“I was born in Trefriw, in Gwynedd,” said Cadfael, “butI took service early with an English wool-merchant, and came toShrewsbury with his household. Fourteen, I was then—in Walesfourteen is manhood, and as I was a good lad with the short bow, andtook kindly to the sword, I suppose I was worth my keep. The best ofmy following years were spent in Shrewsbury, I know it like my ownpalm, abbey and all. My master sent me there a year and more, to getmy letters. But I quit that service when he died. I’d pledgednothing to the son, and he was a poor shadow of his father. That waswhen I took the Cross. So did many like me, all afire. I won’tsay what followed was all ash, but it burned very low at times.”

“It’s Mauduit who holds this disputed land,” saidAlard, “and the abbey that sues to recover it, and the thing’sbeen going on four years without a settlement, ever since the old manhere died. From what I know of the Benedictines, I’d rate theirhonesty above our Roger’s, I tell you straight. And yet hischarters seem to be genuine, as far as I can tell.”

“Where is this land they’re fighting over?” askedCadfael.

“It’s a manor by the name of Rotesley, near Stretton,demesne, village, advowson of the church and all. It seems when thegreat earl was just dead and his abbey still building, Roger’sfather gave Rotesley to the abbey. No dispute about that, thecharter’s there to show it. But the abbey granted it back tohim as tenant for life, to live out his latter years thereundisturbed, Roger being then married and installed here at Sutton.