The pope strove to confound my arguments by this quotation from the Gospel: 'He that hath seen giveth testimony.' But as he did not explicitly raise the objection that Gaudri had been elected by desire of the court, all subtle subterfuge on any such point became useless; so I gave it up, and confessed that I could say nothing in opposition to the pontiff's words; which pleased him very much, for he had less scholarship than would have become his high office.

Clearly perceiving, however, that all the phrases I had piled up in defence of our election had but little weight, I launched out afterwards upon the urgent straits wherein our Church was placed, and on this subject I gave myself the more rein in proportion as the person elected was unfitted for the functions of the episcopate." [Illustration: Burghers of Laon----220] Gaudri was indeed very scantily fitted for the office of bishop, as the town of Laon was not slow to perceive.

Scarcely had he been installed when he committed strange outrages.

He had a man's eyes put out on suspicion of connivance with his enemies; and he tolerated the murder of another in the metropolitan church.

In imitation of rich crusaders on their return from the East, he kept a black slave, whom he employed upon his deeds of vengeance.