irreverently, set himself against truth, oppose justice, and, to the utter confusion of all right and wrong, seek to overthrow the establishment of the Holy Church, which the Most High hath founded. For it is the Truth which says, ' the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' He is generally supposed not to be of sane mind who intends the ruin thereof, and is like a man who binds a rope around a vast mountain, and attempts to throw it down. But is it because I am inflamed with anger or with hatred, that, in my exasperation, I am driven to utter words of this nature against my brother, and colleague, and fellow-bishop ? God forbid ! But to the above effect have I collected from your letter, which I received through your archdeacon ; nor was I enabled thereby to gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles. That it may be clear whether or not it is so, let us examine it, and bring its contents to the light. The end, when compared with the beginning, presents a very strong resemblance to a scorpion. The one approaches us, using smooth and gentle language, the other, stinging us severely, attempts to impose silence upon us. For, what else is it, first to acknowledge your dutiful subjection to us, and to promise obedience in conformity with that subjection, and then, in the end, to have recourse to appeal, in order that you may not be obliged to obey? The Apostle says,'Do I purpose that with me there should be yea, yea, and nay, nay ?'68 As the Apostles could not always be with the disciple, of necessity did the disciples receive power from the Lord of treading upon serpents and scorpions ; for even unto this day Ezekiel"8* is dwelling with the scorpions. And now consider in what sense you say, ' We do have recourse to the remedy of appeal ?' You call yourself a follower of Christ ; in this speech you are found to be far otherwise. For the efficacious, nay, rather the most efficacious remedy of all our evils, namely, Christ, has recommended to us obedience, not only in word, but by His most evident example, inasmuch as He became obedient toHisFather even unto death. And with what grace do yon call that a remedy which is an impediment to obedience ? Not a remedy, indeed, but, more properly, a hindrance ought it to be called. But on what grounds do you rest your confidence in this presumption ? Is it that you expect to find a defender of your disobedience in him who has received the office and the command to take cognizance of all acts of disobedience ? It were wrong in you to expect this of him,69 and greatly 68 2 Cor. i. 17. ** According to Ezekiel ii. 6. 89 The pope. A.D. 1167. THE AKCHBISHOP TO ΤΠΕ BISHOP OP LONDON. 297