“I would say, in the first instance, ‘Let no Sheriff or Bailiff of the King _nor any other person_ take horses or carts of any free man for doing carriage except with his own consent.’ And in the second, would have the words _a free man_ in place of _baron, knight or other noble person_, so that it would read: ‘Let not the body of a free man be taken or imprisoned or disseized, or outlawed’—and the rest.” “Mayhap these churls have made thee their spokesman,” sneered Esmond. “Nay,” replied Cedric, “I speak for no party, whether high or low, but for the common good of England.” Lord Esmond turned with sour and vinegary look first to De Longville, then to the Abbot. “What did I say in the Assembly? This man hath no conception of the rights of our order. All his concern is for churls and clowns.” Cedric grew very red, and his hand went to his sword hilt. I sprang up to address our chief, De Longville, and placed myself between the Knight of Grimsby and the fiery old lord from the North. “My lords,” I cried, “we gain nothing by arguments that speedily pass into brawls. Come, let us vote upon these provisions. ’Tis the rightful way. To-morrow, or the next day at the furthest, we must take our report to the Assembly; and we should come to agreement.” “’Tis so,” replied De Longville, “we waste our time in bickering. Come Esmond, what say’st thou as to these amendments?” “I say _nay_,” shouted Esmond. “Let the articles even stand as they were.” “And thou, Most Reverend Abbot?” “I say _nay_,” replied the churchman quietly. “And thou, Mountjoy?” “Aye,” I answered loudly. “These changes seem to me to take naught from us and to be well conceived to gain us many friends.” “De La Roche?” “Aye.” De Longville gazed first at the floor beneath his feet then at the ceiling overhead and bent his brows in a painful frown. At length he said: “It seems I have the casting vote. I see little use in these changes, save to pamper churls and thralls that too often already raise their heads with complaints and demands. Some of them verily believe they might govern the land as well as their betters. ’Tis a dangerous tendency that must be checked. I say _nay_ also.” Lord Esmond turned toward Cedric with a smile of triumph; and my heart became as lead to think of his defeat. But the Knight of Grimsby was instantly on his feet again with a new proposal, which to my amaze he uttered with a broad and pleasant smile on his face, such as he might have worn had his amendings been received with utmost acclaim. “Has the thought come to you, my lords, that in this scroll, thus far, we have made no provision for the enforcement of our demands? We deal with a strong and crafty monarch. Even if he place his seal upon our demands, what surety have we that he will adhere to them after our levies have been dispersed? He will then be stronger than any one or two or three of us. How shall we ensure his adherence to the treaty?”