Conquest

William paused a moment to caress the Baculus, as if it were a holy relic. ‘No need, although it would be a thrilling campaign. No, I am promised it. King Edward is half Norman, he was brought up here. We are cousins: his mother, Emma, was my great-aunt, sister of Duke Richard II. Edward has no children and my blood gives me primogeniture; Edward accepts this.’

The Duke rocked on his heels and he lifted himself a little so that he was slightly taller than Hereward. ‘It is in the record. Several years ago, Edward sent Robert of Jumieges, a fellow Norman whom he had made Archbishop of Canterbury, to inform me in person that he had nominated me as his heir.’

‘Yes, your Grace, but Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, is now the King’s Earl Marshal. The Godwin family is very powerful, and they would not welcome a Norman on the throne of England.’

The Duke’s guttural voice boomed around his Great Hall. ‘They won’t have any choice! I have sent word to the King, insisting that he sends the Earl of Wessex to me in Rouen, to confirm the succession and his acceptance of it. Edward has agreed and, when the time is right, the Earl will come to my court and swear his loyalty.’

Hereward was astonished. Was this known in England? Many Englishmen disliked Edward’s Norman upbringing. If they knew he planned to hand the throne to the Duke of Normandy, there would be a rebellion among the thegns. After the years of struggle by the Saxons to rid themselves of Scandinavian rulers, they would not give up their land to a Norman without a fight.

‘So, Hereward of Bourne, to the matter in hand. You give good answers; I like you. It is agreed. You will join me, and your companions will be your men-at-arms. I have many excursions planned and, if you prove your worth, your reward will be land in England when I am king. Until then, I will pay you modestly from my exchequer, but I expect you to earn it.’

‘Thank you, your Grace. I should also tell you that I was an outlaw in England, banished by King Edward for an act of vengeance.’

‘A deed done in anger?’

‘No, my Lord, in cold blood.’

‘That is the best kind of revenge; it gives you time to savour it. Worry not; I will set aside your banishment when I am king.’ With that, he slapped Hereward on the back and asked him to sit with him. ‘You will travel with me. In two days, I go on a tour of the provinces to inspect my army. While we travel, you can tell me more about your act of revenge.’

The Duke’s tour of Normandy lasted until Christmas 1063, when tradition required him to be on his ducal throne in Rouen on Christmas Day to receive gifts from his loyal subjects.

Long days in the saddle with his men, in the wind, rain and snow of a Normandy winter, did not seem to discomfort William in the slightest. In fact, he seemed to thrive on it. Generally, he was in good humour, especially when he took a day off to go hunting. He was respected by his men and was usually excellent company. But there was a dark side to his character, which would emerge quickly and uncontrollably. His reactions to indiscipline or misdemeanours of any sort were always severe, usually violent and sometimes bestial. His face would redden to the colour of spilled blood, his eyes would protrude and his voice, harsh at the best of times, would thunder in anger. Everyone knew not to get in his way or catch his eye in such moments. Miscreants would be beaten or flogged; sometimes, he would assault them himself.

In one such incident, witnessed by Hereward, the Duke had to deal with a case of rape and murder committed by a young groom. When the man was brought before the Duke, he made the mistake of trying to excuse his crimes by saying that the girl was very pretty and had smiled at him. The Duke rose in fury and beat him to death with the Baculus, bellowing obscenities at him as he did so. It was the most violent attack on a man Hereward had ever witnessed, even on a battlefield.

He learned that it was not the first time the Duke had personally administered such a punishment.

When they returned to Rouen to celebrate Christmas, Hereward shared his concerns with the others. In particular, he sought their advice on the wisdom of continuing in William’s service.

Martin was usually very talkative, but his mood had become morose in the last few days following news from England of the defeat and slaughter of his King, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. It was a gruesome story.

At the beginning of 1063, King Edward ordered Harold, Earl of Wessex, to deal with the recalcitrant Welshman once and for all. He led a small band of mounted housecarls on a surprise winter raid on Gruffydd’s royal enclosure on the River Clywd in Rhuddlan. Gruffydd escaped by the skin of his teeth, but Harold destroyed everything in sight, including his entire fleet.