Baron de Burg, on the day after their
arrival at Westminster, led the two young thanes to the private apartment
of the king. He received them graciously.
"There are none of your nation," he said, "whose homage I more gladly
accept. You fought valiantly before under my banner, and will, I am sure,
be ready to do so again should occasion arise. I am thankful to my Lord de
Burg that he interposed in my name and saved your lives. I have not
forgotten the other part of my promise, and have this morning ordered my
justiciar to add to your estates forfeited lands adjoining."
Beorn and Wulf had previously talked the matter over. Their own
inclinations would have led them to refuse the offer, but as it was certain
that all the land forfeited to the crown by the death of its holders in
battle would be apportioned among William's Norman followers, they thought
that it would be wholly for the benefit both of the families of the late
thanes and for their tenants and people that they should accept any estate
William might bestow on them. They, therefore, thanked the duke in
suitable terms, and at once took the oaths for the lands he might be
pleased to bestow on them. A week later they received the formal deeds,
which in both cases more than doubled the estates they before possessed.
The same evening Lord de Burg said to Wulf, who had tarried in London,
while Beorn had at once set out for Fareham: "I think the time has come,
Wulf, when I can speak of a subject that has been in my thoughts for a long
time, and which, although you have not spoken, has, as my wife and I have
both seen, been dear to you.
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