york00orns

134 YORK.
culminated in a grotesque and most undignified scene
in the council chamber at Westminster. The papal
legate was present. Who was to sit on his right
hand ? Archbishop Richard took the place. He of
York thrust himself in between them, and, as it is
confidently stated, sat down in Canterbury's lap. The
friends of the latter, priests and laymen, even bishops
it was said, fell upon Roger, cuffed him, threw him
down, tore his robes, and trampled on him, shouting
after him, as he made his ignoble exit, that he was the
betrayer of St. Thomas, and that the martyr's blood
was still red upon his hands. An attempt was made
to settle the matter, not long after this ludicrous
scene, by a bull of Pope Alexander (1179), which, in
accordance with the old decree of Gregory the Great,
forbade altogether the token of submission.
Roger had many controversies with the Scottish
bishops as to the dependence of their sees upon
York, a matter which had often previously been in
dispute. It was not finally settled until after his death.
His policy with regard to the monastic system was
different from that of Thurstan, and he was accused of
being absolutely opposed to it. He certainly had no
scruples as to checking such abuses as presented
themselves to his notice, which may possibly account
for the adverse estimate expressed respecting him by
the monastic chroniclers. One thing is noteworthy,
that " with the exception of the Abbey of Welbeck
and one or two other places, all the religious
houses which were founded in the diocese of York
during his episcopate were Cistercian or Benedictine
nunneries."