174 THE KING'S MIRROR 



have but slight knowledge of what constitutes deport- 

 ment or good manners in the king's house, though they 

 be kingsmen, since they come but rarely into those of 

 the royal apartments where good manners must espe- 

 cially be observed. But there is yet something that I 

 am anxious to know concerning the duties of those men 

 of whom you spoke last: what profit can such men as 

 have an abundance of wealth and kinsmen find in the 

 king's service and in binding themselves to his service 

 with the housecarle name as their only title ? Why do 

 not they rather seek the honor of being called hirdmen, 

 or remain at home looking after their property as other 

 husbandmen do ? 



Father. I should say that you have not inquired very 

 wisely into this matter; still, as you do not appear to be 

 well informed on this subject, I think it better for you 

 to question than to remain ignorant, and since you have 

 inquired I ought to answer. There are many reasons, as 

 we have already said, why men would rather be kings- 

 men than be called by the peasant's name only. The 

 first reply must be that/the king owns the entire king- 

 dom as well as all the people in it, so that all the men 

 X.. who are in his kingdom owe him service whenever his 

 V^needs demand itjTThus the king has a right to call upon 

 every freeman, who seems fitted for it or is found to 

 possess suitable insight, to serve in embassies to foreign 

 lords ; likewise, when the king calls upon the freemen to 

 pilot his ship in warfare, each one who is appointed must 

 attend, though he be the king's henchman only so far 

 as he is his subject./Even if a king should order a clerk 

 or a bishopjof his kingdom to fare as envoy to another 



