"
But King William Rufus was of that changing, temper that goes
with jealousy and suspicion. His flushed face grew still more
red, and, turning away from the Saxon prince, he demanded:
"Why make you this charge, Sir Ordgar?
"Because of its truth, beausire," said the faithless knight. "For
what other cause hath this false Atheling sought sanctuary here,
save to use his own descent from the ancient kings of this realm
to make head and force among your lieges? And, his eldest
kinsgirl here, the Princess Edith, hath she not been spreading a
trumpery story among the younger folk, of how some old
wyrd-wif[1] hath said that she who is the daughter of kings shall
be the wife and mother of kings? And is it not further true that
when her aunt, the Abbess of Romsey, bade her wear the holy veil,
she hath again and yet again torn it off, and affirmed that she,
who was to be a queen, could never be made a nun? Children and
fools, 't is said, do speak the truth, beausire; and in all this
do I see the malice and device of this false Atheling, the friend
of your rebellious brother, Duke Robert, as you do know him to
be; and I do brand him here, in this presence, as traitor and
recreant to you, his lord.
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