Page:The reign of William Rufus and the accession of Henry the First.djvu/140

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had now risen up to be his conquerors. He asked, it would seem, to be allowed to march out with what in modern phrase are called the honours of war. His particular prayer was that the trumpets might not sound when he and his followers came forth from the castle. This, we are told, was the usual ceremony after the overthrow of an enemy and the taking of a fortress. The King was again wrathful at the request, and said that not for a thousand marks of gold would he grant it. Odo had therefore to submit, and to drink the cup of his humiliation to the dregs. With sad and downcast looks he and his companions came forth from the stronghold which could shelter them no longer. The trumpets sounded merrily to greet them. But other sounds more fearful than the voice of the trumpet sounded in the ears of Odo as he came forth. Men saw passing before them, a second time hurled down from his high estate—and this time not by the bidding of a Norman king but by the arms of the English people—the man who stood forth in English eyes as the imbodiment of all that was blackest and basest in the foreign dominion. Odo might keep his eyes fixed on the ground, but the eyes of the nation which he had wronged were full upon him. The English followers of Rufus pressed close upon him, crying out with shouts which all could hear, "Halters, bring halters; hang up the traitor Bishop and his accomplices on the gibbet." They turned to the King whose throne they had made fast for him, and hailed him as a national ruler. "Mighty King of the English, let