Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

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200 HENRY'S PENANCE.
subsequent conduct. It is shocking to relate that
" within the first two years of the murder, the
murderers were living at court on familiar terms
with the king".1 He wras absolved in 1172, and in
July of the same year went to Canterbury in order
to do penance on the very spot where others had so
grievously sinned at his instigation. At Harbledown "
he dismounted, and walked the rest of the " road to
the martyr's shrine. From St. Dunstan's church
outside the city he went barefoot, leaving the traces
of his bleeding feet as he walked. He spent some
time at the tomb in great devotion and
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much weep-
ing, whilst Bishop Gilbert Foliot told those present
of the king's contrition for the horrible deed which
had been worked in his name. Then Henrv bared
his shoulders and received five strokes of the discipline
from each of the prelates there assembled and
three from each of the monks, who numbered over
eighty.
prayerful vigil.
He passed the night on the bare ground in
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Henry acquitted himself well of his temporal
penance, but he lacked a firm purpose of amendment.
As a condition of his absolution he had sworn that
he wrould no longer hinder appeals to Eome or impede
the free action of the Pope; that he \vould
restore the possessions of the church of Canterbury
and reinstate all who had been afflicted through St.
Thomas; and that he would give up the customs
which had been introduced in his own reign. After
1 Morris, p. 443. 2 Ibid., p. 435.