Clarendon
CONSTITUTIONS OF, a code of laws adopted in the 10th year of Henry II. (January, 1164), at a council of prelates and barons held at the village of Clarendon, Wiltshire.
These laws, which were finally digested into 16 articles, were brought forward by the king as "the ancient customs of the realm," and were enacted as such by the council, but they really involved a great scheme of administrative reform in the assertion of the supremacy of the State over clergy and laity alike. The power of the ecclesiastical courts was restricted, the crown secured the right of interference in elections to ecclesiastical offices, appeals to Rome were made dependent on the king's leave, ecclesiastical dignitaries were deprived of their freedom to leave the country without the royal permission, etc. Becket signed them, but retracted his signature on the refusal of Pope Alexander III. to countenance them. Becket's murder followed, and to effect a reconciliation with the pope Henry promised the amendment of the Constitutions of Clarendon. They were accordingly modified in 1176 at CLARINET made successively chancellor of the exchequer and privy councillor, and was the chief adviser of the king. After the failure of the royalist arms he took refuge in Jersey, and then joined Prince Charles in Holland. He contributed to the Restoration, accompanied Charles II. to London, and was made Lord Chancellor. In his judicial capacity his conduct was irreproachable, and he was the defender of his country's freedom against the abuses of the royal power; but he at length became unpopular, was removed from his high employments, and banished by act of Parliament. His "History of the Rebellion," though considered by some as a partial, inaccurate, and untrustworthy narrative, is one of the most remarkable works in the literature of his time. His daughter Anne was married to the Duke of York, afterward James II., and two daughters, Anne and Mary, the fruit of this marriage, both ascended the English throne. He died in Rouen in 1674.