"This is the ring of my friend, Roger Aungerville, prior of
St. Wilfrid's. It bindeth me to do all in reason for his nephew. This
is his nephew's servant, who hath come to me to seek my aid to rescue
his young master from the clutches of a king's man and three
men-at-arms. I tell him I may not do such a thing except upon
compulsion, and he layeth hands upon me." And he smiled upon them
whimsically.
They understood the canon and his smile, and the first said: "If thou
be compelled to aid this fellow, were it not best that I call up
Herebald and Bernulf also? They be two, as thou knowest, swift of foot,
and long of wind, and strong of arm; and they have two good staves,
moreover."
"Why," said the canon, whimsically, "it were doubtless wholly evil that
I should undergo compulsion in mine own domain by a strange
serving-man, and be compelled to render aid even against the king's
men. Still, since I be compelled to render aid, it were good to render
the best possible, and so take with ye Herebald and Bernulf; and spare
not for blows, so that ye bring off the young man safe."
Then he handed the prior's ring to Humphrey, who returned it to its
pouch with great satisfaction.
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