[146] Scripturarum sedulus perscrutator diversarum, Romanorum malleus et contemptor. (Matth. Paris, vol. ii, p. 876, fol. Lond. 1640.) A thorough searcher of the various Scriptures, a hammer to and a despiser of the Romans. Sixteen of his writings (Sermones et epistolæ) will be found in _Brown_, _app. ad Fasciculum_.
[147] Nocte apparuit ei episcopos vultu severo, intuitu austero, ac voce terribili. Ibid. 883.
Grostête was not single in his opposition to the pope. Sewal, archbishop of York, did the same, and "the more the pope cursed him, the more the people blessed him."[148]--"Moderate your tyranny," said the archbishop to the pontiff, "for the Lord said to Peter, _Feed_ my sheep, and not _shear them_, _flay them_, or _devour them_."[149] The pope smiled and let the bishop speak, because the king allowed the pope to act. The power of England, which was constantly increasing, was soon able to give more force to these protests.
[148] Quanto magis a papa maledicebatur, tanto plus a populo benedicebatur. Ibid. ad ann. 1257.
[149] _Pasce_ oves meas, non _tonde_, non _excoria_, non _eviscera_, vel devorando _consume_. Ibid. ad ann. 1258.
The nation was indeed growing in greatness. The madness of John, which had caused the English people to lose their continental possessions, had given them more unity and power. The Norman kings, being compelled to renounce entirely the country which had been their cradle, had at length made up their minds to look upon England as their home. The two races, so long hostile, had melted one into the other. Free institutions were formed; the laws were studied; and colleges were founded. The language began to assume a regular form, and the ships of England were already formidable at sea. For more than a century the most brilliant victories attended the British armies. A king of France was brought captive to London: an English king was crowned at Paris. Even Spain and Italy felt the valour of these proud islanders. The English people took their station in the foremost rank. Now the character of a nation is never raised by halves. When the mighty ones of the earth were seen to fall before her, England could no longer crawl at the feet of an Italian priest.