eque, the builder of the Norman choir
of the minster, had the support of the king, who was engaged in the
struggle with Becket. Roger, indeed, has been bitterly reviled as an
accessory to the murder of Becket. He carried on the quarrel with
Richard of Canterbury, Becket's successor, and at the Council of
Westminster (1176 A.D.) the rivalries of the two prelates came to a head
in a ridiculous scene. The papal legate was present at the council, and
the Archbishop of Canterbury seated himself at his right hand. Shortly
afterwards entered the Archbishop of York, who, refusing to take a lower
place, sat down in the lap of Canterbury. He was seized, beaten, and
kicked for his pains.

[Illustration: Walmgate Bar.]

In 1190 the people of York, incited by the priests, rose and massacred
the Jews, killing nearly 500. For this they were fined by the king. The
minster contributed to the ransom of Richard I., pawning a golden cross
which Roger had given. The cross was afterwards redeemed.

Roger was succeeded, after an interval of ten years, by Geoffrey, the
bastard son of Henry II. He quarrelled continually with John, who on one
occasion fined the city of York L100 for omitting to meet him when he
visited the city.

In the war between Henry III. and the barons, the archbishops Gray and
Gifford took the part of the king, and owing to their efforts their
diocese was little affected by the struggle.

In 1265 a quarrel broke out between the Abbey of St. Mary and the
townspeople, owing to the abuse of the privilege of sanctuary possessed
by the convent. Much blood was shed, and the suburb of Bootham was burnt
down.

In the reign of Edward I. York played a great part in the history of
England, as the king made it his capital during the war with Scotland.
He was present at the installation of St. William's relics in the choir,
and in 1297 he held a great Parliament there. The archbishops and clergy
contributed one-fifth of their income to the expenses of the war. The
Courts of the Exchequer and King's Bench were also removed from London
to York, and remained there for seven years.

At this time York was a more important city than it has been at any
period since the Roman occupation. It was both the civil and military
capital of England, and its archbishops and prebendaries had great
power. It was also, naturally, a period of great building activity. In a
hundred and fifty years the whole fabric of the minster, as it now is,
was e