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MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER
The flowers of history, especially such as relate to the affairs of Britain. Vol. II. A.D. 1066 to A.D. I307.
page 97
Exeter, to plead his cause against the archbishop. But William, bishop of Ely, died on his way to the Roman court, and was buried in the abbey of Pymes, belonging to the Cistercian order, on the thirtieth of January. But his fellowbishops arrived at Rome, and effected a reconciliation between the king and the archbishop on terms which were not injurious to either party, and it was confirmed by a charter. At this time it was intimated to king Richard, that ships were accustomed to come from England to Saint Valori, bringing supplies to his enemies, when they were in need of them, to his own great injury. And so, to revenge this wrong, he burnt the town, dispersed the monks, and transported the bier of Saint Valori, with his remains, into Normandy. And in that harbour he found ships loaded with corn, the sailors of which he ordered to be hung, and having burnt the ships, he distributed the provisions among his own soldiers. At this time also, the munificence of king Richard won over many of the more powerful nobles of France, especially Baldwin, count of Flanders, the counts of Champagne and Brittany, and many other nobles of the French, who abandoned the king of France, and became adherents of king Richard. In these days, another prophet arose in France* a most powerful preacher, namely, the master Fulk, for whose sake the Lord condescended manifestly to work miracles. That Fulk one day came to Richard, king of England, and said to him, " I, on the part of Almighty God, command thee immediately to give in marriage your three wicked daughters whom you cherish, lest a worst thing happen to thee." And the king is said to have answered him, " Thou hypocrite, thou hast lied, because I have no daughter at all." To which Fulk replied, " Certainly I do not he, because, as I have said, you have three most infamous daughters, one of which is pride, the second covetousnese, and the third luxury." Accordingly, the king having summoned the counts, and many others who were at hand, to appear before him, said to them, " Hear all of you the prompting of this hypocrite, who says that I have three very wicked daughters, namely, pride, covetousnees, and luxury, and he has enjoined me to give them in marriage ; I therefore give my pride to the pride of the Templars, my covetousness to the monks of the Cistercian order, and my luxury to the prelates of the church."
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