Page:The reign of William Rufus and the accession of Henry the First.djvu/589

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advanced before they were in England again, and a papal Legate with them. This was the Cardinal Walter, Bishop of Albano, whose good life is witnessed by our own Chronicler. His Italian subtlety showed itself quite equal to the work of outwitting the King and his counsellors whenever he chose; but his Roman greediness could not always withstand their bribes. He came, bringing with him a pallium, but the whole affair was, by the King's orders, shrouded in the deepest mystery. Not a word was said about the pallium; indeed the Legate was not allowed to have any private discourse with any man. His two keepers, Gerard and William, watched him carefully; they passed in silence through Canterbury, and took care not to meet the Archbishop. A few days before Whitsuntide, Cardinal Walter had an interview with the King. He spoke so that William understood him to be willing to abet all his purposes. Some special privilege was granted to William, which amounted at the least to this, that no legate should be sent into England but one of the King's own choosing. Not a word did Cardinal Walter say onAlbanensis episcopus, quem primum illo miserat papa, ne legatus Romanus ad Angliam mitteretur nisi quem rex præciperet."]