Free The Lion of Justice by Jean Plaidy

me.’
    â€˜How can you go to Rome and take this pallium from a man who, in England, is not accepted as the true Pope?’
    â€˜My lord King, there are few countries who do not accept him.’
    â€˜I have told you
I
do not accept him. Am I or am I not the King of this realm? My father swore that no Pope should be acknowledged in this country without the consent ofthe King. I agree with him and I have not acknowledged Urban.’ His temper was rising and as usual on such occasions his face had grown scarlet with fury. He pointed to Anselm:
    â€˜If you do, you defy my authority. You serve the Pope not the King. You are a traitor to your King, Sir Anselm, and what you are trying to do is tear the crown from my head.’
    Anselm was pale and calm in contrast to the red fury of the King.
    â€˜If you will grant me permission to retire, my lord, I will do so. But I must tell you that it will be necessary for me to call together a council.’
    â€˜Your departure will please me, but before you go let me tell you this, Sir Anselm. I begin to wish I had never set eyes on you. I hated you yesterday. I hate you today and I shall hate you more the longer I live.’
    â€˜Then it was an ill moment when you thrust the crozier on to me.’
    â€˜Ill indeed.’
    â€˜For now,’ Anselm reminded him, ‘you cannot dismiss me without the permission of the Pope – and that will be the Pope accepted by the world if not by you, my lord.’
    â€˜Get out,’ screamed Rufus.
    When he had gone, he looked at Ranulf and his anger faded suddenly. They began to laugh.
    â€˜We must devise some plan,’ said Ranulf, ‘for teasing your naughty Archbishop, for there is no doubt that good as he may be in the service of the mock Pope, he is bad for my lord’s temper.’
    â€˜He is an obstinate man,’ mused Rufus. ‘He will go on demanding the return of these lands and I shall continue to refrain from giving them to him. As for his pallium, he’ll not go to Urban for it. And what care I if he has no pallium at all? He can dispense with all his churchman’s robes for all I care. Although I fancy he would be far from handsome without them.’
    â€˜Not of a kind to tempt my lord to the pleasures of the flesh.’
    â€˜Be silent, fool. That man has plagued me too much. I have matters of moment to think of.’
    â€˜And I see they do not include the naked Anselm. Youshould rid yourself of him. Send him back to Normandy and find an archbishop who knows that the King is King and will have no one gainsay it.’
    â€˜These churchmen are too powerful. I see conflict ahead. Who is to rule – the King or the Pope?’
    â€˜For a man who fears hell’s torments it is indeed a problem, but you, my lord, have few such fears.’
    â€˜Nay. I was brought up to be a Christian but I never took to it. I like better the gods of my more distant ancestors. Odin the All-Father, Thor with his hammer, Valhalla, Ranulf, where men feasted and made love according to their inclination. That is a way more to my fancy. And in my heart, Ranulf, I doubt that their heaven awaits these Christians. And if it is peopled by such as Anselm, who would want to go there?’
    â€˜Not you. Not I.’
    â€˜So I’ll make sure of my pleasure here and if they are right and hellfire awaits me, I must needs endure it. Now this Anselm would call together a council. If they decide he shall go to Rome to collect his pallium, they defy me. I’ll not have that, Ranulf. My father never would. And nor shall I. I will make known my anger to the men who form this council. I’ll warrant you, Ranulf, they will not dare to go against me.’
    â€˜Then,’ said Ranulf, ‘we must wait and see.’
    It was an uneasy council that met at Rockingham. Rufus had made it clear to all those concerned that his fury would be aroused if it supported Anselm. All knew that the outcome