[CHAPTER XXIII—THE DREAD DECREE]
“The maid is innocent,” cried Denewulf the bishop. “By God’s own judgment is she so pronounced. What then of her accusers? Those who have perjured themselves, and by testifying falsely risked their soul’s salvation in so doing? Step forth, ye that have so spoken, and give cause why ye have done this thing!”
Then did Oswald the thegn step forth.
“I sware to thee, my lord bishop, that unwitting did I wrong the maiden. I spake only that which I knew when I deposed. The harp was gone. It was found with the maid. Marry, as I judged so would ye have judged likewise. Name the were, and it shall be paid! I have said.”
“And well, Oswald, unwitting and unknowing didst thou wrong the maiden. As thou wilt willingly make amends thou hast atoned thy fault. More thou canst not do. But the others.”
His brow darkened ominously as Edwy the gleeman came forward. The ealdorman and gerefa looked hard on the man; now, since Heaven itself had shown the innocence of Egwina, they were convinced that guile had been employed.
“My lords,” cried the gleeman who was plainly agitated, “I take oath by all the saints that I did depose only that which I knew. The harp was mine. ’Twas gone. We found the same with the maid. How else could I depose?”
“How camest thou to think the maiden had taken it?” demanded the ealdorman, sharply.
“’Twas Ælfric who spake to me of the maiden’s toying with it in the hall. But the night before she did ask me for it. My lords, it looked ill for the girl, ye must allow.”
“Speaks he the truth, think ye?” inquired the ealdorman of the bishop and the gerefa.