Note 217 — EDITOR'S PREFACE. (continued 2)

The Quarterly reviewer has the merit of tracing out the extraordinary fate of the murderers. "By a singular reciprocity, the principle for which Becket had contended, that priests should not be subjected to the secular courts, prevented the trial of a layman for the murder of a priest by any other than a clerical tribunal." Legend imposes upon them dark and romantic acts of penance; history finds them in high places of trust and honor.—pp. 377, et seqq. I may add that John of Oxford five years after was Bishop of Norwich. Ridel too became of Ely.