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I thought it plain that he had trouble at times in keeping back the pride and haughtiness which I had heard had been the fault in both Neot and himself, for now and then they showed plainly. Then he made haste to make amends if one was hurt by what he had said in haste. But altogether I thought him even more kingly than the mighty Harald Fairhair in some ways.
When he had passed out of hearing, I said: "Are there wiser things yet that you may sing?" "Ay, and that you may learn, my son," answered Neot. "Listen." Then he spoke words from Holy Writ that I know now the words that speak of where wisdom may be found. And he said thereafter, and truly, that it was not all. Then I seemed to fear greatly. "Not now, my king, not now," I said; "it is enough."
Now he saw that I was in earnest, and put me by very kindly. "I must ask Sigehelm, our bishop here, who is my best leech next to Neot. "What say you, father?" "Even as you have said, my king." "Maybe, bishop," said I, "you have never tried the might of runes?" Whereat the good man held up his hands in horror, making no answer, and I laughed a little at him.
"He will have nought to do with the new faith," I said. "But at least he does not blame us for leaving the old gods. He says he is too old to learn what we younger men think good." "I will seek him and speak with him again," Neot said. "I think I owe him somewhat."
Neot, and Lord Francis Villiers was killed; and as we passed through the town, we saw Colonel Montague, afterwards Earl of Sandwich, spoiling the town for the Parliament and himself.
When we came back to Aller, the first thing that I did was to tell Neot of our meeting with Odin while his wild hunt went on through the tempest, telling him how that I had feared unwisely, and also of Harek's brave withstanding of the danger. "It is said that our forefathers met Odin in like wise in the days of the first christening of our race," he said.
Then came Neot on foot, with Guerir his fellow hermit, from Cornwall, to be present; and Harek and I rejoiced as much as the king that he had come. "I think I must answer for you two at the font," he said. "For Kolgrim also, I pray you, Father Neot," said I; "for he will be baptized with us." "Ay, for honest Kolgrim also," he answered; "but what of old Thord, my reprover?"
Then I minded me of Neot, and his way of asking about my gods, as if the belief of every man was of interest to him. "Here is a deep matter to be talked of, King Alfred," I said. "It does not do to speak lightly and carelessly of such things. Nor am I more than your guest as yet, willing to hear what you would have me know.
He was extraordinarily sanguine. "Rationalise," he said to Froude, "when the evidence is weak, and this will give credibility for others, when you can show that the evidence is strong." Froude chose St. Neot, a contemporary of Alfred, in whose life the supernatural played a comparatively small part. He told his story as legend, not quite as Newman wanted it.
"That is a kindly thought, cousin," Alfred answered; "but I am sure that no runes will avail when the prayers of my people, from holy Neot to the little village children, do not. And I fear that even would they heal me, I must sooner bear the pain than seek to magic spells." "Nay, but try them, King Alfred," I said; "there is no ill magic in them."
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