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Page 35
confiscations where there was no cause for disseisin. Technically it was the King's right to deprive a man of his land at his own will. Long custom, justice, and common sense, however, had nearly always prevented a King from arbitrary disseisin. That dreadful punishment, really more awful than death because it disinherited a man's heirs as well as destroyed the man himself, was usually reserved for such crimes as treason. Many justiciars complied with Henry's demands; Simon went his own way, fining what was right and just, confiscating where there was cause. Henry complained, then warned, then relieved Simon of his posts and sent him into house arrest on his own small estate.
Thus Simon was not called to serve the King in his last struggle with his sons, which saved him much mental anguish. He would have served as loyally as William Marshal did, faithful even in defeat and when it was clear the King was dying. Unlike William, however, Simon would have done his duty with a bitterly divided heartknowing rebellion was wrong but also knowing that Lord Richard's victory meant Queen Alinor's liberation.
Out of his disgrace came great joy. When William had been reconciled to Lord Richard after Henry's death, he had been sent to England to free the Queen and place the realm in her hands. In his haste to arrive and provide strong and continuing government before news of the King's death brought a wave of lawlessness, William scorned warnings of a storm in the channel. The ship had been smashed and William had been injured. That, of course, had not stopped him. He had transferred to another ship and set sail at once, but by the time he reached England he had a high fever and was in excruciating pain. Less disturbed by his illness than by the fact that he might die before he completed his mission, William sent for Simon. The messenger bore no more than William's seal on the brief letter, "Come to me. I have need of thee."

 
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