a b appealing against his excommunication, but the members of his own order excused themselves from supporting him. The King wrote letters in his behalf to the Pope, as did also the Bishop of Lisieux, the Abbots of Westminster, Romsey, and Reading, with other ecclesiastics, representing his merits and vindicating his conduct, and, having obtained the royal licence, he set out for Rome, in order to sue for a reversal of his sentence; while Becket, on his part, endeavoured to create a rival interest by procuring letters from the French bishops, in which the Pope was requested to sanction the sentence against "the author and instigator of schism." On the same day on which the letters of excommunication were delivered in St. Paul's, Becket himself was busy elsewhere in adding to the list of the excommunicate. The Archdeacon of Canterbury (“ archidiabolus noster") was again denounced on this occasion.d The Pope was much annoyed on hearing of Foliot's excommunication. Before the tidings reached March 10. him, he had (chiefly by way of staving off the importunities of opposite parties) appointed Gratian, a subdeacon, nephew of Pope Eugenius III., and Vivian, Archdeacon of Orvieto,f a learned canonist, to go into France as his commissioners; and he now sent Becket a letter, expressive of regret that he had resorted to excom a iv. 227. b Epp. 337, 341-3, 348, 350, 353, 363, 450, 477, &c. Arnulf., Ep. 55. Fol. Epp. 443, 447, 461, &c. d In Epp. 36, 56, Becket begs two cardinals, if Foliot and Ridel should find their way to the Papal g munication while negotiations were in progress, and advising that further proceedings should be deferred until the result of the commission were known.a e C Early in August, the envoys arrived in France; for, says Herbert, as they were less encumbered with dignity and with baggage than the Cardinals, they were able to travel more expeditiously." With Becket's party, Gratian was the favourite. He is described by Herbert as "truly gracious, according to his name, and, moreover, more vivacious than Vivian;" nay, the biographer considers him a very prodigy, inasmuch as "although a Roman, yet he went not after gold;"" while the Archbishop speaks of him as the only Roman ecclesiastic whom Henry found incorruptible, or whose exertions were of any service in the case. These commissioners, it is said, were bound by oath not to accept any present, even so much as their expenses, from the King, unless they should succeed in establishing an accommodation. After having seen the King of France, and having waited some time at Sens, as Henry was then in Gascony, the legates, on hearing of his return, proceeded into Normandy, and had several conferences with him, most of which ended in some outbreak of passion on the King's part. At the first consultation Henry rushed out of the room, complaining bitterly that the Pope had never paid any regard to him, and swearing " By God's eyes, I will take a iii. 22. b vii. 280. "Sed sicut penes regem Gratianus gratiam non invenit," says Diceto, "sic nec penes archiepiscopum aliqua vivit in me g moria Vivianus," 550. d vii. 281-3 (Ecclesiasticus, xxxi. 8). e iii. 108, 112, 252. another way." "Do not threaten, my Lord," said Gratian calmly; for we are of a Court which is accustomed to give commands to emperors and kings." At another meeting Henry exclaimed "Do what you like, for I don't care one egg for you or your excommunications ;" and mounted his horse with the intention of riding away. At the entreaties of his bishops, who represented the impropriety of such a speech, he remained, but in the course of the further conversation he repeatedly burst forth into fresh explosions of anger. The bishops implored him to consider the extent of the powers with which the legates were invested. "I know it," he exclaimed; "I know that they will interdict my lands. But if I can take one of the strongest castles every day, shall I not be able to take one clerk who interdicts my lands ?" a There were offers of conciliation from both sides it was agreed that such of the excommunicates as were present should be absolved at once, and that Vivian should go into England for the absolution of the others; and at length the long quarrel appeared to be on the point of settlement. But in the arrangement of terms, the old differences broke out afresh, as Henry insisted on the words "saving the dignity of the kingdom," while Becket and the commissioners were equally earnest for the reservation of "the dignity of the Church;" and neither party would give way. It was a Thom., Ep. 383. The word dignities had now been substituted for customs (iii. 155); but John of Salisbury strongly declares the identity of what was meant. (Ep. 291.) c Vivian represents himself, his colleague, and the Archbishop as willing to admit the King's phrase, provided that the King would evident that in these phrases the whole grounds of the original quarrel were involved; and after a further attempt to treat with the King by means of Peter, Archdeacon of Pavia, who was driven from the Court with threats of personal violence, Gratian, in despair of an accommodation, returned to Rome, declaring himself (it is said) to be utterly disgusted at Henry's faithless and untrustworthy character.b Vivian, who was supposed to have substantial reasons for being more favourable to the King, remained behind, and entered into fresh negotiations, for which the Archbishop was but little disposed to thank him. The commissioner and King Louis, however, persuaded Becket to admit the other, and thus throws | imus plurimum," he adds, "præthe odium of preventing an accom- sertim quum constet nobis pro modation on Henry. (Ap. Thom., certo, quod in observatione regiæ Ep. 360.) But Becket himself says dignitatis libertas aut dignitas that Gratian persuaded the King ecclesiastica nullatenus prægraveto admit the ecclesiastical reser- tur. Siquidem dignitas ecclesiasvation, which his “grammarians tica regiam provehit potius quam had told him that he might allow adimit dignitatem, et regalis digwithout giving up the power of nitas ecclesiasticam potius conrestraining the clergy from ap- servare quam tollere consuevit pealing to the Pope, or obeying libertatem; etenim quasi quibuspapal citations (Ep. 138); and if dam sibi invicem complexibus digso, the obstacle must have been on nitas ecclesiastica et regalis octhe Archbishop's side. The Arch- currunt, quum nec reges sine ecbishop of Rouen (who is com- clesia nec ecclesia pacem sine promended by Becket's informant as tectione regia consequatur." (iv. having at the conference studied 150-1; comp. a letter from the to please God and the Pope, while Bishop of Nevers to the Pope, Arnulf of Lisieux strove to flatter S. T. C., vi. 227; Diceto, 551.) Henry, iv. 281) tells the Pope that he and others had in vain laboured to obtain the admission of the royal dignities. "Dolu a S. T. C., iv. 58, 220; Gervas., 1407. b Herb., vii. 283. с Ep. 173. attend a conference which took place on the Octave of St. Martin at Montmartre near Paris, the scene of the legendary martyrdom of St. Denys, to whose neigh Nov. 18. bouring abbey the King of England had gone on a pilgrimage. As the Archbishop approached the little chapel which marked the spot of the martyrdom, a messenger appeared, who urged him to make haste, as the Kings were already arrived; but he replied that it was not becoming for a priest to hurry in his motions.b Vivian, with the Archbishop of Rouen, the Bishop of Séez, and others, presented to Henry, on the part of the English Primate, a petition for the recovery of the royal favour, and for the restoration of himself and the other exiles to their full rights and preferments. The petition was graciously received; and in the conversation which followed there was a studious avoidance of offensive topics on either side. The King offered to submit the questions between himself and the Archbishop to his suzerain king Louis, to the French nobles or bishops, or to the learned men of the University of Paris; to which the Archbishop replied that he did not decline such judgment, but that he would rather settle matters amicably than engage in any litigation. As to the lands which were claimed for the Church, the King was willing to concede; but there was some difference with regard to the revenues and moveable property iii. 154; Fitzst., i. 263. b Herb., vii. 285. The terms of this (iv. 220) are general; whereas Becket speaks of himself as having enumerated the |