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voice became cold and angry. ''Your brother, John, who was at peace with you and with the realm, living quietly on the lands you gave him, well content with the marks of your love, has been awakened to suspicion. To secure his own safety in case ill should befall you, Longchamp has made treaty with the Scots to support Arthur's claim to the throne provided Longchamp is retained as Chancellor during Arthur's childhood." |
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"I have the right to name my own heir," Richard blustered. |
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"Beloved, beloved, of course you do. Have I said a word against it? But you, yourself, wrote that the matter should be held secret, and secret I held it." |
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"From your little scribe also?" Richard snarled. |
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"Most certainly. Alinor has never seen a letter of yours to me, nor has she ever written an answer from me to you. After Longchamp had so betrayed you, I wrote to you myself, with my own hand. Richard, dear heart, try to believe this is no idle persecution of the Bishop of Ely for silly, womanish reasons." |
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"My lord," the Bishop of Rouen put in, "Her Grace speaks the truth. I have no quarrel with the Bishop of Ely, but what I hear from my fellow bishops paints an ill picture for the peace of England. Longchamp has insulted and oppressed them as well as the barons." |
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"Richard, if there is war in Englandand I swear there will be if you do not curb your mannot one groat will you get from there to aid your Crusade. Leicester has been to me to ask if I would speak with him and the other English barons to beg you to use your authority to redress Longchamp's offenses. I tell you, the English are like their own coals. They are slow to take fire, but they burn hot and they burn very, very long." |
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"Very well. Very well. We have been over these matters before. I still ask why you would entrust such secrets to a chit of a girl." |
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