with his keepers, for he amused them and gave them presents. One day one of his friends sent him a rope hidden in a pitcher of wine. That evening he invited his keepers as usual to come and dine with him, and he made them go on drinking his good wine till late in the evening. The wine made them sleep heavily, and when they were all asleep, Flambard, who no doubt had taken care not to drink much himself, let himself down from the window by the rope which had been sent him. His friends were waiting for him, and he went with them to the sea-shore, and escaped to Normandy.

When Flambard got to Normandy he found Duke Robert returned from the East with an Italian wife, and holding many grand feasts in her honour. Flambard did not wish Duke Robert to waste time in amusement; he wanted him to make haste and invade England whilst the barons were still discontented with Henry I. Many knights and barons were willing to fight for Robert, and as Flambard knew England well, he was able to gain over to Robert's side all who were discontented with Henry. He bribed the sailors whom Henry had sent to guard the Channel, so that they let Robert's army pass over without trying to hinder them, and Robert landed safely in England. Henry had got an army together, and marched to meet his brother; but he could not feel sure that the knights in his army would be true to him, for they were all discontented and grumbling. Henry had, however, one true friend. As soon as he became king he had invited the good Archbishop Anselm to come back to England, and Anselm was ready to do all he could to help him. Anselm went and spoke

to the Norman knights and urged them to be true to Henry I., and afterwards brought them face to face with the King, that he might win them over by fair promises. Then, last of all, in the presence of the whole army, Anselm spoke earnest words to the chiefs, bidding them not to draw down shame upon themselves by being faithless to their King.

Not only in this way did Anselm help Henry; he also managed to frighten Robert by threatening him with the punishments of the Church, because he had unjustly invaded England. At last it was decided that the two brothers should meet and talk matters over. They met in the open space between the two armies, and after speaking together for a few minutes they embraced as friends. Robert agreed to go back again to Normandy and leave Henry in peace as King of England. So Flambard was disappointed in his hopes of making Robert King of England; but he was clever enough to know how to make friends with Henry afterwards, and ended his life in peace.

XIV.

THOMAS BECKET.

A.D. 1162-1170.

HENRY II. was a young man when he became King of England. He had much work before him, for the land was in a terrible state of disorder after the long years of war between Stephen

and Henry's mother Matilda.

It was therefore a great

This was

pleasure and a great help to him to find a man who seemed just the right person to aid him in his work. Thomas Becket, a clergyman, a handsome, clever man, who knew how to please the king by sharing his amusements, whilst he delighted him with his witty sayings. The two friends not only enjoyed themselves, but they worked hard together to bring order into the land. Henry made Becket his chancellor, that is one of his chief ministers,—and gave him great riches. Becket lived as splendidly as a prince. His doors always stood open, and all who liked might go in and feast at his table. He loved to show his magnificence to all the world; and once when Henry sent him to France to settle a dispute with the King of France, he travelled with such a large train of followers, that all who saw him were filled with wonder. When he entered any town, two hundred and fifty boys went before him singing; after them came his hounds in couples, and next eight waggons guarded by fierce mastiffs. One of the waggons was laden with beer to be given away to the people; the others carried Becket's furniture, and plate, and clothing. After the waggons came twelve horses, on each of which sat a monkey and a groom; and then followed a vast company of squires, and knights, and priests riding two and two. Last of all came Becket himself, riding with a few friends with whom he talked by the way. The French people, as they saw his grandeur, exclaimed, "What manner of man must the King of England be, when his Chancellor travels in such state." In truth, Becket was the man who stood next to

the King; and Henry loved and trusted him, and asked his advice in all that he did.

So it came about that when the Archbishop of Canterbury died, Henry II., after a while, told Becket that he should be the new archbishop. Becket looked at the splendid dress which he had on with a smile, and said that he did not look much like an archbishop; he told Henry that he knew that if he did his duties as archbishop, he must lose his King's favour. But Henry would not listen to him; he believed that it would make no difference, and that Becket, when he was archbishop, would try to please him just as he had always done.

He soon found out that he was mistaken. Becket, when he became archbishop, changed his whole way of living. Instead of his splendid clothes he wore a monk's dress, and a haircloth shirt next his skin. Daily the poor were fed in his private rooms, whilst he himself waited on them and washed their feet. Instead of gay knights, only wise and pious monks and priests sat at his table. Music was no longer played to him whilst he ate; but a Latin book was read aloud, that no time might be wasted in idleness. He refused to be chancellor any longer, for he said that he must give all his time to his new duties. This vexed the King very much, and his love for Becket began to grow cold. He soon began to find out that Becket was not going to give way to him as he had hoped he would, and the King and the Archbishop, instead of being firm friends as of old, began to quarrel. It was the custom in those days that if a priest or a monk did anything against the laws, he should be tried before the Church Courts and not

before the King's Courts like other men.

Henry II. wished to

change this custom, and to have every one tried in the King's Courts; but Becket would not agree. Both the Archbishop and the King loved their own way, and besides, each of them was quite sure that what he wanted was right; so it was not easy to settle the quarrel. The King persuaded the other bishops to say that they were willing to obey his wishes, and when Becket saw that every one else had given way, he also promised to obey the King. But very soon he repented, and took back his promise. He had many enemies who were jealous of his power and riches, and they did all they could to increase the King's anger against him. They accused him of having taken large sums of money to which he had no right, and he was bidden to come before the King's Court. This made Becket understand that his enemies meant to ruin him, but he was determined to show that he did not fear them. He came into the court bearing in his own hand his archiepiscopal cross, and when the bishops tried to persuade him to give way to the King, he refused to listen to them. After a good deal of disturbance the Earl of Leicester stood up at the King's bidding, and bade Becket hear his sentence. At these words Becket rose full of wrath, and said that none present had any right to judge him, and that he put his cause into the hands of the Pope. Then he turned and walked out of the hall, and as he passed, some of the courtiers picked up pieces of straw from the floor and threw them at him. Some even called him traitor, and at the sound of that word he turned fiercely round and cried, "Were I a knight, that coward should repent of