all kinds, and sought to reduce the Church of England to subjection
to Rome, whereas previously it had been wholly independent of Papal
authority. In secular matters, too, there were dangers that threatened
the tranquillity of the country. Chief among these were the turbulence
and ambition of Tostig, and the menace to the kingdom by his extensive
earldom of Northumbria with its alien Danish population, which was
rendered more serious by his alliance with the kings of Norway.

Then, too, it was doubtful whether the great central earldom of
Mercia could be relied upon to act cordially with the West Saxons;
Griffith of Wales was still restless and turbulent; and lastly,
there was the ever-present menace of the Norman duke. Had England
been united it could have laughed at the pretensions of the Duke
of Normandy; but with Northumbria ready at any moment to break into
civil war, and with Mercia doubtful, the claim of Normandy, however
shadowy and indefensible, could not but be considered as a grave
element of danger.

Listening to the talk of the monks Wulf learned much more as to the
actual situation than he had done in the court of the Normanized
king, and his feelings of patriotism became more and more developed
and strengthened, while he applied himself with even greater ardour
to his military exercises, as he recognized more fully the necessity
that might arise for every West Saxon to be ready to take his place
in the line of battle. The evenings that he spent at home were by
no means dull. It was only in considerable towns that there were
inns for the accommodation of travellers. Everywhere else these
were dependent upon hospitality, and no door was ever closed in
their faces. It was seldom that less than five or six travellers
rested for the night at Steyning, and often that number was largely