It was not until the
afternoon that Wulf had an interview with Harold. The earl had just come
from a council and was alone.
"Thank you for coming up so speedily," he said as he shook the young thane
by the hand. "You have heard the news, I suppose?"
"I have heard that Northumberland has risen in rebellion."
"Yes, that was the news that arrived four days since."
"Is it serious?"
"Yes, very serious; the rebellion grows each day. It is headed by several
of the greatest landowners in the north, both Danish and Saxon, and the
worst part of the news is that the trouble has, as I hear, been stirred up
by Edwin of Mercia and his brother. It is the old rivalry between the House
of Leofric and ours. They are jealous of our influence with the king, and
would gladly rend England into two kingdoms again. We hear to-day that the
Northumbrian nobles have summoned a Gemot to meet, which amounts in fact to
a rebellion, not only against Tostig but against the king."
"If Mercia joins Northumbria it would be a more serious business than that
in Wales."
"I think not that it will be so," Harold said. "Edwin has been always
conspiring. He stirred up the Welsh, he has encouraged the Norwegians, he
has intrigued in Northumbria. He and his brother have ever been a source
of trouble, and yet he has never openly rebelled; he sets others to do the
fighting for him, prepared if they are successful to reap the fruits of
their victory.
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