Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 11, 2025
The first theoretically included all free holders of land, but it shrank at an early time into a gathering of earls, higher nobles, and bishops, with the officers and thegns of the royal household. But though its composition remained the same, the character of the assembly was essentially altered; from a free gathering of "Wise Men" it sank to a Royal Court of feudal vassals.
The cruelties of the old heathen Danes seemed revived in the bloody and barbarous tale. "And now," said the thegn, in conclusion, "canst thou condemn us that we rose? no partial rising; rose all Northumbria! At first but two hundred thegns; strong in our course, we swelled into the might of a people.
Two of the thegns, their blood hot with strife and revenge, proposed to scale the mountain with the whole force the reinforcements had brought them, and put all they found to the sword. The third, old and prudent, and inured to Welch warfare, thought otherwise. "None of us," said he, "know what is the true strength of the place which ye propose to storm.
Perhaps the Earl was not, in his own mind, averse from returning William's display of power by some evidence of his own military skill, and the valour of the Saxon thegns in his train. There might be prudence in such exhibition, and, at all events, he could not with a good grace decline the proposal.
"It is true, it is true," cried the thegns, rallying from their first superstitious terror, and, with their plain English sense of justice, revolted at the perfidy which the priest's overtures had concealed. "We will hear no more; away with the Swikebode."
If William seize London, that treasury is his, with all the wealth of our burgesses. How should we maintain an army, except by preying on the people, and thus discontenting them? Where guard that army? Where are our forts? where our mountains? The war of delay suits only a land of rock and defile, or of castle and breast-work. Thegns and warriors, ye have no castles but your breasts of mail.
But the stake was too weighty, the suspense too keen, for that reverent delicacy in those around; and the thegns pressed on each other, and a murmur rose, which murmured the name of Harold. "Bethink thee, my son," said Alred, in a tender voice tremulous with emotion; "the young Atheling is too much an infant yet for these anxious times." Edward signed his head in assent.
Who among my foes, if foes now I have, will not respect the old man's gladness? Who amongst you, earls and thegns, would not grieve, if his duty bade him say to the grey-haired exile, 'In this English air you shall not breathe your last sigh on this English soil you shall not find a grave! Who amongst you would not grieve to say it?"
And, if the King remains as aloof as now from his royal kinsman, Edward the Atheling, who" the Earl hesitated and looked round "who so near to the throne when I am no more, as Harold, the joy of the ceorls, and the pride of the thegns? he whose tongue never falters in the Witan, and whose arm never yet hath known defeat in the field?" Githa's heart swelled, and her cheek grew flushed.
"No," said the Earl, "I propose to exempt Gryffyth alone from the pardon, with promise, natheless, of life if he give himself up as prisoner; and count, without further condition, on the King's mercy." There was a prolonged silence. None spoke against the Earl's proposal, though the two younger thegns misliked it much. At last said the elder, "But hast thou thought who will carry this message?
Word Of The Day
Others Looking