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At any time, a court wedding would create a slight pleasurable stir. It would be an occasion for even grander gowns and more elaborate jewelry than an ordinary wedding. The fact that the guest list would be much longer meant that supplies would be ordered in greater quantity and come from farther afield. The fact that the guest list would be much grander meant that more elaborate and more costly dishes would be prepared and that the entertainment would be of higher quality and greater sophistication. In November of 1212, Geoffrey's and Joanna's wedding was a focus of attention to an extraordinary degree. It was also the only pleasant thing the courtiers had to think about and called forth nearly hysterical gaiety. |
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The sanguine hopes of October had gradually faded. Although there was still no active rebellion, John's confident supposition that Pandulf and Stephen Langton would arrive in England within weeks of his invitation turned out to be false. The situation with respect to the Church had actually deteriorated. Langton and Pandulf, finally impatient after years of fruitless negotiations, had set out for Rome. John's messenger, hastening after them, had caught them on the road but received a very cold welcome. This was not the first time that John had called them to England with fair promises to settle their differences, and each previous invitationin their opinionshad been a mockery. They would come, they told the messenger orally, after the pope had heard their pleas and he and the council of bishops and cardinals had decided what to do. |
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John had sent new envoys out directly to the pope when he had that answer, but that the pope would continue indul- |
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