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and he had grieved bitterly for him. |
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Sybelle patted his hand. "I know, Simon," she said softly. "But it is mad! Why should Henry dislike the younger brother if he liked the eldest? You loved William, but you do not hate Richard." |
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"I told you I did not know. Perhaps it is the association with the French. Richard took over his father's French lands and had not been much in England until he inherited. Henry is not the most reasonable of men. But the business of changing de Burgh's guards may be another case of the king wishing to prove he is the master of us all." |
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"Well, butbut he is," Sybelle said uncertainly. |
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"In a way, yes. His vassals are sworn to uphold him and their vassals to uphold him through their overlords. Butand this is a most important butthe king is bound by certain oaths and laws and customs. The king may not break these any more than a vassal may break his oath. One of the oaths he has sworn is to uphold Magna Carta, which his father signed, and one provision of that charterto call a council with his barons and consider their willshe has broken most often." |
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"I say again you are all mad." Sybelle sighed. "If you wish the king to take counsel, why such long faces when he has called a council?" |
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"Because Henry has no intention of asking for or listening to advice," Simon replied angrily. "He has called a council so that his barons should approve what he has already done." |
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"Then I must suppose he is mad also," Sybelle remarked in an exasperated voice. "Surely the king must know that Richard Marshal is not tamely going to swallow the dismissal of William de Rodune. After all, he was Richard's own deputy to the court. The king had no right to dismiss him. If he wanted him gone, he should have told Richard. Only Richard could take his office from him." |
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