Page:The reign of William Rufus and the accession of Henry the First.djvu/61

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the bedside of his father while the breath was still in him. He started for the haven of Touques, a spot of which we shall get a vivid picture later in our story. With him set forth the bearer of the letter, one of the great King's chaplains, and, as some say, his Chancellor. This was Robert Bloet, he who was presently to succeed Remigius of Fécamp in his newly-placed throne on the hill of Lincoln. Before they had left Norman ground, the news came that all was over, that England had no longer a king. William crossed with all speed, seemingly to Southampton, and found in England no rival, English or Norman. He indeed brought with him two men, either of whom, if Englishmen had still heart enough to dream of a king of their own blood, might have been his rival. Among the captives whom the Conqueror set free on his death-bed were two men who represented the mightiest of the fallen houses of conquered England. These were Morkere the son of Ælfgar, once the chosen Earl of the Northumbrians, and Wulfnoth, the youngest son of Godwine and brother of Harold. Two other captives of royal blood, Duncan the son of Malcolm and Ingebiorg, so long a hostage for his father's doubtful faith to his over-lord,
 * press those wishes to the Primate, William Rufus left