york00orns

124 YORK..
to his see. The latter met with every kindness from
the pope, who steadfastly adhered to Thurstan's cause.
Calixtiis at
last came to the conclusion that a decisive
step must be taken. His final resolve was that the
Church of York should for ever be free from any profession
of submission to the see of Canterbury, and
that the papal bull should be affixed to the charter of
exemption. This document was conveyed to the
king, together with letters which hinted in no obscure
manner that if it were disregarded, and Thurstan did
not receive restitution of his temporalities, the spiritual
arm would be raised to strike. It is needless to
say this threatened excommunication. Henry scarcely
dared to venture upon provoking such a measure on
the part of the pope, and after a good deal of negotiation,
and some dexterous diplomacy on the part of
Thurstan which promoted peace between France and
England, much to the gratification of the king, the
Archbishop's temporalities were restored, and he made
his public entry into York some time in the Lent of
1 12 1. A mighty multitude gathered to meet him,
and on the third day after his arrival he publicly
rehearsed from his seat of dignity in the minster the
charter of privilege and exemption which he had
received. But his troubles on the subject were not
at an end. His old opponent, Ralph d'Escures, was
succeeded in the chair of Canterbury by William de
Corbeil, who again brought the matter before the
pope. It was ended for the time by the appointment
of Corbeil as legate, which gave him a personal superiority
which could not be gainsaid.
Thurstan at last is recognised as possessing place