were usual on such occasions.[1] Anselm was now deemed to have become, however much against his own will, Archbishop-elect of Canterbury.
Anselm's renewed protest.
His parable to the prelates and nobles.
From the church Anselm went back to the King's
chamber. He there renewed his protest against the appointment,
but he renewed it in the form of a prophecy.
"My lord the King, I tell you that you will not die of this
sickness; I would therefore have you know how easily
you can undo what has been this day done with regard
to me, as I never agreed, nor do I agree, that it shall be
held valid."[2] He then left the sick room, and spoke to the
bishops and nobles in some other place, perhaps the hall
of the castle. Whether formally summoned as such or
not, they were practically a Gemót of the realm.[3] Anselm
spoke to them in a parable, founded on the apostolic
figure which speaks of the Church as God's husbandry.[4]
In England the plough of the Church ought to be drawn
by two chief oxen of equal strength, each pulling with
the same good will. These were the King and the Archbishop
of Canterbury, one ruling by worldly justice and
dominion, the other by divine doctrine and teaching. So,
he implies, it had been in the days of William the Great
and of Lanfranc his yoke-fellow.[5] The figure is one
which will bear much study. It is perhaps in England
- ↑ Eadmer, Hist. Nov. 18. "Gestis vero quæ in tali causa geri in ecclesia mos est, revertitur Anselmus ad regem."
- ↑ "Dico tibi, domine rex, quia ex hac tua infirmitate non morieris, ac pro hoc volo noveris quam bene corrigere poteris quod de me nunc actum est. quia nec concessi nec concedo ut ratum sit."
- ↑ The change of place is clearly marked in Eadmer. "Deducentibus eum episcopis, cum tota regni nobilitate, cubiculo excessit, conversusque ad eos, in hæc verba sciscitatus est." The parable which follows is placed earlier by William of Malmesbury; but this is surely the right place.
- ↑ 1 Cor. iii. 9.
- ↑ Eadmer, Hist. Nov. 18. "Hoc aratrum in Anglia duo boves cæteris precellentes regendo trahunt et trahendo regunt. Rex videlicet, et archiepiscopus Cantuariensis. Iste seculari justitia et imperio, ille divina doctrina et magisterio." This must mean during the late reign.
