This eBook was produced by Tapio Riikonen
and David Widger
The good Bishop Alred, now raised to the See of York, had beensummoned from his cathedral seat by Edward, who had indeed undergone asevere illness, during the absence of Harold; and that illness hadbeen both preceded and followed by mystical presentiments of the evildays that were to fall on England after his death. He had thereforesent for the best and the holiest prelate in his realm, to advise andcounsel with.
The bishop had returned to his lodging in London (which was in aBenedictine Abbey, not far from the Aldgate) late one evening, fromvisiting the King at his rural palace of Havering; and he was seatedalone in his cell, musing over an interview with Edward, which hadevidently much disturbed him, when the door was abruptly thrown open,and pushing aside in haste the monk, who was about formally toannounce him, a man so travel-stained in garb, and of a mien sodisordered, rushed in, that Alred gazed at first as on a stranger, andnot till the intruder spoke did he recognise Harold the Earl. Eventhen, so wild was the Earl's eye, so dark his brow, and so livid hischeek, that it rather seemed the ghost of the man than the manhimself. Closing the door on the monk, the Earl stood a moment on thethreshold, with a breast heaving with emotions which he sought in vainto master; and, as if resigning the effort, he sprang forward, claspedthe prelate's knees, bowed his head on his lap, and sobbed aloud. Thegood bishop, who had known all the sons of Godwin from their infancy,and to whom Harold was as dear as his own child, folding his handsover the Earl's head, soothingly murmured a benediction.
"No, no," cried the Earl, starting to his feet, and tossing thedishevelled hair from his eyes, "bless me not yet! Hear my talefirst, and then say what comfort, what refuge, thy Church can bestow!"
Hurriedly then the Earl poured forth the dark story, already known tothe reader,—the prison at Belrem, the detention at William's court,the fears, the snares, the discourse by the riverside, the oath overthe relics. This told, he continued, "I found myself in the open air,and knew not, till the light of the sun smote me, what might havepassed into my soul. I was, before, as a corpse which a witch raisesfrom the dead, endows with a spirit not its own—passive to her hand—life-like, not living. Then, then it was as if a demon had passedfrom my body, laughing scorn at the foul things it had made the claydo. O, father, father! is there not absolution from this oath,—anoath I dare not keep? rather perjure myself than betray my land!"
The prelate's face was as pale as Harold's, and it was some momentsbefore he could reply.
"The Church can loose and unloose—such is its delegated authority.
But speak on; what saidst thou at the last to William?"
"I know not, remember not—aught save these words. 'Now, then, giveme those for whom I placed myself in thy power; let me restore Haco tohis fatherland, and Wolnoth to his mother's kiss, and wend home myway.' And, saints in heaven! what was the answer of this caitiffNorman, with his glittering eye and venomed smile? 'Haco thou shalthave, for he is an orphan and an uncle's love is not so hot as to burnfrom a distance; but Wolnoth, thy mother's son, must stay with me as ahostage for thine own faith. Godwin's hostages are released; Harold'shostage I retain: it is but a form, yet these forms are the bonds ofprinces.'