08 
SHORT STUDITES. 
believing that he had gained a victory, and he again 
began to meditate drawing his spiritual sword. 
Messengers on all sides once more flew off to Rome, 
from the king and English bishops, from the 
cardinals, from Becket himself. The king and 
bishops placed themselves under the pope’s pro- 
tection should the archbishop begin his curses, The 
Constitutions were once more placed at the pope’s 
discretion to modify. at his pleasure. The cardinals 
wrote charging Becket with being the sole cause of 
the continuance of the quarrel, and in spite of his - 
denials persisting in accusing him of having caused 
the war, Becket prayed again for the cardinals’ 
recall, and for the pope’s sanction of more vigorous 
action. 
He had not yet done with the cardinals; they 
knew him, and they knew his restless humour, 
Pending fresh resolutions from Rome, they sus- 
pended him, and left him incapable either of excom- 
municating or exercising any other function of 
spiritual authority. Once more he was plunged into 
despair. 
“Through those legates, he cried in his anguish 
to the pope, ‘we are made a derision to those about 
us, My lord, have pity on me. You are my refuge. 
T can scarcely breathe for sorrow. My harp is