not alike, my dear child. They are like other people--
some good, and some bad."

"But surely all priests ought to be good."

"Art thou always what thou oughtest to be, Magot?"

Margaret's answer was a sudden spring from the stool and a fervent hug
of Marjory.

"Aunt Marjory," she said, when she had sat down again, "I just hate that
Bishop of Winchester." [Peter de Rievaulx, always one of the two chief
enemies of Margaret's father.]

"Shocking, Magot!"

"Oh yes, of course it is extremely wicked. But I do."

"I wish he were here, to set thee a penance for such a naughty speech.
However, go on with thy story."

"Well, what do you think, fair Aunt, that my Lord's Grace of Canterbury
[Richard Grant, consecrated in 1229] did? He actually excommunicated
all intruders on the lands of his jurisdiction, and all who should hold
communication with them, the King only excepted; and away he went to
Rome, to lay the matter before the holy Father. Of course he would tell
his tale from his own point of view."

"The Archbishop went to Rome!"

"Indeed he did, Aunt Marjory. My fair father was very indignant. `That
the head of the English Church could not stand by himself, but must seek
the approbation of a foreign Bishop!' That was what he said, and I
think my fair mother agreed with him."

Perhaps in this nineteenth century we scarcely realise the gallant fight
made by the Church of England to retain her independence of Rome. It
did not begin at the Reformation, as people are apt to suppose. It was
as old as the Church herself, and she was as old as the Apostles. Some
of her clergy were perpetually trying to force and to rivet the chains
of Rome upon her: but the body of the laity, who are really the Church,
resisted this attempt almost to the death. There was a perpetual
struggle, greater or smaller according to circumstances, between the
King of England and the Papacy, Pope after Pope endeavoured to fill
English sees and benefices with Italian priests: King after King braved
his wrath by refusing to confirm his appointments. Apostle, they were
ready to allow the Pope to be: sovereign or legislator, never. Doctrine
they would accept at his hands; but he should not rule over their
secular or ecclesiastical liberties. The quarrel between Henry the
Second and Becket was entirely on this point. No wonder that Rome
canonised the man who thus exalted her. The Kings who stood out most
firmly for the liberties of