Archbishoppe was that sainct Thomas would not suffer him to punish a notarious offending Clearke which as shall bee manifested was not the only but one among other most iust occasions that moued saint Thomas to reproue the king whereupon grew this bitter dissention Yet Newborough would haue thus excused the king But let vs now follow the Archbishop returning home to his owne Church from the counsell of Towers that wee may search out the originall of this great controuersy which for seauen yeeres troubling the Romane Church found none effect for vniting this rented discord beetweene the king and him The Translation of S. Edward King of Englād and Cōfessour After the Archbishops returne vntill the translation of sainct Edward the king which was solemnized on the third of the Ides of October there remayned quiet peace and contentment beetweene the king and him but what afterwardes ensued these Authors beeing eye-witnesses of the proceedinges doe testify CONSIDERATIONS VPON the Preface LEt vs now heere behould the Christian world as at this tyme it presented it selfe Where first wee see the Pope Cardinals banished out of Rome Italy and all the mighty Emperour of Rome posessing all theyr dominiōs Ecclesiasticall temporall and mayntaineing Octauian that vsurping Scysmatick in the Papal throne The Emperour of Constantinople not intermedling with the Westerne Church and also lately ouerthrowne by the Ceciliās The king of Ierusalem though acknowledging Alexander his lawfull Pastor yet raigning a far of hardly able to defend the frontyers of Christendome against the Saracens The good king of Denmarke though lately showing himselfe an approued Catholike yet Frederickes Homager and diuorced by all Germany from assisting Pope Alexander Bohemia drowned in Germany and Hungary à remote kingdome and though subiect to the Romane Sea yet not able to succour her The king of Cecill though Alexanders faythfull freind yet soe incumbred with domesticall rebellions as hee could not rayse an army to restore him The kingdomes of Spaine though they wished him well yet soe ouercome with the Mahomet a Moores as they re states were miserable So hee was only left by God to the pious worthie king of France the powerfull king of England and in myne opinion the greatest king of the Norman race that euer swayd ouer this land for as Gilbert B. of London writing in the names of all the English Bishops to saint Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury sayth his dominions reached from the Perinean Mountaines to the Northerne seas and if Edward the III. Henry the V. and Edward the IV. hauing England Ireland Callis rather a tumultuous tytle then any peaceable countreyes or profitable reuenues in France were able to tryumph ouer France then how much was Henry the II. who beesides England Ireland had the Dutchyes of Normandy Aquitaine with the Earledome of Anioue his natiue soyle other honores in quiet possession to omitt Britaine that had a great dependance on him able to ouermatch the puissance of France To passe from this to his great reuerence affection to Pope Alexander I know no king that euer showed more and last to ascend to his actions the effectes of these Henry the II. drewe England France Spaine Ireland Norwaye to obey Pope Alexander and when the Emperour would haue surprysed at Mount Saon the king of France and thereby entralled the Pope Cardinalles spoyled them of all this renowned K. with his couragious army rescued them Now what a terrible attempt was it of the enemy of Mankind to withdrawe if hee could from the Pope such a king from the Church such a child But though the billowes of these seas were wonderfull yet God was more maruaylous in guiding sainct Peeters ship through them Considering all these euery indifferent man may in reading this Epistolary history iudge how great reason the Pope had as far as in conscience hee possibly could to forbeare this king soe well deseruing of the Apostolike Sea And also when inforced through iustice thereunto hee would haue executed against him the censures of the Church what a true heroicall vertuous acte it was to prefer the loue duty hee bore to Almighty God before the fauor of soe great such a deseruing freind And what aboue all others is most to bee marked in the proces of this matter although all the Bishops of this realme fearefully fowly wandred astray yea although saint Thomas of Canterbury himselfe like an other saint Peeter falling recouered againe rose to a glorious Martyrdome yet Pope Alexander whom it cheifely concerned neuer erred eyther infayth or infacte God so directed with his holy Ghost the gouernor of his Church Lastly to conclude with this famous kinge whose faire arysing sunne was soe ouerclowded with his turbulent passions as they molested the whole Church and gaue occasion though vnwitting to him of the Martyrdome of the glorious Saint hee returned neuertheles in the end soe clearly againe to himselfe as hee gaue that great satisfaction indured yea imposed vpon himselfe soe sharpe a pennance as was able to make his very enemys relent and a stony hearte with teares to pitty him Neither doe I thinke but the prayers merites of S. Thomas that conuerting his bloudy executioners to cōtrite penitētes through Christes passion saued their soules did in like sorte yea more effectually helpe to raise to the same eternall blessednes this king after hee departed this world in the Octaues of S. Peeter S. Paul An. 1189. beeing first penitēt cōfessing his sinnes receauing the most B. Sacrament This being deliuered by Card. Bar. out of Roger I haue precisely set downe because it is Cronicled that the king dyed out of charity beeing I thinke as false as that Pope Adrian according to the Scysmatickes fable was choaked with a flye or K. Iohn poysoned by a Monke THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF SAINCT THOMAS ARCHBISSOPPE OF CANTERBVRY THE olde enemie maketh continuall warre against the Church but the sonne of God who hath redeemed it with his owne blood will also by the blood of his owne membres bring the same to true and perfect liberty among which the glorious company of the Apostles and purple coulored army of holy martyrs hath the preheminence by whose doctrine the liuely stones in the building of the body of Christ are confirmed by whose blood as it were with morter and symonde they are ioyned together and vnited that the Church of God goeing forward and multiplying in piety the number of the faithfull might bee made fit for the building of an holy Temple in our Lord. And allbeit all Martirs in generall haue a supereminent prerogatiue of eternall glory The glory of martyrdome yet their title is more glorious and their Crowne more bright that haue deserued double honor by instructing of others making themselues an example to their flocke and laying downe their liues for their sheepe in the time of tryall for like as one starre exceedeth an other in
generally excommunicated all them who murdered Canterbury and all who gaue counsell ayde or assent therunto and all who should wittingly receaue them into their landes or any way foster them Our Lordes the Bishoppes of Worcester and Eureux Robert of Newboroughe of Eureux and Master Henry were presently to follow vs whom wee lefte exceedingly igreeued and troubled that they could not according to their desire come to dispatch your busines and it was their aduyce that wee should by all meanes make haste before to hinder and auoyde the disgrace and calamity which your aduersaryes had prepared against you For wee were assured the sword was ready in the courte to strike you and wee feared that days woÌ„ted custome God send your Maiestie loÌ„g to prosper and florish Bee comforted in our Lord and let your harte reioyce beecause after this present clowde a faire calme will to your glory ensue On Sattursday before Palme Sunday wee came to the Courte and the Bearer of these letters departed on Easter day from vs. Afterwardes Easter beeing passed Alexander adressed Legates to examine the king of England Concerning this legation from the Pope Herbert in Quadrilogus treateth wryting in these wordes But beecause confession as it neither can nor ought to bee made by letters soe neither can nor ought it to bee made by Messingers and the liuely voyce of the penitent by how much the more it encreaseth deuotion soe much the more hath it of vertue the Apostolicke man Alexander sent two Cardinalls a latere Master Theodinus of holy memory preist of the tytle of saint Vitalis or Vestina for it hath both names and Albert of saint Laurence in Lucina preist Cardinall Chancellor of the Church men truly endowed with all sanctity and knowledge of Religion But what was done by them shall heereafter in the proper place bee declared Legates to the king before the death of S. Thomas Meane while this same yeere an other Legation sent by Pope Alexander to the king of England beefore any thing was knowne of the death of saint Thomas came to vrge with Ecclesiasticall censures the king who as hee vnderstood by the letters of saint Thomas reuolted from his promise What the Legates were and how the king handled matters to euacuate their authority Roger thus deliuereth this yeere In the meane tyme came from Pope Alexander into Normandy two Cardinalles Legates a latere who beefore as hath bin sayde exercised the same Legatine office Gratian I meane and Viuian who assayled the king of England with greate and diuers vexations intending to cast him and his countrey into interdiction But the king forewarned and thereby armed did before their entry into his land appeale to the Popes presence and soe kepte himselfe and his dominions free from aggreiuance but fearing yet the seuerity of the Apostolike Sea hee hasted to the seas syde and passed ouer from Normandy into England giuing a streight command that none who brought any breife from the Pope of what condicion or order someuer hee was should bee suffered to passe from Normandy into England or from England into Normandy vnles hee first entred into good security that hee sought noe hurte nor molestation to the king or his kingdome Hetherto concerninge this Legation sent beefore the Martyrdome of saint Thomas This Author proceedeth to the kinges iourney this yeere into Ireland Ireland yeelded to the king of England which kingdome hee challenged as yeelded to him by the consent of the whole countrey where there was a counsell celebrated of foure Archbishoppes and 28. Bishoppes all which receaued the king and his heires for their kinges confirming the same with their Charters A Counsell in Ireland This Counsell held at Casselen decreed many thinges coÌ„modious to the Church as for Baptisme Tythes and Mariages which the king sent to Pope Alexander The Pope confirmeth the kinges tytle who confirmed to the king and his heires the kingdome of Ireland according to the tenor of the Irish Bishoppes Charters All which Baronius recyteth out of Roger the king remayned in Ireland from the feast of saint Martin vntill the beeginning of Lent AN. DOM. 1172. Heere ensueth the yeere of our Lord 1172. with the fifte indiction Legates soâ—e to the king of England When the Legates of Pope Alexander sent the last yeere to king Henry the father concerning the murder of that most holy man Thomas Archbishop of Chanterbury came into Normandy whom the king returning lately from Ireland into England and thence sayling into Normandy receaued and performed what beeseemed a true penitent king and a most pious Christian obeying in all thinges the cheife Bishoppe of the vniuersall Church who by most choyse persons for soe greate a worke beeing Cardinalls of the sacred Roman Church and most blessed men Theodinus I meane preist Cardinall of the tytle of saint Vitalis called also saint Vestine and Alberinus preist Cardinall of the tytle of saint LaureÌ„ce in Lucina Chancellor of the holy Roman Church most happily finished the whole busines Intending therefore to treate heerof and how these matters soe passing difficult were managed with so great facility God disposing the kinges harte to pennance first of all the tyme wherin it was handled is to bee discouered beeing this very yeere whenas it was accomplished according as Roger an Author of that age hath in his Chronicles of England exactly declared In the yeere one thousand one hundred seauenty two was all this busines concluded after the kinges returne out of Ireland beeing the tyme when hee receaued the same into his subiection as in the former yeere out of the sayde Author is rehearsed As touchinge the passage of matters beetweene the Legates and the king beeing first intangled with difficultyes and after by the inspiration of the holy Ghoste absolutely ended according to the Legates desire there is a relation lefte in wryting among the Epistles of saint Thomas and Pope Alexander sett downe in the often recyted booke of the Vatican The relation of the proceedinges with the kinge in these wordes The king and the Legates first mett at Gorna on wednesday before the Rogation and there mutually were receaued in the kisse of peace On the morrowe they came to Sauiniacke where the Archbishop of Roane withall the Bishoppes and Nobility assembled And after long debate for conclusion of peace beecause the king absolutely denyed to sweare to their Mandate hee departed with indignation from them vsing these wordes I will returne into Ireland where I haue many weyghty occasions to bee dispatched as hee meant for your partes take on your iourney in peace at your pleasures throughout my land and performe your Legation according as yee are commaÌ„ded where with hee departed Then the Cardinalls hauing more aduisedly consulted called backe the Bishoppe of Lizieux Iohn of Poytiers and the Bishoppe of Salisbury by whose endeauors it was agreede that on Fryday following the king and Cardinalls should meete againe at Abrincke where was a
THE LIFE OR THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF S. THOMAS ARCHBISHOPE OF CANTERBVRY COLLONIAE M.DC.XXXIX TO THE MOST REVERENT FATHER IN GOD RICHARD SMYTH BISHOPE OF CHALCEDONE c. MOST Reuerent and my most honored good Lord I haue alwayes apprehended the life and Martirdome of that most excellent Prelate and vndaunted Champion S. Thomas Archbishope of Canterburie a most perfect Paterne of a good Pastor yea and of a good subiect too as one wisely discerning Gods part from Caesars and giuing to ether their owne without which there can be no Christian iustice Take his owne golden and last words for it written to King Henry his soueraigne Prepared I am not onely to die but also to suffer a thousand deathes and all torments whatsoeuer for Christ's sake Yet whether I die or liue Cod. Vat. l. 5. Epist 54. I am and shall euer be yours and what euer becomes of vs and ours God euer blesse you and your issue So that I haue iudged no tyme mispent in culling the peeces out of the most authenticall and best Authors which haue concurred to the making vp of this litle bulke or Epistolarie processe of his life and death which I hope will appeare most contentfull and satisfactorie to all and fittest to frame a right iudgment in any as not being crooked and fitted to selfe endes by artificall amplifications but furnished by knowne fact and made good by so many and so irâ—eprochable witnesses as it cannot indeed be suspected to be in any part disguised or forced by corruption or malice but to deliuer a naked truth Now amongst all those whom I duely reuerence and honor in earth I could find none to whose patronage this poore worke of myne might laye a more iust clayme then to your Lordship like as in my iudgment your Lordshipe can pretend no Patrone in Heauen to whom you may haue a more confident recourse or with whom you might haue more sympathie being considered such as he liued in this earthly habitation for Religiousnesse zeale contrie cause constancie None which comes more home to your vse in respect of your long delay in banishment and the opposition you haue found euen amongst some of your children and those domesticalls of faith In a word in reading it you will not fayle before your death to reade a great part of your owne renowned life May it I beseech almightie God be long contentfull prosperous in earth and followed out with an eternally blessed one in heauen These are and euer shall be the zealous wishes of all good men and in particular of Your Lords. most humble and deuoted seruant A. B. THE PREFACE TO THE Epistolarie and Ecclesiastical History of sainct Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury INTENDING to present vnto your viewe out of that reuerent an renowned author Cardinall Baronius the great controuersie beetweene the Church and kingdome of England wherein the cheife actors in this our disturbed nation were that mightie King Henry the second and our Metropolitane sainct Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury and in forraine countryes that most holy wise Pope Alexander the 3. and Lewes the pious king of France with many Catholicke Princes and among the Scismatickes the potent Emperour Fredericke with his idoll Octauian seeking by all meanes to intrude themselues and put their sickles into this haruest where the Diuel the father of their execrable scysme like a deepe polititian taking aduantage of their hellish discord had in this vnfortunate Iland sowed the cockle of dissention I thought best in regard this canker soe spreade it selfe through the Christian world and this history was collected out of the Epistles written by the cheifest rulers in that age to lay open briefely the state of the westerne Church and kingdomes vnited therein whereby your mindes receauing light may better discouer thinges otherwise obscured First therefore to delineate the time I must somewhat touch the raigne of Pope Adrian Alexanders predecessour who being the only man of our English nation that euer steered saint Peeters ship and was not only for his singular vertues wisedome and learning preferred to the Apostolike Sea but also himselfe the Apostle who conuerted the Norwegyans to the Christian faith I thinke it no vnnecessary digression to treate of his origine progresse and most high preferment At Abbotts Langley in the County of Hertford neere kinges Langley Nicolas Breakespeare afterwards Pope AdriaÌ„ borne in England where Edmund of Langley receaued his first breath from whom all the kinges of England and Scotland haue these many yeeres descended was borne Nicolas Breakespeare who afterwarde exalted to the gouerment of the Church of Rome and called Adrian the fourth ruled in matters of faith and Religion the whole Christian world His father was Robert Breakespeare a yonger brother of the family of Breakespeare whose place concurring with the name is seated neere Vxbridge in Middelsex now in the possession of Ashby His father saith Iohn Stowe after the death of his wife and before the departure as I conceaue of his sonne out of the realme professed a Religious life in the Monastery of saint Abbans wherein Stowe ignorantly not maliciously ran into an errour for Pope Adrians mother as shall bee afterwards showed ouerliued him It appeareth in a Counsell celebrated in Normandie by Pope Alexanders Legates with the Archbishop of Roane and Bishops of the same Prouince anno Dom. 1172. how before that time men might enter into religion leauing their wiues in the world for there was made a Canon afterwards prohibiting it And so might Robert Breakespeare in this precedent age as it is affirmed bee a Monke in saint Abbans and his wife as it is certaine ledd a retyred life vnder the Archbishop in Canterbury The name of Breakespeare beeing truly English and about the time of the Conquest inuincibly proueth they were of the Saxon not of the Norman race Breakespeare it selfe was in the raigne of king Iames the inheritable mansion of a knight and how great in forepassed dayes God knoweth But as sainct Thomas sayth in his Epistle to Gylbert Bishop of London what hath a priest a religious man to doe with these worldly flourishes I will descend to his humiliation which was his ascent first to honor then to heauen All that followeth is collected out of Card. Baronius Leauing as Abraham his countrey and kindred hee trauelled in his youth to pourchase learning and comming to Arnulate professed religion in the Monastery of saint Rufus where hee was called first to bee Prior then Abbot of the house whereupon it fortuned that for serious occasions of the Church commended to his charge hee went to the Apostolike Sea and hauing fully finished all his busines and now intending to returne Pope Eugenius of blessed memory retayned him there and by consent of his brethren Pope Eugenius Adrian Bishoppe of Alba. did consecrate him Bishop of Alba. A while after seeing his vertues and wisedome hee designed him Legate a Latere of the Apostolike Sea into
Norwaye to preach the faith in that Prouince Adrian Apostle of Norwaye and purchase to allmighty God their misdebelieuing soules where hee like a worthie and discreete steward and disciple of Christ diligently instructed that rude and Barbarous nation in the Christian lawe and Ecclesiastical ordinances Pope Anastacius After by the diuine prouidence vpon the death of Eugenius and preferment of Anastacius to the Papal throne hee returned to his mother the holy Church of Rome leauing beehind him peace to the kingdome lawes to the barbarous tranquility to the Churches order and discipline to the Cleargie and a people acceptable to God and fruitfull in good workes Within a shorte tyme after dyed Anastacius and the Bishops and Cardinals assembling together in saint Peeters Church by the dispensation of the diuine counsell speedily chose him Pope Pope Adâ—iaÌ„ and with great acclamation of the Cleargie and layetie as a man elected by Allmighty God allthough hee laboured with all his power to auoyde it they inthronized him in the papal chaire calling him Adrian the fourth 3. Non. Decemb. An. Dom. 1156. He was a man of singular benignity The praise of Pope Adrian meeke and patient learned in the Greeke and Latine tongues eloquent in speech a perfect Orator very skillfull in Church musicke a famous preacher seldome angrie willing to pardon bountifull in beestowing a greate AlmesmaÌ„ and for demeanour and beehauiour renowned This much out of the Vaticane library Now to showe that hee esteemed his honor a burden his dignity a misery and that hee would neuer haue vndergone the weighty charge of this supreme authority but only to satisfie the will of almighty God I doe heere recite his owne wordes spoken to that worthie Iohn of Salusbury in Polichrati lib. 8. cap. 23. Hee confessed hee found in that high estate soe great tribulations as in comparison of them all his former bitter aduersitys seemed sweete and pleasing Hee sayd the seate of the Romane Pope was a thorny throne beegirt with most sharpe spurres of that huge weyght as it was able to presse to bend yea breake in peeces the strongest shoulders and but that said hee I will not struggle against the diuine prouidence I would I had neuer gon out of my natiue soyle of England or else euer lurked in my poore Cell of saint Rufus rather then to bee plunged in these extreame difficultyes yea hee professed that in all his ascentes from his solitarie cloyster to the supreame heygth of the Papacy hee found noe contentment or pleasure yea quoth hee god hath stretched out my whole life beetweene the anuile and the hammer but now if it pleaseth his diuine goodnes let him supporte with his allmighty haÌ„d the burdeÌ„ that hee hath imposed on my infirmity or otherwise it is intollerable Thus hee teacheth from the highest throne of this world to flye honors thus hee preacheth from the greatest eminency to all Potentates not to repose themselues in glory riches and pleasures which are but the shadowes of their seates but deepely to consider the charge that by reason of their authority they vndergoe which is to employ their vttermost forces to honor Almighty god in the ryghtuous gouerment of the people subiected to their powers for otherwise Potentes potenter punientur Nether would I euer haue dilated my selfe soe farre in praise of Pope Adrian but that some of our Chronickles ignorantly others willfully omitt his commendation They confesse hee conuerted Norwaye and gaue the dominion of Ireland to the kinges of England but as the first was only for enlargeing the kingdome of Christ soe was the last as you may see in his Epistle to Henry the second Now crauing pardoÌ„ for my digression in the prayse of this man the glory of our nation who prefered god beefore his contrey and all I will returne to the matter Fredericke king of the Romanes in his first entrance into his royaltie began impiously to encrease his dominion Frederick kinge of the Româ—nes a perpetual enemy of the Church with the suppression of the Church and by how much his power was the greater for hee commanded all Germany and mightily preuayled in Italie so much the more was he enabled to mischeife This wasting flame which soe much endangered the whole Christian world shewed it selfe as a litle sparke in the raigne of Pope Eugenius gathered strength by the conniuancy of his successor Anastacius began to waste the power of our noble Adrian and lastly fired Alexander the third out of Italie and deuoured for the time all his iurisdiction in Germany and had not Christ maintayned his Church against the gates of Hell France England Spayne with all the rest had bene ruinated The original of the discord beetweene the Church and the Emperor The original was the first yeare of his raigne in the Church of Magdeburghe the Metropolitane of Saxony where vpon the death of the Archbishop a dissention aryseing about choosing his successor they appealed to Fredericke then residing in Saxonie who not able to compose the controuersie perswaded the Deane and Chapter of Magdebourghe to accept of Guicman Bishop of Cicens a noble yong gentleman to gouerne their Church pretending that when such questions arose the king with aduice of his counsell ought to dispose therin nether was any Bishop in that case to bee consecrated till hee had receaued his authority from the kingly scepter But all this was a false pretence for it lay not in the kinges or Emperors power causelessly to translate Bishoppes from seate to seate without assent of the Apostolike Sea which holy Pope Eugenius righty considering with singular constancy withstood the kinges vnlawfull attempt sharpely reprouing the Bishoppes of Germany that laboured for him because they rather sought to flatter their prince in concurring with his sinne then to please God and this did hee not only with his learned and pious Epistle but also vehemently persued the same by his Legates But Eugenius preuented by death lefte all to his successour Anastacius a man of a gentle and yeelding disposition For notwithstanding his Legate was disgracefully abused by Fredericke and ended his life in his returne home hee neuerthelesse ratifyd the kinges election and granted Guicman his Pall whereupon Fredericke declining from his religious zeale increased yeere by yeere in obstinacy against the Church And Anastacius not long after departing the world our countreyman beeing instantly elected by the name of Adrian the fourth Pope AdriaÌ„ assaulted by the King of Cecil The king of Cecill excoÌ„municated Pope AdriaÌ„ terrifyed by Fredericke king of the Romanes found the kinges insolency much strengthned against him by his predecessors facility of nature In the beeginning of his Popedome hee was troubled with the inuasions of William king of Cecil wherefore against his temporall sword hee drewe his spirituall sword and excommunicated him Fredericke also king of the Romans with his suddaine approach towarde the Citty terrifyed him whereupon hee sent Legates to treate
as the Churches Aduocate soe long as they dishonored not God but when they could not please the one without offence of the other then they would absolutely preferre God Hee maruayled much hee denyd him the reuerent respect due to his place and summoned a counsell without his authority and aboue all that hee would cyte him to appeare before that Conuentickle The priuiledge of the Church graunted by Christ and continued from saint Peeter to that present age hath euer bin that in Causes Ecclesiasticall the supreame iudgement was euer in the Church and the Church it selfe neuer iudged by any since therefore hee who ought to defend the Church did now offend it and in contemning the Church disparaged his mother hee could not but admire it For appearing at his Courte the Canonicall tradition forbad him And since meaner prelates in matters spirituall doe gouerne they re princes it were intolerable in him to suffer the authority of his place which was purchased with the blood of Christ through his pusilanimity or ignorance to bee subiected to the temporall power Wherefore as his Predecessors had endured death for the Churches liberty soe was hee ready to spend his blood in her cause The Embassadors offended with his answere contumeliously departed comming to Signia adored the the Idoll Octauian The Emperours Embassadors and Otto adore Octauian and soe did Count Otto the Palatine whom the Emperour had sent with his Germanes towards the Citty which exceedingly puffed vp the pryde of this Archhereticke not considering that scysme though at the first it flourysheth yet after a while it vanisheth Thus Fredericke by his Embassadors accepted of Octauian wherefore Alexander had reason to except against Fredericke as no indifferent Iudge The Emperour for aduancement of this Antipope sought to drawe other kinges into his faction The Emperour sought to drawe the King of England into his faction and first vehememtly attempted King Henry of England but in vaine for Arnulphus Bishop of Lexouy a very learned man and of great estimation with the king had soe informed him as hee preuented Fredericke and although there was a firme league of freindship beetweene them yet would king Henry neuer bee induced to yeelde to this scysme but only suppressed The King of England faithfull to Alexander till matters were more ripened his proclamation for publishing Pope Alexander suffering all his subiectes in the meane time to maintayne his right Alexander also vpon the aduice of the Bishop of Lexouy sent his Legates a latere to the realmes of Spayne and France The Bishop of Lexouy most industruous in asisting Alexander and likwise to the Emperour of Constantinople and king of Hungary to make knowne his lawfull election and the wrong hee susteyned by this presumptuous Scysmaticke Whereupon Lewys the most Christian king of France a contrey neuer defyled with scysme together with Henry king of England receaued Pope Alexander as theyr father and pastor of theyr soules All Chrystendome beesides Frederick the Emperialles accept of Alexander moreouer the kinges of Spayne Cecyll and Ierusalem and the Emperour of Constantinople with the Patriarches Bishoppes Prynces Cleargie and Layetie did all acknowledg him the Catholike successor of Peeter Only Frederick with his complices and these fewe scysmaticall Cardinalles the vnlearned children of Belial obstinate still in theyr errour remayning neuerthelesse the cruell persecutors of him and the Church Neyther was this vnpunished in Frederick Frederick vnfortunate after his fall from the Church for euen from the very beeginning of this scysme his successes altered and of a victorious Emperour hee beecame now often vanquished God endeuoring by this discipline to correct him The Popes Legates who went to the kinges of France and England were encountred with some difficultyes becausâ— the Polititians of both kindomes beeing affected to theyr aduersaryes when they could not heerein alter theyr kinges resolutions laboured to deferre the acceptance of Pope Alexander The king of England draweth England France Spayne Ireland and Norwaye to the Popes obedience tyll matters were more fully determynd but the Legates with theyr vertue wisedome and exemplar liues ouercame these assaultes and the king of France referring all to the king of England the king of England drew England France Spayne Ireland and Norwaye to Alxanders obedience And in the kindome of Ierusalem allbeit is whas some wat cuÌ„trouerted because Octauian had there in former tymes won some affection yet preferring the loue of God beefore natures disposition they yeelded to the truth and embraced the lawfull Pope In the yeere of our lord 1160. was held the Conuentickle at Pauy The Conuenticle of Pauy but adiourned from the Octaues of the Epyphany to the Purification of our Blessed Lady William of Newberry our Countreyman wryteth That this controuersy considering the multitude that chose Alexander and the smale number that elected Octauian might easily haue bin ended had not Frederick hated Alexander vpon his old grudge to Rowland Fredericks inueterate hatred to Alexander for Rowland the Chancellor was one of them who did mediate the peace to deliuer Pope Adrian the Cardinalles and the Citty of Beneuent out of the handes of William king of Cecill a matter to Frederick most distastefull and was also one of the Legates sent to Frederick about the sacrilegious abuse offered in Germany to Edward Bishop of London when Count Palatine in the Emperours presence had like to haue murdered one of the Legates these thinges lay vndigested in Frederickes stomacke which made him not endure Rowland now Alexander the thyrd This caused him to assemble his Italians and Germanes at Pauy in showe to determine the controuersy but indeed to crowne Octauian his Victor with the victory according to Newberrys opinion who liued in that age There flocked together the Bishoppes of both Nations with an infinite number of inferiour Prelates vpon the Emperours command who with the Generalles of his armyes strooke a terror into theyr myndes Frederick terrifyeth with power heere in silence were suppressed all proofes and allegatious for Alexander who discreetely absented himselfe and what in truth was wanting on Octauians side was artificially helped Frederick allureth with hypocâ—iticall sanctity Frederick to cast a myste before the eyes of the assembly beegan with fasting and prayer and then with a solemne protestation that hee hauing no authority to intermedle with spirituall matters left all to the iudgment of the Cleargie there present departed the place hauing giuen them beefore examples how to proceede in electing Octauian by his Embassadors and Count Otto After deliberation of seauen days for this Pageant was set out with solemnity they consented as before was conspired to the approbation of Octauian there present The Scysmatickes approue Octauian and condemne Alexander and condemnation of Rowland who beeing cyted refused to appeare beefore them for by these names are they recyted by the author who fauored or feared the Emperour Allthough the diuell in this
Peeter the renowned and holy Archbishop of Tarantasia beeing sent for by the Pope to strengthen the faythfull in theyr true obedience to the Church Herbert the scysmaticall intruder of the Bishopricke of Chrysopolis seeking to disturb him in his iourney was miraculously stroken and dyed desperately An other tyrant likewise as hee attempted to make a prey of the good man his horse running amayne in the very acte beeing spoyled ouerthrewe him which caused him to beecome a penitent and obtayne pardon both of God and the holy Bishop Many oâ—her miracles were moreouer shewed in him which together with his admirable vertues labor and preaching not only enforced that feirce Lyon Fredericke to loue him but also confounded the erronious and established the Catholikes beeing imnumerable multitudes in Italy Burgundy and Loraygne In the same sorte saint Anthelme Bishop of Billicens assisted with one Geffery a learned wise and vertuous man soe perswaded the Priors of the Carthusians and Cistercians who amazed knew not which way to take that as now beeing setled by them in the right they with theyr orders especially the Carthusians through out the whole westerne Church were the cheife publishers and defendors of Pope Alexanders cause Neither thus ended the worthy endeauors of sainct Anthelm and Gessery but they diswaded many other Prelates and theyr subiectes from following the wicked scysme of OctauiaÌ„ and made theÌ„ vtterly detest it Whereupon Fredericke desirous still to dispose of the Papacy although hee neyther had power to blesse nor curse condemned saint Anthelm a firme pillar of the Catholicke Church susteyning the strong frame of obedience through Spaine Gaule and Britaygne Alexander neuerthelesse returning to Rome sound Octauians faction soe strengthened with the power of his noble kindred and such as the Emperour had with his vttermost endeauors laboured on his side as hee could haue there no place of coÌ„tinuance wherefore hee departed thence into Campany and all the Patrimony of saint Peeter and the adiacent territoryes about the Citty beeing allmost wholy possest by the Almaynes and scysmatickes hee determined by the aduise of his faythfull Counsellors to goe by sea with his brethren the Cardinalles into France Leauing therefore the Bishop of Prenestyne his vicar and substitute in the Citty aÌ„d disposing other thinges necessary for the Church hee with the Cardinalles went to Tarana to take shipping where hee found foure Galleys excellently ordered beeing sent by the King of Cecill to serue him Alexander suffereth shipwracke without losse of life or goodes of any Which hee and the Cardinalles had no sooner boarded but that a horrible tempest aysing with the violeÌ„ce of the windes waues and rockes shattered theÌ„ all to peeces yet heere the successor of S. Peeter obtayned at aboue S. Paule at Malta for God graunted to the Apostle the liues of all the saylors and passingers but to the Apostolike Alexander not only the liues but also the goodes of all that were in the Galleys Neither was Alexander vnthankfull to the King of Cecill for this extraordinary fauor The Archbishop of Tarantasia sent Legate into France to make a peace beetweene France and England Peace concluded for when hee was afterwardes sollicited with great summes of money to haue deposed him as a man not able to weylde the state of a kingdome and to haue placed Amirate Maio as an other Pypin of France in his throne the Pope not only refused it but remayned also to death his constant freind soe the King though otherwise ill was heerein worthie and prouident The Pope notwithstanding this resoluing to goe into France heard the countrey was wonderfully imbroyled by reason of warres lately arysing beetweene the kinges of France and England and therefore sent Peeter Archbishop of Tarantasia to reunite them againe in league Which hee happily accomplished and thereupon ensued that both the kinges in theyr seuerall dominions summoned theyr Bishoppes Abbottes and Barons the king of England at * Nouum Mercatum New-Market in Normandy and the king of France at Bewuoys where they treated and concluded about the receauing of Alexander and reiecting Octauian and because the Emperour neuer ceased to sollicite them to ioyne with him in the acceptance of Octauian some what to satisfy him and make a prefect conclusion of the controuersy they called in one a Counsell of both kingdomes where the scysmaticall Cardinalles Guido and Iohn on the beehalfe of Octauian and Henry of Pisa Alexanders title manifested in a counsell of the Clergie of France and EnglaÌ„d Iohn of Naples and William of Pauy Cardinalles for Pope Alexander appeared Heere Guido in the presence of these kinges and Prelates and that great multitude both of the Clergie and Layetie extended for Octauian the vttermost of his witt and eloquence to whom William of Pauy a singular Orator opening his mouth that was shutt at Pauy replyed and soe retorted his owne argumentes vpon him as hee ouercame him with his owne weapons in the conclusion of which conflicte the victory was soe apparant on Alexanders side as both kinges with theyr subiects acknowledged him euer after their spirituall gouernor and therupon was excoÌ„munication pronounced against the Scysmatickes Thus all beesides the Empire yeelded to Pope Alexander who safely reposeing himselfe in the principality of the king of Cecill expected a conueniente tyme to passe ouer into France hauing thus prepared his way by Peeter Archbishop of Tarantasia a man of that singular humility charity and contempt of the world as had hee not bin disswaded vpon vrgent reasons hee would haue sold his horses and beestowing the money on the poore trauelled on foote But happily hindred The Archbishop of Tarantasias humility aÌ„d charity hee was instantly vpon the Popes occasions enforced to vse them in his iourney to France when staying by the way at the Monastery of Pluriack for want of health hee neuerthelesse restored the sicke miraculously to their health and that by the confluence of people flocking to him the prouision of the Religious should not bee wasted The Archbishop of Tarantasias miracles confirming the Popes election hee with the same power multiplied theyr corne and bread where also a knight whose sonne was depriued of sight hoping to recouer by the meritts of the Saint what his child for his owne demeritts had lost carying him towardes the Abbey and meeting by the way with a Catholike who had bread hallowed by the Archbishop applyed some of the crummes thereof to his sonnes eyes whereupon hee did presently see and the father who thought to presse the Saint with his sute did now render God and him humble thanks for this benefit The Gouernor of Corboyle in France hauing a daughter of fiue yeeres old who was borne lame offered the child at the Saintes feete by whose prayer and imposition of his hand shee presently obtayned integrity of her limbes From thence hee passed through Paris with wonderfull expectation of the kinges and princes and exceeding concourse of multitudes of people
breath of life shall last in this our body But hauing hitherto flowed in delights that you may heereafter learne to bee as you ought the comforter of the poore neither yet can you bee taught that lesson but by the instruction of pouerty it selfe the mother of Religion wee haue heere thought good to commend and commit you ouer to the poore of Christ I meane this Abbot of Pontiniack for hee was there of purpose present not I say to receaue sumptuous but simple education as best beefitting a banished man and Christes Champion Among whom it behoueth you with a few and those necessary attendantes the rest of your followers beeing distributed among your freindes to conuerse for a tyme vntill the day of consolation shall beegin to dawne and the season of peace shall from aboue descend vpon vs. In the meane while bee of a constant courrage and manfully resiste such as disturbe tranquillity Thus far Alexander and soe the assembly was dismissed Saint Thomas departing went away with the Abbot of Pontiniack where willing to liue among the Monkes in a Monastical habit hee desired the same might bee sanctify'd with Pope Alexander's blessing and cloathed therein hee perseuered a Mōke among the Monkes absolutely obseruing all the rules of Monasticall perfection But what the kinge did when hee heard heereof you shall not only see reader but maruaile thereat To the open iniury of Pope Alexander then resydent at Senon in Frāce hee published new artickles worser then the first which hee commanded to bee obserued in his Prouinces beeyond the seas beeing Aquitayne and other places vnder his subiection and among other letters hee directed one concerning the same to the Bishop of Poyteeres who as he wittnesseth in his Epistle to sainct Thomas receaued it after the feast of the Apostles Lib 1. Epist 1. Idem postea Epist 16. And what these Edictes were is heere to bee layd downe out of the sayd booke of the Vatican where wee read in this wise These are the Constitutions which King Henry ordayned in Normandy and gaue in command to his Iustices 1. If any man bee found carrying our Lord the Popes letters or the Archbishop of Canterburies mandate contayning Interdiction of Christianity into England let him bee apprehended and iustice without delay executed on him as a traitor to the king 2 Moreouer let no clearke nor Monke nor conuertite nor any of any conuersion bee suffered to passe ouer the seas or returne into England vnlesse hee haue letters of iustice for his passage and the letters of our Lord the kinge for his returne if any man bee found to doe otherwise let him bee apprehended and imprisoned 3. Let no man appeale to the Pope or Archbishop 4. That no plea bee held by the commandement of the Pope or Arch-bishop or any Mandate of theires receaued in England of any man if any one bee found doeing otherwise let him bee apprehended and imprisoned 5. It was also generally forbidden that no man should cary any Mandate of Clearke or Lay-man to our Lord the Pope or Archbishop if such should bee found let him bee apprehended and imprisoned 6. If Bishoppes Clearkes Abbottes or Lay-men will defend any sentence of interdiction let them and all theyr whole kindred without delay bee banished the land in such wise as they carry none of theyr chattells with them 7. That the chattells of all such as fauour the Pope or Archbishop and all the possessions of them and all such as appertayne to them of what degree order sex or condition soeuer they are bee seized and confiscate into the soueraigne hand of our Lord the king 8. That all Clearkes who haue rentes in England bee admonished through-out all countryes that within three monthes they returne into England to theyr rentes if they loue theyr rentes and if they retourne not at the appointed time let theyr rentes bee seized into the kings handes 9. That saint Peeter's pennys bee not payd any more to the Apostolike Sea but carefully gathered and reserued in the king's treasury and disbursed at his commandement 10. That the Bishoppes of London and Norwich bee at the mercy of our Lord the king and summoned by the Shyriffes and Bayliffes to appeare before the kinges Iustices to satisfy the kinge and his Iustices for that contrary to the statutes of Claringtonne they interdicted by the Popes commendement the landes of Earle Hugh and diuulged the excommunication which our Lord the Pope pronounced against him in theyr parishes without the kinges Iustices Hetherto are the kinges constitutions which were sent into Normandie Nor yet king Henry contented heere withall for the hatred hee bore to saint Thomas caused the whole estate of the Saint and his followers to bee confiscate and all his kindred and familiar freindes to bee transported out of England and sparing neither sex nor age made an exceeding showe of extreme cruelty All this is declared at large in Quadrilogus a booke compiled of saint Thomas And all this was written to him by one affected to the kinge yet detesting this tyranny vnworthie soe great a Prince And beecause sainct Thomas himselfe was not able to relieue the miserable necessityes of soe many distressed persons hee deuised to send thē into Cecill to bee there mayntained where they were receaued by Margarete Queene of that Iland a right pious woeman Moreouer the Archbishop of Siracusa beecame their good benefactor both which by letters saint Thomas gratefully thanked But this soe great a cruelty beeing not able to satisfy the kinges inraged mynd Lib. 1. Epist 27. 28. hee wrought beesides by decree to depriue sainct Thomas of Spirituall benefittes commanding that noe man vnder his Episcopall iurisdiction should presume to pray for him This William witnesseth in Quadrilogus Now concerning sainct Peeters pennyes Concerning the forbidding of paying S. Peeters pennys which were appointed by Pope Alexander to bee gathered by two Priors of the Cistercians who gaue it ouer and durst not gaynesay the kinges commandement to the contrary Peeter of Bloys one tf his Maiesties courte plucking vp a couragious spiritt contested with his Soueraigne and enforced him to leaue the payement thereof free to his Holines and this himselfe witnesseth in his inuectiue against the deprauer of his actions with these wordes I speake not this for vaine glory but for refutation of thyne impudency for thou art transformed vnto the browe of an harlot by the testimony and affirmation of very many peeres of England King Henry of worthy memory did once cōcerning the collection of the pennys of saint Peeter not induring then to bee won by intreaty or recalled by reason inueygh exceedingly against two Priors of thyne order no man durst oppose himselfe on the contrary parte I only attempted to make a breach and way for them and in time of wrath beecame their reconciliation At myne instances God assisting his royall hand full often poured out bountifull and magnificent almes and to this day the Church of
possessions and fortunes to the spoyle of the wicked There came to him not long since two of the Clergy as one then present at Pontiniake made certayne relation to mee publishing these things and appealing the first in the beehalfe of the Lord Bishop of Salisbury the other of his Deane absolutely denying he made euer such oath to the Emperor or in sorte communicated with Reynold â—he Scysmaticke of Colen on of them alon confessing 〈◊〉 was M. Iohn of Oxefordes clearke and familiarly conuersed with him at the table sayd hee had a message from the king to the Archbishop appealing in the name and beehalfe of his Maiesty aÌ„d by his commandement as hee affirmed froÌ„ the Archbishop to Pope Alexanders audience and added The King appealeth that by him the king appealed assigning for the appeale the day wherin is sung Ego sum Pastor bonus To whom the Archbishop replyed thus Since you are altogether vnknown to vs neither yet haue any Mandate or letters from the king and are a person excommunicate by reason of your communicating with your Master Iohn of Oxeford who is apparantly excommunicated by my Lord the Popes letters you are disenabled to vndertake the office of an Appealant and therefore by Gods grace wee will execute and accomplish the commandement of the Sea Apostolicke And a litle after But all France wondred at the dealinges of these Bishoppes saying They must needes assemble to prouide a remedy for their king whom they knewe like the Emperor whose offence was his Scysme to fall daily deeper into the ruine of sinne in regard of the Church and Clergie whose ouerthrow hee wrought Thus Salisbury But the Bishoppes of England The Bishop of England beecome aduersaryes to S. Thomas Suffraganes to saint Thomas beeing netled with the letters of their Archbishoppe who gouernd as Legate a latere flying backe neuer deuysed as they ought to obey his commandementes to receaue profitable admonitions to prouide for the goods of the Catholicke common-wealth by redeeming it from miserable bondage but rebelling contend against him for the king with wrytinges wordes and actions and soe far were they of from defending the Church against the king which was their office and whereunto the holy sainâ— by his letters exhorted them soe far were they I saâ—â— from reprehending and threatening him by setting forth what arrowes were euen now in the bowe ready to strike I meane the Ecclesiasticall censures issuing out with Apostolicall power from the Church of Rome that they raysed rather a terrible warre against this holy Saint who defended the Ecclesiasticall liberty assayling him with the weapons of contentious wordes to the open scandall of all Catholike Bishops that euer heard it especially their neighboring Bishops of France among whom this glorious Confessor Thomas liued as yet securely And first they assaulted him with letters soe terrible as to them the saying of Dauid might rightly sute Psalm 13. The poyson of Aspes lurked vnder their lippes whose mouth was full of cursing and bitternes their feete were swifte for the effusion of blood while in the meane tyme they would dissembling seeme to bee pious to bee peace makers desirous of Charity carefull for brotherly concord imitating such indeede of whom the Psalme aptly sayth Psalm 54. Their speeches are made softer then oyle and the same are dartes All this shall you better vnderstand by reading their owne Epistles written this present yeere The Ring-leader of these disordered Bishops was London for hee penned their letters although written in all their names These letters are extant beeing either recyted by Roger in his Chronickles of England or else gathered out of the booke of the Vaticane where they are set downe at large And first of all receaue these which next ensue after the former recyted Epistles in this manner To the reuerent Father and Lord Thomas by the grace of God Archbishoppe of Canterbury The Epistle of the Bishopp of England to S. Thomas the Suffragan Bishoppes of the same Church and Parsons through their Dioceses in seueral places ordayned doe send their dutifull subiection and obedience Wee hope father that the troubles which were raysed by the new and vnexpected attempt of your departure hence to those forraine countreyes would by the grace of God through your humility and wisedome bee changed into the faire calme of the former tranquility It was truly comfortable to vs that after your departure a publicke fame was euery where reported how you liuing in those partes beeyond the seas did noe whit aspire in high conceiptes nor imagine any enterprises against our Lord the kinge and his kingdome but modestly indured the vndertaken burden of your voluntary pouerty that you were wholy bent to reading and prayer redeeming with fasting watching and teares the lost tyme of your forepassed dayes and soe busyed in sperituall exercises did through the blessed encreasing of your vertues monte to the state of perfection wee reioyced that by such your endeauors you tooke the way to recouer the benefittes of a peaceable reconciliation heereby was conceaued a hope that you could reduce from aboue into his Maiesties harte such fauor that hee would out of kingly mercy relent in his wrath towardes vs and neuer recall to minde againe the iniuryes offered in and by reason of your departure your freindes and well wishers regayned some accesse vnto his Maiestie while these thinges were thus diuulged of you in soe much as hee gratiously admitted all such as were sutors for restoring you into his former fauor But now by the relation of some wee vnderstand which wee cannot but with greife remember that you published against him a seuere threatening of comminatory wherin you let passe all salutation wherin you practise noâ— counsell or petition for pretending grace wherein you neither deuise nor write any thing that sauoreth fauorably but with all extremity doe rigorously menace Interdiction or excommunicatioÌ„ to bee instantly pronounced against him which were it as sharpely executed as it is bitterly spoken wee should not then hope our disturbed estate would bee reduced to concord but should feare it would bee inflamed with an irreuocable and eternall hatred Let your holy wisedome ponder the end of these actions carefully indeauoring that what is discreetely beegun may likewise come to a happy conclusion Bee therefore if it pleaseth you prudently aduised whether you runne and whether you can by these endeavors obtayne your desyred end for our partes wee are fallen downe by these your attemptes from a maruelous heighth of hoppe and wee who conceaued once some likelihood of obtayning tranquillity are now with a kind of heauy despaire cast downe from all hopfull conceyptes and whilst as it were with drawne sword you ioyne battell you haue not left for your selfe any place for petition Whereupon ô father wee charitably imparte to your aduise that you heape not labors vpon labors and iniuries on iniuryes but setting threatinges asyde you would rather embrace patience and humilyty Commend