d. The men of affairs and the men of
learning, in this age, were interchangeable persons. Consequently when
Richard's attention was directed to Lincoln and its bishop, when he
noticed that it was a centre for sound and steady clerks whose wallets
were by no means unstuffed, and when he reflected that he had failed to
lay hands upon the bishop's money, he resolved to have something at any
rate from this fine magazine. He wrote to the archbishop to order, by
letter, twelve eminent clerks, who had prudence, counsel, and eloquence,
to serve at their own expense in the Roman Court, in Germany, Spain, and
elsewhere. The post from Canterbury duly arrived with twelve sealed
"pair of letters," to be directed to eminent men, and with a special
letter to order the bishop to hasten and obey. The bearer found the
bishop at his Buckden House, and dinner was just on the board. There was
much buzz and hum among those present when the tale was told, but Hugh
made no reply. He simply sat down to table. The clergy, a pavid flock,
chattered their fears between the mouthfuls. They hoped rather
hopelessly, that the answer would be all sugary and smiling; at any rate
that their master would try a little ogling of the archbishop, who
could, if he would, make things ever so much better. While they were
exchanging their views upon expediency and the great propriety of saving
one's skin, the stout-hearted bishop rose from table. He had consulted
none of these scared advisers, so that he might not throw the
responsibility upon their shivering backs. He turned to the messenger
and said, "These are novelties, and hitherto unheard of, both the
things which my lord has ordered on the king's authority and on his own.
Still he may know that I never was, nor will be, a letter carrier of his
epistles; and I never have, nor will now, oblige our clergy to undertake
royal service. I have often stopped even clerks of other parts,
beneficed in our bishopric, from daring to make themselves beholden to
secular patronage in public offices, such as forest diversion, and other
like administrations. Some, who were less obedient on this point, we
have even chastened by long sequestration of their livings. On what
reasonable count, then, ought we to pluck men from the very vitals of
our Church, and send them by order on the royal service? Let it be
enough for our lord the king that (certainly a danger to their soul's
salvation) the archbishops, neglecting the duty of th