"Then the prophecy that set Henry of France afire will yet be true in
another way. William shall reign in London, not in Paris," said
Lanfranc.

"And thou at Canterbury, good brother," said the abbot.

And, indeed, ere many years this came to pass.

CHAPTER XIV.

How, being given letters to _Duke William_ by the Abbots of _St.
Michael_ and of _Bec_, I set out for _Coutances_, and of what befell me
on my way.

"Sit down and take thy pen, good Nigel," said the abbot next morning;
"this Lanfranc shall dictate thee thine epistle."

I sat down by the abbot's writing-horn, and wrote somewhat as follows,
while the two great men put their wise heads together. After customary
salutation, the letter ran--

"We send the bearer with news of grave moment to thee and thy
rule. A Sarrasin pirate even now lords it in Guernsey, and kills
very many of thy lieges. Moreover, his force grows daily to a
greater height. There hath joined him Maugher, once archbishop.

"Thou wilt know how best to protect thine honour. The bearer hath
for his years done wondrous chivalrously in this enterprise.
Delay not, duke, to hear him."

Such was the letter that I bore, signed with the names of the two
abbots. Now I had great joy in having the great Lanfranc's countenance,
for all men knew William loved him, since, after his first disgrace for
his sharp rebuke of William's marriage, he met him fearlessly, and with
cool laughter and wise words brought him into still closer union than
ever he had been before. So I knew my letter would have weight.

Now it was decided I was to ride with all speed to Coutances, near fifty
miles away, and there to inquire more certainly about William's
whereabouts.

My uncle chose for me a fresh horse from the abbot's stable, that he
swore would bear me nobly, and seeing me suitably equipped, led me once
more to the abbot, who blessed me ere I went forth.

"Child," said he, having given me his blessing, "thou hast by thy spirit
made clearer to me the legend of this holy house. A fair child, men say,
went with Aubert of old to lay these foundations in the rock, and
wherever he trod,--that child of olden days,--the hard rock crumbled for
the great bases to be laid. So, beneath thy tread, young though thou art
in years, doth difficulty crumble to nothing, for it is the work of
God--the saving of our brethren--thou art called to, and wilt perform!"

"What have I done, holy father,