crowned,
Amidst the kingly ring;
A murmur of the restless deep
Was blent with every strain,
A voice of winds that would not sleep,--
He never smiled again!"

In 1127 Henry invited the king of the Scots to Windsor to join in the
royal celebration of Christmas, but the festivities were marred by an
unseemly quarrel between the two primates. Thurstan, Archbishop of
York, encroaching upon the privileges of his brother of Canterbury
(William de Corbeuil), insisted upon placing the crown upon the king's
head ere he set out for church. This the partisans of Canterbury would
not allow, settling the matter by turning Thurstan's chaplain and
followers out of doors, and thereby causing such strife between the
heads of the Church that they both set off to Rome to lay their
grievances before the Pope. And, subsequently, appeals to Rome became
frequent, until a satisfactory adjustment of the powers and privileges
of the two archbishops was arrived at. The Archbishop of Canterbury
was acknowledged Primate of all England and Metropolitan; but, while
the privilege of crowning the sovereign was reserved for the
Archbishop of Canterbury, that of crowning the Queen Consort was given
to the Archbishop of York.

[Illustration]

STRANGE OLD STORIES OF CHRISTMASTIDE.

The progress of literature under the Conqueror and his sons was very
great, many devoting themselves almost entirely to literary pursuits.
Lanfranc and Anselm, the Archbishops of Canterbury, had proved
themselves worthy of their exalted station. Their precepts and
examples had awakened the clergy and kindled an ardour for learning
unknown in any preceding age. Nor did this enthusiasm perish with its
authors: it was kept alive by the honours which were lavished on all
who could boast of literary acquirements. During the reign of Henry I.
Geoffrey of Monmouth published his History of the Britons, and William
of Malmesbury assures us that every poet hastened to the court of
Henry's Queen Matilda, at Westminster, to read his verses to the Queen
and partake of her bounty. William of Malmesbury carefully collected
the lighter ballads which embodied the popular traditions of the
English kings, and he tells an amusing story which is connected with
the festival of Christmas. In early times dancing developed into a
sort of passion, men and women continually dancing and singing
together, holding one another by the hands, and concluding the dances
with kisses. These