STUDIES CONCERNING ADRIAN IV (. Dieser Artikel ist nicht verfügbar.STUDIES CONCERNING ADRIAN IV (

Excerpt from Studies Concerning Adrian IV<br/><br/>Since this Robert died in 1186, his testimony is practically contemporaneous. Many mediaeval chroniclers seem to have aimed at brevity more than any other quality. A year's campaign, even a whole war, a movement that extended through years, is often spoken of as if it were a simple event and dismissed in a single sentence. It need therefore not be inferred from this statement of Robert that the plan of conquering Ireland was not discussed at any other time, or that it was in this council at Winchester that the Empress Matilda dissuaded the king from the undertaking. In fact, the words seem to imply that the plan was, at least practically, agreed upon at Winchester, but that afterward, owing to the opposition of the empress, the expedition was postponed. At any rate, we know from other sources, soon to be quoted, that the king's mind was occupied with this matter for several months. However, there is no further mention of his brother William in connection with this scheme. But, while we have no corrobo rative evidence of this part of the plan here attributed to the king, there is no good reason for questioning the truth of the statement made by Robert.