e would give up his
monastery at Fecamp, and thereupon the choice fell upon William, who was
a great grandson of the Conqueror. His election was not popular,
especially among the monks. Accusations were made against him in Rome,
where his election was bitterly opposed by St. Bernard and others. The
Pope, however, agreed to allow his consecration, if the Dean of York
would swear that his election had not been corruptly procured by the
king. William was consecrated in 1143, at Winchester, and the pall sent
to him in 1145. Meanwhile, Eugenius III. had become Pope, and fresh
accusations were made against William, who went to Rome to meet them,
but was suspended by the Pope, who, on hearing that certain followers of
the archbishop had plundered the monastery of Fountains, deprived him
altogether. (1147.)

Thereupon, #Henry Mordac# (1147-1153), the Abbot of Fountains, and like
Thurstan, a friend of St. Bernard, was elected in his place. Stephen at
first refused to receive him, but was induced to do so on the condition
that the Pope would acknowledge Stephen's son heir to the throne of
England. Mordac died at Beverley in 1153.

Meanwhile William had remained at Winchester. On Mordac's death he was
re-elected. On his return to York, after it is said, performing a
miracle, he died almost immediately, and so suddenly as to cause a
report that he was poisoned at mass. He was buried in the cathedral, and
pilgrims began to visit his tomb almost immediately after his death.
Before long many wonderful cures were reported there, but it was not
until one hundred and fifty years after his death that he was canonised.
William is said to have performed thirty-six miracles after his death,
and a list of them was once hung up in the vestry.

#Roger De Pont L'Eveque# (1154-1181) had been Archdeacon of Canterbury,
and chaplain to Henry II. He was consecrated by Theobald of Canterbury,
but without a profession of obedience. He is said to have instigated the
murder of Becket. It was certainly after a conference with Roger that
Henry uttered the words which led to the death of the archbishop.

Roger also was the hero of the famous and ridiculous scene in 1176 at
the Council of Westminster, when Robert of Canterbury having seated
himself on the right of the papal legate, Roger, refusing to take an
inferior seat, placed himself in Robert's lap. The unfortunate Roger was
pulled off, beaten with sticks, and flung upon the ground.

Roger, however