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Updated: June 22, 2025
On Wednesday I visited Abingdon, and had a long conference with the abbot about the neglected warning Edmund had given; but he seemed to think that the beacon fires and the guards placed near the sea coast secure us sufficiently. Like all the world, he thinks that the Etheling has exaggerated the danger. I have written a full account of all things to my brother at Aescendune.
The castle and village of Aescendune lay in deep silence all through this eventful day; it was in early spring, and the air was balmy, the sun bright, the birds sang their sweetest songs, the hedgerows and trees put forth their fresh green buds, and all nature seemed instinct with life.
But an old oak such as I am cannot be uprooted, and perhaps it is a carnal feeling, but I fear my earthly affections bind me here while life lasts, so, thanking him warmly for the distinction implied in the offer, I respectfully but firmly declined it. And so the king and his retinue left Aescendune.
The lady of Aescendune sat lonely in her bower; her features were pale, and she seemed all too sad for one so highly born, and so good a friend to the suffering and the poor; her gaze was like that of one whose thoughts are far away perhaps they had strayed into Paradise in search of him whose loss was daily making earth more like a desert to her.
"Elfric of Aescendune! right glad am I to hear that he is alive; my followers have brought me word that they saw him fall in battle." "Nay, spare thy deceit, thou son of perdition, for well do we know that he was brought home wounded last night. One of his bearers escaped thy toils, even as a bird the snare of the fowler, and is now with us." "Assuredly the loon has lied unto you.
It is on his behalf that I have sought his grace the new archbishop, led by his reputation for charity and justice, but hardly expecting to meet any one here who knew the story of our misfortunes and wrongs." "Thou wilt wonder less, perhaps, if thou lookest at me a little more closely. Dost thou not remember Geoffrey, Bishop of Coutances, who married Winifred of Aescendune to Hugo de Malville?"
The stranger started as if an arrow had suddenly pierced him. The young knight looked on him with amazement. "A fit to which I am subject it is nothing," said he, regaining his composure and drinking a goblet of wine. "May I ask thy mother's name? Thou saidst she was English." "Edith, daughter of Edmund, the English lord of Aescendune, and Winifred his wife."
The inhabitants of Aescendune, lord and vassals alike, were astir from the early daybreak; for that day the harvest was to be commenced, and the crops were heavier than had been known for many a year. A good harvest meant peace and prosperity in those times, a bad harvest famine, and perhaps rebellion; for if the home crop failed, commerce did not, as now, supply the deficiency.
Wilfred of Aescendune, on the other hand, looked like one whose innocence was vindicated; there was an expression of joy on his face joy, however, so tempered by other feelings, that it could not be called exultation. "It is a forgery a vile and shameful forgery," cried Etienne. "Thou didst thyself recognise the mark," said the king sternly.
He seemed but little welcome to Edwy, and the benediction with which he greeted his pupil was but coldly received. Not appearing to notice this, he mildly said, "You must introduce your young companion to me, my prince. Am I not right in concluding that I see before me Elfric, heir to the lands of Aescendune?"
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