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Page 44
belonged to the king to decide as he willed. My lord, I beg you to reconsider. You know I am no rebel. You know that I held by my fealty to King John when others did not. You see I am here, in answer to the king's summons"
"Indeed, I know you to be a true man," Winchester agreed, smiling, which is why I care nothing if your sons sit outside and glower." The smile faded. "True men have naught to fear, but too many are unlike you, Lord Ian. Bethink you, as an example, how the French lands were lost because of the narrow vision of the English lords. When the king called for men and money for war, all he received was argumenthow it was no man's duty to serve outside the realm; how foreign wars were not to be laid on the backs of the English vassals. If the king had been obeyed, half of France would still be in Henry's hands.''
"Perhaps. Or perhaps there would have been more money and more blood lost and the result would have been the same. God knows, John was no soldier, and. . . ." Ian paused, then shrugged. "Henry is no better."
"That is not trueor, at least, it was not the cause of the defeats. They were largely owing to the need for dependence on the disloyal vassals of Anjou and Poitou. It was treachery, not lack of military skill, that lost the French lands."
There was more than enough truth in that to make Ian abandon that line of reasoning. He sighed. "You may well be right, my lord, but I still beg you to think again and to urge the king to moderate his ways. There is long custom in this land supporting the right of the barons to take part in the king's decisions. I believe this to be just, but I did not come to contest with you over our differing opinions of absolute right or wrong. All I wish to tell you is thatright or wrongthe lords of England will not endure the abrogation of Magna Carta. They will fight."

 
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