TOWARDS BETTER ORDER IN EUROPE 269

Pope. But unfortunately society, especially in me-
dieval Europe, was incapable of such dichotomy. Each
party was desirous of exclusive authority and none prepared
to accept a compromise. Indeed, conflict was inevitable
owing to overlapping jurisdictions, and an impartial tribunal
was lacking. Under the circumstances the logic of Pope
Gregory VII seemed arrogant and presumptuous in the eyes
of Henry IV and his supporters, and irreproachable in the
eyes of the orthodox. ' He explained, kindly but firmly, to
William the Conqueror, that the papal and kingly powers
are both established by God as the greatest among the
authorities of the world, just as the sun and moon are the
greatest of the heavenly bodies. But the papal power is
obviously superior to the kingly, for it is responsible for it;
at the Last Day Gregory would have, he urged, to render
an account of the king as one of the flock intrusted to his
care/1

The difficulty was not one of merely accepting theoretical
claims to superiority but of enforcing actual authority in the
field of administration. The Church had acquired vast
estates through gifts from the faithful, and these were
administered by the bishops and other Church dignitaries.
Though it was the practice for these officials to be elected,
as holders of property it was of utmost interest to the
king as to who was elected. There were also a number of
bishops and archbishops who were armed noblemen holding
lands on feudal terms, and hence subject to their overlord
the king. Some priests hadi become so worldly-minded that
they married and got interested in making provision for their
families. The practice of "simony" or selling spiritual,
offices " for a consideration" had also come into vogue.

1. Robinson, op. dt., p. 126.