[238] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 11877–908. These lines may be an almost literal report of the interview as described by the Marshal himself to John of Earley (_d’Erlée_), on whose relation to the _Histoire_ in its present form see M. Meyer’s introduction, vol. iii. pp. ii.–xiv. John was the Marshal’s favourite squire, and was immediately despatched by him on an important mission to England; see vv. 11909–16. It has been suggested (_Dic. Nat. Biog._ “Marshal, William”) that “li arcevesques”--as John calls him, without either Christian name or title of see--may have been not Walter of Rouen, but Hubert of Canterbury. Hubert was in Normandy at the time; but the advocacy of Arthur’s claims, intelligible enough in the mouth of a Norman prelate, is so contrary to the English political traditions of those days that I cannot, without further evidence, ascribe it to such a thoroughly English statesman as Archbishop Hubert Walter. [239] “Hostis naturae Johannes,” W. Newb. l. iv. c. 40. [240] _Magna Vita S. Hugonis_, p. 287. [241] R. Howden, vol. iv. p. 86; R. Coggeshall, p. 99. [242] _Mag. Vita S. Hug._ _l.c._ [243] _Mag. Vita S. Hug._ pp. 287–91. [244] R. Howden, vol. iv. p. 87. [245] _Mag. Vita S. Hug._ pp. 291–5. [246] Rigord, c. 127. [247] R. Coggeshall, p. 99; R. Howden, vol. iv. pp. 85, 86. [248] R. Howden, pp. 86, 87; date from _Chron. S. Albini Andeg._ a. 1199. [249] _Mag. Vita S. Hugon._ p. 296. [250] Rigord, c. 127; W. Armor. _Gesta P. A._ c. 101. [251] R. Coggeshall, p. 99. [252] _Ib._; R. Howden, vol. iv. p. 87; R. Diceto, vol. ii. p. 166; _Mag. Vita S. Hugon._ p. 293; Gerv. Cant. vol. ii. p. 92. [253] R. Howden, vol. iv. pp. 87–88. [254] _Mag. Vita S. Hugon._ p. 293. [255] _Ib._ pp. 293, 294. [256] R. Howden, vol. iv. p. 86. The writer of the _Hist. de G. le Mar._ asserts, vv. 11909–16, that John of Earley had been sent to England by the Marshal three weeks earlier, to “take seisin” of the land, castles, towns and royal demesnes for the count of Mortain. Probably he was really sent to bid the Marshal’s own men in England secure for John the castles, etc., which they held; and also to act as a medium of communication between the Marshal and the justiciar. [257] R. Howden, vol. iv. pp. 87, 88, where, however, the order of events is wrong. Cf. R. Coggeshall, p. 99. [258] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 11925–40. [259] “Cum privatis suis,” R. Coggeshall, p. 99. [260] R. Howden, vol. iv. p. 89; Gerv. Cant., vol. ii. p. 92, says Seaford. [261] R. Howden and R. Coggeshall, _ll.cc._; R. Diceto, vol. ii. p. 166. CHAPTER III JOHN “SOFTSWORD” 1199–1206 Contempserunt etenim in eo malivoli quique juvenilem aetatem et corporis parvitatem, et quia prudentia magis quam pugna pacem optinebat ubique, “Johannem Mollegladium” eum malivoli detractores et invidi derisores vocabant. Sed processu temporis ... Gerv. Cant. vol. ii. pp. 92, 93 (a. 1200). [Sidenote: 1199]