The Archer's War: Exciting good read - adventure fiction about fighting and combat during medieval times in feudal England with archers, longbows, knights, ... (The Company of English Archers Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

visit the castle.
           But the priest’s eyes certainly light up and he quickly reaches for the coin I offer if he and his comely young housekeeper will feed me and my men and let us sleep on the church’s dirt floor tonight.  Then it’s off to the castle gate I go with four of my guards in one of the horse carts. 
           The Pope may order us priests to be celibate but the Pope’s not the only hypocrite in the church if the housekeeper’s baby bump means anything.  And who am I to throw stones, eh?
           Getting into the castle to see the Nuncio takes some doing even though I’m though I wearing the robes and miter of a bishop and have an entourage of guards.  An officious sergeant with the king’s coat of arms on his tunic eyes me skeptically and demands to know what I want. 
           “I’m the Bishop of Cornwall and I’m here to see the Papal Nuncio.”
           “Do you have an appointment?”
           “Of course not, I just arrived in London yesterday.  Just tell him I’m here and let him decide for himself.  God will bless you – and so will I if you hurry.”
           My offer of a blessing to the sergeant and a bit of the necessary - few coins to sweeten him - soon has one of his men scurrying off.  I take the opportunity to walk a few steps away from the gate and relieve myself of the bad fish I’d eaten last night at the inn.  My God that smells; salted cod I think it was.
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           Almost an hour passes and I sitting with my back against the castle’s stone wall dozing, upwind of last night’s fish, when the Papal Nuncio walks up.  I jump up to kiss his ring and his welcome is effusive and brotherly - as well it should be given the size of the purse he’d received “for the Holy Father and your expenses” last year when the Archdiocese of Devon and Cornwall was unexpectedly split and I accepted the awesome responsibilities of heading up the newly reestablished Archdiocese of Cornwall.
           “My this is ambitious and unique,” is the Nuncio’s only comment as he nods his head after he reads the parchment through and then reads it again.  “It will certainly be very difficult to convince the Holy Father to agree to this.”  I can do it but it will cost you a lot of coins.
           “Of course it will be difficult, Your Eminence, but there is no doubt that God desires such a special order of part-time priests and the church will benefit from the tithes of the Christians the order serves.  So it is something that must be done; and, of course, there will be great expenses associated with its establishment which will have to be covered.” What will it cost me?
           “It will be quite expensive of course.  But will you be able to pay now that King Richard has just recognized a claim to the Earldom of Cornwall put forth by Sir Harold Cornell of Derbyshire who claims to be the cousin and heir of the late Lord Baldwin of Restormel Castle.”  Say what?
           “What was that you said?”
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           The Nuncio listens intently as I try to explain the significance for the King and the Pope’s treasury if William and his men are forced to leave Restormel Castle and William decides to return to Cyprus:  For the king it will mean the end of William’s payments to the crown which are larger than the Derby earl can possibly pay.  Why will the new earl pay less?  Because Cornwall’s revenues are so small for its earl whereas William can sometimes supplement the taxes he pays with the coins he earns in the Holy Land carrying refugees and pilgrims. 
           And I feel terrible – perhaps if I had gotten here a couple of days ago this might not have happened.
           But that’s not all, I explain to the rapt Nuncio - who obviously sees the size and availability of the purses he might receive from William “to send to the Pope” sailing away to Cyprus before his very