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bind the king to sign a charter. Langton believes, and I also, that this can save the realm. In any case, John cannot love me less" Ian shrugged. |
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"Nor me either," Geoffrey pointed out, "I know well enough who would have paid the double ransom Isabella offered. I do not think he will dare accuse me of treason, however. I will go to Saint Edmunds." |
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"We must see how you heal," Ian temporized, but he obviously thought well of the idea. |
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Once over the hump of infection, Geoffrey healed with the rapidity of youth, which was fortunate because Ian had to rush north to quell a totally unexpected rising on his own lands. He had not been worried about the scutage because his men had gone with him to serve the king. However, he had obtained quittance for certain of his vassals for varying reasons. The king conveniently "forgot" these quittances and levied scutage. Promptly, even eagerly, Ian's vassals armed themselves to resist, after informing their overlord of the despite done them. First, Ian confronted John with the signed quittances, wrung from him a written, signed, and sealed pardon of the scutage, and then went to calm his seething men. |
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This, of course, did not endear Ian to John, but Salisbury had returned from France and was showing his brother such a black countenance and such icy reserve that the king did not even frown at any man Salisbury loved. First, it was necessary to convince Salisbury that the price offered for Geoffrey's body was offered after it was known he had not been taken alive and that the intention was only that Geoffrey should not be buried in an unmarked and untended grave. John was shocked when this reasonable explanation was not snapped up with relief. He withdrew himself with wounded dignity, but he suffered more than Salisbury from the chill between them and he was very careful not to exacerbate his brother's suspicion by attacks on any of Salisbury's friends. Nonetheless, it was thought best for Ian to remain in the north. |
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Geoffrey went to Bury Saint Edmunds. He was quite well, except for an odd gaitone short step, one longand |
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