While this was going on, the archbishop was in deep affliction.  He had just learned that the king was in Utrecht with an army, and imagined that he had come with hostile purpose, and had taken the city through the carelessness of the porters.  Followed by his clergy, he hastened to where the king was trying to force a passage through the gates, and addressed him appealingly, reminding him that justice and equity were due from kings to subjects.

“Your armed bands, I fear, have taken this city,” he said, “and you have ordered the locks to be broken that you may expel the inhabitants, and replace them with persons favorable to your own interests.  If you propose to act thus against justice and mercy, you injure me, your chancellor, and lessen your own honor.  I exhort you, therefore, to restore me the city which you have unjustly taken, and relieve the inhabitants from violence.”

The king listened in silence and surprise to this harangue, which was much longer than we have given it.  At its end, he said,—­

“Venerable pastor and bishop, you have much mistaken my errand in Utrecht.  I come here in the cause of justice, not of violence.  You know that it is the duty of kings to repress wars and punish the disturbers of peace.  It is this that brings us here, to put an end to the private war which we learn is being waged.  As it stands, we have not conquered the city, but it has conquered us.  To convince you that no harm is meant to Bishop Henry and his good city of Utrecht, we will command our men to repair to their hostels, lay down their arms, and pass their time in festivity.  But first the purpose for which we have come must be accomplished, and this private feud be brought to an end.”

That the worthy archbishop was delighted to hear these words, need not be said.  His fears had not been without sound warrant, for those were days in which kings were not to be trusted, and in which the cities maintained a degree of political independence that often proved inconvenient to the throne.  As may be imagined, the keys were quickly forthcoming and the gates thrown open, the king being relieved from his involuntary detention, and given an opportunity to bring the bishop’s battle to an end.

He was too late; it had already reached its end.  While King William was striving to get out of the city, which he had got into with such ease, the fight in the green meadows between the bishops and the lords had been concluded, the warlike churchman coming off victor.  Many of the lords’ vassals had been killed, more put to flight, and themselves taken prisoners.  At the vesper-bell Henry entered the city with his captives, bound with ropes, and was met at the gates by the king and the archbishop.  At the request of King William he pardoned and released his prisoners, on their promise to cease molesting his lands, and all ended in peace and good will.

COURTING BY PROXY.