THE KING'S MIRROR 175 



king or to the pope, if such is his wish, the one who is x 

 called must set out, unless he is willing to risk the king's f 

 enmity and to be driven from the kingdom^ 



Now since all the men of the realm are thus bound to ' 

 the royal service,why should not every sensible man"") s 

 regard it a greater advantage to be in the king's full I 

 protection and friendship, no matter what may happen V- <* c 

 in his intercourse with other men, and to be superior to / 

 his comrades and hold them loyal to the king if they \ 

 will not otherwise obey/Jthan to be failed a mere cotter J 

 who is constantly under the control of others, though 

 he still owes nearly the same duties as otherwise ? Verily 

 you must know that to be called a king's housecarle is 

 not to be despised as a title of derision ; but it is a name 

 of great honor to everyone who bears it. For neither^ 

 landedmen nor hirdmen, though because of some in- 

 firmity or because they are tired of warfare they prefer 

 to cultivate an estate in the country, are willing to sur- 

 render the housecarle name because of its honor and 

 security. Now if there is any phase of this subject that 

 seems insufficiently inquired into or explained, we may 

 extend the conversation if you wish. 



XXIX 



THE SUPERIOR ORDER OF KINGSMEN: THE HIRD 



Sow. This subject has been discussed almost too fully 

 and has been cleared up for me with such good and com- 

 plete answers that it looks to me as if a man cannot dis- 

 pense with the king's support, if he wishes to found his 

 cause securely. For the multitude is fickle-minded and 



