PART II. MISCELLANEOUS SOURCES.

HENRY PUTS HIS HOUSE IN ORDER, 1155-7.

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., Part II., pp. 255-6. Bohn's

Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

In the year 1155, being the first year of the reign of King Henry, son

of the Empress Matilda, the said King laid siege to the castles of his

enemies in England, and captured them; some of which he retained in his

own hands, and some he levelled with the ground. After this, he crossed

over into Normandy, and did homage to Louis, King of the Franks, for

Normandy, Aquitaine, Anjou, Maine, and Touraine, with all their

appurtenances.

In the year of grace 1156, being the second year of the reign of King

Henry, son of the Empress Matilda, the said King returned from Normandy

to England, and caused nearly all the castles, which had been erected in

England in the time of King Stephen, to be demolished, and issued a new

coinage, which was the only one received and current throughout the

realm; he also established peace in the kingdom, and commanded the laws

of King Henry, his grandfather, to be observed inviolably throughout the

whole of his kingdom, and in many matters followed the advice of

Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury.

In the year of grace 1157, being the third year of the reign of King

Henry, son of the Empress Matilda, the said King, by the advice and

entreaty of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, conferred the

Chancellorship upon Thomas, Archdeacon of Canterbury, and bestowed upon

him many revenues, both ecclesiastical and of a secular nature, and

received him so much into his esteem and familiarity, that throughout

the kingdom there was no one his equal, save the King alone.

In the same year, Malcolm, King of the Scots, came to the King of

England at Chester, and did homage to him, in the same way that his

grandfather had done homage to the former King Henry, saving always all

his dignities.

SUPERSTITIONS AND CHARACTER OF THE IRISH, CIRC. 1155.

_Instance of Superstition._

+Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 79, Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell &

Sons.

I now proceed to relate some wonderful occurrences which have happened

within our times. About three years before the arrival of Earl John in

Ireland, it chanced that a priest, who was journeying from Ulster

towards Meath, was benighted in a certain wood on the borders of Meath.

While, in company with only a young lad, he was watching by a fire which

he had kindled under the branches of a spreading tree, lo! a wolf came

up to them, and immediately addressed them to this effect: "Rest secure,

and be not afraid, for there is no reason you should fear, where no fear

is!" The travellers being struck with astonishment and alarm, the wolf

added some orthodox words referring to God. The priest then implored him

and adjured him by Almighty God and faith in the Trinity, not to hurt

them, but to inform them what creature it was that in the shape of a

beast uttered human words. The wolf, after giving catholic replies to

all questions, added at last: "There are two of us, a man and a woman,

natives of Ossory, who, through the curse of one Natalis, saint and

abbot, are compelled every seven years to put off the human form, and

depart from the dwellings of men. Quitting entirely the human form, we

assume that of wolves. At the end of the seven years, if they chance to

survive, two others being substituted in their places, they return to

their country and their former shape. And now, she who is my partner in

this visitation lies dangerously sick not far from hence, and, as she is

at the point of death, I beseech you, inspired by divine charity, to

give her the consolations of your priestly office."

At this word the priest followed the wolf trembling, as he led the way

to a tree at no great distance, in the hollow of which he beheld a

she-wolf, who under that shape was pouring forth human sighs and groans.

On seeing the priest, having saluted him with human courtsey, she gave

thanks to God, who in this extremity had vouchsafed to visit her with

such consolation. She then received from the priest all the rites of the

church, duly performed, as far as the last communion. This also she

importunately demanded, earnestly supplicating him to complete his good

offices by giving her the viaticum. The priest stoutly asserting that he

was not provided with it, the he-wolf, who had withdrawn to a short

distance, came back and pointed out a small missal-book, containing some

consecrated wafers which the priest carried on his journey, suspended

from his neck, under his garment, after the fashion of the country. He

then intreated him not to deny them the gift of God, and the aid

destined for them by Divine Providence; and to remove all doubt, using

his claw for a hand, he tore off the skin of the she-wolf from the head

down to the navel, folding it back. Thus she immediately presented the

form of an old woman. The priest, seeing this, and compelled by his fear

more than his reason, gave the communion; the recipient having earnestly

implored it, and devoutly partaking of it. Immediately afterwards the

he-wolf rolled back the skin, and fitted it to its original form.

_Their Character._

+Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 111. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell &

Sons.

It appears to me very remarkable, and deserving of notice, that, as in

the present life the people of this nation are beyond all others,

irascible and prompt to revenge, so also in the life that is after

death, the saints of this country, exalted by their merits above those

of other lands, appear to be of a vindictive temper. There appears to me

no other way of accounting for this circumstance, but this: as the Irish

people possessed no castles, while the country is full of marauders, who

live by plunder, the people, and more especially the ecclesiastics, made

it their practice to have recourse to the churches, instead of fortified

places, as refuges for themselves and their property; and, by Divine

Providence and permission, there was frequent need that the Church

should visit her enemies with the severest chastisements; this being the

only mode by which evildoers and impious men could be deterred from

breaking the peace of ecclesiastical societies, and for securing even to

a servile submission the reverence due to the very churches themselves,

from a rude and irreligious people.

THE PAGANISM OF THE IRISH, CIRC. 1155.

+Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 135. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell &

Sons.

They are given to treachery more than any other nation, and never keep

the faith they have pledged, neither shame nor fear withholding them

from constantly violating the most solemn obligations, which, when

entered into with themselves, they are above all things anxious to have

observed. So that, when you have used the utmost precaution, when you

have been most vigilant for your own security and safety, by requiring

oaths and hostages, by treaties of alliance firmly made, and by benefits

of all kinds conferred, then begins your time to fear; for then

especially their treachery is awake, when they suppose that, relying in

the fulness of your security, you are off your guard. That is the moment

for them to fly to their citadel of wickedness, turn against you their

weapons of deceit, and endeavour to do you injury, by taking the

opportunity of catching you unawares.

(_G. C._, p 138.)

There are some things which shame would prevent my relating, unless the

course of my subject required it. For a filthy story seems to reflect a

stain on the author, although it may display his skill. But the severity

of history does not allow us either to sacrifice truth or affect

modesty; and what is shameful in itself may be related by pure lips in

decent words. There is then in the northern and most remote part of

Ulster, namely, at Kenel Cunil, a nation which practices a most

barbarous and abominable rite in creating their King. The whole people

of that country being gathered in one place, a white mare is led into

the midst of them, and he who is to be inaugurated, not as a prince, but

as a brute, not as a king, but as an outlaw, comes before the people on

all fours, confessing himself a beast with no less impudence than

imprudence. The mare being immediately killed, and cut in pieces and

boiled, a bath is prepared for him from the broth. Sitting in this he

eats of the flesh which is brought to him, the people standing round and

partaking of it also. He is also required to drink of the broth in which

he is bathed, not drawing it in any vessel, nor even in his hand, but

lapping it with his mouth. These unrighteous rites being duly

accomplished, his royal authority and dominion are ratified.

(_G. C._, p. 139.)

Moreover, though the faith has been planted for so long a period in this

country that it has grown to maturity, there are some corners of the

land in which many are still unbaptised, and to whom, through the

negligence of their pastors, the knowledge of the truth has never

penetrated. I heard some sailors relate that, having been once driven by

a violent storm, during Lent, to the northern islands and unexplored

expanse of the sea of Connaught, they at last took shelter under a small

island. Here they could hardly hold their ground by the help of their

anchor, though they had three cables out or more. After three days, the

storm abating, the sky becoming again clear, and the sea calm, they

beheld at no great distance the features of a land which was before

entirely unknown to them. From this land not long afterwards they saw a

small boat rowing towards them. It was narrow and oblong, and made of

wattled boughs, covered and sewn with the hides of beasts. In it were

two men, stark naked, except that they wore broad belts of the skin of

some animal fastened round their waists. They had long yellow hair, like

the Irish, falling below the shoulders and covering great part of their

bodies. The sailors finding that these men were from some part of

Connaught, and spoke the Irish language, took them into the ship. All

that they saw there was new to them and a subject of wonder. They said

that they had never seen before a large ship, built of timber, or

anything belonging to civilised man. Bread and cheese being offered to

them, they refused to eat them, having no knowledge of either. Flesh,

fish, and milk, they said, were their only food. Nor did they wear any

clothes, except sometimes the skins of beasts, in cases of great

necessity. Having inquired of the sailors whether they had on board any

flesh with which they could satisfy their hunger, and being told in

reply that it was not lawful to eat flesh during Lent, they were utterly

ignorant what Lent was. Neither did they know anything about the year,

the month, or the week; and by what names the days of the week were

called was entirely beyond their conception. Being asked whether they

were Christians, and had been baptised, they replied that to the present

hour they had never heard of the name of Christ, and knew nothing about

Him. On their return, they carried back a loaf and a cheese, that they

might be able to astonish their countrymen by the sight of the

provisions which the strangers ate.

It must be observed also, that the men who enjoy ecclesiastical

immunity, and are called ecclesiastical men, although they be laics and

have wives, and wear long hair hanging down below the shoulders, but

only do not bear arms, wear for their protection, by authority of the

Pope, fillets on the crown of their heads, as a mark of distinction.

Moreover, these people, who have customs so very different from others,

and so opposite to them, on making signs either with the hands or the

head, beckon when they mean that you should go away, and nod backward as

often as they wish to be rid of you. They are also prone to the failing

of jealousy beyond any other nation. The women also, as well as the men,

ride astride, with their legs stuck out on each side of the horse.

TRIBAL DISPUTE (1154-7).

+Source.+--_Song of Dermot._ Orpen. Clarendon Press. 1892.

l. 22. Now in Leath-luinn there was a king,

O'Rourke he was called in Irish,

In Tisbrun, the barren, he dwelt,

A waste, a woody land.

But O'Rourke, the rich King,

Had a beautiful wife at this time,

The daughter of King Melaghlin

To whom Meath was subject.

* * * *

l. 40. Dermot, King of Leinster

Whom this lady loved so much,

Made pretence to her of loving,

While he did not love her at all,

But only wished to the utmost of his power

To avenge, if he could, the great shame

Which the men of Leath-luinn wrought of old

On the men of Leath-Mogha in his territory.

King Dermot often sent word

To the lady whom he so loved--

By letter and by messenger,

Often did the King send word

That she was altogether, in truth,

The thing in the world that he most loved;

l.94. King Dermot immediately

Came marching to the place

Where the lady had sent word

That she would be ready.

In this way Dermot the King

Carried off the lady at this time.

* * * *

l. 110. O'Rourke much grieving,

To Connaught went in all haste.

To the King of Connaught he relates all:

* * * *

l. 126. The King of Connaught sent word

To the King of Ossory in the first place,

That he should not fail their King

But should come to their aid.

And these men fully promised him

That they would make him King in that territory

If they could cast out of it

King Dermot who was so bold.

And this man immediately revolted

Against his lord King Dermot;

And Melaghlin, the traitor,

Abandoned his lord;

And Mac Torkil of Dublin

Abandoned his lord at this moment.

There joined in the treason

Murrough O'Brien, an evil rebel.

* * * *

l. 206. When Dermot the King perceived

That he was betrayed at this time--

His own men failed him,

So completely was he betrayed--

And that they wished to take him

To hand him over and sell him to O'Rourke,

While the King of Connaught on the other hand

Should make a great destruction of him--

Why should I delay you

From your geste at all?

His people by the strong hand

Have cast out King Dermot,

Have wrested the whole kingdom from him

And have driven him from Ireland.

When the King was exiled

He took ship at Corkerau

* * * *

His ships had a very fine breeze,

At Bristol they take the shore.

* * * *

THE BULL OF POPE ADRIAN IV. EMPOWERING HENRY II. TO CONQUER IRELAND,

A.D. 1155.

+Source.+--_Historical Documents of the Middle Ages_, p. 10. Henderson.

Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

Bishop Adrian, servant of the servants of God, sends to his dearest son

in Christ, the illustrious King of the English, greeting and apostolic

benediction. Laudably and profitably enough thy magnificence thinks of

extending thy glorious name on earth, and of heaping up rewards of

eternal felicity in heaven, inasmuch as, like a good catholic prince,

thou dost endeavour to enlarge the bounds of the Church, to declare the

truth of the Christian faith to ignorant and barbarous nations, and to

extirpate the plants of evil from the field of the Lord....

There is indeed no doubt, as thy Highness doth also acknowledge, that

Ireland and all other islands which Christ the Sun of Righteousness has

illumined, and which have received the doctrines of the Christian faith,

belong to the jurisdiction of St. Peter and of the Holy Roman Church....

Thou hast signified to us, indeed, most beloved son in Christ, that thou

dost desire to enter into the island of Ireland, in order to subject the

people to the laws and to extirpate the vices that have there taken

root, and that thou art willing to pay an annual pension to St. Peter of

one penny from every house, and to preserve the rights of the churches

in that land inviolate and entire....

[This bull was not thought to be genuine by the majority of historians,

but Mr. Orpen in _Ireland under the Normans_, 1912, successfully proves

its authenticity.]

THOMAS À BECKET. LIFE BEFORE HIS ELECTION (1162).

+Source.+--_Roger of Wendover, Annal 1162._ Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell &

Sons.

The same year, the clergy and people of the whole province of Canterbury

assembled at Westminster, where Thomas, the King's Chancellor, was

solemnly elected, without opposition, to be Archbishop. This happened on

Whitsunday: the Chancellor was ordained priest, by Walter Bishop of

Rochester, in the church of Canterbury, and on the following Sunday was

consecrated by Henry Bishop of Winchester, and solemnly enthroned.

Messengers were immediately despatched to Rome, but they met the Pope on

this side of the Alps entering France, and they returned to England,

bringing with them the pall; which was placed on the altar in the Church

of Canterbury. Thomas then, having taken the usual oaths, received the

pall from the altar, and reverently put on him the robes of a

high-priest. But this change of habit was preliminary to a change of

heart also, for he now renounced secular cares, and attended only to the

spiritual concerns of the Church and the gain of souls. He sent

messengers to the King in Normandy, renouncing the Chancellorship and

resigning the great seal. This act sank deep into the mind of the King,

who looked upon himself alone as the cause of his resignation. This was

the first occasion on which the King's feelings were ruffled towards

Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury. Now this Thomas was a native of the

City of London, and from his childhood was adorned with many virtues.

From his birth, he used to take pleasure in invoking the blessed virgin,

and, next to Christ, reposed all his hopes upon her. When he had

finished his schooling, he entered the service of Theobald, Archbishop

of Canterbury, and by his industry, soon won his way to intimacy and

familiarity with him. Of his services and labours for the cause of God's

Church, how he more than once visited the threshold of the apostles on

matters of business, and how he successfully discharged his commissions,

it is not easy to relate, seeing that his whole mind was devoted to

examining and deciding causes and to instructing the people. He was

first promoted by the Archbishop to be Archdeacon of Canterbury, and

shortly after he was made King's Chancellor, in which capacity he wisely

and prudently checked the rapacity of those kites, who, in servility to

the King, had conspired to plunder the property both of the provincials

and of the church.

DISPUTE CONCERNING CONSTITUTIONS OF CLARENDON (1164).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., p. 259, _seqq._ Bohn's

Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

In the year of grace 1164, being the tenth year of the reign of King

Henry, son of the Empress Matilda, the said Henry gave to Henry, duke of

Saxony, his daughter Matilda in marriage. In the same year, having

called together a great council, and all the archbishops and bishops of

England being assembled in his presence, he requested them, out of their

love for and obedience to him, and for the establishment of the kingdom,

to receive the laws of King Henry, his grandfather, and faithfully to

observe them: on which, Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, made answer

for himself and the others, that they would receive those laws, which

the King said were made by his grandfather, and with good faith would

observe the same; saving their orders and the honour of God and of the

Holy Church in all respects. But this reservation greatly displeased the

King, and he used every possible method to make the bishops promise that

they would, without any exception whatever, observe those laws; to this,

however, the Archbishop of Canterbury would on no account agree.

After this, there came to England, a certain man belonging to the

religious orders, named Philip de Eleemosyna being sent as a legate "a

latere" by Alexander the supreme Pontiff, and all the cardinals, for the

purpose of making peace between the King and the Archbishop of

Canterbury; by whom the Pope and all the cardinals sent word to the

Archbishop of Canterbury, that he must make peace with the King of

England his master, and promise, without any exception, to obey his

laws. Assenting, therefore, to this and other advice on the part of

these great men, the Archbishop of Canterbury came to the King at

Woodstock, and there made a promise to the King and agreed that he

would, in good faith, and without any bad intent, observe his laws.

Shortly after this, the clergy and people of the kingdom being convened

at Clarendon, the archbishop reported that he had made this concession

to the King, and wishing to recede from his agreement, said that in

making the concession he had greatly sinned, but would sin no longer in

so doing. In consequence of this, the King's anger was greatly aroused

against him, and he threatened him and his people with exile and death;

upon which, the Bishops of Salisbury and Norwich came to the archbishop,

together with Robert, Earl of Leicester, Reginald, Earl of Cornwall, and

the two Templars, Richard de Hastings and Tostes de Saint Omer, and in

tears threw themselves at the feet of archbishop, and begged that he

would at least, for the sake of the King's dignity, come to him, and in

the presence of the people, declare that he would observe his laws. The

archbishop being consequently overcome by the entreaties of such great

men, came to the King, and in the presence of the clergy, and the

people, said that he acceded to those laws which the King called those

of his grandfather. He also conceded that the bishops should receive

those laws and promise to observe them. Upon this, the King gave orders

to all the earls and barons of the realm, that they should go out and

call to remembrance the laws of King Henry his grandfather, and reduce

them to writing. When this had been done, the King commanded the

archbishops and bishops to annex their seals to the said writing; but,

while the others were ready so to do, the Archbishop of Canterbury swore

that he would never annex his seal to that writing or confirm those laws.

When the King saw that he could not by these means attain his object, he

ordered a written copy of these laws to be made, and gave a duplicate of

it to the Archbishop of Canterbury, which he, in spite of the

prohibition of the whole of the clergy, received from the King's hand,

and turning to the clergy exclaimed "Courage brethren! by means of this

writing we shall be enabled to discover the evil intentions of the King,

and against whom we ought to be on our guard"; after which he retired

from the court, and was unable by any means to recover the King's

favour. And because he had acted inadvisedly in this matter, he

suspended himself from the celebration of divine service from that hour,

until such time as he himself, or his messenger, should have spoken

thereon with our lord the Pope.

BECKET'S EXILE (1165).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., pp. 266, 267. Bohn's Libraries.

G. Bell & Sons.

At this moment the King sent him word by his knights to come to him

without delay, and render to him a full account of all the receipts of

the revenues of the kingdom during the time that he had been his

Chancellor. And, in particular, he was questioned with reference to

thirty thousand pounds of silver; on which the archbishop made answer:

"My lord the King knows that I have often rendered him an account with

reference to all the demands he is now making upon me before my election

to the Archbishopric of Canterbury. But, upon my election to that See,

the King's son, Henry, to whom the kingdom was bound by its oath, and

all the barons of the exchequer, and Richard de Lucy, the justiciary of

England, released me before God and the Holy Church, from all receipts

and reckonings, and from all secular exactions on behalf of our lord the

King, and thus, free and acquitted, was I elected to the administration

of the duties of this office; and for that reason do I refuse to plead

any further." The King, upon hearing this, said to his barons: "Make

haste and pronounce judgment upon this person, who, being my liege-man,

refuses to take his trial in my court"; on which they went forth and

pronounced that he deserved to be arrested and placed in confinement. On

hearing this, the King sent to him Reginald, Earl of Cornwall, and

Robert, Earl of Leicester, to inform him of the judgment that had been

pronounced upon him: who accordingly said to him: "Listen to the

judgment pronounced upon you." To this, the bishop made answer: "In the

name of Almighty God, and under penalty of excommunication, I forbid you

this day to pronounce judgment upon me, inasmuch as I have appealed unto

the presence of our lord the Pope." While the above-named earls were

carrying this answer to the King, the archbishop went forth from the

chamber, and going through the midst of them, reached his palfrey, and

mounting it, left the palace, all the people shouting after him and

saying: "Where are you going, traitor? Stop and hear your sentence!"

When, however, he had arrived at the outer gates, he found them shut,

and was in great apprehension of being taken by his enemies, but

Almighty God delivered him. For, Peter de Munctorio, one of his

servants, espied a number of keys hanging on a nail near the gate, and

taking them down, opened it, on which the archbishop sallied forth on

horseback, the King's porters standing by, and uttering not a word. The

archbishop made all haste to arrive at the house of some canons regular,

where he was hospitably entertained, and commanded the tables to be set

out and all the poor that were to be found before the gates to be

introduced to eat and drink in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This

was accordingly done; and he, together with them and his people,

becomingly partook of the repast in the refectory of the canons, and,

when it was finished, made his bed in the Church, between the nave and

the altar. In the meantime, he had secretly ordered preparations to be

made for his journey, as it was his intention to depart by night. At

twilight, therefore, when the King and the rest were supping in the

town, taking with him two friars of the Cistercian Order, the name of

one of whom was Robert de Caune, and of the other, Scainen, and a single

servant, who was called Roger de Broc, he went out of the town through

the gate, which was left entirely without guards, and at daybreak

arrived at Lincoln, and was entertained at the house of James. Here the

archbishop changed his dress, and, changing his name, ordered himself to

be called by that of Dereham; and being recognized by few persons,

taking remote ways and bye-paths, he hastened towards the sea-shore, he

and his attendants riding on at night, and concealing themselves in the

day among his friends and acquaintances. At last they arrived at the

sea-shore, and reaching the port of Sandwich, secretly embarked on board

of a ship, and then, secretly setting sail, in the morning landed in

Flanders, whence he immediately made his way to France.

Before, however, he had arrived at the court of Louis, King of the

Franks, Gilbert Folliet, bishop of London, and William, Earl of Arundel,

had arrived on behalf of the King of England, to prevent the King of

France from receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury in his kingdom, and

to request him to beg our lord the Pope, out of his love for him, not to

receive the Archbishop of Canterbury into his favour. But the more pains

the above-named envoys of the King of England took to have Archbishop of

Canterbury expelled from the kingdom of France, the more did the King of

France favour him and his cause.

THE RETURN (1170).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., p. 330. Bohn's Libraries. G.

Bell & Sons.

In the meantime, Louis, King of the Franks, and the archbishops,

bishops, and nobles of the kingdom of France, besought the Roman Pontiff

in behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury, by the love which they bore

him, and with protestations of implicit obedience, no longer to admit

the excuses and delays which the King of England continually put

forward, as he loved the kingdom of France and the honour of the

Apostolic See. William, the bishop of Sens, also, being astonished at

the desolate condition of the English Church, repaired to the Apostolic

See, and obtained of the Roman Church, that, an end being put to all

appeals, the King of the English should be subjected to excommunication,

and his kingdom to interdict, unless peace were restored to the Church

of Canterbury. Thus, at last, it pleased God, the dispenser of all

things, to recompense the merits of His dearly beloved Thomas, and to

crown his long labours with the victorious palm of martyrdom. He,

therefore, brought the King of England to a better frame of mind, who,

through the paternal exhortation of our lord the Pope, and by the advice

of the King of the Franks, and of many bishops, received the archbishop

again into favour, and allowed him to return to his church.

BECKET'S LIFE (1170).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., p. 333. Bohn's Libraries. G.

Bell & Sons.

As for his life, it was perfectly unimpeachable before God and man. To

arise before daybreak did not seem to him a vain thing, as he knew that

the Lord has promised a crown to the watchful. For every day he arose

before daybreak, while all the rest were asleep, and entering his

oratory would pray there for a long time; and then returning, he would

awake his chaplains and clerks from their slumbers, and, the matins and

the hours of the day being chaunted, devoutly celebrate the mass; and

every day and night he received three or five flagellations from the

hand of a priest. After the celebration of the mass, every day he

re-entered his oratory, and, shutting the door after him, devoted

himself to prayer with abundant tears; and no one but God alone knew the

manner in which he afflicted his flesh. And thus did he do daily unto

his flesh until the hour for dining, unless some unusual solemnity or

remarkable cause prevented it. On coming forth from his oratory, he

would come to dine among his people, not that he might sate his body

with costly food, but that he might make his household cheerful thereby,

and that he might fill the poor ones of the Lord with good things, whom,

according to his means, he daily increased in numbers. And although

costly and exquisite food and drink were set before him, still his only

food and drink were bread and water.

One day, while the archbishop was sitting at the table of Alexander, the

Supreme Pontiff, a person who was aware of this secret, placed before

him a cup full of water. On the Supreme Pontiff taking it up, and

tasting it, he found it to be the purest wine, and delicious to drink;

on which he said: "I thought that this was water"; and on replacing the

cup before the archbishop, the wine immediately returned to its former

taste of water. Oh wondrous change by the right hand of the Most High!

Every day, when the archbishop arose from dinner, unless more important

business prevented him, he always devoted himself to reading the

Scriptures until the hour of vespers at the time of sunset. His bed was

covered with soft coverlets and cloths of silk, embroidered on the

surface with gold wrought therein; and while other persons were asleep,

he alone used to lie on the bare floor before his bed, repeating psalms

and hymns, and never ceasing from prayers, until at last, overcome with

fatigue, he would gradually recline his head upon a stone, put beneath

it in place of a pillow: and thus would his eyes enjoy sleep, while his

heart was ever watchful for the Lord. His inner garment was of coarse

sackcloth, made of goat's hair, with which his whole body was covered,

from the arms down to the knees. But his outer garments were remarkable

for their splendour and extreme costliness, to the end that, thus

deceiving human eyes, he might please the sight of God. There was no

individual acquainted with this secret of his way of living, with the

exception of two--one of whom was Robert, Canon of Merton, his chaplain,

and the name of the other was Brun, who had charge of his sackcloth

garments, and washed them when necessary; and they were bound by their

words and oaths that, during his life, they would disclose these facts

to no one.

BECKET'S DEATH (1171).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., pp. 335, 336. Bohn's Libraries.

G. Bell & Sons.

Hardly had the father been residing one month in his see, when lo! on

the fifth day of the feast of the Nativity of our Lord, there came to

Canterbury four knights, or rather sworn satellites of Satan, whose

names were as follows: William de Tracy, Hugh de Morville, Richard

Briton, and Reginald Fitz-Urse, men of families remarkable for their

respectability, but destined, by their daring to commit so enormous a

crime, to blemish the glories of knighthood and the honours of their

ancestors with perpetual ignominy. Accordingly, these persons made their

way into the presence of the archbishop, and, as nothing salutary was

the object of their message, in the malice they had conceived they

omitted pronouncing any salutation, and addressed him in an insolent and

haughty manner. Threats were exchanged on both sides and threat was

answered with threat.

Now, the archbishop, with meekness and self-possession, had gone before

them to the choir of the church, the monks having entreated, nay, forced

him, on account of the solemnity of the season, to perform the service

at vespers. When he perceived these armed men behind him, in the middle

of the cloisters, it might have been expected that their own malignant

feelings would have warned them to leave the church; but, neither did

reverence for the solemn occasion dissuade them from their crime, nor

the innocence of the patriarch prevent them from shedding his blood.

Indeed, so entirely had their shameless determination to perpetrate the

crime taken possession of them and blinded them, that they neither

regarded the disgrace to their knighthood, nor took account of any

danger. Therefore, following the archbishop with headlong and heedless

steps, with drawn swords, they entered the church, and furiously cried

aloud: "Where is this traitor?" After which, no one making answer, they

repeated, "Where is the archbishop?" Upon this he, the confessor, and,

shortly to be, the martyr in the cause of Christ, being sensible that

under the first name he was falsely charged, and that, by virtue of his

office, the other belonged to him, came down from the steps to meet

them, and said: "Behold, here am I," showing such extraordinary presence

of mind, that neither his mind seemed agitated by fear, nor his body by

trepidation.

On this the knights instantly laid hands on him and seized him, that,

for the perpetration of their design, they might drag him out of the

church, but were unable so to do. The archbishop, on seeing his

murderers with drawn swords, after the manner of one in prayer, bowed

his head, uttering these as his last words: "To God and to Saint Mary,

and to the Saints, the patrons of this church, and to Saint Denis, I

commend myself and the cause of the Church." After this, amid all these

tortures, this martyr, with unconquerable spirit and admirable

constancy, uttered not a word or cry, nor heaved a sigh, nor lifted his

arm against the smiter; but, bowing his head, which he had exposed to

their swords, held it unmoved until the deed was completed.

COMING OF DERMOT (1168-9).

+Source.+--_Song of Dermot._

_Dermot had an interview with Earl Richard._

His daughter he offered him to wife,

The thing in the world that he most loved:

That he would let him have her to wife

And would give Leinster to him,

On condition that he would aid him

So that he should be able to subdue it.

_Earl Richard (Strongbow) in Ireland, 1170._

l. 1501. Very soon afterwards Earl Richard

Landed at Waterford

Full fifteen hundred men he brought with him.

* * * *

On St. Bartholomew's day

Earl Richard, the prudent,

Took by assault and won

The City of Waterford.

* * * *

l. 1524. King Dermot speedily

Came there, be sure, right royally.

The King in his company

Brought there many of his barons,

And his daughter he brought there;

To the noble earl he gave her.

The earl honourably

Wedded her in the presence of the people.

King Dermot then gave

To the earl, who was so renowned,

Leinster he gave him

With his daughter, whom he so much loved,

Provided only that he should have the lordship

Of Leinster during his life.

* * * *

Then they turned towards Dublin

The King and the renowned earl

* * * *

l. 1644. Outside the walls of the city

Was the King encamped;

* * * *

Now Dermot, the noble King,

Despatched Morice Regan,

And by Morice proclaimed

To the citizens of the city

That without delay, without any respite,

They should surrender without gainsaying.

* * * *

And Miles the renowned baron

To the earl gave up the city.

* * * *

And the King returned

To Ferns in his own country.

* * * *

At Ferns then tarried

King Dermot during this winter.

The King, who was so noble,

Lies buried at Ferns.

King Dermot is dead. May God have mercy on his soul.

All the Irish of the country

Revolted against the earl.

* * * *

And the rich King of Connaught

Summoned to him

The Irish of all Ireland

In order to lay siege to Dublin.

* * * *

l. 1767. The earl you must know, at this time

Was within the city, of a truth.

The son of Stephen promptly sent

Some of his men to the earl:

In order to aid and succour him

He sent men to him at this crisis,

When Robert had sent

About thirty-six of his men

To aid the earl Richard,

The traitors without any delay

Fell upon Robert,

In the town of Wexford

They wrongfully slew his men:

* * * *

Within a castle on the Slaney ...

The traitors took Robert

And put him in prison in Begerin.

* * * *

l. 2199. When the earl (Richard) had appeased

The Irish of the country,

Then the English King sent

To the earl to announce

That, without delay, without gainsaying,

Without taking time or respite,

The earl should come speedily

To speak to him at once.

* * * *

l. 2229. Earl Richard at this time

At Pembroke found the rich king.

* * * *

The noble earl saluted him

In the name of the Son of the King of Majesty,

And the King graciously

Made answer to Earl Richard.

The King thereupon replied

"May God almighty bless you."

* * * *

l. 2495. As soon as the King came to the sea

At Pembrokeshire, in order to cross over,

Lo! then at the harbour

Twelve traitors from Wexford

Came to land in a boat

* * * *

"Hold it not, lord, as folly,"

Thus spake the traitors unto him,

"If we shall say to you--be it known to you all--

Why we have come to you.

We have taken yon rebellious vassal,

Robert Fitzstephen is his name,

* * * *

In a strong prison we have placed him;

To thee we shall give him up, noble King,

Who art lord of the English,

And do you, noble renowned King,

Do your pleasure in this matter."

The King replied to them

"On this condition be ye welcome,

That ye hand over this man to me,

And then ye will see what I shall do with him."

_Henry II.'s Invasion of Ireland, 1171-2._

l. 2579. Hear, my lords, concerning King Henry,

Who was the son of the empress,

How he resolved to cross the sea

And to conquer Ireland

Entirely through the recommendation

Of the noble earl, according to the people.

King Henry then crossed over

To Ireland with his ships.

The King then brought with him

Four hundred armed knights.

King Henry when he took ship

Put to sea at the Cross:

At Pembrokeshire at this time

The rich King put to sea.

With him the noble earl crossed over,

According to the statement of the old people.

At Waterford the noble King

Landed with four thousand English,

On All Hallows' Day, of a truth,

If the geste does not deceive us;

Before the feast of St. Martin

The King at length came to Ireland.

With the King there crossed over

Vassals of good kindred.

* * * *

l. 2614. The earl of his own free will

Surrendered the city to the King:

To the King he surrendered Waterford

Of his own free will and agreement.

Homage for Leinster

He did to the King of England.

* * * *

From Waterford King Henry

Set out with his marquises,

To Dublin with his men

He went without delay.

Richard, the noble and valiant earl,

Straightway surrendered the city to him.

Dublin King Henry gave

To the custody of Hugh de Lacy

And he afterwards guarded the city

By the command of the King.

And the King of England

Thence turned towards Munster,

To the City of Cashel

Went the King with his splendid following,

Where at that time was the seat

Of the archbishopric of Munster.

From Cashel the puissant King

Went on to Lismore.

King Henry Curt Mantel

At Lismore wished to fortify

A castle: so wished King Henry,

Who was the empress' son,

I know not why, but nevertheless

At this time, he put it off.

Towards Leinster the English King

Set out at this time:

Towards Leinster, the rich,

He went with his chivalry,

Eighteen weeks, nor more nor less,

According to what the old people say,

The duke of Normandy remained

In Ireland with his baronage.

Of Normandy at this time

The rich King was duke;

Of Gascony and of Brittany

Of Poitou, of Anjou, and of Maine,

Was King Henry called

Lord, according to the old people.

In Ireland was the King

About a fortnight and four months.

In the land up and down

Marched the noble King.

* * * *

While the renowned King

Was in the City of Dublin

Lo! a messenger in haste

... Came to announce to the King

That Henry his eldest son

Had in truth revolted against him,

And that he sought to deprive him wholly

Of the lordship of Normandy.

* * * *

l. 2763. And the King towards Normandy

Went with his great nobles

In order to make war against a son of his

Who wished to despoil him.

War had the rich King

With the French in Normandy.

In Ireland remained

The noble earl with his friends.

THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE SYNOD OF CASHEL (1172).

+Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 232. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell &

Sons.

_First._ It is decreed that all the faithful throughout Ireland shall

eschew concubinage with their cousins and kinsfolk, and contract and

adhere to lawful marriages.

_Second._ That children be catechised outside the church doors, and

infants baptised at the consecrated fonts in the baptisteries of the

churches.

_Third._ That all good Christians do pay the Tithes of beasts, corn and

other produce, to the church of the parish of which they live.

_Fourth._ That all the lands and possessions of the church be entirely

free from all exactions of secular men; and especially that neither the

petty kings nor earls, or other great men in Ireland, nor their sons,

nor any of their household, shall exact provisions and lodgings on any

ecclesiastical territories, as the custom is, nor under any pretence

presume to extort them by violent means; and that the detestable

practice of extorting a loaf four times a year from the mills belonging

to the churches, by neighbouring lords, shall henceforth be utterly

abolished.

_Fifth._ That in the case of a homicide committed by laics, when it is

compounded for by the adverse parties, none of the clergy, though of

kindred to the perpetrators of the crime, shall contribute anything;

that, as they were free from the guilt of the homicide, so they shall be

also exonerated from any payment in satisfaction for it.

_Sixth._ That every good Christian, being sick and weak, shall solemnly

make his last will and testament in the presence of his confessor and

neighbours, and that, if he have any wife and children, all his moveable

goods, his debts and servants' wages being first paid, shall be divided

into three parts, one of which he shall bequeath to his children,

another to his lawful wife, and the third to such uses as he shall

declare. And if it shall happen that there be no lawful child or

children, then his goods shall be equally divided between his wife and

legatees. And if his wife die before him, then his goods shall be

divided into two parts, of which the children shall take one, and his

residuary legatees the other.

_Seventh._ That those who depart this life after a good confession shall

be buried with masses and vigils and all due ceremonies.

_Finally._ That divine offices shall be henceforth celebrated in every

part of Ireland, according to the forms and usages of the Church of

England.

DISPUTES WITH HENRY'S SONS (1173).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Part 2, Vol. I., pp. 367 _seqq._ Bohn's

Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

There also came to Limoges the Earl of Maurienne, and desired to know

how much of his own territory the King of England intended to grant to

his son John; and on the King expressing an intention to give him the

Castle of Chinon, the Castle of Lodun, and the Castle of Mirabel, the

King, his son, would in nowise agree thereto, nor allow it to be done.

For he was already greatly offended that his father was unwilling to

assign to him some portion of his territories, where he, with his wife,

might take up their residence. Indeed, he had requested his father to

give him either Normandy, or Anjou, or England, which request he had

made at the suggestion of the King of France, and of those of the Earls

and Barons of England and Normandy, who disliked his father: and from

this time it was that the King, the son, had been seeking pretexts and

an opportunity for withdrawing from his father. And he had now so

entirely revolted in feeling from obeying his wishes, that he could not

even converse with him on any subject in a peaceable manner.

Having now gained his opportunity, both as to place and occasion, the

King, the son, left his father, and proceeded to the King of France.

However, Richard Barre, his chancellor, Walter, his chaplain, Ailward,

his chamberlain, and William Blund, his apparitor, left him, and

returned to the King, his father. Thus did the king's son lose both his

feelings and his senses: he repulsed the innocent, persecuted a father,

usurped authority, seized upon a kingdom; he alone was the guilty one,

and yet a whole army conspired against his father. "So does the madness

of one make many mad." For he it was who thirsted for the blood of a

father, the gore of a parent!

In the meantime, Louis, King of the Franks, held a great council at

Paris, at which he and all the principal men of France made oath to the

son of the King of England that they would assist him in every way in

expelling his father from the kingdom if he should not accede to his

wishes: on which he swore to them that he would not make peace with his

father, except with their sanction and consent. After this, he swore

that he would give to Philip, Earl of Flanders, for his homage, a

thousand pounds of yearly revenues in England, and the whole of Kent,

together with Dover Castle, and Rochester Castle; to Matthew, Earl of

Boulogne, for his homage, the Soke of Kirketon in Lindsey, and the

earldom of Mortaigue, with the honour of Hay; and to Theobald, Earl of

Blois, for his homage, two hundred pounds of yearly revenues in Anjou,

and the Castle of Amboise, with all the jurisdiction which he had

claimed to hold in Touraine; and he also quitted claim to him of all

right that the King his father and himself had claimed in Chateau

Regnaud. All these gifts, and many besides, that he had made to other

persons, he confirmed under his new seal, which the King of France had

ordered to be made for him.

Besides these, he made other gifts, which, under the same seal, he

confirmed: namely, to William, King of Scotland, for his assistance, the

whole of Northumberland as far as the river Tyne. To the brother of the

same king, he gave, for his services, the Earldom of Huntingdon and of

Cambridgeshire, and to Earl Hugh Bigot, for his services, the Castle of

Norwich.

TROUBLE WITH SCOTLAND (1174).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Part 2, Vol. I., p. 377. Bohn's

Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

In the meantime, William, King of the Scots, came into Northumberland

with a large force, and there with his Scotch and Galloway men committed

execrable deeds. Infants, children, youths, aged men, all of both sexes,

from the highest to the lowest, they slew alike without mercy or ransom.

The priests and clergy they murdered in the very churches upon the

altars. Consequently, wherever the Scots and the Galloway men came,

horror and carnage prevailed. Shortly after, the King of the Scots sent

his brother David to Leicester; but before he arrived there, Reginald,

Earl of Cornwall, and Richard de Lacy, Justiciary of England, had burned

the City of Leicester to the ground, together with its churches and

buildings, with the exception of the castle.

THE PENANCE OF HENRY (1174).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Part 2, Vol. I., p. 383. Bohn's

Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

On the day after this, he[5] set out on a pilgrimage to the tomb of

Saint Thomas the Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury. On his approach, as

soon as he was in sight of the church, in which the body of the blessed

martyr lay buried, he dismounted from the horse on which he rode, took

off his shoes, and, barefoot, clad in woollen garments, walked three

miles to the tomb of the martyr, with such humility and compunction of

heart, that it may be believed beyond a doubt to have been the work of

Him who looketh down on the earth, and maketh it to tremble. To those

who beheld them, his footsteps along the road on which he walked, seemed

to be covered with blood, and really were so; for his tender feet being

cut by the hard stones, a great quantity of blood flowed from them on to

the ground. When he had arrived at the tomb, it was a holy thing to see

the affliction which he suffered, with sobs and tears, and the

discipline to which he submitted at the hands of the bishops and a great

number of priests and monks. Here, also, aided by the prayers of many

holy men, he passed the night, before the sepulchre of the blessed

martyr, in prayer, fasting, and lamentations. As for the gifts and

revenues, which, for the remission of his sins, he bestowed on this

church, they can never under any circumstance be obliterated from the

remembrance thereof. In the morning of the following day, after hearing

mass, he departed thence, on the third day before the ides of July,

being Saturday, with the intention of proceeding to London. And inasmuch

as he was mindful of the Lord in his entire heart, the Lord granted unto

him the victory over his enemies, and delivered them captive into his

hands. For on the very same Saturday on which the King left Canterbury,

William, King of the Scots, was taken prisoner at Alnwick by the

above-named knights of Yorkshire, who pursued him after his retreat from

Prudhoe. On the following day, namely on the seventh day before the

calends of August, the King departed from Seleham, and proceeded to

Northampton; on his arrival at which place, William, King of the Scots,

was brought to him, with his feet fastened beneath a horse's belly.

[5] The King of England, the father.

END OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL DISPUTE (1175).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Part 2, Vol. I., p. 392. Bohn's

Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

"Those who are in holy orders are not allowed to give judgment on

matters of life and death. Wherefore we do forbid them either themselves

to take part in dismemberment, or to order it to be done by others. And

if anyone shall be guilty of doing such a thing, let him be deprived of

the office and position of the orders that have been granted to him. We

do also forbid, under penalty of excommunication, any priest to hold the

office of sheriff, or that of any secular public officer."

"Likewise, inasmuch as the church of God, according to the verity of the

Gospel, ought to be the house of prayer, and not a den of thieves, and

market for blood; under pain of excommunication we do forbid secular

causes, in which the shedding of blood, or bodily punishment is likely

to be the result, to be tried in churches or in churchyards. For it is

absurd and cruel for judgment of bloodshed, to be discussed in the place

which has also been appointed the place of refuge for the guilty."

THE ALBIGENSIAN HERESY IN TOULOUSE (1178).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., pp. 471-475. Bohn's

Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

In the meantime the Arian heresy which, as previously mentioned, had

been condemned in the province of Toulouse, had revived; and this coming

to the ears of the King of France and the King of England, inflamed by

zeal for the Christian faith, they determined personally to go thither,

in order that they might entirely drive the before-named heretics from

those parts. However, after a short time had intervened, it seemed to

them that it might be more effectual if they sent thither wise men to

convert the heretics to the Christian faith by their preaching and

learning, than if they themselves were to hasten thither in person, for

they were reminded of the words, "Tis enough to have commanded

vengeance; more will the dread of your name effect than your sword; your

presence diminishes your fame."

They therefore sent thither Peter, cardinal priest, titular of St.

Chrysogonus, and legate of the Apostolic See, the Archbishops of Bourges

and Narbonne, Reginald, Bishop of Bath, John, Bishop of Poitou, Henry,

Abbot of Clairval, and many other ecclesiastics, in order that by their

preaching they might convert the said heretics to the Christian faith,

or on reasonable grounds prove them to be heretics, and separate them

from the threshold of holy Mother Church and from communion with the

faithful. In addition to this, the before-named Kings chose Raymond,

Count of Toulouse, the Viscount of Touraine, Raymond of Neufchatel, and

other influential men, and ordered them to act as assessors to the

above-named cardinal and his associates in the faith of Christ, and to

expel the said heretics from those parts by the power of their might.

Accordingly, when the before-named cardinal and the other Catholic

persons had entered Toulouse, they found there a certain wealthy man,

who possessed two castles, one within the city and the other without the

walls of the city, who, before their coming had confessed himself to be

a sectary of the heretical corruption; and now, moved by terror, and

desiring to screen this execrable sect, made pretence that he was a

Christian. When the cardinal came to know this, he ordered the said

wealthy person to be brought before him; on whose coming for the purpose

of making confession of his faith, he was found to be in every article

an antagonist of the Christian religion. Accordingly, he was pronounced

by the aforesaid cardinal and the bishops who were with him, a manifest

heretic, and condemned; and they gave orders that his property should be

confiscated, and that the castles which he possessed, lofty and of great

beauty, should be levelled with the ground. Upon seeing himself thus

condemned, and his property confiscated, he came to the cardinal, and

the bishops, his associates, and prostrating himself at their feet;

asked pardon, and, penance being enjoined him, was led naked and

scourged through the streets and lanes of the city. After this, he swore

that he would go to Jerusalem, and remain there three years in the

service of God, and if, after the said three years, he should return

home, his possessions were to be restored to him on condition, however,

that his castles should be levelled in testimony of his heretical

depravity; he was also to give the count of Toulouse five hundred pounds

of silver.

On these taking place, many of the heretics, fearing lest they might be

dealt with in a similar manner, came to the cardinal and his associates,

and secretly confessing their errors and asking pardon, obtained mercy.

In the meanwhile, it came to their ears, that certain false brethren,

namely Raymond, Bernard, the son of Raymond, and certain other

heresiarchs, transforming themselves into angels of light, while they

were those of Satan, and preaching what was contrary to the Christian

faith, led astray the minds of many by their false preaching, and had

dragged them with themselves to hell. These being summoned to come into

the presence of the cardinal and his associates, for the purpose of

making confession of their faith, made answer that they would come

before them if they should have a safe conduct in going and returning. A

safe conduct, in going and returning, being accordingly given to them,

they came before the above-named cardinal and the bishops, barons,

clergy, and people who were present, and produced before them a certain

paper in which they had written down the articles of their faith. On

their reading this at length, there seemed in it certain expressions of

a suspicious nature, which, unless more fully expressed, might possibly

conceal the heresy which they preached. When one of them attempted to

explain the articles so written, and to speak in Latin, he was barely

able to connect two words, being utterly ignorant of the Latin language.

Upon this it was necessary for the cardinal and the bishops to bring

themselves more on a level with them, and, in consequence of their

ignorance, to use the vulgar tongue. Accordingly, on being examined as

to the articles of the Christian faith, they made answer as to all the

articles of the faith as soundly and as circumspectly as if they had

been most sincere Christians.

Upon the Count of Toulouse and others, who had formerly heard them

preach what was contrary to the Christian faith, hearing this statement

from them, being struck with the greatest astonishment, and inflamed

with zeal for the Christian faith, they arose and most clearly convicted

them to their faces of having lied; saying that they had heard from some

of them that there were two Gods, the one good and the other bad, the

good one having only made things invisible and which cannot be changed

or corrupted, the bad one, the heavens, the earth, man and the other

things visible. Others again affirmed that they had heard at their

preaching, that the body of Christ was not made by the administration of

a priest who was unworthy, or who had been convicted of any crime.

Others again said that they had heard from them that baptism was of no

use to infants, and the utterance of numerous other blasphemies against

God and the Holy Church, and the Catholic faith, which, by reason of

their abominable enormity, it is better to be silent upon than to

disclose. The heretics, however, contradicted these matters, and said

that they had given false testimony against them. For they said

publicly, in presence of the before-named cardinal and bishops, and all

the people there present, and made confession, and stoutly asserted,

that there is but one God most high, who has made all things visible and

invisible, and entirely denied that there were two first principles of

things. They also confessed that the priest, whether good or bad,

whether just or unjust, and whether such a character that they knew him

beyond doubt to be an adulterer or criminal in other respects, was able

to make the body and blood of Christ, and that, through the ministration

of a priest of this character, and by virtue of the divine words which

were pronounced by the Lord, bread and wine were really changed in

substance into the body and blood of Christ. When, however, they had

been convicted by many and competent witnesses, and many persons were

still preparing to bear witness against them, because the Church is not

wont to deny the bosom of mercy to those who turn thereto, they

carefully warned them, laying aside all heretical corruptions, to return

to the unity of the faith. They also advised them, as they had been

excommunicated by our Lord, the Pope, and the before-named cardinal, and

the Archbishops of Bourges and Narbonne, and the Bishop of Toulouse, on

account of their perverse preaching and schism, to come to be reconciled

to the Catholic faith, according to the forms prescribed by the Church.

This, however, being warped into tortuous ways, and hardened by

abandoned habits, they refused to do, on which the said cardinal, and

the above-mentioned Bishops, together with the before-named Bishop of

Poitiers, and the other religious men who had assisted them throughout,

in the sight of the whole people, with lighted candles again denounced

them as excommunicated, and condemned them, together with their

prompter, the devil, and gave orders to all the faithful in Christ,

thenceforth cautiously to avoid the before-named Raymond and Bernard,

and their accomplices, as persons excommunicated and handed over to

Satan; and that if at any time in future they should preach to them

anything else than what they had confessed in their hearing, they should

reject their preaching as false, and contrary to the Catholic and

Apostolic faith, and drive them as heretics and forerunners of

Anti-Christ to a distance from their territories. Moreover, the Count of

Toulouse, and the other more influential men of the province, in

presence of all the people gave assurance on oath, that from that time

forward they would neither, for entreaty nor for money, support the

heretics.

THE ELECTION OF AN ABBOT (1182).

+Source.+--_Jocelin de Brakelond_, Chapter 2. King's Classics. Chatto &

Windus.

At last the prior and the twelve that were with him, after many fatigues

and delays, stood before the King at Waltham, the manor of the Bishop of

Winchester, upon the second Sunday in Lent. The King graciously received

them; and, saying that he wished to act in accordance with the will of

God and the honour of our Church, commanded the brethren by

prolocutors--namely, Richard, the Bishop of Winchester, and Geoffrey,

the chancellor, afterwards Archbishop of York--that they should nominate

three members of our convent. The prior and brethren retiring as if to

confer thereupon,--drew forth the sealed writing and opened it, and

found the names written in this order--Samson, sub-sacrista; Roger,

celerarius; Hugh, tercius prior. Hereupon those brethren who were of

higher standing blushed with shame; they also marvelled that this same

Hugh should be at once elector and elected. But, inasmuch as they could

not alter what was done, by mutual arrangement they changed the order of

the names; first naming Hugh, because he was third prior; secondly,

Roger the cellarer; thirdly, Samson, thus literally making the last

first, and the first last. The King, first enquiring whether they were

born in his realm, and in whose lordship, said he knew them not,

directing that with those three, some other three of the convent should

be nominated. This being assented to, William the Sacrist said, "Our

prior ought to be nominated because he is our head," which was directly

allowed. The prior said, "William the Sacrist is a good man"; the like

was said of Dennis, and that was settled. These being nominated before

the King without any delay, the King marvelled, saying, "These men have

been speedy in their work; God is with them."

Next the King commanded that, for the honour of his kingdom, they should

name three persons of other houses. On hearing this, the brethren were

afraid, suspecting some craft. At last, upon conference, it was resolved

that they should name three, but upon this understanding, that they

would not receive any one of those three, unless by assent of the

convent at home. And they named these three--Master Nicholas of

Waringford, afterwards (for a season) Abbot of Malmesbury; Bertrand,

Prior of St. Faith's, afterwards Abbot of Chertsey; and Master H. of St.

Neot's, a monk of Bec, a man highly religious, and very circumspect in

spiritual as well as temporal affairs.

This being done, the King thanked them, and ordered that three should be

struck off of the nine; and forthwith the three strangers were struck

off, namely, the Prior of St. Faith's, afterwards Abbot of Chertsey,

Nicholas, a monk of St. Albans, afterwards Abbot of Malmesbury, and the

Prior of St. Neot's. William the Sacrist voluntarily retired, two of the

five were struck out by command of the King, and, ultimately, one out of

the remaining three. There then remained but two, the Prior and Samson.

Then at length the before-named prolocutors of our lord the King were

called to the council of the brethren: and Dennis, speaking as one for

all began by commending the persons of the prior and Samson, saying,

that each of them was learned, each was good, each was of meritorious

life and good character. But always in the corner of his discourse he

gave prominence to Samson, multiplying words in his praise, saying that

he was a man strict in life, severe in reforming excesses, and ready to

work hard; heedful, moreover, in secular matters, and approved in

various offices. The Bishop of Winchester replied, "We see what it is

you wish to say; from your address we gather that your prior seems to

you, to have been somewhat remiss, and that, in fact, you wish to have

him who is called Samson." Dennis answered, "Either of them is good,

but, by God's help, we desire to have the best." To whom the bishop, "Of

two good men the better should be chosen. Speak out at once; is it your

wish to have Samson?" Whereupon several, in fact the majority, answered

clearly, "We do wish Samson." No one gainsaid this, though some

studiously held their peace, being fearful of offending either one or

the other.

Samson was then named to the King, and after a brief consultation with

those about him, the King called all in, and said, "You present to me

Samson--I know him not; had you presented to me your prior, I should

have accepted him, because I know and am well acquainted with him; but

now I will do as you desire me. Take heed to yourselves; by the very

eyes of God, if you have done ill, I shall call you to severe account."

And he inquired of the prior, whether he assented to this choice and

agreed thereto; who replied that he was well content it should be so,

and that Samson was worthy of a much greater dignity. Then the elect,

falling down at the King's feet and kissing them, hastily arose, and

forthwith went towards the altar, erect in gait, and with unmoved

countenance, singing "Miserere mei Deus" together with his brethren. The

King, observing this, said to the bystanders, "By the eyes of God, this

abbot-elect thinks himself worthy to govern an abbey!"

JOHN IN IRELAND (1185).

+Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 309. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell &

Sons.

All things necessary for this great expedition having been prepared and

made ready by the royal commands, John, the King of England's youngest

son, on whom the dominion of Ireland had been lately conferred, took his

journey by the coast road of South Wales towards Menevia and arrived at

Pembroke. He was accompanied by a person of the highest station, Ranulf

de Glanville, the King's chief privy counsellor and Justiciary of all

England, who conducted him on board ship. On Wednesday, in Easter week,

the breeze blowing favourably from the eastward, he embarked in the

noble fleet which lay at anchor in Milford harbour, and on account of

the sudden change of wind was prevented visiting the venerable church of

St. David's, an unpropitious omen. Setting sail the same evening, the

fleet accomplished its passage and reached the port of Waterford about

noon on the day following, having on board about three hundred

men-at-arms, and a large force of horse soldiers and archers.

* * * * *

I think it, therefore, not amiss that I should briefly state why, and

from what causes, this first enterprise of the King's son did not fulfil

his expectations; the success not being equal to the vast preparations

for it.... I should say, then, that the first and principal cause of

these mischances, was the King's not having listened to the solemn call

of the patriarch Heraclius, before mentioned, and either gone himself,

or at least sent one of his sons on his behalf, with ready devotion, in

obedience to the commands of Christ. But instead of this, at the moment

of this memorable summons, and in the very presence of the venerable

envoy charged with it, he sent this son of his, with a retinue and

outfit more sumptuous than profitable, not to the East, but to the West,

not against the Saracens, but against Christians; for his own

aggrandisement, not for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Another cause was this; as soon as the King's son landed in Ireland,

there met him at Waterford a great many of the Irish of the better class

in those parts; men who, having been hitherto loyal to the English and

disposed to be peaceable, came to congratulate him as their new lord,

and receive him with the kiss of peace. But our newcomers and Normans

not only treated them with contempt and derision, but even rudely pulled

them by their beards, which the Irishmen wore full and long, according

to the custom of their country. No sooner, however, had they made their

escape, than they withdrew from the neighbourhood with all their

households, and, betaking themselves to the King of Limerick, the prince

of Cork, and Roderick, King of Connaught, gave full particulars of all

that they had observed during their visit to the King's son. They said

that they found him to be a mere boy, surrounded by others almost as

young as himself; and that the young prince abandoned himself to

juvenile pursuits; and they further declared, that what they saw

promised no mature or stable counsels, no security for the peace of

Ireland.

On hearing this, the princes of Limerick, Connaught and Cork, who were

at that time the mainstay of Ireland, although they were prepared to

wait upon the young King's son and offer him their homage and submission

with the usual forms, began to consider among themselves to what greater

evils these small beginnings might lead, and what course would be taken

with the proud and independent, when good and peaceable subjects were

thus treated. They then resolved unanimously to resist the English, and

defend with their lives their ancient liberties; and the better to carry

this resolution into effect, a new league was generally entered into,

and those who were before enemies were now reconciled, and became

friends....

Another cause is this: We took away their lands from our own Irishmen,

who had faithfully stood by us from the first coming over of

Fitz-Stephen and the earl, and have given them to our newcomers. These

Irish, therefore, betaking themselves to our enemies, became spies upon

us, and guides to shew them the way to us, having the more power to do

us injury from their former familiarity with us. Besides, the care and

custody of all the towns and castles on the sea-coast, with the lands,

revenues and tributes appertaining to them, which ought to have been

administered for the public good and for defence against the enemy, were

assigned to persons who thought only of hunting-out money; and keeping

themselves carefully within the town walls, they spent their time and

all that they had in drunkenness and surfeiting, to the loss and damage

of the good citizens, instead of the annoyance of the enemy....

In the meantime this was the state of the island: all the roads were

impracticable, all communications cut off; no security anywhere from the

broad axes of the Irish; new reports daily of fresh losses by the

English. Such was the condition of the country outside the towns. Within

the walls, there was some semblance of order and tranquillity; and with

plenty of wine and money, delinquencies in all quarters were easily

atoned. Besides, when the storm was gathering in the enemy's quarters,

it was time for the troops to look at their arms, instead of being

immersed in civil affairs. But instead of this, there was so much

vexatious litigation, that the veteran soldiers were more harassed by

their adversaries within, than by the enemy without the walls....

I must add to my account of the mischiefs done by the new Government,

one that is the greatest of all. Not only do we neglect to make any

offering to the Church of Christ, not only are the honours and thanks

due to God unacknowledged by any gift of the prince and his followers,

but we even rob the Church of its lands and possessions, and strive to

abridge or annul its ancient rights and privileges....

The many outrages and disorders which have been the fruits of the new

Government of Ireland, are not to be imputed so much to the tender years

of the King's son, as to evil counsels, although both had a large share

in them; for the land, as yet rude and barbarous, required men of

experience, whose minds were matured, to reduce it to order.... But that

these great disorders were more to be attributed to the advice of evil

counsellors, was even whispered among the younger sort, and taken for

certain by older and more discreet persons.

CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM (1187).

+Source.+--_Geoffrey de Vinsauf, Chronicles of the Crusades_, pp. 78-9.

G. Bell & Sons.

The fall of Jerusalem was now impending: the victor advancing with speed

equal to his hatred, laid siege to the city, and erecting his machines,

with sacrilegious irreverence profaned all the holy places. There was a

certain cross of stone, which our soldiers formerly, when, after the

capture of Antioch, they had gloriously taken this city, had erected on

the wall in commemoration of the deed. The ferocious invaders destroyed

this cross with a blow from one of their machines, and at the same time

struck down a great part of the wall. The citizens interposed such

defences as they were able, but all the exertions of our men were

ineffectual: bows, balistas and slings were used to no purpose; both

arms and machines visibly declared that the Lord was wroth, and foretold

the fall of the city. A large number of people had flocked together to

the city from the neighbouring fortresses, trusting rather in the

sanctity of the place than in the strength of its defences; but in so

great a multitude hardly fourteen knights could be found. The priests

and clerks, although it was contrary to their profession, discharged the

duties of soldiers, according to the emergency, and fought bravely for

the Lord's house, bearing in mind the maxim, that to repel force by

force is allowed by all laws both human and divine. But the populace

alike ignorant and timorous, flocked in numbers round the patriarch and

the queen, who were left in charge of the city, bitterly complaining and

earnestly entreating that they might treat with the Sultan for peace, as

soon as possible. Their capitulation, however, was one to be deplored,

rather than praised: for each of them had to pay the ransom of his own

life; a man was valued at ten bezants, a woman at five, a child at one;

and whoever was unable to pay, was made a slave. It thus happened that

when many of them, either out of their own property, or by aids gathered

from other sources, had paid the price of their safety, there remained

14,000, who could not redeem themselves and were made slaves for life.

To those who purchased their liberty, the choice was given, either to

proceed to Antioch, or to be carried under safe-conduct to Alexandria,

and thence to cross the sea. That day was indeed a bitter day, on which

the exiles separated, each on his different road, and left that sacred

city, that city which had been the queen of cities, but which was now

reduced to slavery; that city which was the inheritance of its children,

but was now in the hands of strangers, on account of the wickedness of

those who dwelt therein.

Glorious was Jerusalem, the city of God, where the Lord suffered, and

was buried, and where He displayed the glory of His resurrection; but

she is now subject to contamination at the hands of her base-born foe;

nor is there any grief like that grief, that they should possess the

sepulchre, who persecuted Him that lies buried in it; and those, who had

despised the Crucified, have made themselves masters of his Cross! This

most holy city had been, for about ninety-six years, in the hands of our

people, ever since the victorious arms of the Christians had taken it,

at the same time as Antioch; when it had been forty years before in the

possession of the unbelievers. When the city was taken, the crier of the

Mahometan law proceeded to the summit of the rock of Calvary, and there

published their false law, in the place where Christ had consummated the

law of death upon the cross. Another diabolical act was perpetuated by

the enemy. They fastened ropes round a certain cross, which stood upon

the pinnacle of the church of the Hospitallers, and dragged it to the

ground, where they spat upon it, and hacked it, and drew it, in derision

of our faith, through all the filth of the city.

RAISING MONEY FOR THE CRUSADE (1189).

+Source.+--_Richard of Devizes, Chronicles of the Crusades_, §§ 3, 9,

11, 12. G. Bell & Sons.

3. Now in the year of our Lord's incarnation 1189, Richard, the son of

King Henry II. by Eleanor, brother of Henry III.[6] was consecrated King

of the English by Baldwin, archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster, on

the 3rd of the Nones of September (3 Sept.). On the very day of the

coronation, about that solemn hour, in which the Son was immolated to

the Father, a sacrifice of the Jews to their father the devil was

commenced in the city of London, and so long was the duration of this

famous mystery, that the holocaust could scarcely be accomplished the

ensuing day. The other cities and towns of the kingdom emulated the

faith of the Londoners, and with a like devotion despatched their

bloodsuckers with blood to hell. In this commotion there was prepared,

though unequally, some evil against the wicked, everywhere throughout

the realm, only Winchester alone, the people being prudent and

circumspect, and the city always acting mildly, spared its vermin. It

never did anything over speedily; fearing nothing more than to repent,

it considers everything before the commencement.

9. The time of commencing his journey pressed hard upon King Richard, as

he, who had been first of all the princes on this side the Alps in the

taking up of the cross, was unwilling to be last in setting out. A King

worthy of the name of King, who, in the first year of his reign, left

the kingdom of England for Christ, scarcely otherwise than if he had

departed never to return. So great was the devotion of the men, so

hastily, so quickly and so speedily did he run, yea fly, to avenge the

wrongs of Christ. However, whilst he kept the greater matter in his

mind, giving himself in some little measure to deliberation for the

kingdom, having received power from the pope that he might withdraw the

cross from such of his own subjects as he should desire, for the

government of his kingdom, he first appointed Hugh Pudsey, bishop of

Durham, to be chief justice of the whole realm, and with design, as is

thought by many, further creating him a young earl of Northumberland out

of an old bishop, the custody of as many castles as he liked being

yielded to him, he diligently cleared from his coffers ten thousand

pounds of silver. Geoffrey Fitz-Peter, William Briwere and Hugh Bardulf

being permitted to remain at home, the cross being withdrawn from them,

the King's treasurer transferred the whole collections of the three as

three nuts into the Exchequer. All the sheriffs of the kingdom on any

trivial accusation falling under the King's displeasure, were deprived

of their unlucky power, and scarcely permitted to see his face, even by

the mediation of inestimable treasure.

11. Godfrey, bishop of Winchester, mindful of his profession, suing for

the restoration of the possessions of his church which had been taken

away, as no one had any right of replevin against the church of

Winchester with respect to its two manors, namely Meones and Weregrave,

recovered them by judicial decree, three thousand pounds of silver being

privately given to the King. Nor did the considerate man omit at the

same time to pay a fine to the King for the indemnity of the church's

treasure, for his patrimony, for the county of Hampshire and for the

custody of the Castles of Winchester and Porchester. And because the

time for the payment of so much money was nigh at hand, as he could not

pass over the day fixed for the payment without detriment to the whole

business, and he could find no nearer resource under heaven, although

against his will, he laid his hand on the treasure of his church, to

restore which, however, he obliged himself and his successors, providing

security to the convent by the testimony of a sealed bond. A man of such

courtesy and moderation, who not even when angry ever did anything to

those who were under him, but what savoured of mildness: truly of his

family, and one of his familiars, of whom it is said, under whom to live

is to reign.

12. The King readily disburthened all whose money was a burthen to them,

such powers and possessions as they chose being given to anybody at

pleasure; wherewith also on a time an old acquaintance in the company

joking him, he broke off with this evasion, "I would sell London if I

could find a chapman." Many a one might have been forewarned by that

expression, had it been uttered sooner, not to learn to be a wise

merchant, after the English proverb, "by buying for a dozen, and selling

for one and a half."