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wrong； much less to enjoin any thing in the shape of penance； as was the
occasional practice of holy confessors； with or without cause； for the sake
of pious discipline； and what was in those days called social order； namely；
the preservation of the privileges of the few who happened to have any； at
the expense of the swinish multitude who happened to have none； except
that of working and being shot at for the benefit of their betters； which is
obviously not the meaning of social order in our more enlightened times：
let us therefore be grateful to Providence； and sing Te Deum laudamus in
chorus with the Holy Alliance。
The little friar； however； though he found the lady spotless； found the
butler a great sinner： at least so it was conjectured； from the length of
time he always took to confess him in the buttery。
Matilda became every day more pale and dejected： her spirit； which
could have contended against any strenuous affliction； pined in the
monotonous inaction to which she was condemned。 While she could freely
range the forest with her lover in the morning； she had been content to
return to her father's castle in the evening； thus preserving underanged the
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balance of her duties； habits； and affections； not without a hope that the
repeal of her lover's outlawry might be eventually obtained； by a judicious
distribution of some of his forest spoils among the holy fathers and saints
that…were…to…be；pious proficients in the ecclesiastic art equestrian； who
rode the conscience of King Henry with double…curb bridles； and kept it
well in hand when it showed mettle and seemed inclined to rear and
plunge。 But the affair at Gamwell feast threw many additional difficulties
in the way of the accomplishment of this hope； and very shortly afterwards
King Henry the Second went to make up in the next world his quarrel with
Thomas…a…Becket； and Richard Coeur de Lion made all England resound
with preparations for the crusade； to the great delight of many zealous
adventurers； who eagerly flocked under his banner in the hope of
enriching themselves with Saracen spoil； which they called fighting the
battles of God。 Richard； who was not remarkably scrupulous in his
financial operations； was not likely to overlook the lands and castle of
Locksley； which he appropriated immediately to his own purposes； and
sold to the highest bidder。 Now； as the repeal of the outlawry would
involve the restitution of the estates to the rightful owner； it was obvious
that it could never be expected from that most legitimate and most
Christian king； Richard the First of England； the arch…crusader and anti…
jacobin by excellence； the very type； flower； cream； pink； symbol； and
mirror of all the Holy Alliances that have ever existed on earth； excepting
that he seasoned his superstition and love of conquest with a certain
condiment of romantic generosity and chivalrous self…devotion； with
which his imitators in all other points have found it convenient to dispense。
To give freely to one man what he had taken forcibly from another； was
generosity of which he was very capable； but to restore what he had taken
to the man from whom he had taken it； was something that wore too much
of the cool physiognomy of justice to be easily reconcileable to his kingly
feelings。 He had； besides； not only sent all King Henry's saints about their
business； or rather about their no…business their faineantisebut he had
laid them under rigorous contribution for the purposes of his holy war； and
having made them refund to the piety of the successor what they had
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extracted from the piety of the precursor； he compelled them； in addition；
to give him their blessing for nothing。 Matilda； therefore； from all these
circumstances； felt little hope that her lover would be any thing but an
outlaw for life。
The departure of King Richard from England was succeeded by the
episcopal regency of the bishops of Ely and Durham。 Longchamp；
bishop of Ely； proceeded to show his sense of Christian fellowship by
arresting his brother bishop； and despoiling him of his share in the
government； and to set forth his humility and loving…kindness in a retinue
of nobles and knights who consumed in one night's entertainment some
five years' revenue of their entertainer； and in a guard of fifteen hundred
foreign soldiers； whom he considered indispensable to the exercise of a
vigour beyond the law in maintaining wholesome discipline over the
refractory English。 The ignorant impatience of the swinish multitude
with these fruits of good living； brought forth by one of the meek who had
inherited the earth； displayed itself in a general ferment； of which Prince
John took advantage to make the experiment of getting possession of his
brother's crown in his absence。 He began by calling at Reading a council
of barons； whose aspect induced the holy bishop to disguise himself （some
say as an old woman； which； in the twelfth century； perhaps might have
been a disguise for a bishop）； and make his escape beyond sea。 Prince
John followed up his advantage by obtaining possession of several strong
posts； and among others of the castle of Nottingham。
While John was conducting his operations at Nottingham； he rode at
times past the castle of Arlingford。 He stopped on one occasion to claim
Lord Fitzwater's hospitality； and made most princely havoc among his
venison and brawn。 Now it is a matter of record among divers great
historians and learned clerks； that he was then and there grievously smitten
by the charms of the lovely Matilda； and that a few days after he
despatched his travelling minstrel； or laureate； Harpiton；＇3＇ （whom he
retained at moderate wages； to keep a journal of his proceedings； and
prove them all just and legitimate）； to the castle of Arlingford； to make
proposals to the lady。 This Harpiton was a very useful person。 He was
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always ready； not only to maintain the cause of his master with his pen；
and to sing his eulogies to his harp； but to undertake at a moment's notice
any kind of courtly employment； called dirty work by the profane； which
the blessings of civil government； namely； his master's pleasure； and the
interests of social order； namely； his own emolument； might require。 In
short；
Il eut l'emploi qui certes n'est pas mince； Et qu'a la cour； ou tout se
peint en beau； On appelloit etre l'ami du prince； Mais qu'a la ville； et
surtout en province； Les gens grossiers ont nomme maquereau。
＇3＇ Harp…it…on： or； a corruption of