with all its fighting men. Those who accepted the fiat joinedStephen’s forces, as most of the ranks did, seeing theirleaders had committed them; those who held true to theempress’s salt were disarmed and made prisoner. The victimshad been distributed among the king’s followers, to be heldto ransom. And no sooner was this completed than Philip FitzRobert,the great earl’s son, in despite of his allegiance and hisblood, had handed over Cricklade also to the king, and this timewhole, with all its armoury and all its manpower intact. As manyconsidered, it was his will, if not his hand, which had surrenderedthe keys of Faringdon, for Brien de Soulis was known to be as closeto Philip as twin to twin, at all times in his councils. Andthereafter Philip had turned to, and fought as ferociously againsthis father as once he had fought for him.

But as for why, that was hard to understand. He loved hissister, who was married to Earl Ranulf of Chester, and Ranulf wasseeking to inveigle himself back into the king’s favour, andwould be glad to take another powerful kinsman with him, to assurehis welcome. But was that enough? And Philip had asked forFaringdon, and looked forward to the relief it would give his ownforces, only to see it left to its fate in spite of his repeatedappeals for help. But was even that enough? It takes an appallingload of bitterness, surely, to cause a man, after years of loyaltyand devotion, to turn and rend his own flesh and blood.

But he had done it. And here in Hugh’s hand was the taleof his first victims, some thirty young men of quality, knights andsquires, parcelled out among the king’s supporters, to paydearly for their freedom at best, or to rot in captivity unredeemedif they had fallen into the wrong hands, and were sufficientlyhated.

Robert Beaumont’s clerk had noted, where it was known, thename of the captor against that of the captive, and marked offthose who had already been bought free by their kin. No one else