H. C. Bailey

“ She was worn and a fierce yearning in her eyes. "I ask justice, my lord, justice for my man."
"Where is your man that he asks not for himself?"
"He is dead."
"Peace be with him. And to you peace, good wife."
"There is no peace," she cried. "He is dead, murdered. And the man which slew him walks scatheless. His blood cries out to me."
"Let me hear it," the King said.
"We be of Elstow under Bedford. Gytha am I and Edgar was my man, a wright. There is a man Philip de Broc hath land there and this Philip would look on me. For men say that I was fair once. ”

“ Bran said. "Oh, brother, brother, that endures. Nay, but honour is service. A strong man are you and serve men well. A strong man is he and would serve his folk. But if you stand each against other, God have mercy on this England."
"God will have mercy upon his own." Becket stood up. ”

“ God shall judge me by what I do. I have my task, brother. No man shall work men wrong and go free because on a day a priest touched him. The law is over all or no King am I." He smiled. "The trumpets sound, brother Bran." ”

“ The crowd scrambled and fought for what had been thrown and melted away. So at last Bran came to the palace and he knocked and the porter looked at him through the grating and bade him begone for the day's alms were spent.
"No alms I seek, brother, but my soul's ease. A traveller of the world, I, and sick at heart and I come to my lord to be cured of my sickness." The porter closed the grating, but in a while a monk came. ”

“ A beggar begs not of beggars? Shy men are you. A priest prays among priests. And a dog barks at a dog. Fie, brother, never be ashamed of your trade. A great trade. Never I knew there were so many beggars in the land. ”

“ His steward made to take away the unused platter and cup. "Let be," said the King with an oath. "Here is the man for the place." And from the stool behind him he haled up his fool Bran and inducted motley and bauble into the Archbishop's chair. "Now give us your blessing, my lord Bran," he laughed.
Some laughed with him, some looked awry. "Nenny, nenny," said Bran, and rolled his eyes. "Too bad for blessing are you, my brother, too good for a curse. When the fire smokes, you seek the smother, brave the bad in the worse."
"Go to school with the fool," the King laughed again. ”

“ There was a great lord of old which made a feast and bade his friends sit down with him, but they came not, and when they came not, he went out and gathered rogues and masterless men to be his company. ”