The tale of this house paints admirably the temper of the citizens at the time.

Its founder, Prior Norman, built church and cloister and bought books and vestments in so liberal a fashion that no money remained to buy bread.

The canons were at their last gasp when the city-folk, looking into the refectory as they passed round the cloister in their usual Sunday procession, saw the tables laid but not a single loaf on them.

"Here is a fine set out," said the citizens; "but where is the bread to come from ?" The women who were present vowed each to bring a loaf every Sunday, and there was soon bread enough and to spare for the priory and its priests.
[Sidenote: Thomas of London] We see the strength of the new movement in the new class of ecclesiastics whom it forced on to the stage.

Men like Archbishop Theobald drew whatever influence they wielded from a belief in their holiness of life and unselfishness of aim.