Lord Esmond raised his head and gazed sharply at Cedric’s face.
“And how would’st thou amend them,” he growled.
“I would say, in the first instance, ‘Let no Sheriff or Bailiff of the King nor any other person take horses or carts of any free man for doing carriage except with his own consent.’ And in the second, would have the words a free man in place of baron, knight or other noble person, so that it would read: ‘Let not the body of a free man be taken or imprisoned or disseized, or outlawed’—and the rest.”
“Mayhap these churls have made thee their spokesman,” sneered Esmond.
“Nay,” replied Cedric, “I speak for no party, whether high or low, but for the common good of England.”
Lord Esmond turned with sour and vinegary look first to De Longville, then to the Abbot.
“What did I say in the Assembly? This man hath no conception of the rights of our order. All his concern is for churls and clowns.”
Cedric grew very red, and his hand went to his sword hilt. I sprang up to address our chief, De Longville, and placed myself between the Knight of Grimsby and the fiery old lord from the North.
“My lords,” I cried, “we gain nothing by arguments that speedily pass into brawls. Come, let us vote upon these provisions. ’Tis the rightful way. To-morrow, or the next day at the furthest, we must take our report to the Assembly; and we should come to agreement.”
“’Tis so,” replied De Longville, “we waste our time in bickering. Come Esmond, what say’st thou as to these amendments?”