There were those who did their best for him, frantic in defenseof his soul, if they could not help his body. When he grew so weakthat he ceased to rave and sank into stupor, his officials and menof law began feverishly issuing charters in his name, restoring tothe Church various properties he had seized from her, including theabbey of Ramsey. Whether with his goodwill or not, no one stoppedto ask, and no one ever knew. The orders were carried out, andrespected, but they did not avail him. His body was refusedChristian burial, his earldom was abolished, his lands and officesremained forfeit, and his family disinherited. His eldest son wasexcommunicate with him, and partner in his rebellion. A younger,and his namesake, was already with the Empress Maud, and recognizedby her as earl of Essex, for what such an acknowledgement was worthwithout lands or status.

On the sixteenth day of September Geoffrey de Mandeville died,still excommunicate, still unabsolved. The only remaining mercy wasshown to him by certain Knights Templar who were in Mildenhall atthe time, and took his coffined body back with them to London,where for want of any Christian relenting they were forced to lethim lie in a pit outside the churchyard of the Temple, inunhallowed ground, and even so a step beyond what was permitted bycanon law, for by the strict letter he should not have been laid inthe earth at all.

In the ranks of his motley army there was no one strong enoughto take his place. The only thing that held them together wasmutual self-interest and greed, and without him their dubiousalliance began to fall apart, as the encouraged forces of the kingmoved in upon them with renewed resolution. Parties of outlawswithdrew discreetly in all directions to look for less frequentedpastures and more impenetrable solitudes, where they could hope tocontinue their lives as beasts of prey. The more reputable, orthose of more regarded birth and with more to proffer, wentroundabout to make their peace and retire into safer alliances.