in charge his son as then unborn, and the ruling of the
realm till the said son were come to man's estate: but he
bade them seek one worthier if they had heart to gainsay the
word of their dying lord. Then all they said that he was
worthy and mighty and the choice of their dear lord, and
that they would have none but he.

So then was the great folk-mote called, and the same matter
was laid before all the people, and none said aught against
it, whereas no man was ready to name another to that charge
and rule, even had it been his own self.

Now then by law was the Marshal, who hight Rolf, lord and
earl of the land of Oakenrealm. He ruled well and strongly,
and was a fell warrior: he was well befriended by many of
the great; and the rest of them feared him and his friends:
as for the commonalty, they saw that he held the realm in
peace; and for the rest, they knew little and saw less of
him, and they paid to his bailiffs and sheriffs as little as
they could, and more than they would. But whereas that left
them somewhat to grind their teeth on, and they were not
harried, they were not so ill content. So the Marshal
throve, and lacked nothing of a king's place save the bare
name.



CHAPTER II.

OF THE KING'S SON.