Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/61

 Church free"; and some time after this he opposed the introduction of a papal legate into England. This king, however, was compelled to recall Anselm to his old post. Then began another series of troubles, in which the Pope was an interested party. The subject of dispute now was over the right of investiture. This was a ceremony which put the Archbishop in the possession of the goods and chattels, and of the spiritual jurisdiction of the See. The king considered it was his right to give Anselm the archiepiscopal ring, and that Anselm should receive both his spiritual and temporal authority from him. In this matter he was upholding the law of his realm. He further said that it was his right to demand the Archbishop's homage for these benefits. The Archbishop considered the matter in another way. He objected to receiving his spiritual authority from the king. He, in fact, denied the king's supremacy over the Church, and preferred the authority of Rome. The other Bishops of England were astounded at him for thus opposing the law of the land, although it was known, of course, that he was a foreigner. This difficulty was settled agreeably; that Anselm should do homage to the king for his temporal power connected with the See, but that he should receive his spiritual authority from the Pope. Rome took advantage of this decision, and turned it to good account in years to come.

It was such discords as those to which we have now alluded which sowed the seeds of spiritual disease throughout the Church in Stephen's time. The Church of England was brought to a very low ebb indeed. It became a common saying "that Christ and His saints slept."