the dragon and the raven-第6章

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〃But　what　are　you　going　to　do；　uncle？　Surely　you　will
not　remain　here　until　the　Danes　arrive；　for　though　they　may
spare　other　men　they　have　no　mercy　on　priests　and　monks？〃

〃I　shall　assuredly　remain　here；　Edmund；　at　my　post；　and
as　my　brother　Eldred　and　Earl　Algar　and　their　brave
companions　died　at　their　posts　in　the　field　of　battle；
so　I　am　prepared　to　die　here　where　God　has　placed　me。
I　shall　retain　here　with　me　only　a　few　of　the　most　aged　and
infirm　monks；　too　old　to　fly　or　to　support　the　hardships　of
the　life　of　a　hunted　fugitive　in　the　fens；　together　with　some
of　the　children　who　have　fled　here；　and　who；　too；　could　not
support　such　a　life。　It　may　be　that　when　the　fierce　Danes
arrive　and　find　nought　but　children　and　aged　men　even　their
savage　breasts　may　be　moved　to　pity；　but　if　not；　God's　will　be
done。　The　younger　brethren　will　seek　refuge　in　the　fens；　and
will　carry　with　them　the　sacred　relics　of　the　monastery。　The
most　holy　body　of　St。　Guthlac　with　his　scourge　and　psalmistry；
together　with　the　most　valuable　jewels　and　muniments；　the
charters　of　the　foundation　of　the　abbey；　given　by　King
Ethelbald；　and　the　confirmation　thereof　by　other　kings；　with
some　of　the　most　precious　gifts　presented　to　the　abbey。〃

Edmund　and　Egbert　set　to　work　to　assist　the　weeping
monks　in　making　preparations　for　their　departure。　A　boat
was　laden　with　the　relics　of　the　saints；　the　muniments　of　the
king；　and　the　most　precious　vessels。　The　table　of　the　great
altar　covered　with　plates　of　gold；　which　King　Wichtlof　had
presented；　with　ten　gold　chalices；　and　many　other　vessels；
was　thrown　into　the　well　of　the　convent。

In　the　distance　the　smoke　of　several　villages　could　now
be　seen　rising　over　the　plain；　and　it　was　clear　that　the　Danes
were　approaching。　The　ten　priests　and　twenty　monks　who
were　to　leave　now　knelt；　and　received　the　solemn　benediction
of　the　abbot；　then；　with　Edmund　and　Egbert；　they　took
their　places　in　the　boat　and　rowed　away　to　the　wood　of
Ancarig；　which　lay　not　far　from　the　abbey。

The　abbot　Theodore　and　the　aged　monks　and　priests
now　returned　to　the　church；　and；　putting　on　their　vestments；
commenced　the　services　of　the　day；　the　abbot　himself
celebrated　high　mass；　assisted　by　brother　Elfget　the　deacon；
brother　Savin　the　sub…deacon；　and　the　brothers　Egelred　and
Wyelric；　youths　who　acted　as　taper…bearers。　When　the　mass
was　finished；　just　as　the　abbot　and　his　assistants　had
partaken　of　the　holy　communion；　the　Danes　burst　into　the
church。　The　abbot　was　slain　upon　the　holy　altar　by　the　hand
of　the　Danish　king　Oskytal；　and　the　other　priests　and　monks
were　beheaded　by　the　executioner。

The　old　men　and　children　in　the　choir　were　seized　and
tortured　to　disclose　where　the　treasures　of　the　abbey　were
concealed；　and　were　also　put　to　death　with　the　prior　and
sub…prior。　Turgar；　an　acolyte　of　ten　years　of　age；　a
remarkably　beautiful　boy；　stood　by　the　side　of　the　sub…prior
as　he　was　murdered　and　fearlessly　confronted　the　Danes；　and
bade　them　put　him　to　death　with　the　holy　father。　The　young
Earl　Sidroc；　however；　struck　with　the　bearing　of　the　child；
and　being　moved　with　compassion；　stripped　him　of　his　robe　and
cowl；　and　threw　over　him　a　long　Danish　tunic　without　sleeves；
and　ordering　him　to　keep　close　by　him；　made　his　way　out　of
the　monastery；　the　boy　being　the　only　one　who　was　saved
from　the　general　massacre。

The　Danes；　furious　at　being　able　to　find　none　of　the
treasures　of　the　monastery；　broke　open　all　the　shrines　and
levelled　the　marble　tombs；　including　those　of　St。　Guthlac；
the　holy　virgin　Ethelbritha；　and　many　others；　but　found　in
these　none　of　the　treasure　searched　for。　They　piled　the　bodies
of　the　saints　in　a　heap；　and　burned　them；　together　with
the　church　and　all　the　buildings　of　the　monastery；　then；　with
vast　herds　of　cattle　and　other　plunder；　they　moved　away　from
Croyland；　and　attacked　the　monastery　of　Medeshamsted。
Here　the　monks　made　a　brave　resistance。　The　Danes　brought
up　machines　and　attacked　the　monastery　on　all　sides；　and
effected　a　breach　in　the　walls。　Their　first　assault；　however；
was　repelled；　and　Fulba；　the　brother　of　Earl　Hulba；　was
desperately　wounded　by　a　stone。

Hulba　was　so　infuriated　at　this　that　when；　at　the　second
assault；　the　monastery　was　captured；　he　slew　with　his　own
hand　everyone　of　the　monks；　while　all　the　country　people
who　had　taken　refuge　within　the　walls　were　slaughtered　by
his　companions；　not　one　escaping。　The　altars　were　levelled
to　the　ground；　the　monuments　broken　in　pieces。　The　great
library　of　parchments　and　charters　was　burnt。　The　holy　relics
were　trodden　under　foot；　and　the　church　itself；　with　all
the　monastic　buildings；　burnt　to　the　ground。　Four　days　later；
the　Danes；　having　devastated　the　whole　country　round　and
collected　an　enormous　booty；　marched　away　against
Huntingdon。

Edmund　and　Egbert　remained　but　a　few　hours　with　the
monks　who　had　escaped　from　the　sack　of　Croyland；　for；　as
soon　as　they　saw　the　flames　mounting　up　above　the　church；
they　knew　that　the　Danes　had　accomplished　their　usual　work
of　massacre；　and　there　being　no　use　in　their　making　further
stay；　they　started　upon　their　journey。　They　travelled　by　easy
stages；　for　time　was　of　no　value　to　them。　For　the　most　part
their　way　lay　among　forests；　and　when　once　they　had　passed
south　of　Thetford　they　had　no　fear　of　meeting　with　the　Danes。
Sometimes　they　slept　at　farm…houses　or　villages；　being
everywhere　hospitably　received；　the　more　so　when　it　was　known
that　Edmund　was　the　son　of　the　brave　ealdorman　Eldred；
but　the　news　which　they　brought　of　the　disastrous　battle　of
Kesteven；　and　the　southward　march　of　the　great　Danish　army；
filled　everyone　with　consternation。

The　maids　and　matrons　wept　with　terror　at　the　thought
of　the　coming　of　these　terrible　heathen；　and　although　the
men　everywhere　spoke　of　resistance　to　the　last；　the　prospect
seemed　so　hopeless　that　even　the　bravest　were　filled　with
grief　and　despair。　Many　spoke　of　leaving　their　homes　and
retiring　with　their　wives　and　families；　their　serfs　and　herds　to
the　country　of　the　West　Saxons；　where　alone　there　appeared
any　hope　of　a　successful　resistance　being　made。　Wherever
they　went　Edmund　and　Egbert　brought　by　their　news　lamentation
and　woe　to　the　households　they　entered；　and　at　last　Edmund　said：

〃Egbert；　let　us　enter　no　more　houses　until　we　reach　the
end　of　our　journey；　wherever　we　go　we　are　messengers　of
evil；　and　turn　houses　of　feasting　into　abodes　of　grief。　Every
night　we　have　the　same　sad　story　to　tell；　and　have　to　witness
the　weeping　and　wailing　of　women。　A　thousand　times　better
were　it　to　sleep　among　the　woods；　at　any　rate　until　we　are
among　the　West　Saxons；　where　our　news　may　cause　indignation
and　rage　at　least；　but　where　it　will　arouse　a　brave　resolve
to　resist　to　the　last　instead　of　the　hopelessness　of　despair。〃

Egbert　thoroughly　agreed　with　the　lad；　and　henceforth
they　entered　no　houses　save　to　buy　bread　and　mead。　Of　meat
they　had　plenty；　for　as　they　passed　through　the　forests　Wolf
was　always　upon　the　alert；　and　several　times　found　a　wild
boar　in　his　lair；　and　kept　him　at　bay　until　Edmund　and　Egbert
ran　up　and　with　spears　and　swords　slew　him。　This　supplied
them　amply　with　meat；　and　gave　them　indeed　far　more　than
they　could　eat；　but　they　exchanged　portions　of　the　flesh　for
bread　in　the　villages。　At　last　they　came　down　upon　the
Thames　near　London；　and　crossing　the　river　journeyed　west。
They　were　now　in　the　kingdom　of　the　West　Saxons；　the　most
warlike　and　valiant　of　the　peoples　of　England；　and　who　had
gradually　extended　their　sway　over　the　whole　of　the　country。
The　union　was　indeed　but　little　more　than　nominal；　as　the
other　kings　retained　their　thrones；　paying　only　a　tribute　to
the　West　Saxon　monarchs。

As　Egbert　had　predicted；　their　tale　of　the　battle　of
Kesteven　here　aroused　no　feeling　save　that　of　wrath　and　a
desire　for　vengeance　upon　the　Danes。　Swords　were　grasped；
and　all　swore　by　the　saints　of　what　should　happen　to　the
invaders　should　they　set　foot　in　Wessex。　The　travellers　felt
their　spirits　rise　at　the　martial　and　determined　aspect
of　the　people。

〃It　is　a　sad　pity；〃　Egbert　said　to　Edmund　one　day；　〃that
these　West　Saxons　had　not　had　time　to　unite　England　firmly
together　before　the　Danes　set　foot　on　the　island。　It　is　our
divisions　which　have　rendered　their　task　so　far　easy。
Northumbria；　Mercia；　and　East　Anglia　have　one　by　one　been
invaded；　and　their　kings　have　had　to　fight　single…handed
against　them；　whereas　had　one　strong　king　reigned　over　the
whole　country；　so　that　all　our　force　could　have　been　exerted
against　the　invader　wherever　he　might　land；　the　Danes　would
never　have　won　a　foot　of　our　soil。　The　sad　day　of　Kesteven
showed　at　least　that　we　are　able　to　fight　the　Danes　man　for
man。　The　first　day　we　beat　them；　though　they　were　in
superior　numbers；　the　second　we　withstood　them　all　day；
although　they　were　ten　to　one　against　us；　and　they　would
never　have　triumphed　even　then　had　our　men　listened　to　their
leaders　and　kept　their　ranks。　I　do　not　believe　that　even
the　West　Saxons　could　have　fought　more　bravely　than　did　our
men　on　that　day；　but　they　are　better　organized；　their　king
is　energetic　and　determined；　and　when　the　Danes　invade　Wessex
they　will　find　themselves　opposed　by　the　whole　people　instead
of　merely　a　hastily　raised　assemblage　gathered　in　the
neighbourhood。〃

They　presently　approached　Reading；　where　there　was　a
royal　fortress；　in　which　King　Ethelred　and　his　brother　Alfred
were　residing。

〃It　is　truly　a　fine　city；〃　Edmund　said　as　he　approached　it；
〃its　walls　are　strong　and　high；　and　the　royal　palace；　which
rises　above　them；　is　indeed　a　stately　building。〃

They　crossed　the　river　and　entered　the　gates　of　the　town。
There　was　great　bustle　and　traffic　in　the　streets；　cynings；　or
nobles；　passed　along　accompanied　by　parties　of　thanes；　serfs
laden　with　fuel　or　provisions　made　their　way　in　from　the
surrounding　country；　while　freemen；　with　their　shields　flung
across　their　shoulders　and　their　swords　by　their　sides；　stalked
with　an　independent　air　down　the　streets。

The　travellers　approached　the　royal　residence。　The　gates
were　open；　and　none　hindered　their　entrance；　for　all　who
had　business　were　free　to　enter　the　royal　presence　and　to　lay
their　complaints　or　petitions　before　the　king。

Entering　they　found　themselves　in　a　large　hall。　The　lower
end　of　this　was　occupied　by　many　people；　who　conversed
together　in　little　groups　or　awaited　the　summons　of　the　king。
Across　the　upper　end　of　the　room　was　a　raised　dais；　and　in
the　centre　of　this　was　a　wide　chair　capable　of　holding　three
persons。　The　back　and　sides　were　high　and　richly　carved。　A
table　supported　by　four　carved　and　gilded　legs　stood　before
it。　Two　persons　were　seated　in　the　chair。

One　was　a　man　of　three　or　four　and　twenty；　the　other
was　his　junior　by　some　two　years。　Both　wore　light　crowns　of
gold　somewhat　different　in　their　fashion。　Before　the　younger
was　a　parchment；　an　inkhorn；　and　pens。　King　Ethelred　was
a　man　of　a　pleasant　face；　but　marked　by　care　and　by　long
vigils　and　rigorous　fastings。　Alfred　was　a　singularly　handsome
young　prince；　with　an　earnest　and　intellectual　face。　Both
had　their　faces　shaven　smooth。　Ethelred　wore　his　hair　parted