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"I, too. It is well he went to Pembroke in Ireland. The quarrel between the king and the pope is simple enough. There was a disputed election for archbishop of Canterbury. The monks desired the elevation of their subprior, Reginald; the king desired his friend John Grey, bishop of Norwich as archbishop." |
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"That toad? Peter of Winchester is loyal to the king, but Norwich is" |
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"Your mother would say 'an ass licker,' " Geoffrey remarked innocently. |
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Joanna's eyes laughed at him while her face took on a look of great gravity. "A married dame's ways and language are not fitting for an innocent maiden," she cooed. |
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The expression was so enchanting that Geoffrey's hand tightened on his lute and the strings twanged. "There was also some meddling by the bishops suffragan to Canterbury," he went on hastily, "and the outcome was that the pope appointed as archbishop an Englishman, then in Rome, a man called Stephen Langton. He is, I understand, a wise, learned, and good man. The monks of Canterbury were pleased; the suffragan bishops were also pleased; the king, however, was furious." |
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"I do not much love the king," Joanna put in, "and certainly I would not wish to see John Grey as archbishop, butbut the king is not all wrong in this. It is his right to be consulted on so high an appointment, and his authority" |
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Geoffrey shrugged. "That is true enough, but in a choice among evils I suppose I had rather have the pope's power a little strengthened and Langton as archbishop than have John's authority perfect and give control of the Church, through Grey, into the king's hands. I do not know. Ian says that Langton is a great man and will not be merely a creature of the papacy. In any case it is done. Langton has been consecrated. I will say that the pope tried to smooth matters over. He sent rich gifts at first and many sweet words. Even when John answered with contumacy, the pope wrote conciliatory letters admonishing the king most gently." |
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"Someone should have told him that was not the way to |
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