of many to diminish the credit of our cause wher on the other parte if it standeth with your pleasure wee are not bound to admitt our aduersary for a iudge neither can wee bee confident of any heerein but only in your presence for by reason of the banishment of vs and ours the king soe frighteth and terrifyeth all men with the vexation and losses of others as none knowing it dareth once affoarde vs a good word Considering deepely all this wee tempered our answer soe as wee neither refused nor accepted this iudgment and dangerous tryall For wee sayde whensoeuer wee who were thus beerefte of Archbishoppricke gouerment and all our goodes were restored agayne to what wee lofte wee would then gladly and when wee ought submitt our selues to your determination or the iudgment of him or them whom by your mandate you should appoint nor could wee nor would wee flye from iustice in the meane tyme wee could not with any reason bee constrayned to a contentious course of lawe neither were our poore meanes able to supporte it neither could the liberality of the most renowned king without molestation extend it selfe soe far as to mayntaine vs with the poore of Christ our banished breathren vpon his expence vnder the roofes of strangers especially since hee aboundeth not at this instant with money for where hee hath plenty of victualls there can he more tollerably defray our charges Then descended they to the third question demaunding if wee would admitt the proces of the Bishoppes who appealed against vs beefore those iudges But wee answered wee receaued no mandate of yours concerning this busines nor yet that our pouerty was able to vndergoe the expences of such a controuersy forth at was the drifte of our Aduerssaryes as wee vnderstood by them who could not bee ignorant heerin to giue a taynte to our person vpon any occasion in the presence of the Legates therby to worke vs any wrong For they coniectured that none of the prouince durst assist vs against the king in regarde wherof they might the sooner procure our ruyne and the king called out only those to this conference who beeing our Aduersaryes from the first raysing of this storme were knowne to bee the inuentors of soe greate a mischeife which were the Archbishop of Yorke with the Bishoppes of London and Chichester the Bishop of Worcester beeing also sent for with them that vnder the vayle of his worthines the malice of the rest might bee shadowed But as your wisedome may remember these who now soe applaude the kinges pleasure and aboue the rest as it is openly knowne thirst our bloud are they who sometymes soe much extolled in their letters full fraught with our prayses the procuring of our Pall and the forme of our election together with our person but now contradicting both truth and themselues through an impudency of lying and flattering they beecome contemptible whilst at the pleasure of the Prince like the slaue in the Comedy now they say now they gaynesay these are they o father who giue hornes to the sinner and if hee bee not made enough incense him more laying softe cushons vnder his elbowe and lulling a sleepe on daynty pillowes the heade that languisheth with sinnes Since therfore they who ought with their counsell assistāce and authority to bee the pillars of the Church doe now with their flattery and expences animate and arme the persecutors of the diuine lawe and of our selues against her and vs it is not safe nor possible for vs to subiect our selues to iudgment but only in the presence of your Holines and to bee examined by your selfe For although the Church may conceaue a great hope of the sinceare proceeding of one of the Legates and wee are confident in him especially in matters appertayning to God neuertheles there is not any man but your selfe to whom wee dare cōmitt this cause of our Lordes and for the other God make him the man who may saue his soule and beeseeme the place of a preist Cardinall of the Romane Church yet let that neuer come to passe which pleaseth it you to remember wee forewarned and feare will yet happen if it should fortune the wisedome eloquence and authority of my Lord William should concurre with the power and willfull disposition of the king of England wee doubt wee saye they will demaunde of vs by their counsell and consent those thinges which either bee greeuous for you to heare and impossible to bee effected or otherwise displeasing to God and odious to the world And because the charge of all Churches resteth on your shoulders turne if it please you your eyes on the west marke and see in what sorte the Church is there handled let it bee tould by the lord Oddo whom wee beeleiue the spirit of God guydeth let him declare what hee behouldeth what hee knoweth concerning the Church and Prouince of Towers what hee heard reported in England what hee hath by experience found in Normandy and wee beeleiue you will say with teares there is no greife like to the greife of this For to let passe the Churches of Canterbury and Towers which hee houldeth in his handes as you haue heard and wee wish you would heare it more fully hee hath now of long tyme retayned to himselfe seauen vacant Bishopprickes in the prouinces beelonging to vs and Roan nor suffereth any pastors to bee ordayned in them the Ecclesiasticall state of the kingdome is giuen his followers to bee trampled vnder their feete and made their prey If wee looke not to this most holy father how shall wee answer Christ in the day of iudgment who will resist Antichrist at his comming if wee suffer thus the vices and offenses of his forerunners with such induring as this Potentates growe prowde the kinges of Nations turne to bee Tyrantes and imagine the Church ought to haue no right no priuiledge but depending only on their pleasure but blessed is hee who houldeth and dasheth the litle ones on the rocke For if Iudas beeing commanded by the lawe rooteth not out the Cannonytes they will growe vp to bee perpetually his Aduersary and his stinge Bee therfore father of good comforte and bee a couragious commander wee haue more on our syde then they haue on theirs God hath broken in peeces Fredericke the hammer of the impious beeing ready also shortly to strike others vnles they amend and haue peace with the Church of God And to conclude wee only expect the sentence of your mouth or of his who hath bin accustomed to beereaue Princes of their spiritts and deliuer the poore from the potent You shall receaue more by word of mouth which wee thought inconuenient to committ to wryting Let your excellency bee thus perswaded that if wee would from the beeginning haue giuen way to these wicked customes wee needed not now intercession of any Cardinall nor yet of any man liuing In vayne God willing doe they lay beefore our eyes the examples of the Cicilians or
him to bee determined by your discretion resoluing without farther obstacle of Appealation to establish whatsomeuer you shall therin Cannonically doe And the Pope likewise wrote to all the Bishoppes in england in these wordes Epistola 1.9 The Pope in these letters restrayneth the Bishoppes of England Allthough by the obligation of our office wee are bound to haue a care and bee watchfull for vphoulding the right of all sortes in perfect integrity yet notwithstanding in mayntenance of their iustice who are chosen by our Lord to vndergoe a parte of the charge committed to vs wee ought in how much they are more eminent aboue others in their authority soe much the more to reflect vppon them to prouide with greater dilligence for them and haue an especialleye ouer them Guyded therefore with this reason wee charge and command yee and in the vertue of obedience by our Apostolicall letters inioyne your brotherhood that yee presume not in any case neither yet any way attempt vpon occasion of the Appeale which yee haue made vnto vs against our reuerent Brother the Archbishop of Canterbury to intermedle in any thing knowne to appertayne to the rightes dignityes and libertyes of the Church of Canterbury without his assent and priuity And if any of yee shall vnder any coluor whatsomeuer dare to breake this our commandement wee will by the grace of God endeauor to punish him soe seuearely as hee shall learne by the paine inflicted on him how dangerous it is to violate the Apostolicall Mandates Dated at Lateran 5. Kalend. Februarij But the king fearing as yet to bee excommunicated or to haue his Realme subiect to interdiction by Saint Thomas after hee had interposed as wee see such as it was this Appeale hee directed to Pope Alexander an Embassage not soe much to prosecute the Appeale as to obtayne of his Holines an other legantine authority to the end hee might thereby weaken and infringe the sinewes of the power giuen to Saint Thomas and for the vndergoing of the busines hee desired of the Pope that a certayne Legate might bee sent him which was William Cardinall of Papia of the Tytell of Saint Peter ad vincula whom hee might haue as his intire freind To manage alsoe this matter the king made choyse of his Chaplaine who as wee lately sayde was excommunicated by Saint Thomas because hee made oath to the Archbishop of Colen for maintayning the Scysmaticall Pope wee meane Iohn of Oxeforde with whom were others also ioyned Associates in authority but in what sorte they proceeded with Pope Alexander heerein wee shall heereafter in place conuenient declare Codic Vat. lib 1. Epist 139. The king after this Appeale made as saith Salisbury sent then a Messanger into England for he◠remayned at this tyme in Normandy with letters for guarding the sea coastes dealing also with the Abbott of the Cistercians against Saint Thomas for expelling him out of the Monastery of Pontiniake who since hee continewed there two yeeres as the Authors in his life declare must needes bee sayd this yeere to haue bin banished thence for the recyted letters testify that till this yeere hee remayned there William likewise in Quadrilogus rehearseth how hee aboade two whole yeeres in that place and soe wee see hee entred first into that Abbey in the yeere of our Lord 1164. But how foule a scandall it was in the eyes of all good men to see soe greate a guest soe banished the sayd wryter sheweth at large and addeth that Lewes the kinge of France receauing tydinges thereof by letters from Saint Thomas exclamyng publickly sayd O Religion ô Religion where art thou Loe the men whom wee esteemed as dead to the world feare yet the ruines of the same world and for the fraile temporal trash which they profess to contemne for our Lord flye off from the worke which God himself hath commanded casting out of their house this man exiled for Gods cause Moreouer hee telleth vs how Saint Thomas was then entertayned by the king of France assigning him Senon to dwell in And at that tyme as the same Author reporteth it fell out that God reuealed to Saint Thomas in a vision his Martyrdome Saint Thomas afterwardes not to let shippe any thing appertayning to his office whereas hee had beefore with censures terrifyed and troubled the king now againe hee indeauored to quiet and pacify his mynde with more pleasing letters indyted in this sorte To his most beeloued Lord Henry by the grace of God King of England Duke of Normandy and Earle of Anioue Thomas by the same grace the humble seruāt of the Church of Canterbury wisheth health and all times perseuerance in goodnes with worthy resistance of all malicious suggestions Our speech to you shall bee shorte Cod. Vat. lib. 1. epist 66. least in abundance of wordes wee become ouer tedious would to God wee were more acceptable to you as to our most beeloued Lord hee knoweth this who is the searcher of hartes whatsoeuer is otherwise and falsly muttered and murmured against vs by your enemyes yea rightly and truly rather yours then ours Wee exhorte you therfore agayne on the beehalfe of Allmighty God and adiure you in the vertue in the Holy Ghost and require you for the remission of your sinnes that you make restitution sinceerly of your grace with assured peace and good security to to vs and ours and the like to the Church of Canterbury in such fullnes and liberty as our Predecessors and wee alsoe since our entrance into our Archbishoppricke haue more amply and freely enioyed the same with all the possessions Churches and prebendaryes appertayning thereunto which haue remayned voyde since the first breaking out of the discord beetweene you and vs and ours and that wee may vse and possesse the same vnder your dominion as our predecessors haue in better and more worthy sorte heeretofore done and wee alsoe since our preferment to this same Sea whereby the Church may iustly reioyce in our returne which hath for many causes to the danger of both our soules as wee beeleiue soe long wanted our presence and ought truly to lament the discommodity incurred by our absence Performe this gratious Lord with a ioyfull and pacifyed mynde that God may graunt and restore to you the peace which your harte desireth with the saluation of your soule and the soules of the people committed by our Lord to your charge and wee truly on the other syde are and will bee euer ready to doe you all seruice with more feruor and deuotion then euer heretofore so long as wee neither offend God nor violate our order thereby Concerning the goods taken away from the Church of Canterbury from vs and ours wee constantly affirme to you before God and the whole world yea were his diuine Maiestie heere present that by no meanes nor reason can the sinne bee forgiuen vnles what is vniustly taken away bee againe restored if hee who tooke it or caused it to bee taken
of Salisbury on whom hee listed and for our dignity that it was in euery point diminished vntill the Legates comming All this did the Bishop certify vs by his Chaplayne beeing a Cannon Regular and a Religious man whom hee sent to excuse his forbearance of comming to vs at our cyting for wee cyted him once and agayne and lastly the third time with a peremptory Mandate to appeare beefore vs beetweene that and the feast of the Purification as a man of great authority the kinges familiar and one who should mediate a peace beetweene his Maiestie and us if possibly it might bee compased All this the Cannon is ready to testify by oath that thus hee receaued the same from the mouth of the Bishop to bee deliuered on his beehalfe to vs. Which if it bee true then doubtles our lord the Pope hath choaked and strangled not our person only but alsoe himselfe with all the Clergy of both the kingdomes yea verily both Churches as well of France as England for animated with this most foule example what will not other Princes of the world dare attempt against Ecclesiasticall persons To whom shall they haue refuge How can they hee confident of the Church of Rome that hath soe forsaken and left destitute vs who maintaine her cause with fighting therefore to the very death What will beefall if these vnspeakeable and detestable priuiledges standing good together with the oppressions as well by the king as others vnder any pretext it should soe happen which God forbid that the Pope should dye or the Citty runne into confusion of troubles All these would then descend on their heires nor would euer heereafter bee wrested out of their hands And what is far worse other Princes stirred vp with this example would extorte the like priuiledges to bring the Church whether shee will or no into subiection Soe shall the Churches whole liberty vtterly decay together with the iurisdiction and power of Bishoppes no man remayning who is able to controule and restaine the outrages of Tyrants whose whole intention is at this day bent to make hauocke of the Church and Clergy nor will they haue brought them like others into bondage What will bee the end wee know not but this wee knowe that our greife exceedeth measure bee these thinges true or false which are thus propounded For wee are neither obeyed nor respected in any thing as wee were wont by Bishoppes or Abbotts or others of the Clergy of England beeing now assured of our deposition But let our Lord the Pope bee perswaded that wee will neuer on any condition passe ouer into the kinges Dominion to haue there our cause decyded nor will wee euer abide the iudgment of our enemyes and especially of Papyan who thirsteth nothing but our blood thereby to obtayne our seate which in truth as wee heare is allready promised him vpon condition the king may bee deliuered of vs. Wee haue also an other exceeding greiuance The nobles as well temporall peeres as Bishoppes with other Prelates of the kingdome of France as it were despairing now of vs shake of and send vs backe againe the Associates of our exile whom they haue heatherto mercifully relieued and what will these but perish heereafter with cold and famyne as others their fellowes haue formerly donne Intimate all these thinges diligently to our Lord the Pope that hee may prouyde vs some remedy against these mischeifes according to our request if as yet any zeale of God remayneth in him as wee hope it doth and wee pray God our hope confoundeth not Farewell and with all speede returne vs backe this messanger againe who may as well in these as other matters certify vs who rest streyghtned in great extremitys if thinges are soe as wee heare them reported And thus Saint Thomas wrote to his agent being lieger for him in the Citty But heere ended not the complaints poured out against Pope Alexander For now remayneth to be recyted an other epistle of Lumbard SubdeacoÌ„ of the Sea Apostolike who liued at this present in France and wrote thence to the Pope for it is first thus intytuled To Pope Alexander Lumbard Subdeacon of the Roman Church And afterwardes beeginneth thus To the reuerent father and Lord Alexander by the grace of God High Bishop Lumbarde his faithfull Clearke remembreth his seruice of obedience Cod Vat. lib. 1 epist 165. Whereas I am seruante to your Holines and in Christ the worke of your handes I neither can nor ought to dissemble the slanders openly spread to the reproch of your renowne and derogation of your name and such mischeifes as are subtilly deuised to the detriment of the whiâ—â— Church For Iohn of Oxeforde insolently vaunteth hee is returned from Rome with the honor of a Deanry and the fullnes of your fauor adding arrogantly withall that hee is fortifyed with your priuiledge against my Lord of Canterbury and euery Bishop and beeing as it were litle inferior to the Courte of Cardinalls that hee is subiect to you only and your Apostolike power glorying moreouer in his pryde hee affirmeth hee hath procured that for the king which neuer kingdome could yet obtayne which is the confirmation of a Mariage by your authority beetweene the king of Englandes sonne and the Earle of Britaines daughter beeing Cosyns in the third degree And lastly that Legates such as he desired were to bee sent to heare and determine whatsoeuer it should please the king to deuise against my lord of Canterbury without any remedy of Appeale All this most holyfather vpon Iohns returne from Rome was diuulged which by how much they were the more vnusuall how much the more rare to bee compased soe much they more amazed the heares myndes whereupon the king of France the deuoute childe of your Holines and of the Church was soe passionatly moued as hee sayd hee would presently addresse a message to forbid your Legates to enter his Realme and more hee did which I willed this Bearer by word of mouth to deliuer Hee resolued moreouer to assemble his Archbishoppes and Bishoppes beefore whom hee would lay open and declare how the Church of Rome rayseth alofte the malicious enemyes as well of him as her selfe endeauoring to depresse his power saying and doth hee not seeke my dishonor who subtelly compasseth to worke the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury an innocent man banished for iustice and the Churches liberty by yeelding him wickedly vp into the handes of his persecuting enemyes whom not in respect of any fauour receaued by him hauing rather bin wronged by him whyle hee serued the king who now seeketh his ouerthrowe but moued with reuerence of the most iuste cause hee mayntaineth with admiration of his vertue and the loue of my Lord the Pope who instantly entreated mee for him I constantly resolued to entertayne honorably and decently as long as hee remayned in exile and to noursih him as it were in my bosome as I haue allready beegunne denouncing to all and openly protesting
the Church into bondage pronouncing they rather ought to haue vndergone all dangers then euer to giue the least way to such an vtter ouerthrowe of God Almightyes lawe and moreouer sayd assuredly in this rabell so abhominable which hath bin heere both read and heard there is nothing at all to bee allowed as good somethinges only may bee indured for the Church in a sorte to tollerate but the greater parte as reprobate by the ancient and authenticall counsells haue bin euer condemned being directly contrary to the holy constitutions And thus did the Lord and Pope in the open presence of them all reproue and sentence these to bee heereafter euer by the Church condemned These they are and thus sett forth as wee find them recorded in the aforesayd booke of the Vatican together with the addition of condemnation or tolleration according to the censure of Pope Alexander But I feare least the intermingling of wordes and termes only proper to the English should by reason of their obscurity seeme to the reader darke and difficult to vnderstand which are thus recyted The customes of England propounded at Claringtonne 1. Concerning the aduowson and presentation of Churches if any controuersie thereupon ariseth beetweene laymen or beetweene Clearkes and lay-men or beetweene Clearkes and Clearkes let the cause bee pleaded and determined in the Courte of our lord the kinge This did the Church of Rome vnder Pope Alexand. the III. condemne With. this note are they deliuered in the end of euery artickle beeing taken out of the sayd booke of the Vaticane and inserted in the conclusion of the Quadripartite history alià s Quadrilogus the Cronickles of S. Thomas Cronickles of S. Thomas 2. Churches of our lord the Kinges fee cannot bee giuen for euer without assent and consent of his Maiesty This hee tolerated 3. Clearkes cited and accused vppon any cause beeing summoned to the kinges Courte shall appeare before the sayd Courte there to answere in such sorte as to the royall Court shal seeme conuenient for them to answer soe as the kinges Bench shall send into the Court of the holy Church to see vpon what ground the cause shall bee there handled and if the Clearke bee conuicted or doe confesse the Church ought not any longer to defend him This hee condemned 4. It is not lawfull for Archbishoppes Bishopes and Persons of the kingdome to departe the realme without our lord the kinges licence and if they will departe they shall at the kinges pleasure giue security neyther in their goinge staying or comming to compasse any euill or dammage towards our lord the kinge or his kingdome This hee condemned Ad Remanens which is think to the I law 5. The excommunicate ought not to giue assurance for remayning or answering the lawe neither bee sworne but only giue pledge and security to stand to the Churches iudgement and soe obtayne absolution This hee condemned 6. Laymen ought not to bee accused in the presence of the Bishop but by testimony of certaine and lawfull witnesses so as the Archdeacon may not lose his right nor any thing which should thereby acerewe vnto him and if the accused bee such as no man will or dare accuse them the Shyreefe beeing required by the Bishop shall sweare 12. lawufll men of the neighborhood or village before the Bishop to lay open the whole truth according to their conscience This hee tolerated 7. No man who houldeth of the king in cheyfe nor any of his Maiesties househould seruantes shall bee excommunicated nor their landes made subiect to interdiction vnlesse our lord the kinge if hee bee within the land or his Lord-cheife iustice if his Maiestie bee out of the Realme bee first made priuy thereof that hee may therein determine of the delinquent according to right whereby such matters as appertaine to the kinges Court may bee there iudged and what beelongeth to the Ecclesiastical courte returned thither there to bee ended This bee condemned 8. As touching appeales if they arise men ought to proceede from the Acrhdeacon to the Bishoppe from the Bishop to the Archbishop and if the Archbishop faile to execute iustice they ought for theire last refuge to flie to our lord the king that by his commandement the controuersie may bee determined in the Archbishops Courte so as they shall not attempt any farther without the kinges assent This hee condemned 9. If there arise any controuersie beetweene Clearke and a lay-man or contrariwise about any tenement which the Clearke claymeth to bee held in free Almes the lay man in laye fee it shall bee determined beefore the lord cheife iustice according to his discretion in the kinges Bench by the verdict of 12. lawfull men whether the tenement appertayneth to free Almes or to the lay fee and if it bee found to bee free Almes then shall it bee pleaded in the Ecclesiastical court and if of a lay fee then vnless both parties auow the same to bee helde of one selfe same Bishop or Baron the plea shall bee ended in the kinges Bench but if both of them make their auowry of land helde of one selfe same Bishop or Baron then shall the plea remayne in the court of the said Bishop or Baron Allwayes prouided that hee who was first seyzed loose not his seyson by reason of this recognition This hee condemned 10. Any man of citty castle Borough or the kinges Demeasne mannor beeing cited by the Archdeacon or Bishop for any offence wherein hee is bound to answer him and will not giue satisfaction vpon his citation it shall bee lawfull for him to subiect the offendor to interdiction but not to excommunication beefore the kinges cheife officer of the place bee first acquainted therewith that hee may adiudge the offendor to make satisfaction wherein if the kinges officer bee defaulty hee shall fall into his Maiesties mercy and then the Bishop may after punish the accused with Ecclesiasticall censures This hee condemned 11. Archbishoppes Bishoppes and all Persons of the kingdome who hould of the kinge in cheife and haue possessions in his dominion as a Barony shall in reguard therof answer to the kinges iustices and officers and followe and performe all royall customes and rightes and ought to sit with the other Barons in the kinges courte vntill the iudgment come to losse of member or life This hee tolerated 12. When an Archbishoppricke Bishoppricke Abbacy or Priory of the kinges DominioÌ„ shall fall voyd or ought to be in his Maiesties haÌ„des hee shall receaue all their rentes and reuenues as those of his owne royall dedemeanes and when time commeth to prouide princiâ—all persons of the Church and the election ought to bee made in his owne chappel by his royall assent and the counsell of such Persons appertayning to his Maiestie as hee shall call to perfect the same and the Prelate elected shall there doe his homage and fealty to our Lord the King as his Leige Lord of life member and earthly honor sauing his order before such time
Church except the Deane and send them ouer who should sweare how â—heir Bishop had authorized them to make an oath wherby they shall protest in the name and place of their Bishop that he shall satisfy for his iniury and contumacy against the Archbishop Wherby it may bee probably gathered that my Lord the Pope did either neuer knowe of the Legates sentence for absolution of the sayd Bishoppe Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist 7. or otherwise hee neuer estemeed it of any validity The same Bishop had obtayned before letters allmost purporting as much wherin neither hee nor his were obliged to any oathe but as yet hee hath made no vse of them either beecause they displeased the king or in regarde they were not soe effectuall What will be the successe on either side was vncertaine at the returne of the bearer heereof but my Lord the Pope hath answered the most Christian king that hee will not fayle to succor the Church of God and his frind of Canterbury as long as with iustice hee can releiue them Now let vs passe to the parlee which was beetweene our kinges c. in such sorte as was described this selfe same yeere wherby you may perceaue that both agree in tyme yeere and month being the same wherin this author wrote these letters Lastly towards the end of this yeere besides other Embassadors formerly sent the king of England addressed two more ouer to Pope Alexander which were Reynold and Iohn the Deane of Salisbury and the same tyme also Saint Thomas directed his agents to his holines their names were Alexander and Iohn whom afterwardes by letter he admonished of the trecherous falshood of Reynold saying Haue a continuall eye and watch vpon our aduersaryes and especially that Bastard of fornication the enemy of the Churches peace the sonne of a Preist Reynold of Salisbury Lib. 3. epist 66. who euery where as much as in him lyeth defameth and slaundereth our person exclayming wee are traytors and that wee gaue him our promise not any wa◠〈◊〉 lest his father And a litle after Hee affirmeth 〈◊〉 ouer if our Lord the Pope should departe this world hee would cause vs to bee blotted out of the booke 〈◊〉 life vaunting that in the court of Rome all thinges 〈◊〉 soe sett to sale as with the bounty of rewardes he could purchase any thinge Hee likewise moued the king of England to beecome sutor to our lord the Pope that his Holines would graunte authority to any Bishop in England to crowne his sonne and consecrate Bishoppes to the end hee might were it but in this deceaue the Pope and when the king answered that as hee thought hee could neuer obtayne these demandes of his holines Reynold replyed the Pope should deale like a foole if hee would condescend to your requestes Thus much of the kinges Embassador wherby you may see reader what manner of fellowes they were who accustomed to back-byte and detracte the high Bishoppes of Rome Concerning the other his associate Iohn deane of Salisbury that which hath before bin spoaken plainly declareth him to be a maÌ„ of greater villany What these the kinges demandes were and how instantly hee sued for them and how many and greate men were his mediators shall bee declared heereafter in place conuenient It is besides apparant that the king in the end of this yeere did by his Agentes solicite all the Cittys which were ioyned in league to Pope Alexander beestowing a hugâ— masse of money among theÌ„ and carefully endeauored to winne the king of Cicillie and the nobility of Roâ—â— to bee his that all might bee intercessors to the Pope to procure the accomplishment of his requestes agaiâ—â—â— Saint Thomas but how Pope Alexander beehaueâ— himselfe you shall heare in the beeginning of the 〈◊〉 yeere Meane while the king of France The king of France laboboring a peace beetweene the king of England and Saint Thomas bringeth them to a parlee after the Legates were departed dispatching this busines taking vp the matter soe fallen to the grownde endeauored to bring the king of England and Saint Thomas to a mutuall parlee in his presence hoping by these meanes to reunite them in a league of peace What the passage of that meeting was is exactly sett forth in Quadrilogus in the end of the second booke and in regarde this seemeth to bee omitted in the epistles the Register of them beecause his epistolary history may not bee defectiue heerin hath soe placed in this volume this discourse before the epistles as they ensuing and following in order one after an other doe manifest the whole proceedinges euen to the very end by reason wherof there wanteth no assistaÌ„ce of any history in the epistles but only this of the parlee written on this wise in Quadrilogus or the Quadriparte history out of Hubertus My Lord the king of France seeing his Holines carefull to conclude a peace himselfe as the sonne of peace and obedient to the Apostolike prelate interposed his endeauors with all labor and attention whervpon at diuers parlees which passed betweene him and the king of England hee brought thither with him the Archbishoppe placing himselfe as an arbiter of peace beetweene them Among all which there was one meeting where it was reported to the king of England that the Archbishop of Canterbury would referre thâ— whole cause to his owne will and therfore the king entertayned this his comming more gratiously Many of both sydes assembling to see the end my Lord of Canterbury fell downe at the king of Englandes feete saying I committ to your discretion the whole controuersy which hath bin the grounde of dissention betweene vs with reseruation only of the honor of God The king hearing the addition of these last wordes was offended beeyond measure abusing him 〈◊〉 â—ny reproches vpbrayding him much casti◠〈◊〉 thinges in his teeth condemning him for a 〈◊〉 insolent and vngratefull man who forgot 〈◊〉 royall bountifull liberality soe often extended to him Alanus added Hee sayde beesides to the king of France marke my Lord if it pleaseth you this man let any thing not fit his owne humor hee presently condemneth it as contrary to the honor of God wherby he will challenge not only his owne but also whatsoeuer beelongeth to mee and that it may appeare I withstand not the honor of God nor yet of him in any thing this is myne offer There haue binne kinges of England my Predecessors who haue raygned beefore mee of greater or lesser authority then my selfe and in Canterbury haue bin many Archbishops beefore him of great worth and holines what therfore the more eminent and vertuous of his Predecessors haue done to the least of my predecessors let him but giue the like to mee and the controuersy shall be concluded Wherupon followed an acclamation on all sydes that the king had sufficiently humbled himselfe The defence of Saint Thomas and his cause Here must I needes say I meruayle greately how the king
Archbishop you might lawfully perhappes haue done this in your owne prouince yet how you could with any face attempt the same in a strange Prouince especially beelonging to him who was himselfe allmost alone content to suffer banishment for iustice and giue Allmighty God his glory wee can neither by reason nor yet by the Decrees of the holy fathers satisfy our selues But if any obiecteth for excuse of soe foule an offence that in other kingdomes also many greiuous sinnes haue bin committed wee may in truth answer wee haue not hetherto seene any kingdome runne soe headlong into soe great a contempt of the diuine lawe as to enforce such manifest enormityes to bee established by the hand-wrytings and oathes of Bishoppes vnles any man will impudently alleage that which the Scismatickes beeing afwardes cutt of from the communion of the faythfull haue practised with such damnable pryde as was neuer beefore heard of In regarde whereof because according to the Prophet's saying Habacuc 1. Peruerse iudgment hath issued out from yee and peruersity is acted among yee Why doe not yee who haue exceeded all other Prouinces in their vsurpations and strengthened such vnlawfull customes with an oath resume now to your selues the sheylde of fayth to defend the house of our Lord in the day of battell but rather prostrate your bodyes on the ground to make a way for passengers ouer yee And least beeing any longer silent the sentence of damnation should bee pronounced in the day of iudgment as well against vs as yee heere by the authority of the sacred Roman Churche where by our Lordes appointment wee serue wee suspend yee from all manner of office beelonging to Episcopall dignity hoping at the least that now beeing reformed by discipline and this fatherly correction yee will at the last returne to your selues and endeauor to defend the Churches liberty But if with all this yee will not recall your selues to that zeale which beecommeth the place of Bishoppes wee will by the grace of God heereafter doe that which as yet with terror threateneth yee Looke to your selues least that hee sayde to yee which was spoaken to one by the Prophett thus Beecause thou hast repulsed knowledge I will repell thee that thou shalt not exercise the office of Preisthoode vnder mee Ose◠4. And for vs in regarde God at his pleasure soe disposing wee are heere apparantly placed in his seate who neither by blowes nor bandes could euer bee constrayned to surcease from preaching the word of God wee ought not vnder a doubtfull expectatiō of peace to lay vp in a handkercheife the money of the diuine worde committed to our charge and keepe it tyed vp soe long vntill the hower of encrease by little and little slydeth away and the Creditor comming calleth vs to render a seuere accompt Thus far Alexander wherby is refelled that manifest vntruth which not a little darkeneth the fame of this Pope And as then also did Peeter of Bloys to the same effect wryte to Iohn of Salisbury and hauing himselfe likewise a burning zeale for the liberty of goddes Church which saint Thomas defended to strengthen him the more least otherwise hee should faynte in these seas of tribulations hee admonished Iohn in a large Epistle to comforte the Saint beeing lynes doubtles worthy of this Author and indighthed Tho his most deere freind Master Iohn of Salisbury Peeter of Bloys Archdeacon of Bathe wisteth health in the Author of all health Peeter of Bloys Ep. 22. As often as I seriously consider with my selfe the ordinary oppressions of the English Church and the banished of your Lord Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury it doth very much comforte mee that hee hath erected himselfe as a bullwarke for defence of Gods iustice and the Churches liberty and therby will deserue a glorious conclusion of this his persecution For I see yee are now sett beetwene the hammer and the Anuyle and sinners dayly buyld vpon your backes neuertheles if yee fight in Christ and for Christ hee will neuer suffer yee to bee tempted aboue your power but will make yee profitt by your temptation and our Lord will take away the rodd of sinners from the portion of the iust that the iust may not stretch out their handes to iniquity If truth misse-telleth vs not the end of your persecution will bee eternall blessednes Math. 5. Blessed are they sayth hee who endure persecution for iustice Peeter the Apostle sayth 1. Pet. 4. Let none of yee suffer as a murderer or theife or slaunderer or a desirer of other mens goodes For not the paine but the cause maketh the Martyrdome But as the Apostle speaketh Ibidem 3. If yee suffer any thing for iustice yee are blessed For it is the guifte of God to beelieue in him but it is the highest guifte to endure reproches for Christ Phipp. 1. To yee quoth the Apostle it is granted for Christ that yee not only beeleiue in him but suffer also for him I doe therfore congratulate yee in regard yee haue conuerted iustice into iudgment beecause yee represse the rebellion and disobedience of some with the castisement of suspension if soe yee doe the same vpon the motion of reason and iustice and not with à thirst of reuenge or an appetyte of iniuring Doe nothing I beeseech yee for malice or hatred but let your actions bee managed with charity nor yet shall yee reape out of this your punishing the haruest of saluation vnles your whole intention proceedeth out of the bowells of charity For wheras by the fornace in the holy Scripture wrath or punishment is signifyed wee are taught in Leuiticus to sprinckle with the oyle of charity the sacrifice which is to bee baked in the fornace Leuit. 2. least otherwise it should bee burned for the mynde of him who prepareth himselfe to encounter with persecution is first to bee sweetned with the oyle of charity that neither in aduersity hee fayleth of charity neither yet bee enflamed against his brother with the fire of reuenge and hatred It is therfore your meritt and before God and man a commendation if by the way of iustice yee appease the disobedience of your subiects Psalm 105. For blessed are they who conserue iudgment and execute iustice continually In the execution of iustice there ought not to bee any exception or respect of persons bee hee brother or childe Prince or subiecte let euer the fruite of iustice beesought and let them euer iudge righteously who iudge the whole world for when the Leuites killing their brethren and children reuenged the sinne of Idolatry Moyses sayde to them Yee haue consecrated your handes this day euery one of yee in his sonne or in his brother Exod. 32. that a benediction may bee giuen yee Salomon sayth alsoe Who reproue shall bee praysed and a blessing will come vppon them Your Lord is highly to bee renowned that only hee ascendeth on the contrary parte that hee opposeth himselfe as
by your discussion Wittnes Richard de Lucy at Westminster Cod. Vat. lib. 5. Epist 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. Thus wrote the king In the meane tyme saint Thomas sent his letters of Interdiction which are yet extant into England vnto the Bishoppes to bee published within xv days vnles peace ensued But the king preuenting the tyme promised the Legates to confirme the peace referring the articles therof to bee composed by their discretion Wherupon the Apostolicall Legates offered Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury hymselfe to deuise the Articles of his owne peace which hee did collecting them out of the former conferences had with the king and also out of such conditions as the Apostolicall letters appoynted the king to performe There is yet to bee seene an Epistle of saint Thomas written to the Bishoppe of Niuers ād the Legate his Associate concerning the whole busines wherin hee first admonisheth them in what sorte they ought to proceede with the king whose manners hee doth exactly describe wryting thus Ibidem Ep. 12. S. Thomas admonisheth the Legates how to proceede with the king in the treaty of peace Allmighty God direct your steppes that in the cause of his Church the managing wherof is now in parte committed to your charge yee neither stray on the right or the left hande but passe on the high way so as neither by faire promises nor yet by threates nor by any exquisite deceyptes hee whose snares no man with whom hee hath had intercourse could euer yet auoyde may as now preuayle against your wisedome and sincerity and vnles I am deceaued yee are exposed vnto the fight of beastes since hee will bring forth Bishoppes Abbottes and discreete men that by them hee may conquer your constancy if hee perceaueth hee cannot surprise yee with proffers and faire wordes Beecause therfore yee cannot easily discouer these manifould and prodigious deceiptes whatsomeuer hee sayth whatsomeuer forme hee vndertaketh yet bee yee euer suspicious of all his showes and let all bee imagined full of guylded falshoodes those only excepted whose truth is approued by the touchstone of their workes for if hee perceaueth hee cannot corrupt yee with large offers or terrify yee with threates or wrest any thing from yee against your wills and against the iustice of the cause your authority will presently vanish as blowne vp in his concept and your selues held in contempt scorne and derision by him and his And if hee seeth hee cannot bend yee from your setled course hee will seeme to grow furious against yee for first hee did sweare ād deepely protest thē turne as Proteus to sundry shapes and after all at the last come home to himselfe againe and then vnles the fault bee yours you shall euer beethe God of Pharao These and the like did saint Thomas insinuate to them teaching the Legates how to ouercome the king beeing a necessary lesson for such as shall heereafter bee appointed Legates to treate with Princes Afterwardes hee addeth the articles as hee calleth them for establishing the peace with the king But what was the cōclusion The Legates thus instructed with the admonitions of saint Thomas beeing now to conferre with the king brought saint Thomas also along with them his Maiestie expecting them in a place of exceeding pleasure named by the inhabitantes as it is written in Quudrilogus in the history of saint Thomas Traytor 's meadowe that the name it selfe might soe bee answerable to the effecte the blood of the iust beeing there beetrayde Where after many contentions and debates it was brought aboute that the king with a pleasant countenance in outward showe freely graunted saint Thomas his peace But how the busines was handled is set downe playnly in a discourse concerning the same written by saint Thomas vnto Pope Alexander which beeing tedious wee will heere only declare such thinges as are necessary and worthie of knowledge Cod Vat. lib. 5. Ep 45. The Epistle beeginneth thus God with his eye of mercy hath beeheld our Church And after For loe vpon receypte of your last letters wherby you let him vnderstand that you would noe longer forbeare him more then you spared Fredericke called Emperor perceauing his lande should bee subiected to interdiction without any remedy whatsomeuer and the Bishoppes if any of them perchance disobeyed suspended and excommunicated hee concluded instantly with vs a peace to the honor of God and as wee hope the Churches greatest vtility For concerning the customes hee was wont soe willfully to maintayne hee durst not speake now one worde hee exacted not an oathe of vs or any of ours hee graunted vs the possessions which by reason of this dissention hee had taken away from our Churches in such sorte as wee expressed them in a certayne wryting hee promised all ours peace and security with the kisse also if wee would vrge him soe farre so as hee seemed in all his actions not only absolutely ouercome but that hee was also taxed as periurd by those who heard him the same day sweare hee would not receaue vs with the kisse For wee by the aduice of many discreete persons and especially of my Lord of Senon who furthered our peace more carefully and effectually then the rest came together with him to the conference had with the kinge Whom by the goodnes of God who remoued all those that were accustomed with sundry deceptes to intrappe your Holines wee found soe much changed as his mynde to the greate admiration of all the beehoulders appeared willingly to embrace all counsells of peace For as soone as hee sawe vs approaching a farre of breakeing out from the company hee mett vs speedely and vnkeevering his heade as wee hastened to salute him hee saluted vs first and after a fewe wordes had with my Lord of Senon and vs Senon withdrawing himselfe a syde to the maruaille of all hee tooke vs apparte and discoursed with vs a long while soe familiarly as it seemed not there had euer bin any discord beetwene vs. Wherupon well nigh all the company there present euen astonished with a most ioyfull admiration yea very many of their eyes slowing with teares glorifyed God and blessed saint Mary Magdalene on whose feast the king was conuerted from his former wayes soe as hee reduced a day of delight to his whole dominiō and restored to the Church her ancient peace againe Wee reproued him but with such moderation as was necessary wee layde open to him the ways in which hee had erred with the dangers which on euery syde threatened wee beesought and exhorted him to returne to himselfe and doeing the fruites worthie of pennance with satisfying by manifest restitution of her goodes the Church whom hee had not a little iniured to cleere his conscience and repaire his reputation for rather misseledde by wicked counsellors then of his owne inclination hee had greatly wronged both and when hee had heard all this not only patiently but also fauorably with promise of reformation wee added moreouer it
was likewise necessary for his owne saluation with the good of his children and for the establishment and prosperitie of the authority graunted him from Allmighty God to recompense the holy Church of Canterbury for that most greeuous wrong wherewith hee had lately damnifyed her for hee caused his sonne to bee without all order crowned contrary to the most ancient custome and priuiledge of our Church c. Hee setteth downe in like sorte a matter of long debate beetweene the king and himselfe concerning this whom in the end hee perswaded soe farre as hee promised to make voyde and frustrate the Coronation which was solemnized by the Pope and especially executed by the Archbishoppe of Yorke and to cause againe a Canonicall consecration to bee celebrated wherin the Archbishoppe of Canterbury should crowne the kinges sonne together with his Queene and wife But of this heereafter Hee dilated also of other particulars which happened in that in meeting to bee donne by the king as where hee speaketh thus When I therefore alighting from my horse did humble my selfe at his feete hee catching my stirrop inforced mee to get vp againe and seeming to shedde tearres sayde what needeth any more my Lord Archbishoppe let vs renewe our old mutuall freindshippe and doe all the good wee can one to an other forgetting cleane this forepassed discorde but this let mee entreate you to doe mee honor beefore the company who beehould vs a farre of Beeing Saules wordes to Samuel when hee sayde Honor mee beefore the people 1. Reg. 15. Hee proceedeth And in regarde wee sawe some there present whose name this bearer will deliuer you that had bin louers of debate and sowers of discorde passing to them hee sayde If I seeing the Archbishoppe ready to right mee euery way should not on the other syde bee likewise good to him I may truly bee esteemed worser then others and shall verify the ill reportes which are raysed of mee neither can I conceaue any counsell to bee more honest and profitable then to endeauor to surpasse him in curtesy and exceede him in Charity and benefittes Which wordes of the king were receaued by allmost all there present with very greate congratulation whereupon hee sent this Bishoppes to aduise vs to make our petition in that publicke assembly and if wee woulde haue followed the Counsell of some of them wee should haue referred to his owne arbitrement our selues absolutely and the whole cause of the Church For from the beeginning to this very day iniquity hath issued from his Scrybes and Pharises and gathered strength from the authority of Seniors who ought to gouerne the people but blessed bee God who hath not suffered our soule to passe thorough their counsell nor permitted vs to expose the Churches liberty and Gods iustice to any creatures will Dismissing them and aduising our selues with my Lord of Senon and the poore of Christe the Associates of our peregrination wee resolutely determined not any way to submitt to his will the controuersy of the customes or the dammages which hee had donne to our Church or the iniury offered vs by the vsurped consecration or the losse of the Ecclesiasticall liberty with the ecclipse of our honor And soe comming to the king and his Lordes Concerning restitution of possessiōs to the Church of Canterbury wee did with all humility beeseech him by the mouth of my Lord of Senon who was our speaker that hee would vouch-safe to restore vs his fauor with peace and security to vs and ours together with the Church of Canterbury and her possessions which beeing set downe by vs in wryting his Maiestie had read and that hee would mercifully reforme what was presumtiously downe against vs and our Church in the consecration of his sonne promising him all loue and honor with whatsomeuer seruice may bee performed in our Lord by an Archbishoppe to his king and Prince The king accepting all in good parte yeelded vs our request receauing vs with all ours there present into his fauor and in regarde your Holines commanded vs not that hee should restore what was wrongfully taken from vs and ours wee would not require it neither on the other syde by Gods grace could wee bee content to remitt it Soe according to your Mandate those thinges were for the tyme put of but not put away for had you absolutely written as in your last letters you signifyed that they should bee restored without doubt satisfactiō had bin also made with an exāple for all ages heereafter very profitable to the whole Catholike Church and especially to the Apostolike Sea The king therfore hauing had much and long conference with vs after wee two had continewed in talke alone according to our ancient accustomed familiarity vntill allmost the Euening wee agreed in one that hee beeing departed wee should returne to rēder due thankes vnto the most Christian king and others our benefactors and vpon the setling of our busines to come backe to his Maiestie and remayne a while with him before wee passed into England to the end the world might take notice into how great and intire fauor hee had receaued vs. Wee intend to expecte in France the returne of our Messingers whom wee haue sent to receaue our possessions for wee are determined not to repaire to our king so long as hee detayneth one foote of Ecclesiasticall landes for by the restitution of our landes wee shall easily perceaue how sincerely hee meaneth to deale with vs. And thus farre concerning their meeting wherin a peace was concluded There is also in the same booke of Epistles an other reporte of this meetinge which beeing only gathered from the beare sayings of others and not testifyed by an eye wittnes seemeth to bee of lesse credit then the former Cod Vat lib. 3. Epist 46. And what king Henry promised saint Thomas in wordes the same did hee also performe in wryting by sendinge these letters vnto the king his sonne Ibid Ep 43 The king writheth to his sonne about the peace cōcluded betwene him and S. Thomas Knowe yee that Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury hath ratifyed his peace with mee according to myne owne desire wherfore I command that hee and all his inioy this peace and that you cause the Archbishop and all those who departed the land with him to haue restitution of all their estates as fully quiety and honorably as they possessed the same three monethes beefore the bishop departed out of England And that you call beefore you some of the most ancient and sufficient knightes of Lyore and Salts kind and make them vpon their corporall oathes to certify what is there heald in Fee of the Archbishoppe of Canterbury and what shall bee founde to bee of his fee you cause to bee rendred to the same Archbishoppe agayne Thus wrote the king to his sonne And with these letters did saint Thomas send his Agents into England but how many aduersaryes they found there they signifyed by their letters backe
demanded Where is the Archbishoppe Wherfore the Confessor of Christ now instantly to bee crowned with Martyrdome knowing the first slanderous name to bee falsly imposed on him but the last agreeable to him in regarde of his function descending the steppes and meeting them sayde Loe heere I am And beehaued himselfe with soe great constancy as neither his mynde seemed any way to bee moued with feare or his body astonished with horror To whom one of these cruell knightes in the spiritt of fury sayd Thou shalt instantly dye for it is impossible thou shouldst longer liue Wherunto the Archbishop answered with no lesse constancy of wordes then mynde I am prepared to dye for the cause of God the defence of Iustice and the liberty of the Church But if yee seeke my life I forbid yee on the beehalfe of Allmighty God and vnder the paine of incurring his curse to hurte anyway any other bee hee Monke bee hee Clearke bee hee Layman bee hee more bee hee lesse but let them bee free from the paine as they are no parties to the cause These wordes in his suffering seeme like to those of Christ in his passion saying Yf yee seeke mee suffer these to departe Then layde the kinghtes instantly handes on him to drawe him out of the Church and soe to murder him but could not moue him Wherfore the Archbishoppe seeing these his executioners with swordes ready drawne as one praying bowed downe his heade vttering these his last wordes I commend to God our Blessed Lady with the Saintes Patrons of this Church and S. Denise my selfe and the cause of his Church And soe this Martyr with an inuincible mynde and admirable constancy did not in all his tortures speake one worde yeelde any noyse giue any sighe or heaue his hand against any blowe but helde his enclined heade thus exposed to the swordes vnmoueable till all was ended The knightes on the other syde fearing least the multitude of men and womē flocking all about would rescue him out of their handes beefore they accomplished their intent hastened their heynous sinne When one of them lefting vp his sworde to make a blowe at the Archbishoppes heade cutt of the arme of a Clearke called Edward Grimfere and wounded with all our lordes Anoynted The cruelty vsed in the slaughtering of saint Thomas This Clearke stretched out his arme ouer his Fathers heade to receaue the blowe or rather to beate it away As yet stoode the iust suffering for iustice as an innocent Lamb without murmurre without clamor and offerring himselfe as a sacrifice to our Lord hee prayed to his Saintes for assistance And that none of this accursed crewe might in forbearing the Archbishoppe bee found guiltles of this foule cryme the second and third of them dashed cruelly their swordes on the heade of this constant Champion and breaking his braynes whurled headlong downe to the grownd this oblation of the holy Ghost And lastly the fourth outragious with more then deadly yea hellish cruelty when the Sainte was now prostrate yea yeelding vp the Ghost cutt of his shauen crowne broake in peeces the scull of his head and thrusting in the point of his swoard threwe out on the pauement of stone his braynes together with the blood Our Abel hauing therfore consummated the glory of his Martyrdome Tho time of the Martyrdome of S. Thomas in breife accomplished many tymes for the seauenth yeere of his exile now beeginning the a fore sayd Martyr Thomas for the law of God and the Churches liberty which in the English Church was allmost wholly perished cōbated euen to death and dreaded not the wordes of the wicked for beeing founded on a firme rocke which was Christ hee for the name of Christ in the Church of Christ on the fifte day of Christes Natiuity beeing the day after the feaste of the Innocents was himselfe an Innocēt slayne whose innocēt life and death for the meritt of the cause pretious in the sight of God haue bin manifested with many miracles which not only in the place of his rest but in diuers other nations ād kingdomes are alsoe with admiration showed The same day was the passion of saint Thomas reuealed by the holy Ghost to blessed Godric an Anchoryte at Fintz-hall a place distant from Canterbury aboue an hundred and three score myles Heereupon the Monkes of the Church of Canterbury shutt vp the dores of the Church which remayned in such sorte suspended from the celebration of Masse for allmost a whole yeere vntill they receaued the Churches reconciliation from Pope Alexander Concerning the Martyrs body the Monkes taking it away placed it the first night in the Quire The buryall of S. Thomas perforning ouer it the Exequies of the deade and it is credibly affirmed that the Obsequies beeing ended lying in the Quire on the Beare about the breake of day hee lifted vp his hand and gaue them his Benediction afterwards they buryed him in a vaulte Thus far Roger wryting of the Martyrdome and buryall of saint Thomas And this was the end of this most glorious Martyr who conquered with his blood and tryumphed in the torments of a violent death and now renowned with the Garland of a most famous Martyrdome is mounted vp to the Courte of heauen leauing to all posterites an example of singular constancy to fight euen to the last gaspe for maintayning the Churches liberty But instantly fell headelong on his enemyes now vanquished and ouerthrowne by their owne wicked victory horror and dreade as men afflicted on all sydes with remorse reuenging sinne But of this shall bee heereafter our later discourse as a tracte more miserable As touching the tyme of his noble Martyrdome allthough it appeareth out of soe many beefore recyted Epistles that the most holy man was this selfe same yeere on the sayd day slayne with the swordes of the impious yet neuertheles in some Authors his Martyrdome is founde to bee mentioned in the yeere following as in the Epitaph recited by Roger in the Chrinicles of England and by Robert de Monte beeing thus written A thousand hundred seauenty one it was When Prymate Thomas with the sworde was slayne The fiste of Christmas from the world did passe This worldes faire flower whose fruit with God doth reigne But where they affirme his passion to bee in the yeere a thousand one hundred seauenty one it proceedeth hence that they beegan their yeere from our Lordes Natiuity For they who reckon from the Kalends of Ianuary or the Incarnation of our Sauiour doe truly and boldly alleage this same to bee the yeere of his Martyrdome as the wryters of Quadrilogus in these wordes Thomas that notable Champion of God Archbishoppe of the Church of Canterbury Prymate of all England and Legate of the Apostolike Sea suffered death in the yeere after our Lordes incarnation one thousand one hundred and seauenty beeing aged fifty three on the fourth of the Kalends of Ianuary beeing then Tewseday about the eleuenth howre of the