Edwy the Fair or the First Chronicle of Aescendune Read online

several courtsand passages, they reached the guardroom.

  Three or four of the "hus-carles" or household guards were here on duty.But in the embrasure of the window, poring over a map, sat one of verydifferent mien from the common soldiers, and whose air and manner, noless than his dress, proclaimed the officer.

  "Redwald," said the prince, advancing to the window, "let me make youacquainted with my friend and companion, Elfric of Aescendune."

  The officer started, as if with some sudden surprise, but it passed awayso quickly that the beholder might fancy the start had only existed inimagination, as perhaps it did.

  "This gallant warrior," said Edwy to Elfric, "is my friend andcounsellor in many ways; and if he lives there shall not be a thane inEngland who shall stand above him. You will soon find out his value,Elfric."

  "My prince is pleased to flatter his humble servant," said Redwald.

  But Elfric was gazing upon the soldier with feelings he could scarcelyanalyse. There was something in his look and the tone of his voice whichstruck a hidden chord, and awoke recollections as if of a previousexistence.

  "Redwald," as Edwy named him, was tall and dark, with many of thecharacteristics of the Danish race about him. His nose was slightlyaquiline, his eyes hid beneath bushy eyebrows, while his massive jawdenoted energy of character--energy which one instinctively felt wasquite as likely to be exerted for evil as for good.

  He was captain of the hus-carles, and had but recently entered the royalservice. Few knew his lineage. He spoke the Anglo-Saxon tongue withgreat fluency, and bore testimonials certifying his valour andfaithfulness from the court of Normandy, where the Northmen under Rollohad some half-century earlier founded a flourishing state, then ruledover by the noble Duke "Richard the Fearless."

  Edwy seemed to be on intimate terms with this soldier of fortune; infact, with all his proud anticipation of his future greatness, he wasnever haughty to his inferiors, perhaps we should say seldom, for weshall hereafter note exceptions to this rule. It would be a greatmistake to suppose that the pomp and ceremony of our Norman kings wasshared by their English predecessors: the manners and customs of thecourt of Edred were simplicity itself.

  After a few moments of private conversation with Redwald, the boysreturned to their chamber to prepare for dinner.

  "You noted that man," said Edwy; "well, I don't know how I should livewithout him."

  Elfric's looks expressed surprise.

  "You will find out by and by; you have little idea how strictly we arekept here, and how much one is indebted to one's servants for the giftof liberty, especially in Lent and on fast days, when one does not gethalf enough to eat, and must sometimes escape the gloom and starvationof the palace."

  "Starvation?"

  "What else do you call it, when you get nothing but fish, fish, fish,and bread and water to help it down. My uncle is awfully religious. Ican hardly stand it sometimes. He would like to spend half the day inchapel, but, happily for all the rest of us, the affairs of state aretoo urgent for that, so we do get a little breathing time, or else Ishould have to twist my mouth all of one side singing dolorous chantsand tunes which are worse than a Danish war whoop, for he likes, hesays, to hear the service hearty."

  "But it helps you on with your Latin."

  "Not much of that, for I sing anything that comes into my head; thesinging men make such a noise, they can hear no one else, and I fancythey don't know what a word of the Latin prayers means."

  "But isn't it irreverent--too irreverent, I mean. Father Cuthbert mademe afraid to mock God, he told such stories about judgment."

  "All fudge and nonsense--oh, I beg your pardon, it is all very godlyand pious, and really I expect to be greatly edified by your piety inchapel. Pray, when shall you be canonised?"

  Elfric could not bear ridicule, and blushed for the second time thatmorning. Just then the bell rang for dinner, or rather was struck with amallet by the master of the ceremonies.

  King Edred dined that day, as one might say, in the bosom of his family;only Dunstan was present, besides the boys Edwy, Edgar his youngerbrother, and Elfric. It was then that Elfric first saw the youngerprince, a pale studious-looking boy of twelve, but with a very firm andintellectual expression of countenance. He was a great favourite withDunstan, whom the boy, unlike his brother, regarded with the greatestrespect and reverence.

  The conversation was somewhat stiff; Edred spoke a few kind words to theyoung stranger, and then conversed in an undertone with Dunstan, thewhole dinner time; the princes themselves were awed by the presence oftheir uncle and his spiritual guide.

  But at last, like all other things, it was over, and with feelings ofjoy the boys broke forth from the restraint. The whole afternoon wasspent in seeing the sights of London, and they all three, for Edgaraccompanied them, returned to the evening meal, fatigued in body, but inhigh spirits. Compline in the royal chapel terminated the day, as masshad begun it.

  CHAPTER V. TEMPTATION.

  But a few days had passed before Elfric learned the secret of Redwald'sinfluence over the young prince.

  The household of Edred was conducted with the strictest propriety.[ix]All rose with the lark, and the first duty was to attendat the early mass in the royal chapel. Breakfast followed, and then theking on ordinary days gave the whole forenoon to business of state, andhe thought it his duty to see that each member of the royal householdhad some definite employment, knowing that idleness was the mother ofmany evils. So the young princes had their tasks assigned them by theirtutor, as we have already seen, and the spare hours which were savedfrom their studies were given to such practice in the use of thenational weapons as seemed necessary to those who might hereafter leadarmies, or to gymnastic exercises which strengthened nerve and musclefor a time of need.

  In the afternoon they might ride or walk abroad, but a strict interdictwas placed upon certain haunts where temptation might perchance befound, and they had to return by evensong, which the king generallyattended in person when at home. Then, in winter, indoor recreationstill compline, for it was a strict rule of the king that his nephewsshould not leave the palace after sundown.

  He further caused their tutor, who directed their education under thesupervision of Dunstan--Father Benedict--whom we have alreadyintroduced, to see that they properly discharged all the duties ofpublic and private devotion.

  But he did not see, in the excess of his zeal, that he was reallydestroying the prospects which were nearest his heart, and that therecan be no more fatal mistake than to compel the performance of religiousduties which exceed the measure of the youthful capacity or endurance.

  With Edgar, who was naturally pious, the system produced no evil result;but with Edwy the effect was most sad. He had become, as we have seen,deceitful; and a character, naturally fair, was undermined to an extentwhich neither the king nor Dunstan suspected.

  The reader may naturally ask how could Dunstan, so astute as he was,make this mistake, or at least suffer Edred to make it?

  The fact was that Dunstan understood the affairs of state better thanthose of the heart, and although well fitted for a guide to men ofsincere piety, and capable of opposing to the wicked an iron will andinflexible resolution, he did not understand the young, and seemed tohave forgotten his own youth. Sincerely truthful and straightforward, hehardly knew whether to feel more disgust or surprise at Edwy's evidentunfaithfulness. He little knew that unfaithfulness was only one of hisfailings, and not the worst.

  A few nights after Elfric's arrival, when the palace gates had been shutfor the night, the compline service said, the household guard posted,and the boys had retired to their sleeping apartments, he heard a lowknock at his door. He opened it, and Edwy entered.

  "Are you disposed for a pleasant evening, Elfric?"

  "Such pleasure as there is in sleep."

  "No, I do not mean that. We cannot sleep, like bears in winter, duringall the hours which should be given to mirth. I am going out thisevening, and I want you to go with me."

&nb
sp; "Going out?"

  "Yes. Don't stand staring there, as if I was talking Latin or somethingharder; but get your shoes on again--

  "No; you had better come down without shoes; it will make less noise."

  "But how can we get out? I have not the least idea where you are going?"

  "All in good time. We shall get out easily enough. Are you coming?"

  Half fearful, yet not liking to resist the prince, and his curiositypressing him to solve the secret, Elfric followed Edwy down the stairsto the lower hall, where Redwald was on guard. He seemed to await thelads, for he bowed at once to the prince and proceeded to the outerdoor, where, at an imperious signal from him, the warder threw thelittle inner portal open, and the three passed out.

  "Is the boat ready?" said Edwy.

  "It is; and trusty rowers await you."

  Redwald