this case, he answered after this maner: "I would (said he) speake with
two earles which are about the king," and named them. Who being called,
and the doores set open, he said vnto them; "We haue not héere at this
present to shew whereby the thing may be more manifest: therefore we
aske respit for answer till to morrow." The councell therefore brake vp,
and the multitude of people, which came with the archbishop thither,
being afraid of the kings displeasure, fell from him. Wherefore he
caused his seruants to fetch a great number of poore and impotent people
to his lodging, saieng that by the seruice of such men of warre, a more
spéedie victorie in short space might be gotten, than by them which in
time of temptation shamefullie drew backe. Herevpon his house was filled
full, and the tables set with such as his seruants had brought in, out
of the lanes and streats abroad.
Upon the tuesdaie, the bishops all amazed and full of care, came vnto
him; [Sidenote: The bishops persuade the archbishop to submit himself to
the kings pleasure.] and bicause of the displeasure which the king had
conceiued against him, counselled him to submit himselfe to the kings
will, or else in fine, they told him plainelie, that he would be iudged
a periured person; bicause he had sworne vnto the king as to his
earthlie souereigne, touching all temporall honor in life, lim, and
member; and namelie to obserue all his roiall lawes and customes, which
of late he had established.
[Sidenote: The archbish. answer to his brethren.] Wherevnto he answered:
"My brethren, ye see how the world roreth against me, and the enimie
riseth vp, but I more lament that the sonnes of my mother fight against
me. If I should hold my peace, yet would the world come to declare how
ye leaue me alone in the battell, and haue iudged against me now these
two daies past, I being your father, though neuer so much a sinner. But
I command you by virtue of your obedience, and vpon perill of your
order, that you be not present in any place of iudgement, where my
person may fortune to be adiudged: [Sidenote: He appealeth to the church
of Rome.] in testimonie whereof I appeale to our mother the church of
Rome. Furthermore, if it chance that temporall men laie their hands vpon
me, I charge you likewise by vertue of your obedience, that ye exercise
the censures of the church in the behalfe of your father the archbishop
as it becommeth you. This one thing know ye well, that the world roreth,
the flesh trembleth and is weake, but I (by Gods grace) will not
shrinke, nor leaue the flocke committed vnto me."
After this he entred into the church, and celebrated the masse of saint
Stephan (otherwise than he was accustomed to doo) with his pall:
[Sidenote: He goeth to the court.] which being ended, he put on his
sacrificing vestures, with a cope vpon them all, and so went to the
court. Furthermore, bicause he was afraid, he receiued the sacrament
secretlie with him, and bearing the crosse in his right hand, and the
reine of his bridell in his left, he came in that order to the court,
where he alighted, and entred the place, still bearing the crosse
himselfe, till he came to the kings chamber doore, the other bishops
following him with great feare and trembling. Now being come thither,
the bishop of Hereford would gladlie haue taken the crosse, and haue
borne it before him, but he would not suffer him, saieng: "It is most
reason that I should beare it my selfe, vnder the defense whereof I may
remaine in safetie: and beholding this ensigne, I néed not doubt vnder
that prince I serue."
[Sidenote: He is reputed a traitour.] At length, when the king had
exhibited great complaints vnto them all generallie against him, they
cried that he was a traitor, sith he had receiued so manie benefits at
the kings hands, and now refused to doo him all earthlie honor as he had
sworne to doo. To be short, when the bishops came to sit vpon the matter
in councell, they appealed to the sée of Rome against the archbishop,
accusing him of periurie: and in the word of truth bound themselues by
promise, to doo what they might to depose him, if they king would pardon
them of that iudgement which now hanged ouer the archbishops head. Then
comming to the archbishop they said: "Thou wast sometime our archbishop,
and we were bound to obeie thée: but sith thou hast sworne fealtie to
the king, that is, life member, and earthlie honor, & to obserue his
lawes and customes, and now goest about to destroie the same, we say
that thou art guiltie of periurie, [Sidenote: The bishops disallow their
archbishop.] and we will not from hencefoorth obey a periured
archbishop. Therefore we cite thée by appelation to appeare before the
pope, there to answer thine accusors." Then they, appointed him a day,
in which they ment to prosecute their appeale. "I heare you well" (said
the archbishop).
The princes and péeres of the realme did also iudge him a periured
person and a traitour. Among whome (manie then being present) the earle
of Leicester accompanied with Reignald earle of Cornewall, came vnto him
and said; "The king commanded thée to come and render an accompt of that
which is obiected against thée, or else heare thy iudgement."
"Judgement?" said the archbishop, [and wherewith rising vp said,] "Naie
sonne earle, first heare thou: It is not vnknowne to thée how faithfull
I haue béene to the king, in consideration whereof he aduanced me to the
archbishops see against my will (as God can be my iudge:) for I knew
mine owne infirmitie, and I was contented to take it vpon me rather for
his pleasure, than for Gods cause, and therefore dooth God both withdraw
himselfe and the king from me. In the time of mine election he made me
frée, and discharged me of all courtlie bondage. Wherefore as touching
those things from which I am frée and deliuered, I am not bound to
answer, neither will I. So much as the soule is more worth than the
bodie, so much the more art thou bound to obeie God and me, rather than
any earthlie creature. Neither will law nor reason permit, that the
sonnes should iudge or condemne the father: and therefore I refuse to
stand to the iudgement either of the king, or of any other, and appeale
to the pope, by whome (vnder God) I ought to be iudged, referring all
that I haue vnto Gods protection and his, and vnder the defense of his
authoritie I depart out of this place." Hauing thus spoken, went
incontinent to take horsse.
Now as he passed on his waie, the kings seruants and others of the court
did cast out manie reprochfull words against him, calling him traitor
and false forsworne caitife. [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._ The stout courage of
the archbishop.] At which words turning himselfe, and looking backe with
a sterne countenance he said; "That if it were not for his order of
priesthood, and that it were lawfull for him, he would surelie cléere
himselfe of periurie and treason, in defending and mainteining his cause
against them with weapon in hand."
When he was come to the vtter gate, he found the same fast locked,
whereat they began all to be amazed: but one of his seruants espieng
where a bunch of keies tied to a clubs and were hanging on a pin, he
tooke them down, & tried which was the right key, by proof whereof he
found it at the last, opened the gate, and let the archbishop out, the
porters standing still as men amazed, and speaking not one word against
it.
Now when he was got out, a great number of poore, weake and impotent
people met him, saieng: "Blessed be God, which hath deliuered his
seruant from the face of his enimie." Thus with a great rout or
companie, and with the clergie, he was honorablie conueied to the abbie
of S. Andrews: and looking behind and before him, as he passed
thitherward, he said vnto those that went with him; "How glorious a
procession dooth bring me from the face of the enimie? Suffer all the
poore people to come into the place, that we may make merie togither in
the Lord." Hauing thus spoken the people had entrance, so that all the
hall, parlours, and chambers being furnished with tables and stooles,
they were conuenientlie placed, and serued with vittels to the full.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ The archbishop Becket fled awaie in the night.]
The verie same night before the cockcrowing he issued foorth by a little
posterne gate, and taking with him onelie two moonks of the Cisteaux
order, the one named Robert Canne, and the other S. Cayman, with one of
his owne seruants called Roger de Broc, he fled awaie disguised in a
white vesture and a moonks coule, and changing his name, caused himselfe
to be called Dereman, & iourneied still all the night, and by daie laie
close in one fréends house or other; till at last he got to Sandwich,
and there taking ship, he sailed ouer into Flanders, and so went to
France, where at the citie of Sens he found pope Alexander, into whose
bosome he emptied whole cart lodes of complaints and greeuances.
[Sidenote: Gilbert Follioth bishop of London was sent to the French
king.] The king vpon knowledge that the archbishop was fled the realme,
sent Gilbert Follioth bishop of London, and William earle of Arundell in
spéedie ambassage to, the king of France, to signifie vnto him the whole
matter and circumstance of the falling out betwixt him and the
archbishop, requiring him not to receiue the archbishop into his realme,
but this request was little regarded of the French king, as appeared:
for the archbishops cause was fauoured of manie, and the blame imputed
to king Henrie, so that the archbishop found great grace with the French
king, and no small fauour at the hands of the pope.
Now when king Henrie heard that he was accused by the archbishop vnto
the pope, [Sidenote: Additions to _Iohn Pike._ _Matth. Paris._ _Ger.
Dor._] he appointed Roger archbishop of Yorke, the aforesaid Gilbert
bishop of London, Hilarius bishop of Chichester, Roger bishop of
Worcester, Bartholomew bishop of Excester, with diuerse bishops, deanes,
archdeacons, & other learned men of good accompt to the number of 15. to
passe in ambassage vnto the pope, that they might excuse his dooings,
and burden the archbishop with the note of rebellion, whereof he had
good proofe.
[Sidenote: Roger archbishop of Yorke with others are sent to the pope.]
Being admitted to declare their message in the consistorie before the
pope, they opened the whole circumstance of the matter, from the
beginning to the end, declaring that betwixt Thomas the archbishop of
Canturburie and the king there was a controuersie moued, and by both
their consents a daie appointed for the hearing and determining thereof,
as iustice should require. At the which daie (by the kings commandement)
all the chéefest lords of the realme both spirituall and temporall were
assembled, to the end that the more generall the méeting should be, the
more manifest might the discouerie of the fraud and malice of the
archbishop appéere.
"At the daie appointed (saie they) there came before the catholike
prince his presence, the Nobles of his realme: and amongst other, the
archbishop the disquieter both of the kingdome & church, who (as one not
well assured of the qualitie of his owne deseruings) blessed himselfe
with the signe of the crosse at his comming into the court, as though
he should haue come before some tyrant or schismaticall person.
Notwithstanding all which contemptuous and ambitious behauiour, the
kings maiestie was nothing offended, but committed the iudgement of his
cause to the faithfull order of the bishops, meaning so to deliuer
himselfe of all suspicion of wrong dealing. Then it rested in the
bishops hands to make an end of the controuersie, and to set a finall
vnion and agréement betwixt them. But the archbishop would none of that,
alleging how it should be a derogation to the sée apostolike and his
metropoliticall dignitie, to stand before the king in iudgement, or anie
other temporall magistrate. And albeit (saie they) some diminution or
eclipse might haue chanced to the dignitie of the church by that
iudgement, yet it had beene his part to haue dissembled the matter for
the time, to the end that peace might haue béene restored to the church.
He further obiected (ascribing to himselfe the name of father, which
seemed to sauour somewhat of arrogancie) that the children ought not to
come togither to iudge the fathers cause, but it had béene far more
necessarie that the humblenesse of the sons should mitigate the pride
and temper the ambition of the father."
To conclude the kings ambassadors made earnest suit, that two legats
might be sent from the pope, to haue the hearing & discussing of all the
matter betwixt the king and the archbishop without any other appealing.
[Sidenote: The kings tale could not be heard.] But the kings tale could
not be heard in that court, [Sidenote: The archbishop Becket.] the
archbishop hauing alreadie persuaded the pope to the contrarie. For
comming to the pope he vttered his complaint as followeth:
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._] "Most holie father, I doo here come for
succour to your audience, lamenting that the state of the church, and
the liberties thereof are brought to ruine by the couetous dealing of
kings and princes. Wherefore when I thought to resist the disease
approching, I was suddenlie called before the king, to render accompts
as a laie man about certeine wards, for whom (while I was the kings
chancellor) I had notwithstanding giuen accounts; and also, when I was
made bishop, and entred into the dignitie of ruling the archbishops sée,
I was released and discharged of all reckonings and bonds by the kings
eldest sonne, and by the cheefe iusticer of the realme: so that now,
where I looked to haue found aid, I was destitute thereof, to my great
hinderance and vexation. Consider furthermore (I praie you) how my lords
and brethren the bishops are readie at the pleasure of the Noble men of
the court to giue sentence against me, so that all men being about to
run vpon me, I was almost oppressed: and therfore am now come as it were
to take breath in the audience of your clemencie, which dooth not
forsake your children in their extreme necessitie, before whom I here
stand, readie to declare and testifie that I am not to be iudged there,
nor yet at all by them. For what other thing should that be, but to
plucke awaie the right of the church? What else then to submit
spirituall things to temporall? This example therefore once sproong vp,
might giue an occasion to manie enormities to follow. The bishops doo
say, 'Those things that are Cesars, ought to be restored to Cesar.' But
admit that in manie things the king is to be obeied, is he therefore to
be obeied in things wherein he is no king? For those belong not to
Cesar, but to a tyrant. Wherein if for my sake they would not, yet ought
the bishops for their owne sakes to haue resisted him. For what should
be the cause of such deadlie and vnnaturall hatred, that to destroie me,
they should destroie themselues? Therefore whilest for temporall things
they neglect spirituall, they faile in both. Weigh then most holie
father, my fleeing awaie, and my persecution, and how for your sake I
haue beene prouoked with iniuries, vse your rigour, constraine them to
amendement, through whose motion this hath chanced; let them not be
borne out by the king, who is rather the obstinate minister, than the
finder out of this practise."
The pope hauing heard his words, tooke deliberation in the matter, with
the aduice of his cardinals, [Sidenote: The popes answer to the
archbishop.] and therevpon answered the archbishop in effect as
followeth: "That the lower power may not iudge the higher, and chéefelie
him whome he is bound to obeie, all the lawes both of God and man doo
witnesse, and the ordinances of the ancient fathers doo manifestlie
declare: Herevpon we (to whome it apperteineth to reforme disorders) doo
clearelie reuerse and make void the iudgement pronounced against you by
the barons and bishops, whereby as well against the order of law, as
against the customes of the church, your goods were adiudged forfeit,
whereas the same goods were not yours, but the churches of Canturburie,
ouer which you haue the onelie cure and charge. But if those that haue
violentlie entred vpon the possessions and goods of your church, and
haue thereby wronged either you or yours, will not vpon admonition giuen
to them, make restitution with sufficient amends, then may you (if you
shall thinke conuenient) exercise ecclesiasticall iustice vpon them, and
we shall allow of that which you shall reasonablie doo in that behalfe.
Howbeit as touching the king himselfe we will not giue you any speciall
commandement, neither yet doo we take from you any right belonging to
your bishoprike office, which you receiued at your consecration. But the
king onelie we will spare, and exempt from your excommunications and
censures." [Sidenote: The archbish. resigneth his pall.] After these and
many by-matters were ouerpassed, the archbishop resigned his pall vnto
the pope, but the pope gaue it him againe, and appointed him to remaine
at Pountney an abbeie of moonks Cisteaux in the diocesse of Auxerre,
till the variance were brought to some good end betwixt the king and
him. This was doone in the yeare of our Lord 1164.
The king hauing knowledge by his ambassadors what answer the pope had
made, became gréeuouslie offended in his mind, and therevpon confiscated
all the goods that belonged to the archbishop and his complices, and
seized their reuenues into his hands, [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] appointing
one Randall de Broc to haue the custodie of all that belonged to the
see, which Broc was nothing fréendlie to the archbishop, being his
knowne enimie of old, but fauoured the moonkes, and would not suffer
that they should take wrong or displeasure at any hand.
[Sidenote: 1165.] [Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Matt. Paris._] In the yeare
1165. queene Elianor was deliuered of a daughter which was named Joane.
Also on the 26. daie of Januarie, there chanced a maruellous earthquake
in Northfolke, in the Ile of Elie, and in Suffolke, so that men as they
stood on the ground were ouerthrowne therewith, and buildings so shaken,
that the belles in stéeples knolled: the like had also chanced in the
Aduent season then last before passed.
[Sidenote: The Welshmen make war on the English marshes. _Wil. Paruus._
_Polydor._ The king inuadeth Wales.] The Welshmen this yeare spoiled a
great part of those countries that bordered vpon them: wherewith the
king being sore mooued, leuied an armie with all spéed as well of
Englishmen as strangers, and (without regard of difficulties and
dangers) did go against the rebels, and finding them withdrawne into
their starting holes (I meane the woods and strait passages) he
compassed the same about in verie forceable maner. The Welshmen
perceiuing themselues now to be brought into such ieopardie, as that
they could not well deuise how to escape the same, consulted what was
best to be doone. After consultation, casting awaie their weapons, they
came foorth to the king, asking mercie; which somewhat hardlie they
obteined. Few of them were executed in comparison of the numbers that
offended: but yet the capteines and chéefe authors of this rebellion
were so punished, that it was thought they would neuer haue presumed so
rashlie to offend him in like sort againe. [Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ The
seuere punishment vsed by king Henry against the Welshmen.] For (as some
writers affirme) he did iustice on the sonnes of Rice or Rees, & also on
the sonnes and daughters of other noble men that were his complices
verie rigorouslie: causing the eies of the yoong striplings to be pecked
out of their heads, and their noses to be cut off or slit: and the eares
of the yoong gentlewomen to be stuffed.
But yet I find in other authors, that in this iournie king Henrie did
not greatlie preuaile against his enimies, but rather lost manie of his
men of warre, both horssemen and footmen: for by his seuere proceeding
against them, he rather made them more eger to séeke reuenge, than
quieted them in any tumult. [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._ _Ran. Cogge._
Cardigan castell woonne by the Welshmen.] They tooke the castell of
Cardigan, and in besieging of Briges, the king was in no small danger of
his life: for one of the enimies shooting directlie at him, [Sidenote:
Hubert de S. Clere conestable of Colchester.] had persed him through the
bodie if Hubert de Saint Clere conestable of Colchester, perceiuing the
arrow coming had not thrust himselfe betwixt the king and the same
arrow, and so preseruing his maister, receiued the stripe himselfe,
whereof he died presentlie after, beséeching the king to be good lord to
one onelie daughter which he had, [Sidenote: William de Langualée.]
whome the king bestowed in mariage vpon William de Langualée, togither
with hir fathers inheritance, which William begat of hir a sonne that
bare both his name and surname. ¶ A president of gratitude & thankfulnes
is here committed to memorie. And surelie the king could doo no lesse,
than some way requite the venturous courage and hartie zeale of the
gentleman, who with the losse of his owne life preserued the king, if
not from death, yet from some dangerous wound that might haue put him to
extreame anguish and paine. This may incite men to be mindfull of
benefits receiued, a virtue no lesse rare than the contrarie is common,
and as one saith,
---- inueniuntur
Quidam sed rari, acceptorum qui meritorum
Assiduè memores, &c.
[Sidenote: _W. Paruus._] But to conclude with this iourneie which king
Henrie made at this time against the Welshmen, although by reason of the
cumbersome difficulties of the places, he could not enter within the
countrie so farre as he wished, yet he so impounded and constreined them
to kéepe within the woods and mountains, that they durst not come
abroad, insomuch that at the length they were glad to sue for peace.
[Sidenote: William king of Scots doth his homage to king Henrie.]
William king of Scots, successor of Malcolme (who departed this life in
the yeare last past) after he had receiued the crowne of Scotland, came
about this present time into England, and finding king Henrie at London,
did his homage to him as his predecessour Malcolme had doone before. He
made suit also to haue Northumberland restored vnto him, which the king
of Englands mother the empresse had in times past giuen vnto king Dauid.
But king Henrie gaue diuerse reasons to excuse himselfe whie he might
not deliuer that countrie to him at that present, namelie, without
consent of a parlement: wherevpon king William perceiuing how the matter
went, gaue ouer his suit for that present, meaning (when occasion
serued) to attempt the getting thereof by force, sith that by praier and
suit he sawe well inough he should not obteine it.
Moreouer, the Scotish king being required by king Henrie to go ouer with
him into Normandie, granted so to doo: insomuch that king Henrie, hauing
set all things in order within his realme of England, in the Lent
following passed ouer into Normandie. [Sidenote: _N. Triuet._ _Matth.
Paris._ _Ger. Dor._] But before he tooke his iourneie, he set foorth a
decree consisting of these points in effect as followeth.
[Sidenote: An edict against the archbishop Becket.]
1 That no man should bring any letters or commandement from pope
Alexander, or Thomas archbishop of Canturburie into England,
conteining an interdiction of the realme: vpon perill to be
apprehended and punished as a traitour to the king, and an enimie
to the realme.
2 That no religious person or préest should be permitted to passe
the seas, or to come into the relme of England, except he had
letters of safe conduct from the iusticers for passage ouer, and
of the king for his returne from thence.
[Sidenote: Appeales forbidden.]
3 That no man should appeale to the said pope or archbishop, nor
by their appointment hold any plée: and if any person were found
dooing the contrarie herevnto, he should be taken and committed
to prison.
4 That if any maner of person, either spirituall or temporall,
were obedient to the sentence of the interdiction, the same
person should be banished the realme without delaie, and all his
linage with him, so as they should not conueie with them any of
their goods, the which togither with their possessions should be
seized into the kings hands.