Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 17, 2025
The hour had come for Etienne to depart. He had bidden farewell to the faithful Hilda. His last words were "Thou hast lost one son, mother, but found another; if Etienne de Malville lives, thou shalt be recompensed one day."
At length an incurable disease seized me, and I determined to unburden my conscience, and dragged myself here, only to learn that the sweet lady of Aescendune had died within the year, with all the symptoms of rapid decline, and upon my sod I charge Hugo de Malville with the murder. Given in the infirmary of the house of St. Wilfred, in the month of May, 1068.
"Etienne de Malville et Aescendune, enter!" cried the herald of the court. And Etienne appeared, dressed in sable mourning, and bowed before the throne. He was pale, too, if that sallow colour, which olive-like complexions like his assume when wrought upon, can be called pale.
"I am at your lordship's disposal." "Didst thou ever deal with Hugo, sometime lord of Malville. and afterwards of Aescendune?" "Once only." "On what occasion?" "He sought a medicine." "A medicine?" said Geoffrey, sternly; "thou triflest." "Nay! a poison, I would have said." "Of what specific nature?" "To produce the symptoms of decline the patient would sink and die."
On the tower itself stood Etienne de Malville, eager to see the end of his hated rival, and to make sure, by ocular evidence, of his death. The morning was clear, after high dawn. The spectator on the tower looked towards the eastern hills, over the valley of the Cherwell, to see the sun arise above the heights of Headington.
"Do ye all," said Lanfranc, turning round, "hear his affirmation?" "We do " "Then hear what the paper contains." I, Guy, son of Roger, born at Malville, being a dying man, and about to meet my God, do make this, my last confession, for the safety of my poor soul.
"And thou blushest not to own it?" "Why should I? Norman and English have long been peacefully united on my father's lands, and we know no distinction." "Such, I have heard, is not yet everywhere the case in thine island; but thou hast not told me thy name." "Edward of Aescendune, son of Etienne, lord of Aescendune in England, and Malville in Normandy."
"She mourns our absence in the halls of Aescendune, yet she could not grudge us to the Cross, and methinks she finds consolation in many a holy deed of mercy and charity." "Hast thou any brethren, or art thou her only child?" "Nay, we are four in number two boys and two girls. My brother Hugh is destined to be the future lord of Malville, and I, if I survive, shall inherit Aescendune."
He cast upon Wilfred one glance of intense hatred, and then, looking down respectfully, awaited the words of the Conqueror. "Etienne de Malville, dost thou appear as the accuser of this prisoner?" "I do." "Take thine oath, then, upon the Holy Gospels, only to speak the truth; my Lord Archbishop will administer it."
Was it not to go forth as fugitives and vagabonds on the face of the earth a prey to every foreign noble leaving her own dear people of Aescendune to the wolf, without intercessor or protector. And thus it came to pass that Winifred of Aescendune married Hugo de Malville. In the days of chivalry the first step towards the degree of knighthood was that of page.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking