Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rewards and Fairies
‘He pulled a writing from his scrip, and Hugh, coming up, though no Saxon dared call him kingly in a Norman’s hear-
read it.
ing. There can be but one King.
‘It set out that the pilgrim was Rahere’s man, and that Rahere ‘“It serves,” said Hugh. “But the day will be long and hot.
was the King’s jester. There was Latin writ at the back. Better rest here. We go forward now.”
‘“What a plague conjuration’s here?” said Hugh, turning it ‘“No, I will keep with thee, my kinsman,” he answered like
over. “Pum-quum-sum oc-occ. Magic?”
a child. He was indeed childish through great age.
‘“Black Magic,” said the Clerk of Netherfield (he had been ‘The line had not moved a bowshot when De Aquila’s great
a monk at Battle). “They say Rahere is more of a priest than a horn blew for a halt, and soon young Fulke—our false Fulke’s
fool and more of a wizard than either. Here’s Rahere’s name son—yes, the imp that lit the straw in Pevensey Castle [See
writ, and there’s Rahere’s red cockscomb mark drawn below ‘Old Men at Pevensey’ in Puck of Pook’s Hill.]—came thun-
for such as cannot read.” He looked slyly at me.
dering up a woodway.
‘“Then read it,” said I, “and show thy learning.” He was a ‘“Uncle,” said he (though he was a man grown, he called me
vain little man, and he gave it us after much mouthing. Uncle), “those young Norman fools who shot at you this morn
‘“The charm, which I think is from Virgilius the Sorcerer, are saying that your beaters cried treason against the King. It has
says: ‘When thou art once dead, and Minos’ (which is a hea- come to Harry’s long ears, and he bids you give account of it.
then judge) ‘has doomed thee, neither cunning, nor There are heavy fines in his eye, but I am with you to the hilt,
speechcraft, nor good works will restore thee!’ A terrible thing! Uncle!” ‘When the boy had fled back, Hugh said to me: “It was
It denies any mercy to a man’s soul!”
Rahere’s witless man that cried, ‘’Ware Red William’s arrow!’ I
‘“Does it serve?” said the pilgrim, plucking at Hugh’s cloak. heard him, and so did the Clerk of Netherfield.”
“Oh, man of the King’s blood, does it cover me?”
‘“Then Rahere must answer to the King for his man,” said
‘Hugh was of Earl Godwin’s blood, and all Sussex knew it, I. “Keep him by you till I send,” and I hastened down.
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