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was given to me. He has always been moderate in his dealings with the king, yet he spoke very bitterly about Peter of Winchester's rule. It has been, as I wrote you before, harsher than it should, but, as you know, there is so much resistance to whatever is asked that I fear harshness has become a habit. Oxford grew quite heated when he saw John's letter, saying that anyone who answered the summons was a fool, merely throwing good money after bad and, moreover, that he would pay no scutage for withholding his men from a mad venture that could benefit no one in this land. I am sorry to add to your troubles. I know it cannot be easy for you or for Ian, situated as you are, but I felt you must be warned that things do not go well here and that the king is like to have a cold welcome when he returns." |
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"I have some good news to temper the ill. Geoffrey writes that all goes very well in Flanders. Salisbury has virtually cleared the country of all French troops and sympathizers, and they only await the Emperor Otto's arrival before they engage King Philip himself. If they win a great victory, it may help for a short time, but I must add that Oxford was talking again about the charter. I know Ian also believes that peace will be restored if the king can be brought to sign this. I thought I should mention it, especially considering the source from where I heard it. I do not suppose Ian can broach the subject himself because whatever he thinks good the king hates, but perhaps d'Atie or Cantelu could hint to the king that he should not condemn the idea of a charter out of hand." |
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Joanna then turned to personal news. Fortunately, that was a good. Simon was still a devil, but a charming one and his health was excellent. Adam was growing up by leaps and bounds. He spent most of his time in his own keeps now, Leicester having given him leave to oversee his lands more closely because the castellans were mostly with Ian in France. He had ridden over to Roselynde to spend a week with his sister. |
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It was a very good thing that Joanna had spent some space on Adam. That was the one spark of light, the one cheerful subject Alinor and Ian had as a relief, for Joanna's letter had |
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