It is to be remarked, in studying history through the medium of literature, that the works of a certain period, themselves the result of history, often illustrate the coming age, by being prophetic, or rather, as antecedents by suggesting consequents.

Thus, this Vision of Piers Plowman indicates the existence of a popular spirit which had been slowly but steadily increasing--which sympathized with Henry II.

and the priest-trammelling "Constitutions of Clarendon," even while it was ready to go on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas a Becket, the illustrious victim of the quarrel between Henry and his clergy.

And it points with no uncertain finger to a future of greater light and popular development, for this bold spirit of reform was strongly allied to political rights.

The clergy claimed both spiritualities and temporalities from the Pope, and, being governed by ecclesiastical laws, were not like other English subjects amenable to the civil code.