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Updated: July 6, 2025
"But there are thanes and such-like left outside," he said, laughing more yet. "Now Godwine is not here, I dare say that you have felt, more than once, the queen's tongue for nought." "I will deny it," said I, "to anyone but Elfric the abbot," whereat he laughed till the tears came into his eyes. He had known our queen in the old days before Streone's treachery.
Moreover, I had a notion why she would not come, and I wanted to ask her if I was right. And I was." "I thought of that," said I; "she was in the same plight as myself until Godwine decked me out thus. Women think more of their attire than we." The thane chuckled in his quiet way. "Why, perhaps that had somewhat to do with it, but I did not ask her, I forgot.
A common forest deer thief could tie him up." "I should have thanked one for slaying me at times," said Relf grimly. "I prefer solid ground to shifty deck planks." So whether it was love of home or loathing of sea that took him back to Penhurst, Relf and I left Godwine on the next morning; and at the nunnery door waited Uldra, looking bright and cheerful and greeting us gladly as we came.
It was not until Godwine came to the ships that he knew who it was that he had guided, and they won him over, and he stayed. Nor did I know. I spoke with Ulf, asking him of the battle, and of Egil, and the like, for he was the earl's guest. And I thought nothing of Godwine's guidance of a Dane to the ships, for the earl was no foe of Cnut.
Therefore, my thane, for your sake, and seeing specially that already our brother Cnut is well disposed toward you, as Godwine son of Wulfnoth tells us, by reason of your service to Emma the queen I would bid you accept him as ruler of East Anglia, where your place is.
Northumbrian lay apart from West-Saxon, Northman from Englishman. A common national sympathy held the country roughly together, but a real national union had yet to come. It came with foreign rule. The rule of the Danish kings broke local jealousies as they had never been broken before, and bequeathed a new England to Godwine and the Confessor.
Still, as Gytha, widow of Godwine, mother of Harold, was within the walls of Exeter, the movement was doubtless also in some sort on behalf of the House of Godwine. In any case, Exeter and the lands and towns in its alliance with Exeter strengthened themselves in every way against attack.
He said no more about this, and we came to the hall, and then went to find Godwine at the ships. But I could not but feel disappointed that Uldra would not come with us. And that was not all for her own sake, as I found when I came to turn over my thoughts a little. I would fain see more of the maiden who had borne peril so well, and had stood so bravely at my side.
He was as one of the heroes, of whom Ottar sang, in his way to me. Then I grew light hearted in that strange way that comes after long strain of fearing the worst, when the worst is known and it is not so terrible after all. I had no fear for the queen, and I was free, and going to Godwine and his father who were my friends. Also I should see Penhurst and Relf again, most likely.
"Redwald is an Anglian name," said Godwine, taking my hand. "Are you English therefore?" "Aye, young sir, from East Anglian Bures, in Suffolk," I answered. "Are you Edric Streone's man then?" he said, dropping my hand suddenly and half stepping back. "I am not," I said pretty stoutly, for I was angry with Streone's way with Olaf and with other ways of his. "Ulfkytel is our earl."
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