Chapter 104 - 98: Archbishop of Canterbury

"I... I-I-I, I don’t, no, that’s not it. I-I just don’t want to make my mother sad."

Robert seemed to hesitate, but he quickly thought of a suitable answer.

"Besides, if the Holy See found out about this... he would probably refuse to support me. No one looks kindly on a kinslayer. The Holy See’s support is very important to us, right?"

"Of course."

Eric shrugged and pressed the Crown in his hands against Robert’s chest.

"You can take it now. It belongs to you."

He then made a motion as if he were about to leave immediately.

Robert took the Crown, but he also grabbed Eric’s arm.

"So... that old man..."

"He’s a man of strong will. A little humiliation like that isn’t enough to make him surrender without a fight. The Normans are much more pragmatic than the average Franks—you and I are both well aware of that.

Besides, if I had actually succeeded, there would be no reason not to present the one who did it. What Knight doesn’t thirst for greater honor?"

Hearing Eric’s words, Robert tried to appear calm, but Eric could tell he was relieved.

"Thank you, Eric."

"As Lord Odo says, it is only natural for a vassal to do anything for his Lord. A proper vassal shouldn’t do things that trouble his Lord."

Eric chuckled and gave Robert a slight bow.

"Of course, if my Lord—no, it should be the future master of England—is willing to give his loyal and humble vassal a small, insignificant reward, then that would be for the best."

"Hahahaha, I will remember this."

"Though the banner of the Holy See has not yet arrived, the coronation should happen as soon as possible, if you can arrange it. After you are crowned, we will immediately hire people to spread the news that the King is dead. We have a fleet; our Speed is greater than your father’s.

At that point, even the Nobility who chose to side with your father will have to weigh their own risks."

"Coronation?"

"What is it?" Eric could see Robert was troubled.

"Well... how should I put this? The Archbishop of Canterbury is unwilling to support me, and the coronation for the Crown of England usually requires the Archbishop of Canterbury to preside. Archbishop Lanfrank has always been a staunch supporter of the old man."

"Have you captured him? Why didn’t your brother Rufus bring him into the Tower of London?"

This surprised Eric a little.

Lanfrank was one of the foremost Theologians of his time. The former Pope, Alexander, was his student and close friend.

He was also one of the figures Philip admired, the one who was desperate for that treatise.

He was also Conqueror William’s spiritual mentor. William respected him greatly, and many of his decisions were influenced by Lanfrank.

"Could it be that he, as the Archbishop, felt that by staying in London City, his title as the Archbishop of Canterbury was enough to allow him to shelter more people in God’s name, to let the innocent survive? What a wise and benevolent Archbishop." Eric nodded with some admiration.

"Er... I’m not too clear on that."

Robert scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Anyway, the Knights found him at Westminster Abbey. When they found him, he was fighting with an Englishman.

That Englishman had been sent by Rufus to tell him to take refuge in the Tower of London. Perhaps due to a grammatical issue, the two started arguing.

The old man doesn’t like the English language, and in recent years, as he’s gotten older, his eyes and ears aren’t what they used to be."

Eric: "... (;¬＿¬)"

"Do you want to go see him? He’s an Italian and has been a famous scholar since his youth. I’ve heard that many Cultivators see him as a role model and travel long distances to London just to meet him.

Every year, Priests from Frankish lands and Germany come to London to engage in theological debates with him, and he has never lost.

The old man spent years trying to get him to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury. In the end, he even had to ask the former Pope to formally command him to take the post before he finally agreed."

"There’s no need. It’s useless no matter how much you talk to an old man like that. Are there any other Priests in London City?"

"Of course. That group of Priests ran straight for the Tower of London at the first opportunity and ran right into us."

"Herd all those Priests into Westminster Abbey. Before you shove them in, tell them that if the Archbishop of Canterbury refuses to cooperate, they won’t be coming out. Hunger will drive them to make the right choice."

"Lanfrank won’t be frightened by this, and besides, I don’t want him to return to God’s embrace just yet."

"That’s why we need to muddy the waters. He may be able to endure it, but that doesn’t mean those Priests can. As hunger spreads, they will blame Lanfrank for their suffering. The sound of their accusations will eventually crush him.

Mercy and compassion are the qualities God cherishes most. He will not remain indifferent."

"And what if he still refuses?"

"Then we tell him that after he dies, we plan to appoint Odo as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. In fact, your uncle Odo has coveted that position for a long time, hasn’t he?"

"Has the sound of their arguments already spread throughout all of England?" Robert shook his head with a bitter smile.

Because Odo was made Bishop of Bayeux by William at the age of fourteen, he had never lived a day in the life of a Priest and thoroughly enjoyed his secular role.

He casually wielded a Sword, a weapon forbidden to Clergy, and was enthusiastic about charging into battle. The victory at the Battle of Hastings was, without a doubt, partly his achievement.

After the Norman Conquest, he gladly accepted the title of Earl of Kent. By virtue of this title, he became the perfect candidate to manage both secular and Church affairs. Coupled with William’s immense trust in him, he began to interfere in Church matters without restraint.

And so, a strange spectacle emerged within the English Church.

At the forefront was Archbishop Lanfrank, purging the corruption of the English Church, abolishing the worship of local English Saints, standardizing the granting of ecclesiastical offices, and promoting celibacy among Priests.

Meanwhile, in the rear, Odo was putting a price tag on high-ranking church positions, freely buying and selling offices, accepting bribes from the English, enclosing land, protecting corrupt Priests, and holding debaucherous banquets daily.

Lanfrank and Odo frequently clashed. Coincidentally, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury was located in Kent. Every time they met, they would argue all the way from Kent to the royal court.

That was why he hadn’t dared to tell his uncle Odo about capturing Lanfrank in London City; he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control him.

"Then let’s proceed with that plan. The siege on the Tower of London can be slowed; Rufus isn’t going anywhere. The most urgent matter now is Winchester.

I wonder how Count Mortain’s siege is progressing. We must reinforce—..."

"It seems your brother Rufus has no intention of surrendering without a fight," Eric interrupted Robert.

Robert looked toward the distant Tower of London. On the tower, Rufus was holding a familiar person hostage—the Earl of Hereford, William FitzOsborne.