the
balance, and the best loved and most venerated of English bishops would,
if he would but recognise him, turn that scale against Arthur of
Brittany. On the Wednesday in Holy Week, April 19th, 1199, Hugh left
Fontevrault, and the anxious prince rode to meet him and to pay him
every court. John would fain have kept him by his side, but the bishop
excused himself, and the two travelled back to Fontevrault together, and
finally parted at Samur. They visited the royal tombs at the former
place, but the prudent nuns would not allow the dubious prince inside
their walls "because the abbess was not at home." John affected to be
charmed at their scruples, and sent them a pious message, promising the
bishop that he would shew them great favours. The answer was, "You know
that I greatly dislike every lie. I shall therefore take care not to
tell them your lip promises, unless I have proof that you certainly mean
to fulfil them." John at once swore that he would fulfil all as soon as
might be, and the bishop in his presence told the holy women, commended
the prince to them, gave the blessing and carried off the royal humbug.
He then had a long tale of John's good resolutions: he would be pious to
God, kind to his subjects, and just to all; he would take Hugh for his
father and guide, and wait upon him. He then shewed him a stone, cased
in gold, which he wore round his neck, and told him that its fortunate
owner would lack nothing of his ancestral possessions. "Put not your
faith in a senseless stone," he was told, "but only in the living and
true heavenly stone, the Lord Jesus Christ. Lay him most surely as your
heart's foundation and your hope's anchor. He truly is so firm and
living a stone that He crushes all who oppose Him. He suffers not those
who rest on him to fall, but ever raises them to higher things and
enlarges them to ampler deservings." They reached then the church porch,
where was a lively sculpture of Doomsday, and on the judge's left a
company of kings and nobles led to eternal fire. The bishop said, "Let
your mind set ceaselessly before you the screams and endless agonies of
these. Let these ceaseless tortures be ever in front of your heart's
eyes. Let the careful remembrance of these evils teach you how great is
the self loss which is laid upon those who rule other men for a little
time, and, ruling themselves ill, are subjects to demon spirits in
endless agony. These things, while one can avoid them, one is wise