on his monks. On the following Tuesday (December 28th)
arrived secretly in the neighborhood four knights, Reginald Fitzurse,
William Tracy, Hugh de Moreville, and Richard Brito. They had been
present in Normandy when the King, irritated by the representations of
the three bishops, had exclaimed, "Of the cowards who eat my bread, is
there not one who will free me from this turbulent priest?" and
mistaking this passionate expression for the royal license, had bound
themselves by oath to return to England and either carry off or murder
the Primate. They assembled at Saltwood, the residence of the Brocs,
to arrange their operations.

The next day (December 29th), about two in the afternoon the knights
abruptly entered the Archbishop's apartment, and, neglecting his
salutation, seated themselves on the floor. It seems to have been
their wish to begin by intimidation; but if they hoped to succeed,
they knew little of the intrepid spirit of their opponent. Pretending
to have received their commission from Henry, they ordered the Primate
to absolve the excommunicated prelates. He replied with firmness, and
occasionally with warmth, that if he had published the papal letters,
it was with the royal permission; that the case of the Archbishop of
York had been reserved to the Pontiff; but that he was willing to
absolve the others on condition that they previously took the
accustomed oath of submitting to the determination of the Church. It
was singular that of the four knights, three had, in the days of his
prosperity, spontaneously sworn fealty to him. Alluding to this
circumstance he said, as they were quitting the room, "Knowing what
formerly passed between us, I am surprised you should come to threaten
me in my own house."

"We will do more than threaten," was their reply.

When they were gone, his attendants loudly expressed their alarm: he
alone remained cool and collected, and neither in his tone nor gesture
betrayed the slightest symptom of apprehension. In this moment of
suspense the voices of the monks singing vespers in the choir struck
their ears; and it occurred to someone that the church was a place of
greater security than the palace. The Archbishop, though he hesitated,
was borne along by the pious importunity of his friends; but when he
heard the gates close behind him he instantly ordered them to be
reopened, saying that the temple of God was not to be fortified like a
castle.

He had passed through the nort