The Fall of the House of Æthelfrith

by H A CULLEY

  The journey north to Bebbanburg took five days. It was now early April. Wilfrid had put off leaving until after Easter in the hope that the weather would be more clement. It wasn’t. The last few days in March had been unusually warm, almost balmy, but April had been ushered in by a return of wintry showers and a chilly wind from the east. To add to his misery he suspected that Ecgfrith would have moved on further north by now.

  He breathed a sigh of relief when Bebbanburg, on top of its rock, hove into view. He climbed wearily off his horse outside what was now called the ealdorman’s hall and looked around him. Apart from several stable boys, who came to take his horse and that of his escort, and two sentries who looked down at him with indifference from the top of the steps leading into the hall, no-one seemed to be about. No doubt they were all sheltering from the gale force wind that brought with it the occasional shower of hail off the German Ocean.

  He stomped off towards the hall just as the door opened and a woman appeared with a boy of about seven. This must be Catinus’ wife and youngest son. He racked his brains but their names escaped him. He forced himself to smile just as his chaplain sidled up to his side and whispered ‘Leoflaed; the boy’s name is Osfrid.’

  The bishop nodded imperceptibly to acknowledge his chaplain’s help and went to meet his hostess.

  ‘Lady Leoflaed, it’s a real pleasure to see you again. This must be your youngest boy, Osfrid.’

  ‘Bishop Wilfrid. This is unexpected surprise. We had no word that you were coming.’

  It was a less than fulsome welcome but Wilfrid ignored the implied complaint.

  ‘I have urgent business with the king. Is he still here?’

  ‘Yes, he’s gone to Lindisfarne with my husband to see Abbot Eata and Prior Cuthbert. Will you travel after them if the matter is so urgent?’

  Wilfrid wanted to get in out of the cold but Leoflaed showed no inclination to invite him into the hall. If he hated Eata, he loathed Cuthbert and the awe in which everyone seemed to regard him. Eata had been responsible for his expulsion from Lindisfarne when he was a young novice and he’d never forgiven him.

  ‘No I don’t think so. When are you expecting them back?’

  ‘The tide is coming in at the moment so the island will be cut off in a couple of hours. By the time it goes out again it will be dark, so I expect that they will stay there for the night.’

  ‘I see. Well, it seems that I will need to beg hospitality from you until tomorrow then.’

  ‘Oh, that might be difficult, bishop. We are full to bursting as it is with the king and his entourage and you seem to have brought a lot of men with you.’

  ‘The king is on Lindisfarne. Surely that will free up some room.’

  ‘He only took my husband, his brother, Ælfwine, our eldest son and two men as escort. You’re not suggesting that you should sleep in the king’s bed or with me in my husband’s I hope.’

  Wilfrid was alarmed until he noticed the glint of mischief in the woman’s eyes.

  ‘No, of course not. My men can camp outside the fortress, if necessary, but I’m sure you can find a suitable bed for the Bishop of Northumbria.’

  ‘Apart from the bedchambers for the king and our family, there is only the guest chamber. However, that is occupied by the Eorl of Lothian, who has come here to confer with the king to save him travelling all the way to Dùn Èideann. He’s out hunting this afternoon but he will return soon. The married men live in the huts with their families and the rest either sleep on the ground in the warriors’ hall or in the ealdorman’s hall. Perhaps you could share with Catinus’ chaplain though. Father Isen has a small hut of his own.’

  ‘I see. Where is this chaplain?’

  ‘He’s out hunting with Eorl Beornheth.’

  ‘What? That’s scandalous! A priest has no business hunting, least of all in the company of an important noble.’

  ‘Why not?’ Leoflaed laughed. ‘He’s his cousin after all.’

  ‘Oh, I see. Still, it’s not an appropriate pursuit for a priest.’

  ‘Well, you had better tell him so when you share his hut. In the meantime you’d better come in out of the cold.’

  As Wilfrid made to follow her into the hall, thankful to get out of the icy wind at last, she turned back to him.

  ‘Aren’t you going to look after your men first? They can sleep in the warriors’ hall; it’s very crowded but it will be warmer in there than sleeping in their tents.’

  Wilfrid looked as if he’d been struck in the face.

  ‘Surely your reeve will take care of them.’

  ‘He’s out hunting as well. Unless you expect me to do it of course?’

  Grumbling the bishop turned back to his men who had returned from the stables carrying their tents and equipment.

  ‘You are to sleep in the warriors’ hall apparently,’ he said in a tone that indicated that he couldn’t care less where they went.

  ‘Where is it?’ the leader of his escort asked, somewhat disgruntled at being kept standing around in the cold.

  ‘No idea. Ask someone.’

  With that he hastened into the hall, rubbing his hands together to restore some warmth to them. Despite his thick leather gloves they felt as if they were lumps of ice.

  ~~~

  ‘Wilfrid, I hope that you’re the bearer of good news,’ Ecgfrith said as he entered the hall and spotted the rotund bishop warming himself at the central hearth.

  ‘Cyning, I came all this way to bring you the news myself. Queen Æthelthryth has agreed to become a nun.’

  ‘At last! I was beginning to think she was refusing to take her vows just to spite me.’

  Wilfrid, who suspected that was exactly what Æthelthryth had been playing at, coughed and hurriedly added the condition that she had stipulated.

  ‘The queen wishes to become an abbess; she feels it is only appropriate in view of the fact that she is the daughter of one king and wife of another.’

  ‘Abbess? Is there a vacancy in Northumbria then? If so, I wasn’t aware of it.’

  Both his aunt Æbbe, Abbess of Coldingham, and Hild of Whitby were elderly but they showed no signs of dying soon.

  ‘No, Cyning, your wife would like you to found a new monastery for her at Ely in the Fens.’

  ‘What? If I’m going to fund a new monastery it would be in my kingdom, not in East Anglia.’

  ‘I’m afraid that Queen Æthelthryth was quite specific. Perhaps you would like to consider her proposal at your leisure, Cyning.’

  Ecgfrith gave the smooth talking prelate a glare that would have made other men look at the floor, but not Wilfrid. He continued to smile at Ecgfrith until the king dismissed him.

  ‘If Æthelthryth thinks I’m going to build her a monastery in Ely she’d mistaken,’ he ranted later when he was alone with Beornheth and Catinus.

  ‘Why don’t you say no and continue with your present arrangement,’ Beornheth asked.

  Ecgfrith looked at him sharply. He fondly imagined that no one was aware that he had taken Eormenburg as his mistress; in fact everyone at court knew about it.

  ‘Because I need to sire a legitimate heir.’

  ‘Then, Cyning, I suggest that you have little choice. The queen has been intransigent so far; this is the first time she had offered to give you what you want. Either you should take the opportunity she offers, or she’ll stay married to you.’

  Ecgfrith looked upset but after a while he nodded slowly.

  ‘You’re right. But I want a solution now. She can go and join my aunt at Coldingham until her damn monastery is built at Ely. She needn’t think it’ll be anything grand either; a simple timber church and huts will suffice.’

  Two months later, in mid-summer, Ecgfrith married Eormenburg. He was twenty seven and she was nineteen.

  ‘Much good may it do him,’ Beornheth said quietly to Catinus at the wedding feast. ‘If he hasn’t managed to get her pregnant in the last five years I doubt he’s going to now.’

  ‘Then we must
hope that Ælfwine is more fertile.’

  Catinus looked down the table to where the king’s brother sat on the other side of the new queen. Ælfwine was nearly twelve and about to depart for Lindisfarne to be taught by the monks for two years before beginning his training as a warrior.

  Although nominally King of Deira, it was merely a courtesy title. The boy had no power or even land of his own. He and Ecgfrith were very close, but the king had learnt the lessons of the past. Catinus wondered if their intimacy would last as Ælfwine grew to manhood, or whether he would become resentful at his dependence on his brother. He sighed. Only time would tell.

  Chapter Four – The Isle of Man

  672 - 673 AD

  Wulfhere looked down on Alweo from where he sat on his throne on a raised dais in his hall at Tamworth. His brother Ethelred sat on one side of him and his queen, Ermenilda of Kent, sat on the other. Alweo’s wife, Hereswith of Bebbanburg, stayed at the back of the hall with their baby son, Æthelbald, and his wet nurse.

  ‘Well, cousin, have you finally remembered that you are a Mercian and not a wretched Northumbrian? Or are you here because Ecgfrith has kicked you out.’

  ‘Neither, Cyning. Because I slew the treacherous Redwald in the king’s presence he thought it sensible for me to leave Northumbria rather than stand trial.’

  ‘Well, you had better not draw a sword in my presence or I shan’t be so forgiving.’

  ‘Of course, cousin. I only acted because Redwald was trying to draw his own sword to attack Ecgfrith.’

  ‘So what do you expect me to do with you?’

  ‘I was King Oswiu’s master of horse for many years, as well as being an ealdorman. I was hoping that I might be able to serve you in a similar capacity.’

  At that Ethelred leaned over and whispered something in his brother’s ear. Wulfhere evidently thought that whatever the suggestion was it merited consideration because he nodded agreement before turning his attention back to Alweo.

  ‘Well, cousin, it seems that I might have an appointment for you worthy of your talents. The Isle of Man has been Mercian territory for many years but recently it has become the haunt of Hibernian pirates and outlaws. They killed the King of Man last year and now control the whole island. As they also murdered his family, there is a vacancy and I am considering giving Man to you as my vassal. The only slight drawback is that you’d have to drive out the Hibernians and re-establish control over your new domain. Are you up to it?’

  Alweo thought quickly. About twenty of his gesith had elected to go into exile with him but he had no other warriors to call upon. He would either have to buy the services of mercenaries or persuade someone to help him. It didn’t sound as if Wulfhere would do so. He could hardly go back to Ecgfrith to ask for his assistance, especially as Man lay off the coast of Rheged and Northumbrians had always felt it should be part of their kingdom.

  On the other hand, what other prospects did he have? If he turned this down Wulfhere would undoubtedly wash his hands of him and he and his family would be homeless.

  ‘Thank you cousin, that is most generous of you. Of course I will need sufficient men to drive out the Hibernians…’

  ‘Good, that’s settled then,’ Wulfhere interrupted before he could finish his plea. ‘You and Hereswith must join us this evening.’

  With that the king moved onto the next matter awaiting his attention and a servant showed Alweo and his family to a small hut that had been set aside for their use.

  ‘You’ll need some help to recapture Man,’ Ethelred said to him as he thrust another chunk of venison into his mouth.

  ‘Yes, I’m well aware that I’m hardly likely to get very far with just my gesith,’ Alweo replied gloomily.

  ‘If we share the plunder, with three quarters going to me, I may be able to assist you.’

  ‘Why would you do that?’

  ‘Mainly because of the gold and silver that the pirates have captured from passing ships, but also because I’m keen to see Man back in Mercian hands.’

  ‘How many of these Hibernians are there? What sort of army will we need?’

  ‘It’s not just a matter of having enough men, we also need birlinns. Otherwise the rogues will escape back to Hibernia and then come back again later.’

  ‘Do you have any birlinns?’

  ‘No. My estates are all inland, but your friend Catinus does.’

  Alweo dare not return to Northumbria himself so he sent one of his gesith, a young man named Thored, to Bebbanburg with a letter. Thored made the two hundred and sixty miles from Tamworth to Bebbanburg in eight days, only to find that Catinus and his family had gone to Alnwic for the marriage of Alweo’s replacement as ealdorman, Ruaidhrí.

  Thored debated whether to wait where he was for Catinus to return or to go on to Alnwic. As it was July and the weather was fine he decided to go on to Alnwic and set off again the next morning. His decision was helped by the fact that his father was the thegn of a nearby vill called Eglingham and it would give him the chance to see his family again. As there was an old Roman road from Berwic to Hexham that passed close to both Eglingham and Alnwic he headed west over the hills to find it.

  It was a calm day with scarcely a cloud in the blue sky. The only people he saw was the odd shepherd watching over his flock and, with nothing else to distract him, he started to daydream. His mind wandered back to the first girl he had made love to in Eglingham when he was thirteen and she was twelve. He’d been a fool and he was lucky she didn’t get pregnant. Nevertheless he still thought about her from time to time.

  There had been others since of course, but somehow that first time was special. She was married now, to the blacksmith. When he had left with Alweo she had been expecting her first child and the pregnant woman of twenty had looked nothing like the sweet twelve year old he’d seduced eight years before.

  He was jerked out of his nostalgic reminiscence when he came across the paved road. It had deteriorated over the centuries since the Romans had departed, of course, but the broken and weed strewn cobbled surface still made travelling easier than the dirt tracks that normally served as roads.

  He hadn’t gone more than ten miles down the road when he encountered a large group travelling north. There were about thirty horsemen surrounding an enclosed cart, in which presumably women and young children were travelling. The cart had been constructed with a curved roof and sides constructed of vertical planks with small openings to allow air in. There was no door, merely an open archway in one side.

  He had ridden off the side of the road to allow the convoy to pass when he noticed the banner borne aloft by a warrior immediately behind the cart. It was a black wolf’s head on a red background. He had found Catinus.

  The ealdorman was riding beside a boy of about eight on a pony and Thored assumed correctly that he was Osfrid, Catinus’ younger son. When the pair drew level Thored dug his heels into his horse and fell in alongside them.

  ‘Please forgive my intrusion, lord, but I was looking for you. I have a message from the Ætheling Alweo.’

  Catinus was puzzled for a moment. He’d almost forgotten that his friend was a member of the royal house of Mercia.

  ‘Alweo? What does he want with me? You realise, of course, that he is banished from Northumbria? I hope that he hasn’t been so foolish as to have returned.’

  ‘No, lord. That is why he has sent me as his messenger. My name is Thored of Eglingham.’

  ‘One of his gesith who went with him into exile I assume?’

  ‘Yes, lord.’

  ‘Very well. You’ve found me but I don’t intend to stop here and read Alweo’s letter. Follow us back to Bebbanburg and I’ll see you as soon as I’ve bathed and changed my clothes.’

  ‘So he expects me to furnish him with six birlinns does he? Even if I could find so many, what makes him think that I’d lend them to him? Is he providing the crews, or does he expect me to do that too?’

  ‘I think that he was hoping that this would be a joint venture
and that you would lend him the birlinns fully manned, lord.’

  ‘And I am meant to pay for all this?’

  ‘He offers you part of the plunder, lord.’

  ‘Plunder? I thought he was to govern Man for Wulfhere. Is he planning to start his rule by plundering his own people?’

  This wasn’t going as well as Alweo had led Thored to believe it would.

  ‘No, lord. Man is a nest of Hibernian pirates at the moment and, although it is Mercian territory, Alweo will need to expel them before he can sit on the throne. The Hibernians will have acculumated…’

  He got no further before Catinus interrupted him.

  ‘The throne? You mean he is to be the King of Man?’

  ‘As Wulfhere’s vassal, yes.’

  ‘I see. You were saying, about the plunder.’

  ‘Yes, it is to be divided between Alweo and Ethelred, who is providing the army to help capture the island.’

  ‘And my share?’

  ‘Yes, lord. Alweo will pay for your birlinns from his share.’

  ‘And how much will that be?’

  ‘We don’t know, but the pirates are said to have amassed considerable treasure.’

  ‘Which Alweo and Ethelred intend to keep, rather than return it to their original owners?’

  ‘That would be impractical, lord. How would anyone know who they are?’

  ‘Very well, and what is my share to be?’

  ‘Alweo wasn’t specific, lord. He thought you could come to an arrangement later.’

  ‘No, if I’m to be involved in this venture I will need two things: permission from King Ecgfrith, who will also need payment I’m sure, and an agreed percentage of the plunder for me. After all, I will have to pay my men and fit out my ships ready for sea.’

  ‘I don’t have the authority to agree that, lord.’

  ‘Well then you had better go back to Tamworth and see what sort of specific deal Alweo is offering. Meanwhile I’ll go and see King Ecgfrith and explain the situation.’