Wulf the Saxon | Page 5

now that
you had an interest in the affair."
"That had I. I was holding myself in readiness, if that Norman boy
drew his dagger, to give him such a blow across the wrist with my
cudgel that it would be long before he handled a weapon again. I fear
Wulf has got himself into trouble. The bishop will doubtless complain
to the king of the language used by one of Harold's pages, and though
the earl is well able to see that no harm comes to the lad, it is likely he
will send him away to his estates for a time. For he strives always to
avoid quarrels and disputes, and though he will not give way a jot in
matters where it seems to him that the good of the realm is concerned,
he will go much farther lengths than most men would do in the way of
conciliation. Look how he has borne with Tostig and with the Earls of
Mercia. He seems to have no animosity in his nature, but is ready to

forgive all injuries as soon as pardon is asked."
The smith was not far wrong in his opinion as to what was likely to
happen. As soon as Wulf returned to the palace he was told that the earl
desired his presence, and he proceeded at once to the apartment where
Harold transacted public business. It was a hall of considerable size; the
floor was strewed with rushes; three scribes sat at a table, and to them
the earl dictated his replies and decisions on the various matters
brought before him. When he saw Wulf enter he rose from his seat, and,
beckoning to him to follow, pushed aside the hangings across a door
leading to an apartment behind and went in. Wulf had no fear whatever
of any severe consequence to himself from his quarrel with Walter
Fitz-Urse, but he was ashamed that his thoughtlessness should have
given the slightest trouble to the earl, for, popular as he was among all
classes of men in southern England, Harold was an object of love as
well as respect to his dependents, and indeed to all who came in close
contact with him.
The earl was now forty-one years of age. He was very tall, and was
considered the strongest man in England. His face was singularly
handsome, with an expression of mingled gentleness and firmness. His
bearing was courteous to all. He united a frank and straightforward
manner with a polished address rare among his rough countrymen.
Harold had travelled more and farther than any Englishman of his age.
He had visited foreign courts and mingled with people more advanced
in civilization than were those of England or Normandy, and was
centuries ahead of the mass of his countrymen. He was an ardent
advocate of education, a strong supporter of the national church, an
upholder of the rights of all men, and although he occasionally gave
way to bursts of passion, was of a singularly sweet and forgiving
disposition.
King Edward was respected by his people because, coming after two
utterly worthless kings, he had an earnest desire for their good,
although that desire seldom led to any very active results. He was a
member of their own royal house. He was deeply religious. His life was
pure and simple, and although all his tastes and sympathies were with

the land in which he had been brought up, Englishmen forgave him this
because at least he was a Saxon, while his predecessors had been Danes.
But while they respected Edward, for Harold, their real ruler, they felt a
passionate admiration. He was a worthy representative of all that was
best in the Saxon character. He possessed in an eminent degree the
openness of nature, the frank liberality, the indomitable bravery, and
the endurance of hardship that distinguished the race. He was Earl of
the West Saxons, and as such had special claims to their fealty.
London, it was true, did not lie in his earldom, but in that of his brother
Leofwyn, but Leofwyn and Harold were as one--true brothers in heart
and in disposition. The gentleness and courtesy of manner that,
although natural, had been softened and increased by Harold's contact
with foreigners, was not only pardoned but admired because he was
England's champion against foreigners. He had fought, and victoriously,
alike against the Norwegians, the Danes of Northumbria, and the Welsh,
and he struggled as sturdily, though peacefully, against Norman
influence in England. Already the dread of Norman preponderance was
present in the minds of Englishmen. It was no secret that in his early
days Edward had held out hopes, if he had not given an actual promise,
to William of Normandy that he should succeed him. Of late the king
had