Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/63

 his chancellorship; and Henry, to his surprise, saw in him quite a different man. He became most vigilant in all religious duties. He really threw off all his past worldly habits, and devoted himself to the matters of religion with vigour. Beneath his gorgeous episcopal robes he wore a shirt of hair, and on being prepared for his burial it was discovered that insects nestled snugly beneath it, and that they had eaten their way through his very skin and flesh. The king did not bargain for such a man. You have all heard Becket's subsequent history. The king and he were in continual feuds. Becket had to fly frequently from the land, and to stay away from his See for years together; and at last, when a reconciliation was effected, some other cause arose that led Henry to utter some hasty words about him in the presence of his retainers. They, unknown to him, escaped to England, made their way to Canterbury, and in the coldest blood slew the Archbishop at the Altar. One of the barbarous wretches, after Becket lay dead at his feet, clave the skull in two, and with the point of his sword scattered the primate's brains upon the pavement. The king did penance for this murder in the following months; and Becket was held in such estimation through this tragic end that, even up to the Reformation, pilgrimages of thousands went to his tomb for religious purposes. I cannot stay to consider Becket's Character further, or to estimate its value&mdash;a most interesting and profitable study&mdash;for it would take me too far from my purpose. Let us see what his struggles were with the king in order to illustrate how the papal powers influenced England.

Becket's quarrels with the king arose over the question—who had the right to punish offending clergy? The king