it went sorely
against the grain with me to do so at the time. Truly, I had to go
on this errand of the king's with sword in one hand and pen in the
other, but I daresay I did better, and fared less roughly, than
would one who could not speak to the British freemen in their own
tongue. At least, if a man was sullen when I came to him, he was,
as a rule, pretty friendly when I left, for he knew that no harm
was meant him, and that to be on this roll meant that on his lands
he was to bide in peace.

And I may not forget that Evan helped me greatly in the matter, for
he knew almost all of the best freemen.

When the walls were strong, in the midst of the new fortress they
built a good house for Ina, and we thought that he meant to live
here at times, for he had it fully furnished, even to the rushes on
the floor, after Easter. By that time I had leisure to spend the
holy season with the court at Glastonbury, for there was peace
everywhere. And there I had a visit from Thorgils, who brought good
news from across the sea. He had made his first voyage of the year,
and had seen Owen, who was himself again, if yet weak.

He had not written to me, but sent word by the Norseman that he did
but wait for me to come for him, if I might. If not he would come
alone; but it seemed to him that we should have to part when we
reached this side of the channel, for he must go to Gerent at once.

Next day Ina and the queen must needs pass to Taunton to see the
place, for he said that when I might go for Owen depended on its
readiness. So we rode with but a small train, meaning, after seeing
the fortress, to go on to Petherton for the night, which was quite
a usual plan with the king nowadays, since all this building was on
hand.

So we went round all the walls, and saw the new bridge across the
Tone River, and then went into the hall that stood, as I have said,
within the walls of the fortress itself. There all was ready for
the king, even to a fire on the hearth in the middle of the great
hall, which was fully as large as that at Glastonbury itself. I had
not seen this house of late, and now the king would have me go all
over it and tell him what I thought thereof.

Indeed, there was nought to say of it but good, for it would be
hard to find one better planned in all Wessex, as I think, whether
in the house itself, or about the buildings that were set along its
walls without for the thralls and workshops, or in the stables and
oth