The Lion of Justice by Jean Plaidy Page B

hose to our lord the King!’
    â€˜They are the King’s hose, sir.’
    â€˜Tell me the price of these hose, man.’
    â€˜I know not.’
    â€˜Then find out.’
    The frightened man scurried away, and Robert continued to amuse the company by murmuring, ‘Hose . . . inferior hose . . . an insult to my royal legs . . .’ He even endeavoured to make his face grow red with feigned temper.
    The page returned with another man, and Robert signed for them to stand before him.
    â€˜These offending hose,’ said Robert. ‘Pray what did they cost?’
    â€˜Three shillings, my lord.’
    â€˜Three shillings. You would encase the King’s royal legs in three shillings’ worth of hose? You should have your eyes put out for such treason.’
    The frightened chamberlain began to tremble.
    â€˜My lord,’ he began, ‘the King has never questioned—’
    â€˜He is questioning now. A King should never wear hose that cost less than a mark. Bring me a worthy pair of hose if you do not wish to see how fierce my displeasure can grow.’
    The chamberlain bowed and hurried off. In a few moments he returned with a pair of hose.
    â€˜How much did these cost?’ asked Robert without looking at them.
    â€˜Two marks, my lord. They are very fine hose.’
    â€˜They will serve. And, fellow, never on pain of death offer the King three shilling hose again.’
    The company was greatly amused, and Robert minced over to the King holding the hose before him.
    â€˜They look no better than the others,’ said Rufus.
    â€˜Yet they cost two marks and are therefore worthy of your royal legs.’
    Robert could always be relied on to enliven the company with amusing games, and there was laughter while the King was dressed.
    Then down to the hall they went, to the banquet where three hundred ushers and doorkeepers had been placed at all entrances to keep out the hungry people, who, attracted by the smell of roasting meat and knowing the hour when the meal would be taken, had assembled outside and, if not prevented, would come rushing into the hall as the food was carried in, and try to snatch it from the dishes.
    Everything was in order. There stood the ushers, their rods in their hands, ready to keep out the rabble and make sure that the food and drink were carried to the table unmolested.
    They feasted, and in due course the King retired to his chamber accompanied by his chosen companions.
    Anselm was preaching against the vices of the King’s entourage. He declared that the King and his friends partook in the most abandoned sodomy. They were extravagant; thenew fashions were disgusting to all normal men, for gentlemen wore long robes and mantles which swept the floor and their gloves were so long and wide, that a man could not use his hands when encased in these ridiculous objects. Their hair was worn long and flowing; it was crimped and curled; their shoes with the ram’s horn toes, their mincing manners—all these, declared Anselm, were an abomination.
    It should be remembered what had happened to the Cities of the Plain. How soon before God raised his hand against the King of England and his minions?
    â€˜God curse Anselm,’ said Rufus, and he wished that he could rid himself of the man. When he thought of the rich lands of the See of Canterbury still remaining in the hands of Anselm he grew so angry that the veins knotted at his temples, and his friends feared he would fall to the ground in a fit.
    His hatred of the Pope had grown, for he had made a grave miscalculation concerning him. Urban had sent the pallium to Canterbury and saved a delicate situation, and Rufus had presumed, in view of the secret communications between them, that if he acknowledged him as the true Pope he would repay that recognition by relieving Anselm of his office.
    Urban was wily. He was accepted in England. This was what he wanted, but since