Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 1.djvu/110

96 deposed for simony, and for intrusion into the Papacy. These crimes of Stigand were mere pretences, since the first had been a practice not unusual in England, and was never any where subjected to a higher penalty than resignation of one of the sees; the second was a pure ceremonial; and as Benedict was the only pope who then officiated, and his acts were never repealed, all the prelates of the Church, especially those who lived at a distance, were excusable for making their applications to him.



Stigand's ruin, however, was resolved on, and was prosecuted with a great severity. The legate degraded him from his dignity; the king confiscated his estate, and cast him into prison, where he continued in poverty and want during the remainder of his life. (A.D. 1070.)