WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 339

establishments formerly introduced by Edred andby Edgar , it soon reached the same height, atwhich it had, during some time, stood in Franceand Italy It afterwards went much farther;being favoured by that very remote situation,which had at first obstructed its progress ; andbeing less checked by knowledge and a liberaleducation , which were still somewhat more com-mon in the southern countries.

The prevalence of this superstitious spiritbecame dangerous to some of William’s successors,and incommodious to most of them : But thearbitrary sway of this king over the English, andhis extensive authority over the foreigners , kepthim from feeling any immediate inconvenienciesfrom it. He retained the church in great sub-jection, as well as his lay-subjects; and wouldallow none, of whatever character , to disputehis sovereign will and pleasure. He prohibitedhis subjects from acknowledging any one forpope whom he himself had not previously re-ceived : He required , that all the ecclesiasticalcanons , voted in any synod , should first be laidbefore him, and be ratified by his authority:Even bulls or letters from Rome could not legallybe produced , till they received the fame sanction:And none of his ministers or barons , whateveroffences they were guilty of, could be subjected

" M. West. p. 228. Lanfranc wrote in defence of thereal presence against Berengarius; and in those ages of stu-pidity and ignorance , he was greatly applauded for thatperformance.

Z 2

HAT

IV.

1070 .