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end to which this will lead and will pay the scutage gladly. You know that the cost of service is always more than the scutage, although it does not offer the compensation of loot. But I am sure Winchester will find a way to restrict the loot a knight may take. Knight service will die because those who persist in keeping their men armed will be always the target of the king's spite and attack. With the ending of knight service, our ability to resist the king's will or even to defend ourselves against our neighbors will die also. If a wrong is done us, we will need to cry to the king to send his mercenaries to protect us." |
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There was a silence while everyone contemplated this horror. Rhiannon alone was not affected. She looked from face to face with puzzlement. Knight service was not really the foundation of power in Wales, although Llewelyn had incorporated some of its concepts into his rule. Armies were still generated on a blood or clan basis, and, to a certain extent, these armies were all mercenary. They expected to be maintained and rewarded directly, by the leader who had called them, either with loot from the enemy or with treasure from the leader's store. |
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The word scutagepayment in money instead of time of fighting servicedid not even have meaning to Rhiannon; such a practice did not yet exist in her country. She had listened to the conversation very closely, although she said nothing. The high emotional content of what was said was clear even if she could not understand the cause. One thing, however, she did understand, and everyone seemed to have overlooked this obvious point. |
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"But," Rhiannon's voice was like a pure bell tone in the heavy silence, "you are all accounting a victory by the king's mercenaries a sure thing. How is this possible? They could not defeat Pembroke last month, even with the assistance of some of the barons and when the earl was not willing to attack." |
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