In the second century after Hastings, in Central Markland there lived a man named Walter Greycloake. This Greycloake was a descendant of Wilhelm Greycloake the Old, and he was a great chieftain, but with only modest lands and few vassals. He owned a small number of boats, both for fishing and trading and war, though in spite of his moderate means, he kept a large household.

Now this Greycloake was called by Michael, the son of Kevin of the household of Hunnar, who was then Warlord of Markland, to come to Oakley and the Isle of Black Stones and be an advisor and Aeldorman at his court, and to bring his warriors to add their strength to the Warlord’s guard, for the land of the Mark was troubled by war in those days. So Greycloake placed tenants on his lands, to work them in his absence, and made contracts with the crews of his boats, that they would work his lands and vessels in his absence, and they would pay him one-eighth part of all they made from their work with his property. When he had so arranged his affairs, he took his retainers and went to serve the Warlord.

By his service, Greycloake won much renown for wisdom, and courage, and great care in managing his lord’s affairs. But because of his modest means, he was known to keep a careful watch on his pennies, and to maintain his household with great frugality. There were some who spoke of him as a sharp dealer and mean spirit.

There came to Oakley a young man, Roark of the Forest Sauvage, and he was landless, the younger son of a poor coerl. Roark sought service with Greycloake, who took him into his household, and gave him a sword, and three dishes of porridge a day, and a place to sleep near the door of his hall.

Roark served Greycloake right well, and earned praise and increased responsibility, but no greater reward, for Greycloake’s treasury was strapped. Roark thought about this, and one night when Greycloake was entertaining a few friends, he stood by the door and made up a song to the music:

When he heard this, Greycloake asked his steward who this man was who embarassed him in front of his friends. "Roark," replied the Steward, "a landless man who has done you good service among your minor retainers."

"Ha!" exclaimed Greycloake, well aware that his guests were watching. "Well, let him be given a place to sleep by the fire." And so Roark’s place was moved nearer the hearth.

This state of affairs continued for a while, and Roark served Greycloake more diligently than before – standing guard, carrying messages, rowing in his boat crew, caring for his horses. But, while he was given kind words for his work, he still ate only porridge, as did most of Greycloake’s household. So, when once again his master was entertaining his friends, and Roark was among those who were serving the plain fare of bread, and cheese, and pickled fish, he stood in the shadows by the door and sang:

"What’s this?" cried Greycloake. "Who sings thus about my hospitality in front of my guests?" But his retainers murmured among themselves, and did not answer, for they all had the same complaint.

Now Greycloake guessed who the singer was, since the song was about the same as before, and he knew that the criticism was true. But he could not afford to feed all his household on beef, nor to clothe each retainer. After some consideration, he hit upon a way to reward those who earned it, and had his Sergeant-at-Arms assign different men to his honor guard each time he went to the Warlord’s court, either to serve or to visit. In this way, each of his household got to eat at the Warlord’s table in turn, and to receive such hospitality gifts as were passed down to the servants and retainers.

Most of Greycloake’s entourage was satisfied with this arrangement, for it was more than they were getting before. And Roark, too, seemed content for a while, until word came to him of how hard the year had been for his parents. Roark had nothing to send to them. Furthermore, he now knew how it was with Greycloake’s treasure chest, so he did not dare ask him for any more. He thought about his problems, and his lord’s problem, and finally he resolved to try on his lord’s behalf what had worked on his own.

Therefore, the next time that he went to the Warlord’s hall with Greycloake for a feast, he waited until all had eaten their fill, until even the lowest retainer had been fed, and he took up the lute and sat in the shadows by the door and sang to his sword again. This time, however, he sang of the plight of the families of the warriors, who had to live without their men to work the fields, and how the retainers were fed and clothed well enough, but were sad because they had nothing to send home to their families. He sang of the chieftains, who gave up their wealth to attend the Warlord, and so had nothing to pay their men. And he sang of the unhappiness of the Warlord whose forces dwindled away through poverty. Then he finished with:

When he had finished, the hall was silent, for everyone was afraid that the Warlord would be angry. But Michael said nothing, and appeared deep in thought.

On the next day, the Warlord sent for Greycloake and said to him, "Was it your man who sang of going home last night?"

"Yes, Warlord," Greycloake replied stiffly. "It was."

"Walter, my young friend, your family has served my ancestors for over a hundred years. Tell me the truth, have you suffered loss coming from your lands to mine to act as my advisor and my guard?"

"Michael, my father served you before me, and my ancestors have been loyal followers of your forefathers for generation. I would not leave your service as long as you need me any my warriors in these troubled times. But yes, I have lost greatly by bringing my warriors here to be your guard, and myself to be your aeldorman and tend your affairs instead of my own."

The Warlord was silent for a while, and then he called in his seneschal and gave orders: "From this day forward, you will pay Greycloake one ounce of silver every fortnight for each man he has brought with him to our service. And see to it that his household is provisioned every feast day from my own storehouses."

Thus Greycloake’s faithful service was rewarded, and he prospered as he deserved. Nor did he keep his good fortune to himself, but saw to it that his followers had all that they needed, of food and clothing and money. But Roark he kept his eye on, for he never knew what that young man would do next.

When the harvest was in that year, Greycloake called Roark to him and said: "Now is the time to collect the rents from my tenants and ship men. Here are the charters. I am making you my reeve, to go to my lands and collect what is due. Then sell what we will not need here, or exchange it for what we can use and bring it back. And, in general, see to the ordering of my affairs on my lands, as if I were there to do it myself."

"Thus shall I do," confirmed Roark. "And I thank you for the special trust you have put in me."

Roark travelled to the lands about the Severn, where Greycloake had his property. However, he did not immediately announce his identity and mission, instead going around the area on foot, staying a few days with this farmer, or that herdsman, working a while with one boat or another, and asking a few quiet questions. In this way, he learned what the true situation was in Greycloake’s lands, and who was prospering, and who was not. He found that, on the whole, the people were well enough off, but that if he collected the rents that were due, the full one-eighth part that was Greycloake’s, some of these families would have a lean winter. He knew also, that Greycloake’s household did not need all the rents that were coming to him, since the Warlord was subsidizing him and his retainers.

On the day on which the rents were usually collected, he put on his best clothes, took Greycloake’s token staff in his hand, and went to the marketplace. "Now is the time for Lord Greycloake’s share to be paid," he announced. "I am his Reeve. Bring out the rents, both in kind and in money, and hold back nothing, for you know I have been living among you, and I Know what you have, and you know what is due."

Then the farmers and stockmen and fishermen brought to the marketplace one-eighth part of all their produce for the year, and one-eighth of all monies they had made as well. There was some little grumbling, for some felt that Roark’s coming among them before he said he was the Reeve was a cunning trick. But Roark said, "Do not look so narrowly at me! I do all that I do in Greycloake’s name, and anything that I do is as he would have it done."

"Now," Roark continued, when he had counted everything, and seen it was all in order, "this is more than we shall need for Greycloake’s household for this winter. So, as my lord Greycloake would do, if he were here himself, I remit half of each of your rents for this year!" At this the people were amazed, but they were quick to recover half of what they had brought. And Roark saw that there was still more than Greycloake needed, so after all the tenants had left, he took what was extra and distributed quietly to the poor, telling each person that received it that he was doing it not for himself, but as Greycloake’s Reeve. When he had left only what Greycloake would need for his household for the next year, he had it packed and brought it back to Oakley.

When Roark returned to Greycloake’s hall in Oakley, Walter himself checked the rent-provisions which he had brought in, and assured himself that there was enough for the entire household and all his retainers for the winter. "You have done well," he said to Roark, "and is this all or was there more?"

"There was much more," replied Roark, "which I disposed of as you instructed."

"What did you purchase with the surplus?" asked Greycloake.

"Honor!"

At this Greycloake was troubled, but he said nothing, for he had given Roark full power to act in his stead.

Now the time came when Michael the son of Kevin was no more, and his son, Robert, was Warlord in his place. And Robert called together all his father’s chieftain’s and aeldormen, Greycloake among them, and said to them: "You have served my father well, but I am not my father. I have my own retainers, my own household, and I will not require your services any longer. And no better reward for your faithfulness than this have I to offer, that you may now return to your own lands and business."

When Greycloake was thus released from the Warlord’s service, he gathered his household and packed their gear aboard his longboat and set sail for the Severn. Meanwhile, Roark sent word to Greycloake’s shipmen, tenants and vassals that th eir lord was returning. So when Greycloake’s boat turned intot he river, there was a great crowd of people on boats waiting for him. Fearing the worst – for these were troubled times – he ordered his crew to make ready their war gear, but the other boats pulled alongside and the people in them began to cheer: "Hooray! For Walter Greycloake, Hooray!" And they escorted him and his entourage back to his home. There he found that his hall had been set in order, and that his storehouses were full, and that all his vassals, and tenants and neighbors had turned out to throw a huge feast in his honor.

From then on, Greycloake prospered richly. Many men sought to join his service, for his reputation as a generous lord spread far and wide. His vassals remained especially loyal, and always saw to it that his household had everything they needed. His tenants paid their rents on time and in full, for they knew that if he did not need their produce he would return it to them. And when had to call his followers to support him in war, each family sent not just the one armed warrior that was required by law and custom, but two or even three – as many as they could. Greycloake gave Roark credit for this turn of events, and rewarded him lavishly, so that he returned to his home in the Forest Sauvage as a wealthy man, and founded a great dynasty.