Winchester, 1027 ADI sat down in the quiet of my room to re-read the letter. It came from Rome with Knut"s seal, brought by a courier whose task was to hand it in person to Earl Godwine. On the first cursory reading, I found little of interest that I did not already know. I glanced at the list of gifts the King vaunted – gold and silver vessels, palls and costly robes – to seek what might affect the English people.
The words, security on journeys captured my attention, but only momentarily, because they referred to travellers directed to Rome who would no longer encounter hindrance by barriers or unjust tolls. This might well please pilgrims and merchants, but I cared nought for them as long as my wine arrived in Bosham harbour as usual. Distracted and weary, I sighed and reached for a cu
