“You are welcome, gentlemen,” said the abbot mildly. “Speak freely, youshall have attentive hearing.”
The ten made their reverences gravely, spread sturdy feet, and stood plantedlike a battle-square, all eyes alert, all judgments held in reserve. The abbotwas concentrating courteous attention upon them with much the same effect. Inhis interludes of duty as shepherd, Cadfael had once watched two rams leveljust such looks before they clashed foreheads.
“My lord abbot,” said the provost, “as you know, Saint Peter’s Fair opens onthe day after tomorrow, and lasts for three days. It’s of the fair we come tospeak. You know the conditions. For all that time all shops in the town must beshut, and nothing sold but ale and wine. And ale and wine are sold freely hereat the fairground and the Foregate, too, so that no man can make his living inthe town from that merchandise. For three days, the three busiest of the year,when we might do well out of tolls on carts and pack-horses and man-loadspassing through the town to reach the fair, we must levy no charges, neithermurage nor pavage. All tolls belong only to the abbey. Goods coming up the Severnby boat tie up at your jetty, and pay their dues to you. We get nothing. Andfor this privilege you pay no more than thirty-eight shillings, and even thatwe must go to the trouble to distrain from the rents of your tenants in thetown.”
“No more than thirty-eight shillings!” repeated Abbot Radulfus, andelevated the iron-grey brows a shade higher, but still with an urbane countenanceand a gentle voice. “The sum was appointed as fair. And not by us. The terms ofthe charter have been known to you many years, I believe.”