There was an interval of four years before a new bishop
was appointed, and it was more than five before Geoffrey
Riddell (n 74-1 189) was consecrated. He was one of the
king's chaplains, a Baron of the Exchequer, and Archdeacon



HISTORY OF THE SEE. 115

of Canterbury. The delay in his consecration was due to
a disagreement between King Henry H. and his son Henry,
who had actually been crowned, the latter considering that
he ought to have a voice in the appointment. The dispute
was not settled without an appeal to Rome. Bishop Riddell
furthered the building of the church, and enibellished it in
various ways. He also recovered some property that had
been taken away. Before consecration he had been com-
pelled to profess publicly that he had had nothing to do
with the murder of Archbishop Becket : " Mortem S. Thomae
Archiepiscopi neque verbo neque facto neque scripto scienter
procuravit." He became very wealthy. He died in 1189
at Winchester, whither he had gone to welcome King Richard.
Not long after his death his tomb was violated, and the
episcopal ring on his finger purloined. The violators were
anathematised from the pulpit.
The fourth bishop was William Longchamp (i 189-1 197),
Chancellor of England and subsequently Papal Legate. When
the king went abroad he was appointed to govern England
south of the Trent. He behaved in this office "with great
insolence, pride, and oppression," and having particularly
offended John, the king's brother, he made an attempt to
escape from the country in the disguise of a woman ; but
he was detected at Dover and thrown into prison. Being
allowed, after a time, to go to Normandy, he there waited
until the king's return, by whom he was restored to favour.
