Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

192 ST. THOMAS IX FRANCE
the king" and the tried friends, six in number, who
followed the Archbishop into exile. The faithful
Herbert of Bosham was one of the number. On the
same day the king's party, composed of bishops and
others, embarked at Sandwich. Their destination
was Sens, where Pope Alexander III. then was.
The Archbishop found a true friend in King Louis
of France, who on reading the phrase Thomas, the
late Archbishop of Canterbury, remarked : " Truly I am
as much a king as the King of England; yet I could
not depose the very least of the clerics of my
kingdom ",l
Pope Alexander was proof against Henry's envoys,
^^^^
and would not agree to send legates to England to
arbitrate between the king and the Archbishop,
neither would he accept the resignation of his see,
which Thomas strove to make. The king's choice,
so the Archbishop said, had unduly influenced his
election, but the Pope and a majority of cardina
rightly considered that his cause was absolutely
bound ur> with the cause of the Church
After spending three weeks at the papal court
Thomas retired to Pontigny, a Cistercian abbey,
where in prayer, silence, and spiritual exercises he
was to pass two years of his exile. The anger of
Henry pursued him beyond the seas. Not only were
his revenues confiscated, but all his relations, his
household, and even the near relations of 1
followers were banished, and ordered by a refinement
1 Morris, p. 202.