Thomas claims jurisdiction over Lincoln.
Robert Bloet's consecration delayed. Roman Church, without mentioning the name of any particular pontiff.[1] Thus passed the day of the consecration; but, on the morrow, Thomas of York, successful thus far, found yet another point to assert on behalf of the alleged rights of his church. He had, it will be remembered, striven to hinder Remigius from transferring the see of Dorchester to a spot which he deemed to be in his own province and diocese.[2] Since that time, notwithstanding his remonstrances, the minster of Lincoln had arisen; but it remained unconsecrated, and its builder was dead. To the mind of Thomas these facts perhaps seemed to be signs as clear in their meaning as any which the Bishop of Hereford would find out from the lore of the stars.[3] Thus emboldened, on the day after he had consecrated Anselm to the see of Canterbury, Thomas warned the new Primate against proceeding, as he had purposed, to consecrate Robert Bloet to the see of Lincoln. He might consecrate him, if he would, to the ancient see of Dorchester; but not to Lincoln or to any other place in that land of Lindesey which belonged to the jurisdiction of York.[4] Anselm seems to have yielded; at least the matter remained unsettled, and the elect of Lincoln remained unconsecrated for two months longer.
Anselm now, after so many difficulties, was at last fully Archbishop. He remained in his metropolis for
- ↑ There is no mention of this in Eadmer's account of the consecration; but such seems to be the meaning of Anselm himself in a letter to Walter, Bishop of Albano, which I shall have to quote again (Epp. iii. 36). He there says, "Sub professione obedientiæ Romani pontificis me consecrarunt." This is an answer to a charge of being schismatically consecrated while the kingdom was not under the obedience of Urban.
- ↑ See above, p. 311.
- ↑ See above, p. 312.
- ↑ T. Stubbs, X Scriptt. 1707. "Non prohibebat quin eum Dorkacestrensem ordinaret episcopum, sicut et antecessores sui fuerant; verum Lyndecoldinum oppidum, et magnam partem provinciæ Lyndisiæ dicebat fuisse, et jure esse debere, parochiam Eboracensis ecclesiæ, et injuria illi ereptam esse."
