It happened that his imprisonment of his mother was not at all
pleasing in the sight of Rome. Dona Theresa had powerful friends,
who so used their influence at the Vatican on her behalf that the
Holy Father--conveniently ignoring the provocation she had given
and the scandalous, unmotherly conduct of which she had been
guilty--came to consider the behaviour of the Infante of Portugal
as reprehensibly unfilial, and commanded him to deliver Dona
Theresa at once from duress.
This Papal order, backed by a threat of excommunication in the
event of disobedience, was brought to the young prince by the
Bishop of Coimbra, whom he counted among his friends.
Affonso Henriques, ever impetuous and quick to anger, flushed
scarlet when he heard that uncompromising message. His dark eyes
smouldered as they considered the aged prelate.
"You come here to bid me let loose again upon this land of
Portugal that author of strife, to deliver over the people once
more to the oppression of the Lord of Trava?" he asked. "And you
tell me that unless by obeying this command I am false to the
duty I owe this country, you will launch the curse of Rome
against me? You tell me this?"
The bishop, deeply stirred, torn between his duty to the Holy See
and his affection for his prince, bowed his head and wrung his
hands.
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