A Thane of Wessex

by Charles W. Whistler

  E-text prepared by Martin Robb

  A THANE OF WESSEX

  Being a Story of the Great Viking Raids into Somerset

  By

  CHARLES W. WHISTLER

  CHAPTER I. OUTLAWED!

  The whole of my story seems to me to begin on the day when I stood,closely guarded, before my judges, in the great circle of the people atthe Folk Moot of the men of Somerset gathered on the ancient hill ofBrent. All my life before that seems to have been as nothing, so quietand uneventful it was compared to what came after. I had grown fromboyhood to manhood in my father's great hall, on the little hill ofCannington that looks out over the mouth of the river Parret to the bluehills beyond. And there, when I was but two-and-twenty and longmotherless, I succeeded him as thane, and tried to govern my people aswell and wisely as he, that I too might die loved and honoured as hedied. And that life lasted but three years.

  Maybe, being young and headstrong, I spoke at times, when the feastingwas over and the ale cup went round, too boldly of the things that werebeyond me, and dared, in my want of experience, to criticize the ways ofthe king and his ordering of matters--thinking at the same time nothought of disloyalty; for had anyone disparaged the king to myself mysword would have been out to chastise the speaker in a moment. But, asit ever is, what seems wrong in another may be passed over in oneself.

  However that may be, it came to pass that Matelgar, the thane of Stert,a rich and envious man, saw his way through this conceit of mine to hisown profit. For Egbert, the wise king, was but a few years dead, and itwas likely enough that some of the houses of the old seven kings mightdare to make headway against Ethelwulf his successor, and for a time thewords of men were watched, lest an insurrection might be made unawares.I thought nothing of this, nor indeed dreamt that such a thing might be,nor did one ever warn me.

  My father and this Matelgar were never close friends, the open nature ofthe one fitting ill with the close and grasping ways of the other. Yet,when Matelgar spoke me fair at the rere-feast of my father's funeral,and thereafter would often ride over and sup with me, I was proud tothink, in my foolishness, that I had won the friendship that my fathercould not win, and so set myself even above him from whom I had learntall I knew of wisdom.

  And that conceit of mine was my downfall. For Matelgar, as I was soon tofind out, encouraged my foolishness, and, moreover, brought in friendsand bought men of his, who, by flattering me, soon made themselves myboon companions, treasuring up every word that might tell against mewhen things were ripe.

  Then at last, one day as I feasted after hunting the red deer on theQuantocks, my steward came into my hall announcing messengers from theking. They followed close on his heels, and I, who had seen nothing ofcourts, wondered that so many armed men should be needed in a peacefulhall, and yet watched them as one watches a gay show, till some fiftymen of the king's household lined my hall and fifty more blocked thedoorway. My people watched too, and I saw a smile cross from one ofMatelgar's men to another, but thought no guile.

  Then one came forward and arrested me in the king's name as a traitor,and I drew my sword on him, telling him he lied in giving me that name,calling too on my men to aid me. But they were overmatched, and darednot resist, for the swords of the king's men were out, and, moreover, Isaw that Matelgar's men were weaponless. He himself was not with me, andstill I had no thought of treachery.

  So the end was that I was pinioned from behind and bound, and taken awaythat night to where I knew not. Only, wherever it was, I was kept indarkness and chains, maddened by the injustice of the thing and my ownhelplessness, till I lost count of days, and at last hope itself. Andall that time the real reason for my arrest, and for the accusation thatcaused it, never entered my mind, and least of all did I suspect thatMatelgar, my friend, was at the bottom of it. Indeed, I hoped at firstthat, hearing of my trouble, he would interfere and procure my release,till, as I say, hope was gone.

  It was March when I was taken to prison. It was into broad May sunshineand greenness that I was brought out by my surly jailers at last, set,half blind with the darkness of the prison, on a good horse, and so,with my hands bound behind me, led off in the midst of a strong guard tothe place of my trial.

  Then, as mind and feeling came back to me with the fresh air andspringtime warmth, I knew the place we were leaving: It was the castleof a friend of Matelgar--and that seemed strange to me, for I had beenhardly treated, seeing none save the men who fed me and saw that mychains were kept secure. Then I looked in the faces of my guards, butall were unknown to me. As I had not before been to that castle as aguest, I was not surprised, and I said nothing to them, for I had foundthe uselessness of question and entreaty when I spoke at the first tothe jailers.

  So, silently, we rode on, and the world looked very fair to me after thelong grayness of the prison walls.

  One who knows the west country, hunting through it as I have hunted,grows to love and recognize the changing shapes of every hill and coombeand spur of climbing forest on their sides, and so, before long, I knewwe were making for the great hill of Brent, but why I could not tell.Then we crossed Parret river, and I watched a salmon leap as we did so;and then on over the level marshes till I could see that the wide circleon Brent top was black with swarming people. Often enough, as the cloudshadows passed from them, arms and bright armour sparkled in thesunlight among the crowd; and then I could have wept, having no arms orharness left me, for often when aforetime I rode free I would take achildish pleasure in seeing the churls blink and shade their eyes as Iflashed on them, and would wonder, too, if my weapons shone as myfather's shone as we rode side by side on some sunny upland.

  Then, when we came under the hill of Brent, the hum of voices came downto us, for the day was still, and my guards straightened themselves inthe saddle and set their ranks more orderly. But I, clad as I was in therags of the finery I had worn at the feast whence I was taken, shrankwithin myself, ashamed to meet the gazes that must be turned on mepresently, for I saw that we were going on up the steep ascent to mixwith the crowd on the summit of the great knoll.

  Now, by this time the long ride had brought back my senses to me, and Ibegan to take more thought for myself and what might be meant by thisjourney. At first I had been so stunned and dazed by the release--asmy removal from the dungeon seemed to me--that I had been content tofeel the light and air play about me once more; but that strangeness hadworn off now, and the consciousness of being yet a prisoner took hold ofme.

  My guards had ridden silent, either in obedience to command, or becausea Saxon is not often given to talk when under some responsibility, sothat I had learnt nothing from them thus far. But as we turned ourhorses' heads up the steep, a longing at last came over me to speak, andI turned to a gray-bearded man who had ridden silently at my right handall the morning and asked him plainly whither he was taking me, and foranswer he pointed up the hill, saying nothing.

  Then I asked him why I must be taken there, and, grimly enough, hereplied in two words, "For trial", and so I knew that the Great Moot [i]was summoned, and that presently I should know the whole meaning of thisthing that had befallen me. Then my spirits began to rise, for, beingconscious of no wrongdoing, I looked forward to speedy release with fullproof of innocence.

  Then I began to look about me and to note the crowds of people whom theMoot had gathered. So many and various were these that I and my guardspassed with little notice among those who toiled up the hill with us,the crowd growing thicker as we neared the edge of the first greatsquare platform on the hilltop. And when we reached this, my guardsreined up to breathe their horses, for Brent has from this firstplatform a yet steeper rise to the ancient circle on the very summit.Men say that both platform and circle are the work of the Welsh, whomour Saxon f
orefathers drove out and enslaved, but however this may be,they were no idle workmen who raised the great earthworks that are there.

  All the many acres of that great platform were covered with wagons andcarts, and everywhere were set booths and tents, and in them men andwomen were eating and drinking, having come from far. There were, too,shows of every kind to beguile the hours of waiting or to tempt thecurious, for many of the people, thralls and unfree men, had takenholiday with their masters, and had come to see the Moot, though theyhad no part in the business thereof.

  So there were many gaily-dressed tumblers and dancers, jugglers andgleemen, each with a crowd round them. But among these crowds were fewfreemen, so that I judged that the Moot was set, and that they weregathered on the higher circle that was yet before us to be climbed.

  I had been on Brent once or twice before, but then it had been deserted,and my eyes had had time and inclination to look out over the wide viewof hill and plain and sea and distant Welsh mountains beyond that. Now Ithought nothing of these things, but looked up to where it seemed that Imust be judged. I could make out one or two banners pitched and floatingidly in the sunshine, and one seemed to have a golden cross at its stavehead; but I could make out none of the devices on them, and so I lookedidly back on the crowd again. And then men brought us food and ale, andat last, after some gruff talk among themselves, the guards untied myhands, though they left my feet bound under the saddle girths, and bademe help myself.

  Nor was I loth to eat heartily, with the freshness of the ride on me,and with the hope of freedom strong in my heart.

  Then we waited for an hour or more, and the sun began to slope westward,and my guards seemed to grow impatient. Still the crowds did not thin,and if one group of performers ceased another set began their antics.

  At last a richly-clad messenger came towards us, the throng making hastyway for him, and spoke to the leader of our party. Then, following him,we rode to the foot of the great mound, and there dismounted. And nowthey bound my hands again, and if I asked them to forbear I cannot wellremember, but I think I did so in vain. For my mind was in a greattumult as we climbed the hill, wondering and fearing and hoping all atonce, and longing to see who were my judges, and to have this matterended once for all.

  We passed, I think, two groups coming down from some judgment given, andof these I know one contained a guarded and ironed man with a white, setface; and the other was made up of people who smiled and talked rapidly,leading one who had either gained a cause or had been acquitted. Therewere perhaps other people who met us or whom we passed, but these arethe two I remember of them all. Then we gained the summit and stoodthere waiting for orders, as it seemed, and I could look round on allthe ring.

  And at first I seemed to be blinded by the brilliance of that assembly,for our Saxon folk love bright array and fair jewellery on arm and neck.Men sat four and six deep all round the great circle, leaving only thegap where we should enter; and right opposite that gap seemed the placeof honour, for there were a score or more of chairs set, each with athane thereon, and in the midst of them sat those behind whom thebanners were raised. Near us at this end of the circle were the lesserfreemen, and so round each bend of the ring to right and left in orderof rank till those thanes were reached who were highest.

  Before those stood some disputants, as it seemed, and I could not seethe faces of the seated thanes clearly at first. But presently I knewthe banners--they were those of Eanulf the Ealdorman, and of Ealhstanthe Bishop. And when I saw the first I feared, for the great ealdormanwas a stern and pitiless man, from all I had ever heard; but when I knewthat banner with the golden cross above it, my heart was lighter, forall men loved and spoke well of the bishop.

  It seemed long before that trial was over; but at last the men ceasedspeaking, and the thanes seemed to take counsel upon it; and then Eanulfpronounced judgment, and the men sat down in their places in the ring,for it was, as one could tell, some civil dispute of boundary, or road,or the like which had been toward.

  Then there was a silence for a space, until the ealdorman rose and spokeloudly, for all the great ring to hear.

  "There is one more case this day that must come before this Moot, andthat is one which brings shame on this land of ours. That one from amongthe men of Somerset should speak ill of Ethelwulf the King, and plotagainst him, is not to be borne. But that all men may know and fear thedoom that shall be to such an one, he has been brought for trial by theMoot, with full proof of his guilt in this matter, that Somerset itself,as it were, should pronounce his sentence."

  Now, when the assembly heard that, a murmur went round, and, as itseemed to me, of surprise mixed with wrath. And I myself felt the samefor the moment--but then the eyes of all turned in a flash upon me--and I remembered the accusation that had been brought against me, and Iknew that it was I of whom Eanulf spoke. Then shame fell on me, to giveplace at once to anger, and I think I should have spoken hotly, but thatat some sign from the ealdorman, my guards laid hold of me, and led meacross the open space and set me before him and the bishop.

  But as he with the others laid hands on me, that gray-bearded man, whohad answered me when I asked my one question, whispered hastily in myear, "Be silent and keep cool."

  I would he were alive now; but that might not be. And I knew not thenwhy he thus spoke, unless he had known and loved my father.

  So I stood before those two judges and looked them in the face; and thenone moved uneasily in his seat to their left, and my eyes were drawn tohim. It was Matelgar, and, as I saw him, I smiled for I thought him afriend at least; but he looked not at me. Then from him I turned to seekthe face of some other whom I might know. And I saw thanes, friends ofmy father, whom I had not cared to seek; and of these some frowned onme, but some looked pityingly, as I thought, though it was but for amoment that my eyes might leave the faces of those two judges before me.

  Now, were it not that when I go over what followed my heart still risesup again in a wrath and mad bitterness that I fain would feel no more, Iwould tell all of that trial, if trial one could call it, where therewas none to speak for the accused, and every word was against him.

  And in that trial I myself took little part by word or motion, standingthere and listening as though the words spoken of me concerned another,as indeed, they might well have done.

  But first Eanulf spoke to me, bending his brows as he did so, andfrowning on me.

  "Heregar, son of Herewulf the Thane, you are accused by honourable menof speaking evil of our Lord the King, Ethelwulf. What answer have youto make to this charge? And, moreover, you are further charged withconspiring against him--can you answer to that charge?"

  Then I was about to make loud and angry denial of these accusations, butthat old guard of mine, who yet held my shoulder, gripped it tightly,and I remembered his words, so that in a flash it came to me that aninnocent man need but deny frankly, as one who has no fear, and I lookedEanulf in the face and answered him.

  "Neither of these charges are true, noble Eanulf; nor know I why theyare brought against me, or by whom. Let them speak--there are thosehere who will answer for my loyalty."

  Now, as I spoke thus quietly, Eanulf's brows relaxed, and I saw, too,that the bishop looked more kindly on me. Eanulf spoke again.

  "Know you not by whom these charges are brought?"

  "Truly, I know not, Lord Eanulf," I answered, "for no man may say thesethings of me, save he lies."

  "Have you enemies?" he asked.

  "None known to me," I told him truthfully, for I had, as my father,lived at peace with all.

  "Then is the testimony of those against you the heavier," said theealdorman.

  And with that he turned to the bishop before I could make reply; andthey spoke together for a while in Latin, which I knew not.

  So I looked to my friend Matelgar for comfort, but he seemed to see menot, looking away elsewhere. And I thought him plainly troubled for me,for his face was white, and the hand on which his chin rested wasturning the ends o
f his beard between his teeth, so that he bit it--asI had seen him do before when in doubt or perplexity.

  As I watched him, the bishop spoke in Saxon, saying that it would bewell to call the accusers first and hear them, that I might make suchreply as was possible to me.

  "For," said he, "it seems to me that this Heregar speaks truth in sayingthat he knows not his accusers."

  Then Eanulf bowed gravely, and all the circle was hushed, for a littletalk had murmured round as these two spoke in private.

  And now I will forbear, lest the rage and shame of it should get themastery of me again, and I should again think and speak things for which(as once before, at the bidding of the man I love best on earth) I mustdo long penance, if that may avail. For, truly, I forgave once, and Iwould not recall that forgiveness. Yet I must tell somewhat.

  Eanulf bade the accusers stand forward and give their evidence; andslowly, and, as it were, unwillingly, rose Matelgar, my friend, as I haddeemed him, and behind him a score of those friends of his who had keptme company for long days on moor and in forest, and had feasted in my hall.

  Again that warning grasp on my shoulder, and I thought that surelyeither I or they had mistaken the summons, and that my defenders hadcome forward.

  Then, as in a dream, I listened to words that I will not recall, makinggood those accusations. And through all that false witness there seemedto me to run, as it were, a thread of those foolish, boy-wise words ofmine that had, and meant, no harm, but on which were now built mountainsof seeming proof. So that, when at last all those men had spoken I wasdumb, and knew that I had no defence. For no proof of loyalty had I togive--for proof had never been required of me. And a man may live aquiet life, and yet conspire most foully.

  As my accusers went back to their seats there ran a murmur among thefolk, and then a silence fell. The level afternoon sun seemed to blazeon me alone, while to me the air seemed thick and close, and full ofwhispers.

  Ealhstan the Bishop broke the silence.

  "The proof is weighty, and Matelgar the Thane is an honourable man," hesaid, sadly enough; "but if a man conspires, there needs must be oneother, at least, in the plot. Surely we have heard little of this."

  Then was added more evidence. And men proved lonely journeys of mine,with evasion of notice thereof, and disavowal of the same. Yet I thoughtthat Matelgar the Thane knew of my love for Alswythe, his daughter, whomI would meet, as lovers will meet, unobserved if they may, in all honour.

  Yet, as I listened, it was of these meetings they spoke, saying onlythat I had been able to concord whom I met, and where, though Matelgarmust have known it. When that was finished, Eanulf bade me call men todisprove these things. And I could not. For my accusers were my closecompanions, and of Alswythe I would not speak, and I must fain hold mypeace.

  Only, after a silence, I could forbear no longer, and cried:

  "Will none speak for me?"

  Then one by one my father's friends rose and told what they knew of myboyhood and training; but of these last few years of my manhood they,alas for my own folly could not speak. What they might they did, and myheart turned to them in gratitude for a little, though Matelgar'streachery had seemed to make it a stone within me.

  They ended, and the silence came again. It seemed long, and weighed onme like a thunderstorm in the air, nor should I have started had thewhole assembly broken into one thunderclap of hatred of me. But insteadof that, came the calm voice of Ealhstan the Bishop:

  "Eanulf and freemen of Somerset, there is one who witnesses for thisHeregar more plainly than all these. That witness is himself, in hisyouth and inexperience. What are the wild words a boy will say? Who willplot against a mighty king with a boy for partner? What weight have hiswords? What help can come from his following? It seems to me thatMatelgar the Thane and these friends of his might well have laughed awayall these foolishnesses, rather than hoard them up to bring before thissolemn council. This, too, I hold for injustice, that one should be keptin ward till his trial, unknowing of all that is against him, unhelpedby the counsel of any freeman, and unable to send word to those whoshould stand by him at his trial. Indeed, this thing must be righted, Itell you, before England is a free land."

  At that there went a sound of assent round the Moot, and it seems to me,looking back, that that trial of mine, hard as it was to bear, was yetthe beginning of good to all the land, by reason of those words which ittaught the bishop to say, and which found an abiding place in the heartsof the honest men who heard; so that in these days of Alfred, our wiseking, they have borne fruit.

  Then Eanulf signed to my guards, and they led me away and over the browof the hill, that the Moot might speak its mind on me. There my guardsbade me sit down, and I did so, resting head on hands, and thinking ofnought, as it seemed to me, until suddenly rose up hate of Matelgar, andof Eanulf, and of all that great assembly, and of all the world.

  There was an earthquake once when I was but a boy, and never could Iforget how it was as though all things one had deemed solid and securehad suddenly become treacherous as Severn ooze. And now it was to me asthough an earthquake had shaken my thoughts of men. For, till that day,never had I found cause to distrust anyone who was friend of mine. Nowcould I trust none.

  Then rose up in my mind the image of Alswythe, fair, and blue eyed, andbrown haired, smiling at me as she was wont. And I deemed her, too,false, as having tricked me to meet her that this might come upon me.

  Well it was that they called me back into the ring to hear my doom, forsuch thoughts as these will drive a man to madness. Now must I think formyself again, and meet what must be. Yet I would look at no man as Iwent towards the place of my judges, and stood before them with my eyescast down. For I was beaten, and cared no more for aught.

  Eanulf spoke; but he had no anger in his voice and it seemed as thoughhe repeated the words of others.

  "Heregar, son of Herewulf," he said, "these things have been broughtagainst you by honourable men, and you cannot disprove them--hardlycan you deny them. They may not be passed over; yet for the sake of youryouth, and for the pleading of Ealhstan, our Bishop, your doom shall belighter than some think fit. Death it might be; but that shall not passnow on you, or for this. But Thane you may be no longer, and we doconfirm that sentence. Landless also you must be, as unworthy to holdit. Outlaw surely must he be who plots against the Head of law."

  He paused a moment, and then said:

  "This, then, is your doom. Outlawed you are from this day forward, butwolf's head [ii] you shall not be. None in all Wessex shalt harbour youor aid you, but none shall you harm, save you harm them. Go hence fromthis place and from this land, to some land where no man knows you; andso shall you rest again."

  Now, had I not been blinded with rage and shame, I might have seen thatthere was mercy in this sentence, and hope also. For I had seen a manoutlawed once, and given a day's start, like some wild beast, in whichto fly from the hand of every man that would seek his life. But I was tobe safe from such harm, and but that I must go hence, I was not to behounded forth, nor was my shame to be published beyond Wessex. So thatall the other kingdoms lay open and safe to me.

  None of this I heeded; I only knew that my enemies had got the mastery,and that ruin was upon me. So I ground my teeth and was mute.

  Then they cut my bonds and I stood free, but cared not. Nor did I stirfrom my place; and a look of surprise crossed Eanulf's face. ButEalhstan the Bishop, knowing well, I think, what was in my mind, rosefrom his seat, and came to me, laying his hands on my shoulders. I wouldhave shaken them off; but be kept them there gently, and spoke to me.

  "Heregar, my son," he said, and his words were like the cool of a showerafter heat, to my burning brain, "be not cast down in the day of yourtrouble overmuch. There are yet things for you to do in this world ofours, and the ways of men are not all alike. Foolish you have been,Heregar, my son, but the Lord who gave wisdom to Solomon the youth, willgive to you, if you will ask Him. Go your way in peace, and if you willheed my words, take
your trouble to some wise man of God, and so be ledby his counsel. And, Heregar," and here the bishop's voice was for mealone, "if you need forgiveness, forgive if there is aught by you to beforgiven."

  Then I knew that the bishop, at least, believed in my innocence, and myhard heart bent before him, though my body would not. He laid his handon my head for one moment, and so left me.

  One of my father's old friends rose up and said:

  "Ealdorman, he is unarmed. Give him that which will keep him from wantonattack, or from the wolves, even if it be but a thrall's weapons."

  Eanulf signed assent.

  On that they gave me a woodman's billhook, and a seax, [iii] such as thechurls wear, and one thrust a good ash, iron-shod quarterstaff into myhands. Then my guards led me away from the assembly, and set my facetowards the downward path. Once again the old man spoke to me with wordsof good counsel.

  "Keep up heart, master. Make for Cornwall, and turn viking with the nextDanes who come."

  I would not answer him, but walked down the hill a little. Then thebitterness of my heart overcame me, and I turned, and shaking my staffup at the hill, cursed the Moot deeply.

  So I went--an outlaw.