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
because if I shall say that wee ought to leaue the care of soules receaued by vs from God at the threatening and pleasure of a king my mouth should declare againste my conscience to the condemnation of my soule if on the other side I censure that the king in this case ought to bee resisted Loe heere his followers will heare mee by whose relation his Maiestie will bee thereof certifyed and I shall presently bee cast out of the Sinagoge and hereafter ranked with his publicke and condemned enemyes wherefore I neither say this nor counsell that These thinges thus handled The first acte of this conuentiklâ— they sate awhile in silence neither was there a man who spoake a word more and deuising a way to haue a free passage out of the roome for they were locked in I would quoth my lord of Canterbury speake with two Earles who are with the kinge aad named them both And they beeing called opening the dore entred hastely in and beeing greedy to heare somewhat that might satisfy the kinges desire my lord of Canterbury vsed these wordes in their presence Wee haue consulted about those matters for which my lord the king assembled vs heere and in regarde wee haue not with vs now those persons who more cleerely vnderstand this cause wee therefore craue respite vntill to morrowe determining to answer then as our lord shall inspire vs. The Bishoppes of London and Rochester were sent to deliuer this message to the king but London like a crafty fox corrupted the busines commended to his charge telling the kinge that my lord of Canterbury beesought only at his Maiesties handes a truce of time for making ready the wrytinges as one prepared at the determined day to yeelde accompt in answer of his accusations and this hee sayde to the end my lord of Canterbury might bee thereby the more ingaged to fullfill the kinges request The Earles therefore were directed to the Archbishop for graunting him on the kinges behalfe this respite of time if hee would ratifying confirme what the Bishops on his parte had certifyd his Maiestie Whereunto Canterbury replyed hee gaue the Bishoppes no such commission neyther would alow what they had signifyed to the kinge but would the next day God willing appeare and as it was inspired vnto him from aboue soe answere Gilbert of London was therefore with shame confounded seeing himselfe fallen into the snare which hee layed to intaÌ„gle his father The couÌ„sell beeing thus dissolued for the present they seuerally departed S. Thomas left by his knightes entertaineth the poore the troopes of knightes and others who attended the Archbishop to the place terrifyed for dread of the kinge left him which Sainct Thomas seeing commanded some to seeke about the hedges villages and inuite the poore lame impotent to come vnto him saying hee might with such an army more easily obtayne the victory then by those who in tyme of temptation fledd shamefully away with these poore guestes was his house and feaste furnished and the day spent with contented delight in our lord without any open mention afterwardes made of the forepassed trouble The next day early in the morning was my lord taken with the Hiake passion a disease that followed him and as then helde him in such sorte as hee could not lifte himselfe out of his bedd whereupon making the longer delay which the malicious supposed to proceed of an vnwillingnes to appeare in the kinges Courte some were seÌ„t to coÌ„mand him more sharpely and pereÌ„ptorily to goe on with his answere Who replying sayd if this sicknes will suffer mee I will god willing to morrow appeare That day passed away and the office of the insuiâ—g night beeing finished with great deuotion arysing early to solemnize Masse and hauing according to the custome vested him calling to God for his assistance through the merittes of the blessed S. Stephen hee commanded the entrance of the Masse to beegin with Etenim sederunt Principes aduersum me loquebantur The preparation of S. Thomas and Princes haue sate also and against mee haue they spoken And soe with extraordinary deuotion ended the whole office with all thereunto appertaining the kinges seruantes who were present in silence aduisedly marked all who suspected that this signifyed somewhat Masse beeing donne hee layd asyde his Pall and Miter hauing on his other sacred ornaments and ouer all a Cope It is sayd in Quadrilogus that S. Thomas celebrated as then the Masse of S. Stephen the first Martyr by the aduice of a certaine holy and religious Monke and not in regard it was any feast of Sainct Stephen and that otherwise then his wonted order was hee performed the same in his Pall and caryed also with him secretly the Blessed Sacrament after the ancient customes but openly bore only his Crosse the Sainte thus preparing himselfe to Martyrdome because that day hee supposed hee should dye But the a fore recyted history proceedeth thus Entring the kinges chamber where his Maiestie expected him taking at the very dore the Crosse hee boare it in his owne hande the Bishoppes following and interpreting this his Acte otherwise then beeseemed them Yet Robert Bishop of Hereford offering himselfe sayd Father stay and in place of your Chaplaine I will cary the Crosse before your presence for soe is it conuenient With more iustice answered Canterbury the cariage heereof beelongeth to mee vnder whose protection I remayne more securely and that Banner appearing there is no doubt vnder what Prince I fight London replyed if the king seeth you entring in armes hee will drawe his swoard beeing of greater force then yours and strike at your heade and then you shall trye what these your armes will auayle you All this quoth Canterbury wee coÌ„mend to God Yea answered LondoÌ„ you haue bin hetherto a foole and this folly I see you will neuer leaue Soe went they forward But the king hearing the Bishop came in thus armed forgetting or leauing of his swoard mentioned by LoÌ„don withdrewe himselfe speedily into his priuy chaÌ„ber Canterbury taking his place on the one syde a parte with some very few his followers the Bishoppes sate on the coÌ„trary syde in place and mynde vnited against him At the laste are the Bishops called into the kinges counsell Canterbury beeing left to the slaughter The tyme is protracted while they sifte out the matter for condemning the innocent Canterbury with a confideÌ„t looke put on Constancy Roger Archbishop of Yorke comming forth sayd to his Clearkes present beeing Master Robert surnamed Crosse and Osbern a Rondell let vs departe hence wee ought not to beehould what will here bee instantly executed on Canterbury Master Robert replyed I will not forsake the place vntill I see what God hath determined herein if hee will fight for God and his iustice to the very death hee cannot more nobly and more worthily finish his dayes The Archbishop of Yorke departing thus Barthelmewe Bishop of Excester comming out from the kinges
Chāber and falling at my lord of Canterburys feete sayd my deere father take pitty on your selfe and haue mercy on vs this day wee perish all in respecte of hatred conceiued against you for the kinge hath published an Edict that whosoeuer shall heereafter hould with Canterbury shall bee adiudged an open enemy and condemned to dye It was also reported that Ioselin Bishop of Salisbury and William Bishop of Norwiche because they yet resisted the kinges will should bee presently drawne to execution and haue theyr limmes maymed wherefore they liKewise cryed out to Canterbury for their preseruation The Archbishop therefore fixing his eyes on Excester said flie hence because you relish not what appertayneth to God then issued out from the counsell all the Bishops together in a troubled disorder to Canterbury where one among the rest I meane the Bishop of Chichester breaking forth in these ruffling wordes sayd Sometimes you were our Archbishop and wee bounde to obey you but because you haue sworne to our lord the king your fidelity which is with your power to conserue his life limmes and earthly dignity keeping withall the customes required by him and neuerthelesse doe now endeuour to destroy them which tend to his worldly royalty and honor wee therefore pronounce you guilty of periury and as a periured Archbishop wee are no longer oblyged to obey you in reguard whereof committing and submitting vs and ours to our lord the Popes protection wee appeale frō you vnto his presence there to answer these obiections Wee heare you quoth my lord of Canterbury the Bishoppes withdrawing themselues sate apart on the contrary side remayning long in greate silence In the end came out from the king Earles and Barons with a mighty route approaching to my Lord of Canterbury among whom the cheifest Robert of Leicester sayd The king commandeth you to appeare and yeeld accompt concerning matters obiected against you as yesterday you vndertooke to doe otherwise heare your iudgmēt Iudgmēt quoth my Lord of Canterbury nay S. Thomas pleadeth his cause sonne and Earle heare you first You are not ignorant my sonne how seruiseable and how faithfull according to the state of this world I haue bin to my Lord the king in respect whereof it pleased him to prefer mee to the Arch-Bishopprick of the Church of Canterbury God knoweth against my will for myne owne weaknes was not vnknowne to my selfe and rather for his pleasure then the loue of God I consented thereunto which is this day apparant enough since God withdraweth as well himselfe as the king from mee But in the the tyme of my promotion while the Election was made Prince Henry his sonne on whom this charge was imposed beeing there present it was demanded in what manner they would giue mee to the Church of Canterbury Whereunto was answered Free and discharged from all bandes of the Courte If therefore free and discharged concerning these from which I am discharged neyther am I bounde nor yet will I heereafter answer This case is otherwise sayd the Earle then the Bishop of London informed the king Cāterbury added Withall marke this sonne Earle how much the soule excelleth the body soe much are you bound to obey God and mee beefore an earthly king neyther yet law nor reasō allowes that children should iudge or condemne they re father where vpon I disclay me from the iudgmēt of the king of you and others beeing only to bee iudged next vnder God by our lord the Pope vnto whose presence heere before yee all I appeale committing the Church of Canterbury myne order and dignity with all thereunto appertayning to God and his protection In like sorte doe I cyte yee my brethren and fellowe Bishoppes beecause yee obey rather man then God to the Audience and iudgment of my lord the Pope and soe defended with the authority of the Catholike Church and the Apostolicall Sea I departe hence As hee went away the courtyers and malitious followed him crying out against him with reproches and iniuryes and deprauing called him traytor Comming to the vttermost gate hee founde it shutt nor could hee passe no Porter beeing there to bee seene and while the matter was handled in feare and hazard as God would haue it a bunch of keyes hung by the wall which one of my Lord of Canterbury's followers catching tryed one after an other vntil in the end hee opened the gate Thus going forth a great number who were sicke of the Kinges euill together with the poore and impotent mett him reioycing and saying Blessed bee our lord who hath deliuered and rescued his seruant from the face and fury of his enemyes For it was credibly supposed hee had bin now deade S. Thomas tryampheth and feasteth the poore A great company therefore of needy and diseased persons goeing before and after him together with the Clergy and Layety hee was with ioy and gladnes brought to his Inne And hee seeing the tryumph of the people sayd to his followers Lo what a glorious procession conducteth vs from the face of our persesecutors Suffer the poore of Christ and partakers of our tribulation to enter with vs that wee may feast all together in our Lord and soe the whole house and courte were filled with these his guestes It is moreouer written in Quadrilogus that then by chance was read at the table out of the Tripartite history the persecution of Liberius when hee resisted Constantine an Heretical Emperour by whom hee was cast into banishment And out of the Gospel accustomed to bee read was also rehearsed that of the Euangelist If they shall persecute yee in one Citty flye into an other Which beeing heard by sainct Thomas Matth. 5. and taking it as spoken to himselfe hee put it presently in execution passing the seas by Gods assistance into Flanders where hee remayned a while at the Monastery of sainct Bertine what beefell him in his iourney with many thinges thereunto beelonging are set forth at large in that history For sainct Thomas who appealed to the Popes Holines ought with all conueniency to hasten to his Courte for purgation of himselfe But his aduersaryes proclaymed his iourney to bee his flight and what slanders did they forbeare to vomite against him as a fugitiue Of this subiect treateth Iohn of Salisbury in the a fore recyted Epistle to Peeter the wryter where hee hath composed a most eloquent Apologie in defence of the flight of sainct Thomas which I omitt for breuity And allthough hee hath for his excuse very many exemples of Christ his Apostles Prophets and Saintes yet one thing alone sufficeth that hee was by the Popes letters commanded to prosecute the appeale put in and also to bee with his Holines in France beefore his departure thence which was not to leaue but to labour to place in safety his Church so dangerously hazarded Heereupon sayth the same Iohn This was not assuredly to expose his Church to perill Codi Vatican ep 3. post lib. 3. but to
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
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
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
of peace establshed at Easter but vpon new occasions broke out a rupture of warre againe whereupon it was necessary the couenantes after our Lordes Ascention should once more bee reuiued sauing the king of France would not bee obliged to beestowe his daughter on Richard the king of Englands sonne Thus is it there related at large And yet although Pope Alexander as hath bin sayde admonished by letters his Legates who were sent into France that setting other busines a parte they should only bend their forces to reunite the kinges soe rent in warres neuertheles one of the Legates William of Papia not performing as it was beeseeming the office of a Mediator far from indifferency which declineth in affection to neither parte beecame presently an absolute partaker with his frind Henry king of England Vvilliam the Legate taketh partâ— with the king of England Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist 32. The discourse of the incounter of the two kinges whereupon the king of France was somewhat moued against him There remayneth a perfect declaration of all this in wryting contayning other thinges worth the knowledge and is set downe in the letter of Iohn of Salisbury sent to Master Lumbard in these wordes When the kinges were come to the place appointed for conference Ewdo earle of Britane and Rowland of Dynamen broke into many and greeuous coÌ„playntes to the king of FraÌ„ce against the king of England but Edwo especially beewayled that his daughter who beeing yet a virgen was deliuered into his handes for a pledge of peace was afterwardes gotten with child by him beeing therin a Traytor adulterer and intestious For the king and Ewdoes wife were borne of two sisters But the Earle of Angolysme and Marche with the Vice-count of Doway Robert de Sylly Geffrey de Licimacke Henry de Rancore and the Abbot of Caroffy pleaded for restitution of losses they incurred by the king of England and his subiectes after the truce was taken For the Abbot affirmed his Monastery appertayned to the Dominion of the king of France since the tyme of Charles the greate who was their founder And a little after The king of France hauing there vnderstood that the Cardinall sate in the king of Englandes counsell incensed sayde hee had not deserued of the Church of Rome that the Cardinall as hitherto hee had euer donne should fauor his enemyes and that at this instant hee woulde not receaue any thing for the loue hee bore to the Earle or Cardinall but only for his owne right c. And after many matters hee addeth that the parlee of the kings beeing ended the king of England with greate ostentation vaunting shewed the Popes letters wherby hee had enioyned Saint Thomas not to publish any excommunication or interdiction against the king or any of his English soe long as the Legates remayned there suspending him thus from his authority and boasted that hee had with tryumph in a sorte obtayned of the Church of Rome whatsomeuer hee desired of the Pope The procurer of these letters was one of the Legates William of Papia Iohn of Salisbury openeth and deliuereth the whole matter in his epistle to the Archdeacon of Excester where wee thus reade It is apparant the letters whereby the king gloryeth that hee hath restrayned my Lord of Canterburys power vntill hee reconcyleth himselfe vnto his royall fauor were purchased by this deuice The often mentioned Papia knewe how my Lord of Canterbury had obtayned authority from the Apostolike Sea to publish against the king the sentence of excommunication and against his kingdome the like of Interdiction vnles the kinge within a tyme limited by the letters made full restitution to the Church of all thinges taken away with ample satisfaction wherfore hee wrote to my lord the Pope beeseeching him with a lamentable petition to proceede with the king in a milder fashion otherwise the king to the shame and eternall disgrace of the Church of Rome according as hee hath resolued if hee were more rigorously handled would caste as well himselfe as his Associate Oddo into chaynes and prisons where they should passe a life abridged with miseryes yea a tyme more terrible then death it selfe perswading thefore his Holines that the king intended thus to tyrannize hee obtayned for contenting him and continuing the free liberty of himselfe and his associate whereby they might the easyer trauell in these affaires this Apostolicall letter which hath so much afflicted the myndes of you and all other true Catholikes Soe wryteth Salisbury of this letter so fraudulenty procured from his Holines by William of Papia one of the Legates By reason heereof the king of France grewe wonderfully discontented with Pope Alexander which the elected Bishoppe of Charters perceauing certifyed his Holines thereof wryting thus of the king of France Among all the kingdomes of this world in my opinion there is not one which hath continually shewed a faith more sinceare a charity more feruent a deuotion more plentifull to the Sea Apostolike then that of France There is not one among the kinges and princes who obeyeth your Mandates with more humility honoreth the Church and Ecclesiasticall persons with more deuotion and defendeth them with greater endeauors then our most Christian king There is not a Church which hath bin more seruiceable to the Church of Rome in all her distresses then that of France This Church of France and the king himselfe beecame sutors to your Holines on the beehalfe of my Lord of Canterbury who hath for the Churches liberty and defending the dignity of your Maiestie continued a banished man in exile now fower whole yeeres There pleadeth against him before your Holines a Tyrant a persecutor of the Church and to the kingdome of France open enemy whose iniquity is notorious to all men And yet notwithstanding which I am ashamed to speake and greiue to see malice hath hetherto preuayled in vanity For why when as hee lately came to a parlee with the most Christian king where by the mediation of the Earle of Flanders who inuited my Lord of Canterbury thither The king of England vaunteth of the suspeÌ„sion of S Thomas from proceeding against him there was earnest endeauoring to renew a peace to the Church hee caused to bee read in the hearing of his Bishoppes and Peeres the Apostolicall letters wherin was decreede that the aforesayde Canterbury should not publish any sentence against him or his land nor yet any way molest any person vnder his Dominion untill hee were reconcyled to the king Vpon the hearing whereof the most Christian king was confounded and the whole realme together with all the children of the Church conceaued exceeding greife to see a iust man a reuerent Bishoppe suspended without cause and that there proceeded from the Apostolike Sea a wryting that would proue soe pernicious a President Cod Vat. lib 2. epist â—0 Thus wrote William the Elect of Charters whose singular commendation Iohn of Salisbury in his letter to Iohn Bishope of
promises extenuated his credit in accomplishments and that hee was in his demandes conuinced of manifest iniquity hee receaued repulse yet what of himselfe hee was not able to procure hee assayed to extorte by the power of the king of Cycillie But neither hee allthough the Bishop of Syracusa and Robert Earle of Bassauile laboured heerin with their vttermost ability and the mediation of many intercessors was heard notwithstanding his royalty power or fauor which hee enioyed amply in the Church of Rome The kinges Embassadors were therfore dismissed and their demandes reiected this only beeing graunted that my Lord the Pope should send Nūtios anew for procuring of peace which were Gratian the Subdeacon and Master Viuian Archdeacon of the ancient Citty who was accustomed in the Courte to execute the office of an Aduocate Thus much was signifyed by secrett intelligence for without expressing any name the Inscription is thus A frind to his frind Saint Thomas vnderstanding thus much and also at what tyme hee should bee called to Rome by Pope Alexander was wonderfully troubled and wryting to Cardinall Humbald Bishop of Ostia after many complayntes speaketh thus of this matter In regarde wee will not transgresse the law of God with giuing place to the iniquity of Tyrantes hee endeauoreth without any necessity beesides all vtility and against authority to translate vs to an other Church and beecause wee refused to followe him when hee allured vs to accompany his sinne hee requireth wee should bee called vp vnto you that in our passage hee might make some bargaine whatsomeuer with the consortes of his iniquity for the effusion of blood for what other meaning can hee haue in soliciting those of Millane Cremona and Parma by corruption of bribes to our destruction Wherin haue wee offended those of Papia or other Cittys of Italy Wee neuer gaue them cause to procure our exile Wherin haue wee aggreeued the sages of Bononie who moued by prayers and promises would yeeld their consent to the cause of our ruine which only by relation they vnderstood Assuredly wee neuer banished Robert de bassauylle and yet hee was by sinister suggestions induced to bee a meane to you for our banishment neuertheles afterwardes peaceauing trechery and repenting this offence he entreated that his vniust petition might not bee admitted Richard the elect Bishop of Syracusa entised with a hopefull bayte of the Bishoppricke of Lincolne assisted our persecutors with money strengthened them with counsell and armed them with power Concerning the king of Cicillie himselfe in whose countrey you lately remayned they promised him in mariage the king of Englands daughter to make him their owne for the ouerthrowe of the Church and vs. Did not they by distributing their bread entertayne as their hirelinges the family of Lyons the nation of theeues and other the most powerfull Romanes not soe much to bowe as to breake the Church of Rome Nay they promise to purchase peace with the Emperor and Saxons and beesides with their bountifull guiftes of many to drawe all the Romanes to doe their fealty to my Lord the Pope if they will but satisfy the king of Englands desire in our ouerthrowe You see how secure a passage what abundant prouision the dilligence of man had heere prepared for vs. Vndoubtedly hee cared not greatly how our Creditors might bee satisfyed how sufficient necessaryes might bee ministred to our companions if any happily might bee found to trauaile along with vs how the charges of the iourney might bee supplyed with sufficient meanes for the banished multitude who now after fiue yeeres exile was to bee lefte poore afflicted and forsaken in the middest of soe great calamityes Truly with the same dilligence of these purueyers and harbingers because wee cannot bee perswaded to call the kinges name into question may the house hould stuffe and prouysion of our hostes bee poysoned and hardly can that man bee secure of his life whom the Commander of the family where hee lodgeth lyeth in wayte to kill And that wee may not heerin bee tedious in circumstances of wordes As long as this life lasteth we will neuer vpon any summons hazard our selues to so many and so great imminent dangers for if a man will vpon euery occasion runne desperately to death hee may with a knife or a halter more speedily finish his dayes Afterwards hee proceedeth to rehearse what in the end of the last yeere is declared concerning the endeauors of the king or England to depriue Saint Thomas of the king of Frances protection which wee may receaue from the reporte of his owne mouth for hee sayth The king of England sent lately his Embassadors the Bishop of Sagia and Archdeacon of Canterbury to the most Christian king soliciting him with entreaty to bannish vs out of his Dominion but the man replenished with God answered that hee receaued by inheritance this law from his ancestors and that it had bin euer the custome of the kingdome of France kindly to entertayne all such as were banished for iustice and afforded them due and cōuenient courtesyes and comfortes and affirmed hee would neuer vpon any occasions whatsomeuer leaue so laudable an inheritance being so acceptable to Allmighty God Adding moreouer that hee receaued vs from the handes of my Lord the Pope whom only in earth hee acknowledged his Superior and therfore hee would neuer for any Emperor king or wordly Potentate desist to fauor vs and our cause so long as necessity required in regard God was on our syde and wee sustayned iniuryes and losses in defence of his lawe With this answer hee dismissed these confounded Embassadors and beecame to vs for which God reward him more louing and liberall then before although hee hath bin euer both kind and bountifull Hee saith beesides hee will in this cause of ours make tryall of the sincerity and vigor of the Church of Rome together with the vertue of our Lord the Pope whose faith and constancy hee exceedingly commendeth beecause hee reioyceth that the king of England hath receaued at his handes a repulse in his vniust demaundes Thus saith Saint Thomas of the king of France wordes worthy to bee engrauen in greate letters of Gould But as the faith together with the constancy of Pope Alexander was hitherto well knowne to continue vnmoueable in the defence of iustice and truth soe did it heereafter perseuer euen to the very end vncorrupted which notwithstanding hee gouerned with sweetenes and temperance leauing nothing vnattempted before hee would denounce the king to bee excommunicate and subiect his realme to Interdiction which caused him to make especiall choyse of men who were most famous for eminence integrity and singular learning I meane the fore recyted Gratian nephew to Pope Eugenius that most renowned Bishop Two Nuntioes send by the Pope to the king of England Cod. Vaet lib. 3. epist 12. for soe much doth Iohn of Salisburyes epistle to the Bishop of Poytiers signify and Viuian a person of excellency as beeing a
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
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