the Church into bondage pronouncing they rather ought to haue vndergone all dangers then euer to giue the least way to such an vtter ouerthrowe of God Almightyes lawe and moreouer sayd assuredly in this rabell so abhominable which hath bin heere both read and heard there is nothing at all to bee allowed as good somethinges only may bee indured for the Church in a sorte to tollerate but the greater parte as reprobate by the ancient and authenticall counsells haue bin euer condemned being directly contrary to the holy constitutions And thus did the Lord and Pope in the open presence of them all reproue and sentence these to bee heereafter euer by the Church condemned These they are and thus sett forth as wee find them recorded in the aforesayd booke of the Vatican together with the addition of condemnation or tolleration according to the censure of Pope Alexander But I feare least the intermingling of wordes and termes only proper to the English should by reason of their obscurity seeme to the reader darke and difficult to vnderstand which are thus recyted The customes of England propounded at Claringtonne 1. Concerning the aduowson and presentation of Churches if any controuersie thereupon ariseth beetweene laymen or beetweene Clearkes and lay-men or beetweene Clearkes and Clearkes let the cause bee pleaded and determined in the Courte of our lord the kinge This did the Church of Rome vnder Pope Alexand. the III. condemne With. this note are they deliuered in the end of euery artickle beeing taken out of the sayd booke of the Vaticane and inserted in the conclusion of the Quadripartite history alià s Quadrilogus the Cronickles of S. Thomas Cronickles of S. Thomas 2. Churches of our lord the Kinges fee cannot bee giuen for euer without assent and consent of his Maiesty This hee tolerated 3. Clearkes cited and accused vppon any cause beeing summoned to the kinges Courte shall appeare before the sayd Courte there to answere in such sorte as to the royall Court shal seeme conuenient for them to answer soe as the kinges Bench shall send into the Court of the holy Church to see vpon what ground the cause shall bee there handled and if the Clearke bee conuicted or doe confesse the Church ought not any longer to defend him This hee condemned 4. It is not lawfull for Archbishoppes Bishopes and Persons of the kingdome to departe the realme without our lord the kinges licence and if they will departe they shall at the kinges pleasure giue security neyther in their goinge staying or comming to compasse any euill or dammage towards our lord the kinge or his kingdome This hee condemned Ad Remanens which is think to the I law 5. The excommunicate ought not to giue assurance for remayning or answering the lawe neither bee sworne but only giue pledge and security to stand to the Churches iudgement and soe obtayne absolution This hee condemned 6. Laymen ought not to bee accused in the presence of the Bishop but by testimony of certaine and lawfull witnesses so as the Archdeacon may not lose his right nor any thing which should thereby acerewe vnto him and if the accused bee such as no man will or dare accuse them the Shyreefe beeing required by the Bishop shall sweare 12. lawufll men of the neighborhood or village before the Bishop to lay open the whole truth according to their conscience This hee tolerated 7. No man who houldeth of the king in cheyfe nor any of his Maiesties househould seruantes shall bee excommunicated nor their landes made subiect to interdiction vnlesse our lord the kinge if hee bee within the land or his Lord-cheife iustice if his Maiestie bee out of the Realme bee first made priuy thereof that hee may therein determine of the delinquent according to right whereby such matters as appertaine to the kinges Court may bee there iudged and what beelongeth to the Ecclesiastical courte returned thither there to bee ended This bee condemned 8. As touching appeales if they arise men ought to proceede from the Acrhdeacon to the Bishoppe from the Bishop to the Archbishop and if the Archbishop faile to execute iustice they ought for theire last refuge to flie to our lord the king that by his commandement the controuersie may bee determined in the Archbishops Courte so as they shall not attempt any farther without the kinges assent This hee condemned 9. If there arise any controuersie beetweene Clearke and a lay-man or contrariwise about any tenement which the Clearke claymeth to bee held in free Almes the lay man in laye fee it shall bee determined beefore the lord cheife iustice according to his discretion in the kinges Bench by the verdict of 12. lawfull men whether the tenement appertayneth to free Almes or to the lay fee and if it bee found to bee free Almes then shall it bee pleaded in the Ecclesiastical court and if of a lay fee then vnless both parties auow the same to bee helde of one selfe same Bishop or Baron the plea shall bee ended in the kinges Bench but if both of them make their auowry of land helde of one selfe same Bishop or Baron then shall the plea remayne in the court of the said Bishop or Baron Allwayes prouided that hee who was first seyzed loose not his seyson by reason of this recognition This hee condemned 10. Any man of citty castle Borough or the kinges Demeasne mannor beeing cited by the Archdeacon or Bishop for any offence wherein hee is bound to answer him and will not giue satisfaction vpon his citation it shall bee lawfull for him to subiect the offendor to interdiction but not to excommunication beefore the kinges cheife officer of the place bee first acquainted therewith that hee may adiudge the offendor to make satisfaction wherein if the kinges officer bee defaulty hee shall fall into his Maiesties mercy and then the Bishop may after punish the accused with Ecclesiasticall censures This hee condemned 11. Archbishoppes Bishoppes and all Persons of the kingdome who hould of the kinge in cheife and haue possessions in his dominion as a Barony shall in reguard therof answer to the kinges iustices and officers and followe and performe all royall customes and rightes and ought to sit with the other Barons in the kinges courte vntill the iudgment come to losse of member or life This hee tolerated 12. When an Archbishoppricke Bishoppricke Abbacy or Priory of the kinges DominioÌ„ shall fall voyd or ought to be in his Maiesties haÌ„des hee shall receaue all their rentes and reuenues as those of his owne royall dedemeanes and when time commeth to prouide princiâ—all persons of the Church and the election ought to bee made in his owne chappel by his royall assent and the counsell of such Persons appertayning to his Maiestie as hee shall call to perfect the same and the Prelate elected shall there doe his homage and fealty to our Lord the King as his Leige Lord of life member and earthly honor sauing his order before such time
Saintes recounteth his charitable benignity Thus fare Peeter who although hee were the king's faithfull seruante yet seeking rather the honor of God then men omitted not as much as in him lay to defend vnder hand the cause of saint Thomas AN. DOM. 1165. Now followeth the yeere of our Lord 1165. with the xv Indiction according to times computation An Embassage to the Pope from mawde the Empresse in the beeginning whereof an Ambassag was sent from Mawde the Empresse mother of Henry king of England to Pope Alexander wherin shee beesought his Holines to ioyne in league the kinges of France and England which if hee could accomplish a peace was likely to ensue beetweene the king of England and saint Thomas When Iohn of Salisbury who was resident in Alexanders courte had notice heereof hee certifyd saint Thomas thereof by letter beeginning thus When as lately I sollicited my Lord the Pope incouraging him and carefully insinuating a way which meethought I vnderstood for reducing to him and you the tranquillity of peace hee answered that hee conceaued a hope of peace from wordes of the Empresse who vpon a vowe sent then the Abbot of saint Martyrs thither promising the king of England could easily bee perswaded to what soeuer my Lord desired if his Holines would as hath bin long wished confederate the two kinges wherein beecause my Lord the Pope is forward the king of France as surely it semeeth will easily inclyne vpon the Popes conference with the kinges and that his Holines had allready inuited the king of France to keepe the feast of the Purification with him Thus far concerning the conceaued hope of Peace and added moreouer That hee spoake with the king of France whom hee found very fearefull least vpon such occasion hee should bee withdrawne from the communion of the Church of Rome and leauing Pope Alexander cleaue to the scysmaticall faction These thinges thus signifyed Salisbury beeseecheth saint Thomas to employ himselfe rather in prayer then the study of learning from whose letters receaue these notes which in Quadrilogus are recyted out of Herebert concerning sainct Thomas while hee remayned as yet in the Monastery of Pontiniacke hee was so much affected to the reading of holy scriptures as daily after the Cānonicall houres the sacred bookes were scarce euer out of his handes whereupon by reason of his loue to the Scriptures and labour employed therein hee did in shorte tyme soe profit as most often in the nice and obscurest sentences hee excelled his instructors themselues moreouer hee bestowed his life in studying the Ecclesiasticall Cannons which endeauours of his in these dangerous tymes were no whit pleasing to Iohn of Salisbury whom saint Thomas held in no smale estimation as well in reguard of his singuler honesty as also his learning who confident of his credit with this saint admonisheth him in the same letters of these thinges worthie remēbrance saying My counsel my desire my instant intreaty is that you wholly conuert your mynd vnto our Lord Cod Vat. lib. 1. Ep. 31. and the suffrages of prayers beecause as it is written in the Prouerbes the name of our Lord is the strongest tower whereunto if any man flye Prouerb 18. hee shall bee deliuered out of all extremities Put of in the meane time as much as you may all other businesses The ptofitable admonition of à friend to S. Thomas beecause allthough they seeme maruilous necessary yet what I perswade you is more highly to bee preferd in regarde it is farre more necessary The lawes and Cannons ef the Church doe profit but beelieue mee this other woorke is now of more importance those ornamentes are not sutable to this season for they are not soe much the procurers of deuotion as of curiosity Doe you not remember how in the distresse of the people as it is written the Preists and Ministers poured out their teares beetweene the porch and the Altar Ioel. 2◠Psal 76. ibidem saying Spare ô Lord spare thy people I was exercised sayd the Prophet and I sweeped my spirit in the day of tribulation seeking our Lord with my handes Which teach vs that spirituall excercise with cleansing and examination of the conscience turneth away the scourge and obtaineth the mercy of God Who riseth with compunction from perusing the lawes and Cannons Nay I say more these exercises in schooles doe sometimes puffe vp knowledge to swell in pride but seldome or neuer inflame vs with deuotion I had rather you would meditate on the Psalmes and spend your life in saint Gregorie's Moralles then beecome a Philosopher after the Scholastical fashyon it is farre better to confer with aspirituall father for amendment of manners by whose example you may bee incensed then to sifte and discusse pointes of controuersies appertayning to secular literature our Lord knoweth with what intent with what deuotion I suggest these thinges Accept them as you please but if you performe this God will euer assist you that you shall neuer haue cause to feare what soeuer man deuiseth against you our Lord seeth that in these instant streightes of afflictions wee are not to hope as I thinke in any mortal creature c. Thus Iohn aduised saint Thomas very conueniently In the meane time S. Thomas oppressed with extreme afflictiōs although absent yet with letters doth prosecute his busines writing as well to the king of England as also to the Bishoppes who ought to exhorte and admonish their Prince To the king hee directed these letters which Roger in his Cronicle deliuereth in these wordes To his Dread Soueraigne Lord Henry by the grace of God the famous king of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Eearle of Anioue Thomas by the same grace the humble seruāt of the Chuch of Canterbury The letter of S. Tomas to the king of England sendeth greeting and all wishes of well-doinge To speake of God is the parte of a free and well quieted mynde which causeth mee soe to speake to my Lord And I would wee might treate peaceably I humbly beeseech you my Lord to endure with patience some litle admonition concurring with the grace of God which was neuer voyd for the saluation of your soule and deliuery of myne I am on all sides beeset with extremityes for tribulation and perplexities haue found mee in the midst of two most weyghty and fearefull matters plunged I say beetwene these two important thinges dreaded silence and Admonition Let mee cease to speake death is then threatened mee nor can I auoyd the hand of our Lord saying If thou shalt not showe the offendor his fault and hee thereby dyeth in his sinne Ezech. 3. I will require his blood at thy bandes On the other side let mee admonish I see not how to eschewe which God forbid my Soueraignes indignation fearing moreouer least that should beefall which the wise man foretould saying when hee who pleaseth not commeth or sendeth to make intercession or motion it is to bee
the matter Concerning those who scorned they re gold The Cardinalls who abhorred those bribes Ibidem epist 54. among others were Humbald and Hiacinth most renowned Cardinalls of the sacred Roman Church the frindes of saint Thomas of whom an epistle is extant written by the Saint wherin is most honorable mention made of their contempt of gold because to their eternall commendation they not only forbare to touch the kind of Englands golde but alsoe bountefully and charitably beestowed their owne on the English being poore banished men suffering for the Churches cause For Saint Thomas sayth others comfort vs with wordes but your bounty releeueth vs with your substance and your workes you haue lamented our misfortune and the Churches calamity and esteemed heere as your owne the miserys of the poore banished for Christ the most iust Iudge â—ender you in that day the rewardes of your brotherly Charity and the 〈◊〉 of your true coÌ„passion which promiseeth to the mercifull abundance of mercy you haue not wandred after gold with the bayte whereof to our exceeding huâ—â—â—e and the confusion of the Apostolike Sea some haue bin caught by whose procurement the king of England hauing receaued the Apostolicall letters which hee caused to bee read in the streetes of either kingdome vaunted that hee had tryumphed ouer the Church of Rome nor without cause for hee hath obtayned his desire and now at his owne pleasure hee maketh hauocke in the Church of God without controulment of any hoping my lord the Pope which God forbid or my selfe should according to his owne wish in the meane tyme dye And afterwardes hauing rehearsed his lamentable distresses hee wryteth thus againe of the gold bestowed at Rome our Lord knoweth who are his and the Church now partly knoweth who are not hers For the king of England boasteth openly who are his neither is it concealed to how many and to whom his gould was giuen but his bounteous giftes were the spoyles of vs the spoyles of the poore of the crucifyed the spoyles of Christ himselfe yea soe great was the least portion of their spoyles And therefore thus beecause the king heereupon sacriligiously vsurpeth the most ample reuenues of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury wee cannot I say nor ought to excuse these offences soe foule and detestable for who are in this sorte enthralled with the royall golde are become therby leaden and in estimation deformed beeing for their leuity flexible they are in the burden of their conscience heauy to God hatefull exposed to the derision of men and to bee troaden vnder foote as salte wanting taste which is afterwards of no value Destroy them ô Goâ— before they infect the holy Church which is without spott or wrickle Confound them ô God beefore they beetray the Church into the handes of the Layety let these errors of their Predecessors bee a greater example and warning to their Successors ANNO DOMINI 1168. The yeere 1168. Legates sent to the King of England together with the first Indiction now followeth in the beeginning of which yeere and the Kalends of Ianuary the Legates a latere designed to goe from the Citty to the king of England vndertooke theyr iourney the exacte tyme of this their voyage is signifyed in the letters written by Iohn Bishop of Poytiers to Saint Thomas in these wordes Cod. Vrt. lib 1. epist 163. these two Legates I meane William of Papia Preist Cardinall of the tytell of Saint Peter ad vincula and Oddo Deacon Cardinall of Saint Nicholas in carcere Tulliano passed on their way in the Kalends of Ianuary making haste to our partes but although they departed ioyntly together out of the Citty yet went they not one but seuerall wayes deuyded in their trauailing vnto France determining to meete together at the Citty of mount Pessulan But beefore wee proceede farther in the history let vs see what letters Pope Alexander deliuered to the Legates that you may perceaue to what purpose hee sent them the letters of the Legacy are yet extant of which some were directed to S. Thomas others to the king of England which heere wee are to recyte out of the same written booke add first these letters to S. Thomas in these wordes Eib. 2. epist 1. The Popes letters to S. Thomas That wee haue not often with our letters visited your owne person the reason as you may vnderstand was in regarde wee haue bin often carefull to make knowne to you by messingers and word of mouth such thinges as wee thought not conuenient to commit to wryting But now wee would haue your discretion to bee certifyed that wee with all our harty affection desiring your peace haue sent our beeloued sonnes William of the Titell of Saint Peeter ad vincula Preist with Oddo of Saint Nicholas in carcere Tulliano Deacon Cardinalles vnto our most deere sonne in Christ the famous king of England to exercise the office of Legates in his Dominions on this syde the seas which is done especially to make a finall conclusion and agreement beetweene you and the king and by the grace of God to bring all to a charitable end Wherfore in regarde wee esteeme your peace to bee all one with that of the Church neither doe for any cause more desire the same then in that wee suppose the vniuersall Church shall receaue greater vtility therby wee doe by these our Apostolicall letters entreate admonish counsell and command your brotherhood carefully to consider how dangerously the state of this presente tyme standeth and how much the Church committed to your charge wanteth your presence and councell and therefore to endeauor a peace and inclyne your mynde and will to lay a sure foundation of concord beetweene you and the a foresayde king as far as may stand with the reputation of you and your Church And although all thinges doe not heerein succeede according to your hartes desire yet wincke at them for a season intending by godes grace in processe of tyme to reduce to the former state such matters as are to bee amended Neither yet in regarde of the worde which according to your petition wee signifyed to our most deere sonne in Christ the renowned king of Fraece doe you in any case fall of or estrange your mynde or will from peace and the benefit of concord so long as in the couenaÌ„tes thereof you may preserue as wee haue sayde the honor of your selfe Church vntouched because you may heereafter by litle and litle with discretion roote out many misdemeanors which if you should at this instant attempt would bee matters of greate moment And concerning these two Cardinalls you may bee confident in them nether ought you any way to mistrust the aforesayde William because wee haue streyghtly and seuerely commanded him to bend his whole power to the compassing of your peace and this hath hee so faithfully promised as wee can neuer misdoubt the contrary Moreouer wee entreate and admonish your brotherhood that you would carefully deale
searcher of hartes how wee conserue still in our breastes a tender affection vnto you For truly as to our remembrance wee haue signifyed often to your wisedome wee haue with all the care wee could labored to eschewe the suspicion of the king of England to the end wee might in processe of tyme bee a more effectuall meane for composing a peace beetween him and you and with all retayne still the deuotion and zeale of soe greate a prince to the Apostolike Sea And beeing now designed together with our reuerent brother Oddo a Cardinall Deacon to passe into his Signioryes for determination of the matters in controuersy beetweene you and him in such sorte as wee shall see most expedient for the Church of God wee exhorte earnestly and perswade your discretion that setting a syde as much as in you lyeth those thinges which are accustomed to beeget the causes of greater dissention you would with dilligent care bee attētiue to that which can best procure a concord For wee will bend our myndes as much as by Gods grace wee may to deale without any respect of persōs for this peace and your profit leauing nothing vndone as the proofe God willing shall make playne which wee can possibly effect for the honor of God and his Church Thus wrote William the Cardinal and Legate to saint Thomas who answered as followes To his reuerent Lord and freind worthy of loue Vvilliam by the grace of God Preist Cardinall of the tytell of Saint Peter advincula and Legate of the Apostolike Sea Thomas by the same grace the humble seruante of the Church of Canterbury wisheth health and courage against the insolency of Princes Ibidem epist The hater letters of Thomas to William the Legate Wee yeelde thankes to your charity for vouchsafing now at the last to visite with your excellencyes letters our poore afflicted person which is measured of many by the state of our present fortune not by what is paste yet God may heereafter out of his mercy when it pleaseth him and to him shall seeme conuenient restore vs agayne to better In that you say wheras many suppose you are not soe throughly affected to vs the reason heereof is the Churches greate vtility least otherwise beeing held in suspicion by the king hee should bee therby lesse deuoted to the sacred Roman Church and not soe much encline to composition of a peace with vs God the searcher of hartes best knoweth and the euent of thinges will declare If at this instant you come into his dominions as your letters signify for decyding the controuersyes beetweene vs and him in such sorte as to the Church you shall see most profitable it is a thing possible But wee are of opinion that wee certainly knowe to what intent you are come and how wee ought to receaue you whereupon wee desire in our lord most instantly to exhorte your wisedome foe to bee haue your selfe in this busines as therby God may hee honored the Church relieued and wee restored to glory amyd the people and in our nation If any fauor or peace fall to vs by your labor and industry wee shall therfore thanke God and your diligent care And wee wish you would weygh with a tender affection and compassion how greate agreiuances wee and the Church of England haue sustayned and doe as yet endure and how much the vniuersall Church is impeached in our sufferance On this busines we cast the eyes of all and all expect the conclusion thereof the insolency of Princes will eyther exalte their hornes or as they worthily deserue bee suppressed And I wish they may rather by this your comming sustayne losse then recouer strength God send you now and euer well to fare that wee and the Church may thereby fare the better Thus saint Thomas But in regard William the Legate not only in his letters to saint Thomas and others but also in wordes did openly vaunte that hee came as a Iudge of this controuersye and did vsually with greater pride and insolency vnaduisedly boaste in this sorte saint Thomas sending a messinger to Rome Saint Thomas complayneth to the Pope against Vvilliam the Legate Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist 22. did presently complayne thereof to Pope Alexander by his letters wherin after hee had first set beefore his eyes howe far forth God had assisted him in conquering the pryde of the Emperor who was dreadfull to the whole world hauing experienced thereby that the helpe of Allmighty God was on his syde for the defence of the Church against any Tyrants whatsomeuer hee had now as hee sayde learned not to feare Then hee descendeth to William of Papia I would moreouer haue your Holines vnderstand that what wee dreaded is beefallen vs and what wee foretould is now apparant concerning the pryde and presumption of the lord William of Papia as you may well perceaue by these letters hee sent vs instantly vpon his comming from whom wee expected according to the tenor of your mandate to my Lord the king of France and vs rather comforte for the recouery of peace then confusion for decyding of controuersyes beetweene the king of England and vs. For hee is not the person vnto whose authority in this case wee ought to be subiect especially since hee was rather procured to come vpon the kinges instant intreaty to you then any way compelled or sent by you Wee suppose truly it is not agreable to lawe wee should bee enthralled to the iudgment or examination of him who seeketh to make his commodity of our blood let him not therfore goe about to purchasse to himselfe by the prize of our life the name and glory of iniquity Thus hee wrote because as it appeareth out of other letters it was helde for certayne that the king of England had promised William the Archbishoppricke of Canterbury if hee could depriue Thomas of the same Hee proceedeth Wee doe therfore earnestly beeseech you father if as yet you haue care of vs to abrogate his authority at leaste soe far as it concerneth vs and our causes in controuersy But let vs see what Oddo the Deacon Cardinall the other Legate à Latere did wryte to Saint Thomas who signifyed somewhat though not much by letters of greate note concerning his iourney leauing matters of more secrecy to the relation of the messinger hee sent The letter hee wrote was thus To the worthyly beloued father and his most deare brother Thomas by the grace of God Archbishop of Canterbury Oddo by the same grace Deacon Cardinall of the sacred Roman Church and Legate of the Apostolike Sea sendeth greeting The letter of Oddo the Legate to S. Thomas Ibidem epist 4. Wee certifye your dearely beeloued selfe that after our iourney vndertaken vpon our Lord the Popes commandement passing through hazardable places of exceeding greate danger wee arriued in the end by the conduction of Allmighty God in Venice our enemyes the Scysmatikes lying on euery syde in ambushments ready to intercept vs
them to absolue the Clearkes without â—endering any oath which when they resolutely denyed to doe my Lord the king hasted to horse and getting vp swoare in the presence of all there that hee would neuer dureing life harken againe to my lord the Pope or any other for your peace or restitution Whervpon all the Archbishoppes and Bishoppes there present came to the Nuntios beeseeching them for Gods loue to accomplish his requestes wherunto with great difficulty they assented which beeing graunted the king alighted and beeganne againe to consult with them and presently after calling all who were in peace together the king beegan to discourse saying Hee would haue them all vnderstand that you departed not out of England at his instance and that he had often recalled you backe againe to returne and giue him satisfaction for such matters as hee alleadged against you and you euer refused but now the case soe stood that hee vpon the entreaty and commandement of my Lord the Pope did fully restore vnto you your Archbishoppricke and peace to all those who for your sake departed his dominion This graunte of peace the king confirmed about nyne of the clocke remayning afterwardes very pleasant and causing certaine other matters to bee handled in his presence which beeing finished hee returned again to the Nuntios desiring them that the Bishoppes might goe ouer into England for absoluing them who were there excommunicate Which when they absolutely denyed the king grew angry and made a new request that at the least one of them would passe ouer while the other remayned there and if that were distastefull to them they would send but one of their Cleakes whom hee would enrich with reuenues beefore his returne all which when Gratian who as wee hope is the sonne of grace againe denyed my lord the king beeing very much inraged departed away saying in their hearing Doe what you like I weigh neither you nor your excoÌ„munication nor prize them the value of an egge and with these wordes hee mounted on horsebacke to gett him thence but the Archbishoppes with all the Bishoppes followed telling him that hee spoake impiously Afterwardes hee alighted and consulted with them in which counsell was concluded that all the Bishoppes should wryte to my Lord the Pope certifying him how the kinge in their hearing offered you peace and was in euery point ready to obey my Lord the Popes commandement but the Nuntios were in fault wherby it was not performed Afterwardes hauing wasted a little tyme in indighting these letters and the king as one enflamed with a wonderfull fury leauing them often the Bishoppes comminge to him sayde what would these Nuntios haue And showing him my Lord the Popes Mandate inioyninge them to accomplish the Nuntios commandement the king answered I know I know they will interdict my land but cannot I who am euery day able to take a most strong Castle take one Clearke who shall interdict my land Yet when in the end they yeelded in some degree to satisfy his desire the tempest of his anger was layde and returning to himselfe hee sayde vnles yee conclude this night a peace yee shall neuer come so neere this point againe and when they had awhile trauelled in the busines assembling them all together hee vsed these wordes It is conuenient I should doe very much at the intreaty of my Lord the Pope beecause hee is our Lord and father in regarde wherof I restore to the Archbishoppe his Sea with my peace and the like to all those who for his sake haue departed the land Wherupon the Nuntios and all there present thanked his Maiestie and then the king moreouer added If I haue not as now donne sufficiently I will to morowe by your aduyse supply what is yet wanting On the morowe beeing the Kalends of September about twelue of the Clocke they assembled together ad hauing long treated aboute absoluing the Excommunicate without obligation of oath it came to that passe as G. Rydell with Nigellus de Sackeuyle and Thomas Fitz-Bernard laying their handes on the Bible there present sayde that in the word of truth they would accomplish the Nuntios commandement Then was it required of the Nuntios that all they vpon whom my Lord the king in this tyme of disturbance had beestowed your Churches might enioy them according to the tenor of his Maiesties guifte but as wee heard the conclusion was that they should bee left free to your disposition Afterwards it was determined the Bishoppes should set downe in wryting the forme of peace which the king had granted And this did the king to the end that one of the Nuntios should passe ouer into England for absoluing the excommmunicate And beeing departed vpon these termes after three howers within night the king sayde hee would haue inserted in the articles of peace these wordes with the reseruation of the dignity of his kingdome wherunto as wee heard Gratian absolutely denyed euer to yeilde and vpon this word as yet they differ determining to returne on the Natiuity of Saint Mary the Virgen to Cane there finally to conclude more fully the whole busines Thus farre concerning the meeting of the Nuntios with the king Gratian is highly commended who would neuer condescend to admitt this forme of wordes coÌ„cerning which Iohn of Salisbury wrote in this sorte to Iohn Bishop of Poytiers Many conceaue a hope that the sonne of grace whose name agreeth with his actions the Nephew of blessed Eugenius will sincerely proceede according to the Euangelicall truth the glory of the Apostolicall Maiestie and the honor and peace of the distressed Church for hee knoweth assuredly that taking this course hee shall purchase to himselfe eternall glory beefore God and men And in regarde hee findeth but few vpon whom hee may boldly rely I beeseech you to coÌ„firme and strengthen in our Lord his constancy The king by Gods fauour is well able to pay and for penitents it is certayne the sinne shall not bee forgiuen vnles what is wrongfully taken away bee restored c. For wheras hee thought there was no reconciliation of peace without restitution of the goodes taken away from the Church Salisbury praysing these his proceedinges sayth The king God willing is well able to satisfy and penitents may bee assured they can neuer obtayne remission of their sinnes if what they haue taken away bee not restored when they haue ability to doe it for otherwise it is not pennance but a fayned Hypocrisy And hee againe as touching absolution giuen without promise of satisfaction and also concerning that clause with preseruation of the dignity of the kingdome beeing the wordes which Gratian reiected sayth moreouer If the king haue his will to inserte in the articles of agreement The preseruation of the dignity of his kingdome hee hath the victory for confirmation of his customes with only alteration of the wordes and hath banished cleane out of England all the Authority of the Roman Church But God forbid that euer assent should
and successe heereof answered it was forbidden in his order that any brother should write to you or others about any affayres but promised to declare beefore your Nuntio Master Lumbard who deliuered him your letters the whole state and processe of the cause that hee may signify the same vnto you as faythfully and amply as if himselfe had bin there present And thus did Symon wryte to the Pope But what ensued afterwardes the sayde Nuntio in another relation sent also to Pope Alexander layd open in these wordes According to the commandement of your Holines wee deliuered to the renowned king of England your Comonitory letters doing our vttermost labor and dilligence to perswade him Cod. Vat. lib 4. Epist 10. according to your admonition to receaue my Lord of Canterbury into his fauor agayne to restore him his Archbishopricke with peace and suffer him freely to dispose of his Church wee long expected hoping and praying that Allmighty God would molify his harte But when by our forbearāce wee profited nothing we presēted vnto him in the next parle of the kinges your cominatory letters which hauing at the last with great difficulty receaued vpon the instant entreaty of vs and many noble personages after many wordes too lōg heere to rehearse hee answered thus I neuer banished my Lord of Canterbury out of the kingdome neuerthelesse for the reuerence I owe to my Lord the Pope if hee will performe to mee what hee ought to doe ād obserue to mee what his Predecessors haue obserued to my Progenitors yea what himselfe hath promised hee may returne into England and enioy his peace And after sundry diuersitys of answers hee lastly sayde Hee would assemble together the Bishoppes of England and take their counsell but appoynted no day nor more could wee gett at his handes wherby wee might bee assured of my Lord of Canterburys peace or the execution of your Mandate And beecause wee found him often altering in his answers wee demanded of him if my Lord of Canterbury might returne to his Archbishoppricke and vse it in peace Wherupon hee replyed That the Archbishop should neuer come within his land before hee did to him accordingly as hee ought to doe and had vndertaken to obserue what others had obserued and what himselfe had allready promised Lastly wee beesought him hee would wryte and signify by his letters patents his answer beecause wee ought to declare vnto you a certaynty which hetherto wee had not in regarde hee varyed soe often in his answers wherunto hee would not agree But the Archbishoppe when wee deliuered thus much vnto him sayd hee would bee euer ready to obey the king wherin hee ought and obserue whatsoeuer was observed by his Predecessors soe far forth as hee could with reseruation of his order but to intangle himselfe in new obligations that were neuer offered to his Predecessors and vndertake to performe any such without preseruation of his order was alltogether vnlawfull for him without my Lord the Popes authority first beecause it is pernicious to bring a new forme into Gods Church and then in regarde hee was forbidden by your Holines euer to make any such promise but with the reseruation of Gods honor and of his order And sayde moroeuer your Holines with rebuking tould him that hee ought not for safegard of his life to binde himselfe to the obseruation of such customes but with preseruation of his order Yet if the king would according to your Mandate restore to him his fauor with peace and the free inioying of his Church together with such thinges as were wrongfully taken away from him and his hee would most willingly performe at his pleasure whatsomeuer hee could possibly doe without offence of God and breach of his order and will endeauor most dilligently and deuoutly to serue him with all his power Please it therfore your Holines to succour the afflicted Church and to perseuer in that which to your great commendation you haue allready beegunne beecause as wee haue heard of many and doe certainly beelieue if you perseuer the peace and redresse of the Church is euen now at hand Thus wrote Simon of Gods-Mount after hee had worthily performed his charge and to the same purpose did the Archbishop of Senon who was there present and saint Thomas also Cod. Vat. lib. 4. Ep. 7. Ibidem Ep. 6. signify to his Holines Meane while the king of England dealt by his two agents with Pope Alexander that the authority of faint Thomas might bee suspended vntill this matter were handled by the Popes Nuntios as it appeareth by the Popes letters to the king which Roger in his Chronicles of England recyteth in this yeere beeginning thus Your Maiesties Agētes our beeloued sonne Iohn Cumin c. and written in secret as the Pope witnesseth in his owne wordes which neuerthelesse the king with great vaunting diuulged For as wee see in the first conference of the kinges the king of England protracted the peace least hee should otherwise loose the priuiledge which as hee sayd hee receaueth from the Pope to wit that the Archbishops authority should bee suspended vntill hee had obtayned the kinges peace vpon occasion of which graunt you may conceaue the Pope was hardly spoaken of by many the king of England who was the only procurrer thereof in kindling hatred and wrath against him by showing publickly with great ostentation and kingly pryde the Popes letters and causing them especially to bee read in the last royall conference whereof saint Thomas wrote thus to Conrade Archbishop of Mountes Ibidem Epist 15. The king of England publickly boasteth of our suspension by proclayming the same in the open streetes of either kingdome and for a testimony of my confusion and to make mee more burdensome and odious to the world hee layeth open the Apostolike letters Hee gloryeth also of the terme of the prerogatiue assigned him beeing vntill hee receaueth mee into fauour which if it remayneth in his power shall bee at the Grecian Kalendes I meane neuer c. Wherof hee vaunted vpō this only reason beecause Pope Alexander beeing importuned and deceaued by the king did wryte that saint Thomas should suspend his authority so long ouer the king and kingdome vntill hee purchassed the kings peace which benignity of the Pope the king abusing did of set purpose deferre the peace beecause vntill that was concluded the Archbishoppes authority was suspended by reason whereof the Pope was inueyghed against Cod. Vat. lib. 4. Epist 14. Ibidem Ep. 18.22 Ibidem Ep. 19. Ibidem Ep. 20.23 25.2 Ibidem 16 8 not only by the Archbishoppe himselfe but likewise by the king of France as also his Queene and many others beeing incensed with the zeale of iustice Pope Alexander therfore assaulted with so many and soe greate complayntes by his letters to S. Thomas excused himselfe thus Wee suppose your wisedome is not ignorant how Henry the famous king of England sent his Agents vnto vs and with what vnreasonable and
his former fauor I theruppon complayning before his Maiestie of the iniuryes and insolencyes committed against mee and myne especially by the Bishoppes who in despight of their Mother Church of Canterbury beelonging to my charge were not afrayde to vsurpe hee graunted mee most gratiously his leaue â—o obtayne from my Lord the Pope any censure whatsomeuer to repaire my wronged right soe as not only hee enclined to consent but vouchsafed also to promise mee his assistance And thus publickly professed saint Thomas beefore those cruell kinghtes of the kinges Guarde But let vs pursue the history and especially concerning the tyme when hee tooke shipping for England wherof Herbert in Quadrilogus of the life of S. Thomas discourseth thus In the yeere therfore of our Sauiours Incarnation 1170. and the seauenth yeere of his exile beeing now beegune on the second and third day of our Lordes Aduent the glorious frend of God and most constant defender of the Church Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury with his followers beeing imbarked in the night launched forth and hauing a prosperous wind according to their desire landed in England Soe much concerning his sayling and arriuall And Iohn of Salisbury whom saint Thomas had seâ—t before into England perswaded the people by his letters yet extant Cad Vâ—â— li. 5. 〈◊〉 65. to meete their Pastor according to the example of their ancestors who mett saint Anselme in his returne from exile But therin were they hindred by the enuy and hatred of his aduersaryes Now for the passage of matters after his comming into England thore remayneth a large relation of Iohn of Salisbury to Peeter Abbot of saint Remigius Ibid. â—p 6â— yet let vs neâ—ertheles heare a more certaine reporte of these occurrents written by saint Thomas himselfe to Pope Alexanâ—â—â— beeing the last of all his Epistles for not many dayes after was hee murdered by the kinges Guarde This of his to Pope Alexander was indighted in these wordes Vppon how iust and honorable condicions weâ—e concluded our peace with my Lord the king of England I suppose your Holines is certifyed as well by The 〈◊〉 â—â—â—stle of saâ—â—â— Thomâ—â— to the Pope the relation of vs as diuers others who haue trauelled beetweene neither yet doe wee thinke you to bee ignorant how my Lord afterwardes flewe of from these his conuenants and promises which neuertheles wee beelieue not to bee soe much his faulte as the faulte of the Preistes of Baal and the children of the false Prophetts who from the beeginning haue bin the fewell of this dissention But the cheife leaders of these are that Yorke and London who sometimes when you were at Senon vppon their returne from you hauing neither seene our king nor heard him speake were not afrayde to beereaue vs of our possessions beeing then present in the Courte of your Clemency allthough it was vndoubtedly knowne to them as beeing the parties appealed how mee prosecuted two appeales before your Holines When therfore these Ringleaders of the Baalamites were aduertised of the peace wee made with my Lord the king ioyning to them Salisbury and other their confederates they sought by sea and land to cutt in sunder this knott of vnited peace perswading as well by themselues as others my Lord the king and his counsell how vnprofitable and dishonorable this coÌ„cord should bee to the kingdome vnles the indowments of our Churches which his Maiestie had made should remayne stable and wee also bee enforced to obserue the customes of the kingdome beeing the cause of all this controuersy Wherupon they preuayled soe farre in their peruersityes as my Lord the king by their instigation tooke from vs and ours all our rents from the time of the peace which was concluded on saint Mary Magdalens day vntill the feaste of saint Martin yeelding vs then at last empty houses and ruinated barnes and yet notwithstanding his clearkes G. Rydell and Nigell de Sackeuylle doe at this day withhoulde froÌ„ vs two of our Churches which they receaued from a lay inuesture and the king himselfe denyeth vs many possessions of our Bishoppricke which in the reformation of this peace hee vndertooke to restore But albeeit as it is knowne to many hee beehaueth himselfe otherwise then it beeseemeth against the artickles of peace considering neuertheles the outragious and irreuocable spoyles of the Church and for preuentioÌ„ of farre greater hauing also taken aduise with my Lordes the Cardinalles wee resolued to returne vnto our torne Church thus troaden vnder foote which if wee cannot as wee would rayse againe and repaire yet at the least dying with her wee may more confidently in her presence spend our life for her sake which determination of ours when these our enemys did more certaynly vnderstand I knowe not vpon what feare they consulted with the kinges officers and that most sinfull childe of perdition Raynulphe Broc who abusing the power of the publicke gouernment against the Church of God hath now for these seauen yeeres made hauocke more freely therof Wherupon they concluded to keepe most carefully with armed men and a continuall guarde of scoutes and souldiers the sea coastes and hauens where they supposed wee would arriue that wee might not land beefore they had searched all our lading and taken away all such letters as wee obtayned from your Maiestie But by the goodnes of God it soe fell out that all their attemptes were made knowne to vs by our freindes who suffered not their impudency builded vpon presumption to lurke concealed For these armed scoutes did scoure the sea coastes running heere and there according as the foresayde Bishoppes of Yorke Londom and Salisbury directed them and they made choyse for execution of their malice of such as were knowne to bee our greatest enemys beeing Raynulphe de Broc Reynold de Warrenne and Geruase shyreefe of Kent who threatened openly to cutt of my heade if wee presumed to arriue These afore recyted Bishoppes came often to Canterbury that if this armed route were not outragious enough they might yet more incense them Hauing therefore more thoroughly vnderstood their determination wee sent away your letters a day before wee toke shipping excepting for the suspension of Yorke and the recalling of London and Salisbury into their former sentence of Excommunication which were deliuered to their handes On the morrow wee went to sea and sayling prosperously arryued in England taking a long with vs according to the kinges commandement How saint Thomas was vsed at his landing in England Iohn Deane of Salisbury who not without sorrowe and shame beeheld these armed troupes posting to our shippe of purpose to assault vs in our landing wherfore the Deane fearing least if any wrong should bee offered to vs and ours it would redound to my Lord the kinges dishonor mett the souldiers and charged them in the kinges name neither to hurte vs nor ours because it would taynte the king himselfe beetweene whom and vs a peace was now concluded with some note of trechery and
relation of some to the kinges eares beecause it was vnlawfull to conceale from him what by the right of his power and sworde appertayned to him to punish who instantly in the first vttering of this deadly discourse as one changed and giuen ouer to all sortes of compassionate lamentation quite altering his royall Maiestie into haire-cloth and ashes shewed himselfe more truly a freind then a king beeing sometimes astonished and from astonishmentes falling into more greiuous sighes and bitter sorrowe then allmost three days solitary retyred in his chamber hee neither endured to receaue sustenance nor admitt consolation but seemed willfully by a more deadly greife to designe himselfe to a voluntary death Miserable was the face of our mischeifes and our inward greifes fraighted with care beecause wee who first lamented our Preist beegan now therupon to dispaire the recouery of our king and beeleiued that in the death of one both would pittifully perish But his friends and principally the Bishoppes complayninge especially that hee would not suffer himselfe to returne againe to himselfe hee answered hee was in feare least the Authors and complotters of this horrible acte vpon confidence of the olde discorde promised themselues pardon of the cryme allthough himselfe by fresh iniurys and sundry bad turnes had heaped new dissentions and therfore thought the fame and glory of his renowne might bee clowded with the slaunders of his aduersarys and so falsly bruted that this matter proceeded from his owne will But hee protested as Allmighty God should iudge his soule that this accursed deede was neither acted by his will nor consent nor wrought by any deuise of his vnles heerin were perhaps his error that as yet hee was thought too litle to affect him but in this also hee absolutely submitted himselfe to the Churches iudgment and would humbly vndergoe whatsoeuer for his soules health should bee imposed and inioyned him Consulting therfore together wee accorded all in this that his Maiestie should referre himselfe to the wisedome and authority of the Sea Apostolike which the Christian fayth professeth more amply to abound with the spiritt of sapience and fullnes of power and indeauor there by lawfull and canonicall meanes to approue his innocency Wee therfore humbly beeseech that according to the spiritt of counsell and fortitude beestowed by God on you you would with seuerity punish the Authors of soe heynous an offence according to this their enormious deserte and your Apostolike piety would with more singular affection conserue our kinges innocency in his former estate Allmighty God preserue your person very long in health to his Churches vtility Hetherto the Bishoppe of Lizieux in the name of these assembled Bishoppes With these letters were messingers allso sent to Pope Alexander from the Bishopps and others aparte from the king and some likewise beefore these from the Bishoppe of Yorke to sue for absolution from his excommunication of all which there remayneth a relation from the kinges Messinger the Archdeacon of Poytiers in these wordes Who were the first Messingers from the Bishoppes and king of Englād to Pope Alexander and who the second Embassadors of the king and what as well these as these petitioned and in what sorte they departed from the Courte I will as breifely as I can rehearse First were Iohn Cumin and Master B. sent to seeke absolution for the Bishoppes but Iohn Cumin came to the courte fifteene dayes beefore Master B. and after great importunity hauing first made a promise of 500. Marcks was admitted to audience the Clearkes of the Archbishop of Yorke ād the Nuntio of Durhame partaking with him and alleaging much in excuse of the Bishopps and they had I thinke obtayned absolution had not the rumor of the Archbishoppes death come on the heade of it which absolutely disgraced all for my Lord the Pope was therewith soe exceedingly troubled that for allmost eight dayes not so much as his owne followers could haue conference with him and it was generally conceaued that no Englishman should haue accesse vnto him and so all their busines remayned in suspence The next Messingers were the Bishoppes of Worcester and Ewreux the Abbot of Valace the Archdeacons of Salisbury and Lizieux S. Robert of Newborough Richarde Barre Master Henry Pichim and one of the Templars beeing all sent to excuse the king that Canterbury was neither killed by his commandement nor will yet was it not denyed but that the king had giuen cause of his death and spoken somewhat wherupon those Murderers tooke occasion to kill him neither did those Messingers come together to the courte nor yet were admitted by my Lord the Pope nor could appeare in his presence Afterwards vpon sute of some Cardinalls the Abbot and Archdeacon of Lizieux were receaued Thursday before Easter approaching it was generally sayde in the Courte that my Lord the Pope would that day pronounce sentēce of excōmunication against the king and kingdome Wherupon the Messingers stroaken with feare by the intercession of some Cardinalls signifyed to my Lord the Pope that they had receaued commandement from my Lord their king to make oathe in his presence that the king should obey his Mandate and that the king should in his owne person sweare as much The same Thursday about nyne of the clocke as well the kinges messingers as the messingers of the Bishoppes were called in the generall Consistory The kinges Messingers beeing the Abbot of Valace and the two afore recyted Archdeacons Henry and Richarde Barre were sworne that the king should stand to the Popes iudgment and that when his Holines should commande him hee should take thereupon his Corporall oathe Neuertheles the Pope generally excommunicated the same day the Murderers of saint Thomas and all that gaue counsell ayde or assent therunto and all who should receaue them into their land or any way abett them After Easter came the Bishoppes of Worcester and Eureux with Robert de Newboroughe The Relatiō of the Messingers proceedinges with the Pope and whether the sayde oath were required of them I knowe not but that they swore not I am certaine and when they had attended the Courte xv dayes and more they were called in to receaue their answer for they with others agreede as well in excusing the king as in accusing according as hath bin sayde And when it was supposed they should haue caryed backe a happie doome my Lord the Pope confirmed the sentence of interdiction giuen by the Bishoppe of Senon against the kinges dominions on this syde of the Seas with the sentence of suspension and excōmunication which was denounced against the Bishoppes of England adding withall that hee would send his Legates to the king to see and vnderstand his humility Afterwardes at the great instance of the Messingers by the intercession also of some Cardinalls and large sommes of money as it is sayde this was obtayned our Lord the Pope should wryte to the Archdeacon of Bitureux that if within one moneth after these Messingers
comming into Normandy hee hearde not his Legates had passed the Alpes then hee should absolue the Bishoppes of London and Salisbury from excommunication first taking of them an oathe to obey our Lord the Popes Mandate they and the rest remayning neuerthelesse still in suspension Thus departed our Lord the kinges Messingers from the courte neither yet caryed they backe any thing else But when they shall come or who shall vndertake this iourney I thinke it is hetherto vnknowne to the Cardinalls Only now as I beelieue you neede not feare the Interdicton of England soe as the king will submitt himselfe to the Legates And our Lord the Pope wryteth to him and inuyteth him to humility yet hardly could hee bee wrought to wryte to him Hetherto is the relation of one of the kinges Messingers But these letters of Pope Alexander to the king of England are lost Now let vs heare a more faythfull and certaine reporte made by other the kinges Messingers vnto the king himselfe where no mention of money either offered or receaued as the other vpon his false coniecture rehearsed is made although it contayneth a most exacte recytall of all and singular matters and wordes that passed for thus it is To his dearest Lord Henry the renowned king of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitayne and Earle of Anioue R Abbot of Wallacia R Archdeacon of Salisbury R. Archdeacon of Lizieux Richard Barre and Master Henry send greeting with due obedience in all thinges and euery where These are to certify your Maiestie that when Richard Barre going beefore vs had with great danger and trauaille come to our Lord the Popes courte wee foure with the two Bishoppes the Deane of Eureux and Master Henry with much difficulty attayned Sene where for some dayes wee were constrayned to stay for Count Macarius had on all sydes soe beeset the wayes as there remayned no passage for any When wee foure together with the Bishoppes who earnestly desyred to departe could not as wee would in regarde of these exceeding difficultyes consulting in one at midnight with all secrecy wee sett forwarde and so by craggy mountains and places allmost unpassable with extreme feare and danger wee came in the end to Tusculan There found wee Richard Barre allthough as beeseemed him carefull of your honor and labouring discreetely and instantly for your commodity yet much troubled and confounded in regard neither our Lord the Pope had yet receaued him nor others had courteously and gently entertayned him And for vs at our comming the Pope would neither see vs nor receaue vs at his feete yea many of the Cardinalls would hardly afforde vs a worde Remayning therfore long and anxiously troubled in the bitternes of our soules wee by all meanes huÌ„bly besought those who more eÌ„tirely affected to you that our Lord the Pope by their intercession would some way vouchsafe vs a hearing The Lord Abbot of Wallacia R. Archdeacon of Lizieux as men least suspected were first receaued to audience But when they in salutation on your beehalfe beegan with your name inâ—ytleing you the most deuoute childe of the Roman Church The name of the king of England now hatefull at Rome The whole courte cryed out forbeare forbeare As if it were abhominable to the Pope to heare your name Soe comming from the Courte in the euening they returned agayne to our Lord the Pope deliuering to him by the aduice of vs all what by your Maiestie was commanded vs declaring also distinctly the suÌ„dry benefittes beestowed by you on CaÌ„terbury with the diuers excesses and importunityes committed by him against your dignyty and all this first in secret then before our Lord the Pope and the whole Colledge of Cardinalls where Alexander of Wales and Gunter of Flanders Clearkes of the Church of Canterbury contested and contended against you Thurseday before Easter beeing now at hand on which day according to the vse of the Roman Church our Lord the Pope was accustomed to absolue or excommunicate in publicke whereas wee were certayne that with greate attention they had long handled this weyghty cause which soe neere touched your selfe aÌ„d your kingdome wee aduysed with those who as wee knewe most fauored your Maiestie wee meane the Lords of Portua and Hyacinth The Cardinalles who fauoured the king of England the Lordes of Papia and Tusâ—ulane with Peeter Lord of Mirle for the Lord Iohn of Naples was absent importuning them with all labor and instance to lay open vnto vs our Lord the Popes intention and what hee determined to decree concerning your selfe But they on the other syde reporting nothing but disasters and matters disgracefull to your renowne wee perceiued out of the sights and sorrowfull relation of theÌ„ all especially of your faythfull well wisher brother French that our Lorde the Pope had that day resolued absolutely with the ioynt consent of all his brethren to pronounce the sentence of interdiction against your selfe by name and your dominions as well on this syde as beyond the seas and also confirme the same sentence which was allready diuulged against the Bishoppes Besett therfore with these extremityes wee attempted with our vttermost endeauors as well by the Cardinalls as those our Associates who had accesse to his holines and likewise by his inward freindes to make him desist from this purpose or at the least deferre it vntill the comming of your Bishoppes which when it could no way be obtayned wee according to our bounden duty to you beecause wee were neither able nor ought to endure the great disgrace of your person with the agreiuances of all your principalityes consulting in the end with our Associates beefore certayne Cardinalls deuysed à way good and secure for your state and honor profitable to all your dominions and necessary for your Bishoppes whereby wee auoyded that ignominy and danger euen now threatening your person subiectes and Bishoppes and exposed our selues wholly to the vttermost perill for this your deliuery beelieuing and hauing a singular hope that it is according as wee thinke to your wished desire For astonished with feare wee signifyed to our Lord the Pope by the intercession of the same Cardinalls that wee had receaued à commandemeÌ„t from you to sweare in his presence that you shall obey his Mandate and how your selfe in person shall make the sayde oathe The same thursday about nyne of the Clocke were the Messingers called in as well yours as the Bishoppes The Messingers sworne in the kings name and in the generall consistory were wee sworne the Abbot wee meane of Wallacia the Archdeacons of Salisbury and Lizieux Master Henry and Richard Barre that you shall stand to the Popes Mandate and take your corporall oathe at his appointment to this effecte Then the Messingers of the Archbishop of Yorke and of the Bishoppes of London and Salisbury swoare in like sorte that their Lordes should subiecte themselues to the Popes commandement and take an oath to that purpose Neuertheles the same day hee
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
brightnes soe in the resurrectioÌ„ the Saintes shall shine like starrs euery one in his proper order and they that haue instructed many to liue well shall bee as the bringhtnes of the Firmament for euer and euer among which ranck saint Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury may worthely bee placed Saint Thomas of Canterbury who as hee hath bin for Christ a Companion of their tribulation and patience soe is hee now in Christ a fellowe heire of their ioy and consolation whose meritts that they may the better appeare to the world I haue heere set downe the somme of his life and conuersation breifely and succinctly referring those that desire to reade his actes more largely discoursed to larger volumes of him and by him where hee shall bee satisfyed to the glory of Gods grace which breatheth where it will with how great expedition hee dispatched many great affaires it appeareth by his Epistles and by the writinges of other credible Authors also which being read with due attention may stirre vp vs and succeeding ages to vertue and piety Hee was borne in LoÌ„don of noe meane parentage Blessed Thomas was by birth à Londoner a noble issue descended from no meane parents from his tender yeeres hee was endowed with manifold graces of stature hee was tall of personage comely of witt quicke in discourse subtill and pleasant and in beauty of mynd hee was no lesse amiable In his yong yeeres such was the sharpnes of his witt that hee could vnfould strange and intricate questions and therewithall hee had soe happy a memory that what soeuer hee read or heard hee could easily make vse of it when occasioÌ„ was offered which many greater Clerkes could not attaine vnto all men did admire the alacritie of his spirit especially in a man employed in soe many businesses but thus did grace attend and nourish him that was reserued for soe emineÌ„t a place in the Church of God In his Sermons and ordinary discourses as hee vsed often times to say necessary matter was ministred vnto him his mother also as hee vsed to say taught him from his cradle to serue God His mothers Lesson and devoutly to call vpon the Blessed Virgin mother of God as the directer of hiâ—â—yes and patronesse of his life and next vnto Christ to put his cheife confidence in her His charitie and compassion Hee had compassion on those that begged from dore to dore and releiued them effectually so as hee might say with Iob mercy hath growne vp with mee from the beginning and pitty came with mee out of my mother's wombe Leauing the schooles of liberal sciences hee beecame a Courtier He became a Courtier in which profession hee gaue soe great hope of his forwardnes that both in the serious affaires of the Courte and in their disportes and recreation hee excelled far all his companions of his rancke and albeit hee did apply himselfe to the vaine delightes of youth as the frailty of that age did leade him yet was there euer in him a religious zeale and a magnificent mynd Hee was very religious albeeit hee was beyond measure desirous of popularity and as wee read of saint Brice of Tours although hee was proud and vaine and many times amourous in his wordes yet was hee nevertheles an admirable paterne to bee followed in the chastity of his body He was chast of body When hee perceaued that many thinges were attempted in the Courte to the dishonor of the Cleâ—gie and that his liuing there was repugnant to his intended purpose by the instinct and conduction of grace rather then by the motion and aduice of his freindes He was preferred to the seruice of Theobald Arch-Bishop of Can. hee preferred himselfe to the seruice of Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury of happie memory where through his industrie in shorte time hee was receaued into the number of his most familiar freindes which were very fewe how many great trauailes hee sustained there for the Church of God how often hee did visite the sepulchers of the Blessed Apostles He was employed in meighty affaires for the dispatch of necessary affaires with what prosperous successe hee spedd in his negotiations it is not easy to bee related especially by a pen that affecteth breuity purposing only compendiouslie to set downe the cause and manner of his Martyrdome He studyed the Ciuil and Canon lawe for the better preparing of him that was preordained of God to bee soe great a prelate for the decyding of weighty causes and instructing of the people hee gaue himselfe to the study of the Ciuil and Cannon lawe and for the encreasing of his experience in the Ecclesiasticall function the saide Archbishop made him Arch-Deacon of the Church of Canterbury wherin hee was trained vp He was made Arch-Deacon of Cant. Afterward when Henry Duke of Normandie and Aquitaine the sonne of Galfride Earle of Angiou and Mawlde the Empresse succeded king Stephen in the crowne of England the said Arch-Bishop obtained of the king the Chancellorship of England for his Arch-Deacon He was made Lord Chauncellor of Eng. for hee suspected the kinges youth and feared the malice of certaine yong heades by whom hee seemed to bee directed least that by their counsaile hee should bee incited to take vpon him the gouerment of the realme by the lawe of conquest for it seemed vnto him that hee had coÌ„quered the Realme wheras in truth it was nott soe and therfore the Arch-Bishop procured such à Lord Chancellor by whose meanes and industry the new king might bee stayed from attempting any thing against the Church his malice tempered and the insolency of his officers repressed who vnder colour of authority and instice had conspired to make a prey of the Church and common-weal e. At his first entrance into that office hee sustained so great and manifold difficultyes of weighty affaires was enuironed with so many labours oppressed with so many afflictions set vpon with so many wiles and exposed to so many snares of the courte or to speake more properly of the courtiers that hee vsed often times with teares to protest vnto the Arch-Bisbop and others his freindes hee was euery day weary of his life and moreouer that next vnto his eternal saluation he desired nothing more theÌ„ without note of infamy to deliuer himselfe from the alurements of the Courte for albeeit the world seemed to applaude and flatter him with all her enticements yet was hee neuer vnmindfull of his place and the Church committed vnto him wherby hee was constrained continually to contend and striue His allegiance to the king and loue to the common weale for the honor and safetie of the king and secondly for the good of the Church and common wealth both against the king himselfe and his enemyes also and by diuers sleightes to defeate diuers wiles by them intended against him but his greatest greife was that hee was without intermissioÌ„ to fight against the beastes of
assented And when is constancy more required then in the midst of our persecutors Are not Christes frindes tryed with persecutions If continually they yeelde when shall they ouercome Of necessity sometimes they must resist Condescend therefore most holy father to succour mee in my flight and persecution and remember that once I was in your age an eminent man but now for your sake wearyed out with iniuryes Put your power in execution restrayne them at whose instance the cause of this persecution came slilie creeping in Neither let the fault of any of these bee layde on my lord the King who is rather a practiser then inuentor of this wicked deuice Hetherto Roger but Pope Alexander heareing heereof declared first that S. Thomas was no waye bounde by his condemnation in this Conuenticle writing thus Cod Vatican lib. 1. epist 49. Pope Alexander to Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury That the inferior cannot iudge his superior and him especially to whom in the right of Prelacy hee is knowne to bee subordinate and helde bound in the chaynes of obedience as welle diuine as humane lawes doe showe and this especially in the decrees of the holy fathers is more manifestly declared Wherefore with carefull consideration weyghing this wee to whom it beelongeth to reforme errours and amend that which for want of correction may leaue a pernicious example to posterity and moreouer beecause the Church ought not by reason of the offence of any particular person to sustayne any losse or discommoditie doe adiudge the sentence to bee absolutely voyde and declare by the Apostolical authority the same to bee of no force which by the Bishops and Barons of England in reguard you appeared not vpon the Kinges first summons was presumptiously pronounced against you whereby the sayd Bishops and Barons depriued you of all your moueable goods as well against the forme of law as contrary to the Ecclesiasticall custome and that especially since you had noe moueables but only of the Churches goods Alsoe wee determine the sayd sentence to bee hereafter of no power nor any ability to preiudice or indammage you your successors or the Church committed to your gouermeÌ„t Thus wrote Pope Alexander whoe likewise by other letters commanded restitution to bee made of all thinges taken away from the Archbisgop or any others Ibid. epist 32. vpon any occasion concerning him But that the state of the Church of England may appeare more playnly I would haue you vnderstand how these letters which by the kinges Embassadors where returned backe to his Holines agayne were first imparted to the Archbishop of Yorke vnto whom at the kinges request was decreed the Legantine authority for England but in reguard Pope Alexander had in his later letters as wee see confined him that hee should not by reason of his iurisdiction challenge any power to himselfe either ouer the person of Saint Thomas or the Archbishoppricke of Canterbury the king as frustrate of his intention who was only bent by prerogatiue of this Legate to depose S. Thomas commanded the letters of legation now vnprofitable for his purpose to bee remaunded backe to the Pope by his Embassadors designed thereunto Concerning this there are other letters extant declaring soe much in these wordes To his most beeloued lord his assured sendeth greeting and euer wisheth him well to fare THrough the mercy of Almighty God who neuer forsaketh those Lib. 1. epist 6. who repose theire trust in him it soe fell out as the same day wherein my lord the Pope was certifyd of Octauians death the Imbassadors of the kinges L and H to witt Lewes and Henry came to the Court the English truly pretending on their kinges beehalfe a shewe of exceeding humility both in open wordes and letters consonant to their speech seemed soe far to moue my lord the Pope and some of his Cardinalls that as by reporte of those who fauoured you I vnderstood they hardly could abstayne from teares wherefore after many allegations in what sorte and with what affection the kinges Maiestie receaued Pope Alexander and how great reuerence hee euer shewed to him the which hee would continew during his life these flourishes finished they returned vnto his Holines many letters concerning the legantine power which your Archdeacon obtayned dishonestly for England during the tyme I remayned with you but the condition wheruppon hee procured the same letters my lord the King by the mouth of his Embassadors absolutely renounced as neuer made or desired by him The Popes Holines soe willingly and gladly receaued the same letters back againe as if a thing most wished were now offered him in such manner as some there present maruelled very much You perceaue reader in all thinges hitherto haÌ„dled before Bope Alexander in the case of S. Thomas how hee fauored euer his side Lib. 1. epist 24. and was from the first in the passage of this busines inclined to asist him in regard wherof let Iohn of Salisbury reprou himselfe who in the beeginninge of these tumultes wryting to S. Thomas beecoÌ„meth soe bad a prophet of Pope AlexaÌ„ders proceedinges saying many thinges make against you fewe for you for mightie persons will come who are bountifull in the largesse of money which Rome neuer despised and will bee supported not only with their owne but alsoe my Lord the kinges authority whom the courte ought in no case to displease c. You may see therefore how vntruly and rashly hee censured of Pope Alexanders constancy supposing hee might bee conquered with gould who was stronger then steele Another imbassage also ensued The imbassage of the Bishoppeâ— of England â—hainst Saint Thomas addressed from the keng to Pope AlexaÌ„der by the Archbishops aÌ„d Bishops of EnglaÌ„d who were all admitted to publicke audieÌ„ce wherein the CoÌ„sistory first of theÌ„ all the Bishop of LoÌ„don houlding the first place did first beegin thus to speake Vnto you Father appertayneth the care and watchfull eye ouer the Catholicke Church that both the discreete may by your wisedom bee fostred vp to the exaÌ„ple of manners aÌ„d the vnaduised by the Apostolical authority suppressed and chasticed to reduce them to wisedom But in the depth of your discretion the man cannot bee conceaued to bee wise who presuming in the strength of his owne witt endeauoreth to disturbe the band of vnion among his brethen the tranquillity of the Church and the deuotion of the king A dissention hath lately sprung in England beetweene the kingdome and the Preisthood vpon an occasion but light and of litle importance which might haue bin easily extinguished had a moderate medicine bin thereunto applyed but my lord of Canterbury being herein singular in his owne conceyte and not guided by our counsel insisted seuerely beeyond reason neuer considering this ill affected time or what manner of mischeife may ensue vpon such a headlong entreprise and soe weaued intangling snares for the destâ—uction of himselfe and his brethren and had but our assent fauored his designes the
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
you but to forewarne you to bee watchfull that supported with the authority of almighty God and of vs you may bee heereafter able and willing with more strength and power to parforme the dutys of your charge In breife this only thing I would haue you now to knowe that through the mercy of God they shall neuer wrest from mee the Churches confusion All this not with standing I giue you thankes in reguard you would at this tyme visite and refresh mee with your consolation What say I more more one thing there is which without greeuous sorrow of mynde I cannot ouerpasse I lament truly my dearest beeloued Lord the kinge for feare and trembling haue fallen vpon mee Psal 54. and darknes couered mee round about in reguard I see tribulation and extremityes hang ouer my Lord and Prince neither yet is it strange for hee hath shaken the Church of God and disturbed the same shewing hard measure to the Cleargie of the land and giuing them for drinke the wine of sorrowe wherefore our Lord saith to him where are now thy wise Counsellors who haue giuen thee foolish aduise who said Isai 1â— thou art the sonne of the prudent the sonne of anciâ—â—â— kinges whose customes are to bee obserued in England and whose lawes whosoeuer shall refuse to obey hee is not Cesar's freind but enemy to the Crowne guilty of iudgment yet neuertheles which is of worth hee is afreind to the Crosse of Christ beecause woe bee to them who enact lawes of iniquity and writing haue indighted iniustice whereby they may oppresse the poore in iudgement and commit violence on the cause of the humble of the people that Churches and widowes may bee their prey and they themselues waste the gooddes of the Clergy and others what will they doe in the day of visitation and calamity approching a far of to whom will they flye for refuge and where will they relinquish their gloryes to the end they bee not depressed with iudgment and falling dye with the murdered where are now his wise ones let them come forth declare to him and showe what our Lord of Hostes hath thought of England his graue counsellors are beecome fooles and his Princes haue withered away they haue deceaued England the Angle and Corner of the world our lord hath intermingled among them the spirit of giddynes they haue made England erre in their workes as the drunken man erreth with vomiting and trembling and it shall not bee Englands worke either to make head or tayle beecause they haue deuoured Iacob and made his place desolate Psal 78. and sayd let vs possesse for our inheritance the sanctuarie of God with vphraiding Priestes and their Princes saying whither will yee flye out of our handes And in whom is reposed your confidence why haue yee resisted and withstood our preceptes O how vaine are thâ—se conceptes and how extreme vyle are these workes in the sight of our Lord Hee seeth truly that all these things are idle for hee will deride him who deuiseth thus and him who doeth thus foreseeing that his day is euen at hand yea entring at the very dore and hee will say Loe heere the men Psal 51. who haue not setled their succour in God but haue planted their hope in the abundance of their riches and preuayled in their vanity and yet to no purpose are these their workes Our Lord leaueth not his Church and Clergie without a defendor nor without a most terrible reuenge for she is founded vpon a strong rocke yea the rocke is Christ himselfe who hath built her with his owne proper blood Assuredly vnlesse they reforme these sinns they will not passe vnreuenged beecause they haue trampled vnder their feete the holy of holys the house of God by afflicting his preistes with iniurys and reprochfull wordes for his Preistes are they to whom our Lord himselfe speaketh thus Psal 21. Luc. 10. I haue said yee are Goddes and all the sonnes of the highest And in another place who heareth yee heareth mee and who contemneth yee contemneth mee and who toucheth yee toucheth the aple of myne eye Let them returne to their hartes and cast these mischeefes away from them let them doe pennance in the depth of humility otherwise it is to bee feared least our Lord which God forbid will come bring vpon theÌ„ and their land greeuous tribulation and the most heauy reuenge of retribution Behould our Lord will come and will not delay but hee will saue vs yea hee neuer forsaketh such as trust in him for the Prophet sayth Hope in our Lord and doe righteousnes and thou shalt bee fed in his riches And in another place Psal 26. Psal 36. Expect our Lord and deale manfully and let thy harte bee comforted and endure our Lord and quickly shalt thou bee deliuered from the hunter's nâ—t and the bitter word And that I may finish all the rest with a worthie conclusion In regard our Lord declareth vnto vs what and how great aduersityes wee must suffer for his name and defence of his Church it is requisite yea most necessary that both you the whâ—le Church committed to your charge pray instantly for 〈◊〉 that what by our owne merrits wee are not able to atcheyue wee may obtaine to accomplish by your intercession the suffrages of the holy men who liue in your Dioces and thereby come to purchase eternal grace Farwell and bee of good comfort yea farwell the whole Church of England and bee comforted in our Lord that wee may all together fare-well Thus wrote saint Thomas out of France where hee then liued into England But what in the meane time did the king of England The requestes of the â—ing of England Embassadors to the Pope Before Alexander departing out of France vndertooke his iourney towards Rome which hapned in Easter this present yeere the King of Englands Embassadors came to Pope Alexander But what their Embassage was you shall now heare out of Alan in Quadril In the meane time were messangers sent of all sides yea from my lo the Pope himselfe to establish peace In the end it was on all hands agreed that my Lo the Pope the King should at an appointed time place meete together to the end by their intercourse of speech the way for peace might bee more easily deuised The King assenteth to bee there present so as the Archbishop would not as then appeare in place beecause hee would not in the sight of saint Thomas behould the face of my Lord the Pope The Archbishop on the other parte forewarned his Holines not in any case to entertaine this parlee with the King but in presence of himselfe who was best acquainted with his fashoÌ„s for hee sayd the piety of the Apostolicke Sea may soone bee deceaued by the subtill varyety of the kings words if there were not a skillfull interpreter ready at hand who were able to sifte the depth and intent of his mynd out of the
king of England is confident in the Emperor aÌ„d the captiuity of my Lord the Pope which the Prophetts of Belial haue tould him But whereas the kinges Embassadors did sweare in his Maiesties name to followe the Scysmaticall factioÌ„ the Arch-bishop of Roane excuseth the same as no way done by the kinges commandement which appeareth in his letters directed to Henry Preist and Cardinall of the title of the Saintes Mereus and Achilleus written thus Concerning the king of England wee certainly secure you that neither by himselfe nor by his Embassadors hee euer gaue oath or promise to leaue the Church and cleaue to the Schysmaticke yea wee are assured that in those couenants of Maryage whatsoeuer they were allthough for three dayes the Almaynes indeauoured to peruert him hee would neuer accord to any thing but with preseruation of his fidelity to our Lord the Pope the Church and the king of France and as well our lady the Empresse as our selues haue by our letters inioyned him to cleere himselfe with all expedition from this aspersion For our partes beeing at Roan allthough the kinges Embassadors were then also there wee only heard of them but sawe them not c. But for these Embassadors who faulted soe fouly wee find that sainct Thomas excommunicated them as his letters to his suffraganes in the yeere following doe signify which heere after in their turne wee will declare These thinges beeing thus layd open concerninge this passage with Fredericke the Emperour against Pope Alexander it remayneth that wee likwise know what were the actions of this yeere concerning saint Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury When Pope Alexander was certifyed of the king of Englandes Embassadors in the conuenticle of Witemberge The Pope reproueth the King of England wherby they bound themselues with their king to the Scymaticall Antipope Pascall it pleased him to admonish the king thereof by letters from the sacred Colledge of Cardinalls the letters themselues are not extantâ— but only the letters of Apologie written by the king in his defence to the holy Colledge of Cardinalls in these words Cod. Vat. lib. â— Ep. 41. King Henrys Apologie written to the Cardinalls As touching that which our Lord the Pope hath signifyed vnto vs to wit the alienation of our mynde and intention from our loue and deuotioÌ„ to the Roman Church wee doe first answer that your wisedome is fully informed with how sinceere an affection wee haue euer loued as well the Romane Church as also the person of our Lord the Pope what great attemptes wee haue vndertaken for him and what affronts wee haue sustayned for his sake for to passe ouer other thinges in silence when the question and controuersie arose for receauing him wee did not only accept of him our selues but also drawe yea inforce diuers others allthough vnwilling to doe the like nor yet did wee euer estrange our mynde from the fullnes of our affection But hee as wee manifestly knowe who hath in former tymes bin most troublesome to vs as the euents of his actions many way declare euen now especially with word worke and writing which cheefely incenseth the myndes of Princes perseuereth to defame our person terming vs as well in letters as speech the Persecutor and oppressor of the Church Now let our Lord the Pope consider how fatherly this mans proceedinges are towardes vs who first signifying vnto vs that Princes ought to haue especiall caution and care to preserue their fame vnspotted neglecteth heere this fatherly affection towards vs and with word and worke disgraceth our fames renowne Wee doe therefore make it knowne to your whole reuerent Colledge that whatsoeuer honor eminency and power our kingdome possesseth aÌ„d all other thinges subiect vnto our gouerment these and euery one of these wee acknowledg and professe to bee giuen and bestowed on vs by our Lord and Creator and to him wee render most humble thankes although not such vs mee ought beeing thereunto altogether vnable but such as our power can afford and would to God our Lord the Pope would beeseech allmighty God in our beehalfe that wee might offer vp and vnderstand how to yeeld to our God and Creator all dutifull deuotion and reuerence and that wee may with that intire and inward portion of our soules which wee owe him feare and loue him only for truly although wee cannot loue and adore him soe much as in duty wee are bound vnto neuerthelesse haue wee an affection and desire to serue him in euery thing to please him in all thinges and wholy to obey him Wee intend truly and desire willingly to perseuer in the integrity of the grace and loue of our Lord the Pope if his Holines will in like sorte mayntaine vnto vs and our kingdome the same honor and preseruation of glory and dignity which holy and reuerent Popes of Rome haue shewed to noble and potent Princes our Predecessors But concerning appeales which hee supposeth wee prohibite affirming also that wee restraine the subiects of our kingdome from visiting the Courte of Rome wee would not haue this concealed from your wisedomes that wee haue neuer at any time hindred either visitations or appeales but only require they should bee in such manner such course and such fashion ordered as they haue bin formerly performed according to the customes and dignity of our kingdome in the tyme of our progenitors who were illustrous Princes and according to the ordinations and constitutions of the grauest and wisest persons as well of the Clergie as Laytie of our dominions In that hee reproueth vs for entring into leage with the excommunicate wee suppose not wee haue heerein either offended God or proceeded against reason for as wee receaued from our Lord the Popes owne mouth his Holines neuer held the Lord Fredericke the Emperour of Roâ—â— excommunicate neither yet haue wee heard by relation of any that hee was afterwardes excommunicated Neither although wee graunted our daughter in mariage to the Emperours sonne doe wee beelieue wee haue committed any offence therin Beecause that wee may receaue example from the like as the same was in our knowledge lawfull to the most excellent and mighty king Henry our grandfather who intermaryed his daughter with Henry of late memory Emperour of Rome so wee by the same reason deduced from our ancestors beeing aduised also by our graue Counsellors did condescend to a contract beetweene the Emperors sonne and our daughter Whereas moreouer hee admonisheth vs by his letter to recall the Archbishop of Canterbury whom hee saith wee haue expulsed our kingdome vnto the dignity from whence hee fell and restore him againe vnto his Sea wee apparantly knowe how euident it is vnto the eyes of yee all that wee neither banished nor yet inforced him to departe our dominions but hee rather by the instigation of his owne light and peruerse disposition then vpon any mature deliberation indueeing him thereunto beetooke himselfe to flight with an intent and purpose to rayse enuy against vs and
the vertue of obedience and vpon the perill and hazard of your order that yee denounce them publickly excommunicate and cause them soe to bee declared through out your Dioceses who lay violent handes on the Clergie and that yee command your neighbouring Bishoppes by the authority of our Lord the Pope and also of vs to performe the same likewise in thier Bishopprickes Moreouer in the same manner and vnder the same payne wee command yee to denounce to such as hinder Appellantes or Penitents from trauailing to our Lord the Pope or vs that they incurre the sentence of accursing as well as they who doe it in proper person as also the kinges officers who constrayne others to this heynous offence And for such as beeing enforced thereunto haue taken vnlawfull oathes to hinder these aforesayd passengers wee absolue them from their oathes whereby they may heereafter desist from soe greate à sinne and beeing penitent for their offence learne rather to obey God then man If any one in seeking to right his Church and conserue the integrity of his faith to the Apostolicke Sea dreadeth ensuing discommodityes let him remember how the Church with far more safety and profitt purchaseth vertue then temporall treasures and that Christ who raigneth ouer the Church of Rome restrayneth the powers of his aduersaryes and hee who shall punish the mighty mightely will chastise likewise all disobedience not only bringing the poore to iugdment but also humbling the glorious of this world to the ministry of the Church against which the very gates of hell shall not preuayle Bee ashamed most deerely beeloued to put in practise vniust iudgmentes in such sorte as the peeres of the kingdome insulting vpbrayd yee saying If a poore man committeth a light offence hee is presently excommunicated by yee and your officers but if a rich person transgresseth hee is not so much as with a word chastised whereby scandalls may on euery syde bee retorted on such iudges And can greate powers against the poore soe rage Looke therefore to your selues and your Churches least if yee dissemble the iniuryes of the Romane Church yee may bee iustly thought to conspire with the impious against her and to haue forestalled the wayes of those who walked that yee might raise your commodityes vpon the Churches losse Remember rather how our fathers atchiued saluation by what meanes and how great tribulations the Church hath encreased and bin dilated what huge stormes the ship of Peeter hath escaped hauing Christ for her Pilot. Thus did saint Thomas write to his Clergy ANNO DOM. 1167. Now beeginneth the yeere of our redemption 1167. with the xv Indiction when Pope Alexander vnderstanding as well by the letters of the king of England as also from others beeing Bishoppes the Suffraganes of saint Thomas that was persecuted by them and his most worthy proceedinges condemned as hideous offences to the end hee might rayse him aboue his aduersarys and humble them to his obedience hee ordayned a king most worthie of prayse which was to make the holy Archbishop with most ample authority Legate of the Apostolicke Sea The Popes letters are yet extant indighted for that purpose in these wordes Alexander seruante of the seruantes of God to this beeloued brother Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury sendeth greeting and his Apostolicall blessing The most holy Church of Rome hath bin euer accustomed to embrace with greater charity Saint Thomas made Legate à latere ouer all England excepting only the Proumea of Yorke and prefer in glory and honor persons of eminent worth and them especially whom she knoweeh to bee most renowned for honesty wisedome lerning and excellency of vertues Considering therefore the constancy of your deuotion and faith wherin you haue persisted as an vnmoueable pillar for the Church of God and weighing withall the singular prudence of your integrity lerning and discretion wherin you are knowne to surpasse others wee thought it worthie to loue and honor with a certaine peculiar priuiledge and more excellent prerogatiue your person soe adorned with the insignes of such high vertues and with our vsuall hounty to prouide and with a more tender care to procure your good and commodity This is the cause that with our louing fauor wee grant and beestowe on you the Legantine authority ouer all England excepting only the Archbishoppricke of Yorke to the end that within your iurisdiction in our place and authority you correct what you find worthie amendment and that to the honor of God and of the holy Church of Rome and for the saluation of soules you doe constitute buyld and plant whatsoeuer is to bee setled and planted wherefore wee admonish yea wee command your brotherhood that you dispose all thinges extirpate vices and plante vertues in our Lordes vynyeard with that prudence and discretion which Allmighty God hath beestowed on you Dated at Auigni on the seauenth of the Ides of October Heereunto were also added other letters of Pope Alexanders beeing written for the same purpose to the Clergy of the Prouince of Canterbury And others likewise for gathering of saint Peeters Pence which the king had beefore as wee see forbidden all which were caryd into England and receaued by the Bishop of London who certifyed the king of all wryting in this sorte vnto him Lib. 1. Epist 116. Lib. 1. Epist 131. To Henry King of England Gylbert Bishop of London The Bishop of Londons letter to king Henry concerning the Popes Mandates So bige a weyght of commandementes doth my Lord at this tyme oppresse vs soe great an authority beeseegeth vs as cōpelled by extreame necessity wee are enforced to beeseech counsell and with all assistance from your Maiestie for what the Apostollicall authority commandeth cannot with Appeale bee suspended neither can there bee any remedy against his Mandate since wee must needes fullfill his precept or incurre the offence of disobedience For beeing on saint Pules day in London at the Altar wee receaued from the handes of a certaine Messinger altogether vnknowne to vs our Lord the Popes letters whereby was graunted and by authority confirmed vnto the Lord of Canterbury the Legantyne power ouer all England excepting only the Archbishoppricke of Yorke Moroeuer all wee the Bishops of the kingdome were by the same authority inioyned with all humility to obey him as the Legate of the Apostolicall Sea and at his calling without any contradiction to assemble our selues together to yeelde him an accompt of all thinges appertayning to our office and absolutely vndertake to obserue whatsoeuer hee shall decree and lastly that wee shall enforce all who by your commandement haue receaued the reuenues and goodes of the Clearkes beelonging to the Archbishop in their absence to make full restitution and satisfaction to the owners within two monthes otherwise to bee denounced accursed without any appeale at all to the contrary S. Peeters pennyes Wee are beesides required to gather of our brethren the Bishoppes saint Peeters pence and to deliuer the
these his disorders To the end therefore most blessed father the authority of the Apostolicke Sea and liberty of the Church of God which in our partes are allmost wholy perished may howsoeuer bee againe able to bee restored it is necessary and by all meanes expedient that what wee haue doâ—â— may by you bee absolutely ratifyed and with your letters confirmed And soe wee wish your Holines long to prosper and flourish The reason why saint Thomas did not excommunicate the king which hee was prepared now to doe and was of the king soe much feared is thus declared by Iohn of Salisbury in his Epistle to the Bishop of Exceter Hauing lately assembled to a counsell at Chynon his peeres and familiars who are knowne to haue the sleyght and practise for contriuing mischeefes and are wise to deuise and effecte wickednes hee carefuly inquired many wayes with forerunning threates protestations what wâ—re best to bee aduised to preiudice the Church greeuously complayning not without groanes and many sighes yea very teares as the standers by reported of the Archbishop of Canterbury saying that Canterbury would depriue him both of body and soule in the end hee affirmed they were all traytors who would not with their vttermost endeauors and diligence seeke to deliuer him from the molestation of this one man HeereupoÌ„ my Lord of Roane was somewhat moued in regard of these wordes reprouing him but mildy according to his fashion in the spiritt of lenity whereas the cause of Allmighty God required rather the spirit of seuerity aÌ„d the authority of à Bishop to bee applyed to his wound who languisheth both in reason and in faith for the greife was the greater by the pressure of the feare conceaued out of the letters written by Canterbury to him and his mother the coppies wherof are sent you for hee feard and not without cause least by the authority and commandement of the Popes holines the sentence of Interdiction should bee instantly pronounced against his land and the like of Accursing against his person Caught therfore in these streyghtes the Bishop of Lexouin sayd there remayned one remedy which was to stay this sentence now ready to strike him with the barre of Appeale So I knowe not how but that truth the more it is resisted the more it excelleth and iustice the more resisted the more preuayleth While the king endeauored by his ancient customes to ouerthrowe Appeales added greater strength vnto them beeing himselfe for his owne safegard constrayned to flye to the refuge of Appeales And therefore from this Parliament as from the face of God and their king were dispatched in all haste the Bishop of Lexouine and likewise Sagien to the often named Lord of Canterbury to the end that by the interposition of an Appeale they might suspend the sentence vntill the Octaues of Easter The Archbishop of Roane vndertooke this iorney also with them not as an Appealant as hee professed but as mediator for peace a thing hee much desired But our Archbishop beeing euen now in hand to deliuer this sentence trauelled to the citty of Swesson to the end hee might there commend the care of this controuersy by prayers to our Blessed lady whose memory is there renowned to saint Drausius The Pilgrimage of S. Thomas to Swisson vnto whom men in their fightes haue refuge and to saint Gregory the Apostle of the Church of England who lyeth in the same towne intombed saint Drausius is a most glorious Confessor who as they of France and Loraigne beelieue maketh the Champions that watch and pray all night at his reliques inuincible soe as both out of Burgundy and Italy men in such necessityes haue recourse vnto him For Robert de Mount-forte beeing to incounter with Henry of Essex vsed there the same deuotion wherefore by this chance through the worke of Allmighty God was made frustrate the diâ—â—nt exployte of these king-pleasing Bishoppes beecause comming to Pontiniake they found not the Archbishop whom they should appeale but deluded of their purpose they returned with complaynte that they beestowed their money and trauell and profited nothing The Archbishop hauing watched three days nightes before the reliques of these Saintes the morrow after the Ascension hastened his iourney towardes Vizelliac to the end that there hee might on Whitsonday proceede to the sentence of Accursing against the king and his adherents But by the prouidence of God it hapned beeing in the Church at Regitane the fryday before the same feast it was reported to him as a thing most certayne that the king of England was taken with a desperate sicknes soe as hee could not come to a Parlee with the king of France beeing a matter hee greatly desired and deerely purchased but was enforced to send Richard de Poyters and Richard de Humec to make his excuse who proferd by oath to auerre this the cause of his absence by reason therefore of this beeing deliuered to the Archbishop by a Messinger from the king of France hee deferred the denouncing of this sentence against the king Thus far Iohn of Salusbury concerning the delay of this sentence against the king Then hee proceedeth to speake of the excommunication of them whom wee reade to bee specifyed by name in the letters to the Bishoppe of London and of the accursed customes there condemned by him and how with other letters yet againe hee sent his last and peremptory admonition vnto the king But for the king sayth Salisbury whom hee had beefore as well by letters as Messingers with respect of his regality according to the customes of 〈◊〉 Church inuited to satisfaction hee summoned 〈◊〉 now with a publick citation to the fruites of pâ—â—nance threatening hee would shortly pronounce against him the sentence of excommunication vnles hee reformed his abuses and made satisfaction for these soe greate and wicked attempts against the Church which neuertheles hee would not doe but by constraynte against his will neither was any of his seruantes inclyning to bee the Messinger of his sentence as yet suspended saint Thomas in his Epistle to Pope Alexander writeth thus Wee haue not yet pronounced our sentence on the kings person Cod. Vat. lib 1. Epist 138. but it may bee wee will doe it vnles hee conuerteth his errors and vpon these our admonitions embraceth discipline Thus much saint Thomas Cod. Vat. lib. 1. Epist 116. But how the king dreading this interposed an Appeale is declrared in a letter written by Iohn of Salisbury to the Bishop of Excester where hee beeginneth from the Appeale of the Bishops in this sorte How as touching the publicke estate this was afterwardes diuulged by the affirmation of many how all the Bishoppes of England assembled by the kinges commandement The Bishops interpose an Appeale to the end the sentence promulged by my Lord the Pope might not take place they appealed against their Archbishop who for their safety and the liberty of the Church was neither ashamed nor afrayd to expose his
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
it was no lesse greiuous to him that your Holines sent Legates for managing this cause then if you had designed them for depriuing him of his Crowne Neither were they wantinge who ministred fewel to his enflamed mynde Weertupon was occasion giuen of malice and mischeiuous attemptes against vs and the Church of God to them who from the beeginning had myndes and meanes to hurte vs whose wicked purpose your clemency hath nothing changed although your authority repressed their assaultes All this I receaued from a Clearke who is faithfull and deuoted to your Holines who beeing then present did afterwards pruily deliuer the same to mee This one thing most holy father I assuredly know which I wryte not without teares that the glory of your name is somewhat eclipsed because the detraction of your fame is as it were meate and drinke to backbyters and slanderers who like men intoxicated and drunke with wyne teare in peeces your renowne and deuoure it with the iawes of misreportes and these are not the fauorers of my Lord of Canterbury but also his professed foes and that especially since the tyme of his victory and yours as many beeleiued was now at hand for the day of the Appeale beeing past the king was in that feare to see himselfe excommunicated and his whole dominion interdicted as hee sayd openly Hee neither perswaded nor compelled his Bishoppes to appeale and therefore would not intermedle in the matter the Bishoppes themselues were soe mightily troubled and feared soe much to bee interdicted as some of them sent messingers to my lord of Canterbury others were ready to appeare at his summons When Iohn of Oxeforde as your Legate assembling the Bishoppes commanded them by authority from you as it is reported in France that they should not come to the Lord of Canterbury vpon his citation Whereupon Master Robert Bishop of Hereforde beeing at the seas syde ready to passe ouer was recalled againe as in way of excuse was deliuered from him to the Lord of Canterbury by his Messingers beeing religious men and well knowne I beeing then present and therefore soe great a trouble hath inuaded the myndes of many vpon the feare they conceaue of the kinges subtell deuises to the ruine of the Church of EnglaÌ„d and all Churches within his Dominion together with the ouerthrowe of the Ecclesiasticall liberty and the longer and stronger persecution of the Archbishop For whereas it is sayde by many and that very often that the king hath set vp the rest of his hope on your misfortune and deathe which Allmighty God out of his most mercifull clemency long deferre affirming constantly as it is reported by many that hee will neuer admitt your successor vntill hee hath confirmed all the dignityes and customes of his kingdome It is therefore supposed that craftily and fraudulently hee requesteth the Legates for accomplishing his owne endes and desires as well against the lord of Canterbury as all other Bishoppes of his land or if that fayle yet at the least that hee may put of the excommunication against his person and the interdiction of his dominions and thus winning tyme hee may soe auoyde the authority of the Bishop of Canterbury as if in your Popedome hee bee not bounde hee neede not feare the power of your successor since as many say hee hath resolued not easely to receaue him Wherefore most wise father such as thirst after the spirit of God and peace of the Church desire with all the affection of their myndes that our Lord will styrre vp in you the spirit of Daniel to search out the sleyghts of Bell Daniel 14. and to kill the Dragon For which they beseech God with their deuoute and continual prayers God prosper your Holines with many yeeres Thus far Lumbard whom one reporteth to haue bin the renowned diuine who flourished in Paris and beeing properly called Peter Lumbard liued in these dayes You haue heard the complayntes of the king of France and others expressed in Lumbardes letter Heare now the exulting and insulting of the king of England deriued from this vnfortunate fountaine beeing no litle cause of lamentation to all well disposed myndes For there is extant to this purpose an epistle of Iohn of Salisbury written to Iohn Bishop of Poytiers wherin after other thinges hee sayth thus of the king of England Moreouer the king himselfe toulde the Bishop of Worcester that hee and all other Bishoppes were now exempt from the Lord of Canterburys power and commanded him not to feare any threates for hee had now my Lord the Pope and all the Cardinalls in his purse and soe far hee vaunteth as hee sayth openly hee hath now at last obtayned the priuiledge of his Grand father beecause in his owne land hee was a king a Legate a Patriarcke and Emperor and what hee list Cod vâ—t lib. 1. epist 1â—8 and soe would he bee wherin as it is probable hee aymed at the Church of Rome For what could Octauianus or the Archhereticke of Crema haue don more for him How could their Cardinalls haue pleasured him more then the forenamed Cardinalls sent from Pope Alexander who whetted the tongues of England and made them spitt fire and poyson to terrify the Pope and subiect him to their will This will bee regestred in the Chronickles of the Roman Church and doubtlesse God permitting it there will not want Historiographers to recorde that at the petition and threates of the king of England whose intollerable excesses hee had soe long endured the Champion of liberty the preacher of iustice now liuing with an infinite number of Innocents for the cause of Allmighty God as yet foure yeeres in banishment without any respect of reason or lawe as a man guilty was depriued by the Pope of his office not vpon any offence of his but only to please a Tyrant And yet neuerthelesse vnder his letters patents remayning with vs was granted him to exercise in his ample right the power of his office wherein is expressed that hee neither gaue nor restrayned the mandate for the kings excommunication O good God what a nouelty haue wee heere Isaia 58. The holy Ghost biddeth in his lawe Crye out cease not and loe an other spirit of what fashion I knowe not issuing out from the Citty into the world sayeth to the Preachers cease crye not 2. Tim. 4. The Apostle instructing a Bishop commanding biddeth Accomplish thy ministery And lo the Apostolicall man willeth saying desist from the ministery of thyne office Yet perchaÌ„ce hee supposeth hee can with patience mollify his mynde but hath hee not a sufficient tryall to the contrary in the Bishoppe of Canterbury who hauing bin allmost foure yeeres depriued of his Sea hath felt the remisnes of the Sea Apostolicke and the Tyranny of the king beeing all this while exposed to windes Let therefore I pray you my Lord the Pope bee ashamed of such a conscience and haue a care of his fame honor and preseruation of the Church
whose snares by the fauor of God are broaken in peeces and wee deliuered And trauelling from Venice not couertly but openly with great ioy and comforte of our fryndes through Marchia Verona and our natiue countrey Brixia where wee made some long abroade by Bergom ad Millane neere Nouaria then by Vercelles not far from Taurin wee attayned to Saint Michaelles de clusa and thorough Prouince to Saint Gyles with safety vntouched following thence our ready way to Mount Pessulan where the lord William our frynde whom our Lord the Pope assigned to bee our associate coasting thorough other countryes in such sorte as wee suppose you haue hearde gaue vs the meeting And now proceeding on farther wee send you this bearer our Chaplayne whom wee would haue you credit as our selues beeing confident in whatsomeuer hee shall on our beehalfe relate vnto you and whatsomeuer you will signify backe agayne to vs trust him therin as you would trust your selfe Thus wrote Oddo the Legate to saint Thomas Who beefore hee receaued the same or any way vnderstood of the Lord Oddos beeing in France saluted him with this respectiue letter Hearing the approach of your excellency Ibidem epist 18. Christes banished flocke our fellowes in exile conceaued a meruellous ioy and as if an Angell were sent froÌ„ heauen for the comforte of the Church and ransoming of the Clergy the whole congregation of Saintes with thankes-giuing tryumphed And although your associate bee held in suspition by many saying hee accepteth of persons and rewardes and is an inward faueror of our Lord the king willing in all thinges to patronize his cause and for vs together with the Church of God to kill and choake yea make vs all his spoyle The opinion neuertheles of your name or to speake more truly of your vertues shyneth soe bright as you are esteemed to haue with Moyses the Angell of our Lord which is the holy Ghoste the forerunner in the lawe who protecteth you euer and suffereth you not to haue new Gods whereby you should preferre either rewardes person or cause before Allmighty God c. Psalm 18. But for his opinion of William the other Legate hee vttereth it afterwardes in these wordes Many insult ouer vs especially our aduersaryes yea the Churches aduersaryes saying truly the Cardinall of Saint Peters chaynes is sent against vs that Peter may by his meanes bee chayned againe Now the reason why the Legates did not instantly vpon their comming into France execute the office of their Legantyne authority for concluding a peace beetweene the king and Saint Thomas was the rysing of a war beetweene the kinges of England and France that hindred their designes of which troublesome discorde Iohn of Salisbury wryteth to Iohn Bishop of Poytiers in this sorte Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist 31. The confusions of the two kingdomes with mighty earthquakes of immineÌ„t dangers haue long enforced mee to withhould my pen and expect more conuenient tymes for wryting vnto you For the tumultes of warre raging all the whole sommer out off the intercourse of Postes and a rebellion in kindled in the Citty of Rhemes soe disturbed the Prouince as a man could hardly passe in and out of the Citty c. Hee treateth farther of the Ciuill warre of Rhemes which neuer left till it came to the kinges themselues vpon reporte whereof Pope Alexander wrote thus to his Legates Alexander Bishop seruant of the seruantes of God to his beeloued sonnes William of Saint Peter ad vincula Preist and Oddo of Saint Nicholas in carcere Tulliano Deacon Cardinalles and Legates of the Apostolicke Sea sendeth greeting and Apostolicall benediction What exceedinge greate damages and discommodityes may beefall to the vniuersall Church of God Ibidem epist 34. and especially to the Romane and the Church of the Easte by reason of the discorde and dissention which by the procurement of the enemy of mankinde is raysed beetweene our dearest sonnes in Christ the renowned kinges of France and England it bee seemeth vs in wisedome to consider and so much the more dilligently to bend our forces to extinguish theÌ„ the more wee dread which God forbid the greater dangers ensuing theron and therfore by our Apostolicall letters wee admonish charge and command both your discretions that yee endeauor by all meanes possible of your owne and also by other Religious and graue men of either kingdome for restoring peace and concord beetweene them and that heerein yee beestowe all your labors and powers and that yee haue in any case singular care not to determine any thing vpon the request and for the fauor of any one of them whereby the other may bee scandalized or disturbed Moreouer wee streightly forbid yee that neither yee nor any of yee presume to enter the kingdome of England or manage the affayres of that dominion and especially not to compasse or any thing to ordayne concerning the consecration of the Bishoppes vnles our venerable brother Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury bee absolutely reconcyled to the afore sayd king of England which wee hope and wholy trust may bee brought to passe by your industry and â—â—â—el if God câ—â—curreth with all For as wee perceaue by the letters of many iudicious men there hath not bin a greater firebrand to inkindle insurrections and tumultes to the disturbance of the kinge of France with all his countrey then the rumors which Iohn Deane of Salisbury vpon his returne from vs is sayde to haue dispersed in those partes Dated at Beneuent the eleauenth of the Kalends of Septemb. Thus truly the peace which was once or twise confirmed was now cleane dissolued againe But let vs heere sett downe the conuenantes and conditions which were formerly contryued for conclusion of a peace beetweene the two kinges for these are signifyed in an epistle of Iohn of Salisbury sent to the Arch-Deacon of Excester wherin is mentioned how in the assembly at Soisson they proceeded in this sorte concerning the Articles of peace now ratyfied anewe The king of England ought to returne againe vnto the homage of the king of FraÌ„ce and taking a corporal and publicke oathe to professe beefore all men that for the Duchie of Normandy hee would serue him as his Lord in such wise as the Dukes his Predecessors were accustomed to serue the kinges of France That hee was bound to resigne the Countyes of Anioue and Cenomane together with the fealty of the peeres depending on these Signiories to Henry his sonne who therupon was to doe homage and fealty to the king of France against all men neither to owe any more to his father or brothers therfore but what the consideration of nature or meritt required The king of France on the other syde did grant to Richard sonne to the king of England the Duchie of Aquitayne on like conditions giuing him his daughter in mariage without any dowry who was neuertheles at her fathers pleasure to accept any free gifte towardes her mariage These were the conditions
world allmost France only excepted was assayled and oppressed with aduersityes scarse tollerable and many other wordes they vsed of the mighty power of our prince his loue and reuerence to the Church of Rome his fauor grace and benefitts bestowed on vs aggrauating withall excellency the accusations of iniurys done by vs and ours wherewith hee complayned that he was wonderfully wronged affirming wee procured both the king of France and Earle of Flanders to make warrs against him then they perswaded vs to endeauor with great humility and ample showe of deuotion and moderation to appease his indignation if soe extreme a fierce nature may by any meanes bee reclaymed and so rough and vnbridled a disposition broken yea they asked counsell of vs who in tymes past weere accustomed to knowe him more inwardly how they might soften the hardnes of his harte for hee shewed himselfe more distastefull to them after hee perceaued how they could not according to the promises made by Iohn of Oxeforde contrary to God and all lawes pronounce against vs at his pleasure the sentence of condemnation but what hee sayde in the hearing of his Bishoppes shall by Gods assistance bee deliuered you more commodiously by word of mouth then by wryting And for vs wee yeelde thankes to your Holines that you are soe carefully of the Churches peace and ours which ours if the Churches peace and yours Wee auoyded the suspitions by which the king labored to taxe vs with true and probable reasons and the king of France himselfe the next day followinge did as farre as concerned him in the presence of the Cardinalles cleere our innocency with his oathe being as the searcher and iudge of hartes knoweth guiltles of this faulte neither are wee so dull and slowe to beeleiue the lawe prophetts and Gospell that in a point of this great importāce laying asyde our spirituall weapons and the sheildes of Apostolike discipline wee should suppose armes of the flesh to be vsed especially by preistes for we knowe we are not to trust in princes and accursed is hee who maketh flesh his arme Ierem. 17◠and to the end they might not falsly deuise any such thing against vs wee long abstayned from hauing conference with the king vntill at the last vpon his cōmandement wee came that wee might present to him the letters of our excuse and obtayne a free passage and safe conducte for my lord Oddo the Legate who sent to vs for that purpose his Chaplayne Papia for hee had procured the like from the king of England the king of France also as then vnripped vnto vs an old iniury as hee sayde offered him by them at such tyme as hee accepted you as his father and lord and lastly hee tooke worst of all the vainglorious boasting of Iohn of Oxeforde with those of his faction After his hauing gratiously admitted our excuse and graunting the passe wee desired wee returned to the place of our poore aboade expecting with patience reliefe from our Lord. And beecause our Lordes the Legates required at our handes all humility and showe of modesty wherby so magnificent a prince might bee appeased and pleased wee answered wee would according to their counsell render vnto him as to our Lord and king most willingly and deuoutely all humility seruice and reuerence sauing euer to God and the Apostolike Sea their honor to the Churches her liberty to vs respect of our person and to Churches their possessions and if any thing seemed according to their opinion to bee heerin added lessened or altered wee beesought them to certify vs in regarde it was our desire to obey thē so far as stood with our condition professiō they replying they would not consult hereof nor came to vs then to giue aduice but aske counsell of vs essaying vs they demanded that wee may vse my lord Williams wordes in regarde wee were not better then our forefathers we would in their presence promise our king to obserue all the customes which his ancestors helde in the tyme of our Predecessors and so all controuersyes on both sydes beeing layd asleepe if they could bring this aboute which would not bee done as they thought without difficulty for vs to receaue our Archbishoppricke againe and to recouer his grace and fauor Whereunto wee sayde that none of our predecessors were euer by any king constrayned to make this protestation neither wee God willing would euer professe to obserue the customes which vtterly destroy the liberty of Gods Church pluck vp by the rootes the priuiledge of the Apostolike Sea and are open and absolute oppugners of the lawe of God from the which of your mercy you absolued vs at Senon in the presence of themselues and many others whenas you vsed withall these wordes worthy of your Apostolicall mouth which by Gods grace shall neuer departe out of our mynde that wee ought rather yeelde out neckes to the swoard of the executioner then consent to such wicked customes and for a filthy and base commodity of our temporall estates and greedy purchase of a frayle life to neglect our pastorall office There were read in their presence those reprobate customes some of which wee had allready condemned yea which the whole Catholicke Church had in many Counsells before our age together with the obseruers of them accursed wee asked them if it were then any way lawfull for a preist without perill of his order and danger of his soule to obserue them yea or to wincke at them wee sayd moreouer wee had formerly sworne our fealty vnto the king with reseruation of the honor of our order and that we would euer willingly obserue the same so far forth as wee doe not frustrate our faith due to Allmighty God wherupon one whom as your Holines knoweth wee haue held and euer ought to haue in suspition vrged vs thus that better it was absolutely to yeelde then the Church to bee in this sorte disturbed and to this effect were multiplyed many perswasiue speeches which will better be deliuered by word of mouth then otherwise to whom wee replyed that in this cause wee would neuer yeelde in regard it would proue a pernitious example and turne to the ruine of the Ecclesiasticall liberty yea perhappes to the damage of the Christian faith for who heereafter would then euer dare to open his mouth what is hee who when the Pastors shall thus runne away will rise against them to oppose himselfe as a wall for the house of Israel wee sayde moreouer neither your Holines nor any Apostolicall men instructed euer the Church of God with such examples Did not vpon the flight of the Pastors as it is famousely reported in Historyes all Egipt returne to Idolatry where at the first Religion so exceedingly flourished Then running to an other matter they demanded if wee would abyde the iudgment of the Legates in the controuersy beetweene the king and vs and that if heerin we refused iudgment wee seemed to iustify the kings syde and in the eyes
vnlike that infamous Scysmaticke the oppressor of your selues Fredericke wee meane who laboreth vtterly to rent out the very bowels of the Church if this bee suffered to passe vnpunished in our king what will not his heires presume what shall your successors endure Consider how mischeifes daylye encrease and the occasions inuentions of mischeifes encrease withall Good God and shall hee doe all this without controulement This was not the way of Christ nor yet of his Apostles whose imitators yee ought to bee c. By reason therfore of these letters sent as well to Pope Alexander as the Cardinalls of the sacred Roman Church beeing then at Rome and likewise by the authority of a man of that worth and aboue all by the truth it selfe his Holines with the Colledge of Cardinalls was moued to call home with all speede these Legates who were accused by so many complayntes of this saintly man and his messinger and agent who resyded at Rome especially also procuring the same whom S. Thomas as it appeareth admonished to followe the matter effectually with his Holines wryting among other thinges vnto him thâ— Wherefore in all respectes it is expedient Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist 104. yea most necessary that you employ all yours endeauors and with your vttermost power worke our Lord the Pope to call backe the often recyted Cardinalls and cause them to bee compelled vpon a payne to ensue if they should refuse presently to departe out of all the kinges dominions Soe wrote saint Thomas for recalling the Legates who as wee haue sayde was euer fauorably heard of his Holines for the Pope by his letters recalled them presently backe to the Citty abrogating all their authority who beefore they departed thought good to see the king of England wherof and concerning the passage beetweene them Ibidem epist 6. a relation then written discourseth in this sorte The next Thursday after the Octaues of Saint Martin the Cardinalls came to the Monastery called Bec The repâ—rte of the last conference beetweene the Legates and the Kingâ— on the morrowe to Ligieux the next day to Saint Peters vpon Dyue and thence the wednesday before the first Sunday in Aduent to Argenton on which day the king gaue them meeting two leagues before they entred the towne entertayning them with a pleasant countenance and accompanyd both the Cardinalls to their lodging the second day ensuing after Masse beeing called early enough in the morning they came and entred the kinges chamber to consult with the Archbishoppes Bishoppes and Abbots there assembled and continuing in counsell the space of two hours they passed on farther the king accompaning them to the outward dore of the Chappel and as they went the king in the hearing of them and all others sayde that hee wished his eyes might neuer more beehould any Cardinal and dimissed theÌ„ soe hastily as their lodging beeing neere at hand yet could they not expecte the comming of their horses but were enforced to ryde on such as they could by chance finde without the Chappell Thus departed the Cardinalls with noe more at the vttermost then foure attendantes The Archbishoppes Bishoppes and Abbotts remayned with the king and entred the Chamber to sitt in counsell where hauing continued vntill euening they went thence to the Cardinalls with discontented countenances and staying awhile with them returned to their lodginges On the morrow after they had remayned with the king six houers they went to the Cardinalls and thence backe to the king with returning againe to the Cardinalls and soe continued carying secret messages to and fro At their meeting being on Saint Andrewes Eue the king rising early went on hunting and as it was certainly supposed did it of purpose to absent himselfe the Bishoppes came beetymes to the kinges Chappell and thence to the counsell chamber where after deliberation of matters they departed to the Church neere the Cardinalls lodginge where the Cardinalls beeing sate they were called in to heare what they would propose the Archbishoppes of Roane and Yorke taking their places after them the Bishops of Worcester Salisbury Bayon London Chichester and Angolisme with many Abbottes and a company of the Layety London rose vp whose idle and ill digested oration was a manifest argument of his distempered mynde and beeginning yee haue seene c. And rehearsing the Appeale made by the Bishoppes of England and declared formerly by the relation of the Legates hauing concluded hee sayde since now they had appealed they desired of the Cardinalle a Letters of appellation sent from one iudge to another Apostles which as it is supposed was giuen them as proper to their appeale So the Cardinalls departed from the king on the Tewesday after the Sunday wherin is sung Ad te leuaui but in taking leaue the king with great humility beesought the Cardinalls to be intercessors to his Holines that hee would absolutely deliuer him from vs and with those wordes before the Cardinalls and all the company hee wept and my Lord William was seene with his teares to accompany him But my lord Oddo could hardly forbeare laughing Now for the substance of the busines thus it is My Lord William of Papia sendeth a certayne Chaplayne of his kinsman as it thought to Master Lumbard in Pâ—ste to my Lord the Pope and with him the king sendeth likewise two messingers the one appertayning to the Bishop of London called Master Henry Pixim the other Reynold sonne to the Bishop of Salisbury Moreouer on Satturday before the second Sunday of Aduent there went from the Cardinalls beeing then at Sureux Master Iocelin of Chichester and the Chantor of Salisbury towards you to denounce that there was an appeale made against you by the persons of England And somewhat after my Lord Oddo the Cardinall certifyeth my Lord the Pope in secret that hee would neuer bee author or any way guilty of your deposition although the king seemed to desire nothing else but your head in the dish This was the relation sent by a frind of Saint Thomas vnto him And yet there is an other reporte made by Iohn of Salisbury in his letter to Iohn Bishop of Poytiers where it is set downe thus of the kings imaged mynde in their last departure The Cardinalles found the king in such an excessiue fury as hee complayned openly that hee was beetrayed by my Lord the Pope Cod Vat. lib. 2. epist 20. and threatened to forsake him vnles hee would cause iustice to bee executed on the Archbishop of Canterbury And afterwardes concerning what followed when they had appealed hee declareth it in these wordes The Bishoppes sent also two messingers beeing of the messingers beelonging to the Legates one called Walter the Chauntor of Salisbury the other Iocelyn the Chancellor of Chichester to declare the Appeale made in this sorte and to renew the same before the Archbishop But the Archbishop admitted not the Messingers from the Bishops to speake in his presence because among others they came
following as appeareth by what hath byn sayde for before that tyme was not the Pope certifyed theereof Which letters from his holines when the Legates had receaued by the messanger of sainct Thomas wryting backe to the Sainct they excused themselues with saying that while they remayned with the king they could not put these matters in execution against them on whom the king had beestowed the goods and how this was also the Popes intention that during the tyme they remayned Legates there with him they should endure thereupon at his handes any thing vnworthy of the Apostolike Sea But let vs followe the Legates in their returne homeward wherof Iohn of Salisbuâ—y sayth this in his Epistell to the Archdeacon of Excester The Cardinalles returne Cod. Vat lib 2. Epist 105. called backe not without confusion repeÌ„tance and complayntes that to pleasure the king they depressed to much the cause of the Church for one of them which was Papia obeyed his will in all thinges the other also dealing more remissely then beeseemed a man of so great expectation and hope Thus Salisbury who againe after many other things declareth how farre Oddo the Legate peruailed with the king in these wordes I was like to haue let passe what is not to bee passed ouer which is how my Lord Oddo a fewe dayes before hee departed from the king dealt more seriously with him to conclude a peace with the Archbishop wherunto hee answered that for the loue hee bore to the Pope and Cardinalls hee would permitt the Archbishop to returne in peace to his Sea and to dispose of his Church and all thinges thereunto beelonging And because there hath bin long contention about the customes hee sayde hee and his children would bee contented only with those which his Ancestors had and 〈◊〉 should bee made apparant they soe enioyed by the oathes of a hundred men of the realme of England a hundred of Normandy a hundred of Anione and his other principalityes and if this condition of peace displeased the Archbishop hee affirmed hee was prepared to stand to the arbitrement as well of the Bishoppes of England as those beyond the seas of Roane Bayon and Cenoman and if this were not enough hee would submit himselfe to the iudgment of my Lord the Pope with this reseruation that hee would not impeach his childrens right for during his owne life hee was contented my Lord the Pope should abrogate what hee listed Then demanded the Cardinall how hee would deale with the Archbishoppe and his associates concerning restitution which was due and required of him wherunto hee answered swearing with many exquisite oathes that hee had beestowed all the commodity whatsomeuer hee reaped therof vpon Churches and the poore But let the Iewe Appella beeleiue this for I will neuer The Cardinall replyed vnles hee changed his course and dealt more mildly with the Church of God as well Almighty God as his Church would sooner then hee expected require all these more seuerely at his handes and soe taking his leaue hee departed Afterwardes came William of Papia to him almost in the same manner but the seede of his wordes fell on the sandes Then making their returne by the most Christian kinge of France they recouered his fauour vpon condicions which this bearer shall reporte vnto you Hetherto Salisbury who concerning matters which afterwardes ensued signified moreouer in other letters thus Now doe I endure the first yeere of my exile and wheras I wanted heeretofore nothing now behould I finde abundance of comforte beecause the liberty of the Church seemeth euen now at hand and now hath partly set her foote in the Iland for the king hath renounced as Messingers from the Cardinalls protest certayne most wicked customes which neuertheles hee was beefore accustomed to challenge detesting with an oathe both them and their first authors agreeing withall that heereafter it shall bee lawfull to appeale to the Apostolike Sea that Clearks shall not bee drawne before the secular Tribunalles with the like which I wish hee would soe approue by deede as hee affirmed in worde Thus wryteth hee concerning these affaires And this was lastly the conclusion of this Legantine Embassage other matters ensue in the end of this present yeere Salisbury in an other Epistell hauing discoursed of the state of the Church beeing then imbroyled by Fredericke the Emperour and Paschall the Antipope Cod. Vad. lib. 2. Epist 62. descendeth to the troubles of sainct Thomas Pope Alexander beeing then at Beneuent where sayth hee the Embassadors of the king of England and the Arbishoppes agents mett together in the presence of his Holines and both partyes were gratiously and honorably entertayned and for those appertayning to the king as the iustice of their cause was lesse soe was their pompe with ostentation of their riches much greater But when they were not able with their flatterys and faire promises to winne my Lord the Pope then turned they to threates fayning that their king would rather embrace the errors of Norandinus the chiefe ringleader of the Mahometanes and bee a fellowe of that profane Secte then endure Thomas any longer to enioy the Archbishoppricke of Canterbury But the man of God could neither bee shaken with feare nor seduced with flattery and laying be◠〈◊〉 two ways the one of life the other of death 〈…〉 they might easilie as they had beegune contâ—â—â—â—â— the grace and patience of God make choyse of the way of perdition but hee by our Lordes assistance would not forsake the way of righteousnes Their hope therfore in shorte tyme beegan to quayle and seeing they could not in this course preuayle against iustice they sent into Cicilie the kinges Embassadours and letters for they came armed with these to the end that by the assistance of the king and queene of Cicilie they might obtayne somewhat of my Lord the Pope against the Church But the most Christian king of France seeing this flattery of the malitious commended to the elect of Panorma the cause of the Church and of my Lord of Canterbury as his owne Meane while came the messingers of the Legates whom the king of EnglaÌ„d had procured disagreeing each from other for whatsomeuer one sayde in the Courte the other denyed and of these likewise is it yet vncertayne what they shall relate backe to their Lordes Supplication was therfore made on the beehalfe of the king and the Legates with the assistance of many other intercessors to my Lord the Pope for the Bishop of Salisbury and in the end they obteyned that his Holines forgaue him the iniury and offence donne to himselfe and did alsoe wryte to the Archbishop of Canterbury entreating and conselling him to remitt the wrong the Bishop had offered him and releasing him of the sentence of suspension receaue him into his fauour and freindship allwayes prouided that either in his owne person hee should giue him security for sufficient satisfaction or else disigne two beeing the cheifest of the Clergie of his
Church except the Deane and send them ouer who should sweare how â—heir Bishop had authorized them to make an oath wherby they shall protest in the name and place of their Bishop that he shall satisfy for his iniury and contumacy against the Archbishop Wherby it may bee probably gathered that my Lord the Pope did either neuer knowe of the Legates sentence for absolution of the sayd Bishoppe Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist 7. or otherwise hee neuer estemeed it of any validity The same Bishop had obtayned before letters allmost purporting as much wherin neither hee nor his were obliged to any oathe but as yet hee hath made no vse of them either beecause they displeased the king or in regarde they were not soe effectuall What will be the successe on either side was vncertaine at the returne of the bearer heereof but my Lord the Pope hath answered the most Christian king that hee will not fayle to succor the Church of God and his frind of Canterbury as long as with iustice hee can releiue them Now let vs passe to the parlee which was beetweene our kinges c. in such sorte as was described this selfe same yeere wherby you may perceaue that both agree in tyme yeere and month being the same wherin this author wrote these letters Lastly towards the end of this yeere besides other Embassadors formerly sent the king of England addressed two more ouer to Pope Alexander which were Reynold and Iohn the Deane of Salisbury and the same tyme also Saint Thomas directed his agents to his holines their names were Alexander and Iohn whom afterwardes by letter he admonished of the trecherous falshood of Reynold saying Haue a continuall eye and watch vpon our aduersaryes and especially that Bastard of fornication the enemy of the Churches peace the sonne of a Preist Reynold of Salisbury Lib. 3. epist 66. who euery where as much as in him lyeth defameth and slaundereth our person exclayming wee are traytors and that wee gaue him our promise not any wa◠〈◊〉 lest his father And a litle after Hee affirmeth 〈◊〉 ouer if our Lord the Pope should departe this world hee would cause vs to bee blotted out of the booke 〈◊〉 life vaunting that in the court of Rome all thinges 〈◊〉 soe sett to sale as with the bounty of rewardes he could purchase any thinge Hee likewise moued the king of England to beecome sutor to our lord the Pope that his Holines would graunte authority to any Bishop in England to crowne his sonne and consecrate Bishoppes to the end hee might were it but in this deceaue the Pope and when the king answered that as hee thought hee could neuer obtayne these demandes of his holines Reynold replyed the Pope should deale like a foole if hee would condescend to your requestes Thus much of the kinges Embassador wherby you may see reader what manner of fellowes they were who accustomed to back-byte and detracte the high Bishoppes of Rome Concerning the other his associate Iohn deane of Salisbury that which hath before bin spoaken plainly declareth him to be a maÌ„ of greater villany What these the kinges demandes were and how instantly hee sued for them and how many and greate men were his mediators shall bee declared heereafter in place conuenient It is besides apparant that the king in the end of this yeere did by his Agentes solicite all the Cittys which were ioyned in league to Pope Alexander beestowing a hugâ— masse of money among theÌ„ and carefully endeauored to winne the king of Cicillie and the nobility of Roâ—â— to bee his that all might bee intercessors to the Pope to procure the accomplishment of his requestes agaiâ—â—â— Saint Thomas but how Pope Alexander beehaueâ— himselfe you shall heare in the beeginning of the 〈◊〉 yeere Meane while the king of France The king of France laboboring a peace beetweene the king of England and Saint Thomas bringeth them to a parlee after the Legates were departed dispatching this busines taking vp the matter soe fallen to the grownde endeauored to bring the king of England and Saint Thomas to a mutuall parlee in his presence hoping by these meanes to reunite them in a league of peace What the passage of that meeting was is exactly sett forth in Quadrilogus in the end of the second booke and in regarde this seemeth to bee omitted in the epistles the Register of them beecause his epistolary history may not bee defectiue heerin hath soe placed in this volume this discourse before the epistles as they ensuing and following in order one after an other doe manifest the whole proceedinges euen to the very end by reason wherof there wanteth no assistaÌ„ce of any history in the epistles but only this of the parlee written on this wise in Quadrilogus or the Quadriparte history out of Hubertus My Lord the king of France seeing his Holines carefull to conclude a peace himselfe as the sonne of peace and obedient to the Apostolike prelate interposed his endeauors with all labor and attention whervpon at diuers parlees which passed betweene him and the king of England hee brought thither with him the Archbishoppe placing himselfe as an arbiter of peace beetweene them Among all which there was one meeting where it was reported to the king of England that the Archbishop of Canterbury would referre thâ— whole cause to his owne will and therfore the king entertayned this his comming more gratiously Many of both sydes assembling to see the end my Lord of Canterbury fell downe at the king of Englandes feete saying I committ to your discretion the whole controuersy which hath bin the grounde of dissention betweene vs with reseruation only of the honor of God The king hearing the addition of these last wordes was offended beeyond measure abusing him 〈◊〉 â—ny reproches vpbrayding him much casti◠〈◊〉 thinges in his teeth condemning him for a 〈◊〉 insolent and vngratefull man who forgot 〈◊〉 royall bountifull liberality soe often extended to him Alanus added Hee sayde beesides to the king of France marke my Lord if it pleaseth you this man let any thing not fit his owne humor hee presently condemneth it as contrary to the honor of God wherby he will challenge not only his owne but also whatsoeuer beelongeth to mee and that it may appeare I withstand not the honor of God nor yet of him in any thing this is myne offer There haue binne kinges of England my Predecessors who haue raygned beefore mee of greater or lesser authority then my selfe and in Canterbury haue bin many Archbishops beefore him of great worth and holines what therfore the more eminent and vertuous of his Predecessors haue done to the least of my predecessors let him but giue the like to mee and the controuersy shall be concluded Wherupon followed an acclamation on all sydes that the king had sufficiently humbled himselfe The defence of Saint Thomas and his cause Here must I needes say I meruayle greately how the king
pricke of conscience Cod. Vat. lib. 3. epist 60. and tormented with an endles feare least hee should euery instant receaue the due punishment of his desertes and soe â—s his troubled soule euer oppressed with care as while bee wasteth himselfe in false suspicions of his well meriâ—ing and intirest friends through the defecte of his owne â—alshoode hee deemeth the faith to bee wauering in others which hee knoweth to bee wanting in himselfe Thus the king of England vpon reporte of your iourney as one guilty of his iniquity and dreading the lawes seuerity together with the perseuerance of vertue which you haue and doe excercise in our lord is affrighted exceedingly least your holy selfe should bee armed with Legantyne authority ouer his principalityes on this syde the sea beecause there is not any one beesides your selfe in the whole Church who dareth with stand him in repressing and confounded his malice neither yet in the Church of Rome as his followers witnes doth hee stand in awe of any but my Lord Gratian beecause if his vauntes bee true whosoeuer besides vpon any occasion haue had any accesse vnto him were heeretofore euer bowed to his will yea sometimes with the taynte of a sinister opinion Vnderstanding therfore that you and my Lord Gratian were returned bee was soe much distempered as hee could not dissemble his myndes disturbance saying hee should by yee two bee constrayned to make a peace or sustayne an eternall ignoâ—â—ny with the greate damage of him and his in regarde whereof hee recalled Master Viuian beeing partly by the letters of my Lord of Roane and G. Rydell and as Viuian in the publicke hearing of many confessed gaue him his corporall faith that in the reformation of the Churches peace hee would subiect himselfe to the Popes Mandate and his counsell hee caused moreouer letters to bee signed with his owne seale which Viuian shewed publickly 〈◊〉 his pleasure wherin was promised that for the loue bee bare to my Lord the Pope hee would restore to vs the Church of Canterbury together with all the possessions taken away from vs ours and peace also wich security that by these powerfull meanes he might more easily drawe my Lord Viuian to treate agayne of peace which hee seemed to seeke for feare of you and my Lord Gratian whatsomeuer any other doth glory but concerning things takeâ— away hee made no mention sauing only a showe that if in the Conclusion of peace wee would submitt ourselues to his pleasure hee would make vs the cheifest of his kingdome and neuer suffer vs to want Master Viuian therfore beeing thus recalled and remayning confident in his wordes the king with a fayned pretence of deuotion went to saint Denyses hut in very deede to compasse what hee allmost brought to passe which was to circumuent the most Christian king for they conuenanted in the parlee at saint Denyses that our king should deliuer his sonne Richard into the king of Frances handes to bee brought vp and instructed by him and moreouer hee should summon the Earle of saint Gyles to appeare at Towers there to answer the sayde Richard concerning the Earledome of Tolouse for the place seemed in the iudgment of wise men most conuenient where eyther parte with their assistants might with greatest safety assemble the Aduocates on eyther syde more freely pleade and the iudges without any feare or delay giue sentence against the person whom reason conuinced My Lord the king of France and Master Viuian with some others of great discretion inuited vs to the conference that wee beeing at Paris and our king at saint Denyses our peace by reason of the neighbouring places might bee more commodiously handled where the often named Viuian more earnesty and diligently pressing the king to performe faythfully his promise hee according to his accustomed manner flew of from it beehauing himselfe in such sorte as Viuian returning backe to vs sayd openly in the presence of very many hee could not remember that during his life hee euer sawe or heard of soe deceytfull a person yea hee forbore not to tell the king to his very face beefore diuers as they declared afterwardes to vs his mynd playnly and reprouing openly his double and deceytfull dealing recouered agayne for the most parte his reputation which beefore hee had greatly wronged lamenting much that hâ—â— was euer so entrapped by his suttle fraudes Which wee signify the rather vnto you beecause if in his returne to the Church of Rome hee shall presume to fauor the syde 〈◊〉 couller the wayles of this cunning deceauer your deuotion may lay open playnly before my Lord the Pope and the Cardinalls the whole truth of the busines For euen as it hapned by Gods appoyntment that my Lord Gratian should returne hauing worthely discharged his office and that you whom God wee speeake it prosperously hath placed in his Church as a most constant pillar and to whom the manners of this man are apparantly knowne should hasten your iourney to the Apostolike Sea euen so wee deeme it hath by the same prouidence bin permitted that Viâ—iaâ— contrary to his myndes intention should remayne iâ— France to publish with renowne the iustice of the Church and manifest far and wyde her glory wherin the king of England by the very man who fauored his cause should bee more perfectly discouered to those whom hee commonly before deceaued and the fallacy of his wordes heereafter far lesse beeguyle our Lord the Pope and his courte that heeretofore were too credulous in beeleiuing him When as the king of England departing from sainct Donyses passed on his iourney neere the Montayne of the Martyrs wee presented our selues before him humbly beeseeching him by the Meditation of the reuerent Lordes the Bishoppes of Roane and Sagy with others who assisted in this busines that for the loue of God and my Lord the Pope hee would restore to vs his peace and to ours his fauour peace security possessions with other thinges wrongfully taken from them tendring him our ready seruice so far forth as any Archbishop ought to performe vnto his Prince Whereunto hee answered that for his prate hee forgaue very willingly froÌ„ his harte all offences and quarells coÌ„ceaued against vs and for such thinges as were obiected against him hee was ready to stand to the iudgment of his Lord the King of Frances Courte or the determinatioÌ„ of the Church of the same kingdome or the sentence of the vniuersity of Paris Wherupon wee replyed that if it pleased him wee would no way refuse the iudgment of my Lord the kinges Courte or the Church of France yet if it liked his Maiestie wee had rather haue with him a louing composition then a litigious controuersy and if hee would gratiously restore to vs and ours our Church possessions and other thinges iniuriously taken away and yeelde vs his grace peace and security in the kisse of peace wee were ready to receaue the same desiring hee would restore one halfe of the goods
wrongfully with houlden from vs vnto the Church for discharging the debtes of vs and ours for repayring dilapidations ordering our Graunges and deliuering from diuers necessitys the Church which hath bin by the wastefull spoyle and deceyptes of his officers cast into the depth of calamityes and that our petitions might not seeme to exceede reason and the couenantes for auoyding the kinges wauering vncertainty beeing set downe in wryting might remayne more authenticall wee caused to bee presented to him this supplication which you shall heere withall receaue beeing temperately corrected according to his owne Agents desire to the end the world may knowe that wee will refuse no condition of peace which is any way tollerable in the Church of God But the king hauing heard our petition read which was approued by all in regarde of our moderate demandes answered in his mother tongue couching his ambiguous wordes in that obscurity a thing vsuall with him as to the simple hee seemed to graunt all our requestes but to the iudgment of the wiser intermingled all with tedious and insufferable conditions yet they all agreede in one which was that hee no way consented to receaue vs in the kisse of peace and this made the Christian king say that hee would not for all the gold our king was worth counsell vs to sett footing in his land without hauing first receaued the kisse of peace And Count Theobalde added that to doe the contrary were a most foolish presumption many of the assembly discoursing much amonge themselues and calling to mynde what beefell to Robert de Silliacke beecause not this very kisse appeared in him a sufficient warrant for the maintenance of his peace and security nether yet would hee afforde vs this answer vpon the mediation of the foresayde Bishoppes the Arbiters of peace as wee hoped neither vpon the instance of any others yea while wee awayted his resolution hee turned away towards Medantan Then was presented to him on the way my Lord Phillip the blessed sonne of the most Christian king whom as they say who brought him our king sowerly beeheld slenderly saluted and hastily dismissed Moreouer hee sayth the king of France who accompanyed him on his iourney departed from him discontented hauing apparantly seene the disposition of his mynde subuerting all thinges with suttletyes And afterwards hee wryteth thus of his attempting Viuian with brybes And thus wee returned without any answer from the king to the place of our repose which Allmighty God had prouyded for vs casting our hope on him who neuer forsaketh such as trust in him and attending the comforte wee expect from your charity But for the king of England he sent a messinger with twenty Mearkes to Master Viuian intreating him yet once agayne to vndertake this reformation of peace which money as wee certainly heare hee refused answering him by letter the copy wherof wee haue heerewithall sent you nether is there any thing soe much vrgeth him to seeke for peace as the feare hee conceaueth of the iourney intended by your selfe and my Lord Gratian to his Holines nor yet doth he insinuate himselfe with Viuian for any other end but to preuent that hee fall not into the Lord Gratians handes and yours Moreouer wee vnderstand hee hath sent Gyles Archdeacon of Rone Iohn of Oxeforde and Iohn of Segia to the Courte of purpose to worke that wee may not haue any Legantyne authority granted vs ouer his land nor any thing else which may bee incommodious to him or the Earle of Flanders you partly knowe the messingers but perchance are better acquaynted with vs who by your fauor are conuersant with you Since therfore the king of England is stroaken with so greate a feare by reason of your sanctity and the faithfull dealing of my Lord Gratian whereof hee haâ—h had experience it is most euident that if my Lord the Pope had at the first rather terrifyed with the power of a high Bishoppe then indured him with the charitable loue of an indulgent father the Church of God had long before this bin cleered of her stormes and the fury of the man asswaged who prosecuteth without pitty such as flye and are feeble and yeeldeth to them who manfully resist him But beecause Saint Thomas highly commended Gratian in regarde of his returne to Rome For an example to them who on the beehalfe of the Apostolicall Sea shall vndergoe matters of that importance with great princes we haue set forth here a few lynesout of the Saintes letter written to Gratian in these wordes The endeauors of sinners cannot in the end any way hurte the children of Grace Cod Vat. lib. 3. epist 63. because God suffereth them not to bee tempted aboue their power directing all things for the benefit of his elect and drawing miraculously out of the seuerall euents of matters a glorious profitt and God vndoubtedly respected your faithfull dealing who conuerted Master Viuians stay and the managing of his busines in France after your returne to the glory of your name making you a God to Pharao And afterwardes Whosoeuer beeheld the end of the exceeding familiarity which passed beetweene the king and Viuian or heard Viuian discoursing therof protested openly that among them all who were employed by the Pope to the king of England Gratian only proceeded aduisedly Ihid epist 65. Ibid. epist 61. c. Saint Thomas wrote also thereof to Pope Alexander and Viuian himselfe certifyed his Holines to that purpose But for the letter which Viuian sent to the king of England vpon refusall of his money the copy wherof the Bishop of Senon and Gratian as you haue heard receaued from Saint Thomas wee doe heere present it vnto you To the most renowned Lord Henry by the grace of God king of England Master Viuian Aduocate of the holy Roman Church wisheth health with a true assent to sound aduise Ibid. epist 62. How much I haue labored for your honor how far I haue endeauored that you should to the glory of God conclude your peace with the Church God himselfe knoweth and your wisedome ought not to bee ignorant For I haue bin soe forward on your behalfe as I haue therby lost the fauor of many and greate persons and am beecome the fable of detracting tongues which causeth mee to wonder that you haue a will to make mee infamous by corruption of money whom you would not heare when I counselled you for your honor and profitt But in regarde I beegan to respecte you with my best obseruance and seruice and am not accustomed easely to forsake my freindes I beesech you and by all meanes possible counsell you to returne to your selfe and confirme with your Charter the petition which my lord of Canterbury preferred to you and withall to receaue him in the kisse of peace sending to him and recalling him backe againe before your land bee interdicted and excommunicated whose names are allready conceaued in the booke of their condemnation for they are many and
fauor Cod. Vat. lib. 4. epist 4. and restore to him and his the Churches with other commodityes wrongfully taken from them beeing an iniury notoriously knowne allmost to the whole Christian world In regard wherof beecause hitherto wee cannot any way profit heerein nor allay with sweete and gentle meanes your destempered mynde wee conceaue exceeding greife and sorrowe and lament to see our selues frustrated of our hope and confidence especially since wee loue most entirely as our deerest sonne in our Lord yourselfe Isai 58. ouer whom wee beehould for this a greiuous danger to hange and for that it is wrirten Crye out and cease not as a trumpett exalte thy voyce and declare to my people their offences And an other where Vnles you shall laye open vnto the wicked his iniquity I will require his blood at your handes Eccles 22. And in an other place by Salomon The sloughthfull man shall bee stoned with the dung of Oxen Wee haue resolued no longer to tollerate as hetherto wee haue done the hardnes of your harte against iustice with the preiudice of our soule neither will wee heereafter vpon any occasions shutt vp the mouth of the aforesayde Archbishoppe but permit him freely to execute his office and with the swoarde of Ecclesiasticall seuerity to reuenge the iniuryes offered himselfe and his Church And what is not fully signifyed in these our letters concerning this and the rest our beeloued sonnes the Prior of Gods-Mount and brother Bernard of Corilo as they who dread rather God then man shall by worde of mouth declare at large to your Maiestie vnto whose admonition wee beeseech him whom to serue is to raigne and in whose hands are the hartes of kinges to incline your mynd and will that you may rather chuse to bee bowed then stiffely to continue any longer in the willfullnes of soe great an obstinacy against God and your owne saluation But if you will not harken to vs in their persons concerning those thinges which on our beehalfe they shall deliuer vnto you you may vndoubtedly feare least the reuenging wrath of God will shortly fall vpon you Now what the proceedinges of these Nuntios were their owne relation which was sent to Pope Alexander declareth at large in these wordes Ibid. Epist 8. Wee trauelled lately together with Brother Bernard of Corilo vnto the renowned king of England to perfect à peace and agreement by vertue of your Mandate beetwene him and my Lord of Canterbury and to bring our purpose more easely about wee drew my Lord of Canterbury to the place where the kinges God soe working were reconcyled one to an other Heere wee see the kinges at their late parlee in Paris departed a sunder discontented and that an other meeting was afterwards appointed which wee suppose was this Then hee proceedeth Hauing deliuered the king of England your comonitory letters and hauing done our vttermost dilligēce which wee thought most likely to preuayle with him wee admonished and counselled my Lord of Canterbury to humble himselfe to the king and endeauour to asswage the rigor of his mynd with lowely prayers and ready seruice in like sorte the most Christian king of France the Archbishoppes with other Lordes there present ioyntly perswaded him Beeing vrged with the exhortations of the king Bishoppes and Barons the Archbishoppe of Canterbury consented and in that open assembly came to the king of England and falling downe on his knees cōmended himselfe to God and the king speaking to the honor of God and his prince in these formall wordes To the honor of God soe to procure his peace and fauor But the king in regarde of those wordes to the honor of God would not receaue him into his fauor saying openly before them all least it should bee thought the Archbishop sought to conserue the honor of God and not of the king And after many wordes which would to God hee had forborne hee sayd he required nothing else of the Archbishoppe but that hee as a preist and Bishoppe should beefore them all promise him in the worde of truth to conserue without any deceypt the customes which the holy Archbishoppes of Canterbury had obserued vnto their kinges and which the Archbishop himselfe had once promised him to doe Whervnto the Archbishop answered that hee had done him fealty which hee was bound by the obligation of an oath to keepe inuiolable that is to say life lymmes and worldly honor with the preseruation of his order and all this hee was ready most faythfully to accomplish neither was any whit more exacted of his Predecessors or was to bee requyred of any But the king standing still most peremptorily on this Article my Lord of Canterbury sayd moreouer allthough none of his Predecessors had done yea or vndertaken thus much nor yet himselfe was by law tyed any way thereunto hee professed neuertheles that for obtayning the peace of the Church and regayning his fauor hee would promise that such customes as his Predecessors had obserued to their kinges hee would with reseruation of his order obserue inuiolably vnto him so far forth as hee could doe without offending God and would performe for winning his good opinion againe what soeuer could bee done with the honor of God protesting hee was neuer in his life more willing to serue him then to accomplish this if it pleased him to accept thereof Yet the king refused him vpon these termes nor would receaue him vnles hee would precisely and absolutely binde himselfe by oath to obserue his customes beecause hee required nothing else at his handes which in regarde the Archbishoppe allthough many did instantly perswade him therunto would not condescend to doe the king departed without conclusion of peace But when according to your Mandate wee exhorted the king to receaue the Archbishop againe into his fauor and restore him his Church with peace Hee answered For his Church it may bee the counsell of his freindes might soe far preuayle as in the end hee should render him the same againe but deny'd euer to restore him his fauor for then were the priuiledge voyde which your Holines granted him by vertue whereof you suspended the Archbishoppes authority vntill such tyme as hee was restored into his fauor What this suspension was wee will declare heereafter But to returne to the Nuntios letter hee thus proceedeth And beecause you commanded vs to admonish him first with the spiritt of lenity by your Comonitory letters wee deferred to another tyme the deliuery of your Cominatory Meane while wee beeseech Allmighty God in whose handes are the hartes of Princes to mitigate and asswage his mynde and reunite this peace to the diuine glory and the Churches vtility The rest of your Mandate wee will by Gods leaue in conuenient tyme execute with all dilligence and will bee carefull to signify to your Holines the euent of the busines in such sorte as God shall determine it Brother Bernard beeing desyred to certify your Holines as wee doe of the proceedinges
iniurious demandes which afflicted much our mynde the vrged vs on his beehalfe breathing out terrible threates vnles wee would condescend to his will wherupon wee in regarde the stormy persecution of the Church is not yet layde nor the fayre calme of peace as it was expedient hath hetherto shined on vs allthough wee would not graunt his requestes were neuertheles carefull to temper and asswage the fury and outrage of his mynde dreading greatly least hee should as once hee did ioyne in any league of society with Fredericke the Emperor that tyrant and wicked enemy of the Church to the hindrance and disturbance of her peace or picke any quarell to departs from the Church and our deuotion this was the reason that wee considering the malice of the tyme did with the ioynt counsell of our brethren by our Apostolicall letters command your brotherhoode vpon the conceyte of a certayne hope and confidence hee would receaue you into his fauor and restore the Church of Canterbury to your free disposition that you should not publish against him or any persons of his kingdome or against the kingdome it selfe any sentence of Interdiction Excommunication or Suspension vnles you first receaued from vs other letters wherin should bee signified that if the king would not reconcyle himselfe in peace vnto you you should haue leaue to execute your office against him and his Wherfore in regarde we desire to conserue by all meanes to you as our deere brother also to your Church due honor and liberty if hee shall not effectually fullfill before the beeginning af Lent what wee hope hee will doe as we haue propounded to him but perseuer still hardened in his obstinacy wee doe thē restore to you againe your authority to haue fre liberty without any barre of Appeale to execute the power of your office as well against the persons as also the kingdome yea the king himselfe if you shall iudge it conuenient and expedient for your selfe and your Church Cod Vat. lib. 4. epist 17. 51. to the king reseruing euer that grauity and Pontificall discretion which beehoueth you Thus wrote Alexander to Saint Thomas sending an other letter vnto him also to the same purpose and certifying likewise the king of France to the sayd effecte And soe the Pope reformed that which the king of England vsed not for establishing of peace but abused for the prolonging of discorde I meane this priuiledge of tyme graunted without limitation Cod Vat. lib. 3 epist 1. 23. These letters of reuoking this suspension Alexander this yeere commanded to bee deliuered by the aforesayde two Nuntios vnto the king who perusing them was exceedingly moued exclayming against his holines that hee had within the compas of one yeere published two decrees contradicting one an other one beeing for him the other against him vnles hee would agree presently to a peace What ensued afterwardes wee will in place conuenient declare the next yeere ANNO DOMINI 1170. The last Legates sent by the Pope to Henry King of England on the beehalfe of S. Thomas Now followeth the yeere of our Lord 1170. and the third Indiction When Pope Alexander addressed yet once againe certayne Bishoppes as Legates to Henry king of England For which purpose he selected Rotroche Archbishop of Roane with Bernard Bishop of Niuers to whom was after added William Bishop of Senon a prelate of approued fidelity and assured integrity For the better executing of which office Pope Alexander directed his letters which are yet extant to either of them seuerally Cod Vat. lib. ◠epist 2. 4. Ibid epist 5. dated after Viuians returne beesides others to them ioyntly contayning their treaty to bee had with the king which was that S. Thomas should returne to his Church and receaue all the possessions taken away from his Church that others exiled for his sake should euery one bee restored to his owne the king should grant him a perfect peace in a holy kisse if hee would not yeeld therunto beecause hee had sworne the contrary hee should performe it by his sonne according as hee had promised hee should abolish and absolutely condemne the wicked customes contradicting the Churches liberty and the Legates should absolue from their promise the Bishops who vndertooke to obserue them if there were any hope of peace they should then absolue the Excommunicates but vnder this condition that if the peace succeeded not they should fall backe againe into their former excommunication without any remedy of Appeale all which couenantes hee commanded precisely to bee performed within the compas of 40. dayes And if the peace could not bee perfected within that limited tyme nor these condicions accomplished they should presently interdict the Prouince on this side the seas where the king as then remayned This was the charge imposed by Pope Alexander on the Legates as appeareth by his Apostolicall letters dated this yeere at Beneuent 14. Kalend. Februarii The Pope sent also diuers letters to others concerning the same Legation and especially to king Henry himselfe Whilst this busines was in hand there brake forth à new discord king Henry would haue his sonne crowned king by the Archbishop of yorke beeing an office appertayning to the Prime seate of England which is Canterbury wherfore the Pope vnderstanding theerof directed his letters to the Archbishop of yorke and all the Bishoppes of England in this sorte Cod. Vat. lib 4. Ep. 42. In regarde wee are long since certifyed by the relation of many that the Coronation and vnction of the kinges of England appartayneth to the Archbishop of Canterbury as an ancient custome and dignity annexed vnto his Church wee doe by these presentes our Apostolicall authority streyghtly inioyne your brotherhood that if the renowned king of England will haue his sonne crowned and annoynted king during the tyme our reuerent brother Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury remayneth in exile none of yee attempt to impose handes on him or presume any way to intermedle in the busines which if any of yee shall bee soe bould as to doe let him vndoubtedly knowe that it will highly redounde to the perill of his office and order for heerin wee will cut of all remedy of Appeale and exclude all occasion of malignity Dated at Cisuinary 4. Kalend. Martii Hee wrote also seuerally to the same Bishoppes of England and likewise to saint Thomas Ibid epist 44 Ibid. epist 3. Ibidem epist 42. 4◠the priuiledges of whose Church should bee heerby infringed Sainct Thomas moreouer wryting in the name of the high Bishop of Rome to the Archbishop of yorke and other Bishoppes of England in like manner forbad the same to bee donne Vpon receipt of which letters the king of England and his followers were soe far inraged as they caused them all to take an oath not any way to obey the constitutions of the Pope and Archbishop forbidding this same which soe heynous offence saint Thomas presently reproued by these his letters
written to them into England Ibid. Ep. 47. Knowe yee my deerest that wee haue wrytten in great tribulation and anxiety of harte not any way to heape sorrowes vpon yee but that yee may vnderstand what manner of charity wee beare abuntantly vnto yee for God is our witnes how wee couet yee in the very bowells of Christ Iesus wherupon seeing the dangers that neerely touch the body and soule yee to their iniury and which beeing neuer heard of in these our dayes are yet now beefallen wee are not a litle greiued and confounded in regarde of your selues For it is apparant by the publicke reporte of all men that yee haue abiured my Lord the Pope who representeth the person of Christ himselfe and as also who allthough vnworthy are neuertheles appoynted the father and Bishop of your soules yea this is it which aboue other thinges that wee haue many yeeres according to the example of the iust iudgment of Allmighty God indured increased exceedingly the abundance of our sufferinges for that soe detestable so wicked an oath how great a scandall doth it breede to the world what offence to God what a synne to your selfe what affliction to vs For why to abiure them whom God hath ordayned ouer yee is an iniury to him who hath ordayned them and likewise to vs who are placed in authority by him nay rather the power of him who soe exalted vs is dishonored the band of his obedience broken which vice vndoubtedly with confidence I speake it but for your sakes with teares is like and equiualent to Idolatry for sayth the prophet to resist is the synne of Southsaying and not to obey is the offence of Idolatry wherupon such by the ordinance of the old lawe as were Idolatrers sustayned the sentence of corporall death And seeme yee not to your selues to haue incurred a far greater cryme in that yee doe not only rebell but alsoe bynde your selues with an oath heereafter to rebell and that moroeuer what a thing is it for sheepe to shake of their sheapheard Verily for such as forsake their shepheardes the Wolfe hath allready inuaded them and vnles the shepheard whom they haue now abiured defendeth them hee will in the end deuoure them Many testimonyes of Scriptures and examples of Saintes may bee produced for detestation of your offence but that the excesse of such an enormity lyeth open to the eyes of the meanest vnderstanding Yet if yee were not voluntarily but vnwillingly drawne hereunto the sinne were excused in parte but not in all for better it is to suffer the body's destruction then take an abhominable oath wherby yee are beecome the children of death beecause as the prophet sayth of the people yee are stroken with the stripe of the enemy with a cruell chastisement But to manifest the watchfull care wee haue beefore Allmighty God for yee wee haue endeauored to apply to soe greeuous a wound the salue which now only remayneth and doe therfore by the power of saint Peter the Apostle the authority of the Bishop of Rome and of vs absolue from an oath soe vnlawefull all such as are penitent especially those who sweare imparting to our reuerent brethren the Diocesan Bisshoppes and preistes of lesse quality in the vacancy of Bishopprickes our power for inioyning externall satisfaction to the afore sayd Penitents Admonishing yee all who are willing to vnderstand it that yee are no way bound by such an oath nor obliged to obey it least as Herod vnder pretence of piety yee become impious and excuse with an oath an offence exceeding the swearing according to him who sayth That oath is not to bee obserued wherby a sin is vnaduisedly promised And againe In promises which are euill infringe your fayth breake your vowe change your decree doe not performe what you haue vnaduisedly vowed And many other sentences which I ouerpasse are consonant heereunto And now to conclude I who am bound in our Lord doe heere beeseech yee yea I beeseech yee as my children whom I euer ought to embrace in Christ that yee walke worthy of the vocation wherunto God hath called yee that obseruing first of all the fayth of Christ yee doe next obey his Prelates submitting your selues vnto them for they are the Parties who keepe watch ouer yee as the persons who must yeeld an accompt for your soules For brethren I would haue yee vnderstaÌ„d how as well these vnlawfull oathes as also many other enormious crymes which through wicked sugestions are committed in our cause for the oppression of iustice and truth truth so fauoring it selfe will turne in the end to the benifitt thereof fore truth may bee imprisonned or entralled but can neuer bee vanquished beecause shee is contented with the smale number of her follwers and neuer caught with the multitude of men and let the spirit of counsell and wisedom inspire yee all with that discretion one to an other as being all of one mynde yee may with one mouth honor the Pastors and Bishoppes of your soules whom that great Pastor of flockes Iesus Christ hath ordayned in the blood of his eternall testament and that by the Charity of the holy Ghost yee stretch out the handes of your prayers to helpe mee your father in this â—â—y extreme perill wherby I may bee deliuered from those Infidells who forbid that in this my restraynte I should bee assisted with prayer a suffrage commonly beestowed both on the faythfull and vnfaythfull The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ bee with yee all who haue corrected your error concerning this wicked oath and bin worthily and humbly contryte therfore for the contrary syde I beeseech God either instantly to conuerte them or temporally to punish them vntill they amend and doe condigne pennance for their offence Thus wrote saint Thomas vnto his Cod Vat. lib. 3. Ep. 18. But it appeareth by the testimony of Iohn of Silisbury that all did not equally condescend to this oath and that persecution was threatned from the higher powers against such as refused to sweare For hee sayth It is a publicke reporte that the aboue mentioned Archdeacon of Canterbury perswaded the king to passe ouer into England and there to torture the Bishoppes with those of the Clergy who would not sweare against my Lord the Pope and their mother Church of Canterbury on euery syde is feare perplexitys on euery syde c. The king meane while did with all dilligence possible hasten to accomplish the Coronation at whitsuntyde but concerning such thinges as foreranne the same there is extant the relation of a faythfull freind who remayned with the king and often certifyed saint Thomas by letters of these and other occurrents but now in this sorte Ibid Ep. 10. The king must bee needes at London on Sunday next for hee hath then summoned thither out of all partes of the land the Archbishop of yorke together with all other Bishoppes and Barons that day will yorke assuredly crowne the kinges sonne his wife the king
consecrated king if it may bee termed a consecration which is ministred by the Excommunicate who are odious to the holy Ghost and enemyes to the Church and this with the notorious iniury of the Church of Canterbury and of my Lord the king of France whose Daughter that aduersary of God and man would not admitt to bee partaker of this consecration This consecration or rather execration was ministred by yorke and as they say with your authority where London some others named Bishoppes whose memoryes are buryed in malediction assisted him Haue a care therfore ô father heereafter of this Church which hath perished i◠your handes least the bloud thereof bee required of you which wee thinke cannot bee otherwise done for the redemption of your fame and soule vnles with your Apostolicall power you confound the foresayde Malefactors Thus wrote Senon to the Pope There are letters yet to bee seene written in the Popes name to the Archbishop of Roane for absoluing London on certaine conditions Cod Vat. l. 3. Epist 16. and others likewise sent by Roane to his holines signifying how hee was absolued on Easter day but there is the letter of saint Thomas to Roane affirming the absolution to bee voyd Ihid Ep. 19. beecause the Popes conditions were neuer proformed Ibid. Ep. 24 And moreouer beesides all these an other letter of saint Thomas wherin hee complayneth to the Pope concerning these abuses Yet bee assured all this was but a slaunderous reporte And first as it was false that the Archbishop of Yorke euer consecrated the king by the Popes authority as the letters before recyted written both by the Pope and also by a frind to saint Thomas apparantly declare soe make no doubt it is as manifest a falshood that London and his Associate were euer absolued by the Popes Mandate and therfore loe heere the Epistle of Apologie sent by his Holines to the Bishop of Senon Wee haue gratefully receaued Ibid. Ep. 26. and with dilligente care and attention considered the letters which your deuotion sent as concerning the busines of our venerable brother the Archbishop of Canterbury The Pope purgeth himselfe of a false imputation But in regard the Bishop of London is not yet come vnto vs wee haue determined nothing in the cause If hee had appeared before vs wee would haue endeauored to preserue the iust tytle of the Archbishoppe of Canterbury soe far forth as wee might haue done with the safety of our conscience But yet how far wee haue proceeded in that controuersy wee suppose wee haue made sufficiently knowne to him in parte and also to our most deere sonne in Christ Lewes the famous king of France in such sorte as wee enioyned you by word of mouth to deliuer for wee haue therin altered nothinge since your departure nor haue wee thought good to change any thing heereafter allthough the foresayd king of England did sollicite vs most earnestly by the Consuls of Lumbardy beeing present before vs with his agents as also by the Embassadors of our most deere sonne in Christ Emmanuel the illustrous Emperour of Constantinople to graunt him a longer tyme of repite And in regarde wee esteeme the Archbishoppes cause as our owne and the Churches cause wee command your brotherhood by these our Apostolicall letters that you admonish carefully and instantly exhorte by worde of mouth or otherwise by letters if they are not personally present the Archbishop of Roane and Bishop of Niuers dilligently and speedily to execute our commandement and if as yet they haue no way proceeded in the busines omitt not in any case to reprehend them sharpely and seuerely reproue them But if they haue allready pronounced according to our commandement the sentence of interdiction vpon the sayde kings lands then doe you firmly and streightly obserue this sentence and cause as far as it lyeth in your power the same to bee obserued without any partiality at all throughout the kinges landes which are knowne to ly in your Prouince setting all excuse and appeale a syde Thus far Pope Alexander purged himselfe to Senon and allthough the Pope commanded excommunicated London to bee absolued to the end hee might bee an instrument of peace as in an other place hee sayth what offence was this especially considering hee commanded the same to bee done vpon certayne conditions Nay did not saint Thomas himselfe this very yeere at such time as the Pope commanded the excommunication to bee reiterated on London and Salisbury beeseeche his Holines to forbeare the same for feare of disturbing the peace now vndertaken Soe as it appeareth not only Alexander but also saint Thomas himselfe did vpon diuers occasions command and perswade the Excommunicated to bee bound and loosed for these are his owne wordes Allthough the Bishop of Lomdon hath bin the cheife Leader of this sedition that wee may forbeare to call it Scysme wee neuerthelesse beeseech it may bee lawfull for vs to haue cōpassion on him and Salisbury if they cannot bee punished according to your commandement without renewing of Scisme But the modesty of Pope Alexander was vndoubtedly admirable who although hee felt himselfe ouerladen with soe huge a burden of wrongfull accusations yea and was most vniustly afflicted with the cōplayntes of this soe Saintly a man signifyed by the Apostolicall Legate as also those of the king people and Clergy of France allmost wholy with clamors inueyghing against him beeing made neuerthelesse as a man not hearing nor hauing any refutations in his mouth hee handled his cause with that vnspeakeable myldnes as hee abstayned absolutely from retorting reproofes or any other spytefull replication allbeeit hee was gauled with the spurres of most sharpe letters soe as it may without all controuersy bee affirmed of him which was once sayde of Moyses that hee was of all men the meekest But whence will you say arose then this reporte so bruted in the mouthes of all that the Bishoppe of London was absolued by the Pope It is layde open in the Epistle of Iohn of Salisbury Secretary to saint Thomas wrytten to the Archdeacon of Excester and dated this yeere where among other occurrents 〈◊〉 this tyme hee inserteth this of this same It was commonly giuen out that the kinges Agents had then obtayned absolution for the Bishoppe of London and all others Cod. Vat. lib. 5. Ep. 18. and how the Archbishoppes authority for proceeding against the kingdome with the persons of his realme was withdrawne But they were presently refuted as manifest vntruthes by letters sent from his Holines yea before such tyme as the Bishoppe of London vndertooke his iourney to the Courte who doubtles would haue spared that labor and cost if as some fayned hee might haue bin absolued without soe greate difficulty Thus sayth Salisbury for clearing Alexander from the iniurious slanders raysed of him by the king of Englands Agents Whereunto may bee added the testimony of saint Thomas expostulating with king Henry thus My Lord if you hasten
a Bullwarke for the house of Israel that hee argueth for the meeke of the earth wee haue him as now the only and eminent man amonge the children of the patient in tribulation In place of our fathers wee haue a sonne borne unto vs who according to the example of the Apostles doth as now put in execution reuenge among nations reproofes among people and as those Princes of the people who beeing now gathered together with the God of Abraham for the iustice of Christ are as strong goddes of the earth mightely aduanced so shall likewise the honor of this man if hee perseuereth on in administration of iustice bee highly exalted For wheras hee liueth now exiled 2. Cor. 4. wheras many thinges are attempted to his reproache all this by the benefit of patience will bee turned to his glory This of our tribulation which is light and momentary sayth the Apostle worketh in vs a maruailous weyght of glory Showe therfore your selues as the seruantes of God in singular patience For widdowelike doth vertue stand when patience sheildeth not her hand And who from the first infancy of the Church hath euer tryumphed without patience Truly allthough your Lord hath abundance of the spiritt of fortitude yet neuertheles it is reported that in regarde the new king of England was crowned by Yorke and for some priuiledges obtayned by stealth to his derogation hee is soe molested as by the pusillanimity of spiritt and that tempest his feete are allmost moued his steppes well nigh discomforted But you who are the bandes and eyes of the Archbishop see that with your holy exhortations you comforte his dissolued handes you strengthen his weakened knees It is no maruaile if hee bee shaken with tribulation and oppressions but if hee relyeth wholly and cleaueth to him who deepely rootethin his electe hee will rest secure in all stormes of temptation and boysterous disturbance The ancient fathers vndoubtedly beeing sometimes in the pressure of tribulation were often wearyed with tediousnes wherupon they seemed for a tyme to waxe fainte and feeble from that resolute enduring of passions which they had with singular feruency in our lorde vntill beeing inspired with vertue from aboue they returned againe to themselues in the spirit of fortitude Elias flying away from the face of Isabell 3. Reg. 29. and beeing wearyed of his life cast himselfe downe vnder a Iuniper bush and desired his soule might bee seuered by death It sufficeth mee quoth hee take away my life The Apostle alsoe pyning away with the like tediousnes complaining saith Wee are laden with greife aboue measure 1. Cor. 1. in soe much as wee are weary of our life The Prophet hauing often experience of this tediousnes speaketh thus Psalm 38. I haue fainted by the strength of thy hand and thou haste made my soule pine away as a spider But the spirit of Charity reuyued in them out of these ashes of tediousnes and fortititude sprung from our infirmity A thing perhaps incredible to some had not the Apostle whoe read it often in the booke of experience giuen testimony therof saying For when I am weaker then growe I stronger And to him it is also tould 1. Cor. 1◠Thy vertue is perfected in infirmity If therfore in regarde of the swelling seas of mishappes which my Lord endureth bee it either for the desolation of his frindes or the long continuance of his exile you see any sluggish dullnes by stealth to surprise his mynde steppe in presently to comforte him least hee despaire or bee any whitt wauering For the tyme of his visitation is at hand And if the mounting surges of the seas are maruailous God is also maruailous in the deepe who conuerteth stormes into calmes Psalm 92. and the kinges indignation into fauor I vnderstood by the Legates of the Apostolike Sea with whom I trauailed from the courte of Rome to Bononi that your Lord shall bee very shortly reconcyled vnto the intire fauour of the king of England or else translated and made a more eminent Patriarch but howsoeuer hee shall bee disposed of by our Lord if hee perseuereth as hitherto hee hath donne let him expect with security the end of his combate let him not therfore listen to the wordes of flatterers but followe the spiritt of God which dwelleth in him and whether-someuer hee goeth the spirites and wheeles of Ezechiel will allso accompany him Ezech. 10. I knowe the end of his agony will bee glorious if hee continue in the same course of fortitude and constancy which hee hath allready vndertaken for who so fighteth lawfully shall bee crowned And wheras all other vertues runne towardes the goale yet only perseuerance is crowned Wherfore I entreate you as my Lord and Master that you will let mee often vnderstand of your estate and alsoe of his for since I canne affourde yee nothing else I doe not cease daily to pray for yee that by Gods assisting grace yee may obtayne the king of Englands fauor and the free disposing of your owne estates I haue perused your booke of The trifles of the Courte which delighted mee exceedingly for it contayneth an excellent forme of learning and for the artificiall varyety of sentences it is a matter of inestimable delight God speede yee well Hetherto Peeter And for the tyme wherin hee wrote it appeareth by this that hee departed from the Citty towardes the king of England after the coronation of his sonne was finished by the Archbishop of Yorke The king of Englād terryfyed by the Pope Meane while the king of England receaued from his Holines sharper letters commanding him peremptorily to grant saint Thomas his peace within the prescribed tyme or if hee contemned to obey then to expect the same sentence which hee had pronounced on Fredericke the Emperor where with the king of England beeing terrifyed wryting from England to the Apostolicall Legates hee beegan to moue them importunately to peace beeing vrged therunto by Alexanders comminatory letters which letters though they are lost are often mentioned in other Epistles of S. Thomas The king therfore thus stroken with feare and dealing carefully for obtayning peace wrote these few lynes for that purpose to the Archbishop of Roane one of the Legates By the aduice of your selfe and other my faythfull Barons Cod. Vat. lib. 3. Epist 14. I haue signified as well by messingers as letters vnto my Lord the Pope a forme conceaued for reformation of peace beetweene mee and the Archbishoppe of Canterbury The Pope as hee certifyed mee by his letters receaued withall thankfullnes the same in such sorte as it was deuised by your counsell and made knowne to him on your beehalfe openly commanding admonishing entreating and attentiuely perswading that I should performe the same with the consent of your selfe and the Bishop of Nyuers And therfore I will fully and freely accomplish the same according as yee two shall arbitrate not violating in any thing the order which shall bee proposed
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
which the world witnesseth wee neuer deserued at his handes malitiously to depraue and derogate from vs and our renowne But if the sayd Archbishoppe as of his owne accord hee departed the land soe of his owne free will would returne againe and beare him selfe to vs in such sort as he ought to behaue himselfe to his Lord and king wee then would likewise so deale with him as according to the counsell of our Clergie and Layetie as well of our kingdome as our Prouinces beeyond the seas should bee thought conuenient but wee thinke it vnfitting to call him backe whom wee neuer enforced to flye our dominions Wherefore if it â—â—all appeare to vs that wee haue any way offended or exceeded our boundes wee will with the aduice of our Clergie and Barons according to the customes dignityes and excellency of our kingdome willingly satisfy as wee are bound But if any one will attempt to trouble or diminish the lawes customes and dignityes of our crowne wee will esteeme him the publicke aduersary and open enemy of our name honor and kingdome and wee so long as wee liue will neuer endure the least detriment to the dignityes and customes of our regality which the renowned men our Predecessors haue held and inioyed in the raignes of the holy Popes of Rome Lastly in that hee commanded yee to insinuate vnto vs that wee should not afflict the Churches or Ecclesiasticall persons of our kindome or Prouinces nor yet suffer them to bee afflicted God and our Conscience doe witnes that to this very day wee neuer did nor Permitted it to bee donne Hetherto the kinges Apologie to the Cardinalls But as the image of a foule deformed and horrible Monster beeing ouercast with coulors may bee transformed into the showe of a most faire and chaste Virgin and not with standing there lurketh vnderneath what to the eyes would bee dreadfull to beehould yet outwardly it appeareth delectable Soe shall yee playnly see his detestable crymes with a deceytfull style transformed into vertues But what estimation is to bee had of him that which hath allready bin sayd and what heereafter shall bee written will apparently declare There are also other letters extant which passed this yeere in the cause of controuersy beetwene the king of England and sainct Thomas beeing writings truly of great moment and principaly that which Pope Alexander sent to the Bishop of London and is recyted by Roger in these words Alexander Bishop seruant of the seruantes of God to his reuerent brother Gilbert Bishop of London sendeth greeting with an Apostolicall Benediction In that you haue beestowed singular care and diligence about the busines wee enioyned your brotherhood and for that your haue faithfully sollicited and effectually admonished our most deare sonne in Christ Henry the renowned king of England concerning the encrease and exaltation of the Church and vs wee receaue the same as a thing most gratefull and acceptable and thereupon rendring you abundance of thankes wee doe for that cause highly commend and prayse in our Lord your watchfull and endeauouring wisedome And beecause wee loue with a more intire charity this your king as a famous Prince and our dearest sonne therefore wee haue thought good often yea very often to sollicyte and excite him by all meanes to deuotion towards the Church as well by your reuerent brethren the Archbishop of Roane and Bishop of Hereforde and also by our most deare daughter in Christ his mother sometymes the illustrous Empres of Rome And now reioyce and are greatly comforted in our Lord for the godly zeale of the same king signifyed to vs by your letters But beecause wee would haue him as intirely affected to the Church of God and to vs as in the beeginning her was accustomed to bee wee intreate admonish yea command your brotherhood that you will againe and againe both by your selfe and others carefully and diligently stirre vp exhorte and by all meanes perswade him to procure after his wonted manner with his best endeauors the honor and exaltation of the same Church and foster mayntaine and defend with all courage the cause therof that hee would loue and reuerence Churches and Ecclesiasticall persons and conserue their rightes and franchises Likewise that hee would restore to his grace and fauour our reuerent brother the Archbishop of Canterbury and for our parte if hee yeeld to sainct Peeter and vs the respect and honor which heeretofore hee hath done wee will loue him with a most tender affection and labour by all meanes as beeseemeth vs to magnify and aduance him and preserue the kingdome committed to his charge for wee had rather vanquish him with patience and mildnes then any way agreeue him soe long vs wee can possibly forbeare him Dated at Gradus Mercurii XI Kalend. Septemb. Thus wrote Alexander to the Bishop of London who in this manner answered him To his father and Lord the most high Bishop Alexander Brother Gilbert seruant of the Church of London sendeth his dutifull seruice of sincere charity and humble obedience Hauing receaued most deere father in Christ your commandement with dew reuerence wee instantly heard that your sonne our most beeloued soueraigne Lord was leading his army in the confines of France and taking with vs our venerable Brother Robert Bishop of Hereford according to your direction with all attentiue dilligence wee treated with him and laying beefore his eyes whatsoeuer you signifyed to vs by letter partly entreating and as far as beecame subiects to the Maiestie of their king also reprouing wee constantly and instantly perswaded him that hee would bee certifyed in all these pointes and if hee had swarued from the path of reason hee would returne to the way of truth and iustice beeing called backe by your admonition deliuered him by our mouth and beeing piously aduertised by his father 〈◊〉 absolutly desist from wicked actions loue God witâ— a pure harte respect his Mother the holy Church of Râ—â—e with his wonted reuerence and neuer forbid those whâ— were willing to visit her nor hinder appeales made vnto her and reducing charitably from exile our father the Lord of Canterbury hee would remayne constant and vnmoueable in the obedience of sainct Peeter and your Holines and wholy bent to the workes of deuotion would not any way afflict Churches or Ecclesiasticall persons of his kingdome or dominions nor suffer them to bee in any sorte iniured by himselfe or others but with loue defend them vnder his royall protection that hee by whom kinges doe raigne may in this world prosper his temporal Dominion and beestowe on him in heauen an eternall kingdome Otherwise if hee obeyed not your godly and wholsome admonitions your Holines who had hetherto with patience indured could no longer contayne your selfe within the compasse thereof Heereunto wee added that hee was iustly to feare least if hee corrected not his offences hee shoulde shortly incurre the wrath of Allmighty God through which his kingdome would not long continewe nor his bee
of an Idoll nor yet will there fayle some who possessing our seates and vsurping our chaires will with all the deuotion of their myndes obey him Many there are who doe now foretaste this wishing that scandalls would once arise and playne ways bee peruerted to crooked pathes Wherfore father wee doe not lament or bee wayle our owne misfortunes but vnles you preuent these mischeifes wee doe forseeing dread a foule subuersion to threaten and hang ouer the Church of God neither sooner would wee wish a day of this loathed life to perish then that wherin wee were borne to see such manner of spectacles Allmighty God deare father in Christ preserue you long in health and prosperity And thus wrote the Bishop of London to Pope Alexander But Pope Alexander who sought by the Bishop of Londons meanes the kinges recouery desired much more by his owne pastor sainct Thomas to perfect the same who neuer fayled of his office and as at all tymes hee admonished him by his letters soe now more amply in wryting hee thought good to perswade his king in manner following To his beeloued Lord Henry by the grace of God King of England Duke of Normādy and Aquitayne and Earle of Anioue Lib. 1. Epist 65. Thomas by the same grace the humble seruant of the Church of Canterbury sometimes temporally his but now much more wisheth him in our Lord all true repentance with amendment Expecting wee haue expected that our Lord would looke vpon you The Epistell of sainct Thomas to King Henry and that beeing conuerted you would doe pennance departing from your peruerse wayes and that you would cut off from you the wicked by whose suggestestion and counsell as it is tought you are now fallen downe allmost into the depth But God forbid it should bee into that depth whereof it is sayde Prouerb 18. The sinner when hee commeth into the depth will contemne And allthough wee haue hetherto forborne in vayne considering in silence and with all affection expectin if any messinger would come and reporting say your sonne king and Lord beeing now long inueagled with deceiptes and drawne on to the Churches destruction by the inspiration of the heauenly clemency in the abundance of exceeding humility hasteneth himselfe for the Churches deliuery with making all satisfaction and amendes Allthough there is yet no such thing wee not withstanding will neuer cease with humble and daily deuotion to beeseech Allmighty God that what wee haue long and earnestly wished both of you and for you wee may with a speedy and fruitefull effect obtayne And beehould thereupon it cōmeth to passe that the care of the Church of Canterbury ouer whō our Lord hath at this present placed our preistood though vnworthie while you doe there rule the temporall estate doth not soe neerely touch vs in regard of our continued discommodious exile as otherwise moue vs to direct to your Maiestie letters of admonition exhortation and correction that wee bee not to great a dissembler of your offences if any there bee which in verie deede are beeing the ground of our no smale greife those yea cheefely those wee say which concerne the Church of God and his Clergie beeing diuers ways committed by you without regarde of person or dignity and that wee appeare not theerin too negligent to the hazard of your soules saluation For hee is doubtlesse guilty of the facte who forbeareth to amend what hee ought to correct It is written Not only they who doe but those who consent are adiuged partakers of the crime And truly they consent who when they may and ought resist not or at the least reproue not the offendor for the error beeing not resisted is allowed and truth beeing not defended is oppressed neither auoydeth hee suspition of secret association who forbeareth to withstand a manifest offence For as most excellent Prince a small Citty cannot lessen the prerogatiue of a potent kingdome soe ought not your royal power to disturbe or alter the bounds of the Churches religious gouerment It is euer consonant to the rules of iustice that iudgment bee ministred to the preistes of God by a preistly councell The iurisdiction of the Preisthood distinguished from the iurisdiction of the kingdome For Bishopps whatsoeuer they are although as men they run astray yet if they fall not from their faith neither can nor ought they to bee censured by the secular power It is the parte of a good and godly Prince to repaire ruinous and decayed Churches to build them anew to honor the preistes of God and supporte them with all reuerence like Constantine that vertuous Emperor of most famous memory who sayd when a cause of the Clergie was brought beefore him yee ought not to hee iudged by any secular authority who are only reserued to the iudgment of Allmighty God And wee reade that the holy Apostles and their successors whose power is warranted by the word of God himselfe doe command That no persecutions nor disturbances bee raised nor yet that any should enuy them who labour in the feild of our Lord nor that the stewardes of the eternall king should bee banished from their Seas For who maketh question but that Preistes are the Masters and fathers of kinges and all faithfull beeleiuers and is it not then a point of miserable madnes for the sonne to endeauour to bring his father into subiection or the scholler his Master and with vniust lawes to reduce him vnder his rule who as hee ought to beelieue hath power to loose and bind him not only in earth but in heauen alsoe If you are a good and Catholike king and soe will remayne as wee beelieue and hope you will let vs say vnder your Maiesties correction you are a chylde and not a Bishop of the Church and ought to learne of Preistes and not to teach them and in matters Ecclesiasticall to follow them not to guyde them You haue the priuiledges of your power which you haue obtayned from God for administring your temporall lawes to the end that beeing not vngratefull to him for his benefitts you should vsurpe nothing contrary to the disposition of his heauenly order but that with a more sober mynde you should vse those things which now rather perchance through the counsell of the malitious then the inclination of your owne mynde you abuse against his ordinance yeelde therefore speedely with all humility and all manner of satisfaction least otherwise the hand of God beeing bent against you shoote his arrowe at you as at a marke for the Allmighty hath bent his bowe to strike you openly with his arrowe if you repent not Bee not ashamed whatsoeuer the malignant suggest in your mynde and the Traytors not only to you but also to God himselfe doe whispering murmer in your eares to humble your selfe vnder the mighty hand of God for it is hee who exalting the humble throweth downe the prowde who in reuenge for iniuryes offered to him and his beereaueth Princes of their
the same place cry out against you and say Aryse ô Lord adiudge thy cause call to mynde the scornes and iniuryes which are all day long offered by the king of England and his to thee and thyne forget not the reproches of thy Church which thou hast founded with thy blood reuenge ô Lord the blood of thy seruantes afflictions which are beeyond number infinite the pryde of these who hate and persecute thee and thyne ascendeth soe high as wee cannot longer indure them My Lord and king whatsoeuer your followers haue committed will all bee required at your hands for hee apparantly hath donne the iniury who hath giuen occasion of doeing the iniury Assuredly vnles you restrayne your handes from disturbing the people the sonne of the Allmighty himselfe will vppon the sighes of the settered vpon the sighes of those who crye out to him come in the rod of his fury beecause the tyme is now at hand to iudge against you iustice in equity and in the seuerity of his spirit for hee knoweth how to take away the spirit of Princes and is terrible among the kinges of the earth wee speake not thus vnto you to cōfound your face or prouoke you to farther indignation and anger as perchance the malitious who swarme about you and lye in wayte day and night for our destruction indeauoring to alienate your mynde from vs will with their wicked and vniust suggestions whispering murmur against vs Giue them ô God according to their workes and according to the naughtines of their inuentions but that wee may make you more cautions and wary in the prouision and care of your soule and cause you to auoyd the danger that is euen now instantly at hand and beecause it is our especiall charge to bee watchfull ouer your soule in regarde the care and gouerment thereof is committed to vs as the king whereof wee must render an accompt in the dreadfull day of iudgment Incline theereunto a willing eare and vse our seruice as it shall please you soe long vs wee offend not Allmighty God nor deale with wicked dissimulation to the ouerthowe of your soule and ours for what will it boote you to gaine the whole world with the danger of your saluation Consider with your selfe what is beecome of the Emperors what of the kinges and other Princes what of the Archbishopps and Bishoppes our ancient predecessours They laboured in their dayes und others haue succeeded in their trauailles what more Soe vanisheth the world and his glory Remember therefore your last and you shall not sinne eternally and moreouer if you haue offended you will then doe pennance God send you deerely beeloued grace well to fare if in true humility and speedy pennance you will bee conuerted to our Lord God Allmighty Soe fare you well againe and euer Thus saint Thomas Hee directed also other letters to the Bishoppes concerning the Hierarchicall order and vnity of the Catholicke Church which beegin in this sorte THOMAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD the humble seruant of the Church of Canterbury to all his reuerend brethren the Bishoppes of the Prouince of Canterbury sendeth greeting IF wee haue à care to liue as wee ought Codi Vat. lib. 1. Epist 97. The Epistel of S. Thomas to the Bishoppes of of England And within a fewe wordes after Now concerning the visible vnity of the Catholicke Church vnder one head In the beeginning of the Primitiue Church as the blessed Apostle teacheth Christ ascending into heauen that hee might fullfill all made truly some Apostles some Prophetts others Euangelistes others Pastors and Masters for the instruction of Saintes for the worke of ministry for the buylding of the body of Christ neither yet were all offices to bee committed to one but euery member was to bee endowed with his proper offices and yet neuertheless in that sorte as the head in whom as in a castle or certaine Capitoll all the senses of vertues are assembled together may prouyde for all and euery particular and all on the other syde may obey the head according to their seuerall conditions The Doctor of the Gentills who gloryeth that hee learned not the Gospell either of man or by man Call 1. but was instructed by Christ went vp to Ierusalem and conferred with the Prince of the Churches concerning matters of fayth least hee should run or had run in vayne And as it appeareth by many examples Gen. 2. all fluddes of the Gospell returne to the sea from whence they had their originall to the end they may flowe againe for the fountaine of Paradise is one but deuided into many riuers that thereby it may on all sydes water the earth Who doubteth the Church of Rome to be the head of all Churches and fountayne of Catholicke doctrine Who is ignorant that the keyes of the kingdome of heauen were deliuered to Peeter Doth not the frame of the whole Church aryse on the fayth and Doctrine of Peeter vntill wee doe all meete beefore Christ in a perfect man in the vnity of fayth and acknowledgment of the sonne of God And afterwardes But whosoeuer hee bee that watereth or planteth God giueth encrease to none but him who hath planted on the fayth of Peeter and humbleth himselfe vnto his doctrine To him truly are referred the iudgmentes of the people which are of greatest importance to bee examined by the Pope of Rome and the Magistrates subordinate to him in the Courtes of the Church that they who are assistantes in partaking the care may excercise the power committed to their charge soe as the preist when hee cannot determine a matter incident to the flocke of his parish may referre the same to his Bishop who submitteth things surmounting his reach also to the Archbishop or Metropolitane from whom whatsoeuer is of greatest importance is reserued vnto the high Bishop of Rome This order hath Peeter taught vs and the same hath the Catholicke Church obserued vnto this day neither by Gods grace shall is euer bee ouerthrowne whatsoeuer iniquity attempteth against it Neuertheless in the kingdome of England which I cannot without exceeding greefe recall to mynd nor without teares declare they presume wonderfully against Peeter The authority of the Apostolicke Sea as much as lyeth in peruerse Potentates is extenuated and indangered whyle they who of necessity are compelled for performing their pennance or procuring the commodity of their soules or otherwise in the duty of visitation to trauell ouer to our Lord the Pope are hindred in their iourney spoyled hardly handled and forbidden to passe the seas either by those who seeke out occasions to committ mischeefes or by others who are compelled to take oathes for restrayning Clearkes and Penitents in this sayd iourney And therefore in regard they lay violent handes on the Clergie they incurre by their owne acte the condemnation of accursing which is the reason that wee vsing the authority of the Church of Rome doe command your brotherhood charging yee by the Apostolicke power in
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
which hee hath granted authority the other to which hee would haue reuerence yeelded hee then who derogateth from the right of the one or the other resisteth Gods ordination Let not then our Soueraigne Lord disdaine to attribute to them vnto whom the highest of all vouchsafeth to attribute calling them often goddes in the holy Scriptures For hee speaketh thus I haue said yee are godes c. And againe I haue appointed thee the God of Pharao Psal 81. Exod. 9. Ibid. 22. And Thou shalt not detract from the Goddes that is to say the Preistes And speaking by Moyses of him who was to sweare hee sayth Bring him to the Goddes Ibidem that is to the Preistes Neither let our king presume to attempt to iudge his iudges For the keyes of the kingdome of heauen are committed not to powers of this earthe but to Preistes And therefore it is written The lippes of the Preist shall haue the custody of knowledge and from his mouth they shall require the lawe 1. Cor. ◠beecause hee is the Angel of our Lord. And also Paule sayth Shall wee not iudge Angells how much more men Wee would haue you also suggest into the mynde of our Soueraigne Lord that thing worthie of memory and imitation which wee reade in the Ecclesiasticall history of Constantine the Emperor to whom when there were offered vp in wryting accusations against Bishoppes hee receaued the Schedule of the accusations and calling the accused together hee burned it in their sight saying Yee are Goddes ordayned by the true God goe and determine your causes among your selues in regarde it is vnworthy that wee men should iudge the Goddes O mighty Emperor O discreete Gouernor on the earth not fraudulently vsurping on the authority of others and deseruing in heauen an eternall kingdome Let therefore our Lord the king indeauor to imitate soe greate soe discrete soe happy an Emperor whose memory is with prayses renowned on the earth and likewise accounted eternall and glorious in heauen Otherwise let him feare what our Lord hath threatened in Deutronomy Deut 17. saying What man soeuer shall soe deale in his pride that hee will not heare the preist hee shall dye before the iudge For to this purpose is hee called and to this end the tranquility of his temporall kingdome and that magnificency whereof you put vs in mynde are giuē him from heauen Otherwise the king is not saued by his great power although kingdomes are subiect vnto him and nations doe reuerently obey him And thus far concerning these Now whosoeuer haue ioyned with you in the wryting of these afore recyted letters let them knowe that the same answer wee make you the same wee make to them What remayneth brethren wee admonish intreate and beeseech yee that no scysmes may euer seperate vs but that wee bee in our Lord one harte and one soule and that wee harken to him who sayth In the beehalfe of Iustice contend for thy life and fight for Iustice euen to the very death and God will conquer for thee thyne enemyes Eccles 4. Let vs not forget that seuere iudge beefore whose Tirbunal Throne when wee shall appeare Truth only shall adiudge vs all feare and trust of any earthly power beeing then cleane vanished Soe in our Lord wee bid your brotherhood farewell These were this yeere written the rest shall in the yeeres following appeare in their places But the Bishoppes of England directed letters to Pope Alexander inueighing against this afore recyted Epistle written to them by saint Thomas not that they might any way succor the distressed estate of the Church as neede required but only appeale to his Holines against their Archbishoppe For these are their wordes To their father and Lord the high Bishop Alexander The Epistle of the Bishops of England to the Pope the Bishops of the Prouince of their seuerall Dioceses dispersed in sundry parishes as to their Lord and father remember their bounden seruice of charity and obedience Wee suppose father your excellency is not vnmyndfull how you conuented in your letters lōg since directed by the mediation of our reuerent brethren the Bishoppes of London and Hereforde your deuoute sonne and our most deere and renowned Lord the king of England and how with your fatherly compassion you admonished him for the amendment of some matters which appeared to the eyes of your holines as deseruing reformation in his kingdome who receauing your commandement with due reuerence as it is manifest swelled not in anger The Bishoppes commend their king nor with pryde of mynde contemned to obey you but yeelding thankes for your fatherly chastisement humbled himselfe presently to the Churches examination saying that in euery thing which according to the forme of your Mandat was dilligently expressed to him hee would submit himselfe to the iudgment of the Church of his kingdome and what soeuer they should determine to bee amended hee would reforme by their aduise with à commendable denotion and in a Prince worthie great prayse from this purpose hee flyeth not neither recalleth his mynde from his promise but hee who may sit in thrones who may consider and iudge now moued with the reuerence of diuine feare not as a king but as an obedient sonne is ready to yeelde to iudgment obey the lawfull pronounced sentence and as a Prince bounded with lawes shewe himselfe in all thinges a dutifull childe wherefore it is vnnecessary to enforce with interdictions or threates or the spurres of accursinges the man to satisfaction who subiecteth himselfe allready to the censures of the diuine lawes For his actions withdrawe not themselues from the light nor by any meanes desire to bee shrowded in darknes for this king in faith most Christian in the bandes of wedlocke most honest the conseruer of peace and iustice and one who enlargeth the boundes of the same far and neere incomparably indeauoureth with all his power and thirsteth with a feruent desire that scandalls and sinnes together with their fowle followers may bee taken away and rooted out of his kingdome and that peace and iustice may euer take place and all thinges prosper and flourish vnder him in sweete security and quiet tranquillity The Bishops excuse their king Who finding sometimes the peace of his kingdome not a litle molested with the outragious excesses of some insolent Clearkes with due reuerence to the Clergie referred their offences to the Bishoppes iudges of the Church that one sworde might assist an other and the power spirituall ground and establish in the Clergie the peace which hee ruled and fostred in his people Wherin the zeale of thee party came more to light the Bishops persisting in this setled iudgment that murder or any other like cryme should only bee punished in the Clergie by degradation the king on the other syde beeing of opinion that this punishement did not condignly answer the offence neither was it a sufficient prouision for mayntenance of peace if a Reader or
him to bee determined by your discretion resoluing without farther obstacle of Appealation to establish whatsomeuer you shall therin Cannonically doe And the Pope likewise wrote to all the Bishoppes in england in these wordes Epistola 1.9 The Pope in these letters restrayneth the Bishoppes of England Allthough by the obligation of our office wee are bound to haue a care and bee watchfull for vphoulding the right of all sortes in perfect integrity yet notwithstanding in mayntenance of their iustice who are chosen by our Lord to vndergoe a parte of the charge committed to vs wee ought in how much they are more eminent aboue others in their authority soe much the more to reflect vppon them to prouide with greater dilligence for them and haue an especialleye ouer them Guyded therefore with this reason wee charge and command yee and in the vertue of obedience by our Apostolicall letters inioyne your brotherhood that yee presume not in any case neither yet any way attempt vpon occasion of the Appeale which yee haue made vnto vs against our reuerent Brother the Archbishop of Canterbury to intermedle in any thing knowne to appertayne to the rightes dignityes and libertyes of the Church of Canterbury without his assent and priuity And if any of yee shall vnder any coluor whatsomeuer dare to breake this our commandement wee will by the grace of God endeauor to punish him soe seuearely as hee shall learne by the paine inflicted on him how dangerous it is to violate the Apostolicall Mandates Dated at Lateran 5. Kalend. Februarij But the king fearing as yet to bee excommunicated or to haue his Realme subiect to interdiction by Saint Thomas after hee had interposed as wee see such as it was this Appeale hee directed to Pope Alexander an Embassage not soe much to prosecute the Appeale as to obtayne of his Holines an other legantine authority to the end hee might thereby weaken and infringe the sinewes of the power giuen to Saint Thomas and for the vndergoing of the busines hee desired of the Pope that a certayne Legate might bee sent him which was William Cardinall of Papia of the Tytell of Saint Peter ad vincula whom hee might haue as his intire freind To manage alsoe this matter the king made choyse of his Chaplaine who as wee lately sayde was excommunicated by Saint Thomas because hee made oath to the Archbishop of Colen for maintayning the Scysmaticall Pope wee meane Iohn of Oxeforde with whom were others also ioyned Associates in authority but in what sorte they proceeded with Pope Alexander heerein wee shall heereafter in place conuenient declare Codic Vat. lib 1. Epist 139. The king after this Appeale made as saith Salisbury sent then a Messanger into England for he◠remayned at this tyme in Normandy with letters for guarding the sea coastes dealing also with the Abbott of the Cistercians against Saint Thomas for expelling him out of the Monastery of Pontiniake who since hee continewed there two yeeres as the Authors in his life declare must needes bee sayd this yeere to haue bin banished thence for the recyted letters testify that till this yeere hee remayned there William likewise in Quadrilogus rehearseth how hee aboade two whole yeeres in that place and soe wee see hee entred first into that Abbey in the yeere of our Lord 1164. But how foule a scandall it was in the eyes of all good men to see soe greate a guest soe banished the sayd wryter sheweth at large and addeth that Lewes the kinge of France receauing tydinges thereof by letters from Saint Thomas exclamyng publickly sayd O Religion ô Religion where art thou Loe the men whom wee esteemed as dead to the world feare yet the ruines of the same world and for the fraile temporal trash which they profess to contemne for our Lord flye off from the worke which God himself hath commanded casting out of their house this man exiled for Gods cause Moreouer hee telleth vs how Saint Thomas was then entertayned by the king of France assigning him Senon to dwell in And at that tyme as the same Author reporteth it fell out that God reuealed to Saint Thomas in a vision his Martyrdome Saint Thomas afterwardes not to let shippe any thing appertayning to his office whereas hee had beefore with censures terrifyed and troubled the king now againe hee indeauored to quiet and pacify his mynde with more pleasing letters indyted in this sorte To his most beeloued Lord Henry by the grace of God King of England Duke of Normandy and Earle of Anioue Thomas by the same grace the humble seruāt of the Church of Canterbury wisheth health and all times perseuerance in goodnes with worthy resistance of all malicious suggestions Our speech to you shall bee shorte Cod. Vat. lib. 1. epist 66. least in abundance of wordes wee become ouer tedious would to God wee were more acceptable to you as to our most beeloued Lord hee knoweth this who is the searcher of hartes whatsoeuer is otherwise and falsly muttered and murmured against vs by your enemyes yea rightly and truly rather yours then ours Wee exhorte you therfore agayne on the beehalfe of Allmighty God and adiure you in the vertue in the Holy Ghost and require you for the remission of your sinnes that you make restitution sinceerly of your grace with assured peace and good security to to vs and ours and the like to the Church of Canterbury in such fullnes and liberty as our Predecessors and wee alsoe since our entrance into our Archbishoppricke haue more amply and freely enioyed the same with all the possessions Churches and prebendaryes appertayning thereunto which haue remayned voyde since the first breaking out of the discord beetweene you and vs and ours and that wee may vse and possesse the same vnder your dominion as our predecessors haue in better and more worthy sorte heeretofore done and wee alsoe since our preferment to this same Sea whereby the Church may iustly reioyce in our returne which hath for many causes to the danger of both our soules as wee beeleiue soe long wanted our presence and ought truly to lament the discommodity incurred by our absence Performe this gratious Lord with a ioyfull and pacifyed mynde that God may graunt and restore to you the peace which your harte desireth with the saluation of your soule and the soules of the people committed by our Lord to your charge and wee truly on the other syde are and will bee euer ready to doe you all seruice with more feruor and deuotion then euer heretofore so long as wee neither offend God nor violate our order thereby Concerning the goods taken away from the Church of Canterbury from vs and ours wee constantly affirme to you before God and the whole world yea were his diuine Maiestie heere present that by no meanes nor reason can the sinne bee forgiuen vnles what is vniustly taken away bee againe restored if hee who tooke it or caused it to bee taken
shortly speake against his immoderate proceedinges And thus far Iohn for this yeere but after this ensued a wonderfull mutation of matters For in the meane tyme the king of England misledde with most wicked connsell that hee might auoide the sentence of Excommunication thus threatening him searcheth out new remedys inuenting other sutle and more potent deuices which was to addresse an other embassage and send an other Sinon to Rome to deceaue Alexander with vntrue oathes and corrupt as hee could the Cardinals with money To set this sinne abroach is chosen the worst of men periured excommunicated Iohn of Oxeforde the vsurper of a Deanry as beefore is mentioned who furnished with lyes and false promises and also with gould might ouerthrowe the whole iudgment and recall Pope Alexander from pronouncing his sentences of excommunication and interdiction beeguyling him with pretended promises of peace and absolute restitution of all the Churches priuiledges inuaded by the king Pope Alexander gaue credit to this Embassadors oathe suspended his iudgment allready beegun and determined the legation desired for effecting this busines But allthough hee designed according to the kings request William of Papia Preist Cardinall of the tytle of Saint Peeter ad Vincula whom hee esteemed most conuenient to moue the king his affected freind for composing a peace betweene him and Saint Thomas neuertheles because this Cardinall in regarde of the kinges fauor might growe into some suspicion with the contrary parte hee ioyneth with him for an associate a man of singular integrity very much renowned in the Church of Rome and passing well knowne through the whole Christian world for his vertuous life Otto I meane Deacon Cardinall of saint Nicholas in carcere Tulliano who if occasion were might with his worthynes restrayne the other and confine him within the stricte boundes of iustice But allthough Pope Alexander proceeded thus warely in sending his Legates notwithstanding this which might seeme soe passing commendable by reason of the false reportes forerunning the Legates appeared to the credulous as a matter not beeseeminge such a singular Pope in soe much as all as well by wordes as wrytinges exclaymed against him yea his very freindes and those most forward for the Catholicke cause but how vniustly will bee easily perceaued by this Popes letters which shall heereafter bee recyted yet how beefore this was throughly vnderstood the tongues of men yea of the wise were let loose against him you shall see by what next ensueth and thereby learne how euery one yea though most holy is sett vp as a marke and as well his freinds as foes will sometymes shoote at him the arrowes of detraction For heare what the Champion of the Ecclehasticall liberty and defender of the lawes of the Roman Church spoake though sincerely yet bitterly Thomas I say the Archbishop of Canterbury when Iohn of Oxeforde in his returne from the Citty into England euery where boasted that hee had obtayned of Pope Alexander as well for the king as himselfe whatsomeuer hee desired intermingling many falshoodes with truthes concerning the authority conferred in the king which beeinge blazed abroade and beelieued Saint Thomas as one oppressed with exceeding sorrowe did thus wryte to Iohn a man of his owne Prouince Thomas by the grace of God the humble seruante of the Church of Canterbury to Iohn of Canterbury sendeth greetinge Cod. Vat. lib. 1. epist 164. How wee are made a reproach to our neighbors and a scorne and scoffe not only to them who are round about but also allmost to all the people of both kingdomes as well France as England and it may bee to those likewise of the empyre and what fame I say not infamy and scandall rangeth vp and downe thorough the eares and mouthes of all men against our lord the Pope beeing to vs a greater cause of greife God hee knoweth then that of our owne person with a slaunder to the whole Courte raysed by those who rage and insulte and cast irreuocable dartes of disgrace against them you may some what see out of this that followeth and secretly intimate the same to our Lord the Pope and our freindes if as yet perchance wee haue any Hee addeth thereunto what by faithfull reporte hee lately heard out of England saying Beehould Iohn of Oxeforde and other the kinges Embassadors returned lately from the courte extolling themselues aboue all whatsoeuer is called or honored as God vaunting they had obtayned of the courte all they desired that is to say concerning the band of excommunication how the king was exempted from the authority of all Bishoppes excepting only that of the Pope and his Maiestie should haue the Legate hee requested I meane William of Pauy our inueterate enemy with ample power ouer all the kinges dominions to buyld and plant and especially to pull out and pluck vp by the rootes without euer any remedy of Appeale but aboue all to decyde the controuersy now gtowne beetweene the king and vs with all matters whatsoeuer incident thereunto without any exception of preiudice as it is sayd which may herafter happen And with this pomp and pryde returned Iohn of Oxeforde into England and landing in a certayne hauen there hee found our Brother the Bishop of Hereforde expecting yet secretly a prosperious winde to passe ouer daring not openly to attempt it beeing forbidden by the kinges officers on his Maiesties beehalfe by vertue of his letters and finding him Oxeforde first commanded him in the kinges name and then in the Popes that hee should not crosse the seas the Bishop asking as his messinger comming afterwarde to excuse his lord deliuered to vs whether hee had the Popes letters to warrant this hee answered yea and that our Lord the Pope did thereby forbid both him and all other Bishoppes of England to appeare at our call or any way to obey vs vntill the comming of the Legate a latere whom the king had obtayned from the Pope and who should also determine the cause of the Appeale lately made and the mayne controuersy beetweene the king and vs and all thinges beelonging thereunto with full power and without any further barre of Appeale The Bishoppe vrging to see the letters hee replyed they were not ready at hand but that hee had sent them with his caryages to winchester 12. myles distant from the hauen of South-Hampton the Bishop taking aduice of his freindes sent with Iohn of Oxeforde to Winchester Master Edward his Clearke as wee thinke an honest faithfull man who sawe the letters and soe did likewise the Bishop of London beeing then also at the pointe of passing the seas and London perusing the letters with reioyceing burst out into these wordes now Thomas from hence forth shall bee no more my Archbishop And Iohn moreouer added that hee was a priuiledged person nor could heereafter bee excommunicated nor conuented by vs but only in the presence of our lord the Pope and likewise had free power to beestowe the Deanry of the Church
Poytiers setteth forth in these wordes A man assuredly of greate hope of high fame of eminent authority And a little after There is not in the Clergy of France I sperke it from my harte who excelled him for wisedome and eloquence Moreouer the king of France sent letters importing as much to his Holines And saint Thomas himselfe hath his letters yet extant which hee wrote to Manfred the Cardinall to Bernard Bishop of Portua and to Humbald and Hiacinth Cardinalles Ibidâ—m epist 52. all tending to that purpose But this concerning the suspencion was graunted by the Pope beefore hee vnderstood the aforesayde deceiptes of Iohn of Oxeforde Ibidem epist 54. Ibid epist 55 which beeing once discouered hee was incensed with such a zeale against this trechery that hee suspended presently the Legates from approaching to the king and with his letters comforted Saint Thomas all which is witnessed in the letters of Iohn of Salisbury to Syluester where first hee wryteth of the most magnificent intertaynement of sainct Thomas by the king of France in these wordes The most Christian king of France receaued my Lord of Canterbury at Senon with royall magnificence in the Church of S. Columb Ibid epist 90 and in all respectes doth soe honor and reuerence him as beeseemeth the Christ or anoynted of our Lord to bee entertayned by a most Christian man yea in the eyes of that most faithfull Prince as himselfe confesseth the dayes seeme few and the expences small in comparison of the great loue which hee beestoweth in the seruice of the Preist of Christ and of this Apostolicall man and therefore this faith which with humility hee practiseth I beeseech God with worthy retribution to rewarde whose bounty it is that liuing in the middest of his enemyes without blood or war hee prospereth in all thinges and which most highly hee esteemeth is beloued and greatly respected by his subiectes 2 Reg. 6. as Obededon the Gethean vpon receauing the Arcke of God found the fruites of a diuine benediction in the fertility of his hand-maydes and flockes together with the multiplying of his whole possession 2. Paral. 34. 35. ibidem 20 and as Olela for receauing the same Arcke being cast out of the Temple of our Lord by Achaz obtayned in the silence of the Bishoppes and Preistes the grace of Prophesy This most Christian king receauing into his realme the Church of Rome in the person of Pope Alexander had by his wife a sonne and by Gods grace heyre of his faith and kingdome a thing which aboue all others he most earnestly desired and now for his charity to the afflicted Church of England hee confidently expecteth an other reward which God of his goodnes giue him My lord the Pope hath of late as well by message as letters recomforted the Archbishoppe of Canterbury and I would to God the world vnderstood with what sleyghtes and deuices the notorious swearer procured that whereof the Aduersaryes of the Church doe soe gloriously vaunte And a littel after These thinges are yet vpon the necessity of obedience concealed from the world but our hope is that all will bee shortly published beecause as wee certainly heare the comming of the Legates which hath by them binne soe gladly expected is now suspended or rather frustrated vpon the discouery of Oxeforde the swearers falshood Thus Salisbury Yet indeede the comming of the Legates to the king of England beeing for a tyme suspended was not suffered to proceede vntill almost the later end of Autumne But Pope Alexander receauing soe many complaintes by the letters of sundry persons for suspending Saint Thomas somewhat moued thereat wryting to the Legates signifyed how hee nothing at all abrogated the authority of Saint Thomas but rather suspended the power of the Legates themselues from intermedling any way as iudges in decyding these controuersyes For the letters hee sent to the Legates à latere Dated 9. Maij are these After your departure came heauy tydinges to our cares how our beeloued sonne Iohn Deane of Salisbury publickly declared that in regarde wee exempted Bishoppes and other Ecclesiasticall and teÌ„porall persons of the kingdome of England from the Iurisdiction and authority of our reuerent brother Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury wee did all this to satisfie the will and pleasure of the king of England and to depose and condemne the Archbishoppe and that wee sent yee purposely to that end It is also insinuated to vs that Iohn Cunim of Oxeforde shewed to Guydo the Antipope of Crema all the letters hee procured of vs whereupon the Archbishop beeing confounded with shame and greife our most dearly beeloued sonne in Christ Lewes the renowned king of France together with his Princes through these reportes are very much troubled and extreamly moued for allthough it was suggested to vs by many and made in a sorte to seeme credible that the aforesayde Iohn did only and so faithfully labor for the honor and aduancement of the Archbishoppe with his Church and for the liberty of the same pretending that at his returne home hee would with his labor and industry procure the deliuery of Ecclesiasticall persons from restraint of imprisonment which they endured vpon the kinges Commitment and last allbeeit the forementioned Iohn signifyed to vs by his letter how the king in the presence of many did publickly say Hee would conserue vntouched to the Clergie of England the selfe same libertyes which they had in the raigne of his Grand-father king Henry yet neuertheles in regarde the fame heereof is soe farre spread as it causeth our good name in those partes to bee consumed with infamy wee admonish and command your wisedomes that yee haue instantly a speciall care to recomforte the sayd Archbishoppe with your letters and clearing his mynd from all sorrowe and suspicion yee endeauor by all meanes to reconcyle him to the king and worke a perfect peace among them and that hereein yee spend all the care and diligence yee possibly can prouyded allwayes that yee preserue pure and vntouched the ancient lawes and libertyes belonging to him and his Church neither doe yee any thing else of importance within the kinges principalityes enter not in any case into his kingdome although himselfe doth neuer soe much entreate yee vnles the Archbishop bee first accorded vnfaynedly with him because it will contract to yee and vs a wonderfull infamy whereby the voyce of the people will rent in peeces your honor with slanderous detractions but for Iohn Cumyn if yee finde the allegations to bee iustified against him censure him with seuerity that hee bee made an example heereafter to terrify others Wee also will that in all your actions and affaires yee beehaue your selues aduisedly grauely and prouidently to the end no cause of reproch bee any way found against yee but that the deuotion of both kingdomes by your trauell and conuersation bee continually encreased as well to vs as the Church wherby yee may gayne to your selues an
Hungarians which at the day of Iudgment cannot excuse vs if wee preferre the barbarisme of Tyrantes before Apostolicall constitutions and beeleiue the vsurping pryde of wordly powers to bee rather a rule to directe our life then the Eternall Testament confirmed with the bloud and death of the sonne of God To frame therfore a lamentable end to our former discourse let your Holines now consider if this ought to bee the fruite of our labour trauayle and exile thus to bee iudged naked miserable depriued of our whole estate and these extremityes in our tryall only beecause wee attempted for the liberty of the Church to withstand a most fierce oppressor of the same Yea wee who daylie expect comforte from this desolation ioy for this misery with a iust reuenge from God and you against the Churches Aduersaryes for their iniury done to Christe Could it not sufficiently satisfy them who sought our life that they haue murdered some of vs nor yet could they content themselues with our pouerty and calamity beeing scarse able to liue by releife from the almes of strangers but that wee must moreouer with this Legantyne authority which would it had neuer bin bee in vayne protracted and delayed from yeeres to yeeres from greife to greife from misery to confusion Yea our right and iustice to be turned to the ruine of vs and our wretched Associates Good God what will bee the end of this dolor Aryse ô Lord adiudge thy cause reuenge the bloud of thy seruantes thus impiously killed together with those who through intollerable afflictions doe euen now fainte since there is none but our Lord the Pope and some few left with him who will deliuer vs out of the handes of our enemyes God grante your Holines for many yeeres well to liue and prosper that wee with our vnfortunate fellowes may liue and recouer This was the reporte of Saint Thomas vnto the Pope In the meane while the Legates Cardinalls signifyed to Saint Thomas how the king of England had obtayned from his Holines which as wee see by all meanes possible hee bruited abroad that the authority of Saint Thomas concerning the affaires of the English Church was wholy interdicted There is extant a restraynte in this manner which was sent by them to Saint Thomas written in these wordes To our reuerent and most beeloued brother the Archbishop of Canterbury William and Oddo Cardinalls send greeting The king was certifyed of your answer as well concerning the agreement as alsoe the cause Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist 29. if soe it pleased him to proceede against you and wheras hee was before hy reason of your other actions as hee sayde incensed enough and too to much hee beecame now enraged with a greater and more vehement indignation accusing peremptorily the erection of your mynde against him and our Lord the Popes nrglect of his affaires Moreouer the Bishoppes and Abbottes of the kingdome of England hearing you would haue noe dealing with them nor yet stand to our iudgment read openly in our presence our Lord the Popes letters wherin as hee sayth hee commandeth you to forbeare interdicting the land They demanded alsoe of vs if they might by vs or either of vs thorough this our Legantine authority bee defended against these your molestations of them in England wherunto when wee answered wee had no power at all concerning any matters in the realme of England they appealed there instantly both for themselues and the whole kingdome vnto our lord the Pope sheilding themselues and the realme vnder the protection of his Holines and vs assigning for their day the feast of Sainct Martin wherfore wee command your dearly beeloued selfe and enioyne you on the beehalfe of the Pope and our selues that answering the foresayd Appeale and respecting the restraint which our Lord the Pope as hee affirmeth hath layn vpon you you attempt no interdiction or excommunication against the realme of England before you haue appeared in the Apostolike presence and vnderstood the pleasure of his Holines and the Church of Rome heerein The Bishoppes likewise and Abbottes themselues haue sent their especiall messangers to denounce to you this their Appeale made in our presence together with the determined day This was the Mandate of the Legates But when this newes of the inhibition or restraint of the authority of Saint Thomas was not only by letters signifyed vnto him but also as before you haue heard reported euery where to the scandall of all good men who fauored the Churches liberty S. Thomas beeing heerewith exceedingly afflicted did wryte lamentable letters replenished with complaintes heereof as well to Pope Alexander himselfe as also to all the Cardinalls of the Romane Church wherin hee discouered the bitter sorrowe of his mynde all which especially wee can readylie declare beeing extant in the end of the same often recyted booke of Epistles and were by error of the wryter omitted in the second booke after the 45. epistle as the corrector of that error hath admonished vs. The epistle of Saint Thomas to Pope Alexander is in this wise To his most beeloued lord and holy father Alexander by the grace of God high Bishop Thomas the humble seruant of the Church of Canterbury a wretched and miserable banished man together with his exiled Associates wisheth prosperity and all felicity Saint Thowryteth to the Pope expressing his sorrowe We send to your holines the bearers heereof beeing two persons faithfull to vs and fellowes of our miserable exile such at this instant as wee could gett and them whom wee haue assigned to deliuer in your presence the certayne and pittifull relation of matters concerning vs now lately acted and withall the necessity of our calamityes beeing assuredly aboue measure that wee may thervpon receaue if it please you with speede redresse by your meanes from this oppression of the Church and vs which helpe though most due is yet too long delayed and obtayne withall through the hand of your mercy releife in our greiuous distresses least being otherwise cruelly and abouer sure depressed we fainte in this tribulation a greater then which we haue not since the first beginning of our long continued afflictions endured For we are deferred the tyme is now tedious as your excellency vnderstandeth we are put of and prolonged no lesse cruelly then vniustly from yeeres to yeeres in misery and dolor that if perchance by that way in length of protracted tyme our life may perish through tribulation and we thus worne out altogether be extinguished and fall to dust as absolutely spent in the extremitys of our disasters while death in the meane tyme which God forbid may depriue you of authority whose power through the mercy of God shall before it expireth redeeme vs and ours out of this lake of misery and breake the snares of the malitious cōtrary to the desire of the wicked Bēd downe therfore ô Lord thyne eare and heare open thyne eyes and see if there hath bin an iniquity equall to
this be dilligent attentiue and marke if there bee a dolor like this of vs and ours who are giuen vp for a prey and spoyle vnlesse thy mercy o God doe presently through the hand of the Apostolike authority succor vs we are made a scorne and derision to those who are about vs being confounded by the authority of your Legates who would to God they had not dealte thus disorderedly and presumptuously with vs and the affaires of the Church for if they haue thus vsed vs in the greene wood what will they doe in the drye wee meane in the continuance of this Legantyne authority which would it had neuer bin They haue suspended vs as much as in them lyeth from all power which wee haue enioyed ouer the Churches and persons of England although neuer by Gods grace nor by your goodnes done at the instance of any Prince or other or by Gods mercy will bee done as your excellency vouchsafed most certainly to promise vs. And why renowned Lord haue you granted this Legantyne authority to such a man let it bee spoken with your pateence in whose first entrance to this busines your Lordship ought to haue bin circumspect what the fruite of this Legation would he and more considerate what the end would proue especially in him whose endeauors were wholy bent from the first and so are still to the ruine of the Ecclesiasticall dignity and alsoe of yours if so he may be gratious therby to the king My Lord my Lord on you are cast our eyes least otherwise wee perish helpe vs my Lord and deale with vs according to your promises which wee would they had not in vayne reioyced our hartes for wee haue endured vpon the commandement of your excellency wee haue endured peace wee say and it commeth not wee haue expected by the handy worke of your Legates good and behould our affliction is more encreased and our troubles more terrible Take pitty on vs therfore my Lord take pitty since there is none vnder God who fighteth for vs but only your selfe with your faithfull Assistantes Haue mercy on vs wee say that God may haue mercy on you in that seuere iudgment when you must yeelde accompt of your Baylywicke for wee haue refuge to none vnder God but your selfe since euen they to purchase she fauor of men oppose against vs who in regarde of piety and iustice and for the reuerence of the sacred Church of Rome ought especially to mayntayne and defend vs. For your estates beeing now consumed and endles vexations assaulting vs wee haue not heereafter any meanes left how to prosecute this troublesome sute and cōtrouersy raysed by them nor the least parte therof Let then your excellency instantly if it please you helpe vs and the Church with making an end of this malitious mischeife that there be heereafter no longer delay because the tyme now importuneth it for hardly are wee able to breath our extremities are soe greate make haste therefore that wee may receaue some benefit of your fauor before wee dye God send long prosperity and life to your holy and bounteous goodnes which wee esteeme most deerely and is next vnder the loue of our Lord for vs most necessary that by your magnificence wee may beegin to reuiue who now beegin to dye Please it your wisedome to bee also informed that three dayes before these mischeifes befell vs we sent messingers with letters to signify to your Holines in what manner we departed frō your Legates For the most Christiā king of France his Queene the Princes and Bishoppes of the kingdome with others of lesser note who loued you did by theer letters congratulate you glorifying Allmighty God and thanking his diuine Maiestie and you because it was manifest vpon the comming of the Legates as they themselues by word of mouth made knowne to my Lord the king that all the rumors were false and most vntrue which Iohn the swearer of Oxeforde and others the kinges messingers had vaunted concerning the aggreiuances and ouerthrowe wee should receaue by the Legates which raysed an vnspeakable scandall throughout the whole kingdome of France and among all who heard this reporte they only excepted who were aduersaryes to the Church and vs But this harpe was turned to lamentation this mirth to morneing and the last error made worser then the first Wee humbly therfore beeseech that it would please your Holines to apply a present remedy to a sicknes yet beeginning and to let men openly knowe according to the truth how all this presumption was without your priuity and contrary to your commandement And soe againe God send your Holines well to doe now and eternally Thus much wrote Saint Thomas to Pope Alexander Which the Saint not satisfyed with this seconded with the ensuing complaintes to the sacred Colledge of Cardinalls To his reuerent Lordes and Fathers the Bishoppes Codex Vatican in the Appendix of the epistles epist 1. Preistes and Deacons by the grace of God Cardinalles of the sacred Church of Rome Thomas by the same grace the humble seruant of the Church of Canterbury a wreched and miserable banished man sendeth gteering with remembrance of his most respectiue dutifull seruice Saint Thomas complayneth to the Colledge of Cardinalls It is not easy for a wreched man to make a gratefull discourse and for the miserable to keepe a measure is speech forgiue therfore wee beeseech yee the wreched and pardon the miserable Wee beelieue most holy fathers how yee are by the ordinance of Allmighty God placed in that your hygth of dignity to this purpose especially that yee should chase away iniustice cut of all presumption gratiously succor the afflicted of the Clergy and neuer suffer them to bee ouerborne with reproches and calamitys but ayde and assist the oppressed and aggreiued suppresse their false accusers and seuerely punish such as worke their ruine For in not chastising the peruerse nor resisting the Persecutors of the Church wee doe nothing but fauor them Hee seemeth secretly to consent who opposeth not himselfe against a manifest offence whereupon wee conclude it cannot bee but that yee are hereafter bound with all your forces and endeauors to assist this cause of ours And a litle after is not our cause also yours yea absolutely yours Will yee not yet seeme to knowe that the king of England hath vsurped and euery day vsurpeth euen still the possessions of the Church how hee ouerthroweth the Churches liberty layeth hands on Gods anoynted tyrannizing euery where and without any respect ouer the Clergie castinge some into pryson dismembring others plucking out the eyes of these enforcing those to vndergoe the combate of single fight and likewise causing Clearkes to endure the tryall of fire and water making Bishoppes to disobey their metropolitan and inferior Clearkes their Bishoppes not to acknowledge themselues excommunicate who are neuertheles truly accursed and in a word which is farre worse that hee cleane abrogateth the whole liberty of the Church not
against mee are all these forces bent and I once taken away there will bee none left to pursue yee further c. Bee therfore comfortable and feare nothing Nay rather quoth they wee take pitty on you not knowing which way you caÌ„ turne your selfe beeing a man of soe greate authority and thus left by your cheifest and last frindes To Allmighty God answered Canterbury I committ the care of my selfe and since the dores of both kingdomes are now shutt against me ah other way is now to bee taken I haue heard that about Araris a riuer of Burgundie and from thence to the countrey of Prouince men are of a more liberall and free disposition to these will wee all trauell on foote who perhaps vpon sight of our afflictions will take compassion of vs and furnish vs with victualls for a tyme vntill our lord shall better helpe vs for God is able euen in the deepest pitt of distresse to releiue vs hee is worse then an infidell who despayreth of Gods mercy And Gods mercy was instantly at hand for a certaine seruante beelonging to the king of France comming to them hastely sayde my lord the king calleth yee to his Courte That hee may quoth one of them banish vs the kingdome you are noe prophet answered Canterbury nor the sonne of prophet doe not then foretell euill tydinges Comming therfore they found my lord the king sitting with a sad countenance and not according to his custome rysing to my lord of Canterbury which was vpon the first sight an vnluckly presage where they sate still after this cold inuitation and remayned long in silence the king hanging downe his head as if with greife and against his will hee deuysed which way hee might dispatch them out of his kingdome and they no lesse fearing the king who breaking out into teares and with sobbing rysing vp on the subdaine did prostrate himselfe at my lord of Canterburys feete all there present being amazed and my lord of Canterbury bowing low to lifte him vp The king of France repenting greatly humbleth himselfe to Saint Thomas the king in the end hardly comming to himselfe soe greate was his greife sayde Truly my lord and father you only did see and redoubling his sighes with sorrowe truly father quoth hee you only did see for all wee were blind who gaue you counsell against Allmighty God that in your cause yea in his diuine cause you should at the pleasure of man neglect the honor of God I repent mee father I repent mee withall my harte pardon mee I beeseech you and absolue mee wretch from this offence and heere I cast at the feete of God and you my kingdome and from this tyme forward doe promise neuer to bee wanting to yoâ— and yours in any thing so long as God willing this life shall last My lord of Centerbury therfore absoluing the king and giuing him his benediction returned ioyfully with his followers to Senon where the king of France maintayned them royally vntill their teturne into England Vpon reporte wherof the king of England sendeth worde to the king of France that hee maruelled very much how or with what reason hee could in iustice maintayne Canterbury against him seing in his owne presence hee soe humbled himselfe with readynes to endure all course of iustice neyther yet that hee was any impediment to hinder Canterbury from recouering his peace which hee proudly and contumeliously reiected wherfore quoth hee the king of France ought not heereafter to yeeld any releife to the disgrace and reproche of his liege man Whereunto the king of France replying sayde Goe messingers and reporte this to your king The renowned answer of the king of France to the king of England that if the king of England will not endure the customes which hee calleth ancient though as some affirme not agreable to the law of God yet as appertayning to his royall dignity to bee any way abrogated much lesse can I of right ouerthrowe that lawe of liberality which together with the inuesture of my Crowne falleth to mee by inheritance for France hath bin of ancient tyme accustomed to receaue all distressed and afflicted persons especially them who were banished for iustice and vntill they recouered peace to fauor protect and defend them the grace of which honor and excellency shall neuer by Gods helpe during my life vpon the request of any man bee diminished or denyed to Canterbury beeing thus exiled And soe far concerning the speech that passed beetweene the king of France and the Agents of the king of England which euery wise man will accompt worthie to bee written in letters of Golde ANNO DOMINI 1169. Now ensueth the yeere of Christ 1169. with the second Indiction when Pope Alexander refusing absolutely to yeeld to the king of Englands requestes propounded in his last Embassage and constantly perseuering in the restitution of Saint Thomas vnto his Church determined yet againe to send other Nuntios for regayning Saint Thomas his Archbishoppricke Whereof meeting to treate it is first necessary to lay open what the king demanded of the Pope which consisted of two principall pointes one that Saint Thomas beeing remoued out of France might bee called by his holines to Rome the other that hee might bee translated to an other Sea But with what trauaile and exceeding cost the king endeauored to bring his purpose to passe and winne the Popes good will certaine letters secretly written to Saint Thomas doe in this sorte declare Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist 79. In regard that through the Allmighty worke of God the cause of Christe and of his Church is now restored to that security as it cannot heereafter bee endangered because the Ring-leaders of this Scysme are quayled and the hammer of the Church of England beeing taken captiue in the workes of his inuention cannot as now find any on whom hee may relye beeing driuen to the last cast The new and terribâ— attempts the king of England â—gainst Saiâ— Thomas hee made these dangerous attemptes when by solliciting as well the courte as the Scysmaticke Friedricke with his complices hee sawe hee could not that way any whit preuayle against our Lord and his anoynted hee fledd by his Embassadors to the Cittys of Italy promising to those of Millane three thousand mearkes towardes the strong reparation of their walls if they together with the other Cittys which they attempted to corrupt could obtayne at the Popes hands the deposition or traslation of the Archbishopp of Canterbury for the same purpose did hee likewise promise to Cremona 2000. mearkes to Parma a thousand and as much to Bononia But to my lord the Pope hee made offer to deliuer him with a larges of money from the exactions of all the Romans and giue him more ouer ten thousand Mearkes granting beesides that hee should ordayne at his owne pleasure Bishoppes as well in the Church of Canterbury as in all other vacant Seas through out England But beecause his greate
by your discussion Wittnes Richard de Lucy at Westminster Cod. Vat. lib. 5. Epist 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. Thus wrote the king In the meane tyme saint Thomas sent his letters of Interdiction which are yet extant into England vnto the Bishoppes to bee published within xv days vnles peace ensued But the king preuenting the tyme promised the Legates to confirme the peace referring the articles therof to bee composed by their discretion Wherupon the Apostolicall Legates offered Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury hymselfe to deuise the Articles of his owne peace which hee did collecting them out of the former conferences had with the king and also out of such conditions as the Apostolicall letters appoynted the king to performe There is yet to bee seene an Epistle of saint Thomas written to the Bishoppe of Niuers ād the Legate his Associate concerning the whole busines wherin hee first admonisheth them in what sorte they ought to proceede with the king whose manners hee doth exactly describe wryting thus Ibidem Ep. 12. S. Thomas admonisheth the Legates how to proceede with the king in the treaty of peace Allmighty God direct your steppes that in the cause of his Church the managing wherof is now in parte committed to your charge yee neither stray on the right or the left hande but passe on the high way so as neither by faire promises nor yet by threates nor by any exquisite deceyptes hee whose snares no man with whom hee hath had intercourse could euer yet auoyde may as now preuayle against your wisedome and sincerity and vnles I am deceaued yee are exposed vnto the fight of beastes since hee will bring forth Bishoppes Abbottes and discreete men that by them hee may conquer your constancy if hee perceaueth hee cannot surprise yee with proffers and faire wordes Beecause therfore yee cannot easily discouer these manifould and prodigious deceiptes whatsomeuer hee sayth whatsomeuer forme hee vndertaketh yet bee yee euer suspicious of all his showes and let all bee imagined full of guylded falshoodes those only excepted whose truth is approued by the touchstone of their workes for if hee perceaueth hee cannot corrupt yee with large offers or terrify yee with threates or wrest any thing from yee against your wills and against the iustice of the cause your authority will presently vanish as blowne vp in his concept and your selues held in contempt scorne and derision by him and his And if hee seeth hee cannot bend yee from your setled course hee will seeme to grow furious against yee for first hee did sweare ād deepely protest thē turne as Proteus to sundry shapes and after all at the last come home to himselfe againe and then vnles the fault bee yours you shall euer beethe God of Pharao These and the like did saint Thomas insinuate to them teaching the Legates how to ouercome the king beeing a necessary lesson for such as shall heereafter bee appointed Legates to treate with Princes Afterwardes hee addeth the articles as hee calleth them for establishing the peace with the king But what was the cōclusion The Legates thus instructed with the admonitions of saint Thomas beeing now to conferre with the king brought saint Thomas also along with them his Maiestie expecting them in a place of exceeding pleasure named by the inhabitantes as it is written in Quudrilogus in the history of saint Thomas Traytor 's meadowe that the name it selfe might soe bee answerable to the effecte the blood of the iust beeing there beetrayde Where after many contentions and debates it was brought aboute that the king with a pleasant countenance in outward showe freely graunted saint Thomas his peace But how the busines was handled is set downe playnly in a discourse concerning the same written by saint Thomas vnto Pope Alexander which beeing tedious wee will heere only declare such thinges as are necessary and worthie of knowledge Cod Vat. lib. 5. Ep 45. The Epistle beeginneth thus God with his eye of mercy hath beeheld our Church And after For loe vpon receypte of your last letters wherby you let him vnderstand that you would noe longer forbeare him more then you spared Fredericke called Emperor perceauing his lande should bee subiected to interdiction without any remedy whatsomeuer and the Bishoppes if any of them perchance disobeyed suspended and excommunicated hee concluded instantly with vs a peace to the honor of God and as wee hope the Churches greatest vtility For concerning the customes hee was wont soe willfully to maintayne hee durst not speake now one worde hee exacted not an oathe of vs or any of ours hee graunted vs the possessions which by reason of this dissention hee had taken away from our Churches in such sorte as wee expressed them in a certayne wryting hee promised all ours peace and security with the kisse also if wee would vrge him soe farre so as hee seemed in all his actions not only absolutely ouercome but that hee was also taxed as periurd by those who heard him the same day sweare hee would not receaue vs with the kisse For wee by the aduice of many discreete persons and especially of my Lord of Senon who furthered our peace more carefully and effectually then the rest came together with him to the conference had with the kinge Whom by the goodnes of God who remoued all those that were accustomed with sundry deceptes to intrappe your Holines wee found soe much changed as his mynde to the greate admiration of all the beehoulders appeared willingly to embrace all counsells of peace For as soone as hee sawe vs approaching a farre of breakeing out from the company hee mett vs speedely and vnkeevering his heade as wee hastened to salute him hee saluted vs first and after a fewe wordes had with my Lord of Senon and vs Senon withdrawing himselfe a syde to the maruaille of all hee tooke vs apparte and discoursed with vs a long while soe familiarly as it seemed not there had euer bin any discord beetwene vs. Wherupon well nigh all the company there present euen astonished with a most ioyfull admiration yea very many of their eyes slowing with teares glorifyed God and blessed saint Mary Magdalene on whose feast the king was conuerted from his former wayes soe as hee reduced a day of delight to his whole dominiō and restored to the Church her ancient peace againe Wee reproued him but with such moderation as was necessary wee layde open to him the ways in which hee had erred with the dangers which on euery syde threatened wee beesought and exhorted him to returne to himselfe and doeing the fruites worthie of pennance with satisfying by manifest restitution of her goodes the Church whom hee had not a little iniured to cleere his conscience and repaire his reputation for rather misseledde by wicked counsellors then of his owne inclination hee had greatly wronged both and when hee had heard all this not only patiently but also fauorably with promise of reformation wee added moreouer it
againe to saint Thomas beeginning thus Ibid. Ep. 53. Wee haue accomplished as farre as wee could your command c. And vpon this conclusion of matters saint Thomas wrotte these letters to Pope Alexander Ibid. Ep. 52. S. Thomas writeth again to the Pope After the trompet of your Apostolicall Cominatory holy father had throughly sounded in the king of Englands eare and that the seuerity of the Church threatened as well himselfe as his dominion hee concluded his peace with vs assuredly promising hee would not omitt one iott or title of the whole contents of your commandement but absolutely fullfill the vttermost and hauing soe auoyded the blowe of this imminent sentence in some articles hee flewe of from the agreement withoulding from vs as yet certayne possessions of the Church which our Predecessor inioyde without controuersy all the days of his life and wee also afterwardes vntill the violence of this tempest arose against the Church of England And somewhat after wee truly will endeauor to winne the fauor of the man as far as wee can possibly with the preseruation of the liberty and reputation of the Church together with the testimony of a good conscience that wee may therby make tryall if all this can as yet recall him to a gentle temper Your clemency vouchsafed to send vs letters for the correction and chastisement as well of the Archbishoppe of Yorke as other our associate Bishoppes which lynes were vndoubtely inspired conceaued by the holy Ghost and are such as reproue the kinges enormityes with an authority beeseeming Peeters successor and Christes vicar Cod Vad li. 5. Epist 60. These letters as yet remayne beeing registred in the proces of the worke and are treated of in their place To these letters S. Thomas likewise added the letters which hee receaued from his agents sent into England for recouering the Churches goodes and are to bee seene in the same booke And to that purpose may you there reade also the complaintes of S. Thomas made to the king Ibid. Ep. 53. beeing seasoned with very greate modesty and sweetned with mildenes Ibid. Ep. 54. In the meane while before Pope Alexander receaued the letters of S. Thomas cōcerning the peace cōcluded with the king of England the Pope departing from Beneuent towardes Rome The Popes returne to Rome and his letters written on the way Ibid Ep. 65 and comming to Verula a Citty of the Hernicians hee directed his letters from thence to Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury beeginning thus Amonge the manifolde c. And excusing afterwardes himselfe in regarde hee did not according to the desire of saint Thomas seeme to proceede more speedily in this cause hee addeth these wordes Whereupon most deare brother if wee haue in the eye of the world proceeded more remissely in the matter concerning your selfe and the Church of England nor yet haue answered your petitions according to your owne will the reason was not in regarde wee reputed not the cause of your selfe and the Church of England to bee our owne and as neerely touching our selues as you or that wee would any way bee wanting to you therin but that wee thought conuenient to vse all patiēce to the end wee might cōquer euill in doeing good Wee feared also least if there grewe any greater breach in the Church it might bee imputed vnto our rough proceeding But now in respect the disturbers of the peace and the oppressors of the Churches liberty are not as it seemeth moued with any contrition at all to amend their fore passed abuses yea extending their sinnes as a long rope insulte more and more as well to your vexation as the depression of the Church of Canterbury soe far forth as they appeare in your case to bee past well-nigh all hope of repentance wee doe heere pronounce the Canonicall sentence and suspend from Apostolicall dignity your brother Roger Archbishop of Yorke with the other Bishoppes who haue bound themselues by oath to obserue the customes and doe still blowe the coales of so greate a mischeife And for the Bishoppes of Salisbury and London who seeme indebted in a greater band of gratuity and yet neuertheles are reported to repay for thankfullnes nothing but ingratitude if so they haue with their presence and ministry furthered the coronation of the new king against the prerogatiue of the Church of Canterbury wee recall them into the sentence of Excommunication from which they were absolued And last hee thus mentioneth the tyme and place where the letter was dated Datum Verulae 4. what the Pope did Verule Id. Septemb. Departing from Verula hee came to Ferentine a Citty seauen myles distant from Verula towardes Rome Cod. Vad. 5. Ep. 66.67 where the letters of Excommunication were dated vnto these English Bishoppes beeing London what 〈◊〉 wrote 〈◊〉 Ferentine Ibid. Ep. 5◠Salisbury and the rest there mentioned with an other letter aparte to the Archbishoppe of Yorke concerning his suspension both beeing dated as appeareth in their conclusion at Ferentine 16. Kaled Octob. These are the letters which saint Thomas in his to Pope Alexander concerning the same commendeth as written with an Apostolicall zeale But in the letter to the Arcbbishop of Yorke hee alleageth the cause of his suspension not to bee only the coronation of the the kinges sonne but that also in the same coronation hee omitted the accustomed caution and condition for defending the Churches liberty or at the least in place therof to make him take another oath vsuall then to bee sworne and which is worser that an oath was there giuen for an exact conseruation of his ancestors customes directly opposite to the Church Going from Ferentine his Holines with a shorte iourney of fiue myles lodged at Anagnia which is declared by diuers Epistles to the same purpose wrytten thence as first for the recalling as well of Clearkes as lay-men into the excommunication from which they were absolued if according to their promise they made not satisfaction in restoring possessions taken away from Churches limitting a terme of xv dayes for performing the same Dated as wee sayde at Anagnia 8. Octobris with other Bishoppes of England for continuing the interdiction vntill the Church were satisfyed Cod Vat li. 5. Epist 40. The morow following also were letters dated at the same place to the Bishoppes of Roane and Senon where after some other matters were these wordes for obseruing such thinges as were promised by the king in his couenants of peace Wee will and command and in the vertue of obedience by our Apostolicall letters inioyne your brotherhoode Ibid. ep 31. that within twenty days after the receipte heereof yee doe with all dilligence conferre with the king in our beehalfe and carefully admonish and instantly exhorte him sincerely to accomplish the peace which hee hath as yet in wordes only concluded with the Archbishoppe and withall that yee incite him afterwardes to restore all thinges wrongfully taken away rapaire the dammages
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
openly in the Courte persecuting the Archbishop And againe thus Yea you knowe this Caiphas of our age who vnder the coulor of a Playntiffe perswaded it was conuenient that one man should dye or bee apprehended least otherwise the whole nation should perish you were in England with your vnkle my Lord of Winchester when this same Caiphas then an Archdiuell procured one Walter to bee beereaued of his eyes the beauty of whose youth hee fowly louing was vsually dilighted with the abhominable abuse of his body and this hee did beecause Walter with bitter wordes freely disgorged his stomacke of the fowle reproach hee had suffered to the shame of nature nor yet contented heerewith this Archdiuell corrupting the Iudges who decyded secular causes inforced him to bee hanged for that afterwardes hee reproued his wickednes Soe this man no lesse mercifull then chaste requyted the affection of his Doue soe hee rewarded the wonted seruice of his once beeloued as after the horrible iniury to his miserable body hee punished him more miserably beeing now penitent for consenting to this loathsome sinne with scourging and losse of eyes and lastly most miserably strangled him on the Gallowes beecause with all the clamour hee could hee protested these wronges Wee deuise not this but endeauor to recall it to your memory if perchance that may possibly slippe out of your memory which as with an iron anker vpon the reporte of many ād those of great estimation and worthie of credit hath bin more deepely fixed in your mynde For this sorrowfull history euen to this very day is sung vp and downe to the disgrace yea contempt of the Church But it may bee some will aske how hee could passe vnpunished hauing committed soe greate and manifest an offence especially since blessed Eugenius then gouerned the Catholike Church And doubtles as wee constantly beelieue hee had neuer escaped but by the industry of saint Thomas who wrought thorough the mediation of those reuerent men Hillary Bishop of Chichester and Iohn Bishoppe of Winchester that hee might receaue his purgation beefore Theobalde of worthie memory late Archbishop of Canterbury Yet perceauing afterwardes how the Church of Rome tooke in ill parte the order of this purgation thus secretly caryed as beeing only in a Chapter of Monkes and not in a solemne assembly beeing carefull of his estate hee passed ouer to Rome to that famous Marchant Gregory Cardinall of saint Angelo whom my very soule hath euer hated and by his procurement thorough the multitude of rewardes sowed in the Courte obtayned to returne home iustifyed in his house beeing reserued I knowe not by what dispensation of God to committ farre more heynous offences as wittnesseth this present day wherin the Church is dyed purple with the blood of an Innocent Thus wryteth Iohn of Salisbury of this detestable man whom in steede of an Archdeacon hee termeth an Archdiuell and beeing afterwardes preferred to bee an Archbishop hee calleth rightly an other Caiphas of this tyme the executioner of saint Thomas who perhaps had beefore fauored him too much But how these warring vessells of iniquity incensed the king against saint Thomas is thus described by Herbert in Quadrilogus The king was soe troubled ād deepely offēded by the accusatiōs of these Bishoppes against saint Thomas whom with exclamations they called the Molester of the kingdome the persecutor of Bishoppes the enemy of all good men and the Princes professed foe as outragious with fury hee fell into those most bitter wordes wherby they who guarded his person were incited to attēpt the murder of this most holy man For sayth hee beeing very often enraged with wrath breeaking out into those deadly wordes The king by his rash and vnaduised wordes giueth occasion of the murder of S. Thomas Hee cursed all whom bee had nourished who by the speciall grace of his fauour and larges of his benefittes were bound vnto him beecause they would not reuenge him of one Preist who soe disturbed his person and kingdome and sought to depriue and disinherit him of his dignities And euer breathing out these and such like speeches the king stirred all his followers extremely against him amonge whom fourre knightes more desperate then the rest combining together conspired the Archbishoppes death and passing speedily into England came to the Arch-Bishope where quarrelling with fowle reproaches and rising to contentious wordes they picked their wished occasion out of the Archbishoppes freedome in speaking And then lastly the next day after the feast of the Blessed Innocents they assaulted him in the Church with naked swoardes beeing there at Euensong First the saint reproued the Clearkes beecause they intended by shutting the Churches dores to exclude them saying The Church was not to bee kepte as a castle The whole matter with all circumstances which foreran ād succeeded the Martyrdome are at large deliuered in Quadrilogus and many thinges are there layde open which are omitted in other Authors who haue to their commendation labored in this worke all which Roger in his Chronicles of England hath breifely collected in such sorte as by liuing in that tyme hee knewe them to bee acted which hee lefte wrytten in these wordes Scarce therfore had our Father continued a full moneth in his Church when loe the fifte day after our Lordes natiuity came to Canterbury foure knightes yea rather souldiers of Sathans Guarde The Martirdome of S. Thomas whose names were William de Tracy Hughe de Moruyle Richard Bryton and Reynold Fitz-vrse men truly of eminent familyes but now instantly confounding with eternall infamy for attempting a detestable offence the glory of their knighthoode and tytles of their descents Wherefore entring into the Archbishop beecause salutation was not directed in their handes letting passe all vsuall salutations out of their conceaued malice they burst to wordes of Pride and arrogancy they receaue and retorte answers heaping threates on threates and leauing beehind them despightes and reproaches departe But instantly returning all armed and an armed troupe attending them they entred with force the Cloyster of the Monkes while with modesty and grauity th◠Archbishop passed on beefore them into the Church beeing perswaded yea compelled by the Monkes in regarde of the solemne feaste to solemnize Euensonge when looking backe hee sawe them in armes persuing him amid the Cloysters The horror of the sinne ought to haue restrayned them from entring the Church but neither the reuerence of the solemnity could make thē desiste from this monstrous offence nor the innocency of the Patriarcke could terrify them from shedding his blood yea soe far forth did the impudent resolution of committing this heynous wicked acte possesse and blinde them as they neither respected the losse of their knighthoode nor had the least consideration of any ensuing danger Headlong therfore and senseles of the sinne making after the Archbishoppe with naked swoardes they rush into the Church asking with furious exclamations Where is the Taytor But no man answering redoubling againe they
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
together with the recyted Cardinalls seales to bee set to the wryting wherin the Articles aforesayde were contayned beeginning in this forme To Henry by the grace of God the renowned kinge of England Albert of the tytle of saint Laurence in Lucina and Theodine of the tytle of saint Vitalis Preistes Cardinalles and Legates of the Sea Apostolicke health in him who giueth health to kinges To the end that thinges donne may neuer bee after questioned These Actes published in wryting it is accustomed and the consideration of the publicke vtility requyreth that they should bee recorded wherupon wee thought it conuenient to drawe the Mandate into wryting which wee doe especially for your sake in regarde you feare malefactors who murdered Thomas of holy memory late Archbishoppe of Canterbury proceeded to the execution of that vnlawfull acte vpon occasion of your anger and distemperature In which action neuertheles you haue of your owne accord in our presence made your purgation that you neither commanded nor wished him to bee killed and when you heard the reporte therof you exceedingly sorrowed Wherfore from this instant feast of Pentecoste to the end of one whole yeere you shall giue soe much mony as by the iudgment of the Templar Knightes will maintayne 200. souldiers twelue monethes for defence of the holy land Touching your selfe you shall from Christmas next three yeeres are fully accomplished take the Crosse and in proper person vndertake your iourney thitherwarde by Gods conduction the next summer vnles you stay by appointment of our Lord the Pope or his Catholicke successor But if vpon vrgent necessity you make warre against the Saracens in Spayne for the tyme you vndergoe that voyage soe long you may deferre your iourney to Ierusalem You shall not hinder Appeales nor suffer them to bee hindred but that they may bee freely made in Ecclesiasticall causes vnto the Pope of Rome in good fayth without fraude or any ill intent that causes may bee handled by his Holines and obtayne their effectes yet soe neuertheles as if you shall haue suspicion of any they shall giue you security that they shall not endeauor to iniure your selfe or your kingdome You shall absolutely disanull the custumes brought in during your tyme the Churches of your land Concerning the possessions of the Church of Canterbury if any haue bin taken away you shall restore them to that fullnes wherin shee enioyed them a yeere beefore the Archbishop departed England Moreouer you shall restore to the Clergie and Layetie of both sexes peace and your gracious fauour with all the possessions which they lost for the Archbishoppes sake All this by the authority of our Lord the Pope wee inioyne you for remission of your sinnes and command you to obserue the same without fraude or deceypte This haue you sworne in a great Audience with reuerence to the diuine Maiesty Your sonne hath likewise sworne the same excepting only what in particular concerned your selfe and yee haue both sworne not to leaue Pope Alexander and his Catholike Successors so long as they shall vse yee as they haue vsed your Predecessors and other Catholicke kinges And that this may bee firmly recorded in the Roman Church yee haue commanded this same to bee confirmed with your seales Afterwards the same Roger addeth the Epistle of the Legates written at that tyme to the Bishop of Reuenna declaring matters then handled in these wordes To the Reuerent in Christ and our beeloued brother Gilbert by the grace of God Archbishop of Rauenna Albert by the diuine goodnes of the title of saint Laurence in Lucina and Theodine of the title of saint Vitall Preistes Cardinalles and Legates of the Apostolike Sea what God hath promised to such as loue him In regarde wee suppose you are desirous to heare of our state and the good successe of the busines commended to our charge wee thought conuenient to signify to your brotherhood by these letters how God hath at this tyme dealte with vs and wrought by the ministery of our vnworthines Bee yee therfore certifyed that after the renowned king of England knewe by certayne relation that wee were come within his Dominion setting asyde all obstacles of delay hee presently returned from Ireland into England lettinge passe the businesses which then imported him and from England arriued on the coaste of Normandy sending instantly sundry Messingers and honorable personages from vs to vnderstand at what place wee thought most conueniently to meete him and treate of these affaires It pleased vs at length to meete at the Monastery of Sauyne that wee might there confer where wee should bee assisted by the prayers of the Religious Wee mett there together and there mett with vs many persons of eyther order of his kingdome and wee treated as dilligently as wee could of what appertayned to the good of him and the charge imposed on vs. But not aggreeing in all pointes hee departed from vs pretending to passe into England wee expected intending the next day to goe to the Citty of Abryncke On the morrowe came to vs the Bishoppe of Lizieux with two Archdeacons and condescending to our request wee passed on to the sayde Citty whether on the Sunday in which is fung vocem iucunditatis wee assembled with very many persons and they also with vs and with soe much humility hee accomplished what was promised as without all doubt wee may beeleeue it was his worke who looketh on the earth and maketh it tremble Truly to declare how much hee endeauored to humble himselfe to God and shewe his obedience to the Church it is not a matter in these few lynes to bee vttered his deedes doe sufficiently manifest it and heereafter will manifest it more fully as wee assuredly hope it will appeare First therfore not vpon any constrainte or request of ours but of his owne free will hee cleered his conscience by an oathe vpon the holy Euangelistes concerning the death of Thomas of blessed memory late Archbishoppe of Canterbury swearing that hee neither commanded nor wished that the Archbishop should bee killed and vpon the reporte therof hee was exceedingly greiued Yet beecause the murder was committed and hee feared hee gaue occasion therof for making satisfaction hee tooke this oathe First hee swore hee would neuer leaue our Lord Pope Alexander and his Catholicke successors so long as they vsed him like a Catholicke and Christian king and this alsoe hee caused his sonne and heire to sweare in the Charter of absolution for the death of blessed Thomas Hee swore likewise other thinges very necessary for the Clergie and Layety all which in order according as hee swore them wee dilligently recorded in the Charter of his absolution Other matters hee likewise promised of his owne accord not conuenient to bee deliuered in wryting But this wee haue written that you may see his obedience to Allmighty God and how hee is farre more incouraged then hitherto hee hath bin to the seruice of his Sauiour Knowe beesides that his sonne
of Quadrilogus wherunto all other wryters who reporte the life of saint Thomas agree And that not only hee who dyed at Consentia but also the other three who sayled to Ierusalem liued not aboue three yeeres after they had martyred the Saint is constantly alleaged in the aforementioned history soe as they exceeded not the limitts of the nexte yeere following For they beeing vpon the Popes commandement restrayned in a place called the Black-Mountaine a pryson of pennance did there as penitents finish their dayes and were graced with a seemely buryall beefore the dore of the Temple with this inscription as Roger sayth ouer them Heere lye the wreched men who martyred blessed Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury Soe let this bee the period of this yeeres history AN. DOM. 1173. Next followeth the yeere 1173. with the sixt Indiction The Cannozation of S. Thomas Whenas Pope Alexander vpon returne of the Legates late sent to the king of England hearing of them what miracles were wrought by God with a mighty hande and a high arme in Thomas the new Martyr and therupon taking aduice with his brethren the Cardinalls of the sacred Roman Church by the generall consent of them all Cannonized him among the number of the holy Martyrs Treating therfore heereof let vs first make dilligent search of precedent matters After this bloode soe shed sayth Edward God by many miracles published his sanctity but at the first they lay concealed as not purchaceing creditte till by the multitude of them the impiety of his aduersarys was vanquished and the mouthes of the wicked stopped for so far truly the number and greatnes of his miracles grewe manifest as in their open showe saint Thomas seemed not only nothing inferior to other renowned Saintes but also excelled them as wittnesseth Peeter of Bloyes an eye witnes and Iohn of Salisbury sometimes the holy Martyrs secretary for Peeter with greate confidence wryteth thus to Richard Bishop of Siracusa saying Reioice England and let the Westerne worlk tryumph beecause the East hath visited vs from high India and the Easterne regions gloryed in Thomas the Apostle But hee hath respect to the Wersterne Church who dwelleth in heauen and looketh downe on the humble God hath beestowed on England our Thomas wee enuy not India for their Thomas let Thomas the Apostle possesse India Let Thomas our Martyr inhabite Englād that by these two witnesses of Christe euen frō the rysing of the sun to the setting therof the name of our Lord may bee praysed Some there are who trauell into India to gayne the suffrages of the blessed Apostle so lōg a pilgrimage is to paynfull for mee my Thomas sufficeth me Hee touched our lordes syde ād the piercinges of the nayles and beecause hee saw beelieued Blessed is hee who not seeing beelieued nor euer doubted but offered hinselfe to Christ and for Christ a sacrifice I labor not to compare a Martyr with an Apostle an Apostle euer excelling a Martyr but it is glorious for vs to enioy a Martyr who bearing the name of an Apostle imitateth or rather exceedeth an Apostle in miracles The Apostle is not offended beecause our Lord himselfe is not offended with Apostles and Martyrs if at any tyme the holy Ghost poureth out himselfe more fully often on any in the operation of vertues and sayth our Lord you shall doe these and greater then these Thus Peeter recyted by vs to declare the famous miracles so wrought which God in his new Saint then shewed But let vs heare Iohn of Salisbury somewhat moued against Pope Alexander as seeming too slowe in the Canonizatiō of the Martyr since God abundantly published as it appeared by soe great and soe many miracles that hee had receaued him into heauen among the number of his Martyrs Yet the Pope was to bee excused if hee deferred the same vntill the returne of the Cardinalls his Legates by whose relation hee might exactly and securely vnderstand all Neuertheles let vs see Salisburys complaynt poured out with greate assurance to the Legate of the Apostolike Sea To his reuerent Lord and most deere father William by the grace of God Archbishop of Senon Legate of the Apostolicall Sea Iohn of Salisbury sendeth greeting with the obedience of his most ready deuotion Allthough a huge desolation hath confounded hetherto the English Church Iohn of Salisburys Epistle of the miracles wrought b◠S. Thoma◠her sorrowe neuerthles hath now for the most parte bin altered into ioy and her lamentation chāged with a blessed and pleasing transmutation into Cāticles for miracles soe seldome heard of are at our Martyrs memoriall soe often showed as others otherwhere heard of can hardly bee compared to his for as in euery thing his noble mynd euer endeauored to excell all who liued in his age soe now that I may speake it by the leaue of other Saintes hee exceedeth others of whom wee haue read or hearde of in miraculous operations which I am easily perswaded are therfore effected that God may styrre vp in many of these in our partes of the world fayth not layde asleepe but allmost extinguished that hee might more soundy confirme charitie and stoppe the mouthes of the wicked who detracted the holy man in his life and for priuate hatred persecuted the cause of Christ For who can now misdoubt the Christian doctrine to bee otherwise then true and faythfull since hee rewardeth with soe greate felicity a man knowne to vs and constant to him Who vnles misled by the diuell will say the cause was vniust the Patron whereof God hath crowned with soe great a glory Many haue questiond whether our Lord the Popes tytle for which wee contend bee grounded on iustice but this glorious Martyr hath cleered it from any suspition of scysme beecause had hee bin a supporter of scysme hee could neuer haue shined with so great miracles Moreouer hee was a man of that excellent wisedome as hee could not easily bee supplanted with error in a matter soe neere concerning his soule I should assuredly very much maruayle why our Lord the Pope hath not allready commanded him to bee numbred in the Catalogue of Martyrs but that I remember I haue read in the Ecclesiasticall history that when Pylate sending a relation of proceedinges asked aduise of Tyberius Cesar if Christ who had don soe many and so greate miracles and was of very many worshipped as God ought to bee honored as God the Senate beeing asked by the Emperor their opinion answered hee was verely to bee reuerenced as God but that diuers of sundry Prouinces had allready without the Senates authority presumed to doe it which was truly by the diuine prouidence soe answered that the Deity of Christ whose name was to bee preached to the Iewes and Gentilles should not seeme to be◠subiect to any earthly power neither the Gentills vaunt it was obtayned by petition which against their willes they were compelled to heare Beecause our Lord hath raigned let the people bee angry and the
darke clowdes of his speech Thus did saint Thomas write to the Pope Whereupon saith Alan my lord the Pope modestly answering the kinge affirmed how it was neuer in any age heard that the Church of Rome at the command of any Prince whatsoeuer forbad any person her presence especially beeing banished for the cause of iustice But that it was a priuiledg authority granted from aboue to the Apostolike Sea to succour the exiled oppressed yea from the fury of their soueraignes the violent rage of their malitious enemys The Embassadors therfore repining departed to deliuer this message to their king and my lord the Pope determining to returne to Rome vndertooke his iourney Thus Alan whom saint Thomas followed as far as Bituricum where taking leaue receauing his blessing hee departed backe to Pontiniake neuer after seeing Pope Alexander in this world AN. DOM. 1166. The yeere 1166. ensueth and the 14. indiction When Frederick the Emperour seeing the prosperitie of the Catholicke Pope Alexander daily more and more to encrease and that his holines was now peaceable setled in Rome beeing enraged with anger and enuie commanded a Conuentickle in Witemberge otherwise called Herbolis at the feast of Penticost where hee meant with his Bishops and Princes to assemble for cōfirming the power of this Antipope Guido Wherefore the king of England beeing by the Emperour inuited to this scysme beecause experience taught him that Pope Alexander inclined to the parte of saint Thomas taking aduantage of this fit oportunitie for his excuse sent an ambassage vnto the Citty to Pope Alexander determining if hee refused to yeeld to his demands then to fall off from him to Guido for the better accomplishment whereof hee wrote these letters to the Archbishop of Colen the cheife ring-leader of the scysmatickes for procurring a safe conduct for his Embassadours I haue long since desired to find out some iust occasion for leauing the parte of Pope Alexander and his vnfaithfull Cardinalls whoe presume to maintaine that Traytor Thomas sometimes Archbishop of Canterbury against mee whereupon by the aduice of all my Barons and consent of the Clergie intending now to send to Rome men of great accompt in my kingdome namely the Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of London the Archdeacon of Poyters Iohn of Oxenford and Richard de Lucy who openly and manifestly on the beehalfe of my selfe and my whole kingdome with all other landes vnder my dominion shall propound and denounce to Pope Alexander and his Cardinalls that they shall no longer defend my Traytor but soe absolutely discharge and free mee of him as I with the counsail of my Clergie may establish an other in the Church of Canterburie and shall moreouer require that they reuoke and make voyd whatsoeuer Thomas hath done and likewise demand that the Pope in their presence cause it to bee sworne publickly that hee and his successors shall conserue for euer as far as to them appertaineth to mee and all my successors the royall customes of Henry my grandfather inuiolable and vntouched and if by chance they will gainsay any one of my demandes that then neither I nor my Barons nor yet my Clergie will euer heereafter yeeld him any obedience yea wee will openly withstand him and his and whosoeuer vnder my gouermēt shall bee found heereafter to follow his parte shall bee banished out of my kingdome I entreate you as my dearest frend all excuses set aparte to send mee speedily brother Ernold or brother Randulph of the hospitall of saint Iohn whon may on the beehalfe of the Emperour and your selfe giue safe conduct to the afore said Embassadors as well in their goeing as returne through the Emperour's dominion This was the kinges letter An Embassage was also sent to Pope Alexander which London and Oxford only executed But soe far was Pope Alexander from beeing any way moued either by the terrors of the kinges thundering letters or other threates vttered by the Embassadors in the kinges name as hauinge rebuked their rashnes hee returned to the king himselfe againe an answer fraughte with sharpe reprehension wherewith beeing terrifyd hee desisted from his wicked intention and gaue therfore great thankes to his Holines promising heereafter to obey euer readily in all thinges whereof the Bishops of England in their epistle sent the next yeere to Pope Alexander are apparant witnesses which afterwards in place conuenient wee determine to declare Meane while sayth our Author Colen requireth the Emperors aduise in what sorte hee should āswer the king of England whereunto the Emperor replyeth that hee ought to satisfy the kinges desire in reguard with how much the more solemnity this matter is accomplished soe much the greater shall bee the Popes confussion if hee condescendeth to the kinges request and it may bee that secretly by some one of the Temple or Hospital or any other whom they could not preuent the king by corruption of money may otherwise obtayne the same Wherefore brother Randolph of the Hospitall was addressed to the king of England who safely conducted the Embassadors whom the king intended to send to the courte of his Holines through the Emperors dominion Thus much there But soe it beefell that the same Embassadors came first into Germany where they were present at the Conuentickle of Witemberge but what matters were there handled the letters patents of Fredericke the Emperor dated at that place declare where among other thinges is thus written of this Embassage Moreouer the honorable Embassadors of our renowned freind the king of England directed from him to vs Cod. Vat. Epist 70. did on the beehalfe of the same king in the presence of the whole court vpon the reliques of Saintes make their publicke oath to vs that the king himselfe together with all his kingdome should continew faithfull to our side and ioyning with vs should euer defend the Lord Pascall whose parte wee take and neuer heereafter intermedle in mayntaining Rowland the Schysmaticke Beccause also wee who haue euer hitherto bin ready to abyde the examinatiō of the vprighteousnes of our cause which the aduersaries of the Church of God and vs bee it either out of their pride or the distrust of their cause haue auoyded are now by reason of their manifest obstinacy compelled to vnacustomed oathes Let therefore heereafter euery man and estate carefully eschew the Communion of Scyfmatickes for their fury allthough it hath seemed hitherto in some sorte pardonable it will heereafter bee alltogether intollerable c. Moreouer in an other letter written by one affected to Pope Alexander is sayd That Fredericke the Emperor gloryeth in the assistance of the king of England whose Embassadors were sworne to the parte of the Antipope c. In an other place likwise Fredericke Couloreth his busines with false prophesies that Pope Alexander should bee taken captiue whereunto not only the vulgar sorte but the king of England expecting the euent hath allmost giuen credit c. And out of Salisbury The
bee giuen to any of these and I am assured my Lord of Canterbury will rather make choyse of banishement during life then for recouering his peace the Church of God should sustayne damage or the Apostolike Sea bee depriued of her priuiledge Perswade therfore my Lord Gratian to proceede warily in all affayres but aboue all in these Articles least which God forbid hee bee deceaued by the suttle wittes of lurking Foxes You see his vnaduised arrogancy hee who the last yeere as you haue heard scorned peace beecause sainct Thomas endeauored to mayntayne that forme of speech which was I commend the whole cause to your disposition with the reseruation of the honor of God for which only wordes hee reuyled the sainct with slanders and reproches now extolling himselfe aboue all whatsoeuer is worshipped hee would not haue the reseruation of the honor of God but the preseruation of his kingdomes dignity concluded in the conditions of peace Beecause therfore the Bishoppes who were elected by the king to penne the forme of peace could not perswade the Nuntios to admitt the forme aforesayde they deuysing with thēselues an other forme of peace A new forme of peace deuised by the Bishoppes did by the Bishop of Roane signify the same to the king in these wordes Wee could by no meanes obtayne of the Nuntios to admitt that forme of peace which you left with vs in regarde of the Clauses that as well by you as them were set downe on either syde both manifould and doubtfull Cod. Vat lib. 3. Epist 13. and for them to departe abruptly and with despaire of peace seemeth neither agreable to your honor or profitt hauing therfore considered many wayes with our selues wee happened in the end on such a forme of wordes wherin there is not the least derogation to your dignity and honor nor yet can bee ministred heereafter to Canterbury any cause of contention which is thus That for the loue of God and respect to our Lord the Pope you giue the Archbishop leaue to returne into England and cause him to haue his Archbishoppricke as amply as hee enioyed the same beefore his departure and also restore to them who either with him or for his cause left the kingdome their owne againe For this shorte and playne forme of wordes pleased vs best because it seemeth not enwrapped in any suttell deuises or suspitions wherupon wee consell and perswade you that you question not to yeeld your assent therunto And thus much Roane deliured to the king But the king vnderstanding by the Bishoppes that the Nuntios would in no case admitt the former clause which was The reseruation of the dignity of his kingdome beeing greatly incensed with anger did instantly heerupon send away two Embassadors to Pope Alexander with letters farced with complayntes requiring also the Bishoppes whom he assembled for this purpose to wryte by the same Embassadours to his Holines word by word to the same effecte all which are yet extant Ibid. Epist. 19.20.21.22 But Viuian one of the Popes Nuntios perceauing how the king addressed Embassadours in this sorte to his Holines fearing they should any way vndermyne him determined instantly to send a messanger Post by whom hee certifyed the Pope in wryting the true and faythfull relation of all their proceedinges hitherto out of the contents whereof besides the fore recyted dealinges let vs heere lay open such occurrences as beefell after the Nuntios fayling of their purpose departed from the king These are the wordes The Bishoppes beeing very earnest on the kings beehalfe that wee would admitte these wordes Ibid. Epist 26. with reseruation of the dignity of the kingdome Wee answered wee will agree to the wordes of the king so as yee will consent to the wordes of our Lord wee meant with preseruation of the liberty of the Church which they would not allowe neither yet the king allthough hee knewe that the liberty of the Church consisted in the honor of God as hee sayd would neuertheles in any case subscribe therunto and beeing not able to preuayle against vs in these formall wordes they made rather choyse that the Archbishop as before is sayd should safely returne to his Church and with good peace and security receaue the same in as ample manner as hee inioyd it before his departure without mention of any condition either on the one syde or the other and his followers in like sorte restored to their owne and at their instance wee condescended therunto Lastly beeing called by the king to Roane wee came thither with a laboursome iourney and to conclude hee signifyed to vs by his Agents in the Courte of the Archbishoppe that hee would neuer bee disswaded from those wordes Sauing the dignity of his kingdome soe as neither the first nor second nor yet the third forme of wordes deuysed by the foresayde persons could on all partes bee approued and in this sorte most blessed father wee departed wherupon wee commanded the Archbishoppes by their obligation of fidelity wherin they stood bound vnto vs to denounce to them whom wee had absolued vpon assurance of the oath which they swore to vs and to declare to their Lord the king that if peace ensued not before our departure they should loose the benefitt of their absolution and bee inuiolably subiect to the sentence pronounced against them by the Archbishop of Canterbury And thus far concerning our proceedinges with the king in these matters Wee signifyed afterwardes the kinges formall wordes to the Archbishop of Canterbury who enduring all with patience was willing also to preserue the dignity of the kingdome so far as it might stand with the conseruation of his order and his fidelity to the Church of Rome and if any one shall certify you to the contrary concerning this busines bee your Holynes perswaded neuertheles that it is no otherwise then wee haue reported neither yet in regarde my Lord Gratians name is not subscribed to these letters doth it therfore followe that hee sawe them not nor carefully perused them but that happened in respect hee hastened to returne and required these letters might bee more breifely contryued All which wee wryte that your Holines may giue no credit to the kinges Agents against vs before our returne And addeth lastly that in the end hee sent a Messinger to the king named Peter Archdeacon of Papia who beeing kindly entertayned by the king but nothing prevayling in his motion of peace was in his returne spoyled of all hee had and one of his campany beeing endangered for his life was hardly rescued The determined day appoynted by Pope Alexander for conclusion of the peace was the feast of saint Michael the Archangell which beeing once passed they who were absolued vpon this expectatiō of peace must now fall backe againe into their former sentence of excommunication inflicted on them by Canterbury Cod. Vat. lib. 3. Epist 36. concerning which the letters are yet extant which Gratian did wryte to the excommunicated