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to surround the church and prevent food and water from being carried to him. That is how he was taken last time. To save himself from starving he came out of sanctuary. Of course, last time he expected mercy. This time . . .'' |
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But matters were not allowed to work themselves out in a natural way. Another messenger came pounding in to London the very next night with a much longer letter. Hubert's escape had not been the decision of the majority of his gaolers. Two young guards, William de Millers and Thomas the Chamberlain, had been stirred to pity by the broken old man. One had carried him, fetters and all, to the church. However, the master of Devizes, seeing ruin staring him in the face, sent out the whole garrison. They had found the fugitive and, instead of respecting the sanctuary, had beaten him and driven him back to Devizes, regardless of his clinging to the altar with a cross in his hands. |
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Simon grunted with excitement when he read this. It was a grave mistake, he thought, for the king was a religious man. Not only that, but the insult to the Church was just what his family had been trying to find that would rouse the bishops to combine against their fellow prelate. At present, Ian had written, Henry was so enraged that there was no approaching him, and he had ordered de Burgh strictly confined to the vault in which he had formerly been placed and fastened with three pairs of manacles; he was to have speech-with no man what-soever, including his guards. This, of course, was a further offense to the Church, that a man should be punished for seeking sanctuary. And, as Simon expected, the last of the letter directed him to take this news to the Bishop of London. |
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Early next morning Simon rode to the palace, where, to his relief, he heard that the bishop was in residence. His request for audience was granted. Simon prefaced his news by mentioning that his father did not believe in meddling with matters that belonged to the Church. |
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