talbot denounced ormonde as an old and feeble man (in fact he was fifty, some years younger than talbot himself), who was unfit to keep order in ireland. he was accused of having lost most of his property through his own negligence; there were vague references to treason and "crimes not fit for a bishop to speak of". the council felt that it could not ignore the charges, and ormonde was summoned to london to account for his actions. he defended himself with great vigour and was allowed to keep his office. he made numerous counter-charges against talbot, including a charge of assaulting robert dyke, the master of the rolls in ireland, and another member of the council hugh banent. the council in the end rebuked both sides in the dispute for weakening the irish government by "creating divisions and rumours among the king's men".