|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 29
'What did you do?' said Dan.
'We watched for Robert of Normandy,' said the knight. 'De Aquila was
like Witta. He suffered no idleness. In fair weather we would ride along
between Bexlei on the one side, to Cuckmere on the other--sometimes with
hawk, sometimes with hound (there are stout hares both on the Marsh and
the Downland), but always with an eye to the sea, for fear of fleets
from Normandy. In foul weather he would walk on the top of his tower,
frowning against the rain--peering here and pointing there. It always
vexed him to think how Witta's ship had come and gone without his
knowledge. When the wind ceased and ships anchored, to the wharf's edge
he would go and, leaning on his sword among the stinking fish, would
call to the mariners for their news from France. His other eye he kept
landward for word of Henry's war against the Barons.
'Many brought him news--jongleurs, harpers, pedlars, sutlers, priests
and the like; and, though he was secret enough in small things, yet, if
their news misliked him, then, regarding neither time nor place nor
people, he would curse our King Henry for a fool or a babe. I have heard
him cry aloud by the fishing boats: "If I were King of England I would
do thus and thus"; and when I rode out to see that the warning-beacons
were laid and dry, he hath often called to me from the shot-window:
"Look to it, Richard! Do not copy our blind King, but see with thine own
eyes and feel with thine own hands." I do not think he knew any sort of
fear. And so we lived at Pevensey, in the little chamber above the Hall.
'One foul night came word that a messenger of the King waited below. We
were chilled after a long riding in the fog towards Bexlei, which is an
easy place for ships to land. De Aquila sent word the man might either
eat with us or wait till we had fed. Anon Jehan, at the stair-head,
cried that he had called for horse, and was gone. "Pest on him!" said De
Aquila. "I have more to do than to shiver in the Great Hall for every
gadling the King sends. Left he no word?"
'"None," said Jehan, "except"--he had been with De Aquila at
Santlache--"except he said that if an old dog could not learn new tricks
it was time to sweep out the kennel."
'"Oho!" said De Aquila, rubbing his nose, "to whom did he say that?"
'"To his beard, chiefly, but some to his horse's flank as he was
girthing up. I followed him out," said Jehan the Crab.
'"What was his shield-mark?"
'"Gold horseshoes on black," said the Crab.
'"That is one of Fulke's men," said De Aquila.'
Puck broke in very gently, 'Gold horseshoes on black is _not_ the
Fulkes' shield. The Fulkes' arms are----'
The knight waved one hand statelily.
'Thou knowest that evil man's true name,' he replied, 'but I have chosen
to call him Fulke because I promised him I would not tell the story of
his wickedness so that any man might guess it. I have changed _all_ the
names in my tale. His children's children may be still alive.'
'True--true,' said Puck, smiling softly. 'It is knightly to keep
faith--even after a thousand years.'
Sir Richard bowed a little and went on:--
'"Gold horseshoes on black?" said De Aquila. "I had heard Fulke had
joined the Barons, but if this is true our King must be of the upper
hand. No matter, all Fulkes are faithless. Still, I would not have sent
the man away empty."
'"He fed," said Jehan. "Gilbert the Clerk fetched him meat and wine from
the kitchens. He ate at Gilbert's table."
'This Gilbert was a clerk from Battle Abbey, who kept the accounts of
the Manor of Pevensey. He was tall and pale-coloured, and carried those
new-fashioned beads for counting of prayers. They were large brown nuts
or seeds, and hanging from his girdle with his pen and inkhorn they
clashed when he walked. His place was in the great fireplace. There was
his table of accounts, and there he lay o' nights. He feared the hounds
in the Hall that came nosing after bones or to sleep on the warm ashes,
and would slash at them with his beads--like a woman. When De Aquila sat
in Hall to do justice, take fines, or grant lands, Gilbert would so
write it in the Manor-roll. But it was none of his work to feed our
guests, or to let them depart without his lord's knowledge.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|