[9] 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 to-day," 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--Wel-Wast 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 outlaw, and men do what they will till the new king is chosen.
'"I will amend that," said the King hotly. "I will have it so that though King, son, and grandson were all slain in one day, _still_ the King's peace should hold over all England! What is a man that his mere death must upheave a people? We must have the Law."
'"Truth," said William of Exeter; but that he would have said to any word of the King.
'The two great barons behind said nothing. This teaching was clean against their stomachs, for when the King's peace ends, the great barons go to war and increase their lands. At that instant we heard Rahere's voice returning, in a scurril Saxon rhyme against William of Exeter: