Now at that Beorn was dumb, seeing that the earl had trapped him very nearly, and he grew ashy pale, and the great earl scowled at him.
"Let me have trial by battle," I said quietly, thinking that it would be surely granted.
There was as good reason to suspect me as Beorn, as I saw.
"Silence, Wulfric!" said the earl. "That is for me to say."
"Let the king judge, I pray you, Lord Earl," I went on, for he spoke in no angry tone, nor looked at me.
However, that angered him, for, indeed, it was hard to say whether king or earl was more powerful in East Anglia. Maybe Eadmund's power came by love, and that of the earl by the strong hand. But the earl was most loyal.
"What!" he said in a great voice, "am I not earl? And shall the king be troubled with common manslayers while I sit in his seat of justice? Go to! I am judge, and will answer to the king for what I do."
So I was silent, waiting for what should come next.
But he forgot me in a minute, and seemed to be thinking.
At last he said: