King Henry also recalled Anselm (S132) and reinstated him in his
office. But the peace was of short duration. The Archbishop
insisted, as did the Pope, that the power of appointment of bishops
should be vested wholly in Rome. The King was equally determined that
such appointments should spring from himself. Like William the
Conqueror (S118), he declared: "No one shall remain in my land who
will not do me homage" (S86).
The quarrel was eventually settled by compromise. The Pope was to
invest the bishop with ring and crosier, or pastoral staff of office,
as emblems of the spiritual power; the King, on the other hand, was to
grant the lands from which he bishop drew his revenues, and in return
was to receive his homage or oath of allegiance.
This acknowledgement of royal authority by the Church was of great
importance, since it gave the King power as feudal lord to demand from
each bishop his quota of fully equipped knights or cavalry soldiers
(SS150, 152). This armed force would usually be commanded by the
bishop in person (S140).