45, lib.

r] But the king attained not even that temporary tranquillity which he had hoped to reap from these expedients.

During the heat of his quarrel with Becket, while he was every day expecting an interdict to be laid on his kingdom, and a sentence of excommunication to be fulminated against his person, he had thought it prudent to have his son.

Prince Henry, associated with him in the royalty, and to make him be crowned king, by the hands of Roger, archbishop of York.

By this precaution, he both insured the succession of that prince, which, considering the many past irregularities in that point, could not but be esteemed somewhat precarious; and he preserved at least his family on the throne, if the sentence of excommunication should have the effect which he dreaded, and should make his subjects renounce their allegiance to him.