Conduct of the Bishop.
Lanfranc's view of vestments.
Case of Thomas at Northampton. 1164. in the course of the day, having had three times to withdraw while the Court came to a judgement on points of law touching his case. At every stage the Bishop raises some point, renews some protest, interposes some delay or other. And during the whole earlier part of the debate, it is Lanfranc who takes the chief part in answering him; the King says little till a late stage of the controversy. Before Bishop William comes in to the King's presence, he prays again, but prays in vain, to have the counsel of his brother bishops. None of them, not even his own Metropolitan Thomas, would give him the kiss of peace or even a word of greeting. When he does come in, he first raises the question whether he ought not to be judged, and the other bishops to judge him, in full episcopal dress. To the practical mind of Lanfranc questions about vestments did not seem of first-rate importance. "We can judge very well," he said, "clothed as we are; for garments do not hinder truth."[1] This point, it will be remembered, again came up at Northampton, seventy-six years later. The entrance of Thomas into the King's hall clad in the full garb of the Primate of all England was one of the most striking features of that memorable day.[2]
A long legal discussion followed, in which Bishop William and Lanfranc were the chief speakers. Some points were merely verbal. Much turned on the construction of the word bishopric. The Bishop of Durham
- [Footnote: intrare moneret." On Urse of Abetot, see N. C. vol. iv. pp. 173, 383,
579, 820.]
- ↑ Ib. "Episcopus reqnisivit ab archiepiscopis utrum revestitus ingredi deberet, dixitque, 'Nihil se prorsus acturum ibi nisi canonice et secundum ordinem suum et sibi videbatur quod ecclesiastica consuetudo exigebat ut ipse revestitus ante revestitos causam suam diceret et causantibus canonice responderet,' Cui Lanfrancus archiepiscopus respondens, 'bene possumus,' inquit, 'hoc modo vestiti de regalibus tuisque negotiis disceptare, vestes enim non impediunt veritatem,'"
- ↑ See William FitzStephen, iii. 56, Robertson.
