esteemed as the chaffe of summer flowers; yet as in the tales of Aesop
many good morals are comprised, so the scope whereto this apparition
tendeth being necessarie, maketh the argument it selfe of the more
authoritie. The end therefore being (as you sée) to reuoke the king from
woorse to better, from the swines-stie of vice to the statelie throne of
vertue, from the kennell of sinne to the riuers of sanctitie, prooueth
that euen verie fictions of poets (though of light credit) haue their
drift manie times to honest purpose, and therefore bring with them a
competent weight of profit to the readers. So the scope of this tale
being the same that Dauid pointeth at in the second psalme, when he
saith,
[Sidenote: _Ex G. Buch. paraph. in psal. 2._]
(At vos in populos quibus est permissa potestas,
Et ius ab alta sede plebi dicitis,
Errorum tenebras depellite, discite verum, &c.)
maketh the narration it selfe (though otherwise séeming méere fabulous)
to be somewhat authenticall. But to returne to the course of our storie,
and now to saie somewhat of this Henrie the seconds sonne the yoong
king, by whom the troubles were moued, (note you this) that after he had
receiued the crowne togither with his said wife, they both passed the
seas incontinentlie backe againe into Normandie, [Sidenote: _R. Houed._
_Ger. Dor._ King Henrie purgeth him selfe of the archbishop Beckets
death.] where on the seauen and twentith of September, at a generall
assemblie holden within the citie of Auranches in the church of the
apostle S. Andrew, king Henrie the father, before the cardinals the the
popes legats, and a great number of bishops and other people, made his
purgation, in receiuing an oth vpon the holie relikes of the saints, and
vpon the sacred euangelists, that he neither willed, nor commanded the
archbishop Thomas to be murthered, and that when he heard of it, he was
sorie for it. But bicause he could not apprehend them that slue the
archbishop, and for that he feared in his conscience least they had
executed that vnlawfull act vpon a presumptuous boldnesse, bicause they
had perceiued him to be offended with the archbishop, he sware to make
satisfaction (for giuing such occasion) in this maner.
[Sidenote: O vile subiection vnbeséeming a king!]
1 In primis, that he would not depart from pope Alexander, nor
from his catholike successours, so long as they should repute him
for a catholike king.
2 Item, that he would neither impeach appeales, nor suffer them
to be impeached, but that they might freelie be made within the
realme vnto the pope, in causes ecclesiasticall; yet so, that if
the king haue the parties suspected, they shall find him suerties
that they shall not procure harme or hinderance whatsoeuer to him
or to his realme.
3 Item, that within thrée yeares after the natiuitie of our lord
next ensuing, he should take vpon him the crosse, and personallie
passe to the holie land, except pope Alexander or his successours
tooke other order with him.
4 Prouided, that if vpon any vrgent necessitie he chanced to go
into Spaine to warre against the Saracens there, then so long
space of time as he spent in that iournie, he might deferre his
going into the east parts.
5 Item, he bound himselfe in the meane time by his oth, to
emploie so much monie as the templers should thinke sufficient
for the finding of two hundred knights or men of armes, for one
yeares terme in the defense of the holie land.
6 Item, he remitted his wrath conceiued against those which were
in exile for the archbishop Thomas his cause, so that they might
returne againe into the realme.
7 Item, to restore all the lands and possessions which had béene
taken awaie from the sée of Canturburie, as they were belonging
thereto in the yere before the departure of the archbishop Thomas
out of England.
8 Item, he sware to take awaie and abolish all those customes,
which in his time had béene brought in against the church, as
preiudiciall thereto.
All these articles faithfullie, and without male-ingene to performe and
fulfill in euerie degrée, he receiued a solemne oth, and caused his
sonne the yoong king being there present, to receiue the same for
performance of all those articles, such as touched his owne person
onelie excepted. And to the intent the same should remaine in the popes
consistorie as matter of record, he put his seale vnto the writing
wherein the same articles were ingrossed, togither with the seales of
the aboue mentioned cardinals.
Shortlie after king Henrie the father suffered the yoong king his son to
go into France, togither with his wife, to visit his father king Lewes,
according as their deputies required, which iournie verelie bred the
cause of the dissention that followed betwixt him and his father. King
Lewes most louinglie receiued them (as reason was) and caused diuers
kinds of triumphant plaies and pastimes to be shewed for the honour and
delectation of his sonne in law and daughter.
Neuerthelesse, whilest this yoong prince soiourned in France, king Lewes
not hartilie fauouring the king of England, [Sidenote: The French king
séeketh to sow sedition betwixt the father and the sonne.] and
therewithall perceiuing the rash and headstrong disposition of the yong
king did first of all inuegle him to consider of his estate, and to
remember that he was now a king equall vnto his father, and therefore
aduised him so shortlie as he could, to get the entire gouernment out of
his fathers hands: wherevnto he furthermore promised all the aid that
laie in him to performe.
The yong king being readie inough not onelie to worke vnquietnesse, but
also to follow his father in lawes counsell (as he that was apt of
nature to aspire to the sole gouernement, and loth to haue any partener
in authoritie (according to that of the tragedie-writer,
[Sidenote: _Sen. in Agam._]
Nec regna socium ferre nec tedæ sciunt)
and namelie such one as might controll him) was the more encouraged
thereto by a number of prodigall currie fauours, who by flatterie set
him aloft, declaring vnto him that he was borne to rule, and not to
obeie, and therefore it became not his highnesse to reigne by the
appointment of an other, but rather to haue the gouernement fréelie in
his owne hands, that he might not be counted prince by permission.
Herevpon the youthfull courage of the yong king being tickled, began to
wax of a contrarie mind to his father: who suspecting indéed that which
chanced; to wit (least his sonnes yoong yeares not able yet to discerne
good and wholesome counsell from euill, might easilie be infected with
some sinister practise) thought it not good to suffer him to be long
absent from him, and therefore sent for him: [Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._]
who taking leaue of his father in law king Lewes in courteous maner,
returned and came to his father king Henrie into Normandie, [Sidenote:
An. Reg. 19. 1173.] who when the feast of Christmas drew néere, repaired
towards Aniou, where in the towne of Chinon, he solemnized that feast,
hauing left his sonne the yong king and his wife all that while in
Normandie: but sending for him after the feast was ended, they went both
into Auvergne, [Sidenote: Hubert earle of Morienne.] where being at
mount Ferrat, Hubert earle of Morienne came vnto them, bringing with him
his eldest daughter Alice, whom king Henrie the father bought of him for
the summe of fiue thousand markes, [Sidenote: A marriage contracted.]
that he might bestow hir in marriage vpon his yongest sonne John with
the heritage of the countie of Morienne, if hir father died without
other issue, or at the leastwise the said Hubert chanced to haue any
sonne lawfullie begotten, that then he should leaue vnto them and to
their heires the countie of Russellon, [Sidenote: _Comitatus
bellensis._] the countie of Belle, as he then had and held the same,
Pierre castell with the appurtenances, the vallie of Noualleise, also
Chambrie with the appurtenances, Aiz, Aspermont, Rochet, mont Magor, and
Chambres, with Burg, all which lieng on this side the mountaines with
their appurtenances, the said Hubert granted to them immediatlie for
euer. And beyond the mountaines he couenanted to giue vnto them Turine
with the appurtenances, the colledge of Gauoreth with the appurtenances,
and all the fées which the earles of Canaues held of him, togither with
the fealties and seruices. And also, the fees, fealties, and seruices
which belonged to him in the countie of Amund, and in the vallie called
Vale Dosta; and in like maner, the towne of Castellone.
All the forenamed places the said earle gaue and granted to the said
John, sonne to the king of England for euermore, with his daughter, so
fréelie, wholie and quietlie (in men and cities, castels, fortresses, or
other places of defense, in medowes, leassewes, milnes, woods, plaines,
waters, vallies and mountaines, in customes and all other things) as
euer he or his father had held or enioied the same. And furthermore, the
said earle would, that immediatlie (when it pleased the king of England)
his people should doo homage and fealtie to the king of Englands sonne,
reseruing the fealtie due to him so long as he liued. [Sidenote: The
countie of Granople.] Moreouer, the said earle Hubert granted to the
said John and his wife all the right that he had in the countie of
Granople, and whatsoeuer might be got and euicted in the same countie.
It was also couenanted, if the elder daughter died, that then the said
John should marrie the yoonger daughter, and enioy all the like portions
and parts of inheritance as he should haue enioied with the first.
Finallie, that these couenants, grants and agréements should be
performed on the part and behalfe of the said earle Hubert, both he, the
said earle, and the erle of Geneua, and in maner all the great lords and
barons of those countries receiued an oth, and vndertooke to come and
offer themselues as hostages to remaine with the king of England, in
case the said earle Hubert failed in performance of any of the aforesaid
articles, till he framed himselfe to satisfie the kings pleasure in such
behalfe.
Furthermore, Peter the reuerend archbishop of Tarensasia, and Ardune the
bishop of Geneua, and also William the bishop of Morienne, with the
abbat of S. Michell promised vpon their oth to be readie at the
appointment of the king of England, to put vnder the censures of the
church the said earle and his lands, refusing to performe the foresaid
couenants, and so to kéepe him and the said lands bound, till he had
satisfied the king of England therein.
[Sidenote: The earles of Mandeuille and Arundell.] William earle of
Mandeuill, and William earle of Arundell sware on the part of king
Henrie, that he should performe the articles, couenants and agréements
on his part, as first to make paiment immediatlie vnto the said Hubert
of one thousand markes, and as soone as he should receiue his daughter,
he should paie him an other thousand markes at the least, and the
residue then remaining of the said sum of fiue thousand markes, should
be paid when the mariage was consummate.
It was prouided also, that the said earle Hubert might marrie his
yoonger daughter where he would, without any great diminishing of the
earledome after the first marriage consummate with the lord John, the
king of Englands sonne. And that if either the said lord John, or his
affianced wife chanced to die before the consummation of the marriage,
then should the monie which the earle had receiued, be repaid to the
king, or bestowed as the king should appoint.
Shortlie after that the parties were agreed vpon the couenants afore
cited, the marques of Montferrat & one Geffrey de Plozac with his sonne
Miles and other Noble men came to the king as ambassadors from the earle
of Morienne, and receiued an oth, that they should see and procure the
said earle to performe the couenants and agreements concluded betwixt
the king and him. When these things were thus ordered, as séemed good to
both parties, for the establishment of the foresaid marriage, the king
the father, and the king the sonne remoued to Limoges, [Sidenote: The
earle of S. Giles.] whither the earle of S. Giles came, and was there
accorded with king Henrie and his sonne Richard duke of Guien,
concerning the controuersie that had béene moued for the countie of
Tholouze, dooing his homage as well vnto the father as to the sonne for
the same countie, [Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._] and further couenanted to
serue them with an hundred knights or men of armes (as we may call them)
for the terme of fourtie daies at all times, vpon lawfull summons. And
if the king or his sonne duke Richard would haue his seruice longer time
after the fourtie daies were expired, they should paie wages both to him
and his men in reasonable maner. [Sidenote: Tribute for Tholouze.]
Moreouer, the said earle condescended & agreed to give yearelie for
Tholouze an hundred marks, or else 10. horsses with 10. marks a péece.
Now also, whilest the king soiourned at Limoges, the earle of Morienne
came thither to him, and required to vnderstand what parcels of land he
would assigne vnto his sonne John. [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] Wherevpon the
king resolued to allot vnto him the chappell of Chinon, Lodun and
Mirabell, whereby he offended his eldest sonne the yoong king (as after
may appeare) who was glad to haue occasion (whome the poets faine to be
bald behind and hairie before, as this monastich insinuateth,
Fronte capillata est post est occasio calua)
offered to broch his conceiued purpose of rebellion which of late he had
imagined, and now began to put in practise, vsing the opportunitie of
the time and the state or qualitie of the quarell then taken for his
best aduantage, and meaning to make it an ingredience or entrance to the
malicious conceit which he had kept secret in his hart.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _N. Triuet._] This yeere the moonks of
Canturburie (by the kings assent) chose for their archbishop one
Richard, who before was prior of Douer, this man was the 39. in number
that had ruled the church of Canturburie, being of an euill life as he
well shewed, in that he wasted the goods of the church inordinatlie.
Roger the abbat of Bechellouin was first chosen, but he refused that
dignitie rather for slothfulnes and idlenes (as some take it) than for
modestie or wisedome: [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] so hard a thing it is
to please the people, which measure all things to be honest or
dishonest, as they eb or flow in profit and gaine.
The said Richard, after that he was elected, did homage vnto king
Henrie, and sware fealtie vnto him (Saluo semper ordine suo, His order
alwaies saued) without making mention of the customes of the kingdome.
[Sidenote: A councell holden at Westminster.] This was doone at
Westminster in the chappel of S. Katharine, the kings iusticer giuing
his assent therevnto, where a councell was held the same time, and a
letter of the popes read there before the bishops and barons of the
realme, conteining amongst other things this that followeth.
A breefe extract or clause of a letter which the pope sent to the
clergie of England, &c. for the making of a new holie daie.
We admonish you all, & by the authoritie which we reteine, doo
streightlie charge you, that you celebrat the daie of the
suffering of the blessed man Thomas the glorious martyr, sometime
archbishop of Canturburie, euerie yere in most solemne sort, &
that with deuout praiers ye endeuour your selues to purchase
forgiuenes of sins: that he which for Christes sake suffered
banishment in this life, and martyrdome in death by constancie of
vertue, through continuall supplication of faithfull people, may
make intercession for you vnto God.
The tenor of these letters were scarslie read, but euerie man with a
lowd voice began to recite this psalme or hymne, Te Deum laudamus.
Furthermore bicause his suffragans had not exhibited due reuerence to
him their father, either in time of his banishment, or at his returne
from the same, but rather persecuted him; that they might openlie
confesse their errour and wickednesse to all men, they made this
collect: [Sidenote: A collect deuised in honor of the archbishop
Becket.] "Be fauourable good Lord to our supplication and praier, that
we which acknowledge our selues guiltie of iniquitie, may be deliuered
by the intercession of Thomas thy blessed martyr and bishop, Amen."
This praier was vsed by the couent of S. Albons on the daie of his
martyrdome. Thus
---- cæca superstitionis
Est facilísque via & cunctis iam cognita sæclis.
¶ Notwithstanding all which honor of the pope then exhibited to his
saint, as his canonization, with other solemnities procured for the
maintenance of his memoriall in all ages, succeeding; what remembrance
is there now of Thomas Becket? Where be the shrines that were erected in
this church and that chappell for perpetuities of his name and fame? Are
they not all defaced? are they not all ruinated? are they not all
conuerted to powder and dust? And although the pope ment by causing such
ikons to be erected, to prefer Thomas as a perpetuall saint to all
posterities, and thought as he that said of his poems,
Exegi monumentum ære perennius,
Regalíque situ pyramidum altius,
Quod non imber edax non aquilo impotens
Possit diruere aut innumerabilis
Annorum series & fuga temporum,
Yet is he growne not into renowne, but infamie and shame in England, as
our chronicles declare, which haue published that Romish rakehels
ambitious and traitorous heart to all successions. Naie, whereas in
times past he was reckoned in the popes rubricke for a saint and a
martyr, now it is come to passe (by the meanes belike of other saints
whose merits haue surpassed Beckets) that he is growne in obliuion euen
at Rome, [Sidenote: M. Vaghan at Spitle the tuesdaie in Easter wéeke
1565.] and his name raced out of the pope's calendar (as a learned man
preached in a solemne audience at a high festiuall time) by whome he was
so magnified. In which kind of discontinuing his fauour to his sworne
children, he sheweth himselfe verie ingratefull, and not worthie of the
dutifulnesse wherewith (like buzzards as they be) they ouercharge their
hellish (holie I would saie) father.
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._ The archbishops consecratiō disturbed by the
yoong king.] This yeare the sister of the said archbishop Richard was
made abbesse of Berking. But now touching the new elected archbishop
Richard, we find that comming to Canturburie on the saturdaie after his
election, in hope to be there consecrated, he was disappointed by
letters that came from king Henrie the sonne, in forme as followeth.
A letter of yoong king Henrie touching the disappointment of
archbishop Richards consecration.
Henrie by the grace of God king of England, duke of Normandie,
and earle of Aniou, sonne of king Henrie; to our deere and
faithfull freend Odo, prior of the Church of Canturburie, and to
all the conuent there, sendeth greeting. By the assured report of
some we vnderstand, that in your church and in other churches
also, my father goeth about to institute certein persons not
verie meet for such calling: and bicause (without our consent) it
ought not so to be doone, who by reason of our kinglie annointing
haue taken vpon vs the kingdome and charge of the whole realme:
hervpon we haue in the presence of many persons appealed to the
see of Rome, and haue signified our appeale in that behalfe, made
vnto our reuerend fathers and freends Albert and Theodorike,
cardinals and legats of the apostolike see, by our writing and
messenger, who like wise and discreet personages haue assented
therevnto. We haue likewise signified the same our appeale to our
faithfull freends the bishops of London, Excester, and Worcester,
and as we haue appealed, so likewise we do appeale vnder your
testimonie.
After the perusall of this letter, and the due consideration of the
substance and summe of the same, (albeit no such afterclaps were
suspected before) the bishops were altogither driuen to their shifts,
some of them desiring to go forward with the consecration, and some
supposing it better to yéeld vnto the appeale. The elect archbishop
therefore first sent messengers to Rome with letters, not written onelie
by himselfe, but also by all the bishops and conuent of Canturburie.
After this he followed himselfe in person, and comming to the popes
court, found there diuers aduersaries to his cause. For some were there
that tooke part with the king the father, and some with the king the
sonne, and so his businesse could haue no spéedie dispatch. In the meane
time the rancor which king Henrie the sonne had concerned against his
father was so ripened, that it could not but burst out, and shew itselfe
to the breach of all dutifull obedience which nature requireth of a
sonne towards his father.
You haue heard how king Henrie promised the earledome of Morienne, when
the marriage was concluded betwixt his son John and the said earles
daughter, to giue vnto the said John certeine townes in Normandie, for
the better mainteining of his estate and his wiues. This gift of the
fathers caused his eldest sonne the yong king Henrie, the sooner to
powre out his poison which he had sucked before at his being with his
father in law king Lewes. [Sidenote: _Wil. Paruus._] For conceiuing an
offense, that his father should giue away any portion of his
inheritance, he would not condescend to any such gifts, but alledged
that sithens he was king of England, and that all belonged to him, his
father could not now haue any title to giue awaie that which did in no
wise apperteine vnto him.
There was another cause that troubled his mind also, and mooued him to
grudge at his father, which was; for that the proportion of his
allowance for maintenance of his houshold and port was verie slender,
and yet more slenderlie paied. [Sidenote: Astulfe de S. Hilarie a
counsellor, or rather corrupter of king Henrie the sonne. _Polydor._]
Also his father remooued from him certeine of his seruants, as Astulfe
de S. Hilarie, and other whome he suspected to giue him euill counsell.
Wherefore those that were procurers of him to attempt the seizing of the
gouernement into his hands, vpon this occasion slept not, but put into
his head such matter, that at length he openlie demanded to haue the
whole rule committed to him: which when he saw would not be obteined of
his father by quiet meanes, [Sidenote: King Henrie the sonne fled to the
French king.] he fled secretlie awaie vnto his father in law king Lewes,
requiring aid of him to recouer his right, which king Henrie the elder
vniustlie deteined from him.
The French king comforted him, and bad him be of good cheare, for he
ment to doo for him all that in him laie. Herewith he proclaimed him
duke of Normandie, and receiued homage of him for the same. King Henrie
the father vnderstanding that his sonne was thus tied to the French
king, sent ambassadours foorthwith to the same king, requiring him to
giue his son some good & wholesome counsell, that he might repent, and
not follow such wilfulnesse of mind in swaruing from his fathers
freendship, but rather with spéed to returne home againe; & to promise
in his name, that if any thing were otherwise than well, he would be
contented the same should be reformed by his order and correction. But
so farre was king Lewes from meaning to set a quietnesse betwixt the
father and the sonne, that he would not heare the ambassadors declare
their message, [Sidenote: _W. Paruus._] bicause they named the father,
king, to the derogation of the sonnes right, to whome he said he offered
manifest wrong in vsurping the gouernement, which he had alreadie giuen
ouer and resigned. Insomuch that when the ambassadours had declared some
part of their message, he asked them what he was that willed such things
of him: and when they answered that the king of England had sent them
with that message, "That is a false lie (saith he) for behold here is
the king of England, who hath giuen you no commission to declare any
message from him vnto me at all."