reign archbishop, whose business
it was, by court custom, to bring it to the king. Richard came from his
place right up to the altar steps to meet him, received "the sign of the
peace which we get from the sacrifice of the Heavenly Lamb," and then
with humble reverence yielded the same to the Bishop of Lincoln by the
kiss of his mouth. This respectful service, which the other archbishop
was making ready to receive, as the custom was, and to pass on himself,
was thus given direct to the holy man. The king stept quickly up to him,
when Hugh was expecting nothing of the sort, but was wrapt in
prayer.{11}

When the Mass was over, Hugh went to the king and spoke a few strong
words of remonstrance against his unjustifiable anger, and explained his
own innocence. The king could answer nothing to the purpose, but said
that the Archbishop had often written suspicious suggestions against
him. The bishop soon showed that these were groundless, and added,
"God's honour apart, and the salvation of your soul and mine, I have
never opposed your interests even in the least degree." The king
immediately asked him to come next day to the recently constructed
castle of Chateau Gaillard, and ordered the bishop to be given a big
Seine pike, knowing that he would not eat meat. But before they left the
chapel Hugh gripped him by the hand and led him from his high seat to a
place near the altar. There he set him down and sat beside him. "You are
our parishioner, lord king" (he was born in Oxford), "and we must answer
at the tremendous judgment of the Lord of all for your soul, which He
redeemed with His own blood. So I wish you to tell me how stands it with
your soul in its inner state? so that I may be able to give it some
effectual counsel and help, as the Divine breathing shall direct. A
whole year has gone by since I last spoke with you."

The king answered that his conscience was clear, nearly in everything,
except that he was troubled by hatred against the enemies whom he was
apt to find doing him wrong, and wickedly attacking him. The reply was,
"If in all things you please the grace of the Ruler of all, He will
easily appease your enemies or give them into your hand. But you must
beware with all your might, that you are not living against the laws of
your Maker in any way (and God forbid you should) or even doing any
wrong to your neighbours. The Scripture says that 'When a man's ways
please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be