KOGER OF WENDOVER. [A.D. 1171. Of the glorious martyrdom of Thomas archbishop of Canterbury. A.D. 1171.* On Christmas day, the archbishop of Can'wrbury mounted the pulpit to deliver a sermon to the people, which when he had finished, he excommunicated Nigel de Sack vi lie, who had violently seized on the church of Herges, and the viear of the same church Robert de Broc, who, in And the servant said to him, ' My lord, he is at the door coming to you. On which the archbishop met him at the door. After he and the ubhnt, by name Simon, had kissed each other, they had a long convention. The archbishop then asked the abbat to go to the young king at Woodstock, and to advise him in gentle though efficient words, to soften the hatred which he cherished against him. The abbat in compliance with the archbishop's wish, went at once to the king ; but meeting with nothing but pride and anger, he returned without effecting any thing. On his telling the archbishop with sorrow the result of his application, that prelate answered with a sigh, ' lie it so; be it so !' and, shaking his head, added, as if with the voice of a prophet, ' Art thou in such haste for the end to approach V The abbat at the time did not understand these words, but they were afterwards clear to him. The archbishop casting an affectionate and almost weeping eye on the abbat, said to him, ' My lord abbat, 1 return you thanks for the trouble you have taken, useless though it has been.' To beat the sick the leech's art sometimes will f.iil. And, spite of remédiée, disease weigh down the scale.' And he added, ' liut the king himself will pass sentence without delay; ' and looking on the priests sitting round him, he continued, ' How is this, my friends! this abbat, who is in no way bound to nie, has shown me more civility and kindness than all my brethren and suffragali priests;' for the abbai on his departure to Woodstock had ordered his cellarer to semi liberal supplies daily to the archbishop who was living near. The abbat previous to his return home, with clasped hands, earnestly entreated the archbishop in his kindness to honour the abbey of St. Alban's with his much wished for presence nt the approaching Christmas, and to keep that festival, as well as that of the first English martyr, at that place. The arcbprelatc replied with gushing tears, ' Jh ! how willingly would I do so, but fur otherwise is it decreed ; go in peace, beloved father abbat ; go to your sanctuary, which may Goti have in his keeping; but I am going to what will be a sufficient reason for my not coming to vou. Hut rather do you, if it can be so, come with me to be my guest, and a consoler to me in the troubles which abundantly encompass inc.' The abbat refused this, because it was necessary for him to be present at his abbey on the occasion of such a great festival, and after receiving the archbishop's blessing, departed. Hut afterwards often was his heart rent with sorrow and lamentation that it had not been permitted him to enter in!o glory in conjunction with such a great martyr. The nrchbishop hastened his journey to his church to keep Christmas j and in the eight days of the fenst departed to the Lord." * The year was sometimes considered to begin on Christmas-day : by which mode of notation 1 leek it's martyrdom on the "J9th of December would fall in 11Γ1 instead of 1170.