A.D. 1170. PERSECUTION OF ARCHBISHOP THOMAS. 333 merits, and washed them when necessary ,· and they were bound by their words and oaths that, during his life, they would disclose these facts to no one. After the transactions above related, archbishop Thomas came to Witsand, but, upon hearing that Roger, archbishop of York, and the bishops of London and Salisbury, were at Dover, for the purpose of meeting him, he was unwilling to proceed thither, but lauded in England at Sandwich. Having thus crossed the sea, the archbishop and future martyr was received in his church with great thankfulness, and with honor and glory, and especially by the monks, in solemn procession, all weeping for joy, and exclaiming, as they gave thanks, "Blessed is he, who cometh in the name of the Lord." But he, like a good father, receiving them all with the kiss of peace, admonished them with paternal exhortations, and instructed them to love the brotherhood, to obey God, to persevere in doing good, and to strive even to the death for the law of God. At this period, Henry, king of England, the son of king Henry, was in England, and the Nativity of our Lord was approaching, which that king, with the nobles of his land, was about to celebrate with the usual solemnities. To this celebration it was the intention of the blessed Thomas, although not invited, to go. However, when he had come to London, Jocelyn, the queen's brother, came to him, and forbade him, in the king's name, to go any further, upon which the blessed Thomas returned to Canterbury. Accordingly, again was this champion of Christ afflicted with injuries and hardships still more atrocious, beyond measure and number, and, by public proclamation, enjoined not to go beyond the limits of his church. Whoever showed to him, or to any one of his household, a cheerful countenance, was held tJ be a public enemy. However, all these things the man of God endured with great patience, and staying among those of his own household, edified them all with his conversation and with words of exhortation : and once more the archbishop took his seat in his church, fearless, and awaiting the hour at which he should receive from God the crown of martyrdom. For, being warned by many beforehand, he knew that his life would be but short, and that death was at the gates.- Upon this, as though he had but that moment commenced to live, he used all endeavours, by spiritual exercises, to