 Explaining his position in Normandy had become untenable, that he had been falsely accused, and that no ecclesiastical court had been convened, he asked the pope for his help.Nicholas agreed and sent Robert back to Normandy armed with apostolic letters accompanied by two cardinal's clerks to reestablish Robert as abbot and punish Osbern as an intruder.Hearing that a papal commission that included Robert was approaching, Duke William became enraged and stated he would accept the papal envoys "but if any monk brought charges against him, he would hang him with contempt on the highest tree in the neighboring forest."