Page:The Queens of England.djvu/76

 62 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. daughter Joanna, nevertheless, at the wish of her son, she set out to Rome, after only four days' tarriance, for an inter- view with the pope, on behalf of that Geoffrey, the son of Rosamond Clifford, in whose arms King Henry had expired. Henry had promised him at his death the archbishopric of York, and it was to obtain the fulfilment of this promise that Eleanor shortened her visit in Sicily. This is an instance of magnanimity and of Christian forgiveness which has few parallels, and which exhibits the character of Eleanor in almost a sublime point of view. Her mission was successful, as it deserved to be, and she was present at the consecration of the new archbishop at Tours. During the absence of her son, Eleanor remained wholly in England, where she exercised the sovereign power with great wisdom, having appointed her grandson, Otho of Sax- ony, her regent in Aquitaine. She was now approaching sev- enty, an age which might naturally demand rest and peace ; but* the sorrows and anxieties of her life were not yet at an end ; she had yet to endure the bitterest grief -of all. At the time when the whole of England was eagerly looking for the return of her illustrious monarch, the tidings arrived that Iiq was a captive in Germany, and had been so for several months. The kingdom was filled with sorrow and indignation, and his broken-hearted mother wrote letter after letter to the pope, beseeching of him, who had the power, to obtain the release of her son, — that hero who had done such deeds of valor for the cross. In the agony of her soul she styles herself Eleanor, by the wrath of God, Queen of England. More eloquent letters were never penned : but the pope was immovable ; and, to add to her grief, John, taking advantage of his brother's captivity, laid claim to his kingdom. Again Eleanor appeals to the pope ; "King Richard," says she, "is held in fetters, while John, brother to the captive, depopulates with the sword and wastes with fire. The Lord is against me in everything, therefore do my sons fight against each other." "Thou hast the power to release my son," she again exclaims, "wherefore then dost thou so cruelly delay it ? Thou hast the power to release him ; let the fear of God displace all human fear. Give back my son to me, man of God, — if indeed thou be a man of God, and not of blood ! for if thou neglectest his liberty, the Highest will require his blood at thine hand." This eloquent appeal of a despairing and indignant heart concludes in a sublime