of Denmarke admonished by Absolon departed the place and refusing to bee present at that sacriligious excommunication shewed thereby his approbation of Alexander and reprobation of Octauian And Bishop Absolon following after when Octauian requested him to stay sayd there was no reason but as hee came with the king soe hee should departe with him and soe they both left Octauian Thus the Emperour contrary to the Canons of the Church summoned kinges to establishe the Papacy Heere now dawneth the day of sainct Thomas of Canterburyes history which beeing most tempestuous closed neuertheles in a most glorious Euening for thus writeth Cardinall Baronius This selfe same yeere a great counsell was assembled at London in England of all the Bishoppes meeting together about the election of the Archbishop of Canterbury beeing the cheife Metropolitan of the Realme after the death of Archbishop Theobalde who departed this life on Easter Tewesday Saint Thomas chosen Archbishop of Canterbury when hee had administred that place twenty yeeres the king himselfe was also there present where by the general assent of all Thomas his Maiesties Chancellor was chosen to that dignity which beeing written at large among the actions of his life cronicled by Edward a man of that age you see heere breifely collected and printed The Authors and Epistles froÌ„ wheÌ„ce Cardinall Baronius collecteth the history of saint Thomas But other matters are likewise recorded by foure Authors beeing all Disciples of saint Thomas the first Hubert his Clearke the next William of Canterbury the third Iohn of Salusbury the last Allane Abbot of Deache all which beeing digested in three bookes remayning in the Vaticane library together with selected Epistles written by diuers Authors and all tending to this purpose among which many were sent by saint Thomas and Pope Alexander and beeing by the labour of Iohn of Salusbury deuided into fiue bookes excelling all treasures shall helpe to beautify this my history Saint Thomas laboreth to flye the Archbishopprick telling King Henry that in this place hee shall offend him in defending the Churches liberty The tome it selfe remayneth in the Vaticane library Hubert testifyeth that saint Thomas sought by all meanes to auoyd this Archiepiscopull dignity for these are his wordes Thomas laboured with the king that hee should forbeare to aduance him to the Archbishoppricke of Canterbury professing if hee were soe chosen hee should proue his aduersary and enemy in defending the Churches liberty Whereunto Salusbury addeth thus hauing long resisted vpon the instant vrging of Henry of Pisapreist Cardinall of saints Nereu and Achilleus beeing there Legate hee assented wherupon they presently sent Messingers to Pope Alexander resyding then at Mount Pessulan for obtayning his pall S. Thomas coÌ„secrated Archbishop of Canterbury which for reuerence of soe great a man was out of hand graunted and soe at the Popes hands they receaued it But in laying open the excessiue tribulations and extremityes falling out in the processe of his Bishoppricke which exceedingly afflicted not only Thomas himselfe with the Church of Canterbury and all England but also Pope Alexander with the Romane Church and the whole Catholike world wee are soe ouerwhelmed with abundance of Authors as wee can hardly without great labor ploung out of them For not only Edward and those foure Authors wryting to this purpose with others who registred the occurents of the time yield plentifully most copious matter to furnish Chronicles but also 455. Epistles sent vpon that occasion by diuers to sundry persons and especially by Pope Alexander and saint Thomas himselfe out of which wee frame this Epistolary history which excelleth others presente vs with such an ouerswelling sea of discourse as our style beeing euen drowned the very plenty maketh vs poore An. Dom. 1163. Pope Alexander intending to celebrate a Counsell at Towers hastened about the beginning of Lent to speake with the king of France at Paris where the vertuous king with his lords knightes mett him two leagues before his entrance of the Citty and as the king saw the Pope hee alyghting ran to his styrrup and humbly kissed his feete whom the Pope receaued also with a kisse soe both ryding forward together with the Cardinalls were with a most solemne procession of the Clergy and great exultation brought to the Cathedrall Church Alexander celebrateth the Counsell of Towers Heere remayned his holines till Easter was passed Afterwards hee trauailled to Charters and thence to Towers where on the 14. Kalends of Iune beeing within the Octaues of Penticoste in the Church of saint Martine hee celebrated his Counsell with 17. S. Thomas comming to the CouÌ„sell of Towers was honourably receaued by the Pope Cardinalles a hundred foure twenty Bishops besides a maruilous number of the Clergie and Layetie among whom was saint Thomas who was the last yeere instauled in the Archbishopprick of Canterbury whom the Pope soe honorably receaued as hee sent all the Cardinalles except two that euer attend him to meete this Metropolitane before his entrance into the Citty and gaue him as fully as hee requested confirmation of all his Churches priuiledges Heere Arnulphus Bishop of Lexouy by the Popes appointment made the Oration beeing most pious learned aÌ„d eloqueÌ„t wherin hee touched the Emperours authority giuen only to his Ancestors by the Romane Church and thence diriued to him CoÌ„rade thâ— the elected Archbishop of Mounts leauing his Cousen the Emperour came to the Pope at the Counsell of Towers CoÌ„rade aduanced by the Pope Alexanders vndoubted tittle to the Papacy manifested OctauiaÌ„ accursed and prayeth them charitably to relieue the Pope and Cardinalles beeing now banished out of all To this Counsell came Conrade the Elect of Mountes leauing his Cousen the Emperour and all his temporall honors to follow Pope Alexander by whom hee was made afterwards Cardinall Bishop of Sabine and Archbishop of Mounts wherewith the Emperour beeing offended intruded Christian his Chancellor into his place In this Counsell Alexanders vndoubted tytle to Papacy beeing most euidently declared Octauian with all his Complices was againe accursed There are also diuers Canons of the same Counsell extant Pope Alexander beeing offered by the kinges to make choyse of some Citty within their dominions to inhabit in went in October to Senon beeing a Metropolitane Citty where hee executed freely his supreme function and authority Heere William of Newborough wandreth in two errors the one that saint Thomas at the Counsell of Towers moued in conscience Alexander residing at Senon in France gouerneth the Catholike Church William of Newberies erroâ—s because hee receaued at the kinges hands a laycall inuesture beeing neyther Canonically nor sincerely done resigned therefore his Bishoppricke secretly into the Popes handes which his Holines restored to him againe with lawfull approbation curing the scruple of his afflicted conscience which as in the processe of this worke will appeare was afterwardes The other that the only cause of controuersy beetweene the king and the
king hearing before of the Archbishoppes comming sent some of his Courte vnto him passiing alsoe himselfe out of the Citty towardes him and meeting together not the eyes but the countenance of the king as it may bee sayde was setled on him Wherupon a thing noted by many of the Archbishoppes trayne neither did the king nor any of his vouchsafe to visite the Archbishop that night in his lodging but rather early in the morning caused a Masse for the deade to bee celebrated in his Chappel fearing as it was reported least if the Archbishop were there present hee would otherwise offer him at Masse the kisse of peace which then to refuse were not the parte of a Christian but Christes enemy When the Masse was ended the king departed the Citty hastening to the Parlee c. The Parlee with the Earle beeing finished saint Thomas speaking with the king beesought him that before his returne into England his possessions might bee restored which the king denyed saying hee should first returne and afterwardes haue restitution of his possessions And thus much concerning this encounter at Towers Saint Thomas came afterwards to the king as Herbert continuinge this history sayth at the Balde Mountaine neere Bloys where hee could obtayne nothing of the king but only promises without any performance Wherupon saint Thomas returning to Senon and taking his leaue of the king of France trauelled to the hauen of Whitesand there to take shippe for England and there sayth Herbert the Archbishop before hee embarked himselfe sent ouer first my Lord the Popes before rehearsed letters of the generall suspension of the English Bishoppes together with the Excommunication of some certaine of which number beeing Roger of Yorke Gilbert of London and Ioceline of Salisbury comming thether for passage into England did euen in the porte receaue their letters of Suspension and accursing But allthough the Archbishoppe had warning as well by the Earle of Boleyne as also by those who arriued from England that nothing but chaynes prysons and treasons were prepared for him in England Hee neuertheles answered Neither yet if I should bee torne peece-meale in sunder would I desiste from my intended iourney no force no torture shall retayne mee dastard-like any longer it sufficeth that our Lordes flocke hath now seauen yeeres mourned for their Pastors absence And what hee professed in wordes the same did this Saint also confirme by letter wryting to his king these his last lynes worthie an Apostolike man who dreaded not to suffer death for his flocke beeing these wordes It is knowne to Christ the searcher of hartes the iudge of soules and reuenger of sinnes ChaÌ„ Vat. li. 5. Ep. â—4 The last letter of saint Thomas to the kinge of England with how great purity of mynde and sincerity of affection wee concluded our peace with your Maiestie beeleiuing you would haue proceeded plainly and iustly with vs for what else most excellent Lord could wee conceaue of your wordes which either in arguing or courtesy out of your fauorable goodnes you communicated with vs The letter moreouer you directed to my Lord and king your sonne for restoring to vs and ours all the possessions wee held before our departure from England what could it pretend but good will peece and security but loe that which God knoweth wee accompt more greeuous for the edangering of your renowne then the losse of our commoditie the want of performance beareth no coulor of simple meaning or faythfull dealing for the restitution you willed to bee made to vs and ours was put of for fifteene dayes in regarde of Raynulphe with whom beeing of counsell to my Lorde your sonne they thought conuenient in the meane time to conferre about the accomplishment of this your commandement What manner of persons these are and how and with what iustice this busines is caryed you at your pleasure may examine For vs wee are perswaded all this is donne to the dommage of the Church with the danger of your saluation and renowne vnles with diligence you reforme it For the sayde Raynulphe meane while maketh hauocke of the Churches gooddes and euen now carryeth openly away in greate abundance our house-hould prouision as wee heare by their reporte who if it pleaseth you will bee ready to iustify the same and lastly hath vaunted in the presence of many that wee shall not long inioy your gratious peace beecause wee shall not eate a whole loafe in England beefore as hee threateneth hee beereaueth vs of life You knowe most excellent Lord hee is accessary of an offence who when it is in his power to correct an others sinne neglecteth to amend it And what can that Raynulphe doe but by your leaue and armed with your authority And what answer hee will make to the letter of my Lord and king your sonne wryting to him on this occasioÌ„ your wisedome will heare and iudge therof as it liketh you And beecause it is now manifed by apparant proofes that the holy Church of Canterbury mother of the Britanns perisheth for the very hatred of our life to the eÌ„d she may not dye but be freed of daÌ„ger we will by Gods grace in her quarrell expose our life as well to the sayde Raynulphe as other his coÌ„federates the Churches persecutors beeing prepared not only to dye but also to suffer a thousand deathes and all tormentes whatsomeuer for Christes sake if hee of his grace wouchsafe to graunte vs the fortitude of patience I determined my Lord 〈◊〉 haue returned vnto you but that necessity draweth me a wretch to my wretched Church repayring to her with your fauor and licence and it may bee perishing least otherwise shee perisheth vnles your piety vouchsafeth to yeelde vs presently some other coÌ„forte but whether wee dye or liue wee are and shall euer bee in our Lord yours and whatsoeuer beecommeth of vs and ours God euer blesse you and your issue And thus the good Shepheard beeing now ready to offer his life for his sheepe deliuered himselfe most Christian-like as the follower of Christ out of the purity of his conscience and the sincerity of his fayth which had bin able to haue melted Pharaos most hardened harte But in regarde as it is allready sayde beefore euer hee sett foote in England hee sent ouer the Popes letters of Excommunication and Suspension against the Bishops let none impute it to any rashnes of his for disturbing the publick peace but that whatsomeuer hee did was by the kinges counsell and approbation as hee often professed openly when his aduersaryes in England did on that occasion rise against him whose wordes soe many times recyted by Herbert in Quadrilogus are these Concerning the Bishoppes whom yee alleage to bee suspended or excommunicated by mee or thorough my procurement bee yee in your discretion without all doubt certifyed that whatsoeuer was done was by the kinges consent and counsell For when on the feast of saint Mary Magdalene a peace beeing concluded beetweene vs hee receaued mee into
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
to him and direct his letters to you for that purpose hee seemed with greife and great affliction of mynd to answer saying God forbid let vs rather dye then beehould him soe departing his countrye and leauing his Church in that sorte soe desolate And a litle after By the mediation of my lord the Pope there is continual prayer made for you and the Church committed by God to your charge at Clareualle and Pontiniacke Monasteries of the Cistercians Pope AlexaÌ„der in the meane time cherished Thomas comforted him with his letters and reuiued his minde when it was depressed with extreme greife Many of his letters remayne worthie of soe noble a Bishop among which receaue you these beeing in contents the shortest Lib. 1. epist 43. How hee ought to proceede with the King Because the dayes are euill and many thinges are to bee suffered in regard of the quality of the time wee entreate aduise counsell and perswad your discretion that in all actions as well of your owne as those appertaining to the Church you beehaue your selfe warely prouidently and circumspectly and that you doe nothing hastely or rashly but all thinges deliberately and grauely whereby you may recouer the fauour and goodwill of the renowned King of England as much as possibly you may without derogation to the liberty of the Church and the honor of your office and authoritye And that by all meanes you endeauour and labour to endure the violence of the same King vntill the next Easter in such sorte as you deuise not to put any thing in execution against him or his land vntill that perfixed tyme for then our lord will graunt à better and milder season whereby as well you as wee may more safely and securely proceede in our affaires Thus Alexander to Thomas of whom as wee haue sayd it is extant that hee did write other letters to the same effect vnto him But in that the Pope did so certainly promise that times would bee calmer at the next ensueing Easter it is apparant hee did with a Propheticall spirit foreknowe the death of the Antipope which at that time hapned as wee shall heereafter declare But Alexander who soe counselled S. Thomas to forbeare the outragious king did not himselfe forbeare to admonish by his letters the same king in season and out of season instantly reprouing rebukeing and beeseeching him as Reader you may vnderstand by this letter written about the same tyme. ALEXANDER THE SERVANT OF THE seruantes of God Lib 1. Epist 42. to Henry illustrous King of England health and Apostolicall benediction ALlthough the deuotion of a dutyfull childe as well towards vs as your holy mother the Church The Popâ— admonishâ—tâ— the King by writing seemeth of late to weare somewhat cold in you neuerthelesse wee haue not at any time omitted our fatherly affection towards you and the kingdome commended to your gouerment wherefore your excellency diligently weighing that the stripes of a freind are better then the kisses of an enemy may more carefully consider and attentiuely vnderstand that as Clearkes are in life and habit distinguished from secular persons soe the iuditial proceedinges with Clearkes are approoued to bee absolutely different from the iudgmentes of the Layetie and therefore if you desorder these otherwise then it beecommeth and vsurping vnder your power those thinges which beelong to Iesus Christ doe at your owne pleasure ordaine new lawes for the opprâ—ssion of Churches and Christes poore flocke and bring in also those customes which as you tearmed them beelonged to your Progenitors your selfe without all question Prouerb 13 will beefore the last terrible Tribunal which you can no way auoyd bee in like sorte adiudged and the same measure whereby you haue measured others bee returned vpon you But least our admonitions may seeme tedious and rigorous to the eares of your excellency remember how it is written that the father chastiseth the sonne whom hee loueth knoweing assuredly that with how much more ferrent charity wee loue you in our lord and by how much more often and carefully wee call to mind the monuments of your most sincere deuotion many ways and most royally heeretofore shewed to vs and the Church of God soe much the more earnestly wishing with the deuoted affections of our harte your spiritual and eternal saluation wee signifie these vnto your vnderstanding For if the last iudgment bee any ways terrible to you or the crowne of rewards in the eternal rest delightfull it is not only beeseeming but also necessarie for your Maiestie to reuerence truth which is God himselfe and also Iustice to giue euery man his right to leaue to the managing of Ecclesiastical persons all matters Ecclesiastical especially criminal which spring from the breach of faith or periury to yeeld to men of the Church the decisioÌ„ of causes concerning goods and posessions of Churches and not to confound the kingdome with the preisthood for if you would bestowe on the reliefe of the poore or other workes of Charity all the substance which by such compulsions you wrest wring from the treasures of the Church vnto your owne vse you should doe no more acceptable an acte in the sight of God then if you should rob one Altar to garnish an other or crucify Peeter to saue Paule from death for you ought to recount and for an exemple of such proceeding to set before your eyes how king Saul because after the ouerthrowe of Amelech Lib 1. Reg. cap 14. hee would contrary to the precept of God reserue the prey when as for his owne excuse hee pretended to retaine the same for sacrifice was as a reprobate reiected by our Lord and hee yet liuing another chosen vnto his honor and kingly dignity Soe whom the sinnes of the people made a gouernor his owne offâ—nces depriued of the kingdomes gouerment And it is conuenient for your soules health to call to minde how alsoe King Ozias 2. Par. cap. 26. whilst hee would offer incense and vsurpe to himselfe the office of a priest was by the iust iudgment of God strooke with a leprosie If truly you attribute your happie successes to your owne forces and power and not to Almighty God and doe not withdrawe your minde and attemptes from oppressing Ecclesiastical persones and Churches hee doubtles whâ— placed you in gouerment ouer others and ordeyned you a great prince in this world for ruling and not for the wrongfull depression of his faithfull people will with a greiuous vsury demand of you againe the talentes committed to your charge and as it is written of Roboam the sonne of Salomon who for his fathers offence 3. Reg 14. was cast out from his kingdome will transferrre and poure out vpon the heires the vengeance of the fathers sinne Harken not therefore to euery ones wicked suggestions nor open your eares to those who murmur euer mischeifes into your head but diligently attend those thinges which are expedient for saluation and endeauour to
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
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
for that cause his name exalted in the heauenly countrey Soe the Masters our brethren the Cathedrall Monkes now left as Orphans without a father Allmighty God who raysed from the deade the great Pastor of his stocke our Lord Iesus Christ in the bloode of his eternall testament prouyde a man that I may vse the worde of Moyses to bee ouer this multitude Num. 27. For many complayne and indure it most impatiently that Christes coate without seame is now rent beetweene them and the Bishoppes of the Prouince The Scysme raised in the Church of Cāterbury and that not only the Cowe and the Ramme but also the Turtle and the Doue are deuyded and seperated one from an other That Mistrisse of discorde that mother of hatred that presumptious occasion of scandalls that vsurpation I meane of syding and singular election hath presumed to breake in euen to the very professors of Religion so as contemning and casting away the generall counsell of the Bishoppes and Abbottes they haue made a secret and stollen election contrary to customes enemy to lawes condemned by Decrees reproued by practise All others who accompt now this election made by the Monkes to bee to their derogation and disgrace would willingly and with one consent without any diuision or scandall haue conferred their voyces on the person by them named but as this case standeth I feare least this election which God forbid proue his deiection and this attempting of a fayned liberty turne to Christes Church into a matter of thralldome This plague truly and many others doe at this day generally infecte and corrupt the body of the Church Lay-men intrude themselues into the holy Sanctuarys and the stones of the Sanctuaryes are dispersed apparantly in all high streetes Cloysters are now conuerted to Castles and Market-places Religious men to Ethnickes Pastors to Wolues Lillyes to thornes Gould to drosse Corne to Tares Wine to Vinager Oyle to Lees. Let Allmighty God yet cast an eye backe on the face of his Testament neither let him giue ouer to bee troaden vnder foote the Vyne which hee hath planted with his right hand the Church which hee hath purchased with his pretious bloode let him stirre vp the spiritt of Moyses and erect the horne of that Vnicorne that only high Bishoppe and without comparison most vniuersall soe as his hand may execute iudgment that with his horne hee may blowe ouer Siria thunder against Edom send out lightning against the Calfes of Bethel against the Idolls of Egipt against the fatt Cowes of Samaria against the Preistes of Baal against Shepherdes who feede themselues against iudges who enact vniust lawes against dumb dogges which are vnable to barke against the earthen pott of Zacharie against the vessells of the foolish Pastor against the ambition of Simon Magus against the tyranny of the world against the presumption of the Cloyster against deceytfull dealers against oppressors of the poore against disturbers of the Churches peace against the subuerters of fayth Thus wrote Peeter the rest wee refer to their propper place AN. DOM. 1171. Now followeth the yeere of our Lord 1171. with the fourth Indiction When the horrible murder of the most holy Martyr Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury beeing spread farre and neere all the Westerne world was astonished and the sighes of all deuoute people euery where breathed out especially by letters from all partes and those replenished with lamentations and sent to Pope Alexander from sundry persons beeing such and in such sorte as you may well say they were soe many glorious trumppetts and renowned Epithapes to celebrate the funeralls of this most worthie Martyr Among which receaue heere first what the king of France wrote to Pope Alexander To Alexander by the grace of God High Bishop Lewes by the same grace king of the French sendeth salutations with due reuerence The king of Frances letter to the Pope about the death of saint Thomas The childe reuolteth from the lawe of humane pietie who disgracefully abuseth his mother neither are they myndfull of their Creators benefitts who are not moued with sorrowe for the abuses offered to the holy Church whereuppon wee haue now an especiall cause of lamentation and a new cruelty neuer heard of beefore beegetteth a new sorrowe beecause malice rising against the Saint of God hath run her swordes point into the very aple of Christes eye and no lesse cruelly then fowly slaughtered soe great a light of Gods Church Styrre vp therefore some kinde of exquisite iustice and vnsheath saint Peeters sworde for punishing the murder of the Martyr of Canterbury beecause his blood cryeth out for the whole Church not soe much exclayming reuenge for his owne particular as for all And beehould at the Tombe of this Champion as it is reported to vs the diuine glory shyneth with mirackles and God sheweth from heauen where hee resteth on earth who in his quarrell so couragiously fought The bearers of these letters who are beereft of this their father will relate the whole matter to your Holines yeelde therfore a most gentle eare to the testimony of this truth and as well heerin as otherwise beelieue them as you would beelieue our selues God prosper you euer Thus the king The Earle of Bloyes also wrote to the same effect vnto his Holines More ouer the Bishop of Senon then Legate for the Apostolicke Sea sent two Epistles to the Pope about the death of saint Thomas But omitting these as tēding all to one purpose let vs see the rest the messingers I meane sent by the king of England to Rome who offered the vndergoeing of pennance for killing the martyr as also of the diuers and excellent mirackles now beegun to bee published at the Martyrs sepulcher with other things appertayning therunto The Martyr thus killed in the end of the last yeere there was presently great recourse to the Pope lying in Rome of some as you see detesting and complaying of this damnable sacrilege the accusers were pious princes as the king of France the Earle of Bloys and Bishoppes who were Legates especially hee of Senon others excusers beeing an assembly of Bishoppes among whom hee of Lizieux in all their names wrote thus to Pope Alexander At such time as beeing gathered together with our king The assembly of Bishoppes excusing the king of England wee determined to handle great matters concerning both the Church and kingdome a rumor on the suddaine ouerwhelmed vs all in a lamentable confusion of sorrowe concerning our Lord of Canterbury soe far forth as in a moment our calme was turned in to a turbulent tempest our consultations into sighes For by some returning from England wee were assuredly certifyed that some of his enemyes beeing as they say with his sundry and seuere preceedinges against them prouoked to anger and madnes rashly assaulted his person and what without greife wee cannot nay ought not to speake cruelly persisting did strike and murder him This vnhappy reporte came in the end by the
concerning the vnlawfull customes hath made oathe ioyntly with him Moreouer what was there donne hee resolued to iterate againe as Cane more publickely in a greater assembly of people to the end there might neuer bee question made to the contrary Lastly bee released the Bishoppes of the promise they gaue for obseruing the customes and promised himselfe neuer heereafter to exacte them Thus far the Legates Epistle then proceedeth the Author On the morrowe the aforesayde Cardinalls celebrated there a great Counsell together with the Archbishop The Counsell in Normandy Bishoppes and Clergie of Normandy and there concluded and ioyned all firmly and inuiolably to obserue these decrees following The Decrees published at Abryncke by Theodine and Albert Cardinalles FIrst that no children shall bee admitted to the gouerment of those Churches and the administration of them whereunto appertaineth the Cure of soules Item the children of Preistes shall not bee placed in their fathers Churches Item Laie men shall haue no parte of the oblations of the Church Item Churches shall not bee committed to annuall Vicars Item Preistes of great Churches who haue liuinges sufficient therfore shall bee enforced to maintaine vnder them each one another preist Item no Preistes shall bee ordayned without a certaine title Item let no Church bee farmed at on annuall rent Item let nothing of the third parte of the tythes bee taken from him who serueth the Church Item let such as haue Tythes by inheritance bee lycenced to giue them at theyr pleasures to any beeing meete and able Clearkes vpon condiciō that after thē the Thythes ruturne to the Churches to which by law they beelong Let not any man enter into Religion whilst his wife remaineth in the world nor on the contrary syde vnles they both exceede the age of abilitie for vse of mariage Item in the Aduent of our Lord let all who can but especially Clearkes and souldiers fast and bee commanded to abstaine from flesh Item let not Clearkes bee appointed iudges especially to administer the iurisdiction of Secular powers and who presume to doe the contrary let them bee excluded from theyr Ecclesiasticall Benefyces Item concerning the new bookes of the Excommunicated and the goodes of the dying which preistes take with the blessinges of the espoused ād Baptisme and xvliii exacted for the Absolution of the Excommunicated nothing was perfected beecause the Bishoppes of Normādy would not receaue the Decree In the same Counsell the Archbishop of Thomas challenged the Archbishoppricke of Dole to beelong of right to his Archbishoppricke affirming no Archbishoppes seate ought to bee there but the Clearckes of Dole did constantly contradict it Hetherto concerninge matters handled there by the Legates who beefore they departed receaued these letters from Pope Alexander for reconciliation of the Church of Canterbury beeing polluted with soe enormyous a sacriledge Wee command yee that yee cause the Church of Chanterbury to bee reconciled The reconciliation of the Church of Cāterbury yet in that sorte as the sacrament of the former Dedication bee not againe reiterated but as it hath bin accustomed in the Church of saint Peeter let it only bee sprinckled with holy water Thus Pope Alexander to his Legates And the Legates againe to the Clergie of the Church of Canterbury wrote in these wordes Wee reioyce yea the whole congregation of the iust which heareth therof reioyced that God doth manifest the death of Thomas of holy memory sometimes your Archbishoppe to bee soe pretious in his sight and hath made famous with soe many miracles the venerable memoriall of him as the sweetenes of his oyntmentes hath now dispersed it selfe allmost ouer the whole body of his Church and his vertue is generally renowned from the Easte to the Weste soe as they who whilst hee liued inuyed his prosperous successes now hee beeing disburdened of this world and translated as wee beeleeue his fayth and preistly zeale deseruing the same to the society of the higher powers reuerence his vertue giuing due thankes to him whoe worketh only great miracles Beecause therfore it seemeth conuenient that the glorious miracles which multitudes of people reporte to bee done among yee may resound with thākes-giuings and voyces of prayse in your publicke Church which the diuine grace hath endowed with so bountifull a guyfte It ought no longer vpon occasion of this execrable acte forbeare to glorify the Creator Returning therfore to you mutuall salutations and willingly consenting to your deuoute petition wee command your Brother hoode that assembling together the Bisoppes and Abbotes of your Prouince whom yee shall deeme meete for this purpose yee doe according to the rule of the Ecclesiasticall solemnity accustomed among our Predecessors consecrate againe your Church And if any thing bee wanting in the solemnity it may bee supplyed with the illustrous glory of the diuine miracles As touching vs if there bee ought in our power which wee are able to doe for the good of your selues and your Church what by Gods grace wee may we will most readily performe Thus wrote the Legates of the Apostolike Sea who admonished therof by Pope Alexander made dilligent inquiry of the miracles of the most glorious Martyr Thomas and send a most exact relation of them all to his Holines which beeing throughly vnderstood hee without delay wholly bent himselfe to perfect the Martyrs solemne Canonization This hee wittnesseth in his letters afterwardes indighted and to bee recyted when wee speake of his Canonization So therfor by how many miracles by soe many diuine testimonyes it is knowne and made apparant by wittnesses that not only they who for defence of the Catholike fayth suffer death Euery Bishop may haue occasion of Martyrdome but such also as for conseruation of the lawes rightes and possessions of the Church offer themselues to the slaughter doe a worke most acceptable in the sight of God and deseruing crownes which occasion of induring Martyrdome is not to bee sought a far of from Infidells but is allwayes ready at hand to euery Bishop if hee laboreth in all respectes to performe the duty of his charge Now the Legates returning backe brought to the Citty the holy reliques of the late Martyr beeing the Braines of his head that were dispersed on the pauement of the Church and also his coate imbrewed in his blood which are to this day religiously kepte in the Church of saint Mary Maior Famous mē of the family of S. Thomas Thus hauing seene what appertayneth to the glory of the Martyr wee are not to let passe in silence his fellow souldiers who followed him banished in his seauen yeeres exile beeing all famous and renowned men much honored for their glorious confession whose excellent prayses are seuerally sett forth in the booke of the Vatican after Quadrilogus where amōge them is first and principally one by name and nation Lumbard of the country of Placentia an excellent scholler who was created Cardinall of the sacred Roman Church beeing called from exile and