Henry Murdac

[1] He was later appointed the first abbot of Vauclair Abbey in the diocese of Laon[2] and in 1144 returned to Yorkshire to assume the abbacy at Fountains.

[3] Henry was a strict disciplinarian and a magnificent administrator,[1] enforcing his rules by example, in living a life of great austerity and constantly wearing sackcloth next to his skin.

[4] William, who was the king's nephew, was accused by some of simony and unchaste living; in a letter to Pope Innocent II, Bernard maintained that fitzHerbert was 'rotten from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.'

[9] King Stephen also refused to recognise him,[10] sequestering the stalls of York and imposing a fine on the town of Beverley for harbouring him.

In retaliation, Murdac excommunicated Hugh de Puiset, Treasurer of York, and his other enemies and laid the city under interdict.

The King and his son Eustace implored him to grant the rebels absolution, but he refused, until they came to Beverley, acknowledged their fault, and submitted to scourging at the entrance to the Minster when he did finally absolve them.