WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 355

court, to be a badge of subjection acknowledgedby the kingdom. William replied , that themoney stiquld be remitted as usual; but thatneither had he promised to do homage toRome, nor was it in the least his purpose toimpose that servitude on his state 78 . And thebetter to show Gregory his independence, heventured , notwithstanding the frequent com-plaints of the pope , to refuse to the Englishbishops the liberty of attending a general council,which that pontiff had summoned against lusenemies.

But though the king displayed this vigor insupporting the royal dignity, he was infectedwith the general superstition of the age, and hedid not perceive the ambitious scope of thoseinstitutions, which, under colour of strictness mreligion, were introduced or promoted by thecourt of Rome. Gregory, while he was throwingall Europe into combustion by his violence andimpostures, affected an anxious care for the purityof manners; and even the chaste pleasures of themarriage-bed were inconsistent , in his opinion ,with the sanctity of the sacerdotal character.He had ilined a decree prohibiting the marriageof priests excommunicating all clergymen whoretained their wives, declaring such unlawfulcommerce to be fornication , and rendering iccriminal in the laity to attend divine worship,when such profane priests officiated at thq

78 Spicileg. Sejkfeni ad Eadmer, p. 4.

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