THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF SAINCT THOMAS ARCHBISSOPPE OF CANTERBVRY.
THE olde enemie maketh continuall warre against the Church, but the sonne of God who hath redeemed it with his owne blood, will also by the blood of his owne membres bring the same to true and perfect liberty: among which the glorious company of the Apostles and purple coulored army of holy martyrs hath the preheminence by whose doctrine the liuely stones in the building of the body of Christ, are confirmed, by whose blood (as it were with morter and symonde) they are ioyned together, and vnited, that the Church of God goeing forward and multiplying in piety, the number of the faithfull might bee made fit for the building of an holy Temple, in our Lord.
And allbeit all Martirs in generall haue a supereminent prerogatiue of eternall glory, The glory of martyrdome. yet their title is [Page 2] more glorious, and their Crowne more bright, that haue deserued double honor by instructing of others, making themselues an example to their flocke; and laying downe their liues for their sheepe in the time of tryall: for like as one starre exceedeth an other in brightnes, soe in the resurrectiō 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 Lō 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 [Page 3] occasiō 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 eminēt 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 hi [...] [...]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 Cle [...]gie, and that his liuing there was repugnant to his intended purpose, by the instinct and conduction of grace, rather [Page 4] 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 cōquered 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 [Page 5] 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 commonweal 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, thē (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 intermissiō to fight against the beastes of the Courte, and continually to bee wrestling with a certaine Protheus (as the Prouerb 15.) so as if the grace of God, and his owne industry had not preserued him, hee was like euery houre haue bin throwne downe head long into ruyne and destruction.
In the time of his Chancellorship hee found so great fauour with the king, that after the decease of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, hee succeeded in that Sea, to gouern the Church of England; for the king, hauing [Page 6] had manifold tryall of him, Hee was made L. Archi-Bishop of Canterb. deemed his fidelity, and magnanimity to bee fit for so high a dignity, and also that thee would haue a care of his profit, and gouerne all thinges in the Church, and Common wealth to his good liking, and moreouer hee did fore see, if it should please God to cut him of by vntimely death, that hee would bee a faithfull Tutor for the education of his children, for surely, hee was a man of wonderfull great experience in the world, and one that would wisely coniecture of the euent of things to comme: A faithfull Tutor to the kings issue. hauing by long experience, learned the charge and honor both belonging to his place: hee knew also the kings conditions and the pride of his officers, and how powerfull the malice of his Parasites was, whervppon hee coniectured euidently, that by the acceptance of that dignity, hee should lose the fauor of God or else of the king: for it was impossible for him to please God, and to obserue the kinges humor, neither could hee please the king, and preferre the lawe of God before his, He refused that promotion. and therefore for a season hee would not accept of the promotion, which the king and other of his freindes perswaded him vnto. But the prouidence of God preuayled, so as by the instant and vrgent perswasion of that honorable Cardinal Preist Pisanus, Legate of the Sea Apostolick, hee did satisfie the kinges desire, and the perswasion of his freindes, chusing rather to hazard the kinges displeasure, then to giue way vnto the desolation of the Church, and resoluing either to protect it from so imminent danger of seruitude; or else (after the example of Christ) to lay downe his life for his sheepe, for the lay power, beereauing the Church, of her ancient priuiledges, tooke vpon it to determine all causes, as well Ecclesiasticall as temporal, and as the people, so was the Clergie troaden vnder foote also, wherfore hee whom God had preordained [Page 7] to bee so greate à Prelate and Martyr, notwithstanding that some of his enemyes did labour against the ordinance of God, was elected with the general consent of all men.
After his consecration forth with, His discipline (putting of the old man) hee put on haire-cloth to Crucify the flesh with the concupiscence therof; and remembring that hee had taken vpon him the office of a Pastor and Doctour, hee performed the ministerie of à Preacher. All the time which hee could spare from his affaires of greatest importance, His pronesse to prayer. hee beestowed it for the most parte in prayer and reading: when hee was solitary hee did maruilousely abound in teares, and in his celebration at the Aultar his behauiour was such, as if hee had beheld our lordes Passion in the flesh before his eyes. Hee did minister the Sacramēts with so great reuerence that the very handling of them, was able to informe the faith and manners of them that beheld him. Hee kept backe his hand from bribery and giftes, and cast away from him the filth of couetousnes: in counsell hee was prouidēt, Hee was a prouident Counsellor. in hearing of causes a diligent and indifferent iudge, in questions subtil, in answers ready, in iudgment iust, without respect of persons, and a strict executor of the law in all pointes. Vnder outward decency of apparrel hee was inwardly apparelled with the armour of à Christian souldier, which (that the merrit therof might not bee diminished through vaineglory,) hee was very carefull to hide from the world, and that, according to the saying of the wise man, his outward semblance might bee agreable to the world, His charitable releife of the poore. whenas inwardly all thinges were contrary. In his place hee sat not downe to meate, vntill the poore were sent in before him, and that they might the better bee releiued with that which was left, hee would haue his table th [...] more plentifull: Such as begged from dore to dore [Page 8] went not away empty handed from his gate: Hee caused his seruantes to visit the houses of sicke and feeble persons, and hee did visit them himselfe effectually with his beneuolence, sustaining many of them dayly with meate drinke and cloth; He doubled the largiss of his Predecessor. for wheras his predecessor Theobald of happie memory did double the expences of his Predecessor beestowed in almes, hee likewise of a certaine religious emulation, thought good to redouble the like expences of his Predecessor also: for the performance of which charitable worke, hee did consecrate the tenth parte of all his reuenues to that purpose. Hee daily washt the feete of 13. poore people. Hee vsed daily, in a certaine secret Cell, vpon his knees to wash the feete of thirteene poore folke, in remembrance of Christ, giuing to euery one of them after they had well dyned, fourepēce which if any time hee could not attend in his owne person (which seldome hapned) hee caused it diligently, to bee supplyed by a substitute. Hee entertained religious persons with so great a respect, as if hee had receaued a dinine presence, Hee was very liberal. or an Angel in their persons. In hospitality, and other workes of liberality, hee was so plentifull, that his riches seemed the common treasury of all mē: and albeeit his house was garnished with rich and pretious furniture, His contempt of worldly riches He was temperate in his diet. yet did hee contemne riches and worldly treasure as dung, for Christ; vsing transitory thinges to serue his necessity, and not to satisfie his concupiscences and pleasure. In his diet he was temperate obseruing therewith a mediocrity, that by too much austerity hee might not bee taxed of superstition, or by ingurgitation esteemed a Glutton. He detested hypocrisie. Hee detested no lesse the note of hypocrisie then hee did the imputation of dishonesty, esteeming it the best kind of fasting to obserue the measure of sobrietie, in which attire being poore in spiritt, vnder a merri countenance couering a contrite harte, in a delicate table preferring [Page 9] penury, rising often from the bourde rather empty then full bellied, and more often refreshed then satisfyed, in keeping himselfe euer within the compasse of sobrietie. Hee conformed himselfe to the manners of those hee accompanyed withall, after the example of the Apostles, who by wholsom dispensation, became all vnto all to the intent to gaine all. Hee deliuered the poore from the hand of the mighty, as one that was truly, giuen by God, to bee a father to the poore, He was a father to poore people. and a conforter of those that mourne. Hee reproued liberally, the sinne of the nobility, knowing that where the spirit of God is, there is alsoe liberty; yet that hee might not seeme to cast holy things to dogges, or pearles before swine, hee would first prudently, considere the nature of those hee did admonish or reprehend, and being conducted by the spirituall vnction, his communications and sermons did seeme wonderfully lerned to all sortes of hearers, Hee was both learned and eloquent. both in the weight of matter and eloquent deliuery. After meales and his necessarie sleepe, vntill his busines called him away, hee passed the time in reading of the scripture, or else in honest communication, lest the enemy should take occasion there at to deride his Sabaoth. All the time which hee could without the great detriment of his body, hee did bestowe in prayer, teares, and holy meditation, keeping chastity in his body, cleanesse in his harte, modesty in his wordes, and iustice in his workes, that hee might moue those by his example which, hee was to teach by his doctrine. Hee did without ceasing impugne scysme and heresie, Hee greatly impugned scysme and heresies. and would neuer bee induced to keepe companie with excommunicated persons: for whosoeuer was an ennemy to sound doctrine, hee did esteeme him as his enemy in Christ, and beeing feruent in the zeale of iustice, hee endeauoured that euery man should enioy his owne, [Page 10] without respect of persons or receauing of bribes.
S. Thomas retourneth into Englād from the Counsel at Towers.And though at his returne from the counsell of Towers into England (being the second yeere after his consecration) hee was receiued of the king, as a father of his sonne, with fauourable countenance, a good respect and esteeme, yet soone after discontentments beegan to arise, whilst Saint Thomas, without any offence offered to the king, exercised the office of an Euangelicall pastor, in vndergoing which charge, whilst hee endeauoured to recouer the Graunges of the Church vsurped by the layety, and wrongfully alienated from his predecessors, hee incurred the displeasures of many and mightie mē. Yea whē he touched the kinges exchecker to the quicke, by litle and litle the king himselfe was moued to indignation against him. For in England had the same vnconscionable custome preuailed, that the exchecker couetously challenged to it selfe the reuenues arysing from the vacancyes of Churches. Wherefore S. Thomas required that for two seas of Bishopprickes, beeing now long vacant, there might bee speedily Bishops ordeyned. The ground of the discord beetweene the king and S. Thomas. It did also somewhat trouble the kinges mind, when S. Thomas beeing created Archbishop, gaue absolutely ouer the office of Chauncellorship, according to that of the Apostle: no man fighting vnder the banner of God, intangleth himselfe in temporal businesses. 2. Timoth. 2 For the king desired to retaine him still in his seruice. And for a greater addition of dislike, Thomas moreouer forbad the vnlawfull exaction of a Tribute: Heerewithall at the same time concurred, that hee deliuered not ouer to the secular Courte, a Preist condemned of murder, but beeing degraded, committed him to a Monasterie. The like hapned concerning one Phillip a Cannon, and yet a greeuous offendor, whom the Archbishop enforced not to suffer punishment in such sorte as the [Page 11] king would haue it, but only chasticed him with Ecclesiasticall censures.
The king by reason heerof beecommeth wrathfull, The causes of the kinges indignation. because there was, according to the direction of the holy Cannons, à milder proceeding with those of the Clergy whoe offended, where vpon they might growe more insolent in wickednes: Hee beegan to demanund instantly of Thomas the Archbishop, that Clearkes committing such crimes might after the Canonicall punishment inflicted on them, bee deliuered ouer to the secular Tribunal. But this motion of the king was gainsayed by S. Thomas and many other Bishopps associate with him, all of them humblie beeseeching his Maiestie to abstayne from these attemptes, but hee was rather more enflamed with anger. Whereupon Robert writeth in these wordes: but the king somewhat moued heerewith, yet much more incensed because hee sawe the Archbishop and Bishoppes with mutuall assent (as hee supposed) bent against him, asked of them presently beeing thus constantly vnited, whether they would obserue the customes beelonging to his crowne, adding that these beeing in the raigne of his grandfather formerly obserued by Archbishops and Bishoppes, by priuate and priuiledged persons, ought not by tracte of time, with a seuere sentence, to bee condemned. Whereupon the Archbishop hauing first consulted with his brethren, answered: Hee and his brethren would obserue them, sauing the prerogatiue of theire order, and the same euery Bishop being asked one by one, did turne by turne seuerally answer: only Hilarie Bishop of Chichester hearing the king more enraged for these wordes soe vttered alike by them all, without aduise of the Archbishopps, altered some, saying, hee would absolutely obserue in good faith the customes of the kingdome; and for a seeming good [Page 10] [...] [Page 11] [...] [Page 12] intent truly (as I thinke) hee said it, that hee might yet soe appease the kinges mind. But the king was nothing at all calmed; yea he waxed more wroth: and turning himselfe to the Archbishop and Bishops vpon the hearing of this vniforme and one answer of them all, said: A battell was ranged against him, and that poyson lurked in this captious word, Sauing the prerogatiue of their order. Wherefor hee required that absolutely without addition, they would promise to obserue the customes of the kingdome. The Archbishop answered: they had sworn to him fidelitie, that is to say, life, limme, and earthly honour, sauing the prerogatine of their order, and that in this earthly honour the customes of the kingdome were comprehended; and hee would not binde himselfe to the obseruation of them in any other sorte then they had formerly sworne. Now when a great parte of the day was in this fashion passed, The Kinges intemperate anger. the king beeing all the while vexed, without any farwell to the Bishops, suddenly departed the Courte in great wrath and indignation.
The King was accustomed in the disturbance of his minde, through the passion of anger to bee vnreasonably and outragiously altered and transported; as by an example or two I shall heere laye open beefore you, whereby in the very entrance of this controuersie now raised, you may vnderstand how difficulte and dangerous it was to contend with him in any case were it neuer soe iust. For in the 44. epistle written to S. Thomas concerning the King, thus wee reade: The King on a certaine day, when hee was at Cane, and a busines which hee had with the King of Scottes, dealte seriously against Richard de Humet, whoe seemed to defend the cause of the King of Scottes, brake out into disgracefull wordes, and openly called him Traitor, and heereupon enflamed with his wonted furie, threwe his cap from his [Page 13] heade, vngirte his belte, hurled away his cloake and garmentts, where with hee was apparelled, cast of with his owne handes a couerlet of silke from his bedd, and sitting as it were in a dunghill of strawe, beegan to chewe the strawes. And these tokens not soe much of wrath as of madnes hee then vttered. Of whom in the nept epistle is written thus: A boy whoe deliuered a letter to his Maiestie: incurred a great danger, the king endeauouring with his fingers to plucke out his eyes, soe far as it came to the effusion of blood. And moreouer Peeter of Bloyes in his epistle to Roger the Deane, concerning the kings conditions, saith thus: Bee carfull in this, Peeter of Bloys Epistola 75. that you come not to our lord the king to treate of your busines, vntill you make your way by mee, or some other, whoe is acquainted with his customes; for hee is a lamb soe long as his minde is pleased, but a lyon, or more cruell then à lion, when hee is vehemently angreed. It is not a light matter to procure his indignation, in whose power is honour and confusion, inheritance and banishment, life and death. And in his epistle to the Arch-Bishop of Panorma hee hath these words in describing the kinges countenance: His eyes are round, while his minde is appeased, milde as a Doue and simple; but in wrath and the garboyle of his harte, they are as it were sparkeling with fire, and lightning with fury, and after: whom hee hath once hated, hee scarce euer receiueth into grace and fauour gaine. Thus far Bloys.
Heereby (reader) I say you may conceiue, with how great a danger these Bishop were now to withstand him. What followed hereuppon Robert proceedeth to recyte.
When they departed from the King, Thomas the Archbishop seuerely reprehended the afore mentioned Bishop, beecause without his and the other Bishopps consentes, hee presumed to alter from the answere generally made by [Page 14] them all. The next day the King demaunding it, were deliuered into his handes the Charters and honoures, which the Archbishop helde from the time of his Chauncellorship, and neither saluting nor beeing saluted by the Bishops, yea without their priuity, hee secretly and before day remoued from London; which was vndoubledly an apparant proofe of his excessiue wrath and displeasure. What followed heereupon shall bee declared the next yeere wherin it hapned.
The king dissolued the vnion of the Bishoppes.Matters standing in this sorte, the king through the wicked counsail of the malicious, beegan to endeauour howe this vnited body, I meane the ioynt agreement of mindes betweene the Archbishop and Bishoppes, whereby they were made absolutely inuincible might bee rent a sunder, and soe dissolued, bee easily vanquished by him. Whereupon it came to passe, that to pleasure the king, the inferiour members rebelled against theire head, ād if at any time the Archbishop would attēpt with Canonicall authority to represse them, they would presently appeale to the Apostolicall Sea. And verely the Saint beeing in regard heereof entangled in extreame streyghtes of his minde, certifyed the same to Pope Alexander, sending together with his letter a messanger. The Pope compassionating his estate, returned to him this consolatorie answere, beeginning in the booke with this inscription: Alexander Pope to Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury: Lib. 1. Epist. 17. in the first onsett of his tribulation was this epistle written, the selfe same yeere in the end of the month of October.
Pope Alexander to S. Thomas. We haue with attentiue diligence heard the letter sent to vs by your brotherhood, together with that which your Messanger deliuered by word of mouth, and withall considered the greiuous streights and bitter sorrowes, wherewith your mind is continually afflicted; vpon the hearing and vnderstanding whereof, our spirit is moued [Page 15] and exceedingly troubled, whose comforte is to bee gladly dilighted in your prosperous successe; and contrarewise in your aduersityes to partake by all meanes with you in aggreiuances, as with our dearest brother; wherefore as a constant and wise man, calling oft to mynde, how it is said, that the Apostles went reioyceing from the sight of the Counsaile, because they were made worthie to suffer reproach for the name of Iesus. Actes of the Apost. cap. 9. Vndergoe with patience the burden of these extremities, and let not your spirit bee encumbred more then is conuenient, but recouer to your selfe worthie consolation, that wee together with you may bee ioyntly recomforted in him, whoe hath reserued you in this instant of necessitie for strēthning the fertresse of the Catholicke and Christian truth; and whose good pleasure it is to wash away, and chastice with sundrie afflictions the spottes and blemmishes of the offence, by you vnlawfully committed; that they may not bee seene to bee reserued for punishment, in the last seuere examination. What remayneth let it not bee troublesome, nor (as wee vnderstand in your letter sent by your Clearke) any whit dreadfull vnto you in that they appeale against you to the Apostolical Sea; because as a thing gratefull and acceptable to vs, our pleasure is, that if they, whoe bring the appeale against you, perchance appeare before vs; you your selfe (if you thinke good) setting asyde all doubtes and delayes, shall prosecute the appeale. Neither yet can euer any man vnder pretence of the Roman Church affright with feare or doubt your constancy, because wee, by the grace of God, will bee carefull with all diligence to conserue (as fare as with iustice and reason wee can) the rightes and dignities of the Church committed to the charge of your selfe, as the party whom indeed wee haue found a constant and couragious defender of the same.
Moreouer wee, inioyning cōmaūd your brotherhood, that you retire your selfe vnto your Church of Conterbury, and [Page 16] retayning with you some few, and those most necessarie attē dātes, you doe as litle as may bee trauaill through the countrey. And lastly wee commend this especially to your prouidence, that you neuer suffer your selfe to bee enforced vnder any pretence of feare, or aduersitie (which may possiblie beefall you) to renounce the rightes and dignities beelonging to your Church. Dated at Senon the 7. of the Kalendes of Nouember. These were the words of Pope Alexander in the beeginning of this persecution, soe prepareing his souldier, to the incounter of the next ensueing battel.
Vpon the receipt of which letters, Thomas returned these againe to Pope Alexander, by Henry his familiar friend, being for that purpose sent to the Courte of his Holynes.
The letter of S Yhomas to Pope Alexander lib. 1. epist. 78. The letters of comforte, which your Fatherhood vouchsafed to send vs may truly imparte an ample remedy to a mynde intāgled in ordinary troubles: or at least if our incū bred thoughtes, were only bent against one mischeife, wee might conceiue thereby some hope of relaxation. But in regard that malice encreaseth daily in power, iniuryes are likewise multiplyed, not to vs, but to Christ, yea because to Christ, therefore rather to vs, and stormes like waues, succeding one after an other, wee see nothing but shipwracke tbreatening instantly to deuoure vs; nor any aduise lefte, but that with our vttermost ability awakeing Christ, Matth. 5. as it were sleeping in the ship, wee crye out: Lord saue us, wee perish. And heerin truly iniquity hath got a more fit occasion to vent her malice, because hee seeth the state of the Roman Church as now more weakened; whereby appeareth that whatsoeuer it bee, good or ill, sweete or sower, which floweth downe on the head, the same descending by the beard, leaueth not the lowest hemme of the garment vntouched. Iesus Christ is despoyled of that, which by his blood hee purchased. The secular [Page 17] power hath layd hands on his very patrimony: Soe as neither the decrees of the holy fathers, nor the constitutions of the Cannons (whose very name among vs is growne odious) are as now of force to patronise the Clergie, whoe in tymes past haue bin by speciall priuiledge ex [...]mpted from this secular iurisdiction: and because it is long and tedious to rechearse or prosecute in writting the iniuryes wee endure; wee send to your Fatherhood Master Henry a man both to your Holynes, and vs, faithfull and familiar, to wh [...]se relation wee haue commended all things in such sorte to bee declared particularly, vnto you as hee hath s ene and heard them, and if it pleaseth you, credit him as much as you would our s lfe. Know you neuerthelesse, that if it might bee, wee would far rather visit you in pe [...]son, then by an other: wee speake confidently to you as to our father and lord: and what wee say wee humbly beeseech may bee concealed in all silence. Nothing remayneth safe to vs, since allmost all thinges are disclosed to the King which are spoken in our priuate chamber, or whispered in our eare. Woe bee to vs, whoe are r [...]s [...]rued to these times, in whose dayes these mischeifes are beefallen; whoe in our former estate haue enioyed s [...]e great a liberty, which now is recompenced with a hard and most vile slauery. Wee would at the least haue fledd, that wee might not see the patrimony of the crucifyed giuen ouer to spoyle; but whither we knowe not, vnlesse vnto him who is our refuge, and vertue. Concerning the Welshmen and Owen, who calleth himselfe a prince, wee beeseech your Lordship to bee prouident, beecause our lord the King is heerewith wonderfully disturbed, and moued to indignation. And soe deere father and lord, wee wish you all felicity. To the same purpose; and by the same Messinger, Lib. 1. ep [...]st. 19. 20. 21. 82. did hee writte to Humbald Cardinal and Bishop of Ostia: hee sent alsoe letters to Bernard Bishop and Cardinall of Portua: and likewise to Albert [Page 18] Preist and Cardinall: with an other to Hyacinthe Deacon Cardinall; all which are reserued intire in the same booke.
Alexander afterwards, somewhat foreseeing these combates to come, prepareth himselfe for resistance, admonishing as well the Archbishop, as all other Bishops of England, not to yeeld a whit to the king, against the Ecclesiasticall liberty, and not to obserue, whatsoeuer they had promised theyr prince, in derogation of that immunity: which was signifyed in writing to Thomas, and all the Bishops of England with these words.
Lib. 1 epist. 91. Wee would haue yee knowe, that yee haue vndertaken the burden of your pastorall authority, to the end yee should gouerne the Churches, committed vnto your charge, to the honour of God, and the profit and saluation of your flockes in such sorte as the Francises of the same Churches should not by your defaultes in any wise bee impaired, but conserued still in their estates, by your studyes and endeauours: whereupon wee will and command your brotherhoode, by our Apostolicall letters, and enioyne you in the vertue of obedience, that if the renowned King of Englād, shall at any time require of yee any thing, contrary to the Ecclesiasticall liberty, yee presume not in any case heerein to satisfy his minde: nor yet beecome, in any sorte, bound vnto him, especially against the Church of Rome: neither yet bee yee soe bould, as to bring in the f [...]rme of any new deuised promise, or oath, but only to obserue that, which Bishops haue bin accustomed to sweare vnto their Kinges. And if yee knowe that in any thing of this nature, yee haue tyed your selues vnto your King, obserue not by any meanes this your promise, but bee rather carefull to recall it, and endeauour to bee reconciled to God his Church, for the lapse of this vnlawfull promise. Thus wrote Alexand [...]r, the most vigilant keeper of the sacred [Page 19] Cannons, admitting nothing that was vsurped against them in fauour of the king, allthough otherwise hee were very much beehoulding to the same prince, for late receiued benefittes. The rest followeth the next yeere.
Heere followeth the yeere 1164. and the 12. indiction A yeere to the Catholike Church, in regard of many aduersities shee susteyned therein, replenished with greifes, and troubles. And first concerning the state of English affaires; more dangerous floods were daily there raised, tending not only to ouerthrowe the Primate of Canterbury, together with the whole Church of England; but also to drowne (if it had bin possible) the holy Catholike Church it seife, together with her high Bishoppe Alexander. For Henry king of England prosecuting S. Thomas with an obstinate mind, turned all his endeauours against the same Pope Alexander, to remoue him from his sea. But how all these deadly attemptes were managed, receiue heere the relation.
After this turbulent encounter betweene the Bishops and the king, and the departure caused by the kinges inraged fury; for eschewing the imminent mischeifes whose forces daylie encreased, and auoyding farr greater ruines, which threatned the ouerthrow of the Catholicke Church, S. Thomas is beesieged with the often and sundrie perswasions of many Bishops and Abbotts, that hee should not in regard of one only word, vnseasonably and vnreasonably cast himselfe together with the whole Church, into soe open and apparant danger; one Abbot among the rest affirming this to bee the opinion of Pope Alexander himselfe.
Thomas at lenght perswaded these by reasons (sayeth Hubertin Quadrilogus) charity enforceing him thereunto, came to the King at oxford, and promised hee [Page 20] would alter the word, which the King tooke so offensiuely. Whereupon the King, his anger beeing now somewhat asswaged shewed the Archbishop a more pleasing countenance, though inferiour to his wonted fashion: the King moreouer sayd hee would haue according to this forme, an instrumēt or obligation made for the obseruation of the royal customes, in the publicke sight and hearing of the bishops and nobility of the kingdome. But when Thomas was aduertised of the gathering together of a general assembly foreseing the ensuing mischeifes, hee beegan to recall his consent; yet againe hee is assaulted by the intreaty of many, whereby hee is enforced for that instant to yeelde, Galat 2. by the example of Peeter, conforming himselfe to the Iewes, with the Iewes at Antioch, and of Paule often exercising the same. A congregation of Bishoppes is appointed to bee called at Claringtone, concerning the time of which conuocation, thus much is rehearsed in the first booke of Epistles, The detestable [...]onue [...]ckle at Claringtonne. after the eleuenth epistle: In the yeere of our lords Incarnation 1164. the fifte yeere of Pope Alexander, and the tenth of the m st famous king of England, Henry the second; concerning the day, this is added in the end: These thinges w [...]ere handled, the fourth day before the Purification of S. Mary t [...]e perpetuall Virgin, to wit, the 30. day of Ianuarie. For those whoe were present at this assemblie, they are recounted to bee, all the Bishoppes of Eng [...]and together with the Earles, Barons, Magistrates, and nobility. For the matte [...]s then in action, receiue them thus from the wordes of Vvilliam in Quadrilogus.
T [...]e king [...]erefore (as i [...] s [...]emed) feruently thirsting after an [...]g [...]eement beetweene [...]he kingdome and the preist [...]ood, but lesse prouidēt for the state of himselfe and his Archbishoppe, 1 Parliamēt summoned at Claring [...]onne a Parliament of the [Page 21] whole nation. Whither, when the Bishopes and peeres were come, the King importunately required, that thinges promised to him might bee performed. But the Archbishop, allthough hee promised to consent to the King, beeing neuerthelesse suspitions of the promise, which the King exacted, and beecause Kinges very often exceeding all measure extend their power to thinges vnlawfull, rather made choyce to hazard the kinges indignatiō, then to offend the law of God, and to breake the brazen serpent in peeces, rather then wickednes should bud out among the people of God. Now although hee feared banishment and imprisonnement, yet preferring God beefore these, hee absolutely withstood it. The King threateneth, he refuseth: the King raueth, the other in secret, craueth Gods assistance. In the meane while, the Bishoppes of Salisbury and Norwich, fearing a new punishment, for an old grudge, and dreading much, by reason of this distempered tyme, with weeping words beesought the Archbishop, to haue compassion on his Cleargie, to relent from the willfullnes of his minde, least himselfe should incurre imprisonment, his Cleargie banishment, themselues the iudgment of an opprobrious death. And withall two Earles, the mightiest of the kingdome, assayling him, said, that vnlesse hee would conforme himselfe to the kinges pleasure, they themselues by his Maiesties commandment, should bee constreyned to that violence, which would brand the King and themselues which an eternall infamie.
This man therefore of inuincible constancy, The frailty of S. Thomas. and grownded in the worke of Christ, moued neither with the sunshine of flattery nor the stormes of terrors, is notwithstanding in the end, pulled away from the bosome of truth, and the brest of his mother, vnto whose liberty hee had soe louingly cleaued: and lest beeing a conquerour in these listes, hee should bee puffed vp with pride of mynde; fainting then, when hee sbould [Page 22] cheifely haue fought, is lefte for an hower to fall, that, after a faulting fall, hee might rise againe; that falling hee might acknowledge humane frailtie, and r seing, vnderstand the deuine mercy towards him. In like sotte because no man should haue confidence in his owne strength, Peeter the prince of the Apostles, and holy Dauid fell; and soe S. Thomas is lefte destirute to his temptation for a tyme, that afterwards beeing mindefull of his frailty, hee might arise with more courage to the combate. Wherefore beeing the third tyme admonished by Richard (a man of great accompt and Prior, as then, of the Temple of Ierusalem) to haue a care of himselfe, and compassion on the Clergie, hee endured no longer their submissiue petitions, their often kneeleinges: for they seemed to crye out, as if euen now they sawe the very swoardes threatening ouer his head, and lamented the intended murder as a present death. Whereupon moued rather with commiseration on the Clergie, then on himselfe hee consented by perswasion of their counsail, to submitt himselfe to the Kinges pleasure. And therefor, beefore all the rest, the Archbishop bound himselfe first in that prescribeb forme, that is to say, hee would obserue the custome of the Crowne, in good faith: suppressing those wordes: sauing the prerogatiue of his order. Adding allso this caution, with an oath: that hee promised to performe this in the word of truth: soe heapeing sin vpon sin. And all the Bishops seuerally, in semblable manner, sware the same.
And incontinently, an obligation beeing drawne in this forme, The Recognition, and [...]ngrossement [...]f the Royal [...]ustomes. by certaine Peeres of the realme (who as their offices required, were lerned in such proceedings (there was made a Recognisance of the royall customes, that as publickly, soe they might expressely bee recited. But when many were now rehearsed, and [Page 23] more yet as it seemed to bee set downe, the Archbishop interrupting, said that hee neither was one of the auncientes of the kingdome, whereby hee could knowe the old customes of the Crowne, neither had hee continued long in his Archbishoppricke, and therefor said, hee was in these matters ignorant. Moreouer because the day was soe far spent, it was conuenient a busines of soe great importance, should bee referred vnto the next morning. His motion was liked and thereupon they retired themselues to their lodginges,
Returning on the morrowe, to prosecute the busines beegunne, the customes of the Crowne, which were lefte the day before vnrecited, were recounted, expressed, and reduced into a writing, made after the manner of an obligation, and styled with the name of the kings customes. Notwithstāding many of them (as it is said) were not the kinges, but the vomite of emulation, and poyson of enuy, for hatred of the Archbishop, and to bring the Church into bondage; yea the king himselfe beeing absolutely ignorant of them, because some men intended by this sinfull suttlety to sowe the cocke of dissention betweene him and the Archbishop. Neither yet the king who was yet but a yong man, nor the Archbishop, who was lately elected, could know the customes of the kingdome, but by their relation. And if any one is desirous to see, what these kingly customes were, hee shall finde them sett forth in the end of the history. Wherevpon a litle after hee saith; and wee heere will declare them. Then hee thus proceedeth in his intended discourse.
The customes beeing therefore written and drawne into the forme of an obligation, the king requireth of the Archbishop and Bishops, that for the more surety [Page 24] and confirmation of them, they would sett to their seales. But the Archbishop, allthough exceedingly moued with greife, neuerthelesse dissembleth it, beeing as then vnwilling to discontent the the king, nether absolutely denying said: it was awhile to bee delayed, and albeeit they were ready to doe it, Eccles. 32. hee affirmed notwithstanding in reguard of the weightines of the busines, it was conuenient to bee deferd a tyme. Since according to the wise man: without counsell no matter of importance is to bee performed. And afterwards, some deliberation beeing had: hee and the Bishops might more decently bee required to accomplish it. Notwithstanding bee tooke with him one parte of the deede conteyning the afore said customes, to the end hee might cary with him his cause; the other parte of this obligation, the Arrchbishop of Yorke receiued; the third, the king himselfe reteyned, to be enrolled among his royall Charters. And soe that day they were dismissed,
Heere first of all you may disproue that which Roger writeth in the Chronikles of England, to witt, that S. Thomas promised those vnlawfull thinges to the king, by Pope Alexanders perswasion; for if hee did it, not only by the consent, but also by the perswasion of the Pope, why did hee pennance, beefore the said Pope for the same, as a most heynous sinne, if the Pope himselfe should bee the author of his offence? but let vs heare what remayneth.
Beesides the history of Quadrilogus mentioned by vs, there is added in the end thereof, a more exact narration of all thinges, which hapned after the dissolution of the same detestable conuentickle, held at Claringtonne, vntill the departure of Pope Alexander out of Fraunce: from whence wee haue inserted the history heere to bee recited, beeginning with the pennan [...] [Page 25] of S. Thomas, in these words: And hee departing from [...]he Courte of the king, his followers by chance beegan to [...]urter among themselues, some affirming (according to [...]he custome) that in regard of this distressed tyme, matters [...]ught to bee thus caryed: others disdaining, that for the [...]leasure of a man, the authoritie of the Ecclesiastical liber [...]y should perish. Among whom one, instantly pressing more earnestly, said. The publick power disturbeth all, [...]niquitie rageth against Christ himselfe, the Sinagog of Sa [...]han profaneth Gods sanctuarie, princes haue sate and assembled in one against Christ our Lord: no man is safe who [...]oueth equity: in the iudgement of the world they are accounted wise, and are at this time worshipped, who flatter Princes in following their pleasures: yea this tempest hath shaken the very [...]illars of the Church: while the Pastor is fled: the scattered sheepe are subiect to the wolfe: to conclude, what place remaineth now secure for innocency? who shall fight in defence of this Bullwarke or who shall triumphe in this battell, the general beeing ouercome? And thus hee expostulated the matter, who caryed the Crosse beefore my lord of Canterbury, the rest beeing silent for sorrowe: and with great libertie hee added, assumeing in this sorte a parable: what virtue (saith hee) hath the man reserued to himselfe, who hath lost his constancy and renowne? whom meane you by this, my sonne? quoth the lord of Canterbury. Euen your selfe, (answered bee) it concerneth you: because this day you haue for euer lost both conscience and fame, hauing left beehind you to [...]osteritie, an example odious beefore God, and contrarie to [...]onesty, while your handes consecrated to almightie God, were stretched out to obserue those accursed customes, and [...]our selfe conniued with the Ministers of sinfull Sathan for [...]he confusion of the Ecclesiasticall liberty. This was assu [...]edly the Cocke, at whose croweing Peeter awake [...]ed, did weepe bitterly. For the Author proceedeth. [Page 26] my lord of Canterbury therefore wayled and lamented, S Thomas recouereth his laps, & imposeth pennance on himselfe. and with sighes and groanes said: I repent mee, yea greiuously and trembling with the horror of mine offence, I comdemne my selfe as vnworthy to serue heereafter a [...] a Preist at hi [...] altar, whose Church I haue soe basely sould. I will rest silent therefore sitting downe to sorrowe, vntill Allmightie God shall visit mee from aboue, that I may deserue from our lord himselfe, or from my lord the Pope, to receaue absolution. And presently thereupon hee sent a messinger to the Sea Apostolicke.
Pope Alexander had lerned all this beefore by the relation of others, Libr. 1 epist. 20. and moued with exceeding compassion, did write these letters to S. Thomas, whereby hee recomforted him now drowned thus in sorrowe, and absolued him from the oath. The letters are these.
Pope Alexander absolueth S Thomas frō this sinne. Your Brotherhood vnderstandeth how wee haue, heard and by the reporte of some bin certifyed, that in consideration of a certaine offence, you haue determined to forbeare the celebration of Masse, and abstayne from the consecration of the body and blood of our lord Which truly of what importance it is, especially in a man of your eminency, and how great a scandal may ensue thereupon, I would haue you with carefull consideration to ponder, and weigh the same with your watchfull discretion. For you ought with prudence diligently to conceaue, that there is very great difference, where sinnes are wilfully committed with deliberation: and where on the other side they are donne out of ignorance, or necessity: For it is apparant that wee ought to proceed in one sorte with these which are acted by a mans owne free will: and in an other manner with those which (as it is sayd) are of ignorance, or the compulsion of necessity: and one way the first, an other way the last are by men of iudgment and wisedome to bee handled and measured, as by the testimonyes of holy Scriptures wee are taught. Your intention giueth the name to your [Page 27] worke: for as in an other place wee reade: Sinne is soe far voluntarie, as if it bee not voluntarie, it is no sinne: and our allmighty Lord, respecteth not the action of the worker, but rather considereth the intention, and discerneth the will. If therefore you call to minde, that you haue committed anything, whereof your owne conscience ought to accuse you, whatsoeuer it is, wee aduise you to confesse it in the Sacrament of Pennance, to a Preist of discretion and prudence, which beeing performed, our mercifull Lord, who looketh much more to the harte then to the facte, will through the commiseration of his accustomed pitty, forgiue it you: and wee, beeing confident of the meritts of S. Peeter, and S. Paule his Apostles, doe absolue you from what is committed, and release your brotherhood thereof by the Apostolicke authority: counselling, and commanding, that heereafter you abstayne no more in this respect, from the celebration of Masse. Dated at Senon the Kalends of Aprill Thus wrote Alexander. But Iohn of Salisbury in his epistle to Peeter the writer (I thinke of Bloys) which beeing omitted, in the often recited booke of epistles, is afterwards placed in the end of the volume, affirmeth, the sinne of S. Thomas, not bee excused, but rather declared, to bee purged by pennance: for hee saith. I cannot excuse his promise at Claringtonne, whereunto hee was drawne by the counsell of the Bishopps: because such a promise was not to bee made: but confession washed away the offence, hauing receiued so [...]emne pennances from the Popes holynes, who in the presence of many, by the Apostolical authority condemned those peruerse customes. Soe writeth Iohn. Now the former recited history proceedeth thus.
The King in the meane time, perceaued that my Lord of Canterbury would flie of from this promise, especially in that hee openly refused to seale the charter of these customes, according to the agreement: [Page 28] Whereupon his Maiestie being very bitterly incensed, beegan to vexe him with more greiuous and exquisite molestations, in such wise, as it was apparant to all vnderstanding men, the blood and life, of the Archbishop was thirsted after. Among other matters the king soe wrought, The King incensed against Saine Thomas sendeth an embassage to the Pape. as hee sent messangers to Pope Alexander, and required two thinges at his hands; first that hee would grant the legantine authority (which was vsually committed to the Archbishop of Canterbury) vnto the Archbishop of Yorke: then that the Pope would confirme the artickles of the customes, published in the Parliament of Claringtonne. Vpon receipt of which message, Alexander beeing on all sides beesieged with exceeding extremities, seeing this warre now turned on the Apostolicall Sea, laboured with his best and most ready endeauours, to calme and appease the king, and soe to yeeld to him insome what, which neuerthelesse should with no preiudice derogate from the Chuch of Canterbury: and thereupon did write in this sorte to the Archbishop.
Lib. 1 epist 4 The Popes epistle to S. Thomas cō cerning the Kinges dedemandes. Although in regard of the wis [...]dome of your minde, and sincerity of your faith, wee would euer loue your pers [...] with a more plentifull sweetnes of ch [...]ritie, and a more enflamed desire, and with a fare more feruent affection, seeke the honour and exaltation of you as our most deare brother, it is notwithstanding beehoofefull to vs, and you (who are a greate pillar of the Church) warely to weigh the qualityes of the times and with a prouident moderation and dispensation, to mitigate the wrath of the incensed king. You (on whom God hath beestowed a large talent of w [...]sedome and grace) doe truly see in your discretion, in what sorte our most deare sonne in Christ, Henrie the renowned king of England, maintaineth an outragious course in the gouerment of his kingdome, and desireth to haue the same vnlawfull proceedinges strenthned wit [...] [Page 29] the authority of the Church of Rome: whereby they may obtaine the greater confirmation and fauour. Whereupon, when in times past, hee more instantly required of vs, and our brethren, by our reuerent brother the Bishoppe of Lyons, and our beeloued sonne the Archdeacon of Poyters, that hee might haue the power Legantine of all England, graunted to the Arrchbishop of Yorke: and beesought alsoe that wee would command as well you, as all the Bishops vniuersally to keepe and conserue the ancient customes, and dignities of his kingdome: because wee did not yeeld to his desire, according to his owne will, instantly vpon returne of his embassadors, scarce hearing the answer receaued from vs, hee sent our beeloued sonnes Geffry his Archdeacon, and Master Iohn, vnto our presence: and by them most earnestly required at our handes, not only the former, but also other far more vnreasonable demands, and to the end wee should yeelde an easyer way to his desire, hee procured letters vnto vs from your brotherhood: and also the foresaid Bishop of Yorke: For as hee prayed vs beefore, that the ancient customes, and dignitys might, by our command, bee conserued: soe now againe of late, hee most earnestly requested, that in like sorte, as your selfe, and others had promised to obserue them, they might in the same manner bee assured to him, and his posterity, Hew far the Pope graunted or denyed the Kings requests. by the Sea Apostolicke. But wee reiected his petition. Notwithstanding, least wee should incite him to ouermuch bitternes, and more passionate trouble of mynde, against vs and you: least also it might bee suspected, that this was any way hindred in regard of your selfe: moreouer fearing hee might breake out into a more furious rage, against you, and beeing therefore desirous to bee more prouident for you, and our selues, with consideration of the dangerous times, wee yealded so far to the king, as to grante the Legantine letters, to the aforesaid Archbishop. And for that subiectes are truly bound to submitt themselues to [Page 30] their Princes desires, and obey their wille; wee aduise counsail, and by all meanes exhorte your wisedome, that as a prouident and discreete man, measuring the necessity of the time, and with faithfull consideration foreseeing, what aduersityes may happen by reason thereof, to you and your Church, you would endeuour to yeelde to your King in all thinges, sauing euer the honour of your Ecclesiasticall dignity, and instant labor to recouer to your selfe his grace and fauour; least in doeing otherwise, you disquiet him, to the hurte of you and our selues, and they, who are transported with an other spirit, might thereby purchasse power to insult ouer you and vs. And w [...]e truly, as oportunity shall serue, will diligently and carefully treate with your King, for your honor and augmentation, and will employ all necessary trauell, for conseruation of the lawes and dignityes of your Church, and with all conueniency bee watchfull, and prouident therein. Dated at Senon, the third of the Nones of March.
Reader, you beehould Pope Alexander beesett with extremityes, either to loose the kinges good will, or grante his requestes, and yeeld to him who laboureth to extorte a petition against the Churches liberty: these two soe intangleing him, the one of the kings demaundes hee satisfyed, giuing the Legantine authority to the Bishop of Yorke the other hee absolutely denyed, beeing the confirmation of the recited customes; yea to the end this Legantine power, conferred on the Bishop of Yorke, might no way preiudice S. Thomas, hee thought good soe to restrayne the same in his later letters, that hee should vnderstand this Legation of his for England, to bee confined with condition, that notwithstanding hee should haue no authority graunted him ouer the Archbishop or Dioces of the Church of Canterbury. Lib. 1. epist. 5 Lib. 1. epist. 3 [...]. & 40. Pope Alexanders letters importing this restraint are extant, which for breuity [Page 31] wee omitt, thinking it sufficiēt, if wee leaue them heere, noted with their numbres, in the margent. It is alsoo apparant in the same letters of Pope Alexander, that hee soe gaue the legation for England to the Bishop of Yorke, as neuerthelesse hee would not suffer the Bishopps to bee exempted from the obedience they owed vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury, to whom in very true right they were subiecte; which rather enkindled the Kinges greater indignation, who desired the Apostolicall Legantine authority for the Archbishop of Yorke, of purpose to depose the Archbishop of Canterbury.
For Alexander hereupon inclined more to the cause of Sainct Thomas, The Pope endeauoreth to succour S. Thomas. and was soe far of from graunting to pleasure the King against him, as hee most carefully watched to supporte his prosperity, with the libertys of his Church, commanding also the principall Monasteries of France, to pray for him vnto allmighty God, which is witnessed by a messinger sent from S. Thomas to his Holines, in the conclusion of whose letter, are these wordes worthie of memory. Last of all wee petitioning his Holines, that hee would commaund you to make your repaire to him, and direct his letters to you, for that purpose, hee seemed with greife and great affliction of mynd to answer; saying, God forbid; let vs rather dye, then beehould him soe departing his countrye, and leauing his Church in that sorte soe desolate. And a litle after. By the mediation of my lord the Pope, there is continual prayer made for you, and the Church committed, by God, to your charge, at Clareualle and Pontiniacke Monasteries of the Cistercians.
Pope Alexāder in the meane time cherished Thomas comforted him with his letters, and reuiued his minde when it was depressed with extreme greife. Many of his letters remayne, worthie of soe noble a Bishop, among [Page 30] [...] [Page 31] [...] [Page 32] which receaue you these, beeing in contents the shortest.
Lib. 1. epist. 43. How hee ought to proceede with the King. Because the dayes are euill, and many thinges are to bee suffered, in regard of the quality of the time, wee entreate, aduise, counsell, and perswad your discretion, that in all actions, as well of your owne, as those appertaining to the Church, you beehaue your selfe warely, prouidently and circumspectly, and that you doe nothing hastely or rashly, but all thinges deliberately and grauely: whereby you may recouer the fauour and goodwill of the renowned King of England, as much as possibly you may, without derogation to the liberty of the Church, and the honor of your office, and authoritye: And that by all meanes you endeauour and labour to endure the violence of the same King, vntill the next Easter, in such sorte, as you deuise not, to put any thing in execution against him or his land, vntill that perfixed tyme: for then our lord will graunt à better and milder season, whereby as well you, as wee, may more safely and securely proceede in our affaires. Thus Alexander to Thomas; of whom (as wee haue sayd) it is extant, that hee did write other letters, to the same effect vnto him. But in that the Pope did so certainly promise; that times would bee calmer at the next ensueing Easter: it is apparant hee did with a Propheticall spirit, foreknowe the death of the Antipope, which at that time hapned; as wee shall heereafter declare.
But Alexander, who soe counselled S. Thomas to forbeare the outragious king, did not himselfe forbeare to admonish, by his letters, the same king in season, and out of season, instantly reprouing, rebukeing, and beeseeching him, as (Reader) you may vnderstand by this letter, written about the same tyme.
ALEXANDER THE SERVANT OF THE seruantes of God, Lib 1. Epist. 42. to Henry illustrous King of England, health and Apostolicall benediction.
ALlthough the deuotion of a dutyfull childe, as well towards vs, as your holy mother the Church, The Pop [...] admonish [...]t [...] the King by writing. seemeth of late to weare somewhat cold in you: neuerthelesse, wee haue not at any time omitted our fatherly affection towards you, and the kingdome commended to your gouerment, wherefore your excellency diligently weighing, that the stripes of a freind, are better then the kisses of an enemy, may more carefully consider and attentiuely vnderstand, that as Clearkes are in life and habit distinguished from secular persons; soe the iuditial proceedinges with Clearkes, are approoued to bee absolutely different from the iudgmentes of the Layetie; and therefore if you desorder these, otherwise then it beecommeth, and (vsurping vnder your power, those thinges which beelong to Iesus Christ) doe at your owne pleasure, ordaine new lawes, for the oppr [...]ssion of Churches, and Christes poore flocke, and bring in also those customes, which (as you tearmed them) beelonged to your Progenitors: your selfe, without all question, Prouerb. 13 will beefore the last terrible Tribunal (which you can no way auoyd) bee in like sorte adiudged, and the same measure, whereby you haue measured others, bee returned vpon you. But least our admonitions may seeme tedious and rigorous to the eares of your excellency, remember how it is written, that the father chastiseth the sonne whom hee loueth, knoweing assuredly, that with how much more ferrent charity wee loue you in our lord, and by how much more often and carefully wee call to mind the monuments of your most sincere deuotion many ways, and most royally heeretofore shewed to vs and the Church of God; soe much the more earnestly wishing, with the deuoted [Page 34] affections of our harte, your spiritual, and eternal saluation, wee signifie these vnto your vnderstanding. For if the last iudgment bee any ways terrible to you, or the crowne of rewards in the eternal rest, delightfull, it is not only beeseeming, but also necessarie for your Maiestie to reuerence truth (which is God himselfe) and also Iustice, to giue euery man his right, to leaue to the managing of Ecclesiastical persons, all matters Ecclesiastical, especially criminal, which spring from the breach of faith or periury; to yeeld to men of the Church, the decisiō of causes concerning goods and posessions of Churches, and not to confound the kingdome with the preisthood: for if you would bestowe on the reliefe of the poore, or other workes of Charity, all the substance, which by such compulsions you wrest & wring from the treasures of the Church, vnto your owne vse, you should doe no more acceptable an acte, in the sight of God, then if you should, rob one Altar to garnish an other, or crucify Peeter to saue Paule from death; for you ought to recount, and for an exemple of such proceeding, to set before your eyes: how king Saul, because after the ouerthrowe of Amelech, Lib 1. Reg. cap 14. hee would, contrary to the precept of God, reserue the prey, when as for his owne excuse, hee pretended to retaine the same for sacrifice, was as a reprobate, reiected by our Lord, and hee yet liuing, another chosen vnto his honor, and kingly dignity. Soe whom the sinnes of the people made a gouernor, his owne off [...]nces depriued of the kingdomes gouerment. And it is conuenient for your soules health to call to minde how alsoe King Ozias, 2. Par. cap. 26. whilst hee would offer incense, and vsurpe to himselfe the office of a priest, was by the iust iudgment of God strooke with a leprosie.
If truly you attribute your happie successes to your owne forces, and power, and not to Almighty God: and doe not withdrawe your minde, and attemptes from oppressing Ecclesiastical persones, and Churches: hee doubtles wh [...] [Page 35] placed you in gouerment ouer others, and ordeyned you a great prince in this world, for ruling, and not for the wrongfull depression of his faithfull people, will with a greiuous vsury, demand of you againe the talentes committed to your charge, and as it is written of Roboam the sonne of Salomon, (who for his fathers offence, 3. Reg 14. was cast out from his kingdome) will transferrre, and poure out vpon the heires, the vengeance of the fathers sinne. Harken not therefore to euery ones wicked suggestions, nor open your eares to those, who murmur euer mischeifes into your head: but diligently attend those thinges which are expedient for saluation, and endeauour to rule, and commodiously to gouerne your kingdome, according as our lord hath appointed you, to the honor of God, and the peace & tranquillity of his Chrch, for which only end you haue receiued into your hand the reynes of the realme. That hee, by whom kings raigne, & whose seruice is a kingdome, may preserue to you & your heires a temporal kingdome, & after the expiration thereof, an eternal one without end.
But what Thomas in this passage of time, beefore hee fledd into France, with patience endured, is to bee declared out of the afore-mentioned Authors: for thus is it related.
The kinge in the meane while vnderstood, that my Lord of Canterbury, would flie off from that promise, especially in that hee openly gaynesayd, to seale the deede of those conditions, in sorte as beefore was appointed. Whereupon the Prince, inraged more with fury, beegan to afflicte my lord of Canterbury with more greeuous and exquisite vexations; soe far forth as it was apparant to vnderstanding men, that his bloud and life was thirsted after. Wherefore Thomas, fearing that, determined to flie the Realme, and comming [Page 36] to his Mannor called Aluter, while all the rest were a sleepe, accompanyd only with two, with drewe himselfe secretly; and getting a ship, committed himselfe to the seas; but long outwearyd with a contrary winde, returning backe, hee hardly recouered early in the morning the land againe with hazard of his life. In the end his departure beeing knowne; his familiars and seruantes were thereupon seuerally dispersed. Yet one of them boulder then the rest comming to Canterbury, S Thomas [...]tt [...]mp [...]ing [...] passe aw [...] by seas [...] contrary [...]indes [...]en backe againe. retyred himselfe the next night, into the Bishoppes owne chamber, and supper being ended, began carefully, with sorrowe to lament the misfortunes and afflictions of his lord; and hauing thus spent the beeginning of the night desirous to take his rest, Goe (quoth hee to his Boy) and shutt the vttermost dore of the hall, to the end wee may sleepe more securely; this seruant therefore comming thither with a candle lighted, the dore beeing open, sawe my lord of Canterbury sitt alone in a corner, terrifyd with which specctacle, hee ran away, imagining hee beheld a vision, and telling his Master thereof, this Clearke, whom hee serued, would in no case belieue it, vntill himselfe made tryal of the truth, and comming found all in sorte a foresayde. My lord of Canterbury calling together some of his brethren of Canterbury Church, declared to them what had beefallen him, and how as yet it was not Godes pleasure he should departe, and beeing refreshed with a light supper, rested. The next morning came the kinges officers to confiscate the whole estate of the Archbishop as a fugitiue; but hearing and seeing hee was present, confounded they helde theire peace.
The kinge therfore, with a more heauy hand, increased the afflictions of my lord of Canterbury; causing him to bee peremptorily cyted,, for answering his [Page 37] Maiestie at a certayne day, concerning matters, The Parliament at North-Hampton. to bee obiected against him. The tyme being come, they who were summoned, assembled, and a Parliament beeing helde at North-Hamptonne, my lord is called to answer his cause. The Archbishop together with the rest of the Bishops, beeing sate and sequestred in a roome a parte, the dores, by the Kings commandemēt, beeing shutt, so as there could be no passage forth; it was on his Majesties beehalfe alleaged against him, that in the tyme of his Chancellorship, hauing many vacancyes of Bishopprickes, and Abbeys, with great rentes, for very many yeeres, in his handes, hee neuer gaue vp his accompt for the same, which now the kinge required of him. Heereunto sayd the Archbishop: wee will consult with our counsell, and answer by aduice.
While, therefore, The opinions of the Bishoppes. they remayned all in deepe silence, Gilbert Bishop of London, Deane of the Church of Canterbury, and in that respecte, cheefest of his Councell in authority, next vnder the Archbishop, my lord of Canterbury requiring him to speake, sayd: if (father) you consider, frō whence the king hath exalted you, what hee hath beestowed on you, and weygh alsoe the malice of these tymes, how miserable a reigne you haue prepared for the Catholike Church, and vs, by withstandinge the kinge heerein; you ought not only to yeelde him the Archbishoppricke of Canterbury, but also the same, were it tenne tymes better. And if perchance hee could but seein you that humility, hee would restore you whatsoeuer you haue lost. Wee sufficiently perceaue (quoth my lord of Canterbury) what you haue aduisedly answered.
Then Henry Bishop of Winchester sayd. This manner of Counsell, beeing absolutely pernicious to the Catholicke Church, byndeth and confoundeth vs [Page 38] all: because if our Archbishop and Primate of England should leaue vs such an example, as that euery Bishop should yeelde and forsake at the becke and threatning of his Prince, his authority ād care ouer the soules committed to his charge, what will bee then afterwardes the state of the Churches, but only this, that nothing will bee ordered according to law, but all will be confounded as the king listeth, and such as the Preist, such will bee the people.
Next Hilary Bishop of Chichester, a man glorious in wordes, adding his opinion, sayd: if this instant time, and the troubles of the Catholike Church, did not require at our handes an other course, wee ought doubtlesse, to assent to your sentence: But when the authority of the Cannons staggereth, wee ought very much to withdrawe the rigor of seuerity, that sweete dispensatiō may profit there, where sharpe correctiō may otherwise destroy; wherefore I thinke wee ought to yeeld to the kinges pleasure, yet only but for a tyme; least otherwise wee run on rashly to decree that, whereupon may followe a more greeuous retractation not without confusion.
Afterwardes the Bishop of Lincolne, a man truly simple, and of lesse discretion, sayd: it is apparant they seeke the life and blood of this man, and of necessity one of these must followe, that hee must suffer eyther in his Archbishoppricke, or in his life; now what fruite hee can reape of his Archbishoppricke, if hee loseth his life therefore, I see not.
But Bartholomewe Bishop of Excester spoake thus: it is playne that these dayes are euill; wherefore if wee may vnder the shadowe of dissimulation, auoyd the force of this tempest without hurte or losse, it were especially to bee procured: neither can wee easily attayne thereunto, vnlesse there bee a great relaxation of seuerity; the instance of this tyme requireth it, [Page 39] cheefely since this persecution is not generall, but particular. It is better therefore, one head should in parte bee subiect to danger, then the whole Church of England exposed to an ineuitable perill.
Roger the Bishop of Worcester, beeing also asked his opinion, soe tempered his answer, as in his very negatiue, hee made apparant what his minde was. In this (quoth hee) I will giue no aduice, 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 conuentikl [...]. 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 [Page 40] 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 intāgle his father. The coūsell 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, [Page 41] 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 sēt to cōmand him more sharpely and perēptorily 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 insui [...]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 [Page 40] [...] [Page 41] [...] [Page 42] 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 cōmend to God. Yea (answered Londō) 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 Lō don) withdrewe himselfe speedily into his priuy chāber, Canterbury taking his place on the one syde, a parte, with some very few his followers: the Bishoppes sate on the cōtrary 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 confidēt 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 [Page 43] 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, [Page 44] 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 theyre 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, [Page 45] 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 [Page 46] 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 endeauour for her deliuery. Vnlesse perchance you will imagin hee leaueth the shipp, who entreth the Cock-boate to drawe her into the hauen. This and much more in the beehalfe of saint Thomas, [Page 47] wryteth his defendant Iohn of Salisbury. But heare what the King of England did, Cod Vatis. lib 1 epistola 23. vpon the reporte of his departure. Henry thus deluded, hearing by some, that saint Thomas was escaped by flight, published his Edictes in this sorte against him, and the Clearkes his followers. Henry King of England to the seuerall Bishoppes ordayned in England. Yee are not Ignorant in what euill sorte Thomas, Archbisoppe of Canterbury, hath proceeded against mee, and my kindome, and in what bad manner, hee is departed: And therefore I cōmand yee, none of his Clearkes, who after that his flight accompanyd him, not any other Clearkes, who derogated from the honor of mee, and the honor of my kingdome, receaue any renttes beelonging to them, in your Bishoppickes, otherwise then by my permission; nor haue any assistance, or aduice from yee. Hee set out also an other proclamation, for sequestring the reuenewes of the Archbishoppricke of Canterbury into the kinges handes. Likewise hee published other decrees, signifyed to S. Thomas, from his friend by wryting in these wordes.
Please i [...] you to vnderstand, Ibid epist. 15 ibid. ep 14. Lawes on asted after the flight of S. Thamas. that this is the tenor of the commissions sent by King Henry, into England: to wit: That euery hauen, bee most carefully guarded, least any letters of interdiction bee any way brought into the land: and if any Reguler person bringeth them in let his feete bee cut of: if hee bee a Clearke, let him lose his eyes and priuy members: if a laye man, let him bee hanged: If a Leper, let him be burned: and if any Bishop, for dread of this interdictiō, will trauell out of the realme, let him cary nothing with him beesides his staffe. It is also his will, that all schollers, bee compelled to returne into their countrey, or else to bee depriued of their Benefices; and they that stay, shall remayne without euer hope of returne: likewise for those Priests who refuse to sing, let [Page 48] them lose their priuy partes. And let all who rebell, bee depriued of their Benefices. Thomas in the meane while hauing suffered this banishment, sent these letters to Pope Alexander, which Roger in his Chronickes of England, recyteth the yeere following, yet truly appertayning to this present, S Thomas concerning hi [...] appeal to the Pope. written with these wordes.
I flye for refuge (most holy father) vnto your audience, that you who with soe greate a hazard of your selfe, haue rescued the Churches liberty; may now consider the only, or cheifest cause, of the persecution of my selfe, who haue followed your example. For I greeued to see the state of the Church by litle and litle to perish, and her lawes infringed, by the Auarice of Princes; and thought this danger of sicknes was to bee preuented: and by how much I knewe my selfe more bound to that lord of myne, vnto whom, next vnder God, I am most ingaged, soe much the more securely, I supposed his vniust attemptes were to bee resisted; vntill they preuayled, who clowded from mee the cleere beames of his fauor. Afterwardes (as it is accustomed with Princes) they raysed against mee slanders, and false accusations, whereby they might prosecute mee; and I rather chose banishment, then to yeelde to iniustice: and to multiplye these mischeifes, I was as a laye man, called beefore the King, to mak [...] satisfaction; and where I hoped, in my resistance, for most assistance, there was I especially deceaued: for I found my lordes, and fellowe brethren the Bishoppes prepared, at the pleasure of the Courtiers, to punish mee. Thus allmost strangled with the inuasions of soe many, I haue fled for succour, to the audience of your Holines, who neglecteth not those, who are plunged in extremityes, and vnder whom I stand ready to make good, that I am nether to bee iudged there, nor by them: for what is this else (father) then to diminish, and withdrawe from you, the authority of your lawes? yea what else, then to submit spirituall Power, [Page 49] to temporal iurisdiction? this once suffered, would open an example to many, and therefore I iudged, Christ fauoreth Caesar, not a tia tirant. it was with more constancy to bee withstood; because the headlong way to doe hurte, is to see but a weake resistance. But they will say: Those thinges are to bee giuen to Caesar which are Caesars: yet allthough in many matters the king is to bee obeyed, hee is neuerthelesse not to bee obeyed in those, by which hee ceaseth to bee a king: for such appertayne not to Caesar, but to a Tyrant: wherein the Bishoppes, if not for my sake, yet for their owne, should haue resisted him. For if the last iudgment is reserued for him, who hath power to iudge both body, and soule: shall the highest Tribunal among men, bee attributed to him, who iudgeth according to his owne sense? if these Bishoppes mayntaine the parte of iustice, why did they assault mee? why doe they reproue mee, for appealing vnto him, to auoyde whose determination of controuersyes, is either vnlawfull or not expedient? wherefore they haue vniustly accused mee, or distrusted of your iustice: for otherwise, it were a double confusion to mee, to bee conuicted before your Holines. And haue I deserued persecution at their handes, for whose cause, I defended the bullwarke, against soe greate a battery, and had won the victory, if only they would haue assisted? but in all case is the head, beeing left destitute by the members for how would it bee, if the eyes, should vse the tongue against th [...] head? if they had well foreseene it, they deuis [...]d but mischeefe, to their owne confusion; and our principall aduersaryes abused their assistance, to bring them into slauery.
Because they haue accomplished all this, How many wayes the Bishoppes of England offended against S. Thomas. vpon soe greate a malice, that to vndoe mee, they would withall ouerthrowe themselues: they haue herein neglected spirituall treasures for temporall trifles: and fayled in the end of both. Againe what an offence was it, that when I cryed out against this iniustice, and appealed to your audience, [Page 50] they durst, in iudgment comdemne mee their father? what if they conspire, with the Prince our aduersary, against the whole Catholicke Church? and truly (most holy father) you might haue bin suspitious thereof. Yet wille they say they were bounde to their king, as their temporal lord: but, to him in their bodyes, to mee in their soules; and to whom could they bee more obliged, then to themselues? Is it not better to lose corporall, then spiritual riches? But they will againe reply: the king was not, in this perilous tyme, to bee prouoked. O how subtilly doe they argue for their owne slauery? yea they prouoke him, who, by their excesses, giue winges to his will and pleasure. For they might haue bin quiet, had they not to quietly 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 [Page 51] 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 gouermēt.
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) [Page 52] 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 hādled [Page 53] 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, beecōmeth soe bad a prophet of Pope Alexāders 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 Bishoppe [...] of England [...] hainst Saint Thomas. addressed from the keng to Pope Alexāder, by the Archbishops ād Bishops of Englād, who were all admitted to publicke audiēce; wherein the Cōsistory, first of thē all the Bishop of Lō 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 exāple of manners; ād 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 [Page 54] 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 dest [...]uction of himselfe, and his brethren: and had but our assent fauored his designes, the matter it selfe had now fallen out more fouly, But in respect hee could not (as hee ought not) compell vs, to condescend to his intended purpose; hee attempted to retorte the blame of his rash presumption, on my lord the king, on vs, yea on the whole nation: wherefore to giue a coulor to the infaming of our mutuall brotherhood, no man enforcing him, no man threatening him, hee fled the land, Proue [...]b. 27. according to that saying: the wicked hath fled and no man persecuted him. Heere my Lord the Pope interuping him, sayd. Forbeare (Brother:) and London answered: I will (my Lord) forbeare him. Wherunto his Holynes replyed. I bid you not forbeare him, but forb [...]are to wrong your selfe. At the sound of this Apostolicall trumpet, Londons senses were soe amaysed by Allmighty God, as hee could not after pronounce one word.
Wherefore Hilarie Bishop of Chichester, floweing in eloqu [...]nce, more confident of his Rhetoricke then of the truth and honesty of his cause (as appeared by the sequel) pursued the matter, saying: My lord and father, it beehoueth your Holines, speedily to reduce to the orderly state of peace and concord, wha [...]soeuer is disorderly landled to the destruction of the vniuersall body: least [...] such immoderate presumption may produce with the ouerthrowe of many, the scysme also of the whole Catholike Church▪ [...]hi [...]h my lo [...]d of Canterbury full little consid [...]e [...]h, while leauing all grauer aduice, hee buildeth only on his owne braine, that thereby hee may rayse more turbulent stormes and anxietyes to himselfe and his, the king and kingdome, the people and Cleargie: and truly in a [Page 55] man of his eminent authority, this was not seemely, neither was it opportune; neither can it heereafter at any time bee euer opportune. Soe gaiely, Hylary of Chichester played the Grammarian with his opportune, adding moreouer: neither yet was it opportune to his Cleagie (were they well aduised) to yeeld in such a case assent vnto him. Heareing therefore this gallant Grammarian soe leape from porte to porte, by often iterating opportune, they could no longer abstayne from laughter, among whom one breaking out, sayd: Now Sir at length you are ill arriued in the porte. At which word our Lord soe abashed the Prelate, as presently hee beecame silent and dumbe. The Archbishope of Yorke seeing them both soe foyled before him, endeauored to abate the fury of his minde, and in few wordes only taxed the improuidence of the Archbishop; and they in like sorte, who discoursed afterwardes, whom for breuity I heere ouerpasse; yet ioyning all finally in this, they beesought that his Holines would make a Legate a latere: and send him into England to vnderstand the busines beetweene the king and the Archbishop, whom they would needes haue returned backe into the same land, there to receaue his iudgment: which allthough they instātly intreated, yea and partly threatened that otherwise the king would breake out into scysme; the Pope neuerthelesse would not yeelde to deliuer vp into their handes innocent Thomas, but that they should expect his Sommons into that Courte, there to haue his cause before his Holines determined; whereunto they refused to agree, and with disdayne departed, without receauing his Apostolicall benediction. There is among other epistles to bee seene the Libell farced with poyson, which these Prelates offered vp to Pope Alexander against S. Thomas.
S. Thomas came afterwardes vnto his Holines, who (as saith Alane in Quadrilogus) was entertayned coldly by the Cardinalles, but admitted freely to my Lord the Popes presence, who receaued him with a most kind, and fatherly affection, casting a tender compassion on his manifould afflictions, and his long pilgrimage, soe dangerous, troublesome, and tedious; and while these matters were thus to & fro discoursed, hee was at the length cōmanded to lay, the next day, open, beefore his brethren, the causes of his banishment. wherefore on the morrowe, while it was questioned amōg his associates, which of them should first vnfould the cause, euery one pretending excuses, the bulke of this busines fell on the Archbishop himselfe. Instructed therefore by God, allthough of himselfe absolutely vnprouided, while placed next vnder my lord the Pope, hee would for reuerence haue rysen; beeing commanded to sit dow againe, and soe to pleade his cause, hee thus beegan: Although not abounding in wisedome, yet are wee not soe vndiscreete, as for a trifle, to leaue the king of England, S. Thomas pleadetae his cause in the Consistory. his Courte, and commodityes, for if wee would, in all respectes, submet our selues vnto his pleasure, there is not hee within his dominions or kingdome, who would refuse to bee obedient to our will; and during the tyme that vnder this condition wee serued his turnes, what was there that answered not our wished desires? But after wee entred another course of proceedinge, thorough the dewe remembrance of the profession and obedience, which for the seruice of God wee haue vndertaken, his former affection hee bore vs, beegan assuredly to wax cold. And yet truly, if wee would flye backe from our intended purpose; wee neede not the intercession of any for recouery of his fauour: but because the Church of Canterbury, hath bin accustomed in tymes past to bee the Sun of the west, and her brightes [Page 57] in this our age, is very much clowded; wee had rather in thee name of God, suffer any torments, yea thousand seuerall deathes, if soe many were offerred vs, then euer with dissimulation to indure the afflictions, which at this instant shee sustayneth. And that wee may not seeme with curiosity, or a pretence of vayne glory, to haue beegun this our entreprise, it is conuenient that with an eye-witnessing testimony, the effecte bee made apparant.
And producing the writinges contayneing the customes, the cause of this contention, with teares hee sayd; Loe heere, what lawes the King of England ordayned, The rroyal customes of the kingdome of England examined in the Consistorie. against the liberty of the Catholike Church! Bee iudges your selues, if it bee lawfull to dissemble in matters of this moment, without the losse of a mans soule. Which once heard, they were all moued to the very effusion of teares; neither yet could they contayne themselues, who before were to their power vehement on the contrary parte; all with one voyce praysing our Lord, for reseruing yet one person to himselfe, who durst in this tempest of persecution, stand in defence of his holy Church: and they who seemed before to bee, in this controuersie deuided, now consented in this one opinion, that in the person of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the vniuersall Church was at this tyme to bee succoured. But my lord the Pope hauing read and often perused, and with greate diligence and attention heard and considered seuerally these customes; beeing exceedingly moued, instantly burst out into anger against the Archbishop reprouing him with sharpe reprehension; for that yeelding an assent to these, vnworthie the name of customes, but truly tyrannical vsurpations, hee (as hee there confessed) together with the other Bishops, had renounced their preistly dignity: and cast the Church into bondage, pronouncing: they rather ought to haue vndergone all [Page 58] 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, aliàs 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 [Page 60] 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 [Page 61] 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 [Page 62] 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 Dominiō shall fall voyd or ought to be in his Maiesties hādes, hee shall receaue all their rentes and reuenues, as those of his owne royall dedemeanes, and when time commeth, to prouide princi [...]all persons of the Church; and the election ought to bee made in his owne chappel by his royall assent and the counsell [Page 63] 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 as he bee consecrated. This hee condemned.
13. If any noble-mā of the kingdome, shall powerfully ouerbeare any Archbishop, Bishop or Archdeacon in matter of iustice, so as hee cannot obtaine the right beelonging to him or his, the king ought to make him haue his owne according to iustice: And if any one will ouerbeare our Lord the king in clayming his right, the Archbishops, Bishops and Archdeacons ought to procure his Maiesties iustice, that his aduersary may satisfy our Lord the king. This hee tollerated.
14. When any shall forfeit their chattells vnto the king, no Church nor Church-yeard ought to detaine them, contrary to his Maiesties iustice; beecause bee they found in Churches, or otherwise, all is one, they are his Maiesties. This hee tollerated.
15. Pleadinges in matter of debt, which are grounded vpon oath, as well as others which are without oathe, shall bee handled in the king's court. This hee condemned. I thinke beecause periury was punished in the spirituall courte.
[Page 64]16. The sonnes of Villanes, ought not to take holy orders, without assent of their Lordes, of whose landes they are knowne to bee natiues. This hee tollerated.
How the Pope proceeded with S. ThomasWhich beeing read, and considered, Pope Alexander (as beefore) beeing very much troubled, turning himselfe to the Archbishop vsed these wordes: Allthough, brother, the offence of you and your associate Bishoppes bee great, and enormious; yet ought wee to proceede more mildly with you, who albeeit (as you confesse) haue fallen, yet presently after, with rising agayne, endeauored to repaire your ruine, and by reason thereof endured many greeuous, and terrible wronges; and presently vpon your fall (remayning as yet in England) did seeke, and deserue from vs, as proceeding from our clemency, the benefit of Absolution; whereupon (as it is conuenient) wee pardon your offence, to the end you, in this your aduersity, may soe much the more fully and effectually feele the consolation, and grace of our clemency, aboue other Ecclesiasticall Persons; by how much the more you haue lost worldly commoditys, and sustayned greater afflictions, for the liberty of the Church, your faith, and deuotion towardes vs. And thus the Apostolicke Prelate first rebukeing with a fatherly seuerity, and then recomforting, with the sweetenes of a motherly consolation, dismissed for that time the Archbishop. Soe is the matter there discribed. But an other speech, far differing from this heere recyted, and supposed to bee made by sainct Thomas to Pope Alexander, is rehearsed in the fore mentioned volume of Epistles. Lib. 1. Epist. 30. Then our Author preceedeth.
The morrow after, the Archbishop beeing present with my Lord the Pope, and the Cardinalls, sittting [Page 65] in a withdrawing chamber, vsed these wordes: My fathers and lordes, S. Thomas resigneth his Archbishopprick before the Pope. it is vnlawfull for a man to speake vntruly any where, much more before God, and in your presence: wherefore with teares I confesse, that my miserable offence, was the originall of these agreeuances, to the Church of England. I ascended into the fould of Christ, but not by the true dore, as a person not called by Cannonicall election but intruded by the terror of publick authority; and although I vndertooke this burden against my minde, neuerthelesse the will of man, and not of God induced mee thereunto. What wonder then, if thinges succeeded contrary to my expectation? But if I had vpon the kinges threateninges (as my associate Bishoppes instantly persuaded mee) renounced at the Princes pleasure, and desire, the prerogatiue of the Episcopal power soe granted mee, I had left to the Catholike Church a pernicious example. I differred it therefore, vntill I came before your presence; but now acknowledging myne entrāce not to bee Cannonicall, and fearing therefore my departure will fall out to bee farre worser, perceauing also my ability too weake for vndergoeing soe great a charge, least I proue to bee preferred ouer my flocke for their ruine, ouer whom I am placed (howsoeuer) for a Pastor, into your handes (ô holy father) into your handes, I say, I resigne the Archbishoppricke of Canterbury. And pulling withall his ring from his finger, hee humbly beesought a fit Bishop might bee prouided, worthie of that Church, in reguard that hee hauing the name of a Pastor, proformed not the office of a Pastor. And finishing his speech, he inforced my Lord the Pope and all present, to like sorrowe; yea what man hearing this, can abstayne from lamentation.
The Archbishop afterwardes departing asyde, together [Page 66] with his followers, who were scandalized at his wordes, beecause in reguard heereof, they began to dispaire; My lord the Pope did heereupon enter into conference with the Cardinalls, the matter beeing on both sides, through sundry opinions, diuersly discussed. Some thought, occasion beeing thus offered, the Kinges indignation might bee more easily appeased, while the Church of Canterbury, by the election of an other Bishop, might bee reconcyled to his fauour, and sainct Thomas otherwise prouided with more competent meanes. These were the Pharisees (soe the Author termeth the aduersaryes of S. Thomas) Others, whose eyes were opened, iudged otherwise, saying: That if hee, who, for defence of the Churches liberty, exposed to imminent hazard, and danger, not only his riches, and glory, with dignity and authority, but also his very life, should at the kinges pleasure bee depriued of his right, as hee should bee made a patterne to others in like case for resisting of Princes, if the tytle of his iuste cause were mayntayned intire; soe on the other side, were hee suffered to fall, all other Bishopes would fall after him, and none in time to come dare to resist the power of willfull Princes, whereby the state of the Church would stagger, and the Popes authority perish; and therefore, say they, it is expedient that this man (although vnwilling) should bee restored to his sea, and hee, who fighteth for vs, by all meanes succoured. This sentence was approued by all, the Pharisies only excepted.
The Pope restoreth to S. Thomas his resigned Archbishoppricke.Saint Thomas with his followers beeing called in, my Lord the Pope thus deliuered his sentence. Now at length (Brother) appeareth to vs, the zeale you haue had, and doe as yet still continew for the house of our Lord; with how sincere a conscience, you haue opposed your selfe, as a bullwarke against her aduersaries; [Page 67] how pure a confession you haue made, of your entry into your function, making a voluntarie resignation, whereby the fault of the offence may, and ought to bee purged. Now may you securely receaue an w from our handes, the charge of your Pontifi [...]all authority, wee adiudging you to bee intirely restored, and out of all doubt, worthily, whom wee knowe to bee a man approoued, with manifold kindes of temptations, a person prouident and discreete, beeloued of God and man, faithfull in all thinges to vs, and the sacred Church of Rome: And as you haue bin made a partaker, and vndeuided associate, in our persecution, soe, by Gods grace, can wee neuer in any thing bee wanting to you, as long as 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 [Page 68] 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 [Page 69] 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 [Page 70] 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 [Page 71] 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 [Page 72] and magnificent almes, and to this day the Church of 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; [Page 73] 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 [Page 74] 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 [Page 75] 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 feared, least the incensed bee thereuppon faer more inraged. What shall I therefore doe? speake? Or hold my peace? since on euery side danger menaceth mee. But beecause it is safer, to fall into the indignation of man, then into the handes of our liuing Lord, beeing confident in the mercy of the highest, in whose handes are [Page 76] the heartes of Kinges, Daniel. 13. inclining them to what side be [...] lifteth (and I wish to the better) I will speake to my Lord, since I haue once beegun; for many times, benefitts are prepared euen for the vnwilling, especially when wee aduise them rather for their saftie then pleasure. His admonition concerning the estate of the Church. In your realme is held captiue the daughter Sion, the spouse of the mightie king is oppressed by many, beeing afflicted by those, who haue long time hated her: and of whom shee rather should bee honoured then aggreeued, especially of your selfe: weyghing therefore seriously in your owne conscience, the singular benefitts which God hath beestowed on you in the first entrance of your raigne, in the midst thereof, and euen allmost to this very day, loose now her bandes, and suffer her to rule together with her spouse, that God may bountifully blesse you, your kingdome instantly recouer his former power, obloquie bee washed away from your generation, and singular peace flourish in your dayes. Giue credit to mee (most beeloued Lord most renowned Prince) for our Lord with patience repayeth, with longanimity expecteth, but with terror reuengeth. Listen to mee and doe well, otherwise ought you to dread (which God forbid) least the Amighty beegirt with his swoard on his thigh, and come in a strange hand, with a huge army to deliuer his spouse (not without greeuous punishment) from her oppression, and seruitude of tribulation; but if you will harken vnto mee (beecause our Lord hath at this instant most vrgent occasion, to make tryall of your obsequious seruice, as of his couragious souldier) God will poure out his benefittes on you, adding glory, to the posterity of your sonnes and daughters, in long induring ages. Otherwise I feare (which God forbid) that the swoard shall neuer departe from your family, vntill hee commeth, who shall fully reuenge the iniury offered him, and his, beeing God Almighty himselfe; like to the plague which left not the house of Solomon, from whom (although God made [Page 77] choyse of him, ād gaue him that abundance of wisedome ād peace, as it was sayd of all, This is the sōne of wisedome, and peace: yet beecause hee flew backe from the wayes of our Lord, and walked in iniquity vpon iniquity) God rent his kingdome, and gaue it to his seruant especially in reguard hee sought not instantly, after his sinne, to appease the wrath of our Lord, like Dauid his father, who presently vpon his offence humbled himselfe to God, corrected his fault, beesought mercy, and obtayned pardon. I would to Almighty God, that you likewise through the grace of our Lord, would imitate his example. And thus much for the present I write, the rest I leaue to the relation of this bearer, a man Religious, and of great estimation, and, as I suppose, your faithfull seruant, vnto whom I humbly beeseech you (if it pleaseth your Maiestie) that you will confidently giue credit, although I rather desire, with your royall fauour, to speake with your selfe in presence. God grant my Lord and king now and euer well to fare.
Thus much to the king, sending also by the same messinger, these letters worthie your attention to the Bishop of Hereforde,
Thomas by the grace of God, the humble seruante of the Church of Canterbury, to his reuerent brother Robert, The letter of saint Thomas to Robert Bishop of Hereford. by the same grace, Bishope of Hereforde sendeth greeting, and wisheth him in all thinges well to doe.
If my letter, had stirred vp in your Brotherhood, a carefull diligence, I had not found you slougthfull in your affection, or not effectually watchfull for discharging the duty of your vndertaken office. I haue made choyse to bee an abiect, to bee accursed for all, to bee the obloquio of men, and the out cast of the people, to the end, I may not [Page 78] see the calamityes of the Saintes, and rather then to dissemble the iniurys of our nation; expecting if perchance, any one among yee, beeing zealous of the law of God, and thirsting the liberty of the Church, would come after, and ioyne with mee, that wee might not yeeld hornes of power to offendors: and beehould, you, who (as I beeleiued) was beestowed on mee by God, that together with mee, might build, pull downe, and plant, beegin to mee with conuerting your spurre of zeale, to ruine, and your comforte to despaire, preaching humiliation, nay deiection, and denouncing goodnes, when on all sides there is nothing left, but trouble to the destruction of the Church of God, and of his cleargie; yea euen at such time, when as you ought cheifely to confirme with constācy the wauering mynde, and indure with mee the combate, for defence of the patrimony of the crucify'd, for repressing, and subduing the enemyes of the Church, to sound into myne eares, to breath into my head, that I should intreate more instantly, reproue more sharply, rebuke more seuerely, and if prechance they listen not to mee, then truly to cry out to mee Arise. Why doe you sleepe Plucke out the swoard of sainct Peeter, reuenge the blood of the seruantes of Christ, which is poured forth with the iniurys of the Church, that in you and vs are dayly sustained. Is it cleane slipt out of your memory, with how greate iniuries I was afflicted, with what reproches abused, when in my person Christ was againe, before the Tribunal of a Prince, adiuged? I call not againe to minde, the wrong offered to myne owne person, allthough the same was also in truth to the Church: Marke you more diligently, consider deepely in your harte, what was done beefore my departure out of the land; what in my departure, and what after my departure, yea what is done euery day in the realme against the Church of God & his cleargie? with what conscience can these things bee dissembled by you, [Page 79] who was expected to bee a Redeemer of Israel? a champion, to deliuer the Church out of bondage? And now beecause you haue bin soe long silent, I poure out my plaintes against you. O my eldest sonne! I feare an other will step in your place, to beereaue you of your inheritance, yea win from you (which God forbid) the blessing of an heire. But allthough hetherto you haue rested silent, recouer now your courage againe my dearest sonne! Cry out, and cease not: Lift vp your voyce on high against them, darte feare into their heartes, strike into them contrition, force out of them satisfaction, least otherwise, the wrath of God fall downe vpon them, and the whole nation, or (which God forbid) on the mightyst Potentates of the kindome; for the iust reuenge of God, hangeth euen now ouer their heades This I write not to confound 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. 1 [...] [Page 80] thou art the sonne of the prudent, the sonne of anci [...] 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 th [...]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 [Page 81] 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 thē, 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 n [...]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 wh [...]le Church committed to your charge, pray instantly for [...] [Page 82] 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 [...]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 fashōs: 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 darke clowdes of his speech. Thus did saint Thomas write to the Pope. Whereupon, saith Alan, my lord the [Page 83] 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 [Page 84] 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 [Page 85] 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 [Page 86] 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 king of England is confident in the Emperor, ād the captiuity of my Lord the Pope, which the Prophetts of Belial haue tould him.
But whereas the kinges Embassadors did sweare in [Page 87] his Maiesties name to followe the Scysmaticall factiō, 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 [Page 88] of Cardinalls; the letters themselues are not extant [...] 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. [...]. 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 deuotiō 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, ād all other thinges subiect vnto our gouerment, these, and euery one of these, wee acknowledg and professe to bee giuen and bestowed on vs [Page 89] 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 [Page 90] neuer held the Lord Fredericke the Emperour of Ro [...] 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 (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 [...]all appeare [Page 91] 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 [Page 93] 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 [Page 84] mouth, and beeing piously aduertised by his father, [...] absolutly desist from wicked actions, loue God wit [...] a pure harte, respect his Mother the holy Church of R [...]e with his wonted reuerence, and neuer forbid those wh [...] 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 suffered to liue in prosperity, but that hee who exalteth the humble would throw downe with great ruine them (now exalted) from the heygth of their dominion.
But hee accepting most thankfully your fatherly correrection, with a maruaylous temperate mynde and exceeding modesty, did in order answer to euery particular: Affirming first hee neuer alienated his mynd any way from you, nor euer had the least conceyte to that purpose; but as long as you shewed your fatherly fauour to him, hee would affect you as his father, and reuerence and tenderly loue the Church of Rome as his mother, and humbly obey and submitt himselfe to your sacred bee heastes; reseruing [Page 95] euer without impeachment the dignity of himselfe and his kingdome; ād if now for a while past hee hath not respected you with due reuerence, hee alleageth for the reason thereof, that whereas in your necessityes hee did withall his harte, with all his mynd and his most ample power assist your Holines, you did not on the other side giue him correspondence answerable to his desertes, when as afterwardes, hee had by his Embassadors recourse vnto you in his necessityes, but with bushing complayneth that allmost in euery petition hee receaueth repulse at your handes, and yet beeing notwithstanding all this confident of your fatherly grace, which at his pleasure will heare his sonne, hoping and expecting alsoe from you a countenance more calme, hee remayneth with an immoueable constancy in the fidelity (as they call it) of saint Peeter and your selfe; whereupon it followeth, that hee will not any way hinder such as are willing to visite your Holines, neither (as hee assureth vs) hath hee hetherto bin their impediment.
Concerning Appeales, according to the ancient custome of his kingdome, hee challengeth to himselfe an honor and burden, that in cyuill causes none of the Clergie of the realme doe exceede the boundes of the land, vnles first by experience they trye whether by his royal authority and commandement, they may at home obtayne their right, which if they cannot there procure, then may they freely at their pleasures appeale to your holines without any restraint of his Maiestie, wherin if there bee the least preiudice to your lawes or honor, hee promiseth, by Gods assistance out of hand to reforme the same by the Counsell of the whole Church of his kingdome.
For the Emperour, allthough hee knoweth him to bee a Scismaticke, neuerthelesse that hee is excommunicated by your Holines, to this instant hee is ignorant, but if hee vnderstandeth him to bee soe once denounced, and then [Page 96] maketh any vnlawfull league with him or others, hee v [...] dertaketh to reforme the same also by the iudgment and Councell of the Church of his kingdome.
Moreouer hee assureth vs that hee neuer banished out of his kingdome our father the Lord Canterbury; wherefore as hee departed of his owne accorde, soe shall hee bee freely permitted with all peace to returne to his Church, whensoeuer it shall please him; allwayes prouided that in satisfaction to his Maiestie hee will absolutely conserue those dignityes, against which hee now complayneth, notwithstanding hee was formerly sworne to them.
Lastly if any Church or Ecclesiasticall person shall make proofe that they haue sustayned any wrong by him or any of his, hee will bee euer ready according to the iudgment of the whole Church to giue satisfaction. These are the answers wee haue receaued from our Lord the king, and wee wish wee could haue' gott at his handes any thing more ample to haue satisfyed your pleasure; but such as they are, wee thought good to informe your Holines of them, to the end that out of his answers, your discretion may gather, what will bee the conclusion of this busines: For our Lord the king seemeth much to iustify his cause, whilst hee promiseth in all thinges heere recited to submit himselfe to the counsell and iudgment of the Church of his kingdome, and no way at all to hinder (as beefore hath bin sayd) the returne of our father the Lord of Canterbury: whereupon, wee thinke good, humbly to beeseech your Holines, that setting the saying before your eyes: The brused reede hee shall not breake: Isai. 42. and smoakinge flax hee shall not quench: you would bee pleased for a tyme to confine within the boundes of modesty that zeale which is worthely inkindled by the fire of the holy ghost, to reuenge all iniuryes offered to the Church of God, least by pronouncing the sentence of Interdiction, or that last iudgment [Page 97] of excommunication, you suffer thereby the miserable ruine of innumerable Churches, and diuert without recouery as well the king himselfe, as infinite numers of men his followers (which God forbid) from your obedience. For it is better a lymme, bee it maymed, should yet remayne with the heade, then beeing cut off, bee cast away from the body; partes wounded may recouer to bee sounde againe, but beeing once seperated absolutely from the man, cannot returne to their former integrity; diuision breedeth desperation, whilst the labour of the skillfull surgeon cureth, often, a greiuous harte. If therefore it may please you, it is better you should at this instant imploy your trauell for healing this soare (if any hee) then by cutting of the noblest parte of the Church of God to heape far greater troubles, yea more then can bee expressed on the state of Christendome beeing now in such a combustion. For what if your speech cannot as yet fully take, or bee taken, shall wee therefore despaire of the grace of God, beecause in an acceptable tyme it may both take, and bee taken? what? Isai 53. is the hand of our Lord shortned that it cannot saue? Or is his eare hardened that it cannot heare? For that swifte runing speech doth mightely (when it pleaseth) cleane change all thingcs, and granteth to the prayers of the holy euē matters beeyōd expectation: The royal blood knoweth then best to bee ouercome, when it hath ouercome, nor blusheth to yeeld, when it hath vanquished; in meekenes he is to bee mollifyed by admonishmentes, and conquered with patience. What if there ensueth a losse of some temporalityes, either through patience allready vsed, or as yet heereafter to bee practised? Ought wee not to sound a retreate to seuerity, whom otherwise a greate slaughter hangeth ouer the peoples heades? are not many thinges throwne out of the ship into the seas, when cloudes and waues confounded with stormes doe menace death?
Wee speake fondly, but out of an vnfayned charity Admitt this bee the end of the matter, that our Lord of Canterbury together with his losses doth also endure a continuall exile, and England (which God forbid) obeyeth no longer your command; it is neuerthelesse better for a while to forbeare with patience, then with soe greate a zeale to vnsheath the swoard of seuerity. For what, albeeit persecution is not able to separate many of vs from your obedience, some neuerthelesse will not bee manting to bowe their knees to Baal, and without respect of religion or iustice to receaue the Pall of Canterbury from the hand 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 [Page 100] 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 [Page 101] 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) [Page 102] 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 liues, beecause hee is terrible, and who can resiste him? You ought neuer to forget in what state God did first finde you, then how hee promoted, honored, exalted you, how hee blessed you with royal issue, confirmed the throne of your kingdome, and (in despight of all your enemyes) inriched you with ample possessions, in soe much as to this very houre all men with admiration pronounce. This is hee whom our Lord hath chosen; And what shall you yeeld, or what can you render for all these bountyes beestowed by him on you? Will you at their instinct and instance, who persecute aboute you the Church and Ecclesiasticall persons, and haue euer to their power afflicted them, repay euill for good, with oppressions, tribulations, iniuryes, vexations to Churches, and their Cleargy? Are not these the persons of whom our Lord sayth: Who heareth you heareth mee, who contemneth you despiseth mee, who toucheth you, toucheth the aple of myne eye? If truly leauing all you possesse, you take vp your crosse and follow our Lord Iesus Christ, hardly shall you, yea neuer shall you bee found faithfull and gratefull enough to recompense these his benefit [...]s receaued. Search out the Scriptures of such as knowe them and you shall finde, that Saul although chosen by our Lord, 1. Reg. 15. 2. Paral. 20. yet neuertheles beecause hee wandred from his wayes, was punished with the ouerthrowe of himselfe and his family. Ozias also king of Iuda, whose fame was spread both far and wyde, and was soe highly renowned for the many victoryes beestowed on him by our Lord, had to the downefall of his owne destruction his harte so puffed vp in regard that God did at all tymes assist and strengthen him, that contemming the reuerence due to our Lord, hee would needes vsurpe to himselfe a [Page 103] matter no whit appertayning to his office, but only to the preisthoode, which was to offer incense on the altar of our Lord; and therefore was strooken by our Lord with a leprosy, and by the handes of the preistes cast out from the temple of our Lord, and soe remayned till his dying day a foule Leper, in respect whereof hee was banished the house of Allmighty God. In like sorte many other kinges who mightely abounded in riches, beecause they walked aboue themselues in the maruelles of this world, presuming to rebell against our Lord, perished, and in the last gaspe found none of their riches, left in their handes. Moroeuer king Azarias wrongfully intruding himselfe likewise into the preistly office, Reg 15. was punished with a leprosie. 2. Reg 6. Lastly Oza (though not a king) but for touching the Arke of our Lord, and vphoulding it, beeing in danger to fall, by reason of the Oxens stumbling, yet beecause this appertayned not to his charge, but to the offices of the temple, beeing wounded by Gods indignation, fell headlong dead hard by the Arcke of our Lord A king (according to the common prouerbe) chastised by the misfortune of an other, looketh more narrowly to himselfe.
Allmighty God (most deere soueraigne) would, that thinges appertayning to the disposition of the Church, should beelong to preistes and not to secular powers, who if they bee Christians, his deuine pleasure is they should bee subiectes vnto the preistes of his Church: Challenge not therefore to your selfe an others office, or right, neither rayse contention against him, by whom all thinges are ordayned, for feare least yee seeme to fight against the benefitts of him, from whom you receiue your authority. It is not the will of Allmighty God that the Clergie of the [Page 104] Christian religion should bee either ordered or censured by publicke lawes or secular Princes, but by Bishpps and priestes: Christian kinges ought to submitt the excecution of their designes to Ecclesiasticall Pastors, and not preferre their customes, beefore them. For it is written that none ought to pronounce iudgment against preistes, but the Church, nor doth it beelong to temporall lawes to giue sentence ouer such. Christian Princes were wont to obey the Canons of the Church, and not to ouerpoyse with their power Ecclesiasticall Constitutions: to humble their crowned heades vnto their Bishoppes, not to determyne ouer their Bishoppes; for two states there are, in which doth principally consist this worlds gouerment, the Bishoppes sacred authority, and the kingly power, wherein the worthynes of preisthood is of farr greater weyght, beecause they must in the day of iudgment render an accompt of kinges themselues. Yee ought truly to knowe, that yee are bound to depend on their iudgmentes, and not to haue them reduced to your wills. For many Bishoppes haue excommunicated some kinges, others Emperors, and if you would knowe any particulers concerning the persons of these Princes: Innocentius excommunicated the Emperor Arcadius beecause hee consented to haue saint Iohn Chrisostome banished out of his Sea. Saint Ambrose for one fault, which in the eyes of other preistes appeared not so heynous, excommunicated and cast out of the Church the Emperor Theodosius the great, who hauing made condigne satisfaction obtayned absolution. And many others such like are to this purpose. 2. Reg. 12. Dauid also hauing committed adultery and murder, Nathan the Prophet was sent to him by God to reproue and correct him; admonished hee was, and soone amended, for the king, laying asyde his royall Diadem, and casting away his Imperiall Maiesty, was not ashamed to humble himselfe beefore the face of the Prophet, to confesse his synne and craue pardon [Page 105] for his offence; what shall I say more? conducted by pennance, hee beesought mercy, and obtayned forgiuenes: Bee it so with you (o deerest beeloued sonne, most renowned king, most honored Lord) according to the example of most excellent Dauid, that most godly king, of whom our Lord sayd: 1 Reg. 13. I haue found a man according to myne owne harte. Bee you in like sorce with a contrite and humble hart conuerted to our Lord God, and doe seuere pennance for your sund [...]y excesses: for you haue fallē downe headlong and erred in many thinges which as yet I conceale, expecting, if soe bee it our Lord will inspire you, so as you may say with the Prophet: Haue mercy on mee (ô God) according to thy great mercy, Psal 24.50 Psalm. 33. beecause I haue much offended thee, and committed sin in thy sight; for God is at hand to them who are righteous of harte, and will saue the humble in spiritt.
Thus for this tyme (my Lord) I write vnto you, suppressing the rest in silence; vntill I see whether my speech may fasten on you, and bring forth of you fruites worthy of pennance, that I may heare by the reporte of others, and congratulate with them who shall tell mee; your sonne and king was dead but is reuiued; was lost, but is found againe. If soe bee that you will not heare mee who was accustomed to pray for you with abundance of teares and exceeding sighes beefore the Maiestie of the body of Christ; I will assuredly in 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, [Page 106] 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, [Page 107] 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.
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 [Page 108] 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 [Page 109] 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 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 [Page 110] 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.
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 [Page 111] 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 [Page 112] 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 [Page 113] 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 same sealed vp to such Messingers as shall bee designed for that purpose. And withall commanded to send or deliuer the letters of the sayd Legantyne authority together with the letters of the Archbishop to sundry Bishoppes according to their seuerall directions, and not to omitt this, vnder payne of infringing the integrity of our state and order.
Prostrate therefore in harte wee humbly beeseeche at the feete of your Maiestie that you will not, in regard of the weighty affaires beelonging to the charge of your kingdome neglect to consyder of vs, but to prouide out of your princely piety soe for vs, as wee bee not to our eternall infamy throwne from all to nothing, which you may conueniently doe, if you condescend by your leaue to obey the Apostolicke commandementes, and restoring saint Peeters pence, and through your mercy, the Clearkes to their owne. You command all the Bishoppes, that if they can finde any thing in the Archbishoppes letters to make against the customes of the kingdome, they presently with all confidence appeale vnto the Popes holines or his Legates which are directed vnto vs; soe shall you doe, a worke of mercy, preserue vs from the guilt of disobedience, and by the common appeale of all, defend our cause from receauing any detriment. Our Lord instruct you to doe his will, and redeeme vs out of the streightes wherin wee are at this instant plunged. Farwell most beeloued Lord in [Page 114] Christ. And thus London painting the wall without temperature, whilst with the remedy of appeale, and not absolute obedience, hee counselled the king to redresse this matter-
But Thomas now strengthened with the most ample power of the Apostolicall Legation, setting asyde delay, S. Thomas executeth his Legātyne authority. falled downe what was to bee cult and corrected, plucked vp the bastard plantes, which had now beeyond all right and reason taken deepe rootes, and beeing made a fanne in the hand of our Lord, vndertooke with his greate labour to seperate the chaffe from the corne, finding in al things not only the kinge himselfe, but also the Bishoppes his most bitter aduersaries, whom neither by benefitts nor admonitions hee could euer bring to better passe, but indured them still as the most vile deprauers of his actions to the king. Yet that hee may not appeare negligent in his office, hee awaked the slougthfull, restrained the wanderers, and those whom hee found in regarde of their abhominable crymes altogether vnworthie hee cut them of from the communion of the Catholike Church, as rotten members from a sound body: All which is signifyed by the letters hee wrote this present yeere out of France into England to the Bishops subiect to his charge, which beeing recorded among other his Epistells, are to bee read in this sorte.
Codi Vat. lib. 1. Epist. 9 [...].Thomas by the grace of God the humble seruante of the Church of Canterbury, to his reuerent brethren the Bishop of London and other Bishoppes of the whole Prouince of Canterbury wisheth soe to passe through temporall felicity, as they loose not eternall.
My most beeloued Bretthren, why rise yee not with mee [Page 115] against the malicious? S. Thomas by his Epistel correcteth the Bishops of his Prouince. Why stād yee not with mee against the workes of iniquity? Are yee ignorant that our Lord will disperse the bones of them who please men? They shall bee confounded, beecause our Lord hath despised them. Your discretion sufficiently vnderstandeth, that an error not resisted, is approued: and truth not defended, is oppressed: And by the testimony of saint Gregory, Psalm. 52. hee seemeth to consent to the erronious, who essayeth not to reforme what is to bee amended. Heereby is apparant, that wee haue too long, and too much forborne the king of England, nor yet hath the Church of God reaped any commodity by this our enduring. It seemeth dangerous and intollerable for vs to leaue any longer vnpunished (hetherto wee haue done) soe greate excesses of him and his officers against the Church of God and Ecclesiasticall persons, especially since wee haue very often endeauored by messangers, letters, and all manner of meanes (as bee came vs) to recall him from his peruerse purpose. Beecause therefore hee will hardly afforde vs the hearing, and much lesse attentiuely listen vnto vs, wee haue with inuocation of the grace of the holy ghoste publickly condemned and declared as voyd that deede of wryting together with the authority of that indenture wherin are contayned, not customes, but rather those wicked deuices, by which the Church of England is disturbed and confounded, and haue also excommunicated all the obseruers, exactors, counsellors, assistantes, and defenders of the same; and doe absolue by the authority of God and vs, all yee Bishoppes from that promise, whereby yee were bound, contrary to the constitution of the Church for the obseruation of them.
For who can make doubt, but that the Preistes of Christ should bee esteemed the fathers and Maisters of kinges, Princes, and all faithfull beeleeuers. Is it not a miserable madnes if the sonne should endeauour to bring the father, [Page 116] or the scholler the Master vnder his subiection, and with vnlawfull bandes to subdue vnto his will the partie by whom his faith telleth him that not only in earth but also in heauen hee may bee tyed and loosed? wherefore that yee may not fall into the lapse of this sentence, wee haue adiudged voyd the authority of this obligation, and the schedule it selfe with all the enormityes contayned therein, and haue especially declared it of no force in these thinges ensuing.
1. That no man shall appeale to the Apostolike Sea, vpon any cause, without the kinges licence.
2. That it shall not bee lawfull for an Archbishop or Bishop to departe out of the kingdome, and come at the calling of our Lord the Pope without our Lord the kinges licence.
3. That it shall not bee lawfull for à Bishop to excommunicate any one houlding of the kinge in cheyfe without the kinges licence, or to interdict his land, or the landes of his Officers.
4. That it shall not bee lawfaull for a Bishop to punish any one for periury, or profaning his faith.
5. That Clearkes shall bee bounde to bee tryed beefore secular Tribunalles.
6. That the Layety, or kinge, or any others shall handle causes beelōging to the Church, or Tythes, or others of like nature.
Wee denounce also as excommunicate, and haue excommunicated by name Iohn de [Page 117] Oxeforde, who hath fallen into a damnable heresie, by making oathe to the Scysmaticks, whereby the scysme allmost extinguished in Almayne, reuiued againe, also by communicating with that infamous Scysmatick Reynold. Archbishop of Col [...]n, and lastly beecause against the commandement of our Lord the Pope and vs, hee vsurped to himselfe the Deanry of the Church of Salisbury, which acte as contrary to law, and à pernicious example to the Church of God, wee haue condemned and declared as voyde, commanding the Bishop of Salisbury, and his Chapter in the vertue of obedience, and perill of their order, that vpon sight of our letters they neuer heereafter for that reason repute him Deane.
Wee haue likewise denounced excommunite and haue excommunicated Richard de Iuecester for his fall into the same damned heresie for communicating with Reynold the Scysmaticke of Colen, and for deuising and practising all mischeefes by combining with the Scysmatickes and those Allmaynes to the ouerthrowe of God and his Church, and especially the Church of Rome, and by contracting couenantes beetweene our Lord the King and them.
Wee haue in like sorte excommunicated Richard de Lucy and Ioceline de Baliol, who [Page 118] haue bin the authors and framers of those wicked deuises, and Raynulph de Broc who possessed, and with houldeth the goods of the Church of Canterbury which are by right the almes of the poore, and hath apprehended our followers as well of the Clergy as Layety, and detayneth them prisoners.
Wee excommunicate moreouer Hugh de Clare and Thomas Fitz-Bernard who haue also seized on the goods and possessions of the Church of Canterbury without our conniuence, and as yet with hould the same. wee haue lastly inuolued in this sentence of excommunication all such as shall heereafter lay violent handes without our will and consent on the possessions and goodes of the Church of Canterbury. Afterwardes hee inserteth the decrees of the Bishoppes of Rome, wherein such as these are sayde to bee condemned for excommunicate, and wherby the sentence pronounced by him is approued. All which beeing rehearsed hee addeth thus. And wee inioyne you (Brother and Bishop of London) in the vertue of obedience, that presently you manifest and shew these our letters to all our reuerent brethren and associate Bishoppes of our Prouince. Farewell in Christ, and instantly pray for vs.
Thus wrote hee to London and other Bishoppes of his Prouince. Saint Thomas did also certify the Archbishop of Rome, of this excommunication soe denounced. Beesides hee sent a letter to Pope Alexander of the same subiecte, beeseeching him to confirme the sentence which hee had published against them: Also to Hyacinth and Henry of Pysa Cardinalles. And other letters are extant which were directed to the Bishop of London, and the like to the Chapter there. And to the same effect did hee write to Robert Bishop of Hereforde concerning this excommunication, which Roger recyteth in the Annalls of England the yeere following: But the letters to Pope Alexander for excommunicating the king of England are thus indighted.
To his most deerely beeloued Father Alexander by the grace of God high Bishop, Thomas the humble seruant of the Church of Canterbury sendeth his dewe and deuoute obedience.
Long and ouerlong haue I endured (most beloued father) expecting the reformation of the king of England, nor reaped any fruite at all of my patience; but rather exceedingly encreased the losse and vtter ouerthrowe of the authority and liberty of the Church of God, while I haue thus vnaduisedly forborne. often haue I admonished him by religious and conuenient messingers, and many tymes inuited him to make due satisfaction; I haue also made knowne to him by letters (the coppyes whereof I haue sent to your holines) the diuine and seueere iustice and reuenge of God vnlesse hee amended his life: But hee neuerthelesse waxed still worser and worser, treading more vnder foote and depressing the church of God and continuing his persecution against my selfe and those exiled [Page 120] with mee in such sorte as hee attempteth by threates and terrours to beereaue of their benefittes and cōmodityes the seruantes of the Allmighty, who for Gods sake and yours prouyde vs sustentation: For hee did wryte to the Abbot of the Cistercians, that as hee tendred the Abbeyes of his order which were within his dominions, hee should banish vs from all benefitt and society of his sayd order. What neede I more wordes? The hard and cruell dealinges of the kinge and his officers haue encreased to that heygth by our endurance, as by reporte of religious men, who, if it pleaseth your holines, shall affirme the same by oathe, shall bee in order deliuered vnto you. And I wonder if your holines will giue credit to soe strange a thing soe constantly declared. Considering therefore in great streightes and grefe of mynde, and weyghing the danger as well of the king, as of your holines, I publicky condemned those pernitious not customes, but subtell deceyptes and wicked deuises, by which the Church of England is disturbed and confounded together with the instrument it selfe and the authority of the obligation, the ground of their confirmation: And did generally excommunicate as well the obseruers as the Exactors, together with the Patrons, fauorers, counsellore, and abettors of the same of what estate soeuer they were, either of the Clergie or Layety. And absolued our Bishops from that oathe, whereby they were violently bounde to the obseruation of them. And these are the thinges which in that wryting or obligation I haue especially condemned.
1. That they shall not appeale to the Apostolicke Sea, without the kings licence.
2. That it shall not bee lawfull for Bishops to question any man of periury or violating his faith.
[Page 121]3. That it shall not bee lawefull for a Bishop to excommunicate any man houlding of the king in cheife, or to inderdict his land, or the landes of his officers without the kinges licence.
4. That Clearkes or Religious men bee drawne to the secular Iudgments.
5. That the Layety, the king, or any others handle causes concerning the Church or tythes.
6. That it shall not bee lawfull for an Archbishop or Bishop to departe the lād and come at the calling of our Lord the Pope without the kinges licence.
With others of this fashion. The names of the excommunicated. And namely I haue excommunicated Iohn de Oxeforde. who communicated with that excommunicated Scysmaticke Reynold of Colen, and contrary to the commandment of your holines, and vs, vsurped the Dearny of the Church of Salisbury, and made oath in the Emperors courte for renuing the Scysme. Wee haue also denounced for excommunicate Richard de Iuecester, beecause hee fell into the same condemned heresy by communicating with that infamous Scismatick of Colen, deuysing and contriuing all mischeises with the Scismatick and those Allmaynes to the destruction of the Church of God, [Page 122] especially of the Roman Church, by meanes of couenantes contracted beetweene the king of England and them. Wee haue pronounced likewise the same sentence on Richard de Lucy and Iocelin de Baliol, who were fauorers of the kinges tyrany, and framers of those hereticall offences, with Raynulph de Broc, Hugh de sainct Clare and Thomas Fitz-Bernard, who vsurped without our licence and consent the possessions and goodes of the Church of Canterbury; and lastly wee haue excommunicated all who contrary to our will and assent lay handes on the possessions and goods of the Church of Canterbury. Concerning the king himselfe, wee haue not as yet personally excommunicated him, expecting awhile his amendment, whom neuerthelesse wee will not forbeare to excommunicate vnles hee speedely reforme himselfe, and receaue discipline for 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 do [...], 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 w [...]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. Heereupō 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 ād 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 [Page 124] (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 di [...]nt exployte of these king-pleasing Bishoppes, beecause [Page 125] 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 [...] [Page 126] now with a publick citation to the fruites of p [...] 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 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 [...]he Scysmaticke of Colen; on of them alon confessing [...] was M. Iohn of Oxefordes clearke, and familiarly [Page 127] 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 ād by his commandement (as hee affirmed) frō 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 commonwealth 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 sain [...] by his letters exhorted them) soe far were they (I sa [...] [Page 128] 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 [Page 129] 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 no [...] [Page 130] 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 excommunicatiō 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 your cause to the diuine clemency, and your selfe to the grace and mercy of your Soueraigne, and in soe doing you shall heape and cast together coales of fire vpon the heades of many; let charity in this sorte bee inkindled, and wherin menaces cannot preuayle, by Gods holy inspiration and the perswasiue counsell of good men, piety alone may happely conquer. It is better to bee highly commended for voluntary pouerty, then bee openly taxed by all men of ingratitude for a receaued benefitt. It is deepely rooted in the mynds of all how gratious our Lord the king hath bin vnto you, vnto how greate dignity hee hath raysed you [Page 131] from poore degree, and receaued you into the bosome of his fauor with a mynd soe free, as the ample boundes of his dominion reaching from the Northerne Ocean to the Pirenean Mountaynes were by him soe absolutely subiect vnto your power, as through all those principalityes they were only accompted happy, who could finde but fauor in your sight, and that no worldly mutability might ouerthrowe your prosperity, hee would lay your foundation most assuredly in possession appertayning to God, and notwithstanding his mother disswaded, the realme cryd out against it, and the Church of God (as far as shee could) sighed and groaned thereat, hee endeauored by all meanes possible to rayse you alofte vnto the dignity of your present preferment, hoping hee should heereafter raigne blessedly, and enioy your assistance and counsell with exceeding security. If therefore where hee expected security to defend him, hee shall find a sword to offend him, what a rumor will bee spread of you in the mouthes of all men? what a reward, what a remembrance will this bee of a requitall neuer heard of beefore? Forbeare therefore (if so it liketh you) to wrong your fame, forbeare to iniure your renowne: and endeauor to ouercome with humility your king, with charity your sonne. Whereunto if our admonitions cannot moue you, the loue and fidelity you beare to his Holines and the sacred Roman Church ought to inclyne you: For you ought easily to bee perswaded not to attēpt any thing, whereby to encrease the labours of your Mother, who hath bin now long in troubles; that her greife, which allready lamēteth the disobediēce of many her vndutifull children, bee not encreased by the losse of those who remayne as yet obedient. For what if soe by these your bitter prouocations and endeauors (which God forbid) our king, whom through the Allmightys bounty, people and kingdomes doe attend, should reuolt from our Lord the Pope, and refuse perchance heereafter to followe his [Page 132] Holines. Who denyeth him assistance against your selfe? wherein, with what petitions, what giftes, with how many and how great promises hath hee bin solicited? whereas hee hath remayned hitherto firmly grounded on the rocke, and as a Conqueror in the heyght of his magnanimity contemned all the world could offer, one only feare resteth as yet, least hee; whom neither profered riches, nor all that in humaine glory is accompted pretious, could euer once moue, should in the end by the only indignation of his mynd bee ouerthrowne: which if by your default it should soe fall out, you could neuer after with any reason forbeare to waste your selfe wholy in the Threanes of Ieremy, or deny your eyes a fountaine of teares.
Recall therefore (if soe it pleaseth your excellency) this counsell, which if it proceedeth, will by all meanes bee truly pernicious to our Lord the Pope, the sacred Romane Church, and (if it liketh you to vnderstand it) alsoe to your selfe. But they about you, who mount highest in their owne conceiptes, will not suffer you parchance to proceede on this way; they exhorte you to make tryall what you are able to doe against our Lord the king, and to practise the power of your eminent authority against all that lyeth within the compasse of his Dominion. A power truly terrible to an offendor, and dreadfull to him who refuseth to satisfy; but for our Lord the kinge, wee will not say hee neuer offended, but that hee, was, and is euer ready to yeelde satisfaction to the Popes Holines, wee confidently affirme and pronounce. Our king ordayned by God prouideth in all respectes for the peace of his subiectes, and to the end hee may conserue the same to the Churches and people committed to his charge, hee willeth and exacteth that the dignityes which were due, and giuen to the kinges his Predecessors should likewise bee continued to him, wherin if beetweene you two here hath arysen any contention, beeing heerupon conuented and [Page 133] cyted with a fatherly fauor from his Holines by our reuerent brethren the Bishops if London and Hereforde, hee opened not his mouth against heauen, but concerning all thinges wherin the Church or any Ecclesiasticall person shall finde himselfe greeued hee humbly and meekely answered, hee would not vsurpe on the right of others, but submitt himselfe to the iudgment of the Church of his owne kingdome, which truly hee is ready in deedes to performe, and accompteth it a sweete obedience to bee admonished to reforme himselfe, if hee hath any way offended Gods Maiestie. Neither only hath hee a mynde p [...]epared to satisfy, but also if the law requireth to make herein ample amends; But with what lawe, with what right, with what Cannon can you afflict the person who is willing to make full amends and satisfaction, not drawing himselfe in the least point from the iudgment of the Church in such thinges as appertayne to the Church, and yeelding his necke to Christes yoke? Or with what Euangelicall Axe (which God forbid) can you cut him of? It is assuredly laudable not to bee caryed on with passion, but to bee discreetely gouernd with iudgment; wherupon wee doe all ioyne in one generall petition vnto you, that you would not headlong run onto kill and destroy but with a fatherly loue indeauor to prouide, that the ship committed to your charge may enioy life, peace and security.
Wee are all vndoubtedly troubled with the pr [...]ceeding, which wee haue heard of late to bee (as some imagine) preposterously, carried against our brother the Lord Bishop of Salisbury his Deane, vpon whom you haue inflicted the paine of suspension or excommunication, beefore the offence was any way called in controuersy, giuing therin (as it seemeth) rather reynes to your wrath, then following the path of iustice. A new order of iudgment and hetherto in the lawes and Canons (as wee hope) vnknowne, [Page 134] first to condemne and then to examin the offence. Which that you may neuer attempt to exercise and execute gainst our Lord the king and his kingdome, nor yet against vs and the Churches and parishes vnder our charge, to the derogation and detriment of the Popes Holines and the sacred Roman Church, and to no litle augmentation of your owne confusion; wee doe heere oppose against you our remedy of Appeale, and wee who haue heeretofore lōg since in the open face of the Church and in proper person Appealed to the Popes Holines against the feare of these vexations, haue now againe by wryting Appealed to the same Sea, and assigne for the terme of our Appeale the day of our Lords Ascension; humbly beeseeching with all the deuotion wee can deuise, that taking more sound aduise you would spare both your and our trauell and expences, and in that sorte to repose your cause, as it may finde a speedy redresse.
And soe (father) wee wish you well to fare in our Lord.
Hetherto the Bishop of London, together with his Associates of the same Prouince, vnto whom sainct Thomas thus replyed.
Thomas the humble seruante of the Church of Canterbury to Gilbert Bihoppe of London, [...]od Vat lib. Epist. 108. as once, now againe, wisheth him soe to passe through temporall prosperity, as hee looseth not eternall felicity.
The answer of S. Thomas [...] Gilbert Bishop of [...]ondon and [...]e other [...]hop.It is a wonder, yea an exceeding maruayle, that a man of wisedome, lerned in the holy Scriptures and at the least in habit bearing a showe of religion, should soe manifestly, I spare to say vnreuerently, without all feare of God, bee aduersary to the truth, an oppugner of iustice, and confounding all right with wrong indeauor the ouerthrowe [Page 175] of the state of the Church, which the Allmighty himselfe hath builded. For it is truth that sayth, The gates of hell shall not preuaile against her. Hee is not therefore a man of a sober mynde who intendeth her ruine, but like one who binding a mighty montayne about with a rope, attempteh to ouerthrowe it. And haue wee passionately run into anger and hatred, that prouoked to wrath wee are incyted to darte such wordes as these at our brother, Associate and fellowe Bishoppe? God forbid. But thus much haue wee collected out of your letters, which wee receaued by the handes of your Archdeacon, Neither truly, can wee gather grapes of thornes, or figges of thistles. That it may playnly appeare whether this bee soe or not, let vs lay them open, and bring to light their contentes. The end compared with the beeging resembleth a Scorpion: this maketh his entry with flattery, that stinging vs terribly, attempteth to shut vs vp in silence: For what is it else, first to acknowledg your bounden subiection to vs, and promise obedience annexed to subiection then for auoyding your obedience, to flye off to an Appeale. What are there with mee is and is not? saith the Apostle: Neither ought the same to bee with the Apostles scholler. The Disciples necessarily receaued from our Lord power to tread vpon Serpents and Scorpions, and Ezechiel at this day dwelleth with Scorpions. Ezechiel 2. And consider in what sense you say? Wee flye to the remedy of an appeale. You call your selfe the follower of Christ, and yet in these wordes you are found otherwise; for Christ hath recommended to vs obedience, as the efficacious, yea the most effectuall remedy of all our mischeifes, and that not only by word, but alsoe by most euident example, beeing made obedient to his father euen to the very death; and with what face can you then call that a remedy, which is the impediment of obedience, and is not to bee termed a remedy, but more truly a detriment? And [Page 136] vpon what confidence doe you presume heerin to haue probable hope to procure any patronage or protection to sheild you from your obedience, beefore him, who for the chasticing of all disobedience, has receaued as well his office, as a commandement? It is ill to hope in him, and withall greeuously to offend him. The first and second repulse which you haue allready suffered may well hinder you from such presumption, for first your selfe in person, and then your letters composed for perswasion, haue by experience proued, how firmely hee stood, how truly hee was the vicar of Peeter, whom you could neuer moue by prayers, giftes, admonitions, or promises: But now the third tyme bee is to bee attempted, that by the example of his Master, hee may after a third temptation tryumph with victory.
Ioan. 21.And that nothing may bee left vnattempted to encrease our vexation; you haue fixed the Terme of your Appeale allmost a whole yeere hence, neither take you any compassion of our banishement, or of the labor of the holy Church the spouse of Christ, which with his blood hee purchassed, and to omitte these (yet truly not to bee omitted) neither haue you a carefull eye ouer our Lord the king (whom you pretend to fauor) who as long as hee proceedeth in this sorte against vs, and the Church of Christ, cannot without perill of his soule, either march to warre, or liue at home in peace. Let vs passe to the rest.
You recyte some troubles which arose in and by our departure; let the authors and counsellors of this perturbation, feare least themselues fall into perturbation. You set vs forth with great prayses in regarde of the beeginning of our peregrination; and doubtelesse it is not the parte of a wise man to neglect his fame; but who is discreete ought in censuring himselfe to beeleiue none sooner then himselfe. Wee are accused of iniuryes offered our Lord the kinge, but beecause you name not any, wee knowe [Page 137] not whereunto wee are bounde to answer and beeing superficiously accused, wee doe but superficiously excuse our selues; neuertheles meane whyle receaue this from vs: wee are guilty of nothing, neither yet are wee therefore iustifyed. You maruayle at the threatening, or cōminatory sent out by vs against him: what father who seeth his sonne runne astray can bee silent? who doth not chastice with the rod, to preuent the slaughter of the swoard? The parent despayreth of the sonne whom with threatening or discipline hee correcteth not; God forbid wee should thinke with you, that our Soueraigne beeing impatient to endure correction, should fall downe to the extirpation of Apostacy; for the plantation of the heauenly father will not easily bee pluked vp by the rootes. The shipp is tossed with a most terrible tempest, wee are her Pilot, and you perswade vs to sleepe.
You heape together and set before our eyes the benefittes beestowed on vs by our Lord the king, Gilbert Becket Portgraue of the Citty of Lō don in the raigne of K. Stephen was father to S. Thomas Godfrey de Maund [...]uil was Portgraue of Lō don in the time of the Conqueror and Willam Rufus. Hugh Bouch and Aubrey de Vere in the raigne of Henry the first. Next Gilbert Becket as before Peter Fits walter Portgraue in the time of King Henry the 2 And the successiuly Iohn Fits nigel. Ernulphus Buchel, and Wiliian Fits-Isabell, all which Iohn Stowe witnesseth. Heerby you may see what worthie mē were then Portgraues of London, and soe consequently of what accōpt Gilbert Becket the father of saint Thomas was. Portgraue was then the highest Gouernor of the Citty. and recounte how were raysed by him from a lowe degree, to the heygth of Fortune we wee may truly answer heereunto a litle, and yet neuerthlesse not frō how lowe a degree as you thinke. If you consider but the tyme wherin wee were preferred to his seruice, the Archdeanonry of Canterbury, the Prouosty of Beuerly, the many Churches, together with some Prebandaryes, and other possessions, beeing of no smale value, which wee inioyed from our Ancestors, disproue that wee were as then soe meane as you say in the worldes reputation. But if you ayme at the stemme of our stocke, and our parentage: They were assuredly of the Citty of London, liuing without taynte of credit, in the middest of their fellow Cittyzens, neither rancked in the lowest degree: But that, the miste of these wordly conceyptes beeing once vanished, wee may with the light of truth bee more rightly discerned, which is more glorious eyther to be borne of meane, yea the poorest parents, or of [Page 138] great and glorious persons, since the Apostle saith; We [...] cloathe the basest partes of our body with more abundant honor. 1. Cor. 12. What auayle our high desentes? (quoth the Gentil Poet.) What hath a Christian, a Bishop, a Scholler, a Religious man to say heerein? If you labour by ripping vp the memory of our pouerty, to brand vs with confusion: how great an offence it is then to confound your father, consider in the commandement of our Lord which you haue receaued for honoring your parents. Exod. 20.
Concerning the fauor of the king soe highly commended to vs through the remembrance of his bestowed benefitts, you needed not to haue labored so much therin, for wee call the Allmighty to wittnes, that wee hould nothing vnder the sunne soe deare as his fauor and prosperity, sauing euer to God and his holy Church their freedomes and immunityes, for otherwise he can neuer raigne either happely or securely: But let it passe, since soe it is, benefittes towardes vs farre more and more ample then all these your wordes haue yet expressed; ought wee for all these, yea were they twise soe many to beetray the liberty of Gods Church? How far lesse should wee then doe it for the preseruation of a blast of fame, which often varyeth from the truth? If towards others wee haue proceeded with more leuity, yet in this wee will neither spare you nor others, nor yet an Angell if he descendeth from heauen, but strayght as wee heare him mouing or mentioning this, hee shall haue this answer from vs: Auant, backe Sathan, thou doest not relish what appertayneth to God. Far bee from vs this franticke folly, deliuer vs (Lord) from this extreme madnes, to be perswaded euer through any trecherous falshoode to make a marte of the body of Christ, wherin wee may bee compared to Iudas the Traytor, and our Soueraigne to the Iewes who chafered for Christ.
As touching this our high preferment, wherunto (as you [Page 139] wryte) wee were raysed, although the mother of our Lord the king disswaded it, the realme cryed out against it, the Church of God as far as she durst sighed thereat. As for the realme wee heard not her exclamations against vs, but rather her acclamations of ioy: Touching the disswasions of our kinges mother, if any such were, they neuer passed to the publicke notice of the world: it may bee some Ecclesiasticall persons aspiring (as is accustomed) to this promotion of ours, sighed when they perceaued themselues to bee frustrated of this conceaued hope, who perhaps at this day in reuenge of this their defeatement, are procurers and counsellors of this present dissention: But woe bee to him through whom scandal aryseth. Yet against these impedimentes with which you formerly taxe vs, or against others (if any there were) the diuine dispensation (as now you may plainly see) hath preuailed. Wee are tryed beefore him, who is iustice it selfe, and found to preferre none before him, who out of his singular mercy hath setled vs in this degree. That also which you seeme to propose for the iustification of the kinges Maiestie, wee haue not thought meete to bee lightly ouerslipped, or without mature examination; and wee would to God hee had neuer frayed from iustice, and that our complaint against him might haue appeared lesse iustifyable.
You say hee is and was euer ready to giue satisfaction, this you confidently affirme, this you proclayme. Forbeare, heere a litle, and answer our demandes: In what sence vnderstand you (as you call it) this preparation to satisfaction? See you these of whom God termeth himselfe the father and Iudge, wee meane Orphanes, wid [...]wes, children, Innocents, yea such as are absolutely ignorant of this our controuersy now in question, cast into banishment, and are you silent? Clearkes rooted out of their countrey, and cry you not against it? Others spoyled of their goodes, and contumeliously abused, and doe you not [Page 140] reproue it? Our seruantes throwne into prisons and bou [...]d in fetters, and doe you not open your mouth against it? Your Mother the Church of Canterburyes possessions with hauocke wasted, and doe you not resist it? Your father hardly escaping the swoardes euen now threatening to murder him, and are you not sensible of sorrowe? And what is farre worser, are you not asham'd to ioyne with our persecutors against vs, God, and his Church, and that not in secret? Is this satisfaction, not to correct offences committed, and daily to heape more greeuous mischeifes on mischeifes? But perhaps you vnderstād this on the will of the wicked, Deutro. 32. according to the sentence, I will imbrewe myne arrowes with blood. But you will replye: what lay you father to my charge? I will answer all in a worde, I am a afraide of my coate. True (sonne) too truely you answer: and therefore you want a swoard.
Whereas you wryte, hee is ready to stand to the iudgement of his owne kingdome, as if this were a worthy satisfaction: who is there in earth or in heauen it selfe that can presume to iudge of the diuine dispensation? Let human matters bee adiudged, but for such as are diuine, let them remayne and bee left absolutely vntouched: How much better were it (brother) how much more profitable to him, how much more secure for you, if you would by all meanes endeauor to incyte, to perswade him to fullfill the will of God towardes the conseruation of the peace of his Church, not to couet after these thinges, which are not committed to this gouerment: to honor the preistes of God, nor yet to consider what they are, but whose seruantes they are. You lay to our charge, that wee haue abused our selues in a preiudicate proceeding against the Bishop of Salisbury, and Iohn of Oxeforde not a Deane (as you tearme him) but an vsurper of a Deanry, wherin you ought to remember, that some manifest certaintyes did forerun this iudgment; and withall you say you are moued; [Page 141] what else? A man is afrayd when his neighbors house is on fire, and would to God you were well moued, from that, wnherin you haue vnlawfully stood. Let therefore our Lord the king knowe and vnderstand by your relation, that hee who raigneth in the Empyre of men and also of Angells, hath ordayned two powers vnder him, Princes, and Preistes; one earthly, an other spirituall, one ministring, an other more excellent, one to 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 [Page 142] 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 [Page 134] 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 [Page 144] 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 Acolythy killing some famous man renowned for Religion or dignity, should escape free with the losse only of this Order. The Clergie therefore vphoulding the Order established from heauen, and our Lord the king persecuting [Page 145] only the offence (as hee hopeth) with a iust hatred, and intending to plant his peace more deepely, a certaine holy contention arose among vs, which (wee trust) the playne intention of both partyes will excuse with your Holines.
Heereupon not with any ambition of larger dominion, not with any concept of oppressing the Churches liberty but with an affection of confirming peace, our Lord the king passed soe farre, as hee would produce to light the customes of his kingdome, and dignityes anciently obserued, and quietly and reuerently yeelded by persons Ecclesiasticall to former kinges in the kingdome of England, and to the end no longer thread of contention might heereafter bee spunne, hee would haue the same to bee openly knowne. Wherefore the most ancient Bishoppes and greatest peeres of the realme, beeing first adiured by their faith, and the hope which they had in Allmighty God, and then making search into the state of forepassed tymes, the dignityes of the crowne being sought, were layd open, and by the testimonyes of men of the greatest accompt in the kingdome were published: Loe heere the cruelty of our Lord the king against the Church of God, which fame hath soe spread ouer the whole world! Lo heere his persecution! These are his workes soe diuulged for wicked both heere and euery where.
Yet neuertheles in all these proceedings, if there bee any thing contayned either dangerous to his soule, or ignominious to the Church, hee hath long since with a most sacred deuotion promised, and doth still most constantly continewe in the same mynde, especially being admonished and moued with your authority, for the reuerence of Christ, and the honor of the holy Church whom hee professeth to bee his mother, and for the redemption of his soule, to reforme the same accordingly as hee shall bee aduised by the Counsell of the Church of his owne kingdome. And truly [Page 146] (father) our solicitation had long since (as wee hope) obtayned the desired end of this wished peace, had not our Father the Lord of Canterbury's bitter prouocations stirred vp anew this discorde now layd asleepe, and allmost absolutely extinguished. For hee, from whose patience wee hitherto expected peace, from whose modesty the recouery of the kinges fauor, assayled him afresh, and without respect of his Maiestie (at such time as lately hee led his army against the Peace breakers) with seuere and terrible letters, no whit sauoring of fatherly deuotion or Pastorall patience, but most bitterly threatening him with the sentence of Excommunication, and his realme with the payne of interdiction: Where as on the other side, hee rather ought with admonitiōs to haue mollifyed him, and with meritts and meeknes ouercome him, whose humility if it bee soe requited, what will bee then determined against the stuborne and contumatious: if the ready deuotion of obedience bee esteemed soe slightly, in what manner shall willfull obstinacy bee reuenged? Yea to these soe greuous threates, are yet added matters far more greeuous, for hee inuolued in his Excommunication some of his Maiesties Liege men, most inward with our Lord the king, the principall of his priuy counsell, who managed the mysteryes of the kinges estate, and the affaires of his kingdome, and denounced them publickly excommunicate, beeing neuer cyted, nor defended, neyther (as they call it) guilty of any cryme, nor conuicted, nor confessing any thing.
Yea hee stepped farther, in soe much as hee suspended our reuerent brother the Bishop of Salisbury, beeing absent, vndefended, neither confest, nor conuicte, from his Preistly and Episcopall Office, beefore euer the cause of his suspension was approued by the aduice of those of the same Prouince, or any others. If therefore this course of proceedinges in iudgmentes soe preposterous (I spare to say) inordinate, bee followed concerning the king and kingdome, [Page 147] what will bee the end (considering the time is euill, and yeeldeth great occasion of exceeding malice) but that the band of grace and fauour, whereby the kingdome and preisthood haue bin hetherto vnited, will bee rent a sunder, and wee with the flocke committed to our charge, bee dispersed into exile, or (which God forbid) falling of from the faith, wee owe to you, into the miseryes of Scysme, bee cast downe headlong into the bottomles pitt of iniquity and disobedience: for this is the ready way to the ruine of all relligion, and the subuersion, and ouerthrowe as well of the Clergie as Layety.
In regard whereof, least in soe miserable a tyme of your Apostolicall raigne, the Church bee ouerthrowne; least our Lord the king with the people subiect to him fall away (which God forbid) from your obedience; least what someuer our Lord of Canterbury by the counsell of priuate men deuiseth, bee in his wrath executed on vs, wee haue as well by word as wryting appealed to your excellency against him, The Bishoppes appeale to the Pope against their Archbishoppe. and his Mandates importing any detriment to our Lord the king and his kingdome, vs, and the Churches committed to our care, and haue designed for the day of our Appeale, the day of our Lordes Ascension; chusing rather to humble our selues before your Holines in all thinges which shall bee pleasing vnto you, then to bee daily, according to the lofty motions of his mynde (whyle our merittes deserue nothing lesse) tediously afflicted. Wee beeseech our Allmighty Lord (most beeloued father in Christ) long to preserue your health to his Churches prosperity.
Pope Alexander neuerthelesse perseuering in his opinion, when hee perceaued the Appeale of the Bishoppes to bee voyde, by reason the Appellants appeared not at the designed day, confirmed the sentence which saint Thomas pronounced against them; which is wittnessed by Salusbury in his letter to saint Thomas, [Page 148] saying: As it is signifyed to mee from the Citty, soe I remember I certifyed you by wryting, that my Lord the Pope hath now confirmed your sentence, yea hee hath challenged it as an iniury offered himselfe. There are also extant Pope Alexanders owne letters, written to Saint Thomas to the same purpose, after hee perceaued the Bishops did not prosecute their Appeale. His wordes are these. Wee haue had intelligence as well by your letters, as alsoe the certaine relation of many, that you pronounced the sentence of Interdiction against Ioceline Bishoppe of Salusbury, in regard hee was disobedient to you, and hee, notwithstanding hee appealed heereupon to our audience, and assigned for the tyme of his appeale the Sunday wherin is sung, Ego sum Pastor bonus, next ensuing, neither himselfe, at that instant appeared, neither sent any one vnto vs, to answer for him; wherefore wee refusing absolutely to maintayne him in his disobedience and rebellion against you, will by Gods grace ratify and confirme the sentence, which vpon this occasion you haue giuen against him, and haue thought good to leaue the whole busines concerning 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 [Page 149] 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 [Page 150] 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 [Page 152] 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 away, hath wherewith to restore? Whereupon Saint Augustine saith: If the thing taken away, when it may bee restored bee not restored, Pennance is not donne, but dissembled. And in an other place: I haue sayd this most confidently, that hee who maketh intercession for a man to this purpose, that hee may not restore thinges vniustly taken away: and hee who compelleth not, as farre as honestly hee may, the party that in this case flyeth to him to make restitution, is partaker of his deceipte and offence; for with far greater mercy doe wee forbeare to helpe such men, then assist them. Bee assured therefore of this, make no doubt at all thereof, and if any man preacheth contrary to this, yea bee it an Angell from heauen, let him be accursed, and soe shall hee, as long as hee perseuereth in this opinion. See therefor (renowned Lord) that in this case you walke warely, least the detayning of a thing euill gotten, which is but dust and wormes, dryue you headlong (which God forbid) into impenitency, and make you [Page 153] subiect to that danger, from which you can neuer be cleansed by fasting and prayer.
In discretion moreouer you ought to vnderstand, that allthough all Bishoppes are not Saintes, yet possesse they the places of Saintes, and allbeeit they shine not with such meritt of life, yet ought they to imitate those who haue shyned before them as farre as Gods mercy will giue them grace. Because therefore holy men haue fought for the law of their God vnto death, and haue not feared the wordes and threates of their persecutors (for hee is absolutely more to bee dreaded who is able to cast soule and body into hell fire) wee likewise are of necessity bound (as far as God will inspire vs) to keepe, foster, and defend his lawes, neyther is this to bee imputed to vs, as pryde or malice, but is imposed on vs as incident to our office. For soe sayth our Lord: Keepe my lawes: And againe in thee Gospell: Hee that breaketh one of these least commandements, shall bee called the least in the kingdome of heauen. Wee beelieue (noble Lord) you are sufficiently endowed with wisedome, and therefore wee humbly beeseech you as our deerest Lord, and that in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, that you will vouchsafe to heare vs, yea with mercy, and to heare vs throughly, as God may heare, and fully heare you at the day of iudgment, and receaue you among his elected, when assuredly neyther strengh, nor power, nor empyre, nor riches, nor secular lawes, nor customes can helpe any man, nor any thing else but the mercy of Allmighty God with the fruytes of forerunning workes: which would to God it might euer remayne fixed in your mynde, and thence neuer to departe: Let our Lord and king willingly admitt and heare the counsellors who aduise him heerein, that God may prosper him, and lengthen the life of him and his heires with the blessings of peace for many yeeres; neither let them passe in this world vnpunished, [Page 154] who with their falshood and exquisite deceiptes haue endeauored to vndoe and disturbe the worthie and vertuous designes of our Lord and king, which from the beeginning of his raigne hee conceaued and continued (as wee thinke) with a iust sincere deuotion for the honoring of Churches and Ecclesiasticall persons. God send our Lord euer to florish, and that his Church and wee may thereby liue more blessedly: God send him long life. And thus Saint Thomas, not as a iudge threatening with seuere censures, but as a father exhorteh and admonisheth his sonne, whom hee desireth to deliuer from the sentence of condemnation: allthough in vayne, his wicked counsellors withstanding it.
Cod. Vat. lib. 1. Epist. 140.And like to this complainte of the kinges counsellors made by Saint Thomas (as you haue heard) doth Iohn of Salisbury inueigh also against them, wryting to Nicholas de Monte of Roan, who was to Saint Thomas a most entire freind, which shorte epistle, because it containeth much matter appertayning to this time, wee thought conuenient to bee heere inserted, being thus.
Our Lord disperseth those nations, that would haue warres; and they who estrange themselues from the peace of God, shall vndoubtedly perish. What one of the Persecutors of Gods Church hath bin read to haue eschewed the reuenging right hand of our Lord, who punisheth the mighty mightely? In regarde whereof (which without greife I cannot speake) our Lord the king of England, whom with his heires, God (if it bee his blessed will) preserue, is much to bee feared least their kingdome bee rent asunder, and the power weakened, which they haue abused against the Churche: If reuenge bee deferred for the correction and probation of his children, whom the mercifull father chasticeth first, that hee may afterwardes crowne; it is not therefore taken away, but that after [Page 155] the patience of the holy it beecommeth more bitter and terrible against the wicked. Why then (I pray you) doth not this most wise man, endowed by God with soe greate vertues, soe large a dominion, and allmost all singular guiftes, returne vnto his harte. And why cannot the cōqueror of soe many and mighty cittyes, cōquer his owne intemperance? Why doth hee persecuting the Church, the only beeloued spouse of Christ, inkindle him to wrath who taketh away the spirit of princes, and with his owne propper power trampleth on the neckes of the potent? Vndoubtedly if hee were aduysed, hee would turne the fury of his indignation against them, who with their guiles and abuses, haue thrust him headlong into this not counsell but downefull; and would at the least imitate the king of Babilon, that hee might not bee found more cruell then hee, who cast them into the Lyons denne, by whose counsell hee threw Daniel a prisoner thither, that the guilty counsellers might suffer the paynes, they deuised against the guiltles. Then addeth hee examples of Bishoppes restored by kinges to theire proper Seas; wryting thus: [The Archbishop of Saint Iames who liued long in banishment, is now restored by his king, The king of the Danes calling home his Archbishop, gouerneth by his aduice, subdueth his enemyes, and honoreth him as his father: The Archbishop of Lyons hath receaued againe his Sea, and reduced his prouince to the Catholike vnity: The cittyes of Italy abandoning Fredericke the Scysmaticke, haue entertayned their Catholicke Bishoppes: God is my witnes, vnles our Lord and king recalleth againe his Archbishop, I dread to vtter the feare I conceaue of him; but if hee will send for him, and render peace to the Church of God, I doe assuredly hope, that in him and his the glory of his former successes will through the Churches prayers flourish againe; what say I more? [Page 165] There resteth, yet for him one apparant aduice, which is, that hee banisheth his wicked counsellors, the Churches aduersarys, and endeauoreth to appease Allmighty God, whom hee hath offended, against whose diuine pleasure hee can neither raigne nor rule. God hath yet endured him with vnspeakeable patience, but vnlesse hee beeware, as the woeman in labor, hee will 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 [Page 157] 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 [Page 158] 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 [Page 159] 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, [Page 160] 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 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 [Page 161] 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 [Page 162] 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 Subdeacō 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 whi [...] 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 [Page 163] 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 [Page 164] 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 Englād 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, [Page 166] 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 v [...]t. lib. 1. epist. 1 [...]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 [Page 167] 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 perchāce 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, and intimate this vnto him with more diligence, and perswade my Lordes the Cardinalls to remember the iudgment of Allmighty God, to which Tribunal the poore of Christ doe with their prayers dayly flye against all the Aduersaryes of the Churches liberty.] Thus sayeth Salisbury, who [Page 168] somewhat too boldly carpeth the estimation of so [...] noble a Pope, whom in his epistles hee often commendeth, excuseth, defendeth.
But to the end (reader) you may vnderstand that it is dangerous to speake euill, and rashly to iudge of the high Bishop, heare (I pray you) the true defence of Pope Alexander, without which it is vnworthy I should inserte all this in the Chronickles of the Church of Rome. For I shall not discharge the parte I vndertake for bringing to light the truth of the history, if I shall not vntwyning set it free out of the intangling errors and false assertions, with which hee and his actes are wronged, while thinges layd vniustly to his charge are accepted as certaine, without a dilligent axamination of the truth, which I will make appeare out of the epistles of diuers persons, whereby these reportes blazed abroade by Iohn of Oxeforde will bee reiected as vntrue. Marke therefore reader.
You haue seene for the space allmost of foure yeeres, beeing fully three yeeres and a halfe, the Controuersy of the Ecclesiasticall liberty beetweene the king and Saint Thomas, and together with him the Church of Rome, beeing tossed in delaye, daylie declyning to the worse, the king or Bishoppes neuer con descending to submitt themselues to the iudgment of the Archbishop of Canterbury, from whom (as you haue heard) the king together with the Bishoppes appealed to the Roman Sea, and by their deputyes prosecuted the same Appeale, desiring by them that a Legate a Latere might bee sent into England. In which petition of theyrs, it is first a falshood, that (as it is affirmed) the king requested onely a Legate for England, which was the Cardinall of Papia: For heare the same Salisbury: Our king (saith hee) requireth that Williā of Papia, and another Cardinall bee sent as Legates, [Page 169] &c. And the Pope fearing, least one of them, beeing the kings frind, there might come any damage thereby to the contrary parte, his Holines chose such an one to bee his associate, as by his eminent vertue might withstand him, if hee would attempt any thing against right and equity, whom also hee knew to fauor the Bishop of Poytiers, treating of both the Legates, in his letter to saint Thomas wryteth: to this William of Papia (sayth hee) as it is reported, my Lord Oddo the Deacon Cardinal de Carcere Tulliano is associate, and I wish it soe, for a fauorable and well disposed starre may by coniunction, if it cannot extinguish the malice of an euill affected starre, yet at the least temper and extenuate the same.
Moreouer that his Holines designed the same legates not to decyde the controuersy (as it was publickly reported) according to Iohn of Salisburyes saying, but to compose a peace, the letters of the same Pope Alexander, yet extant, doe playnly witnes. But to the end saint Thomas might rest secure of any feare from the sayde William the Legate, Alexander aboue all other thinges made him promise not to attempt any matter against the Archbishop of Canterbury: I will relate the very wordes of Pope Alexander in his epistle to Saint Thomas: and truly (sayth hee) you may remayne absolutely confident in the Cardinalls. neyther ought you any way to doubt of the mentioned William, because wee haue streyghtly and precisely inioyned him, to employ his whole power to worke your peace, and hee made vs soe faithfull a promise thereof, that wee haue no doubt of the contrary. And more, that hee might very much preuayle in procuring the peace, the matter beeing throughly considered, by reason of his intire familiarity with the king, the same Salisbury conceaued in his mynde, and expressed [Page 170] in wryting to the Legate in these wordes: but in the meane tyme, I hope, this your familiarity with the king, which to many is soe suspicious, will bee profitable to the Church, necessary to you, gaynfull to him, and to vs glorious.
Beesides this Alexander endeauouring to make a peace beetweene the Archbishop and the king, commanded not (as the kings, messinger lying fouly sayd) that this should bee accomplished with detriment to the Churches liberty, but contrarywise would haue aboue all thinges a speciall prouision for the Ecclesiasticall lawes; soe as in this pointe saint Thomas had no cause of doubt, that the liberty of the Church should heerein sustaine any damage at all, as in the same letters the sayd Bishop deliuered. Againe that there was nothing granted by Alexander to the Bishoppes excommunicated by saint Thomas (as Oxeford falsly affirmed) but that at the houre of death they might bee absolued, with a caution confirmed by oath, as the letters which his Holines wrote by the same Legates to the Bishops of England doe manifest. Neither yet was that true which with excessiue boasting Oxeforde did lying spread abroade among all men, Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist. 3. how the king was exempted from the Archbishoppes authority, but that his power ouer the king was only suspended while the Legates treated as the peace, in like case and space as there is beetweene aduerse armys an abstinence of warre during a parlee. And if peace tooke no place, that Saint Thomas might then vse his authority against the king, Alexander in his letters sent to S. Thomas thus playnly declareth: [But if perchance (which God forbid) the king shall determine with a hardened harte to persist in his obstinacy, nor yet will, as now, yeeld any thing to the will of Allmighty God; our admonition, and his owne honor in his reconciliation to [Page 171] you and yours, with the peace of the Church: If afterwardes you thinke conuenient to execute the seuerity of a due reuenge vpon the kingdome, and the persons of the same subiecte to your iurisdiction, bee it either in regard of your Primacy, or Legantyne power, you shall reuenge the iniuryes offered to your selfe and your Church (as you shall thinke fitting) with reseruation of grauity, and maturity of iudgment becomming your Pontificall dignity.]
And to the pointe, that Pope Alexander dealte bountifully with Iohn of Oxeforde, the kinges messinger, at his comming to Rome, beestowing on him the Deanry of Salisbury, which beeing extorted from his Bishop, hee surrendred vp into te handes of his Holines, and that done, the wretched and alltogether vnwortthie mā, receaued the same from the Pope againe, For the Popes excuse heerein, Iohn of Poytiers wryteth thus in his letters to saint Thomas: [Iohn of Oxeforde woon the more grace in the Popes sight, in regard hee suggested to his Holines, that a peace might bee concluded beetweene you and the king, if there were but one to deale faithfully in the busines; and promised to doe his owne vttermost endeauor for the performance thereof.] And addeth, hee was absolued from his excommunication by the Pope, in respect hee abiured the kinges customes, the very ground of all this terrible discord. Thus therefore by reason of the faire promises and a false pretence of contriuing a peace, Pope Alexander was deceaued by him, who is found a notorious lyar in this, that vpon his returne hee publickly reported, how by priuiledge of his Holines, hee w [...] exempted from the iurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury. For, that the Archbishoppes authority was only suspended, during the continuance of the L [...] gantine power, and no way abrogated, what beefore [Page 172] is sayd doth playnly showe. And Pope Alexander wryting the next yeere to the Legates against this Iohn of Oxeforde, who had dispercing sowed such falshoodes in the myndes of all, commanded him to bee punished with a most seuere iudgment. And these letters shall also in their proper place bee recyted.
All this haue wee sayd to wash away the fowle slanders which Iohn of Oxeforde bruted in England against Pope Alexander, and which Iohn of Salisbury too credulous relished soe ill for a tyme: for although (as you haue seene) hee spoake hardly against Pope Alexander, yet afterwardes againe hee commendeth, and in parte excuseth him, in regarde what hee did, was vpon constraint of necessity. For writing to saint Thomas hee sayth: Neither haue I any greate confidence of the Courte of Rome, whose manners and necessitys are well knowne to vs: Pope Alexander indeede is a holy and iust man, but his extremityes are soe many, and soe greate is the couetousnes and wicked dealing of the Romās, as sometymes hee stretcheth to the vtermost of his power, and procureth by dispensation that which is sayd to bee profitable to the common wealth, allthough vnprofitable to Religion. And againe neyther bee yee discomforded, if yee see in the Roman Courte somewhat worthy of reprehension, remēbring in the Gospell, how the faithfull are commanded not to imitate the workes of them, who fit in the chaire of Moyses, but to followe their doctrine. But hee corrected absolutely this and all the rest of his last letters written vpon this occasion, after better discouery of the busines, handling the whole matter from the very first comming of this most vilde man Iohn of Oxeforde, and wryting to Myles Bishop of Moryn in this sorte: If any man will dilligently consider the [Page 173] preceedinges at Rome, hee shall apparantly see, how the Pope, albeeit circumuented, yet neuertheles most faythfully handled the cause of the Church and vs. For the often recyted Iohn of Oxeford beeing in the end vpon his oath according to the custome absolued, swoare againe publickly, that hee did nothing in the aforesayd Conuentickle of Scysmaticks, against the faith of the Church, and the honor and commodity, of my Lord the Pope; And I would to God hee had not bin periured. Afterwardes hee deliuered letters of commendation and Petition from the king, wherin was written, that credit should bee giuen to him in all thinges, as to the king himselfe: Then boulstred out with soe greate an authority, hee submitteth the cause in controuersy betweene the king and the Archbishop for the wicked customes, to the arbitriment of his Holines, that at his pleasure they should bee either confirmed or cancelled, and binding this also with another oath, hee preuayled soe farre, as the Pope yeelded to send his Legates to this purpose.] Thus sayth Salisbury. whereby you may see, that a man promising soe much, and that not idely, but fortifyed with the letters of a king, and mayntayned with oathes, ought not to passe vnrewarded from the Pope; which rewarde his Holines beestowed, as the same Author witnesseth in the Epistle next ensuing; for hee sent him backe into England endowed with a Ring, and preferred to the benefice of a Deanry; whereupon hee grew to falsify with more confidence, and had far better occasions to coulor his deceyptes, And I would to God I could excuse as well as the Pope, some of the Cardinalls, who were corrupted with golde; but God forbid I should purge with excuse that which deserueth exceeding reprehension; yea I haue euer sayde, these deade flyes loosing the odor of their oyntmentes, are [Page 174] to bee prosecuted with most bitter inuectinnes.]
The king of England endeauoreth to corrupt the Cardinalls with bribes.The king of England sent therefore by the Embassadors to Rome certayne poundes of gould, to bee distributed among the Cardinalls: Many entertayned fowly these giftes; others to their great commendation absolutely refused them, beecause they beelieued these rewardes of kinges turned to the reproach of the Apostolicke Sea: which assuredly soe happened, for by reason heereof were raysed most greeuous scandalls, and the face of the holy Church, the spouse of Christ was much darkened; for marke (I pray you) heereupon the iust complaynte of saint Thomas vttered in his epistle to the Archbishop of Mountes. [I speake (sayth hee) with greife a thing much to bee lamented, Ibidem epist. 21. the Citty of greate renowne, which hath conquered allmost the whole world, is surprysed, beeing ouerthrown with the couetousnes of earthly fauor, and shee who could neuer perish with the swoard, yeeldeth thorough the infection of an accidentall poyson. O greife! in her fall is euery where found the losse of the Churches liberty for the grace of a temporall commodity. A breach is made to her ruine by the subtell sleyghtes of riches, shee practiseth dishonestly as a harlot, who lyeth openly in the streete to the lust of many, euery mighty man committeth fornication with her.] These and other the like with great bitternes of his mynde did Saint Thomas euen now at the poynte of his glorious Martyrdome, poure out into the eares of his faithfull frind, vpon occasion of this gould, so sent by the king of England, to corrupt the Courte of Rome. Heare you also the complayntes of the Bishop of Poytiers wryting there of to Lumbard [...] in this sorte. Ibidem epist. 32. The king moreouer vaunted; that hee had such frindes in the Courte, as could quashe all the attemptes of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and were [Page 175] so diligent in following all his busines, as the Arbishop could not deliuer a petion, nor obtayne the least fauor, but hee had present intelligence thereof by his frindes; yea wee knowe theyre names whose assistance he vseth, and haue lately dealt in courte, that the cause of God and the power of Christ might be soulde at a vylde rate, neither truly was there a multitude in the commutation of them; and was it possible there should bee such ounces of golde as could enforce them to fall, who should haue bine the very pillars of the Church? And the king is soe puffed vp with this tryumph, as they cannot conceale in his Pallace, but must needes blab what Cardinalls they were who would not taste of that pestiferous and infamous gold, and on the other syde who they were who disposed of the money, in what sorte it should bee distributed, to some more, to some lesse, according as euery of them did more or lesse deserue in this worke of the subuersion of iustice.] Thus wryteth hee of the matter.
Concerning those who scorned theyre 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 [...]ender you in that day [Page 176] the rewardes of your brotherly Charity, and the [...] of your true cōpassion, which promiseeth to the mercifull abundance of mercy: you haue not wandred after gold, with the bayte whereof, to our exceeding hu [...]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 Go [...]) [Page 177] 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 [Page 178] 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 [Page 179] mynde or will from peace, and the benefit of concord, so long as in the couenātes 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 on our beehalfe with our beeloued sonne that noble Earle of Flanders, and instantly perswade him, that considering the necessity of vs and the Church, hee would endeauor with his liberality somewhat to succor vs; for wee doe not thinke hee can doe a more acceptable seruice to Allmighty God, then to labor at this present to comforte vs with the worthy supply of his bounty for the defence of the Churches liberty.] Thus wrote Pope Alexander vnto Saint Thomas; and to king Henry of England by the same Legates in this sorte.
[Yeelding gladly to the requestes of your Maiestie and desiring as far, as with God and his iustice; wee can to satisfy your will in all thinges, and showe due respecte to you and your honor, wee haue thought good to sende vnto your excellency, as Legates into your dominions on this syde the seas, our beeloued sonnes William of the tytell of Saint Peter ad vincula Preist, with Oddo of Saint Nicholas in carcere Tulliano Deacon, Cardinalles, men of learning discretion vertue, beeing of great authority in the Church of [Page 180] God, and well affected to you and your kingdome, and whom, among the rest of our brethren wee esteeme as very deere and acceptable to vs, giuing them absolute power to vnderstand those causes which in former letters wee haue declared to you, with all other matters likewise which shall seeme conuenient for them to knowe; whom wee haue in all things authorized as vice gerents so far in our steede, as euer the Church of Rome was accustomed heeretofore to constitute them or any other Legates of the Apostolike Sea. Wherefore wee doe by our Apostolical letters request, admonish, and in our lord exhorte your Highnes that you will honorably and benignly receaue, and (as it beeseemeth your royall dignity) courteously entertayne them, in such sorte as is meete for men of that eminency, and Legates of the Apostolicall Sea; Soe as the holy Church of Rome may in your beehauiour to her sonnes acknowledge your ancient deuotion to her, and your Maiestie together with the landes committed to your gouerment, through the goodnes of God, reape therby encrease of all thinges: and for those matters which they shall propose to your excellency on our behalfe, wee doe wish you soe diligently to admitt, and promptly to obey them: as our lord and his Church, may bee therin worthily honored, and you with the realmes subiect to your regiment, may also thereby gayne abundance of benefits, with rewardes from God, and prayse and glory beefore men. Shewe not the coppy of this letter to any but only Master Gunter, because I haue passed therupon as stricte a promise to Master Walter, as hee desired.] Thus wrote the Pope to the king, sending likewise an other letter of the same effecte to the Bishops of England, which beeginneth: [it is reported to our eares, &c. Dated the last yeere in the Kalends of December. [Page 181] By all which is euidently apparant, that Pope Alexander perswaded a peace, in such sorte, as no detriment might therupon accrewe to the Church.
Pope Alexander did wryte withall by the same Legates to the king of France, to whom among other thinges hee openeth the desire of his mynde for honoring Saint Thomas with all worthy respectes, and decreeing to this holy man the Legantyne authority ouer the whole Church of France, if the Bishoppes of that kingdome were soe pleased. The letters of his Holines were thus indighted.
Amonge other renowned tokens of your magnificence and deuotion, wee esteeme as cheifest, that you haue with so many and soe great honors entertayned our reuerent brother Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, a man most religious, discreete and vertuous, and to vs, and the vniuersall Church in euery respect most deere and acceptable: and that out of your boūty you haue vouchsafed plētifully to beestowe soe large and royall benefittes out of your humanity on him, for which wee render your Maiestie the greatest and worthyest thanks wee may, and for your clemency therin commend you with most exceeding prayses in our lord. And this as it is most gratefull to God, to whom in his person you haue consecrated the same, soe wee accept it as deerely as if you had donne it to our selues; and because with all our affections wee desire the peace of the same Archbishop, wee haue thought conuenient to send our beeloued sonnes William of the tytell of saint Peter ad vincula, and Oddo of Saint Nicholas in carcere Tulliano Cardinalls, to our most deere sonne in Christ Henry famous king of England, to reforme by the helpe of God all matters beetweene the sayd king, and Archbishop, indifferently for the honor of them both, and for the conclusion of perfect [Page 182] concord and peace, and that they may in the same kinges landes on this syde of the seas heare and vnderstand all araysing controuersyes, and there inioy the Legantine authority of the Apostolike Sea.
Wherefore by our Apostolicall letters wee beeseech, admonish, and in our lord exhorte your Maiestie that for the reuerence of the Church of God, and the honor of Saint Peeter and vs, you would effectually doe your parte as well with the sayd king as Archbishop, and carefully labor in such sorte as to the honor of God and his Church, and likewise to the benefit and commodity of them both, they may frindly and peaceably agree together and bend their myndes and willes wholly therunto, soe it bee donne without impeachmēnt of the Archbishops and the Churches reputation. And if by endeauour and labor of the same Cardinalles with your trauell, they may returne to peace and agreement, the Church, which next vnder God is supported with your speciall assistance, shall receaue thereby no small encrease, and you in the blessed retribution of the iust obtayne of Allmighty God for this a speciall reward. But if otherwise (which God forbid) they cannot accorde, soe it may stand with your royall likeing and good pleasure, it would bee to vs in euery respect a singular pleasure, and very gratefull and acceptable, if it may bee without great scandall of the persons of your kingdome, that wee might endowe the sayd Arbishop with a particular honor aboue others, and make him our Legate vice-gerent in those your partes, and therefore doe most earnestly entreate your Highnes, if hee cannot a cheyue a peace with reseruation of the honor of himselfe and the Church, beeing the thing wee most desire, then that you will with all speede signify vnto vs your mynd heerein, and in the meane while conceaue this as an exceeding [Page 183] secret.] Thus wrote the Pope to the king of France. The Legates therefore as soone as they touched Frāce, presently saluted saint Thomas with their letters, and William did in this sorte wryte vnto him.
[Allthough thorough the variable alteration of tymes, for doubt least the Church of Rome, Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist. 9. beeing distempered with a Scysme, should sustayne the greater damages, wee seeme in the conceipts of some to decline from you to the aduerse parte; hee knoweth notwithstanding, who is the 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 [Page 185] 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.
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 [Page 184] [...] [Page 185] [...] [Page 186] 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 [Page 187] of Allmighty God in Venice; our enemyes the Scysmatikes lying, on euery syde, in ambushments ready to intercept vs, 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 frō 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; [Page 188] 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 imminēt 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 thē 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 [Page 190] brought to passe by your industry and [...]el, if God c [...] 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 Frāce, 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 [Page 191] These were the conditions 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 part [...] 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 cōplayntes to the king of Frāce 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 [Page 192] 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 [Page 193] 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 [Page 194] 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 suspēsion 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. [...]0.] Thus wrote William the Elect of Charters, whose singular commendation, Iohn of Salisbury in his letter to Iohn Bishope of 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 [Page 195] Manfred the Cardinall, to Bernard Bishop of Portua, and to Humbald and Hiacinth Cardinalles, Ibid [...]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 [Page 196] 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 [Page 197] publickly declared, that in regarde wee exempted Bishoppes and other Ecclesiasticall and tēporall 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 [Page 198] 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 eternall prayse and glory.] Dated at Lateran in the Nones of May.
These letters beeing receaued and diuulged in France did breede a singuler ioy in all deuoute myndes as the epistles of diuers doe testify. Moreouer it so fell out as the Popes Legates vpon occasions did often mention in excusing themselues to the king of England, that theyr authority was by his Holines diminished. Yea although the letters of Alexander were not extant, it is neuertheles most assured that the Legates haue professed the same in the presence of the kinges both of England and France, as it appeareth out of the epistle heereafter to bee recyted.
But the Legate of Papia, allbee it is his authority was very much lessened by the Apostolicall letters, did notwithstanding leaue nothing vndone to obtayne for the king of England his hartes desire, with the ouerthrowe of the cause of Saint Thomas, who in the meane tyme was encouraged with the Popes letters wryting in this sorte.
[Although the calamity of aduersityes and labors seemeth more terribly to threaten and preuayle against you, set neuerthelesse beefore your eyes the sundry examples of the holy fathers, who like your selfe suffering for the zeale of iustice many distresses and afflictions, deserued therby to win with great felicity an euerlasting crowne in the kingdome of heauen. Wherfore wee desire and admonish your wisedome that hauing in your sight the saying, Blessed are they who suffer persecution for iustice: you will not let your mynde be broaken with crosses, nor fall from her setled estate with any tribulations, but strengthen the same with the vertue of fortitude and constancy. Where you knowe assuredly the iustice and liberty of the Church to haue receaued detriment, doe not there in any case endeauor to renew a peace with the king of England to the suppression and abridgment of the Churches dignity: but on the other syde, so far as it may stand with the honor of your degree and liberty of the Church, humble your selfe and labor by all meanes to recouer his grace and fauor, neither conceaue of him a needelesse feare, nor require more security then is conuenient, beecause (as wee beelieue) after hee hath once reconcyled himselfe vnto you, he neither will himselfe offend, nor suffer any other to offend you: and for vs (as wee haue often signifyed to you both by message and wryting) wee will euer loue you as our dearest with a sinceare charity, and procure [Page 200] the conseruation of your honor with the encrease of your liberty and dignity, so far as God will permitt vs.] This was Alexanders Epistell worthy so renowned a Pope. But to the matter, let vs now see what ensued heere vpon. After long indirect wayes and perplexityes, the Legates who were sent from the Citty, did hardly at the length, in the Kalends of Ianuary and end of Autumne come together to the king of England for managing the busines wherin they were employed. But how matters passed beetweene them and the king, theyre owne reporte to Pope Alexander, in the name of the Legates of the Apostolike Sea, declareth, Ibidem epist. 28. which beeing written by one of them William of Papia, with a mynde extreamly bent against the Archbishop, layeth all the blame on Saint Thomas, in so much as wee ought not to make any reckoning thereof, vnles hee bee withall admitted to audience, who beeing innocent, was accused as culpable. Yet heare his relation, or rather a most bitter accusation of Saint Thomas.
To our most blessed father and lord Alexander by the grace of God the most high Bishop, William and Oddo by the same grace Cardinalles, wishing prosperity remember the humble and deuoute seruice of theyr subiection.
The reporte of Vvilliam the Legate to the Pope, with an inuectiue against Saint Thomas.Comming to the dominions of the most renowned king of England, wee founde the controuersy beetweene him and Canterbury aggrauated in far worser sorte (beelieue vs) then willingly wee could haue wished: for the kinge with the greatest parte of his followers affirmed how the Archbishop with greate vehemency incensed the most worthy king of France against him, and in like sorte induced [Page 201] his cosyn the Earle of Flanders, who beefore did beare him no malice, to fall out with him, and rayse the most powerfull warre hee could against him, and this hee knewe of certaynty as a thing apparant by euident demonstrations. For wheras the Earle departed from the king with shew of freindship, the Arbishop comming in his prouince to the very seate of the warre, incyted, as much as in him lay, as well the king of France, as the aforesayde Earle to armes: when therfore wee first entred into parlee with the king at Cane, wee deliuered into his handes (as best beeseemed vs) the letters frō your Holines, which when hee had diligently and considerately read, finding in the perusall of them, that they somewhat differed and disagreed from others which hee had receaued from your Holines formerly concerning the same matter, beegan to bee styrred with greater indignation, and that the more, because, as hee sayde, hee was assured how the Archbishop, after our departure from your Holines, receaued letters whereby hee was absolutely exempted from our iudgment, and was no way bound to answer before vs.
Hee affirmed moreouer that the informations deliuered to your Holines, concerning the ancient customes of England, were rather boulstred out with falshoodes, then supported by truth, which the Bishoppes there present did witnes. The king offered alsoe, that if any customes since his tyme were deuysed contrary to the Ecelesiasticall lawes, hee would submitt them to the iudgment of your Holines to bee confirmed or cancelled. The Legates appoint a tyme for parlee with Saint Thomas. Calling therefore vnto vs the Archbishoppes, Bishoppes, and Abbotes of the kinges Dominions, to the end the king should not absolutely depriue vs of all hope of peace, but rather suffer himselfe to bee drawen might haue a conference with the Arbishop, as well concerning the peace as the iudgment. Sending therfore letters vnto him by our owne Chaplaynes, wee appointed a certayne and safe place, where [Page 202] wee might haue conference with him in the feast of Sa [...] Martin: Hee neuertheles pretending excuses putt of th [...] Parlee vntill the Octaues of this Saint, which truly molested the king more then wee could imagine; but when wee sawe the Archbishoppe (although wee offered hi [...] safe conductes) would neuertheles giue vs no meetinges in any parte of the kinges dominions which confyned on France, wee beeing willing to yeeld to him, to the end there might bee nothing wanting in vs, which might redounde to his profit, came to a place in the realme of France which himselfe appointed.
The parles beetween the Legates and S. Thomas.Where being at the parlee, wee first beegā most earnestly to perswade and instantly exhorte him, that hee would beehaue himselfe to the king, who had bin his singuler Benefactor, with such humility, as might minister vnto vs sufficient matter whereupon to ground our petition of peace: at which motion retyring himselfe asyde with his freindes, after consultation with them hee answered, that he had sufficiently humbled himselfe to the king without impeachement of the honor of God, the liberty of the Church, the reputation of his owne person, the possessions of the Churches, and lastly the iustice due to him and his; these thinges so numbred vp, wee seriously perswading him (as it was necessary) to descend to particulars, when hee would alleage nothing either certayne or particular wee consequently demaunded of him, if in the matters specifyed in your letters, hee would submitt himselfe to our iudgement in sorte as the king and the Bishoppes had allready vndertaken to doe; to which our demaund bee presently replyed, hee had receaued no Mandat from your holines to that purpose; but if hee, with all his, might first bee fully restored, hee would then proceede heerein according as by the Apostolike Sea hee should bee commanded.
Soe returning from the parlee, since his wordes neither [Page 203] [...]ended to iudgment nor agreement, nor yet hee would by [...]ny meane enter into the matter: wee manifested vnto the [...]ing some thinges knowne to vs concealing neuertheles [...] as it was conuenient) other passages, and tempering what wee heared with discretion. Hauing therfore ended [...]ur speech, the king and peeres there present beegan to maintayne, that his Maiestie was now sett at liberty, since [...]he Archbishop disclaymed from iudgment: wherupon after the king had shewed signes of great disturbance, the Bishoppes and Abbotts of the kingdome of England toge [...]her with many others of the Clergie demaunded earnestly whether wee could enforce by vertue of any speciall mandate, or by our Legantyne power, the Archbishop to stand to iudgment, and when they vnderstood our facultyes were heerin insufficient least the Archbishop beeing [...] not subiect to iudgment should (as before hee had done) worke molestation to some of the kingdome, in regarde that therin our presence could profit them nothing, and was not able to defend them against the Archbishop, with a generall consultation and consent they appealed to the audience of your Holines, assigning the terme of theyr appeale the feast of Saint Martin, which shall fall the next winter following, flying in the meane tyme for defence of them and theires to the Apostolicall protection, and including all the subiectes of the realme with the whole kingdome within the Edict of this appellation. Lastly wee knowing this matter euidently to tend to the Churches exceeding detriment, did by your and our authority absolutely forbid the Archbishoppe (first in regarde hee was restrayned by your letters, then because they appealed solemly against him) that hee should not heereafter attempt any thing to the aggreeuance of the kingdome, people, or Churches of the realme. It is therfore the parte of your Apostolicall prouidence carefully to foresee that this busines turne not to the greeuous damage of the Church, as [Page 204] they who respect the Churches especiall commodity feare and doubt.]
This was the relation of the Apostolicall Legates to Pope Alexander. But heere wee are to se [...] downe likewise the epistle of Saint Thomas concerning these matters to his Holines, which was thus.
Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist. 50.[The greatnes of our miseryes and bitternes of our greifes confounded the myndes of vs and our fellowes in exile, and afflicted with a heauy scandall the most Christian king the peeres of France compassionating the Church, which as it seemed in the comming of Iohn of Oxeforde was giuen ouer into the handes of them who sought the depriuatiō of her life, in soe much as with exasperated hartes they complayned that faith and truth were taken of from the earth. But (for the which the father of mercys reward your pitty, most holy iudge, most liuing Parent, and of the Church of God faithfull Guardian) according to the multitude of dolors in our hartes, your consolations haue reioyced our soules. For now are wee reuiued in hope, and the most Christian king with his kingdome yeelding infinite thankes to your Apostleshippe (which God most highly blesse and conserue for many yeeres) retorte all this their indignation vpon them who gloryed they had with their oathes tryumphed ouer your Maiestie. For the king hauing receaued your l [...]ters of excuse wrytten by your excellency, instantly praysed and magnifyed the grace of your wisedome, iustice, sanctity and blessednes, and with great ioy layd open to the detractors the malice and deceyptes of them who had with false rumors so fowly scandalized the Church of France, beating this someytmes into the eares of them (if perchance they were present) who were vnwilling to harken therunto, in regarde they sided with the contrary parte. But his ioy was more encreased after his conference with your Legates, by whom [Page 205] beeing receaued of him with reuerence (as hee confessed) hee vnderstood they came not to preiudice the liberty of the Church or vs, but to compose a peace beetweene the king of England and vs, and (if it were possible) beetweene him and the Church of God. And I pray God they may prosper in this way, with his grace, v herin they shall finde vs most ready Assystantes for retayning the honor of God, and the Churches liberty.
And beeing inuited by them to a parlee in the confines of the kingdomes the tenth day following, wee hauing then (wee speake on our conscience) but three horses in our stable, obtayned a forbearance fer seauen dayes more, to assemble together our exiled company beeing poore wretches miserably dispersed heere and there, yet necessary as well for comforte in this intended iourney, as to helpe vs with theyre counsell in the caryage of this busines: who albeeit they were hardly able to be called together in a tyme so shorte, and penury soe pressing on all sides, neuertheles wee gaue our Lord the Legates meeting on the Octaues of Saint Martin. The most Christian king by his seruantes appoynted for that purpose (for which God in the mercy of his word reward him) liberally and bountefully entertayning vs with our fellowes the whole company of Christes exiled whoe flocked together from euery place. And as it was signifyed to vs by some, our persecutors did all they might to breede vexation in our iourneys and chargeable disbursements, to the end they might make vs burdensome and odious by the great weyght and tedious prolonging of our expenses, to the king of France, who among others the poore of Christ, releiueth vs with his almes: for they thinke to reape a great benefitt of their malice, if they coulde disturbe vs of this habitation, which God hath prouyded [Page 206] for vs, and depriue vs of the Princes charity, [...] as they beereaued vs of our assistance among the Cistercians. There came only with my Lordes the Legates, the Archbishop of Roan, the other Bishoppes and Abbots of our prouince (whom it pleased the king to call) beeing left at Roan.
They layd therfore open first before our eyes the cruelty of the king, the malice of the tymes, the necessityes and calamityes of the Churches, which in all partes of the 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 [Page 207] 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 [Page 208] 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 [Page 209] 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 [Page 210] of many to diminish the credit of our cause: wher on the other parte (if it standeth with your pleasure) wee are not bound to admitt our aduersary for a iudge: neither can wee bee confident of any heerein but only in your presence, for by reason of the banishment of vs and ours, the king soe frighteth and terrifyeth all men with the vexation and losses of others, as none, knowing it, dareth once affoarde vs a good word. Considering deepely all this, wee tempered our answer soe as wee neither refused nor accepted this iudgment and dangerous tryall: For wee sayde, whensoeuer wee, who were thus beerefte of Archbishoppricke, gouerment, and all our goodes, were restored agayne to what wee lofte, wee would then gladly, and when wee ought submitt our selues to your determination, or the iudgment of him or them, whom by your mandate you should appoint, nor could wee nor would wee flye from iustice; in the meane tyme wee could not with any reason bee constrayned to a contentious course of lawe, neither were our poore meanes able to supporte it, neither could the liberality of the most renowned king, without molestation, extend it selfe soe far as to mayntaine vs with the poore of Christ our banished breathren vpon his expence vnder the roofes of strangers, especially since hee aboundeth not at this instant with money; for where hee hath plenty of victualls, there can he more tollerably defray our charges.
Then descended they to the third question, demaunding if wee would admitt the proces of the Bishoppes who appealed against vs beefore those iudges: But wee answered, wee receaued no mandate of yours concerning this busines, nor yet that our pouerty was able to vndergoe the expences of such a controuersy: forth at was the drifte of our Aduerssaryes (as wee vnderstood by them who could not bee ignorant heerin) to giue a [Page 211] taynte to our person vpon any occasion in the presence of the Legates, therby to worke vs any wrong. For they coniectured that none of the prouince durst assist: vs against the king, in regarde wherof they might the sooner procure our ruyne: and the king called out only those to this conference, who beeing our Aduersaryes from the first raysing of this storme, were knowne to bee the inuentors of soe greate a mischeife, which were the Archbishop of Yorke with the Bishoppes of London and Chichester, the Bishop of Worcester beeing also sent for with them, that vnder the vayle of his worthines the malice of the rest might bee shadowed. But as your wisedome may remember these who now soe applaude the kinges pleasure, and aboue the rest (as it is openly knowne) thirst our bloud, are they who sometymes soe much extolled in their letters full fraught with our prayses, the procuring of our Pall, and the forme of our election together with our person; but now contradicting both truth, and themselues, through an impudency of lying and flattering, they beecome contemptible, whilst at the pleasure of the Prince, like the slaue in the Comedy, now they say, now they gaynesay: these are they (o father) who giue hornes to the sinner, and if hee bee not made enough, incense him more, laying softe cushons vnder his elbowe, and lulling a sleepe on daynty pillowes the heade that languisheth with sinnes.
Since therfore they who ought with their counsell, assistāce and authority to bee the pillars of the Church, doe now with their flattery and expences animate and arme the persecutors of the diuine lawe and of our selues against her and vs, it is not safe nor possible for vs to subiect our selues to iudgment, but only in the presence of your Holines, and to bee examined by your selfe: For although the Church may conceaue a great [Page 212] hope of the sinceare proceeding of one of the Legates, and wee are confident in him, especially in matters appertayning to God, neuertheles there is not any man but your selfe to whom wee dare cōmitt this cause of our Lordes; and for the other, God make him the man who may saue his soule and beeseeme the place of a preist Cardinall of the Romane Church; yet let that neuer come to passe which (pleaseth it you to remember) wee forewarned and feare will yet happen, if it should fortune, the wisedome, eloquence and authority of my Lord William should concurre with the power and willfull disposition of the king of England, wee doubt (wee saye) they will demaunde of vs by their counsell and consent those thinges which either bee greeuous for you to heare and impossible to bee effected, or otherwise displeasing to God and odious to the world.
And because the charge of all Churches resteth on your shoulders, turne (if it please you) your eyes on the west, marke and see in what sorte the Church, is there handled, let it bee tould by the lord Oddo, whom wee beeleiue the spirit of God guydeth, let him declare what hee behouldeth, what hee knoweth concerning the Church and Prouince of Towers, what hee heard reported in England, what hee hath by experience found in Normandy, and wee beeleiue you will say with teares, there is no greife like to the greife of this. For to let passe the Churches of Canterbury and Towers which hee houldeth in his handes, as you haue heard, and wee wish you would heare it more fully, hee hath now of long tyme retayned to himselfe seauen vacant Bishopprickes in the prouinces beelonging to vs and Roan, nor suffereth any pastors to bee ordayned in them, the Ecclesiasticall state of the kingdome is giuen his followers to bee trampled vnder their [Page 213] feete and made their prey: If wee looke not to this (most holy father) how shall wee answer Christ in the day of iudgment? who will resist Antichrist at his comming, if wee suffer thus the vices and offenses of his forerunners? with such induring as this, Potentates growe prowde, the kinges of Nations turne to bee Tyrantes, and imagine the Church ought to haue no right, no priuiledge, but depending only on their pleasure: but blessed is hee who houldeth and dasheth the litle ones on the rocke. For if Iudas beeing commanded by the lawe rooteth not out the Cannonytes, they will growe vp to bee perpetually his Aduersary and his stinge. Bee therfore (father) of good comforte, and bee a couragious commander, wee haue more on our syde then they haue on theirs; God hath broken in peeces Fredericke the hammer of the impious, beeing ready also shortly to strike others vnles they amend and haue peace with the Church of God.
And to conclude, wee only expect the sentence of your mouth, or of his who hath bin accustomed to beereaue Princes of their spiritts, and deliuer the poore from the potent. You shall receaue more by word of mouth which wee thought inconuenient to committ to wryting. Let your excellency bee thus perswaded, that if wee would from the beeginning haue giuen way to these wicked customes, wee needed not now intercession of any Cardinall, nor yet of any man liuing. In vayne (God willing) doe they lay beefore our eyes the examples of the Cicilians or 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 [Page 214] 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 [Page 215] 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 [Page 216] 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 [Page 217] 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 [Page 218] 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 [Page 219] 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 [Page 220] 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 [Page 221] 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 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, [Page 222] wryting among other thinges vnto him th [...] [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 rep [...]rte of the last conference beetweene the Legates and the King [...]. 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 thē soe hastily, as their lodging beeing neere at hand, yet could they not expecte the comming of their horses, but were enforced to [Page 223] 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 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 [Page 224] 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 P [...]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 also in the name of the Bishop of London, whom the Archbishope held for excommunicate, and therfore signifyed to the Cardinalls, that they who were employed in this message, had communicated with those whom hee had excommunicated: although to delude the Apostolike Mandate they seemed to the ignorant absolued, for our lord the Pope yeelded at the last only to this, that in danger of death they might bee absolued, taking first an oath to submitt themselues to the Popes Mandate, if they recouered, wherupon they fayning themselues to bee in hazard of their liues, because sometymes by their lordes commandement they were to crosse the seas, or other whiles to trauayle into Wales, obtayned absolution from a Welch Bishoppe Llanesua, a man vnexpert allmost in both lawes, and who as one wise in making his bargaine, had receaued at the kinges handes the Abbey of Abeedon for a Bishoppricke, and to the end no question might bee had of the Popes Mandate, the Archbishoppe sent to the Legates the Apostolicall letters, wherby they were straightly commanded to reduce all such as were soe absolued into their former sentence of excommunication, vnles they fully restored vnto the Archbishoppe and his Associates their possessions, with all other thinges by them vniustly taken away, and that no obstacle of any Appeale should euer hinder this Apostolicall Mandate.] And afterwardes. [Hee therfore instantly beesought [Page 226] the Legates, that according to my Lord the Pope [...] Mandate they would vrge these persons excomm [...] cated by him to make satisfaction, or to returne the [...] backe to their censure of accursing, &c. saying withall, that Legates were inuited to this busines, who were weake on this beehalfe, to the end they might bee bowed with euery blaste.] But concerning them who stole out an absolution in regarde they were to passe the seas, Cod. Vat. lib. 2. epist. 98. the epistell of Iohn of Salisbury is extant written to Pope Alexander wherin hee doth manifest that they could in no case bee accompted for absolued.
After William the Legate vnderstood Saint Thomas had not admitted the Bishoppes messingers in respect they were not duely absolued from the excommunication they had incurred, hee himselfe as well in his owne as his associate Legates name sent these letters to the Bishoppes of Norwich and Chichester, both of England, who had the matter by him committed to them for absoluing the excommunicate.
Ibidem.[Wee doe by these our letters command your wisedomes that vpon sight heereof yee absolue such persons as are sayde to remayne in your handes intangled in the chaynes of excommunication by the Archbishop of Canterbury, taking first of them a promise to stand to our awarde; and that this occasion beeing sett aside, either of yee, to whom these our letters shall first come, doe endeauor to prosecute and accomplish whatsomeuer shall seeme moderate in your iudgmēt, and after they haue receaued your Mandate, then signify that vpon their oath they are absolued.] These were the letters written in the name of the Legates. Salisbury mentioneth these letters in his epistle to the Archdeacon of Excester in this sorte: Ibidem epist. 101. [For hee shall receaue shortly (if hee hath them not yet) letters from the Legates commanding him to absolue those who [Page 227] stand excommunicate by the Archbishop of Canterbury, notwithstanding the Legates themselues haue therin no power to command, but are by the Apostolicall letters forbidden to come within England, or any way to intermedle with the affaires of the kingdome, vnlesse a most perfect peace bee first concluded.] And after: [And let them bee tould that they shall haue no beenefit of absolution for obtayning saluation, vnles pennance, confession, and satisfaction doe forerun it, &c. This and other thinges did Salisbury wryte, out of whose other letters to Alexander receaue heere againe the complaints of such as were banished for the Ecclesiasticall liberty in these wordes. Cod Vat. lib. 2. epist. 100. [Our soules (ô father) are drowned in bitternes, in soe much as I feare exceedingly in your sight, least the surpassing force of sorrowe should beereaue our wordes of modesty and patience, in regarde the wonderfull depth of our miserys knoweth not how to confine our complayntes: For some of our fellowes dying for the defence of iustice, expect from God and the Church reuenge of their innocent blood, others are afflicted with sundry tortures, wee are all banished, The complaintes of the banished English-men to the Pope. and haue long lingred in exile: but ther is one only remedy left to the faithfull in their tribulation, incessantly to solicite the diuine Maiestie with their prayers, and to reueale to him the secretts of their inward myndes, that they may soe moue their father to mercy, and obtayne comforte in their calamityes. As often as the children of Israel vsed this, soe often wee reade they were deliuered out of their necessityes and extremityes, they had recourse to the Tabernacle of truce, where the holy of holyes was reserued, that is to say, the commandementes of God which far excell all iustifications, in their greatest difficultys they did flye to Moyses, and Aaron the holy of our Lord; and to whom shall the wretched of Canterbury [Page 228] runne to bee Mediators beetweene God [...] them, but to the Roman Church where flourisheth the conseruation of the diuine lawe, and primacy of all Preisthoode; for next vnder God (if hee resolueth to saue vs) wee shall bee presently deliuered; if you lifte vp your handes Amelech shall bee destroyed, and hee who hath made you a God ouer Pharao, will ouerthrowe all the Churches Aduersaryes before your face.] Thus far hee complaining afterwardes of the excommunicated who were vnduely absolued, as wee haue before declared. But Pope Alexander vnderstanding this, wrote thus to the Cardinalls Legates against those who were absolued without forerunning satisfaction.
[Wee are let to vnderstand that some of those, whom our reuerent brother Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury hath excommunicated, Ibidē Epist. 99. The Popes letter cō cerning the absolution of the excō municated. doe still presume to withhould the goods and possessions of his Church and Clergie, and make their commodity of them; wherfore beecause it is vnworthy that while they retayne these goodes and possessions, they should bee released of their accursed bandes, wee doe by these our Apostolike letters command your discretion that if (as wee haue heard) they are absolued by any, yee doe streightly on our beehalfe enioyne them vpō their oathes instantly to yeelde vp the possessions and goods soe wrōgfully vsurped vnto the persons and Churches to whom of right they beelong, and that heereafter they attempt not vpon any occasion what someuer to keepe them or intermedle with them; and if they will not obey your commandement, that then, all delay and appeale sett a syde, yee recall and cast them backe into their former sentence of excommunication vntill they haue made full satisfaction; yea although they haue bin absolued by your selues, yet neuertheles accomplish [Page 229] yee this our commandement.]
Thus wrote Alexander but the next yeere 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 Salisbu [...]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, repētance 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 [Page 230] 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 [Page 231] 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 [Page 232] 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) cont [...] 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 Englād 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 [Page 233] [...]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, [Page 234] 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 mā 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 hug [...] masse of money among thē, and carefully endeauored to winne the king of Cicillie and the nobility of Ro [...] to bee his, that all might bee intercessors to the Pope to procure the accomplishment of his requestes agai [...] Saint Thomas: but how Pope Alexander beehaue [...] 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 assistāce 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 th [...] 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, [Page 236] was offended beeyond measure, abusing him [...] [...] 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 durst appeale to the exemples of the Archbishoppe of Canterburyes Predecessors, of whom it is euident that many of them did constantly resist the kinges who did violate the Ecclesiasticall liberty, and vpon that occasion suffred many yeeres exile and banishment, among whō what great afflictions sainct Anselme, and after him Lanfrancke (who liued vnder this king Henry's Granfather) for the same cause endured, is in the former Tome sufficiently declared. But let vs returne to Alane who Proceedeth thus in Quadrilogus.
[While the Archbishop for a litle space seemed sil [...] [Page 237] the king of France burst out in these wordes: My Lord Archbishop will you bee greater then holy men? Will you bee better then Peter? what question make you? Loe peace is euen at the dore. To whom the Archbishop replyed. True it is (quoth hee) my Lord, my Predecessors were much better and greater then my selfe, and many in their ages, allthough they did not absolutely destroy all, yet neuertheles did cut of some weedes which were extolled against God, for had they cleane rooted out all, what had bin now left to enkindle against mee this fire of temptation, wherby now beeing tryed in the same fornace with them, I may with them bee found alsoe worthie of the same praise and glory: yea God much better prouiding for mee it is come to passe that I haue labored soe securely in their lot and meritt, as I may bee partaker of their trauell and rewarde; neither yet if any of them came shorte or exceeded in any thing, am I bound to followe him in his want or excesse; for wee reproue Peter in deniyng Christ, but wee commend Peter by all meanes who resisted the Tyranny of Nero with the losse of his life, and why truly but beecause Peeter would not yeeld to him in that wherin hee could not without the losse of his soule dissemble? and therfore with conquering his enemyes, hee dyed as to the flesh; and with such pressures as these the Catholike Church hath rysen and encreased: Our fathers haue suffered beccause they would not endure the name of Christ should bee drawne into subiection, and should I bee restored into the fauour of a man, with suppressing the honour of Christ? God forbid (quoth hee) God forbid.] Wherupon the peeres of both kingdomes turned all against the Archbishop, imputing, the want of the peace to his arrogancy; one Earle among the rest openly protesting, that in regard the Archbishoppe [Page 238] resisted the counsell and determination of bo [...] [...] domes, hee was not heereafter worthy of assista [...] from either, but cast out of England should no longer now bee entertayned in France, whervnto is added by Herberte.
[When the parlee therefore was thus dissolued, euery one returned home not without great murmuring, the Archbishoppes associates in exile beeing lefte in exceeding dispaire. The kinges had no sooner ended this conference, but they hastily tooke horse and departed neither saluting nor yet beeing saluted of the Archbishoppe. Yea also the king of England, who beefore slandered the Archbishoppe fowly to his face, now in his departure among other thinges, insulting sayde, how hee had that day reuenged him on his traytor; in like sorte the Courtiers, who had bin Mediators for the peace, did at the last in his presence deepely charge him, that hee was euer proude, allwayes high-mynded, wise in his owne conceypte, à follower of his priuate fancy and opinion; adding moroeuer, it was an exceeding mischeife and an immeasurable dommage and danger to the Church that hee was euer instauled a gouernour thereof, and that the same beeing partly ruinated allready by him, would now bee instantly and vtterly ouerthrowne. But the Archbishoppe setting a watch beefore his mouth whenas sinners banded against him, was made to those who vpbrayeded and insulted ouer him as a man not hearing, and with humility answered gently saying: Beeware (brother) least the Church of God bee destroyed by you, for by mee (God willing) it shall neuer bee: and the man to whom hee directed his speech, was Iohn, by birth an Englishman, but then Bishop of Poytiers, one by reason of long acquaintance and society very familiar, deere and acceptable to the Archbishoppe; But [...] [Page 239] others who reuyled him hee made no answer, beeing vndoubledly his Disciple, who, when hee was cursed, accursed not againe, and when hee suffered, threatened no reuenge. And thus hee departed from the parlee in France, as hee did beefore from the Parliament in North-Hamptonne, beeing made a reproache to the rich, and contemptible to the proude, and hee with his associates returning, followed the king of France whose lodginges were prepared in the Castle of Mount-Mirable. The Archbishop had beefore lodged in this Castle with the king, who by his Courtiers did euer prouide him liberally of all necessaries; But the king did not then condescend (as in other parlees hee had bin accustomed) to see the Archbishop in his lodging, whereupon it was presently coniectured that the king stood not soe well affected to him now as beefore; yet neuertheles the Archbishop shewed himselfe pleased and contented, neither was his countenāce proceiued to bee any whit altered in this respecte, wherin may bee considered the constancy of this renowned man together with the inuincible courage of his mynde, who in a world thus exceedingly crossing him, shewed none or very little trouble or signe of care.
Departing on the next morrowe from the Castle and comming that day to Charters, many of the people (according to the custome) mett together to see the passengers, and asking who they were, when they vnderstood the Archbishoppe of Canterbury, was there, they pointed at him with their fingers, who knewe him not, that hee was the man, and saying, (though softly) among themselues: Loe heere the Archbishoppe who yesterday in parlee would not deny God for the kinges, nor subiect the diuine honor to their willes. And many times after as [Page 240] hee trauelled thorough France diuers of the people in this sorte extolled him. Leauing Charters hee came with the best speede hee could to Senon.] The Compiler of the epistles addeth thus: [When hee had therfore passed three dayes in the company of the king of France, in such sorte as neither the king himselfe not any in his name came to visitt him, and whereas in busines of this nature my lord of Canterbury was wont to bee maintayned by the kinges liberality, now after the parlee, and for the tyme that I tould you hee had nothing at all beestowed on him, but that sometymes the Archbishop of Senon, otherwhile the Bishoppe of Poytiers or such like his brethrē, moued with his misery in passing by him releiued him as a Beggar, a thing terrible to all his followers, beeing quite distitute of all worldly helpe. Hauing thus ended the third day of this lamentable iourney, whyle they sate in their lodging discoursing together heereof and deuising whether to goe, my lord of Canterbury with a well contented countenance, as if hee had tasted no aduersity at all, and absolute against all Fortunes power, applying his speech to his mournfull company, smyling sayde: 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 cā 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 [Page 241] 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 [Page 242] tyme forward doe promise neuer to bee wanting to yo [...] 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 [Page 243] 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 terrib [...] attempts the king of England [...] gainst Sai [...] 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 [Page 244] 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 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 [Page 245] 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 [Page 246] 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 [Page 247] 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 [Page 248] 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 discreete and worthie Aduocate of the Romane Church. And how far the commission extended which they receaued from Pope Alexander, is thus sent in a secret relation of a certayne frind before rehearsed, vsing these wordes in the Conclusion. [Notwithstanding all this the Pope restrayned these Nuntioes with the obligation of an oath to a precise and confyned forme of peace, in such sort as they should not exceede their limited boundes, commaunding also seuerly that they should abstayne from receauing any rewardes of the king, or burdening him with expences, vnles the Churches peace were first procured, nor yet make any longer stay beeyond the setled day assigned them.] Concerning the forme of peace (as it was expressed for the Bishoppe) it contayned nothing dishonorable or derogating either from the Church or his person, or in any respect diminishing his authority, but that hee might freely without impediment of any occasion or Appeale excercise the Ecclesiasticall seuerity on the king himselfe, the kingdome, or any persons of the realme, in such sorte as hee knewe expedient for the Church of God, vsing neuertheles therin the counsell of his freindes and men of discretion, that while the treatis of peace continued, hee should more mildly proceede, and wincke at many thinges; but if afterwardes, (which God forbid) they preuayled not for [Page 249] peace, hee should arise (as one returning to his former strength) to prostrate with greater power the Churches persecutors. And this was there written concerning the commission giuen by Pope Alexander to his Nuntioes by whom hee sent this letter to Saint Thomas. Ibid. epist. 1.
[Wee haue receaued lately the Embassadors and letters of the renowned king of England, and wheras hee demanded therin of vs crtayne greate and difficult matters, for obtayning wherof they laboured earnestly and vehemently with vs, yet neuertheles they could not incline our mynde to satisfy their desire. But that they might not haue any reason or occasion to complayne of rigorous proceeding on our parte, or that wee refused in any thing to yeeld vnto them, following the steppes and examples of our Predecessors (who wee doubt not are Saintes) wee determined with all kindnes modesty, and sweetnes, to recall the king from his peruerse purpose, to mitigate his mynde, and asswage his cruelty; wherupon it came to passe that wee by the graue aduise and counsell of our brethren, decreede to send to the kinges presence our deerely beeloued sonnes Gratian the Subdeacon our notary, an honorable and learned person, whom for the memory of our holy father of sacred remembrance our Predecessor Pope Eugenius, and in regarde of his owne most sincere fidelity and ready seruice, wee esteeme euery way deare and acceptable, and with him Master Viuian who for his long experienced frindshippe, wisedome, and learning wee loue most intyrely; by whom and also by our letters wee admonish his Maiestie with all care and dilligence as much as in vs lyeth, that restoring to you his peace and fauor, hee would recall you honorably to your Church, and suffer you and yours to rest in all peace and tranquillity. Wherfore wee entreate you and aduise your brotherhood that carefully weyghing [Page 250] the difficultyes and malice of the tyme, and considering with your selfe how our forefathers haue beehaued themselues for auoyding such stormes as these in dayes of like extremity, you would endeauore by all meanes, as far as with preseruation of the honor of your place and office may bee donne, to recouer the fauor and good-will of your kinge, and labour to mitigate his mynde, in shewing such patience, gentlnes and meekenes, as none may iustly say your selfe was in faulte, wherby his loue and kindnesse was not fully obtayned; wee request alsoe your wisedome, yee wee warne counsell and command you that before the departure of our Nuntioes you proceede not in any sentence against the king or any persons of his kingdome, or against the realme it selfe: and if perchance (which wee beeleeue not) you haue allready pronounced any, you doe now suspend the same vntill that tyme bee expired: all which wee say to the end wee may take away from him all occasion and matter of complaynte, and by such meanes ouercome the hardnes of his harte. But if it fall out otherwise (which God forbid) wee will by no meanes depriue you of your authority, but rather preserue the same intire, and carefully affourd you therin our assistance and counsell. The rest which remayneth wee haue left to bee declared by our Nuntioes, to whose words wee wish you to giue creditt, and also to yeeld to their counsells and exhortations.] Thus did Alexander wryte to Saint Thomas, Ibidem epist. 3. The Popes letter sent by his Nuntios to the King of England. and likewise to the king of England other letters in these wordes.
We haue receaued with fatherly loue your Maiesties letters which you sent vs by our beeloued sonnes Reynold of Salisbury and Randulphe Archdeacon of Lau [...] beeing both of them wise and discreete men, and withall carefull and diligent in the busines committed to [Page 251] their charge, and with attention and consideration haue wee heard the contentes of the same. And when wee had fully vnderstood your royall demandes, as well out of the substance of your letters, as the relation of your Embassadors, and had together with our brethren taken long aduice therupon, it could not appeare to vs that wee might with our honor and the estimation of the Church yeelde to any of them in such sorte as you required; notwithstanding to the end wee may in all thinges, so far as standeth with the glory of God and his Church, assent to your Maiestie, and that you may bee resolued that what wee doe, proceedeth not any whitt out of obstinacy but necessity, wee haue sent to your royall presence our beeloued sonnes Gratian the Subdeacon our Notary, together with Master Viuian, beeing both of them graue and discreete men, and most deare and acceptable as well to vs, as the whole Catholike Church, by whom wee haue at large signifyed to your Maiestie our pleasure and will, and with all what shall concerne your honor and aduancement, and ought truly to bee most conuenient for your royall dignity. And wheras wee vnderstood out of your Maiesties letters that you haue soe farre ouercome your will and mynde in the busines concerning our venerable brother Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury, as for the reuerence you beare to the Church and vs you will suffer him to returne home and quietly enioy his pastorall office in peace, yeelding to you what of duty hee oweth; wee embrace the same as a thing most gratefull and acceptable to vs, giuing therfore the greatest prayse and thankes wee can vnto the diuine clemency which hath heerin vndoubtedly inspired your harte, instantly beeseeching your Maiestie, yea and inioyning you for the remission of your sinnes that in this importunate matter you will respect rather God [Page 252] then man, and submitt your selfe heerin only for the loue of our Allmighty Lord. Concerning that you sayde was signifyed to your Maiestie of vs and the alienation of our affection from you, it is not conuenient your discreete wisedome should credit euery spirit, since there are many detractors and slanderers in whose wordes (howsoeuer they seeme) there is neuertheles no trust to bee had; and for our partes wee haue a will and desire to loue you with all our harte, as our most deare sonne in Christ; nor any way to proceede seuerely against you, vnles (which God forbid) your selfe enforce vs therevnto. Dated at Beneuent the day beefore the Kalends of March.] Wherby you may concture what tyme the Nuntioes vndertooke their iourney.
Cod. Vat. lib. 3. epist. 2.But the same Pope wrote an other letter to the sayde king in substance like, although somewhat longer on the sixt Ide of May or March, for the word to the reader seemeth vncertayne.
Concerning the tyme when the Nuntios descended into France wee may well coniecture the same by the letters of Iohn of Salisbury wrytten to the Archdeacon of Excester, who thus declareth in what sorte hee mett them. Ibidem epist. 5. [I came lately in the feast of Saint Mary Magdaleine to Viziliake where I encountred my Lord the Popes Nuntios: vpon occasion (to learne what my Lord of Canterbury might heereby either hope or feare; for these newes (as it is thought) posessed the tongues and eares of both kingdomes, and not only those of the Clergie, but for the most parte alsoe the Layety. I desired to see the man who boare my name, for he was called Iohn which signifyeth grace whēce Gratiā is deriued, ād which is more my Coūtrymā and in a sorte my brother; Gratian (to whom as you remēber) you were assigned to be Tutor and Teacher [Page 253] at Ferentyne by Eugenius the Pope of late holy memory; I name him confidētly my brother with whom I obserue the same lawes of fayth and society, and allthough wee had not both our originall in one Citty, yet no man will question but wee are both of one countrey, who calleth to mynde the countrey of Christes souldiers, a place common to vs both, and wherunto charity directeth vs. Beeing therfore receaued kindly and with respect, as well by him as his Associate Viuian, they declared in familiar sorte vnto mee that my Lord the Pope and the Church of Rome did fauor greatly the Archbishop of Canterbury, yea soe far forth, as vnles the king according to the counsell of his holines did conclude a peace with my Lord of Canterbury, they were to denounce to his Maiestie that hee should not only bee yeelded vp into the Archbishoppes handes, but that the Pope himselfe would also proceede seuerely against him.] And a litle after. [And truly the Nuntios haue a forme prescribed them, the limitts whereof they dare not attempt to breake, beecause they are by an oath bounde therunto; in such sorte as they are commanded, vnles peace bee established, to forbeare soe precisely from receauing any of the kinges rewards, as they were not permitted to take any thing for defraying their charges.] Now as touching the proceedings of the Nuntios afterwardes, there is a most exact relation of a secret freind (I suppose by all likelyhood it was Peter of Bloys) who remayning with the king, did by priuie letters signify to sainct Thomas whatsomeuer hee sawe, Ibid. & Epist 6 The meeting beetweene the king and the Popes Nuntios. which wee will heere set downe word by word: for thus it was.
On the day of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady were deliuered at Argenton vnto the king my Lord [...]he Popes letters concerning the Nuntios, vpon perusall [Page 254] whereof the king was much troubled: On the morowe hee sent Iohn Deane of Salisbury and Reynold to meete the Nuntios. On saint Bartholmewes Eue the Nuntios came to Danfront, whose approach whē G. Rydell and Nigell de Sackeuylle vnderstood, they suddainly and speedyly departed from Danfront; why they conueyed themselues away in this manner is sufficiently knowne vnto you. On the feast it selfe late towards the Euening the king comming from the woodes, before he would goe to his owne lodging, wēt to the Nuntios, receauing them with honor; and while he stood as yet discoursing with them, my Lord Henry the kinges sonne accompanyd with a troope of the nobility euery one of them winding a horne (as the fashion is at the fall of a Stagge) came and presented the Nuntios with the same entyre, which they did to fill the eares of the Nuntios, and make a showe to the people. On the morow about one of the clocke came the king to the Nuntios lodging, and with him the Bishoppes of Sagia and Rodon entred their chamber, after a littell pause Iohn Deane of Salisbury and Reynold the Archdeacon were admitted to the conference, and euen presently also the Archdeacon of Landaff, where standing vntill nyne of the Clocke they talked together sometymes in peace sometymes in anger and tumulte: My Lord the kinges intention was, that the excommunicated Clearkes should not bee sworne. A little before sun-set the king departed mightily enraged, greiuously complayning on my Lord the Pope, that hee would neuer yeeld to him in any thing, and in a disdaynfull fashion sayde, answer. Gratians By the eyes of God I will take an other course. To whom Gratian gratiously replyed: My Lord threaten not, for wee dread no [...] threates, beecause wee are of that Court which hath bin accustomed to rule ouer Emperors & kinges.
Then were called together all the Barons and white Monkes, I meane Cistercians beeing there present, with all those of the Chappell, and my Lord the king requested them, that when tyme required, they would witnes in his beehalfe what and how greate offers hee made for restitution of the Archbishoppricke and confirmation of peace, seeming in the end with some contentment, to departe, and assigning the eight day following for his resolute answer.
At which appointed tyme vpon summons came the Bishoppe of Roan, and by chance hee of Burdeux to Cenoman together with all the Bishoppes of Normandy, the Bishop of Worcester was not there on the day when these thinges were to bee hādled and treated of but beeing expected, on the morowe came thither, excusing himselfe in regarde of a Prouincial counsell that hee held of Poytiers, which beeing once determined, hee profered then his ready attendance. The day after the Kalends of September the Nuntioes presented to the king at Bayos my Lord the Popes letters, wherin his Holines beesought him to graunt restitution and peace. The king making a preamble of all such matters wherewith hee was accustomed to charge you, sayde: if I doe any thing for this man vpon my Lord the Popes entreaty, hee is bound to render mee great thankes therfore.
On the moroW assembling with the Nuntios all the Bishoppes at a place called Lebur, and as soone as they came, the king entred into a place called Parte together with the Bishoppes, none else but such as were especially called by name being admitted, and presently the king went to counsell with the Nuntios alone, beeseeching them to absolue the Clearkes without [...]endering any oath, which when they resolutely denyed to doe, my Lord the king hasted to horse, and [Page 256] 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 excō munication, [Page 257] 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 [Page 258] 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, cōcerning 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 [Page 259] 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 cōfirme 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 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 [Page 260] 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 [Page 261] 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 [Page 262] 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 [Page 263] 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.
But why, after this prefixed day, when Gratian did according as hee was commanded presently returne, Viuian remayned neuertheles behinde, why Viuian remayned beeh [...]nde after Gratians departure. is heere to bee shewed out of the letters of saint Thomas. The expected tyme prescribed by Pope Alexander beeing expired, not only Gratian but alsoe the Archbishop of Senon who was called in as a Mediator of peace betweene the king and the Archbishoppe, departed both together from the king, which taynted him with no smale disgrace, for redemption wherof not knowing what to doe, hee deuysed as his last refuge to retayne Viuian in the trafficke of peace, with [Page 264] a certayne assurance of accomplishing the same, who not suspecting any deceypt or falshoode to lurke vnder the Maiesty of a king, reposing all confidence in him, as one secure of peace did congratulate with his freindes for his prosperous successe therin, indighting also these letters to saint Thomas the Archbishop of Canterbury.
To Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Master Viuian wisheth health with victory to ouercome this instant trouble to the honor of God and his Church.
To the end wee might with my Lord of Towers or his Messingers make our speedyest returne to the Courte, wee left Towers, and on the fourth of the Kalends of Nouember receaued the letters of the king of England, the Archhishop of Roane, and the Archdeacon of Canterbury, by the handes of the Prior of Bee and an other beeing a noble Gentleman, the copys whereof wee sent to your blessed selfe, beeseeching you not to listen to any Clearkes suggestion, allthough hee bee most eminent in dignity, vnles you haue first the kinges letters patents, which (as it hath bin often proposed) beeseemeth best your honor: and we entreate moreouer that you send instantly to vs a Poste or some Clearke by whom if you please, you may signify your will to vs, neither yet bee you soe much addicted to Master Gratian, as to contemne in our person the honor of your most deere freind, the cheife Aduocate of the Roman Church.
But vpon Viuians comming to the king how hee proceeded with his Maiestie, his letters to saint Thomas fully declare, congratulating with him more openly for the conclusion of peace in the [...] wordes.
[Blessed bee God and the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, Ibid. Epist. 9. Viuian deluded with a vaine hope. who beeyond the opinion of many is now euen ready to vnite in the surest band of charity the walls that were disioyned by the suggestion of the wicked. Beeing recalled wee returned to his Maiesties presence, where by the operation of the diuine grace wee found those proceedinges wherin the honor of God and his Church was no whitt violated: If therfore you haue now receaued any message from the most Christian king of France and my Lord of Roane (as wee certaynly suppose you haue) wee are very gladd therof, for soe was it appointed, and, if Master Iohn of Salisbury your Clearke and our most deere companion is returned to you (as wee hope hee is) wee reioyce therin, beecause hee hath a message to you. But (reuerent father) whatsoeuer it is, wee beeseech you, and beeseeching counsell you on the beehalfe of our Lord the Pope and the Roman Church, that setting all fea [...]es a syde, you would bee willingly present at saint Denises the first Sunday after the feast of saint Martyne beeing the place and day appointed for confe [...]ence beetweene the two kinges, beecause you shall [...]here (God-willing) heare the Angelicall Hymne: Glory bee to God on high, and peace on earth to my Lord of Canterbury &c.] And thus far Viuian concerning an assured peace. But sainct Thomas knowing more inwardly the kings suttlety, neither yet (as it was con [...]enient) hauing any confidence heerin, and beeing [...]uspiciously fearefull, answered with this letter beeing [...]f greater weyght, as well for wisedom as grauity.
Thomas by the grace of God the humble seruant of the Church of Canterbury, and Legate of the Apostolike Sea, Ibid. Epist. 10. to Master Viuian his faythfull freind and Aduocate of the holy Roman Church wisheth health and in all thinges rightly to consider & vnderstand.
Weyghing with my selfe the Legantyne power committed to your charge, and the busines imposed on you, I see nothing hath yet miscaryed in the substance of the mater by your trauail to my Lord the king of England, [...] dangers hath hitherto bin to the authority of him who sent you, nothing attempted, sayde, or donne to our discommodity; for soe far forth, as this action extendeth it selfe, hauing accomplished the office cōmended to your care, were the successe either good or ill, the prefixed tyme which limiteth your Legantyne boundes ought to make you, beeing a man learned in the lawe, and professing the knowledge therof, on all sydes sufficiently circumspect. Be ware therfore that you are well aduised, and proceede wisely, least you bee made a fable and derysion among the nobility. But if of your selfe you haue vndertaken a new created Legantyne authority, let him obey the same who is interessed in it, and him vndergoe the burden, to whom the profit appertaineth, for myne owne parte that Iurisdiction no way commandeth mee.
And thus hee wrote because the tyme of his Leganty [...] power was now expyred, and himselfe bound no long [...] to obey, but whatsomeuer hee did was of his owne f [...] will, and therupon addeth afterwardes: [But in that yo [...] exhorte vs to descend to a parlee appointed between the kinges on the next Sunday, at Saint Denyses; [...] wee cannot out of your mandate vnderstand with wh [...] [Page 267] certainty, what reason, or what hope of peace you require it thus instantly, soe on the othersyde wee very much wonder how you are in this sorte inuited to summon vs; yet for the reuerence wee beare to the sacred Roman Church, and for the loue wee owe you, wee will (allthough wee are suspended in vncertaintys and feares) vpon your request giue you meeting (God willing) on Fryday at the Castell of Corbule, that wee may better learne from your owne mouth what fruyte wee may reape by your labor and trauaile, and what honor and grace your selfe may gayne therby. God be with you and blesse you soe as you be not taken in the trappe which hardly any can auoyde who traffickes with them.] Thus Saint Thomas, and truly no false prophet, as will appeare by the sequell.
But concerning the proceedinges from the tyme of the recalling of Viuian vntill his departure, being after the meeting of the kinges at Paris, there remayneth an ample relation in the letter of Saint Thomas written to the Archbishop of Senon in these wordes.
To the reuerent father and his most deere freind William by the grace of God Archbishop of Senon, Thomas the humble seruant of the Church of Canterbury wisheth as much as the deuotion of a banished and distressed person can.
It is impossible the mynd of the wicked should rest beeing continually gauled with the 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 [...]s his troubled soule euer oppressed with care, as while bee wasteth himselfe in false suspicions of his well meri [...]ing and intirest friends, through the defecte of his owne [...]alshoode, hee deemeth the faith to bee wauering in others [Page 268] 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 igno [...] 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 take [...] [Page 269] 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 [Page 270] beefore hee had greatly wronged, lamenting much that h [...] 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 Vi [...]ia [...] contrary to his myndes intention, should remayne i [...] 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 frō his harte all offences [Page 271] and quarells cōceaued 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 determinatiō 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 [Page 270] [...] [Page 271] [...] [Page 272] 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 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 [Page 273] 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 ha [...]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 [Page 274] 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 [Page 275] 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 your neerest seruantes; beesides your tyme of respitt is very shorte.
Moreouer when in the middest of this serious busines Pope Alexander vnderstood how the king of England would not suffer Bishoppes to bee chosen for the vacant Seas, he sent comminatory or threatening letters of great importance vnto the king, in the conclusion whereof hee threatened thus: [And if truly you will (as you are bounde) haue a care to accomplish that which by our admonitions in the spirit of meekenes and with all humility wee haue forewarned you, you shall vndoubtedly procure therby your glory and saluation, and performe that which to God and vs is most gratefull and acceptable; otherwise allthough wee desire earnestly to loue you as our deerest sonne and a most Christian prince, and to augment the greatnes of your glory, yet can wee no longer withhould the handes of Saint Peeter and vs from inflicting punishment on you, but (as wee ought) dreading rather God then men wee wil endeauor with the authority graunted vs from heauen to preserue the lawes and honor of the Catholike Church pure and vntouched. Dated at Beneuent 7. Ides of Octobr.
The Pope beesides did this yeere publish a constitution against such as receaued of the Layety inuestitures of Churches or their goodes, dated in the moneth of [Page 276] May and indighted in those wordes to all the Bishops of England.
[Wee haue receaued as well by a vulgar reporte, as also the relation of many how since the miserable contention which for your greiuous sinnes was raysed, and yet continueth beetweene our most deere sonne in Christ Henry the renowned king of England and our reuerent Brother Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury, a certayne wicked custome hath growne in those partes for lay-men to beestowe on any at their pleasures throughout the kingdome of England, Churches and Ecclesiasticall benefices, and to inuest Clearkes by their owne authority; wherfore because this is knowne to bee soe contrary to the institutions of the holy fathers, as both the giuer and receauer from the lay hand incurreth Excommunication, and also in regarde it redoundeth vndoubtedly very much to the ouerthrowe of the Churches liberty, wee by the authority of Saint Peter and vs doe abrogate absolutely and denounce for voyde all such Collation made in this turbulent tyme by lay men to any persons of any Churches whatsoeuer; and therfore wee seuerely command and in the vertue of obedience streightly enioyne yee all by these our Apostolicall letters, that with all care yee admonish diligently and instantly exhorte all such as haue receaued from the handes of the Layety any Churches, Prebendaryes, or other Ecclesiasticall benefices whersoeuer throughout England, especially in this troublesome season, to resigne without contradiction or appeale into our handes, the sayd Churches, Prebendaryes or Benefices, together with the profites therof receaued, and to leaue the same to their dispositiō, vnto whose ordination by the Ecclesiasticall lawes these appertayne; which if vpon our commonition or warning they refuse to doe within fourty dayes after the receipt [Page 277] of these our letters, then yee by our authority setting asyde the remedy of Appeale, and not respecting the feare, fauor or forbidding of any, doe presently pronounce the sentence of Excommunication against them, and cause them throughout your parishes as persons excommunicaed to bee eschewed of all men, vntill they shall resigne the foresayde Churches and Ecclesiasticall Benefices freely vp to them, vnto whose collation and ordination they appertayne, leauing them peaceably and making sufficient satisfaction for the Churches profittes soe taken by them: and if yee are negligent or remisse in the execution heereof, then wee our selues by the authority wee inioy denounce the sentence of Excommunication against them all, and charge that they bee auoyded of all men as excommunicated by vs, because they are knowne to receaue (as aforesayd) Churches or other Ecclesiasticall benefices from the hand of the Layety without assent of the Bishoppes to whom their donation appertayneth, vnles they obey our cammandementes within the former appointed tyme. Dated at Beneuent 14. kalend. Iunij.]
And foure days after hee wrote to the king of England, first commonitory letters of admonition, and then comminatory or threatening letters by certaine Nuntios chosen for that purpose called Symon Pryor of Gods-Mount, and Bernard of Corilo, who were appointed to deliuer vnto the king, first the comonitory letters, and that done (if neede requyred) the cominatory. Both which to the king of England are yet extant, dated this yeere on the eight of the Kalends of Iune, the which his holynes cōmended first to the Bishop of Belleten and the Pryor of the Carthusians, as it appeareth by the letters; but beeing vncertayne whether they wovld cary them to the king or noe, hee [Page 276] made choyse of Symon a most reuerent man and Bernard his associate, vnto whom the letters are yet remayning wrytten by his holines concerning this Legantyne office imposed on them, Ibid epist. 1. where hee mentioneth in this sorte of his letters written to the king. [Deliuer him our commonitory letters instantly adding withall in the spirit of fortitude and lenity our admonition, if soe hee will not harken vnto yee, but rather continue still in his hardnes and obstinacy, giue him then our cominatory letters declaring to him with all constancy on our beehalfe that wee will no longer any way shutt vp the Archbishoppes mouth, nor vnles beefore the beeginning of Lent, a tyme now neere at hand, hee will fullfill what beefore wee haue sayde, will wee grant heereafter any inhibition, but that hee may by vertue of his office with the swoard of Ecclesiasticall seuerity bouldly reuenge with rigor the iniuryes offered to himselfe, his Churches and followers: For the king ought not to beelieue or thinke with himselfe that our Lord, who is yet sleepeing, will neuer bee awaked, or Saint Peeters swoard is soe outworne with rust, but that it may bee drawne to worke a due reuenge. Lastly wee command yee (as wee haue sayde) diligently to execute these our designes, vnles our reuerent Brother the Bishop of Belleten and our beeloued sonne the Prior of the Carthusians doe performe the same in such sorte as wee required them. Giuen at Beneuent 8. Kalend. Iunii.] On which day also were deliuered (as wee reade) the cominatory letters sent by the Pope to the king of England, that are likewise registred in the same booke, and dated 11. Kal. Iunij, which Roger in his Chronicles recyteth in these wordes.
Alexander Bishoppe seruant of the seruantes of God to his beeloued sonne Henry the renowned king of England health with Apostolike benediction.
Your royal wisedome is not ignorant how fatherly and mildly wee haue often perswaded and by sundry letters and Nuntios diuers tymes exhorted your Maiestie to reconcile (according as you are bounde) our reuerent brother Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury vnto your 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 [Page 280] 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 [Page 281] 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 [Page 282] 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, [Page 283] 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 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 [Page 284] 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 [Page 285] 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 [Page 286] 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 iniurious demandes [Page 287] 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 [Page 288] 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 [Page 289] 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 [Page 291] 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 [Page 292] 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 vnderstād, 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 [...]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 [Page 294] 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 of Frances daughter being left at Cane, to the reproach and contempt of her father as one reiected: This childe whom wee haue named, will when wee haue named, bee vndoubtedly crowned, vnlesse our Lord stay his intended passage by sea, or restrayne the handes of yorke, or the king of France represse it with some manner of prohibition: For the sonne hasteneth to the sea and is expected by the father on the contrary shoare, and by the kinges commandement the Bishoppes of Bay on and Segien attend his childe. [And concerning the Popes letters forbidding this [Page 295] same, hee addeth thus. For my Lord the Popes letters forbidding this consecratiō, it was long ere they passed the seas, then absolutely cast away to no purpose, and perishing in the handes of him to whom they were committed, they were shewed to none, much lesse diuulged to all, how therfore could they preuayle that were thus concealed? &c. But in regarde of some occasions arysing the new kinges coronation was deferred till saint Iohn Baptistes natiuity, whereof William, in Quadrilogus wryteth thus in the end of the second.
[The feaste of sainct Iohn Baptist beeing now at hand, the king vnder pretence of establishing his kingdome assembling together the nobility of his realme committed to his eldest sonne the raynes of his kingdome. And there wanted not some who aduised him to bee very carefull vpon what conditions hee thus admitted his heire and successor; others answering and affirming, all this was done in hatred of the Archbishop, and derogation of the Churches dignity. But the Archbishop of yorke imposed handes on him in the Prouince of Canterbury, beeing in sainct Peeters Church at Westminster, contrary to the dignity and ancient custome of the Church of Canterbury, the Bishoppes of London, Salisbury, and Rochester as suffraganes assisting him, nor euer opening their lippes in protestation of the right of Canterbury, to whose dignity and prerogatiue the coronation of the kinges of England is of ancient tymes knowne to appertayne, In the celebration of the feast after the coronation the king vouchsafed to serue the king, the father the sonne, and protested that now hee ceased to bee a king. But according as God complayneth They raigne and not by mee, so how manifestly was it in the end declared that this yong king by this bastardly [Page 296] consecration vnlawfully acted by an excommunicated and accursed person, purchassed not a benediction. Wheruppon this Author addeth by and by afterwardes thus: But let vs a litle consider how profane this vnction was, how odious, how offensiue this consecration (if it may bee termed rather a consecration then an execration, beeing absolutely destitute of any Apostolicall benediction, yea absolutely done in transgressing against the Apostolicall man) which only proceeded out of meere hatred wrath and indignation deuysed by a carnall father in despight of his spirituall father! All which is proued by the lamentable euentes, that beeing soe detestable to all ensuing ages, sprung out of this consecration, I meane the Suspension and Excommunication of Preistes, the murdering of an Archbishoppe, the sundry battayles between the father and sonne, and lastly the notorious, miserable, and vntymely death of this yong Prince soe consecrated, beeing cutt of in his prime, and left an example for all tymes to come. &c.]
This same freind of his sent him alsoe the reporte of the Coronation in these wordes. [On Sunday last the king beeing at London endowed his sonne with the girdle of knighthoode, Cod. Vat, lib. 5. Ep. 2. 3. and yorke instantly anoynted him king. There the king distributed his landes to his sonnes, all men wondering what hereafter hee would doe. Hee causeth his iourney into Normandy to bee cōtinually talked of, to the end hee may bee the more dreaded, but hee will not goe vntill hee hath decently furnished the king of France his daughter (remayning now in the company of the Queene at Cane) with apparell, horse, and family, conuenient to passe the seas at his appointment; and this of purpose that the king of France hearing hereof, may somewhat bee pacifyed [Page 297] in regarde of the indignation conceaued for contempt of his daughter. &c.] This beeing done, saint Thomas hauing certayne intelligence of all matters which had passed in derogation of himselfe and his Church of Canterbury, wrote (as the same author reporteth) vnto Pope Alexander mournfull letters replenished with complayntes, intermingled also with other discontentes, which is to say, that the cheife Ringleader of all this Scysme, together with the Bishop of Salisbury not inferior to the former, beeing both excommunicated before by the Pope himselfe, were to the reproach of the whole Church loosed from the bands of excommunication by the Bishop of Senon Legate of the Apostolike Sea; Heereof saint Thomas especially complayned to Cardinall Albert beeginning thus in bitternes. Cod. Vat. lib. 5. Ep. 20. [I would (my hee loued) your eares were open to the tongues of our complayntes, that they might then heare what is often sung in the publicke passages of Ascalon to the reproofe of the Romane Church. Our last Messingers seemed to bring vs some comforte from the Sea Apostolike in my Lord the Popes letters, but their authority is made absolutely voyde by letters sent from the Legate a latere for absoluing Sathan to the Churches obloquy. There are now absolued by the Apostolicall Mandate the Bishoppes of London and Salisbury, of whom the first is knowe to bee from the very beeginning the firebrand of this Scysme and contryuer of all this malice, and to haue drawne as well Salisbury as all others whom hee could into the offence of disobedience. I knowe not in what sorte our Lordes cause is handled in the Courte that Barabbas escapeth free and Christ is crucifyed. Now for six whole yeeres hath our banishment and the Churches calamity bin prolonged by the Courtes authority &c.] But how iniustly all [Page 298] this was deliuered, allthough to the holy man, it seemed most certayne, the letters of Pope Alexander to the Bishop of Senon the Apostolicall Legate declare. But first let vs heere reporte what the Legate, setting downe the same, did wryte to that purpose vnto his Holines.
bIid. Ep. 25.[Let your excellency (most holy father) heare with patience what wee say, beecause our soule dwelleth in bitternes, and as well your devoute sonne the most Christian king of France, as also the whole Church of France is troubled with the scandalls which in the days of your Apostolike authority flowe from the Apostolicall Sea: For why (as our country sayth) Sathan is there set loose to the whole Churches destruction, Christ is crucifyed againe, and the sacriligious wretch and murderer let goe: Wee haue laboured with your Holines on the behalfe of the Church of England, and supposed in our departure shee obtayned some reliefe; But when you caused the Bishop of London without our priuity to bee absolued, the matter fell out cleane contrary, and hornes are giuen to the sinner. For loe, that king (whom you haue ouer much fauored) hath caused his sonne to bee 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 [...] [Page 299] 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 [Page 300] 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. [Page 301] 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 cō passion 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 [Page 302] 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 the planting of your sonne in your place, with the accomplishment of his consecration, why are you not carefull to exclude from the solemnity of soe greate a Sacrament those who are apparantly and namely excommunicated by the sentence of my Lord the Pope and vs? Can a consecration bee perfected without a participation?] But if London and Salisbury had bin absolued, beeing excommunicated beefore, as well by the Pope as saint Thomas, these obiections could neuer haue bin made by saint Thomas himselfe in that assembly where none stood excommunicate but only the sayde Bishoppes.
For answer moroeuer of the other flaunder concerning the Popes consent to the consecration of the king of England by the Archbishop of Yorke, reade heere the Popes letters wrytten to saint Thomas in these wordes.
[Considering deeply the constancy of your vertue and fayth, Ibid. Ep. 34. with the resolution of mynde which you haue apparantly shewed for defence of your Churches liberty; wee doe willingly giue you as our deerest brother the best counsell and assistance wee can for obtayning those thinges which wee knowe conuenient for the conseruation and augmētation of the same Church, and will with diligent endeauor affoarde the defence of the Apostolicall power against all such as contend to diminish and disturbe the rightes and dignityes herof. Wee heare of certaynty how the Archbishop of Yorke contrary to our prohibition and interdiction, hath crowned in your Prouince Henry sonne to the famous king of England; wherfore, in regarde you affirme the same to bee an exceeding great derogation to the right and dignity of your Church, beeing desyrous on this beehalfe to succour both your selfe and Church, wee ordayne by our Apostolicall authority, that the sayde Archbishoppes acte shall no way heereafter by any meanes preiudice you for diminishing your right in the Coronation and vnction of the kinges of England, but that you may haue it in as ample manner as your Predecessors and Church haue bin knowne to haue enioyed the same forty yeeres now past.] Thus far in refutation of the scandall concerning the Archbishoppe of Yorke, and heereto is agreable an other Epistle wrytten to the Bishoppes who were present at the Coronotion, and that letter especially which the Pope sent to the same Roger Archbishop of Yorke and Hugh Bishoppe of Duresme indighted thus.
Alexander Bishoppe, seruant of the seruantes of God, to his reuerent brethren Roger Archbishoppe of Yorke and Hugh Bishoppe of Duresme sendeth greeting and Apostolicall benediction.
Allthough yee are many wayes commendable and gratefull to vs, and wee on the other syde embrace yee with the armes of vnfayned charity; neuertheles wee ought not therfore to ouerpasse, but call yee to accompt, and with the zeale of rightuousnes to correct such offences as beeing committed by yee, and left vmpunished, engender death. Our Lord speaking by the Prophet thus: If I saying to the wicked, thou shalt dye the death, thou dost not declare it vnto him, nor tell him thereof, hee shall dye in his sinne, but I will require his blood at thy handes. The oppression truly of the Church of England with the diminishing of her liberty, which is knowne to bee caused by your king, bee it either of his owne motion, or else by the suggestion of others, hath now long since very much afflicted our mynde, and bred vs noe small care and greife; for wheras it behoued him to deuyse how to correcte those abuses which were brought in wickedly by his Predecessors, hee rather heaping sinnes vppon sinnes constituted and established with the coullor of à royal tytle those vnlawfull customes by which the Churches liberty perished, and the decrees of Apostolicke men (as far as hee could infringe them) were depriued of their power; neyther did hee thinke it enough if vnder his Dominion the Diuine lawes in his kingdome of England were put to silence and made voyd, vnles hee should also cast à descent of sinne vpon his heires, and make his kingdome for long tyme sit solitary without Ephod, without Superhumerale, without preistly dignity: Thence came it [Page 305] to passe that hee procured those vsurpations to bee confirmed, without any exception, by the oathes of your selues, your brethren, and the Bishoppes your Associates, and condemned him to bee punished as à Traytor who woulde not yeelde consent to these wicked customes. This appeareth manifestly in the exile of our reuerent brother the Archbishoppe of Canterbury, this is openly declared in the miserable banishment of his Clearkes and kindred, and of those who sucking their mothers breasts cryed as yet in their cradles; yea the terror of death is threatened to all such as dare resist the same, and prefer the lawes of God beefore those synnefull Statutes. Wee our selues (by whose iudgment those offensiue lawes ought to bee corrected and amended) were vnder coullor of this vnquiett tyme most earnestly sollicited to confirme the same, and were not meanely labored and prouoked to strengthen with Apostolike power those vsurped customes, before wee were fully informed of them, and this in their very first beeginning; and in processe of tyme the sayde Archbishoppe remayning in exile for executing the office of his Pastorall function, and very often requiring from our authority the wonted assistance of the Romane Church, wee sent to the same king the cheifest and worthyest of our brethren, wee sent also other Ecclesiasticall persons, supposing the hardnes of his harte would bee softened with our humility and meekenes: and that (as Salomon sayth) The Prince will bee mollifyd with patience, Prouerb. 25. Ibid. 15. and a gentle tongue will asswage anger. But hee deluding our sufferance with the seuerall deuises of sundry Embassadors, seemeth soe far to obdurate his mynde against our admonitions as neither hee relenteth any whitt in his wrath against the forenamed Archbishop, nor yet endureth that any one of his peruerse lawes should bee diminished, yea damnifyeth the Church of Canterbury it selfe very much in her possessions, and spoyleth her of her ancient [Page 306] dignity in her Ecclesiasticall administration; for when hee was disposed of late to haue his sonne crowned, contemning the Archbishop of Canterbury, to whose office the same in tymes forepast is sayd of right to beelong, hee caused him to bee inuested with the Crowne by you (brother Archbishop) and that in this Prouince, noe whit appartayning to your iurisdiction. Moreouer in his Coronation there was not according to the ancient custome any condicion made or (as they say) requyred of him for the preseruation of the Churches liberty, but (as the reporte goeth) hee was rather bound by oath to obserue during his raigne inuiolably the royall customes (as they call thē) of his ancestors, wherby the Churches dignity is endangered: Wherin allthough the sayde kinges violence doth greatly trouble vs, wee may neuertheles bee much more incensed with the imbecility of yee and your Associates the Bishoppes, who (not without greife wee speake it) are made like Rammes without hornes, Thren Ierem. 1. and flye away without strength before the face of the Pursuer. For allthough (brother Archbishop) you might lawfully perhappes haue done this in your owne prouince, yet how you could with any face attempt the same in a strange Prouince, especially beelonging to him who was himselfe allmost alone content to suffer banishment for iustice, and giue Allmighty God his glory, wee can neither by reason nor yet by the Decrees of the holy fathers satisfy our selues.
But if any obiecteth for excuse of soe foule an offence, that in other kingdomes also many greiuous sinnes haue bin committed; wee may in truth answer, wee haue not hetherto seene any kingdome runne soe headlong into soe great a contempt of the diuine lawe, as to enforce such manifest enormityes to bee established by the hand-wrytings and oathes of Bishoppes, vnles any man will impudently alleage that which the Scismatickes, beeing [Page 307] afwardes cutt of from the communion of the faythfull, haue practised with such damnable pryde as was neuer beefore heard of. In regarde whereof, because according to the Prophet's saying: Habacuc. 1. Peruerse iudgment hath issued out from yee, and peruersity is acted among yee. Why doe not yee who haue exceeded all other Prouinces in their vsurpations, and strengthened such vnlawfull customes with an oath, resume now to your selues the sheylde of fayth to defend the house of our Lord in the day of battell, but rather prostrate your bodyes on the ground, to make a way for passengers ouer yee? And least beeing any longer silent the sentence of damnation should bee pronounced in the day of iudgment as well against vs, as yee; heere by the authority of the sacred Roman Churche (where by our Lordes appointment wee serue) wee suspend yee from all manner of office beelonging to Episcopall dignity, hoping at the least that now beeing reformed by discipline and this fatherly correction, yee will at the last returne to your selues, and endeauor to defend the Churches liberty: But if with all this yee will not recall your selues to that zeale which beecommeth the place of Bishoppes, wee will by the grace of God heereafter doe that which as yet with terror threateneth yee. Looke to your selues, least that hee sayde to yee which was spoaken to one by the Prophett thus: Beecause thou hast repulsed knowledge, I will repell thee that thou shalt not exercise the office of Preisthoode vnder mee. Ose [...] 4. And for vs in regarde (God at his pleasure soe disposing) wee are heere apparantly placed in his seate who neither by blowes nor bandes could euer bee constrayned to surcease from preaching the word of God, wee ought not vnder a doubtfull expectatiō of peace to lay vp in a handkercheife the money of the diuine worde committed to our charge, and keepe it tyed vp soe long, vntill the hower of encrease by little and little slydeth away, and the Creditor comming calleth vs [Page 308] to render a seuere accompt.
And as then also did Peeter of Bloys to the same effect wryte to Iohn of Salisbury, and hauing himselfe likewise a burning zeale for the liberty of goddes Church, which saint Thomas defended, to strengthen him the more, least otherwise hee should faynte in these seas of tribulations, hee admonished Iohn in a large Epistle to comforte the Saint, beeing lynes doubtles worthy of this Author, and indighthed.
Tho his most deere freind Master Iohn of Salisbury, Peeter of Bloys Archdeacon of Bathe wisteth health in the Author of all health. Peeter of Bloys Ep. 22.
As often as I seriously consider with my selfe the ordinary oppressions of the English Church, and the banished of your Lord Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, it doth very much comforte mee that hee hath erected himselfe as a bullwarke for defence of Gods iustice and the Churches liberty, and therby will deserue a glorious conclusion of this his persecution. For I see yee are now sett beetwene the hammer and the Anuyle, and sinners dayly buyld vpon your backes; neuertheles if yee fight in Christ, and for Christ, hee will neuer suffer yee to bee tempted aboue your power, but will make yee profitt by your temptation, and our Lord will take away the rodd of sinners from the portion of the iust, that the iust may not stretch out their handes to iniquity. If truth misse-telleth vs not, the end of your persecution will bee eternall blessednes: Math. 5. Blessed are they (sayth hee) who endure persecution for iustice: Peeter the Apostle sayth: 1. Pet. 4. Let none of yee suffer as a murderer, or theife, or slaunderer, or a desirer of other mens [Page 309] goodes. For not the paine but the cause maketh the Martyrdome: But as the Apostle speaketh: Ibidem 3. If yee suffer any thing for iustice, yee are blessed. For it is the guifte of God to beelieue in him, but it is the highest guifte to endure reproches for Christ: Phipp. 1. To yee (quoth the Apostle) it is granted for Christ, that yee not only beeleiue in him, but suffer also for him. I doe therfore congratulate yee in regard yee haue conuerted iustice into iudgment, beecause yee represse the rebellion and disobedience of some with the castisement of suspension, if soe yee doe the same vpon the motion of reason and iustice, and not with à thirst of reuenge, or an appetyte of iniuring. Doe nothing (I beeseech yee) for malice or hatred, but let your actions bee managed with charity; nor yet shall yee reape out of this your punishing, the haruest of saluation, vnles your whole intention proceedeth out of the bowells of charity. For wheras by the fornace in the holy Scripture wrath or punishment is signifyed, wee are taught in Leuiticus to sprinckle with the oyle of charity the sacrifice which is to bee baked in the fornace, Leuit. 2. least otherwise it should bee burned: for the mynde of him who prepareth himselfe to encounter with persecution, is first to bee sweetned with the oyle of charity, that neither in aduersity hee fayleth of charity, neither yet bee enflamed against his brother with the fire of reuenge and hatred: It is therfore your meritt, and before God and man a commendation, if by the way of iustice yee appease the disobedience of your subiects. Psalm. 105. For blessed are they who conserue iudgment, and execute iustice continually.
In the execution of iustice there ought not to bee any exception or respect of persons, bee hee brother or childe, Prince or subiecte; let euer the fruite of iustice beesought, and let them euer iudge righteously who iudge the whole world: for when the Leuites killing their brethren and children reuenged the sinne of Idolatry, Moyses sayde to [Page 310] them: Yee haue consecrated your handes this day euery one of yee in his sonne or in his brother, Exod. 32. that a benediction may bee giuen yee. Salomon sayth alsoe: Who reproue shall bee praysed, and a blessing will come vppon them. Your Lord is highly to bee renowned, that only hee ascendeth on the contrary parte, that hee opposeth himselfe as 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 [Page 311] 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 [Page 312] 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.
Meane while the king of England receaued from his Holines sharper letters, commanding him peremptorily [Page 313] 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 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 [Page 314] 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 [Page 315] 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 [Page 316] 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 [Page 317] company there present euen astonished with a most ioyfull admiration, yea very many of their eyes slowing with teares, glorifyed God, and blessed saint Mary Magdalene, on whose feast the king was conuerted from his former wayes, soe as hee reduced a day of delight to his whole dominiō, and restored to the Church her ancient peace againe.
Wee reproued him, but with such moderation as was necessary; wee layde open to him the ways in which hee had erred with the dangers which on euery syde threatened; wee beesought and exhorted him to returne to himselfe, and doeing the fruites worthie of pennance with satisfying, by manifest restitution of her goodes, the Church, whom hee had not a little iniured, to cleere his conscience and repaire his reputation; for rather misseledde by wicked counsellors then of his owne inclination hee had greatly wronged both; and when hee had heard all this not only patiently, but also fauorably, with promise of reformation, wee added moreouer, it was likewise necessary for his owne saluation, with the good of his children and for the establishment and prosperitie of the authority graunted him from Allmighty God, to recompense the holy Church of Canterbury for that most greeuous wrong wherewith hee had lately damnifyed her, for hee caused his sonne to bee without all order crowned contrary to the most ancient custome and priuiledge of our Church &c.] Hee setteth downe in like sorte a matter of long debate beetweene the king and himselfe concerning this, whom in the end hee perswaded soe farre, as hee promised to make voyde and frustrate the Coronation, which was solemnized by the Pope, and especially executed by the Archbishoppe of Yorke, and to cause againe a Canonicall consecration to bee celebrated, wherin the Archbishoppe of Canterbury [Page 318] should crowne the kinges sonne together with his Queene and wife. But of this heereafter. Hee dilated also of other particulars which happened in that in meeting to bee donne by the king, as where hee speaketh thus: [When I therefore alighting from my horse did humble my selfe at his feete, hee catching my stirrop inforced mee to get vp againe; and seeming to shedde tearres, sayde what needeth any more (my Lord Archbishoppe) let vs renewe our old mutuall freindshippe, and doe all the good wee can one to an other, forgetting cleane this forepassed discorde; but this let mee entreate you, to doe mee honor beefore the company who beehould vs a farre of. Beeing Saules wordes to Samuel when hee sayde. Honor mee beefore the people. 1. Reg. 15.] Hee proceedeth.
And in regarde wee sawe some there present (whose name this bearer will deliuer you) that had bin louers of debate and sowers of discorde, passing to them hee sayde: If I seeing the Archbishoppe ready to right mee euery way should not on the other syde bee likewise good to him, I may truly bee esteemed worser then others, and shall verify the ill reportes which are raysed of mee; neither can I conceaue any counsell to bee more honest and profitable then to endeauor to surpasse him in curtesy and exceede him in Charity and benefittes. Which wordes of the king were receaued by allmost all there present with very greate congratulation; whereupon hee sent this Bishoppes to aduise vs to make our petition in that publicke assembly, and if wee woulde haue followed the Counsell of some of them, wee should haue referred to his owne arbitrement our selues absolutely and the whole cause of the Church: For from the beeginning to this very day iniquity hath issued from his Scrybes and Pharises, and gathered strength from the authority of Seniors who [Page 319] ought to gouerne the people: but blessed bee God who hath not suffered our soule to passe thorough their counsell, nor permitted vs to expose the Churches liberty and Gods iustice to any creatures will. Dismissing them, and aduising our selues with my Lord of Senon and the poore of Christe the Associates of our peregrination, wee resolutely determined not any way to submitt to his will the controuersy of the customes, or the dammages which hee had donne to our Church, or the iniury offered vs by the vsurped consecration, or the losse of the Ecclesiasticall liberty with the ecclipse of our honor.
And soe comming to the king and his Lordes, Concerning restitution of possessiōs to the Church of Canterbury. wee did with all humility beeseech him by the mouth of my Lord of Senon (who was our speaker) that hee would vouch-safe to restore vs his fauor with peace and security to vs and ours, together with the Church of Canterbury and her possessions (which beeing set downe by vs in wryting, his Maiestie had read) and that hee would mercifully reforme what was presumtiously downe against vs and our Church in the consecration of his sonne, promising him all loue and honor with whatsomeuer seruice may bee performed in our Lord by an Archbishoppe to his king and Prince. The king accepting all in good parte yeelded vs our request, receauing vs with all ours there present into his fauor, and in regarde your Holines commanded vs not that hee should restore what was wrongfully taken from vs and ours, wee would not require it; neither on the other syde (by Gods grace) could wee bee content to remitt it: Soe according to your Mandate those thinges were for the tyme put of, but not put away; for had you absolutely written as in your last letters you signifyed, that they should bee restored, without doubt satisfactiō had bin also made, with an exāple for all ages [Page 320] heereafter very profitable to the whole Catholike Church, and especially to the Apostolike Sea. The king therfore hauing had much and long conference with vs, after wee two had continewed in talke alone according to our ancient accustomed familiarity vntill allmost the Euening, wee agreed in one, that hee beeing departed, wee should returne to rēder due thankes vnto the most Christian king and others our benefactors, and vpon the setling of our busines to come backe to his Maiestie and remayne a while with him, before wee passed into England, to the end the world might take notice into how great and intire fauor hee had receaued vs. Wee intend to expecte in France the returne of our Messingers whom wee haue sent to receaue our possessions, for wee are determined not to repaire to our king, so long as hee detayneth one foote of Ecclesiasticall landes; for by the restitution of our landes wee shall easily perceaue how sincerely hee meaneth to deale with vs.]
And thus farre concerning their meeting wherin a peace was concluded. There is also in the same booke of Epistles an other reporte of this meetinge, which beeing only gathered from the beare sayings of others, and not testifyed by an eye wittnes, seemeth to bee of lesse credit then the former. Cod Vat lib. 3. Epist. 46.
And what king Henry promised saint Thomas in wordes, the same did hee also performe in wryting, by sendinge these letters vnto the king his sonne. Ibid Ep 43 The king writheth to his sonne about the peace cōcluded betwene him and S. Thomas.
[Knowe yee that Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury hath ratifyed his peace with mee according to myne owne desire; wherfore I command that hee and all his inioy this peace, and that you cause the Archbishop and all those who departed the land with him, to haue restitution of all their estates, as fully, quiety [Page 321] and honorably, as they possessed the same three monethes beefore the bishop departed out of England. And that you call beefore you some of the most ancient and sufficient knightes of Lyore and Salts kind, and make them vpon their corporall oathes to certify what is there heald in Fee of the Archbishoppe of Canterbury, and what shall bee founde to bee of his fee you cause to bee rendred to the same Archbishoppe agayne.] Thus wrote the king to his sonne. And with these letters did saint Thomas send his Agents into England, but how many aduersaryes they found there, they signifyed by their letters backe 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 [Page 322] 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 [Page 323] 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. [Page 324] 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 [Page 325] 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 donne by him, and absolutely abolish those wicked and destable customes. But if hee will not within thirty days after your commonition ratify the peace according to his appointment and promise, doe yee then forbid all diuine offices, beesides Baptisme of infantes and pennance at the point of death, to bee ministred in all his Dominions on this syde on the seas, and that without any obstacle of Appeale, and cause this sentence to bee most strictly obserued vntill hee shall giue condigne satisfaction. And if either of yee by reason of extreme necessity cannot bee present at the execution heereof, beeing a thing, if it should soe happen, much against our willes, let then the other neuertheles doe this our command. Dated at Anagnia 7. Id. Octobris. Moreouer there and then hee sent other letters to Roane and Nyuers against such as detayning possessions of the Church and would not restore them: whom hee commanded to bee excommunicated vnles they made within xv. days full satisfaction.
The Pope remouing from Anagnia to Signia a citty seauen myles thence; where 3. Ibidem 32. Id. Octob. hee directed his letters to all the Prelates of the Prouinces beelonging to the king of England on this syde the seas, for putting the interdiction in execution, vnles the king made againe to saint Thomas, together with a perfect peace, restitution of his poss [...]ssions; hee, the same day at the sayd place, wrote also a letter to saint Thomas, in these words.
[Wee are oppressed with greife and bitter sorrowe so often as wee recall to mynde and carrefully consider the troubles, Ibid. ep. 29 burdens and afflictions which for the [Page 226] zeale of iustice and maintenance of the Churches liberty you doe with patience and an vndaunted courage indure. But in regarde you haue atcheiued the perfection of vertue, you cannot bee ouercome with aduersity, nor remoued from the resolution of your constancy: wherin wee commend your admirable magnanimity, and congratulate with you in our Lord for this your singuler patience. And beecause wee haue long expected with patience and fauor our beeloued sonne in Christ Henry the famous king of England, and haue often admonished him, seeking sometimes by sweete and pleasing wordes, otherwhiles by rough and bitter threateninges to reclayme him; now if hee performeth not really, as well to you as yours, the peace concluded with you, nor yet restore you your Churches possessions together with your depriued honors, wee giue you heere ample authority to exercise your Ecclesiasticall iustice beelonging to your office, notwithstanding any obstacle of Appeale, vpon the persons and places subiect to your iurisdiction, excepting only the king, the Queene, and their children, wishing you euer therin to vse the wisedome and consideration beeseeming all preistly modesty. Dated at Signia 3. Id. Octob.
Alexander leauing Signia came to Tusculan: where with longer stay hee remayned awhile, which is apparant by his letters Dated there 8. Ibid. ep 68. Kalend. Decemb. wherein hee cyteth the Bishoppes of London and Salisbury to Rome for making satisfaction, and this vnles the peace were absolutely in all respects concluded. Hee wrote also thē by the same messinger (vnto whom hee deliuered his former letters) to the king of England in these words.
Ibid. ep 55.[Vnderstanding by the letters of our reuerent brother Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, that laying [Page 327] asyde all disturbance and malice, The Popes letters to the king of England. you haue restored him to your grace and fauor, wee haue conceaued therin so much the more ioy and gladnes, by how much wee consider the same to bee more gratefull and acceptable to God, honorable to your selfe, and profitable to your soule. For wee knowe the Archbishoppe soe farre to excell in Religion, wisedome, honesty, and the vertue of fayth, as wee doubte not but hee will bee faythfull and deuoted to you and your kingdome, able in power and ready in mynde for your honor and augmentation, and euer truly and carefully vigilant to encrease your glory and exalte your magnificence. Yet beecause the offence is not remitted vnles restitution bee made of thinges wrongfully taken away, allthough the Archbishop himselfe in respect of his patience, and for the tender loue hee beareth you, forbeareth to require the same; wee neuerthelesse, who couet especially your saluation, ought not to bee silent therin, nor yet doth it beecome your Maiestie (whom God hath made soe mighty and potēt) to withhould the rightes and goods beelonging to the Church of Canterbury: Wherfore with all intreaty wee admonish and earnestly exhorte the clemency of your royall excellency, that following the example of Zacheus who sayth in the Gospell: Beehould, Lord, halfe of my goodes I giue to the poore, and if I haue defrauded any one, I restore foure-foulde, you would endeauor to render to the Archbishoppe and his Church what is wrongfully taken away, and speedyly to recompense the dammages and detriments they sustayned by your meanes, that you may soe appease the wrath of Allmighty God wherin you haue offended him, and wee forgiue you absolutely soe greate a sinne, and the Archbishoppe bee for euer bound to rest most ready at your seruice and deuotion, and encrease the renowne of you and your heires: Moreouer [Page 328] that you fauorably listen to such as haue furthered and performed this peace beetweene yee, not heereafter harken to them whom you knowe to haue kindled the coales of this dissention; beesides that you warne and perswade your sonne to giue due satisfaction to the Archbishoppe and his Church concerning the article of his oathe omitted by him for conseruation of the priuiledge and liberty of the Church of Canterbury, in such sorte as kinges and Princes of England haue heertofore sworne, making him to performe what is hetherto let passe: and that as well your selfe as your sonne doe freely and quietly resigne the ordinations of Churches with other matters appertayning to Ecclesiasticall persons, vnto the same Archbishop, and other Ecclesiasticall men. That in soe doing you may offer to our Lord a worthie sacrifice of prayse, ād purchasse to your selfe an eternall kingdome.] Thus wrote Pope Alexander to the king, who added alsoe theerunto other letters to the Clergie and people of England, Cod Vat. li. 5. ep. 56 The meeting of S Thomas with the king at Towers. admonishing them all in any case not to disturb this setled peace.
But how matters proceeded in the meane time beetweene the king and saint Thomas, let vs heere declare out of Quadrilogus (the history of saint Thomas) wryting thus. [The king inclining to alteration, yea rather denying to make restitution of the possessions taken away from the Church of Canterbury, and this comming to the eare of saint Thomas by the relation of Iohn of Salisbury, Quadrilogus lib. 3. cap. 3. whom together with Herbert hee sent to treate with the king. The Archbishop vnderstanding that a parlee was shortly to bee held beetweene the king and a noble man called Theobald Earle of Bloys, the day beefore the conference went to the king at Towers: The king hearing before of the Archbishoppes comming, sent some of his Courte [Page 329] 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 [Page 330] 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, Chā Vat. li. 5. Ep. [...]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 [Page 331] 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 occasiō, 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 ēd she may not dye, but be freed of dāger, we will by Gods grace in her quarrell expose our life as well to the sayde Raynulphe as other his cōfederates 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 [Page 332] with your fauor and licence, and (it may bee) perishing, least otherwise shee perisheth, vnles your piety vouchsafeth to yeelde vs presently some other cōforte; 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 Christianlike, 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 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 [...]o obtayne from my Lord the Pope any censure whatsomeuer [Page 333] 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 se [...]t before into England perswaded the people by his letters yet extant, Cad. V [...] 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. [...]p. 6 [...] yet let vs ne [...]ertheles heare a more certaine reporte of these occurrents written by saint Thomas himselfe to Pope Alexan [...], 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 we [...]e concluded our peace with my Lord the king of England I suppose your Holines is certifyed as well by The [...] [...] stle of sa [...] Thom [...] to the Pope. [Page 332] [...] [Page 333] [...] [Page 334] 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 cōcord 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 frō vs two of our Churches [Page 335] 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 preuentiō 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 [Page 336] 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 therfore conselled them that laying armes asyde they would come peaceably to vs. Yet they in regarde wee brought with vs Symon Arch-deacon of Senon, who came ouer to visite his freindes in England, requyred him to take the oath of fealty to our kings the father and sonne, and that against all men, not soe much as excepting your Holines, vs, or any other. But wee would not suffer any such oath to bee tendred, fearing least the Clergy of the kingdome should bee enforced to sweare in like sorte, if those of our owne househould should bee thus intangled in [Page 337] these bandes, which Yorke, London, and Salisbury together with their confederates to the dammage of the Apostolike Sea endeauor, to the end the authority therof may bee blowne vp, or at the least diminished in the kingdome. But the officers, who exacted this oath, beecause they were not accompanyd with many, were not able in that place to inforce vs to any thing otherwise then wee would, for the people reioycing at our returne could easily haue ouermatched them if they would haue stood vpon their strength. Passing thence vnto our Church wee were with great deuotion receaued both of the Clergie and Layety; allthough the intruded incumbentes, doe as yet violētly possesse our Churches, among which are chiefest as well for the plague as vexation of the Church Gaufride Rydell our Archdeacon, and Nigel de Sackeuille his Clearke, of whom the one, I meane Gaufride Rydel, houldeth the Church of Otforde, and the other Nigel de Sackeuyle the Church of Berges, which together with the fruytes reaped thence, they were by your Mandate bounden to restore to vs and our Clearkes the true owners of them; for you commanded my Lord of Roane and the Bishop of Niuers to absolue them, hauing first according to custome receaued the Sacrament of the Church, and then beeing enioyned by your authority to restore vs our Churhces, with their commoditys.
Beeing come to our Church, there were presently with vs the kinges officers, demanding on his beehalfe (as the Lord of Yorke and the Bishoppes of London and Salisbury informed vs) that wee should absolue the suspended Bishoppes and the excommunicated, beecause whatsoeuer was donne against them, redounded to his Maiesties iniury, and withall to the ouerthrowe of the regall customes, promising how the Bishoppes of [Page 338] our Prouince, after this absolution, should repaire to vs, and with reseruation of the kinges honor, willingly obey our iurisdiction. Wherunto wee answered, that it was not the parte of an inferior iudge to dissolue the sē tence of his Superiour, and how noe man could infringe what the Apostolike Sea had decreede: Yet neuertheles in regarde they vrged more instātly and threatened that my Lord the king (vnles wee assented to them) would attempt such matters as would amaze and astonish vs, wee tould them, if the Bishoppes of London and Salisbury would sweare beefore vs according to the forme of the Church, that they would obey your commandement, wee would then for purchasing the Churches peace, and for the reuerence wee bore to the king, with the aduice of himselfe, my Lord of Winchester, and others our breathren, by making a tryall, vndergoe the danger, and doe therin what possibly wee could, with preseruation of your reuerence; and moreouer loue them as our deerest brethren, and vse them with all sweetenes and gentles; which beeing declared, by Byshoppes, who passed beetweene, Yorke seeking occasion of dissension, answered together with others, who blewe the coales of Scysme, that such an oathe was not to bee taken but with the kinges consente, especially by Bishoppes, beecause it was contrary to the Princes dignity and the customes of the kingdome; wherunto on our parte wee replyed: That wheras the same Bishoppes were beefore excommunicated by vs, they could not by vs bee absolued, but with the assurance of an oathe, after they had with earneste sutes sollicited vs: and then if our sentence could not bee loosed but with the caution of an oathe, much lesse could yours which is far stronger, and without comparaison exceedeth vs and all mortall men in authority.
Vppon which our speeches (as some tould vs who were present) the Bishoppes were so far moued, as they determined to come to vs, and receaue absolution according to the manner of the Church, not esteeming it safe to oppose themselues against the Church, and impugne the Apostolicall decrees for preseruation of the royall customes: But that man the Aduersary of peace and disturber of the Church (Yorke I meane) disswaded it, aduising them rather to flye to our Lord the king, who euer hetherto patronized thē, and likewise to send Messingers to our new kinge who might perswade him that wee intended to depose him; wheras (God is our wittnes) soe it might bee to the Churches auayle, wee had rather hee should possesse, not only this one kingdome, but also the most and most ample dominions of the world. The cheifest medler in this message was our Archdeacon, For Yorke with the other two forenamed Bishoppes passed speedily ouer the seas, that (which God forbid) they might inueagle our Lord the king, and incense him to bitter wrath against the Church. They caused also to bee summoned out of the land six persons of the vacant Churches, to the end they might there with their counsell, contrary to the Cannons, before our king in an other kinges dominiō, the rest of their brethren being absent, celebrate the electiō of the Bishoppes of our Prouince; which Bishoppes soe elected if wee refused to censecrate, then seemed they to haue occasion enough for sowing dissention beetwene our Lord the king and vs: For there is not a thing which they more feare then the Churches peace, least then their workes should bee discouered, and their enormityes corrected. The rest beeing much more wee referre to his Messingers relation, which least it should bee tedious, wee forbeare to wryte. What appertayneth to your Holines, [Page 340] if it pleaseth you, vouch safe with clemency to heare our petitions.] This was his last Epistle written to Pope Alexander, taking leaue for euermore to speake by letters.
Wherin especially beecause there remayneth with such ample notes soe precisely pourtrayted forth the wickednes of most vnworthy preistes and principally of Yorke his most potent and impudent aduersary, Cod Vat. lib. 3. Epist 94. the fire and fewell of all these mischeifes, A narration of the Archbishop of Yorke. to whose counsell and suggestions the king consenting was drawne headlong thorough the craggie rockes of discord to all miseryes, and distracted from all peace and tranquility, wee intend heere before wee enter farther into this deadly discourse, to lay downe of him to the world what his beeginning was, all which you are to receaue from the relation of Iohn of Salisbury the most exact wryter of that tyme, out of that Epistle (I meane) which hee sent to the Bishop of Senon after the Martyrdome of saint Thomas, where first rehearsing the same hee vseth afterwardes, these words.
[The cheife leader of all these was that Yorke whō you beeheld and hearde 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, [Page 341] 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 [Page 342] 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, [Page 343] 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 [Page 344] 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 [Page 345] 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 [Page 346] 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 [Page 347] 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.
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 day; soe the fifte day of our Sauiours birth into this world of misery, was his birth day vnto eternall glory.] Thus there.
The same yeere also, the Church of Canterbury beeing thus depriued of saint Thomas, The waueringe state of the Church of Canterbury. beegan to wauer, when the Cathedrall Mōkes of the sayde Church would haue elected a successor, without any reguarde of the Bishops of the Prouince, vnto whose office the same appertayned, which their bould attempt is reproued by Peter of Bloys, a man of great authority in the Church of England, hauing first most amply inlarged himselfe in the high commendation of saint Thomas on this wise.
To his most deere brethren and freindes Cannons of Beweueiwe Master Peeter of Bloys Archdeacon of Bathe Lendeth greeting with all loue. Apud Petrum Blesē Epist 27. A consolation for the death of S. Thomas.
The Pastor of our soules is passed hence, whose decease I meant to haue lamented, but hee is departed, not deade; arriued to life, not depriued of life; for death [Page 349] wherby our Lord hath made his Saint soe maruailous, is not death, but a sleepe, the porte of death the porche of life, an entry into the delightes of that heauenly countrey, into the Powers of Allmighty God, into the infinite brightnes of eternall glory: For vndergoeing a long iourney, hee tooke with him plenty of money, intending to returne in the full of the Moone, his soule (I say) riche in merittes, leauing the body, shall in the generall and last resurrection returne againe full fraught to her old habitation: Hauing gathered together many vertues, like sundry Marchandises into one bundell, hee passed therwith to the heauenly Marte; that wretch laden with dayes, I meane the death of this miserable world, that mischeeuous, contentious, wayward, importunate, enuious, hurtefull and suttell old woeman beegan to vndoe and search precisely his carryages, to see if there were any thing among those collected merittes, which was subiect to her command: But hee as a circumspect and discreete man would not endure ought that might endamage his life, for long beefore had hee desired to bee dissolued and bee with Christ, and then did hee especially thirst to departe, out of the body of this death; hee cast therfore into the mouth of this old wretch a litle duste as a tole or tribute; heereupon the same false rumor beeganne to bee diuulged and spread among the people, Genes. 36. that a most cruell beast had deuoured Ioseph: Indeede the coate wherof hee was dispoyled was a deceytfull messinger of his death; for Ioseph liueth and raigneth throughout the whole land of Egipt; Idem 45. his blessed soule disburdened of this corruptible loade and now freely discharged of the dust of his earthly conuersation, hath taken her flight to heauen, Shee is assumpted by him who sayd: I goe to prepare a place for yee, Ioan. 14. and I will returne againe and assume yee vp vnto mee; beeing in breife absolutely perfect hee closed vp many tymes; hee is taken away least malice should peruert his vnderstanding; [Page 350] And to heauen now called is hee, whom this world was not worthie to hould; neither yet is his candell extinguished, but snuffed with transitory affliction to the end it may shine more gloriously, and not longer hid vnder à bushell, may now giue light to all throughout the house; hee appeared in the eyes of the foolish to dye, but his life resteth hid with Christ in God: death seemed to vanquish and swallowe him vp, but deathe it selfe is swallowed vp in victory.
Thou hast giuen him (ô Lord) the desire of his harte, for hee was long a souldier vnder thy banner, keepeing warily seuere wayes in regarde of the wordes proceeding from thy lippes. Assuredly from the very first conditions of his tender yough hee beegan to growe in the ripenes of manners grauely olde, repressinge with watching, disciplines, haircloth and the girdle of continuall continency the motions of fleshly insolency: and therfore was hee called by our Lord as an other Aaron to distribute the science of saluation vnto his people, to frame a nation acceptable to our Lord, a pursuer of meritorious workes, and to prepare for our Lord a perfect multitude. Our Lord did chuse him for a Preist to serue him, that hee might hee a guide to his congregation, a rule of life, a forme of pennance, an example of sanctity. Allmighty God the Lord of all sciēces, beestowed on him a learned tongue, and powred into him abundantly the spirit of wisedome and vnderstanding, to the end hee might be among the lerned more lerned, among the wise more wise, among the good far better, among the hūble a cōpanion, among the greatest yet greater. Hee was à Preacher of the diuine worde, a trumpet of the Gospell, a freind of the spouse, a pillar of the Clergie, an eye to the blinde, a foote to the lame, the salte of this earth, the light of his countrey, the Minister of the highest, the Vicar of the anoynted of our Lord. The whole conuersation of his life was a scoole of honesty, a [Page 351] a forme of manners a frame of saluation. Hee was in iudgment vpright, in disposing dilligent, in commanding aduised, in speech modest, in counsell circumspest, in feeding himselfe most sparing, in feeding others most bountifull, in anger a peace maker, in flesh an Angell, in suffering iniuryes meeke, in prosperity fearefull, in aduersity most couragious, in almes liberall, in mercys wholly drowned.
Hee was the glory of the Religious, the delighte of the Laietie, the terror of Princes, the God of Pharao. Of this man wee may bouldly say and sing: that hee strayed nor after golde, nor yet trusted in the treasures of money, who disdayned to bee either à receauer of brybes, or an accepter of persons. Other men aduanced to the heyght of Cathedrall dignity being presently to haue a speciall care of the Clearkes, they looke more warily to their diett, they feare no lesse a sicknes of their body then hell it selfe, affecting in all thinges to prolonge their liues: but this Sainte from the very first entrance into his promotion, longed with a singular desire for the end of his life, or to speake more truly, for the beeginning of his eternall beeing. For as Salomon saythe: When hee endeth, then beeginneth hee. Soe his departure out of this transitory life was his entrance to that life which doth neither fade nor perish. Eccles. 18. Beeginning from his very childehoode hee laboured in euery seuerall age of his life, as in the sundry deuided houres of a day like a dilligent and painefull workeman in the Vineyarde of our Lord of Sabaoth, and soe concluded the course of a temporall life in the full perfection of Saintes. Thus beeing a long tyme in his conseruation, heauenly, and trauelling from his body, hee desyred exceedingly to passe thorough a shorte conclusion of an earthly life to those celestiall pleasures; Catching therfore the intent and token of his perigrination, hee drunke of the brooke in the way of this world, and hath for that cause his name exalted [Page 352] 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: Laymen 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 [Page 353] 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.
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 [Page 354] 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, [Page 355] 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 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, [Page 356] 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 [Page 357] 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 [Page 358] 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 [Page 359] 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 [Page 360] 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, [Page 361] 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 hūbly besought those who more ētirely 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 in [...]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 sūdry benefittes beestowed by you on Cā 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 [Page 362] publicke; whereas wee were certayne that with greate attention they had long handled this weyghty cause which soe neere touched your selfe ād 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 Tus [...]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 thē 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, [Page 363] 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 commandemēt 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 wōted custome. God send your Maiestie lōg 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 [Page 364] 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, [Page 365] 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 cōmodious 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 so [...]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 [Page 366] 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 Laurēce 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 [Page 367] 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 commāded; 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 finall conclusion made betwene them, soe as the king very m [...]dely vnder went and performed whatsomeuer the Cardinalls on their partes proposed to him. But in regarde the father would haue his sonne there present, that whatsomeuer the father promised, the sonne should also make good, the determination of the busines was deferred vntill the next Sunday following, beeing the Sunday beefore our Lordes Ascention. Then in an open Audience, The kinges oathe. the King laying his hand vpon the Euangelists made oathe; that neither by his commandement, nor his will, the Archbishoppe of Canterbury was killed, and that hearing of his death hee rather sorrowed then reioyced. Hee added moroeuer on his free will, that hee neuer so much greeued for the death of his father or mother as for his: and lastly sware, that what pennance or satisfaction someuer the Cardinalles would enioyne him, hee would amply fullfill.
Hee sayde beesides, before that great assembly: that hee was not ignorant, hee was the cause of the Arch-Bishoppes [Page 368] death, and that whatsoeuer was do [...], [...] donne for his sake; not that hee commanded it but th [...] his freindes and familiars seeing the disturbance of his countenance and lookes, vnderstanding likewise the greife of his harte, and hearing often his words breaking into complayntes against the Archbishoppe, prepared to reuenge his iniury, without euer acquainting him therwith. And therfore hee professed hee was most ready with all humility and deuotion to accomplishe whatsomeuer the Legates should command.
Then the Legates declared to him: that hee should maintayne vpon his coste 200. knightes for a whole yeere, The conditions of the kings absolution. giuing euery knighte 300. crownes, in the land of Ierusalem against the Paganes, in such sorte as the Templars should dispose.
Secundly, hee should absolutely disannull the wicked statutes of Claringtonne (beeing the place where they were enacted) with all other ill customes, which were in his raigne intruded on Gods Church: and if there were any vnlawfull ordinances beefore his tyme, hee should according to our Lord the Popes Mandate, and by the Counsell of Religious men mitigate them.
Thirdly, that hee should restore to the Church of Canterbury all her whole and entire right in landes and other thinges, as fully as it was the yeere beefore the Archbishoppe incurred the kinges displeasure, and hee should amply render his peace and loue, with all their possessions to all those with whom hee was offended for the Archbishoppes sake.
Fourthly, that if neede required, and our Lord the Pope commanded him, hee should goe into Spaine, to deliuer that land from the Infidells. They inioyned him also secretly, fastes, and almes, and other thinges not publickly knowne.
To all these the king with singular meekenes gaue his assent, soe as hee sayde in the hearing of all. Beehoulde (my Lordes and Legates) my body is wholly in your handes; and bee assured whatsomeuer yee command, bee it either my going to Ierusalem, or to Rome, or to saint Iames, or whatsoeuer it bee, I am resolued to obey. In soe much as scarce any there present, seeing his humility and deuotion, could abstayne from teares.
These thinges ended, that nothing might bee wanting for the full accomplishment of his good, the Legates did leade the king, yeelding therunto of his owne accorde, out of the dores of the Church, where, vpon his knees, without laying asyde his garmentes, and without any showe of disciplining roddes, hee was absolued, and soe againe brought into the Church. And that some of the kingdome of Frāce might knowe their proceedinges heerin, they appointed that the Archbishoppe of Towers with his Suffraganes should personally attēd on him at Cane on the nexte Wednesday after our Lordes Ascension. What the king did sweare, the king his sonne cōfirmed with his hād in the hād of my Lord Albert the Cardinall, that hee for his owne parte would obserue; ād if the king preuēted with death or other casuall meanes could not performe his pennance, that hee himselfe would doe it.] Hetherto this relation: Wherunto accordeth the Cardinalls letter concerning this matter, and beeginning in these wordes. That thinges now hanled may not bee called in question &c. Heerunto was added, That on the nexte feast of our Lordes Natiuity, hee should vndertake the Crosse, and for three yeeres make warre in the holy land, vnles Pope Alexander or his lawfull successor thought it vnfitting: Now for the Oathe it selfe made by the king and his sonne in the hands of the Legates, it is reserued intirely among the actes of Pope [Page 370] Alexander in these very wordes.
I King Henry doe heere take myne oathe vpon these holy Euangelistes of our Lord God, That I neither thought of, nor knewe, nor euer commanded the murder of Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury. And when I vnderstood the same to bee committed, I more greeued therefore, then if I had heard of the slaughter of myne owne sonne. But heerein I am not able to excuse my selfe, that vpon occasion of my turbulency and wrath which I conceaued against that holy man, hee was killed. In regarde whereof, for this offence, beeing as it seemeth the cause of his death, I will out of hand send to Ierusalem vpon myne owne charges 200. souldiers to serue there for one whole yeere in defence of Christianity, or giue soe much money as may there maintaine soe many souldiers for a Twelue moneth. I will alsoe vndertake, till three yeeres bee expired the signe of our Lordes Crosse, and in myne owne person goe thither vnlesse the Pope licence mee to stay. I doe absolutely abrogate all those vnlawfull customes, which I haue in my raigne ordayned thorough out my land, and from this tyme forward decree, that they bee neuer obserued. I will likewise heereafter suffer all Appeales to bee freely made to the Apostolike Sea, and heerein I will not prohibite any man.
These and other the like are rehearsed out of Roger, saying: all these matters, Actes iterated in the Prouinciall Councell. soe handled about our Lords Ascention, were recyted in the Councell of the whole Prouince, which was helde in the moneth of September, where the Legates and both the kinges the father and sonne mett together with the Bishoppes. For thus hee wryteth.
[Henry king of England and king Henry his sonne, Rotrude Archbishop of Roane with all the Bishoppes and Abbottes of Normandy assembled together at the Citty of Abryncke in the presence of the Cardinalles Theodine and Albert, in whose hearing the king of England the father on the fifte Kalends of October beeing Wednesday and the feast of Saintes Cosmus and Damianus Martyrs, in the Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle, declared his innocency before the aboue named Cardinalls, Clergy, and people, by taking his oathe on the Reliques of Saintes and only Euangelistes, that hee neyther commanded nor wished the Archbishoppe of Canterburys death &c. As before: Adding thereunto the publicke instrument made then to that purpose, beeginning with these wordes: And that these may bee euer retayned in the memory of the Roman Church, the king the father caused his seale 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 [Page 373] 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 [Page 375] 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. [Page 375] Knowe beesides that his sonne concerning the vnlawfull customes hath made oathe ioyntly with him. Moreouer what was there donne hee resolued to iterate againe as Cane more publickely in a greater assembly of people, to the end there might neuer bee question made to the contrary. Lastly bee released the Bishoppes of the promise they gaue for obseruing the customes, and promised himselfe neuer heereafter to exacte them.
On the morrowe the aforesayde Cardinalls celebrated there a great Counsell together with the Archbishop, The Counsell in Normandy. Bishoppes and Clergie of Normandy, and there concluded and ioyned all firmly and inuiolably to obserue these decrees following.
The Decrees published at Abryncke by Theodine and Albert Cardinalles.
FIrst, that no children shall bee admitted to the gouerment of those Churches and the administration of them whereunto appertaineth the Cure of soules.
Item the children of Preistes shall not bee placed in their fathers Churches.
Item Laie men shall haue no parte of the oblations of the Church.
Item Churches shall not bee committed to annuall Vicars.
Item Preistes of great Churches who haue liuinges sufficient therfore, shall bee enforced to maintaine vnder them each one another preist.
Item no Preistes shall bee ordayned without a certaine title.
Item let no Church bee farmed at on annuall rent.
Item let nothing of the third parte of the tythes bee taken from him who serueth the Church.
Item let such as haue Tythes by inheritance bee lycenced to giue them at theyr pleasures to any beeing meete and able Clearkes, vpon condiciō that after thē, the Thythes ruturne to the Churches to which by law they beelong.
Let not any man enter into Religion, whilst his wife remaineth in the world, nor on the contrary syde, vnles they both exceede the age of abilitie for vse of mariage.
Item in the Aduent of our Lord let all who can, but especially Clearkes and souldiers, fast, and bee commanded to abstaine from flesh.
Item let not Clearkes bee appointed iudges especially to administer the iurisdiction of Secular powers, and who presume to doe the contrary, let them bee excluded from theyr Ecclesiasticall Benefyces.
Item concerning the new bookes of the Excommunicated, and the goodes of the dying which preistes take, with the blessinges of the [Page 378] espoused ād Baptisme, and xvliii. exacted for the Absolution of the Excommunicated, nothing was perfected, beecause the Bishoppes of Normādy would not receaue the Decree.
In the same Counsell the Archbishop of Thomas challenged the Archbishoppricke of Dole to beelong of right to his Archbishoppricke, affirming no Archbishoppes seate ought to bee there; but the Clearckes of Dole did constantly contradict it. Hetherto concerninge matters handled there by the Legates; who, beefore they departed, receaued these letters from Pope Alexander for reconciliation of the Church of Canterbury beeing polluted with soe enormyous a sacriledge.
[Wee command yee that yee cause the Church of Chanterbury to bee reconciled, The reconciliation of the Church of Cāterbury. yet in that sorte as the sacrament of the former Dedication bee not againe reiterated; but as it hath bin accustomed in the Church of saint Peeter, let it only bee sprinckled, with holy water.] Thus Pope Alexander to his Legates. And the Legates againe to the Clergie of the Church of Canterbury wrote in these wordes.
[Wee reioyce, yea the whole congregation of the iust which heareth therof reioyced, that God doth manifest the death of Thomas of holy memory sometimes your Archbishoppe to bee soe pretious in his sight, and hath made famous with soe many miracles the venerable memoriall of him, as the sweetenes of his oyntmentes hath now dispersed it selfe allmost ouer the whole body of his Church, and his vertue is generally renowned from the Easte to the Weste; soe as they, who whilst hee liued inuyed his prosperous successes, now hee beeing disburdened of this world, and translated [Page 379] as wee beeleeue (his fayth and preistly zeale deseruing the same) to the society of the higher powers, reuerence his vertue, giuing due thankes to him, whoe worketh only great miracles. Beecause therfore it seemeth conuenient that the glorious miracles, which multitudes of people reporte to bee done among yee, may resound with thākes-giuings and voyces of prayse in your publicke Church which the diuine grace hath endowed with so bountifull a guyfte: It ought no longer vpon occasion of this execrable acte forbeare to glorify the Creator: Returning therfore to you mutuall salutations and willingly consenting to your deuoute petition, wee command your Brother hoode, that assembling together the Bisoppes and Abbotes of your Prouince whom yee shall deeme meete for this purpose, yee doe according to the rule of the Ecclesiasticall solemnity accustomed among our Predecessors, consecrate againe your Church. And if any thing bee wanting in the solemnity, it may bee supplyed with the illustrous glory of the diuine miracles. As touching vs, if there bee ought in our power which wee are able to doe for the good of your selues and your Church, what by Gods grace wee may, we will most readily performe.]
Thus wrote the Legates of the Apostolike Sea, who admonished therof by Pope Alexander, made dilligent inquiry of the miracles of the most glorious Martyr Thomas, and send a most exact relation of them all to his Holines, which beeing throughly vnderstood, hee without delay wholly bent himselfe to perfect the Martyrs solemne Canonization, This hee wittnesseth in his letters afterwardes indighted and to bee recyted when wee speake of his Canonization.
So therfor by how many miracles, by soe many diuine testimonyes it is knowne and made apparant by [Page 380] wittnesses, that not only they, who for defence of the Catholike fayth suffer death, Euery Bishop may haue occasion of Martyrdome. but such also as for conseruation of the lawes, rightes, and possessions of the Church, offer themselues to the slaughter doe a worke most acceptable in the sight of God and deseruing crownes; which occasion of induring Martyrdome is not to bee sought a far of from Infidells, but is allwayes ready at hand to euery Bishop, if hee laboreth in all respectes to performe the duty of his charge, Now the Legates returning backe brought to the Citty the holy reliques of the late Martyr beeing the Braines of his head, that were dispersed on the pauement of the Church, and also his coate imbrewed in his blood, which are to this day religiously kepte in the Church of saint Mary Maior.
Famous mē of the family of S. Thomas.Thus hauing seene what appertayneth to the glory of the Martyr, wee are not to let passe in silence his fellow souldiers who followed him banished in his seauen yeeres exile, beeing all famous and renowned men, much honored for their glorious confession; whose excellent prayses are seuerally sett forth in the booke of the Vatican after Quadrilogus; where amōge them is first and principally one by name and nation Lumbard of the country of Placentia an excellent scholler, who was created Cardinall of the sacred Roman Church beeing called from exile, and lastly made by the same Pope Archbishop of Beneuent. Next is Iohn of Salisbury a man of mauellous learning, and raysed after the Martyrdome of saint Thomas to the Bishoppricke of Charters. Then Robert an Englishman created Bishop of Hereford. After him Reynold also of England surnamed Lumbard preferred to the Bishoppricke of Bathe, whom wee suppose to bee corruptly inserted, for wee finde him not any where in the Catalogue of the Saintes familiar frindes who [Page 381] followed him in his persecution, for whom, beeing rather numbred among his enemyes, Peter of Bloyes wrote an Apologie, which shall after appeare. Geralde insueth, who was promoted to the Bishoppricke of Couentry; and Huhge by nation à Roman who succeeded Geralde in his Bishoppricke. Moreouer Gilbertus Angelus afterwardes Bishoppe of Rochester. And likewise Rafe made in his exile Deane of Rhemes. Lastly after others who were honored with Ecclesiasticall dignityes, is Hubert of Millane first instauled in the Archbishoppricke of that Church, and after called to the high Pontificall authority of the Church of Rome by the name of Vrban the third. Others are in like sorte remembred as worthy of soe greate a father and Master, who, as they were partakers of his passion, soe were they of his glory. Such was the family of this most famous man, not seruing him to please the eye, but endowed with like constancy as their Master in suffering laborious afflictions, truly Apostolicall men gloriously shyning with Apostolicall forces, and therfore reputed worthie to bee promoted beefore others in Ecclesiasticall honors.
Pope Alexander beeing refused by the Romans, and lying at Tusculan, sent from thence these letters to the Archbishoppe of Biturees and the Bishop of Nyuers vpon occasion of the excommunication denounced by saint Thomas against the afore recyted Bishoppes of England.
Alexander, Bishoppe, seruant of the seruantes of God, to his reuerent brethren the Archbishop of Biturees and the Bishop of Niuers sendeth greeting with Apostolicall benediction.
Wee suppose it is not vnknowne to your brotherhood, [Page 382] how Thomas of holy memory late Archbishopp of Canterbury vpon our commandement denounced the sentence of excommunication against the Bishoppes of London and Salisbury; The Popes letter for absolution of two English Bishops. the which wee ratifying and confirming corroborated the same with our Apostolicall authority: Now beecause the sayde Bishoppes, beeing both aged and one of them sicke, cannot trauell to our presence, wee haue thought good to commend to yee, of whose wisedome and honesty wee are confident, theyr absolution, for which the Messingers of Henry king of England, with the Messingers also of the same Bishoppes haue bin earnest sutors. Wherfore by our Apostolicall letters wee command your brotherhoode, that if within one moneth after the beares heereof returne home; yee heare not our Legates haue passed the Aples, which Legates wee haue determined to send to those partes, as well to vnderstand the depth of that heynous offence lately committed, as also for the kinge, absolue them from the bandes of excommunication, taking first, according to the manner of the Church, an oathe of them to obey our Mandate; the sentence of Suspension, giuen vpon the same cause for which they were lastly excommunicated, remayning neuertheles still in the former vigor. And if it appeareth vnto yee that the Bishop of Salisbury by reason of his sicknes cannot trauell to yee, then (which will please vs right well) that yee will personally goe vnto him; or if yee cannot goe, then that yee will send ouer some sufficient men, whom wee and yee may confidently trust, who taking first an oathe of him publickly in the face of the Church to obey our Mandate, may therupon absolue him. But if you brother Archbishoppe cannot personally execute this, then doe you brother Bishopse taking with you the Abbot of Pontianacke, carefully performe it according to these our directions. Dated at Tusculan 8. Kalend. Maij.
Now amydd all this, The Murderers of S. Thomas flye to the Pope for their remedy these sacrilegious murderers of the Martyr, who hetherto remayned in the furthest parte of England, on the landes beelonging to one of them, when they sawe all men flye their company, yea and that the very vnreasonable creatures eschewed them as accursed, for dogges (albeeit hungry) abhorred to eate the bread they gaue them, as taynted with the poyson of excommunication, and aboue all, their owne consciences guylty of this greate sinne inforcing them principally to detest themselues, calling on the Saint whom they slaughtered, they sought mercy at his handes to whom themselues had bin most vnmercifull and cruell. Wherfore amyd their showers of teares and clowdes of sorrowe, there shyned out to them a beame of hope for obtayning pardon, and one onely way appeared, beeing this, to trauell vnto Rome to Pope Alexander Christes Vicar, and falling downe at his feete, and opening the enormity of their offence, to receaue from him the medicyne hee would apply to them. They came to Rome, and fled to that Pastor, whom, hee from whom hee receaued that supreme power, had taught not to kill and spoyle, but cary on his shoulders the lost sheepe: where that renowned Pastor byndeth vp what is broken, strengtheneth what is infirme, seeketh out what is lost, and recouereth what is cast away; this wise Archsurgeon pouring oyle and wyne into the deepe hartes of the wounded soe waked them vp, as hee deliuereth them from all euills that may happen. They are therfore inioyned for remission of this intollerable sacriledge, to trauell beeyōd the seas to the regions which were glorifyed with our Sauiours presence, euen to those places, that, where Christ wrought our saluation in the middest of the earth by shedding his blood for the redemption of mankinde, they who had most wickedly shed the [Page 384] most innocent bloode, might there bee purged with the bloode of his passion.
Their death who killed S. Thomas.In their iourney, one of them, and hee the cheefest who encouraged the rest, and first wounded the most holy man, whose name was William Tracy, comming into Calabria and remayning a while at Consentia, beeing there taken with a greeuous infirmity of his body, was compelled to stay, the other three goeing on as they were inioyned. Soe truly for an example of the iustice of Allmighty God hee could passe no farther then Italy, that the Westerne world might bee admonished, and none should heereafter dare for feare of soe seuere a punishment to lay rash and violent handes on our lordes annoynted: For God stroke him with soe terrible a sickenes, as his flesh rotting, and his very synewes and bones appearing, the same beeing dissolued from the ioyntes, eyther of it selfe fell away, or was haled of with his handes, beeing impatient of his greife, and his owne executioner, yet euer vntill the very last gaspe imploring the assistance of saint Thomas, whom himselfe had martyred. All which beeing published to the Christian world by the Bishops of Consentia, is affirmed in the end of the often recyted history 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 [Page 385] 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 [Page 386] 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 Cā ticles: 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 [Page 388] 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 earth reioyse wherin Christes Church is founded. And soe verely I thinke it was the diuine will that this Martyrs glory should neither by Pōtificall decree nor royall authority bee aduanced, but bee established by the power of Christ, whose honour during his life hee labored to enlarge: for hee euer deliuered himselfe, that hee would haue Christ's honor still preserued, when hee treated with the king concerning his peace. And shall not Christ againe doe the same for him? God forbid that truth should not fullfill her promises. Wee reade in the Actes of Apostells: They receaued the holy Ghost: And shall the Councell of Apostells any way contradicte the same? Vndoubtedly where God is the Author, in vaine is required the authority of a Superiour. If [Page 389] any desireth to ecclipse the glory of this soe great a Martyr, whosoeuer hee bee, beefore wee beelieue him, let him worke greater, or at the least the like Mirackles, otherwise hee may bee supposed to sinne against the holy Ghoste, whose workes hee feareth not to detracte.]
Soe hee, who greeuing that the Cannonization of the Martyr was delayed, which God by soe many and soe greate beames of Miracles shyning from heauen had now shewed to bee diuinely established from aboue, did not thinke it needefull to bee supported with humane authority, according to that of the Apostle? Who shall accuse against the Elect of God? God it is who iustifyeth, who shall then condemne? Yet neuerthelesse the authority of the Church is necessary to bee required for learning the certainty of the miracles, least any deceytes or impostures by stealth surprise vs. So the determination of diuine workes ought to bee gouerned by the Churches censure, according to the same Apostels saying: The spirits of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophets: And that of saint Iohn: The Churches necessary ministery in probation of Saintes. Proue the spirites if they are of God. Which iudgment of the Church resteth principally in her visible head, whose sentence is first to bee expected in such an examination.
Wherfore, as hath bin sayde, vpon returne of the Legates, after due consideration and examination had of marters related by them, this very, yeere in the sixt Indiction, Pope Alexāder beeing at Signia, with rightes of solemnityes cannonized the holy Martyr sainct Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury; of which cannonization the written booke of the Vatican rehearseth [Page 390] in the life of Alexander these wordes. [Meane while, when most blessed Thomas, the glory of the English, shyned in the brightnes of miracles, and not only his freindes, but also his persecutors beesought pardōne of their sinnes, who seekinge these meanes of saluation continually flocked to his Church; the Pope of Rome at the instance of the people and Clergy of England, by Apostolicall authority cannonized the same Martyr, and commanded him to bee numbred among the Saintes: for on the day of the Purification of our Blessed Lady, assembling together at Signia the Bishoppes and Abbottes of Campania, S. Thomas Canonized, hee celebrated a solemne Masse especially to his honor, and ordayned that the memory of his passion should bee for euer kepte 4. Kalend. Ianuarij. Wherupon the Church of the west tryumphed in marueylous greate ioy, and the glorious Martyrs name increased in the duplication of his vertues; soe far forth, as by forraine nations of renowned hee grewe more renowned; Allmighty God hath apparantly by his merittes raysed the deade, giuen sight to the blinde, hearing to the deafe, and to the lame their limmes, hee hath cleansed Leapers, healed the sicke, cast out diuells, with many other rare miracles, which God would haue miraculously wrought by him. Wherupon very many of the faythfull haue for his honour and prayse to the glory of our Creator buylt Churches; and endowed them with possessions and guiftes.] Hetherto there. But let vs looke into the Apostolicall letters wrytten concerning his cannonization.
Alexander Bishop seruant of the seruantes of God to his beeloued children the Prior and Monkes of the Church of Canterbury salutation with Apostolicall benediction.
All Christian people are to reioyse for the miracles of that holy and reuerent man Thomas lately your Archbishoppe; The Popes letters for the Canonization of S. Thomas. but yee aboue all others ought to bee replenished with soe much the more ample ioy and exultation, by how much the more yee are oftener eye wittnesses of his miracles, and your Church especially deserueth to bee glorifyed with his most holy body. And wee considering the renowne of his merittes, wherby in his life hee was worthily famous, and beeing most certaynly assured of his miracles, not only by the common and publicke reporte, but also by the relation of our wellbeeloued brethren Albert of the Tytell of saint Laurence in Lucina and Theodine of the tytle of saint Vitalis Preistes Cardinalles and Legates of the Apostolicall Sea, and lekewise of diuers other persons, haue solemnly cannonized the foresayde Archbishop in the beeginning of the fast with a greate assembly of the Clergie and Layety in the Church, hauing first had deliberate counsell therof with our brethren, and haue decreede that hee shall bee numbred in the Catalogue of the holy Martyrs, commanding by the Apostolike authority as well your selues as all the faythfull thorough out Englād, that yee celebrate euery yeere with due reuerence his feast day wherin hee finished his life with a glorious passion. Moreouer beecause it nobly soe deserueth, and is most expedient for yee, that his holy body bee shryned with all deuoute reuerence and honor, wee doe by the Apostolicall authority command your discretion, that assembling together the Clergie and Layety, yee doe vpon a festiuall day with [Page 392] a deuoute, religious, and solemne procession, place his body worthely in some Altar, or else seating it in some comely enclosure (as it is beehouefull) yee raise it vp on high, and endeauour heereafter with your holy prayers to obtayne of our Lord his patronage for the saluation of the faythfull, and peace of the vniuersall Church.
Fare yee well,
Dated at Signia 4. Id. Martij.
Thus to the Clergie of the Church of Canterbury. There were also the same day other generall letters written to all Christian people in these wordes.
Generall letters for the Canonization of saint Thomas.[England sweetely smeelleth with the fragrant odor and vertue of signes which Allmighty God worketh by the merittes of the holy and reuerent man Thomas sometimes Archbishoppe of Canterbury; and the whole Christian religion of the faythfull euery where reioyceth, beecause that hee who is marueylous and glorious in his Saintes, hath after his death renowned his Saint, whose laudable life shyned with merittes, and lastly was finished with the Martyrdome of a most noble combate. And allthough no man can make doubt of his sanctity, who considereth his prayse worthy conuersation, and weygheth his glorious passion; Our Redeemer and Sauiour neuertheles would haue the ensignes of his sanctity shyne with magnificent miracles, that hee who with the constancy of an inuincible vertue suffered for Christ tribulations and dangers, may now bee knowne by all to haue receaued in that eternall blessednes the tryumph of his labor and combate. And wee truly haueing heard the innumerable and greate miracles which the whole multitude of the faythfull declare to bee dayly wrought by the merittes of that holy man, and moreouer beeing especially certifyed heereof, not without our too greate contentment, by our beeloued brethren Albert of the tytell of saint Laurence in Lucina, and Theodine of the [Page 393] tytle of saint Vitalis Preistes Cardinalls and Legates of the Apostolike Sea, who more perfectly discouered those miracles, as hauing bin neere the place where they were wrought, and giuing credit as wee ought to the testimony of diuers other persons, haue solemnly in the Church, a great assembly of the Clergie and Layety beeing present, in the beeginning of the Fast with the deliberate aduise of our brethren, cannonized the sayde Bishoppe, and decreede that hee should bee numbred in the Catalogue of Saintes. Wherfore wee admonish all in generall, and by the power that wee enioy streyghtly command yee, that yee celebrate yeerely with solemnity the festiuall day of the foresayde glorious Martyr beeing the day of his passion, and labour by our deuoute prayers vnto him to purchase remission of your sinnes; that hee who for Christ suffered in his life exile, and in his death by vertue of his constant passion, Martyrdome, beeing now dayly sollicited with the suffrages of faythfull, will make intercession to God for vs. Dated at Signia 4. Id. Martij.] There are afterwardes extant in that volume of Epistles, Apostolicall letters sent to the Bishop of Auersane, and letters patents and circular to all Bishoppes of the Catholike Church. And lastly the payne pursueth the sinne. Gods reuerence vpon the king of England for the death of S. Thomas.
For king Henry the yonger when hee could not obtayne of his father one Citty in England or Normandy for himselfe and his Queene the daughter of the king of France to inhabit in, extremely moued with this denyall, raysed a most vnnaturall and terrible warre against the king his father, wherin not only his wife and all his sonnes together with his nobility, subiectes, seruantes, and bosome freindes conspiring, rebelled; but also the kinges of France and Scotland, the Earles of Flaunders, Poytiers, and others confederating, ioyned [Page 394] all their powers against him: and was, originally by his owe children, brought into extreme miseryes and troubles, who had before raysed an vngodly persecution against saint Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury his spirituall father. Heereupon ensued huge slaughters of his people, and hee like an other Dauid terryfyed with the powers of those Absalom's was enforced to flye for succour to the Pope against them, as saint Thomas was constrayned to appeale to the Pope against him. O wonderfull mutability of worldly fortune! or rather, ô meruailous iudgment of Allmighty God! Hee that was wont soe victoriously to preuaille against all his enemyes, in soe much as hee sayde himselfe, hee was euery day able to conquer a castle, is now plunged in these necessityes. The Pope assisteth the king of Englād against his sonnes and Aduersaryes. But Pope Alexander drawing saint Peeters swoard excommunicateth without remedy of Appeale, vnles they returne to obediēce, his rebellious wife, sonnes and subiectes, wherin Richard Archbishop of Canterbury, and Rotrode Archbishop of Roane as well by godly discreete and perswasiue letters, as by thundering out this dreadfull sentence, laboured to reduce them to naturall and dutifull obedience: but the king of France was in that hyght of displeasure against the father, and lincked with soe streyght a league confirmed by oath vnto the sonnes, that earthly hopes on all sydes vanishing, hee was left for his only refuge to the prayers and patronage of S. Thomas the Martyr, whom hee had beefore afflicted with soe many iniuryes.
ANNO DOMINI 1174.
Wherfore An. Dom. 1174. commending Normandy with all his Dominions to the protection of God and his Martyr, hee sayled ouer into England, and setting [Page 395] aparte all other important matters, trauelled towardes Canterbury, before the entrance wherof, The kinges admirable pennance at the shryne of S. Thomas. as soone as hee discouered the Metropolytan Church, wherin the blessed Martyrs body rested, changed from the Maiesty of a king to the showe of a most silly man, with naked feete and naked body, beesides one only contemptible coate vpon his naked skinne, with vnspeakeable deuotiō and humility, like another Dauid on his bare feete in the sight of all the people passed his pilgrimage through the durty wayes and streetes: thus hee whose power was terrible to kingdomes and Nations, now dreading and trembling with deepe sighes and lamentations came most poorely to the Martyrs sepulcher, ond there beestowed a whole day and night in fasting, waching, and prayer; then assembling together the Bishoppes with the sacred Conuent of the Monkes, and submissiuely bowing downe his heade into the Martyrs tombe, God and his Martyr beehoulding it, receaued vpon his naked skinne from euery Bishop fiue, and from all the Religious aboue foureskore blowes with Disciplines; at the sight whereof all the standers by broke out into abundance of teares: Moreouer the king, as truly penitent for his offence, and to giue full satisfaction to the Martyr, did for the honor and deuotion which hee owed him, abrogate againe all his wicked customes, beeing the causes of this dissention, enacting for the tyme to come iust ordinances. All this beeing therfore soe deuoutely and humbly accomplished, the king on the morrow as a pilgrimme, after celebration of the Masse of a Martyr before the reliques of this Martyr, returned submissiuely, as hee came, on his naked and durty feete without receauing any sustenance, hauing a singular hope shortly to recouer vnder the patronage of the Martyr redresse of his misfortunes. Neither was it a vayne expectation; [Page 396] for beeing with such religious and seuere, pennance reconcyled to the martyr, Allmighty God by the Martyrs intercession and meritts rescued him from these calamitys; yee a maruaillous thing to tell, as well for the Martyrs renowne, The kinges enemyes cō quered by the Martyrs merites. as the kinges effectuall pennance, the same day beeing Sattursday, and the same hower, when as the Masse was sayd in honor of the Martyr, and (the Saint beeing as it were pacifyed) the king licenced to departe; at the very instant of the diuine sacrifice (as the world doth wittnes and the king himselfe confessed) the king of Scottes, one of his greatest enemyes, armed with a huge hoste of men, stragling a syde from his mighty power, was surprised without wounde or blowe by a fewe souldiers of no greate accompt, which yet remayned faythfull to king Henry the father. Neither only was this king as a prisoner in this sorte subiected to his mercy, but all the other aduerse forces alsoe shortly vanquished or vanished, his wife and children reduced to obedience, and the clowdes of misfortunes thus dispersed, king Henry the father as before victoriously shyned. All which as hee attributed only to Allmighty God and his Martyr, soe humbly commending my selfe to the mercys of the one, and the patronage of the other, I heere conclude this Translation.