Free Doctor Mirabilis by James Blish

surviving, and should do homage for
     the honour of my father’s shire instant upon the news.’ He smiled suddenly. ‘And, certes, also upon the look in the King’s
     eye, to manoeuvre for the weather-gage,’
    He turned his head suddenly toward Roger, his smile still present but no longer ironic, like a man who hopes for but knows
     better than to expect a pleasure. ‘And who’s this, Adam? I’ve not seen him before, I know.’
    ‘True,’ Adam said. ‘He’s called Roger Bacon, of a franklin’s family in Ilchester; a scholar with us. The Bacons suffered somewhat
     at Hubert’s hands, yet not so much as they might have, it appears.’
    ‘Grow thou in learning,’ Simon said in English, searching Roger’s face with alarmingly penetrating eyes. Then, in French again:
     ‘Yes – what think you of these proceedings, most Christian Adam? I doubt not that our Hubert’s been extortionate, else how
     would any armed man hold troops together? Territory’s to be lived on, and to be just with later, if time permit; and Hubert’s
     an old soldier, thereby rich, in the natural order of things. Is the Crown so poor it must bite coins out of its own swords?’
     He gestured at the pack around them. It has not that appearance – though I speak from four hundred marks’ pension, as I grant.’
    ‘And from overlong from these shores as well, I fear me,’ Adam said. ‘The docket is far more grave than that, and far graver
     the exactions for it. Last year, a huge pack of robbers took from the granaries the harvested corn of the Roman clergy, throughout
     most of England. The corn was sold and the money vanished – much, it appears, as largesse to the poor. It’s said this was
     more of Robin of Sherwood’s doings; the harpers will not let that poor highwayman rest at his crossroads. But your friend
     Bishop Peter of Winchester—’
    ‘Not so,’ Simon said, in a voice so quiet that only Adam and Roger could have heard his words. ‘Pray exercise better taste
     in friends in my behalf, Adam.’
    ‘I’m glad to hear you say so. Nevertheless, Peter des Roches alleged to have captured certain of the robbers, and made them
     to confess that they had warrants from Hubert, and from the King, too, given them from Hubert’s own hand. Witnesses there
     were none, but at the end of July, Henry dismissed Hubert in favour of Stephen de Segrave –and then came this enormous letter
     in charges and demands: that Hubert account for the estates of Pembroke and Strigul—’
    ‘Then the second earl is now dead as well?’
    ‘Yes, two years ago; there’s another Marshal, Richard,but not of age yet. Also, Hubert was to account for all liberties, losses, taxes of the fifteenth and sixteenth part, castles
     and preserves withheld and restored – I cannot begin to summarize it. Following these, charges of treason, of conspiring the
     people to riot against the Latin emissaries of His Holiness, of seeking to become such a hero in the sight of the mob as Robin
     Wood was against King John, and more, and still more; so that Hubert fled his kinsmen in Ireland and took refuge in sanctuary
     at Bury St. Edmunds. Whence, however, the King had him dragged, naked.’
    ‘Ah no. Can there be more? This to Hubert? Would God allow?’
    ‘God thinks continually on all our sins, and waits,’ Adam said sombrely. ‘And there’s little more. They essayed to fetter
     him, but some common smith refused, saying he would put no irons on the man who restored England to the English – with your
     pardon, Simon. Hence, they closed Hubert in the Tower, till Bishop Robin of London heard how sanctuary had been breached,
     and as good as ordered the King to return him to Bury St. Edmunds. Where he is now; and that is all.’
    ‘I’d credit it from none but you,’ Simon said. ‘Had he no defences?’
    ‘One bad, one worse. He would have it that a charter from King John exempted him in perpetuity from any examination of his
     accounts – which means