Assent of the Assembly. fixed day, the pallium should be laid on the altar of Christ in the metropolitan church, and that Anselm should take it thence, as from the hand of Saint Peter himself.[1] The expression used is remarkable, as showing that the popular character of these assemblies had not utterly died out. "The whole multitude agreed."[2] They agreed most likely by a shout of Yea, Yea, rather than by any more formal vote; but in any case it was that voice of the people which Eadmer at least knew to be the voice of God.
Anselm absolves two repentant bishops.
Robert and Osmund.
The Archbishop and his faithful comrade now set out
for Canterbury. But he was called on to do some
archiepiscopal acts by the way. They had hardly left
Windsor when two bishops came to express their repentance
for the crime of denying their metropolitan
at Rockingham.[3] These were the ritualist Osmund of
Salisbury, and Robert of Hereford, the friend of Wulfstan.
It was believed that, besides the visit at the moment
of his departure, the saint of Worcester had again
appeared to Bishop Robert. He had warned him of
divers faults in his life and in the administration of
his diocese, giving him however good hopes if he mended
his ways.[4] Notwithstanding this voice from the dead,
Robert had consented to the counsel and deed of them
at Rockingham; he now came with Osmund to ask
- ↑ Eadmer, Hist. Nov. 34. "Quasi de manu beati Petri, pro summi quo fungebatur pontificatus honore, sumeretur."
- ↑ "Adquievit istis multitudo omnis."
- ↑ "Pœnitentiam apud illum agentes pro culpa suæ abnegationis, quam cum aliis coepiscopis suis fecerant apud Rochingeham."
- ↑ William of Malmesbury (Gest. Pont. 302) has two appearances of Saint Wulfstan to Robert; but both come before Wulfstan's burial. The one here meant is recorded by Florence (1095). Robert was, according to the Worcester writer, "vir magnæ religionis," and we have a pleasing picture of "ambo patres nimia caritate in Dei dilectione et ad se invicem conjuncti." In the Life of Wulfstan (Ang. Sac. i. 268) the Bishop of Hereford is "homo seculi quidem fretus prudentia, sed nulla solutus illecebra."
