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"But this has been true for years, Geoffrey. What is new?" |
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"What is new is that the king's pride has grown all out of reason. In three years he has brought Scotland, Ireland, and Wales to an obedience no other king ever forced upon them. He does not see that Pembroke and Ian sit upon Ireland, that King William of the Scots is weak and his barons so taken with quarrels among themselves that they have no time to look toward England, that Waleswell, I need not speak of that again." |
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"I still do not understand." Joanna shook her head. "Come, sit down." She pressed him into a chair, shoved a footstool under his feet and then, instead of sitting in the chair opposite, brought another stool close beside him and sat down on that, taking his hand into hers. "Tell me what happened to make you feel this." |
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"The first thing was the king's answers to the emissaries from the pope. The legate is Pandulf, I believe a wise and worthy man. Durrand of the Knights Templars was with him, more, I would say to protect Pandulf than to negotiate. At first, I thought all would be well. John was polite and he said at once that he would welcome into England the new archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, and any or all of the exiled bishops. This greatly pleased Pandulf and I could see he was willing and empowered to bargain. That was where the sweet wine turned sour. Had John offered a mil on a pound for restitution and a few sweet words, all would have been well. Had he offered nothing, only said that the problem must be considered and worked out with the bishops and archbishop, it would have been enough. The Church would have made peace and set about wringing restitution from him penny by pennywhich would have been good for us." |
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"I gather the king was adamant?" |
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"Adamant? He was worse! He laughed at the power of the pope openly, and said he had more kindness from God in his excommunicated state than he had ever had as a faithful son of the Church." |
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