For
incessantlie he goeth from towne to towne, from citie to citie, and
maketh the lords his friends by rewards, threats, and praiers, but
they had rather haue one of you to reigne ouer them, than to be kept
vnder the rule of this man that now gouerneth them. Wherefore my
request is, that one of you doo come with speed, and that priuilie
ouer to me, that he may vnderstand my wholesome aduise, and know in
what sort this matter ought to be handled, which I would haue to go
forward, and see that ye send mee word by this present messenger what
you meane to doo herein. Fare ye well euen the bowels of my heart."
These letters were deliuered vnto such as were made priuie to the
purposed treason, who being fullie instructed how to deale, went ouer
into Normandie, and presenting the letters vnto the yoong gentlemen,
vsed the matter so, that they thought verelie that this message had
beene sent from their mother, and wrote againe by them that brought
the letters, that one of them would not faile but come ouer vnto hir
according to that she had requested, and withall appointed the day and
time. The messengers returning to king Harold, informed him how they
had sped. The yoonger brother Alfred, with his brothers consent, tooke
with him a certeine number of gentlemen and men of warre, and first
came into Flanders, where after he had remained a while with earle
Baldwine, he increased his retinue with a few Bullogners, and passed
ouer into England, but approching to the shore, he was streightwaies
descried by his enimies, who hasted foorth to set vpon him; but
perceiuing their drift, he bad the ships cast about, and make againe
to the sea; then landing at an other place, he ment to go the next way
to his mother.
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