But what said Ulf's father and the
Gospatricks?"
"Dolfin and young Gospatrick were I know not where. But old Gospatrick
came down to Westminster, to demand law for his grandnephew's blood."
"A silly thing of the old Thane, to walk into the wolf's den."
"And so he found. He was stabbed there, three days after Christmas-tide,
and men say that Queen Edith did it, for love of Tosti, her brother. Then
Dolfin and young Gospatrick took to the sea, and away to Scotland: and so
Tosti rid himself of all the good blood in the North, except young
Waltheof Siwardsson, whose turn, I fear, will come next."
"How comes he here, then?"
"The Northern men rose at that, killed his servant at York, took all his
treasures, and marched down to Northampton, plundering and burning. They
would have marched on London town, if Harold had not met them there from
the king. There they cried out against Tosti, and all his taxes, and his
murders, and his changing Canute's laws, and would have young Morcar for
their earl. A tyrant they would not endure. Free they were born and bred,
they said, and free they would live and die. Harold must needs do justice,
even on his own brother."
"Especially when he knows that that brother is his worst foe."
"Harold is a better man than you take him for, my Hereward.
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