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Updated: June 24, 2025
Edward released his hand, and laid it on her head as in benediction. Then motioning to the abbot of Westminster, he drew from his finger the ring which the palmer had brought to him , and murmured scarce audibly: "Be this kept in the House of St. Peter in memory of me!" "He is alive now to us speak " whispered more than one thegn, one abbot, to Alred and to Stigand.
And Stigand, as the harder and more worldly man of the two, moved up, and bending over the pillow, between Alred and the King, said: "O royal son, about to win the crown to which that of earth is but an idiot's wreath of withered leaves, not yet may thy soul forsake us.
You, as Tostig's brother, have done well to abstain from active interference; you do well to leave it to us to negotiate the necessary alliance between all brave and good men." "And to that end, as imperative for the public weal, you consent," said Alred, thoughtfully, "to abide by our advice, whatever it be?" "Whatever it be, so that it serve England," answered the Earl.
Meanwhile the two archprelates bent over him Stigand eagerly, Alred fondly. Then raising himself on one arm, while with the other he pointed to Harold at the foot of the bed, the King said: "Your hearts, I see, are with Harold the Earl: so be it." At those words he fell back on his pillow; a loud shriek burst from his wife's lips; all crowded around; he lay as the dead.
There was great rejoicing in England. King Edward had been induced to send Alred the prelate to the court of the German Emperor, for his kinsman and namesake, Edward Atheling, the son of the great Ironsides. The King of Sweden, however, forwarded the children to the court of Hungary; they were there honourably reared and received. Edmund died young, without issue.
"I don't want to be crowned king, rude man, with your laidly moustache: I want to be made knight, and have banderol and baldric. Go away!" "We go, son," said Alred, mournfully. And with slow and tottering step he moved to the door; there he halted, turned back, and the child was pointing at him in mimicry, while Godfroi, the Norman tutor, smiled as in pleasure.
For Harold, mild and conciliating, was, like Alred, a great peacemaker, and Edward had never cause to complain of him, as he believed he had of the rest of that haughty house.
The King rose in great disorder; and, after pacing the room some moments, disregardful of the silent and scared looks of his Churchmen, waved his hand, in sign to them to depart. All took the hint at once save Alred; but he, lingering the last, approached the King with dignity in his step and compassion in his eyes.
Alred and Stigand, the two great prelates of the realm, had conducted Harold to the church , and up the aisle to the altar, followed by the chiefs of the Witan in their long robes; and the clergy with their abbots and bishops sung the anthems "Fermetur manus tua," and "Gloria Patri."
"Speak on, father," said Harold, turning somewhat pale at the solemnity of the address; "I am ready, if the council so desire, to remain a subject, and aid in the choice of a worthier king." "Thou divinest me ill," answered Alred; "I do not call on thee to lay aside the crown, but to crucify the heart. The decree of the Witan assigns Mercia and Northumbria to the sons of Algar.
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