The stupidity of the chancellor and senior justiciar, William Longchamp, provided just the sort of troubled waters that John wanted. Not only was William repellently arrogant but, intoxicated by his elevation, he did not bother to court popularity; the chroniclers noted grimly his favourite saying, that the fate he dreaded most was to turn into an Englishman, and recorded how his unwilling subjects mocked at his puny stature, ‘snarling’ ape-like face, hump back and lameness, and were constantly harping on the fact that his grandfather had been a serf.
In addition it was widely believed that he was a pervert.
Source:
Seward, Desmond. “The Regent.” Eleanor of Aquitaine. New York: Times , 1979. 165. Print.
Further Reading:
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