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"But I am going to hang you," and he chuckled in his evil way. There were many meanings in that laugh of Streone's. "You can do as you like with me, as it happens," I answered, "but I had rather swing at a rope's end as an honest man than sit at Cnut's table as Streone the traitor." He tried to laugh, but it stuck in his throat, and so he turned to rage instead. "Smite him," he said to the Danes.
I knew that my story must have come into this shape through some tales that the goldsmith had set about. "Hardly," said I; "but it is a long story. Maybe Eadmund the Saint had more to do with it than I know; but I saw him not." "Well then, Redwald, it seems unsafe for you to go near Streone "
Cnut's fleet went from the Medway northward, and it was in the thoughts of all men that the end had come, and that he sought his own land at last. And that seemed the more certain to most because Streone had submitted, as if he knew that he had no further hope of honour from the Danish king.
Then fell the shadow of ill on us. Edric Streone and his men met us at Aylesford, and he came in to the king and made most humble submission to him. And that was what Olaf had told Eadmund would happen when once again he had the victory. Therefore when I saw the earl come into the camp to speak with Eadmund I said: "Mind you what Olaf said. How that you should hang Streone." "Aye, I mind it.
His father, Wolnoth, had been "Childe" of the South Saxons, or thegn of Sussex, a nephew of Edric Streone, Earl of Mercia, the unprincipled but able minister of Ethelred, who betrayed his master to Canute, by whom, according to most authorities, he was righteously, though not very legally, slain as a reward for the treason.
Now when I heard that I wondered, and asked the Sheriff, at whose house I was made most welcome, how this was. Eadmund had been with his father, and had gone to Malmsbury, and there had seen the Lady Algitha, the widow of Earl Sigeferth whom Edric Streone slew, and had married her, and now had gone to take over the Five Boroughs for himself.
"I know not what else he could do at last. He will join us again as soon as we land. So also will Utred." "Then we are equal," said the king, while a cloud seemed to pass from his face, for Streone led all Mercia, and were he in truth on our side things would go well.
And when I crossed the floor before her I bowed, and she beckoned to me. So I came near, and knelt on one knee before her. "You are Redwald, Olaf's kinsman and messenger?" she asked. "Yes, lady," I answered. "I have heard of your coming. Have you spoken with the earl Streone?" she said, while a wrinkle crossed her fair forehead as she named him. "I have but just left him, lady."
I wished they would hasten, that was all. Now the horseman and his follower came up, and lo! Egil was the rider, and with him was Thrand. "Ho!" cried Egil, "hold hard. That is my man." Streone turned on him with a snarl. "Your man!" he said. "I took him. Hold your peace." "There you lie," quoth Thrand. "I took him myself for Egil, my master as your own men know. I told them."
"This is what Streone thought, for he deemed that he should be the king's master if he set him on the throne. So he must needs try to gain more wealth from the king, and after he had been at court for a while, one might see that Cnut grew weary of his words.
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