The King's mockery.
He falls sick and is moved to Gloucester.
Ash Wednesday, March 2, 1093. archbishopric went together in the King's thoughts as well as in the thoughts of other men.[1] The lord who had spoken answered that, in his belief and in that of many others, the archbishopric was the very thing which Anselm least wished for.[2] The King laughed again, and said that, if Anselm had any hope of the archbishopric, he would clap his hands and stamp with his feet, and run into the King's arms. But he added, "By the face of Lucca, he and every other man who seeks the archbishopric may this time give way to me; for I will be archbishop myself."[3] He repeated the jest several times. Presently sickness came upon him, and, in a few hours, he took to his bed. He was carried in haste from Alvestone to the neighbouring city, where he could doubtless find better quarters and attendance.[4] He lay sick during the whole of Lent; but, unless his sickness began somewhat earlier, the whole of the events with which we have to deal must have been crowded into the first few days of the penitential season. At all events, during the first week of Lent, William Rufus was lying at Gloucester,
- ↑ This story is told by Eadmer (Hist. Nov. 15, 16) and William of Malmesbury (Gest. Pont. 80). One would like to know the name of this "unus de principibus terræ, cum rege familiariter agens," who held Anselm in such high esteem. If it had been Earl Hugh, one might expect that Eadmer would have said so.
- ↑ Ib. "Nec illum quidem maxime, sicut mea multorumque fert opinio."
- ↑ Ib. "Obtestatus est rex quod manibus ac pedibus plaudens, in amplexum ejus accurreret, si ullam fiduciam haberet se ad illum posse ullatenus aspirare, et adjecit, Sed per sanctum vultum de Luca (sic enim jurare consueverat), nec ipse hoc tempore nec alius quis archiepiscopus erit, me excepto."
- ↑ Ib. "Hæc illum dicentem e vestigio valida infirmitas corripuit, et lecto deposuit, atque indies crescendo ferme usque ad exhalationem spiritus egit." He mentions Gloucester directly after, but the minute geography comes from Florence (1093); "Rex Willelmus junior, in regia villa quæ vocatur Alwestan vehementi percussus infirmitate, civitatem Glawornam festinanter adiit, ibique per totam quadragesimam languosus jacuit."
