Wulf and Duncan set free by Robert.
- press those wishes to the Primate, William Rufus left
the bedside of his father while the breath was still in him. He started for the haven of Touques, a spot of which we shall get a vivid picture later in our story. With him set forth the bearer of the letter, one of the great King's chaplains, and, as some say, his Chancellor. This was Robert Bloet, he who was presently to succeed Remigius of Fécamp in his newly-placed throne on the hill of Lincoln.[1] Before they had left Norman ground, the news came that all was over, that England had no longer a king.[2] William crossed with all speed, seemingly to Southampton, and found in England no rival, English or Norman. He indeed brought with him two men, either of whom, if Englishmen had still heart enough to dream of a king of their own blood, might have been his rival. Among the captives whom the Conqueror set free on his death-bed were two men who represented the mightiest of the fallen houses of conquered England. These were Morkere the son of Ælfgar, once the chosen Earl of the Northumbrians, and Wulfnoth, the youngest son of Godwine and brother[3] of Harold. Two other captives of royal blood, Duncan the son of Malcolm and Ingebiorg, so long a hostage for his father's doubtful faith to his over-lord,[4]
- ↑ Orderic has two statements as to the port from which William set sail. In his account of the Conqueror's death (659 D), he makes him sail from Witsand. But afterwards (763 D), when speaking of Robert Bloet, he says, "Senioris Guillelmi capellanus fuerat, eoque defuncto de portu Tolochæ cum juniore Guillelmo mare transfretaverat, et epistolam regis de coronanda prole Lanfranco archiepiscopo detulerat." This latter is to be preferred, as the more circumstantial account. Touques moreover is at once the more likely haven to be chosen by one setting out from Rouen, and the one less likely to come into the head of a careless narrator. Robert of Torigny also (Cont. Will. Gem. viii. 2) makes the place Touques.
- ↑ Ord. Vit. 659 D. "Ibi jam patrem audivit obiisse."
- ↑ Fl. Wig. 1087. "Willelmus . . . Angliam festinato adiit, ducens secum Wlnothum et Morkarum."
- ↑ See N. C. vol. iv. p. 517.
