No one was surprised. Ironface had been evading justice for years.

At last it was time to hear Edgar. First Degbert called on him to swear an oath. Edgar put his hand on the silver pyx and said: “By Almighty God I say that Dreng the ferryman murdered an unnamed boy born to Blod the slave by throwing the newborn baby into the river twelve days ago. I saw this with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. Amen.”

There was a murmur of revulsion from the crowd. They had known in advance what the charge was, but perhaps they had been unaware of the details; or maybe they knew but were horrified to hear them spoken out loud in Edgar’s clear voice. Whatever the reason, Edgar was glad they were shocked. They should be. And perhaps their indignation would shame Degbert into agreeing to some kind of justice.

Now, before the case went further, Edgar said: “Dean Degbert, you cannot preside over this trial. The accused man is your brother.”

Degbert pretended to be affronted. “Are you suggesting that I might judge corruptly? You may be punished for that.”

Edgar had anticipated this reaction, and he had his answer ready. “No, dean, but a man should not be asked to condemn his own brother.” He saw some among the crowed nod approvingly. Villagers were jealous of their rights and resentful of the tendency of nobleman to domineer over local courts.

Degbert said: “I am a priest, the dean of the minster, and the lord of the village. I shall continue to preside over this hundred court.”

Edgar persisted, not because he thought he could win the argument, but to emphasize Degbert’s bias more strongly to the villagers. “The headman of Bathford, Nothelm, could perfectly well preside.”

“Quite unnecessary.”

Edgar conceded defeat with a nod. He had made his point.

Degbert said: “Do you wish to call any oath helpers?”

An oath helper was someone who would swear that someone else was telling the truth, or simply that he was an honest man. The weight of the oath was greater if the swearer was someone of high status.

Edgar said: “I call Blod.”

“A slave can’t testify,” said Degbert.

Edgar had seen slaves testify in Combe, though not often, and he said: “That’s not the law.”

“I’ll tell you what the law is and is not,” said Degbert. “You can’t even read.”

He was right, and Edgar had to give in. He said: “In that case I call Mildred, my mother.”

Mildred put her hand on the pyx and said: “By the Lord, the oath is pure and not false that Edgar swore.”

Degbert said: “Any more?”

Edgar shook his head. He had asked Erman and Eadbald, but they had refused to swear against their father-in-law. He had not even bothered to ask Leaf or Ethel, who could not testify against their husband.

Degbert said: “What does Dreng say to the accusation?”

Dreng stepped forward and put his hand on the pyx.