to be left alone[45] for meditation and confession, scourging and prayer,[46] in which he remained absorbed until the hour of tierce called him forth to his duties in the world.[47] [37] Herb. Bosh. (Robertson, _Becket_, vol. iii.), p. 208. [38] _Ib._ p. 203. [39] _Ib._ p. 219. [40] _Ib._ p. 225. [41] _Ib._ pp. 236, 237. [42] _Ib._ p. 238. [43] _Ib._ p. 199. Cf. Will. Fitz-Steph. (_ibid._), p. 38, and Joh. Salisb. (_ib._ vol. ii.), p. 307. [44] On the hair-shirt see MS. Lansdown. II. (_ib._ vol. iv.), p. 154; Anon. I. (_ibid._), p. 20; Will. Cant. (_ib._ vol. i.), p. 10; Herb. Bosh. (_ib._ vol. iii.), pp. 196, 199; Garnier (Hippeau), p. 23. On Thomas’s troubles about his dress and how he settled them see Garnier, pp. 19, 20, 23; Anon. I. (as above), p. 21; E. Grim (_ib._ vol. ii.), p. 368; Herb. Bosh. (_ib._ vol. iii.), p. 196. On his whole manner of life after consecration cf. _Thomas Saga_ (Magnusson), vol. i. pp. 95–111. [45] Herb. Bosh. (as above), pp. 202–205. [46] Anon. II. (Robertson, _Becket_, vol. iv.), p. 88. [47] Herb. Bosh. (_ib._ vol. iii.), p. 205. He was feverishly anxious to lose no opportunity of making up for his long neglect of the Scriptural and theological studies befitting his sacred calling. He openly confessed his grievous inferiority in this respect to many of his own clerks, and put himself under their teaching with child-like simplicity and earnestness. The one whom he specially chose for monitor and guide, Herbert of Bosham, was a man in whom, despite his immeasurable inferiority, one can yet see something of a temper sufficiently akin to that of Thomas himself to account for their mutual attraction, and perhaps for some of their joint errors. As they rode from London to Canterbury on the morrow of the primate’s election he had drawn Herbert aside and laid upon him a special charge to watch with careful eyes over his conduct as archbishop, and tell him without stint or scruple whatever he saw amiss in it or heard criticized by others.[48] Herbert, though he worshipped his primate with a perfect hero-worship, never hesitated to fulfil this injunction to the letter as far as his lights would permit; but unluckily his zeal was even less tempered by discretion than that of Thomas himself. He was a far less safe guide in the practical affairs of life than in the intricate paths of abstract and mystical interpretation of Holy Writ in which he and Thomas delighted to roam together. Often, when no other quiet time could be found, the archbishop would turn his horse aside as they travelled along the road, beckon to his friend, draw out a book from its hiding-place in one of his wide sleeves, and plunge into an eager discussion of its contents as they ambled slowly on.[49] When at Canterbury, his greatest pleasure was to betake himself to the cloister