Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best inspirational books txt) 📕

a novelty, were worn only by men of the very highest rank, and she was not altogether sure that Llewelyn would be willing to adopt this new Norman fashion.The Thursday after Christmas found the court settled at Guildford in Surrey, some thirty miles south of London. Joanna was delighted, for Guildford was a noted center for the cloth trade. With Richard in patient attendance, she'd lingered over the wares so eagerly spread out for her inspection, eventually selecting a ruinously expensive length of Spanish cotton, a deep russet velvet, sindon linen fine enough to see through, and, despite his token protest, a rich Coventry blue for Richard.Richard watched in amusement as the merchants all but fell over themselves in their zeal to please his sister. "You shall have to buy additional pack horses to get all your purchases back to Wales, you know," he gibed, moving forward to help her mount her mare. "But are you still set upon departing on the morrow, Joanna? We thought sure you'd stay through Epiphany, and I do not doubt Llewelyn did, too.""Wales is not at the back of beyond, Richard. I'll come again.""I just do not understand your haste. Nor does Papa, I'd wager.""No, he does not. And I confess I am surprised, Richard. I'd have thought Papa would be pleased that I do miss the husband he chose for me. But when I told him I was leaving, he did give me the strangest look. As foolish as this is going to sound, I suddenly felt guilty, although why I do not know."A light snowfall was powdering the ground by the time they

237ched the King's manor Hastening into the great hall, Joanna came to r uncertain halt Something was amiss, she sensed it at once So, too, a. , gjchard He took her arm, followed her toward the dais Isabelle was ndmg at John's side, her face turned imploringly up to his, speaking oftly/ placatmgly He did not seem to be listening, but as she per-ered, ne shook her hand off his arm, snapped, "Be still, Isabelle I'd Ot have you meddle in that which you do not understand "Isabelle recoiled "I did only mean to comfort you," she said, sounding hurtBut John had already turned upon his heel, men hastily moved aside to let him pass"Isabelle, what has happened7""I've never seen him so angry, Joanna When he first read the Pope's letter, he went so red I truly feared he might be stricken with a palsy And then he blistered the air itself with his oaths I'd have begged him not to blaspheme, but I had not the courage And when I did say""The Pope has given his decision, then7" Richard interrupted, with such urgency that Isabelle forgave his rudeness, nodded bleakly"I cannot believe what he has done, Richard He declared Reginald's election invalid, just as he earlier repudiated Bishop de Grey's election But then he instructed the monks to elect a man of his choosing, Stephen Langton, cardinal priest of St Chrysogonus, a member of the papal court They did as he bade, of course, and he now writes that John must recognize Langton as Archbishop ofCanterbury, says that since the election was held in Rome, there is no need for John to give his assent1"Richard was stunned "Chnst Jesus help us all," he breathed, and turned awayJoanna followed, clutched at his arm"Richard, I do not understand What does this mean7""You truly do not know7" He stared at her in such surprise that Joanna blushed"No," she confessed, "I do not I knew, of course, that the Archbishop ofCanterbury had died, but to be truthful, Richard, I thought of little last year except my own troubles I was, after all, facing a marriage I dreaded AndI've been in Wales since May Will you tell me what has happened7""The trouble began last year, with Archbishop Walter's death A 'action of theChnstchurch monks held a clandestine midnight meeting, elected Reginald, their subpnor, as Archbishop, sent him secretly to Korne to secure the Pope's confirmation When Papa got word of this, he ^as understandably wroth The King has ever had the right to have his °Wn man as Archbishop, for more than a hundred years, so has it been Japa confronted the monks at Canterbury, and they repented their

238folly, disavowed Reginald's election. Last December they did choose aArchbishop more to Papa's liking, John de Grey, Bishop of Norwich "Richard frowned. "This past March the Pope declared Bishop 3 Grey's election invalid, ordered the monks to send a new delegation t Rome. And now he has dared to handpick his own man as Archbishon of Canterbury! Papa can never ratify Langton's election, never. No En glish king would.""Oh, dear God!" Joanna sat down suddenly in the window seat staring up at her brother in dismay. "The Pope will not back down either, Richard. If Papa will not recognize Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury, he may well lay England under Interdict!"Joanna bit her lip, remembering how the innocent had suffered when the Pope laid France under Interdict six years ago. Few papal weapons were as effective, and few were as unfair, inflicting pain upon the many to punish the few, denying to the faithful all Sacraments save the Last Rites, denying themMass, confession, burial in consecrated ground. Philip was a monarch noted for his inflexible nature, his unimaginative obstinacy. He had capitulated in seven months. But Papa will not, Joanna thought with sudden certainty. Even if the Pope does lay all England under Interdict, he'll not yield. And then thePope will have no choice. To compel earthly obedience, he will sacrificePapa's immortal soul, will lay upon him the anathema of excommunication.Joanna had been present when the Bishop of Lincoln excommunicated a baron who'd run afoul of Church law. She'd never forgotten it. The church had been hung with black tapestry. Moving with a slow, measured step, the Bishop and priests had entered the chancel, each holding aloft a flaming candle. And then