LIFE AND TIMES OF THOMAS BECGHZT. 
‘whose nostrils the scent of lucre had infected, 
French pressure, however, Soon produced its effect. 
He had come magnificently attended from Soissons. 
His cause was openly espoused by the French nation. 
At his second interview, on his knees at Alexander’s 
feet, he represented that he was the victim of his 
devotion to the Holy See and the Catholic faith. 
He had only to yield on the Constitutions to be 
restored at once to favour and power. The Consti- 
tutions were read over, and he asked how it was 
possible for him to acknowledge laws which reduced 
the clergy into common mortals, and restricted 
appeals to the last depositary of Justice on earth. 
Herbert of Bosham states that the pope and 
Cardinals had never yet seen the Constitutions, but 
had only heard of them. This is simply incredible, 
and, like many other stories of this interesting but 
interested writer, is confuted by the facts of the case. 
John of Salisbury had said that the proceedings at 
Clarendon were better known on the continent than 
in England. They had been watched in France for 
almost a year with the closest attention. Bishops 
and abbots had gone to and fro between the pope 
and the English court with no other object than to 
find some terms uf comprouiise, It is not conceivable 
‚1orum nares odor Tnori feat! 
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