the other till the end of their joint lives. Once only, at this
time, was their friendship broken for a moment. Lanfranc spoke
against the marriage, and ventured to rebuke the Duke himself.
William's wrath was kindled; he ordered Lanfranc into banishment
and took a baser revenge by laying waste part of the lands of the
abbey. But the quarrel was soon made up. Lanfranc presently left
Normandy, not as a banished man, but as the envoy of its sovereign,
commissioned to work for the confirmation of the marriage at the
papal court. He worked, and his work was crowned with success, but
not with speedy success. It was not till six years after the
marriage, not till the year 1059, that Lanfranc obtained the wished
for confirmation, not from Leo, but from his remote successor
Nicolas the Second. The sin of those who had contracted the
unlawful union was purged by various good works, among which the
foundation of the two stately abbeys of Caen was conspicuous.

This story illustrates many points in the character of William and
of his time. His will is not to be thwarted, whether in a matter
of marriage or of any other. But he does not hurry matters; he
waits for a favourable opportunity. Something, we know not what,
must have made the year 1053 more favourable than the year 1049.
We mark also William's relations to the Church. He is at no time
disposed to submit quietly to the bidding of the spiritual power,
when it interferes with his rights or even when it crosses his
will. Yet he is really anxious for ecclesiastical reform; he
promotes men like Maurilius and Lanfranc; perhaps he is not
displeased when the exercise of ecclesiastical discipline, in the
case of Malger, frees him from a troublesome censor. But the worse
side of him also comes out. William could forgive rebels, but he
could not bear the personal rebuke even of his friend. Under this