396 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

e h av.109s.

r. utmost violence of the bystanders to open it, iand force him to receive that ensign of spiritual ;dignity William soon after recovered ; and ihis passions regaining their wonted vigor , hereturned to his former violence and rapine. Fiedetained in prison several persons whom he hadordered to be freed during the time of his penitence;he still preyed upon the ecclesiastical benefices;the sale of spiritual dignities continued as open asever ; and he kept possession of a considerablepart of the revenues belonging to the fee ofCanterbury Rut he found in Anfelm that

persevering opposition, which he had reason toexpect from the ostentatious humility , whichthat prelate had displayed in refusing his pro-motion.

The opposition , made by Anfelm , was themore dangerous on account of the character ofpiety, which he soon acquired in England, byhis great zeal against all abuses, particularly thosein dress and ornament. There was a mode ,which, in that age, prevailed throughout Europe,both among men and women , to give an enormouslength to their shoes, to draw the toe to a sharppoint, and to affix to it the figure of a bird’sbill , or some such ornament, which was turnedupwards, and which was often sustained by goldor silver chains tied to the knee JI . The eccle-siastics took exception at this ornament, which,

** Eadmer, p. 18. Ibid. p. 18. 43. Chron.

Sax. p. 199. " Order. Vital. p. 683 . "W. Malmes.

p. 12Z. Knyghton, p. 2396.