the matter in hand."

  "You have done well, Beorn, though as you say it is doubtless Wulf to whomthe chief credit is due. I regretted at first that the other two men hadescaped, but had they been taken they might, to save their own lives, haveimplicated others, and I might have been forced to lay a complaint againstthe Duke of Normandy. As it is now, the matter is at an end. Four men havetried to murder me, and have been killed. Their bodies have been buriedthis morning, and there is no more to be said about it.

  "I was obliged to go down and show myself to the people an hour since, forthey assembled in a great crowd, clamouring to see me so that they mightknow I was safe. I told them that while I thanked them for their loyalcare, there was nought to be alarmed about. It was true that there had beenan attempt on my life by four men, of whom the leader had a private grudgeagainst me for a disservice I did him some years ago, but that all had beenkilled by my guards without even penetrating my chamber, and that I had runno sort of personal risk, nor had I any reason whatever to suppose that themalefactors had accomplices either within or without the palace."

  Late in the evening, when the surgeons were applying pungent salts to hisnostrils, Wulf opened his eyes. Osgod was standing beside him holding oneof his hands.

  "It is all well, master," he said. "We finished them all off, and no harmhas happened to the king. You have been hurt, but I hope you will soon bebetter. The leeches say that you are not to talk, and you had best sleep asmuch as you can. They have got some stuff for you to drink here; do youlie still and I will pour it between your lips."

  A look of intelligence came into Wulf's eyes as Osgod spoke; he smiledfaintly, and murmured, "Thank God, the king is safe!" He swallowed a fewspoonfuls of the potion Osgod held to his lips, and then closing his eyeshis regular breathing soon showed that he was again asleep. On thefollowing day the king proceeded on his way to London, Beorn remaining tonurse Wulf. The king would have loaded Ulred with presents, but the sturdyarmourer refused to receive anything save a small gold cup in remembrance.

  "I want no reward for doing my duty," he said. "I have my trade that keepsme, and should be no happier were I laden with money. All that I have donein the matter has been to watch for a few hours at a window, and to make ajourney by ship to York, and I should be ashamed of myself indeed if Icould not take that slight trouble for my king without looking for areward."

  As to Ulf he was thanked and praised, but the king decided to take no stepsto alter his condition until Wulf should be well enough to be consulted inthe matter. It was a fortnight before the doctors were able to state withany confidence that the young thane was on the road towards recovery, andstill another month before he had gained sufficient strength to be carriedin a litter to London.