But do not by any means tell me how thou wilt go about it . '' ' `` Nay , nay , '' said Fulke , nodding his bald head wisely . `` That is my secret . But rest at ease , De Aquila , no hair of thy head nor rood of thy land shall be forfeited , '' and he smiled like one planning great good deeds . ' `` And henceforward , '' said De Aquila , `` I counsel thee to serve one master -- not two . '' ' `` What ? '' said Fulke . `` Can I work no more honest trading between the two sides these troublous times ? '' ' `` Serve Robert or the King -- England or Normandy , '' said De Aquila . `` I care not which it is , but make thy choice here and now . '' ' `` The King , then , '' said Fulke , `` for I see he is better served than Robert . Shall I swear it ? '' ' `` No need , '' said De Aquila , and he laid his hand on the parchments which Gilbert had written . `` It shall be some part of my Gilbert 's penance to copy out the savoury tale of thy life , till we have made ten , twenty , an hundred , maybe , copies . How many cattle , think you , would the Bishop of Tours give for that tale ? Or thy brother ? Or the Monks of Blois ? Minstrels will turn it into songs which thy own Saxon serfs shall sing behind their plough-stilts , and men-at-arms riding through thy Norman towns . From here to Rome , Fulke , men will make very merry over that tale , and how Fulke told it , hanging in a well , like a drowned puppy . This shall be thy punishment , if ever I find thee double-dealing with thy King any more .
Meantime , the XXXXX stay here with thy son .
Bishop Fulke King Norman Normandy Robert Rome men-at-arms parchments plough-stilts