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Updated: June 8, 2025
The room was so full for a few moments, that some died in it. Hereward and Osbiorn, protected by their strong armor, forced their way to the narrow window, and breathed through it, looking out upon the sea of flame below. "That was an unlucky blow," said Hereward, "that fell upon my head." "Very unlucky. I saw it coming, but had no time to warn you. Why do you hold my wrist?"
By them sat the Bishops, Egelwin the Englishman and Christiern the Dane; Osbiorn, the young Earls Edwin and Morcar, and Sweyn's two sons; and, it may be, the sons of Tosti Godwinsson, and Arkill the great Thane, and Hereward himself. Below them were knights, Vikings, captains, great holders from Denmark, and the Prior and inferior officers of Ely minster.
Earl Osbiorn shrunk back, appalled and trembling. "Aha!" said Hereward without looking round. "I never thought there would be loose stones in the roof. Here! Up here, Vikings, Berserker, and sea-cocks all! Here, Jutlanders, Jomsburgers, Letts, Finns, witches' sons and devils' sons all! Here!" cried he, while Osbiorn profited by that moment to thrust an especially brilliant jewel into his boot.
They were out in the court-yard, and safe for the moment. But whither should he take her? "To Earl Osbiorn," said one of the Siwards. But how to find him? "There is Bishop Christiern!" And the Bishop was caught and stopped. "This is an evil day's work, Sir Hereward." "Then help to mend it by taking care of these ladies, like a man of God." And he explained the case.
He himself would sail round to the Wash, raise the Fen-men, and march eastward at their head through Norfolk to meet him. Osbiorn himself could not refuse so rational a proposal. All the earls and bishops approved loudly; and away Hereward went to the Wash, his heart well-nigh broken, foreseeing nothing but evil. The voyage round the Norfolk coast was rough and wild.
As Hereward came up, crucifix and man fell together, crashing upon the pavement, amid shouts of brutal laughter. He hurried past them, shuddering, into the choir. The altar was bare, the golden pallium which covered it, gone. "It may be in the crypt below. I suppose the monks keep their relics there," said Osbiorn. "No! Not there. Do not touch the relics!
And Osbiorn went in; tried to take Dover; and was beaten off with heavy loss. Then the earls bade him take Hereward's advice. But he would not. So he went round the Foreland, and tried Sandwich, as if, landing there, he would have been safe in marching on London, in the teeth of the elite of Normandy. But he was beaten off there, with more loss.
"We will make room for you! We will make a rid road from here to Winchester!" shouted the holders and knights. "It is too late. What say you, Hereward Leofricsson, who go for a wise man among men?" Hereward rose, and spoke gracefully, earnestly, eloquently; but he could not deny Sweyn's plain words. "Sir Hereward beats about the bush," said Earl Osbiorn, rising when Hereward sat down.
And thou art Swend Ulfsson, the king?" "I am Earl Osbiorn, his brother." "Then, where is the king?" "He is in Denmark, and I command his fleet; and with me are Canute and Harold, Sweyn's sons, and earls and bishops enough for all England." This was spoken in a somewhat haughty tone, in answer to the look of surprise and disappointment which Hereward had, unawares, allowed to pass over his face.
"God forbid, my beloved! What words are these?" "Swend fool that he is with his over-caution, always the same! has let the prize slip from between his fingers. He has sent Osbiorn instead of himself." "But why is that so terrible a mistake?" "We do not want a fleet of Vikings in England, to plunder the French and English alike. We want a king, a king, a king!" and Hereward stamped with rage.
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