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THOMAS a BECKET
55
mand that Gerald be turned over to justice because of his insult to his monarch. The Church claims power over her priests, and Becket will not listen to the demands. By the sheer power of personality he stands defiant before the king, and the king and courtiers, for a second time, make a retreat.
But the hot-headed monarch is not to be bearded by a priest. Becket is summoned to Clarendon, where the Barons are met in council, and where they have framed the Constitution of Clarendon. And one of the first clauses of that constitution decrees that the priests shall be answerable to the courts of law and not to their bishops for their transgressions.
Here, surely, has been found the means of breaking the proud spirit of the courtier-priest, but Becket regards with contempt the demands of the Barons, and with equal indifference he faces their flashing swords, when they storm into the hall to demand of
him the reasons for his insolence. With calm mein he raises his cross of office, and they retire abashed.
The defiance of the man whom he has raised to power maddens Henry and with furious cries he utters the historical lament:
"What a parcel of fools and dastards have I nourished in my house that none can be found to avenge me on one upstart priest?"
Four of his knights took heed of his cry. They were Reginald Fitzurse, William Tracy, Hugh de Morville and Richard Brito. Three of these had been attendants upon Becket when he was Chancellor ; had eaten of his bread and enjoyed his bounty. Now Becket had become an ''upstart priest" of whom the king would be rid, and they rode to do his bidding, forgetful of the debt they owed their former master. Their allegiance had been transferred to the king.
Rapidly they rode to Canterbury, and there, amid his frightened priests,
THE TEMPORAL BOWS BP^ORE THE SPIRITUAL POWER.