his face when
he was not twisting it about--Rahere I shall never forget.

'At the King's outgoing De Aquila bade me follow him, with his great
bishops and two great barons, to the little pavilion. We had devised
jugglers and dances for the Court's sport; but Henry loved to talk
gravely to grave men, and De Aquila had told him of my travels to the
world's end. We had a fire of apple-wood, sweet as incense,--and the
curtains at the door being looped up, we could hear the music and see
the lights shining on mail and dresses.

'Rahere lay behind the King's chair. The questions he darted forth at me
were as shrewd as the flames. I was telling of our fight with the apes,
as ye called them, at the world's end. [See 'The Knights of the Joyous
Venture' in PUCK OF POOK'S HILL.] '"But where is the Saxon knight that
went with you?" said Henry. "He must confirm these miracles."

'"He is busy," said Rahere, "confirming a new miracle."

'"Enough miracles for today," said the King. "Rahere, you have saved
your long neck. Fetch the Saxon knight."

'"Pest on it," said Rahere. "Who would be a King's jester? I'll bring
him, Brother, if you'll see that none of your home-brewed bishops taste
my wine while I am away." So he jingled forth between the men-at-arms at
the door.

'Henry had made many bishops in England without the Pope's leave. I know
not the rights of the matter, but only Rahere dared jest about it. We
waited on the King's next word.

'"I think Rahere is jealous of you," said he, smiling, to Nigel of Ely.
He was one bishop; and William of Exeter, the other--Wal-wist the Saxons
called him--laughed long. "Rahere is a priest at heart. Shall I make him
a bishop, De Aquila?" says the King.

'"There might be worse," said our Lord of Pevensey. "Rahere would never
do what Anselm has done."

'This Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, had gone off raging to the Pope
at Rome, because Henry would make bishops without his leave either. I
knew not the rights of it, but De Aquila did, and the King laughed.

'"Anselm means no harm. He should have been a monk, not a bishop," said
the King. "I'll never quarrel with Anselm or his Pope till they quarrel
with my England. If we can keep the King's peace till my son comes to
rule, no man will lightly quarrel with our England."

'"Amen," said De Aquila. "But the King's peace ends when the King dies."

'That is true. The King's peace dies with the King. The custom then is
that all laws are ou