barons in time followed the royal example of hiring men-at-arms and
archers for the campaign; these being partly paid from the royal treasury,
and partly from their own revenue.

At the end of the campaign, however, the army speedily dispersed, each man
returning to his former avocation; save therefore for the retainers, who
formed the garrisons of the castles of the nobles, there was no military
career such as that which came into existence with the formation of
standing armies. Nevertheless, there was honour and rank to be won in the
foreign wars, and it was to these the young men of gentle blood looked to
make their way. But since the death of the Black Prince matters had been
quiet abroad, and unless for those who were attached to the households of
powerful nobles there was, for the present, no avenue towards distinction.

Edgar had been talking these matters over with the Prior of St. Alwyth,
who had taken a great fancy to him, and with whom he had, since he had
given up his work at the convent, frequently had long conversations. They
were engaged in one of these when this narrative begins:

"I quite agree with your father," the Prior continued. "Were there a just
and strong government, the mass of the people might bear their present
position. It seems to us as natural that the serfs should be transferred
with the land as if they were herds of cattle, for such is the rule
throughout Europe as well as here, and one sees that there are great
difficulties in the way of making any alteration in this state of things.
See you, were men free to wander as they chose over the land instead of
working at their vocations, the country would be full of vagrants who, for
want of other means for a living, would soon become robbers. Then, too,
very many would flock to the towns, and so far from bettering their
condition, would find themselves worse off than before, for there would be