France: "Whatsoeuer displeaseth this man, is taken (as he interpreteth
it) contrarie to Gods honour, and so by that shift will he chalenge to
himselfe all that belongeth vnto me. But bicause you shall not thinke
that I go about to resist Gods honour, or him, in any reasonable order,
looke what the greatest and most holie of all his ancestors haue doone
vnto the meanest of mine ancestours, let him doo the same vnto me, and I
am contented therewith."
All the companie present cried, "that the king humbled himselfe enough."
"My lord archbishop (said the French king) will you be greater than
saints, and better than saint Peter? Wherof stand you in doubt? Behold,
your peace is at hand." [Sidenote: The present state of the church in
Becket daies.] The archbishop made answer in commendation of the present
state of holie church, as thus: "My holie predecessours in their time,
although they cut not all things away that extolled it selfe against
God, yet did they cut off diuers: but if they had plucked vp all by the
hard roots, which might offend, who should now haue raised the fire of
temptation against vs? We are in much better case (thanks be to God) and
as we haue laboured in their lot and number, so are we partakers of
their labour and reward. What if any of them had béene defectiue or
excessiue in any point, are we bound to follow the example of their
defection or excesse? We blame Peter for his denieng of Christ, but we
praise him in reproouing of Neros violence with danger of his life. The
church hath risen and increased out of manie dangerous oppressions, our
fathers haue suffered manie things, bicause they would not forsake the
name of Christ; and ought I to suppresse his honour, to be reconciled
vnto any mans fauour? God forbid, God forbid."
[Sidenote: The archb. Becket blamed of arrogancie.] When the Noble men
present heard this answer of a subiect against his souereigne, they all
held against him, imputing the fault to the archbishops arrogancie, that
the peace was not made betweene the king and him, insomuch that there
was an erle which openlie said; "Sith he resisteth the will of both the
realmes, he is not worthie to be succoured by either of them from
henceforth: and therefore being cast out of England, let not France
receiue him."
The councell then being broken vp, the kings departed without bidding
the archbishop farewell, and such as were mediatours for peace, in
departing from this meeting, spake manie reprochfull words to him,
[Sidenote: Archb. Becket wilfull in his owne opinion.] alledging that he
had béene euer stout and wise in his owne conceit, and a folower of his
owne will and opinion: adding that it was a great hinderance to the
church, that he was ordeined archbishop, and that by him the church was
alreadie in part destroied, and would shortlie be altogither brought to
vtter ruine.
But the archbishop setting a watch before his mouth, kept silence (as
though he had not heard) and folowed the French king with his people.
Manie said by the waie as they iournied, "Behold the archbishop yonder,
which in talke the last night would not for the pleasure of the king
denie God, nor kéepe his honor in silence."
After this, when the archbishop was come to Sens, and aduised with
himselfe whether it should be best for him to go, at length he said,
"God is able in the last point of miserie and distresse, to helpe those
that be his." Herewith came a messenger from the French king to bring
him to the court, for the French king (as one that had béene better
instructed in the matter) repented himselfe that he had iudged euill of
his answers at the last meeting, and herevpon receiued him againe into
his fauour, and rested not to trauell so much in his cause, that at
length another méeting was assigned at a certeine place neere the
confines of Normandie, [Sidenote: The French K. receiueth the archbishop
Becket againe into fauour.] whither king Henrie came, and there found
Lewes, the archbishop of Rouen, and diuerse other bishops together, with
the foresaid archbishop, who after they had reasoned of the matter
throughlie as they saw cause, [Sidenote: The archb. is reconciled to the
king.] king Henrie receiued the archbishop into his fauour againe, and
promised to redresse all that had béene doone amisse, and pardon all
those that had followed him out of the realme. Wherevpon the king and
the archbishop being reconciled, the archbishop the same day came before
the king, and talked with him.
Now among other things he required of the K. that it might be lawfull
for him (without offending of his maiestie) to punish (according to the
censures of the church) the iniurie doone vnto him by the archbishop of
Yorke, and other bishops in the coronation of his sonne. The king
granted this, and shewed himselfe so courteous at that time, that (as it
is said) he held his stirrup whiles he mounted on horssebacke.
¶ Notwithstanding which obsequiousnes of the king, it is to be presumed
that all inward repining could not be so abolished, as that no fragments
remained: but that the archbishop for his part, for the maintenance of
his great title, & the K. for the supportation of his souereigntie, when
opportunitie serued, sought to get aduantage one of another, & acquit
their harts with a new reuenge of an old grudge: for
[Sidenote: _Iuuen. sat._ 15.]
Immortale odium & nunquam sanabile vulnus.
[Sidenote: The king would not kisse the pax with the archbishop.] But
whereas twise within a few daies after, the king and the said archbishop
met at masse, the king refused to kisse the pax with him. This was
marked as a signe of a fained reconciliation, though in déed he
afterwards interteined him verie courteouslie, and at his departure ouer
into England, tooke leaue of him in fréendlie manner, and directed
letters vnder his sele to his sonne the new king in forme as followeth.
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
A letter of the king touching the pacification betweene him and
Thomas Becket.
Know ye that Thomas the archbishop of Canturburie hath made his
peace with me at my will and pleasure; and therefore I command you,
that both he and his may remaine in peace; and that he and al those
which for his cause departed out of the realme, may haue all their
goods restored, and in such quiet estate be now possessed of them
as at any time within three moneths before their departure from
thence. [Sidenote: The honor of Saltwood.] And further, cause to
come before vs of the best and most ancient knights of the honor of
Saltwood, that vpon their oths they may find what fee the
archbishop ought to haue within that honor, and that which shall
appeare to apperteine vnto him, as in fee, let him inioy the same.
And thus farewell.
The archbishop (before he tooke his iournie into England) went to visit
the French king, and to giue him thanks for his great paines and trauell
susteined in his cause, [Sidenote: The French kings aduise to the
archbish. Becket.] who aduised him in no wise as yet to commit himselfe
to present danger amongst his new reconciled enimies, but rather to
staie till their malice were somewhat assuaged. For he perceiued by king
Henries words & countenance such a deepe rooted displeasure in his hart,
that he agréed to receiue him into fauour rather by compulsion and
against his will than otherwise.
But when the archbishop would needs depart & go ouer into England, the
French K. suffered him so to doo, dooing him all the honor he could at
his leaue taking. [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ The archbishop Becket
returneth into England.] Then the archbishop departing out of France,
came into England, and landed at Sandwich about the first of December,
in the seuenth yeare after his first departure out of the realme.
Shortlie after his arriuall, Roger the archbishop of Yorke, Gilbert
bishop of London, and Jocelin bishop of Salisburie, with diuerse other,
came vnto him as to the popes legat, and required that it might please
him to restore them to the ministration of their offices againe; whose
request be granted, but yet vpon condition, that they should vndertake
to stand to his iudgement and order in all things, which (by the
counsell of the archbishop of Yorke) they vtterlie refused.
¶ Here authors agrée not (as Polydor trulie saith) for some write that
archbishop Thomas (immediatlie vpon his returne into England) denounced
the archbishop of Yorke with the bishops of Salisburie and London
accurssed, whereas before they were depriued of the vse and
administration of the sacraments. Some others write, that now at his
comming ouer into England from his exile, he depriued them onlie of the
ministration of the sacraments, togither with the bishops of Excester,
Chester, Rochester, S. Asaph, & Landaff, which had personallie béene
present at the coronation of king Henrie the sonne, to the derogation of
the dignitie of their primat the archbishop of Canturburie (as before
you haue heard.) It shuld seeme yet by Ger. Dorober. that the archbishop
of Yorke, and the bishop of Durham were suspended, and the bishops of
London, Salisburie, and diuerse other excommunicated.
[Sidenote: The archbish. of Yorke and other go ouer to the king to
complaine of the archbishop Becket. _Ger. Dor._] But how soeuer he vsed
them, the archbishop of Yorke, the two bishops London and Salisburie,
being offended with his dooings, sailed ouer into Normandie, and there
complained to king Henrie of iniuries doone to them by archbishop
Thomas, gréeuouslie accusing him that he went about to take awaie their
libertie of priesthood, to destroie, corrupt, and finallie to abolish
both the lawes of God and man, togither with the ancient decrées and
statutes of their elders; in somuch that he tooke vpon him to exclude
bishops at his pleasure from the companie of christian men, and so being
excluded, to banish them for euer: to derogat things meerelie
preiudiciall to the kings roiall prerogatiue; and finallie to take awaie
from all men the equitie of laws and ciuill orders.
The king giuing eare to their complaint, was so displeased in his mind
against archbishop Thomas, that in open audience of his lords, knights,
and gentlemen, [Sidenote: The occasion of the kings words that cost
bish. Becket his life.] he said these or the like words: "In what
miserable state am I, that can not be in rest within mine owne realme,
by reason of one onelie préest? Neither is there any of my folkes that
will helpe to deliuer me out of such troubles."
There were some that stood about the king, which gessed by these words,
that his mind was to signifie how he would haue some man to dispatch the
archbishop out of the waie. The kings displeasure against the archbishop
was knowne well inough, which caused men to haue him in no reuerence at
all, so that (as it was said) it chanced on a time, that he came to
Strowd in Kent, where the inhabitants meaning to doo somewhat to his
infamie, being thus out of the kings fauour, and despised of the world,
cut off his horsses taile.
[Sidenote: The knights that slue the archbishop Becket.] There were some
also of the kings seruants, that thought after an other maner of sort to
reuenge the displeasure doone to the kings maiestie, as sir Hugh
Moreuille, sir William Tracie, sir Richard Britaine, and sir Reignold
Fitz Urse, knights, who taking aduice togither, and agréeing in one mind
and will, tooke shipping, & sailed ouer into England, landing at a place
called Dogs hauen, néere Douer.
Now the first night they lodged in the castell of Saltwood, which
Randulfe de Broc had in keeping. The next morning (being the 29. of
December, and fift daie of Christmasse, which as that yeare came about
fell vpon a tuesdaie) hauing gotten togither certeine souldiers in the
countrie thereabouts, came to Canturburie, and first entring into the
court of the abbeie of S. Augustine, they talked with Clarenbald the
elect abbat of that place: and after conference had with him, they
proceeded in their businesse as followeth.
[Sidenote: Reignold Fitz Urse. That is betwéene 4. and 5. in the
euening.] The first knight sir Reignold Fitz Urse came to him about the
eleuenth houre of the daie, as the archbishop sat in his chamber, and
sitting downe at his feet vpon the ground without any manner of greeting
or salutation, at length began with him thus: "Being sent of our
souereigne lord the king from beyond the seas, we doo here present vnto
you his Graces commandements, to wit, that you should go to his sonne
the king, to doo vnto him that which apperteineth vnto you to doo vnto
your souereigne lord, and to do your fealtie vnto him in taking an oth,
and further to amend that wherein you haue offended his maiestie."
Wherevnto the archbishop answered: "For what cause ought I to confirme
my fealtie vnto him by oth? or wherein am I giltie in offending the
kings Maiestie?" [Sidenote: An oth required of him for his baronie.] Sir
Reignold said: "For your baronie, fealtie is demanded of you with an
oth, and an other oth is required of those clerkes, which you haue
brought with you, if they meane to continue within the land." The
archbishop answered: "For my baronie I am readie to do to the king
whatsoeuer law or reason shall allow: but let him for certeine hold,
that he shall not get any oth either of me or of my clerks." "We knew
that (said the knight) that you would not doo any of these things which
we proponed vnto you. Moreouer the king commandeth you to absolue those
bishops that are excommunicated by you without his licence." Wherevnto
he said: "The bishops are excommunicated not by me, but by the pope, who
hath therto authoritie from the Lord. If in déed he hath reuenged the
inurie doone to my church, I confesse that I am not displeased
therwith." Then said the knight: "Sith that such things in despite of
the king doo please you, it is to be thought that you would take from
him his crowne, and be called and taken for king your selfe, but you
shall misse of your purpose surelie therein." The archbishop answered:
"I do not aspire to the name of a king, rather would I knit three
crownes vnto his crowne if it lay in my power."
[Sidenote: The knights command the moonks to sée the archbishop kept
safe.] At length after these and such words, the knights turning them to
the moonks, said: "In the behalfe of our souereigne lord the king, we
command you, that in any wise ye keepe this man safe, and present him to
the king when it shall please his grace to send for him." The archbishop
said: "Doo ye thinke that I will run away? I came not to run away, but
looke for the outrage and malice of wicked men." "Truelie (said they)
you shall not runne away," and herewith went out with noise and
threatnings. [Sidenote: John de Salisburie the archb. Beckets
chancellor.] Then maister John of Salisburie his chancellor said vnto
him: "My lord, this is a woonderfull matter that you will take no mans
counsell: had it not beene méet to haue giuen them a more méeke and
gentle answer?" [Sidenote: The archbishops resolution.] But the
archbishop said: "Surelie I haue alreadie taken all the counsell that I
will take, I know what I ought to doo." Then said Salisburie, "I pray
God it may be good." Now the knights departing out of the place,
[Sidenote: The knights put on their armor.] and going about to put on
their armour, certeine came to the archbishop, & said; "My lord, they
arme themselues." "What forceth it? said he, let them arme themselues."
Now when they were armed, and manie other about them, they entred into
the archbishops palace. Those that were about the archbishop cried vpon
him to flée; but he sat still and would not once remoue, till the moonks
brought him euen by force & against his will into the church. The
comming of the armed men being knowne; [Sidenote: The moonks with force
bring the archbishop into the church.] some of the moonks continued
singing of euensong, and some sought places where to hide themselues,
other came to the archbishop, who was loth to haue entred into the
church, and when he was within, he would not yet suffer them to make
fast the doores, so that there was a great stur among them, but cheeflie
when they perceiued that the armed men went about to séeke for the
archbishop, by meane whereof their euensong was left vnfinished.
At length the knights with their seruants hauing sought the palace,
[Sidenote: The knights enter the church.] came rushing into the church
by the cloister doore with their swords drawne, some of them asking for
the traitor, and some of them for the archbishop, who came and met them,
saieng; "Here am I, no traitor, but the archbishop." [Sidenote: As
though archbishops can be no traitors.] The formost of the knights said
vnto him: "Flee; thou art but dead," To whome the archbishop said, "I
will not flée." The knight stept to him taking him by the sléeue, and
with his sword cast his cap besides his head, and said, "Come hither,
for thou art a prisoner." "I will not (said the archbishop) doo with me
here what thou wilt:" and plucked his sleeue with a mightie strength out
of the knights hand. Wherewith the knight stepped backe two or thrée
paces. [Sidenote: The courage of the archb.] Then the archbishop turning
to one of the knights, said to him, "What meaneth this, Reignold? I
haue doone vnto thée manie great pleasures, and commest thou now vnto
me into the church armed?" Unto whome the knight presentlie answered and
said; "Thou shalt know anon what is ment, thou art but dead: it is not
possible for thee any longer to liue." Unto whom the archbishop
answered: "I am readie to die for my God, and for the defense of his
iustice and the libertie of the church; gladlie doo I imbrace death, so
that the church may purchase peace and libertie by the shedding of my
blood." And herewith taking on other of the knights by the habergeon, he
floong him from him with such violence, that he had almost throwne him
downe to the ground. This was sir Will. Tracie, as he after confessed.
Then the archbishop inclined his head after the maner of one that would
praie, pronouncing these his last words: "To God, to saint Marie, and to
the saints that are patrones of this church, and to saint Denise, I
commend my selfe and the churches cause." Therewith sir Reignold
FitzUrse striking a full blow at his head, [Sidenote: Edward of
Cambridge.] chanced to light vpon the arme of a clerke named Edward of
Cambridge, who cast vp his arme to saue the archbishop: but when he was
not able to beare the weight of the blow, he plucked his arme backe, and
so the stroke staied vpon the archbishops head, in such wise that the
bloud ran downe by his face. [Sidenote: The archbish. is slaine.] Then
they stroke at him one after an other, and though he fell to the ground
at the second blow, yet they left him not till they had cut and pashed
out his braines, and dashed them about vpon the church pauement. All
this being doone, they rifled his house, spoiled his goods, and tooke
them to their owne vses, supposing it lawfull for them being the kings
seruants so to doo.
But doubting how the matter would be taken, after they had wrought their
feat, they got them into the bishoprike of Duresme, there to remaine
till they might heare how the king would take this their vnlawfull
enterprise: though (as they alledged) they had lustilie defended his
cause, and reuenged his quarell as faithfull seruants ought to doo.
Howbeit, it chanced otherwise than they looked it should haue doone: for
king Henrie gaue them so litle thankes for their presumptuous act,
sounding to the euill example of other in breach of his lawes,
[Sidenote: The murtherers come to an euill end. _Matth. Paris._ _W.
Paruus._] that they despairing vtterlie of pardon, fled one into one
place, and another into another, so that within foure yeares they all
died an euill death (as it hath béene reported.) Some write, that they
went to Rome by the kings commandement, and there presented themselues
before the pope, to receiue such penance for their wicked act as he
should enioine them. Herevpon the pope appointed them to go vnto
Jerusalem, their to do their penance, where they remained certeine
yeares, applieng themselues verie diligentlie to performe the
satisfaction of their offense, according to the maner prescribed to them
by the pope, and so at length died.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17. 1171.] This was the end of Thomas Becket
archbishop of Canturburie, which was after he had entred into that see
eight yeares and six moneths, [Sidenote: After their account that begin
the yere on Christmas day.] in the yeare after the birth of our Lord
1171. On Christmas day before his death, which fell that yeare on the
fridaie, he preached a sermon to the people, and when he had made an end
thereof, he accurssed Nigell de Sackeuille, the violent incumbent of the
church of Berges, [Sidenote: Robert de Broc.] and Robert de Broc, both
which had (vpon spite) curtailed the horsse of the said archbishop: and
as the same day whilest he was at the altar, according to his custome,
altogither in teares and lamentation; so at dinner he shewed himselfe
verie pleasant & merrie, insomuch that when those that were at the table
séemed somewhat doubtfull to eat of the flesh that was set before them,
bicause it was friday; "Why do ye abhorre (saith he) to eat flesh? This
day flesh hath a great priuilege, for this same day the word was made
flesh, and came into light, and appeared vnto vs." These his words
greatlie contented all the companie.
¶ Thus you haue heard the tragicall discourse of ambitious Becket, a man
of meane parentage, and yet through the princes fauour verie fortunate,
if he had not abused the beneuolence of so gratious a souereigne by his
insolencie and presumption. Wherein we haue to note, how vnseemelie a
thing it was for him, being called to so sacred a function, to lead so
secular and prophane a life, as if he had professed open hostilitie to
the vocation which he pretended to honour and reuerence. We are also
taught, that promotions atchiued by ambition are not permanent, and are
so farre from procuring fame and renowne to the obteiners, that they
turne them in the end to shame, infamie and reproch, after losse of life
and effusion of bloud. The issue of all which tragedie is to be imputed
to the prouidence and counsell of almightie God, as one writeth verie
agréablie to this purpose, saieng,
[Sidenote: _Hesi. in lib. cui tit. op. & dies._]
Nam facilè extollit facilè elatúmq; refrænat,
Et clarum obscurans, obscuri nomen adauget.
Erigit & miserum facilè extinguítque superbum
Iuppiter altifremus, cui celsum regia cœlum.
[Sidenote: King Henrie sorie for the archb. Beckets death. _Polydor._]
But to let this matter passe. King Henrie doubtlesse was right pensiue
for his death, bicause he wist well inough that it would be iudged, that
he himselfe was priuie to the thing: and euen so it came to passe, for
immediatlie vpon notice giuen into France of the archbishops death, king
Lewes, and Theobald the earle of Blois, as they that loued him most
deerelie were most sorowfull for it, and iudging straightwaie that king
Henrie was the procurer, they wrote their letters vnto pope Alexander,
giuing him to vnderstand both of the slaughter, and how king Henrie had
caused it to be put in execution, requiring most instantlie, that such
an iniurie doone to the Christian religion, might spéedilie be punished.
The pope was much offended, and determined to haue the matter throughlie
considered and ordered, so as might stand with his dignitie, and
accordinglie as the hainous state of the case required. King Henrie
whilest these things were a dooing, lay certein daies at Argenton, so
much displeased in his mind, that he would suffer no man once to speake
to him about any maner of businesse.