Page:The reign of William Rufus and the accession of Henry the First.djvu/560

 *







Anselm had no one whom he could send on such an errand; it was not in his nature to thrust another into the mouth of the lion when he could brave the danger himself. He went into the presence-chamber; he repeated his own words to the King, and at once withdrew. The wrath of William was kindled; he took counsel with the bishops and the nobles of his party, to see what answer he could make; but they found none. As in the hall at Lillebonne, when the Conqueror put forth his plan for the invasion of England, men were to be seen talking together by threes and fours, seeking for something to say which might at once soften the King's wrath and at the same time not directly deny the doctrine set forth by Anselm. They were long over their discussion; the subject of their debates meanwhile sat leaning against the wall of the place of meeting, in a gentle sleep. He was awakened by the entrance of the bishops, accompanied by some of the lay nobles, charged with a message from the King. His lord the King bade him at once, laying aside all other words—the words, one would think, of dreamland so cruelly broken in upon—to hear, and to give his answer with all speed. They had not as yet to announce any solemn judgement of the King and his Witan; their words still took the form of advice; but it was advice which was meant to be final and decisive. As for the matters which had