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Page 408
emissary to the pope complaining that Langton was plotting against him with his nobles. A substantial sum of money went with the messengers together with the reminder that the attempt to curb the king's power was directed as much against Innocent as against himself. If his knights could not be ordered to fight overseas, he pointed out, it would be impossible for him to go on crusade or to supportthe pope in any struggle that should arise on the Continent. Consoled by the expectation that he would soon wield a whip that would tame Langton, John maintained his outward calm and even seemed to consider the proposals the archbishop made as a basis for a permanent peace with the barons.
A golden autumn followed. Harvests were plentiful and cattle grew fat in the fields where sun and rain succeeded each other in perfect proportion. The boughs of the trees hung low with the heavy burden of ripe fruit and nuts carpeted the ground below the hazel hedges and walnut trees. Gazing upon their full granaries, their bulging cellars, their enormous hay ricks, and their fat food animals, the barons began to think less harshly of a little martial exercise well away from their own rich lands. Perhaps it would not be so bad an idea to fight Philip in Poitiers. It would not be impossible to win back Normandy and, in any case, France was rich. There should be handsome booty to be had.
While the smaller landlords' attitude thus softened toward the king's desire, the great barons also came around to believing that a war in France might not be worth opposing. The king's absolute fixity of purpose over so many years discouraged opposition. Sooner or later the attempt would have to be made, and this time truly seemed the best. Although Philip's forces were no longer in such disarray as they had been in the spring, the coalition that Renaud Dammartin had worked so long to form was now well-wielded together, and the leaders were ready to press their advantage by attacking Philip from the northeast. If John attacked from Poitiers and the Emperor Otto from Flanders, Philip would be torn in two and likely to be beaten on both fronts.

 
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