After Edgar Atheling and the Saxon chiefs and prelates had made their submission to the conqueror of Hastings, and given hostages for their fidelity, William--having previously sent forward a strong body of soldiers to construct a fortress in the heart of London--left Berkhampstead, and marched towards the wealthy city on the Thames, ere long to become the capital of England. It seemed as if the progress of the Normans would now be easy. Most men of rank and worldly discretion, especially the bishops--whose influence was strong--believed that the national cause could not be maintained, and were inclined to support Duke William as a matter of duty. "It is needful," men said to each other, "to fall in with the times, and not to oppose the will of God, by whom the powers of the world are raised up." But all Saxons did not take this view; and while the Normans were on their way from Berkhampstead to London, an incident occurred which gave William an idea of the hostile spirit by which many of the natives were animated. On approaching the ancient abbey of St. Alban's he found, with surprise, that numbers of huge trees had been cut down, and so disposed as to intercept the march of his army. William immediately sent for the abbot, whose name was Frithrik, and demanded the reason of this attempt to intercept his passage. "Why," asked the Conqueror, "hast thou thus cut down thy woods?" "I have done my duty," answered the abbot, boldly; "and had all of my order done the same, as they ought to have done, thou wouldst not have advanced so far into our country." After having advanced near London, William, pondering the propriety of assuming the crown, held a council of war, ostensibly to discuss the means of promptly completing the conquest, but in reality to get nearer the object on which his heart had so long been set. "It appears," said some of William's friends, addressing their chief, "that, in order to mitigate resistance, it is politic that thou shouldst assume the title of King of the English." "No," said William, feigning an indifference which he was far from feeling; "I demand, at least, some delay. I have not come to England for my own interest alone, but for that of the whole Norman nation. And besides, if it be the will of God that I should become king, the time has not yet arrived. Too many countries and too many men have yet to be subjected." "Yes; it is not yet time to create a king," said the Norman nobles, interpreting William's scruples literally. "This is too modest of Duke William," said Aimery de Thouars, a captain of auxiliaries, rising and speaking with much energy. "It is too modest of him to appeal to soldiers, whether or no they will have their lord a king. Soldiers have nothing to do with questions of this nature; and our discussions only serve to retard that which, as a matter of feeling, we all so ardently desire."